Best Quotes from "The Mortification of Sin"

Here is a long list of some of my favorite quotes from John Owen’s, The Mortification of Sin, abridged edition, published by Banner of Truth. The original was published in 1656. I hope that these are encouraging to you in your war against sin. This will hopefully lure you into reading the whole book, because there is a lot more where this came from.

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, should also make it their business all of their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin. 2

Our strength in the performance of this duty comes through the Spirit. All other ways of mortification are in vain. 2

The apostle calls them ‘deeds’ in that they are an outward expression of yielding to an inward lust. Indwelling lust and sin is the fountain and principal of all sinful action. To ‘mortify’ means to put any living thing to death. To kill a man, or any other living thing, is to take away the principle of all its strength, vigour, and power, so that it cannot act, or exert, or put forth any proper actings of its own. Indwelling sin is compared to a person, a living person, called ‘the old man’, with his faculties, and properties, his wisdom, craft, subtlety, and strength. 3

Thus it is the constant duty of believers to render a death blow to the deeds of the flesh, that they may not have life and strength to bring forth their destructive influence... the vigour, power, and comfort of our spiritual life depend on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh. 4

Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? You must always be at it while you live; do not take a day off from this work; always be killing sin or it will be killing you. 5

He that is appointed to kill an enemy, has only done half of his work if he quits before the enemy is dead (Gal. 6:9; Heb 12:1; 2 Cor 7:1) … When sin lets us alone, we may let sin alone; but sin is always active when it seems to be the most quiet, and its waters are often deep when they are calm. We should therefore fight against it and be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even when there is the least suspicion… If sin is always acting, we are in trouble if we are not always mortifying. He that stands still and allows his enemies to exert double blows upon him without resistance will undoubtedly be conquered in the end. If sin is subtle, watchful, strong, and always at work in the business of killing our souls, and we are slothful, negligent, and foolish in this battle, can we expect a favourable outcome? 7

There is no safety but in a constant warfare for those who desire deliverance from sin’s perplexing rebellion… This advance of sin keeps the soul from seeing that it is drifting from God. The soul becomes indifferent to the seed of sin as it continues to grow. This growth has no boundaries… Sin precedes higher by degrees; it hardens the heart as it advances. This enables the deceitfulness of sin to drive the soul deeper and deeper into sin 8

It is a sad thing to consider the fearful outcome of this neglect, which threatens us each day. Do we not see broken hearted Christians, who were humble, tender, fearful to offend, and zealous for God in all His ways, turn earthly, carnal, cold, and wrathful through a neglect of this duty? They learn to comply with the men of the world and the things of the world to the scandal of their faith. 10

If vain spending of time, idleness, envy, strife, variance, emulations, wrath, pride, worldliness, selfishness (1 Cor 1), are the mark of Christians, we have them among us in abundance. 11

Let a man pretend what he will, little concern over sin is a serious offence to the grace and mercy of God! 12

When men are troubled with the guilt of a sin that has prevailed over them, they promise themselves and God that they will sin thus no more, but they seek to accomplish their own victory. They watch over themselves and pray for a short season until the pain of conviction waxes cold and the sense of sin wears off. Mortification also goes out the door, and sin returns to its former dominion. These ways are not sufficient. There is no self-endeavour that can accomplish mortification. Almighty energy is necessary for its accomplishment. 16-7

Mortification is not just the improvement of our natural constitution. Some men have an advantage in their natural temperament over others. They do not have the violence of unruly passions and affections that many others have. Let these men cultivate and improve their natural frame and temper by discipline, and they may seem to themselves and others very mortified men. It may be, however, that their hearts are a standing sink of all abominations. Someone may not have so much trouble all his life, perhaps with anger and passion, as others, and yet not advance as far in true mortification. Our natural tempers are not a good test for true mortification. Let those with gentle natural temperaments consider the need for self-denial, or such spiritual sins as unbelief and envy, to get a better view of their true selves. 28

He that changes pride for worldliness, or sensuality for legalism, does damage to himself and others. Let him not think that he has mortified the sin that he seems to have left. He has changed his master, but is a servant still. 29

