may let Sin alone But as Sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times in all conditions even where there is least suspition Sin doth not only abide in us but the Law of the members is still rebelling against the Law of the Mind Rom. 7.23 and the Spirit that dwells in us lusteth to Envy Jam. 4.5 It is alwayes in continual work the flesh lusteth against the Spirit Gal. 5.17 Lust is still tempting and conceiving sin Jam. 1.14 In every Moral Action it is alwayes either inclining to evil or hindring from that which is good or disframing the Spirit from Communion with God It inclines to Evil the evil that I would not that I do saith the Apostle Rom. 7.19 whence is that why because in me thingâ— and it hinders from good the good that I would do that I do not vers 19. upon the same account either I do it not or not as I should all my Holy things being defiled by this sin The flesh lusteth against the Spirit that ye cannot do the things that ye would Gal. 5.17 and it unâ—rames our Spirit and thence is called the sin that so easily besets us Heb. 12.1 on which accounâ— are those grievous Complaints that the Apostle makes of it Rom. 7. So that sin is alâ—â—yes acting alwayes conceiving alwayes seducing and tempting Who can say that he had ever any thing to do with God or for God that indwelling Sin had not an hand in the corrupting of what he did And this trade will it drive more or less all our dayes If then sin will alwayes Acting if we be not alwayes Mortifying we are lost Creatures He that stands still and suffers his Enemies to double blowes upon him without resistance will undoubtedly be conquered in the issue If Sin be subtil watchfull strong and alwayes at work in the business of killing our Sâ—uls and we be slothfull negligent foolish in proceeding to the ruine thereof can we expect a comfortable Event There is not a day but sin soils or is soiled prevails or is prevailed on and it will be so whilest we live in this world I shall discharge him from this Duty who can bring sin to a Composition to a cessation of Arms in this Warfare if it will spare him any one day in any one duty provided he be a person that is acquainted with the spirituality of Obedience and the subtilty of sin let him say to his Soul as to this Duty Soul take thy rest The Saints whose Souls breath after deliverance from its perplexing Rebellion know there is no safety against it but in a constant Warfare 3. Sin will not only be striving acting rebelling troubling disquieting but it let alone if not continually mortified it will bring forth great cursed scandalous Soul-destroying sins The Apostle tells us what the works and fruits of it are Gal. 5 19 20 21. The works of the flesh are manifest which are Adultery fornication uncleanness lâ—sciviousness idolatry witchcraft hatred variance â—mulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkenness revellings and such like You know what it did in David and sundry others Sin aimâ— alwayes at the utmost every time it rises up to tempt or entice might it have its own course it would go out to the utmost sin in that kind Every unclean Thought or Glance would be Adultery if it could every covetous Desire would be Oppression every thought of Unbelief would be Atheism might it grow to its head Mâ—n may come to that that sin may not be heard speaking a scandalous word in their hearts that is provoking to any great sin with scandal in its mouth but every rise of Lust might it have its course would come to the height of Vâ—llâ—ny It is like the Grave that is never satisfied And herein lies no small share of the deceitfulness of Sin by which it prevails to the hardening of men and so to theâ—r ruine Hâ—b 3.13 It is moâ—eâ—t as it were in its firâ—t motions and Proposals but having oâ—ce got sooting in the heart by them it constantly makes good its ground and presseth on to some farther degrees in the same kind This new acting and pressing forward makes the Soul take little notice of what an entrance to a falling off from God is already made it thinks all is indifferent well if there be no farther progress and so far as the Soul is made insensible of any sin that is as to such a sense as the Gospel requireth so far it is hardned but Sin is still pressing forward and that because it hath no bounds but utter Relinquishment of God and opposition to him that it proceeds towards its height by degrees making good the ground it hath got by Hardness is not from its Nature but its Deceitfulness Now nothing can prevent this but Mortification That withers the Root and strikes at the Head of Sin every Hour that whatever it ayms at it is crossed in There is not the best Saint in the world but if he should give over this Duty would fall into as many cursed sins as ever any did of his kind 4. This is one main reason why the Spirit and the new Nature is given unto us that we may have a Principle within whereby to oppose Sin and Lust The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit Well and what then Why the Spirit aâ—so lusteth against the Flesh Gal. 5.17 There is a propensity in the Spirit or spiritual new Nature to be acting against the Flesh as well as in the Flesh to be acting against the Spirit So 2 Pet. 1.4 5. It is our participation of the Divine Nature that gives us an escape from the pollutions that are in the world through lust and Rom. 7.23 there is a law of the mind as well as a law of the members Now this is 1 The most Unjust and unreasonable thing in the world when two Combatants are engaged to bind one and to keep him up from doing his utmost and to leave the other at liberty to wound him at his pleasure And 2 The Foolishest thing in the world to bind him who fights for our Eternal Condition and to let him alone who seeks and violently attempts our everlasting ruine The Contest is for our lives and souls Not to be daily employing the Spirit and New Nature for the Mortifying of Sin is to neglect that excellent succour which God hath given us against our greatest Enemy If we neglect to make use of what we have received God may justly hold his hand from giving us more His Graces as well as his Gifts are bestowed on us to use exercise and trade with Not to be daily mortifying sin is to sin against the Goodness Kindness Wisdom Grace and Love of God who hath furnished us with a Principle of doing it 5. Negligence in this Duty cast the Soul
15.9 or as Peter speaks we purifie our Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.22 And without it it will not be done What hath been spoken I suppose is sufficient to make good my first general Rule Be sure to get an Interest in Christ if you intend to mortifie any sin without it it will never be done Ob. You will say What then would you have unregenerate men that are convinced of the Evil of sin do Shall they cease striving against sin live dissolutely give their Lusts their swinge and be as bad as the worst of men This were a way to set the whole world into Confusion to bring all things into darkness to set open the flood-gates of lust and lay the Reins upon the Necks of men to rush into all sin with delight and greediness like the horse into the battle Ans. 1. God forbid It is to be looked on as a great issue of the Wisdom Goodness and Love of God that by manifold wayes and means he is pleased to restrain the Sons of men from running forth into that compass of excess and riot which the depravedness of their Nature would carry them out unto with violence By what way soever this is done it is an issue of the care kindness and Goodness of God without which the whole Earth would be an Hell of Sin and Confusion 2. There is a peculiar convincing Power in the Word which God is often-times pleased to put forth to the wounding amazing and in some sort humbling of Sinners though they are never converted And the Word is to be preached though it hath this End yet not with this End Let then the Word be preached and the sins of men rebuked Lust will be restrained and some Oppositions will be made against Sin though that be not the Effect aymed at 3. Though this be the work of the Word and Spirit and it be good in it self yet it is not profitable nor available as to the main End in them in whom it is wrought they are still in the gall of Bitterness and under the power of darkness 4. Let men know it is their Duty but in its proper place I take not men from Mortification but put them upon Conversion He that shall call a man from mending a Hole in the Wall of his House to quench a Fire that is consuming the whole Building is not his Enemy Poor Soul it is not thy Sore-finger but thy Hectick-Feaver that thou art to apply thy self to the Consideration of Thou settest thy self against a particular Sin and doest not consider that thou art nothing but Sin Let me adde this to them who are Preachers of the Word or intend through the good hand of God that Employment It is their Duty to plead with men about their Sins to lay load on particular sins but alwayes remember that it be done with that which is the proper End of Law and Gospel That is that they make use of the Sin they speak against to the discovery of the State and Condition wherein the Sinner is Otherwise happily they may work men to Formality and Hypocrisie but little of the true End of Preaching the Gospel will be brought about It will not avail to beat a man off from his Drunkenness into a sober Formality A skilfull Master of the Assemblies layes his Axe at the Root drives still at the heart To inveigh against particular sins of ignorant unregenerate persons such as the Land is full of is a good Work But yet though it may be done with great efficacy vigour and success if this be all the effect of it that they are set upon the most sedulous Endeavours of mortifying their sins preached down all that is done is but like the beating of an Enemy in an open field and driving him into an impregnable Castle not to be prevailed against Get you at any time a sinner at the advantage on the account of any one sin whatever have you any thing to takâ— hold of him by bring it to his State and Condition drive it up to the head and there deal with him to break men off from particular sins and not to break their Hearts is to deprive our selves of Advantages of dealing with them And herein is the Roman Mortification grievously peccant they drive all sorts of persons to it without the least Consideration whether they have a principle for it or no. Yea they are so far from calling on men to believe that they may be able to mortifie their Lusts that they call men to Mortification instead of Believing The truth is they neither know what it is to believe nor what Mortification it self intends Faith with them is but a general assent to the Doctrine taught in their Church And Mortification the betaking of a man by a Vow to some certain Course of Life wherein he dâ—â—yes himself something of the use of the things of this World not without a considerable Compensation Such men know neither the Scriptures nor the Power of God Their boasting of their Mortification is but their Glorying in their shame Some Casuists among our selves who over-looking the Necessity of Regeneration do avowedly give this for a Direction to all sorts of persons that complain of any Sin or Lust that they should vow against it at least for a season a Moneth or so seem to have a scantling of Light in the Mystery of the Gospel much like that of Nicodemus when he came first to Christ. They bid men vow to abstain from their sin for a season This commonly makes their lust more impetuous Perhaps with great perplexity they keep their word Perhaps not which increases their Guilt and Torment Is their sin at all mortified hereby Do they find a conquest over it Is their Condition changed though they attain a Relinquishment of it Are they not still in the Gall of bitterness Is not this to put men to make Brick if not without straw which is worse without strength What Promise hath any unregenerate man to countenance him in this work What assistance for the performance of it Can sin be killed without an interest in the Death of Christ or Mortified without the Spirit If such Directions should prevail to change mens Lives as seldom they doe yet they never reach to the change of their hearts or Conditions They may make men self-justitiaries or Hypocrites not Christians It grieves me oft-times to see poor Souls that have a Zeal for God and a desire of eternal Welfare kept by such Directors and Directions under an hard burdensome outside Worship and Service of God with many specious Endeavours for Mortification in an utter Ignorance of the Righteousness of Christ and unacquaintedness with his Spirit all their dayes Persons and things of this kind I know too many If ever God shine into their hearts to give them the knowledge of his Glory in the face of his Son Jesus Christ they will see the folly of their present way CHAP.
Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 2.20 But having got an acquaintance with the Doctrine of the Gospel and being weary of Duty for which they had no Principle they began to countenance themselves in manifold Neglects from the Doctrine of Grace Now when once this evil had laid hold of them they speedily tumbled into perdition 2. To others it hath an evil Influence on them on a twofold account 1. It hardens them by begetting in them a Perswasion that they are in as good Condition as the best Professors Whatever they see in them is so stained for want of this Mortification that it is of no value with them They have Zeal for Religion but it is accompanyed with want of forbearance and universal Righteousness They deny Prodigality but with worldliness They separate from the World but live wholly to Themselves taking no care to exercise loving Kindness in the Earth or they talk Spiritually and live Vainly mention Communion with God and are every way conformed to the World â—â—aâ—ting of Forgiveness of Sin and never Forgiving others And with such Considerations do poor Creatures harden their hearts in their Vnregeneracy 2. They deceive them in making them believe that if they can come up to their Condition it shall be well with them and so it growes an Easie thing to have the great Temptation of Repute in Religion to wrestle withall when they may go far beyond them as to what appears in them and yet come short of Eternal Life but of these things and all the Evils of unmortified walking afterwards CHAP. III. The second general Principle of the Means of Mortification proposed to Confirmation The Spirit the onely Author of this work Vanity of Popish Mortification discovered Many means of it used by them not appointed of God Those appointed by him abused The mistakes of others in this business The Spirit is promised Believers for this work Ezek. 11.19 Chap. 36.26 All that we receive from Christ is by the Spirit How the Spirit Mortifies sin Gal. 5.19 20 21 22 23. The several wayes of his Operations to this end proposed How his Work and our Duty THE next Principle relates to the great Sovereign Cause of the Mortification treated of which in the words layd for the Foundation of this Discourse is said to be the Spirit that is the Holy Ghost as was evinced He only is sufficient for this work All wayes and means without him are as a thing of nought and He is the great Efficient of it He works in us as he pleases 1. In vain do men seek other remedies they shall not be healed by them What several wayes have been prescribed for this to have sin mortified is known The greatest part of Popish Religion of that which looks most like Religion in their Profession consists in mistaken Wayes and Means of Mortification This is the pretence of their rough garments whereby they deceive Their Vows Orders Fastings Penances are all built on this ground they are all for the mortifying of Sin Their Preachings Sermons and Books of Devotion they look all this way Hence those who interpret the Locusts that came out of the bottomless pit Rev. 9.2 To be the Friers of the Romish Church who are said to torment men so that they should seek death and not find it vers 6. think that they did it by their stinging Sermons whereby they convinced them of Sin but being not able to discover the Remedy for the healing and Mortifying of it they kept them in perpetual Anguish and Terrour and such trouble in their Consciences that they desired to dye This I say is the substance and Glory of their Religion but what with their labouring to mortifie dead Creatures ignorant of the Nature and End of the work what with the Poyson they mixt with it in their perswasion of its Merit yea Supererogation as they style their unnecessary merit with a proud barbarous title their glory is their shame but of them and their Mortification more afterwards chap. 8. That the Wayes and Means to be used for the Mortification of sin invented by them are still insisted on and prescribed for the same end by some who should have more light and Knowledge of the Gospel is known Such Directions to this purpose have of late been given by some and are greedily catch'd at by others professing themselves Protestants as might have become Popish Devotionists three or four hundred years ago Such outside Endeavours such bodily Exercises such self-performances such meerly Legal Duties without the least mention of Christ or his Spirit are varnished over with swelling words of vanity for the onely Means and Expedients for the Mortification of sin as discover a deep rooted unacquaintedness with the power of God and Mystery of the Gospel The consideration hereof was one Motive to the publishing of this plain Discourse Now the Reasons why the Papists can never with all their Endeavours truely mortifie any one sin amongst others are 1. Because many of the Wayes and Means they use and insist upon for this End were never appointed of God for that purpose Now there is nothing in Religion that hath any Efficacy for compassing an End but it hath it from Gods Appointment of it to that purpose Such as these are their rough Garments their Vows Penances Disciplines their Course of Monastical Life and the like concerning all which God will say Who hath required these things at your hands and In vain do you worship me teaching for Doctrines the Traditions of men Of the same Nature are sundry self-vexations insisted on by others 2. Because those things that are appointed of God as Means are not used by them in their due Place and Order such as are Praying Fasting Watching Meditation and the like these have their use in the business in hand But whereas they are all to be looked on as streams they look on them as the fountain Whereas they effect and accomplish the End as Means onely subordinate to the Spirit and Faith they look on them to do it by virtue of the work wrought If they fast so much and pray so much and keep their hours and times the work is done As the Apostle sayes of some in another case they are alwayes learning never coming to the knowledge of the Truth so they are alwayes mortifying but never come to any sound Mortification In a a word they have sundry Means to mortifie the Natural man as to the Natural life here we lead none to mortifie Lust or Corruption This is the general mistake of men ignorant of the Gospel about this thing and it lyes at the bottom of very much of that Superstition and Will-worship that hath been brought into the world what horrible self-macerations were practised by some of the ancient Authors of Monastical Devotion what violence did they offer to Nature what extremity of sufferings did they put themselves upon search their wayes and Principles to the bottom and you will find that it had no other
scarres and moles and warts that he also is beautifull If you will have Evidences of your being Believers it must be from those things that constitute men Believers He that hath these things in himself may safely conclude If I am a Believer I am a most miserable one But that any man is so He must look for other Evidences if he will have Peace CHAP. X. The Second particular Direction Get a clear Sense of 1 The Guilt of the Sin perplexing Considerations for Help therein proposed 2 The Danger manifold 1. Hardening 2. Temporal Correction 3. Loss of Peace and Strength 4. Eternal Destruction Rules for this Management of the Consideration 3 The Evil of it 1. In Grieving the Spirit 2. Wounding the New Creature THE Second Direction is this Get a clear and abiding Sense upon thy Mind and Conscience of the 1 Guilt 2 Danger 3 Evil of that Sin wherewith thou art perplexed 1 Of the Guilt of it It is one of the Dâ—ceits of a prevailing Lust to extenuate its own Guilt Is it not a little one When I go and bow my self in the House of Rimmon God be mercifull to me in This thing Though this be bad yet it is not so bad as such and such an Evil others of the People of God have had such a Frame yea what dreadful Actual sins have some of them fallen into Innumerable wayes there are whereby Sin diverts the Mind from a right and due Apprehension of its Guilt It s noysom Exhalations darken the Mind that it cannot make a right Judgment of things Perplexing Reasonings extenuating Promises tumultuating Desires treacherous Purposes of â—â—linquishment hopes of Mercy all have a share in disturbing the Mind in its Consideration of the Guilt of a prevailing Lust. The Prophet tells us that Lust will do thus wholly when it comes to the height Hos. 4.11 Whoredom and Wine and new Wine take away the heart The Heart i.e. the understanding as it is often used in the Scripture And as they accomplish this work to the height in unregenerate Persons so in part in regeâ—â—rate also Solomon tells you of him who was enticed by the lewd Woman that he was among the simple ones he was a young man voyd of understanding Prov. 7.7 And wherein did his folly appear Why sayes he in the 23d vers He knew not that it was for his Life He considered not the Guilt of the Evil that he was involved in And the Lord rendring a Reason why his dealings with Ephraim took no better Effect gives this Account Ephraim is like a silly Dove without heart Hos. 7.11 had no understanding of his own miserable Condition Had it been possible that David should have lain so long in the Guilt of that abominable Sin but that he had innumerable corrupt Reasonings hindering him from taking a clear View of its Ugliness and Guilt in thc Glass of the Law This made the Prophet that was sent for his awaking in his dealings with him to shut up all subterfuges and Pretences by his Parable that so he might fall fully under a sense of the Guilt of it This is the proper issue of Lust in the heart it darkens the Mind that it shall not judge aright of its Guilt And many other Wayes it hath for its own Extenuation that I shall not now insist on Let this then be the first care of him that would mortifie Sin to fix a right Judgement of its Guilt in his Mind To which end take these Considerations to thy assistance 1. Though the Power of Sin be weakened by inherent Grace in them that have it that Sin shall not have dominion over them as it hath over others yet the Guilt of Sin that doth yet abide and remain is aggravated and heightned by it Rom. 6.1 2. What shall we say then shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound God forbid how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein How shall we that are dead the Emphasis is on the word We. How shall we do it who as he afterwards describes it have received Grace from Christ to the contrary We doubtless are more evil than any if we do it I shall not insist on the special Aggravations of the Sins of such Persons how they sin against more Love Mercy Grace Assistance Relief Means and Deliverances than others But let this Consideration abide in thy Mind There is inconceivably more Evil and Guilt in the Evil of thy Heart that doth remain than there would be in so much Sin if thou hadst no Grace at all Observe 2. That as God sees abundance of beauty and Excellency in the desires of the Hearts of his Servants more than in any the most glorious works of other men yea more than in most of their own outward Performances which have a greater mixture of Sin than the desires and Pantings of Grace in the Heart have So God sees a great deal of Evil in the working of Lust in their Hearts yea and more than in the open notorious Acts of wicked men or in many outward Sins whereinto the Saints may fall seeing against them there is more Opposition made and more Humiliation generally followes them Thus Christ dealing with his decaying Children goes to the root with them layes aside their profession Rev. 3.15 I know thee thou art quite another thing than thou professest and this makes thee abominable So then let these things and the like Considerations lead thee to a clear sense of the Guilt of thy indwelling Lust that there may be no room in thy Heart for extenuating or excusing thoughts whereby Sin insensibly will get strength and prevail 2 Consider the danger of it which is manifold 1. Of being hardened by its Deceitfulness This the Apostle sorely charges on the Hebrews ch 3. v. 12 13. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Take heed saith he use all means consider your Temptations watch diligently there is a Treachery a deceit in Sin that tends to the hardening of your Hearts from the Fear of God The hardening here mentioned is to the utmost utter Obduration Sin tends to it and every Distemper and Lust will make at least some progress towards it Thou that wast tender and did'st use to melt under the Word under Afflictions wilt grow as some have profanely spoken Sermon-proof and Sickness-proof Thou that did'st tremble at the presence of God thoughts of Death and Appearance before him when thou hadst more Assurance of his Love than now thou hast shalt have a Stoutness upon thy Spirit not to be moved by these things Thy Soul and thy sin shall be spoken of and spoken to and thou shalt not be at all concerned But shalt be able to pass over Duties Praying Hearing Reading and thy Heart not in the least affected Sin
