Looking Unto Jesus, Book 6 · Chapter 3 · Section 4
SECT. IV. Of hoping in Jeſus in that reſpect.
4. LEt us hope in Jeſus, carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his ſufferings and death.Heb. 6.11. By this hope I intend only that which the Apoſtle calls full aſſurance of hope. The main queſtion is, Whether I have any part in Chriſt's ſufferings? they are of excellent uſe, and of great value to believers, but what am I the better for them, if I have no part in them? or if I ſay I hope well? Oh but what grounds of that hope? it is not every hope that is a well grounded hope; full aſſurance of hope is an high pitch of hope, and every Chriſtian ſhould ſtrive and endeavour after it; now that we may do it, and that we may diſcern it, that our hope is not baſe, but right-born, that the grounds of our hope in Chriſt's death are not falſe, but of the right ſtamp; I ſhall lay down theſe ſigns.—
1. If Chriſt's death be mine, then is Chriſt's life mine; and converſe, if Chriſt's death be mine, then is Chriſt's life mine. Chriſt's active and paſſive obedience cannot be ſevered; Chriſt is not divided: we muſt not ſeek one part of our righteouſneſs in his birth, another in his habitual holineſs, another in the integrity of his life, another in his obedience of death. They that endeavour to ſeparate Chriſt's active and paſſive obedience, they do exceedingly derogate from Chriſt, and make him but half a Saviour;Heb. 7.22. was not Chriſt our Surety? Heb. 7.22. and thereupon was he not bound to fulfil all righteouſneſs for us? (i.e.) as to ſuffer in our ſtead, ſo to obey in our ſtead? oh take heed of oppoſing or ſeparating Chriſt's death, and Chriſt's life; either we have all Chriſt, or we have no part in Chriſt; now if theſe two be concomitants, well may the one be as the ſign of the other; ſearch then, and try, O my ſoul, haſt thou any ſhare in Chriſt's life? canſt thou make out Chriſt's active obedience unto thy own ſoul? if herein thou art at a ſtand, peruſe thoſe Characters laid down in the life of Chriſt; the many glorious effects flowing out of Chriſt's life into a Believer's ſoul we have diſcovered before.
2. If Chriſt's death be mine, then is that great end of his death accompliſhed in me, viz. By the ſacrifice of himſelf he hath put away ſin, even my ſin.—and,Heb. 9.26. Eph. 1.7. Dan. 9.24. in him I have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveneſs of ſins. As on this account he ſuffered, to finiſh the tranſgreſſion, to make an end of ſins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity; ſo if his death be mine, I may aſſuredly ſay, my ſins are pardoned, and mine iniquities are done away. Come then, and try by this ſign, canſt thou aſſure thy ſelf that thy ſins are forgiven thee? haſt thou heard the whiſpers of Gods Spirit, Son, or Daughter, be of good comfort, thy ſins are remitted? there is no queſtion then, but thou art redeemed by his blood, thou haſt part in his ſufferings. Indeed this very Character may ſeem obſcure, aſſurance of pardon is the hidden Manna, the white Stone which no man knoweth, ſaving he which receives it and feels it; and yet if thou diligently obſerveſt the Spirit's actings, even this may be known; remiſſion of ſin and repentance for ſin are twins of a birth; thoſe two God in Scripture hath joined together: If we confeſs our ſins, 1 John 1.9. Acts 8.22. Acts 5.31. Luk. 24.46, 47he is faithful and juſt to forgive our ſins.—And, repent and pray, if the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.—And, Chriſt is a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſs of ſins.—And, thus it is written, and thus it behoved Chriſt to ſuffer.—That repentance and remiſſion of ſins ſhould be preached in his Name. In this way David aſſured himſelf; I ſaid I will confeſs my Tranſgreſſions unto the Lord, Pſal. 32.5.and thou forgaveſt the iniquity of my ſin, Selah. It is no more, than to ask thy Soul, what, are thy repentings kindled together? haſt thou ſeriouſly and ſincerely repented thee of ſin as ſin? haſt thou turned from all ſin unto God with conſtancy and delight? Surely this is peculiar and proper to the Child of God by vertue of Chriſt's Death.
