Crumbs of Bread for the Dove in the Clefts of the Rock, Section 2
SECT. II. Of Mortification.
HAving ſeen the Converſion of the Sinner, let us proceed to the worke and exerciſe of the Saint: and the firſt thing that preſents it ſelf to our conſideration, for the improvement of his converſion, is the Mortification of his corruption: and therein note,
1. That there is an indwelling Body of ſin and corruption that remaineth in the converted and regenerated perſon. It is perfectly pardoned, but not perfectly purged out, and deſtroyed, while in this body of fleſh. See Romanes 7th. per tot.
2. It is the duty and property of every truly converted and regenerated perſon, to proceed in the mortification of corruption, and to endeavour through grace the compleat deſtruction of that body of ſin that is about him, and every branch and member of it. See Rom. 6. & 7. & 8. Col. 3. Gal. 5, &c. throughout.
R. 1. Remaining ſin is remaining enmity to God and to the Chriſtian himſelfe, Rom. 8.7. 1 Pet. 2.11. Gen. 17.1.and muſt not be let alone. 2. Converſion and true Repentance is only ſincere and true, as it intends perfection. 3. It muſt be perfectly done by Grace upon us, 1 Cor. 15.50.ere we can be fit ſubjects of the Kingdome of Heaven. Rom. 6.6.4. The Death of Chriſt intends our perfect freedome and deliverance, by degrees, and in due time: as from the guilt of ſin, and the puniſhment of ſin, ſo from the dominion of ſin in our converſion, Rom. 6.12. Rom. 7.25. Gul. 5.26.the abiding power of ſin in our progreſſive mortification, and at laſt the preſence and being of ſin in our diſſolution: what Chriſts death intends in its Merit, Example, Argument, and Influence, the ſame ſhould we intend in our purpoſe and progreſſe for communion with him, and conformity to him, in his death and crucifixion.
Take theſe Directions for it, 1. by way of COnſideration: 2. by way of Operation and Practiſe.
1. Pſ. 16.8: Pſ. 119.11 Gen. 39.9. Pſ. 18.21, 22. Rom. 7.13.Set before thine eyes continually (eſpecially upon the motions of ſin and temptations unto ſin) the Holineſſe of God in his Name; Nature, Word, and Will; his Holy Eye, his Holy Law.
2. Set before thine eyes the ſinfulneſſe of ſin, and that eſpecially in its own nature, as moſt contrary to God, his nature, his will, his works, his deſignes, his glory.
For this ſee at large Burroughes treatiſe of the Evill of Evils, or the ſinfulneſſe of Sin. Dr. Reynolds of the Sinfulneſs of ſin. &c.
3. Set before you the evill effects and fruits of ſin, upon the fallen Angels, Mankind, thine own perſon; Rom. 6.22.and thoſe either already felt, or that hereafter may be feared.
4. Set before you the Bloud of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.19. Rom. 6.1, 2 Pſal. Rom. 7.24.that pretious bloud, which is the price of your Redemption from the leaſt of ſins.
5. Set before you the ſad complaints of the Saints and ſervants of God becauſe of ſin, and againſt their ſin.
6. 2 Cor. 7.1.Set before you the gracious promiſes for your encouragement in the mortification of your corruption, Ezek. 36, 26, 27.together with the promiſes in the covenant of Grace for your aſſiſtance in this undertaking.
7. Set before you your own reſolutions and vowes againſt it in your firſt conviction and converſion, Rom. 6.3. Pſ. 119.106.renewed in times of affliction, and in Sacraments, and in Prayers put up to God for peace and pardon.
Practicall and operative Directions.
