[2.] Formal and constitutive, * Arise from the dead/ Our conver- sion is as the recalling of a dead man to life ; and therefore called 'repentance from dead works,' Heb. vi. 1. And it is represented by the return of the prodigal, Luke xv. 32, ' For this thy brother was dead, and is alive again.' It is as wonderful a work and as considerable a blessing as if he had been raised from the dead. Things are said to be dead when they are useless as to the ends for which they serve or were created ; so we are dead in trespasses and sins, useless to God, and averse from him ; but when we renounce and forsake all our former ways, and devote ourselves to God, to live in his love, and do his will, then we are alive again. The other awakening is gradus ad rem, a preparative disposition ; this is gradus in re, a plain passing from death to life. Man before the fall did enjoy spiritual life and communion with God, being his creature, and fitted for commerce with him, but we lost this life by our defection from God ; therefore now our great business is to return to it again, by getting our hearts and lives changed. It beginneth in the new birth, when we are first quickened to this life : 1 Peter i. 3, 'Who hath begotten us to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ; ' Titus iii. 5, ' According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.' And the first act of it is our solemn dedication of ourselves to God: Rom. vi. 13, ' But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead ; and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.' And still it is carried on in holiness all our days : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.' So that to rise from the dead is as much as to get your natures chani^cd and healed, and to quit your former conversation, and the lusts tiiat caused it, tliat for the future you may live unto God, This is that the returning sinner must mind, that the convictions may not die upon his heart till they produce some good effect, a settled purpose and resolution to live the holy and heavenly life.
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 337
III. The next tiling is, what a blessed estate Christ calleth them into ; he doth not only rescue them out of the power of darkness, but * he will give them light.'
Many things are intended hereby.
1. By light is meant the lively light of the Spirit, or a clear affec- tive knowledge both of our misery and remedy. Of our misery : Rev. iii. 18, 'And anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see ;' that is, see our misery and wretched condition. Our remedy : 2 Cor. iv. C, ' For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' He alludeth to the creation ; as light was the first creature — ' Let there be light, and there was light ' — so it is in the new creation.
2. Light is put for God's favour, and the solid consolation which iloweth from thence : Ps. iv. G, 7, 'Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness into my heart, more than in the time that their corn and wine increased ; ' Ps. Ixxxix. 15, ' They shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy countenance.' Naturally we were children of wrath even as others, had no true peace and solid comfort ; now to live in the favour of God, whereas before we con- tinually feared his wrath, is certainly a very great blessing.
3. It implieth eternal glory and happiness, to which we have a right now, and for which we are prepared and fitted by grace : Col. i. 12, ' Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be par- takers of the inheritance of the saints in light.'
4. I shall answer some doubts ; for may it not seem to be collected hence —
[1.] That it is in our power to obey the call of God, or to do those things which he hath required of us in the gospel, as to repent, believe, and walk in newness of life ?
[2.] That we prevent him ? for first we awake, and arise from the dead, before Christ giveth us light. So much the order of the words seems to imply, that man is first awakened, and risen, and then en- lightened. This cannot be, for it is by the light of Christ that we are both awakened and raised.
To the first I answer — It is not so ; it is potentia Domini, non viri- hies mortui, by the power of God alone, by which they are awakened and risen ; it is not in their power, but their duty. And in these ex- hortations God showeth not what we can do, but what we ought to do.