Two Treatises, Part 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. How to diſcerne when we prevaile againſt the Fleſh, with its inordinate Luſts and Affections.
AN enemie is not alwayes vanquiſhed when he ſeemeth ſo to be:Ioſh. 8.15. Ioſhua and all Iſrael made as if they were beaten before the men of Ai, and fled by the way of the wilderneſſe; yet was it meerely out of Policie, to draw them out of their Citie, Iudg. 20.39.as afterward the Iſraelites to the ſame end uſed the ſame Stratagem when they diſcomfited the Benjamites. It is thus with our Luſts, they may ſeeme to bee mortified, when indeed they are not, but only wait their fitteſt opportunitie to doe us miſchiefe.Signes whereby to diſcern whether our luſts be mortified. How then we ſhould judge of them, many or few, great or ſmall, ſtrong or weak, violent or peaceable, conquerers or conquered, diſcerne wee by theſe ſignes.
1.Gal. 5 24. They are Chriſts. They that are Chriſts have crucified the fleſh with the affections and luſts: and they that are in him, walke not after the fleſh, Rom. 8.1.but after the Spirit. How to know whether we be in Chriſt.Art thou in Chriſt? then thou art a mortified creature, elſe not.
Q. How ſhall I know whether or not I am in Chriſt?
A. If thou walkeſt in the light; 1 Ioh. 1 6.if thou walkeſt as Chriſt walked; 1 Ioh. 2.6.if thou keepeſt his commandements, 1 Ioh 3.24.and haſt his Spirit in thee; if thou perſevereſt in the knowledge and obedience of the Coſpel: 1 Ioh. 2.24.if thou art fruitfull in good workes; Ioh. 15.2. 2 Cor. 5.17.if thou art a new creature, teh art thou in Chriſt.
2.Rom 8.1. They that walke after the Spirit walke not after the Fleſh. They walk after the Spirit.Walkeſt thou after the Spirit, then walkeſt not thou after the Fleſh, but art a mortified creature.
Q. How to know whether wee walk after the Spirit.How ſhall I know whether or not I walke after the Spirit?
A. If thou walkeſt after the Spirit, then liveſt thou not according to the motion and guidance of the corruption of nature, but according to the motion and guidance of the Spirit of grace and ſanctification. Thou earneſtly deſiteſt both to know and walk in the good way. Thou doeſt in every thing runne unto God by prayer, that he would guide and direct thee. Thou reſolveſt in every thing to pleaſe God. Thou preferreſt his will unto all things elſe, profits, pleaſures, preferments, yea and thine owne life too. Thou walkeſt carefully, warily, and circumſpectly, alwayes ordering thy ſteps with diſcretion, leſt thou ſhouldſt in any ſort tempt, vexe, grieve, or quench the Spirit.
3.Rom. 6.1…. They are alive unto God They that are indeed dead unto ſinne, are alive unto God, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. They doe really and truely partake as well of the vertue and efficacie of Chriſts death unto Mortification, as of his Reſurrection unto newnes of life. Being on the one part mortified perſons, in whom the death of Chriſt hath broken the force of ſinne, that it cannot reigne, in whom the vigor and force of ſin (which is the life thereof) is cruſhed and extinct, in whom ſinne cannot bring forth ſuch bitter fruits as it was wont to do before ſanctification,Simil. who therefore even as men who have ſo loſt their bodily ſtrength as it cannot be recovered, are ſaid to be dead while they live, how ſoever ſinne doth ſtill remaine in them, are truly ſaid to be dead thereunto, becauſe the power and ſtrength of ſinne is ſore abated, and dayly leſſened and weakened, ſo on the other part are they quickned and moved by the holy Spirit to doe what is pleaſing, and acceptable in Gods ſight.A difference betweene nature and grace. It's ſo in nature I confeſſe as it is in grace, hee that is corporally dead, doth not corporally live, but hee that is ſpiritually dead, doth ſpiritally live, he is dead indeed unto ſinne, but alive unto God, yea, his being dead unto ſinne, Note.doth argue that hee is alive unto God, as his being alive unto God, that he is dead unto ſinne.
