(2.) How doth it keep us from sinning, so that he who is born of God doth not sin, and cannot sin ?
I answer — This seed of God may be considered either as to its
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tendency and efficacy, or permanency and predominancy ; all which infer tlie thing in hand.
{1st.) Its tendency. This impression left upon the heart doth cause it to bend and tend towards God, that we may serve, please, glorify, and enjoy him. As it came from God, so it doth incline us to God ; for the tendency is according to the principle, therefore called a living to God, Gal. ii. 19. It doth continually draw back from sin, and urgeth and inclineth to holiness; and therefore, when a man is about to sin, he cannot carry it on so freely, because of the rebukes and dislikes of the new nature, there being a fixed, settled frame and bent of lieart towards God ; therefore the heart by consequence must needs be set against sin, which is irreconcilable with the motions and tendency of the new nature.
i^dly) Its efficacy. The seed of God is an actuous, vigorous thing. The word seed imports it; for the spirit of the plant is in it. If it be not a dead seed, we see how it will work through the hard and dry clods to produce its plant and flower ; so is this vital principle opera- tive ; it will not easily suffer us to do an act contrary to it ; and it being a divine seed called Spirit, it is a principle of great strength and power. The apostle calleth it the lusting of the Spirit against the flesh, Gal. v. 17. Now if grace have any energy and life in it, it is directly contrary and incompatible with the committing of any sin. There is a seed and principle in him, which enlighten and enliven, and quicken him to serve and please God, and therefore he is held back from sin.
(Mly.) As to its permanency, a seed that remaineth ; which may be understood both of its own defixion and radication in the heart of man. It is not a light touch, but a thorough change, such an impres- sion of God as becometh a habit and holy nature in us, and is the constant principle of holy, spiritual operations ; and also in regard of God's continuance of it, for it is one of the gifts of which the Lord repenteth not, Kom. xi. 29. It is so planted in the heart by God that it is not lightly inclined, but thoroughly set to holiness ; the good and honest lieart, which, having received the word, keepeth it, Luke viii. 15; a heart sound in God's statutes, Ps. cxix. 80. Now where the heart is thoroughly changed, soundly set, they do generally live according to the operation of this seed and principle of grace, and is so governed and inclined by it, that he doth constantly do the will of God, and war, and watch, and strive against sin.
{Wdy.) This seed is considered according to its prevalency and pre- dominancy. To its prevalency, it hath the mastery in the soul ; for though there be a double principle in a christian, you must not forget the back bias of corruption, which still remaineth with us, and is importunate to be pleased ; but yet you must carry it so that you may ])lainly show it is not superior in the soul, and keep watching and striving, that as little of it may be discerned as may be, that your con- versations be not cast into a carnal mould, and fashioned according to the former lusts of your ignorance, 1 Peter i, 14, that sin may be mortified and beaten down more and more. The apostle supposeth the best is most powerful, so that a christian showeth himself spirit ratlier than flesh. The apostle describeth him here according to the
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operation of the better part. The old man in them is crucified, not wholly dead indeed, but d3ang, and greatly weakened.
Fourthly, I shall vindicate the words from abuse.
Men think, if they be regenerate, the seed of grace will preserve them without any care of their own. Herein they are mistaken, and tliat for two reasons —
1. Because there is an active warring principle still left in us ; our lusts are but in part subdued, and our love to them is so soon kindled, that if we intermit our watching and striving, the gates of the senses are always open to let in such objects as take part with the flesh ; therefore we must be beating down sin : 1 Cor. ix. 26, 27, * I therefore so run, not as uncertainly ; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air : but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.' What is said of the new nature is not to make us idle.
2. Because grace doth not work necessarily, as fire burneth, but voluntarily ; it must be excited and stirred up, both by the Spirit of God, who giveth us to will and to do, Phil, ii, 13, and by ourselves : 2 Tim. i. 6, ' Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee.' We must be still blowing up this holy fire, and keep it burning, as the priests did the fire of the altar. The bent of the new nature must be kept up with much watching, striving, praying, and the use of all holy means, and the vigour of it maintained.