[2.] It is so far from being conquered, that it is only enraged. The whole work of the law, doth only pro- voke and enrage sin ; and cause it, as it hath opportunity, to put out its strength with more power, and vigour, and force than formerly. This the apostle shews at large, Rom.vii. 9 — 13. But you will say. Do we not see it by experience, that many are wrought upon by the preaching of the law, to a relinquishment of many sins, and amendment of their lives, and to a great contending against the eruptions of those other corruptions which they cannot yet mortify? audit cannot be denied, but that great is the power and efficacy of the law, when' preached and applied to the conscience in a due manner. I answer,
1st. It is acknowledged, that very great and effectual is the power of the law of God. Great are the effects that are wrought by it; and it shall surely accomplish every end for which of God it is appointed. But yet the subduing of sin. is none of its work ; it is not designed of God tinto that purpose ; and therefore it is no dishonour, ii" it cannot do that which is not its proper work, Rom. viii. 3.
200 THE NATURE AND POWER
2dly. Whatever effects it have upon some, yet we see that in the most, such is the power and prevalency of sin, that it takes no impression at all upon them. May you not see every where men living many years in congregations where the law is powerfully preached, and applied unto the consciences as to all the ends and purposes for which the Lord is pleased to make use of it, and not once be moved by it; that receive no more impression from the stroke of it, than blows with a straw would give to an adamant? They are neither convinced by it, nor terrified, nor awed, nor in^ structed, but continue deaf, ignorant, senseless, secure, as if they had never been told of the guilt of sin, or terror of the Lord. Such as these are congregations full of, who pro- claim the triumphing power of sin over the dispensation of the law.
3dly. When any of the effects mentioned are wrought, it is not from the power of the letter of the law, but from the actual efficacy of the Spirit of God, putting forth his vir- tue and power for that end and purpose ; and we deny not but that the Spirit of the Lord is able to restrain and quell the power of lust when he pleaseth ; and some ways where- by he is pleased so to do we have formerly considered. But,
4thly, Notwithstanding all that may be observed of the power of the law upon the souls of men, yet it is most evident that lust is not conquered, not subdued, nor morti- fied by it. For,
(1st.) Though the course of sin may be repelled for a sea- son by the dispensation of the law, yet the spring and foun- tain of it, is not dried up thereby. Though it withdraws and hides itself for a season, it is, as I have elsewhere shewed, but to shift out of a storm, and then to return again. As a traveller, in his way meeting with a violent storm of thunder and rain, immediately turns out of his way, to some house or tree for his shelter; but yet this causeth him not to give over his journey ; so soon as the storm is over, he returns to his way and progress again. So it is with men in bondage unto sin : they are in a course of pursuing their lust; the law meets with them in a storm of thunder and lightning from heaven, terrifies and hinders them in their way; this turns them for a season out of their course ; they will run
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to prayer or amendment of life, for some shelter from the storm of wrath which is feared coming upon their con- sciences. But is their course stopped? are their principles altered ? Not at all ; so soon as the storm is over, that they begin to wear out that sense and the terror that was upon them, they return to their former course, in the service of sin again. This was the state with Pharaoh once and again.
(2dly.) In such seasons sin is not conquered but di- verted. When it seems to fall under the power of the law, indeed it is only turned into a new channel, it is not dried up. If you go and set a dam against the streams of a river, that you suffer no water to pass in the old course and chan- nel, but it breaks out another way, and turns all its streams in a new course, you will not say you have dried up that river ; though some that come and look into the old channel may think, perhaps, that the waters are utterly gone. So is it in this case ; the streams of sin, it may be, run in open sen- suality and profaneness, in drunkenness and viciousness ; the preaching of the law sets a dam against these courses ; conscience is terrified, and the man dares not walk in the ways wherein he hath been formerly engaged. His com- panions in sin not finding him in his old ways begin to laugh at him, as one that is converted and growing precise. Professors themselves begin to be persuaded that the work of God is upon his heart, because they see his old streams dried up ; but if there have been only a work of the law upon him, there is a dam put to his course, but the spring of sin is not dried up, only the streams of it are turned an- other way. It may be the man is fallen upon other more secret, or more spiritual sins; or, if he be beat from them also, the whole strength of lust and sin will take up its resi- dence in self-righteousness, and pour out thereby as filthy streams as in any other way whatever. So that notwith- standing the whole work of the law upon the souls of men, indwelling sin will keep alive in them still, which is another evidence of its great power and strength.