All these things, and sundry others of the like sort, might be in- sisted on and enlarged, to manifest the greatness of the mercy and privilege which is in a freedom from the dominion of sin, as it is here proposed by the apostle; but the principal design I intended is accomplished, and I do but touch on these things.
I shall add one observation more, and with it put a close to this discourse :—
Obs. 2. It is the great interest of a soul sonnel with the power of sin to secure itself against its dominion, that it 1s not under rts dominion, not to have the cause hang dubious in the mind. To clear the truth hereof we may observe the things that follow:—
First, The conflict with sin, making continual repentance and mortification absolutely necessary, will continue in us whilst we are in this world. Pretences of perfection here are contrary to the Serip- tures, contrary to the universal experience of all believers, and con- trary to the sense and conscience of them by whom they are pleaded, as they'make it evident every day. We pray against it, strive against it, groan for deliverance from it; and that, by the grace of Christ healing our nature, not without success. Howbeit this success ex- tends not unto its absolute abolition whilst we are in this world. It will abide in us until the union of the soul and body, wherein it hath incorporated itself, be dissolved. This is our lot and portion; this is the consequent of our apostasy from God, and of the depravation of our nature thereby.
You will say, then, ‘“ Whereto serves the gospel and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in this case, if it be not able to give us de- liverance herein?” I answer, It doth give us a fourfold relief, which amounts virtually to a constant deliverance, though sin will abide in us whilst we are in this world:—
1. It is so ordered that the continuance of sin im us shall be the ground, reason, and occasion, of the exercise of all grace, and of putting a lustre on our obedience. Some excellent graces, as repent- ance and mortification, could have no exercise if it were otherwise; and whilst we are in this world, there is a beauty in them that is an overbalance for the evil of the remainders of sin. And the diffi- culty which is hereby put on our obedience, calling continually for.
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the exercise and improvement of all grace, renders it the more valu- able. Herein lies the spring of humility and self-resignation to the will of God. This makes us love and long for the enjoyment of Christ, putting an excellency on his mediation; whence the apostle, on the consideration of it, falls into that ejaculation, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom. vii. 25. This sweetens unto us our future rest and reward. Wherefore, the continuance of us in this state and condition in this world,—a state of spiritual warfare,— is best for us, and highly suited unto divine wisdom, considering the office and care of our Lord Jesus Christ for our relief. Let us not complain, or repiney or faint, but go on with Christian fortitude unto the end, and we shall have success; for,—
2. There are, by the grace of Christ, such supplies and aids of spiritual strength granted unto believers, that sin shall never pro- ceed farther in them than ts useful and needful for the exercise of their graces. It shall never have its will upon them nor dominion over them, as we have before declared.
3. There is mercy administered in and by the gospel for the pardon of all that is evil in itself or in any of its effects: “There
_is no condemnation unto them that are in Christ Jesus.” Pardon- ing mercy, according to the tenor of the covenant, doth always dis- arm this sin in believers of its condemning power; so that, notwith- standing the utmost endeavours of it, “being justified by faith, they have peace with God.”
4. There is a season when, by the grace of Christ, it shall be utterly abolished,—namely, at death, when the course of our obe- dience is finished.
Wherefore, to affirm that this sin, and consequently a conflict with - it, doth abide in believers whilst they are in this world, is no dispa- ragement unto the grace of Christ, which gives such a blessed deli- verance from it.
Secondly, There is a double conflict with and against sin. The one is in those that are unregenerate, consisting in the rebellion of light and conscience against the rule of sin in many particular in- stances; for although sin be enthroned in the will and affections, yet the knowledge of good and evil in the mind, excited by the hopes and fears of things eternal, will make head against it, as unto the performance of sundry duties and abstinence from sin. This conflict may be where sin is in the throne, and may deceive them- selves, supposing it to be from the rule of grace, when it is only from the rebellion of light and the charge of a conscience yet un- seared. But there is a conflict with sin where grace hath the rule and is enthroned; for although grace have the sovereignty in the mind and heart, yet the remainders of sin, especially in the corrupt