save his sin But when the spirit comes then it makes the soul willing to have its lusts slain Psal 1â—0 2 3. Rule thou in the mid'st of thine enemies thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power willing to what willing to this that Christ should rule in the midst of his enemies in their souls so as to beat them down and destroy them as he pleaseth Naturally men defend their lusts as the Benjamits those filthy persons who ravished the Levit's Concubine but when the spirit comes and deals with the soul as that woman with the men of Abel 2 Sam. 20.22 who by her wisdom perswaded them to cut off the head of Sheba the Son of Bichri who rebelled against David and to cast it out to Joab so then is the soul willing yea it desires and by all means seeks to have the head of every lust cut off it being an enemy to Christ the Son of David Thirdly The spirit doth help our infirmities in prayer by sighs and groans which cannot be uttered as the Apostle saith some verses after my Text it causeth us to sigh because sin is in us and so works in us and to groan to the Lord to be delivered from the bondage of this and that corruption till the spirit comes a man rather sighs when his sin is discovered and reproved he groans when he is stopt in the fulfilling of his lusts but if the spirit once begin to work thorowly then the man sighs to be rid of his sin and groaneth because he is so led captive by it it was by the spirit that the Apostle said O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death None can say so as he did but by the spirit and when any are enabled so to say sighingly and groaningly as he then doth the Lord hear and help as he did the Israelites against the Egyptians Exod. 2.23 24. the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage and they cryed and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage and God heard their groaning and God remembred his Covenant and God looked upon the Children of Israel and God had respect unto them so God hears much more groanings because of spiritual bondage and the cry of souls wrestling against their lusts comes up to him and God looks with an eye of pity on such and hath respect to them and so comes their deliverance by the death of the Egyptians their corruptions through the hand of Christ tipyfied by Moses and their sins not only in the guilt but also in the power of them are destroyed in the red sea by the virtue of the bloud of Christ Fourthly The spirit causeth and enables the soul to hearken and listen to the Word of God when it reads or hears or thinks thereof and it makes a suitable application of truths to the soul according as it knows is best and most proper for it so that a man looks upon and takes this or that word as belonging to him as spoken to him with respect to his sin we are very subject to pass over the truths of God slightly and to put them off as not appertaining or spoken to us but the spirit opens the heart as we read it did Lydia's it causeth the soul to hear and to hear diligently for it self and to apply such and such words to it 's own case and its own corruptions such a threatning belongs to me and will surely be executed upon me if such a sin still live in me and have dominion over me such a promise is to me and will be fulfilled to me if I repent these and these sins crucified Christ he bare them they lay as a heavy weight upon him they joyned with other to squeeze to press out the very heart bloud of Christ and the like thus saith the soul by the spirit when the spirit helps it in mortifying its sins the soul doth Preach to it self argue and plead with it self in order to the slaying leaving and casting away its sins And because we are very apt to forget things especially then when the remembrance of them is most needful when sin is stirring in us therefore the spirit strengthens our memory or helps it by bringing things formerly read and heard to our remembrance seasonably when we most need them when Iust prevails in us Joh. 14.26 the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Fifthly For as much as believing is very necessary to the subduing our sins this is our victory saith the Apostle John even our faith therefore the spirit helps us in overcoming our sins by working in us a spirit of faith by stirring up faith in us and causing us to act faith on the sufferings of Christ by whose stripes as we read we are healed as our bodies are healed by the destroying our diseases so our souls by the mortifying our sins which is by the vertue of Christ's stripes but not without faith acted thereon therefore the spirit helps in this and also in acting faith on the several truths of Scripture to believe what the Scripture speaks concerning our sins themselves and the fruit of them what will follow if they dye not to believe the threatnings and the promises which is a special means to destroy sin especially faith acted on the promises for by the promises we escape the corruption that is in the world through lust 2 Pet. 1.4 and hence that exhortation 2 Cor. 7.1 having these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness c. but the promises unless mixt with faith profit not Sixthly the spirit doth in a secret way powerfully by the Word smite and wound our sins as with a sword for the word is the sword of the spirit Eph. 6.17 as a man in fight takes up his sword puts to his strength and layes on upon his enemies therewith so the spirit takes the word or accompanyeth it and puts to its own power smiting our lusts thereby hence we read Heb. 4.12 the word of God is quick and powerful sharper than any two edged sword not that the bare word written or spoken is so in it self alone it hath no life nor power nor edge without the spirit or it can do no execution without it but the spirit makes it effectual Psa 110.4 5. the Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings so the Spirit when it pleaseth strikes through our King-like lusts that have had dominion over us and thus it doth by it's own sword the word the Spirit is to our sins a Spirit of judgment and a Spirit of burning as it 's called Isa 4.4 as a Judg to a malefactor yea and as Executioner too as fire to fuell so is the Spirit in it's working with the Word to our Lusts As it 's said in another sense I have slain them by my
exhortation Rom. 11.20 be not high minded but fear he adds v. 21 22. if God spared not the natural broaches take heed lest he spare not thee behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them that fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off As a Mother leading her little Child it goes towards the fire or water and though she hold it fast sure that it shall not fall in yet to make it careful she saith take heed if you fall into the fire you 'l be burn't if into the water you 'l be drowned so that we may not be secure and careless and self confident we have divers such If 's in Scripture spoken to Gods Children Thirdly True Believers may have and too oft have through compliance with the Flesh great falls though they live not after the Flesh they act much according to it therefore to cause them to maintain a continual sight against the Flesh and to keep at the farthest distance from it and to quicken them to repentance when they have turned aside therefore are they to be put in mind what an enemy the Flesh is even such that if they do live after it they shall dye eternally and so far as they act according to it they do dye spiritually For such reasons as these the Apostle speaks that Heb. 10.26 If we sin wilfully he faith not you but we if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful looking for of judgment c. that is even for us if we so sin It may be objected is this a sit and proper argument to work upon true Believers to keep them from the wayes of the flesh or to bring them to repentance when they are seduced thereby should not such rather have other things Preached to them A. Other things should be Preached and that chiefly as the death of Christ love and grace of God c. but this also ye shall dye if c. all considerations are needful in this world to keep us awake God thought it a proper and fit argument to lay before Adam when he had no Flesh no corruption in him in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye why then is it not a proper and fit argument to be propounded to those who have much sin remaining in them though they being in Christ are not under that Covenant under which Adam was and cannot fall as he did yet is this argument rather more suitable to them than to Adam even the argument of death in this respect because they have much Flesh in them which both in it self deserves death and enclines them or moves them to walk in the wayes thereof sweet arguments may more take with the renewed part but this may more curb remaining Corruption and work upon the heart when in a fearless careless frame and if the soul be in never so good a frame to hear that they who live after the Flesh shall dye may stir it up to thankfulness that through and in Christ it is secure and the more thankful the more obedient shall we be to God If any say that grace most works upon them I answer the more any are drawn by Grace the less do they need to be driven by this truth yet even this truth minds us of and sets forth to us the grace of God in that but for it we had all lived after the flesh and there is love in this very truth that the Lord is thus