Occasional victories over sin are not mortification… When that sin breaks out sadly and seriously in a way that greatly disturbs his peace, terrifies his conscience, brings the dread of scandal, and clearly provokes the Lord to judgment. This may awaken and stir up all that is in that man, filling him with the abhorrence of sin, and sending him to God to cry out for life and help to set himself against the sin. The whole man, both spiritual and natural, is aroused. Sin shrinks. The sin in question appears to lie dead before him. It is like a soldier who draws near the enemy lines and kills an important person. The guards then awake and make strict inquiry after the enemy. The enemy, meanwhile, has hidden himself like one that is dead until the noise and tumult is over. Though for the time being he is quiet, there is in his mind the firm resolution to do more mischief at the first opportunity… However, it has not received a mortal wound, and has merely been temporarily suppressed. When the fear of trial and affliction ceases to occupy the thoughts, the sin returns again to its former life and vigour. 29-30

The reason that the natural man does not always pursue a single lust night and day is because he has so many different lusts to serve. Each one is crying out to be satisfied.32

...lust gets its strength by temptation. When a suitable temptation falls in line with a lust, the lust obtains a new life, vigorous, power, violence and rage that it did not seem capable of before…. His lust is just as strong, though not as apparent. His lust may not be as outwardly scandalous as others, but it is lust just the same. It may not disturb the soul as violently as other sins, but it nevertheless controls him as he secretly harbours it. 34

When a man is nailed to a cross, he at first struggles, strives, and cries out with great strength and might; but as his blood and spirits waste, his stivings are faint and seldom, his cries low and hoarse, and scarce to be heard. So when a man first determines to conquer a lust or sin, and to deal with it in earnest, it struggles with great violence to break loose; it cries with earnestness and impatience to be satisfied and relieved. By mortification, the blood and spirits of it are let out, it moves seldom and faintly, cries sparingly, and is scarce heard in the heart; it may sometimes have a dying pang that makes an appearance of great vigour and strength, but it is quickly over, especially if it is kept from considerable success… Romans 6. Sin, he says, is crucified; it is fastened to the cross. To what end? ‘That the body of sin might be brought to nothing.’ The power of sin is weakened and abolished little by little, so that we should ‘no longer be enslaved to sin’; that is, so that sin should no longer be our master and control us as before… 35

We need to recognize the enemy we are dealing with and resolve that it is to be destroyed by all means possible. The battle is a vigorous and hazardous one that deals with issues of eternity. When a man is not very concerned, and sees his lust as a trivial thing, it is an indication that he is not mortified or even heading in that direction. We cannot go forward unless we recognize the plague of our own hearts (1 Kings 8:38). It is to be feared that too many do not realize the enemy that they carry about with them in their hearts. 36

We need to be intimately acquainted with the ways, ways, methods, advantages, and occessions which give lust its success. This is how men deal with their enemies. They search out their plans, ponder their goals, and consider how and by what means they have revealed over them in the past. Then they can be defeated. Without this kind of strategic thinking, warfare is very primitive... One of the choicest and most important parts of spiritual wisdom is to find out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin; to consider where its greatest strength lies - how it uses occasions, opportunities, and temptations to gain an advantage. We need to find out its pleas, pretences and reasonings, and see what its strategies, disguises and excuses are! We need to set the Spirit against the craft of the old man; to stace this serpent in all of its turning and widnings, and to bring its most secret tricks out into the open… We need to continue to attack out lusts daily with the spiritual weapons that are most detrimental to it. This is the key to the warfare. Even when we think that a lust is dead because it is quiet, we must labour to give it new wounds and new blows every day (Col. 3:5) 37

we weaken lust’s presence and enticements. We must implant, promote, the continual residence of, and cherish those grace that stand in direct opposition to the lust. So, for example, by the implanting and growth of humility, pride is weakened. Passion is weakened by patience, uncleanness by purity of mind and conscience, and love of this world by heavenly-mindedness… We must use every weapon available to conquer it! 38-9

Mortification is not the present duty of unregenerate men. God calls them to conversion first. He calls them to the conversion of their whole soul, not just the mortification of this or that particular lust. You might laugh at a man that would build without a foundation. Each day that he builds his previous day’s work falls down. Look at him as he continues in the same course day by day. So it is with those who seek mortification without salvation...unless a man is regenerated and a true believer, all his attempts at mortification are to no purpose. 43

