Ver. 13. the 8th Chapter to the R OM ANS. i n 3 ado about a ctit finger, when we have a mortal difeale upon us. Betides, particular Mor- tification depéndeth on the general ; for till we be renewed by God, how can we mor- tifie fin ? Col. 3.8. Put of all theft, anger, wrath, malice, b1 Jphemy, filthy commrrnica= lion, out of your mouths, feeing ye have put off the old man with his deede.Seeing you have put off all corruption, allow your felves to live in no one fin: Alas, to f er againft a par- ticular fin, before we fet upon the whole body of fin, 'Cis but to put a new patch upon a torn garment, and fo make the rent the worfe ; or to cut Off a branch or two, while the root or trunk remaineth in full life and vigor, and fo fprouteth the more for cut- ting : Firft look after the general work, that fin be (tabbed at the heart, and then the particular branches and limbs of it dye by degrees. 3. There is a doubleway of mortification, Privative and Poftive : The one ftandeth in the cutting off the fuel and provilions of the fleth, or thofe things by which finful and corrupt nature is kept alive; the other lieth in refittance and aEtive endeavours again([ it 5. as fire is put out, either by withdrawing wood, or combuflible matter, or pouring on water ; or an enemy is deftroyed by ftarving or battel, as Antigomes anfwered to a Captain that kept a Garifon in a City fubjeEt to Rebellions and Mutinyings, That he Jhould not only fafien the clog, but flame the dog; meaning thereby, that he fhould ftrengthen the garifon, and weaken the City. Both thefe ways mutt Cbriftians go to work in the bufinefs of mortification. The one by thunning the occafrons of fin, and cutting off the provilions which feed the diftemper in our Souls,' Rom. 13. i 4. Make no prowton for the ftefh;to full the tafls thereof. When men entertain thcmfelvcs with all fenfual delights, as if their bufinefs were to hearten the enemy, to keep the flea] alive after they have undertaken its death in Baptifm. The other is ufing the means which tend to the fubduing of it fuck as prayer, a Cor. r2. 8. For this thing I fought the Lord thrice. Hearing the word, John a 5. 3. Now are ye clean through tie word which I have fpoken to you. And fuck like : as on the one fide we mull nót provide oyl to feed the flame; fo on the, other, there mutt be ([riving, praying, exercifing our felves unto Godlinefs, that grace may be flrengthened in war againft fin. 4. There is a daylie and ordinary courfe ofmortification;and a folemn extraordinary jil- ting about this workin fpecial feafons. The daily courfe is needful, becaufe fin is at con- tinual work in our Hearts; and as foim as a Chriftian negle&s his Soul the cffe is do foon appear. In this fence, a Chriflian mutt die daylie, that is, to his finsand corruptions; he mutt [till watch, and Drive, and get Come advantage againft them by every pra!; er he maketh to God, every aft of receiving the Lords Supper, or hearing the word 3 it is his conftant task 5 but there are certain feafons when .he mutt folemnly let about this . works; as, I. When God maketh fin bitter by afielions ; and we are threthed, that our husk may fly of. Af li &ion is a fpecial time of dealing againft fin, fen 2. 19. We muti not hinder the working of Gods phyfick, but further it rather, exercife our felves under the rod, Heb. 12. t I. It yeildeth the peacable fruit of righteoufnefr, to them that are exercifed there- by. Ufe it to Gods ends and purpofes ; the fmartnefs of the rod thould make lin more heteful to us. 2. When you have fame ferions furring: upon hearing the word, or Come new powerful confideration is given youto'tquicken your hatred againft -fin; when a truth is born in with great light, power, and evidence,upon the heart; there is a Providence that goeth with Sermons; many gracious opportunities are loft by our negligence ; certainly when the Waters are ftirred, it is good getting into the Pool, fee Jam. I. 23. If a man be a bearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a Liefs, &c. If fo, there is a feafon loft : there is fome duty preffed, forne fin difcovered, force want laid open, mortification is much promoted by obferving and improving there feafons, 1 Pet I. 22. feeinq ye have purifiedyourfouls, in obeying the truth, th. rough the fpirit; and Pfa. 119. 104. Through thy precepts I get underflanding, therefore I hate every falj way. By attending on the word, we get new degrees of light, and hatred againft fin: fometimes God weakneth this lull, fometimes that, according as he is pleat- ed to direEt it to your confciences. 3. After fonee notable fall, or linagainfl God. See the coar of the deftereper pulled out ; to get a pardon is not enough, but mortification mutt be looked after; the longer fin defileth the Heart, the deeper it is rooted : therefore fpeedily recover your felves ; at filch a time a green Wound is more eafily cured, than an old rankled Sore : and David çoniplaineth his wounds did Rink througlnibis foolifhnefs, Pfa. 38: 5. The longer thefe Wounds be negle led, the wcrfe : if a Member is fprained, or out of joynt, if 8 Q2 you
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