pleased to warn us It may again be said but is this right to avoid or turn from the wayes of the Flash because they bring to death A. We are bound to believe all the word of God and it 's the nature of true faith to Believe all believing all things saith the Apostle that are written in the Law and the Prophets Acts 24.14 therefore all Scripture truth is to be Preached and whatever we do in faith from true faith is as so well done and acceptable to God as Noah's building an Ark because through faith he was moved with fear c. besides death implyes separation from God and this is very good it is love to God to avoid sin that by it we may not be separated from him Application Use 1. Whether do you or any of you live after the Flesh It is as great a question as whether you shall dye Be the more inquisitive each one as to himself because multitudes are strangely mistaken some seem as if they did live after the flesh yet really before God they do not 2 Cor 10.2 I beseech you that I may not be bold with that confidence wherewith I think to be bold against some which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh the Apostles themselves seemed to some so to walk yet were they far from so walking On the other hand there are and that many more who make a shew as if they did not live after the flesh yet in truth after it do they live Thus men also mistake concerning themselves thinking that of themselves which is contrary to truth It 's like if the question were put in the general to any of you whether think you not there are some here present who live after the Flesh you would every one say if you should speak your thoughts yes some here do so live or I fear there are some whose life is such but let every one be ask'd as to his own particular probably he would say I do not or I hope I do not live after the Flesh I beseech you Brethren deceive not your selves for if you do thus live whether you think so or no of your selves you will find this true that ye shall dye I would be helpful to you in this enquiry for which purpose I shall briefly offer divers things to your serious thoughts to be made use of in self examination I say self examination for you know it 's not that God requires of you nor that which concerns you or not so much to try others as each one himself and her self 1. Whoever hath not had a great change in his heart a mighty turn he doth live after the Flesh however he may seem to live for all by nature are dead in their sins and the uncircumcision of their Flesh Col. 2.13 all naturally are born of Flesh and are Flesh having no good thing in them and if the tree be bad the fruit cannot but be bad also if any are dead in the Uncircumcision of their flesh it 's certain they live after it Secondly To live in the doing of any of the works of the Flesh though it be but in some one or two of them is to live after the Flesh Q. What are the works of the Flesh A. They are very many and they are all or most of them very manifest as the Apostle tells us Gal. 5.19 The
another mans servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth so may it be said of another mans service I have sometime thought why did not all the Apostles write something for publick common use or why have we not somewhat of the writing of them all who since like them yet what volumes have been written and preserved and brought down to us through the severall ages since their time No doubt more things were written by the Pen-men of Scripture than we have more Epistles by the Apostles than are come to us some of which it 's very like we would have judg'd mere usefull and should have preferred before some that we have Luke 1.1 For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us V. 3. It seemed good to me also though many yea because many had written be wrote too and that about the same things Had printing been found out in Christ's time or the Apostles dayes how much more of their sayings doings and writings might we have had But God's providence over-ruleth all things in infinite wisdome not to be fathomed by the short line of our reason or understanding How unsearchable are his wayes To say the truth as these Sermons were preached upon the desire of a Friend so are they published upon the serious request of severall backt with some remarkable passages of providence and by grave advice otherwise I had not any mind or thought in my mind to let them passe the Press than which even nothing farther from my thoughts when I preach't them As they were delivered in my constant course of preaching so neer as well could be come they here to you in a homely dresse Eccl. 11.6 In the morning fow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thine hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good So may it be said read one and read another Book for thou knowest not whether shall advantage thee either this or that or whether they shall be both alike gainfull or succesfull They say it 's an ill wind that blows no one any good I am not without hope those things printed may do some good as I have ground to believe when preached they did If they become beneficiall to any I shall account that alone a great reward and he that shall say contemptuously pâ—sh they had better never seen the light doth he not sâ—y withall better that good some may gain thereby had not been done but when the least good is done to the least Christ will not say so for he saith Verily he that gives a Cup of cold water to a Disciple in the name of a Disciple shall not lose his reward so doth he love Disciples Christians it is his saying Feed my Lambs as well as feed my Sheep and he wiâ—l have him that hath but one talent to improve it That place hath many times given me great encouragement in my hard work 1 Cor. 1.26 27. c. For ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty nor many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to consound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen and things that are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence We read Luke 24.11 Their words seemed to them as idle tales because they believed them not Pray O therefore pray much for Faith lest these words of truth be but to you as idle tales and therewith mix all the truths of God The way to experience promâ—ses and the goodnesse of Scripture counsels is to believe them but he that believeth not shall feel in due time the certainty of all Scripture threatnings If every idle word spoken must be given an account of then sure every good and usefull word heard or read must be accounted for Hos 2.8 9. She did not know that I gave her Corn and Wine and Oyl c. therefore will I return and take away my Corn and my Wine and will recover my Wool and my Flax c. Doth the Lord regard what use men put his Corn Wine Wool and Flax to and doth he not observe how men entertain and deal with his Words The good Lord deliver thee from that wosull yet prevailing frame of Spirit to be serious about trifles and triflng about serious things He in whom are all the Treasures of Wisdom make you wise to Salvation your own your everlasting Salvation from the worst death to the best life cause you to know savingly in this your day the things that concern your peace lest the night the dismal night come wherein they will wholly and for ever be hid from thine eyes Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life the fountain of light and life give you proportionably O that at least it might be so much to value life spiritual and eternal In a word my Pen already having run too far and beyond my purpose If thou art a careless sighty one O that thou wouldst sit down and ponder till thou feelest those words come home with power to thy heart Prov. 1.24.25 c. art thou one that mournest because of the prevalency of sin in thee remember the Spirit is a Spirit of love and power therefore ready and able to enable thee heartily seeking it to tread upon the nâ—ck of all thy sins as they did upon the necks of those Kings Josh 10 24. and to lead thee in the way everlasting till thou attainest to the full possession of that never ending Life of Glory If in reading thou findest thy heart stirred up to pray then lift up a request for him who is Thy hearty Soul-Friend S. M. Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye c. AS Moses told the people he had set life and death before them Deut. 30.19 upon the account whereof he there calls heaven and earth to record against them so are these two great things Death and Life set before us in the Scripture throughout especially in some places among which my Text is one what is the great question that all do or should put and labour to get answered Is it not this which of those two things shall we have shall we have Death or shall we have life to which grand enquiry the Apostle here from the Lord gives a short but full answer in two conditional propositions The first hath the force of a Divine threatning and is a plain Character of those who shall dye The other carrieth in it a sure promise from God and gives a certain note of such who shall live I begin with the first If
