Conformity in spiritual life is, not by doing that which Christ did upon the cross and afterward, but a doing of the like by a certain kind of imitation. And it hath four parts. The first is, a spiritual oblation. For as Christ in the garden & upon the cross, by prayer made with stung cries and tears, presented and resigned himself up to be a sacrifice of propitiation to the justice of his father for mans sin: so must we also in prayer present and resign our selves, our souls, our bodies, our understanding, will, memory, affections, and all we have to the service of God, in the general calling of a Christian, and in the particular callings in which he hath placed us. Take an example in David, Sacrifice and burnt offering (saith he) thou wouldest not, but ears thou hast pierced unto me, then said, lo I come: I desire to do thy will, O God, yea thy law is within my heart, Psal. 40. 7. The second is, ⟨p. 15⟩conformity in the cross two ways. For first, as he bare his own cross to the place of execution: so must we as good disciples of Christ deny our selves, take up all the crosses and afflictions that the hand of God shall lay upon us, if it be every day, and follow him. Again, we must become like unto him in the crucifying and mortifying the mass and body of sin which we carry about us, Gal. 5. 24. They which are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof. We must do as the Jews did, we must set up the crosses and gibbets whereon we are to fasten & hang this flesh of ours, that is, the sin & corruption that cleaves & sticks unto us, and by the sword of the spirit wound it even to death. This being don, we must yet go further, and labour by experience to see and feel the very death of it, and to lay it as it were in a grave never to rise again: and therefore we should daily cast new moulds upon it. The third is, a spiritual resurrection, whereby we should by Gods grace use means that we may every day more and more come out of our sins, as out of a loathsome grave, to live unto God in newness of life, as Christ rose from his grave. And because it is an hard matter for a man to come out of the grave or rather dungeon ⟨p. 16⟩of his sins, this work can not be done at once but by degrees, as God shall give grace.
Conformitie in spirituall life is, not by doing that which Christ did vpon the crosse and afterward, but a doing of the like by a certaine kind of imitation. And it hath foure parts. The first is, a spirituall oblation. For as Christ in the garden & vpon the crosse, by prayer made with stong cryes and teares, presented and resigned himself vp to be a sacrifice of propitiation to the iustice of his father for mans sinne: so must we also in praier present and resigne our selues, our soules, our bodies, our vnderstanding, will, memorie, affections, and all we haue to the seruice of God, in the generall calling of a Christian, and in the particular callings in which he hath placed vs. Take an example in David, Sacrifice and burnt offering (saith he) thou vvouldest not, but eares thou hast pearced vnto me, then said, loe I come: I desire to doe thy will, O God, yea thy law is vvithin my heart, Psal. 40. 7. The second is, ⟨p. 15⟩conformitie in the crosse two waies. For first, as he bare his owne crosse to the place of exequution: so must we as good disciples of Christ denie our selues, take vp all the crosses and afflictions that the hand of God shall lay vpon vs, if it be euery day, and follow him. Againe, we must become like vnto him in the crucifying and mortifying the masse and bodie of sinne which we carrie about vs, Gal. 5. 24. They vvhich are Christs have crucified the flesh vvith the affections and lusts thereof. We must doe as the Iewes did, we must set vp the crosses and gybbets wheron we are to fastē & hang this flesh of ours, that is, the sinne & corruption that cleaues & sticks vnto vs, and by the sworde of the spirit wound it euē to death. This being don, we must yet goe further, and labour by experience to see and feele the very death of it, and to lay it as it were in a graue neuer to rise againe: and therefore we should daily cast new mouldes vpon it. The third is, a spirituall resurrection, whereby we should by Gods grace vse meanes that wee may euery day more and more come out of our sinnes, as out of a loathsome graue, to liue vnto God in newnes of life, as Christ rose from his graue. And because it is an hard matter for a man to come out of the graue or rather dungeon ⟨p. 16⟩of his sinnes, this worke can not be done at once but by degrees, as God shall giue grace.
