Fifthly to fulfill the desires of the flesh obey sinne in the lusts thereof and for a time goe so farre therein as the swinge of our corrupt heart would carry us as if our yeelding unto sinne would make us loath it and the tast of the pleasures of sinne in action did not increase our naturall thirst after iniquitie But they are either extraordinary or ordinary Extraordinary The extraordinary meanes Fasting and vowes whereby extraordinary sinnes especially which possesse us as so many Devils are expelled I have sworne and will performe it saith David that I will keep thy righteous judgements Psal 119.106 and againe Psal 39.1 I said I will take heed to my wayes that I sinne not with my tongue Psal 69.10 With him also it was usuall to fast as in like manner it was with St. Paul 2 Cor. 6.5 who accordingly chargeth Husbands and Wives not to defraud one another 1 Cor. 7.5 except it be with consent for a time that they may give themselves to fasting and prayer Ordinary Ordinary meanes Consisting as in the avoiding of such things as may further our lusts so in the attaining of such as may represse the same Things to be avoided Things to bee avoided 1 Excesse even in things lawfull Excesse in things lawfull We must not goe to the utmost of them for if we doe it is a thousand to one we shall exceede from the utmost confines of lawfull liberty ther 's but a small step to the border of unlawfull delights wherein how easily may a man fall that comes so nigh them Simil. As he that would not fall into a ditch must not come nigh it and he that would not be drowned shunne even the rivers brinke so that we may not be drunke that we may not prophane Gods Sabbath that we may not be lascivious ambitious covetous or the like we are in respect of these outward things to abridge our selves of our lawfull liberty being sparing in meat drink attire sports ease 2 Sam. 23.15 sleep and the like Oh said David that one would give me drinke of the water of the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate neverthelesse the same being brought such was his moderation that he would not drinke thereof but poured it out to the Lord. The like was Abrahams Gen. 14.23 in refusing the King of Sodoms offer touching the spoile by him recovered The like Saint Paul who had learned in whatsoever state he was in therewith to be content Phil. 4.11 knowing both how to be abased and how to abound every where and in all things instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need yea as excesse in things lawfull is dangerous in respect of our selves Excesse dangerous in respect of others so it is also in regard of others as is implied in that of Saint Paul 1 Cor. 8.9 But take heed lest by any meanes this liberty of yours become a stumbling blocke to them that are weake for if any man see thee which hath knwledge sit at meat in the Idols temple shall not the conscience of him which is week be emboldned to eat those things which are offered to idols and through thy knowledge shall the weake brother perish for whom Christ died wherefore if meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world standeth lest I make my brother to offend As therefore Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himselfe with the portion of the Kings meat Dan. 1.8 nor with the wine which he dranke so must wee resolve not to abuse our Christian liberty 1 Cor. 7.30 but so to rejoyce as though we rejoyced not and to buy as though we possessed not and to use this world as not abusing it 2 The approving liking Harbouring the causes of our sinfull lustss entertaining and harbouring the causes of our inordinate lusts and affections viz. Ignorance Ignorance whereby we become alienated from the life of God Eph. 4.18 of which the Lord by his Prophet Hos 4 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Pride when men think it a disgrace to shew forth the power of Religion Pride The contrary whereof we read in King David 2 Sam. 6.22 who would yet be more vile then he had seemed to Michal and would be base in his owne sight the same being before the Lord and to set forth his praise Hardnesse of heart Hardnesse of heart Rom. 2.5 A main cause of impenitency But after thy hardnesse and impenitent heart saith Saint Paul treasureth up unto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God Carnall confidence Carnall considence whereby man makes flesh his arme and trusts in it Infidelity Infidelity when men will not beleeve in God doe not perswade themselves of his perfection and all-sufficiency as neither of his mercy truth or other his attributes 3 The occasions of sinne yea The occaons of sin the very appearance of evill Haply we may fall into an occasion Note as one sailing by Sea meet with a storme or one travelling by land be assaulted by a robber but we must not seeke an occasion for he that willingly runs into danger deserves to pay for his rashnesse Even the priests were to abstaine from wine or strong drinke Levit. 