CLII lectures vpon Psalme LI preached at Ashby-Delazouch in Leicester-shire / by that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Mr. Arthur Hildersam.

Lecture LXVI. On Psalme 51.5. August 7. 1629.

* 1.1THe seventh and last Meanes of Mortification is this. He that desireth to mortifie, and subdue any corruption that is strongest in him, must flee to Christ by faith for strength against it; he must exercise and make use of his faith, for the mortifying of it; and he shall find great force in it, this way. All other meanes we have heard of, are in vaine without this, and this will do the deed, when all other meanes do faile. Now for the more plaine and profitable hand∣ling of this last meanes, these three points are distinctly to be considered. 1. That till a man hath true faith, he can mortifie no corruption. 2. That true faith wheresoever it is, will mortifie sin. 3. That for the mortifying of sinne faith must be exercised and put forth, and how that is to be don.

[ 1] First, Till a man be by a lively faith knit unto Christ, and so reconciled unto God, it is not possible that any one corruption should be truly mortified in him. True it is, a man that hath no faith in Christ, may seeme to be most free from many sins, he may live most civilly and unblameably. That which the Pharisee said of himselfe, Luk. 18.11. it may well be, was truly said, he was no extortioner, no unjust man, no adulterer; and that also, Mat. 19.20. All these things have I kept from my youth up. And Paul saith of himselfe, Phil. 3.6. that his life had beene blamelesse, even before he knew Christ. But yet neither in the Pharisee, nor in Paul, nor in any other that is not in Christ, was ever any sin truly mor∣tified and subdued. Some corruptions may lurke and lie very close in him and not breake forth nor shew themselves in outward actions, but mortified they cannot be. Neither the Fox, nor the Wolfe, nor the Lyon, nor the Beare will do any hurt, or shew what they be so long as they are either a sleepe, or tyed up. Sinne shall not have dominion over you (saith the Apostle, Rom 6.14.) for yee are not under the law but under grace. Till a man be under grace, in the estate of grace reconciled to God in Christ, sin must needs have dominion over him. For mortification is a part of sanctification, and a man must first be justified before he can be sanctified, Rom. 8.30. Whom he justified them he glorified. All true sanctification proceedeth from faith and is a fruit thereof. As our Saviour spea∣keth to Paul, Acts 26.18. of such as shall have inheritance in heaven, he calleth them such as are sanctified by faith in him. As the branch (saith our Saviour, Iohn 15.4.) cannot beare fruit of it selfe except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in mee. The good things you see in any man that is not by a lively faith ingrafted into Christ, are no better then wild grapes or figs unac∣ceptable to God, and unprofitable to themselves.

* 1.2And therefore it is a pitifull thing to see how men content themselves with this, that they have reformed their lives and find some good things in them∣selves, though they have no true faith at all nor ever seeke after it, We should first labour to make the tree good, or els the fruit can not be good, as our Saviour speaketh, Matth. 12.33.

[ 2] Secondly, True faith wheresoever it is will mortifie sin, it will abate, and weaken the strength of every lust. By faith God purifieth the heart, as Peter speaketh, Acts 15.9. Yea nothing hath that force to strengthen a man against any of his corruptions, and against the strongest tentations he can have unto any sin, as true faith hath. This the Apostle teacheth, 1 Iohn 5.4, 5. This is the victo∣ry that overcommeth the world, even our faith▪ who is he that overcommeth the world but he that beleeveth? He and none but he. See the force of faith both these waies in an instance or two.

