"But if we continue in sin, and rebel and harden our hearts, we shall become so inured and fixed in it, that it will be natural, and we shall choose it from time to time"

Elias Hicks, a prominent Quaker preacher and theologian from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was understood for his emphasis on the inner spiritual experience and personal stability. The quote in concern shows his deep issue for the ethical and spiritual state of people and the community.

In this declaration, Hicks warns against the dangers of habitual sin and spiritual rebellion. He starts by acknowledging human fallibility, recommending that sin is a potential part of the human experience. However, his primary concern is with the continuation and perseverance in wicked habits. By mentioning "if we continue in sin", Hicks highlights the volitional element of sin; it is not merely a preliminary act of misstep but a mindful choice to continue misdeed.

The expression "rebel and harden our hearts" talks to the active resistance and rejection of moral and spiritual guidance. This hardening of the heart can be viewed as a metaphor for ending up being desensitized or indifferent to ethical considerations and the spiritual urgings present within oneself. It symbolizes a closing off from the impact of what Quakers might refer to as the "Inner Light", or that divine existence which guides the conscience.

Hicks recommends that if this pattern of behavior continues, individuals will end up being "inured and fixed in it", suggesting that what was when a choice becomes entrenched as routine. In time, this duplicated engagement in sin can become so deeply ingrained that it transforms into a force of habit. The behavior ends up being instinctual, to the point where the private "shall select it from time to time" without conscious deliberation.

In essence, Elias Hicks is cautioning versus the slippery slope of moral complacency. He argues that sin, if not actively opposed, ends up being normalized and picked almost by default. His mentor highlights the value of alertness in maintaining one's moral and spiritual health, alerting that a lack of attentiveness can lead to a life where misdeed is not just appealing but embraced.