10.9 10. when they went into the Tabernacle of the congregation And the Nazarites Numb 6.3.4 not onely to abstaine from wine and strong drinke but also they were to eat nothing that was made of the Vine-tree from the kernels even to the huske To this end were the Israelites as to eat unleavened bread seven dayes Exod. 12.15 so even the first day to put away leaven out of their houses lest haply the having of it in their houses might have beene an occasion to make them to break the commandment Note So soone hath the heart given a secret consent to the defire of evill doing as it consents to adventure on the occasions of evill doing The withdrawing of a mans selfe from these things is a pulling of the fuell from the fire as the adventuring upon them doth blow the coales and admister fuell also Those are divers as Evill company Evill company Psal 119â— 115. Depart from me ye evill doers saith David for I will keepe the commandments of my God Prov. 4.14 Enter not into the path of the wicked saith Solomon and goe not in the way of evill men And againe Be not among Wine-bibbers Prov. 23.20 among riotous eaters of flesh as a little before Pro. 18.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed He himselfe found it by experience 1 King 11.4 his wives turned away his heart after other gods and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his
How to know whether wee grow in grace Thou lovest grace thou labourest for grace thou highly prisest grace thy thoughts words and works relish and savour of grace thou canst not away with any thing that may in any sort hinder grace thou art further and further enamoured with the love of grace thou still hungerest and thirstest for more grace and canst not be satisfied with that thou hast already Thou art every day more and more carefull to avoid sinne more and more desirous to vanquish thy corruptions more and more carelesse of the things of this World Thus indeed appeareth it infallibly that thou growest in grace and dayly prevailest against thy corruptions 8. They hate sinne They that doe truely mortifie their lusts and in some measure prevaile over them have anextreame hatred and detestation thereof wrought in their hearts Loathest thou sinne dost thou truly hate and abhorre it questionlesse thou prevailest over it Qu. How shall I know whether or not I doe truely hate it A. If thou lovest the Lord thou hatest sin How to know whether wee hate sinne if thou canst not indure to speake a good word of it or for it if thy dayly actions tend unto its ruine if thou grievest exceedingly whensoever thou fallest thereinto taking on thy selfe an holy revenge for the same if thou hatest it not so much in respect of its effects or punishment ensuing thereupon as its very nature being a breach of Gods Law if thou grievest when it seemeth to have the better but rejoycest when it is put to the worst then dost thou hate sinne and so prevailest against it by degrees vanquishest the same 9. They that doe truely mortifie their lusts and prevaile over their owne corruption having once escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust are exceeding carefull to avoid relapses therein not againe to be entangled therewith A burnt child dreads the fire Beasts that have fallen into ditches or pits will beware of them afterward The Bird that hath escaped out of the Fowlers ginnes will avoid them another time So the Saints remembring their former misery and dangerous condition whilst they were slaves unto sinne are so much the more carefull to keepe it under to this end shunning the occasion of sinne and abstaining even from all appearance of evill Hath Peter denied his Master he will doe so no more Hath David beene an adulterer he will bee so no more Hath Noah beene drunke he will be more wary in his drinking after But if God for their leaving of him or their want of watchfulnesse and improving his graces shall be pleased to leave them unto themselves for a time even after their knowledge and acknowledging of the truth so that they yeeld unto violent temptations and fall into the very sadnes of their unregenerate condition though they fall into the acts thereof they fall not into the love thereof They doe what they allow not what they would not what they are heartily grieved for Thou art carefull to avoid all sins but especially thine own sins thy