mind totally, - that is, devoid of saving grace, - is the working-place of
tempt the soul to sin the wise man excellently describes, Proverbs 23:31-35. Sin commonly works in this way to destroy souls which seem to have made good steps in the ways of God: - When it has entangled them with one temptation, and brought the will to like it, another temptation comes, either to neglect some duty or to refuse more light; the reason men fall off utterly from God is not usually their first temptation. So this is the third act of the deceit of sin. It obtains the will's consent to its conception; and thus many sins are conceived in the heart, which defile the soul no less, and cause it to contract less guilt, than if they were actually committed.
There are one or two particular ways it uses to resist the voice of the word and the Spirit for its ruin.
1. It uses the darkness of the mind to work out its intentions. A dark mind totally, - that is, devoid of saving grace, - is the working-place of sin. Hence its effects are called the "works of darkness," Ephesians 5:11, Romans 13:12, as springing from thence. Sin brings forth by the help of it. The working of lust in a dark mind is the upper region of hell; for it lies next door to it for filth, horror, and confusion. Now, there is a partial darkness abiding still in believers; they "know but in part," 1 Corinthians 13:12. Though there be in them all a principle of saving light, - the day-star is risen in their hearts, - yet all the shades of darkness are not utterly expelled from them in this life. And there are two principal parts of the remaining darkness that is in believers: -
(1.) Ignorance of the will of God, of the rule and law in general, or of the reference of the particular fact that lies before the mind to the law.
(2.) Error positively; taking that for truth which is falsehood, and that for light which is darkness. The law of sin uses both of these to exert its power in the soul.
(1.) Is there a remaining ignorance of anything of the will of God? Sin will be sure to make use of it. Though Abimelech was not a believer, he had moral integrity; he declares it in a solemn appeal to God, the