I do not encourage men to come away from mortification, but to come to conversion. He that shall call a man from amending a hold in the wall of his house, to quench a fire that is consuming the whole building, is not his enemy. Poor soul! You set yourself against a particular sin, and do not realize that you are nothing but sin…. We must always remember to speak in such a way as to lead them to the discovery of their state and condition. Otherwise we may lead men to formality and hypocrisy and not accomplish the end of preaching… Drive the conviction to the heart, not just particular sin. We must not call men to mortification, but to believing. Vows and the like to mortify sin, apart from saving grace, commonly make lust more impetuous… they have many endeavors for mortification, but an ignorance of the righteousness of Christ and the work of the Spirit. Chapter 7

We must hate all sin, as sin, and not just that which troubles us. Love for Christ, because He went to the cross, and hate for sin that sent Him there, is the solid foundation for true spiritual mortification. To seek mortification only because a sin troubles us proceeds from self-love…. 50

We must not be concerned only with that which troubles us, but with all that troubles God. God’s work is to have full victory, and universal obedience, not just the victory over the sins which trouble our soul. 51

Spiritual negligence itself is really a choice. That fact that our sin results from negligence does not make it less serious. We may not resolve to be negligent, but if we choose ways that lead in that direction, we are responsible for our choice. Men should not think that evil in their hearts is less serious because they are surprised that it arises. It is their neglect of watching over their hearts that causes them to be surprised.

59

If a man is under the power of his lust to the extent that the only opposition to it is the law, and the arms of the law, hell and judgement, and cannot fight against it with gospel weapons, it is very evident that sin has control over his will and affections, and has prevailed and conquered. 60

If your lust has driven you away from stronger gospel considerations, then considerations of law and penalty will speedily fail you also. These will not restrain you when you have voluntarily given up to your enemy a means of preservation a thousand times stronger. Be sure of this, that unless you recover yourself rapidly from this condition, the things you fear will come upon you. Wheat gospel principles have not done, legal motives cannot do! 61

One of the deceptions of a prevailing lust is to play down its guilt, saying, in effect: ‘Is it not a little one?’ 65… There are many ways in which sin diverts the mind from an appropriate sense of guilt.

We, doubtless, are more evil than any if we continue to sin in the light of grace. I shall not insist that the sin itself of such persons is greater than others, even though they sin against more love, mercy, grace, assistance, relief, means, and deliverances. But do consider in your mind that the guilt of sinning against grace is more serious than if you did not have any grace at all 67

‘Beware’, he says, ‘use all means, consider your temptations, watch diligently; there is a treachery, a deceit in sin that tends to the hardening of your hearts from the fear of God.’ This hardening is so serious that your heart becomes insensitive to moral influence. Sin leads to this. Every sin and lust will make a little progress in this direction. You who at one time were very tender and would melt under the influence of the Word and under trials will grow ‘sermon-proof’ and ‘trial-proof’. 68

For any that lie under the abiding power of sin, the threats of destruction and everlasting separation from God should be held out (Heb. 3:12, 10:38) 72

‘He does not afflict willingly or grieve the children of men’ (Lam. 3:33). Shall we then daily grieve Him? If there is any gracious character in our soul, if it is not entirely hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, then not grieving the Spirit is surely a great motive for purity. Consider who you are , and who the Spirit is whom you are grieving. Consider what He has done for you already and be ashamed! Among those who walk with God, there is not greater motive and incentive to universal holiness, and the preserving of our hearts and spirits in all purity and cleanness, than this, that we keep our hearts undefiled for the blessed Spirit Who dwells in us as the temple of God, and keeps us for the Lord. … 74

“[Sin] will take away a man’s usefulness in his generation. His works, his endeavors, his labours, will seldom receive blessing from God. He labours as though in the fire, without any success in his work. The world is full of poor professors without reality. How few are there that walk in beauty and glory! How barren, and how useless are they for the most part! Among many reasons that may be assigned for this sad state is the harbouring of spirit-devouring lusts in one’s bosom. Sin lies as a worm at the root of obedience and corrodes and weakens it day by day. All graces, ways and means whereby one might be improved are hindered by sin. 75