formerly dearly beloved sins herein appeareth it that thou art a mortified Creature 10. They that have a true sight and sense of their sinnes doe in some measure mortifie the same Art thou acquainted with Satans Stratagems Art thou not ignorant of his wiles Discernest thou the deceitfulnesse of sinne Observest thou the subtilty of the flesh and how cunningly it would insinuate it selfe Knowest thou its traps and tricks its ginns and snares its baits and allurements Thou canst not but in the like manner avoid the same Thou wilt not willingly run headlong unto destruction 11. As before bodily death there is for the most part sicknes and at the time of death both unwillingnesse to undergoe it and painfulnesse in undergoing the same They are truly humbled and feele in themselves a great deale of unwillingnesse so before this death unto sinne there is deepe humiliation and dejection through the sense and apprehension of Gods wrath wrought in us by the law of God Simil. the soule being brought thereby as it were unto the very gates of hell There is also no small unwillingnesse in us to undergoe it the Flesh having a strong heart and so loath to die as in like manner no lesse paine then to pull out our right eye or cut off our right hand Hast thou beene thus spiritually dejected and affected thou art a mortified creature 12. As on those that are corporally dead neither alluring objects flattering speeches golden promises hope of pleasure feare of danger Not any thing is of force to withdraw us from God or such like doe worke at all so if thou art indeed dead unto sinne thou wilt neither be terrified by threats Simil. nor tickled with pleasures nor shall any allurements withdraw thee from God but still thou keepest fast hold on God though at some times in great weaknesse and continuest at deadly feud and open defiance with thy flesh and all its ad herents thus how to discerne when we prevaile against the flesh and so of the 9th particular CHAP. X. The Application of the foregoing matter HAving discovered the Enemy to be encountred shewed that it is to bee encountered laid open by whom it is to bee encountred set forth the reasons why it is to bee encountred declared after what manner it is to bee encountred described the meanes whereby it may bee encountred made knowne the Motives or Encouragements whereby we may bee stirred up to encounter it propounded such necessary Caveats as are to bee observed in this spirituall Combate as also manifested by what signes we may discerne when wee prevaile against it What remaineth but that as the Lord encouraged Moses to fight against Og the King of Bashan feare him not Numb 21.34 for I have delivered him into thy hand and all his people and his land and thou shalt doe to him as thou didst to Sihon King of the Amorttes which dwelt at Heshbon and Moses encouraged Ioshua from the Lord Deut. 31.23 Be strong and be of a good courage for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the Land which J sware unto them and I will be with thee as the Lord himselfe after the death of Moses Iosh 1.9 Be strong and of a good courage bee not affraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest and Ioshua the Captaines and men of Warre that went with him Iosh 10.24 Come neere put your feet upon the necks of these Kings Iosh 10.25 feare not nor be dismai'd be strong and of a good courage for thus shall the Lord doe to all your enemies against whom you fight and Deborah Barak to fight against Sisera Iudg. 4.14 up for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand is not the Lord gone out before thee and the Philistms one another to fight against the Jsraelites
Pro. i7 22 for amerry heart doth good like a medicine but a broken spirit drieth the bones as David found by experience Psal 32.3.4 To our posterity Posterity as the examples of Pharaoh Ahab Ieroboam Iehu with others manifest according to that of Moses from the Lord. Deut. 28.18 If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God c. cursed shall be the fruit of thy body In Hell when many both Parents and Children shall meet these may blame those as the especiall cause of their Condemnation Goods both directly and indirectly To our goods directly Pro. 6.26 as because of the whorish Woman a man is brought to a morsell of bread whereof the Prodigall Sonne had particular experience Luc. 15.16 Indirectly as which bringeth a curse upon the goods which they have painefully gotten by gracelesse children Unfaithfull servants costly tho fruitlesse Physicke and such like So that often Hag. 1.6 what they earne is put as it were in a bagge with holes Eccles 2.6 and what they painfully gather