Faith takes several views of Christ according to the Occasions of Address to him and communion with him that it hath Sometimes it views his Holiness sometimes his power sometimes his love his favour with his Father And when it goes for healing and peace it looks especially on the blood of the Covenant on his Sufferings for by his stripes are we healed and the chastisement of our peace was upon him Isa. 53.5 when we look for Healing his stripes are to be eyed not in the outward story of them which is the course of Popish Devotionists but in the Love Kindness Mystery and design of the Cross. And when we look for peace his Chastisements must be in our eye Now this I say if it be done according to the mind of God and in the strength of that Spirit which is poured out on Believers it will beget a detestation of that sin or sins for which healing and peace is sought So Ezek. 16.60 61. nevertheless I will remember my Covenant with thee in the dayes of thy youth and I will establish unto thee an everlasting Covenant and what then then thou shalt remember thy wayes and be ashamed When God comes home to speak peace in a sure Covenant of it it fills the Soul with shame for all the wayes whereby it hath been alienated from him And one of the things that the Apostle mentions as attending that godly sorrow which is accompanyed with Repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of is revenge yea what revenge 2 Cor. 7.11 They reflected on their miscarriages with Indignation and Revenge for their Folly in them When Job comes up to a through healing he cryes Now I abhorre my self Job 42.6 and untill he did so he had no abiding peace He might perhaps have made up himself with that Doctrine of free Grace which was so excellently preached by Elihu Chap. 33. from v. 14. unto the 29th but he had then but skinned his wounds he must come to self-abhorrency if he come to healing So was it with those in Psal. 78.33 35. in their great trouble and perplexity for and upon the Account of Sin I doubt not but upon the Address they made to God in Christ for that so they did is evident from the titles they gave him they call him their Rock and their Redeemer two words every where pointing out the Lord Christ they spake peace to themselves but was it sound and abiding No it passed away as the early dew God speaks not one word of peace to their Souls But why had they not peace Why because in their Address to God they flattered him But how doth that appear vers 37. Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast They had not a detestation nor relinquishment of that sin in reference whereunto they spake peace to themselves Let a man make what application he will for healing and peace let him do it to the true Physitian let him do it the right way let him quiet his Heart in the Promises of the Covenant yet when Peace is spoken if it be not attended with the detestation and Abhorrency of that Sin which was the wound and caused the Disquietment this is no Peace of Gods creating but of our own purchasing It is but a skinning over the wound whilest the core lyes at the bottom which will putrifie and corrupt and corrode untill it break out again with noysomness vexation and danger Let not poor Souls that walk in such a path as this they are more sensible of the trouble of Sin than of the pollution or uncleanness that attends it they address themselves for mercy yea to the Lord in Christ they address themselves for mercy but yet will keep the sweet Morsel of their Sin under their Tongue let them I say never think to have true and solid peace For instance Thou findest thy Heart running out after the World and it disturbs thee in thy communion with God the Spirit speaks expressely to thee He that loveth the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2.15 This puts thee on dealing with God in Christ for the healing of thy Soul the quieting of thy Conscience but yet withall a through detestation of the evil it self abides not upon thee yea perhaps that is liked well enough but onely in respect of the Consequences of it perhaps thou mayst be saved yet as through fire and God will have some work with thee before he hath done but thou wilt have little Peace in this Life thou wilt be sick and fainting all thy dayes Isa. 57.17 This is a Deceit that lyes at the root of the Peace of many Professors and waâ—ts it they deal with all their strength about Mercy and Pardon and seem to have great Communion with God in their so doing they lye before him bewail their Sins and Follies that any one would think yea they think themselves that surely they and their Sins are now parted and so receive in Mercy that satisfies their Hearts for a little season but when a through search comes to be made there hath been some secret reserve for the Folly or Follyes treated about at least there hath not been that through Abhorrency of it which is necessary and their whole peace is quickly discovered to be weak â—nd rotten scarce abiding any longer than the words of begging it are in their mouths 2 When men measure out peace to themselves upon the conclusions that their convictions and Rational Principles will carry them out unto This is a false peace and will not abide I shall a little explain what I mean hereby A man hath got a wound by sin he hath a Conviction of some Sin upon his Conscience he hath not walked uprightly as becometh the Gospel all is not well and right between God and his Soul He considers now what is to be done Light he hath and knows what Path he must take and how his Soul hath been formerly healed Considering that the Promises of God are the outward Means of Application for the healing of his sores and quieting of his Heart he goes to them searches them out finds out some one or more of them whose literal Expressions are directly suited to his condition Sayes he to himself God speaks in this Promise here I will take my self a plaister as long and broad as my wound and so brings the word of the promise to his Condition and sets him down in peace This is another appearance upon the mount the Lord is neer but the Lord is not in it It hath not been the work of the Spirit who alone can convince us of Sin and Righteousness and Judgement but the mere Actings of the intelligent rational Soul As there are three sorts of Lives we say the vegetative the sensitive and the rational or intelligent Some things have onely the vegetative some the sensitive also and that includes the former some have the rational which takes in and supposes both
the same Chapter there is no condemnation to them 2. The Certainty of the coherence and Connexion that is between the things spoken of As we say to a sick man If you will take such a potion or use such a remedy you will be well The thing we solely intend to express is the certainty of the Connexion that is between the potion or remedy and health And this is the use of it here The certain Connexion that is between the mortifying of the deeds of the Body and living is intimated in this conditional particle Now the connexion and coherence of things being manifold as of Cause and Effect of Way and Means and the End this between Mortification and Life is not of Cause and Effect properly and strictly for Eternal Life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ Rom. 6.23 But of Means and End God hath appointed this Means for the attaining that End which he hath freely promised Means though necessary have a fair subordination to an End of free Promise A Gift and a procuring Cause in him to whom it is given are inconsistent The intendment then of this Proposition as conditional is That there is a certain infallible connexion and coherence between true Mortification and Eternal Life if you use this Means you shall obtain that End If you do mortifie you shall live And herein lyes the main motive unto and Enforcement of the Duty prescribed 2. The next thing we meet withall in the words is the persons to whom this Duty is prescribed and that is expressed in the word Ye in the Original included in the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if ye mortifie that is ye Believers ye to whom there is no Condemnation vers 1. ye that are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit vers 5. who are quickened by the Spirit of Christ vers 10.11 to you is this Duty prescribed The pressing of this Duty immediately on any other is a notable Fruit of that Superstition and self-Righteousness that the world is full of the great work and design of devout men ignorant of the Gospel Rom. 10.3 4. Joh. 15.5 Now this description of the Persons in conjunction with the prescription of the duty is the main Foundation of the ensuing Discourse as it lyes in this Thesis or Proposition The choisest Believers who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin ought yet to make it their business all their dayes to mortifie the indwelling power of sin 3. The principal efficient Cause of the performance of this Duty is the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if by the Spirit The Spirit here is the Spirit mentioned vers 11. the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of God that dwells in us vers 9. that quickens us vers 11. the Holy Ghost vers 14. the Spirit of Adoption vers 15. the Spirit that maketh Intercession for us vers 26. All other wayes of Mortification are vain all helps leave us helpless it must be done by the Spirit Men as the Apostle intimates Rom. 9.30 31 32. may attempt this work on other Principles by Means and Advantages administred on other accounts as they always have done and do but saith he this is the work of the Spirit by him alone is it to be wrought and by no other power is it to be brought about Mortification from a self-strength carried on by wayâ—s of self-invenâ—â—on unto the End of a self-Righteousness is the Soul and substance of all â—alse Religion in the world And this is a second Principle of my ensuing Discourse 4. The Duty it self mortifie the deeds of the Body is nextly to be remarked Three things are here to be enquired into 1. What is meant by the Body 2. What by the deeds of the Body 3. What by Mortifying of them 1. The Body in the close of the verse is the same with the Flesh in the beginning If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye Mortifie the deeds of the body that is of the flesh It is that which the Apostle hath all along discoursed of under the name of the flesh which is evident from the prosecution of the Antithesis between the spirit and the flesh before and after The Body then here is taken for that Corruption and Pravity of our Natures whereof the Body in a great part is the Seat and Instrument The very Members of the Body being made servants unto Unrighteousness thereby Rom. 6.19 It is Indwelling Sin the corrupted Flesh or Lust that is intended Many Reasons might be given of this metonymical expression that I shall not now insist on The body here is the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Old man and the body of Sin Rom. 6.6 or it may synechdochically express the whole person considered as corrupted and the seat of Lusts and distempered Affections 2. The deeds of the Body the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which indeed denoteth the outward actions chiefly The works of the Flesh as they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 5.19 which are there said to be manifest and are enumerated Now though the outward deeds are here onely expressed yet the inward and next Causes are chiefly intended the Axe is to be laid to the root of the tree The Deeds of the Flesh are to be mortified in their Causes from whence they spring the Apostle calls them Deeds as that which every Lust tends unto Though it do but conceive and prove abortive it ayms to bring forth a perfect Sin Having both in the seventh and the beginning of this Chapter treated of Indwelling Lust and Sin as the Fountain and Principle of all sinfull Actions he here mentions its Destruction under the name of the Effects which it doth produce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.6 the wisdom of the Flesh by a metonymie of the same nature with the former or as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the passions and lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.24 whence the deeds and fruits of it do arise and in this sence is the Body used vers 10. The body is dead because of sin 3. To Mortifie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if ye put to death a Metaphorical Expression taken from the putting of any living thing to death To kill a Man or any other living thing is to take away the principle of all his strength vigour and power so that he cannot act or exert or put forth any proper Actings of his own so it is in this Case Indwelling Sin is compared to a Person a living Person called the old man with his faculties and properties his wisdom craft subtilty strength this sayes the Apostle must be killed put to death Mortified that is have its power life vigour and strength to produce its Effects taken away by the Spirit It is indeed meritoriously and by way of Example utterly mortified and slain by the Cross of
