depths of fin-intanglements, Ifa. lvii. 18, 19. And, indeed, if the Lord had not thus provided, that great. provocation fhould ftand in need of fpecial reliefs, it might juftly be feared, that the negligence of believers, might poffibly bring much bitter fruit,

Only this must be observed by the way, that what is fpoken relates to the fenfe of finners in their own fouls, and not to the nature of the thing itself. There is, in the gofpel, confolation provided against the greatest as well as the leaft fins. The difference arifeth from God's fovereign communication of it, according to their tenor of the covenants adminiftration, which we have laid down: Hence, because under Mofes's law. there was an exception made of fome fins, for which there was no facrifice appointed, fo that thofe who were guilty of them could no way be juftified from them, that is carnally to their intereft in the judaical church and polity; Paul tells the Jews, Acts xiii. 38, 39. That through Jefus Chrift was preached unto them the forgiveness of fins, and that by him all that believe are juftified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Mofes. There is now no exception of any particular fins, as to pardon and peace; but what we have spoken, relates unto the manner and way, wherein God is pleased to adminifter confolation to the fouls of finning believers.

And this is the evidence which I fhall offer to prove, that the fouls of believers, after much gracious communion with God, may yet fall into inextricable depths on the account of fin; whence it is, that actually they oftentimes do fo, fhall be further declared.

The principles of this affertion are known; 1 fhall therefore only touch upon them.

First, The nature of indwelling fin, as it remains in the best of the faints in this life, being a little confidered will evidence to us from whence it is, that they are fometimes furprized and plunged into the depths mentioned. For,

ift, Though the ftrength of every fin be weakened

by

by grace, yet the root of no fin, is in this life wholly taken away. Luft is like the ftubborn Canaanites, who after the general conqueft of the land, would dwell in it ftill, Judges xvii. 12. Indeed, when Ifrael grew ftrong, they brought them under tribute, but they could not utterly expel them. The kingdom and rule belongs to grace; and when it grows ftrong, it brings fin much under; but it will not wholly be driven out. The body of death is not utterly to be done away, but in and by the death of the body. In the flesh of the best faints there dwelleth no good thing, Rom. vii. 8. but the contrary is there, that is the root of all evil. The flesh lufteth against the fpirit, as the fpirit lufteth against the flesh, Gal v. 17. As then there is an univerfality in the actings of the fpirit in its oppofing all evil, fo alfo there is an univerfality in the actings of the flesh for the furtherance of it.

2dly, Some lufts or branches of original corruption do obtain in some perfon fuch advantages, either from nature, custom, employment, fociety, or the like circumstances, that they become like the Canaanites that had iron chariots; it is a very difficult thing to fubdue them. Well, it is, if war be maintained constantly against them, for they will almost always be in actual rebellion.

3dly, Indwelling-fin, though weakened, retaineth all its properties; the properties of a thing follow its nature. Where the nature of any thing is, there are all its natural properties. What are these properties of indwelling-fin, I fhould here declare, but that I have handled the whole power and efficacy, the nature and properties of it, in a treatife to that only purpofe. In brief, they are fuch, as it is no wonder that fome believers are by them caft into depths; but it is indeed, that any do escape them. But thereof the reader may fee at large my difcourfe on this particular fubject.

Secondly, Add hereunto the power and prevalency of temptation; which because alfo, I have already in a

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fpecial discourse to that purpose infifted on, I shall not here farther lay open.

Thirdly, The fovereign pleasure of God in dealing with finning faints must also be confidered. Divine love and wifdom work not towards all in the fame manner. God is pleafed to continue peace unto fome with a nonobftante, for great provocations. Love fhall humble them, and rebukes of kindness fhall recover them from their wanderings. Others he is pleased to bring into the depths we have been fpeaking of. But yet I may fay generally, fignal provocations meet with one of these two events from God.

ift, Those in whom they are, are left into fome fignal barrenness, and fruitlefnefs in their generations; they fhall wither, grow barren, worldly, faplefs, and be much cast out of the hearts of the people of God. Or,

2dly, They fhall be exercifed in thefe depths, from whence their way of deliverance is laid down in thispfalm. Thus, I fay, God deals with his faints in great variety: Some fhall have all their bones broken, when others fhall have only the gentle ftrokes of the rod. We are in the hand of mercy, and he may deal with us as feems good unto him; but for our parts, great fins ought to be attended with expectations of great depths and perplexities.

And this is the ftate of the foul propofed in this pfalm, and by us, unto confideration. Thefe are the depths wherein it is entangled; thefe are the ways and means whereby it is brought into thefe depths. Its deportment in, and under this ftate and condition, lies next in our way. But before I proceed thereunto, I fhall annex fome few things unto what hath been delivered, tending to the farther opening of the whole cafe before us; and they are, 1. What are, or of what fort, thofe fins are, which ufually cafts the fouls of believers into thefe depths; and then, 2. Infift on fome aggravations of them.

What

What fins ufually bring believers into great fpiritual diftreffes. Aggravations of these fins.

Firft, Sins in their own nature wafting confcience, are of this fort. Sins that rife in oppofition to all of God that is in us; that is the light of grace and nature alfo: Such are the fins that caft David into his depths. Such are the fins enumerated, 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Be not deceived, faith the apostle, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themfelves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, hall inherit the kingdom of God. Certain it is, that believers may fall into fome of the fins here mentioned. Some have done fo, as is left on record; the apostle fays not, those who have committed any of these fins, but fuch finners shall not inherit the kingdom of God, that is, who live in thefe, or any of thefe fins, or any like unto them. There is no provifion of mercy made for fuch finners. Thefe and the like are fins which in their own nature, without the confideration of aggravating circumstances, (which yet, indeed, really, in believers, they can never be without) are able to plunge a foul into depths. Thefe fins cut the locks of mens fpiritual ftrength; and it is in vain for them to fay, we will go, and do as at other times. Bones are not broken without pain; nor great fins brought on the confcience without trouble. But I need not infift on thefe. Some fay that they deprive even true believers or all their intereft in the love of God, but unduly; all grant that they bereave them of all comforting evidence, and well grounded affurance of it. So they did David and Peter, and herein lies no fmall part of the depths we are searching into.

Secondly, There are fins, which though they do not rife up in the confcience with fuch a bloody guilt as thofe mentioned, yet by reafon of fome circumstances and aggravations, God takes them fo unkindly, as to make them a root of difquietnefs and trouble to the foul all its days. He fays of fome fins of ungodly men, As I

live, this iniquity shall not be purged from you until ye die If you are come to this height, you fhall not escape, I will not spare you. And there are provocations in his own people, which may be fo circumftantiated, as that he will not let them pafs, before he have cast them into depths, and made them cry out for deliverance. Let us confider fome of them.

ift, Miscarriages under fignal enjoyments of love and kindness from God, are of this fort. When God hath given unto any one expreffive manifeftations of his love, convinced him of it, made him fay in the inmoft parts of his heart, This is undeferved love and kindness; then for him to be negligent in walking with God, it carrieth an unkindnefs with it, that fhall not be forgotten. It is a remark upon the unkindness of Solomon, that he fell into them after God had appeared unto him twice; and all fins under, or after especial mercies, will meet, one time or other, with efpecial rebukes. Nothing doth diftrefs the confcience of a finner, than the remembrance, in darkness, of abused light, in defertions, of neglected love. This God will make them fenfible of. Though I have redeemed them, faith God, yet they have spoken lies against me, Hof. vii. 15. So chap. xiii. 4, 5, 6, 7. When God hath in his providence dealt graciously with a perfon, it may be delivered him from ftraits and troubles, fet him in a large place, prevented him with many fruits and effects of his goodnefs, bleffed him in his perfon, relations, and employments, dealt well with his foul, in giving him a gracious fense of his love in Chrift, for fuch a one to fall under finful mifcarriages, it goes to the heart of God, and shall not be paffed over. Undervaluations of love are great provocatiHath Nabal thus requited my kindness faith David? I cannot bear it. And the clearer the convictions of any in this kind were, the more fevere will their reflections be upon them themfelves.

ons.

2dly, Sins under or after great afflictions, are of this importance allo. God doth not afflict willingly, or chaften us merely for his pleasure; he doth it to make us partakers

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