Whereas, therefore, in every duty two things are principally con- sidered,— first, The life and spring of it, as it is wrought in us by grace; secondly. The principal reason for it and motive imto it, as it is to be performed in ourselves by the way of duty ; both these, as to this matter of inortijication, do centre in this inhabitation of the Spirit. For, — (1st.) It is he who mortifies and subdues our cor- ruptions, who quickens us unto life, holiness, and obedience, as he " dwelleth in us," that he may make and prepare a habitation meet for himself. And, {2dly.) The principal reason and motive which we have to attend unto it with all care and diligence as a duty is, that we may thereby preserve his dwelling-place so as becometh his grace and holiness. And, indeed, whereas (as our Saviour tells us) they are things which arise from and come out of the heart . that defile us, there is no greater nor more forcible motive to contend against all the defiling actings of sin, which is our mortification, than this, that by the neglect hereof the temple of the Spirit will be defiled,
CHAP. VIII.] THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF IT. 651
which we are commanded to watch against, under the severe commi- nation of being destroj^ed for our neglect therein.
If it be said, that "whereas we do acknowledge that there are still remainders of this sin in us, and they are accompanied with their defilements, how can it be supposed that the Holy Ghost will diuell in us, or in any one that is not perfectly holy?" I answer, — (\st) That the great matter which the Spirit of God considereth in his opposi- tion unto sin, and that of sin to his work, is dominion and rule. This the apostle makes evident, E,om. vi. 12-14. Who or what shall have the j^i'incipal conduct of the mind and soul (chajs. viii. 7-9) is the matter in question. Where sin hath the rule, there the Holy Ghost will never dwell. He enters into no soul as his habita- tion, but at the same instant he dethrones sin, spoils it of its domi- nion, and takes the rule of the soul into the hand of his own grace. Where he hath effected this work, and brought his adversary into subjection, there he will dwell, though sometimes his habitation be troubled by his subdued enemy, (^dly) The soids and minds of them who are really sanctified have continually such a sprinkling with the blood of Christ, and are so continually j)urified by virtue from his sacrifice and ohlation, as that they are never unmeet habitations for the Holy Spirit of God.
2dly. The manner of the actual operation of the Spirit of God in effecting this work, or how he mortifies sin, or enables us to mortify it, is to be considered; and an acquaintance herewith dependeth on the knowledge of the sin that is to be mortified, which we have be- fore described. It is the vicious, corrupt habit and inclination unto sin, which is in us by nature, that is the principal object of this duty; or, " the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." When this is weakened in us as to its power and efficacy, when its strength is abated and its prevalency destroyed, then is this duty in its proper discharge, and mortification carried on in the soul.
Now, this the Holy Ghost doth, —
(\st?) By implanting in our minds and all their faculties a con- trary habit and 23ri7iciple, with contrary inclinations, dispositions, and actings, — namely, a principle of spiritual life and holiness, bringing forth the fruits thereof. By means hereof is this work effected ; for sin will no otherwise die but by being killed and slain. And whereas this is gradually to be done, it must be by warring and conflict. There must be something in us that is contrary unto it, which, opposing it, conflicting with it, doth insensibly and by de- grees (for it dies not at once) work out its ruin and destruction. As in a chronical distemper, the disease continually combats and con- flicts with the powers of nature, until, having insensibly imj)roved them, it prevails unto its dissolution, so is it in this matter. These
552 MORTIFICATION OF SIN, [BOOK IV.
adverse principles, with their contrariety, opposition, and conflict, the apostle expressly asserts and describes, as also their contrary fruits and actings, with the issue of the whole, Gal. v. 16-25. The con- trary principles are the flesh and Spirit ; and their contrary actings are in lusting and warring one against the other : Verse 1 6, " Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." Not to fulfil the lusts of the flesh is to mortify it ; for it neither will nor can he kept alive if its lusts be not fulfilled. And he gives a fuller ac- count hereof, verse 17, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesli : and these are contrary the one to the other." If by the "Spirit," the Spirit of God himself be intended, yet he " lusteth" not in us but by virtue of that spirit which is born of him ; that is, the new nature, or holy principle of obedience which he worketh in us. And the way of their mutual opposition unto one another the apostle describes at large in the following verses, by in- stancing in the contrary effects of the one and the other. But the issue of the whole is, verse 24, "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." They have "crucified " it; that is, fastened it unto that cross where at length it may expire. And this is the way of it, — namely, the actings of the Spirit against it, and the fruits produced thereby. Hence he shuts up his discourse with that exhortation, " If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit;" that is, "If we are endowed with this spiritual principle of life, which is to live in the Spirit, then let us act, work, and improve that spiritual principle unto the ruin and mortification of sin."