Ìi 2 The MORTIFICATION 28228MAIR81182-282%178118128g282 tOMFAMW-,MA436 °4 CHAP. V. Tbeprincipal intendment of the whole difcourfe propofed. The fill main cafe of confcienceflared. What it is to mortify any fin, negatively con- fider'd. Not the utter defiruflion of it in this life. Not thediQ'mula- tion of it. Not the improvement of any natural principle. Not the diverfion of it. Not an occafional conquefi. Occafional conquefls of fin, what; and when. Upon the eruption offin. In time of danger or trouble. H E S E things being pretnifed, I come to my principal intention, of handbag fome queftions or praetical cafes, that Indent themfelves in thisMfinefs of mortification of fin in believers. The firft, which is the head of all the rat, and whereunto they are reduced, may be considered as lying under the enfuing propofel. Suppofe a man to be a. true believer, and yet finds in himfelf a powerful indwel- ling fin, leading him captive to the lawof it, confuming his heart with trouble, per- plexing his thoughts, weakninghis foul, as to dutiesof communion with God, dif- quieting him as to peace, and perhaps defiling his conscience, and exposing him to hardning through the deceitfulnefs of fin, what ¡hall he do ? what coutfethall he take and infili on, for the mortification of this fin, lull, diltemper, or corruption, to fuch a degree, as that though it be not utterly deliroy'd yet, in his contelt with it, he may be enabled to keepup power, ftrength and peace, in communion with God? In anfwer to this important enquiry, I (hall do thefe things, I. Shewwhat it is to mortify any fin ; and that both negatively and pofrtively, that we be not miftaken in the foundation. II. Give general direftions for fuch things, as without which it will be utterly impoflble for any one to get any fin truly and fpiritually mortify'd. III. Draw out theparticulars whereby this is to be done: in the whole carrying on this consideration, that it is not of the doftrine of mortification in general, but only in reference to the particular cafe before propofed, that I am treating. . s. Tomortify a fin, is not utterly to kill, root it out, anddelroy it, that it thould have no mom hold at all, nor residence inour hearts. It is true,. this is that which is aimed at, but this is not in this life to be accomplilhed. There is no man that truly Pets himfelf to mortify any fin, but he aims at, intends, desires its utter deftruo- clon; that it Ihould leave neither root nor fruit in the heart or life. He would fo kill it, that itthould never move or fir any more, cry or call,. feduce or tempt to eternity. Its not being is the thing aimed at. Now though doubtlefs there may by the fpirit and grace ofChrift, a wonderful fuccefs and eminencyof viftory againit any fin be attained; fo that a man may have almoft confiant triumphover it; yet an utter killing and deftruftion of it, that it thould not be, is-not in this life to he expelled. This Paul allures us of, Phil. iii. rz. 11Lí or though Thad already Attained, or were already perfdl. He was a choice faint, a pattern for believers, who in faith and love, and all the fruitsof the fpirit, had not his fellow in theworld ; and on that account afcribes perfeftion tohimfelf, in comparifon of others, v. ay. yet he had not attained; he was not perfeft,. bud was following after : Rill a vile body he had, and wehave, that mul be changed by the great power of Chrift at IaA, v. nu. This we would have, but God fees it heft for us, that we fhould be compleat in no- thing in ourfelves ; that in all things we might be compleatin Cbrilt which is heft for us, Cola ii. so. 2. I
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