On the filing cabinet in my office, I have currently 26 books that have had the most impact in my life. They have shaped my thinking in many ways, and I owe God and the authors great gratitude. The Puritan Christopher Love (1618-1651) wrote one such book titled, "The Mortified Christian." Mortification is a Biblical principle that refers to the way in which we are to launch a violent aggression against sin to kill it in our lives. This book is a collection of sermons that he preached in a series against sin. 

Warning. This book is lethal to sin, and promises to assault those who would harbor and nurture it. Love will not spare you if you clutch your beloved sins and refuse to part with them. On the other hand, his book is a spiritual tonic for those whose souls are hurting from the damaging effects of outward temptations and inward corruptions. 

Love has a very helpful approach. He blasts the sin with all that he has, and at the same time encourages the sinner who repents. He is cautious about some that would be overly discouraged by the standard that he sets from Scripture, and gives them hope in the Lord that they can overcome if they want to. 

Chapter one is the explanation of Romans 8:13, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die, but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (KJV). Much of his style throughout the book follows a logical theme, dealing with the pertinent Scriptures and answering potential objections to his reasoning (much in the same way that Paul the apostle wrote in his epistles). He also tells you how to recognize the heinous nature of sin and identify it in your own life. 

Chapter two further describes the text in Romans 8:13 and iterates the reality that sin is of such a powerful nature that you are unable to part with it, except by the power of the Holy Spirit. He also shows that this is a lifelong battle, due to the permeating nature of sin. Chapter three is helpful to answer certain questions about the nature of mortification and specifically how to tell whether you are really mortified or not. Equally helpful are chapters four, five, and six, which describe the mistakes that unmortified people make about the true state of their condition. Some people are really mortified, but they think that they are not, while others think they are not mortified when they really are - Love tells you how to discern the difference. He shows that many men part with their sin, not to leave their sin, but to save their bacon. Men love their sin, but not its consequences, so they part with sin for a while, but not because they are mortified. 

Chapter seven is how to repent of sin and apply mortification principles immediately, so that they do not gain a foothold. He shows how to deal with sin in the heart internally, before it becomes an external manifestation. Chapters eight and nine continue to unfold the nature of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life to mortify sin. The final sermon is a chapter that summarizes how he believes the Bible explains how to kill those "cherished sins." 

The only criticism that I have of the book is on page 87, that he seems to believe that God sometimes does not allow us to resist the temptations, which are too strong, in which case we are not accountable for giving into them. This is to deny what 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." God will never abandon us, nor leave us without the resources we need to be all that He has called us to be. Otherwise, I believe Love is right on about almost everything else.

Love, Christopher. The Mortified Christian: A Treatise on the Mortification of Sin. Edited by Don Kistler (Morgan: Soli Deo Gloria Publications), 1998. ISBN 1-57358-078-3

About the Author

Christopher Love was born in Cardiff, Wales.  He attended New Inn Hall, Oxford, and graduated in 1635.

A staunch Presbyterian, Love had difficulty gaining ordination in the Church of England.  He was offered ordination in Scotland if he would pastor a church there, but he was desirous of ministering in England.  He did receive the ordination in England he so desired.

Before he assumed the pastorate of St. Lawrence Jewry in London, Love catechized and taught theology to the children of the sheriff of London, and it was while loving in that home that he met his wife, Mary Stone.  They had five children, two girls who died early in life, and three boys, the last one who was born a week after Love's death.

Christopher Love was arrested by Cromwell's forces for his alleged involvement in a plan to raise money for the restoration of the monarchy, a charge Love denied.  he was tried and convicted on charges of treason.  Though several other prominent London ministers were also arrested, including Thomas Watson, they were all released.  Christpher Love was beheaded on Tower Hill, London, on August 22, 1651.

The story of Christopher Love is told in the book A Spectacle Unto God, by Don Kistler, published by Soli Deo Gloria (210 pages).