Owen - BX9315 O81

328 MORTIFICATION OF SIN, subdues our corruptions, who quickens us unto life, ho- that is the principal object of this duty; or, the oldman, liness, and obedience, as he dwelleth in us, that he may which is corrupt, accordingunto thedeceitfiellusts. When make and prepare an habitation meetfor himself. And, this is weakened in us, as to its power and efficacy, when (2.) The principal reason and motive which we have to its strength is abated, and its prevalency destroyed, then attend unto it, with all care and diligence, ¿s aduty, is, is this duty in itsproper discharge, and mortification cat. that we may thereby preserve his dwelling-place so as Tied on in the soul. becometh his grace and holiness. And, indeed, where- Now, this the Holy Ghost doth: First, By implant. as (as our Saviour tells us) they are things which arise ing in our minds and all their faculties, a contrary ha- from, and come out ofVie heart, that defile us; there is bit and principle, with contrary inclinations, dispositions, no greater nor more forcible motive tocontend against all and actings, namely, a principle of spiritual life and the defiling actings of sin, which is our mortification, holiness, bringing forth the fruits thereof. By means than this, that by the neglecthereof; the temple ofthe Spi- hereof is this work effected. For sin will no otherwise rit will be defiled, which we are commanded to watch a- die, but by being killed and slain: and whereas this is gainst, under the severe commination of being destroyed gradually to be done, it must be by warring and con- for our neglect therein. . flirt. There must be something in no that is contrary Sect. 20.If it be said, that whereas we do acknow- unto it, which, opposing of it, conflicting with it, doth ledge that there are still remainders of this sin in us, and insensibly and by degrees, (for it dies not at once) work they are accompanied with their defilements, how can out its ruin and destruction: As in a chronical distem- it be supposed, that the Holy Ghost will dwell in us, or per, the disease continually combats and conflicts with in any one that is not perfectly holy"? I answer, (1.) the powers of nature, until having insensibly improved That the great matter which the Spirit of God consider- them, it prevails tinto its dissolution. So is it in this eth, in his opposition unto sin, and that of sin to his matter. These adverse principles, with their contra= work, is dominion and rule. This the apostle makes riety, opposition, and conflict, the apostle expressly evident, Rom. vi. 12, 13, 14. Whoor what shall have asserts and describes, as also their contrary fruits and the principal conduct of the mind and soul, (chap. viii. actings, with the issue of the whole, Gal. v. 16, 17, 18, 7, 8, 9.) is the matter in question. Where sin hath 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. The contrary principles the rule, there the Holy Ghost will never dwell. He are the flesh and spirit, and their contrary actings are enters into no soul, as his habitation, but at the same in lusting and warring one against the other, ver. 16, instant he dethrones sin, spoils it of its dominion, and Walk in the Spirit, andye shall not fulfil the lusts ofthe takes the rule of, the soul into the hand of his own flesh. Not to fulfil the lusts of the flesh, is to mortify grace. Where he bath effected this work, and brought it; for it neither will nor can be kept alive, if its lusts his adversary into subjection, there he will dwell, though be not fulfilled. And he gives a fuller account hereof, sometimes his habitation be troubled by his subdued, ver. 17. " For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and enemy. (2.) The souls and minds of them who are " the spirit lusteth against the flesh, and these are con- really sanctified, have continually such a sprinkling 'i trary one to the other." If by the spirit, the Spirit with the blood of Christ, and are so continually puri- of God himself be intended, yethe lusteth not in us, but fled by virtue from his sacrifice and oblation, as that by virtue of that Spirit which is born of him, that is, they are never unmeet habitations for the Holy Spirit the new nature or holy principle of obedience which he of God. worketh in us. And the way of their mutual opposition Sect. 2I.(2.) The manner of the actual operation unto one another, the apostle, describes at large in the of the Spirit of God, in effecting this work, or how he following verses, by instancing in the contrary effects of mortifies sin, or enables us to mortify it, is to be consi- the one and the other. But the issue of the .whole is, tiered. And an acquaintance herewith dependeth on ver. 24. Theo,, that are Christ's have crucified theflesh the knowledge of the sin that is to be mortified, which with its affections and lusts. They have crucified it, that we have before described. It is the vicious corrupt ha- is, fastened it unto that cross, where at length it may bit and inclination unto sin, which is in us by nature, expire. And this is the way of it, namely, the actings

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