Thirdly, The like may be said of the Qualcers amongst ourselves. That which first recommended them was an appearance of mortifica- tion ; which it may be also some of them really intended, though it is evident they never understood the nature of it : for in the height of their outward appearances, as they came short of the sorry weeds, begging habits, macerated countenances, and severe loo'ks, of many monks in the Roman church, and dervises among the Mohammedans; so they were so far from restraining or mortifying their real inclina- tions, as that they seemed to excite and provoke themselves to exceed all others in clamours, railings, evil-speakings, reproaches, calum- nies, and malicious treating of those who dissented from them, with- out the least discovery of a heart filled with kindness and benignity unto mankind, or love unto any but themselves ; in which frame and state of things sin is as secure from mortification as in the practice of open lusts and debaucheries. But supposing that they made a real industrious attempt for the mortification of sin, what success have they had, what have they attained unto? Some of them have very wisely slipped over the whole work and duty of it into a pleasing dream of perfection ; and generally, finding the fruitlessness of their attempt, and that indeed sin will not be mortified by the power of their light within, nor by their resolutions, nor by any of their aus- tere outward appearances, nor peculiar habits or looks, which in this
CHAP. VIII.] THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF IT. 557
matter are openly pharisaical, they begin to give over their design : for who, among all that pretend to any reverence of God, do more openly indulge themselves unto covetousness, love of the world, emulation, strife, contentions among themselves, severe revenges against others, than they do, — not to mention the filth and unclean- ness they begin mutually to charge one another withal? And so will all self-devised ways of mortification end. It is the Spirit of God alone who leads us into the exercise of those duties whereby it may be carried on.
[2cZ/3/.] It is required that the duties to be used unto this end be rightly performed, \n faith, unto the glory of God. Without this a multiplication of duties is an increase of burden and bondage, and that is all. Now, that we can perform no duty in this way or manner with- out the especial assistance of the Holy Spirit hath been sufficiently Vjefore evinced. And the duties which are appointed of God in an . especial manner unto this end are, prayer, meditation, watchfulness, abstinence, wisdom or circumspection with reference unto tempta- tions and their prevalency. Not to go over these duties in parti- cular, nor to show wherein their especial efficacy unto this end and purpose doth consist, I shall only give some general rules concern- ing the exercisinof of our souls in them, and some directions for their right performance: —
First, All these duties are to be designed and managed with an es- pecial respect unto this end. It will not suffice that we are exercised in them in general, and with regard only unto this general end. We are to apply them unto this particular case, designing in and by them the mortification and ruin of sin, especially when, by its especial actings in us, it discovers itself in a peculiar manner unto us. No man who wisely considereth himself, his state and coiidition, his occasions and temjotations, can be wholly ignorant of his especial corruptions and inclinations, whereby he is ready for halting, as the psalmist speaks. He that is so lives in the dark to himself, and walks at peradventures with God, not knowing how he walketh nor whi- ther he goeth. David probably had respect hereunto when he said, " I have kept the ways of the LoRD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity," Ps. xviii. 21-23. He could have done nothing of all this, nor have preserved his integrity in walking with God, had he not known and kept a continual watch upon his own iniquity, or that working of sin in him which most peculiarly inclined and disposed him unto evil. Upon this discovery, we are to apply these duties in a particular manner to the weakening and ruin of the power of sui. As they are all useful and necessaiy, so
55S MORTIFICATION OF SIN, [BOOK IV.
the circumstances of our condition will direct us wliich of them in particular we ought to be most conversant in. Sometimes prayer and meditation claim this place, as when our danger ariseth solely from ourselves, and our own perverse inclinations, disorderly affec- tions, or unruly passions; sometimes watchfulness and abstinence, when sin takes occasion from temptations, concerns, and businesses in the world ; sometimes wisdom and circumspection, when the avoid- ance of temptations and opportunities for sin is in an especial manner required of us. These duties, I say, are to be managed with a peculiar design to oppose, defeat, and destroy the power of sin, into which they have a powerful influence, as designed of God unto that end ; for, —