Thine in him,
Arthur Jackson.*
Wood Street, November 6. 1638.
* For notice of Jackson, see Vol. II. p. 442. — G.
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from, the law of sin and of death. — Rom. VIII. 2.
There be four thincfs especially that trouble the peace of a Christian, and indeed of any man, in this world.
The first is, sin, with the fjiiilt of it, binding them over to the wrath of God, and the expectation of misery, a heavy bondage.
The second is, besides the guilt of sin, the remainders of corruption, with the conflict that accompanies them while we live in this world ; and that conflict must needs be tedious.
The third is, the miseries of this life that accompany alway both the guilt and remainders of sin in this world. We are condemned to a great deal of trouble here, and this doth much exercise and perplex God's children. And then the shutting up of all, death and damnation.
The thought of these things doth much disquiet and disturb the peace of a Christian's soul.
Now, in this Epistle we have comfort against all these. First, for the guilt of sin, that binds us over to eternal judgment and the wrath of God ; we are freed by the obedience of Christ, the second Adam, as is excellently shewed in the fifth chapter.
And for the re)nainders of corruption that we conflict with in this world, we are assisted against that by the Spirit of Christ. For as by the obe- dience of Christ we are freed from the guilt, so by the Spirit of Christ we are helped and assisted against the remainders of our corruptions.
For the third, the miseries nf this life, we have victory in Christ: 'In him we are more than conquerors,' as you have it in this chapter, Rom. viii. 87. They can do us no harm. ' Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.' We have many singular comforts in this chapter against all the troubles that can befall us, and this is one that triumphs over all : ' All things shall work for the best to them that love God.' What should I speak of hurt from anything that befalls us, when all shall work for the best, by the over-ruling of him that commands all ? ver. 28.
And for death itself: ' Neither life nor death shall be able to separate us from the love of God.' And for damnation which accompanies death: * It is God that justifieth, who shall condemn ?' There is opposite comforts
VOL. V. P
226 THE SPiniTTTAL JUBILEE.
in God's book, nay, in this epistle and in this chapter, against all that may any ^vay trouble our peace. * There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,' saith the apostle ; and then he goes on after to shew how, by the help of the Spirit, ' all things work for the best,' &c. In this very verse likewise, you have this comfort set down, of our freedom by Christ from any thing that may hurt us. * For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and of death.'
The words are dependent, as we see in the particle ' for ;' ^for the law of the Spirit of life,' &c. They depend upon the first verse thus ; as a reason why, however there be sin in God's children, yet there is no dam- nation to them. * There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus.' He proves it thus. Those that are free from the law of sin and of death, which brings in condemnation, those undoubtedly are free from damnation. But those that are in Christ Jesus, they are freed from the law of sin and of death ; therefore there is no condemnation to such. But how shall we know that we are in Christ Jesus ? Those that have the Spirit, and are led by the Spirit of Christ, tho}' are in Christ. ' The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sin and of death.' So I say, the words are especiallj' a reason of the former,
* There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus :' because by the ' Spirit of Christ they are freed from the law of sin, and of death ;' and by consequent, they are freed fi-om damnation ; for what brings in damna- tion but sin ?
In the words, then, there is an opposition. There is law against law.
* The law of the Spirit of life in Christ,' and ' the law of sin and of death.' Now, where there are contrary laws, if there be contrary lords, as there must be, new lords will have new laws ; especially if they be lords by con- quest, they will alter the very fundamental laws that were before ; as you know the old conquerors have done in this kingdom. Here is law against law, and lord against lord ; Christ against sin and death. Here is a Lord by conquest over all other lords and laws. Therefore, here must needs be an alteration of laws upon it ; the very fundamental laws must be altered. But to come more particularly to the words,