is heaped up to give to him that is good before God Yea sometimes it falleth out that a man to whom God hath given riches Eccles 6.2 and treasures and honour and he wanteth nothing to his soule of all that he desireth yet God giveth him not power to eate thereof but a strange man shall eat it agreeable to that of Iob. Iob. 27 i6.17 Though he should heape up silver as the dust and prepare rayment as the clay he may prepare it but the just shall put it on and the innocent shall divide the silver Iob. 20 i5 As a little before Hee hath devoured substance and hee shall vomit it for God shall draw it out of his belly yea God maketh their Table a snare unto them Psal 69.22 To our good name Good name according to that of the Wise man The name of the wicked shall rot Pro. 10.7 and that of Iob He shall perish for ever like his dung Iob. 20.7 It makes them odious both to God and good men Is not the Flesh then with the lusts and affections therof to be encountred Is not the same to be mortified as in regard of its nature so the wofull and dangerous effects of the same Our selves Reasons from our selves First because wee have so promised and vowed in Baptisme as also often renewed the same at our participatiō of the Lords Supper even to forsake the Devill and all his workes the pomps and vanities of the wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the Flesh If then wee would not become forsworne and perjured persons as it were Souldiers forsaking their colours casting downe their weapons and running away from their Captaine we must faithfully keepe touch in the performance of our Covenant accordingly arming our selves to this battell Secondly because wee are called with an holy Calling i Pet. 1.14 As obedient children saith Saint Peter not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance but as he which hath called you is holy so be yee holy in all manner of conversation Because it is written be yee holy for I am holy Thirdly Because we professe our selves to bee the children of GOD and so consequently enemies unto our owne corruptions Rom. 8 7. which are enmitie against GOD. Fourthly Rom. 8.13 because If wee live after the Flesh we shall die but if through the Spirit we doe mortifie the deeds of the body we shall live Fiftly Because at the length we shall be victorious against the same God will so accept of our weake endevours that he will more enable us to hold on yea so strengthen us that through him wee shall do valiantly in crucifying this Old man mortifying these earthly members subduing this body of Sin and putting to death this body of death We are weake indeed in our selves Rom. 8 3i but if God be with us who can prevaile against us not Goliah against David our gyant-like sinnes against us being under the Almighties protection and clothed with the Armour of God Sixtly because the more we yeeld unto our lusts Pro. 30 i5 the more will they insult over us being so unreasonable that they are never satisfied like the horsleech whereof the Wiseman speaketh that the more it is given the more it craves and is never satisfied like the fire which the more is cast into it burneth the more yea 2 Per. 1.4 notwithstanding whatsoever corruption is in the World hath proceeded from lust yet is not contented but still desireth to corrupt more If thou give it an inch it will take an ell if it can get but in its head it wil quickly wind in its whole body If it once take possession of the Soule it will not be an easie matter to dispossesse the same entertainest thou it in any measure it will quickly force thee to give it good entertainment Others GOD. Reasons from others GOD. First because Sinne is Gods enemie Every Lust hath in it the seed of Rebellion and as it increaseth so rebellion increaseth Secondly because the same grieveth him as which opposeth his Mercy Truth Patience love and every thing else in him Simil. if we must not doe that which will grieve our earthly Parents much lesse that which grieveth the God of Heaven Thirdly because he enjoyneth us to performe this Dutie whose Commandements doe not admit of a Dispensation yea binde our Consciences and impose upon our Soules a necessity of doing what he commands Christ CHRIST Whose death through our sinfull lusts is despised his worke of Redemption vilified his most precious blood troad under foot and himselfe as it were pull'd downe from Heaven and crucified afresh The Spirit SPIRIT Who is hereby extreamly both tempted grieved and quenched yea forced to withdraw it selfe as it were and to forbeare those comfortable operations which it did once worke for our good insomuch as at length wee shall have no feeling of it and