3. If Chriſt's death be mine, then am I engraffed into the likeneſs of Chriſt's death; then am I made conformable to Chriſt in his death, that I may know him and the fellowſhip of his ſufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Phil. 3.10.The ſame that was done to Chriſt in a natural way, is done and performed in the Believer in a ſpiritual way; (i.e.) as Chriſt died, ſo the Believer dies; as Chriſt died for ſin, ſo the Believer dies to ſin; In that he died, he died unto ſin,—likewiſe reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto ſin. Obſerve here the Analogy, and proportion,Rom. 6.10, 11. and reſemblance betwixt Chriſt and us: both die unto ſin, Chriſt by way of expiation, ſuffering, and ſatisfying for the ſins of others; we by way of mortification, killing, and ſlaying, and crucifying our own ſins. I look upon this ſign as the very touchſtone of a Chriſtian, and therefore I ſhall inſiſt upon it.
Two queſtions I ſuppoſe needful, to reſolve the grounds of our Hope concerning our intereſt in the death of Chriſt.
1. Whether indeed and in truth our ſins are mortified?
2. Whether we encreaſe or grow in our mortification?
For the firſt; whether indeed and in truth our ſins are mortified? It is a skill worth our learning, becauſe of the many deceits that are within us; ſin may ſeem to be mortified when the occaſion is removed; or ſin may ſeem to be mortified, when it is not violent, but quiet; or ſin may ſeem to be mortified, when it is but removed from one ſin unto another; or ſin may ſeem to be mortified, when the ſap and ſtrength of ſin is dead; as the Lamp goes out, when either the Oil is not ſupplied, or taken away. Now that in this ſcrutiny we may ſearch to the bottoom, and know the truth and certainty of our mortification, it will appear by theſe Rules.
1. True mortification ſprings from a root of Faith. Every thing in the world proceeds from ſome cauſe or other; and if the cauſe be good, the effect muſt needs be good; but if the cauſe be evil, the effect muſt needs be evil: A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit, and an evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit. Mat. 7.18.In this caſe therefore let us examine the cauſe; if we can make out this truth, that we belive in Chriſt, that we roll our ſelves on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for life and for ſalvation, and that now we begin to feel in us the decay of ſin, we may conclude from the cauſe or riſe, that this decay of ſin is true mortification; ſurely it hath received the deadly wound: it is a bleſſed effect ariſing from a good, and right, and genuine cauſe.
2. True mortification is general; not only one ſin, but all ſins are mortified in a true Believer. As death is unto the Members of the body, ſo is mortification unto the members of ſin; now death ſeized upon every member, it leaves not life in any one member of the body; ſo neither doth mortification leave life in any one member of ſin; my meaning is, it takes away the commanding power of ſin in every member: Mortifie your members which are upon the earth (ſaith the Apoſtle) your members, Col. 3.5.not one member; and then he inſtanceth, Fornication, Ʋncleanneſs, Inordinate Affections, Evil Concupiſcence, and Covetouſneſs, which is Idolatry. Chriſtians that have their intereſt in Chriſt's death, muſt not only leave Pride, but Luſt; not only Uncleanneſs, but Covetouſneſs; Sin muſt not only be ſlain in the underſtanding, but in the will and affections: mortification is general.
You will ſay this is an hard ſaying; doth any man, any Believer, leave all ſin? yes, in reſpect of ruling power he leaves all ſin; all groſs ſins, and all other ſins: only with this difference, all groſs ſins in practiſe and actions, and all frailties and infirmities in allowance and affection. It is good to obſerve the degrees of mortification: the firſt is to forbear the practiſe of groſs and ſcandalous ſins in word and deed:Jam. 3.2. If any man offend not in word, the ſame is a perfect man; and this perfection by the help of Grace, a godly man may reach to in this life. The ſecond is to deny conſent and will to all frailties and infirmities:Rom. 7.19. The evil which I would not, that do I, Rom. 7.19. I may do evil, and yet I would not do evil; there is a denial of it in the will. The third is to be free from any ſetled liking of any evil motion: not only to deny conſent and will, but alſo to deny the very thought or imagination ſetledly and deliberately to delight in ſin. I know, to be void of all evil motions ariſing from the fleſh, or of all ſudden paſſions within, or of all ſuduen delights in ſin, or of all deadneſs or backwardneſs to good things by reaſon of ſin, it is an higher pitch than any man can touch in this preſent world: for whilſt we live, the Law of the members will be working, and we ſhall find cauſe enough to complain of a body of death; only, if when theſe motions firſt ariſe, we preſently endeavour to quench them, to reject them, to deteſt them, and to caſt them away from us, therein is true mortification: and thus far we muſt look to it, to leave all ſin.
