The Duty of Mortification
Bp. Brownrigg. Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? The trial and examination of our hearts and ways in reference to God is a duty which, though hard and difficult, is exceedingly useful and beneficial to us. I. THE DUTY OF MORTIFICATION. The cleansing of our hearts, to be pure from sin. 1. The nature of the action. Cleansing. A word implying some change and alteration that is to be made in us. That which is purged was formerly impure. God is pure; the saints are purged and purified. This shows us the nature of sin: it is a matter of uncleanness. Uncleanness is a debasing quality; a loathsome quality; a thing odious in itself and for itself. Cleansing shows the sovereign virtue of grace and repentance. It is of a purging virtue. It hath a power of cleansing us from the pollutions of sin. It is compared to clean water, which washes away filth. To a wind, which, passing, cleanseth. To a fire, that consumes dross and corruption. 2. The property of the agent. The text makes us agents in this great work. Sin is cleansed in our justification, when it is pardoned and forgiven. The act of forgiveness is God's alone. Sin is cleansed by mortification, and regeneration, and conversion. The progress of these acts God works in us, and by us. His Spirit enables us to carry forward this work which He graciously begins, and to cleanse ourselves. 3. The circumstance of time. "I have cleansed." Mortification is a work of long continuance; it requires progress and perseverance. II. THE OBJECT THAT MUST BE WROUGHT UPON. "The heart." The whole man must be cleansed, but first and specially the heart. The heart is the fountain and original from whence all other uncleannesses do stream and flow. The heart is the lurking-hole, to which sin betakes itself. The heart is the proper seat and residence of sin. III. THE MEASURE OR DEGREE OF MORTIFICATION. "I am pure from my sin." This is the high aim that a Christian must set to himself, to press forward to perfection. The text lays our sin at our own doors, and so it concerns us to rid ourselves of it. Sin is the offspring of our will. There is the sin of inbred and natural inclination; the sin to which our particular age disposes us: childhood is idle, youth wanton, age covetous; the sins of our calling and vocation: every calling has its special temptations. IV. THE DIFFICULTY OF MORTIFICATION. This question, "Who?" is not meant for all sorts of sinners. It is not propounded to the profane man, to the grossly ignorant man, or to the negligent and careless man. The question reaches to the best sort of men, those that have made good progress in this work of cleansing and mortification, who, nevertheless, are condemned by their own consciences; who have still leaven to purge out; find some sins of surreption will steal in upon them. As to the question itself. It runs thus: "Who can say?" Not "Who doth say?" or "Who will say?" or "Who dare say?" We may safely resolve the question into a peremptory assertion, and conclude that no man is clear or free from sin. The earnest Christian can say, "Through grace I have broken the strength and dominion of sin." (Bp. Brownrigg.) Parallel Verses KJV: Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? WEB: Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"