First, From the inconsistency and contrariety that there is be- twixt Christ and unmortificd lust, Gal. v. 17. " These are contrary u the one to the other." There is a threefold inconsistency be- twixt Christ and such corruptions ; they are not only contrary to the holiness of Christ, 1 John iii. 6. " Whosoever abideth in him sin- " neth not ; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known " him ; i. e. whosoever is thus ingulphed and plunged into the lust of the flesh, can have no communion with the pure and holy Christ ; but there is also an inconsistency betwixt such sin and the honour of Christ, % Tim. ii. 19- " Let every one that nameth the " name of Christ, depart from iniquity." As Alexander said to a soldier of his name, recordare nominis Alexandra, remember thy name is Alexander, and do nothing unworthy of that name. And unmortified lusts are also contrary to the dominion and government of Christ, Luke ix. 23. " If any man will come after me, let him " deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me :* These are the self-denying terms upon which all men are admitted into Christ's service : And without mortification and self-denial, he allows no man to call him Lord and Master.
Secondly, The necessity of mortification appears from the neces- sity of conformity betwixt Christ, the Head, and all the members of his mystical body ; for how incongruous and uncomely would it
376 THE METHOD OF GRACE.
be to see a holy, heavenly Christ, leading a company of unclean, carnal, and sensual members? Mat. xi. 29. " Take my yoke " upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly ,'" q. d. it would be monstrous to the world, to behold a company of lions and wolves following a meek and harmless lamb : Men of raging and unmortified lusts, professing and owning me for their head of government. And again, 1 John ii. 6. " He that saith he abideth " in him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked," q. d. either imitate Christ in your practice, or never make pretensions to Christ in your profession. This was Avhat the apostle complained of, Phil. iii. 18. for " many walk of whom I have told you often, " and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of " the cross of Christ. Men cannot study to put a greater dis- honour and reproach upon Christ, than by making his name and profession a cloke and and cover to their filthy lusts.
Thirdly, The necessity of crucifying the flesh appears from the method of salvation, as it is stated in the gospel. God every where requires the practice of mortification, under pain of damnation. Mat. xviii. 8. " Wherefore if thy hand, or thy foot, offend thee, " cut them off, and cast them from thee : it is better for thee to " enter into life, halt or maimed, rather than having two hands, " or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire." The gospel legi- timates no hopes of salvation, but such as are accompanied with serious endeavours of mortification. 1 John iii. 3. " Every man " that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is " pure." It was one special end of Christ's coming into the world, " to save his people from their sins," Mat. i. 91. nor will he be a saviour unto any who remain under the dominion of their own lusts.
Fourthly, The whole stream and current of the gospel, puts us under the necessity of mortification ; gospel-precepts have respect unto this, Col. iii. 5. " MortifV your members, therefore, which « are upon the earth." 1 Pet. i". 15. " Be ye holy, for I am holy." Gospel-precedents have respect unto this, Heb. xii. 1. " Where- " fore seeing we, also, are compassed about with so great a cloud " of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which " doth so easily beset us," &c. Gospel-threatenings are written for this end, and do all press mortification in a thundering dialect, Rom. viii. 13. " If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." Rom. i. 18. "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all un- " godliness, and unrighteousness of men." The promises of the gospel are written designedly to promote it, 2 Cor. vii. 1. " Having " therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse our- «< selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness " in the fear of God," But in vain are all these precepts, prece-
SERM. XXVII. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 377
dents, threatenings, and promises written in the scriptures, except mortification be the daily study and practice of professors.
Fifthly, Mortification is the very scope and aim of our regene- ration, and the infusion of the principles of grace. " If we live " in the spirit, let us walk in the spirit,'' Gal. v. 25. In vain were the habits of grace planted, if the fruits of holiness and mor- tification be not produced ; yea, mortification is not only the design and aim, but it is a special part, even the one half of our sanctification.
Sixthly, If mortification be not the daily practice and endeavour of believers, then the way to heaven no way answers to Christ's description of it in the gospel. He tells us, Mat. vii. 13, 14. " Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruc- " tion, and many there be that go in thereat : because strait is " the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and " few there be that find it." Well then, either Christ must be mistaken in the account he gave of the way to glory, or else all un- mortified persons are out of the way ; for what makes the way of salvation narrow, but the difficulties and severities of mortifica- tion ?
Seventhly, In a word, he that denies the necessity of mortifica- tion, confounds all discriminating marks betwixt saints and sinners ; pulls down the pale of distinction, and lets the world into the church, and the church into the world : It is a great design of the gospel to preserve the boundaries betwixt the one and the other, Rom. ii. 7, 8. Rom. viii. 1, 4, 5, 6, 13. But if men may be Christians without mortification, we may as well go into the taverns, ale-houses, or brothel-houses, among the roaring or sottish crew of sinners, and say, here are those that are redeemed by the blood of Christ ; here are his disciples and followers ; as to go to seek them in the purest churches, or most strictly religious families : by all which the necessity of mortification, unto all that are in Christ, is abundantly evidenced.