2. Consider where the new nature is in most danger, there is vitium sceculi, vitium gentis, and vitiicm pet'sonce.
[1.] The fault of the age and nation, where sin being the more common, it is the less odious. Sins are in reputation where usually practised, and the inundation and torrent of examples carry men away strangely: Gal. ii. 13, 'Barnabas was carried away with their dissimula- tion.' Though a good man could easily condemn the practice of the rude multitude, and be as Noah, upriglit in a corrupt age and time. Gen. vi. 9. But when those that we honour and esteem for godliness, have adopted such an error or such a sin into their practice, the error and sin is authorised, and we run into it one after another, as sheep do out of the pasture by the gap or breach in the hedge made by others that have gone before them. Oh, take heed of this ; be followers of none no further than they are of Christ.
[2.] The fault of the person. We must labour most to mortify our particular sin : Ps. xviii. 23, ' I was upright before thee, and kept my- self from mine iniquity.' Some that we may call ours, by temper, evil custom, course of employment. Now these should be the more morti- fied for their own sake, and for the sake of others , for the master-lusts, like great diseases, seldom go alone. Sometimes it is worldliness, or an inordinate love of riches, which gaineth such interest in the hearts
VeR. 10.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN in. 75
of many, that they set light by Christ and his precious benefits, and thoughts of God and heaven grow unwelcome and unpleasing to them, rather desire wealth than God's favour, do not lay up treasures in heaven, but value an estate by the possession rather than the use. Some men's distemper is a sensual disposition ; their hearts are carried after all the alluring vanities of the world, and are basely surprised by the baits of the flesh, cannot deny themselves, or govern their fancies and appetites. Others' distemper is pride, when they mind high things, know little of that poverty of spirit recommended in the gospel, and is reconcilable with a mean condition ; they can hardly live with any but those that will honour and please them. Now the darling sin may be known by the frequency of its assaults, its power over other sins, thoughts that haunt us in duty ; and every wise man knoweth where his temptations lie most.
3. Remember the lesser acts of sin make way for greater, as the lesser sticks set the great ones on fire. As in anger ; give way to the distempers of it, and from folly it groweth to downright madness, Eccles. X. 13. So for envy, if it break out into detraction, it will make us malignant, and undermine those whom we envy, and mischievous malice is the final product. So for pride and self-esteem, let it break out into boasting, and it will breed contention, Prov. xiii. 10. Let the love of the world make us immoderate in the pursuit of it, then God is neg- lected, charity omitted, and it will in time draw us to unjust gain. So for sensuality ; pamper the flesh with all the delights it craveth, and in time men will be scandalous in their apparel, meat, or drink. Let lust break out into wantonness, and wantonness will produce downright uncleanness ; lusts will beget acts, and these acts multiply into deeds of a more foul and heinous nature. Therefore stop betimes ; when you run down-hill there is little hope of staying yourseh'es.
4. Kenew the inclination of the new nature by the means appointed thereunto, especially the Lord's supper, which is the food of the new nature, wherein we remember Christ crucified, and we remember him, that the end of his death may be accomplished, which is, that, ' we may die unto sin, and live unto righteousness,' 1 Peter ii. 24. He purchased the grace whereby this might be accomplished, and wherein we renew our covenant with God, for the strengthening our baptismal vow. Baptism is an avowed death to sin, and here we renew it again.
SERMON XVL
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil : whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. — 1 John iii. 10.
In these words you have the conclusion of the whole discourse, together with a transition to anotliei-. The former discourse was about abstain-
76 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR, XVI.
ing from sin, the subsequent and following' discourse about love of the brethren. Both exceedingly become the children of God ; the one show- eth their respect to their Father, the other to those in the same relation with themselves.
In this verse observe —
1. The preface, which asserts that this is the true note and character by which the two seeds are distinguished, ' In this the children of God are manifest,' &c.
2. This note of difference is referred to two heads — purity and charity.
3. They are propounded negatively, ' Doeth not righteousness, neither he that loveth not his brother.' But the affirmative is understood, that whosoever doeth righteousness and loveth his brother is of God, namely, he that liveth to God, and doth what God require th and approveth.