him drink of the river of his pleasures To him be praise for evermore CHAP. II. Of the sure onely way to the Well of life No way to life but onely by Christ In the knowledge of Christ we are to consider a His calling unto the whole work of RedemptioÌ„ the gifts wherewith he was abundantly furnished for this calling b The offices laid upon him for this work when he became our Prophet to teach instruct both in his owne person by his ministers c Our Priest in his sufferings obedience on earth intercession for us in heaven d Our King to bring us unto the possession of life subduing all his our enimies e The visible signes seales of his grace Baptisme the Supper of the Lord f The dignity of his person being both very God true man requisite unto the discharge of each of his three offices g The comforts arising from these considerations specially when men thirst after life are carefull to have in store a select number of the promises of salvation h A direction how to apply the promises unto ourselves by the due consideration of Christ his natures offices I Am the way the trueth the life no man commeth unto the Father but by me saith Christ Ioh. 14.6 He is the Lambe that leades unto the living fountaines Rev. 7.17 the good shepheard that gathers the lambes with his arme carries was called thereunto of his Father Christ is the signet of his Fathers right hand him hath God the Father sealed by designing appointing him to be the Mediatour Ioh. 6.27 He is the elect of God Esa 42.1 fore ordained before the foundation of the world 1. Pet. 1.20 and againe manifestly called in time chiefely at his Baptisme Transfiguration when that glorious voyce came from heaven This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him Matt. 3.17 17.5 This calling of Christ is especially noted in the Gospell of Iohn more theÌ„ fourty times in exact number under the phrase of sending him Ioh. 5.23.24.30 â—6 37.38 c. yet fourty times againe in other equivalent phrases of being sealed given comming downe from heaven come in the Fathers name the like Our Saviour himselfe doth ever anon repeat this calling rejoyce in it teach others to comfort themselves in it therefore the afflicted conscience that seekes to be strengthened in faith should often remember this calling of Christ yea fourty fourty times to runne unto it after the example of Christ never to have done with it that so the meditation thereof may lead them to the well of life Christ being thus called of his Father is thereupon also furnished with all gifts meet for his calling anoynted with the oyle of joy gladnes above his fellowes Hâ—b 1.9 with the spirit above measure Ioh. 3.34 that of his fullnes we all might receive even grace for grace or grace over against grace grace renewed in us according to his image grace according to our need of grace according to his abundance able to supply all our wants Ioh. 1.16 All his garmeÌ„ts smel of myrrhe aloes cassia out of his yvory palaces whereby they have made him glad whereby he hath made us glad giving the oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Psa 45.8 Esa 61.3 His name is an oyntment powred out therefore the virgines love him Sol. song 1.3 and they sing lovesongs of him and their heart boyleth out his praise Psal 45. title vers 1. Being thus anointed called of his Father he comes promptly at his call Lo I come to doe thy will O God Heb. 10.7 with Psa 40.7.8 he is as willing as he is able to be a ver have found the well of life for there is none that understandeth Psa 53.1.2 but he is the light of them that sit in darkenes in the shadow of death he maketh the eyes of the blinde to see out of obscurity darknes Esa 29.18 In his breast is that Vrim Thummim by which the counsell of God was made knowne unto men Exod. 28.30 Num. 27.21 for he is the substance of the shadowes that went before Coll. 2.17 As from the Oracle debir 1. Kin. 6.19.20 the inmost place of the Sanctuary God was wont to speak of old to send forth a voyce Exo. 25.22 Num. 7.8.9 so now hath he spoken unto us in his Sonne that is in his bosome Heb. 1.1 Ioh. 1.18 There is no labyrinth of errour but he gives a threed of direction to come out of it There is no perplexity or difficult case of conscience but he resolveth it God hath given him the tongue of the learned to know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Esa 50.4 He leades the simple in a way that the fooles shall not erre therein Esa 35.8 Many complaine of the many religions and opinions in the world that they know not which to take but such are not acquainted with this Prophet who teacheth the humble revealeth his