The Christians Apparelling, Part 3 · Section 3
Section. 3.
Where Chriſt is put on, there, ſinne is put off, in regard alſo of the power, 2. In regard of the power of it by Mortification.raigne, and dominion of it in vsus, by being mortified and kept vnderunder: for where ſin raignes, Chriſt raignes not; and contrariwiſe, where Chriſt raignes in any (and there he raignes where he is truly put on) there ſinne raignes not, though it remaine and be in the beſt ſtill. They that are Chriſts, Gal. 5.24.hauehave crucified the fleſh with the affections and luſts. Where any, making profeſsion of Chriſtianity, ſhall yet not wholy ſubmit himſelfe to Chriſt, and not ſuffer him by his word and ſpirit to hauehave a ſwaying, and commanding voice in his ſoule, but hath an Eare, an Eye, a Hand and Foote for ſinne, putting Gods ſpirit to ſilence in him and quenching the motions of it, that ſinne may be obeyed in the luſts thereof; this man deceiues himſelfe, as too many doe, with a vaine ſhadow of formall profeſsion. Where ſinne is obeyed, and the importunate and impudent ſolicitations of it yeelded vntounto, and no eare giuen to the quiet and ſtill mouings of the ſpirit according to Gods Word (for the ſpirit ordinarily doth not thruſt it ſelfe vponupon vsus, but makes his motions gently and in ſecret, and lookes that we readily and freely, according to the nature of the ſpirit, yeeld our aſſent and obedience thereunto) there, ſinne cannot be ſaid to bee put off, (whether it be Couetouſneſſe, Vncleanneſſe, Pride, Intemperancy or any other ſinne) nor Chriſt to bee put on; for whereſoeuer he is truly put on, there that ſoule wholy reſignes it ſelfe vntounto him, and ſuffers him to raigne vniuerſally in the heart. Not but that Gods faithfull ſeruants, are ſome times led captiue, and ouermaſtered by ſome ſpecial corruption; but this is neither conſtantly, nor willingly, but with a ſtrife and reluctation, whereby they would faine reſiſt and caſt off this burthen of ſinne, and caſt out and expell this moleſtfull gueſt which tirannizeth in them.
Trialls of our Mortification.But you will ſay, how then may I know whether ſinne (euen this ſinne into which I ſometimes fall) be truly dead and mortified in me or no? I anſwer, wee may know whether ſinne be dead or aliue in vsus, as wee may know the difference betweene a liuing and a dead body, not only by the liuely motions thereof, but alſo by the heauineſſe or waight, and lightneſſe of the ſame body, and by the burthenſomneſſe, and irkeſomneſſe of it to vsus. For as the ſame body being dead and becomming a liueleſſe corps, is much heauier then itſelfe whileſt there was life in it; and as it becomes much more loathſome and noyſome to vsus being dead, then it was whileſt it liued, (for then we could play with it, hugge it and imbrace it, and receiue ſweet content in the company and fellowſhip of it (as ſuppoſe of our wife, child, friend, &c.) whereas now wee account the ſight of it loathſome, the ſmell of it noyſome, and remoue it out of ſight, yea, we would account it an intollerable bondage and miſery to hauehave it any long time tied and buckled vntounto vsus, that wee could not avoyd and eſcape the companie of it); euen ſo, when wee can find and feele that ſinne or thoſe ſinnes burthenſome vntounto vsus now, which we made light on before, and tuſhed at; when wee groane vnderunder that burthen, and vnfainedly deſire to be eaſed of it, whē that ſin which was ſweete, profitable and gainefull to vsus before, which was ſweete in our mouthes, and which we did hide vnderunder our tongus, Iob. 20.12.which we made our play fellow or bedfellow, and made on as of an only ſonne, and when we cannot now endure the ſight of it, or the company of it, or of ſuch as hauehave bin and are ſtill ready to be the occaſions or inſtruments of it, and when it is the griefe of our ſoules that it doth ſo haunt vsus, the wee cannot wholly be rid of it; this is an euidence to our ſoules that this ſinne, or thoſe ſinnes are dead in vsus, and our deſire and indeauour of caſting it off from vsus, though we cannot wholly doe it as wee deſire, is in Gods gracious acceptation through Chriſt, the caſting of it off indeed. It ſhall neuer be accounted our ſinne, whileſt wee willingly yeeld obedience to Chriſt, or would truly ſo doe; and vnwillingly are haled to the acting of ſinne,Par. 3. §. 4. and giuegive it not our heart.