eth many groans from them with Paul, "Woe is me, miserable
man! who shall deliver me?" Such souls are, in a manner, so to speak, half
redeemed, who being made sensible of their bondage, groan and pant for a
Redeemer. The day of their complete redemption is at hand. All of you are
witnesses of this, that there are some thus freed, but they are signs and
wonders indeed to the world. Their kinsmen, their acquaintance, their
friends and neighbours, wonder what is become of them. They think it
strange they walk not, and run not into that same excess of riot with
them. But whosoever thou art, that art escaped from under the slavery of
sin, wonder at the world, that doth run so madly on their own destruction.
Think it strange, that thou didst run so long with them, and that all will
not run in these pleasant ways with thee. Think it strange that thou
runnest so slowly, when so great a prize is to be obtained,--an immortal
and never-fading crown. If mortifying and crucifying the lusts of the
flesh, if dying to the world, and to thyself, seem very hard and
unpleasant to thee, if it be as the plucking out of thine eye, and cutting
off thine hand; know then, that corruption is much alive yet, and hath
much power in thee. But remember, that if thou canst have but so much
grace and resolution, as to kill and crucify these lusts, without foolish
and hurtful pity,--if thou canst attain that victory over thyself, thou
shalt never be a loser. Thou canst not repent it afterward. To die to
ourselves and the world, to kill sin within--O that makes way to a life hid
from the world, one hour whereof is better than many ages in sinful
pleasure! Quicken thyself often with this thought, that there is a true
life after such a death, and that thou canst not pass into it, but by the
valley of the death of thy lusts. Remember, that thou dost but kill thine
enemies, which embrace that they may strangle thee; and then stir up
yourself with this consideration,--the life of sin will be thy death.
Better enter heaven without these lusts, than go to hell with them.

Sermon IX.

Verse 2.--"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death."

That which makes the delivery of men from the tyranny of sin and death
most difficult, and utterly impossible unto nature, is, that sinners have
given up themselves unto it, as if it were true liberty, that the will and
affections of men are conquered,