TO THE SERIOUS READER. 503
in vain.” Dost thou groan under the usurpation and oppression of remaining sin? And is this the dominion of it? is there no difference between sin’s dominion and sin’s tyranny and usurpation? Dominion is upon account of right of conquest or subjection. There is upon both that sin reigns in carnal and unregenerate men, who “ yield their members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin;” but you reckon yourselves dead unto sin,” having no joy in its prevalency, but grief, being planted in this respect “ in the likeness of Christ’s death,” who “died unto sin once, but dieth no more.” Sin shall have no more dominion over him: “likewise reckon ye also yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord;”—that is, to be under grace, to put yourself freely and joyfully under the conduct and dominion of Jesus Christ, and to keep up a continual fight and opposition against the prevailing power of sin. Indeed, sin will often, as an out- lying watchful enemy, make its assaults and incursions on the best of God’s chil- dren, as it did on David, Hezekiah, Peter; and though it may make breaches upon them, it shall not have a dominion and set up a throne of iniquity in their hearts. Grace will beat out sin’s throne ; for indeed the words of this text,—that is, the subject of the ensuing treatise,—carry the force of a promise to the saints, to animate and encourage them to fight against sin under the banner of our Lord Jesus, the captain of our salvation, made perfect through sufferings: “For sin shall not have dominion,” etc.
In treating of which text, this late learned and reverend author hath acted the part of a good workman that rightly divided the word of God (as in all his other writings of the like nature), giving every one their portion as it belongs to them, with so much perspicuity and demonstration, that if, Christian reader, thou wilt af- ford a little time and pains to read, meditate, dilate, and digest well, the truths here laid before thee, through the blessing of the God of all grace, thou wilt find much satisfaction and real spiritual advantage unto thy soul, either to awaken and re- cover thee from under the dominion of sin (the dangerous and palpable symptoms thereof being here plainly made manifest), or else to discover thy happy estate in being taken from “under the law,” and brought under the dominion of “ grace,” whereby thou mayst assume great encouragement to thyself to proceed more cheer- fully in “running the race set before thee.”
It is enough to say that the author hath left his encomium firmly rooted in the minds of all pious and learned men that are acquainted with his writings, polemic or practical; yea, his renown will always be great in after generations among the churches of Christ, and all true lovers of the great truths of the gospel. And that he is the author of this small tract is sufficient to recommend it to thy most serious perusal; taking this assurance, that it was left (among other writings of great value) thus perfected for the press by his own hand, and is now by his worthy relict published for the benefit of others besides herself. I doubt not but thou wilt say that it will answer the several lines that have been drawn in thy heart by sin or grace, “as in water face answereth to face;” and that this may be the effect of thy perusal thereof, in order to thy spiritual and eternal welfare, is
the hearty desire and prayer of thy unfeigned well-wisher, J. 0.
1 These are said to be the initials of Isaac Chauncy, respecting whom the reader will find a note, vol. v. p. 404 —Eb.
= Tyos e a = ‘ i A fae i “ae on wa F eta” ‘ _ on , aalepiens |. ples pgin Suateses.k Tu eated & oh ote ie gee irene otis gaan lu") ye thes ve darren rat the a * ee Garuy a lar , 2 tae ( ae sid niet 4 tee; i reg tt Se = ied t Z gees of ~ gtogyy + > Sits Sy tyd ) r F e : ee ' 1 thw pad
t ' { . 2 | ao hee
\ he ‘ , , beaurss mati ; 2 rentic wnt : $ alas is i ton ‘ede eb + a, t vo —— i : = ' aN 2 i< a ® la ra ; ‘ j P ° * ‘ i] é + ? Bi #}4cil : * Lee ' . fay) ci i he Pts . ’ yy ted 4 ies 4 > ? a + é ‘ A | Jere ‘ ‘ | tj rig * ot om w Mu i - + “there cf) PPS wrt ae <j ia , ia al} eI dees eT ee socal bus yy ‘, jie TY , aie c Py wie TW we ey Gah _ - = ? ; ~ ~Soke, , vps We 7 8 4 ™
A TREATISE
OF
THE DOMINION OF SIN AND GRACE,
* For sin shall not have dominion over you : for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Rom. vi. 14.