sins which are beloved sins in the ungodly and too often tyrannizing sins and prevailing corruptions even in the godly in whom they are not beloved or reigning lusts 3. Shew what it is to keep mens selves from their iniquities 4. Give the Reasons of the Doctrine 5. Apply it 1. To lay down some Propositions more fully and clearly to understand the Doctrine Prop. I. Every sin that any person doth commit is and may properly be called his own as flowing from his own heart and nature and his corrupt will and affections and he ought to lay it at his own door to charge it upon himself and not to put it off from himself and lay the blame on others either on Satan or on Companions alluring persuading or drawing him to it and least of all should men dare yea they should tremble at and abhor the very thought of it viz. to father their sins on the infinitely good and holy God and lay these Bastard births of their own begetting at God's door Yet this is that all men are ready to do and they have learned this vile practice from our first Parents Gen. 3.12 13. The Man lays the blame on the Woman and the Woman on the Serpent yea Adam in effect lays it upon God himself when he says The Woman thou gavest me she gave me and I did eat q. d. If thou hadst not given me the Woman and she persuaded me I had not eaten Therefore charge not thy sins on others persuading alluring or threatning of thee They may be instruments and occasions of drawing thee to sin but thy sins are thy own acts Nay lay not the blame of thy sins so much upon Satan as on thy self he may tempt and strongly suggest but he cannot force it is thou thy self that consentest to Satan's suggestions and so the sin comes to be committed But above all take heed of charging thy sins upon God he may permit and doth order the sins of men but he is by no means the Author of sin Jam. 1.13 God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man no it is thy own lust that draws thee aside and entices thee v. 14. Our sins are our own ways Isa 53.6 We have turned every one to his own way so that in this respect every sin thou art guilty of is thine Iniquity but this is not the principal sense intended in the Text under the expression of Mine Iniquity tho' it be a true Sense and a great Truth and therefore you are to keep your selves by Repentance Prayer and Faith and most vigorours endeavours from all Sins as those which will be your own Iniquities if you commit them Prop. II. Original Corruption that Body of Sin and Death that every Son and Daughter of Adam by ordinary generation brought into the World with them and still dwells in them is and may properly be called a Man's own Iniquity By reason of this there is in the Hearts and Natures of all meer Men a Proneness to all kinds of Sin and unto the most Heinous acts of them tho' through preventing restraining and renewing Grace they may be and often are kept from breaking out into outward acts Original Corruption is the Seed and Root of all Actual Sin of Thought Word and Deed of Omission and Commission and of all the Iniquities that cleave to our Holy things Mat. 15.19 Out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts Murders Adulteries Fornications Thefts False-witness Blasphemie Original Sin is the Mother-Sin in every Man the Fountain of all other Sins Yea it is alike in all in the Root tho' upon the fore-mentioned account it is not alike in the Fruits And some would have this understood by this term Mine Iniquity in the Text and the Doctrine is a great and certain Truth in reference to this sin it is certainly the Duty of all the People of God by Faith Prayer Watchfulness and most vigorous endeavours to keep themselves from this Iniquity at least tho' they cannot keep themselves wholly from its motions and actings yet from its Reign and Dominion to keep it under and to lay the Ax to this Root of sin And this will be an Evidence of the sincerity of the Heart and of the Truth yea the Strength of Grace and Men are never rightly Humbled for sin nor do Mortifie it till the Streams and Branches of sin lead us to the Fountain and Root sc this Original Corruption so as to be Humbled for and Mortifie that But yet I think this is not the only Iniquity or that chiefly intended in the Text. Therefore Prop. III Tho' there be the Seeds of all sins in every Man yet there is a Propensity in every Man and Woman to some particular sins more than to others There are in Men some Master-Captain-Sins which are as Lords Paramount by which the Body of Sin doth exercise its Dominion and Reigning Power in the Unconverted and its Tyranny even in the Godly It is with the Body of Sin as it is with the Natural Body in that there is the Seed and Root of all Diseases yea of Death it self by reason of the different Humours in it when any of them becomes excessively predominant yet there are also some particular Diseases which some are more prone to than others according to the prevalency of some particular Humour as