which makes them believe that sin is conquered when it is not touched By that time they are cold they must to the battail again and the Lust which they thought to be slain appears to have had no wound And if the Case be so sad with them who do labour and strive and yet enter not into the Kingdom what is their Condition who despise all this Who are perpetually under the Power and Dominion of Sin and love to have it so and are troubled at nothing but that they cannot make sufficient provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof CHAP. IV. The last Principle of the usefulness of Mortification The Vigour and Comfort of our spiritual Life depend on our Mortification In what sence Not absolutely and necessarily Psal. 88. Heman ' s Condition Not as on the next and immediate Cause As a Means by removing of the Contrary The desperate Effects of unmortified Lust it weakens the Soul Psal. 38.3 8. sundry wayes and darkens it All Graces improved by the Mortification of Sin The best Evidence of Sincerity THE last Principle I shall insist on omitting 1. The Necessity of Mortification unto Life And 2. The Certainty of Life upon Mortification is That the Life Vigour and Comfort of our spiritual Life depends much on our Mortification of Sin Strength and Comfort and Power and Peace in our walking with God are the things of our desires Were any of us asked seriously What it is that troubles us we must referre it to one of these heads either we want strengâ—h or power vigour and life in our Obedience in our walking with God or we want peace comfort and consolation therein Whatever it is that may befall a Believer that doth not belong to one of these two heads doth not deserve to be mentioned in the dayes of our Complaints Now all these do much depend on a constant Course of Mortification concerning which observe 1. I doe not say they proceed from it as though they were necessarily tyed to it A man may be carried on in a constant course of Mortification all his dayes and yet perhaps never enjoy good day of Peace and Consolation So it was with Heman Psal. 88. His life was a life of perpetual Mortification and walking with God yet terrours and wounds were his portion all his dayes But God singled out Heman a choice Friend to make him an Example to them that afterwards should be in distress Canst thou complain if it be no otherwise with thee than it was with Heman that eminent servant of God And this shall be his prayse to the end of the World God makes it his Prerogative to speak Peace and Consolation Isa. 57.18 19. I will do that work sayes God I will comfort him v. 18. But how by an immediate work of the new Creation I Create it sayes God The use of means for the obtaining of peace is ours the bestowing of it is God's Prerogative 2. In the wayes instituted by God for to give us Life Vigour Courage and Consolation Mortification is not one of the immediate Causes of it They are the Priviledges of our Adoption made known to our Souls that give us immediately these things The Spirit bearing witness with our spirits that we are the Children of God giving us a new Name and a white Stone Adoption and Justification that is as to the sence and knowledge of them are the immediate Causes in the hand of the Spirit of these things But this I say 3. In our ordinary walking with God and in an ordinary Course of his dealing with us the vigour and comfort of our spiritual Lives depends much on our Mortification not onely as a Causa sine qua non but as a thing that hath an effectual influence thereinto For First This alone keeps Sin from depriving us of the one and the other Every unmortified sin will certainly do two things 1. It will weaken the Soul and deprive it of its vigour 2. It will darken the Soul and deprive it of its Comfort and Peace 1. It weakens the Soul and deprives it of its Strength when David had for a while harboured an unmortified Lust in his heart it broke all his Bonâ—s and left him no spiritual strength hence he complained that he was sick weak wounded faint there is saith he no soundness in me Psal. 38.3 I am feeble and sore broken vers 8. Yea I cannot so much as look up Psal. 40.12 An unmortified Lust will drink up the Spirit and all the vigour of the Soul and weaken it for all Duties For 1. It untunes and unframes the Heart it self by entangling its Affections It diverts the heart from that spiritual Frame that is required for vigorous Communion with God It layes hold on the Affections rendring its Object beloved and desirable so expelling the love of the Father 1 Joh. 2.1 Chap. 3.17 So that the Soul cannot say uprightly and truely to God Thou art my portion having something else that it loves Fear Desire Hope which are the choice Affections of the Soul that should be full of God will be one way or other entangled with it 2. It fills the Thoughts with Contrivances about it Thoughts are the great Purveyors of the Soul to bring in provision to satisfie its Affections and if Sin remain unmortified in the Heart they must ever and anon be making provision for the flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof They must glaze adorn and dress the Objects of the Flesh and bring them home to give satisfaction And this they are able to do in the service of a defiled Imagination beyond all expression 3. It breaks out and actually hinders Duty The ambitious man must be studying and the worldling must be working or contriving and the sensual vain person providing himself for vanity when they should be engaged in the Worship of God Were this my present business to set forth the Breaches Ruine Weakness Desolations that one unâ—â—câ—tified Lust will bring upon a Soul this Discourse must be extended much beyond my Intendment 2 As Sin weakens so it darkens the Soul It is a cloud a thick cloud that spreads it self over the Face of the Soul and intercepts all the beams of Gods Love and Favour It takes away all sense of the Priviledge of our Adoption and if the Soul begins to gather up Thoughts of Consolation Sin quickly scatters them Of which afterwards Now in this regard doth the vigour and power of our spiritual life depend on our Mortification It is the onely Means of the Removal of that which will allow us neither the one nor the other Men that are sick and wounded under the power of Lust make many Applications for Help they cry to God when the Perplexity of their Thoughts overwhelms them even to God do they cry but are not delivered in vain do they use many Remedies they shall not be healed So Hos. 5.13 Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound and attempted sundry remedies nothing will
evil Thence is that description of him who hath no Lust truely mortified Gen. 6.5 Every Imagination of the thoughts of his Heart is only evil continually He is alwayes under the power of a strong bent and Inclination to sin And the reason why a natural man is not alwayes perpetually in the pursuit of some one lust night and day is because he hath many to serve every one crying to be satisfied Thence he is carried on with great variety but still in general he lyes towards the satisfaction of self We will suppose then the lust or distemper whose Mortification is inquired after to be in its self a strong deeply rooted habitual Inclination and bent of Will and Affections unto some Actual sin as to the Matter of it though not under that formal Consideration alwayes stirring up Imaginations Thoughts and Contrivances about the Object of it Hence men are said to have their Hearts set upon Evil Rom. 13.14 the bent of their Spirits lyes towards it to make provision for the flesh And a sinfull depraved habit as in many other things so in this differs from all natural or moral habits whatever for whereas they incline the Soul gently and suitably to it self sinfull Habits impell with Violence and Impetuousness whence Lusts are said to fight or wage warre against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 to rebell or rise up in Warre with that Conduct and Opposition which is usual therein Rom. 7.23 to lead captive or effectually captivating upon success in battell All works of great violence and impetuousness I might manifest fully from that description we have of it Rom. 7. How it will darken the Mind extinguish Convictions dethrone Reason interrupt the Power and Influence of any Considerations that may be brought to hamper it and break through all into a flame But this is not my present business Now the first thing in Mortification is the weakening of this Habit of Sin or Lust that it shall not with that violence earnestness frequency rise up conceive tumultuate provoke entice disquiet as naturally it is apt to doe Jam. 1.14 15. I shall desire to give one Caution or Rule by the way and it is this Though every Lust doth in its own Nature equally universally incline and impell to Sin yet this muâ—t be granted with these two Limitations 1. One lust or a lust in one man may receive many accidental Improvements heightnings and strengthnings which may give it life power and vigour exceedingly above what another Lust hath or the same lust that is of the same Kind and Nature in another man When a Lust falls in with the natural Constitution and Temper with a suitable course of Life with Occasions or when Sathan hath got a fit handle to it to manage it as he hath a thousand wayes so to doe that Lust growes violent and impetuous above others or more than the same lust in another man Then the steams of it darken the Mind so that though a man knowes the same things as formerly yet they have no power nor influence on the Will but corrupt Affections and Passions are set by it at liberty But especially Lust gets strength by Temptation when a suitable Temptation falls in wiâ—h a Lust it gives it a new life vigour power violence and rage which it seemed not before to have or to be capable of Instances to this purpose might be multiplyed but it is the design of some part of another Treatise to evince thâ—s Observation 2. Some lusts are far more sensible and discernable in their violent Actings than others Paul puts a difference between Uncleanness and all other sins 1 Cor. 6.18 Flee fornication every sin that a man doth is whithout the body but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body Hence the Motions of that sin are more sensible more discernable than of others when perhaps the love of the World or the like is in a Person no less habitually predominant than that yet it makes not so great a combustion in the whole man And on this account some men may goe in their own thoughts and in the eyes of the World for mortified men who yet have in them no less predominancy of Lust than those who cry out with Astonishment upon the account of its perplexing Tumultuatings Yea than those who have by the Power of it been hurried into scandalous sins only their lusts are in and about things which raise not such a tumult in the Soul about which they are exercised with a calmer Frame of Spirit the very Fabrick of Nature being not so nearly concerned in them as in some other I say then that the first thing in Mortification is the weakening of this Habit that it shall not impell and tumultuate as formerly that it shall not intice and draw aside that it shall not disquiet and perplex the killing of its life vigour promptness and readiness to be stirring This is called crucifying the flesh with the lusts thereof Gal. 5.24 that is taking away its Blood and Spirits that give it strength and power The wasting of the body of Death day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 As a Man nayled to the Cross he first struggles and strives and cryes out with great strength and might but as his Blood and Spirits waste his strivings are faint and seldom his Cryes low and hoarse scarce to be heard When a man first sets on a Lust or distemper to deal with it it struggles with great violence to break loose it cryes with Earnestness and Impatiency to be satisfied and relieved but when by Mortification the blood and spirits of it are let out it moves seldome and familiarly cryes sparingly and is scarce heard in the heart It may have sometimes a dying pang that makes an Appearance of great vigour and strength but it is quickly over especially if it be kept from considerable success This the Apostle describes as in the whole Chapter so especially vers 6. of chap. 6. Rom. Sin saith he is crucified it is fastned to the Cross to what End that the body of Death may be destroyed the Power of Sin weakened and abolished by little and little that henceforth we should not serve sin that is that sin might not incline impell us with such Efficacy as to make us servants to it as it hath done heretofore And this is spoken not only with respect to carnal and sensual Affections or Desires of worldly things not only in respect of the Luâ—t of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyâ—s and the pride of Life but also as to the flesh that is in the mind and will in that Opposition unto God which is in us by Nature Of what Nature soever the troubling Distemper be by what wayes soever it make it self out either by impelling to Evil or hindering from that which is good the Rule is the same And unless this be done effectually all after-contention will not compass the End aimed at A man may beat down the bitter Fruit
