considered more wisely the vile nature of sin; if I had not allowed my
whole is lost by his neglect. So, in that self-scrutiny which we are called to, we are most diligently to inquire after it. God does not look at what duties we perform, as to their number or nature merely, but whether we do them with that intent of mind and spirit which he requires. Many men perform duties, and do not so much as think of them; their minds are filled with other things, only duty takes up so much of their time. This mocks God and deceives their own souls. So if you would truly assess yourselves, consider how it is with you as to the duty of your minds. Consider whether, by any of the deceits mentioned, you have not been diverted; and if there be any decays on you, you will find that the beginning of them was there. By one way or other your minds have been made heedless, slothful, uncertain, drawn off from their duty. Consider the charge, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 2527. May not such a soul say, "If I had attended more diligently; if I had considered more wisely the vile nature of sin; if I had not allowed my mind to be possessed with vain hopes and foolish imaginations, by a cursed abuse of gospel grace; if I had not permitted it to be filled with the things of the world, and to become negligent in attending to duties, - I had not at this day been thus sick, weak, wounded, decayed, defiled. My careless deceived mind, has been the beginning of sin to my soul." And this revelation will direct the soul to a way of recovery; which will never be effected by multiplying duties, but by restoring the mind, Psalm 23:3.
This appears to be the great means of preserving our souls, as to their general frame and particular duties, according to the mind and will of God , - namely, to labour after a sound and steadfast mind. It is a signal grace to have "the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind," 2 Timothy 1:7; - a stable, solid, resolved mind in the things of God, not easily moved, diverted, changed, not drawn aside; a mind not apt to hearken after corrupt reasonings, vain insinuations, or pretences to draw it off from its duty. This is what the apostle exhorts believers to: 1 Corinthians 15:58,
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."
The steadfastness of our minds abiding in their duty is the cause of all our fruitfulness in obedience; and so Peter tells us that those who are led away or enticed, "they fall from their steadfastness," 2 Peter 3:17. And the great blame that is laid on backsliders is, that they are not steadfast: Psalm 78:37, "Their heart was not steadfast." For if the soul be safe, unless the mind be drawn off from its duty, the steadfastness of the mind is its great preservative. There are three parts of this steadfastness of the mind: - First, A full purpose of cleaving to God in all things; secondly, A daily quickening of the heart to a discharge of this purpose; third]y, Resolutions against all dalliances about negligences in that discharge.
CHAPTER 10.
The deceit of sin draws the mind away from its attendance to particular duties – What is needed in the mind of believers regarding particular duties of obedience - How sin, through deceit, diverts the mind from them.
WE have not as yet dealt with the first way of the working of the deceit of sin, - namely, that it draws away the mind from the discharge of its duty, which we must deal with for two reasons: -
First, Because of its importance. If the mind be drawn off, if it is turned aside from attendance to its office, the whole soul is drawn into sin. So we should give diligent heed to this; as the apostle says: Hebrews 2:1,
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."
It is a failure of our minds, by the deceitfulness of sin, in losing the life, power, sense, and impression of the word, which he cautions us against. And there is no way to prevent it but by giving most "earnest heed to the things which we have heard;" which expresses the duty of our minds in attending to obedience.
Secondly, Because the workings of the mind are spiritual, the conscience, unless enlightened and duly stirred up, will not be alert. Conscience does not exercise reflex acts on the mind's failures. When the affections are entangled with sin, or the will begins to conceive it, conscience is apt to make an uproar in the soul, and to give it no rest until the soul be reclaimed, or itself be bribed; but these neglects of the mind, being spiritual, are seldom taken notice of. In the Scriptures our minds are often called our spirits, - as Romans 1:9, "Whom I serve with my spirit;" and are distinguished from the soul, which principally means the affections, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "Sanctify you wholly, your whole spirit and soul," - that is, your mind and affections. It is true,