*Now one who is so born of God as hath been above described, who continually receives into his soul the breath of life from God, the gracious influence of his Spirit, and continually renders it back: one who thus believes and loves; who by faith perceives the continual actings of God upon his spirit; and by a kind of spiritual re-action, returns the grace he receives in unceasing love, and praise, and prayer; not only _doth not commit sin_, while _he_ thus _keepeth himself_; but so long as this _seed remaineth in him_, he _cannot sin_, because he is born of God.
2. *By _sin_, I here understand, outward sin, according to the plain, common acceptation of the word: an actual, voluntary _transgression of the law_; of the revealed, written law of God, of any commandment of God, acknowledged to be such, at the time that it is transgressed. But _whosoever is born of God_, while he abideth in faith and love, and in the spirit of prayer and thanksgiving, not only _doth not_, but _cannot_ thus _commit sin_. So long as he thus believeth in God through _Christ_, and loves him, and is pouring out his heart before him, he cannot voluntarily transgress any command of God, either by speaking or acting what he knows God hath forbidden. So long that _seed_ which _remaineth in him_, that loving, praying thankful faith, compels him to refrain from whatsoever he knows to be an abomination in the sight of God.
3. But here a difficulty will immediately occur; and one, that to many has appeared insuperable, and induced them to deny the plain assertion of the apostle, and give up the privilege of the children of God.
It is plain in fact, that those whom we cannot deny to have been truly _born of_ God (the Spirit of God having given us in his word, this infallible testimony concerning them) nevertheless not only could, but did commit sin, even gross, outward sin. They did transgress the plain, known laws of God, speaking or acting what they knew he had forbidden.
4. Thus _David_ was unquestionably born of God, or ever he was anointed king over _Israel_. He knew in whom he had believed; he was strong in faith, giving glory to God. [35]_The_ Lord, saith he, _is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in green pastures, and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort._ Yea, _though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me_. He was filled with love; such as often constrained him to cry, out, [36]_I will love thee_, O Lord, _my_ God: _the_ Lord _is my stony rock, and my defence, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge_. He was a man of prayer, pouring out his soul before God, in all circumstances of life; and abundant in praises and thanksgiving; [37]_Thy praise_, saith he, _shall be ever in my mouth_. [38]_Thou art my_ God, _and I will thank thee; thou art my_ God _and I will praise thee_. And yet such a child of God could and did commit sin; yea, the horrid sins of adultery and murder.
5. And even after the Holy Ghost was more largely given, after _life and immortality_ were _brought to light by the gospel_, we want not instances of the same melancholy kind, which were also doubtless written for our instruction. Thus he who (probably from his [39]_selling_ all that he had, and _bringing the price_ for the relief of his poor brethren) was _by the apostles_ themselves _sirnamed_ Barnabas, that is, _the son of consolation_; who was so honoured at _Antioch_, as to be selected with _Saul_ out of all _the disciples_, to carry their [40]_relief unto the brethren in_ Judea: this _Barnabas_, who at his return from _Judea_, was by the peculiar direction of the Holy Ghost, solemnly [41]_separated from the_ other _prophets and teachers, for the work whereunto God had called him_, even to accompany the great apostle among the Gentiles, and to be his fellow-labourer in every place; nevertheless was afterward so [42]_sharp_ in his _contention_ with St. _Paul_ (because he _thought it not good to take with them_ John, in his _visiting the brethren_, a second time, _who had departed from them from_ Pamphylia, _and went not with them to the work_) that he himself also departed from the work; that he _took_ John, _and sailed unto_ Cyprus; forsaking him to whom he had been in so immediate a manner joined by the Holy Ghost.