564 MORTIFICATION OF SIN, [BOOK IV.
First, The object of it is Christ himself, in his unsearchable grace, his unspeakable love, his infinite condescension, his patient suffer- ing, and victorious power, in his death or dying for us. It is not his death absolutely, but himself, as all these graces conspicuously shine forth in his death, which is intended.
Secondly, And there are various ways whereby this may be repre- sented imto our minds : — (First,) Men may do it unto themselves by their own imaginations. Tliey may frame and fancy dolorous things unto themselves about it, which is the way of persons under deep and devout superstitions ; but no love in sincerity will ever be ingenerated towards Jesus Christ here])y. (Secondly,) It may be done by others, in pathetical and tragical declaraiions of the outward part of Christ's sufferings. Herein some have a great faculty to work upon the natu- ral affections of their auditors ; and great j)assions, accompanied with tears and vows, may be so excited. But, for the most part, there is no more in this work tlian what the same persons do find in themselves, it may be, in the reading or hearing of a feigned story ; for there is a sympathy in^^atural affections with the things that are their proj^er objects, thougli rejiresented by false imaginations. (Thirdly,) It is done in the Papacy, and among some others, by images, in crucifixes and dolorous inctures, whereunto they pay great devotion, with an aj)- pearance of ardent affections; but none of these is such a due repre- sentation of this object as to ingenerate sincere love towards Christ crucified in any soul. Wherefore, (Fourthly,) This is done effectually only by the gospel, and in the dispensation of it according to the mind of God ; for therein is " Jesus Christ evidently crucified before our eyes," Gal. iii. 1. And this it doth by proposing unto our faith the grace, the love, the joatience, the condescension, the obedience, the end and design of Christ therein. So is Christ eyed by faith as the proper object of sincere love. And being so stated, —
Thirdly, The effects of it, as of all true love, are, first, A dherence; secondly, Assimilation : — (First,) Adherence. Love in the Scripture is frequently expressed by this effect ; the soul of one did cleave, or was knit, unto another, as that of Jonathan to David, 1 Sam. xviii. 1. So it produceth a firm adherence unto Christ crucified, that makes a soul to be in some sense always j^resent with Christ on the cross. And lience ensues, (Secondly,) Assimilation or conformity. None treat of the nature or effects of love but they assign this as one of them, that it begets a likeness between the mind loving and the object beloved. And so I am sure it is in this matter. A mind filled with the love of Christ as crucified, and represented in the manner and way before described, will be changed into his image and likeness by the effectual mortification of sin, through a derivation of power and grace from thence for that purpose.
CHAP. VIII.] THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF IT. 565
(5thli/.) The Holy Ghost carrieth on this work by constant dis- coveries unto and pressing on believers, on the one hand, the true nature and certain end of sin; and, on the other, the beauty, excel- lency, usefulness, and necessity of holiness, with the concerns of God, Christ, the gospel, and their own souls therein. A rational con- sideration of these things is all the ground and reason of mortifica- tion in the judgment of some men. But we have proved that there are other causes of it also; and now I add, that if we have no consideration of these things but what our own reason is of itself able to suggest unto us, it will never be prevalent unto any sincere or permanent attempt in the mortification of any sin whatever. Let men make the best of their reason they can, in the searching and consideration of the perverse nature and dreadful conseqp.ients of sin, of the perfect peace and future blessedness which attendeth the prac- tice of holiness, they will find an obstinacy and stubbornness in their hearts not conquerable by any such reasonings or considera- tions. That conviction of sin and righteousness which is useful and prevalent unto that end and purpose is wrought in us by the Holy Ghost, John xvi. 8. Although he makes use of our minds, under- standings, reasons, consciences, and the best of our consideration, in this matter, yet if he give not a peculiar efficacy and power unto all, the work will not be effectual. When he is pleased to make use of reasons and motives, taken from the nature and end of sin and holi- ness, unto the mortification of sin, they shall hold good, and bind the soul unto this duty, against all objections and temptations that would divert it whatever.
And thus I have briefly, and I confess weakly and obscurely, de- lineated the work of the Holy Ghost in the sanctification of them that do believe. Many things might have been more enlarged and particularly inquired into; what have been discoursed I judge suffi- cient to my present purpose. And I doubt not but that what hath been argued from plain Scripture and experience is sufficient, as to direct us in the practice of true evangelical holiness, so, with all sober persons, to cast out of all consideration that fulsome product of pride and ignorance, that all gospel holiness consists in the practice of moral virtues.