The Method of Grace

Sixthly, If mortification be not the daily practice and endeavour of Believers, then the way to Heaven no way answers to Christs description of it in the Gospel: he tells us, Mat. 7. 13, 14. Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction; and many there be that go in thereat, because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it: well then, either Christ must be mistaken in the account he gave of the way to glory, or else all unmortified persons are out of the way: for what makes the way of salvation narrow, but the difficulties and severities of mortification?

Seventhly, In a word, he that denies the necessity of mortification, confounds all discriminating marks betwixt Saints and Sinners; pulls down the Pale of distinction, and lets the world into the Church, and the Church into the World: 'tis a great design of the Gospel to preserve the boundaries betwixt the one and the other, Rom. 2. 7, 8. Rom. 8. 1, 4, 5, 6, 13. but if men may be Christians without mortification, we may as well go into the Taverns, Ale-houses, or Brothel-houses, among the roaring or sottish crew of sinners, and say, here be those that are redeemed by the blood of Christ; here be his Disciples and Followers; as go to seek them in the purest Churches, or most strictly religious families: by all which the necessity of mortification unto all that are in Christ, is abundantly evidenced.

Fourthly, In the next place we are to enquire into the true principle of mortification: 'tis true there are many ways attempted ¹