4 PREFACE.
use, as a fruit of choice, not necessity. On these and the like accounts is this short discourse brought forth to public view, and now presented unto thee. I hope I may own in sincerity, that my heart's desire unto God, and the chief design of my life in the station m herein the good providence of God hath placed me, are, that mortification and universal holiness may be promoted in my own and in the hearts and wavs of others, to the glory of God ; that so the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be adorned in all things : for the compassing of which end, if this little discourse (of the publishing whereof this is the sum of the account I shall give) may in any thing be useful to the least of the saints, it will be looked on as a return of the weak prayers wherewith it is attended by its unworthy author,
JoHiN OwJE>'.
OF THE
MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVEES, ETC.
CHAPTEK I.
The foundation of the whole ensuing discourse laid in Eom. viii. 13 — The words of the apostle opened — The certain connection between true mortification and salvation — INIortification the work of believers — The Spirit the principal effi- cient cause of it — What meant by " the body " in the words of the apostle — What by " the deeds of the body " — Life, in what sense promised to this duty.
That what I have of direction to contribute to the carrying on of the work of mortification in believers may receive order and perspi- cuity, I shall lay the foundation of it in those words of the apostle, Rom. viii. 13, " If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live;" and reduce the whole to an improvement of the gi'eat evangelical truth and mystery contained in them.
The apostle having made a recapitulation of his doctrine of justi- fication by faith, and the blessed estate and condition of them who are made by gi'ace partakers thereof, verses 1-3 of this chapter, pro- ceeds to improve it to the holiness and consolation of believers.
Among his argximents and motives unto holiness, the verse men- tioned containeth one from the contrary events and effects of holi- ness and sin : " If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." What it is to " live after the flesh," and what it is to " die," that being not my present aim and business, I shall no otherwise explain than as they will fall in with the sense of the latter words of the verse, as before proposed.
In the words peculiarly designed for the foundation of the ensuing discourse, there is, —
First, A duty prescribed: " Mortify the deeds of the body."
Secondly, The persons are denoted to ivhom it is pi-escribed : " Ye," — " if ye mortify."
Thirdly, There is in them a 2if'om{se annexed to that duty : " Ye shall live."
6 MOET-IFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS.
Fourthly, The cmise .or means of the performance of this duty, — the Spirit : " If ye through the Spirit."
Fifthly, The conditionality of the whole proposition, wherein duty, means, and promise are contained : " If ye," etc.
1. The first thing occurring in the words as they lie in the enthe proposition is the conditional note, E/ bi, " But if." Conditionals in such projiositions may denote two things : —
(1.) The imcertainty of the event or things promised, in respect of them to whom the duty is prescribed. And this takes place where the condition is absolutely necessary unto the issue, and depends not itself on any detenninate cause known to him to whom it is pre- scribed. So we say, " If Ave live, we will do such a thing." This cannot be the intendment of the conditional expression in this place. Of the persons to whom these words are spoken, it is said, verse 1 of the same chapter, " There is no condemnation to them."
(2.) The certainty of the coherence and connection that is between the things spoken of; as we say to a sick man, " If you will take such a potion, or use such a remedy, you will be well." The thing we solely intend to express is the certainty of the connection that is between the potion or remedy and health. And this is the use of it here. The certain connection that is between the mortifying of the deeds of the body and living is intimated in this conditional particle.
Now, the connection and coherence of things being manifold, as of cause and effect, of way and means and the end, this between mortification and life is not of cause and effect properly and strictly, — for " eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ," Rom. vi. 23, — but of means and end. God hath appointed this means for the attaining that end, which he hath freely promised. Means, though necessary, have a fair subordination to an end of free promise. A gift, and procuring cause in him to whom it is given, are inconsistent. The intendment, then, of this proposition as conditional is, that there is a certain infallible connection and coherence between true morti- fication and eternal life : if you use this means, you shall obtain that end; if you do mortify, you shall live. And herein lies the main motive unto and enforcement of the duty prescribed.