f SIN in BELIEVERS. 33 (r.) That the outward weakeningand impairing of the body be not look'd upon asa thing good in itfelf, or that any mortification Both confiff therein, which were again to bring usunder carnal ordinances, butonly as ameans for the end propofed ; the weakeningof any dihemper in its natural root and feat: A man may have lean- nefs of body and foul together. (a.) That the means whereby this is done, namely, by fatting and watching, and the like,' be not look'd on as things that in themfelves, and by virtue of their own power, can produce' true mortification of any fin;. for if they would, fin might be mortified without any help of the Spirit, in any unregenerate perfon in the world. They are to be look'd on only as ways whereby the Spirit may, and fometimes doth, put forth firength for the accomplifhingof his own work, efpecially in the cafe men- trond. Want of a right underftanding, and due improvement of there and the like confiderations, bath rais'd a mortification among the mitts, that may be better ap- plied to horfes, and other beafis of the field, than to believers. This is the fum of what hash been fpoken s when the dihemper complain'd of feems to be rooted in the natural temper and conititution, in applying our fouls to a participation of the blood and Spirit of Chrill, an endeavour is to be us'd to give check in theway of God to the natural root of that dihemper. The bath direction is, Sixthly, Confider what oceafrons, what advantages thy dihemper hark taken to exert and put forth itfelf,- and watch ágainft them all. This is one part of that duty which- our ble4fed Saviour recommends to his Difci- plesunder the name of watching, Mark xüi. 37. I jay unto you all watch; which id Duke xxi. 34. is, Takeheed thatyour hearts be not overcharged: watch againft all eruptions of thy corruptions. I mean that duty which David profefs'd himfelf to be exercis'd unto : I have, faith he, kept my felffrommine iniquity. He watch'd all the waysmad" workings of his iniquity, to prevent them, to rife tip againft them. This is that which toe are call'd Untounder the name of eo Bering our ways: confider what ways, what companies, what opportunities, what finches, what bufineffes, what conditions, have at any time given, or do dually give advantages to thy diftempers, and fet thy. (elf heedfully againft them all. Men will do this with refpeth unto their bodily in- firmities and diftempers. The feulons; the diet, the air that have proved offenfive; (hall be.avoided. Are the things of the foul of lefs importance ? Know that he that dares to dally with occafions of fin, will dam to fin. He that will venture upon temptations unto wickednefs, will venture upon wickednefs. Hazael thought he thould not be fo wicked as the prophet told him he would be s toconvince him, the prophet tells him no more, but 71c1; flialt beKing of Syria. If he will venture on temptations unto cruelty, he will be cruel. Tell a man he bull commit fuoh and fuch fins, he will battle at it if you can convince him, that he will venture on loch occafions and temptations of them, he will have little ground left for his confidence. Particular dire&ions belonging to this head are many, not now to be jabbed on, The feventh direhion is, Seventhly, Rife mightily againft the firit a&ings of thy dihemper, its firil conèepti- ons; fuller it not to get the leafl ground. Do not fay thus far it (hall go, and no farther. If it have allowance for onehop, it will take another. Iris impoifible to fix bounds to fin. It is like water in a channel; if it once break out, it will have its tourie. Its not offing is cake to be compafs'd, than its bounding. Therefore doth games give that gradation and procefs of lust, chap. is iq; ep. that we may flop at theentrance. fob thou find thy corruption to begin to entangle thy thoughts ?. rife up with all thy ftrength againft it, withno lefs imagination, than if it had fully ac- complifh'd what it aims at : Confider what an unclean thought would have; it would have thee roll thy felt in folly and filth. Ask envy what it would have; mur- der and deftru&ion is at the end of it. Set thy felf.ag'ainft it with no Its vigour, than if it had utterly debafed thee to wickednefs. Without this caerfe thou wilt not prevail. As fin gets ground in theaffe&ions to delight in, it gets altoupon the underftanding to flight it. CHAP.
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