The MORTIFICATION, all built on this ground, they arc at for the mortifying of fin. Their preachings, fermons and books of devotion, look all this way. Hence thofe who interpret the locuffs that came out of the bottomlefs pit, Rev. ix. a. to be the friers of the roinifh church, who -are Paid, to torment men, fo that they Should feek death and actfind it, e. 6. think, that they did it by their flinging fermons, whereby they convinced them of fin, but being not able to difcover the remedy for, the healing and mortifying of it, they keep them in fach perpetual anguifh and terror, and fuck. trouble in their con- fciences, that they defired to die. That the ways and means to be ufed for the mortification of fin invented by them, are fiill infifted on and prefcribed for. the fame end by fome, whoShould have more light and knowledge of the gofpel, is known. Such direftions to this purpofe have of lam been given by force, and aregreedily catch'dat by others profeffing them- felves proteftants, as might have become popifh devotionihs three or four hundred years ago. Such outfide endeavours, fuch bodily exercifes, fifth felf performances, fuck meerly legal duties, without the leafi mention of Chrift, or his fpirit, are var- nifh'd over with fwellingwords of vanity, for the only means and expedients for the mortification of fin, as difcover a deep rooted unacquaintednefs with the power of God, and anyfiery of thegofpel. The confideration hereof was cne motive to the publithing of this plain difcourfe. Now the reafons . why the papifis can never with all their endeavours truly mor- tify any one fin, amongft others, are, (r.) Becaufe manyof the ways and means they efe and infiltupon, for this end, were never appointed of God for that par ofe. Now there is nothing in religionthat bath any efficacy for compelling an end; but it hash it fromGod's appointment of it to that purpofe. Such as thefe are there rough garments, their vows,penances,dif- ciplines, their courte of ihonafticai life, and the like, concerning all which God will fay, Who kath required there things at your hands? And In vain do you worfhip me, teaching for doctrine the traditions of men. Of the fame nature are fundry felfvexations, infiftedon by others. . , (a.) Becaufe thofe things that are appointed of God as means, are not ufed by them in . their due place and order : fifth as are praying, fatting, watching, medita- tion, and the like; thefe have their ufe in the bufinefs in hand. But whereas they are all tobe lookedon as Breams, they'look on them as the fountain. Whereasthey effort and accomplifh the end, as means only fubordinate to the fpirit and faith, they lookon them to do it by virtue of thework wrought. if they fall fo much, and pray fo much, and keep their hours the work is done: as the apofile fays of force in another cafe, they are learning, never coming to the knowledge of the truth; fo they are always moruiyie but never come to anyfound mortification. In a word, they have fundry means to mortify the natural man, as to the natural life here we lead, none to mortify lull or corruption. Neitherwill the natural popery that is in others, do it. Men are gall'd with the guilt of a fin, that hath prevailed over them; they inflantly promife to themfelves and God, that they will do fo nomore; they watch over themfelves, and pray for a fea- fon, until the heat waxes cold, and the fenfe of fin is worn off, and fo mortification goes alto, and fin returns to its former dominion: duties are excellent food foran healthy foul; they are no phyfick fob a tick foul. He that turns his meat into his medicine, muff expert no great operation. Spiritually flick men cannot fweat out their diftemper withworking. But this is the way of men who deceive their own fouls; as we [hall fee afterwards. That noneof there ways are fuf lcient, is evident from the nature of the work it- felf that is to be done ; it is a work that requires fo many concurrent a tins in it asno felf endeavour can reach unto, and is of that kind, that an almighty energy isneeelfary for itsaccomplifhment, as Shall be afterwards manifefted. a. It is then thework of the fpirit. For (1.) He ispromifed.of God to be given untous, to do this work; the taking away of theftony heart, that is, the ftubborn, proud, rebellious, unbelieving heart, is in ge- nerai the workof mortification that we treat of. Now this is Bill preluded. to be done by the fpirit Ezek. xi. 09. Chap. xxxvi. 26. 'will give mÿfpirit, and take away theStony heart : and by the fpirit of God is this work wrought, when all means fail. b Ifa. lvi,, 17, 18. ' (a.) We have all our mortification from thegift of Chrift, and all the gifts of Chrift are communicated to us, and given us by the fpirit of Chrift. Without Chriff we can do
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