[3.] Faith herein gives us communion with him in his death, and unites the soul unto it in its efficacy. Hence we are said to be “buried with him into death,” and to be “ planted together in the likeness of his death,’ Rom. vi. 4, 5. Our “old man is crucified with him,” verse 6. We have by faith communion with him in his death, unto the death of sin.
This, therefore, is the first grace and duty which we ought to at- tend unto for the mortification of sin. But where sin hath that in- terest and power in the mind as to take it off from this exercise of faith, to prevent or obstruct it, as it will do, so as that it shall not dare to think or meditate on Christ crucified, because of the incon- sistency of such thoughts with an indulgence unto any lust, it is to be feared that sin is in the throne.
If it be thus with any; if they have not yet made use of this way and means for the mortification of sin; or if, being convinced of it, they have been for any season driven or withheld from the exercise of faith herein,—I have nothing to offer to free them from this evi- dence of the reign of sin, but only that they would speedily and carefully address themselves unto their duty herein; and if they pre- vail on themselves unto it, it will bring in its own evidence of their freedom.
Some, it may be, will say that indeed they are “unskilful” in this “word of righteousness,” as some are, Heb. v.13. They know not how to make use of Christ crucified unto this end, nor how to set them- selves about it. Other ways of mortification they can understand, The discipline and penances assigned by the Papists unto this end are sensible; so are our own vows and resolutions, with other duties that are prescribed; but as for this way of deriving virtue from the death of Christ unto the death of sin, they can understand nothing of it.
I easily believe that some may say so, yea, ought to say so, if they would speak their minds; for the spiritual wisdom of faith is required hereunto, but “all men have not faith.” On the loss of this wisdom, the Papists have invented another way to supply the whole exercise
EVIDENCE OF THE DOMINION OF SIN. §29
of faith herein. They will make crucifixes,—images of Christ cru- cified, then they will adore, embrace, mourn over, and expect great virtue from them. Without these images they know no way of ad- dressing unto Christ for the communication of any virtue from his death or life. Others may be at the same loss; but they may do well to consider the cause of it: for, is it not from ignorance of the mys- tery of the gospel, and of the communication of supplies of spiritual things from Christ thereby,—of the efficacy of his life and death unto our sanctification and mortification of sin? Or is it not because indeed they have never been thoroughly distressed in their minds and consciences by the power of sin, and so have never in good ear- nest looked for relief? Light, general convictions, either of the guilt or power of sin, will drive none to Christ. When their consciences are reduced unto real straits, and they know not what to do, they will learn better how to “look unto Him whom they have pierced.” _ Their condition, whoever they are, is dangerous, who find not a ne- cessity every day of applying themselves by faith unto Christ for help and succour. Or is it not because they have other reliefs to betake themselves unto? Such are their own promises and resolutions; which, for the most part, serve only to cheat and quiet conscience for an hour or a day, and then vanish into nothing. But whatever be the cause of this neglect, those in whom it is will pine away in their sins; for nothing but the death of Christ for us will be the death of sin in us.
Secondly, Another duty necessary unto this end is continual prayer, and this is to be considered as unto its application to the prevalency of any particular lust wherein sin doth in a peculiar manner exert its power. ‘This is the great ordinance of God for its mortification; for,—
[1.] Hereby we obtain spiritual aids and supplies of strength against it. We are not more necessarily and fervently to pray that sin may. be pardoned as to its guilt, than we are that it may be subdued as to its power. He who is negligent in the latter is never in good earnest in the former. The pressures and troubles which we receive from the power of sin are as pungent on the mind as those from its guilt are on the conscience. Mere pardon of sin will never give peace unto a soul, though it can have none without it. It must be mortified also, or we can have no spiritual rest. Now, this is the work of prayer,—namely, to seek and obtain such supplies of morti- fying, sanctifying grace, as whereby the power of sin may be broken, its strength abated, its root withered, its life destroyed, and so the whole old man crucified. That which was the apostle’s request for the Thessalonians is the daily prayer of all believers for themselves, 1 Thess. v. 23.