174 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. III.
him ; and the expression of it without is the exercise of grace according to the direction of God's word. Yea, these two branches are not only seen at first, but every step of the new life is a dying to sin, and a rising to newness of life, a retiring from the world to God.
3. As to the rule, which is the infallible revelation of God, delivered to the church by the prophets and apostles, comprised in the Holy Scriptures, and sealed by miracles and operations of the Holy Ghost, who was the author of them. The new creature is very inquisitive to know God's will : Rom. xii. 2, ' And be not conformed to this world ; but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.' Grace is sometimes called light, and sometimes life, for there is direc- tion in it as well as inclination. This light we have from the word and Spirit. In the word our duties are determined, and the new creature is naturally carried to the word ; it is the seed of that life it hath : 1 Peter i. 23, ' Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever;' and it is the rule of acting and exercising this life: Gal. vi, 16, 'As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them,' &c. There is a cognation between the word and the renewed heart : Heb. viii. 10, * I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their heart ; ' as the stamp and impress answereth to the seal, or the law within to the law without, the law written on the heart to the law written on tables or in the Bible.
4. As to the end, which is the pleasing, glorifying, and enjoying of God ; it is a living to God : Gal. ii. 19, ' I through the law am dead to 'the law, that I might live unto God ;' 1 Cor. x. 31, 'Whether there- fore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God ; ' 2 Cor. V. 9, * Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.' A new life inferreth new ends and pursuits, the new being obligeth us ' to be to the praise of his glorious grace/ Eph. i. 12.
5. The properties of it.
[1.] It is a godly life, as beginning and ending in God, and carried on by those who are absolutely devoted and addicted to him : 2 Peter iii. 11, ' What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness ?' It is called ' the life of God,' Eph. iv. 18. It is from God and for God ; you live by him and to him ; in others, self is the principle, measure, and end.
[2.] It is a holy life, measured by the pure word of God : Ps, cxix. 140, ' Thy word is very pure, therefoi'e thy servant loveth it ; ' Eom. vii. 12, ' The law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good;' not by our own natural inclinations, or the fashions of the world, but God's direction : 1 Peter i. 15, ' As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ;' Luke i. 75, ' That we should serve him in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our lives.' The inclinations are planted in us by God's first work : Eph. iv. 24, ' That ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.' They are directed by his word, all moral duties being comprised in those words, holiness or dedication to God, righteousness, performing our duties to men :
VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 175
Acts xxiv. 26, ' Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a con- science void of offence toward God and toward men/
[3.] It is an heavenly life : Phil, iii, 20, ' Our conversation is in heaven.' Our great work is to prepare for everlasting life, seeking, rejoicing in that endless happiness we shall have with God ; a living for or upon the unseen everlasting happiness, as purchased for us by Christ, and freely given us of God. We live for it, as we seek after it with our utmost diligence : Acts xxvi. 7, ' Unto which promises the twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.' We live upon it, as fetching thence all our supports, solaces, and encou- ragements : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.'
Secondly, How strongly we are obliged by baptism to this kind of life. Baptism hath three offices, it representeth, sealeth, undertaketh ; it representeth as a signifying sign, sealeth as a confirming sign, under- taketh as a bond, wherewith we Ijind ourselves when we submit to it.