3. The work of the Spirit as to the privileges of the new covenant, which are pardon and life.
[1.] As to pardon, he is the Comforter. He cometh into our hearts as the pledge of our atonement ; we receive it when we receive the Spirit, Eom. v. 11 ; and his sanctifying work is the sure evidence that God is at peace with us : 1 Thes. v. 23, ' The God of peace sanctify you wholly.' And doth engage us to wait on God in the way of well- doing, till our pardon be pronounced, and we be absolved by our judge's own mouth, in the hearing of all the world. In the mean- time, applieth to us the blood of Christ for the pacifying of our con- sciences, and the comforts of the pardoning covenant, that our peace with God may be more firmly settled.
[2.] As to life, he doth three things —
(1.) Prepareth us and fitteth us for it : 2 Cor. v. 5, ' He that hath w^rought us for this very thing is God, who also hath given us the earnest of the Spirit.' None are received into glory but those that are prepared for glory : Eom. ix. 23, ' Vessels of mercy which he had before prepared unto glory.' He giveth us the heavenly mind, or a heart working up to God and heaven, and purifieth us more and more for that blessed estate.
(2.) He assureth us of it : 2 Cor. i. 22, ' Who hath anointed us, and sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.' The beginning of holiness and love to God is a pledge and assurance of the Bight of God, and our complete vision of him and love to him ; for God would not so against nature plant such dispositions in us, if he meant not to perfect them ; nor print his image upon us if he intended not a more full conformity to himself in another and better world.
(3.) He comforteth us, and raiseth our longing after this blessed estate ; for the beginnings we have here are called also ' the first-fruits,' Rom. viii. 23. The beginnings are sweet ; what will the completion be ? As he is the eai-nest to confirm our hopes, the first-fruits to
SEKMON UPON GALATIANS V. 5. 223
raise our affections, that we may be diligent and serious in the pursuit of it.
Use of all. 1. Here you see your scope, what you should look for and hope for — the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among the sanctified.
2. Here you see your work, and what you should now seek after,
* The righteousness of faith.'
3. Here you see your help, and what will enable you to obtain,
* Through the Spirit.' Oh ! let these things be more in your thoughts.
[1.] For your happiness, or the great privileges which you should most value and hope for —
First, The forgiveness of sins. I shall only suggest these two things to you —
(1.) Till sin be forgiven, you can never have found peace within yourselves, but still God will be matter of fear and terror to you. Adam, as soon as he had sinned, he was afraid : Gen. iii. 10, * I heard thy voice in the garden, and was afraid, and hid myself.' In the morning of that day he was made by the hand of God, and in a few hours runneth away from his maker as afraid of him. So Isa. xxxiii. 14, ' The sinners in Sion are afraid ; ' as unable to abide the presence of God. Now we, that have so much to do with God, to depend upon him every moment for all that we are, have, and want, surely it would be a comfortable thing to us to hear not only that sin may be pardoned, but is pardoned: Isa. xl. 1, 2, 'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith the Lord ; speak comfortably unto Jerusalem ; cry to her, that her warfare is accomplished, her sin is pardoned.' There is the true ground of comfort, to have sin forgiven. Other comforts tickle the senses, but this soaketh into the heart.
(2.) By waiting on the duties of the gospel, this comfort is more and more settled in the heart. With the serious, it is not an easy thing to get this comfort settled ; for the conscience of sin is not so soon laid aside. We have wronged God, and incurred his displeasure ; but now to believe that he is appeased is not so soon done as spoken. Some are guilty and senseless, but yet no sound peace : Heb. ii. 14, 'Subject to bondage;' though they feel it not. Others are sensible, and have a fear of God's wrath. It is a great while ere they can get their hearts to settle on the possible pardon or reconciliation offered in the covenant. When they do, it is but, It may be : Joel ii. 14, ' Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him ? ' Zeph. ii. 3, ' It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.' But to judge of the sincerity of our qualification, so as to say, Ps. ciii. 3, * Who pardoneth all thy sins, and healeth all thy diseases,' this cometh not by-and-by. Tlie case is this : God is angry ; his anger is ratified by the sentence of his law, and conscience is privy to our own disobedience, and applieth the sentence of his righteous law to itself Some part of the anger may break out in his providence. Our duties and addresses to God about pardon are very imperfect, therefore it is difficult to have pardon settled ; yet by acquaintance with God, in the exercise of faith, repentance, and new obedience, we come to get the peace established: Job xxii. 21, 'Acquaint thyself with him,' habitually converse with him, * and be at peace.'