4. They that are dead are freed from ſinne. Rom. 6.7.They that are ſpiritually dead by mortification, They that are ſpiritually dead to finne are freed therfrom.they are freed (I ſay) from ſinne, not in regard of its infection, I confeſſe, nor in regard of its corruption, which cleaveth to their nature, as skin to their fleſh, or as fleſh to their bones; nor in regard of the temptations unto ſinne,How a child of God is freed from ſinne. the godly being ſubject unto all theſe whilſt they are in this life; but in regard of the guilt and puniſhment of ſin, which is forgiven them through Chriſt, as alſo in regard of the authority, dominion, rule, command, and compulſion of ſinne, from which they are freed; ſo that although they doe ſin; yet are they not led or ruled thereby. Art thou thus freed from ſin? then art thou ſpiritutually dead, a mortified creature.
Q. How to know whether we are freed from ſinne.How ſhall I know whether or not I am thus freed from ſinne?
A. If thou haſt no purpoſe at all to ſin, but determineſt with David to keepe Gods righteous judgements, Pſal. 119.106.and ſo in all things to pleaſe him. If thou art affraid of ſin, and with Ioſeph reſiſteſt the inticements which may provoke thee thereunto,Gen. 39.10. ſhunning every occaſion of ſinne, and curbing even thy ſudden motions unto evill. If thou dayly calleſt upon God to ſtrengthen thee againſt the power of ſinne. If ſin dayly decreaſeth in thee, ſo that thou findeſt its force and vigour more and more abated. If thou art truely grieved at thine owne and the ſinnes of others. If thou rejoyceſt at thine owne, Rom. 7.24.and the ſpirituall freedom of others, loving thy deare Saviour which hath freed thee,Rom. 9.2. and tendring the glory of him thy deliverer above thine owne ſalvation. Thou art thus freed from ſin, and ſo ſpiritually dead; indeed a mortified creature.
5.2 Cor. 5.17. They that are new creatures are mortified creatures. They are new creatures.Old things are paſt away, if all things are become new. The more renewed thou art, the greater thy reformation is both in heart and life, the more doſt thou prevaile againſt thy corruption; the greater is thine encreaſe in the practiſe of Mortification. How to know if we be new creatures. An univerſal change.Whether doſt thou not finde in thy ſelfe an abſolute change and alteration from that thou waſt heretofore? Haſt thou not now new eyes, New eyes.leaving with delight to behold vanitie, covenanting againſt Luſt, and ſearching into the wonders of Gods Law? Haſt thou not now new eares ſtopped againſt the entiſements of the Serpent,New eares. and open to heare what God will ſpeake? Haſt thou not a new tongue, A new tongue.not to ſing the old Ditty of Nature, to lye, ſweare, backbite, flatter and the like; but to ſing a new Song to the praiſe of Gods name? Haſt thou not new hands, New handsnot to ſmite with the fiſt of iniquity, nor to pull in with rapine and robbery; but to diſtribute unto the poore, caſting thy bread upon the waters, and giving the right hand of fellowſhip to every good action within thy reach?New feete. Haſt thou not new feete, not to bee ſwift to ſhed blood; but to run the way of Gods Commandements? Art thou not renewed in thy nature, New nature. New gifts.having new gifts, (Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Humility, Prayer, &c.) New delights (in the Word,New delights. Sacraments, Prayer, Meditation on Gods Works, and the like.) New ſorrowes for Sinne,New ſorrowes. for diſpleaſing GOD, for the afflictions of Gods People) as in like manner new deſires, New deſires.after the purity of Nature, pardon of Sinne, ſoftneſſe of heart, the preſence of God, audience in Prayer, and ſuch like?New obedience, for its manner, matter and end. Art thou not new in thy obedience, both in regard of the manner of it, of the matter of it, or end of the ſame, performing Gods commandements willingly, diligently, uprightly, univerſally, carefully, at all times, and in every thing ayming at Gods glory?New affections. Art thou not new in thine affections, renewed in the ſpirit of thy minde? New mind Eph. 4.23. New heart.Haſt thou not now a new heart? for a ſtony, a fleſhy heart: for an whoriſh, a chaſt heart: for a covetous, an heart weaned from the world: for a proud, an humble heart: for an hypocriticall, deceitfull and falſe heart, a ſincere, plaine, and honeſt heart: for a darkned, an enlightened heart: for a ſtubborne, perverſe and rebellious heart, an obedient and willing heart?New geſture. Art thou not renewed even in thy outward geſtures, being affable and courteous to all, and walking circumſpectly towards thoſe that are without? If ſo, then art thou a new creature, Col. 4.5.a mortified creature, a conquerour over the Fleſh, with its affections and luſts.
