[2.] The comfort and sweetness is in keeping and obeying: P.s. xix. 11, 'In keeping thy commandments there is great reward ;' not only hereafter, but now. There is a sweetness in knowing ; for all truth, especially heavenly truth, is an oblectation of the mind ; but there is more in keeping and obeying, because practice and obedience givetli a more experimental knowledge of these things, as a taste is more than a sight, and by a serious obedience the taste of these blessed truths is kept upon our hearts. It is but a flush of joy that is stirred up by contemplation ; the durable solid joy is by practice and obedience. Besides that, God rewardeth acts of obedience more than acts of con- templation with comfort and peace ; for contemplation is an imperfect operation of man, unless the effect succeedeth ; yea, we are not cap- able to receive thi.s comfort, for knowledge doth not prove the sincerity of our hearts so much as obedience ; therefore it is i)ractice that hath the blessing in the bosom of it.
[3.] Where men receive the doctrine of the gospel rather in the
324 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XVIII.
light than in the love of it, they do but increase their punishment : Luke xii. 47, ' That servant that knew his master's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, he shall be beaten with many stripes.' All the privilege of their exact knowledge shall be but a hotter hell.
3. I observe that it is obedience from the heart ; and so it must needs be, if we consider the contexture of the words, or the imprinting the doctrines of the gospel ; it is first upon our hearts, and then upon our lives : Isa. ii. 7, ' The people in whose heart is my law. So Deut. vi. 6. These words that I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart; for by the love of it we are brought to the obedience of this holy law. So Prov. .iv. 4, ' Let thy heart retain my words ; ' Prov. xxii. 22, ' Lay up my words in thy heart ; ' there is the proper repository of the law of God ; it cannot work any good effect upon us till we get it there ; there is its proper seat, thence its influence. I shall urge but two arguments —
[1.] It is terminus aetionum ad intra ; it is the end of all those actions that come inward. The heart is that which God looks after : Prov. xxiii. 26, ' My son, give me thy heart.' He commandeth the ear, but still his commands reach the heart. It is the heart wherein Christ dwelleth, Eph iii. 17 ; not in the ear, tongue, or brain ; till he take possession of the heart all as is nothing. The bodies of believers are temples of the Holy Ghost, but still in relation to the heart or soul ; nothing is prized by God but what cometh thence. Men care not for obsequious compliances without the heart: 2 Kings x, 15, ' Is thine heart right as my heart is with thy heart ?' Some content themselves with a bare profession of religion, or some superficial practices ; but all is nothing to God. Though thou pray with the pharisee,pay thy vows with the harlot, Prov. vii. kiss Christ with Judas, offer sacrifice with Cain, fast with Jezebel, sell thine inheritance for a public good, as Ananias and Sapphira, yet all is nothing without the heart. Judas was a disciple, yet Satan entered into his heart, Luke xxii. 2. Ananias joined himself to the people of God, but ' Satan filled his heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost,' Acts v. 3. Simon Magus was baptized, but ' his heart was not right with God/ Acts viii. 22. The great defect is in the heart.
[2.] It is/ows aetionum ad extra, the well-spring of all those actions which look outward ; as Prov. iv. 23, * Keep thy heart with all dili- gence, for out of it are the issues of life ; ' Mat. xv. 19, ' Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.' If the heart be kept pure and loyal to God, the life will not be so spotted and blemished ; for principiata re- spondent suis principiis, the actions suit with the heart, and it is impossible for men so to disguise their conversation but that their principles and inclinations will appear ; they may disguise it in a par- ticular action, but not in their course and way ; it will appear how their hearts are constituted by the tenor of their actions.
Thirdly, Here is thanks given to God for this change, %a/?i9 &e&.
1. Thanksgiving to God is a great and necessary duty, the very life and soul of our religion : 1 Thes. v. 18, ' In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you ;' Heb. xiii. 15, ' By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God con- tinually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
VeR. 17.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 325
Our great business is to give thanks to God for Jesus Christ both in word and deed.