[I.] It is an obligation. This was Christ's end, and we must not put our Redeemer to shame : 1 John iii. 8, ' For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil ; ' • that the interest of the devil might be destroyed in us, and the interest of God set up with glory and triumph. Shall I go about to frustrate his intention, or make void the end of his death ? cherish that which Christ came to destroy ? tie those cords the faster, which he came to
80 SEKMONS UPON ROMAKS Vlir. [SeR. XIX.
unloose? By professing his name, we bind ourselves to die to sin: Kom. vi. 2, ' How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ? ' not ah impossibili, but ab incongruo.
[2.] That the death of Christ was a lively and effectual pattern of our dying to sin. For the glory of God, and our salvation, Christ died a painful, shameful, accursed death. Now we must crucify sin. Gal. V. 24 ; be crucified to the world, Gal. vi. 14. That is to say, Christ denied himself for us. and we must deny ourselves for him ; he suffered pain for us, that we should willingly digest the trouble of mortification, and suffer in the flesh, in our carnal nature, as he did in the human nature.
(1.) The death of Christ was an act of self-denial ; he pleased not himself, Kom. xv. 3 ; minded not the interest of that nature he had assumed ; parted with his life in the flower of his age, when he had most cause to love it. And will you part with nothing, make it your business to please the flesh, and gratify the flesh ? He loved you, and gave himself for you, and will not you give up your lusts ?
(2.) The death of Christ was an act of pain and sorrow. Of all deaths, crucifixion is the most painful and shameful. Sinful nature is not extinguished in us without trouble ; as sin is rooted in self-love, self-denial is a check to it ; as this self-love is mainly a love of pleasure, or the delight we take in sin, so the pains of Christ's death check it. Shall we wallow in fleshly delights, when Christ was a man of sorrows ? Christ's sutTerings are the best glass wherein to view sin. Will you take pleasure in that which cost him so dear ? He was mocked, spit upon, buffeted ; he bare the shame due to our vain conversation ; a malefactor was preferred before him. Therefore when you remember Christ's death, you learn how to deal with sin. The Jews would not hear of Christ's being king : ' Away with him ; ' 'we have no king but Ca3sar.' Such an holy indignation should there be in a renewed soul: Kom. vi. 12, ' Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.' Let it not king it ; we have no king but Christ.
(3.) It was a price paid, that we might have grace. Every true christian is a partaker of the fruits of Christ's death ; and one fruit-is, that we might die unto sin: 1 Pet. ii. 24, ' Who his own self, bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness.' This is communicated to us by the Spirit ; he bought sanctification as well as other privileges : Eph. v. 2.5, 2<^, 'As Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.' And Tit. ii. 14, ' Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.' 1 Pet. i. 18, ' Redeemed us from our vain conversations.' We are ready to say, ' I shall never get rid of this naughty heart, renounce these sensual and worldly affections ; ' our hearts are so wedded to the interests of the flesh ; but, Mat. xix. 26, ' With God all things are possible.'
2. Carry it well to the Spirit.
[1.] Believe that the Holy Ghost is your sanctifier, and resign up yourselves to him as such, that he may recover your souls to God.
VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 81
This is but fulfilling our baptismal vow : Mat. xxviii. 19, 'Go baptize all nations, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.' To Goil the Fatlier as your lord and happiness ; to Christ as your redeemer and saviour ; to the Holy Ghost as your guide, comforter, and sanctifier. We renew this consent in the Lord's Supper, that we may bind our- selves the faster to him, to submit to his spiritual discipline, that our cure mav be wrought in us.
[2] You must obey his sanctifying motions, for otherwise this resignation was in vain ; therefore we must faithfully endeavour, by the power and help which he giveth us, to mortify sin. We must strive against sin, and we must strive with them. To strive against him and resist him, argueth great profaneness. Gen. vi. 3 ; Acts vii. 51 ; not to strive toiih him, much neglect and laziness. You must strive with your hearts, when the Spirit is striving with you ; and take the season vi his special help. It is not at our command, for ' the wind bloweth as it listeth ; ' take it when you have it. It is an offence to the Spirit, when the flesh is obeyed before him ; men are easily entreated by sin, but deaf to his motions.