In such seasons, men under the law will attend unto their convic- tions, and endeavour for a while to shake off the yoke of sin. They will attend unto what the law saith, under whose power they are, and endeavour a compliance therewith; many duties shall be per- formed, and many evils abstained from, in order to the quitting themselves of sin’s dominion. But, alas! the law cannot enable them hereunto,—it cannot give them life and strength to go through with what their convictions press them unto; therefore, after a while they begin to faint and wax weary in their progress, and at length give quite over. It may be they may break off from some great sins in particular, but shake off the whole dominion of sin they cannot.
It is otherwise with them that are “under grace.” Sin shall not have dominion over them; strength shall be administered unto them to dethrone it. |
“Grace” is a word of various acceptations in the Scripture. As we are here said to be under it, and as it is opposed unto the law, it is used or taken for the gospel, as it is the instrument of God for the communication of himself and his grace by Jesus Christ unto those that do believe, with that state of acceptation with himself which they are brought into thereby, Rom. v. 1, 2. Wherefore, to be “under grace” is to have an interest in the gospel covenant and state, with a right unto all the privileges and benefits thereof, to be brought under the administration of grace by Jesus Christ,—to be a true believer.
But the inquiry hereon is, how it follows from hence that sin shall not have dominion over us, that sin cannot extend its terri- tories and rule into that state, and in what sense this is affirmed.
1. Is it that there shall be no sin in them any more? Even this is true in some sense. Sin as unto its condemning power hath no place in this state, Rom. viii. 1. All the sins of them that believe are expiated or done away, as to the guilt of them, in the blood of Christ, Heb. i. 3; 1 Johni. 7. This branch of the dominion of sin, which consists in its condemning power, is utterly cast out of this state. But sin as unto its being and operation doth still continue in believers whilst they are in this world; they are all sensible of it. Those who deceive themselves with a contrary apprehension are most of all under the power of it, 1 John i. 8. Wherefore, to be freed from the dominion of sin is not to be freed absolutely from all
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546 OF THE DOMINION OF SIN AND GRACE.
sin, so as that it should in no sonse abide in us any more. This is — not to be under grace, but to be in glory.
2. Is it that sin, though it abides, yet it shall not fight or con-— tend for dominion in us? That this is otherwise we have before de- — clared. Scripture and the universal experience of all that believe — do testify the contrary; so doth the assurance here given us that it shall not obtain that dominion: for if it did not contend for it, there — could be no grace in this promise,—there is none in deliverance — from that whereof we are in no danger. |
But the assurance here given is built on other considerations; — whereof the first is, that the gospel is the means ordained and in- strument used by God for the communication of spiritual strength | unto them that believe, for the dethroning of sin. It is the “ power : of God unto salvation,” Rom. i. 16, that whereby and wherein he puts forth his power unto that end. And sin must be really de- throned by the powerful acting of grace in us, and that in a way of - duty in ourselves. We are absolved, quitted, freed from the rule of © sin, as unto its pretended right and title, by the promise of the gos- pel; for thereby are we freed and discharged from the rule of the ~ law, wherein all the title of sin unto dominion is founded, for “the strength of sin is the law:” but we are freed from it, as unto its internal power and exercise of its dominion, by internal spiritual grace and strength in its due exercise. Now, this is communicated — by the gospel; it gives life and power, with such continual supplies of — grace as are able to dethrone sin, and for ever to prohibit its return. —
This, then, is the present case supposed and determined by the apostle: “You that are believers are all of you conflicting with sin, You find it always restless and disquieting, sometimes strong and powerful. When it is in conjunction with any urgent temptation, you are afraid it will utterly prevail over you, to the ruin of your’ souls. Hence you are wearied with it, groan under it, and cry out for deliverance from it.” All these things the apostle at large insists on in this and the next chapter. “But now,” saith he, “be of good comfort; notwithstanding all these things, and all your fears upon them, sin shall not prevail, it shall not have the dominion, it shall never ruin your souls.” But what ground have we for this hope? what assurance of this success? “This you have,” saith the apostle, “*Ye are not under the law, but under grace;’ or the rule of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, administered in the gospel.” But how doth this give relief? ‘“ Why, it is the ordinance, the instrument of God, which he will use unto this end,—namely, the communication of such supplies of grace and spiritual strength as shall eternally defeat the dominion of sin.”