secret to them that feare him Psal 25.9.14 Christ is not like a sterne austere master of whom the poore schollers dare not aske a question but he is gentle loving calles them to learne of him perswades them to come to him because he is meek lowly shewes them how to finde rest unto their soules in all their doubts difficulties Matt. 11.29 And further as in the dayes of his flesh he was a minister of the circumcision Rom. 15.8 going about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues preaching the Gospell of the kingdome Matt. 4.23 so now by his ministers servants Eph. 4.11.12 the maidens of his wisedome Prov. 9.3.4 he calles all nations to the knowledge fellowship of his grace Mat. 28.19 As of old he preached to the spirits now in prison by Noah a preacher of righteousnes 1. Pet. 3.19 so still at this day he preacheth peace to theÌ„ that are afarre of Eph. 2.17 Hereby his voyce is as the sound of many waters Rev. 1.15 a souud that is gone out into all the earth unto the ends of the world Rom. 10.18 And thus the spirit even in the waters of the great deep Exod. 14. Esa 51.10 so there being a burning lake a red sea of wrath prepared for sinners our holy high Priest hath made a way for us he wading first through the same the waters therof entring into his soule and overwhelming him that we might be delivered Psal 69.1 2. His suffering satisfaction is become a strong bridge of translation to carry us out of the state of wrath and condemnation into the state of grace and salvation and to transport us safely over this gulfe of destruction and curse in which for our sinnes we had deserved to have bene plunged drowned for ever Gal. 3.13 Col. 1.13.14 To
eyes sometimes set upon our heads as witnesses and pledges of the glorious kingdome to be enjoyed hereafter In Baptisme is represented both the washing away of our sinnes Act. 2.38 our fellowship with the holy Trinity whose names are put upon us Matt. 28.19 The names of the Father Sonne H. Ghost are set like three pearles shining in our crowne of glory set upon our heads Esa 28.5 In the Supper of the Lord being called unto his Table to the participation of the body blood of Christ we are thereby set together in heavenly places with him Eph. 2 6. like olive plants round about his Table as a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord Esa 62.3 even a crowne about our head Christ in the middes of his Church As the children of Israel in the wildernes to guide support them in the way were led by a pillar of cloud fed with manna water out of the rock so by a like favour for the same spirituall use hath Christ our King given us the Sacraments of the new Testament 1. Cor. 10.1.2.3.4 therefore looke what joy comfort the most faithfull in Jsrael had when they saw the cloud of the Tabernacle going before them such joy comfort ought we to be filled withall at the administration of Baptisme and looke with what joy and thankfulnes they went forth to gather Manna with as great ought we to be affected in going to the Table of the Lord giving thankes unto Christ for such a staffe of comfort to quicken strengthen us in our journey way unto the Kingdome of Heaven f But for a further view of this unspeakable grace comfort exhibited in these three offices of Christ we are to looke upon the dignity of his person whereupon depends the vertue power 33.15.16 When for sinne the Lord threatned a departure of this presence yet offered to send an Angel with them to destroy their enimies Exod. 33.2.3 that would not content him no presence of prophets or angels would serve the turne without this divine presence united to the Tabernacle for their guidance And even so according to this type when the word was made flesh he dwelt among us as in a Tabernacle as the word signifyes Ioh. 1.14 escenose His body was the true Tabernacle which the Lord pight and not man Heb. 8.2 In him dwelt all the fulnes of the Godhead bodily Coll. 2.9 Out of this Tabernacle he spake Heb. 1.1 and wrought miracles Matt. 4.23 Act. 10.38 and remooved up and downe and conversing among men led his sheep in the way of life Ioh. 10.27.28 No man nor angel had bene sufficient for this worke but he being very God as well as man bearing up all things by his mighty word Heb. 1.3 caries along his sheep unresistably and safely unto the glory exspected He is Lord of all and at his right hand we may see all his blessed angels attending to whom he hath given charge to watch over his sheep in this way and to carry them in their hands that they dash not their feet against a stone Psal 91.11.12 At his left hand he hath the Devill his angels in a chaine and bindes them at his pleasure Rev. 20.1.2 2. Pet. 2.4 so that they cannot hurt a swine or any uncleane beast without his permission Matth. 