8. Tiie greatness of the gospel covenant. For that allayeth a great many fears, to remember that we are to interpret our qualification according to the covenant of grace and the sweet terms thereof ; and though there be many failings, we may be accepted with the Lord, who will not impute to his people their frailties and sins of infirmity. Not perfection, but sincerity, is our claim ; we have indeed a faith too weak, and mingled with doubtings, too little love to God, and self-love too prevalent ; our desires of grace too cold, our thoughts often distracted ; but yet where the heart is set to seek the Lord, he will accept us, and our infirmities shall be forgiven us for Christ's sake. When he justi- fieth, who shall condemn? Rom. viii. 23. He will answer for the imperfection of our holy things ; every sin is not a sign of death, some are consistent with a state of grace and hopes of glory. There are some sins which every one that truly repenteth ceaseth to commit them : Prov. xxviii. 13, ' He that covereth his sins shall not prosper ; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy;' there are other sins which they that repent do hate, but they too frequently return : Eom. vii. 1.5, ' What I hate, that do I ; ' as, the imperfection of our graces, many vain thoughts and inordinate passions, too much
VeR. 24] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 213
deadness and coldness in holy duties; these are forgiven, and consist with life ; these are causes of child-like humiliation, but not of judging ourselves ungodly, or cast out of the favour of God.
Secondly, To breed earnestness, and this desirous expectation.
1. Think often of the sinfulness and misery of the present evil world, even the better part of it, that whicli is incident to the people of God, which are to be considered either singly or collectively. Singly ; each saint and servant of God findeth enough to drive him off from the world, and to make him long for heaven, a great deal of sin to make him long for his perfect estate. Here in many things we offend, all of us, and the best of us, James iii. 2 ; but above, there are the spirits of just men made perfect. A great deal of misery, unless we are ia love with distress, and prefer vanity and vexation of spirit before our rest and quiet repose. Why should we not desire to be at home with the Lord, which is much better for us? Phil. i. 23. We had beea more in danger to forget heaven if all things iiad suited to our desires, and our way had been strewed with worldly flowers and delights ; but God hath more wisely ordered it, that our temptation to abide here should not be too strong ; or when the world appears to us in too tempting a garb and posture, a valley of tears and snares, a world full of sins, crosses, and pains, shoukl make us look out after a better estate. Consider them collectively as a church, here it is quite different from what it will be hereafter. Alas ! how often is it like a ship in the hands of a foolish guide, who knoweth not the right art of steering; spotted with calumnies of adversaries, or the stains and scandals of its own children ; sometimes rent and torn with sad divisions, every party impaling and enclosing the common salvation, and confining it to their own bounds, unchristianing and unministering all the rest, and many times, in the pursuit of these contentions, unmanning themselves, while they seek to bear down all that stand in their way. Though it is better to dwell in the courts of the Lord than in the tents of wicked- ness, yet truly a tender spirit will groan under these disorders, and long to come to the great council of souls, to the spirits of just men made perfect, who with perfect harmony are lauding and praising God for evermore.
2. Kemove impediments, which are sensuality and addictedness to worldly things. Some seek all their delights and happiness in the things of this world, and so set more by earth than heaven, and will do more for it. Certainly when we fall into the snare of worldly hopes, and are laying designs for greatness here, it is a troublesome interrup- tion to think of a remove, and their great change cometh lapon them unawares, unthought of and unlocked for : Luke xxi. 34, ' Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged witli surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.' See also Luke xii. 17-20, ' And he thought within himself, saying. What shall I do, because I have no room to bestow all my fruits and goods? And he said. This I will do, I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ; and say to my soul. Thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Tiiis night thy soul shall be required of tliee ; ' Ps. cxlvi. 4, ' His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth,