(4thly.) The Holy Spirit carrieth on this work by applying in an especial manner the death of Christ unto us for that end. And this is another thing which, because the w'orld understandeth not, it doth desjjise. But yet in whomsoever the death of Christ is not the death of sin, he shall die in his sins. To evidence this truth we may ob- serve,— [Isi.] In general. That the death of Christ hath an especial influence into the mortification of sin, without which it will not be mortified. This is plainly enough testified unto in the Scripture. By his cross, — that is, his death on the cross, — "we are crucified unto the world," Gal. vi. 14. "Our old man is crucified Avith him, that the body of sin might be destroyed," Horn. vi. 6; that is, sin is mortified in us by virtue of the death of Christ. [2dly.^ In the death of Christ with respect unto sin there may be considered, — First, His ohlation of himself; and, Secondly, The aj^jiUcation thereof unto us. By the first it is that our sins are expiated as unto their guilt; but from the latter it is that they are actually subdued as to their power; for it is by an interest in, and a participation of the benefits of his death, which we call the application of it unto us. Hereon are we said to be " buried with him" and to " rise with him," whereof our baptism is a pledge, chap. vi. 3, 4; not in an outward representation, as some imagine, of being dipped into the water and taken up again (which were to make one sign the sign of another), but in a powerful parti- cipation of the virtue of the death and life of Christ, in a death unto
CHAP. VIII.] THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF IT. 561
sin and newness of life in holy obedience, wliich baptism is a pledge of, as it is a token of our initiation and implanting into him. So are we said to be " baptized into his death,"' or into the likeness of it, that is, in its power, verse 3. Thirdly, The old man is said to he crucified with Christ, or sin to be mortified by the death of Christ, as was in part before observed, on two accounts: —
(First.) Of conformity. Christ is the head, the beginning or idea, of the new creation, the first-born of every creature. Whatever God designeth unto us therein, he first exemplified in Jesus Christ; and we are " predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son," Rom. viii. 29. Hereof the apostle gives us an express instance in the resurrection: " Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming," 1 Cor. xv. 23. It is so in all things; all that is wrought in us, it is in resemblance and conformity unto Christ. Par- ticularly, we are by grace " planted in the likeness of his death," Rom. vi. 5, being "made conformable unto his death," Phil. iii. 10; and so " dead with Christ," Col. ii. 20. Now, this conformity is not in our natural death, nor in our being put to death as he was; for it is that which we are made partakers of in this life, and that in a way of grace and mercy. But Christ died for sin, for our sin, which was the meritorious procuring cause thereof; and he lived again by the power of God. A likeness and conformity hereimto God will work in all believers. There is by nature a life of sin in them, as hatli been declared. This life must be destroyed, sin must die in us; and we thereby become dead unto sin. And as he rose again, so are we to be quickened in and unto newness of life. In this death of sin consists that mortification which we treat about, and without which we cannot be conformed unto Christ in his death, which we are designed unto. And the same Spirit which wrought these things in Christ will, in the pursuit of his design, work that which answers unto them in all his members.
(Secondly.) In respect of efiicacy. Virtue goeth forth from the death of Christ for the subduing and destruction of sin. It was not designed to be a dead, inactive, passive example, but it is accompanied with a power conforming and changing us into his own likeness. It is the ordinance of God unto that end ; which he therefore gives effi- cacy unto. It is by a fellowship or participation in his sufferings that we are "made conformable unto his death," Phil. iii. 10; — this xoivcjvia ruv TaD'/i/j.druv is an interest in the benefit of his sufferings; we also are made partakers thereof This makes us conformable to his death, in the death of sin in us. The death of Christ is designed to 1)6 the death of sin, let them who are dead in sin deride it whilst they please. If Christ had not died, sin had never died in any sinner unto eternity. Wherefore, that there is a virtue and efficacy in the
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662 MORTIFICATION OF SIN, [BOOK IV.
death of CKrist unto this purpose cannot be denied without a re- nunciation of all the benefits thereof. On the one hand, the Scripture tells us that he is " our life," our spiritual life, the spring, fountain, and cause of it; we have nothing, therefore, that belongs thereunto but what is derived from him. They cast themselves out of the verge of Christianity who suppose that the Lord Christ is no other- wise our life, or the author of life unto us, but as he hath revealed and taught the way of life unto us; he is our life as he is our head. And it would be a sorry head that should only teach the feet to go, and not communicate strength to the whole body so to do. And that we have real influences of life from Christ I have sufficiently proved before. Unto our spiritual life doth ensue the death of sin ; for this, on the other hand, is peculiarly assigned unto his death in the testimonies before produced. This, therefore, is by virtue derived from Christ, — that is, in an especial manner from his death, as the Scripture testifies.