Lo The MORTIFICATION 3. Though this be the work of the Word and Spirit, and it be good in itfel , yet it is not profitable nor available as to the main end in them, in whom it is wrought they are (till ho the gall ofbitrernefs, and under the power of darknefs. 4. Let men knew it is their duty, but in its proper place ; I take not men from mortification , but pur them upon converfion. He that (hall call a man from mending a hole in the wall of his houle, to quench a fire that is confumittgthe whole building, is not his enemy. Poor foul ! it is nor thy fore finger, but thy heftick feaver that thou art to apply thy (elf to the confideration of Thou fetter} thy Pelf a- gainfl a particular fin, and doll not confider that thou art nothing but fin. Let me add this to them who are preachers of the word, or intend through the good hand of God that employment. It is their Duty to plead with men about their fins, to lay loada onparticular fns, but always remember, that it be done with that which is the proper end Of law and Gofpel : that is, that they make ufe of the fin they fpeak againft, to the difcoveryof the (late and condition wherein the finer is; other- wife, haply they may work men to formality and hypocrify, but little of the true end of preachingthe gofpel will be brought about. It will not avail to beat a man off from his drunkennefs, into a fober formality. A skilful mailer of the Alfemblies lays his axe at the root, drives 11111 at the heart. To enveigh ágainf}particular fins of ignorant, un- regenerate perlons, fuch as the land is full of, is a good work : but yet, though it may be done with great efficacy, vigour, and fuccefs, if 'thisbe all theeffeft of it, that . they are fee upon the mori fedulous endeavours of mortifying their fins preached down, all that is done, is but like the beating of an enemy ht an open field, and Firing, him into an impregnable caille, not to be prevailed againff. Get you at any time a finer at the Advantage, on Ilse account of any one fin whatever, have you any thing to take hold of him by, bring it tohis fiate and condition, drive it up to the head, and there deal with him: to break men off particular fins, and not to break their hearts, is to deprive our felves of advantages ofdealing with them. And herein is the Roman mortification grievouflypeccant, they drive all forts ofper- fees to it, without the leaf} confideration, whether they havea principle for it or no. Yea, they are fo far from callingon men to believe, that they may be able to mor- . . tify their lulls; that they call men to mortification, inftead of believing. The truth is, they neither know what it is to believe, nor what mortification itfelf intends. Faith with them is but a'general affent to the dodrine taught in their church: and mortification the betakingof a man by a vow to fame certain retarfe of life, wherein he denies himfelf fomething of the ale of the things of this world, not without a con- fiderable compenfation. Such men know neither the fcriptures, nor the power of God. Their boaffing of their mortification, is but their glorying in their fhame.. Some cafeifks among ourfelves, who, overlooking the neceffìty of regeneration, do avowedly give this for a direftion to all forts of perlons, that complain of any fin or lufl, that they fhould vote again(} it, at leaf} for a feafbn, a month or fo, feem to have a fcantling of light in the myflery of the gofpel, much like thatof IVicademur,. whenhe came firft to Chrift. Theybid men vow to abflain from their fin, for a feafon. 'This commonlymakes their loft more impetuous. Perhaps with great perplexity they keep their word t perhaps not, whichencreafes their guilt and torment. Is their fin at all mortified hereby ? Do they find a conqueft over it ? Is their condition changed, though they attain a relinquifhment of it? Are they. not }till in the;gall of bitterhefs? Is not this to put men to make brick, if not without flraw, yet, whirls is worfe, without fltength? What promife hash any unregenerate man to countenance him in this work? What affif}ance for the performance of it ? Can fin be kitl'd without an intereff in the death of Chrift, or mortified without the Spirit If fuch directions fhould prevail to change mens lives, as feldom they do, yet they never reach to the change of their hearts, or conditions. They may make men felf- juflitiaries, or hy- pocrites, not chriflians. It grieves me oft-times to fee poor fouls, that have a zeal for God, and a defire of eternal welfare, kept by fuch direfiors and direftion, un- der an hard, burdenfome, outfide wort-hip and fervice of God, with many fpec'ous endeavours for mortification, in an utter ignorance of the righteoufnefs of Chrifl, and unacquaintednefs with his Spirit, all their days. Perfons and things of this kind, I know too many. If ever God thine into their hearts, to give them the knowledge of his glory in the face of his Son Jefus Chrift, they will fee the tally of their prefent way. C H A P.
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