218 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. VII.
body, according to the wonderful working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.'
[4.] The immutable covenant or promises of the gospel, which always stand firm and stable : 2 Cor. i. 20, ' For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen ; ' Heb. vi. 18, ' That by two immut- able things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope that is set before us.' Hope is put for the thing hoped for, that is, the glorious estate which is reserved in heaven to be enjoyed there ; this hope ' is set before us ' in the promises, as the prize which we must seek after and the blessedness we must aim at. We ' lay hold upon it ' when we consent to God's offer, and we ' fly for refuge ' to take hold of this hope ; for it is our sanctuary and safety, as the city of refuge was to him that was pursued by the avenger of blood. This is ground of strong consolation in all fears, troubles, and sorrows, in the midst of the infelicities of this life. This consolation is secured by ' two immutable things,' God's promise and oath, which are as un- changeable as his nature ; these cannot fail or frustrate our hopes ; these give us security of enjoying what we hope, or receiving the reward promised to us.
[5.] The unquestionable right of the mortified, or those that are dead with Christ. There is nothing wanting but the clearing up of our right and title. Now the christian faith proposeth and showeth much good to them as real members of Christ's mystical body : Eom. viii. 13, ' If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live ; ' and till this be done the whole design of grace is at a stand ; we can- not upon other terms expect everlasting blessedness from Christ.
3. The profit of believing.
[1.] It strengthens our reason, and helps it to maintain its authority and government against sense and appetite. Keason is a middle faculty, that standeth between things above and things below, and it may be either debased by sense or elevated by faith. The one is easy, because corrupt nature carrieth us to things pleasing to sense, which are near at hand, and carry a great suitableness to our fancies and appetites. The other is difficult, because it dependeth on supernatural grace, for the Spirit's illumination is necessary to faith : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' Now we have received, not the spirit which is of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God.' Therefore here lieth the benefit we have by faith, to take us off from the life of sense, and to mortify the desires of the flesh, which the nearness of things 'sensible is apt to irritate and stir up in us.
[2.] The more we believe the stronger and greater is our consola- tion ; as, for instance, our comfort under crosses is more abounding : 2 Cor. iv. 14, ' Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise us up also by Jesus; ' 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' Our courage against death is more strong : 1 Thes. iv. 18, ' We shall ever be with the Lord.' Our diligence in duties is more unwearied : 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
VeR. 8.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI, 219
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for- asmuch as you know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.'
Use. Let us now improve these things that we have been delivering to you.
1. Let us make great conscience of the first part of our duty, * If we be dead unto sin/ See that the work of regeneration be once begun. The first virtue we receive from Christ is ' the likeness of his death ; ' that will make way for other things. Christ is dead ; let us be dead with him, that to us he may not die in vain. And wlien it is once begun, let it be carried on to a further increase; adhere still to Christ's dying, and persevere both in your diligence and your dependence. Diligence ; do not give over your endeavours of mortifying sin till it be quite gone. Dependence ; that you wait for the power of his Spirit, which his death merited for us.
2. As to life, let us encourage ourselves with the hope of it ; the same grace that hath begun will also finish the work, when we are prepared by living the life spiritual in the midst of conflicts and temp- tations. Therefore, while you are studying to please God, wait for it —
[1.] With patience. Christ after his resurrection was not presently glorified ; there must be a time to wean us from worldly happiness : ' To make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,' Col. i. 12 ; ' Vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory,' Eom. ix. 23. In time you shall be delivered ; see that you have the beginning and first-fruits, and that you daily grow in grace.