4. Where the work is really begun and duly submitted unto, we have hopes of a better estate, it still increaseth towards that perfect blessedness, when we shall be ' without spot and blemish, or any such thing,' Eph. v. 27. What a life do God's holy ones live in heaven, who are wholly freed from sin ! There is no worldly mind, nor pride, nor passion, nor fleshly lust to trouble them. Here many wallow in their own dung, others are in a great measure defiled and blemished ; but there they are freed, not only from the reign, but being of sin. Hath God been so kind to them in glory ? And will he not do the same for us also ? There is none in heaven by the first covenant, all
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that are there come thither as sanctified and justified by Jesus Christ, and in the way of his pardoning grace. Surely since we have the same Eedeemer, depend upon the merit of the same sacrifice, and wait for the same Spirit in the use of all holy means and endeavours, he will not be strange to us. Christ is willing if we are willing ; there you will find it sticketh, he came to take away sin, but we will not give way to his Spirit ; we are neither sensible of our sickness, nor earnest for a cure, at least a sound cure. We seek ease and comfort more than the removing of the distemper ; but if we were thoroughly willing, will he fail a serious soul ? It is Christ's office to expiate sin, and destroy it ; his blood was shed for his church for this purpose : Eph. v. 26, ' That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.' For the same end he intercedeth now in heaven : Heb. vii. 25, ' Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.' He that hath undertaken this work counteth it his honour and glory to perform it : Eph. v. 27, ' That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish ; ' and Jude24, 'Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding gi-eat joy.' It is matter of rejoicing not only to us, but to him.
Thirdly, The value of the benefit ; surely it is a great mercy to be freed from the power of sin, and to have our enthralled souls set at liberty.
1. Because sin is the cause of all the controversy and variance be- tween God and us : Isa. lix. 2, ' Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.' This is the abominable thing which he hateth : Jer. xliv. 4, 'Oh, do not that abominable thing which I hate ! ' It is sin that maketh the great distance between man and God, not in position of place, for so he is everywhere present, with bad and good ; but in disposition of mind and affection of heart ; it hath caused him in anger to withdraw his gracious presence from you. Would you not be glad to have the great difference between God and you compromised and takes up, and all enmity to cease between you and heaven H It can never be till sin be mortified as well as pardoned ; for till man be converted, as well as God satisfied for the breach of his law, there is no due pro- vision made for our entering into fellowship with him ; we shall stand nloof from him as a holy, sin-hating, and condemning God, and so have no heart to communion with him.
2. It is a defacing God's image in us, and a bringing in of a contrary image, the image of the devil. God's image is defaced while we live in sin : Rom. iii. 23, ' We have all sinned, and are come short of the glory of God.' By the glory of God there is meant his image, not his glorious reward, but his glorious image ; as 1 Cor. xi. 7, ' The man is the image and glory of God, and the woman is the glory of the man ;' that is, hath some likeness of his power and majesty. Simili- tude and likeness is often called glory. So 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
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Lord.' Now this is lost, which is the beauty, as sin is the deformity of the soul ; and on the contrary, the image of the devil is introduced into the soul, as we are proud, envious, revengeful : John viii. 44, ' Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own ; for he is a liar, and the father of it.' The properties of the devil like us much better than tlie excellences of God, Now, is it not a great mercy to be freed from this disposition and temper of heart, especially since image, favour, and fellowship go together?