1Lool\ing unto jlcfuS'. of Chrift ., it is mended with agonies, and foul-conflicts, both,before, and after our converlion. . . 1 • Before converfion, before the firft wound be given tt, why then ordmarily there is fome compunction offpirir, fome pricking_of heart; ~hat a cafe do we find the {ews in when after Peter's Sermon, [hey were pncked at thetr hearts? and w~at an agony d; we find rhe Jailor in, when hecamerrembling in, and falling down at _the Apoll!~s feet, and trying our, Sirs, wh,tt Jhall I do to be faved? Wnhfuchagomesa.sth~fe, IS the beginning of mortification ufually attended; I do nor fay that they are a!tke mall , A <g.•· <7· whether for degree or continuance ; . but in ordinary, true and found converlionis not A '' 6 • 3°· without fome of thefe foul-confltCl:s. 2 • After converlion, aftet the firft round there are fome agonies !!ill; for though a Believer be delivered of fin iA refpect of the guilt, and reigning power; yet he bath ftill fome remainders of finful Corruption left within him, which draw many a groan, 4 and many afigh from his trembling heart; We alfo which have the firft-fmits of the fpi-ll.om. s. , '· ritJ even we our folves groan wtthm our (elves, WtUUrJt_for th: adoptz~n) to w~t, the Re.. ' demption of our bodies : Such are the groans of morufied Samts, Satnts dymg unto fin like rhegroans of dying men, whofe fouls being .wsa~y of their bodies, do earnellly defire adilfolution: and thus Paul groaned, when he fatd, 0 wretched man that I am,who fha/1 deliver me .from the body of this death ? , 1:\om. 7· 1 4• Oh what a Touchftone is this? how will this difcover true mortification from that which was counterfeit? Some may think they are dead unro fin, when in deed and in truth they are not dead, bur alleep unto fin; and it appears by this, becaufe there were.no pangs in their death : you know this is a difference betwixt ,death and Jleep. there are pangs in rhe one, ~ut not in the ?ther : G my fou~, examine, what pang~ were there in thy death unto hn? what agomes, what foul-conflicts haft thou felt? what compunction of heart, what affiiClion of fpii:it, ,haft thou endured for fin? what trou– ble hall thou had to find fuch a law in thy members rebelling againft the law in thy mind, 1:\ and bringing thee into captivity to thelaw of (in? why furely thou art not fomortified, 011 " 7 " •J· as to be freed wholly from the power of !in; it may be, it doth not rule in thee as a Prince, yet certainly ittyrannizeth overrhee, it oft-times carries thee contrary to the bent of rhy regenerate mind, to :the omitting of what thou would!!: do, and·to the committingof whatthou wouldftnotdo; and is not this an affiictionof fpirir? doth 110t rhis caufe frequent conflicts in thy fpirit? if net, thou maifr well fufpect that fin is not dead, but alleep ; or if it be dead to thee, yet thou art not dead to it. I confefs, death-pangs are nor all alike in all ; fome have amore gentle, and others a more painful death; fo it is in this fpirirual death unto fin; and rhar herein there may be no millake I !hall propound this Queftion: What is the leaft meafure of thefe pangs, thefe foul: agonies, and Conflicts, that are necelfarily required to true mortification? I an– fwer,-- I. There mull: be afenfe of fin, and p( Gods wrath due unto fin ; fuch a fenfe we Ei~d in Jefus Chrift ; he was very fenfible of the weight and burden of thofe fins and of that wrath of God that lay.upon him; which made him cry our, My God, myGod, why haft thoH. forfak!n me ? thus fouls in rhe act of Mortification, fometimes cry out 0 my jim! andOhGod'swrath! ' 2. There mull: be aforrow for fin. Such an affection we find alfo in Jefus Chrifi : fr(Y Souli< exceeding forro•vflll, even unto death; ooM,-1@-, he wasbcfet and furrounded Cl , With forrows; fo every mortified finner, at one time or other, he feels an inward 2 or·7·I<lo forrow and grief; even rhatgod(y forrow which the ApofHe fpeaks of, a forrow accor4wg to God; (i.) coming from God, well-pleafing to God, and bringing to God back agam. 3·. Theremull:_beadefire ofbeingfreedand delivered from fin: fuch a defire we find alfo Ill JefusChnfl; 1have a Baptifm to be B~ptiz.edwith, andha~v a7p I ftraitned until Luke 11• ~0; tt k• accomplifl.ed( A t•egene~are foul earneftly defires to be freed, not only from the · · gmlt, but alfo from the power of fin, 0 wmched man that I am! who jha!l deliver me? &c. . . 4· There mull: be anfwerable endeavours ineffeClualllri~ings again!! fin; Ye have not·H b reJ!fted tmtobloud, flrivingagain.ft jin. How did our Saviour wreftle in the Garden, • · 11 ' 4 " oJJ:nng ~~~prayers and fupplicdtiollJ witkftrong cr;ing and t~ars? f? will a regenerate foul H<c•!· 7 • wtea!ewtrb God a?ou_t thedearh of hn, praymg, watclung, ·getng out in rhe llreogth of God, and engagmg 10 acontinual ~ar, a deadly fewd againft it, and thefe are the leaft Q.,q 2 - 0~
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