8.31 and much lesse can they hurt them that are washed in his blood and he having given commandement to prepare the way of his people to cast up an high way to gather out the stones and to remoove the stumbling blockes Esa 62.10 57.14 they shall goe in the way of life as Israel marched out of Egypt with an high hand Exod. 14.8 a dog shall not moove his tongue against them Exod. 11.7 further then is for their good Rom. 8.28 and in due season they shall come to the Lord the wel-spring of all glory life comfort in heaven g The comfort which ariseth from this consideration of Christ is marvellous great for all the faithfull and in speciall for afflicted consciēces that desire to be established and confirmed in faith for t out of his fullnesse Thus the soules that come dayly to Christ as their Prophet may dayly be refreshed by him h If any through weaknes of faith cannot lay hold on the promises of God touching the pardon of sinne and the free gift of salvation set before us let them bring these promises to the ground of them even to Christ applying them first to Christ then to themselves for in him all the promises of God are Yea and in him they are Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 not onely in their owne nature truth but also in respect of our apprehension He that cannot assent unto the promise looking on the promise onely may better assent sooner beleeve when he lookes on Christ the ground of the promise for example God promiseth unto the repentant that their crimson skarlet sinnes shall be taken away and they made white as snow wooll Esa 1.18 now the troubled soule that cannot say Yea to this promise by particular application let the same looke upon the sacrifice of Christ bearing their sins satisfying the justice of God behold his blood powred out to wash them so they shall sooner conceive apprehend their sins to be done away and their soules to be cleansed and made white as snow There is a promise that where sinne abounds there grace aboundeth much more Rom. 5.20 The perplexed consciences that faine would but cannot say Amen unto this promise by applying it unto themselves let the same looke upon Christ and behold the dignity of his person his deity divine majesty being the brightnes of glory the character or engraven forme of his Fathers person his equall and his fellow Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 Zach. 13.7 when they see his eternall Godhead and almighty power to whom nothing is hard or impossible withal consider how he stoops downe to help and puts his hand to this work to give worth price unto the sacrifice for sinne to make the blood of redemptiō more precious meritorious to redeeme the vilest sinners then shall they more easily receive the promise of abundant grace with more faith say Amen unto it There is a promise that God will be mercifull to the sinnes of his people Heb. 8.12 receive them with everlasting kindenes Esa 54.8 pity thē as a father merit of life to justify us v. 54. the spirit of life for our sanctification Rom. 8.10 the crowne of life for our glorification Rev. 2.10 He is all in all Coll. 3.11 and therefore we are to be nothing in ourselves but all in him and wholly renouncing ourselves our owne righteousnes we are to cast ourselves altogether upon him for the hope of eternall life To him be praise for ever Amen CHAP. III. Of Mortification or the death of sinne The nature necessity thereof in generall a
further apprehend that in Christ we shall be accepted notwithstanding the weake measure of mortification that is in us And this faith of acceptance is a great encouragement for us to proceed further in the subduing mortifying of the flesh with the lusts thereof to abound dayly therein when as we know that our weake labour in the Lord is not in vaine 1. Cor. 15.58 when this perswasion abides within us that the day of small beginnings is not to be despised Zech. 4.10 that the Lord doth both accept the willing minde notwithstanding many wants 2. Cor. 8.12 will also in due season perfect accomplish that which he hath begun in us Philip 1.6 b That we may the better apprehend the comfort of this acceptance through faith there are divers poynts to be observed touching the nature of true Mortification which is yet acceptable to God 1. First that it is still imperfect in this life even in the most excellent servants of Christ who cōfesse themselves wretched transgressours of the law of God feeling in themselves another law power of