Body of Divinity, Book 7 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. The Parts of Sanctification are two, Mortification and Vivification.
I. Mortification.
VVHere Grace is truly wrought it will be the daily study and practise of those that are sanctified, to subdue the body of corruption. This is called a dying to sinne, putting off the old man, crucifying the flesh, most usually the mortifying of it.
There is a twofold Mortification, and so Vivification, say the Schoolmen,
1. Habitual and more Internal, the work of Gods Spirit in our first Regeneration, Gal. 5. 24. whereby the Dominion of sinne is subdued and brought under the power of Gods Spirit, this and internal Vivification are the two parts of our Conversion.
2. Actual, Practical and External, our own work, the daily practice of a childeSin is wounded at our first conversion, Rom. 6. 13, 14. but this work is carried on by degrees till it be utterly extinct, Rom. 6. sin is called the the old man for its weaknesse and decay. See 1 Thess. 5. 22, 23. of God, while he lives on earth, this flows from the other.
Every godly man walking according to Christianity, doth daily in his ordinary course mortifie the body of corruption that dwels in him, Rom. 4. 8, 9. Ephes. 4. 20, 21, 22. Col. 3. 5. Gal. 5. 24. Rom. 6. 6. Mortifie (or make dead) is a Metaphor taken from Chiturgeons whose practice is when they would cut off a member to apply such things as will eat out the life of it, so our care must be to make the living body of corruption instar cadaveris.
Practical Mortification, is the faithful endeavour of the soul to subdue all the lusts and motions which are prone to spring from our sinful flesh.
It stands in three things:
1. A full purpose or bent of the heart (the minde and will) against sinne, when my will doth nolle peccatum, though it may be active.
2. In shunning all the occasions that serve as fewel to it.
3. In applying all such means as may subdue his corruptions.
The Practice of Mortification is
1. A necessary duty.
2. One of the most spiritual duties in all Christianity.
3. The hardest duty.
The Popish exercises of Mortification consisting in their kinde of Fasting, Whipping,Anno Christ… 1262. exorta est secta Flagellantium, qui ingenti turba obe…ntes pagos & oppida, nudi umbilico tenus, facie tect a sese flagellis cruentabant: manfit hic mos Romae, ubi septimana quae diom Paschatis proximè antecedit, poenitentes longo ordine, nudis seapulis, larvata facie publicè se diverberant flagellis: Quem morem ipsi vidimus Lutetiae sub Henrico tertio. Homines ad furorem usque superstitiosi, nesciunt Deum amare immutationem cordium non verò dilaniationem corporum. Molinaei Hyperaspistes, lib. 1. cap. 29. Vide Novar. Schediasm. Sac. prophan. lib. 1. cap. 22. They are hostes naturae not peccati. Pilgrimage and wearing of Hair-cloth next their skin, will never work true Mortification in the heart, yet Baals Priests exceeded them in cruelty to themselves, 1 King. 18. 28. See Rom. 8. 13. Col. 2. 23, 1 Tim. 4. 8.
In these cases one doth not mortifie his corruptions:
1. Such a one as lives in the voluntary practice of his sins, Rom. 6.
2. The body of corruption may be wholly unmortified though it break not out in the ordinary and constant practice of any grosse sin, the seat and throne of sin is in the soul, the slavish fear of shame and punishment from men, or eternal damnation from God may keep a man from grosse sins.
I shall lay down
1. Motives or several Meditations to quicken us to the study of this work every day.
2. Means which God will blesse to one that is willing to have his lusts subdued.
I. Motives.
Consider
1. This is the great thing God requires at our hands as our gratitude for all the goodnesse he bestows on us, that for his sake we should leave those wayes that are abominable in his sight, Rom. 12. 1. Ephes. 4. 21, 22. 1 Peter 2. begin. Deut. 32. 6.
Secondly, How deeply we have obliged our hearts to it by Vow, Oath, Covenant in Baptism, we have there covenanted to die to sinne, put off the old man, and so in the Lords Supper we shew forth the Lords death, and when we have been in danger.
Thirdly, The manifold evils of unmortified lusts abiding in the heart.Sin 1. abuseth us, Man being in honour continued not, a wicked man is called a vile person, Psa. 15. 2. It de…iles us, and stains all our actions, Tit. 1. 15. 3. Deceives us, Heb. 3. 12. Ephes. 4. 22. 4. It keeps away all good, Isa. 9 2. 5. It lets in all evil, Jer. 2. 19. What makes thy soul loathsom and unclean in the eyes of God and Angels but sin: What grieves God, pierceth his Sonne, fights against him but this: What brings any evil upon thee but this: What is the sting of any affliction but onelyonly thy sins: What strengthens death but it? it is only thy sins that keep good things from thee, thy unmortified sins.