1. Pſ. 4.4. Lam. 3.39.Acquaint your ſelves, as with the generall corruption, ſo with the particular corruption in your nature: ſearch and find them out. Examine your hearts and lives, your diſpoſitions, and converſations, by the rule of the Word, and Law of God, in its purity and perfection, and by the light of the ſpirit of God in its teachings and convictions: Job. 34.32pray to God to diſcover you unto your ſelves: improve all ordinances and providences alſo to that purpoſe: conſider your Conſtitution, Education, Calling, Company, and Condition in this preſent world: make uſe of the wholſome admonitions of others ſkilfull, and faithfull, and acquainted with you, and their obſervations on you; the daily motions and workings of your hearts upon carnall and ſenſuall objects, and upon the approaches of temptations, will diſcover much unto you, if but well obſerved: the failings and the falls of others read or heard, and diſcerned by you, may give you occaſion of reflection on your ſelf: and ſtrict enquiry may find out more then otherwiſe might have been ſuſpected.
2. Be much at work about the root of ſin, and digging it up. Rom. 6.6. Jer. 4.14.Content not your ſelves with the particular branches, the lopping them off, or cutting down the trunk it ſelf; the root will be every day new ſprouting.
3. Spare not at all your beloved ſin, of which Divines ſpeak much. It's found, Pſ. 18.23.they ſay, and known, by our ſpeciall reſpects unto it, and favour for it, our impatiency of reproof from Miniſter, or private Chriſtian on that particular: we moſt wiſh and deſire that it were not accounted a ſin: and are apt to find out reaſonings for it, to defend it, or at leaſt to leſſen our apprehenſions of its ſinfulneſſe: it returns moſt often upon us, with obſervation above any other in particular; but not without frequent checks of conſcience, and convictions of the Spirit: it much follows us in our retirements, and when alone, the mind will work upon it, though perhaps we are not willing to be found in the actings of it: ſome ſay it lies down with us in our beds, converſes with us in our dreams, and riſes with us in the morning: if it diſtract us not in our holy duties, we owe the more to Grace reſtraining: ſeverall others depend upon it, to feed or ſerve it. O down with this.
4. Neglect not the little creepers: they may grow bigger: Rom. 7. Pſ. 19.12.their number may prove not only formidable, but fatall: the leaſt is ſin, in its nature evill, and according to Gods law, without repentance and faith in the bloud of Chriſt, is damnable. They will certainly make way for greater; and if not deſtroy, yet diſturb your ſoules &c.
5. Pſ. 19.13.Infirmities, Incurſions, Imperfections, muſt be bewailed &c. but ſcandalous evils, and preſumptuous ſins may not ſo much as be thought upon without an horrour; how much leſſe in their temptations entertained, and leaſt of all committed. The ſmalleſt tincture of them muſt be ſpeedily waſht away in the bloud of Chriſt; otherwiſe your ſoules and conſciences will not dare to come into God's preſence.
6. 1 Cor. 5.Contract not upon your Souls the guilt of nationall tranſgreſſions, either paſt or preſent, by not mourning for them; much leſſe by commiſſion of them, and communion in them: it would ſtaine our Paper once to name them.
7. Find out and deſtroy the Achans, Job. 34.31 &c.the ſins for which in an eſpeciall manner God now or at any time may ſtrike and enter into judgment with you: the Lord direct you in that Enquiry, and aſſiſt you in that Undertaking.
8 Let ſpirituall ſins, 2 Cor. 7.1.though leaſt diſcerned and enquired after, have their diſcovery, humiliation, repentance, and crucifixion: as ſpirituall pride, ſelf love, Pſ. 77.10. Heb. 3.12.wordly mindedneſſe, eſtrangement from God; and more eſpecially your Goſpell ſins, as Unbeliefe, Impenitency, hardneſſe of heart, unthankfulneſſe, &c.
9. Whatever they be, intend not only the knowledge of them, humiliation under them, reſtraint upon them, correction, Rom. 8.13.or ſuppoſe ſome ſignall puniſhment. but compleat deſtruction and abolition.
