Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

(2.) By this means men satisfy themselves that their State and Condition is good, seeing they do that which is a work good in it self, and they do not do it to be seen. They know they would have the work done in sincerity, and so are hardened in a kind of self Righteousness.

(2.) By this means men satisfie themselves that their State and Condition is good, seeing they do that which is a work good in it self, and they do not do it to be seen. They know they would have the work done in sincerity, and so are hardened in a kind of self Righteousness.

(3.) When a man hath thus for a season been deluded, and hath deceived his o•• Soul, ⟨p. 72⟩and finds in a long course of Life, that indeed his sin is not mortified, or if he hath changed one, he hath gotten another; He begins a• length to think, that all contending is in vain, he shall never be able to prevail: He is making a Dam against Water that increaseth on him Hereupon he gives over, as one despairing of any success, and yields up himself to the power of sin, and that habit of Formality th•• he hath gotten.

And this is the usual Issue with Persons attempting the Mortification of sin without a• Interest in Christ first obtained. It deludes thempunc; hardens them, destroys them. And therefore w• see that there are not usually more vile an• desperate sinners in the world, than such a having by Conviction been put on this Course have found it fruitless, and deserted it wit out a discovery of Christ. And this is t substance of the Religion and Godliness […] the choicest Formalists in the world; and o all those who in the Roman Synagogue a drawn to Mortification as they drive India to Baptism, or Cattle to water. I say then that Mortification is the work of Believers, and Believers only. To kill sin is the work o living men; where men are dead, (as all Unbelievers, the best of them are dead,) sin is alive, and will live.