(3.) To mortify. E/ ?iavarovTi, — " If ye put to death;" a metaphori- cal expression, taken from the putting of any living thing to death. To kill a man, or any other living thing, is to take away the principle of all his streng-th, vigour, and power, so that he cannot act or exert, or put forth any proper actings of his own ; so it is in this case. In- dwelling sin is compared to a person, a living person, called " the old man," with his faculties, and properties, his wisdom, craft, sub- tlety, strength; this, says the apostle, must be killed, put to death, mortified, — that is, have its power, life, vigour, and strength, to pro- duce its effects, taken away by the Spirit. It is, indeed, merito- riously, and by way of examj)le, utterly mortified and slain by the cross of Christ ; and the "old man" is thence said to be " crucified with Christ," Rom. vi. 6, and ourselves to be " dead " with him, verse 8, and really initially in regeneration, Rom. vi. 3-5, when a principle contrary to it, and destructive of it. Gal. v. 17, is planted in our hearts; but the whole work is by degrees to be carried on towards perfection all our days. Of this more in the process of our discourse. The intendment of the apostle in this prescription of the duty men- tioned is, — that the mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the fiesh is the constant duty of believers.
5. The promise unto this duty is life: " Ye shall live." The life promised is opposed to the death threatened in the clause foregoing,
THE DUTY OF THE BEST BELIEVEES. 9
"If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die;" Avhich the same apostle expi*esseth, " Ye shall of the flesh reap corruption," Gal. vi. 8, or de- struction from God. Now, perhaps the word may not only intend eternal life, but also the spiritual life in Christ, which here we have ; not as to the essence and being of it, which is already enjoyed by believers, but as to the joy, comfort, and vigour of it: as the apostle says in another case, " Now I live, if ye stand fast," 1 Thess. iii. 8 ; — " Now my life will do me good; I shall have joy and comfort with my life;" — ^"Ye shall live, lead a good, vigorous, comfortable, spuitual life whilst you are here, and obtain eternal life hereafter."
Supposing what was said before of the connection between mor- tification and eternal life, as of means and end, I shall add only, as a second motive to the duty prescribed, that, —
The vigour, and poivey^ and comfort of our spirituod life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh.
CHAPTER II.
The principal assertion concerning the necessity of mortification proposed to con- firmation—Mortification the duty of the best believers. Col. iii. 5 ; 1 Cor. ix. 27 — Indwelling sin always abides; no perfection in this life, Phil. iii. 12; 1 Cor. xiii. 12; 2 Pet. iii. 18; Gal. v. 17, etc. — The activity of abiding sin in believers, Rom. vii. 23; James iv, 5; Heb. xii. 1 — Its fruitfulness and tendency — Every lust aims at the height in its kind — The Spirit and new nature given to contend against indwelling sin, Gal. v. 17; 2 Pet. i. 4, 5; Rom. vii. 23 — The fearful issue of the neglect of mortification, Rev. iii. 2; Heb. iii. 13 — The first general principle of the whole discourse hence con- firmed— Want of this duty lamented.
Having laid this foundation, a brief confirmation of the fore-men- tioned principal deductions will lead me to what I chiefly intend, —
I. That the choicest believers, ivho are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indivelling poiver of sin.
So the apostle. Col. iii. 5, " Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth." Whom speaks he to? Such as were " risen with Christ," verse 1; such as were "dead" with him, verse 3; such as whose life Christ was, and who should " appear with him in glory," verse 4. Do you mortify ; do you make it your daily work ; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. Your being dead with Christ virtually, your being quickened with him, will not excuse j'ou from this work. And our Saviour tells us how his Father deals with every branch in
10 MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS.
him tliat bearetli fruit, every true and living branch . " He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit," John xv. 2, He prunes it, and that not for a day or two, but whilst it is a branch in this world. And the apostle tells you what was his practice, 1 Cor. ix. 27, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection." " I do it," saith he, " daily; it is the work of my life: I omit it not; this is my busi- ness." And if this were the work and business of Paul, who was so incomparably exalted in gi-ace, revelations, enjoyments, privileges, consolations, above the ordinaiy measure of believers, where may we possibly bottom an exemption from this Avork and duty whilst we are in this Avorld? Some brief account of the reasons hereof may be given : —