Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133 .D76 C551 1608 v.1

L 8o6 OfMortificariov. leffe fenfe of paine. And this is implied by our Sauiour Chrífi, whereas hee inioyneth vs, if our right hand or eye offend vs, to cut it of}and plucke it out : and plainlyexpref Co13.5. fed by the Apoflle Taal, Co1.3.5. U 1ortife therefore your members which are in the earth, fornication, vncleannef, the inordinate offe lion, euill concupifcence and couetaufnefhe, &c. where calling thefe Ganes by the name ofmembers,hee inti- mateth thus rnuch,that they are as deare vnto vs as themem- bers ofour bodie, and alto that it is as vnpleafant andpain- full unto vs to forfakeour naturali corruptions, as to beede- priued ofthe hand,eye,orfoote.But though this worke bee moll hard, yet it is moll neceffaric ; for the bell things that are in the flefh and vnregenerate part, euen the rnrfedarae Routs. 6.7. 8. thereofis death and enm:tie a-wingGod; becaur it is not tub- ieLl to the law of God, neither indeedecan bee, Rom.8.6.7. nei- ther canwe doeany thingpleafingvntoGod fo long as wee are in the flefh,as it is verfe 8. Lafily,ifwe liue after the flcfh, we fhall die, even the euerlafiing deathofbodie and foule; but ifwee mortifie the deedesof the bodie by the fpirit wee (hall liue, euen the lifeof holincfleand righteoufheffe vpon earth, and the life ofglorie and eternall happineffe in Cods kingdomc. And therefore if it be neceflarie to bce in amitie rfalm 63.4, with God,whofe loo'ing kindnef isbetter then life ; or to per- forme obedience vnto the law ofGod, or todoe any thing pleating inhis fight, or to efcape deathand damnation,or to enjoy life and eternall faluation, then is it alto neceffarie to mortifie the fleth and the luffs thereof, how hard andvn- pleafantfoeuer this worke feemeth vnto vs. So that the dif- ficultie muff not difcourage vs,but rather double our dili. gence :and becaufe it is apaine intollerable to part with our finnes,fo lon ° as they remaille like li uely membersofthe bo- dieofour fleh, therefore as Chirurgians (to make the paine tollerable to thepatient) doefirfl vfe meanes tomortifie the member which theypurpofe tocut off; fo let vs vfe all good meanes toweaken the flrength offinne, and to mortifie our carnali affeions, and then wee (hall fuller them to be suite cut offand taken from vswithout any extraardinariepaflioti or fenfeofpaine, And

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