flesh in one sense because he hath no body yet he is altogether Flesh in a spiritual sense i. e. sinful and he draws those and leads them after the Flesh who live after it they do follow him though they think not so they know it not Eph 2.2 they who walk according to the course of this world they do walk according to the Prince of the power of the air so v. 3. they fulfill the desires or wills of the flesh therefore they shall dye for Satan is a dead creature and he is reserved to a farther degree of death and misery Satan also is a deadly enemy to men he seeks with all diligence to entice allure and draw us to his condition will he not be killed who follows a subtle enemy that plots his death Shall not he dye who yields himself up to his enemies who christ to have his blood and are implacably bent upon his ruine but thus do they who live after the Flesh they yield themselves up to Satan who as I may say hath sworn and more chan sworn the death of all he can prevail against and they give up themselves into the hand of the Lusts of the Flesh which war against their souls 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved abstain from steshly Lusts which war against your souls how then can he escape death who surrenders himself thereto Lastly Those many threatnings of the God of truth against such who live in sin that he will whet his Sword against them wound their hairy sculp turn them into hell Ps 9.17 the word into is doubled in the Hebrew either to note the certainty thereof as if he had said the wicked shall be turned into yea surely into hell or to signifie the greatness and the endlesseness of their punishment they shall be turned into and into hell over head and eats as we say they shall be cast deep very deep into the bottomless pit they shall still be falling as it were lower and lower or their souls and at last their bodies shall be cast into hell their souls into and their bodies into hell or when their bodies into the grave then their souls into hell and the like they all demonstrate and establish this truth so sure as God is true those threatnings are true So then it is abundantly manifest most undeniable as clear as the Sun as sure as sure can be that if we if any of us all live after the flesh dye we shall perish we shall without remedy Sermon 2. Q. 5. VVHy should such Doctrine be preached to believers A. Not as if they who have true faith shall ever any of them so live after the flesh as at last to dye the second death this is not intended nor implyed either in my Text or any other like Sentence of Scripture for it 's certain nothing is meant or can by right consequence be deduced from one place of Scripture which is contrary to any thing expressed in another but it is expressly asserted that God who hath begun a good work in his people will perform carry it on to the day of Christ Phil. 1.6 he that layes the foundation of true grace in any soul will go forward with his work till he hath laid the top stone and that because he is faithful 1 Cor. 1.8 9. Who shall also confirm you to the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ for God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of Jesus Christ our Lord so 1 Thess last 24 and 2 Thess 3.3 and as God is faithful so it 's sure he is able otherwise he would never have begun his work in us as may be argued from those words of Christ Luke 14.28 29 30. which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it lest haply after he hath said the foundation and is not able to finish it all that behold it begin to mock him saying this man began to build and was not able to finish How much wiser is God than man none shall have cause to mock him therefore he both can and will finish his building the Church and the work of grace in every one of his effectually called ones But why then is it said to Believers If ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye A. 1. All Believers are not such in truth all who make a profession have not been under the power of God to their saving Conversion when God sows wheat the Devil sows tares when God makes true Converts the Devil makes Hypocrites Mat. 13.38 39. Hypocrites especially are the Devils Children the tares are the Children of the wicked one all wicked ones are Children of that wicked one chiefly Hypocrites these are as his first born and have most of his likeness There ever were and will be during the state of things such as Judas Symon Magus Demas c. hereafter all such shall be gathered out of Gods Kingdom No Hypocrite shall be in the New Jerusalem but now there are foolish as well as wise Virgins workers of iniquity who hear Christs word and eat and drink in his presence at his Table with respect to this it is needfull there should be such Doctrine Preached now in the Church ye shal dye if c the rather because men know not the hearts of those to whom they Preach Mal. 3. last Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked now there is not a certain Infallible discerning and false unsound hearted ones are frequently very confident of their state that it is good that it is safe As men in a dream while dreaming are very confident of this or that concerning themselves the contrary whereto they find true when they awake hence this truth is to be taught to awaken such if it may be and to shew them their great and sad mistake Secondly Though it shall never be because of Gods faithfulness as also because of Gods election Christ's death c. that true Believers shall so live after the flesh that they shall perish yet the thing is possible in it self and as to themselves Did not Adam in innocency fall and come under the sentence of death so would the best men fall into perdition if left to themselves as Peter had sunk quite down and drowned if left to himself and when he denied Christ so far he had denied him utterly Corruption because natural hath great advantage against grace in us and Satan by all means layes about him to draw it forth so that if we had no keeper no guid or better Pilot than our selves we should live after the Flesh and split dash in pieces on that rock therefore that none may have confidence in themselves but all of us be kept constantly trusting in the living God in Christ the power of God and that we may not be high minded but fear hence the Apostle having given that
and bears sway in us or we do live after the Flesh Thus much for the first use let not these things be spoken in vain make application of them to your selves try your selves by them pray over them rest not till you know what your life is how it is that you do live for this is one Word of God by which we shall be judged hereafter when the great Judge shall come to execute the final dismal Sentence of Death then will it be enquired and published who have lived after the flesh Use 2. Let the second Use be to convince those whose life is after the flesh of their misery art thou such a one and yet dost think thou shalt not dye not dye the second the worst death thou deceivest thy self thou dost contradict my Text belye the Word of the Lord so art thou the more guilty and while senseless of thy miserable state that thy senslessness is a bar to thy repenting How art thou like to turn who walkest in the way of Death and wilt not believe it is such a way or that thou art in it No wonder if all calls are ineffectual though God saith turn ye turn ye why will ye dye yet thou art like the deaf Adder Therefore let me perswade thee who dost live after the flesh to receive this as a truth though uncomfortable yet profitable shouldest thou dye presently a natural death thou wouldest in dying dye dying naturally thou wouldst dye everlastingly and unless thou livest a new life thus will it be whenever death comes It will come double when a visible death shall arrest thy body an invisible death will arrest thy soul even thine for God will stand to his word he will not forget any one word that he hath spoken by any of his Servants Isa 44.26 he confirmeth the word of his Servant and performeth the counsel of his Messengers God never goeth back from any word that he absolutely uttereth as this without any If expressed or intended only this if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye certainly unavoidably It is most undeniable God is able to execute his word he is able as Christ saith to destroy soul and body If a man a beast a small creature a very gnat or a disease can kill thy body how much more can he who made thee kill thee soul and body destroy thee with an everlasting destruction what are we to the Angels that sinned yet the Lord God hath clapt them all though many Legions though mighty spirits though very subtle and cunning he that almighty only wise one hath put them all under everlasting chains of darkness How able then is he to crush us as moths to trample under his feet us poor worms to break us as a Potters Vessel and as God is able to fulfill his threatning so is he resolved to do it his word tells us his setled purpose his eternal will and unalterable Counsel as his threatnings are written in the same book with his promises so have they the same confirmation his oath as well as his bare word and determinate counsel Am. 8.7 The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob surely I 'le never forget any of their works I 'le that is eternally punish impenitent sinners for all their iniquities Solomon saith where the word of a King is there 's power much more where the word of the great King is the Lord of Heaven and Earth there 's power all power to put his Word in execution but behold here 's the Word of God see it read it ye shall Dye Almighty power is tyed to see this word accomplished Bear with me a little I beseech you while I speak in love for good Who what shall