[2.] By a real physical efficiency on the root and habit of sin, for the weakening, destroying, and taking it away. Hence he is called a " Spirit of judgment and burning," Isa. iv. 4, really consuming and destroying our lusts. He takes away the stony heart by an almighty efficiency; for as he begins the work as to its kind, so he carries it on as* to its degTees. He is the fire which bums up the very root of lust.
[3.] He brings the cross of Christ into the heart of a sinner by faith, and gives us communion with Christ in his death, and fellow- ship in his sufferings: of the manner whereof more afterward.
20 MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS.
Secoiully. If this be the work of the Spirit alone, how is it that we are exhorted to it? — seeing the Spirit of God only can do it, let the work be left wholly to him.
[1.] It is no otherwise the work of the Spirit but as all graces and good works which are in us are his. He " works in us to Avill and to do of his own good pleasure," Phil. ii. ] 3 ; he works " all our works in us," Isa. xxvi. 12, — " the work of faith Avith power," 2 Thess. i. 11, Col. ii. 12; he causes us to pray, and is a " Spirit of supplication," Rom. viii. 26, Zecb. xii. 10; and yet we are exhorted, and are to be exhorted, to all these.
[2.] He doth not so work our mortification in us as not to keep it still an act of our obedience. The Holy Ghost works in us and upon us, as we are fit to be wrought in and upon ; that is, so as to preserve our own liberty and free obedience. He works upon our understand- ings, wills, consciences, and affections, agreeably to their own natures ; he works in us and with us, not against us or tuithout us; so that his assistance is an encouragement as to the facilitating of the work, and no occasion of neglect as to the work itself. And, indeed, I might here bewail the endless, foolish labour of poor souls, who, being con- vinced of sin, and not able to stand against the power of their con- victions, do set themselves, by innumerable perplexing ways and duties, to keep down sin, but, being strangers to the Spirit of God, all in vain. They combat without victory, have war without peace, and are in slavery all their days. They spend their strength for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which profiteth not.
This is the saddest warfare that any poor creature can be engaged in. 'A soul under the power of conviction from the law is pressed to fight against sin, but hath no strength for the combat. They cannot but fight, and they can never conquer; they are like men thnist on the sword of enemies on purpose to be slain. The law drives them on, and sin beats them back. Sometimes they think, indeed, that they have foiled sin, when they have only raised a dust that they see it not; that is, they distemper their natural affections of fear, sor- row, and anguish, which makes them believe that sin is conquered when it is not touched. By that time they are cold, they must to the battle again; and the lust which they thought to be slain ap- pears to have had no wound.
And if the case be so sad with them who do labour and strive, and yet enter not into the kingdom, what is their condition who despise all tliis; who are perpetually under the power and dominion of sin, and love to have it so; and are troubled at nothing, but that they cannot make sufficient provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof ?
USEFULNESS OF MOETIFICATION. 21
CHAPTER IV.
The last principle ; of the usefulness of mortification — The vigour and comfort of our spiritual lives depend on our mortification — In what sense — Not abso- lutely and necessarily; Ps. Ixxxviii., Heman's condition — Not as on the next and immediate cause — As a means ; by removing of the contrary — The des- perate effects of any unmortified lust ; it weakens the soul, Ps. xxxviii. 3, 8, sundry ways, and darkens it — All graces improved by the mortification of sin — The best evidence of sincerity.
The last principle I shall insist on (omitting, first, the necessity of mortification unto life, and, secondly, the certainty of life upon mortification) is, —
III. That the life, vigour, and comfort of our sjnritual life de- pend much on our mortificatioii of sin.
Strength and comfort, and power and peace, in our walking with God, are the things of our desires. Were any of us asked seriously, what it is that troubles us, we must refer it to one of these heads : — either we want strength or power, vigour and life, in our obedi- ence, in our walking with God ; or we want peace, comfort, and con- solation therein. Whatever it is that may befall a believer that doth not belong to one of these two heads, doth not deserve to be men- tioned in the days of our complaints.