First, For purifying the heart, and killing of our lusts; see the force of faith [ 1] in foure of the strongest, and most unconquerable of them all. 1. In malicious∣nesse and desire of revenge. When our Saviour had said, Luk. 17.3, 4. If thy brother trespasse against thee seuen times in a day, and seven times in a day turne againe to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him; The Apostles said unto the Lord (verse 5.) increase our faith. As if they had said, unlesse we have faith we shall never be able to abstaine from revenge so oft, but if thou wilt increase our faith we shall be able to conquer, even this sin. 2. Zacheus had beene a most covetous man (and that you know is a most strong corruption, and hardly subdu∣ed) and yet so soone as he had received Christ by faith into his heart, he over∣came this lust presently as you may see by the bountifull restitution, he was con∣tent to make, Luk. 19.8. He would restore fourefold. 3. Sundry of the Corin∣thians had beene outragiously filthy given not only to fornication, and adultery but even to Sodomy and unnaturall lust; 4. They had beene also given to drunkennesse as the Apostle telleth them, 1 Cor. 6.9.—11. (and these are sins you know that are hardly left, and overcome) and yet so soone as they had ob∣tained grace to beleeve in Christ aright they were presently delivered from the dominion of these sins. Such were some of you (saith he, 1 Cor. 6.11.) but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the spirit of our God.

And as for the force that is in faith to make us overcome the world and the [ 2] strongest tentations unto sin we can meet with in it, we have a notable example in Gods people that lived in the daies of the Maccabees of whom the Apostle saith, Heb. 11.33—37. that though they were tempted, and urged by most cruell tortures and persecutions to sin against God yet by faith they overcame them all. Yea (as he saith, verse 34.) out of weaknesse were made strong; that is, though they were in themselves at first as weake and timerous as any of us, can be in the like case, yet their faith in the end made them strong, to overcome all. And (blessed be God) no age, no place hath wanted examples of such, as through faith have overcome and vanquished as strong corruptions and as violent tenta∣tions as ever any of us can be subject unto. This force of faith to mortifie cor∣ruption, will yet be further evident unto us if we will consider two reasons and grounds of it.

First, True faith applieth all that Christ did and suffered particularly to every [ 1] beleever; and perswadeth his soule that out of his love to him, and care to keepe him from perishing everlastingly he endured all that he did endure. No tongue can expresse, nay no heart can conceive what torment, and misery our blessed Saviour did endure for them that he did undertake for. Looke but to his corpo∣rall sufferings to that that was outward, and open even to the view of men, and he was even in that respect, more wretched and contemptible then ever any o∣ther man was. Well might the Apostle say, Phil. 2.7. that he made himselfe of no reputation. Many were astonied at thee (saith the Prophet, Esa. 52.14) his vi∣sage was so marred more then any man, and his forme more then the sonnes of men. And 53.3. We (even his owne people, and Disciples) hid as it were our faces from him, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. And yet all this was no∣thing in comparison of his inward miseries, and sufferings, his soule was excee∣ding sorrowfull even unto death, Matth. 26.38. He was so overwhelmed with terror and feare of that death he was to endure, that in his prayer he uttered strong cries and roared and shed teares abundantly, Heb. 5.7. He sweat drops of blood (through the extreamity of his sorrow and anguish) so abundantly that they fell upon the ground, Luk. 22.44. Being on the crosse he could not containe himselfe but (though he knew who were by to heare him, Mat. 27.39—44. yet) cryed with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, verse 46. In a word he was made a curse, as the Apostle speaketh, Gal. 3.13. The

curse of God, and the torments due to all the elect, were laid on his blessed bo∣dy and soule to the full. Now true faith (as I said) applieth all this that Christ hath suffered particularly to every beleever, and perswadeth his soule that out of his love to him, he endured all this. It maketh him able to say with blessed Paul, Gal. 2.20. He loved me, and gave himselfe for me. And as Esa 53.4. He hath borne our griefes and carried our sorrowes. These sorrowes and terrours, and torments were mine, and I should have endured them everlastingly, if hee had not endured them for me. And verse 5. He was wounded for our transgres∣sions, and bruised for our iniquities; they were my sins, that put him to all these torments.