scarce bee able to discerne whether it bee in us at all yea or no. The holy Angels The holy Angels Who rejoycing at the conversion of sinners doe therefore grieve at their impenitencie The Saints departed The Saints departed As whose consummation of blisse is through us hindered for if wee belong unto God they without us cannot be glorified if Reprobates our sinnes must be ripe and come to the height ere everlasting judgements shall bee inflicted on us till which time neither can they be perfectly glorified Alive Alive As who grieve at our impieties mourne for the abominations by us committed The wicked The wicked First because they walke after their lusts Col. 3.7 whose lives are not fit patternes for our imitation Secondly because through our wickednesse they will be the more encouraged to goe on in Sinne as the Israelites by the evill example of Elies Sonnes 1 Sam. 2.17
that the bitternesse thereof be not discovered as also the naughtinesse of our owne hearts ready at all times to give him entertainement if through his goodnes we did not watch over the same with all diligence What a good God have wee who not only fighteth for us but also advertiseth us of all the enemies of our salvation Much vvas the King of Israel obliged to the Prophet of God 2 Kin. 6.9 for revealing unto him the King of Arams purposes against him Simil. as vvhereby he did more then once avoid the danger but much more are vve to our gracious God for reveiling unto us by his faithfull Embassadors Sathans manifold guiles vvho is at all times and in every place and with every lust ready to deceive us standing at our right hand to bee our Adversarie yea for our sakes fiercely rebuking him Zech. 3.2 And the Lord said unto Sathan The Lord rebuke thee O Sathan even the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee Js not this a brand pluckt out of the fire Though wee at some times feare to be overcome though wee may doubt that vve are indeed overcome though vve may be as it were at the very last cast even ready to faint and give over yet through the power of God are wee so preserved that not any shall pluck us out of his hands yea Hos 14.5 as the dew revives the withered herbs the meditation of foregoing comforts shall so revive us that our youth shall bee renewed like the Eagles Oh for pitty Psal i03 5 that our God should thus by his powerfull presence accompany us and out of his affectioned love towards us be ever arming us by his counsels comforts exhortations threatnings c. and yet that wee should at any time give place to the Divell in making provision for the Flesh Rom. 14.13 to accomplish the lusts thereof 3. No small glory doth redound unto God No small glory doth redound unto God He that made the withered stick of Aaron to bring forth fresh flourishing Almonds Num. i7 8 and made the poore mans withered hand to become whole Mat. i2 i3 to the glory of his name and in like manner opened the eyes of the blinde Mar. 8.23 even the same powerfull God by our dayly Mortification and the subduing the remainder of corruption wherewith we are diseased defiled wounded getteth glory to himself as who not only forgiveth our iniquities Psal i03 3 but likewise healeth our infirmities To vvhat end were wee created but to set forth the glory of God Delaying to mortifie our Lusts we delay the performance of that duty for which we came into the World A necessary consideration to further Gods glory would wee but consider that howsoever Sathan with his Adherents hath done vvhat in him lieth to hinder us from the remission of our sinnes from renovation in Christs blood from sanctification of the Spirit as in like manner he hath gone about to hinder the power of the Word and blessing powred upon the Sacraments and the Blessing that accompanieth the sanctified fiery fornace of affliction out of which the Children of God come like purified gold yea and would hinder deaths sting to be taken away and so us from lying downe void of sinne pure chast Virgins for Christ and yet that hee is letted in every of those his designes would we by denying to mortifie our Lusts thus rob God of his glory i Sam. ii 2. As the men of Iabesh Gilead answered Nahash the Ammonite requiring that he might thrust out all their righteyes and lay it for a reproch upon all Israel Give us seven dayes respite that we may send messengers into all the Coasts of Israel and then if there bee no man to save us we will come out to thee So might we Sathan endeavouring by his continued and reiterated temptations to draw us unto sinne that if we should not be succoured we were unable to withstand him Simil. But as they were delivered on the seventh day So inasmuch