[2.] Spiritual liberty is consistent enough with corporal bondage. Paul was in prison when Nero was emperor of the world ; many that are taken into the liberty of God's children are not freed from outward servitude : 1 Cor. vii. 21, 22, ' Art thou called being a servant ? Care
17G SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XXVIII.
not for it ; but if thou canst be made free, use it rather.' The condi- t ion of a slave is not incompetent with Christianity ; Joseph was a slave in Egypt, but his mistress was the captive, as she was overcome by her own lusts ; servants may be the Lord's freemen, and freemen may be Satan's slaves.
[3.] All the parts of liberty are quite other than now.
(1.) First, as to duty, we are not so free from the power of sin as to be able to govern our own actions in order to eternal happiness : Rom. vii. 25, ' With ray mind I serve the law of God, with my flesh the law of sin.' There is law against law, mutual conflicts and mutual opposi- tion ; though grace gets the mastery, not absolute freedom. Our present estate is but a convalescency, a recovery out of sickness by degrees.
(2.) As to- felicity :
1st. Immunity: First, from the curse of the law, and the wrath of God. We have a right, but the solemn and actual judgment is not passed, nor the case adjudged ; but at the last day, when the condemning sentence is passed upon the wicked, our sins shall be blotted out, Acts iii. 19. Secondly, death remaineth on the body, but then the last enemy shall be quite destroyed, 1 Cor. xv. 26. Thirdly, Satan doth still trouble us, and vex us, winnow us as wheat ; but then he shall be trodden under our feet, Eom. xvi. 20. Fourthly, From the afflictions of the world ; they do not now endanger salvation, but then wholly gone : Rev. xxi. 4, ' Then God shall wipe all tears from our eyes ; then no more sorrow and crying ; ' that is, be- cause of oppression and violence.
2ad. For rights and prerogatives. Now we serve God at a distance by some service, then immediately minister before the throne ; here we come to God now and then, but then we shsU be ever with him ; we have now a right to use creatures, then we shall need none ; now a title to heaven, but then possession, made actual partakers of eternal blessedness ; therefore there cannot be a greater liberty than the children of God have at the last day.
Use 1. Is to admire the goodness of God to poor afflicted creatures. We have this glorious liberty from God's bounty, Mat. xxv. 3-t ; Christ's loVe, he purchased it ; it is the Son of God hath made us free, John viii. 36 ; it is applied to us by the Spirit : Eom. viii. 2, ' The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death.' The Roman captain said, ' Witli a great sum obtained I this freedom,' Acts xxii. 28 ; to us it cometli on mere favour.
Use 2. Have you interest in this blessedness ? Is the liberty begun ? Hath he sealed you to the day of redemption ? Eph. iv. 30. You will find the comfort and benefit of his sealing. On that day God will own those whom lie hath stamped and marked with his own seal ; that is, whom the Spuit hath formed for God, by impressing his image upon them in righteousness and true holiness. After that day no more place will be left for doubts and fears ; but till that day this is oui warrant and assurance, till full possession ; the seal of the Spirit is au holy frame of heart, fitted to serve, please, and enjoy God.
VeII. 22.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 177
SERMON XXIX.
For ice knmo that the loliole creation groanetli and travaileth in pain together until now. — Eom. VIII. 22.
The apo.stle had showed how the creature waiteth for its future perfect estate ; now, what sense it hath of its present condition. In the words we have, —
1. The certainty, — ' We know.'
2. The agony of the creature, — ' It groaneth and travaileth in pain,'
3. Their consort and agreement in this groaning, — ' The whole crea- tion groaneth,' etc.
4. The duration and continuance, — ' Until now.'
1. The certainty of what is asserted, ' We know.' But how do we know ? First, We see by our sense, that the whole creation is under vanity and corruption. Secondly, We know by faith tliat it came by sin ; so that partly from sense, and partly by faith, we conclude that the creature is under a burden.
2. The great agony of the creature ; it ' groaneth and travaileth in pain ; ' groaneth as a man under an heavy burden ; travaileth in pain, as a woman in child-bearing ; the creature would lain be disburdened of this estate. Some think that this last metaphor implieth that the issue will be comfortable, for the pain of travail ends in joy : John xvi. 21, 'A woman when she is is in travail hath sorrow, for her hour is come ; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man-child is born into the world.' It may be so here ; only I find this metaphor used for bitter pangs and sorrows, without any respect to the end and issue; as Mat. xxiv. 8, 'AH these are the beginning of sorrows.'