A10024:81
Sins overthrow
Sins overthrow: or, A godly and learned treatise of mortification Wherein is excellently handled; first, the general doctrine of mortification: and then particularly, how to mortify fornication. Uncleanness. Evil concupiscence. Inordinate affection. and, covetousness. All being the substance of several sermons upon Colos. III. V. Mortify therefore your members, &c. Delivered by that late faithful preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns-Inn.Sins overthrow: or, A godly and learned treatise of mortification Wherein is excellently handled; first, the generall doctrine of mortification: and then particularly, how to mortifie fornication. Vncleannes. Evill concupiscence. Inordinate affection. and, covetousnes. All being the substance of severall sermons upon Colos. III. V. Mortifie therefore your members, &c. Delivered by that late faithfull preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes-Inne.
London: printed by I. Beale and Augustine Mathewes for Andrew Crooke, 1633
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The first means is to endeavour to get a willing 1heart to have your sins mortified; that is, a holy dislike, and a holy loathing of them, with a desire of the contrary grace: If men did but see what an excellent estate regeneration is, it would breed in them a holy desire of Mortification; therefore our Saviour saith, when his Disciples came to him, and complained of the weakness of their Faith, Matth. 17. If ye have Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove, and it shall be removed. By setting forth the excellency of Faith, he takes pains to work in them a desire of it; even so, if a man once can get a desire but to have his sin mortified, he will presently have it; for Christ hath promised it, Mat. 5. 9. Blessed are they that bunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied; that is, they which hunger in general for any part of righteousness, they shall be filled: therefore if we can come but to hunger, especially for Mortification, which is the principal part of righteousness; I say, if we can but come unto God in truth with a willing heart, and desire it, we shall be sure to have it: for besides his promise, we have him inviting of us to this work; Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I will ease you: Now what will he ease them of, the guilt? no: (though it be not excluded) but principally of the ⟨p. 25⟩commanding power of sin; that he may not only be free from the guilt of sin, but from the power of sin, that he may have his sin mortified and subdued. Now what else is the reason that men have not their sins mortified, and that there is such a complaint of unmortified lusts and affections, but because they come not with a willing heart: their hearts are unstable, they are willing, and unwilling; willing to leave sin, that they may be freed from the guilt; unwilling to leave the pleasure they have in sin: therefore, saith one, I prayed often to have my sins forgiven, and mortified, and yet I feared the Lord would 2hear my prayers: so it is with many in this case, they pray for Mortification, but it is but verbal, it comes not from the heart; that is, from a willing mind: therefore if thou wouldest have thy sin mortified, labour to get a willing heart.