some to Agues Fevers Plurisies some to Dropsies some to Palsies Lethargies Apoplexies some to Consumptions some to Stone Gout c. so in reference to the Body of Sin besides a general disposition to all sin there are particular sins persons are more strongly inclined to some to Gluttony some to Drunkenness and unclean Lusts others to Anger Wrath Malice Revenge another to Covetousness there is some predominant sin or other And as in a compleat perfect Man there are all the Faculties Senses Members of a Man yet some excel in one some in another some in quickness of Apprehension some in solidity of Judgment others in strength of Memory others in strength of Body or the quickness of the Senses So in reference to sins all have the Seed of every sin in them this Man of Sin hath all its Faculties Senses Members but yet every one is more inclined to some particular sins which may be more properly stiled our own Iniquities our own way and our doings Jer. 18.11 such sins as are compared to a Right Hand a Right Eye Mat. 5.29 30. Sins as near and dear to them and that they are as unwilling to part with as those Members in the Body This Sin is stiled the weight that presses us down and the Sin that easily besets men which expressions as they may have respect to the Body of Sin and natural evil Concupiscence so they may have a special respect to and be fitly said of that particular sin that men are most inclined to and often and most easily overtaken by for this sin hath them at every turn and besets them with the greatest advantage And upon
Exhortation 1. That you would labour to find out what your special iniquity is whether a beloved lust a reiging sin or a too much prevailing corruption 2. That having found it out you would endeavour to cast it out and keep your selves from it I. Be exhorted to make a diligent search to find out what your proper reigning or prevailing sins are This Exhortation is rightly grounded on this Doctrine for if it be your duty to keep your selves from your iniquity then it is certainly your duty to make a diligent search into your own hearts and lives to find it out for you can never actively keep your selves from it or by faith prayer and watchfulness set against it if you do not first search it out And here all those particulars insisted on under that head in the opening the Doctrine Where you are to search for these iniquities are of great use and proper to be returned upon Look into your Constitutions Callings and all the other particulars mentioned there But because it is a matter of great concern I shall add other signs to help you in this search I am exhorting you to 1. That is thy iniquity thy special prevailing corruption yea if in an unregenerate state thy beloved reigning lust which thou dost with peculiar frequency commit and art with peculiar ease drawn into that sin which through custom is become a second nature that is this iniquity which thou must keep thy self from next to original corruption which is every mans own iniquity and the root of all other sins Sins which Men have accustomed themselves to commit are most properly their iniquities yea if not grieved for prayed believed and watched against they are their reigning sins That sin that finds the door of the heart always open to entertain it or ready to open at the first knock that sin in respect of which thy heart is like to Tinder no sooner can the spark of a temptation or an occasion fall upon thee but thy heart presently catcheth at be it Pride Passion Lust Intemperance Couzenage love of lewd loose Companions so that no sooner doth a loose Companion hold up his finger but thou presently yieldest this is thy iniquity That sin which thou can'st deny nothing to as Sampson could deny Delilah nothing but tells her all his heart tho' it was to his ruine lost him his strength his eyes and at last his life that is thy Delilah-lust that thou can'st not deny tho' it cost thee thy Estate Name Relations Life yea thy very Soul It is true a sincere Soul may be frequently foiled by inward workings of his Corruptions and may relapse into the same sin again and again and this is his iniquity his prevailing sin but that sin which thou can'st deny nothing to is more than a bare prevailing sin though that is ill enough it is a reigning sin 2. That is thine iniquity a beloved lust in the unregenerate and a prevailing corruption in the regenerate that ingrosseth thy thoughts most that thy thoughts run out upon and are most busily imployed about especially in times of retirement when thou art alone and hast most free opportunity for thinking if these thoughts be allowed indulged delight ful ones and most of all if these thought and contrivances about accomplishing the sin croud in and be entertained by thee when thou art at the Worship of God and in holy Duties so that sin which thou art thinking of when in thy Calling when alone in thy Closet or in the Night-seasons when thou wakest that sin which lieth down with thee