can let or hinder thy death If thou livest after the Flesh shall thy riches estate any thing of this world No Riches profit not we read in the day of wrath what 's Gold and Silver what 's all the rubbish of this world when the Lord shall come forth as a consuming fire when the earth shall be burnt up and the works thereof will fallen Angels who now deceive help they could not save themselves they seek to devour but will good Angels they will be evil Angels in respect of the execution of evil to evil men they alwayes hearken to God's voice and obey the word of his Command they Christ saith shall gather the tarts and cast them into unquenchable fire or will Christ himself stay the execution of this word No he 'l see it executed he 'l come in flaming fire taking vengeance on all who know not God 2. Thess 1.8 and obey not the Gospel of his Son though Christ hath dyed for sins he hath said impenitent sinners shall dye in their sins and he puts the question himself to such how can ye escape the damnation of hell Mat. 23.33 I may say Christ himself could not answer it how they who continue living in their sins shall escape because it 's not to be answered there 's no answer can be given to that Quaerie Shall sinners be able to save one another Nay no more than the men of the old world than the men of Sodom did who perish'd all together Shall sinners prayers shall all that they can do or say save them No all will be charged upon them as sin Is 1.15 God declares though they make many Prayers he 'l not hear whereof Christ also gives assurance testifying before hand when they shall hereafter say Lord Lord open to us c. he 'l say depart I know you not Shall the mercy of God save such No for it is holy faithfull mercy therefore cannot save any against his word How sure then is the death of all who live after the flesh Therefore if thou so livest and yet thinkest thou shalt not dye thou art deceived by sin by Satan yea thou art a self deceiver and wilfull in thy deceiving thy self Do ye not know I pray remember this day God said to Adam in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye but he deceived by Satan thought though he did eat he should not dye Now doth not woful experience to this day teach us the truth of Gods Word for hence we were all born in sin hence the grave so filled with the bodies of Adam's posterity hence the world so full of misery as now and as it hath been in all ages hence you women bring forth in sorrow hence we men get our bread with the sweat of our brows hence all our labour all our toyl hence the earth brings forth bryars and thorns hence all afflictions And as sure as that word proved true which God spake to Adam notwithstanding what Satan insinuated to the contrary so sure is this word true if thou O man if thou O woman livest after the flesh thou shalt dye whatever Satan may whisper in thee to the contrary wherefore shut thine ear to all thoughts that contradict this truth and take it into thy
heart as that which all who are disobedient will feel at last to be most true I might here desire you to think or ask you what you do think in your souls whether in your consciences you think not this word being true there be not a multitude of poor creatures high and low rich and poor who are woefully deceived Doth it not appear there are great swarms and droves of men and women many and many in all places who live evidently after the flesh yet who almost but thinks he shall escape death though he live as he doth How sad is this O sadness lamentation that so great a number of our father Adam's Children are so deceived not taking warning by his being deceived and Alas alas that such a number of people must dye eternally dye even all that multitude who live after the flesh Did you hear of a 1000 or a 100 to be executed on the Scaffold to be broken upon the wheel would not your bowels earn should you not be much troubled and shall not this move you and cause you to weep and pray much to hear from the word of truth that all those many and many who live after the flesh shall dye the second death be tormented in that lake which burns with fire and brimstone for ever and ever Ah how great our unbelief how little our love to those made of one blood with us how rocky our hearts O our want of bowels that this affects us no more But Use 3. Hear me O precious immortal soul every one who lives after the flesh give ear turn O turn repent O repent I beseech thee for thine own good for thy greatest good Live a new life that thou mayest not dye Be not angry with the Word of God be not angry with him that speaks it but be angry with thy sinful life God saith Ezek. 38.18 It shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the Land of Israel saith the Lord God that my fury shall come up in my face so when any lust stirs in thee and warreth against thy soul O let thy fury come up in thy face deal with it as with thy worst enemy be entreated so to love thy self as to turn over a new leaf to write after a new Copy Turn thy face from the flesh turn thy back upon it Should I tel you that if you live after such a custom such an old new fashion or the like ye shall dye by the hand of man would you not be perswaded to leave that custom that fashion and thank me for my pains in perswading you can you think dying by the hand of man worse than dying by the hand of God is not the hand of the Almighty heavier than the hand of man have you not heard have you not read what the Apostle saith It 's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God even of him in whom ye live and move and do you not believe he saith true that it is so indeed Truely friend if thou art one who livest after the flesh it is a wonder thou art not actually dead under the second death already in the paws Jaws of everlasting death that that is not now at this day feeding upon thee but God hath spared thee hitherto why why thinkest thou is it Is' t not that thou mayest repent Yes the long suffering of God saith the Scripture is salvation and so thou thouldest account 2. Pet. 3.15 account that the long suffering of our God is salvation even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the Wisdom given unto him hath written unto you Rom. 2.4 or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance Is not this mercy O great mercy that yet that after so long a time God waits for thy turning and thou hast once again a fair warning How woefully guilty wi lt thou be of thine own death if being thus warned thou shalt turn a deaf ear How inexcusable wilt thou be whatever thou shalt plead for thy self It will be answered thou wert plainly told what would be the end of thy fleshly life thou thoughtest thou shouldst not dye but thy thought contradicted that word of truth which was Preached to thee Doth not this word sound terribly in thine ears thou shalt dye dye in thy soul dye in thy whole man dye a death of the greatest of unspeakable misery dye eternally why then let it awaken thee to repentance how canst thou sleep in thy sin how canst thou rest and be quiet with such a terrible word sounding in thine ears will not dying it self be far more dreadful than to hear of it is or can be I shall not now stand to use more words if any soul will not hear the blood of such a one will be upon his own head and let me mind thee my friend that the longer thou livest in thy sin before death comes to thee the more sore grievous and tormenting will it be when it comes I wonder what impenitent sinners think of that word Rom. 2.5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God who will render to every man according to his deeds wilt thou believe it and turn from the wayes of the flesh If not thou must experience it and shalt find it to be as true as he is true whose word it is It may be some one may think Is there hope yet hope for me after all my sinning for so long a time A. There is a certain hope hast thou a mind a heart to turn in good earnest lift up thy head fear not doubt not Turn heartily God is ready to receive thee and he will receive thee graciously for so he hath promised 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out from among them come away in thy heart and life from all that live after the flesh touch not the unclean thing Let thy repentance be thorow and sound what then if I so turn who will receive me God answers I will receive thee I will that is receive thee graciously I will receive thee to my mercy into the bosome of my grace as the Prodâ—gals father received him therefore it follows and I will be a Father to you saith the Lord God Almighty yea and ye shall be my Sons and my Daughters I 'le receive you as a most tender father his Children when they are in great streights and and dangers consider the Lord's promise think how a Father doth catch his dear Child when falling into the water or fire or when his Child runs to him from one that would kill him so even so and with much more readiness and tenderness will the Lord God receive you if ye run to him in Christ from your sins he 'l speedily receive you into the arms of his mercy with all his