And for this purpoſe, 1. Pſ 119.get deep impreſſions made upon your ſpirits by the foregoing conſiderations. 2. Pſ. 119.11.Eſpecially let the word of God be hid in your hearts, and written upon them. 3. Walk in the Spirit, and ye ſhall not fulfill the luſts of the fleſh. Gal. 5.16.4. 1 Cor. 9.27Make no proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the luſts thereof, but rather keep it in ſubjection. 5. Jer. 17.9. Job.Be alwaies jealous of your deceitfull hearts. 6. Keep a tender conſcience. 7. A narrow watch over your ſences. 8. Take heed in things lawfull, leſt you be unlawfully inſnared. 9. Improve affliction to the mortification of corruption: and 10. call in the influences of the Covenant of Grace, and of the bloud of Chriſt by faith and prayer. 11. Improve every Ordinance according to its nature and tendency to mortification. Eph. 6.12.12. Stand out ſtifly and reſolutely in the hour of Temptation, and the ſtirring of corruption: then call in all your ſtrength about you, then urge your conſiderations from reaſon, and Scripture, Law and Goſpell. Set your ſelves under the eye and ſight of God, let God's terrors make you afraid to ſin againſt him: ſuppoſe that Death and Judgment were at your heels, and that you heard the ſhreekings of the Damned for thoſe very tranſgreſſions. Behold Chriſt Jeſus upon the Croſſe as bleeding, dying, for thoſe very ſins. Urge home the grace of God, and the love of Chriſt, your holy Profeſſion, your Baptiſmall vowes, your Sacrament-renewed-ingagements, the mercies received, the Glory expected, and all to ſhame you from it, if there be any thing of holy ingenuity to be found upon you: at leaſt what ſin hath coſt you in repentance and affliction: and that you may farther ſuffer, though Hell be not your finall portion. Then call in by ſaith and prayer the help of God, and all the vertues of the bloud of Chriſt: maintaine your ground againſt its firſt aſſaults, and you have more then overcome. 13. If at any time it have ſurpriz'd you, Pſ. 51.play an aftergame of Repentance, recruit your ſtrength, improve your skill and ſtrength, and deliver your ſouls. O lie not under it, much leſſe ſubject your ſelves unto it, and renounce thereby as by an after-free and full conſent your Soveraign and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. 14. Watch the more againſt it, and fortifie your ſelves for the time to come. 15. When one corruption or temptation is over and diſappointed, conclude not your work is done; there are innumerable more behind, and while life laſteth, there will be no end of this warfare. 16. Ro…. 7.24.Be alwaies groaning under the invincible remainders of the body of death, and long for your deliverance 17. Take heed of Apoſtacy and backſliding; a ſin not altogether unpardonable, but dangerous, Hoſ. 14.and that may coſt you dear e're you recover. 18. Rom. 7.25.Give all the glory of your Conqueſts to Jeſus Chriſt, and to the power of grace. 19. Enjoy the comfort of Believers that keep their ground and conquer. Rom. 8.1.For 1. you are in a ſtate of pardon and ſalvation. 2. Rom. 7.20.No corruption of nature, no tranſgreſſion in your life is imputed to you to your particular condemnation, when diſowned, reſiſted, repented of, and carried by ſaith to the bloud of Chriſt. 3. The old dominion of Sin, Rom. 6.14once truly broken, ſhall never be recovered: you are not under the Law, but under Grace. 1 Tim. 4.8.4. Your particular Conflicts ſhall be rewarded, if through Grace they proceed to Conqueſt. Eph. 5.26.5. At length the body of Sin and Death ſhall be deſtroyed. 1 Cor. 12.1….6. In the mean time the grace and ſtrength of Chriſt is ſufficient for you, and when ſought by faith, humility, and prayer, 1 Cor. 15.50. &c.it ſhall not be denyed. 7. In Heaven there will be no ſin, no ſorrow, but perfect holineſſe and purity, with everlaſting ſongs of Joy and Triumph. Rev. 22.20.Therefore (20) pray, believe, and look, and long for the comming of Chriſt: even ſo come Lord Jeſus, come quickly.
Much of this was preached at Mary Arches, on Rom. 6 6.
Read more in Dr. Owen of Mortification. Burroughes Evill of Sin. Love of Mort. Morning Exerciſe at Giles and Crypplegate. Ambroſe Media. Goodwins works, &c. Reyners rules, &c.