as herein Sathan aimeth at the eternall reproch of our gracious God and of his deare Sonne Iesus Christ and holy Spirit with the shame of the holy Angels our attenders and our owne who are the Israel of GOD seeking to pierce our soules and bodies thorow with the speace of sinne 1 Sam. 18.11 as Saul cast a speare at David to have nailed him to the wall Our gracious God who is jealous of his owne glory will undoubtedly by inabling us to oppose this our spirituall Nahash and our sinnes his Ammonits thus glorifie himselfe His head is already broken in the person of our Saviour at sundry times also he hath had notable foiles given him by Christs members being no more able to prevaile against them then Goliah against David the Egyptions against the Israelites the Canaanits against Ioshua and his Successors What remaineth but that we should still continue the warre untill in the full and finall Mortification of our lust to the everlasting praise of Gods glory hee be trod under foot As Naamans servants unto him 2 King 5.13 My father if the Prophet had bid thee done som great thing wouldst thou not have done it how much rather then when he saith to thee wash and be cleane So may I unto you If the Lord would for the glory of his owne name require us to part with our goods good name lives yea even the salvation of our Soules we ought willingly to assent thereunto much more when for our further and more cōfortable fruition of those requireth us but to mortifie our Lusts 4. Through our remnant of corruptions mortified by grace We obtain a continuall holy fear out of the sense of our owne weaknesse wee obtaine continuall feare through sense of continuall weaknesse on our owne part for certaine it is that if the Lord should leave us but for a time the very smallest temptation were of force to overcome the strongest Christian Note the least fiery dart of Sathan which hee taketh out of his owne Quiver being indeed extreamly venimous crooked and deceitfull The Wine that Noah drunke deceived him who notwithstanding was not purposely excessive therein Hee had strength no doubt to have overcome a stronger temptation if God had not left him for a season What a meane temptation was Davids looking on Bathsheba the damosels questioning of Peter Dalilahs feigned teares unto Samson The Sins I confesse in which the Saints fall thereby as also the dishonour of Gods Name and the Churches dammage through the same bee not small yet the LORD that brought light out of darknesse Gods children profit by the sins of others doth even hereby worke for the good of others as who learn from the same that even the best are unable to stand by themselves and that if even the strongest sort of Gods Giants bright shining Starres in the firmament of God have notwithstanding now and then
1 Sam. 4.9 Bee strong and quit your selves like men O ye Philistims that ye be not servants unto the Hebrewes as they have beene to you quit your selves like men and fight and Iahaziel the sonne of Zechariah a Levit did encourage Judah the inhabitants of Ierusalem and King Iehosaphat 2. Chr. 20.15 Be not affraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude for the battell is not yours but Gods 2. Chr. 20.17 c. Feare not nor be dismayed to morrow go out against them for the Lord will be with you So sending every one of you to fight the Lords Battels by warring against your own Lusts I should in his name the more to incite you hereunto and further incourage you herein conclude all with a word of Exhortation What Argument might not be used for your encouragement Arguments inciting us us to warre against our lusts Necessitie Necessity What more needfull Doth not GOD command it whose will both is and must be a Law unto us Is not the Flesh still plotting our destruction Are we not the further endangered the more we yeeld unto it Shall not our lusts be snares and traps unto us scourages in our sides and thornes in our eyes if wee make any covenant with them Are wee not thereby further and further defiled Doe we not thereby further and further grieve the good Spirit of God Is not our communion familiaritie and acquaintance with God further and further interrupted Are we not therby further and further drawn to the commission of grosse and grievous sins Will not this root of bitternes dayly produce in us most bitter fruits Will not God be angry at our continuance herein Can it be otherwise but that hee should inflict upon us heavy and fearfull judgements by reason of the same Rom. 8 i3 If wee live after the flesh shall we not die Shall we not both here and hereafter be punished as perjured persons Rebels against the GOD of Heaven contemners