heart and soul will he embrace you and hold you fast and keep you till he hath brought you to heaven observe well how that good promise is shut up thus saith the Lord Almighty He who is as able to save as to destroy he that is almighty to pardon thy many sins he who is almighty to subdue thy mighty Corruptions and to deliver thee from the most mighty temptations he saith he will receive thee and that as Almighty so as to shew himself Almighty for thy salvation If thou desirest yet another Scripture to encourage thee read and ponder that word full of sweetness Jer. 31.18 19 20. and be assured Jesus Christ hath dyed that thou mightst not see death not tast the worst death or feel the curse of death if thou turn'st from the flesh to God in him Use 4. Let me press you all to take great heed that you never at all live after the flesh never take one step after it Beware my Brethren beware of that flesh that is within you of that corruption that is in you because it is so dangerous to live after it it is a deadly thing it is a subtle deceitful thing alluring ensnaring and powerfully moving let us all be very watchful against it consider a few words First so far as you give way to the flesh you 'l hinder your assurance what assurance considering this truth can I or you have unless our Conscience acquit us and bear witness in us that we live not after the flesh but you Christians know the worth of assurance say is it not a sad thing to have your assurance though but in some degree weakened clouded is it not very ill to have your evidences blotted to have any ground or so much as seeming cause to doubt concerning your state and to fear that you are among them that shall dye They who know not what it is to dye spiritually everlastingly may be in a state of death and make nothing of it but you who understand what this dying meaneth cannot live comfortably without good assurance that you shall not dye O let there be nothing of the reprobates mark found upon you Secondly So far as you yield to the flesh so far you feed you nourish it but would you feed a deadly disease If you feed your Corruption you starve your souls every degree of living all acting after the flesh all complying therewith strengtheneth it and weakneth your souls do not you O do not strengthen your enemy against your selves Thirdly so much as you are led by the flesh and let it have its will you honour it you commend you praise it as if it were a good thing a good Teacher a good Master but will you honour such a shameful thing will you commend will you praise that God so much condemns and abhorreth you honouring it dishonour your selves commending it you shame your selves Fourthly To fulfill the desires of the flesh is to speak as if you were Debtors to it as is intimated in the verse before my Text where we read thus Therefore brethren we are Debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh No how can we be Debtors to it for it 's a poor thing it 's not worth any thing we never had or could have good by it therefore we cannot be Debtors to it except it should be by Gods Command or by compact and agreement or promise but Gods command runs contrary and as for agreement we have covenanted with God and promised oft to have nothing to do with the flesh therefore we are no way Debtors to it unless it shall be said we owe it hatred and all that we can do for it's destruction so indeed we are Debtors to the flesh we owe it all possible hatred and the utmost of our endeavour's for the utter extirpation and ruining of it whereas if we let the flesh have its will then we act as if we owed it service and were indebted to it by the bond of love But this is sure you believers are exceedingly by all bonds and obligations engaged in love thankfulness obedience to the Father and Son and holy Spirit who have made you preserved you redeemed called and chosen you So far as you serve the flesh you rob God you do as pay money where you owe none and refuse or neglect to pay what you greatly stand indebted for Besides you believers have a principle of grace in you to that you are Debtors for it hath done you great good by the new man created in you your condition is altered of Children of Satan you are become Children of God by it you are fitted for fellowship with God by it you have had much peace comfort and God commands you to live after it and have you not promised so to do therefore spend not the money of your time strength service in acting according to the Flesh to which you owe nothing but pay your Debts to the new man that seed of grace that is in you quench alwayes the motions of the Flesh but blow up nourish cherish all holy motions grieve the flesh as much as ever you can but please the spirit to the utmost To live after the flesh is to countenance the old and discountenance the new man to give way at all to the flesh it is to favour to smile upon your corruption and frown upon the seed of God in you Yea it is to resist the spirit for that draws you from the flesh a contrary way to that wherein the flesh would lead you Ag. To comply with the flesh speaks no or little love to Jesus Christ for the flesh it was the corruption of man that murdered him and it is against the death of Christ for the Gospel tells us Christ dyed that we should not live after the Flesh but to him that dyed for us I shall not hold you longer on this only do you make good use of the Apostles argument though you are sure that you are in Christ yet make use of this word if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but remember to use it lawfully 1 Tim. 1.8 We know that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully so is this truth good very good if it be used lawfully not to hinder but to help to a right grounded assurance not to terrifie but to awaken your spirits not to overses but to ballast them to poize them and this word is to be made use of seasonably There is a great deal of Christian wisdom in the seasonable making use of truths sometimes your souls may be in a desponding fainting sinking frame full of discouragement and fear then call to mind promises gracious invitations the comfortable words of Scripture but too oft your spirits are in a light vain temper inclining to carnal confidence presumption fearlesseness and carelessness they begin to be somewhat bold and ventrous upon evil then is a fit season to meditate on this truth and to think what do I
flesh So say I yeild to the Spirit to along with it so shal ye mortifie any deed of the Flesh If the Spirit go one way you will go another if the Spirit call and you 'l not hearken if that speak and you 'l not hear if that move and you 'l not follow the motions thereof then will the Spirit leave you to your selves See the V. following my Text the Apostle having said if ye through the spirit mortifie the deeds of the Body he adds in the next words Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God whereby he teacheth us that if we would mortifie the deeds of the Body through the spirit then we must be led by the spirit we must resign our selves to the conduct and guidance thereof Sixthly We must wait on the spirit if it doe not come in to our assistance if it do not help us as we desire we must continue waiting hold on looking for it begging it and using the means it hath ordained As they waited at the Pool of Bethesda for the moving of the waters by the Angel that they might be healed If the Angel came not and moved not the waters one day nor the next yea though he stayed one week and another still they waited there till he should come When Saul waited not for Samuel Samuel told him he did foolishly and he should lose his Kingdome So do they exceeding foolishly who wait not for the spirit of God and hence it is that many lose the Kingdom of Heaven and never get victory over their corruption because they will not continue waiting till the spirit come in to their assistance These six things we are to do that we may mortifie our sins through the spirit but it is to be remembred that neither can any of these be done without the spirit therefore we must ask it that we by it may be enabled to do these things Yet must we not sit still but we must put forth our selves stir up our selves and go as far as we can as well as we can It should be well noted The Apostle saith not If the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body in you but if ye through the spirit do mortifie them plainly declaring and testifying to us that though we can do nothing of our selves that shall be effectuall we must not be idle we must not sit still but we must rouze up our selves and as the little child that can't go alone yet strives to go when lead it moves it's leggs and doth what it can towards it's going so must we do to the utmost what lyes in us towards the mortification of our sins and so look for the spirit to carry us on in the work prosperously Application USe 1. Learn by the Truth to understand aright the councels exhortations and commands of Scripture this and that the Scripture saith you must do and you are oft call'd upon to do such things from the Word of God but how is it that you are to do them Remember alwayes though this be not every where or every time exprest this is meant this is alwayes understood you must do so and so through the spirit you must get the spirit and give up your selves to the spirit that you may do all and every of the things whereto you are counselled exhorted or commanded For this work of mortifying our sins is a generall work that hath an influence into even all other things that concern us to do or whereto we are obliged in our whole conversation nothing can be done as God requireth if this be not done every command of God implyes the subduing of some lust or other even lust being