Sermons preached

(1.) Some vainly imagine, as if God by Jesus Christ were made more reconcilable to Sin, that it needs not so much to be stood upon, nor need we to be so exact, to keep such ado to mortify and subdue the Inclinations that lead to it: They altogether run to the Comforts of the Gospel, and neglect the Duties thereof. Christ died for Sinners, therefore we need not to be troubled about it. Some actually speak out these things, as if all the Mortification required were but to quell the Sense of Sin in the Conscience, not to destroy the Power of Sin in their Hearts, and if they can but believe strongly they are pardoned, all is well. If this were true, then in the hardest Heart would be the best Faith, for they have the least ⟨p. 98⟩trouble about Sin, and least Conscience of Sin. This is to cry up the Merit of Christ, to exclude the Work and Discipline of this Spirit, yea to set the Merit of his Death against the End of it, and so to set Christ against Christ. He bore our Sins: He bore our Sins in his Body upon the Tree, that we might be dead to Sin, and alive to Righteousness, to promote this Mortification, that we speak of.

(2.) Another Sort think such Discourses may be well spared among a Company of Believers; and they need not this Watchfulness and holy Care, especially against grievous Sins: that they have such good Command of themselves, that they can keep within Compass well enough. 'Tis well if you be come to this height of Christian Perfection, that Temptations make none, or no considerable Impression upon you. But we must warn you, and that of the most gross Sins. Christ thought fit to warn his Disciples; Luk. 21. 34. Take heed lest your Hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness, and the Cares of this Life. And the Apostle every where warns Christians of Malice, of Hypocrisy, of Envy, of Lying, of Evil-speaking; 1 Thess. 4. 6. Take heed that you do not overreach and defraud one another, for God is the Avenger of all such. But these Men would be fed with refined Strains of Contemplative Divinity, and have no Sins reproved, but such kind of Sins as would seem a Credit rather than a Disgrace: like those Diseases that are incident only to the best Complexions and Constitutions. If you speak against something that may rather argue their Excellency, than shame them of their Sin, you shall be welcome. This over-spiritual Preaching ends in an aery Religion. Is Sin grown less dangerous, or Men more skilful to avoid it, than heretofore? Certainly, he that considers how many scandalous Professors there are, that would be accounted the People of God, hath no cause to think so. If Paul saw need of Mortification,