Use 1. Information; to teach us how to check sin by the remembrance of union and communion with Christ : 1 Cor. vi. 15, ' Shall I take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid.' The apostle is reasoning against fornication, and one main argument is taken from our union with Christ. The bodies of the faithful are a part of his mystical body, and therefoi-e must be used with reverence, and possessed in sanctification and honour ; not given to a harlot, but reserved for Christ. He proveth the argument on both parts, that he that is joined to a harlot maketh himself one witii a harlot, and he that is joined to Christ becometh one with Christ. * He that is joined to a harlot is one body ; ' i.e.. that conjunction is carnal and bodily : ' But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit ;' i.e., this conjunction is holy and spiritual. And does not the argument hold good in other cases ? Thus in gluttony and intemperance, they join us to something that is different from Ciirist, and debase the body which Christ liath made the temple of his Spirit. Nay, though the sin be not so gross, the argument is good still. Do we dwell in Christ, and make Christ's mystical l)ody a shelter and sanctuary for sinners, and this great mystery of union with Christ only a cover for a carnal heart and life ? Surely every one that is in Christ hath greater obligations than others, being taken into such a nearness to God ; and has greater helps, having received of liis fulness, John i. IG. They have grace from him, as the branches have sap from the root.
Use 2. Are we true members of Clirist's mystical body ? ' VViioso-
30 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. X.
ever abideth in him sinneth not.' Let ns pause on this a little. Do not we sin daily ? But unavoidable failings do not forfeit or break off our union and communion with him. What then?
1. There are many sins which are utterly inconsistent with true godliness ; and if a child of God should fall into them in some rare, unusual case, he cannot know himself a child of God. Surely to live in them doth clearly decide the matter. As, for instance, consider these scriptures : 1 Cor. vi. 9, ' Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? be not deceived : neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God ; ' Gal. v. 19-21, ' Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and suchlike: of these things I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God ; ' Eph. v. 6, ' Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.' These acts are so contrary to grace, that no debate needeth be about them ; either they are not consistent with sincerity, or the knowledge of it.
2. They live not in any sin against knowledge and conscience ; for indulgently and deliberately to run into any sin cloudeth the knowledge of our sincerity, for that argueth the reign of sin, and that is dangerous, Kom. vi. 14 ; and therefore we need watchfulness, Eph. v. 15, and much prayer, Ps. cxix. 133,
3. When a child of God falleth through infirmity, he presently rallieth, and recovereth himself again : Jer. viii. 4, ' Shall they fall, and not arise ? ' Surely to lie in the dirt argueth obstinacy.
4. They do not make a trade or course of sinning and repenting ; for relapses against conscience are so grievous to a sincere heart, and repentance, if it be serious, doth so wound sin, that it cannot easily recover life and strength : Ps. li. 6, * In the hidden part shalt thou make me to know wisdom.'
5. It neither concerneth the duty nor peace of the children of God to omit the due care of their hearts and lives when they come near a state of death, and thereby render their condition questionable, lest they seem to come short, Heb. iv. 1 ; and Heb. xii. 13, 'Make straight steps to your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.' Anything that would turn us out of the course of our obedience to God should be striven against and watched against till we prevail. It will be a doubt, if not a wound and maim, to our sincerity : therefore, if we be not known by avoiding sin, let us be known by striving against it, and prevailing in some measure.
Use 3. Is direction. If he that abideth in Christ sinnetli not, then let us abide in Christ, seek after union and communion with him, be- cause tliere is our security. First, If we abide with Christ, he will abide with us. There is no danger of breaking on his part, therefore we are so often called upon to abide in him, John xvii. Secondly, Apart from him we can do nothing, John xv. 5. Thirdly, In him