A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. Of Mortification.
ANother singular duty incumbent upon the Regenerate is, To labour in the use of all good means, for the mortification of the whole body of sin, with all its affections and lusts, especially those we feel most predominant in us. True mortification extendeth it self to the whole of sin, body and members, root and branch; even every sinfull lust.Col. 3.5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the Earth, saith the Apostle. Where by Members on the Earth, are meant the sinfull lusts and affections, which are as the Members of that monstrous body of sin; which is evident by the particular instances in the Words following, namely Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate Affections, and the like. These must be mortified, that is, killed and destroyed. The Regenerate by the Spirit of God are enabled as to restrain the actings of sin, so by degrees to deaden the root. Indeed this is not done to the uttermost while here we live, I mean, sin is not here so mortified and destroyed, that it hath no residence, nor activity in our hearts: yet may it be so weakned and subdued, as to lose its vigor, power and strength, and languish away more and more. Though corruption keep possession in us, after we are Regenerate, yet hath it not dominion over us, though we may be sins Captives, yet shall we not be sins subjects, to yield a voluntary subjection of our selves unto the commands of sin.
Q. How may we know when corruption is mortified in us?
A. When it is not only restrained, and kept from such ordinary breakings out into actual sins: but the lusts and motions that issue from it, are a grief to us: yea we hate and detest them, and groan under the burden of them: we watch against them, fight against them, earnestly desiring to be delivered from them, crying out with the Apostle,Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin and corruption.
For the more profitable pressing this so necessary and difficult a duty, I shall,
1. Shew you some Motives and arguments to enforce the same.
2. Some Means whereby it may be effected.
3. The Manner how it ought to be performed.
The Reasons forcing this work of Mortification upon the Regenerate are these,
1. After Regeneration there remaineth a body of sin and corruption in the best, which if we endeavour not, by the help of Gods Spirit, to mortifie and subdue, will gather strength, and become mighty to the great hinderance of our duty, and darkning all our comfort.
2. Corruption doth not only remain in us as long as we live in this World, but it is alwayes in continual work: either stirring us up to evil, or keeping us from that which is good, or defiling our best actions. In which respect,Gal. 5.17. saith the Apostle, the flesh lusteth against the Spirit: And from his own experience he cryeth out,Rom. 7.23. I see another Law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin, which is in my members; so that I cannot do the good which I would, but rather do the evil which I hate. How doth it then concern us, daily and hourly to fight, and strive against these lusts, which are continually working, and warring in our members, hindering and spoiling all our duties, breaking our peace, undermining all our hopes and comforts, and seeking our lives? we must either kill or be killed.
3. By a conscionable performance of this duty, we shall be freed from those hainous and scandalous sins, into which other mens lusts do carry them. Should corruption have its way and course without resistance in the best of us, it would soon break forth into the most loathsome and disgracefull sins, that are committed by the very worst of men; as we see in David, Solomon, and others. Is it not then needfull for us to keep down, and withstand the first motions and risings of sin in our hearts, before it break forth into such wicked and disgracefull acts, which will blast our credit and reputation, and bring a scandal upon our Religion and profession?
4. Mortification of sin was one special end of Christs death; who dyed to save his people from their sins: not to save them in their sins, but from their sins: as from the guilt and punishment, so from the power of them. And indeed whom Christ delivers from the damnation of sin, he first delivers also from the dominion of sin. Whom he intends to save from hell, he first saveth them from iniquity: he saves their souls by killing their sins.
If thou findest any lust to remain unmortified in thee, bearing rule in thine heart, and sway in thy life, thou hast just cause to question thy interest in Christ, and his salvation.Gal. 5.24. They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.
II. The Means whereby the work of Mortification may be effected by us, are these,
I. When thou feelest corruption working in thee, and stirring thee up to evil, then call to mind, and lay to heart the ensuing considerations.
1. Consider the shortness of the pleasure of sin, with the length of the punishment following thereupon, without true and unfeined repentance: The one for a moment, the other everlasting. The pleasure is but short, but the punishment is for ever and ever. The torments of the damned in hell are intensively most grievous in themselves: but that which mainly and infinitely adds to the greatness of them is, because they are eternal. Rev. 20.10They are tormented day and night for ever and ever. The Worm is alwayes gnawing, and the fire continually burning,Mat. 3.12. therefore called unquenchable fire. Oh what a folly must it then needs be▪ yea and madness beyond admiration, for the short fruition of these perishing pleasures, and transient contentments here, to implunge our selves into everlasting burnings!
