518 atORTIFICATI duties of faith, of prayer, of charity. But this differ 7 ence is supposed generally to be in the adjuncts of those duties, in some properties of them, but not in the kind, nature, or substance ofthe acts of our minds in them. Nay, it is commonly said, that whereas wicked men arc said to believe, and do many things gladly in a way of obedience, what they so do, is, for the substance of the acts they perform, the same with those of them who are truly regenerateand sanctified: they may differ in their principle and end, butas to their substance or es- sence they are the same. But there is no small mistake herein. All gracious actings of our minds and souls, whether internal only, in faith, love, or delight, or whether they go out unto external duties required in the gospel, being wrought in us by the immediate effi- cacy of the Spirit of grace, differ in their kind, in their essence and substanceof the acts themselves, from what- ever is not so wrought or effected in us: for, whatever may be done by any one, in any acting of common grace, or performance of any duty of obedience, being educed out of the power of the natural faculties of men, excited by convictions, as directed and enforced by reasons and exhortations, or assisted by common aids of what nature soever, they are natural as to their kind, and they have no other substance or being but what is ON OP SIN, so. But that which is wrought in us by the especial grace of the Holy Ghost, in the way mentioned, is supernatural, as being not educed out of the powers of our natural faculties, but an immediate effect of the almighty supernatural efficacy of the grace of God. And therefore the sole reason why God accepts and rewards duties of obedience in them that are sancti- fied, and regardeth not those, which, for the outward matter and manner of performance, are the same with them, (as unto Abel and his offering he had respect, but he had no respect unto Cain and his offering, Gen. iv. 4, 5.) is not taken from the state and condition of the persons that perform them only, though that also have an influence thereinto, but from the nature of the acts and duties themselves also. I-Ie never acceptsand rejects duties of the same kind absolutely with 'respect unto the persons that do perform them. The duties themselves are of a different kind. Those which he accepts are supernatural effects of his own Spirit in us, whereon he rewardeth and crowneth the fruitsof his own grace. And, as for what he rejects, whatever ap- pearance it may have of a compliance with the outward command, it bath nothing in it that is supernaturally gracious, and so is not of the same kind with what he doth accept. MORTIFICATION OF SIN, THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF IT. CHAP. VIII, (I.) Mortification ofsin, the secondpart ofsanctfication. (2.) Frequently prescribed and enjoined as a duty. (S.) What the name signifies, with the reason thereof. (4.) As also that of crucfying sin. (5.) The nature of the mortification ofsin, explained. (6.) Indwelling sins in its principle, operations, and effects, the object of mortification. (7.) Contrariety between sin and grace.(8.) Mortification, a part- takingwith the whole interest ofgrace against sin. (9.) How sin is morteied, and why the subduing of it is so called. (10.) Di- rectionsfor the right discharge ofthis duty. (t S.) Nature of it unknown to many.(15.) The Holy Spirit the author and cause of mortification in us.(21.) The manner of Me operation ofthe Spirit in Me snort(ca- tionof sin. (22.) Particularmeans of the mortificationofsin. (23.) Duties necessary unto the nnortif'calion ofsin, directed unto by the Holy Ghost.(24.) Mistakes and errors ofpersonsfailing in this matter.(58.) How spiritual duties are to be managed, that sinmay be mortfed.(33.) Influence of the virtue of the decals of Christ, as applied by theHoly Spirit, into the mortification ofsin. THERE is yet another part or effect of Our sanctifi. insisted on, concerneth the improvement and practice cation by the Holy Ghost, which consisteth in, and is of the principle of grace, wherewithal believers are en- called mortification of sin. As what we have already dued; so what we now propose, concerneth the weaken-
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