body of sin For the more distinct handling of the point consider that mortification may be distinguished as something that is externall and without us Mortification is externall or else as something that is internall and is done within us as it is externall so it is said to be a legall mortification when as a man is dead in law as a melefact or is said then to be a dead man when hee is condemned so sinne is then said to be dead when it is forgiven Rom. 8.3 and God is said to send his sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh that is that sinne should be as certainly put to death as it was certaine that Christ had taken our nature on him a great comfort it is to a distressed soule that doth cast it selfe upon the Lord Jesus Christ though at first it doe not apprehend the power of sinne mortified yet apprehending our plentious redemption purchased by Christ hee concludes that sinne shall certainly die because Christ hath already condemned it and as David sayd 1 Sam. 20.3 when Ionathan did perswade him to the contrary As the Lord liveth and as thy soule liveth there is but a step betweene mee and death so whatsoever conceit the soolish heart of man may have that his lusts are so strong as there is not possibility of subduing them yet for as much as the matter is now in the hand of Christ who hath past sentence on them it is certaine that there is but a step betweene them and death Internall Initiall 2. Internall mortification is either initiall or renewed initiall mortification it is that first worke of sanctification whereby the force and vigor of sinne is broken and the body of sinne hath received such a deadly wound as maketh it incurable though a man in this case may goe as the woman did from one Physitian to another to have the issue of blood stayed yet will it bleed still there is no Balme from no Physitian there Jer. 3.22 now this initiall mortification is either generall or speciall Initiall Generall Luke 15.8 1. Generall when there is a generall blow given to every sinne when wee doe as the woman when shee had lost her money did sweepe the house not onely some but every roome of it the whole house thus shall wee bee sure not to leave any sinne without the marke of death upon it wash your hands yee sinners James 4.8 and purifie your hearts yee double minded that is that man that is truely mortified is such as is all over mortified that is there is no actuall sin that stickes to his hands nor any inward corruption that he doth allow of in his heart The Pharisees were strict in the tradition of the washing their hands but negligent of purging out the hypocrisie of their hearts So likewise the curse that is annexed unto sin and doth follow it as sure as the day doth the night so sure will wrath follow sinne Had we not need then to bee very much grieved for them Matthew 15.2 and to mourne in secret untill they be slaine in us Though Jobs afflictions were many and great Job 1.14 yet there is this remarkable that there was one in every of these trials that escaped to come and tell him so is it in this case with many that though there may seeme to be a great mortification of sinne yet behold one or other doth make an escape and comes and tels us that all is not mortified such a man is wise and liberall but yet hee is proud such a one is humble and courteous but yet hee is covetous a third is devout and religious and yet full of disordered passions so that though men seeke to colour over their sinnes with never so many faire pretences yet if it be not so indeed somthing will escape as shee said to Peter Matth. 26.73 you are sure one of his Disciples for thy speech bewrayeth thee so something will discover them at one time or another either pride or their covetousnesse or their passions like a dead Fly spoyles the whole box of precious oyntment 2. There is a speciall mortification of speciall sinnes 2. Speciall that although for sinnes of ignorance a generall mortification will serve the turne and is acceptable to God yet because that there is much deceit lieth in generals wee must descend to particulars as David saith I know mine iniquity Psal 51.3 and my sinne in ever before me is it not I that have sinned 1. Cron. 21.17 Againe all sinne is not of equall proportion but some are weaker and some stronger like the sonnes of Zerviah and they are not unlike to that kinde of evill spirit that is not cast out but by prayer and fasting much adoe there is to subdue them there is some bosome sinne that is so sweet and pleasant as it is compared to our right hand in respect of the profit of it and to our right eye in respect of the tendernesse of it now against this we must contend for as long as such a speciall corruption lives in us like as Pharoahs thinne blasted eares of corne it devoureth the fat ones so will that sinne eate up all your spiritual comforts or as Saul said concerning David as long as the sonne of Jesse lives the Kingdome shall not be established to you meaning Jonathan so I say as long as you do not contend against your speciall sins the Kingdom of heaven will never be established unto you therefore labour to finde them out one by one and having found them pursue after them as the revenger of blood till you have slaine them that you have may come to carry tidings of the fall of the rest 2. Renewed in case 2. The next is renewed mortification Daily incursions fruits of sinne that is in case that we renew our sinnes we must renew this worke also and this is either in regard of those daily infirmities that are the fruits of this body of sinne that is in us or else in case of a relapse or falling fowly into some great sinne which doth waste the conscience and therefore when wee have given unto sinne some deadly blow wee must not then thinke that the worke is done for it is with us as it is when a Ship springs a leake though they pumpe up the water yet will it fill againe so is it with us there is such a corrupt fountaine as will still bee troubling of us the same reason that may move us to say give us this day our daily bread may also prevaile with us to say forgive us this day our daily sinnes it should bee our care every day to consider our wayes and to examine our hearts and not suffer our temples to take their rest nor the eyes in our heads untill such time as wee have caused our daily sinnes to sleepe the long sleepe of death beleeve it if we