Now he that is thus perswaded Christ hath so loved him, hath had this re∣spect unto him in particular he cannot choose but he must needs out of love to Christ, hate and renounce his sins. If the spirit of Christ have perswaded us once that Christ hath so dearely loved us, we cannot choose but love him a∣gaine. We love him (saith the Apostle, 1 Io••. 4.19.) because he loved us first. The bloud of bulls and goats (saith the Apostle, Heb. 9 13, 14.) sprinkling the un∣cleane, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, that is, served the turne to cleanse a man from legall and ceremoniall pollutions. How much more shall the bloud of Christ (if it be sprinkled, and by faith particularly applyed to you) purge your consciences from dead workes to serve the living God? O there is great force in this particular application of the bloud of Christ, and assurance it was shed for thee, to mortifie sin in thee. The love of Christ (saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 5.14.) constraineth us. Nothing hath that force to curb corruption in Gods childe, and to compell him to live in Gods feare as this hath. They shall feare the Lord, and his goodnesse in the latter daies, that is, under the Gospell, saith the Prophet, Hos. 3.5. When the Apostle had prayed for the Ephesians 3.16. that they might be strengthened with might, by the spirit of God in the inner man; He prayeth further, verse 18, 19 that to that end they may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the length and breadth and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that yee might be filled with all the fulnesse of God. If thou didst indeed know the love of Christ aright, that out of his love to thee he endured such torments even to save thee from hell; thou couldst not choose but be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man to withstand and overcome thine owne corruptions.

I know the Papists prate much against, and blaspheme this doctrine of parti∣cular application of Christ by faith, of the assurance it giveth to a man of Gods speciall love to him in Christ; they say it layeth reines on mens necks, and openeth a gap to all licentiousnesse. But these two things I confidently affirme concerning this Doctrine by warrant of Gods Word.

[ 1] First, That as a Christian can have no sound comfort without it neither in life, nor death; so is there no doctrine hath that force in a good heart, to make it study, and practise mortification as this hath. Indeed with hypocrites wrath & judge∣ment will do more, as David saith, Psal. 78.34. When he shew them, then they sought him and returned, and inquired early after God; but it is farre otherwise with Gods child. The knowledge even of this more generall love and good∣nesse of the Lord, to poore sinners, that he is ready upon their repentance and turning to him to forgive their sins, how great soever they have beene; that he offereth Christ unto all men in the ministery of the Gospell, and proclaimeth his pardon in the most generall tearmes that can be, Ioh. 3.16. and commandeth all to beleeve that Christ died for them; Even the consideration of this gene∣rall love to all, that live in the Church, is a most strong and effectuall argument to perswade a man to forsake his sins and turne unto God. Nay till a man can be perswaded of that love and goodnesse of God, he can never have an heart to repent, and to turne unto him. This is plaine by that speach of the Evangelicall

Prophet, Esay 55.7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him returne unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for hee will abundantly pardon. Having these promises (saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 7.1. And what promises meaneth hee? Surely those men∣tioned. Cap. 6.16.18.) let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit.

Secondly. That hee that truly knoweth that Christ loved him, and gave him∣selfe [ 2] for him, cannot possibly grow licentious by it. He that hath gotten a con∣ceit and perswasion of heart, that Christ dyed for him, onely out of a carnall, and naturall knowledge of the Doctrine of the Gospel, may abuse this perswasion I grant, and grow the worse by it, such a one I know, may turne the grace of God into wantonnesse. But he that hath beene taught this of God, and brought to this perswasion by the word and spirit of God, cannot possibly abuse it, but it must needs mortifie sin in him. See a plaine proofe of this, Ephe. 4.20. But ye have not so learned Christ (so hee meaneth, as to live licentiously still, what fol∣loweth, verse 21?) if so bee that yee have heard him, and have beene taught by him, as the truth is in Iesus. As if hee should have said. Many live in the Church, and make a profession of Christ, by vertue onely of an out∣ward calling, they have heard, and beene taught by many excellent ministers of Christ, and by hearing them, have attained the knowledge of Christ, but they never heard Christ himselfe speaking to their heart, in the ministery of his word, they were never taught of him, as the truth is in Iesus. And what is it to be taught by him, as the truth is in Iesus? To know Christ aright? That hee telleth, verse 22. That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt, according to the deceitfull lusts. The man that truly knoweth Christ to have dyed for him, cannot but cast off, and renounce his lusts and corruptions. This is that also which the Prophet teacheth Zach. 12.10. I will powre upon them the spirit of grace, and they shall looke upon mee, whom they have pierced, and they shall mourne aboundantly. It is the spirit of grace onely that maketh a man able to know, and beleeve aright, that his sins pierced Christ; that Christ in all that hee suffered, had speciall respect unto him; nothing but the spirit of grace, maketh a man able to looke upon Christ, whom he hath pier∣ced, to consider it, to be moved with admiration, and astonishment, at this wonderfull love of his. But when once the spirit of grace, hath made a man to know, and beleeve, and consider this, it must needs affect the heart much, and make him mourne for his sins aboundantly; it must needs worke in him a loath∣ing of his sins, and a resolution to set himselfe against them.

O that all wee,* 1.3 that say wee know, and beleeve that Christ loved us, and dyed for us, would thinke seriously of this. Certainely, thou that sayest so, and findest no force in this assurance to mortifie sin in thee, and to strengthen thee against thy corruptions, deceivest thine owne soule, and hast no true assu∣rance that Christ bare such love to thee, as to endure so much for thy sake. Hereby wee know, that wee know him, to bee a propitiation for our sins (saith the Apostle, 1 Iohn 2.3, 4.) if wee keepe his commandements. He that saith, I know him (to bee a propitiation for my sins, for that is the knowledge of Christ, he speaketh of, as appeareth verse 2.) and keepeth not his commandements, is a lyar, and the truth is not in him. Hee is a ranke hypocrite, and void of all truth of grace, how faire a shew soever hee make in the Church of God. O feare∣full sentence against the most of such as say they have faith. And so much shall suffice to have bin spoken of the first reason, why true faith must needs mortifie corruption, wheresoever it dwelleth, it applyeth Christ particularly to every one that hath it.

The second reason of it is this, because true faith joyneth, and uniteth us [ 2] unto Christ. This union that faith maketh betweene us and Christ, is indeed

mysticall, and spirituall. Yea, this is a great mistery, as the Apostle calleth it, Ephes. 5.32. But though it bee mysticall, and supernaturall, yet it is most true and reall, a most neere and unspeakeable union, that faith maketh betweene Christ, and every beleeving soule; as neere as betweene husband and wife, Ephes. 5.23. as betweene the head and the members, Ephes. 1.22, 23. as be∣tweene the vine, and the branches, Iohn 15.5. By faith we receive him, and make him our owne, Iohn 1.12. Nay, we feed upon him, and make him our owne, as the meat we eate, which is turned into our substance, is made our owne, Iohn 6.35. By faith hee dwelleth in us, Ephes. 3.17. By faith wee are grafted into him. Rom. 11.23. Now if faith do so joyne us unto Christ, and make such an union betweene us and him, it is not possible, but it must needs mortifie and kill sin in us. Wee cannot bee thus joyned unto Christ, but wee must needs receive vertue and power from him, his spirit must needs bee derived from him unto us. He that is joyned unto the Lord (saith the A∣postle, 1 Cor. 6.17) is one spirit. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus (saith the Apostle, Rom. 8.2.) hath made me free from the law of sin, and of death. The spirit of Christ must needs free him from the dominion of sinne, that is thus by faith united to him. And therefore to conclude this second point. Cer∣tainly that man in whom sin reigneth still, in whom the strength of his naturall corruption is not at all abated, is not united unto Christ, and consequently hath no true faith in him. If wee say we have fellowship with him (saith the Apostle, 1 Iohn 1.6.) and walke in darkenes, we lye, and do not the truth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Means 7
• * 1.2

  Applic.
• * 1.3

  Applic.