Oh how terrible is the thought of eternity in those tormenting flames? where the damned would think themselves happy, if after they had endured them so many thousand years, as there are Sands on the Sea-shore, or Stars in the Firmament, they might then be assured of enlargement. But when all that time is past, and innumerable millions of years, and ages are run out, they are as far from an end, as at their first entrance. Why wilt thou then purchase a little sensual delight at so dear a rate? for a moments pleasure to incurr everlasting woe and misery? O the fire of hell, if thou wouldst send down thy thoughts thither, would burn up thy Lusts, which otherwise will be the fuel to burn thy soul.
2. Consider thy extream folly in gratifying thy sinfull Lusts: thereby thou hast chosen and preferred thy fleshly pleasure, thy carnal content, before the glory of God, the everlasting joyes of Heaven, and the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Oh monstrous madness, and unconceivable folly! at which the Angels blush, and Heaven and Earth cannot but stand amazed.
3. Call to mind and consider some of the threatnings in Gods Word, as against sin in general, so against that particular Lust, which thou findest most working and stirring in thee, and unto which thou findest strongest inclinations in thy self.
First, Call to mind and consider s…me of the threatnings against sin and sinners in general.Psal. 11.6. Upon the wicked, saith the Psalmist, God shall rain fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. Rom. 2.8, 9.And saith the Apostle, Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil.
Secondly, When thou findest any inclination in thy self to a particular sin, as unto drunkenness, seriously consider that of the Wise man,Prov. 23.29. who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions, &c. they that tarry long at the Wine, they that go to seek mixt Wine. When thou findest any inclination, or temptation unto uncleanness, seriously weigh that of the Apostle, Be not deceived, 1 Cor. 6.9.neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, shall inherit the Kingdom of God. Heb. 13.4.And again, Whoremongers, and Adulterers God will judge. When thou findest any inclinations unto Covetousness, call to mind that of the Prophet Isaiah, Wo unto them that joyne house to house, Isa. 5.8.and lay field to field, till there be no place: and that of the Apostle, The love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6.10.which while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves thorow with many sorrows. As God hath in his Word denounced severe threatnings against many sins, so a serious consideration of them will be a special means to mortifie the same, and keep them at least from raigning in us.
4. Call to mind the fearfull judgements God hath executed upon sinners; as the drowning of the old World; the raining fire and brimstone from Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah; the rejection of the Iews: the destruction of those famous Churches of the Corinthians, Galathians, Ephesians, with divers others. Consider likewise the remarkable judgements of God executed upon notorious sinners in thine own dayes, for their swearing, sabbath-breaking, whoring, drinking, and the like; which (through Gods blessing) may prove a special Means to keep down all sinfull lusts, and inordinate affections, that they break not forth into outward gross acts.
5. Consider the deceitfull nature of sin, which allureth thee with shews of pleasure, profit, credit, ease, and the like? but in the end it bites like a Serpent, and stingeth like an Adder; and then thou wilt perceive how thou art beguiled, and deceived. Horrour of Conscience, and hellish torment is all it will pay thee instead of the pleasure it promiseth thee: loss instead of profit, even the loss of Heaven and happiness: shame and disgrace instead of credit: anguish instead of ease:Rom. 2.9. tribulation and anguish shall be upon every soul of man that doth evil. Iacob complained of Labans deceit about his wages: and what wilt thou think of thy wages when the pay-day comes? The wages of sin is death, wilt thou not then say, the Serpent hath beguiled me, this sin hath deceived me. Be not such a fool as to take the word of a known deceiver; away with it, crucifie it, for it intends thee mischief. Be undeceived betimes: how dreadfull will it be, if nothing but fire and …mstone will bring thee to thy wits? If thou wilt no… see the treachery of sin till it be too late to escape it?
6. When thou feelest corruption working and stirring in thee entising thee to sin, seriously consider the manifold sufferings and bitter death of our blessed Saviour Iesus Christ on the Cross: whereof our sins were the cause. These were they that lay heavy upon his soul, and made him exceeding sorrowfull even unto death. These were the thorns which pricked his Temples; the whips which scourged his innocent body: and the nails which fastned his hands and feet to the Cross. And can we love our sins which kil'd our Saviour? we complain of Iudas, and of the Iews for Crucifying him; and seem to hate them upon that account. But behold the Iudas in thy heart, and in thy life, thy sins, these are the betrayers and murderers.