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps that is we are too weake for any such worke without Gods grace assisting of us and therefore we have good cause to bewaile our misery to lay aside our pride and confesse our poverty and to seeke some other meanes of helpe and redresse at Gods hand 2. To set out Gods power this is his priviledge that hee onely is able to do this work there are three wayes whereby things came to have their being existencie by Generation Art or Creation the two former must have matter to worke upon either in potentia as generation or in actu as Art and where there is not a matter to worke upon they can doe nothing now for as much as this worke of regeneration Eph. 4.24 the new creature is called a creation it is beyond the worke of a creature and onely a priviledge that doth belong to the holy Spirit to create in us qualities of holinesse and thereby to abolish the whole body of sinne thence it is that the Lord saith I create the fruit of the lips to be peace Isa 57.19 and the Prophet complaining in another place to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed it is that mighty and potent arme of the Lord that doth this worke it is by his power and therefore he must have the honour of it As Joab when he was in hope to take Rabbah hee sent messengers to David that he should come and take it 2 Sam. 12.26 because the honor that would have been given him was too great for him how much more should we seeing out hope is in the Lord and our successe chiefely by his power give all the honour to him CAP. XX. Certaine instructions from the doctrine premised FRom this doctrine of mortification we may observe divers necessary instructions both for the information of our judgement and well ordering of our lives as 1. First wee may learne that such a doctrine as doth give liberty to the flesh was never given by the spirit of God for the spirit is given us not onely as a bridle to curbe and keepe in sinne neither a scourge to castigate corrupt nature but chiefely as a sword to kill and destroy the very body of sinne it is the counsell of Saint Paul Gal. 5.13 that we being called to liberty should not use our liberty as an occasion to the flesh that is if we doe not use our liberty with great caution and watchfulnesse wee will make our liberty to be a snare to us the word used by Saint Paul is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifieth occasion it cometh as some think of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies to make an assault Acts 14.5 because that if you give but your selves liberty never so little more then is fit the flesh will make an assault upon you as it is said of the Lion that if you come but within his reach when he is caged up hee will not misse but fasten upon you so is it in this case therefore we must beware that we doe labour for temperance and moderation otherwise the flesh will seise upon us and so while we give liberty to the flesh we lose the peace of our conscience and that peace with God unto whom wee have had free accesse and audience in our prayers Therefore know this that the more liberty we give unto the flesh the more we doe deprive our selves of our Christian liberty as the more delight that wee take in the sinfull pleasures of this life the lesser and lower will be our delights and contentments in God Herod did like well of the Baptist and heard him gladly but yet his lust and the delight he tooke in Herodias and her daughter hee did eclipse it at the best and in the end tooke it quite away Psal 32. Psal 77. Nay how was David straitened of that spirituall freedome after such time as he had given liberty to the flesh behold how many teares how many prayers how many sighes and groanes did it cost him before he was restored to his former comfort and consolation againe the more liberty a man takes for the flesh the more hee doth enthrall himselfe as the bird once in the snare the more shee doth struggle the more shee doth entangle her selfe little doe men know what disadvantages they cast themselves into when they take liberty to sin 2 Pet. 2.20.21 there is a heavie doome propounded against them if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ they are againe intangled therein and overcome the later end is worse with them then their beginning if any shall say but what benefit have wee then by our Christian liberty Gal. 3.11 I answer much every way wee are freed by Christ from the curse of the Law from the irritation of it whereby it was an occasion to make us sinne more and from the rigour of it whereby we are bound to performe it and live or else in the not doing of it perfectly to die eternally we have a comfortable and free use of the creature Heb. 4.16 and free accesse to the throne of grace in time of need for the receiving of all good things both the benefit of soule and body in all these things wee see we have much liberty granted unto us but no liberty to sinne you will say how may a man doe that that hee may give no liberty to the flesh When a man will not take the full liberty that hee may take all things are lawfull 2 Cor. 6.12 but all things are not expedient it may be lawfull to goe neare the banck of a deepe river but if his foote should slip or that he should tread never so little awry he would fall into very great danger so is it here when men hazard themselves to the utmost bounds of their liberty ten to one but they drop into one sinne or another and so procure unto themselves one misery after another Gen. 34.1.2 Si tu otiose spectes otiose non specteris si tu curiose spectas curiose specteris Ber. Dinah went but out to see the daughters of the land peradventure the thing might bee lawfull enough yet because it was the utmost bounds of liberty she not being cautious lost all the fairest ornament about her before her returne thence is that of our Saviour if they say unto thee behold he is in the desert go not forth behold he is in the secret chamber beleeve it not why it might be lawfull to go and see suppose it might yet because there is a snare laid open in lawfull things wee should take heed we prevent if it may be the occasion 2. If you would not give liberty to the flesh shake off dulnesse in the performance of good duties Mat. 26.41 the spirit is willing but the flesh is weake the flesh is short-paced and too too ready
