hatli fnich a binding: power over a man ; and it is said to reign, Rom. vi. 12., because it cxerciseth a tyrannical power ; and men are said to be tlie servants of sin, Rom. vi. 17., because tliey are so enslaved by it. Thus sin is tlie house of bondage. Israel was not so enslaved in the iron furnace as the sin- ner is by sin ; those are worse slaves and vassals who are under the power of sin, than those who are under the power of earthly tyrants.
1. Other slaves have the tyrants only ruling over their bodies, — but the sinner hath his soul tyrannized over; the soul, tliat princely thing, which sways the scep- tre of reason, and was once crowned with perfect knowledge and holiness, this prince now goes on foot ; it is enslaved, and made a lackey to every base lust.
2. Other slaves have some pity shewn them, — the tyrant gives them meat, and lets them have hours for their rest; but sin is a merciless tyrant, it will let men have no rest. Judas had no rest until he had l)etrayed Christ, and after that, he had less rest in his conscience. How doth a man hackney himsslf out in the service of sin, WJiste his body, break his sleep, distract his mmd ^ A wicked man is every day doing sin's drudgery-work.
3. Other slaves, though they arc set a- bout servile work, yet about lawful : it is lawful to work in the galley, tug at the oar ; but all the laws and commands of sin are unlawful. Sin saith to one man, defraud ; to another, be unchaste ; to another, take re- venge ; to another, take a false oath. Thus all sin's commands arc unlawful ; we cannot obey sin's law, but by breaking God's law.
4. Other slaves are forced against their will ; Israel groaned under slavery, Exod. li. 23. ; but sinners are content to be under the command of sin, — they are willing to be slaves,— they love their chains,— they will not take their freedom ; they " glorv : s in their shame," Phil. iii. 19. Tliey wear their sins, not as their fetters, but their orna- ments ; they rejoice in iniquity, Jer. xi. 15.
5. Other slaves are brought to correction, but sin's slaves are, without repentance, brought to condemnation ; other slaves lie in the iron furnace, sin's slaves lie in tlie fiery furnace. What freedom of will
hath a sinner to his own confusion, when he can do nothing but what sin will have him ? He is enslaved. Thus sinners are in the house of bondage, but God takes his elect out of this house of bondage : he beats off the chains and fetters of sin ; he rescues them from their slavery ; he makes them free, by bringing them into the gloriouft liberty of the children of God, Rom. viii. The law of love now commands, not the law of sin. Though the life of sin be pro- longed, yet not the dominion : as those beasts in Daniel had their lives prolonged for a season, but their dominion was taken away, Dan. vii. 12. The saints are made spiritual kings, to rule and conquer their corruptions, — to " bind these kings in chains," Ps. cxlix. 8. This is matter of the highest praise and thanksgiving, to be thus taken out of the house of bondage, to be freed from enslaving lusts and made kings to reign in glory for ever.
II. The bringing Israel out of the house of bondage was a type of their deliverance from Satan. Thus men naturally are in the house of bondage, they are enslaved to Satan. Satan is called the prince of this world, John xiv. 30., and the god of this world, 2 Cor. iv. 4., because he hath such power to command and enslave them. Though Satan shall one day be a close pri- soner in chains, yet now he doth insult and tyrannize over the souls of men ; sinners are under the rule of Satan, he cxerciseth over them such a jurisdiction as Casar did over the senate. The devil fills men's heads with error, and their hearts with malice, Acts V. 3., " Whv hath Satan filled thine heart ?" A sinner's heart is the devil's mansion-house, Mat. xii. 44., " I will re- turn into mine house." And sure that must needs be an house of bondage, wliich is the devil's mansion-house. Satan is a ])erfect tyrant : — 1. He rules men's minds, he blinds
1., " The
linds li Ignorance, 2 Cor. iv,
them witl
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not." — 2. He rules their memories ; they shall remember that which is evil, and forget that which is good ; their memories are like a scarcer or strainer, that lets go all the j)ure li<juor, and retains only the dregs. — 3. He rules their wills: though the devil cannot force the will yet he draws
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