3. True mortification is not without its preſent combats, though at laſt it conquer; many a time corruption may break out, and luſt may be ſtrong and violent; but th…s violent luſt is only for the preſent, whereas a luſt unmortified ever reigneth. It is with ſin in a Believer, as it is with a man that hath received his deadly wound from his enemy; he will not preſently flie away, but rather he will run more violently upon him that hath wounded him; yet, be he never ſo violent, in the middle of his action he ſinks down, becauſe he hath received his deadly wound; ſo it is with a Believer's ſin, and with a mortified luſt; it may rage in the heart, and ſeem to bear ſway for a time; but the power and ſtrength of ſin is mortified, it ſinks down, and wants ability to prevail; by this ſign may we know whether the corruptions and ſtirrings of our hearts proceed from a mortified, or from an unmortified luſt; a luſt, though mortified, may rage for a time, but it cannot rule; it may ſtrive, but it cannot totally prevail; it may be in the heart, as a thief in the houſe, not to reſide or dwell, but to lodge for a night, and be gone: And (that which is ever to be obſerved) after its ſwinge and breaking out, the heart that lodged it, abhors its ſelf in duſt and aſhes, cries mightily unto God for mercy and pardon, repairs the breach with ſtronger reſolution, and more invincible watchfulneſs againſt future aſſaults; but a Luſt unmortified poſſeſſeth it ſelf, and rules and reigns in the heart and ſoul; it abides there, and will not away: I ſhall not deny, but there may be a ceſſation of its actings for a time; but that is not any want of good will, as they ſay, but only of matter, means, opportunity, enticement, company, provocation, or the like; and after ſuch ceſſation or forbearance, the heart uſually entertains it again with more greedineſs; it lies and delights in it as much as ever, it hardens it ſelf moſt obſtinately in it, as if it were impoſſible to leave it, or live without it with any kind of comfort.
4. True mortification is a painful work. The very word imports no leſs; to kill a man, or to mortifie a member, will not be without pain; hence it is called a crucifying of the fleſh,Gal. 5.24. Mat. 5.29, 30. and a cutting off the right hand, a plucking out the right eye: they that are Chriſt's have crucified the fleſh; if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; and if thy eye offend thee, pluck it out: in this reſpect this death unto ſin carries with it a likeneſs to the death of Chriſt; it is attended with agonies, and ſoul-conflicts, both before, and after our converſion.
1. Before converſion, before the firſt wound be given it, why then ordinarily there is ſome compunction of Spirit, ſome pricking of heart; what a caſe do we find the Jews in, when after Peters Sermon, they were pricked at their hearts? and what an agony do we find the Jailor in, when he came trembling in, and falling down at the Apoſtles feet, and crying out, Sirs, What ſhall I do to be ſaved? With ſuch agonies as theſe,Acts 2.7. Acts 16.30. is the beginning of mortification uſually attended; I do not ſay that they are alike in all, whether for degree or continuance; but in ordinary, true and ſound converſion is not without ſome of theſe ſoul-conflicts.
2. After converſion, after the firſt round there are ſome agonies ſtill; for though a Believer be delivered of ſin in reſpect of the guilt, and reigning power; yet he hath ſtill ſome remainders of ſinful Corruption left within him, which draw many a groan, and many a ſign from his trembling heart;Rom. 8.23. we alſo have the firſt-fruits of the ſpirit, even we our ſelves groan within our ſelves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our bodies: ſuch are the groans of mortifying Saints, Saints dying unto ſin like the groans of dying men, whoſe ſouls being weary of their bodies, do earneſtly deſire a diſſolution: and thus Paul groaned, when he ſaid, O wretched man that I am, Rom. 7.24.who ſhall deliver me from the body this death?
Oh what a Touchſtone is this? how will ihis diſcover true mortification from that which was counterfeit? Some may think they are dead unto ſin, when in deed and in truth they are not dead, but aſleep unto ſin; and it appears by this, becauſe there were no pangs in their death, you know this is a difference betwixt death and ſleep; there are pangs in the one, but not in the other: O my ſoul, examine, what pangs were there in thy death unto ſin? what agonies, what ſoul-conflicts haſt thou felt? what compunction of heart, what affliction of Spirit, haſt thou endured for ſin? what trouble haſt thou had to find ſuch a law in thy members rebelling againſt the law in thy mind, Rom. 7.23.and bringing thee into captivity to the Law of ſin? why ſurely thou art not ſo mortified, as to be freed wholly from the power of ſin; it may be, it doth not rule in thee as a Prince, yet certainly it tyrannizeth over thee, it oft-times carries thee contrary to the bent of thy regenerate mind, to the omittting of what thou wouldſt do, and to the committing of what thou wouldſt not do; and is not this an affliction of Spirit? doth not this cauſe frequent conflicts in thy ſpirit? if not, thou mayeſt well ſuſpect that ſin is not dead, but aſleep; or if it be dead to thee, yet thou art not dead to it, I confeſs, death-pangs are not all alike in all; ſome have a more gentle, and others a more painful death; ſo it is in this Spiritual death unto ſin; and that herein there may be no miſtake, I ſhall propound this queſtion: What is the leaſt meaſure of theſe pangs, theſe ſoul-agonies, and conflicts, that are neceſſarily required to true mortification? I anſwer,—
1. There muſt be a ſenſe of ſin, and of Gods wrath due unto ſin; ſuch a ſenſe we find in Jeſus Chriſt; he was very ſenſible of the weight and burden of thoſe ſins, and of the wrath of God that lay upon him; which made him cry out, My God, My God, why haſt thou forſaken me? thus ſouls in the act of Mortification, ſometimes cry out, O my ſins! and Oh God's wrath!