their progress lyes When the Jewes upon the Conviction of their Sin were cut to the heart Act. 2.37 and cryed out what shall we doe What doth Peter direct them to Does he bid them go and mortifie their pride wrath malice cruelty and the like no he knew that was not their present work but he calls them to Conversion and Faith in Christ in General vers 38. Let the Soul be first throughly converted and then looking on him whom they had pierced Humiliation and Mortification will ensue Thus when John came to preach Repentance and Conversion he said The Axe is now laid to the root of the tree Mat. 3.10 The Pharisees had been laying heavy Burthens imposing tedious Duties and rigid means of Mortification in Fastings Washings and the like all in vain Sayes John The Doctrine of Conversion is for you the axe in my hand is laid to the root And our Saviour tells us what is to be done in this case sayes he Do men gather Grapes from Thorns Matth. 6.16 But suppose a Thorn be well pruned and cut and have pains taken with him Yea but he will never bear Figgs vers 17 18. It cannot be but every Tree will bring forth Fruit according to its own kind What is then to be done he tells us Matt. 12.33 Make the Tree Good and his Fruit will be good The Root must be dealt with the Nature of the Tree changed or no good Fruit will be brought forth This is that I aym at unless a man be Regenerate unless he be a Believer all Attempts that he can make for Mortification be they never so specious and promising all Means he can use let him follow them with never so much Diligence Earnestness Watchfulness and Contention of Mind and Spirit are to no purpose In vain shall he use many remedies he shall not be healed Yea there are sundry desperate Evils attending an Endeavour in convinced Persons that are no more but so to perform this Duty First The mind and Soul is taken up about that which is not the mans proper business and so He is diverted from that which is so God layes hold by his Word and Judgements on some Sin in him galls his Conscience disquiets his heart deprives him of his Rest now other Diversions will not serve his turn He must apply himself to the work before him The business in hand being to awake the whole Man unto a consideration of the State and Condition wherein he is that he might be brought home to God instead hereof he sets himself to mortifie the Sin that galls him which is a pure issue of Self-love to be freed from his trouble and not at all to the work he is called unto and so is diverted from it Thus God tells us of Ephraim when he spread his Net upon them and brought them down as the Fowls of Heaven and chastised them Hos. 7.12 caught them intangled them convinced them that they could not escape saith he of them They return but not to the most High They set themselves to a Relinquishment of Sin but not in that manner by universal conversion as God called for it Thus are men diverted from coming unto God by the most glorious wayes that they can fix upon to come to him by And this is one of the most common deceits whereby men ruine their own Souls I wish that some whose Trade it is to dawb with untempered Morter in the things of God did not teach this Deceit and cause the People to erre by their Ignorance What do men doe what oft-times are they directed unto when their Consciences are galled by Sin and Disquietment from the Lord hath laid hold upon them Is not a Relinquishment of the Sin as to Practice that they are in some Fruits of it perplexed withall and making head against it the summe of what they apply themselves unto and is not the Gospel End of their Convictions lost thereby Here men abide and perish Secondly This Duty being a thing good in it self in its proper place a Duty evidencing Sincerity bringing home Peace to the Conscience a man finding himself really engaged in it his Mind and Heart set against this or that Sin with purpose and Resolution to have no more to do with it he is ready to conclude that his state and Condition is good and so to delude his own Soul For 1. When his Conscience hath been made sick with Sin and he could find no rest when he should go to the great Physitian of Souls and get healing in his Blood the Man by this Engagement against Sin pacifies and quiets his Conscience and sits down without going to Christ at all Ah! how many poor Souls are thus deluded to Eternity When Ephraim saw his sickness he sent to King Jareb Hos. 5.13 which kept him off from God The whole bundle of the Popish Religion is made up of Designs and contrivances to pacifie Conscience without Christ all described by the Apostle Rom. 10.4 2. By this means men satisfie themselves that their State and Condition is good seeing they do that which is a work good in it self and they do not do it to be seen They know they would have the work done in sincerity and so are hardened in a kind of self Righteousness 3. When a man hath thus for a season been deluded and hath deceived his oâ—â— Soul and finds in a long course of Life that indeed his sin is not mortified or if he hath changed one he hath gotten another He begins aâ— length to think that all contending is in vain he shall never be able to prevail He is making a Dam against Water that increaseth on him Hereupon he gives over as one despairing of any success and yields up himself to the power of sin and that habit of Formality thâ—â— he hath gotten And this is the usual Issue with Persons attempting the Mortification of sin without aâ— Interest in Christ first obtained It deludes thempunc hardens them destroyes them And therefore wâ— see that there are not usually more vile anâ— desperate sinners in the world than such aâ— having by Conviction been put on this Coursâ— have found it fruitless and deserted it witâ—out a discovery of Christ. And this is tâ—â— substance of the Religion and Godliness 〈◊〉 the choisest Formalists in the world and oâ— all those who in the Roman Synagogue aâ—â— drawn to Mortification as they drive Indiaâ— to Baptism or Cattel to water I say then that Mortification is the work of Believers and Believers onely To kill sin is the work oâ— living men where men are dead as all Unbelievers the best of them are dead sin is alive and will live 2. It is the work of Faith the peculiar work of Faith Now if there be a work to be done that will be effected by one only instrument it is the greatest madness for any to attempt the doing of it that hath not that Instrument Now it is Faith that purifies the Heart Act.
VIII The Second general Rule proposed Without universal Sincerity for the mortifying of every Lust no Lust will be Mortified Partial Mortification alwayes from a corrupt Principle Perplexity of Temptation from a Lust oft-times a chastening for other Negligences THE Second Principle which to this purpose I shall propose is this Without Sincerity and Diligence in an Vniversality of Obedience there is no Mortification of any one perplexing Lust to be obtained The other was to the Person this to the thing it self I shall a little explain this Position A man finds any Lust to bring him into the Condition formerly described it is powerfull strong tumultuating leads captive vexes disquiets takes away peace He is not able to bear it wherefore he sets himself against it prayes against it groans under it sighs to be delivered but in the mean time perhaps in other Duties in constant Communion with God in Reading Prayer and Meditation in other wayes that are not of the same kind with the Lust wherewith he is troubled he is loose and negligent Let not that man think that ever he shall arrive to the Mortification of the Lust he is perplexed withall This is a Condition that not seldom befalls men in their Pilgrimage The Israelites under a sense of their Sin drew nigh to God with much diligence and earnestness with Fasting and Prayer Isa. 58. many Expressions are made of their Earnestness in the work v. 2. They seek me daily and delight to know my Wayes they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice they delight in approaching unto God But God rejects all their Fast iâ— a Remedy that will not heal them and the Reason given of it v. 5 6 7. is because they were particular in this Duty They attended diligently to that but in others were negligent and careless He that hath a running sore it is the Scripture Expression upon him arising from an ill habit of Body contracted by Intemperance and ill Dyet let him apply himself with what diligence and skill he can to the cure of his sore if he leave the general habit of his body under Distempers his labour and travail will be in vain So will his attempts be that shall endeavour to stop a bloody issue of Sin and filth in his Soul and is not equally carefull of his universal spiritual temperature and Constitution For 1. This kind of Endeavour for Mortification proceeds from a corrupt Principle Ground and Foundation so that it will never proceed to a good Issue The true and acceptable Principles of Mortification shall be afterward insisted on Hatred of Sin as Sin not only as galling or disquieting sence of the Love of Christ in the Cross lyes at the bottome of all true spiritual Mortification Now it is certain that that which I speak of proceeds from self-love Thou settest thy self with all diligence and earnestness to mortifie such a Lust or Sin what is the Reason of it It disquiets thee it hath taken away thy peace it fills thy heart with sorrow and trouble and fear thou hast no rest because of it Yea but Friend thou hast neglected Prayer or Reading thou hast been vain and loâ—se in thy Conversation in other things that have not been of the same nature with that lust wherewith thou art perplexed These are no less sins and evils than those under which thou groanest Jesus Christ bled for Them also Why dost thou not set thy self against them also If thou hatedst sin as Sin every evil way thou wouldst be no less watchfull against every thing that grieves and disquiets the Spirit of God than against that which grieves and disquiets thine own Soul It is evident that thou contendest against sin meerly because of thy own trouble by it Would thy Conscience be quiet under it thou would'st let it alone Did it not disquiet thee it should not be disquieted by thee Now canst thou think that God will set in with such hypocritical Endeavours that ever his Spirit will bear witness to the treachery and Falshood of thy Spirit Dost thou think he will ease thee of that which perplexeth Thee that thou mayst be at liberty to that which no less grieves Him No sayes God here is one if he could be rid of this Lust I should never hear of him more let him wrestle with this or he is lost Let not any man think to do his own work that will not do God's God's work consists in universal Obedience To be freed of the present perplexity is their own only Hence is that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 7.1 Cleanse your selves from all pollution of Flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. If we will do any thing we must do all things So then not onely an intense Opposition to this or that peculiar lust but it is an universal humble Frame and Temper of Heart with watchfulness over every Evil and for the performance of every Duty that is accepted 2. How know'st thou but that God hath suffered the Lust wherewith thou hast been perplexed to get strength in thee and power over thee to chasten thee for thy other Negligences and common Lukewarmness in walking before him at least to awaken thee to the consideration of thy wayes that thou mayst make a through work and change in thy course of walking with him The Rage and predominancy of a particular Lust is commonly the fruit and issue of a careless negligent course in general and that upon a double account 1 As its natural Effect if I may so say Lust as I shewed in general lyes in the Heart of every one even the best whilest he lives and think not that the Scripture speaks in vain that it is subtle cunning crafty that it seduces entices fights â—ebells Whilest a man keeps a diligent Watch over his Heart its Root and Fountain whilest above all keepings he keeps his Heart whence are the issues of Life and Death Lust withers and dyes in it But if through Negligence it makes an Eruption any particular way gets a passage to the Thoughts by the Affections and from them and by them perhaps breaks out into open sin in the Conversation the strength of it bears that way it hath found out and that way mainly it urgeth untill having got a passage it then vexes and disquiets and is not easily to be restrained Thus perhaps a man may be put to wrestle all his dayes in sorrow with that which by a strict universal Watch might easily have been prevented 2 As I said God often-times suffers it to chasten our other Negligences for as with Wicked men he gives them up to one Sin as the Judgement of another a greater for the punishment of a less or one that will hold them more firmly and securely for that which they might have possibly obtained a Deliverance from So even with his own he may he doth leave them sometimes to some vexatious distempers either to prevent or cure some other Evil So was the
