But here a question may arise:1 Did not the Apostle grant they were dead before, and if they were dead to the world, they were without question dead to sin also, how then doth he speak to them to mortify sin, doth it not imply they had not been mortified before? I answer,2 the Apostle may well use this exhortation for divers reasons. First, many of them perhaps were dead but in appearance: they professed mortification but were not mortified. Secondly, it might be some of them had begun to use some exercises of mortification, but had not finished their mortification: sure it is, and we may see it by daily experience, that many being won by the word, and smitten with remorse, have sometimes the pangs of sorrow for their sins, but quickly are a weary of seeking sorrow in secret for sin: they give over, before they have soundly and sufficiently humbled their souls. But may some one say,3 how long should we continue our sorrows, or how long should we judge our selves in secret for our sins? I answer, thou must not give over thy sorrows,4 First, till the body of sin be destroyed, that is, till that general frame of sinfulness be dissolved, till I say thou have set some order in thy heart and life, so as the most sins thou didst before live in, be reformed. Secondly, it were expedient thou shouldest still seek to humble thy soul, till thou couldest get as much tenderness in bewailing thy sins, as thou wert wont to have in grieving for crosses, till thou couldst mourn as freshly for piercing Gods son, as for losing thine own sond. Thirdly, thou must sorrow till thou find the power of the most beloved and rooted sins to be in some measure weakened and abated. Fourthly, thou doest not well to give thy sorrows over, till thou find the testimony of Jesus in thy hart, that is, till God answer thy mournful requests of pardon, with some joys in the holy Ghost, and the dews of heavenly refreshings. But will some one say, must we lay all aside,6 and do nothing else but sorrow till we can find all those things? Ans. I mean not that men should neglect their callings all this while, or that they should carry an outward countenance of sorrowing before others, or that they should all this while afflict their hearts with discontentment, or the like.
But heere a question may arise:1 Did not the Apostle grant they were dead before, and if they were dead to the world, they were without question dead to sinne also, how then doth he speake to them to mortifie sinne, doth it not imply they had not beene mortified before? I answer,2 the Apostle may well vse this exhortation for diuers reasons. First, many of them perhaps were dead but in appearance: they professed mortification but were not mortified. Secondly, it might be some of them had begun to vse some exercises of mortification, but had not finished their mortification: sure it is, and wee may see it by daily experience, that many being wonne by the word, and smitten with remorse, haue sometimes the pangs of sorrow for their sinnes, but quickly are a weary of seeking sorrow in secret for sinne: they giue ouer, before they haue soundly and sufficiently humbled their soules. But may some one say,3 how long should we continue our sorrowes, or how long should we iudge our selues in secret for our sins? I answer, thou must not giue ouer thy sorrowes,4 First, till the body of sinne bee destroyed, that is, till that generall frame of sinfulnesse be dissolued, till I say thou haue set some order in thy heart and life, so as the most sinnes thou diddst before liue in, bee reformed. Secondly, it were expedient thou shouldest still seeke to humble thy soule, till thou couldest get as much tendernesse in bewayling thy sinnes, as thou wert wont to haue in greeuing for crosses, till thou couldst mourne as freshly for piercing Gods sonne, as for losing thsne owne sonned. Thirdly, thou must sorrow till thou finde the power of the most beloued and rooted sinnes to bee in some measure weakned and abated. Fourthly, thou doest not well to giue thy sorrowes ouer, till thou finde the testimony of Iesus in thy hart, that is, till God answer thy mournfull requests of pardon, with some ioyes in the holy Ghost, and the deawes of heauenly refreshings. But will some one say, must we lay all aside,6 and do nothing else but sorrow till we can finde all those things? Ans. I meane not that men should neglect their callings all this while, or that they should carrie an outward coun•enance of sorrowing before others, or that they should all this while afflict their hearts with discontentment, or the like.
- 1Quest.
- 2Answ.
- 3Quest.
- 4Answ. We must continue sorrowing till we find four things. Rom. 6.Answ. We must continue sorrovving till vvee finde foure things. Rom. 6.
- dZach. 12.10.
- 6Quest. Answ.
