A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

II. What is it to deny these Worldly Lusts? or how far they must be denied? There are three degrees in this Denial, they must be prevented and kept from rising, supperest and kept from Growth; and (which is an inferior degree) they must not be accomplished, but kept from Execution, if they do prevail upon the Heart, and gain the Consent. Suitable to these three degrees, there are three Duties required of a Christian; Mortification, that we may prevent them; Watchfulness, that we may suppress them; and Christian Resolution, that we may not accomplish them, and suffer them to break out into Act.

II. What is it to deny these Worldly Lusts? or how far they must be denied? There are three degrees in this Denial, they must be prevented and kept from rising, supprest and kept from Growth; and (which is an inferior degree) they must not be accomplish'd, but kept from Execution, if they do prevail upon the Heart, and gain the Consent. Sutable to these three degrees, there are three Duties required of a Christian; Mortification, that we may prevent them; Watchfulness, that we may suppress them; and Christian Resolution, that we may not accomplish them, and suffer them to break out into Act.

1. The top and highest degree of this Denial, to deny Worldly Lusts, is to keep them from rising, and prevent the very workings of Lust or Pride. The Scripture doth press us not only to abstain from the Sin, but the Lust, 1 Pet. 2.11. Abstain from fleshly Lusts, which war against the Soul. Many keep themselves free from the Acts of Sin, when their Hearts boil with Lusts, and carnal Desires, and Thoughts of Envy, and proud Imaginations; therefore we must deaden the very Root, prevent the breaking out of the Lust, Gal. 5.24. They that are Christ's, have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts. We are to mortify the inward Affections, that if it be possible we may not so much as have a Temptation or Lust stirring; ⟨p. 47⟩