Messenger of Satan let loose on Paul that he might not be lifted up through the abundance of spiritual Revelations Was it not a Correction to Peters vain Confidence that he was left to deny his Master Now if this be the state and Condition of Lust in its prevalency that God often-times suffers it so to prevail at least to admonish us and to humble us perhaps to chasten and correct us for our general loose and careless walking is it possible that the effect should be removed and the cause continued that the particular Lust should be mortified and the general Course be unreformed He then that would really throughly and acceptably mortifie any disquieting Lust let him take care to be equally diligent in All parts of Obedience and know that every Lust every Omission of Duty is burdensome to God though but one is so to Him Whilest there abides a Treachery in the Heart to indulge to any Negligence in not pressing Universally to all Perfection in Obedience the Soul is weak as not giving Faith its whole work and selfish as considering more the Trouble of Sin than the Filth and Guilt of it and lives under a constant provocation of God so that it may not expect any comfortable Issue in any spiritual Duty that it doth undertake much less in this under Consideration which requires another Principle and Frame of Spirit for its Accomplishment CHAP. IX Particular Directions in relation to the foregoing Case proposed First Consider the dangerous Symptoms of any Lust 1. Inveterateness 2. Peace obtained under it the several wayes whereby that is done 3. Frequency of success in its seductions 4. The Soul 's fighting against it with Arguments only taken from the Event 5. It s being attended with Judiciary Hardness 6. It s withstanding particular dealings from God The State of Persons in whom these things are found THE foregoing General Rules being supposed Particular Directions to the Soul for its guidance under the sense of a disquieting lust or distemper being the main thing I aym at come next to be proposed Now of these some are previous and preparatory and in some of them the work it self is contained Of the first sort are these ensuing First Consider what dangerous symptoms thy Lust hath attending or accompanying it Whether it hath any deadly Mark on it or no If it hath extraordinary Remedies are to be used an ordinary course of Mortification will not do it You will say what are these dangerous Marks and symptoms the desperate Attendances of an indwelling Lust that you intend Some of them I shall name 1 Inveterateness if it hath lyen long corrupting in thy Heart if thou hast suffered it to abide in Power and prevalency without attempting vâ—gorously the killing of it and the healing of the wounds thou hast received by it for some long season thy Distemper is dangerous Hast thou permitted Worldliness Ambition Greediness of Study to eat up other Duties the Duties wherein thou oughtest to hold constant Communion with God for some long season Or Vncleanness to defile thy Heart with vain and foolish and wicked Imaginations for many dayes Thy Lust hath a dangerous symptom So was the Case with David Psal. 38.5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness When a Lust hath layen long in the Heart corrupting festering cankering it brings the Soul to a wofull Condition In such a case an ordinary course of humiliation will not do the work Whatever it be it will by this Means insinuate it self more or less into all the Faculties of the Soul and habituate the Affections to its Company and society it growes familiar to the Mind and Conscience that they do not startle at it as a strange thing but are bold with it as that which they are wonted unto yea it will get such advantage by this Means as often-times to exert and put forth it self without having any notice taken of it at all as it seems to have been with Joseph in his swearing by the Life of Pharaoh Unless some extraordinary Course be taken such a person hath no ground in the world to expect that his latter End shall be Peace For first How will he be able to distinguish between the long abode of an unmortified lust and the dominion of Sin which cannot befall a Regenerate person Secondly How can he promise himself that it shall ever be otherwise with him or that his lust will cease tumultuating and seducing when he sees it fixed and abiding and hath done so for many dayes and hath gone through variety of Conditions with him It may be it hath tryed mercyes and afflictions and those possibly so remarkable that the Soul could not avoyd the taking special notice of them it may be it hath weathered out many a thorn and passed under much variety of Gifts in the Administration of the Word and will it prove an easie thing to dislodge an Inmate pleading a title by Prescription Old neglected wounds are often mortal alwayes dangerous Indwelling Distempers grow resty and stubborn by continuance in ease and quiet Lust is such an Inmate as if it can plead Time and some Prescription will not easily be ejected As it never dyes of it self so if it be not daily killed it will alwayes gather strength 2 Secret Pleas of the Heart for the countenancing of it self and keeping up its peace notwithstanding the abiding of a Lust without a vigorous Gospel Attempt for its Mortification is another dangerous symptome of a deadly Distemper in the Heart Now there be several wayes whereby this may be done I shall name some of them As 1. When upon Thoughts perplexing Thoughts about Sin instead of applying himself to the Destruction of it a man searches his Heart to see what Evidences he can find of a good Condition notwithstanding that sin and Lust so that it may go well with him For a man to gather up his Experiences of God to call them to mind to collect them consider trye improve them is an excellent thing a Duty practised by all the Saints commended in the Old Testament and the New This was Davids work when he communed with his own heart and called to remembrance the former loving kindness of the Lord Psal. 77.6 7 8 9. This is the Duty that Paul sets us to practise 2 Cor. 13.5 And as it is in it self excellent so it hath beauty added to it by a proper Season A time of Tryal or Temptation or Disquietness of the Heart about Sin is a picture of Silver to set off this Golden Apple as Solomon speaks But now to do it for this End to satisfie Conscience which cryes and calls for another purpose is a desperate Device of an heart in love with Sin When a mans Conscience shall deal with him when God shall rebuke him for the sinfull distemper of his Heart if he instead of applying himself to get that Sin pardoned in the Blood of Christ and mortified by his Spirit
way wherein a man is ought by him to be concluded to be death that he may be provok'd to fly from it And this is another Consideration that ought to dwell upon such a Soul if it desire to be freed from the intanglement of its Lusts. 3 Consider the Evils of it I mean its present Evils Danger respects what is to come Evil what is present Some of the many Evils that attend an unmortified Lust may be mentioned 1. It grieves the Holy and Blessed Spirit which is given to Believers to dwell in them and abide with them So the Apostle Ephes. 4.25 26 27 28 29. dehorting them from many Lusts and Sins gives this as the great Motive of it vers 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit whereby you are sealed to the day of Redemption Grieve not that Spirit of God saith he whereby you receive so many and so great Benefits of which he instances in one signal and comprehensive one Sealing to the day of Redemption He is grieved by it as a tender and loving Friend is grieved at the unkindness of his Friend of whom he hath well deserved so is it with this tender and loving Spirit who hath chosen our Hearts for an Habitation to dwell in and there to do for us all that our Souls desire He is grieved by our harbouring his Enemies and those whom he is to destroy in our Hearts with him He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve Us Lam. 3.33 and shall we daily grieve Him Thus is he said sometimes to be vexed sometimes grieved at his heart to express the greatest sense of our provocation Now if there be any thing of gracious Ingenuity left in the Soul if it be not utterly hardened by the Deceitfulness of Sin this Consideration will certainly affect it Consider Who and What thou art who the Spirit is that is grieved what he hath done for thee what he comes to thy Soul about what he hath already done in thee and be ashamed Among those who walk with God there is no groater Motive and Incentive unto universal Holiness and the preserving of their Hearts and Spirits in all Purity and Cleanness than this That the blessed Spirit who hath undertaken to dwell in them as Temples of God and to preserve them meet for him who so dwells in them is continually considering what they give Entertainment in their Hearts unto and rejoyceth when his Temple is kept undefiled that was an high Aggravation of the Sin of Zimri that he brought his Adulteress into the Congregation in the sight of Moses and the rest who were weeping for the Sins of the people Numb 25.6 and is it not an high Aggravation of the countenancing a Lust or suffering it to abide in the Heart when it is as it must be if we are Believers entertained under the peculiar Eye and View of the Holy Ghost taking care to preserve his Tabernacle pure and holy 2. The Lord Jesus is wounded afresh by it His new Creature in the heart is wounded His Love is foil'd his adversary gratified As a total relinquishment of him by the Deceitfulness of Sin is the crucifying him afresh and the putting of him to open shame so every harbouring of Sin that he came to destroy wounds and grieves him 3. It will take away a mans usefulness in his Generation His Works his Endeavours his Labours seldom receive Blessing from God If he be a Preacher God commonly blows upon his Ministry that he shall labour in the Fire and not be honoured with any success or doing any work for God and the like may be spoken of other Conditions The world is at this day full of poor withering Professors how few are there that walk in any Beauty or Glory how barren how useless are they for the most part â— Amongst the many Reasons that may be assigned of this sad Estate it may justly be feared that this is none of the least effectual many men harbour Spirit-devouring Lusts in their bosomes that lye as Worms at the Root of their Obedience and corrode and weaken it day by day All Graces all the Wayes and Means whereby any Graces may be exercised and improved are prejudiced by this Means and as to any success God blasts such mens undertakings This then is my second Direction and it regards the Opposition that is to be made to Lust in respect of its habitual residence in the Soul keep alive upon thy Heart these or the like Considerations of its Guilt Danger and Evil be much in the meditation of these things cause thy Heart to dwell and abide upon them Ingage thy Thoughts into these Considerations let them not go off nor wander from them untill they begin to have a powerfull Influence upon thy Soul untill they make it to tremble CHAP. XI The Third Direction proposed Load the Conscience with the Guilt of the perplexing Distemper The Wayes and Means whereby that may be done The Fourth Direction Vehement desire for Deliverance The Fifth Some Distempers rooted deeply in mens Natural Tempers Considerations of such Distempers Wayes of dealing with them The Sixth Direction Occasions and Advantages of Sin to be prevented The Seventh Direction The first actings of Sin vigorously to be opposed THIS is my Third Direction Load thy Conscience with the Guilt of it Not onely consider that it hath a Guilt but load thy Conscience with the Guilt of its actual Eruptions and Disturbances For the right improvement of this Rule I shall give some particular Directions First Take Gods Meâ—hod in it and begin with Generals aâ—â— so descend to particulars 1 Charge thy Conscience with that Guilt which appears in it from the Rectitude and Holiness of the Law Bring the holy Law of God into thy Conscience lay thy corruption to it pray that thou mayest be affected with it Consider the holiness spirituality fiery severity inwardness absoluteness of the Law And see how thou canst stand before it Be much I say in affecting thy Conscience with the Terrour of the Lord in the Law and how righteous it is that every one of thy Transgressions should receive a recompence of Reward Perhaps thy Conscience will invent shifts and Evasions to keep off the Power of this Consideration as that the condemning power of the Law doth not belong to thee thou art set free from it and the like and so though thou be not conformable to it yet thou needest not to be so much troubled at it But 1. Tell thy Conscience that it cannot manage any evidence to the purpose that thou art free from the condemning Power of Sin whilest thy unmortified Lust lyes in thy Heart so that perhaps the Law may make good its Plea against thee for a full Dominion and then thou art a lost Creature Wherefore it is best to ponder to the utmost what it hath to say Assuredly he 〈◊〉 pleads in the most secret Reserve of his Heart that he is freed from the condemning poâ—eâ— of the Law thereby secretly to