contrary to some command If then we are to mortifie our sins through the spirit through it therefore we are to yeild obedience to all the commands of the Lord. Use 2. Learn whence it is that the purposes resolutions and endeavours of men against their sin are so fruitlesse and ineffectuall how oft is it that men purpose resolve and take great pains to bring under this or that lust in them yet it retains it's strength yet it continueth your master notwithstanding Why whence is this It is because they have not learnt to put themselves into the hand of the spirit and to take that along with them in what they do They resolve but not through the spirit they strive they weep but they trust in themselves they call not for their eye is not to the spirit of God so all their resolutions vanish wither away all their attempts pains and industry prove abortive and in vain As it 's said concerning prayer Jam. 4.2.3 Ye lust and have not ye kill desire to have and cannot obtain ye fight and war yet ye have not because ye ask not ye ask and receive not because ye ask amisse so many do much they make a great deal of stir about the conquering their corruptions yet prevail not because they do all amisse as Christ saith Many shal strive to enter shal not be able so many strive to destroy their sin but are not able because they have not learnt to go forth against their evill motions under the conduct and in the power of the Holy Ghost Hath it not been thus sometimes with you Such a sin you have found working strongly in you you have made war upon it sought it's death resolved upon it's destruction but to no purpose It hath continued still living lively stirring as before learn then this day learn it well what hath been the cause even this know this to have been the reason you have not taken the right course you have not duly sought therefore have not truly had the spirit helping you which only hath power to strengthen and skill to direct you in that you have endeavoured As the Apostle saith the spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought So the spirit must help our infirmities or we know not in any case or matter relating to the good of our souls what to do as we ought When any labour against their sin without the spirit they do as one that takes a great deal of pains to open a dore without the right key or to cause a vessell to sail against the stream without any wind in a calm And perhaps you have observed that others they have got great victory over their sins in much lesse time you have striven long and yet are as trodden under foot by this and that base lust and another who began to look heavenward a great while after you is able to trample his sin under his feet How so because he is wise and being taught by the spirit hath taken the spirit along with him in all his endeavours and then no wonder As suppose two vessels set forth to one Port from severall harbours the one long after the other having divers leagues more to sail yet if
this vessel have a good gale of wind and the other be becalmed and have only the strength of the marriners to put it forward by Poles and Oars you will not marvel if that which set out last and hath the longest way to go be first at the intended haven leaving the other behind basking and tossing in the waves possibly till she be foundred or wrackt through a great storm arising Use 3. Let this cause you to magnifie the Gospel the Doctrine of Christ because this tells you how you shall slay your worst most hurtful deadly and powerful enemies and lay them dead at your feet The Law that discovers sin Rom. 7.7 I had not known sin but by the Law for I had not known lust except the Law had said thou shalt not covet The Law also denounceth a sore curse to them who walk after their lusts but the Law telleth us not of a remedy how we shall have help against them it is the Gospel that teacheth us to mortifie the deeds of sin through the spirit The meer light of nature saith of many sins they must be mortified but is at a stand as to this the only way for the mortification of them hence those great Moralists and wise Philosophers who speak much against many impieties and give divers rules good in their place for the getting rid of them yet are silent in this some of those wise men gave strange rules for the mortifying of lust as that of Crates famish thy self noting that it was not feasable and all their precepts are ineffectual for the real destroying any lust therefore the best of those men are noted to have lived under the dominion of some destroying corruption covetousness ambition envy or such like They write of one Democritus he put out his eyes because he could not look without lusting but did that mortifie his sin No though his eyes were out his corruption continued still within There are two great things only to be known by the Gospel the one is how we may have peace with God be accepted of him and justified in his sight the Gospel only holds forth justifying righteousness the other is this I am now upon how we may get our sins destroyed and so our hearts purified Vse 4. You may make use of this truth by way of tryal whether you have the spirit of Christ in you or no The greatest question in the world is whether you are in Christ Jesus the Answer to that is he that hath not the spirit of Christ as the Apostle saith is none of his but he that hath the spirit of Christ in him is in Christ And if you would know whether the spirit of Christ be in you this is one answer if it be in you it works in you it helps and assists you and that in mortifying your sins Have your sins deadly wounds is there any thing done really and considerably towards the ruining them If so then you have the spirit of Christ in you because this is to be done only through the spirit Vse 5. Adore the Lord and greatly praise him that he is pleased not only to acquaint us with the necessity of mortifying the deeds of sin but also to direct us how we shall do it and that in such a way as this through his own spirit God might have told us of the desert of our sins the danger of living in them and what would follow thereupon and so left us to pine away in them which had been a most woeful doleful case But behold the riches of his grace he shews us a way in the Gospel both for our attaining pardon of our transgressions and victory over all our corruptions It may be objected Alas what is this that we hear we must mortifie our sins through the spirit we may hear of this as many do and yet be far enough from being freed from the power of our sins I answer true no doubt many hear of this who yet continue to live after the flesh and so dye eternally having not one of all their lusts destroyed But then it is their own fault because they follow not the Counsel of God in his Word it is the love and goodness of a friend if be tell you a soveraign effectual remedy for any mortal Disease under which you labour though at length you dye thereof because you will not use the means he prescribes or directs you to So is it the grace of God that he declares to us how our sins may be killed and our souls saved though many hear thereof and yet dye in their sins because they take not the good counsel given them It may be again objected is the spirit at our command can we mortifie our sins through it if we will I answer Though the spirit be not at our command it is at our entreaty so be it we heartily seek it as we are directed which how it is will after be shewn So that this truth leaves all those utterly in excusable who still live in their sins after their hearing it and it will aggravate their condemnation in that though they heard from the Word of God how they should destroy their lusts they continued still enslaved by them and lived under the power of them all their dayes Yet is this Doctrine a great discovery of the grace of God to all men in general to whom the Gospel is published Especially doth this speak the grace of God to you who are in Christ for he hath already actually given you his spirit and all that he now requireth of you is that you improve it and make use of it as of a great and most Noble friend who is able and ready at all times upon all occasions to help you Know therefore the Lord your God is full of grace towards you He indeed calls you to great work to warring and fighting against your strong corruptions from which if he pleased he could easily suddenly altogether perfectly deliver you while here as he will hereafter This may seem hard and seem to speak some want of fatherly love and kindness but think not so seeing he hath given you an all sufficient helper fully answerable to the greatness of the work which he puts you upon Use 6. Let the sixth use be to convince all such of great error who think they can mortifie their sins of themselves or that any thing they can do can be effectual to the mortification thereof without the spirit It is one of the grand errors of the Antichristian party to think that their vows fastings penance c. can mortifie sin and they give themselves divers of them to severe courses and put others on to such and such things as effectual means to slay their lusts without looking after the spirit of Christ for it's assistance Wherein too too many who oppose Popery are too like to Papists as in other things for are there not many who hearing the absolute necessity of having their sins
