[2.] As the thing purchased on the price. All Christ's actions have an aspect on his merit. The foundation was laid in his death. This resurrection evidenceth that this purchase holdeth good in heaven, and that his merit, ransom, and satisfaction are perfect : Rom, iv, 25, ' Who was delivered for our offences, and rose again for our justification,'
[3.] As the copy on the pattern or original. Christ dying and rising in our nature is a pattern to which all the heirs of promise must be conformed, as the apostle telleth us, 1 Cor, xv, 23, ' First Christ, then they that are Christ's.'
[4.] As a thing promised on the pledge thereof. Christ dying is a pledge of our dying to sin ; and his rising a pledge of our rising to holiness first, and glory afterwards ; therefore our old man is said to be ' crucified with him,' Rom. vi. 6, and we are said to ' sit down with
188 SKRMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR, IV.
him in heavenly places,' Eph. ii. 6. It is already done in the mystery, and shall be surely done in the eiFectual application in all that belong to God.
Fifthly, If there be a likeness to his death, by infallible consequence there shall be a likeness to his resurrection. Those that are dead with Christ shall also live with him : Gal. ii. 20, ' I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live.' Where sin is mortified, there is a new life engendered, which will at length end in the life of glory. It must needs be so for these reasons : —
1. Christ is not divided ; those that really partake with him in one act, partake with him in all ; it is a necessary consequence. The death of sin and the life of holiness are the two branches wherein we profess our communion with Christ in his death and resurrection, and there- fore these cannot be sundered ; we must reckon upon both, or else we have neither: Rom. vi. 11, ' Likewise reckon ye yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' In our dying to sin Christ's dying is conspicuous in us, and his resurrection in our walking in newness of life ; as it was with him, so must it be with us.
2. God doth not love to leave his work imperfect. Now imperfect it would be, if, besides ceasing to do evil, we should not learn to do well : Amos v. 14, ' Seek good, and not evil, that you may live;' and again, ver. 15, ' Hate the evil, and love the good.' Their affection to good must be evidenced by their cordial detestation of evil, and their hatred of evil must kindle their affection to good. This is perfect Christianity. It is said of the foolish builder, that ' he began, and was not able to make an end,' Luke xiv. 30. Our conversion is complete when there is a turning from sin to God.
3. That the temper of our hearts may carry a meet proportion with the divine grace. Duty is the correlate of mercy. Now grace and mercy are not only privative, but positive : Gen. xv, 1, * I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward ;' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, ' The Lord God is a sun and shield ; the Lord will give grace and glory ; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.' So the godly man is described, Ps. i. 1, 2, ' Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law doth he meditate day and night.' There is not only an abstinence from gross sins, but an earnest love to God and his ways : Rom. viii. 1, ' Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.'
4. This is the end of mortification. God subdueth sin to make way for the life of grace: 1 Peter ii. 24, ' That we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness.' Dying to sin is made a step to the life of righteousness. So Heb. ix. 14, ' How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God ? ' We are hereby freed from clogs and impediments.
5. Sin is the better mortified when life is introduced ; for the love of God doth most engage us to hate evil : Ps. xcvii. 10, 'Ye that love the Lord hate evil.' Life is sensible of what is contrary to it.
VeR. 5.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 189
Use 1. Information. It informeth us of divers truths.
1. Except a man be turned from sin to holiness, he is not made a partaker of Christ; and therefore, while he lives in sin, cannot be justified, or have any right to pardon : he that continueth to live in his sins shall die in his sins, and miserable shall his portion be for ever. Well, then, be persuaded, if we would have the comfort of Christ's death, we must be changed into the likeness of it.