the other Now he that hath the rational he doth not onely act suitably to that principle but also to both the others he growes and is sensible It is so with men in the things of God some are meer natural and rational men some have a superadded Conviction with Illumination and some are truely regenerate Now he that hath the latter hath also both the former and therefore he acts sometimes upon the Principles of the rational sometimes upon the Principles of the enlightened man His true spiritual life is not the principle of all his motions He acts not alwayes in the strength thereof neither are all his fruits from that Root In this case that I speak of he acts merely upon the Principle of Conviction and Illumination whereby his first naturals are heightened but the Spirit breaths not at all upon all these waters Take an Instance suppose the wound and disquiet of the Soul to be upon the account of Relapses which whatever the evil or Folly be though for the matter of it never so small yet there are no wounds deeper than those that are given the Soul on that account nor disquietments greater In the perturbation of his Mind he finds out that Promise Isa. 55.7 The Lord will have mercy and our God will abundantly pardon He will multiply or adde to pardon He will do it again and again or that in Hos. 14.4 I will heal their back sliding I will love them freely This the man considers and thereupon concludes Peace to himself whether the Spirit of God make the Application or no whether that gives life and power to the letter or no that he regards not He doth not hearken whether God the Lord speak peace He doth not wait upon God who perhaps yet hides his face and sees the poor Creature stealing Peace and running away with it knowing that the time will come when he will deal with him again and call him to a new reckoning Hos. 11.3 when he shall see that it is in vain to goe one step where God doth not take him by the hand I see here indeed sundry other questions upon this arising and interposing themselves I cannot apply my self to them all one I shall a little speak to It may be said then seeing that this seems to be the path that the Holy Spirit leads us in for the healing of our wounds and quieting of our hearts how shall we know when we go alone our selves and when the Spirit also doth accompany us Ans. 1. If any of you are out of the way upon this account God will speedily let you know it for bâ—sideâ— that you have his Promise that the meek he will guide â—n â—udgâ—ment and teach them his way Psal. 25.9 he will not let you alwayes erre He will I say not suffer your nakedness to be covered with Fig-leaves but take them away and all the peace you have in them and will not suffer you to settle on such lees you shall quickly know your wound is not healed That is you shall speedily know whether or no it be thus with you by the event the peace you thus get and obtain will not abide Whilest the Mind is overpowered by its own Convictions there is no hold for disquietments to fix upon Stay a little and all thâ—se reasonings will grow cold and vanish before the face of the first Temptation that arises But 2. This course is commonly taken without waiting which is the Grace and that peculiar acting of Faith which God calls for to be exercised in such a Condition I know God doth sometimes come in upon the Soul instantly in a moment as it were wounding and healing it as I am perswaded it was in the Case of David when he cut off the lap of Sauls Garment But ordinarily in such a case God calls for waiting and labouring attending as the eye of a Servant upon his Master Sayes the Prophet Isaiah ch 8.17 I will wait upon the Lord who hideth his face from Jacob. God will have his Children lye a while at his door when they have run from his House and not instantly rush in upon him unless he take them by the hand and pluck them in when they are so ashamed that they dare not come to him Now self-healers or men that speak peace to themselves do commonly make haste they will not tarry They do not hearken what God speaks Isa. 28.16 but on they will goe to be healed 3. Such a Course though it may quiet the Conscience and the Mind the rational concluding part of the Soul yet it doth not sweeten the Heart with Rest and gracious Contention The Answer it receives is much like that Elisha gave Naaman Go in peace 2 King 5.19 it quieted his Mind but I much question whether it sweetned his Heart or gave him any Joy in Believing other than the natural Joy that was then stirred in him upon his healing Doe not my words doe good saith the Lord Mich. 2.7 When God speaks there is not only truth in his words that may answer the Conviction of our Understanding but also they doe good they bring that which is sweet and good and desireable to the Will and Affections By them the Soul returns unto its Rest Psal. 116.16 4. Which is worst of all it amends not the life it heals not the evil it cures not the distemper When God speaks Peace it guides and keeps the Soul that it turn not again to Folly Psaâ— 85.8 When we speak it our selves the Heart is not taken off the Evil. Nay it is the readyest course in the world to bring a Soul into a trade of Backsliding If upon thy plaistering thy self thou findest thy self rather animated to the battel again than utterly weaned from it it is too palpable that thou hast been at work with thy own Soul but Jesus Christ and his Spirit were not there Yea and often-times Nature having done its work will ere a few dayes are over come for its Reward and having been active in the work of Healing will be ready to reason for a new wounding In Gods speaking peace there comes along so much sweetness and such a Discovery of his Love as is a strong Obligation on the Soul no more to deal perversly 3 We speak Peace to our selves when we do it slightly This the Prophet complains of in some Teachers Jer. 6.14 They have healed the wound of the Daughter of my people slightly And it is so with some persons they make the healing of their wounds a slight work a look a glance of Faith to the Promises does it and so the matter is ended The Apostle tells us that the Word did not profit some because it was not mixed with Faith Heb. 4.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was not well tempered and mingled with Faith It is not a mere look to the word of Mercy in the Promise but it must be mingled with Faith untill it is incorporated into the very Nature of it
and then indeed it doth good unto the Soul If thou haâ—â— had a wound upon thy Conscience which was attended with weakness and disquietness which now thou art freed of How cameâ—t thou so I looked to the Promises of pardon and healing and so found Peace Yea but perhaps thou hast made too much haste thou hast done it overly thou hast not fed upon the Promise so as to mix it with Faith to have got all the virtue of it diffused into thy Soul onely thou hast done it slightly thou wilt find thy wound ere it be long breaking out again and thou shalt know that thou art not cured 4 Whoever speaks peace to himself upon any one account and at the same time hath another Evil of no less importance lying upon his Spirit about which he hath had no dealing with God that man cryâ—s Peace when there is none A little to explain my Meaning A man hath neglected a Duty again and again perhaps when in all Righteousness it was due from him his Conscience is perplexed his Soul wounded he hath no quiet in his Bones by reason of his Sin he applyes himself for Healing and finds Peace Yet in the mean time perhaps worldliness or Pride or some other folly where with the Spirit of God is exceedingly grieved may lye in the bosom of that man and they neither disturb him nor he them Let not that man think that any of his Peace is from God Then shall it be well with men when they have an equal respect to all Gods Commandements God will justifie us from our sins but he will not justifie the least sin in us He is a God of purer eyes than to behold Iniquity 5 When men of themselves speak peace to their Consciences it is seldom that God speaks humiliation to their Souls Gods Peace is humbling Peace melting Peace as it was in the case of David Psal. 51.1 Never such deep humiliation as when Nathan brought him the tidings of his Pardon Q. But you will say When may we take the comfort of a Promise as our own in relation to some peculiar wound for the quieting the Heart A. 1. In general when God speaks it be it when it will sooner or later I told you before He may doe it in the very instant of the sin it self and that with such irresistable power that the Soul must needs receive his mind in it Sometimes he will make us wait longer but when he speaks be it sooner or later be it when we are sinning or repenting be the Condition of our Souls what they please if God speak he must be received There is not any thing that in our Communion with him the Lord is more troubled with us for if I may so say than our unbelieving Fears that keep us off from receiving that strong consolation which he is so willing to give to us But you will say We are where we were when God syeaks it we must receive it that is true but how shall we know when he speaks Ans. 1. I would we could all practically come up to this to receive peace when we are convinced that God speaks it and that it is our Duty to receive it But 2. There is if I may so say a secret instinct in Faith whereby it knowes the voice of Christ when He speaks indeed as the babe leaped in the womb when the blessed Virgin came to Elizabeth Faith leaps in the heart when Christ indeed draws nigh to it My sheep sayes Christ know my voyce Joh. 10.14 they know my voice they are used to the sound of it and they know when his lips are opened to them and are full of Grace The spouse was in a sad condition Cant. 5.2 asleep in security but yet as soon as Christ speaks she cryes it is the voice of my beloved that speaks She knew his voice and was so acquainted with communion with him that instantly she discovers him and so will you also if you exercise your selves to acquaintance communion with him you will easily discern between his voice and the voice of a stranger And take this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with you when he doth speak he speaks as never man spake He speaks with power and one way or other will make your hearts burn within you as He did to the Disciples Luk. 22. He doth it by putting in his hand at the hole of the door Cant. 5.4 his spirit into your hearts to seise on you He that hath his sences exercised to discerne good or evil being encreased in judgement and experience by a constant observation of the wayes of Christ's entercourse the manner of the operations of the spirit and the effects it usually produceth is the best judge for himself in this case 2. If the word of the Lord doth good to your souls He speaks it If it humble if it cleanse and be usefull for those ends for which promises are given viz. 1 To endear 2. cleanse 3. To Melt and bind to Obedience 4. To self-emptiness c. But this is not my business Nor shall I farther divert in the pursuit of this Direction without the observation of it Sin will have great Advantages towards the hardening of the Heart CHAP. XIV The general use of the foregoing Directions The great Direction for the accomplishment of the Work aymed at Act Faith on Christ The several Wayes whereby this may be done Consideration of the Fulness in Christ for Relief proposed Great Expectations from Christ Grounds of these Expectations His Mercifulness his Faithfulness Event of such Expectations On the part of Christ On the part of Believers Faith peculiarly to be acted on the Death of Christ Rom. 6.3 4 5 6. The Work of the Spirit in this whole business NOW the Considerations which I have hitherto insisted on are rather of things preparatory to the work aymed at than such as will effect it It is the hearts due preparation for the work it self without which it will not be accomplished that hitherto I have aymed at Directions for the work it self are very few I mean that are peculiar to it And they are these that follow First Set Faith at work on Christ for the killing of thy sin His blood is the great soveraigne remedy for sin-sick souls Live in this and thou wilt dye a Conqueror Yea thou wilt through the good providence of God live to see thy lust dead at thy feet But thou wilt say how shall Faith act its self on Christ for this end and purpose I say sundry wayes 1. By faith fill thy soul with a due consideration of that provision which is layed up in Jesus Christ for this end and purpose that all thy lusts this very lust wherewith thou art entangled may be mortified by Faith ponder on this that though thou art no way able in or by thy self to get the conquest over thy distemper though thou art even weary of contending and art utterly ready to faint Luke 16.17 yet that
himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 This was his Aym and Intendment wherein he will not fail in his giving himself for us That we might be freed from the Power of our Sins and purified from all our defiling Lusts was his Design He gave himself for the Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.25 26 27. And this by virtue of his death in various and several degrees shall be accomplished Hence our washing purging and cleansing is every where ascribed to his Blood 1 Joh. 1.7 Heb. 1.3 Revelat. 1.5 That being sprinkled on us Purgeâ— our Consciences from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 This is that we aim at this we are in pursuit of that our Consciences may be purged from dead works that they may be rooted out destroyed and have place in us no more This shall certainly be brought about by the Death of Christ There will virtue go out from thence to this purpose Indeed all Supplies of the Spirit all Communications of Grace and Power are from hence as I have elsewhere shewed Thus the Apostle states it Rom. 6. vers 2. is the Case proposed that we have in hand How shall we that are dead unto sin live any longer therein Dead to Sin by Profession dead to Sin by Obligation to be so dead to Sin by a Participation of Virtue and Power for the Killing of it dead to Sin by Vnion and Interest in Christ in and by whom it is killed How shall we live therein This he presses by sundry Considerations all taken from the Death of Christ in the ensuing Verses This must not be vers 3. Know you not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his Death We have in Baptisme an Evidence of our Implantation into Christ we are baptized into him But what of him are we baptized into an Interest in His Death saith he If indeed we are baptized into Christ and beyond Outward Profession we are â—â—ptized into his Death The Explication 〈◊〉 this of our being baptized into the Death of Christ the Apostle gives us vers 4 5. Therefore we are buried with him by Baptisme into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in Newness of life Knowing this that our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin This is saith he our being baptized into the Death of Christ namely our Conformity thereunto To be dead unto Sin to have our corruptions mortified as he was put to death for Sin so that as he was raised up to Glory we may be raised up to Grace and Newness of Life He tells us whence it is that we have this Baptisme into the Death of Christ vers 6. and this is from the Death of Christ it self Our old Man is crucified with him that the Body of Sin might be destroyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is crucified with him not in respect of Time but of Causality we are crucified with him meritoriously in that he procured the Spirit for us to mortifie Sin efficiently in that from his Death virtue comes forth for our crucifying in the way of a Representation and Exemplar we shall assuredly be crucified unto Sin as he was for our Sin This is that the Apostle intends Christ by his Death destroying the works of the Devil procuring the Spirit for us hath so killed Sin as to its Reign in Believers that it shall not obtain its End and Dominion 2 Then act Faith on the Death of Christ and that under these two Notions 1. In expectation of Power 2. In endeavours for Conformity For the First the Direction given in general may suffice As to the latter that of the Apostle may give us some Light into our Direction Gal. 3.1 Let Faith look on Christ in the Gospel as he is set forth dying and crucified for us Look on him under the weight of our Sins praying bleeding dying bring him in that Condition into thy heart by Faith apply his blood so shed to thy Corruptions do this daily I might draw out this Consideration to a great length in sundry particulars but I must come to a close I have onely then to adde the Heads of the work of the Spirit in this business of Mortification which is so peculiarly ascribed to him In one word This whole work which I have described as our Duty is effected carried on and accomplished by the Power of the Spirit in all the parts and degrees of it As 1. He alone clearly and fully convinces the Heart of the evil and guilt and danger of the Corruption Lust or Sin to be Mortified Without this Conviction or whilest it is faint that the Heart can wrestle with it or digest it there will be no through-work made An unbelieving Heart as in part we have all such will shift with any Consideration untill it be over-powred by clear and evident Convictions Now this is the proper work of the Spirit He convinces of Sin Joh. 16.8 He alone can do it If mens rational Considerations with the preaching of the letter were able to convince them of Sin we should it may be see more Convictions than we doe There comes by the preaching of the Word an Apprehension upon the understandings of men that they are Sinners that such and such things are Sins that themselves are guilty of them But this light is not powerfull nor doth it lay hold on the practical Principles of the Soul so as to conform the Mind and Will unto them to produce Effects suitable to such an Apprehension And therefore it is that wise and knowing men destitute of the Spirit do not think those things to be Sins at all wherein the chief Movings and Actings of Lust do consist It is the Spirit alone that can do that doth this work to the purpose And this is the first thing that the Spirit doth in order to the Mortification of any Lust whatever It convinces the Soul of all the evil of it cuts off all its pleas discovers all its deceits stops all its Evasions answers its Pretences makes the Soul own its Abomination and lye down under the sense of it Unless this be done all that followes is in vain 2. The Spirit alone reveals unto us the Fulness of Christ for our Relief which is the Consideration that stayes the Heart from false Wayes and from despairing Despondency 1 Cor. 2.8 3. The Spirit alone establishes the Heart in expectation of Relief from Christ which is the great sovereign Means of Mortification as hath been discovered 2 Cor. 1.21 4. The Spirit alone
brings the Cross of Christ into our Hearts with its Sin-killing Power for by the Spirit are we baptized into the Death of Christ. 5. The Spirit is the Author and Finisher of our Sanctification gives new Supplies and Influences of Grace for Holiness and Sanctification when the contrary Principle is weakened and abated Ephes. 3.16 17 18. 6. In all the Souls Addresses to God in this Condition it hath Supportment from the Spirit Whence is the power life and vigour of Prayer Whence its Efficacy to prevail with God Is it not from the Spirit He is the Spirit of supplication promised to them who look on him whom they have pierced Zech. 12.10 enabling them to pray with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered Rom. 8.16 This is confessed to be the great Medium or way of Faiths prevailing with God Thus Paul dealt with his Temptation whatever it were I besought God that it might depart from me 2 Cor. 12.8 What is the work of the Spirit in Prayer whence and how it gives us in assistance and makes us to prevail what we are to doe that we may enjoy his Help for that purpose is not my present Intendment to demonstrate FINIS A Catalogue of some Books Printed and Sold by Nat. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry Near Cornhil and in Chancery-lane near Fleet-street EXercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews also Concerning the Messiah wherein the Promises concerning him to be a spiritual Râ—deemer of Mankind are explained and Vindicated c. With an Exposition of and Discourses on the two first Chapters of the said Epistle to the Hebrews By John Owen D. D. in Folio Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews concerning the Priesthood of Christ wherein the Original Causes Nature Prefigurations and Discharge of that Holy Office are Explained and Vindicated The Nature of the Covenant of the Redeemer with the Call of the Lord Christ unto his Office are declared and the Opinions of the Socinians about it are fully Examined and thâ—ir oppâ—â—â—â—ions unto it refuted With a Continuation of the Expâ—â—â—ion on the third fourth and fifth Chapters of the said Epistle to the Hebrews being the Second Voluâ—â— By John Owen D. D. in Folio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or A Discourse concerning tâ—e Hoâ—y â—â—irit Wherein an account is given of his Name â—â—â—â—re â—â—â—â—â—nality Dispensation Operations and Effects His whole Work in the Old and new Creation is explained â—he Doctrine concerning it vindicated from Opposâ—â—â—ions aâ—d Reproaches The Nature also and Necessity of Gospel-Holiness the difference between Grace and Morality or a spiritual Life unto God in Evangelical Obediâ—nce and a course of Moral Vertues are stated and declared By John Owen D. D. in Folio A practical Exposition on the 130 Psalm where in the Nature of the forgiveneâ—â—â—f Sin is declared the Truth and Reality of it aâ—â—erted and the case of a Soul distressed with the guilt of Sin and relieved by a Discovery of Forgiveness with God is at large discoursed By John Owen D. D. in Quarto A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty with other Material points deriving thence Londons Lamentations or a sober serious Discourse concerning the late Fiery Dispensation By Mr. Thomas Brooks late Preacher of the Word at St. Margarets New-Fish street London in Quarto Liberty of Conscience upon its true and proper grounds asserted and vindicated c. To which is added the Second Part viz. Liberty of Conscience the Magistrates Interest By a Protestant a Lover of Truth and the Peace and Prosperity of the Nation in Quarto The Second Edition A Discourse of the Nature Power Deceit and Prevalency of the Remainders of Indwelling-Sin in Believers Together with the ways of its working and means of prevention By John Owen D. D. in Octavo Truth and Innocency Vindicated In a Survey of a Discourse concerning Ecclesiastical Polity and the Authority of the Civil Magistrate over the Consciences of Subjects in matters of Religion By Joh. Owen D.D. in octa Exercitations concerning the Name Original Nature use and continuance of a Sacred day of Rest wherein the Original of the Sabath from the foundation of the World the Morality of the fourth Commandment with the change of the Sabbath-day are enquired into Together with an Assertion of the Divine Institution of the Lords Day By John Owen D.D. in Octavo The Second Impression Evangelical Love Church-Peace and Unity By Jo. Owen D. D. The unreasonableness of Atheism made manifest in a Discourse to a Person of Honour By Sir Charles Wolsely Baronet Third Impression The Reasonableness of Scripture-Belief A Discourse giving some Account of those Rational Grounds upon which the Bible is received as the Word of God Written by Sir Charles Wolsely Baronet The Rehearsal Transpros'd or Animadversions upon a late Book intituled A Preface shewing what grounds there are of fears and jealousies of Popery The first Part By Andrew Marvel Esq. The Rehearsal Transpros'd the second Part. Occasioned by two Letters the first Printed by a nameless Authors intituled A Reproof c. the second a Letter left at a Friends House dated Nov. 3. 1673. subscribed J.G. and concluding with these words If thou darest to Print or Publish any Lye or Libel against Dr. Parker by the Eternal God I will cut thy Throat Answered by Andrew Marvel Theopolis or the City of God New Jerusalem in opposition to the City of the Nations Great Babylon By Henry D'anvers in Octavo A Guide for the Practical Gauger with a Compendium of Decimal Arithmetick shewing briefly the whole Art of Gauging of Brewers Tuns Coppers Backs c. Also the Mash or Oyld-Cask and Sybrant Hantz his Table of Area's of Segments of a Circle the Mensuration of all manner of Superficies By VVilliam Hunt Student in the Mathematicks in Octavo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hoc est Domus Mosaicae Clavis five Legis Sepimentum Authore Josepho Cooper Anglo in Octavo A Vindication of some Passages in a discourse concerning Communion with God from the Exceptions of VVilliam Sherlock Rector of St. George Buttelph Lane by John Owen D. D. in Octavo A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God and Discipline of the Churches of the New Testament by way of question and Answer with an Explication and Confirmation of those Answers By John Owen D. D. Anti-Sozzo five Sherlocismus Enervatus In Vindication of some Great Truths Opposed and Opposition to some Great Errors Maintained By Mr. William Sherlock A Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity By John Owen D. D. in 12. Eben-Ezer Or a Small Monument of great Mercy appearing in the Miraculous Deliverance of John-Carpenter From the Miserable Slavery of Algiers with the wonderful Means of their escape in a Boat of Canvas the great Distress and utmost Extremities which they endured at Sea for six days and Nights their safe Arrival at Mayork With several Matters of Remarque during their long Captivity and the following Providences of God which brought them safe to England By William Okeley in Octavo The Nature of Apostacie from the Profession of the Gospel and the punishment of Apostates declared from Heb. 6. ver 4 5 6. with an Inquiry into the Causes and Reasons of the Decay of the power of Religion in the World With Remedies and means of prevention in Octavo By John Owen D. D. Mortification of Sin in Believers 1. The Necessiâ—y 2. Nature and 3. Means of it ' With a resolution of sundry Cases of Conscience thereunto belonging By John Owen D. D. in Octavo The Practical D 〈…〉 y of the Papists Discovered to be Destructive of Câ—ristianity and Mens Souls Dutch and English Grammar Dutch and English Dictionary Since the first Eâ—ition of this Treatise that other also is published 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.26 2 Cor. 12.7 Isa. 43.24 2 King 5.18 Gen. 39.9 2 Cor. 5.14 2 Cor. 7.1 Heb. 1.11 Cant 4.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 16.8 Psal. 123.2 Psal. 130.6 Luk. 22.32 Isa. 40.28 29 30 31. Joh. 1.16 Mat. 28.18 Rom. 8.38 Mat. 11.28 Isa. 55.1 2 3. Revel 3.18 Communion with Christ chap. 7 8. Phil. 3.10 Col. 3.3 1 Pet. 1.18 1 Cor. 15.31 1 Pet. 1.16 1 Pet. 5.1 2. Col. 1.3