The purpose of the law is to discover sin and the guilt of it. It should awaken and humble the soul and reveal sin in all of its horrible colours. If you are unwilling to deal with it on this account, this is an indication of a hard heart under the deceitfulness of sin. This is a door that many professing believers have entered, which has led them into open apostasy. They have claimed deliverance from the law so that they might ignore its guidance and direction. They do not want to measure their sin by the law any more. Little by little this attitude influences their daily lives, and allows their will and affections to run to all manner of abominations. It is important, then, for your conscience to pay attention to the law as it speaks concerning your lust and corruption. If your ears are open, the law will speak with a voice that will make you tremble. The law will cast you to the ground and fill you with astonishment. If you intend ever to gain the victory in mortification, you must tie your conscience to the law. Do not allow it to dodge the law’s arrows. Allow the law to give you a clear view of your guilt. 78 Look on Him whom you have pierced, and let it trouble you. Say to your soul, ‘What have I done? What love, what mercy, what blood, what grace have I despised and trampled on! Is this how I pay back the Father for His love? Is this how I thank the Son for His blood? Is this how I respond to the Holy Spirit for His grace? Have I defiled the heart that Christ died to wash, and the Holy Spirit has chosen to dwell in? How can I keep myself out of the dust? What can I say to the dear Lord Jesus! How shall I hold up my head with any boldness before Him? Do I count fellowship with Him of so little value that, for this vile lust’s sake, I have hardly left Him any room in my heart? How shall I escape if I neglect so great salvation? What shall I say to the Lord? His love, mercy, grace, goodness, peace, joy, consolation - I have despised all of them! I have considered them as nothing, that I might harbour lust in my heart. Have I seen God as my Father, that I might provoke Him to His face? Was my soul washed that there might be room for new defilements? Shall I seek to disappoint the purpose of the death of Christ? Shall I grieve the Holy Spirit, Who has sealed me unto the day of redemption?’ Allow your conscience to consider these things every day. See if your conscience can resist the way in which these considerations aggravate guilt. If this does not cause your conscience to sink and melt, I fear that your case is very dangerous. 79

As long as your conscience is able to justify your failure, your soul will never vigorously attempt the mortification of sin. 81

Your longing heart will now watch for all opportunities to gain an advantage over its enemy. It will readily fall in with all the help it can find to accomplish sin’s destruction. A strong desire is the life-blood of praying without ceasing! A strong desire sets faith and hope to work, and drives the soul in following hard after the Lord. Get your heart into a strong longing and panting attitude. Long for, and cry out for, righteousness…. 82

If you are particularly inclined to any particular sinful action, it is but the breaking out of original lust in your nature, and this should humble you. If your constitution is particularly prone to give away to a particular lust, then Satan and sin have a special advantage, and you must, with extraordinary watchfulness, care, and diligence, fight to overcome these attacks against your soul. Thousands have been on this account hurried headlong to hell, who might otherwise at least have gone at a more gentle, less provoking, and less mischievous rate. 83

Consider what ways, what kinds of company, what opportunities, what studies, what occupations, what conditions have at any time given, or do usually give, advantages to your sins, and set yourself against them all. Men will do this with their bodily infirmities. The season, the diet and the air that have proved offensive are avoided. Are the things of the soul of less importance? If we dare to dally with the occasions of sin, we will dare to sin. He that will venture on the temptation to wickedness will venture on wickedness itself… You might tell a man that he will commit such and such sins and he might be surprised. But if he is willing to venture upon the occasions that lead to these sins, he has little ground left for his confidence. 85

Rise mightily against the first sign of sin. Do not allow it to gain the smallest ground. … If you allow it one step, it will take another. It is impossible to fix boundaries for sin! It is like water in a channel. If it ever breaks out, it will flow on through the breach. It is easier to stop it in the beginning than after it has begun to run… Do you find corruption beginning to entangle your thoughts? Rise up with all of your strength against it, as if it had already started to overcome you. Consider what an unclean thought desires. It desires to have you immerse yourself in folly and filth… Set yourself against it as if it had already surrounded you in wickedness. If you do not in this way attack temptation, you will not win the battle. If sin gains ground in your affections so that you delight in it, your understanding will also come to think little of it. 85-6

