Indwelling Sin in Believers

Tuat the doctrine of Original Sin, is one of the fundamental truths of our Christian profession, hath been always acknowledged in the church of God. And an especial part it is of that peculiar profession of truth which they enjoy, whose religion towards God is built upon, and resolved into Divine Revelation. As the world, by its wisdom, never knew God aright, so the wise men of it were always utterly ignorant of this inbred evil in themselves and others. With us, the doctrine and conviction of it lie at the very foundation of all wherein we have to do with God, in reference to our pleasing him here, or obtaining the enjoyment of him hereafter. It is also known what influence it hath into the great truths concerning the person of Christ, his mediation, the fruits and effects of it, with all the benefits of which we are thereby made partakers. Without a supposition of it, not any of them can be truly known, or savingly believed. For this cause has it been largely treated of by many holy and learned men, both of former and of latter days. Some have laboured in the discovery of its nature, some of its guilt and demerit; by whom also the truth concerning it hath been vindicated from the opposition made B2

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to it in the past and present ages. By most these things have been considered in their full extent and latitude, with respect to all men by nature, with the estate and condition of those who are wholly under the power and guilt of it. How men are thereby disenabled, and incapacitated in themselves to answer the obedience required, either in the law or the gospel, so as to free themselves from the curse of the one, or to make themselves partakers of the blessing of the other, hath been by many also fully evinced. Moreover, that there are remainders of it abiding in believers, after their regeneration and conversion to God, as the Scripture abundantly testifies, hath been fully taught and confirmed; as also how the guilt of it is pardoned to them, and by what means the power of it is weakened in them. All these things, I say, have been largely treated on, to the great benefit and edification of the church. In what we have now in design, we therefore take them all for granted, and endeavour only farther to carry on the discovery of it in its actings and oppositions to the law and grace of God in believers. Neither do I intend the discussion of any thing that has been controverted about it. What the Scripture plainly reveals and teaches concerning it, what believers evidently find by experience in themselves, what they may learn from the examples and acknowledgments of others, shall be represented in a way suited to the capacity of the meanest and weakest who is concerned therein. And many things seem to render the handling of it, at this season, not unnecessary. ‘The effects and fruits of it which we see, in the apostacies and backslidings of many, the scandalous sins and miscarriages of 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 de- ‘signed 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-abase-. ment, will appear in our progress. These, in general, 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.

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INDWELLING SIN

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BELIEVERS.

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