go along with believing and turning it 's then sure to prevail receiving will be the fruit of such asking So then the Scripture is full and plain in declaring how you may attain the spirit what you should do that you may gain it Which things though it 's granted they cannot be done without the spirit yet are they not spoken in vain To all whom God intends to save he vouchsafeth a heart to hearken to these counsels and so affords them the indwelling and constant assistance of his spirit while they live though it work not always alike in them Therefore my advice is to any one sensible of his need of the spirit and desirous of it that he would take those Scriptures mentioned and spread them before the Lord and hold on so doing till he feel the power of his spirit and be made sensible of the influence of his grace in his heart O Lord gracious God who delightest in mercy who art a God hearing prayer thy word saith the promise of the spirit is received through faith be pleased I pray thee to give me faith for it is thy gift Thy word saith turn at my reproof and I will pour my spirit out unto you I beseech thee turn me and I shall be turned for turning is thy work thy word saith to them that ask thou wilt give thy holy spirit O cause me to ask as I ought open my mouth and my heart that I may so ask as to receive according to thy word for none call upon thee in truth unlesse thou beest pleased to quicken them thereunto Did ever any soul think you do thus and continue so to do in uprightnesse who was denied No verily the Lord our God is a God full of compassion he will not let any one that sincerely waits at the dore of his mercy perish for want of living water his holy spirit Is not God more mercifull than you are would you let any one though an enemy ly and starve and perish at your dore if he should throwing down his arms come and lay himself at your threshhold crying for a draught of water or put case a man through distemper phrensy or madness should have done you much hurt if he at a time coming to himself a little should entreat with earnestness that of you which would cure him and therefore desire it that he might no more do you wrong would you not give it him we read when the Prodigal came to himself he went to his Father and his Father with all readiness pity and love received him when any go to God for his Spirit in Christ then begin they to come to themselves God saith to us if thine enemy thirst give him drink sure then if any soul though it have been a great enemy to God do thirst for his Spirit and lye at the door of his mercy crying for it through Christ There is mercy enough in the heart of God to look out upon it as it were to come forth to it and bestow his spirit upon it Prov. 8.32 33 34. Now therefore hearken unto me O ye Children for blessed are they saith wisdom that keep my wayes hear instruction and be wise and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my doors Why is such a one blessed 〈◊〉 for who so findeth me findeth life intimating they that so seek shall find Doth not Christ commend the good Samaritan who had compassion on the wounded man who could not help himself and poured in oyl into his wounds Luk. 10.33 34. surely the Lord is as good himself I and much more compassionate towards poor sinners who are far more miserable and helpless If then thou wounded soul by thy sins and no way able to heal thy wounds to subdue thy sins shalt indeed look to him cry unto him will he not pour the Spirit which is called the oyl of gladness into thy heart Yes no doubt he will I dare say this to thee O soul if thou hast a heart to go sensibly and sincerely to Christ and to tell him of that himself hath spoken concerning the good Samaritan and humbly to ask him whether he have not a more loving tender heart not doubting whether he hath or no but being perswaded that he hath and to plead what the Samaritan did with Christ entreating that he would do the like for thee spiritually Christ will not take it amiss no his bowels will be troubled for thee as the Lord saith his were for Ephraim and he 'l surely have mercy on thee so as to vouchsafe the spirit to thee even to thee as it is Hos 11.8 How shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel How shall I make thee as Admah How shall I set thee as Zeboim Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together So will the Lord say concerning thee how shall I give thee up to thy lusts wounded soul how shall I deliver thee to the rage of thy deadly corruptions crying heart how shall I make how shall I set thee as the reprobates as those who are drowned in perdition and destruction by their foolish and hurtful lusts mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together they are as all up and on a flame together all my bowels yern towards thee here 's my spirit for thee take it receive thou the holy Ghost is not that Christ's own word Rev. 21.6 I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely Use 10. Seeing it is through the spirit that our sins are to be mortified take the spirit's time for the mortifying of them What time is that it is the present time The spirit loveth no delayes in a matter of so great consequence it hates our sins therefore would that we should seek to destroy them immediately without any putting off O! Alas how many have been ruined by their sins because they have deferred to seek the ruine of them They have never had the Spirit 's help because they would not take the Spirit 's time Beware that be not true of any of you Rom. 10. last But to Israel observe that to Israel a people enjoying the word and living under ordinances he saith all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gain saying people I have tendred mercy offered help and assistance to a people who have all day long from morning to evening of the day of grace slighted my mercy and refused my help the teaching and leading of my Spirit No delay past shall be charged upon you if now you have a heart to yield your selves to the Spirit for the subduing your iniquities but take heed of delaying still Now even now the blessed Spirit offereth you its help now in the Gospel now in the Word Preached my Spirit saith God shall not alway strive with man believe it now the Spirit striveth
enemies will administer joy yea peace shall we have in great trouble joy in the midst of great sorrow for it s not affliction so much as corruption that deprives our heart of comfort peace and joy Nor can any trouble drown our consolation and chearfulness of spirit wholly if our sin be but mortified by the spirit 1 Pet. 1.6 though in heaviness by manifold temptations yet shall our hearts greatly rejoyce As Solomon saith of the worldly man's mirth Prov. 14.13 even in laughter the qeart is sorrowful and the end of that mirth is heaviness so as to a Godly man's sorrow if he keep constant and diligent in warring against his sin even in his mourning his his heart is joyful and the end of that heaviness is gladness Perhaps God may withdraw and much try such a one and â—o his heart will have great sorrow yet not without a secret mixture of joy and if his comfort seem to be dead it is but as a sleep it will soon awake and no true joy or peace can be while sin is permitted to bear sway in the soul and is not heartily opposed Thirdly We shall live a life of all true spiritual happiness while we are here we shall have God's favour wherein as the Psalmist saith there is life and which is better than life yea for the most part at least we shall or may have the shining of it into us the light of God's countenance ever and anon lifted up upon us we shall have the blessing of God all things will be blest to us many afflictions will graciously be prevented those that come will be sanctified to us so that they shall not hurt us spiritually no more than the fiery furnace did the three Children outwardly our souls thereby shall not be so much as singed as their clothes were not by that devouring fire nothing shall befall us that will be evil to us in it's effect No good thing shall be wanting to us we shall thrive under ordinances we shall hear and live we shall be fed with and feed on the bread of life our duties and our labours shall live we shall experience the truth of those and other like words Psal 1.3 we shall be like a tree planted by the Rivers of water that bringeth forth its fruit in its season our leaf shall not wither and whatsoever we do shall prosper so the blessing of God will attend us and his favour compass us Fourthly When we come to dye a natural death we shall live much better we shall presently live in our souls perfectly and so shall we after a while live in our whole man Joh. 5.29 we shall come out of our graves to the resurrection of life as Christ liveth so shall we live and O how doth he live now there above 2 Cor. 13.4 though he was crucified through weakness yet he liveth by the power of God we also are weak in or with him but we shall live with him if sin dye in us through the spirit of Christ thereby we have great assurance that we shall live with Christ Rom. 6.8 if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him to him that overcometh saith the faithful and true witness Rev. 2.7 will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God which words seem to have respect to that spoken to Adam after he had sinned Gen. 3.22 23. lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and live for ever therefore the Lord God sent him forth out of Paradise now saith Christ though Adam having sin'd and being mortified by sin might not eat of or touch or come near the tree of life that he should live for ever as he hoped or supposed he thereby should yet to him that overcometh his temptations and corruptions will I give to eat I 'le not only permit him to eat but I 'le give him to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God even the third heavens that best place of all the creation as Paradise was of all the earth and so he shall live for ever far better than Adam in that state could have lived Hear men and brethren thus O thus shall ye live if ye will so fight against your sins as not to let them live in you They said of Paul Acts. 22.22 it 's not fit that he should live so the world may say of us and we considered in our selves have great reason to acknowledge we are not fit to live any life no not here in this present evil world but through grace we shall live a life ten thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand much better a life glorious and everlasting 2 Pet. 1.11 we shall have an entrance administred abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Now for a few arguments to demonstrate and help faith as to this truth that they who so do as is express'd shall so live as is declared First it must be so because otherwise the spirit's work in us should be lost the spirit 's helping and assisting us against our sins should be in vain to what purpose should the spirit of the Lord enable us in this work if we being help'd should not live but dye at last Therefore shall we live for the spirit 's almighty special work cannot be lost our working alone might well be and would be in vain and disowned by God but that which we do through the powerful assistance and effectual workings of the Holy Ghost will surely be owned by the Father for the spirit's sake and his own sake who sent it to strengthen us and Christ's sake also who obtained it for us Secondly The Spirit is the Spirit of life it 's he that quickneth Joh. 6.63 it is the living water the Scripture speaks of and if we mortifie our sins through it it hath quickned us we begin already to live through it and it dwelleth in us therefore we shall live more and more till we come to live the life of perfection and glory Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwel in you he that hath raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you and in the mean time it will be quickning our immortal souls as to that death whereto by sin they are obnoxious or lyable Thirdly Having the Spirit of Christ we are in him we are one with him and this is a sure evidence and infallible testimony that Christ hath dyed for us he hath so taken our sins upon him that he hath taken them away he hath so born them that he hath born them away for ever from us he hath satisfied divine justice as to all our iniquities and fulfilled the law and now appears in the presence of God for us Rom. 8.3 4. God sent Christ that the
of a very gracious soul yet it 's not without ground to advise and perswade such also to try themselves in this matter whether there be no lust they seek not the death of or whether what they do be not through themselves rather than through the Spirit Because this is given as an evidence of life therefore usually the Spirit of God doth bear witness with their Spirits who do through it mortifie their sins that they shall live In the general this is a truth and setting aside some particular special cases it will be found true as to all whatever death or deadness any lye under it is caused by some sin open or secret which they don't use means by the Spirit to destroy And therefore let the second use be Use 2. To perswade you all yet once again to this so great a duty be perswaded one and all particularly you who are under deadnesse to mortifie your sin through the spirit you who have not yet begun O that you would enter upon this combate you who have begun hold on go forward and be more industrious here in in this time of wars and rumours of wars which may as yet increase with other destroying killing judgments let this be your war your daily fight because this is the way to life Is there any one of you but desireth to live in the sense of my Text Can you be content with a short uncertain natural life and not look after that which is far better seeing it may be attained and the way to attain it is laid plain before you Say I pray say in your hearts say before God Would you not Do you not desire to live a life of holinesse a life of spiritual peace comfort and joy a life of happinesse under the warm most refreshing beams of Gods face and favour Would you not Wish you not that you may live for ever with Christ in glory when your natural life shall end Doth not thy heart sometimes at least say O that my Soul may go into life when my body shall dy and that my body may be raised to the resurrection of life Some possibly may think it strange that I propound such queries saying in themselves who is there but would and desireth so to live I answer well is it for those who have a thorow will and desire thereto for they will undoubtedly industrously seek to walk in the way of life they will hearken to this counsel and make it their study and businesse to mortifie their sin through the spirit It was the saying of one as I have read that he would swim through a Sea of Brimstone to get to heaven strong desires causeth strong endeavours and carrieth through great difficulties hunger we say breaketh through stone walls but if thy heart be right that which is required of thee being to be done through the spirit is not of extream difficulty I beseech you what think you hath that man a mind to live in good earnest who will not seek the life of his deadly enemies who unlesse destroyed will surely destroy him Or who will not give himself to the use of good and effectuall means prescribed to him for the removing a disease or healing of a wound which unlesse cured will certainly be his death verily no more have they a thorow sound will or fervent desire to live spiritually happily and eternally who hearing what must be done in order thereunto cast the counsell of God behind their back not giving up themselves to the obedience thereof But wilt thou O Soul be so unwise be not thou whatever any other is so foolish as not to thirst after such life If thou sayest thou dost long for it shew the truth and strength of thy desire by thy diligence in practising daily this exhortation which if thou dost not but shalt neglect and despise instruction then truly thou wilt not can'st not live that 's implyed when it 's said He that doth this shall live he that doth it not shall not live Remember saith Christ Lot's wife So remember other Scripture examples particularly that 1 Kings 20.35 One of the Sons of the Prophets said to his neighbour in the word of the Lord smite me I pray thee and the man refused to smite him then said the Prophet because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord as soon as thou art departed from me a Lyon shall slay thee and it was so as soon as the man was departed from him a Lyon sound him and slew him So it 's said to thee this day in the word of the Lord smite I pray thee kill destroy thy sin if thou refusest then ere long thou knowest not how soon a Lion will slay thee thy lust and Satan that devouring Lion yea the wrath of the Almighty worse than a thousand Lions will slay thee with a slaughter far more terrible and dreadfull than that was wherewith that man was slain thou wilt find and feel the truth of this as he experienced to the losse of his life the truth of the Prophet's word You may also observe in the same Chapter V. 42. The Prophet said to Ahab King of Israel Thus saith the Lord because thou hast let go out of thine hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction therefore thy life shall go for his life So assuredly if thou shalt let thy sin escape which God hath appointed to utter destruction in the ruining whereof thou mayest have the assistance of the spirit then shall thy life go for it's life Must it not needs be so if the not smiting a Prophet when God commanded it cost a man his life against the doing of which he had a seeming fair objection and excuse if the not slaying Benhadad a King when God would have him slain though we read not God had so expresly declared cost Ahab a King his life then how sure the not slaying thy sin which God so oft calls upon thee and presseth thee to mortifie will cost thee thy life Fain would I may it please the Lord to work that this counsell may become rivered and rooted in all our hearts Therefore I shall hint a few moving perswasions First Set forth up and be fighting couragiously and constantly against your corruptions and iniquities by the spirit so shall you have many victories you will oft get the better of them and every victory will be a cordiall a cup of consolation to your hearts much joy will you thereby have now much more hereafter when the fight shall be quite ended Nothing gladdeth more in this world than victory over strong mighty inveterate enemies how did Deborah and Barak rejoyce when they came off victorious with Palms in their hands Jud. 5.1 2. c. Then sang Deborah Barak the son of Abinoam on that day saying praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel c. Then they sang When Ch. 4. last The hand of the children of Israel prospered and prevailed against Jabin