sinne rebelling against the law of their minde leading them into captivity to the law of sinne that is in their members Rom. 7.23.24 II. Secondly true mortification of sinne as it is imperfect so it is nnequall every man having a portion of grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.7 The same measure of the spirit is not to be exspected in all All have not the same measure of sorrow for their sinnes that some others have yet it may be true and unfained and so accepted of God The fruits of repentance are in some thirty in some sixty in some an hundred-fold Matt. 13.23 Though every true beleever have the spirit of God Rom. 8.9 be a spirituall person 1. Cor. 2.14.15 yet some truely spirituall are so weake that in comparison of others they are not spirituall 1. Cor. 3.1 And therefore ought not any for this to be discouraged if they finde themselves inferiour unto others III. Thirdly true Mortification as it is unequall so it is in some respects unlike in the faithfull as there are divers measures thereof so are there divers manners of it The gifts graces of God are not onely many but manifold or divers of different kinde in divers persons 1. Pet. 4.10 and therefore some that have not mortifyed the outward actions of sinne may have striven more in the mortifying of their inward lusts affections Some that have not mortifyed the more hainous sinnes but have sometimes fallen into notorious scandals may yet in their ordinary course of life farre exceed those in true mortification which yet never fell into such grosse outward offences 1. Kin. 15.5 2. Sam. 24.3.4 c. And some that proceed further unto dayly mortification of the actions of sinne may yet want that great contrition sorrow for sinne which is in others that fall oftner doe lesse abstaine from the ordinary practise of sinne It is hard for any to determine whether it was greater grace in Ioseph a servant resisting the temptation not committing adultery with his mistresse or in David after his fall to humble himselfe so farre as being a glorious king to shame himselfe by publick confession of his adultery Psa 51. title For as God magnifies his mercy by sinne in forgiving it more then if no sinne had bene Rom. 3.4 5.20 so the godly may sometime manifest their grace and godlines by open and effectuall repentance more then if that speciall sin had not bene committed by them Luk. 7 38-34 IIII. Fourthly that Mortification which ariseth from the liveliest faith and feeling of Gods favour in Christ is most acceptable unto God rather then that which hath the extreamest griefe feare and terrour joyned with it or then that which hath a greater restraint of sinfull actions For as by faith men please God Heb. 11. 5.6 so according to the measure of faith in any action men doe more or lesse please God therein Though the degrees of mortification be many though the working of faith be sometimes revealed more at one degree then at another yet whatsoever is wrought at any degree is still by faith whether it be at the chāge of the disposition the motion affection will or action or in contrition after the sinfull action whether it be in divers men according to their different measure of grace or in the same men according to their divers assistance at severall times it is all by faith Faith is the root of other graces Col. 2.7 every act of mortification is a branch springing from this root no branch may boast against the root that beareth it Rom. 11.18 This is the victory that overcommeth the world evē our faith 1. Ioh. 5.4 by it mortification is wrought by it each act of mortification becomes most acceptable to God And therefore above all things we are to labour that this blessed grace of faith may be stirred up within us that though it have as it were slept at one assault of sin it may yet be awakened at another degree of mortification in the progresse of our spirituall combates And seing the spirit of God is the spirit of faith 2. Cor. 4.13 therefore should we seek to be filled with the spirit Eph. 5.18 that by it we may both become strong in the Lord in the power of his might may withall in the middes of our weakenesses be comforted encouraged through this faith of being made acceptable unto God in Christ c Furthermore besides this working of faith for the mortification of all kinde of sin in generall there is yet also a more particular consideration of the power of faith for the mortification of some speciall sinnes against God man By faith the spirituall pride of nature is subdued and confidence in a mans owne selfe is overthrowne whiles such a way of salvation by free grace without our