512 SJHlMONS UPON 1 JOHN in. [Ser. VII.
6. The necessity of persevering in the gospel-estate by new obedience, and a continual dependence on the grace of the Redeemer. First, New obedience : God's people cannot be too watchful against sin, against the least sin ; for it is a breach of our Father's commandments, which the world maketh little reckoning of ; yet if it be a sin, abhor it as an offence to God, a breach of his law. You must not consider how the world will look upon it, but how God will look upon it. Yet take heed of being scrupulous in small sins while you offend in greater, straining at a gnat when you swallow a camel. You must hate all sins, even the least ; and let it not be a small thing to you to transgress the law of God. Secondly, Dependence upon the grace and mercy of our Redeemer; for we need it to the very last. The obedience of the best man upon earth is imperfect and defective : Ps. cxliii. 2, ' Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.' So Ps. xix. 12, ' Who can understand his errors ? cleanse thou me from secret offences.' As God for Christ's sake took us at first with all our faults, so this gracious covenant and the mercy of our Redeemer is our best plea at last.
7. What reason we have to submit to the sharpest providences which God in his corrective discipline puts us under : Isa. xxvii. 9, ' By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged.' No evil can be as bad as sin ; the least sin is worse than the greatest suffering. In suffering, the offence is done to us ; in sin, to God. The evil of suffering is but for a moment, the evil of sin for ever. In suffering we lose some worldly comfort and happiness ; but in sinning we lose or hazard the favour of God. Suffering pincheth the flesh, but sin staineth the soul ; therefore the sinful estate is far worse than the afflicted. Now if by the one we can get rid of the other, we should not murmur, but be thankful rather ; though the mortifying of sin cost us dear, yet the cost is well recom- pensed if sin thereby be subdued.
8. That a renewed heart should be affected, not only with the evil after sin, but with the evil in sin ; for, to persuade God's children to a conformity to their Father, he urgeth this argument, that it is a breach of the law. The law hath penalties annexed, but he speaketh of it rather as a violation and breach. As we love the law because it is pure, so we should hate sin as it is contrary to this pure law. The heart is never thoroughly converted to God till holiness hath our love, and sin as sin our hatred. We are to regard the sanction, but first the precept, and have an awe of God's authority upon our hearts before we fear his vengeance ; to hate it as it is an affront to God, and a contradiction to his holv will.
END OF VOL. XX.
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