Seek to keep your heart in a continual awe of the majesty of God. Realize that the most learned and eminent, and the nearest and most familiar in communion with God, still in this life, know but very little of Him and His glory. 89

("I think the single most important thing we need to have is an awakening to the transcendent majesty and holiness of God." - RC Sproul)

Notwithstanding all our confidence of high attainments, all our notions of God are but childish with regard to His infinite perfections. We lisp and babble in our most accurate, as we think, understandings of God. We may love, honour, believe, and obey our Father; and in this our faith He accepts our childishness 91

We may suppose that we have here attained great knowledge, clear and high thoughts of God, but, alas! When He shall bring us into His presence we shall cry out, ‘We never knew Him as He is; only a thousandth of His glory, and perfection, and blessedness, has ever entered our hearts.” 92

All we can do is believe and admire. We profess, as we are taught that God is infinite, omnipotent, eternal; and we know the discussions about His omnipresence, immensity, infinity and eternity. We have, I say, words and notions about these things; but as to the things themselves, what do we really know? What do we comprehend of them? Can the mind of man do any more than be swallowed up in an infinite abyss and give itself up to what it cannot conceive or express? Is not our understanding ‘brutish’ in the contemplation of such things? 94

Our faith rests solely on His testimony and not upon some outward manifestation of evidence. The object of our faith is beyond our ability to grasp fully. Our faith then is ‘seeing dimly, as in a mirror’. Thus all that we know is low, dark and obscure. 96

Our darkness and weakness is no excuse for our negligence and disobedience. Who can say that he has lived up to the knowledge that he has of the perfections, excellencies and will of God? God’s purpose in giving us any knowledge of Himself is that we may glorify Him as God. That is, that we love him, serve Him, believe and obey Him, and give Him all the honour and glory that is due from such poor sinful creatures to a sin-pardoning God and Creator. 97

The excellence of a believer is not that he has a large apprehension of things, but that what he does understand, which may be a very little, he sees in the light of the Spirit of God. He has a saving, soul-transforming light. This is what gives us communion with God. 98

Will not a due apprehension of the inconceivable greatness of God, and the infinite distance in which we stand from Him, fill our souls with a holy and awful fear of Him, and keep us in a frame unsuited for the thriving and flourishing of any lust whatever. We should continually be accustomed to reverential thoughts of God's greatness and omnipresence. Then we will always be watchful against any behaviour not suited to his presence. 99

If men are wounded by sin, disturbed and perplexed, and realize that there is no remedy for them except in the mercy of God and through the blood of Christ; and if such look to Him and His covenant promises, and upon this basis quiet their hearts, believing that it will indeed be well with them, and that God will be gracious to them - and yet they do not detest with utter hatred the sin in question - this is to heal themselves and not to be healed by God. 103

… in their prayers to God they flattered Him. 105... They call to the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, but they still keep the sweet morself of sin under their tongue…. Perhaps you like the sin well enough, but only dislike the consequences of it… there has not been that thorough hatred of sin that was necessary 106

When you seek to heal yourself, you find yourself prone to go back again, instead of being utterly weaned from your sin. This is a clear indication that you have sought to heal your own soul and that Jesus Christ and His Spirit were not there. Often the natural man, having done his own work of healing, will soon be ready to seek for a new wound! When God speaks peace, there comes along with it so much sweetness, and such a discovery of His love, that there is a strong inclination and desire to deal perversely no more! 111

Set your faith upon Christ for the killing of your sin. His blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls. Live in the light of Christ's great work, and you will die a conqueror. You will, through the good providence of God, live to see your lust dead at your feet. 116

By faith fill your heart with a right consideration of the provision that God has made in the work of Christ for the mortification of your sins. By faith ponder this, that though you are in no way able to conquer your own disordered state, and though you are weary of fighting it, and though you are ready to faint, there is enough in Jesus Christ to give you relief… consider the fullness of grace, all the riches and treasures of strength, might, and help that are laid up in Christ for our support 117

A PRAYER:

