But the wisdom and mercy of providence seem especially to have taken care the church of God on earth should be some way recompensed for the loss of so considerable a person out of it, by those so generally acceptable and useful works of his that survive him. Your honours' judicious and very complacential gust and relish of anything that was Reverend Dr Manton's make you the more capable of the larger share and fuller satisfaction in that recompence. And were it known how great a part of them hath had a second birth or resurrection by the diligence of one depending on you, that rescued them from the obscurity of a private closet as from a grave, and who, though deservedly favoured by you upon other accounts, is undoubtedly much the more upon this also, you would be esteemed to have the more special title to them, as well as capacity of advantage by them.
There is, however, enough to make it decent and just, that whereso- ever these writings shall be read, your kindness to the author should l)e told for a memorial of you ; and whatsoever your interest was, or is, in him and his labours, it cannot be a lean wish unto you to desire your benefit may be proportionable, which is most earnestly desired for you, with the addition of all other valuable blessings, by your honours' greatly obliged, and very humble servants in Christ our Lord,
William Bates. John Howe.
SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIIL
SERMON I
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ tTesus, icho icalk not after the flesh, hut after the spirit. — Rom. viii. 1.
In the former chapter the apostle in his own person represents a beh'ever groaning under the relics of sin, or bewailing the imperfections of his sanctification. Now, because this conscience of indwelling sin may breed in us fears of condemnation, he showeth here what remedy and relief is provided for us by Jesus Christ — ' TJiere is therefore,' <&c. So that the words are an inference from the complaint and gratulation expressed in the last verse of the preceding chapter : though in the godly there remain some sin, yet no condemnation shall be to them, observe here —
1. A privilege : ' there is no condemnation/
2. A description of the persons who have interest in it : they are described, first, by their internal estate, — ' To them which are in Christ Jesus ;' secondly, by their external course of life — 'Who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit,'
[1.] There is a denial of the prevailing influence of the corrupt principle — ' They walk not after the flesh,'
[2.] Their obedience to the better principle is asserted and affirmed — * But after the spirit.'
Three points I shall touch upon, —
1. That it is a great felicity not to be obnoxious to condemnation.
2. That this is the portion of the true christian, or such as are in Christ.
3. Those who are in Christ obey not the inclinations of corrupt nature, but the motions of the spirit,
Doci. 1. It is a great privilege not to be obnoxious to condemnation : there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.
To understand this, you must consider —
First, What condemnation importeth.
Secondly, How we came by this exemption.
First, ^Vhat condemnation importeth ? The terror of it is unspeak- able when it is sufficiently understood ; and therefore, by consequence, our exemption and deliverance from it is the greater mercy.
In the general, condemnation is a sentence dooming us to punish- ment. Now, particularly for this condemnation —
VOL, XI. 2 B
386 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VTTT. [SeR. I.
1. Consider, Whose sentence this is. There is sententia legis and sententia judicis — the sentence of the law and the sentence of the judge. The sentence of the law is the sentence of the word of God, and that is either the law of works or the law of grace. The damnatory sen- tence of the law concludeth all under the curse, for ' all are under sin :' Gal. iii. 10, ' For as many as are under the works of the law are under the curse ; for it is written, Cursed is he that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them.' So all the world is guilty before God, Rom. iii. 10. But the gospel, or the law of grace, denounceth damnation to those that believe not in Christ, and obstin- ately refuse his mercy : Mark xvi. 16, 'He that believeth not shall be damned ; ' and also against them that love not Christ and obey him : 1 Cor. xvi. 22, ' If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. ' This is the sentence of the law. But then there is sententia. judicis — the sentence which the judge passeth upon a sinner, and is either —
[1.] The ratifying of that sentence which the word denounceth, be it either law or gospel ; for what ' is bound in earth is bound in heaven ;* and God condemneth those whom his word condemneth ; so that for the present wicked men have a sentence against them ; they are all cast in law, 'condemned already,' as it is John iii. 18. If men were sensible of their danger, they would be more earnest to get the sentence reversed and repealed before it were executed upon them ; they are not sure of a day's respite ; it is a stupid dulness not to be affected with this wof ul condition ; there is but a step between them and death, and they mind it not.