1. Their past estate, They had been servants of sin, that is, lived long in a course of sin : John viii. 34, ' Whoso committeth sin, is the servant of sin ; ' that is, whosoever doth voluntarily and ordinarily indulge sin, and goetli on in an open course of sinning, he is a servant or slave to sin ; for he doth not, yea, cannot, do that which reason and conscience judgeth to be good, or the word of God requireth from him ; but doeth the contrary, that which the word of God and conscience disalloweth. This was sometimes their estate, and ours also ; for we are all hewn out of the same quarry and rock. Only let me tell you, that the servitude of sin is either natural or acquired.
[1.] Natural or hereditary from our first parents ; so we are all prone to evil, and averse from and unable to that which is good : Gen. viii, 21, ' The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.' The word which we translate youth, signifieth also childhood; and the scripture elsewhere runneth up to the womb : Ps. li. 5, ' Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.' We see how early children manifest sin. Now the earliness and commonness and universality of these evil inclinations showeth what contagion hath invaded all mankind.
[2.] Acquired, when time and custom doth confirm these evil habits in us : Jer. xiii. 23, * Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots ? then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.' We use to say, Custom is as a second nature. It is so here ; it is corrupt nature confirmed, or inbred and native corruption improved. Thus were they servants of sin, and though all do not improve corrupt nature to such a height and degree as others do, yet all serve sin till grace maketh a cliange.
2. Their present or converted estate ; where take notice —
(1.) Of their rule, 'That form of doctrine;' (2.) The manner of applying it, 'Which was delivered unto you;' (3.) The effect, 'Ye have obeyed from the heart.*
[1.] The rule, the ' form of doctrine,' that is, the whole gospel, or at least some summary of the christian doctrine concerning things to be
318 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XVIII.
believed and done, called ' the pattern of wholesome words,' 2 Tim. i. 13, or 'the principles of the doctrine of Christ,' Heb. vi. 1.
[2.] The manner of application, ' Which was delivered unto you,' or ' whereinto ye were delivered,' et? ov irapeSodrjre tvttov StSa;^^?. The doctrine of the gospel is the pattern and mould according to which the new creature is framed ; as metal taketh its form from the mould into which it was cast, there is a due impression left upon the soul ; or as the stamp and seal leaveth a suitable impression on the wax ; but rather the former.
[3.] The effect, * Ye have obeyed from the heart.' There is — (1.) Obedience ; and (2.) Obedience from the heart.
The most precious truths will do us no good unless they be digested into love and practice. When truth is turned into love, or received into the heart, it becometh a new nature to us ; and when it is obeyed and practised, it attaineth its proper use and effect. For the truths of the gospel were not delivered to us to try the acuteness of men's wits, who can most subtly dispute of these things; nor the strength of memory, who can most firmly retain them ; or plausibleness of discourse, who can most elegantly speak of them ; but the readiness of obedience, who can best practise them. Therefore here is obedience spoken of, ' Ye have obeyed,' that is, begun to obey, ' the doctrine of the gospel ;' therefore you must go on still, and not return to your old slavery and bondage. And this ' from the heart,' which implieth both the volun- tariness and sincerity of their obedience.
(1.) It was free and voluntary, not compelled ; for that is said to be from the heart which is not done grudgingly and of necessity, but readily and cheerfully : 2 Cor. ix. 7, ' Every one according as he pur- poseth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, nor of necessity ; for God loveth a cheerful giver.'
(2.) It was sincere, and not dissembled : Col. iii. 23, ' Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, not unto men.' God seeth all things ; what is done to him must be sincerely done.
3. There is one thing yet to be explained ; and that is his giving thanks for this, %apt9 tw ©ew, ' God be thanked.' Here it may be inquired — (1.) Concerning the object, for what he giveth thanks ; (2.) The subject, from whom he expects this performance.
[1.] Concerning the object ; it respects not the former, but the latter clause : their being once sinners is not the matter of his thanksgiving, but that they had received and obeyed the christian faith. However, this must be said, that it doth heighten the mercy, or illustrate the benefit : it is a great mercy, that, having been once slaves of sin, yet now at length they were recovered by grace. To be brought into a state of light and life by the gospel were a great benefit, if a man had always been good and holy, at least not considerably bad ; but when God will take us with all our faults, and those of so great and heinous a nature, surely we have the more cause to give thanks. Well, then, he doth not, could not give thanks, that once they had been the servants of sin. God was not the author of their servitude to sin, but he was of their obedience to the doctrine of life ; his mercy turned the former evil to good. Or, if you will take that into any part of the