The blessedness of this change will appear if we consider,
III. How great a cause of thankfulness such a con- version is —
The Apostle thanks God that they were no longer slaves of sin —
[Sin is at all times a ground of shame and sorrow s. Paul esteemed it so in his own particular case h : every saint of God views it in the same light: St. Paul therefore did not mean that their subjection to it was a ground of thankfulness; but the subject of his thanksgiving is, that the Romans, who once were slaves of sin, were now entirely devoted to God.]
This is a ground of unspeakable thankfulness on many accounts :
1. On account of the moral change in the persons themselves —
[What can be more deplorable than to be a slave of sin? What can be more truly blessed than to have all our actions and affections corresponding with the word of God? Surely this is a ground of thankfulness.]
2. On account of the effects of this change on society —
[How much better member of society must a child of God be than a slave of sin ! How much happier would the world be, if such a change were general ! On this account therefore it became the Apostle to be thankful.]
3. On account of the eternal consequences that must follow this change —
[They who die slaves of sin must suffer its punishment: they are now the children of the devil, and must soon be his companions in misery1 ; but the regenerate are children and heirs of God. Surely eternity will scarcely suffice to thank God for this.]
We shall conclude with a suitable address —
1. To the unregenerate —
[All who have not been freed from sin are of this number. Alas ! the friends of such have little cause to thank God for them: they have rather reason to weep and mourn k: they may indeed bless God that the stroke of vengeance has been
8 Rom. vi. 21. h 1 Tim. i. 1:?.
1 John viii. 44. k Jer. xiii. 17.