Oh never leave looking up to a Crucified Christ, till thou feel and find, both arguments enough to engage thy heart against them, and vertue flow from him to the Crucifying of them. To this end, reason thus with thy self. Hath Christ paid for my Redemption his most precious Blood, and shall I sell my soul to sin again for this fleshly pleasure, or base profit? what is this but to Crucifie the Lord of life afresh? For know assuredly, so many sins as thou committest wittingly, and with delight, so many thorns dost thou again fasten upon his head, so many nailes dost thou drive into his hands and feet, so many spears dost thou thrust into his heart. Certainly a serious consideration of these things cannot but be a special means to set thee heartily upon this work of Mortification.
7. Consider how frail and mortal thou art, subject to death every moment; and woe be unto thee if thou dye before thy sins be slain. How darest thou adventure upon thy Lusts, and the pleasures of sin, when as thou maist suddenly be taken out of the Land of the living, and cast into hell, while thou art acting thy wickedness? Even then when thou art blessing thy self in thy pleasures, or the gains of unrig…eousness, thou maist hear that voice, Thou fool … night thy soul shall be taken from thee. Didst thou but seriously consider, as the cerrainty of thy death, so the uncertainty of the time thereof, thou wouldst not but be afraid of sinning once more, lest God should strike thee dead in the very act, and thou have no time left for repentance. Oh pray with the Psalmist,Psal. 90.12. that God would teach thee to number thy dayes, and this will make thee apply thine heart unto Wisdom.
8. Consider that sin will be thy destruction, and nothing besides it can harm thee. It is not in the power of all the men and Devils in the World to destroy the soul of any man. Temptations can do nothing but by the advantage of corruption; 'tis that wounds mortally our immortal spirit, and brings it into that cursed state, where though it never dyeth, yet is it alwayes dying; though never quite dead, yet ever in the pangs of death.
Oh what prodigious cruelty must it then needs be, for such things of nought, to betray thy precious soul to an eternal loss! when if thou wouldst be perswaded to secure this enemy, Sin, thou mightest live and be blessed, in spite of men and Devils. And wilt thou yet be in league with it? wilt thou let it live? Shall not thy soul be avenged of such an enemy as this? Arise, arise, set upon thy sins, upon them all, let not thy soul spare any one of them, give no quarter to them, let not any iniquity lodge in peace with thee one night more, lest thou be a dead man before the morning.
Thus have I commended to thee several considerations to restrain thee from sin, which by the help of God may serve to imbitter the sweetest bait that draws thee to it, and to cool the heat of the most furious inticements. When therefore thou feelest corruption working, and stirring in thee, call to mind the forementioned considerations, fix thy thoughts on them, let them not go off, untill they begin to have a powerfull influence upon thy soul.
II. Another means on our part to be performed for the mortifying our sinfull Lusts is, carefully to eschew all occasions of sin, and temptations thereunto. He who will dally with occasions of sin, is in danger of falling. He who will venture upon temptations unto wickedness, is not far from commission of it. Observe therefore what occasions and opportunities, what means and company, have at any time given advantage to thy Lust, to exert and put forth it self; and flie from them as from Hell. This is a point of true spiritual wisdom, to see sin afar off in the occasions of it; and by eschewing the one, to prevent the other.
III. Observe the first working of corruption in thine heart, and carefully suppress the same, not suffering it to get the least ground. Do not say, thus far it shall go and no farther. Give sin an inch, and it will soon take an ell, as the proverb is. Lustfull thoughts have oft-times ended in outward uncleanness, and actual Adultery.Mat. 15.19. From the heart, saith our Saviour, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, &c. Noting evil thoughts to be the cause of the uncleanness in the life. In Athaliahs Massacre of the blood-royal, young Ioash was hid in the bed-chamber, there he was nurst, and afterwards came to be King, and ruled in the Throne. Save any Lustfull thought, nurse it in the bed-chamber of thy heart, hide it there, and it will in time come to be King, and rule over thee.
So soon therefore as any lustful or exorbitant thoughts begin to arise in thine heart, speedily reject the same: quench the fire in the thatch; crush the Cockatrice in the Egge: stifle the first conception of sin. Certainly as it is a dangerous neglect not to observe and embrace the first motions of Gods spirit in us: so likewise not to take notice of the first thoughts and rising of sin in our hearts. He who slights sinfull thoughts,Gal. 5.24. is in a fair way to sinfull actions. They that are Christs, saith the Apostle, have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. The very affections and lusts of the flesh must be Crucified, if we would prevent the works of the flesh.
IV. Sir up in thy self an earnest desire to have thy lusts mortified and subdued. The reason why no more is done against sin is, because we are too well contented to let it alone; when nothing but the death of sin will satisfie thee, thou wilt then use thy Weapons: when once thou desirest in earnest the destruction of thine iniquities, there's hope they will not be long liv'd. For God hath promised to satisfie the desire of those that fear him, he will hear their groanings and deliver them.
Mat. 11.28.Come unto me, saith Christ, all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you case, and rest. Certain…y one special reason why many complain so much of the strength and prevalency of their corruptions is, because they are not heartily willing to have them mortified and subdued. They will indeed profess a willingness to part with their sins, that they may be freed from the guilt of them, and punishment due unto them; but unwilling they are to part with the pleasure they find in them. Thus Austin acknowledgeth of himself; I prayed, said he, that my sins might be forgiven and mortified: but yet I was afraid l…st my prayer should be heard and answered, If therefore thou wouldst have thy sins mortified indeed, stir up in thy self a willing mind thereunto.
V. Complain unto God of the prevalency of thy lusts, and by prayer beg strength from him against the power of th…m. From God it is that strength must be had, it is his power alone that can support us against the power of sin. And Prayer is the means of obtaining it. This was the course that Paul took, when he was troubled with that thorn in his flesh, 2 Cor. 12.7, 8.which expositors generally enterpret to be, some strong motions and inclinations in him to some foul sin. For this, saith the text, he besought the Lord thrice, that is, oftentimes. And though he did not presently obtain a full deliverance, yet did he receive strength sufficient to resist them, so that he could not be overcome by them.
If we in like manner shall go unto God by prayer for his help, laying open our condition, and complaining to him thereof; we shall for the present receive strength sufficient to resist, and in Gods due time deliverance from our iniquities.
VI. Act faith in Christ for the mortifying thy sinfull lusts, and corruptions. To this end,
1. Be sensible that thou art in thy s…f weak, and unable to grapple with thy Lusts. Thou must despair of thine own strength, ere thou wilt take hold on the strength of the Lord. Thou must be beaten out of thy self-confidence, ere thou wilt go unto Christ. When thou seest thou art weak, thou wilt turn to the strong hold.
2. B…lieve that Christ is able to succour and help thee. In him doth all fullness dwell. As he hath a fullness of grace in his heart, so fullness of power in his hand, whereby he is able to kill all thine enemies. Sin is mighty, but Christ is mightier. The Devil is strong, but Christ is stronger than he.
3. Believe that Christ is as able, so willing to subdue thine iniquities. Thine enemies are his enemies, and he will have their death: if thou be a believer, he hath undertaken for thee. He is thy great High-Priest, and thy Lord and King; and hereupon not only by his mercifulness, and kindness; but by his office and interest he stands ingaged to pitty and relieve thee: he will not be unfaithfull to his trust, nor deaf to his own bowels, which plead with him to save and help thee.
4. By faith cast thy self upon Iesus Christ, rest upon his power, and goodness for his help and strength. 'Tis here in regard of Christs power, as in regard of his promises. As our resting and relying upon his promises in a time of danger and distress, makes them our own: So our resting and relying upon Christs power for help and support, doth make it our own.
5. By faith wait upon Christ in expectation of relief, and succour against the working and stirring of thy corruptions. Though relief come in but slowly from him, yet wait for it, because it will most surely come in the most seasonable time. Hereby wilt thou ingage Christ to appear for thy help. For as nothing doth more ingage the heart of a man to be helpfull to another, than an expectation of help from him: So certainly the raising up thine heart to an expectation of relief from Christ, must needs be a great ingagement unto him to assist thee accordingly.
When Christ cured many of their bodily diseases and distempers while he lived upon the Earth, we find their cure is still ascribed to their faith. Now what was their faith? They believed that Christ was both able and willing to cure them, and thereupon with confidence went unto him for cure, and so drew vertue from him accordingly. This you may see in the poor Woman that had an issue of blood twelve years, who came behind Christ and said, If I may but touch the hem of his garment, I shall be whole. To whom Christ replyed,Mat. 9.20. Daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole. This is written as all other Scripture is, for our learning, to teach and instruct us: what course to take for the curing of our spiritual maladies and diseases.
