is prescribed him, or the compofition of it Or whether he be able to judge of the increafe, or declining of his Disease, by the beating of his Pulfe: Though perhaps, fome infight into these things, might afford to fome perfons at least, fome fatisfaction; yet they are left fpecially to the care, and wif dom of the Phyfician, who often conceals the danger, left the fick Man's fears, and phanfie might do him more hurt, then his Phyfick doth him good. But it is otherwife in Soul fickness; a clear infight into the Dif eafe, is of great ufe, that every one should underftand (according to that expreffion, 1 Kings 8.38.) the plague of his own heart; and what ftrength it hath got over him; how long it hath been growing upon him, and by what means, and occafions, he fell into it. Thefe are good steps toward spiritual health. This is required in order to cure, fer. 3.13, Know, and acknowledge thine iniquity. And then, diftinctly to understand the way of cure, and to follow thofe diretions, which Jefus Chrift the great Phyfician of our Souls, prefcribes, is a far greater, and better step. Having premifed these things, I fhall now lay before you what is prefcribed by him. (1.) When the Body is full of corrupt humours, there is need of Purging Phyfick. 7. 1, Even fuch need hath the Soul, when it is over-grown, and oppreffed, with corrupt lufts, which are the noisome steams of Original corruption. It was well with them, of whom it is faid, 1 Pet. 1. 22. that they had purified their Souls. This is comman ded, Jam. 4.8, Cleanfe your hands ye finners, and purifie your hearts ye double minded.2 Cor. Let us cleanfe our felves from all filthiness of the flefb, and fpirit. This is abfolutely neceffary; for as fin is to the Soul, as fickness is to the Body; fo the purging out of these corrupt lufts, is to the Soul, what this purging Phyfick is to the Disease, Job. 15.2, Every branch in me (faith Chrift) I will purge, that it may bring forth more fruit. In Mal. 3.3. it is prophefied, That God will fit as a Refiner, and as a Purifier of Silver; and purifie the Sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord, an offering in Righteouf nefs. Now this purging, and emptying the heart of the evil treasure that is in it, is all one with mortification; and wherever, and in whom foever this is neglected, that necef fary and commendable practice of abounding in the External duties of Religion, avails nothing, to Soul-profperity: Ye fee this exemplified in the Pharifees, Matth. 6. Nay, though the Soul be alive to Chrift, yet if this be neglected, the Soul profpers not. This is evident in those Church members in Corinth. Corinth. Paul fuppofed them to be in Chrift: Yet their unmortified lufts, clearly proved it against them, that they did not thrive, their Souls did not profper. They were but Babes in Chrift: They were in a compara tive sense, in refpect to what they ought to have been, and might have been, but very Carnal still, 1 Cor. 3. 2,3. This then ought to be taken notice of, that befides the real foundation of universal mortification, that is laid in at first, in the Soul's Converfion to Christ, wherein the abfolute, and un-interrupted Reign of Original fin is broken; yet the continual exercise of mortification, is to be minded, and taken up, otherwise it is not like to go well with the Soul. For it is in this cafe, as it was with the Monarchies, Dan. 4. 12. Though their Dominion was taken away, yet their lives were continued for a feafon. So it is here; for Origi nal fin is like Leaven, which being mingled with the Dough,the Bread will always, more or less, tafte of it. So that the most mortified Chriftian hath still more mortifying work on his hands, which he must dispatch. Thofe that are in Chrift, Rom. 8. 1. and favour the things of the Spirit, vers. 5. Yet are preffed to a further progrefs in this duty, verf. 13, but if ye, through the Spirit, do mortifie the deeds of the Body, ye shall lives This in general. 2. When by communing with our own hearts, and obferving the out-goings of our own Spirits, we clearly fee that we are a mong the tranfgreffors, not among the righteous; I mean, among the fick, and not among the found, then speedily and feriously to set our felves to the use of fuch purging, and mortifying means, as Chrift hath pre fcribed in his word. And here I defire you to note,.that the means appointed, in this cafe, to be used, come under a double confideration. (1.) Some there are, which we may not defire, nor adventure upon, but as the Providence of God, according to the condition we are in, calls us to make use of (2.) There are other means, which, whatever our condition be, we ought, immediately, and daily, to apply our felves, to make ufe of, as the matter requires; and upon special occafions, in a manner more then ordinary. For the former of thefe, they are of two forts. (1.) The Evil of Affliction. And 1. The Evil of Affliction, of what kind foever it be, or for what cause foever, it comes to be our portion, whether upon our own Perfonal account; or upon the Com mon mon account of Religion. These are the means, that God makes ufe of, Dan. 11. 35, And fome of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white. Ifa. 27.9, By this therefore fhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away their fin. And they are fit means, for they have a great tendency to awaken the Confcience, as Gen. 42. 21, And they faid one to another, we are verily guilty concerning our Brother. To break the unruliness of our Spirits, and to make us willing to hearken to what God fpeaks un to us, in his word, Hof. 5. 15, I will go, and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and Jeek my face in their affliction, they will feek me early. And therefore, when God is pleafed to exercife us this way, we ought to improve them for this end. And it is a great aggravation of fin, and a great evidence of an heart greatly unmortified, not to do it, Ifa. 57.17, For the iniquity of his covetoufnefs, I was wroth, and Smote him; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly, in the way of his heart. Therefore, Hear the Rod, and who hath appointed it, Mic. 6. 9. Yet for all this, we may not defire to come under the lafh of any of God's Rods, when we are free, in hope that we may thus improve them: For who knows afore-hand, but that when he hath his de |