at night and waketh with the when thou wakest in the night or morning that is usually last in thy thoughts when thou goest to sleep and first in the morning and interrupts thee most when thou art or shouldst be conversant in Duties of Divine Worship that is thy iniquity else thy thoughts would not be so much working about and towards it If they be worldly thoughts that are thus thy constant Companions Worldliness is thy Iniquity if thoughts of thy Pleasures Voluptuousness is thy Iniquity if thoughts of meeting with Tipling Gaming Wanton Companions if lustful unclean Thoughts then Intemperance and Lust is thy Iniquity if Angry Wrathful Envious Malitious Revengful Thoughts then Anger Envy Malice Revenge are thy Iniquities Yea if wandring thoughts prevail in Duties these are thy iniquities if thou dost indulge such thoughts allow delight in them and roll them in thy mind with pleasure as thou wouldst do a sweet morsel under thy tongue Such sins are thy beloved lusts and reigning sias for Christ himself hath said Matth. 16.21 Where the treasure is there the heart will be also therefore if thy allowed delightful thoughts are running upon any sin that sin is thy treasure And though sinful thoughts of any of the fore-mentioned kinds even be they but distracting thoughts if they be not allowed but grieved for and repented of are not reigning sins yet if they very frequently and powerfully carry thee down they are thy prevailing and tyrannizing corruptions which if bewail'd resisted prayed believed and watched against do not disprove thy sincerity yet they often very much hinder the evidence of it and therefore must be thy continual grief and burden and thou must especially endeavour to keep thy self from these sins as thine Iniquities 3. That is very likely to be thy iniquity which thy best Friends those that love thee most and wish thee best do most tell thee of warn thee against and reprove thee for that thou hearest oftenest from these about surely thou art more than ordinarily inclined to else thy Friends would not so often trouble thee about them And these Friends are of two sorts Friends without thee and Friends within thee 1. That sin which thy best friends without thee do most frequently tell thee and warn thee of such as faithful Ministers especially thy own Pastors Godly faithful Christian Friends Godly Relations as Yoke-fellow Parents Masters any Superiours yea or Equals what such notice in thee and do frequently admonish thee of thou may'st conclude that is thy iniquity a sin thou art much inclined to For Love covers a multitude of sins in this sense thou should'st say to thy self surely this is my iniquity else these my Friends who I am satisfied love me and wish me well would not so notice it and reprove me for it 2. Thou hast a Friend in thy Bosom Conscience this is either the best Friend next to God and Christ or if thou despisest affrontest and provokest it the worst Enemy thou canst have in all the World Would'st thou then find out thy iniquity hearken to the Voice of Conscience that is like to be thy iniquity which thy Conscience most charges upon thee and most sharply checks thee for being rightly informed by the Word of the sinfulness of that which it accuseth thee of and also giving a true testimony as to matter of fact and thy being guilty of committing such a sin This I
thy Heart and that Sin are too well acquainted that it finds too kind entertainment with thee that it dares be so bold and impudent as ordinarily to set upon thee when thou art more immediately in the presence of God in Holy Duties Satan will be sure at such seasons to stir up such Lusts in thy Heart as are pleasing and are likely to find most easie access and best entertainment as possibly Worldly and Vain Thoughts before and in Duties Drowsiness Sleepiness Deadness and Dulness of Heart and Affections I say the sins that most pester thee on Lords days or other times of either ordinary or extraordinary Duties And so the sins that set on thee after Duties after the Word Read or Heard after Prayer and Receiving the Lords Supper and after Sabbaths be it Pride Security laying down the Soul's Watch unruly Passions Worldliness c. these are thy iniquities which thou must keep thy self from beware of the Devil and the sin of thy own Heart on Monday Mornings and after Hearing Praying Fasting and Sacraments And thus I have finished this Branch of Exhortation to find out what your special reigning sins or most prevailing corruptions are and have largely laid down signs and marks whereby you may know which are they Yet before I leave it I shall endeavour to answer one Question or Case of Conscience and therein shew the difference between a beloved Lust a reigning Sin in an Unregenerate Man and a tyrannizing prevailing Corruption in a Godly Person for some doubting Christian may say I am afraid such and such sins that I am so often mastered by such as Passions inward workings of corruptions c. are reigning sins in me and inconsistent with Uprightness of Heart now how shall I know whether they be so or no Now for answer to this doubt tho' much has been spoken under the Heads already laid down yet I shall add somewhat further though but briefly I. One difference between a beloved Lust or reigning Sin that is inconsistent with Uprightness and prevailing Corruptions that yet are consistent with Uprightness is this That is a beloved Lust a reigning Sin which is indulged and that the Soul makes Provision for that a Man caters for and casts about how to provide that which may feed and maintain it Rom. 13.14 Make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof to gratifie and satisfie its Appetite to pamper the Flesh It is a beloved Friend that you make special provision for and cast about how you may best entertain Therefore if you set your Thoughts on work to find out a commodious way to commit such a sin to meet with loose tipling Companions or run upon the occasions of sin what you have found to be so and into that company which you have found drawing you into sin it is a sign that is a beloved Lust When sin doth not so much overtake thee as thou followest hard after and overtakest sin even lesser sins in this case may be reigning sins If thou settest thy self to Sleep at Divine Worship or thou welcomest and kindly entertainest Vain Worldly Proud Lustful or any other sinful Thoughts especially in the time of duty these are reigning sins But on the other hand tho' sinful Thoughts break in upon thee or thou dost commit some outward acts of sin if as Gal. 6.1 thou be overtaken with a fault but dost not make provision for the Flesh but endeavourest to cut off all provisions from it fliest from all occasions of it usest all means to cut Sin and the Flesh short and keep them under if Drowsiness in Holy Duties seize on thee and thou endeavourest to shake it off Vain Wandring Thoughts in Worship or any sinful Thoughts at other times impetuously break in and thou endeavourest to expel them in this case they are not beloved sins nor reigning corruptions tho' they are such prevailing corruptions as are very much thy special sins which it is thy duty to be humbled for and by Faith Prayer Watchfulness and most vigorous endeavours to keep thy self from II. Another difference between a beloved Lust a reigning Sin in the Unregenerate and Infincere and a tyrannizing Corruption in the Regenerate and Upright is this That is a reigning sin in any which is suffered to have quiet and peaceable possession in the Heart that a person is unwilling to have disquieted or himself disturbed in the committing of the sin which is not resisted that thou dost not Believe Pray and Watch against and when thou hast fallen into it dost not endeavour speedily to recover thy self out of by acts of Faith and Repentance and by earnest Prayer Endeavours and Watchfulness against it for the time to come A clean beast may fall into the Mire but gets out of it again as soon as ever it can it is a Swine that lies and loves to wallow in the Mire And thou art no better than a filthy Swine if thou lovest to wallow in the Mire of thy Lusts and not get out of it But now that is not a reigning sin in thee tho' it do too oft prevail over thee which thou grievest for mournest under and wilt not suffer to be quiet in thy Soul but resolvest it shall not ever have a quiet day no nor hour in thee If thou resistest it by the Weapons of thy Spiritual Warfare Prayest and improvest Christ against it and when thou art overtaken with it art not at rest till thou renewest thy Faith and Repentance and lookest up to Christ for strength against as well as the Pardon of it If it be thus with thee thy iniquity is not a reigning sin for he is a cleanly person who tho' he fall into the Dirt cannot rest till he get out of it and be cleansed again III. That is a beloved Lust that thou art unwilling to have discovered art deliberately angry at any person or thing that stands in thy way or would hinder thee from committing of it art angry at the Word when that meets with thy Sin But on the other hand if thou art glad to have thy sin discovered and reproved and when the Wordcomes closest to it can'st say as Psal 141.5 it is a kindness and as an excellent oil in my estimation can'st bless God for any thing that hinders thee from committing it as David 1 Sam. 25.32 33. David blessed God yea Abigail as an instrument for preventing his shedding of Blood If thou can'st bless God for Affliction when it keeps thee from sin as David again Ps 119.67 71 75. then it is no reigning sin II. A second Branch of the Exhortation bottomed on this Doctrine is That having first found out which is your special iniquity which I have largely insisted on and is the first step to keeping your selves from your iniquity then endeavour to cast it out of your Hearts and Lives You must indeed endeavour to keep your selves from every sin so as not to allow your selves in any But you must above all