The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

9. Lay hold on Gods strength for the mortifying of thy beloved sin: surely this is no easy work; see how it is expressed in Scripture, sometime it is called the mortification of our members; is to mortify a part of the body an easy work? sometimes the circumcising of the foreskin of our hearts, Deut. 10.16. did the Sichemites count circumcision an easy work? by crucifying of the affections, and lusts, Gal. 5.24. was crucifixion an easy death? and here in the text, it is called a plucking out the right eye, and cutting off the right hand: the Apostle Paul in the forementioned place, tells the Romans, if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. He who is the fountain of spiritual life, is also the principle of this spiritual death: this is a work to be done by us, but through the Spirit. Hence in Scripture God is said to do this:¹ The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed: and the Apostle expresses this by circumcision made without hands: ²intimating that it is not a work of mans hands, but Gods.

9. Lay hold on Gods strength for the mortifying of thy beloved sin: surely this is no easie work; see how it is expressed in Scripture, sometime it is called the mortification of our members; is to mortifie a part of the body an easie work? sometimes the circumcising of the foreskin of our hearts, Deut. 10.16. did the Sichemites count circumcision an easie work? by crucifying of the affections, and lusts, Gal. 5.24. was crucifixion an easie death? and here in the text, it is called a plucking out the right eye, and cutting off the right hand: the Apostle Paul in the forementioned place, tells the Romans, if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, you shall live. He who is the fountain of spiritual life, is also the principle of this spiritual death: this is a work to be done by us, but through the Spirit. Hence in Scripture God is said to do this: