VeR. 7.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 41
3. That their sins are but petty sh'ps, and small sins, mere human in- firmities ; that no man can be perfect ; that the purest saints have fallen into as great faults. But those are not infirmities which you indulge and allow, and study not to prevent and mortify, or retract not with grief and shame ; besides, infirmities continued in prove iniquities, which by their frequent lapses are rather strengthened than weakened in you.
Secondly, Let no man deceive you in point of righteousness, 'He that doeth righteousness is righteous.'
1. Not he that heareth and talketh of it only doth show himself righteous ; not strict opinions with licentious practices , not a bare approbation, not approving without doing : Luke xi. 27, 28, ' Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and do it.'
2. It is not only an intention of mind and purpose. No ; we must actually perform the will of God : ' He that doeth righteousness is righteous ; ' Acts xxvi. 20, ' That they should repent and turn to God, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance.' Repentance is a change of mind, but there must be works meet.
3. Not barely good desires. Many please themselves with this, that a desire of living holily sufficeth. No ; the soul of the sluggard desir- eth, and hath nothing. It is not he that desireth to be righteous, but doeth righteousness ; sluggish desires are easily controlled. Where is the effect, the pressing towards the mark ? Phil. iii. 14. If it were strongl}'^, seriously desired, we would address ourselves to this work, and in some good measure prevail. The building went on when the people had a mind to the work, Neh. iv. 6.
4. It is not doing a good action now and then, butthroughout our whole course ; we must fear God, and work righteousness : Ps. cvi. 3, ' Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times ; ' and if he falleth, he returneth by a speedy repentance.
Use 2. Is to persuade us to look after this righteousness, which is the drift of the text. To this end consider —
1. We shall shortly appear before the tribunal of God, where every man's qualification shall be judged, whether he be righteous or un- righteous. How soon it may come about we cannot tell ; this day sur- priseth the most part of the world, and taketh them unprovided. The word found is often used with respect to this day : 2 Cor. v. 3, ' If so be we shall not be found naked.' 2 Peter iii. 14, * And found of him in peace;' Phil. iii. 9, 'And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness.'
2. For God's judgment; nothing but God's righteousness will serve the turn. The law which condemneth us is the law of God ; the wrath and puni.shment which we fear is the wrath of God ; the glory which Ave expect is the glory of God ; the presence into which we come is the presence of God ; and therefore the righteousness upon which our confidence standeth must be the righteousness of God . Rom. iii. 22, * Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all that believe.' That which God hath appointed, and God will accept.
3. Tiie righteousness of God is principally the death, merit, and satis- faction of our Lord Jesus Christ ; for it is said, 2 Cor. v. 21, ' He was
42 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XII.
made sin for ns, who knew no sin, that we might be made the right- eousness of God in him.'
4. None have the benefit of tliis righteousness of Christ but those that believe in him ; for the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, Rom. i. 17. Now this faith is nothing else but a broken- hearted and thankful acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
5. None have this faith but those that depend upon him as a Saviour, and give up themselves with a hearty consent of subjection to be guided, ruled, and ordered by him as their Lord. For dependence: Eph. i. 13, ' In whom ye trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel ot your salvation.' Subjection : Col. ii. 6, ' As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.'
6. None give up themselves to him as their Lord but those who make it their scope and work to please, glorify and enjoy him : 2 Cor. V. 9, * Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.' None but those that purify themselves as he is pure, and are righteous as he is righteous.
SERMON XII.
He that committeth sin is of the devil ; for the devil sinnethfrom the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God luas manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. — 1 John iii. 8.
Here is a new argument against living in sin, backed and confirmed with two reasons. The argument is, that they who live in sin are of the devil ; it is confirmed with two reasons, the one taken from the disposition of Satan, tiie otlier from the design of Christ. The one proveth the thing asserted, the other showeth the detestableness of it. The tiling is proved, that he that liveth in sin belongeth to the devil, ' For the devil sinneth from the beginning.' The other showeth how unbecoming it is for them that profess tliemselves christians to have the gospel in their mouths and the devil in their hearts. In short, the one reason showeth our danger, the other our remedy and help ; our danger, ' The devil sinneth from the beginning.' It is his work to promote sin ; he doth not only sin himself, but instigateth others to sin. Our remedy for this purpose, ' The Son of God was manifested,' &c.