2 There muſt be ſorrow for Sin. Such an affection we find alſo in Jeſus Chriſt: My ſoul is exceeding ſorrowful, even unto death; foreign,2 Cor. 7.10. he was beſet and ſurrounded with ſorrows; ſo every mortified ſinner, at one time or other, he feels an inward ſorrow and grief; even that Godly ſorrow which the Apoſtle ſpeakes of, a ſorrow according to God; (i. e,) coming from God, well-pleaſing to God, and bringing to God back again.
3. There muſt be a deſire of being freed and delivered from ſin:Luke 12.50. ſuch a deſire we find alſo in Jeſus Chriſt; I have a Baptiſm to be Baptiſed with, and how am I ſtraitned until it be accompliſhed? A regenerate ſoul earneſtly deſires to be freed, not only from the guilt, but alſo from the power of ſin, O wretched man that I am! who ſhall deliver me? &c,
4. There muſt be anſwerable endeavours in effectual ſtrivings againſt ſin;Heb. 12.4. Ye have not reſiſted unto blood, ſtriving againſt ſin. How did our Saviour wreſtle in the Garden, offering up prayers and ſupplications with ſtrong crying and tears? Heb. 5.7.ſo will a regenerate ſoul wreſtle with God about t… death of ſin, praying, watching, going out in the ſtrength of God, and engaging in a continual war, a deadly fewd againſt it, and theſe are the leaſt of thoſe ſoul-conflicts, wherewith this mortification, or death unto ſin is attended.
Now try we the truth of our Mortification by theſe ſigns: Doth it ſpring from a right root of Faith? is it general and univerſal in reſpect of all ſins? is it accompanied with combates? doth the fleſh luſt againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the fleſh? and in this combate, doth the ſpirit at laſt prevail, and triumph over the fleſh? do we find it a painfull work both before and after converſion? why, then may I ſay with the Apoſtle, now I know Christ, and the fellowſhip of his ſufferings; now by the Grace of Chriſt I am made conformable to his death. As he died for ſin, ſo I die to ſin; and here is the ground of my hope, that Chriſts death is mine.
For the ſecond, whether we encreaſe and grow in our mortification? this queſtion is needfull as the former, to ſatisfie our ſouls intereſt in the death of Chriſt. As true Grace is growing Grace, ſo true mortification is that which grows: Now that we may be reſolved in this point alſo, the growth of our mortification will appear by theſe following ſigns.—
1. Growing Mortification hath its chiefeſt conflicts in ſpiritual luſts. At firſt we mortifie groſſer evils, ſuch as Oaths, Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs, worldly-mindedneſs, or the like; but when we grow in this Bleſſed duty, we then ſet our ſelves againſt ſpiritual wickedneſſes; as Pride, Preſumption, Self-carnal confidence in a man's own graces, or the like:2 Cor. 7.1. this Method the Apoſtle ſets down; let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit: firſt from all filthineſs of the fleſh or body, and then from all filthineſs of the ſpirit or ſoul; as the children of Iſrael in their entrance into the land of Promiſe, firſt they ſate upon the frontiers and skirts of the Land, and then they ſought it out, and prevailed in the heart of the Country; ſo Chriſtians in their mortification they firſt ſet upon worldly luſts, groſs evils, outward ſins; and when they have encountred them at the frontiers, they then conflict with ſuch corruptions as lie more inwardly, in the very heart, ſpiritual wickedneſſes that are within. Now if this be our caſe, here is one ſign of our growth,
2. Growing mortification is more, even, conſtant, laſting, durable, when there is in the heart a ſudden flowing and reflowing; it comes from thoſe vaſt Seas of Corruptions that are within us; many ſouls have their Ague-fits, ſometimes hot, and ſometimes cold; it may be, now they are in a very good frame, and within an hour or two, a mighty Tide comes in and they are born down by ſin and corruption, in this caſe mortification is very weak: But on the contrary, if we find our ſtanding more firm and ſure, if for the main, we walk evenly, and keep cloſely to the Lord, it carries with it an evidence that our mortification grows.
3. Growing mortification feels Luſt more weak, and the Spirit more ſtrong in its ordinary actings. If we would know the truth of growth, let us look to our uſual fits of ſinning; for then a man's ſtrength or weakneſs is diſcerned moſt: as a man's weakneſs to good is diſcerned when he comes to act it,Rom. 7.18. to will is preſent with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not: ſo a man's weakneſs to ſin is beſt diſcerned, when he comes to act it: Mark then the ordinary fits (as we call them) of ſinning; ſometimes God is pleaſed to appoint ſome more frequent aſſaults, as if he would on purpoſe ſuffer the law of the members to war, and to muſter up all their forces, that ſo we might the rather know what is in our hearts; at ſuch a time, if we find that reſiſtance againſt ſin grows ſtronger, that ſin cannot advance and carry on his Army ſo as formerly, that ſin is encount…ed at firſt, or met withal at the frontiers, and there overthrown, this is a good ſign that now our mortification grows; as, ſuppoſe it be a Luſt of Fancy, it cannot boyl up to ſuch groſs fancies as it was wont; or ſuppoſe it be a Luſt of Pride, it boyls not up to ſuch a ſpirit of Pride as formerly; in ſtead of bringing forth fruit, it now brings forth bloſſomes; or inſtead of bringing forth bloſſomes, it now brings forth nothing but Leaves; why this is a ſure ſign that this Luſt is withering more and more; when the inordinate thirſt is not ſo great in the time of the Fit, when the inward luſts pitch upon lower acts than they had wont, when the waters abate, and fall ſhort, and leſſen, and overflow leſs ground; we may conclude certainly, that mortification grows.
4. Growing mortification hath more ability to abſtain from the very occaſions and beginnings of luſt.Io…. 31.1. Thus Job (whom we look on as a man much mortified) made a Covenant with his eyes, that he would not think upon a Maid, and no queſtion, as he made a covenant, ſo he kept his Covenant: Oh! when a man cannot endure to come where ſuch a one is that he loves not, when he cannot endure the fight of him, or any thing that puts him in mind of him, not ſo much as to parlie, or ſpeak with him; this is a ſign of a ſtrong hatred; and ſo when a man hates the very garment ſpotted with the fleſh, here's a good ſign: I know this height is not eaſie to attain to, and therefore ſome in imitation of Job and David, have bound themſelves with vows and promiſes, as much as might be, to abſtain from the appearance of evil, to cruſh the Cockatrice Egg before the Serpent could creep out of it, to avoid ſin in its firſt riſe; but alas, how have they broken their vows from time to time? For all this, I dare not ſpeak againſt vows, provided that, 1. They be of things lawful. 2. That we eſteem them not as duties of abſolute neceſſi…y. And, 3. Th…t we bind not our ſelves perpetually, left our vows ſhould become burdens unto us; but only for ſome ſhort time, and ſo renew them as occaſion requires; in this way our vows might much help us in our mortification: and if once, through the help of vows or prayer, or looking unto Jeſus, or going to the Croſs of Jeſus Chriſt, or by any other means we feel our ſelves more able to reſiſt ſin, to hate ſin, in its firſt riſe, firſt motions, firſt on-ſet, we may aſſuredly hope that now our mortification grows.
O my Soul, try now the growth of thy mortification by theſe ſigns; haſt thou overcome groſſer ſins, and is now thy chiefeſt co…fl…t with ſpiritual wickedneſſes? is thy ſtanding and walking with God more cloſe, and even and conſtant than ſometimes it hath been; is thy luſts more weak, and thy Grace more ſtrong in ordinary actings? I ſay, in ordinary actings; for the eſtimate of thy growth muſt not be taken for a turn or two, but by a conſtanſt courſe: haſt thou now more ability to quench the flame of ſin in the very ſpark, to daſh Babylon's Brats againſt the ſtones, even whilſt they are little, to abſtain from ſin in its firſt motion or beginning? why, then is the promiſe accompliſhed, he will ſubdue our iniquities: Surely thou art a growing Chriſtian;Micah 7.19. thou haſt fellowſhip with Chriſt in his ſufferings; thy ground is ſolid, firm, and ſtable; thy hope hath a rock-foundation, and thou maieſt build upon it, that Chriſt's death, and blood, and ſufferings are thine, even thine; he loved thee, and gave himſelf for thee.