“I AM A POOR, WEAK CREATURE; UNSTABLE AS WATER, AND I CANNOT EXCEL. THIS CORRUPTION IS TOO HARD FOR ME, AND IS THE DOORWAY TO THE RUIN OF MY SOUL. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. MY SOUL HAS BECOME PARCHED GROUND, AND A HABITATION OF DRAGONS. I HAVE MADE PROMISES AND BROKEN THEM. I HAVE MADE VOWS, BUT I DID NOT KEEP THEM. MANY TIMES I HAVE BEEN PERSUADED THAT I HAVE GAINED THE VICTORY, AND THAT I SHOULD BE DELIVERED, BUT I WAS DECIEVED. NOW I PLAINLY SEE THAT WITHOUT SOME GREAT HELP AND ASSISTANCE, I WILL PERISH AND BE FORCED TO ABANDON GOD. BUT YET, THOUGH THIS IS MY STATE AND CONDITION, I WILL LIFT UP MY HANDS THAT HANG DOWN, AND STRENGTHEN MY FEEBLE KNEES, FOR, BEHOLD THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS ALL THE FULLNESS OF GRACE IN HIS HEART, AND ALL THE FULLNESS OF POWER IN HIS HAND. HE IS ABLE TO SLAY ALL OF THESE ENEMIES. THERE IS SUFFICIENT PROVISION IN HIM FOR MY RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE. HE CAN TAKE MY DROOPING, DYING SOUL AND MAKE ME MORE THAN A CONQUEROR” 118

I say, then, we must by faith consider the supply and fullness that we have in Christ Jesus, and how HGe can at any time give strength and deliverance. If you do not immediately find success in your battle, you will at least be secure in your chariot, and you will not flee from the field while the conflict continues. You will be kept from utter discouragement and lying down in unbelief, and from turning aside to false means and remedies that cannot help you in the end. 119

RAISE UP YOUR HEART IN FAITH WITH AN EXPECTATION OF RELIEF FROM CHRIST.119

IF YOU DO NOT GET HELP FROM HIM, YOU WILL NOT FIND HELP FROM ANYONE! ANY OTHER WAY OR ENDEAVOUR WITHOUT CHRIST’S HELP WILL BE TO NO PURPOSE. IT WILL DO YOU NO GOOD. ONLY CHRIST AND THE MEANS APPOINTED BY HIM WILL GIVE YOU LASTING HELP.

Consider His mercy, tenderness, and kindness as He represents us as our great High Priest at the right hand of God. Certainly He pities you in your distress. 121. He has the tenderness of a mother to a nursing child.

I shall be bold to say that this one thing of expecting relief from Christ, on the basis of his mercy as our high priest, will be a better and speedier means of destroying your lust and the disorder of your soul than all the most rigid efforts at self-mortification that the sons of men engage in. Yes, and let me add that no soul has ever perished by the power of any lust, sin, or corruption who could raise his soul by faith to expect such relief from Jesus Christ (Isa 55:1-3; Rev 3:18…)

CONSIDER ALSO THE FAITHFULNESS OF HIM WHO HAS PROMISED. Considering this great attribute will strengthen your expectation of His help. God has promised to send relief in our need. He will fulfil His word to the utmost… David said that he watched for help from God as one who watches for the morning Psa 130:6... Your relief from Christ will be like this. It will come in its season, as the dew and resin upon the parched ground, for faithful is He who has promised. Particular promises to this effect are innumerable; let your soul always be furnished with them, especially those that seem particularly appropriate to your condition … IT ENGAGES THE LORD TO GIVE A FULL AND SPEEDY ASSISTANCE. 123

NOTHING MOTIVATES THE HEART OF A MAN TO BE USEFUL AND HELPFUL TO ANOTHER MORE THAN WHEN THE OTHER LOOKS TO HIM FOR HELP. THE KINDNESS, CARE, AND PROMISES OF CHRIST ENCOURAGE US TO EXPECT HIS HELP. OUR RISING to seek it in our time of need must greatly engage His heart to assist us. The Psalmist gives us this certain truth, that the Lord does not forsake those that seek Him (Psa. 9:10). When the heart learns to rest in God, the Lord will surely vindicate his confidence! He will NEVER be as a supply of water that fails’ nor has the Lord ever said to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek My face in vain.’ If Christ is the fountain of our supply, He will not fail us. 124

