TIIE NATURE AND CAUSES OP IT, 323 a principal part of the depravation of our nature, do neither see nor discern the inward secret actingsoand motions of sin; its deceit and restlessness, its mixing itself one way or other in. all our duties, with the defile- men; and guilt wherewith these things are accompanied: who judge that God scarce takes notice ofanythings but outward actions, and, it may be, not much of them neither, so as to be displeased with them, unless they arevery foul indeed, which yet he is easily entreated to pass by and excuse, who judge this duty superfluous, despising both the confession and mortification of sin, in this root and principle of it. But those who have received most grace and power from above against it, are, of all others, the most sensible of its power and guilt, and of the necessity of applying themselves con- tinually unto its destruction. (2.) With respect unto its inclinations and operations, wherein it variously exerts its power, in all particular instances, we are continually to watch against it, and to subdue it. And this concerns us in all that we are and do; in our duties, in our calling, in our conversa- tion with others in our retirements, in the frames of our spirits, in our straits, in our mercies, in the use of our enjoyments, in our temptations. If we are negligent unto any occasion, we shall suffer by it. This is our enemy, and this is the war we are engaged in. Every mistake, every neglect, is perilous. Sect. 12.And, (3.) The end of this duty, with re- spect unto us, expressed by the apostle, is, that hence- forth we should not serve sin; which refers unto the per- petration of actual sins, the bringing forth of the actual fruits ofthe flesh, internal or external also, In whoso- ever the old man is, not crucified with Christ, let him think what he will of himself, he is a servant of sin. If he have not received virtue from the death of Christ, if lie be not wrought unto a conformity to him therein, whatever else he maydo or attain, however he may in any thing, inmany things, change his course, and reform his life, he serves sin, and not God, Our great design ought to be, that we should no longer serve sin, which the apostle, in the ensuing verses, gives us many rea- sons for. It is indeed the worst service that a rational creature is capable of, and will have the most doleful end. What therefore is the only wayandmeans where- by we may attain this end, namely, that although sin will abide in us, yet that we may not serve it, which 4 M . will secare us from its danger? This is that mortifica- tion of it which we insist upon, and no other. If we expect to be freed from the service of sin, by its own giving over to press its dominions upon us, or by any composition with it, or any other way, but by being always killing or destroying of it, we do' but deceive our own souls. Sect. 18.And, indeed, it is to be feared, that the nature of this duty is not sufficiently understood, or not sufficiently considered._ Men look upon it as an easy task, and that which will be carried on with a little dili- gence, and ordinary attendance. But do we think it is fox nothing, that the Holy Ghost expresseth the duty of opposing sin, and weakening its power by mortifica- tion, killing, or putting to death? is there not some- what peculiar herein, beyond any other act or duty of our lives? Certainly there is intimated a great contest of sin, for the preservationof its life. Every thing will do its utmost to preserve its lifeand being. So will sin do also; and if it be not constantly pursued with dili- gence and holy violence, it will escapeour assaults. Let no man think to kill sin with a few, easy, or gentle strokes, He who bath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until it be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so will he who under- takes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to death: sin will, after awhile, revive, and theman must die. It is a great and fatal mistake, if we suppose this work will admit of any remissness or intermission A- gain, the principle to be slain is in ourselves, and so ppssessedof our faculties, as that it is called ourselves. It cannot be killed without a sense of pain and trouble. Hence it is compared to the cutting off of right hands, and the plucking oht of right eyes. Lusts that pretend to be useful to the state and condition of men, that are pleasant and satisfactory to the flesh, will not be morti- fied without such a violence as the wholesoul shall be deeply sensible of. And sundry other t(tings might be insisted on, to manifest how men deceive themselves, if they suppose this duty of mortification is that which they may carryon in a negligent careless course and manner. Is there no danger in this warfare? no watch- fulness, no diligence required of us? Is it so easy a thing to kill an enemy who hath so many advantages of force and fraud? Wherefore, if we take care of our souls, we are to attend unto this duty, with that care, St
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