[2.] It breaketh our courage in owning the ways of God, and truths of God. The apostle when he presseth Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, nor his servants, and to be partakers of the afflictions of the gospel, — urgeth this argument, 2 Tim. i. 7, 8, ' For we have not received the spirit of fear, but the spirit of love, and power, and of a sound mind : Trveufia SovXia? is TTvev/j.a SelXla^i, — a poor, cowardly, dastardly spirit, mated or overcome with every difficulty; but now a spirit confirmed in the love of God, and the faith and hope of the gospel, is a split of i)Ower and fortitude. ' The righteous is as bold as a lion,' Pro. xxviii. 1. Dan. iii. 17, 18, 'If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery fnrpace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king ! but if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.' And Kom. viii. 37, 38, ' I am persuaded, that neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
[3.] It hindereth the readiness and cheerfulness of our service, and crippleth our endeavours. Tlie slothful servant was afraid, Luke xix. 21, 22. When we do not know whether we shall please or be accepted or no, it is a very discouraging thing ; and we drive on heavily, when
110 SERMONS UPON KOMAUS Till. [SeK. XXII.
nothing appears to us but fear ; but love maketh a willing people : 1 John V. 3, ' For this is the love of God, that we keep his command- ments ; ami his commandments are not grievous.
[4.] It resisteth sin unwillingly ; we had rather let it alone than go about it ; the mortifying of lust is like the outing off of an arm with a rusty saw ; rather let go anything than sin ; but grace furnisheth us with the most powerful arguments.
For means, —
1. Cherish good thoughts of God. The .spirit of bondage is increased upon us by unreasonable fears and jealousies of God ; 'The Lord is good, and doth good,' Ps. cxix. G8. His commands are not grievous : Mat. xi. 30, ' My yoke is easy and my burden is light.' The trials sent us by him are not above measure, nor beyond strength : 1 Cor. x. 13, ' Who will not suffer you to lie tempted above what you are able ; ' nor his punishments above deserving : Neh. ix. 13, ' Thou hast punished us less than we deserved.' He is not hard to be pleased, nor inexor- able ujTOU our infirmities: Mai. iii. 17, 'And I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that .serveth him.' ' He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,' Heb. xi. 6.
2. Study the nature and constitution of the gospel, which maketh rich preparation of grace, help, and comfort for you. This is God's act of oblivion, which easeth you of your troubles ; for here God pro- miseth to blot out your transgressions, and remember your sins no more ; this is a sanctuary and refuge for your distressed souls to fly unto, when pursued by the law's curse ; the charter of your. hopes, or the word of salvation which secureth you against the law's curse, or the fears of the damnation of hell. The law is good, as a rule of duty, but the gospel is glorious, 1 Tim. i. 8, 11. In short, your souls will never sit easily within you, till j'ou resolve not to seek for that in the law which is only to be found in the gospel, — peace of conscience, and reconciliation with God ; the law can save only the innocent ; but the gospel pardoneth the penitent sinner. Look not for that in self, which is only to be found in Christ, a perfect righteousness and merit to appease God's justice, and propitiate him to us; this is only by the blood and obedience of Christ ; never look for that on earth which is only to be had in heaven, which is exact and unspotted holiuess, Jude 21. ' Then we are presented faultless in his presence.'
3. A hearty and sincere love to God : 1 John iv. 18, 'There is no fear in love, for perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment, and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.' He speaketh not of a child-like reverence of the divine majesty, or a carefulness not to displease him ; but of slavish fear of condemnation, which is the life and soul of many men's religion ; but they are never soundly converted till God hath tlieir hearts, that is, their love. Now this strong and fervent love, arising from faith in Christ, driveth and forceth this tormenting fear out of the heart. Meii will never be afraid of him whom they love ; and on the other side, will not love him whom they look upon as ready to condemn them, and cast them into hell. Surely God will never damn the soul that loveth him ; therefore if we would get rid of the fear of wrath or hell, let us love God with our highest ;md best atTections. We have reason to love him, if we consider the