Hast thou any foul issue of Worldliness and Covetousness, of pride or frowardness, of passion or envy, or the like running upon thee? And wouldst thou be cured of them? Do as that poor Woman did: go unto Christ, set thy faith at work on him; believe his power and willingness, let thy faith touch but the hem of his garment, lay hold on him, cast thy self on his blood and bowels, wait at his door, resolving not to return without a gracious answer, and then see if this be not his answer, Son be of good comfort, thy sins are forgiven, be thou cleansed of all thy corruptions, thy faith hath made thee whole.
Having shewed the Means whereby the work of Mortification may be effected. I come now to shew the Manner how it ought to be performed.
1. Our Mortification must be speedy. Begin to day, let the ax be presently laid to the root of these trees; and whenever you feel the Devil at work, blowing up the Coals of Lust, be instantly in arms, give not time to sin to get head upon thee, resist it in its first motions and risings. Delayes herein are very dangerous. That Lust which at first may easily be overcome, afterwards will hardly be kept under.
Why should we not be as wife for our souls, as we are for our bodies? who having fire cast into his bosome or house, will not presently cast it out, and quench it? Woe to those fools who let alone these hellish fires, and trifle so long, till it hath gotten the mastery. You whose Lusts are through your own neglects gotten up into a flame, fear le…t it be too late to quench them: fear lest these fires having been neglected so long, should now burn to the bottom of Hell.
Vain, wicked, wanton thoughts are evil seeds sown in our hearts by our adversary the Devil, which if they be let alone, will insensibly grow up first into a blade, then to an eare, and so bring forth a dismal harvest of wickedness and wrath. And therefore our wisest course must needs be, so soon as they are sown, speedily to weed, and pull them up by the roots. To which agreeth that of an ancient,Vitia corporis non sunt sinenda coalescere; sed in exordiis statim enecanda sunt. Hillar. Enarrat. in Psalm 36. We must not suffer those fleshly vices to grow and increase, but rather destroy them in their first beginnings.
2. Our Mortification must be willing and voluntary, not forced and constrained. The Marriner in a storm, casteth away his goods, because he dares keep them no longer; yet still his heart goeth after them. And this is all the mortification of the most, they will cast off their transgressions because they dare do no other. Then only are we sincere in this work, when our hearts are the first in all that opposition we make against our sins: when we pray against them heartily; when we watch and wrestle, and strive, and resist them with all our hearts: when our very souls long to see the blood of our Lusts; and if it were possible we might with safety, yet our hatred against them would not suffer them to live. They are like to do something to purpose against sin, whose hearts do give the first charge upon them.
3. Our Mortification must be universal, extending it self to all our sinfull Lusts, with a sincere purpose not to bear with our selves in any known sin. For most certain it is, that true mortification, and an advised remaining in the practice of any known sin cannot possibly stand together. Therefore the Prophet David, to testifie the truth of his Mortification, saith, I have refrained my feet, Psal. 119.101.not from one or two, but from every evil way: he did not willingly bear with himself in the practice of any one sin; well knowing every sin to be a transgression of the Law.foreign, & foreign. These two words, Sin and transgressio… are convertible. Whosoever committeth sin, saith the beloved Disciple Iohn, 1 Joh. 3.4.transgresseth the Law, for sin is the transgression of the Law; yea, every sin, and so makes us lyable to the wrath of God, to all judgements and plagues here, and to eternal damnation hereafter. God will not spare that soul, that will have any one of his sins spared to him. He that would have one sin spared, would have another and another if it served his turn. He that would not have all of Christ, would in truth have none of him. And he that would not be rid of all sin, has no sincere mind to be rid of any.
Christ will have all or nothing: every duty must be done, or as good you did none; …very sin must be left, or as good you kept them all. Canst thou let all sin go but this one? even this must go too, or thy life must go for it. O friend, set thy self against every sin, great and small, open and secret, carnal and spiritual. Set thy self against them heartily, be willing to prosper and overcome; and set upon them speedily, let no iniquity live a day longer, nor sleep a night more in quiet with thee, (only remembring to go forth against them in the strength of the Lord) and then we shall quickly find thee to be one of Christs mortified ones, who as thou art dead with Christ, shalt certainly live with Christ, and raign with Christ to all Eternity.
FINIS.