Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 8 · Verse 13
VERSE 13. For if yee liue after the Fleſh, ye ſhall dye: but if ye through the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body, yee ſhall liue.
IN the 12. Verſe the Apoſtle had an Argument, ab aequo & honeſto, which were enough to perſwade; but in this Verſe he more ſtrongly vrgeth it.Adhibet calcaria. ſortiora. Martyr.
The Argument is drawne from the contrary Ends of obedience and diſobedience, and ſo containeth two Arguments: the one, a Cōmination in the firſt part of the Verſe: the other, a Promiſe in the latter: both Conditionall, as all Promiſes and Threatnings are.
If yee liue after the Fleſh: Following the luſts of your corrupt heart.
Yee ſhall dye: Not onelyonly the death of the body in the ſeparation of the ſoule from it but of the ſoule in the ſeparation of it from God.
Q. But why ſaith he, Ye ſhall dye, and not Ye ſhall bee damned; in as much as that is chiefly meant?
A. Becauſe the Spirit of God would driue men from Sinne, by that which is moſt fearefull, which is Death. The remembrance of Death doth more forcibly moue the minde, then the remembrance of Hell; though hell bee a thouſand times more grieuous then Death. For our Affection is moued according to our knowledge of the thing: That which moſt wayes is knowne, affecteth moſt: wee know hell onelyonly by Faith: but wee know death to bee fearefull, by Faith, by Reaſon, and by Senſe. By Faith, becauſe the Scripture declares it: By Reaſon; becauſe it is a ſeparation of things, ſo neerely and naturally ioyned and conſenting. By ſenſe; becauſe we feele it growing vponupon vsus eueryevery day.
But if yee mortifie: that is, beate downe, cut off, caſt away, cauſe to dye: a Metaphor taken from Surgeons, who before they cut off a Limbe, mortifie the place.
The deeds of the body: That is, Actions and Affections: but actions are named, becauſe by actions, affections are manifeſted. The body is either taken for Corruption: or rather euill deeds are called the deeds of the body, becauſe the body is the inſtrument of working them.
By the Spirit: Sarcenus.That is, the helpe of the Holy Ghoſt: or by the Regenerate part.
Ye ſhall liue. Eternally in happineſſe: Of the which Sanctitie is the way: This life ſcarce a ſhadow. In the latter part, there is the Promiſe. Ye ſhall liue. The Condition, If ye mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit. Where 1. The action, mortifie. 2. The Obiect; The deeds of the body. 3. The meanes, By the Spirit.
doctrine Saluation is promiſed on the Condition, that we liue not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 6.22. Gal. 6.8.
Ʋſe 1.A hard thing it is to forſake ſinne; it is mortification. It is hard for old friends to part: wee lay together in the ſame wombe; and it hath beene our vnhappy play-fellow and companion, euer ſince wee were borne: Yea, ſinne ſtickes as faſt in our nature, as a tooth in our heads, or our ſoule to our body: as we cannot part from theſe without paine; ſo neither from Sinne.
It is the nature of Sinne not to bee driuen away, without force and violence: A few angry lookes, and ſharpe words will not doe it. You may rate away your dogge, but ſinne will not ſtirre for words, as appeares in many, who will ſpeake bitterly againſt their ſinnes, and themſelues, with Beaſt, Wretch, &c. and yet anon to the practice of them.
When thou haſt to deale with Sinne, hauehave no compaſſion, but fight againſt it with a bloudy and cruell mind: So much as thou ſpareſt it, ſo much thou hurteſt thy ſelfe. 1. Sa. 15.20,23. 1. Kin. 20.42.Saul ſpared Agag, and Ahab ſpared Benhadad, but it was their ruine: ſo if thou ſpareſt ſinne, it will coſt thee euen the Kingdome of Heauen. Kill therefore thy ſinnes, or they will kill thee. It is a caſe of life and death. Be carefull; Old wounds muſt hauehave ſtrong medicines. O, what adoe hauehave wee with Pride, Hypocriſie, Couetouſneſſe, Luſt! Hee that fauoureth theſe, let him want fauour.
Vſe 2.The deeds of the body are mortified by the Spirit: Wee doe the worke, but by the power of the Spirit. The ſtrength vntounto mortification is put into vsus from Heauen. We are as able with our little finger to ſhake the foundation of the earth, as to ſhake out ſinne by our owne ſtrength.
He that goes among Lyons, muſt needs be torne in pieces: Sinnes are Lyons. Hee that ſtands vponupon the ſhore when the tide comes, thinking to beate backe the water with his hand, is ſoone eaten in, and drowned. Sinnes come vponupon vsus as waues, we muſt drowne, if God help vsus not. By Gods helpe, the walles of Jericho fell downe, Samſon kild a Lyon, and Daniel is ſafe in their very den, and Moſes diuides the Sea. So mortification of Sinne is poſsible by the helpe of the Spirit, otherwiſe impoſſible. When therefore thou feeleſt Pride, Couetouſneſſe, Luſt, growing vponupon thee, begge the help of the Spirit, or elſe thou art vndone. Pray with the words of Iehoſhaphat. 2. Chron. 20.12O Lord God, there is no ſtrength in me to ſtand againſt theſe ſins, neither do I know what to do, but mine eyes are toward thee.
Ʋſe 3.If you mortifie: he ſpeakes to them, which had mortified ſinne before, they muſt continue ſo doing. In this life thou ſhalt neuer want ſomething to be mortified. Haſt thou begun to repent? Neuer giuegive ouer ſo long as thou haſt a heart to ſigh for thy ſinnes.
We weede our Gardens, and are euer weeding. Sinnes are ill weedes, and grow apace; our hearts are a Step-mother to Goodneſſe, and a naturall mother to Vice; therefore be alwayes dealing with it. The Captaine that batters the Enemies Fort a day or two, and then giues ouer; giues the more courage to the enemie, and loſeth his labour. So is it if wee continue not our courſe of mortification. Eliſha was angry with Ioaſh for ſmiting the ground but thrice with the arrows. 2 King. 13.19.O, ſaith be, thou ſhouldeſt hauehave ſmitten fiue or ſixe times, and then thou ſhouldeſt hauehave ſmitten the Aramites till thou hadſt conſumed them. So, leaue not thy ſinnes till thou haſt conſumed them, leſt they conſume thee.
Ʋſe 4.There is a neceſſity of mortification; the want wherof brings a Neceſſity of damnation. Thoſe things which God hath ioyned, no man can part: Hee hath ioyned vnmortified ſinnes and death together, they cannot be parted.
When thou goeſt to buy a commodity, if the price bee great, thou forbeareſt: and ſhalt thou fly vponupon ſinne, knowing what it will coſt thee? If Iudas had knowen as much before he betrayed his Maſter, as hee now feeles, it is likely hee would neuer hauehave committed that villany. Mortification is tedious, but heauen is ſweet. Men are content to goe all day after their hounds and hawkes, to endure hunger, thirſt, &c. for their pleaſure; and what get they in the end? ſome ſilly creature that is ſcarce worth the hauing. But Heauen is worth the hauing, refuſe not a ſhort labour for the obtaining ſo infinite a reward.