I done unto thee Mich. 6.2 testifie against mee now when we heare God to shew so much discontent in his be wayling of our sinnes it should be a strong motive to make us to be waile our owne sinnes and offences against God 2 Consider that sinne is it that doth separate God from us and us from him thence it is that sometimes God hath left his people Ier. 12.7 I have forsaken mine house I have left mine heritage and delivered the dearly beloved of my soule into the hand of mine enemy It must needs be a great matter that makes a man to leave his house and forsake his heritage either the house stands nâ—eâ—e untoward neighbours or it is in a bad soyle the water is nought the ground barren or else it could not be a man would leave it so here when a man spends his life among notorious and wicked men and shall be like the unfruitfull ground Heb. 6.7.8 that bringeth forth nothing but thornes and bryers then it is to be feared that the Lord will leave him and will pull down the hedge of his providence and cause all the beasts in the field to come and devoure Esa 5.4 now when we see that Christ and sinne will not comply together O labour then to mortifie your corruptious that separate God from us and us from him and hinders good things from you 3. Consider those grievous punishments which have fallen on men by reason of sinnes both on whole Nations and on particular persons see how the foundations of the great deepe from below and the windowes of heaven from above were set open by the sinnes of those times how the clouds contrary to their nature dissolved into a shower of Brimstone and fell on that sinfull City in one word wherefore was Kain smitten with such feares and Herod smitten with wormes was it not for sinne Lastly if God would ever have spared any hee would have spared his owne sonne but Christ undertaking to become sinne for us he must not be spared but must suffer a sorrowfull and a shamefull death for that cause sure then if God have beene ever so severe that he would not spare sinne it should be our care that we should not spare it 2. Consider that if you doe not mortifie your corruptions then you are first under the power and servitude of Sathan he that walketh in sinne is a servant of sinne and while he promiseth liberty to himselfe Ioh. 8.34 he becommeth the servant of corruption 2 Pet. 2.19 for of whom a man is overcome of the same he is brought in bondage for as it is with a servant hee doth not his owne will but the will of his Master so is it with a man that is in bondage unto sinne and Sathan is servant thereunto as it is with a ship when the Rudder and the Anchors and Masts are broken that it is carried whether the tempest will force it so deplored is a man that is unmortified he is carried whither the flesh and Sathan will have him led captive he is at his will but were the power of sinne mortified we should finde that these temptations would fall from us as the Viper from Pauls hand and would not prevaile against us Suppose a man have a strong house and great fortifications about it yet if there be but a servant within that can unlocke and unbolt the doores there is no safety there so suppose there be never so many good gifts in a man yet if hee have his corrupt nature unmortified be assured of this then that there is one within you that will let in Sathan who will seduce you to sinne 2 If you doe not mortifie sinne Sathan will make your soules his lodging For as a mortifi'd and a sanctifi'd heart is the seat of the Holy Ghost so also an unmortified and an uncleane heart is the seate of Sathan When the spirit of God departed from Saul 1. Sam. 16.14 then an evill spirit from the Lord troubled him so it is in this case that if Christ by his spirit dwell not in you Sathan will take place as it was said of Babylon that shee was the habitation of Devils Rev. 18.2 and the kennell of every foule spirit and a cage of every uncleane and hatefull bird so a man that is not purged from his sinne the strong man keeps the house and all kind of lusts swimme in him now then that these great enemies and these noysome and hurtfull lusts may be destroyed labour to mortifie your corruption then will all these your enemies be driven away by the breath of the spirit of Christ and the brightnesse of his comming 3 In regard of our selves if we doe not mortifie sinne we cannot be but great losers by it Heb. 6.7 untill then the word is unprofitable it falleth upon us till it mortifie corruption as the raine that falleth on the barren ground it bringeth forth nothing but bryars and thornes fit for cursing so all the gaine that you have by the hid treasure of the holy Word of God and this pearle of the Gospell it is but the aggravation of your sinne and a savour of death unto you so that this word that killeth sinne in others doth but ripen them in you and this word that is wholsome nourishment unto others is but a potion of death unto you 2 Untill sinne be mortified you can have no true peace in your consciences Esa 57. ult the wicked saith God have no peace as Iehu answered the King when he said Is it peace Iehu what peace saith he so long as the whoredomes of thy mother Iesabell and her witchchrafts are so many so say I what peace can there be as long as lust and the body of sinne doth remaine what peace can there be in the heart of a man As it was said that in the dayes of Shamgar the high wayes were unoccupied and travellers walked through by-wayes Iudg. 5.6 till I Deborah arose c. sountill such time as sinne is purged out there is no peace but warre no walking in those wayes of grace and peace till there be a mortification of sinne as you see it is when that the high wayes are pestered with robbers there is no safety to passe in or out so when the high-wayes of piety are pestered with lust so as the passages are stopped and there will be no security untill such time as that these be cut off but if that you can come to slay and destroy these enemies that doe way lay and fight against the soule I say then you may walke in safety and the truth is were we not enemies unto our selves we need to feare no enemy our greatest and most desperate enemies are those of our owne house even such lusts as have their breath and breeding in our owne hearts 3 The last great losse that wee doe sustaine by want of mortification is the losse of our soules which is the