A HOLY LIFE 9

A HOLY LIFE: the Beauty of Christianity

a treatise by John Bunyan
edited in modern English by Jon Cardwell

FIRST OBSERVATION (b)

FIRST-- Now, let us inquire what Paul means when he requests that they “that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” So that we can better understand what Paul means, we must consider that there is an iniquity that is inherent in us, as well as an iniquity that is apart and at a distance from us. If he means, as certainly he does, that they that name the name of Christ should depart from that sin and iniquity that is in themselves; then, though he cannot mean that we should separate that from our persons, for that is impossible, yet he would have us,

First: Take off and withdraw our MINDS and AFFECTIONS that iniquity. He tells us that they that are Christ’s do so: “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Our minds and affections should depart from sinful lusts and sinful motions. There are the affections and lusts of sin; and there are the affections and lusts, or desires of the soul; and again, there are the affections and lusts of the new man in saints. Now this is what the apostle would have, specifically, that the affections and passions of our souls should not choose the affections and lusts of our old man, but departs from them. He should be renewed and made willing to be led by the Holy Ghost from such things. “But I say,” says he, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

For this reason, when he says, depart from iniquity, if he means from our own inherent iniquity, then he must mean in this way: take your mind and your affections off those sinful things; carry your minds away from them; set your minds and affections upon other objects; and let your minds and affections be yielded up to the conduct of the word and Spirit of God. “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions” (Romans 6:12). Now a man, in mind and affections, may depart from that which yet will not depart from him; yea, a man in mind may depart from that which yet will dwell in him as long as he lives.

For instance, there are many diseases that cling to men, from which, in their minds, they willingly depart. Yes, their greatest restlessness is that so bad a disease will abide by them, and might they but have their desire accomplished, they would be as far from it as the distance between the ends of the earth; and while they are found to continue together, the mind departs from those things and is gone either to God or to physicians for help and deliverance from it.

This is the same for the saint, and should be with every one that makes a profession of faith by naming the name of Christ. He should depart from his indwelling sin with his mind. With his mind he should serve the law of God (Romans 7:25). This is an excellent thing to do, and can only be done by those possessed with an excellent spirit. Ah! to find a man that really departs from himself, and that draws the affections of the soul, from the affections and lusts of his flesh is rare thing (Ezekiel 11:19-21). The heart of most of professors goes after their detestable lusts, and after their inward abominations. Yet, such shall reap corruption of the flesh even though they name the name of Christ (Galatians 6:8).

Sin is sweet to him that is nothing but flesh, or that can delight in nothing but what is of the flesh (Job 20:12). Nor can it be that such a person should depart from himself, his sweet self (Romans 8:5-8). No, they that are after the flesh have their minds set upon the things of the flesh; so for this reason they that are in the flesh, though they profess religion and name the name of Christ, cannot please God; for such, instead of walking in and after the Spirit, have put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces, to hinder their departing from it (Ezekiel 14:7, 8); neither will all their inquiring of God, nor their seeking and praying to him, keep them from stumbling and falling, and breaking themselves to pieces upon the rocks and ruins that are provided for them, as a reward of the evil of their doings (Job 14:16). Yes, they shall suck the poison of asps, and the viper’s tongue shall slay them, notwithstanding all their profession.

[“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. The King James Version is in the Public Domain.]