The Method of Grace

Fifthly, In a word, the death of the Cross was not a natural, but a violent death: such also is the death of sin: sin dyes not of its own accord, as nature dyeth in old men, in whom the Balsamum radicale or radical moisture is consumed: for if the Spirit of God did not kill it, it would live to eternity in the souls of men: 'tis not the everlasting burnings, and all the wrath of God which lies upon the damned for ever, that can destroy sin. Sin like a Salamander can live to eternity in the fire of Gods wrath: so that either it must dye a violent death by the hand of the Spirit, or never dyeth at all. And ⟨p. 465⟩thus you see, why the mortification of sin is Tropically expressed by the crucifying of the flesh.

3. Thirdly, Why all that are in Christ must be so crucified, or mortified unto sin: and the necessity of this will appear divers ways.

First, From the inconsistency and contrariety that there is betwixt Christ and unmortified lust, Gal. 5. 17. these are contrary the one to the other. There is a threefold inconsistency betwixt Christ and such corruptions: they are not only contrary to the holiness of Christ, 1 John 3. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him, (i. e.) whosoever is thus engulfed and plunged into the lust of the flesh, can have no communion with the pure and holy Christ: but there is also an inconsistency betwixt such sin and the honour of Christ, 2 Tim. 2. 19. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity: as Alexander said to a Soldier of his name, recordare nominis Alexandri, remember thy name is Alexander, and do nothing unworthy of that name. And unmortified lusts are also contrary to the Dominion and government of Christ,