54 SKUMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XVIII.
sciences of ourselves and others may be polluted to idolatry, anger, inordinate affection of the heart to any creature, E[)h. v. 5. So hy murder, not only when it proceedeth to blood, Ijut hatred, variauce, strife, heresies, Mat. v. 21, 22. So in shoit, emulation, and affectation of applause. Gal. v. 26.
3. The prevalence of the divine or carnal principle must determine our condition. Now its reign is known : —
[1.] By our savour, relish and taste, Kom. viii. 5. For every man's gust is according to his constitution, which breedeth oblectation, or pleasure of mind. Now when we savour only the things of the flesh, that if it be pleased, quiets us in the want of other things, contents us in the neglect of God and his service ; that we have no appetite after, or savour or relish any sweetness but in fleshly things ; this is an ill sign.
[2.] By our course of walking ; which is often insisted on in this chapter. There may be some blemishes in God's children, some unevenness of obedience through tiie relics of the flesh ; but their main, constant course, for which they labour and strive, is to approve them- selves to God, and to be accepted with God, and to live in obedience to the motions of his sanctifying Spirit. But where there is a care- lessness in the heavenly life, the influence of the fleshly life is most discovered in all our actions.
[3.] By our tendency and scope. When the heart is turned to, or alienated from God. Tlie flesh reigneth if the world turn our hearts from him, and the flesh be pleased before him, and we mind our own things ; we are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
SERMON XVIIL
If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, yeshalllive.
— EoM. VIII. 13.
We come now to the second clause, wherein we have two things : — (1.) The condition to be performed. (2.) The blessedness promised. First, In tlie condition we have, —
1. The parties interested.
2. The duty required.
1. The parties interested are justified believers, who are not in the flesh, or after the flesli. Yet two persons are mentioned : the principal author, and the subordinate agent. We are the principal parties in the obligation; but in the operation, the Spirit is the principal. The particle through is usually the note of an instrument, yet the Spirit is not our instrument, but we are his ; he first worketli on us as objects then by us as instruments ; and therefore though the duty falleth upon us, and we are said to do it by the Sjiirit ; yet it must be thus under- stood : we are the principal parties as to obligation of duty ; but as to operation and influence of grace, the Spirit is the principal.
VeR. 13.] SEKMONS UPON ROMANS VUI. 65
2. In the duty there is the act, ' mortify ; ' tlie object, 'the deeds of the body.'
[1.] The act, ' mortify.' I shall open it more fully by and by ; only note for the present, —
(1.) Sin is alive in some degree in the justified; otherwise what need it to be mortified ? The exhortation were superfluous if sin were wholly dead.
(2.) It noteth a continued act. We must not rest in a mortification already wrought in us. He saith not, ' If ye have mortified,' but, ' If ye do mortify ; ' this must be our daily practice, not done now and then, or by fits ; if we always sincerely labour to mortify the deeds of the body, we are in the way of life.
(3.) It showeth that this work must not be attended slightly, or by the by, but carried on to such a degree, that corruption may be weakened, or lie a-dying, or be upon the declining hand. The success and event is considerable, as well as the endeavour. Where the event dependetb upon outward and foreign causes, a man hath comfort in doing his duty whatever the success be, but here where the event falleth within the compass of our duty itself, there it must be regarded. We must so oppose sin, that in some sort we may kill it or extinguish it, not only scratch the face of it, but seek to root it out ; at least that must be our aim.
(4.) Mortifying noteth some pain or trouble. For nothing that hath life, will be put to death without some struggling ; and the flesh cannot be subdued without some trouble to om'selves, or violence offered to our carnal affections. Only let me tell you, if it be painful to mortify sin, you make it more painful by dealing negligently in the business, and drawing out your vexation to a greater length ; the longer you suffer this Canaanite to live with you, the more will it prove as a thorn or goad in your sides. Here, if ever, it is true our affection procureth our affliction ; sin dieth when our love to it dieth ; your trouble endeth, your delight in it ceaseth, as you can bring your souls to a resolution to quit these things. Quani suave mild subito factum est, carere suavitatihus iniquorum. No delight so sincere as the contempt of vain delights.