of i11.ortijication. while it \vas unmortified ; for though then it had more Strength and Power of its own, yet it had not fuch odds of Grace, as through thefe external Aids it hadl gotten. And, Fourthly, \V hat is abated in the Strength of Luft's Temptations, is many times 4· eked ant by the Temptations of the Devil. And thefe though they arc of different kinds, yet arc fo clofely and fo indifcernably piec~d together, th~t the Soul fl~t knowing what muft be Imputed to the Strength of Its own Corruption, and what to the violent AffJults of the Devil,afcribesaii to his Luft,and then £1dly looks npon l;imft:l f a~ an nnmorti5.ed Sinner. And unmortified Sin when it moves and Tcmtps only of its own accord, wiil-not feem to be foraging and impetuous, as a Mortified Sin will when it is blown up by the Temptations and InjeCtions of Satan. And therefore Chriftians not being able to difringuilli (as indeed none fufficicntly can) are neccffarily troubled with many Fears and Doubts, whether or no Corruption which aCts fa ftrongly be at all weakned in them. And indeed, 1f the Devils helpS" any Mens Corruptions by his .Temptations, they arc ~fpecially thofe which Mortification hJth already dealt wnh and fubdued. ln wicked Men he fees Luft able enough to fubfift of it felt~ and to manage the affairs of its own Dominions, and therefore leaves them to the Plague of their own Heart to defrroy them. But in the Children of God, where this Enemy is broken and conquer'd, he backs and enforceth ; lends its Auxiliaries of ObjeCl"s, and Suggeftions, and numberlefs Temptatious leads it on to the Combat, and by many Wiles and Methods enables ic to moleft' if not to foil tfie moll: conquering and mortified Chrillian; here upon the Soui fi nding fuch a wonderful recruit of Strength and Vigour in Corruption, prefently concludes it is all its own,and that certainly it was never yet fubdued,ne· ver we.1kned in him, That's the lafl: thing. So then although were true Mortification is exercifcd, there Corruption is weakned and cloth decay, yet this decay is JJOt always difcernable. And thus much fhall fuffice to open to you what Monification is. The next thing is to Chew you what is of neceffity required thereunto. Yoti Ii: , have already heard that Mortification confift of two parrs, the weakningof the Habit, and the confbnt endeavour of reprelling the Motions and refrraining the Eruptions of Sin. _Accordingly two things are thereunto neceJTarily required, 1worbinp,s Firfr, a vital Principle of Grace that may weaken and defrroy the Habit of Sin. nutj[JriiJ And Secondly, the Influences of.thc Spirit of God, that may draw forth this in- mtuind ward .Principle of Gra~e, and aCl it unto the fuppreffing of thefe Motions, and re- u;,:;~;:ttftraimng thefe Eruptions. . . . 1 ; 011 • Firjf, Therefore, there cannot be any exerCJfe of true Mornficauon, where there 1. is not a vital Pri nciple and Habit of Grace, radically to weaken and defrroy ir. A Prindple 'Tis not Nature, 'tis not Confcience, 'tis not Education, 'tis not Convitl:ion , nor ofGrtZceis is it any other Principle but Grace alone that is a fit match for Corruption. How umJJuy can it with reafon be fuppofed, th~t where there is nothing clfe but Si_n, any ';;;;,~fi~ .. thing lhould dcftroy the Power of Sm. What though one Lufr quarrels With and lion, contradicts another? And what though Confcience contradicts them both, yet the main Body of Lull: is not concern'd in th efe petty quarrels. Some Luft or other muft be Chief in the Sou l, where Grace is not advanced as the prevailing Prir.ci... plc; and whether this Luft be fet up, and that pulled down ·is not much material, frill the Regality and Tyranny of Sin is equally maintained and upheld by the one as by the other; and till Grace dilfolves this Governmen~, an~ be l ~id as the Axe to the Root of the Tree, all our Endeavours after Mortification wJl! be but vain and ffuitl efs Attempts, which Luft will eafily baffle; And Hence theft by way of Confectary. }'irft, How ncccffary it is to our comfortable undertaking this great work of Mortification, to fee that th e firft Grace of our Convedion be true and faving? 1 . Alas; where there never was Converfion wrought, there never was Mortification exercifed. The killing of Sin is not a work that can be done by a dead but by a living Man. 1 lhould be loth to caft in Doubts and Scruples that Ihould more trouble than benefit you; yet give me leave to fay, that unlcfs the Evidence of the Truth of your Grace be in fame good proportion cleared up to you, your Hands muft needs be faint and feeble in conflicting againfr your Lufrs: How know you that all your frruglings and !trivings are not from weak and infufficient Principles, and confequemly far fhort of Mortification? 1 fpeak it not that you fhould E eceee abate
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