6.A ſetting of ones ſelf againſt all ſinnes. They that are in ſome meaſure truely mortified, doe not approve or connive at any one ſinne in themſelves; but to ſet themſelves againſt ſome, as that in the meane time they are in like manner watchfull over all others. Setteſt thou thy ſelfe againſt all ſinnes? canſt thou not indure to give way unto thine owne heart in the entertainment of any one? Makeſt thou it a matter of conſcience, as to abſtaine from publike, notorious, ſcandalous, groſſe ſinnes; ſo to abſtaine from the leaſt ſecret ſinne, every idle word, or wandring thought? Leaveſt thou not any one Amalekite alive that thou canſt come at? Canſt thou ſo farre deny thy ſelfe as to forſake all and follow CHRIST? Renounceſt thou dayly even thy boſome ſinnes, thy darling ſinnes, thy beſt beloved ſins, of profit, pleaſure, preferment?Gal. 5.19. Canſt thou not away with adultery, fornication, uncleanneſſe, laſciviouſnes, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, ſtrife, ſeditions, hereſies, envying murders, drunkenneſſe, revellings, with ſuch like workes of the fleſh, whether leſſe or more manifeſt? Thou art a mortified creature. Simil.As in nature death ſeiſeth on all the members of the body (till which time who can be ſaid to be truly dead) ſo in grace, mortification muſt take hold on all our earthly members, elſe it is but unſound and frivolous.Simil. As in nature a man may live though he cut off one of his limbs; ſo may a man in ſinne, though he caſt away not one, but many ſinnes The examples of Ahab, Iehu, and Herod are pregnant to this purpoſe.
7 They that doe dayly grow in grace doe dayly mortifie ſinne, They grow in grace.yet the more they doe grow in the one, the more doe they mortifie the other, 2 Sam. 3.1. Simil.As Davids houſe did dayly waxe ſtronger and ſtronger, but Sauls weaker and weaker; ſo being endued with the grace of mortification, grace will overcome nature, vertue vanquiſh vice, faith, repentance, holineſſe, humilitie, love, prayer, &c. encreaſe, when as thy luſts will decreaſe. Groweſt thou not in grace? Thou doſt. How will it appeare?How to know whether wee grow in grace. Thou loveſt grace; thou laboureſt for grace; thou highly priſeſt grace; thy thoughts, words and works reliſh and ſavour of grace; thou canſt not away with any thing that may in any ſort hinder grace; thou art further and further enamoured with the love of grace; thou ſtill hungereſt and thirſteſt for more grace, and canſt not be ſatisfied with that thou haſt already. Thou art every day more and more carefull to avoid ſinne, more and more deſirous to vanquiſh thy corruptions, more and more careleſſe of the things of this World. Thus indeed appeareth it infallibly that thou groweſt in grace, and dayly prevaileſt againſt thy corruptions.
8.They hate ſinne. They that doe truely mortifie their luſts, and in ſome meaſure prevaile over them, have anextreame hatred and deteſtation thereof wrought in their hearts. Loatheſt thou ſinne? doſt thou truly hate and abhorre it? queſtionleſſe, thou prevaileſt over it. Qu. How ſhall I know whether or not I doe truely hate it?