owne works merits is taught us by faith Thus is humility utter denyall of a mans self wrought in the soule as the Spirit declareth by that threefold emphaticall interrogatiō the answer thereof when as he saith Where is boasting then it is excluded By what law of vvorkes Nay but by the law of faith Rom. 3.27 And so also in respect of men it may in like manner be demāded Where is hatred revenge it is excluded By what law of workes Nay but by the law of faith Faith teacheth men to be kinde mercifull tender hearted forbearing one another and forgiving one another if they beleeve the pardon of their owne sinnes and that God in Christ hath forgivē them Eph. 4.32 Col. 3.13 Though the law of workes require both humility in respect of God meekenes in respect of men though it condemne both boasting revengefulnes yet it is the law of faith that workes these graces required mortifyes the contrary sinnes d Having heard how the
Spirit by faith bringes us unto Christ for the mortification of sinne it followes that we consider how the same is done by Hope also through the assured exspectation of the glory that is to come Christ is our Hope the Hope of glory 1. Tim. 1.1 Col. 1.27 And frō this Hope there ariseth a double act of mortification by two especiall graces of Sobriety Patience that are exercised therein Sobriety is an act of mortification which consists in the subduing of inordinate joy delight of all earthly pleasures honours and profits wherewith so many are as it were drunken overcome By looking for that blessed Hope the glorious appearing of the great God our Saviour Iesus Christ we are taught to deny ungodlines worldly lusts to live soberly and temperately in the moderate use of all outward comforts Tit. 2.12.13 The godly doe know that when the Lord shall appeare in glory they shall be made like unto him when they shall see him as he is And every one that hath this Hope in him purifyeth himselfe as he is pure 1. Ioh. 3.2.3 This purification of the soule from uncleane pleasures and lusts is the mortification of them As a greater light doth obscure dimme the lesse both the starres in the firmament the candles lighted on earth below doe cease to shine when the light of the radiant Sunne doth arise upō them so all the brightest lampes of worldly pleasure are as it were extinguished suffer with joy the spoyling of their goods knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better an enduring substance Heb. 10.34 e After the consideration of Faith Hope it remaines that we proceed to the third grace of Love whereby the holy Spirit doth worke a further mortification in the elect And first of all by the love of Christ men are brought to the love of death having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 This desire of death cannot be in a man untill he be dead unto the world untill the love of the things that are in the world be dissolved within him Vntill a man be content to depart from all other vanities he cannot desire to goe unto Christ And therefore ought the godly to labour to finde in thēselves this desire of being translated out of the world to be with Christ that thereby they may finde more assurance of their mortification We see how the tender fervent love of some friends makes them willing desirous to die with their friēds doth after a sort mortifye the world unto them Iacob having lost Ioseph refused to be comforted resolved to goe downe mourning into the grave unto his sonne Gen. 37.35 fearing the losse of Benjamin both he others thought he should die with him his life being bound up in his sonnes life Gen. 42.38 44.22.30.31 It is recorded by divers historians touching the barbarous Indians in some parts both of the East the West some Black-Moores in Guinea in the midst betwixt them both that many of the subjects doe willingly die with their kings and many women with their husbands that the Prince being drowned many of the people have willingly drowned themselves with him that some men give their wives some their childrē some their servāts to be buried alive in the grave with their king to serve him in another world that some women doe cheerfully by the encouragement of their friends cast themselves into the fire wherein according to their manner of burial in some places the dead bodies of their husbands are consumed together If these so wickedly and resolutely leave this world before they be called and blindly cast away their lives for the love of a wretched creature what shame is it unto Christians if the love of their glorious prince heavenly bridegroome doe not mortify them declared it remaineth yet to be shewed