IT ENCOURAGES THE HEART TO MAKE DILIGENT USE OF EVERY MEANS BY WHICH CHRIST MAY REVEAL HIMSELF TO THE SOUL… When you expect help from a man, you use means to obtain what you are seeking. The beggar that expects alms will lie at the door or in the way of the one from whom he seeks help. The ways and means by which Christ usually communicates Himself are His ordinances. He that is seeking help from Christ should seek Him in these. As our faith looks to Christ for help, it sets our hearts to work. It is not an idle, groundless hope. If there is any vigour, efficacy, and power in prayer or sacrament to help in mortifying sin a man will assuredly be interested in it all, because of his expectation of help. On this account I would reduce all specific action by means of prayer, meditation, and the like, to the same head 124

PLACE YOUR FAITH PARTICULARLY UPON THE DEATH, BLOOD, AND CROSS OF CHRIST: That is, on Christ as crucified and slain. Mortification is based particularly upon the death of Christ. This is one of the main purposes of the death of Christ, and shall assuredly be accomplished by it. He died to destroy the works of the devil. Both our fallen nature, as a result of Satan’s temptation in the Garden of Eden , and the strength of his continued suggestions in daily life, were destroyed by the work of Christ! He died to destroy it all. He ‘gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works’ Titus 2:14 This was his aim and intention in giving himself for us. In this He will not fail! He died that we might be freed from the power of our sins, and be purified from all of tours defiling lusts. This purpose of His cannot fail! 126 also see Eph. 5:25-7, 1 John 1:7, Heb 1:3, Rev 1:5, Heb 9:14, Rom. 6:2

We are dead to sin by profession; dead to sin by obligation to be so; dead to sin by participation in His virtue and power for the killing of it; dead to sin by union and interest in Christ, through whom and by whom it is killed. How can we thus live in it? 126 READ ROMANS 6:4-6

When you meditate upon the death of Christ, keep in mind the power available to us, and your desire to be conformed to Christ (Phil 3:10, col 3:3, 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Let faith gaze upon Christ as He is set forth crucified and dying for us. Look upon Him under the weight of our sins, praying , bleeding, and dying (1 Cor 15:3, 1 Pet 1:18-10, 5:1-2, Col 1:13-14). Bring Him in that condition into your heart by faith. Apply his blood so shed to your corruptions. Do this daily.

Finally, CONSIDER THE PART THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT PLAYS IN MORTIFICATION AND THE EFFECTS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY ASCRIBED TO HIM. IN ONE WORD, THIS WHOLE WORK WHICH I HAVE DESCRIBED AS OUR DUTY, IS EFFECTED, CARRIED ON, AND ACCOMPLISHED BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT IN ALL ITS PARTS AND ALL ITS DEGREES. HE ALONE CLEARLY AND FULLY CONVINCEs THE HEART OF THE EVIL, GUILT, AND DANGER OF THE CORRUPTION, LUST OR SIN THAT IS TO BE MORTIFIED…. AN UNBELIEVING HEART (WHCIH WE ALL HAVE IN PART) WILL COMPROMISE EASILY, UNLESS IT IS OVERPOWERED BY CLEAR AND POWERFUL CONVICTIONS.

THE SPIRIT ALONE REVEALS TO US THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST FOR OUR RELIEF. … THE SPIRIT ALONE ESTABLISHES THE HEART IN THE EXPECTATION OF RELIEF FROM CHRIST. THIS IS THE GREAT SOVEREIGN MEANS OF MORTIFICATION, AS WE HAVE SEEN. THE SPIRIT ALONE BRINGS THE CROSS OF CHRIST INTO OUR HEARTS WITH ITS SIN-KILLING POWER. BY THE SPIRIT WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO THE DEATH OF CHRIST.129 THE SPIRIT IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR SANCTIFICATION. HE GIVES NEW SUPPLIES AND INFLUENCES OF GRACE FOR HOLINESS AND SANCTIFICATION WHEN OUR RESOLVE TO RESIST IS WEAKENED (EPh. 3:16-18)

ALL OF OUR SOUL’S PRAYERS TO GOD IN OUR NEED ARE SUPPORTED BY THE SPIRIT. FROM WHERE DO WE FIND POWER, LIFE, AND VIGOUR IN PRAYER? IS IT NOT FROM THE SPIRIT? …