A. If thou loveſt the Lord, thou hateſt ſin;How to know whether wee hate ſinne. if thou canſt not indure to ſpeake a good word of it, or for it; if thy dayly actions tend unto its ruine; if thou grieveſt exceedingly whenſoever thou falleſt thereinto, taking on thy ſelfe an holy revenge for the ſame; if thou hateſt it not ſo much in reſpect of its effects, or puniſhment enſuing thereupon, as its very nature, being a breach of Gods Law; if thou grieveſt when it ſeemeth to have the better, but rejoyceſt when it is put to the worſt; then doſt thou hate ſinne, and ſo prevaileſt againſt it: by degrees vanquiſheſt the ſame.
9. They that doe truely mortifie their luſts, and prevaile over their owne corruption, having once eſcaped the corruption that is in the world through luſt; are exceeding carefull to avoid relapſes therein, not againe to be entangled therewith. A burnt child dreads the fire; Beaſts that have fallen into ditches or pits, will beware of them afterward. The Bird that hath eſcaped out of the Fowlers ginnes, will avoid them another time. So the Saints remembring their former miſery and dangerous condition whilſt they were ſlaves unto ſinne, are ſo much the more carefull to keepe it under; to this end ſhunning the occaſion of ſinne, and abſtaining even from all appearance of evill. Hath Peter denied his Maſter? he will doe ſo no more. Hath David beene an adulterer? he will bee ſo no more. Hath Noah beene drunke? he will be more wary in his drinking after. But if God for their leaving of him, or their want of watchfulneſſe and improving his graces ſhall be pleaſed to leave them unto themſelves for a time, even after their knowledge, and acknowledging of the truth; ſo that they yeeld unto violent temptations, and fall into the very ſadnes of their unregenerate condition; though they fall into the acts thereof, they fall not into the love thereof. They doe what they allow not, what they would not, what they are heartily grieved for. Thou art carefull to avoid all ſins, but eſpecially thine own ſins, thy formerly dearly beloved ſins; herein appeareth it that thou art a mortified Creature.
10. They that have a true ſight and ſenſe of their ſinnes, doe in ſome meaſure mortifie the ſame. Art thou acquainted with Satans Stratagems? Art thou not ignorant of his wiles? Diſcerneſt thou the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne? Obſerveſt thou the ſubtilty of the fleſh, and how cunningly it would inſinuate it ſelfe? Knoweſt thou its traps and tricks, its ginns and ſnares, its baits and allurements? Thou canſt not but in the like manner avoid the ſame. Thou wilt not willingly run headlong unto deſtruction.
11. As before bodily death there is for the moſt part ſicknes, and at the time of death both unwillingneſſe to undergoe it, and painfulneſſe in undergoing the ſame: They are truly humbled, and feele in themſelves a great deale of unwillingneſſe.ſo before this death unto ſinne, there is deepe humiliation and dejection through the ſenſe and apprehenſion of Gods wrath wrought in us by the law of God, Simil.the ſoule being brought thereby, as it were unto the very gates of hell. There is alſo no ſmall unwillingneſſe in us to undergoe it, the Fleſh having a ſtrong heart, and ſo loath to die; as in like manner no leſſe paine, then to pull out our right eye, or cut off our right hand. Haſt thou beene thus ſpiritually dejected and affected? thou art a mortified creature.
12. As on thoſe that are corporally dead, neither alluring objects, flattering ſpeeches, golden promiſes, hope of pleaſure, feare of danger, Not any thing is of force to withdraw us from God.or ſuch like, doe worke at all: ſo if thou art indeed dead unto ſinne, thou wilt neither be terrified by threats, Simil.nor tickled with pleaſures, nor ſhall any allurements withdraw thee from God; but ſtill thou keepeſt faſt hold on God (though at ſome times in great weakneſſe) and continueſt at deadly feud and open defiance with thy fleſh, and all its ad herents: thus how to diſcerne when we prevaile againſt the fleſh, and ſo of the 9th. particular.