16 The MoRTIEICA,ÇION (n) Toknow that a man hath loch an enemy to deal withal ; to take notice ofit, to confider it as an enemy indeed, and onethat is to be deftroy'd by an meanspelt*, is required hereunto. As I raid before, the cornet is vigorous and hazardous; it is about the things of eternity. When therefore men have flight and tranfient thoughts of their lulls, it is no great figs that they are mortify'd, or that they are in a way.for their mortification. _ (a.) To labour to be acquainted with the ways, wills, methods, advantages and occafions of its fuccefs is the beginningof this tvarlàre. So do men deal with enemies. They enquire out their councils and dehgus, ponder their ends, confider how and by what means they have formerly prevailed, that they may be prevented; in this con- Sts the greatet skill in condutd.. Take this away, and all waging of war, wherein is thegreatet improvement of humane wifdom, and induftry, would be brutitr. So do they deal with lut, who mortify it indeed; not only when it is adually vexing, inti- cing, and feducing, but in their retirements they confider, this is our enemy, this is his way and progrefs, theme are his advantages, thus bath he prevailed, and thus he will do, ifnot prevented. SoDavid, My fin is ever before me, Pfal. li. 3. (3.) To load it daily with all the things which fhal{mater bementioned, that are grievous, killing and deftruftive to it, is the height of this conteS; much an one never thinks his loft dead,. becaufe it is quiet, but labours ¡till togive it new wounds, new blows every day. So the Apotle Col. iii. y. Nowwhit} the foul is in this condition, while' it is thus dealing, it is certainly uppermot, in is under the fword and dying. 3. In fuccefs; frequent fuccefs againft any lut, is another part and evidence of mortification. By futcefi I underfiand not a meer difappointment of fin, that it be not brought forth, nor accomplifhed ; but a viftoty over ir, and purfuit of it.to acom- pleat conquet: for intance, when the heart finds fin at any time at work, feducing, forming imaginations to snake provifion for the flefh, to fulfil the hits thereof, it in- Bandy apprehends fin, and brings it to the law of God, and love of Chrit ; condemns it, follows it with execution ro the uttermot. Now I fay, when a man comes to this Bate and condition, that lull is weakened in the root and principle, thatvtts mo- tionsand affirms are fewer and weaker than formerly, fo that they are noyable to hinderhis duty, nor interrupt his peace, when hecanina quiet, fedate frameof fpirit, find out, and e fight aganit fin, and have fuccefs againft ir, then fin is mortify'd in force confiderable meafure ; and notwithtanding all its oppofition, a man may have peace with God all his days. Unto theme heads then do I refer the mortification aimed at; that is, of any one perplexing ditemper, whereby the general pravity and corruption of our nature at- tempts toexert andput forth its .felf. [s.] Firt, the weakeningof its indwellingdifpofition, whereby it inclines, entices, impells to evil, rebells, oppofes, fights againft God, by the implanting, habitual re- fidence, and cherilhingof a principle ofgrace, that lands in direct oppofition to. it, and is detruetive of it, is the foundation of it. So by the implanting and growth of humility is pride weakened, paffion by patience, uncleannefs by purity of mind and confcience, love of this world by heavenly mindednefs, which are graces of the fpirit, or the fame habitual grace variouty .ailing it Pelf by the Holy Ghot, according to the variety or diverfity of the objefts about which is is exercifed; as theother are feveral hits, or the fame natural corruption variou(ly afting its Pelf according to the various advantages and occafions that it meets withal. z. The promptnefs, alacrity, vigour of the fpirit, or new man in contending with cheerful fighting againft the lull fpoken of, by all the ways, and with all the means that are appointed thereunto, contanely ufing the fuccours provided againft its mo- tions and aftings, is a fecond thing hereunto required. 3. Succefs unto feveral degrees attends there two., Now this, if the ditemper bath notan inconquerable advantage from its natural fituation, may potibly be to fach an univerfal conquet, as the foul may never more fenfibly feel its oppofition, and fhall however afftfredly rarfe to an allowance of peace to the confcience, according to thetenor of the covenant of grace. CHAP.
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