how the Spirit having brought us to Christ doth bring us thereby to the eternall Father for in Christ through the Spirit we have accesse or entrance to the Father Eph. 2.18 and are reconciled to God saved and not onely so but we also joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 5.11 And then all the attributes that are in God absolutely considered besides the other comforts to be had by them doe in speciall serve for our mortification by the Spirit of Christ teaching us the right life of them God is light 1. Ioh. 1.5 and all his glorious attributes are so many divine beames of light whereof every one of thē by shining upon us doth further our mortificatiō The eye of Gods infinite wisedome looking downe upon us may well strike us with shame of our vaine behaviour and forgetfulnes of God and make us mourne as Peter when at his third denyall Christ turned and looked upon him Luk. 22.61.62 And therefore are wicked mē the further from mortification because they say in their hearts Tush God seeth not Psal 10.11 Iob 22.14 the eye of man restraines them more then the eye of God Iob 24.15.17 The sight of Gods infinite power may well cast us downe and make us seeme lesse then grashoppers in our owne eyes when Israelites were so stricken with the sight of the mighty and tall Anakims Num. 13.33 His infinite goodnes mercy communicated with us should affect us more then Davids did Mephibosheth cause us rather to say What are we that the Lord should looke upon such dead dogs as we are 2. Sam. 9.8 His infinite wrath against sin before which the mountaines quake and melt Nah. 1.5.6 may well strike us with godly sorrow for the same sins which in the reprobate are punished with unrecoverable destruction though they be pardoned in us The incomprehensible majesty glorious beauty of his face cannot be looked upon by living men Exod. 33.20 some sparkles thereof appearing have brought men to the feare of death Iud. 13.22 His unmeasurable eternity being duely thought upō may well mortify the love of this transitory world that passeth away 1. Cor. 7.31 he alone being unchangeable abiding for ever the same Iam. 1.17 Psa 102.26.27 His unconceivable ubiquity or presence in every place may well serve for an hedge or wall of mortification to keepe us in awe of him in the denyall of ourselves for him seeing we can goe no whither from his spirit presence Psa 139.7 c. And thus all the rest of his attributes being reverently thought upon may serve to subdue the vanity of our mindes worke a death of sin within us by the help of his Holy Spirit By this meanes we may be prepared for our latter end to leave this world with comfort The Heremites Anachoretes that shut up themselves in walles or wildernesses doe every day with their owne hāds digge with their fingers scratch rake up the mouldes making their owne grave aforehand lying downe therein doe not in
lover of the world and of these things of the world then is not the love of the Father in him 1. Ioh. 2.15.16 then is he made the enimy of God for his entertainment of these lusts and his amity with them Iam. 4.4 and consequently cannot looke for the fruits of that blessed friendship with God but for such remaineth a fearefull exspectation of judgment death in the day of Gods wrath Therefore men die for ever because they live after the flesh doe not die betimes to these sinfull lusts Rom. 8.13 e As the world so the Devill also by the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life both worketh his chief temptations by the mortifying of those he is cōquered by mens yeelding unto thē he overcommeth devoureth them This appeareth in three most memorable examples of Adam Christ and Antichrist At the temptation of our first parents the Devill used these three baites thereby ensnared them The forbidden tree by his suggestion appeared good for meat Gen. 3.6 to bring them to covetousnes not content with all the other trees of paradise as though there had not bene meat enough for thē without this also it appeared pleasant to the eyes to kindle the lust of false and vaine pleasure in them and by his suggestion it appeared as a tree desirable by which the Devill workes so effectually in him and in others by him are those three forenamed lusts for by these three is Antichrist often described In respect of the lust of the flesh the habitation and denne of Antichrist is a spiriruall Sodom Rev. 11.8 abounding with lusts of monstrous uncleannes the Romish city is compared to a great Harlot the mother of harlots having in her hand a great cup full of abominations filthinesse of her fornication Rev. 17.1.4.5 and living