394 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. I.
'■walk after the spirit ;' because they ' live in the spirit, they walk ia the spirit : ' Gal. v. 25.
I come to apply this discourse.
Use 1. Is information.
1. That condemnation yet remaineth upon all those that are out of Christ ; for that promise, ' there is no condemnation,' hath an exception, limiting it to those that are in Christ. Carnal men think God will not deal so severely as to condemn them ; but there is no comfort hence to them. The scripture propoundeth privileges with their necessary limi- tations and restrictions ; where sin remaineth in its power and strength, the law condemneth men, conscience convinceth them, and God will condemn them also. So the brutes are more happy than they, who follow their pleasure without remorse, and offend not the law of their creation as they do ; and when they die, death puts an end to their pains and pleasures at once ; but those that walk after their lusts, are but christians in name, certainly they are not made partakers of the spirit of Christ; for if they did live in the spirit, they would walk in the spirit, and none but such can escape condemnation. They that walk after the flesh are without God, and without Christ; but every one will shift this off from himself, but the works of the flesh are manifest : Gal. v. 19. Many men visibly declare that they walk not after the spirit, by their drunkenness, adultery, wrath, strife, malice, and envy ; others more closely live only to satisfy a fleshly mind; now whether openly or closely, if they cannot make out their living after the spirit, they walk after the flesh.
2. It informeth us, that we can never have solid peace, till justifica- tion and sanctification be joined together. Justification : Rom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God : ' Mat. ix. 2, ' Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.' So for sanctification : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, tiiat in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in -the world.' Still there are fears of damnation, while sin is in us ; but when it is our honest purpose to please God, and we strive against sin, and do in a good measure overcome it, our consciences may be the better, and the sooner settled.
Use 2. For exhortation.
To quicken us to seek after this privilege. Do you fear damnation, or do you not ? If not, what grounds of comfort have you ? What course have you taken to escape it ? If you do fear it, why do you not * flee from wrath to come ? ' Mat. iii. 7. Why do you not ' run for refuge ? ' Heb. vi. 18. You cannot be speedy and earnest enough in a matter of such concernment.
Again, this calls to those that are in Christ to be sensible of their privilege, so that they may bless God for it. Gratitude is the life and soul of our religion, and it is a cold and dull thanksgiving, only to give thanks for temporal mercies ; it cometh more heartily from us when we bless God for spiritual mercies : Ps. ciii. 1, 2, 3, ' Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.' It also calls to all such, to be tender of their peace. Every sin dofeh not put you into a state of con-
VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 395
demnation again, but every known, wilful sin, puts us to get a new extract of our pardon : 1 John ii. 1, 2, ' My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not : and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the pro- pitiation for our sins.' By sin your title is made questionable, and your claim made doubtful ; repenting and forsaking sin is necessary when we have been foiled by sin, that we may have a new grant of a pardon.
SERMON IL
F(yr the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the laiv of sin and death. — Rom. viii. 2.
That these words are brought as a proof of the former assertion, is clear from the causal particle. For ; but whether they are a proof of the privilege or qualification, is usually disputed. I think of both ; as when they are explained will appear. Therefore I shall first open the words, and then suit the proof to the foregoing assertion.
First, In opening the words observe, —
1. Here is law opposed to law.
2. By the one we are freed from the other.
[1.] There is a perfect opposition of ' the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, to the law of sin and death.' Here is law against law, and the spirit against sin, and life against death. Now, what are these two laws ? I think they may be explained by that of the apostle : Rom. iii. 27, * Where is boasting then ? it is excluded ; by what law ? of works ? nay, but by the law of faith.' What is there called the law of works, and the law of faith, is here called the law of the spirit of life, and j;he law of sin and death ; in short, by these two laws is meant the covenant of works, and the covenant of grace.