Chap.J.Sect.4 L11king tmt~ 1efos. Book IV. Part.j. 643 . · Now try we the truth ofour monification by thefe figr.~es; .doth it fpring from a right ro?t~ offaith ? is it ge~eral and univerfal in refpeel: of all fins ? ts tt accompanyed wtth combats f 4oth the flefu luft ;tgainfr the fpirit, and the fpirit againfr the flefh? and in this combat;e doth the fpirit at !aft prevaile, and triumph over the flefu ? do we Iinde it a pair.te~ul work both berQre and after conver!i6n?why;then may I fay wtth the Apoftle, now I k_now Chrifl, and the Jellowjhip of his fujfering.r ; now by the grace 9[ Chrift ]Am mnde con(erm.tble unro hi! death.As he dyed for fin, fo I dye to fin; and here is the ground of my hope that Chrifts death is mine. For the fecond, whether we encreafe and grow in our mor~ tification ? this queftion is needful as the former, to fatisfie our . fouls interefr in the death ofChri!t. As true grace is growing grace, fo true mortification is that which grows ; now that we may be refolved in this point alfo, the growth of . our mortification will appeare by thefe following fignes.- I. Growing mo-rtification hath its chiefeft conflict$ in fpiritual lulls. At firft we mortifie groffer evils, fuch as oa ths, drunkennetfe, uncleannetfe, worldly-mindedneffe, or the li ke; but when we grow in this bleffed duty, we then fet our felves againfr fpiri tual wickednelfes ; as pride, prefumption, fe lfecarnal confidence in a mans own graces, or the like; this method the Apofl:le fets down, let us clr:anfe our [elves from all filrhineffc ofjlrfh and !pirit ; firft from all filthinef.fc: of the flefh, or body; t Cor. 1.1~ a'lld then from all filthinelfe of the fpirit, or, foul; as the c hil· dren of Ifrael in their entrance into the land of promife, firft• they fc:t upon the frontiers, and skirts ofthe land, and then th ey fought it out and prevailed in the heart of the country , fo Chrillians in their mortification they firft fet upon worldly lu fts, grolfe evils, outward fins; and when they have encountred th em at the frontiers, they tl;ten conflict with fuch corrupt!ons as lye more inwardly, in the very he11rt, fpiritual wickednetfes that are within. Now if this be our cafe here is <me figne of our growth. 1 2. Growing morti?~ati~n i_s more even, confl:ant, lafting, durable, when there ts tn the heart a fudden flowing, andretlowing, it comes from thofe vall feas of corruptions. that are 1 N n n n 2 within ' ·
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