some, and the course and lives of the most, seem to call for a due consideration of it. Besides, of how great importance a full and clear acquaintance with the power of this indwelling sin (the matter designed to be opened) is to believers, to stir them up to watchfulness and diligence, to faith and prayer, to call them to repentance, humility, and self-abasement, will appear in our progress. These, in gen

eral, were the ends aimed at in the ensuing discourse; which being at first composed and delivered for the use and benefit of a few, is now, by the providence of God made public. And if the reader receive any advantage by these weak endeavours, let him know that it is his duty, so to give glory unto God, as to help those by his prayers, who, in many temptations and afflictions, are willing to labour in the vineyard of the Lord, to which work they are called.

ON

INDWELLING SIN

IN

BELIEVERS.

CHAPTER I.

The Nature of indwelling sin in believers treated of by the Apostle, Rom. vii. 21.,Illustrated.

It is of the remainders of indwelling sin in persons after their conversion to God, with its power, efficacy, and effects, that we intend to treat. This also is the great design of the apostle to manifest and evince, in chap. vii. of the Epistle to the Romans. Many indeed are the contests about the principal scope of the apostle in that chapter, and in what state the person is, under the law or under grace, whose condition he therein expresses, I shall not at present enter into that dispute, but take that for granted which may be undeniably proved and evinced; namely, that it is the condition of a regenerate person with respect to the remaining power of indwelling sin, which is there proposed and exemplified, by and in the person of the apostle himself.

In that discourse, therefore, of his, shall the foundation be laid of what we have to offer upon this subject. Not that I shall proceed in an exposition of his revelation of his truth, as it relates to the context, but only make use of what is delivered by him as occasion shall offer. And here first occurreth that which he affirms, ver. 21. "I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me." There are four things observable in these words. First, The appellation he gives to indwelling sin, whereby he expresseth its power and efficacy; it is a law. For that which he terms a law in this verse, he calls in the foregoing, "sin that dwelleth in him.”

Secondly, The way whereby he came to the discovery of this law; not absolutely, and in its own nature, but in himself he found it: "I find a law."

Thirdly, The frame of his soul and inward man with this law of sin, and under its discovery: "He would do good."

Fourthly, The state and activity of this law when the soul is in that frame; when it would do good, "it is present with him." For what ends and pur

poses we shall show afterwards.

The first thing observable is the appellation here used by the apostle, he calls indwelling sin a law: It is a law.

A law is taken either properly, for a directive rule, or improperly, for an operative effective principle, which seems to have the force of a law. In its

first sense, it is a moral rule which directs and commands, and various ways moves and regulates the mind and the will, as to the things which it requires or forbids. This is evidently the general nature

and work of a law. Some things it commands, some things it forbids, with rewards and penalties, which move and impel men to do the one, and avoid the other. Hence, in a secondary sense, an inward principle, that moves and inclines constantly to any actions, is called a law. The principle that is in the nature of every thing, moving and carrying it towards its own end and rest, is called the law of nature. In this respect every inward principle, that inclineth and urgeth to operations or actings suitable to itself, is a law: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." The powerful and effectual working of the Spirit and grace of Christ in the hearts of believers, is called the "law of the Spirit of life." And for this reason does the apostle here call indwelling sin a law. It is a powerful and effectual indwelling principle, inclining and pressing to actions agreeable and suitable to its nature. This and no other is the intention of the apostle in this expression. For although that term, a law, may sometimes intend a state and condition, and if here so used, the meaning of the words should be, I find that this is my condition, this is the state of things with me, that when I would do good evil is present with me,' which makes no great alteration in the principal intention of the passage; yet properly it can denote nothing here, but the chief subject treated of. For although the name of a law be variously used by the apostle in this chapter, yet when it relates to sin, it is no where applied by him to the condition of the person, but only to express either the So verse 23. “I

nature or the

power

of sin itself.

6