(2.) God's terror. God is our friend and Father in Christ ; not a terrible judge, but a reconciled Father; and his throne is not a judg- ment-seat, but a mercy-seat. He is terrible to those that lie in their sins; they look upon him as a malefactor doth upon his judge, a rigid lawgiver or severe avenger ; as a condemning God, not as a pardoning God. But not so to those that are adopted and taken into his family ; he maketh the renewed and sanctified his children, and is pleased to own them as a Father : ' That we should be holy, and without blame before him in love ; having predestinated us to the adoption of children,' Eph. i. 4-6. Surely when God is our Father, the chief cause of all our fear and trouble is gone. We have no cause to fear the flames of hell, or sting of death, and the terror of the judgment, any further than to make ready for the day of judgment. Surely then we can not only draw nigh to God, and behold his face with comfort and confidence now, and rejoice in his presence with us in the ordinances, but also look and long for his appearance, when he shall come in his glory : 2 Tim. iv, 8, ' Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous- ness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing ; ' Rev. xxii. 20, ' He who testifieth these things saith. Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus.'
[2.] To establish boldness and confidence ; for —
(1.) There is an everlasting merit to depend upon, and that is the blood of Christ, quieting the conscience : Heb. ix. 14, ' How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge our consciences from dead works
190 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XXVII.
to serve the living God ? ' Heb. xii. 24, ' And to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel.' We are admitted for Christ's sake, and have only his righteousness to plead against the first cove- nant.
(2.) Here is a blessed covenant, wherein God hath showed his will- ingness to accept us, and hath given us his warrant for the discharge of the sincere and upright : Rom. viii. 1, 'There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' Therefore, if our consciences do not charge us with a doubling with God, what should disquiet our minds ?
(3.) There is a sure claim, and that is sincerity, when our hearts condemn us not, nor reproach us for any voluntary wilful neglect of or disobedience to the laws of Christ, or living in any wilful and allowed sin ; yea, rather acquit us, assure us of such sincerity to God and Christ, that we can appeal to his all-seeing eye : John xxi. 17, ' And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.' Now surely all this will breed boldness, and be matter of joy and con- fidence to us : 2 Cor i. 12, ' For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that, in simplicity and godly sincerity, we have had our conversation in the world.'
Object. Will not this strengthen the security of the wicked, to leave all upon the judgment of conscience? Jer. xvii. 9, 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?' Many men's consciences do not condemn them ; they absolve themselves with great confidence, which is not to be imputed to the strength of their faith, but the hardness of their hearts.
Ans. 1. Wicked men are never perfect as appertaining to the consci- ence ; they have not a true sound peace ; it is but a truce, as appeareth because it is so soon disturbed by the seriousness of their own thoughts, their troubles, the agonies of death. A dead stupid conscience they have, but not the rejoicing of faith and liberty towards God. It is not the lively sense of God's love ; their hearts reproach them, though they regard it not.
Ans. 2. It doth suppose that conscience doth its office rightly, and that all things concur which are necessary to a good conscience. As —
[1.] Some competent knowledge of the gospel, the privileges and duties thereof. Carnal men are bold through ignorance. Now, ' without knowledge the heart is not good,' Prov. xix. 2 ; as in out- ward courts, through ignorance of law or false evidence, wrong sentence may be given. Therefore the apostle supposeth them to be persons wliose hearts and consciences are in some measure enlightened in the things of God, and are still inquiring what is his holy, good, and ac- ceptable will.
[2.] One that hath heartily consented to the new covenant so under- stood : 1 Peter iii. 21, ' Baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God.' When they answer to the Lord's offers and demands in the gospel, thankfully accepting the offered benefits, faithfully re- solving, by the strength of the Lord's grace, to perform the required duties, this is the covenant made with God in baptism.