Fourthly, The absolute necessity of this work, if we mean to escape hell and everlasting damnation, De necessariis non est deliberandum, Rom. 8. 13. 1 Cor. 6. 9. Grave Maurice at Newport battel, sent away the boats, and said to his men, Either drink up this Sea or eat the Spaniards.
Fifthly, The wonderful gain that will come to thy soul if the Lord teach thee this duty.
1. In mortifying and destroying thy beloved lusts thou destroyest all other enemies with them, they all receive their weapons from thy sins.
2. All other mercies flow in a constant current, if thou mortifie thy corruptions, Gods favour, the whole stream of the Covenant of Grace.
II. Means of Mortification.
Some use moral motives, from the inconvenience of sinne, death, the fear of hellThe death of Christ is useful for mortifying of sin. 1. By way of representation, it shews us the hatefulnesse of sin, Isa. 53. 10. Consider his agony and sorrow on the Crosse though sin was but imputed to him, 1 Cor. 5. 21. 2. By way of irritation, it stirs up in the soul a displicency against sin, Isa. 43. 24. shall sin live that made Christ die? 3. By way of pattern and example, therefore the Scripture often expresseth our Mortification by our crucifying, Gal. 2. 20. & 5. 24. & 6. 14. Of all deaths crucifying is the most painful and shameful, it notes that sorrow and shame which Christians feel in the remembrance of sinne, that which was done really in Christ must be done in us by analogy, Phil. 3. 10. 4. By way of merit, Christ shed his bloud to redeem u…: 1. From the world, Gal. 1. 4. that it might not be so pleasing an object. 2. From our vain conversation, 1 Pet. 2. 24. Grace is a part of Christs purchase as well as pardon. 5. By way of stipulation and ingagement. Christ …ood as a Surety before Gods Tribunal. He was Gods Surety and ours; on Gods part he undertook to bestow on us not only remission of sins, but the Spirit of God to become a principle of life to us, and of death to our corruptions, Rom. 8. 13. 1 John 3. 19. on our part he undertook that we should no longer serve sin, Rom. 6. 13. and judgement, some carnal motives as esteem and advantage in the world; others natural, moderate in things indifferent, and shunning the occasions of sinne, the meditating on the death of Christ is the purest and most effectual way of mortifying sinne, 1 Pet. 4. 1. Look upon Christs death not only as a pattern but cause of Mortification, Iohn 3. 14. Heb. 12. 2.
1. Look upon sin as the causes of Christs sufferings, Zech. 12. 10. Act. 2. 37.
2. Consider the greatnesse and dreadfulnesse of his sufferings, Rom. 8. 32.
3. The fruit of his sufferings, Col. 2. 15.
4. Reason must argue from the end of Christs sufferings which was Mortification as well as comfort and pardon, 1 Iohn 3. 6. Ephes. 5. 27. Improve the death of Christ:
1. By faith, Rom. 6. 6. & 7. 25.
2. By Prayer, Heb. 10. 19.
5. A preparation to this duty. Labour daily to finde out thy sins; we are naturally very prone to entertain a good opinion of our selves and discern not many evils in us.
1. Study the Law, Rom. 7. I was alive without the Law, but when I saw the inward motions of sinne were abominable to God, I died; compare thy own soul with it.
2. Study thy own wayes, When thou art crost, how art thou troubed? say, Is not this anger, when others reproach thee, how art thou troubled? say, Is not this pride and self-love?
3. Have an ear open to the admonition of faithful friends, leave not thy heart till it plead guilty.
4. Make use of Ordinances, the Word read and heard, Prayer, the Sacrament: after he had commanded them to put off the old man, Colos. 3. he saith, Let the Word dwell plentifully in you. David begs of God to strengthen him.
5. Take heed and shun all the occasions that foment and cherish thy corruptions,About means of mortification of sin▪ See Mr Hilders. on Psal. 51. 5. Lect. 64, 65, 66, 67. 1. Inward, thy own thoughts; we cure the itch by cleansing the bloud. Iob 31. 1. Why should I think on a maid? 2. Outward, there are two of all sins, 1. Idlenesse the devils cushion. 2. Evil company.
6. Upon special seasons there must be the solemn exercise of fasting and humiliation, because we must mortifie the inclinations of sin, Iam. 4. 9.