2. As it is a great encouragement, as Christ's death was the merit and price by which grace sufficient was purchased to mortify and subdue our old man. The work of mortification is carried on in the hearts of God's people by the Spirit, and the Spirit is also purchased by the death of Christ: Titus iii. 5, 6, 'According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;' Gal. iii. 14, 'That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.' The Spirit worketh as Christ's Spirit, that he might be glorified by the full extent of his merit ; and in the use of means we may comfortably expect the virtue of Christ crucified. We are not obliged only, but enabled, and are convinced of faulty laziness and despondency; if we do not resist sin, it is a sign we affect our slavery. It is not want of power, but of will.
Use 1. It inform eth us that Christianity is the only true doctrine that teacheth us the right way of mortifying sin : ' Haman refrained himself,' Esther v. 10. Moral instructions cannot reach the root of this woful disease, so dark are our minds, so bad our hearts, so strong our lusts, so many are our temptations ; but the doctrine, example,, merit, and Spirit of the Lord Jesus will do the work.
Use 2. Direction. Let us often and seriously consider the death of Christ, and the great condescension of the Son of God, who came and suffered in our nature an accursed death to finish transgression and make an end of sin. As the leper was cleansed by the blood of the slain sparrow dropped into running water. Lev. xiv. 5, 6, this signifies the cleansing of us sinners by Christ, who, as the bird that was killed, * was put to death in the flesh,' but as the living bird ' was quickened by the Spirit,' 1 Peter iii. 18 ; and 2 Cor. xiii. 4, ' He was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God.' The dropping the blood of the slain sparrow into running water representeth Christy 'who came by water and by blood,' 1 John v. 6. Blood noteth Christ's satisfaction, running water the Spirit : John iv. 14, ' The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life ;' John vii. 38, ' He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.^ The living bird was to be dipped in the blood and water, and then to be let go in the open field up to heaven, Lev. xiv. 8. The scaping of the bird noteth the resurrection of Christ ; his flying in the open field with bloody wings in the face of heaven, his intercession, or representation of his merit to God, and herein is all our confidence. Use 3. Caution. Let us not serve sin.
1. See you be dispossessed of every evil habit and frame. Many profess obedience to God, but still retain the yoke of sin ; as Israel, de- livered out of the house of bondage, returned in their hearts, wishing themselves there again, Acts vii. 39. The league between them and
VeR. 7.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 201
their lusts is not fully dissolved ; so that though they forsake many sins, yet not all their sins ; they keep some beloved sin : Ps. xviii. 23, ' I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.' Herod would not part with his Herodias ; so they return like the dog to his vomit.
2. See you resist actual temptations. God calleth to you, Jer. xliv. 4, ' Oh ! do not this abominable thing that I hate.' Conscience calleth to you, as David's heart smote him ; it is time to stop then. Is this becoming your solemn vow ? Will it consist with the love of God ?
Use 4. It puts us upon self-reflection. Do I know that my old man is crucified with Christ? There is a knowledge of faith and a knowledge of spiritual sense.
l.Have you experimentally felt the power of his death: Phil. iii. 10, * That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.' Is the body of sin destroyed, or at least considerably weakened?
2. Whom do you serve, God or sin ? Have you changed masters ? Are you as free from sin as before from righteousness ? And do you as much for God as before for sin ? Rom. vi. 19, 20, ' As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness ; for when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from rightousness.'
SERMON VI.
For he that is dead is/reed from sin. — Rom. VI. 7.
The words are a reason to prove what was asserted in the former verse. Two things were there asserted — (1.) That their old man is crucified with Christ ; (2.) That therefore we must not serve sin. This the apostle proveth. This reason is taken from the analogy be- tween death natural and death spiritual. He that is dead naturally is freed from the authority of those who formerly had power over him ; human slavery endeth with death. In the grave ' the seivant is free from his master,' Job iii. 19. Death levelleth the ranks of persons, and the imperious lord and master hath no more privilege than his vilest slave and servant. So he that is dead to sin is delivered from the power of sin acting formerly in him, * For he that is dead is freed from sin.'