of his Admonitions despisers of CHRISTS death and treaders under foot of his most precious blood grievers of the Spirit breakers of the hearts of Gods children stumbling blocks unto the Vngodly Equitie Equitie What more just or lawfull Is not sinne Gods enemie Is it not a murtherer of the Lord of glory Doth it not daily lust against the Spirit Is it not one of the maine enemies of our soules salvation Doth it not dayly provoke and stirre us up to the breach of Gods Lawes Is it not a meere coozener and deceiver will it not beguile us in the end Shall wee not utterly misse of our hopes if we trust to its offers and follow its allurements will it not requite us with losse in stead of profit torment in stead of pleasure shame in stead of credit paine in stead of ease misery in stead of happines and Hell in stead of Heaven Vtilitie Vtilitie What more profitable Doe we not hereby obtaine tranquillity of minde and dayly peace of conscience have we not hereby dayly experience of GODS powerfull presence accompanying Us Doth not continuall glory redound unto the Majestie of the most high hereby Is there not maintained in us an holy feare and suspition of our own weaknesse whereby wee are humble-minded Doe we not by opposing our inward corruption prevent and stay many outward actuall sinnes Shall not have lesse to doe in the end of our journey if all our dayes we be breaking up our fallow ground Shall wee no hereby by attaine unto an higher and higher detestation of sinne Shall wee not hereby make conscience even of the least of the smallest sinnes as being breaches of Gods Law Shall wee not hereby be assured of Gods love towards in Christ as well in the pardon and forgivenesse of our sinnes as our continuance in the detestation and mortification of the same Credit Credit What can procure more Shall wee not hereby be esteemed of God reverenced of the Angels honoured of all good men I may adde Mar. 6.20 that as Herod bare no small respect unto Iohn the Baptist a patterne of the doctrine of mortification which hee urged upon others so even the wicked will in their judgement whatsoever they doe in their practise approve of one that is throughly mortified Thus shall it be done to the man who mortifyeth his lusts hee shall be honoured of all as in heaven most of all Vndoubted furtherance and helpe from others Vndoubted furthrance and helpe new strength and courage put in ourselves What the Lord said unto Ioshua touching his enemies Iosh 1.5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the dayes of thy life as I was with Moses so I will bee with thee I will not faile thee nor forsake thee Saith not he the like unto our soules touching our lusts that they shall not stand before us hee will goe along with us hee will not faile us or forsake us Doth not hee goe along with us doth not hee fight for us hath not that great Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah bound that strong one Rev. 5.5 and spoiled him Col. 2.15 setting us at liberty Gal. 5.17 lusteth not the Spirit against the flesh on our behalf are not also the Angels ministring Spirits sent forth for our good Heb. 1.14 Do not they pitch their Tents round about our Tabernacle Have we not in like manner the benefit of the Prayers of all Gods people yea more particularly as Vriah said unto David 2 Sam. 11.11 The Ark and Israel and Iudah abide in Tents and my Lord Ioab and the servants of my Lord are encamped in the open field Simil. Shall I then goe into mine house to eate and to drinke and to lie with my wife as thou livest and as thy soule liveth I will not doe this thing there are some which doe even sympathize with us in this Warfare joyning with us as it were hand in hand and setting their foot unto ours being no lesse carefull of us but rather more then we are of our selves which do even dayly humble themselves before God on our behalfe crying calling praying knocking begging interceding Exod. 17.12 and with Moses stedfastly lifting up their hands that we may prevaile against our spirituall Amalehites Certaine victory Certaine victory Not any duly and truly mortifying the flesh with its lusts and affections either heretofore hath beene or hereafter shall bee overcome thereby Tit. 1.2 God that cannot lie hath promised Rom. 8.33 that if we doe through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body we shall live As Ioshua unto the people Iosh 23.10 One man of you shall chase a thousand for the Lord your God he it is that fighteth for you as he hath promised you So may I say unto all such as shall in truth war against their Iusts though you had ten thousand of them in you you shall chase them away for the