deliciously in pleasures Rev. 18.7 In respect of the lust of the eyes love of riches she is decked with gold precious stone pearles Rev. 17.4 18.16 and for increase maintenance of that wealth her servants ministers through covetousnes and with fained words doe make merchandise of men 2. Pet. 2.3 And as for the pride of life this man of sinne doth exalt himselfe above all that is called God shewes himselfe that he is God 2. Thes 2.4 and hath a mouth speaking great things blasphemies is wondred at worshipped throughout the world Rev. 13.3.4.5 And when he is crossed in any of his lusts then he makes warre with the Saints overcomes them is drunken with their blood Rev. 13.7 17.6 suffers them not to buy or sell that will not receive his marke Rev. 13.17 Hereby it appeares that the spirit of Antichrist and the breath of his life is lust these worldly lusts are as it were the bridle and saddle wherewith Satan rides upon him with the spurres of these lusts he drives him on to commit so great abhominations By lust is the greatest sinne wrought in the world and therefore is every one to be warned hereby to fight continually against these lusts that fight against the soule and make it a slave to Satan 1. Pet. 2.11 They must either mortify these lusts of the old man or els for ever be a spoyle prey unto the old serpent that worketh by them Holy Ghost they are againe taught upon the new consideratiō of this honour done unto them in reverence of this divine guest to proceed unto a further degree care of their mortification to cleanse themselves from all filthines of flesh and spirit to subdue the old man with his lusts affections lest they grieve this Spirit that is come to dwell with them 1. Cor. 6.19.20 2. Cor. 6.16 7.1 Eph. 4.30 a The manner how the Spirit doth mortify sinne is by bringing the sinner unto Christ by him unto the Father As the Father for communicating of life unto men hath sent his Sonne to merit life Ioh. 7.16 3.16 both the Father the Sonne have sent the Holy Spirit for our assurance of that life Ioh. 15.26 so the Spirit againe bringes us both to Christ to the Father and first teacheth us to embrace Christ he testifies of Christ and glorifies him takes of his shewes it unto us Ioh. 16.13.14.15 The manner how the Spirit bringes us unto Christ is by working in us the graces of Faith Hope Love of Christ These are the most sweet breathings of the Holy Ghost by each of these he workes mortification in them that are so brought unto him I. Faith in Christ serves to kill sinne in us many wayes First of all by the death of Christ there is merited for us not onely the pardon of our sinne but also a power of subduing sinne by his death he hath merited the gift of the spirit even of the spirit of sanctification Of this gift we are made partakers by faith which engraffes us into Christ into the fellowship of his death of all the merit thereof Therefore is it sayd that we are planted together with him into the likenes of his death and hereupon we know that the old man is crucifyed with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom. 6.5.6.7 8. Thus being by faith united to Christ the spirit of mortification as well as the gift of reconciliation is bestowed upon us in this regard should we the more earnestly seek that precious faith which procures so great grace unto us Therefore did Christ beare our sins in his body on the tree that we might become dead unto sinnes 1. Pet. 2.24 that by the merit of his death sinne might be mortifyed in us And hereupon we come to say with the Apostle that we are crucifyed with Christ Gal. 2.20 we may stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free Gal. 5.1 IV. Moreover as our Mortification depends upon that which Christ merited for us so that which Christ by his death obtained for himselfe doth further lead us thereunto For to this end Christ both dyed rose againe that he might be Lord both of the dead living Rom. 14.9 And as we beleeve that he is becom our Lord so we are to beleeve that we are become his servants being bought with a price to wit by his blood therefore are not our owne but his 1. Cor. 6..19.20 7.23 therefore may not doe our owne willes nor follow our owne affections lusts but are to mortify them that we may doe his will Thus the faith of Christs dominion over us purchased by his death doth serve for an help of our mortification while it apprehends that the redeemed of Christ are redeemed from the earth from among men to follow the Lambe being the first fruits unto God to the Lambe Rev. 14.3.4 V. Againe being in part mortifyed contrite for sinne by another act of faith we doe