44 ed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.-Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign, even in your mortal body, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead. For sin shall not have dominion over you. God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin-but being made free" -the plain meaning is, God be thanked, that though ye were in time past the servants of sin, yet now "being free from sin, ye are become the servants of righteousness. 5. The same invaluable privilege of the sons of God, is as strongly asserted by St. John; particularly with regard to the former branch of it, namely, power over outward sin. After he had been crying out, as one astonished at the depth of the riches of the goodness of God, *" Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon ns, that we should be called the sons of God! Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is:" he soon adds, "Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." But some men will say, "True; whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin habitually."-Habitually! Whence is that? I read it It is not written in the book. God plainly saith, He doth not commit sin. And thou addest, habitually! Who art thou that mendest the oracles of God; That addest to the words of this book? Beware, I beseech thee, lest God add to thee all the plagues that are written therein! Especially when the the comment thou addest is such, as quite swallows up text: so that by this dean, this artful method of deceiving, the precious promise is utterly lost by this HUBEIa ago, this tricking and shuffling of men, the word of God is made of none effect. O beware thou that thus takest from the words of this book, that taking away the whole meaning and spirit from them, leavest only what may indeed be termed a dead letter, lest God take away thy part out of the book of life! not. 6. Suffer we the apostle to interpret his own words, by the whole tenor of his discourse. In the fifth verse of this chapter he had said, "Ye know that he (Christ) was manifested, to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." What is the inference he draws from this? "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.". To his inforcement of this important doctrine, he premises an highly necessary caution: †“Little children, let po man deceive you," (for many will endeavour so to do; to persuade you that you may be unrighteous, that you may commit sin, and yet be children of God.) "He that doth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." Then follows, "Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this (adds the apostle) the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.". By this plain mark (the committing or not committing sin) are they distinguished from each other. To the same effect are those words in his fifth chapter, "We know that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." ‡ 7. Another fruit of this living faith is peace. For being justified by faith, having all our sins blotted out, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. This indeed our Lord himself, the night before his death, solemnly bequeathed to all his followers: "Peace (saith he) I leave with you; (you who believe in God, and believe also in me) my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." And again, ¶"These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace." This is that" peace of God, which passeth all understanding," that serenity of soul, which it hath not entered into the heart of a natural man to conceive, and which it is not possible for even the spiritual *Ver. 9. † Ver. 7. Ver, 18. || Rom. v. 1. § John xiv, 27. Chap. xvi. 33. man man to utter. And it is a peace which all the powers of earth and hell are unable to take from him. Waves and storms beat upon it, but they shake it not; for it is founded upon a rock. It keepeth the hearts and minds of the children of God, at all times and in all places. Whether they are in ease or in pain, in sickness or health, in abundance or want, they are happy in God. In every state they have learned to be content, yea, to give thanks unto God through Christ Jesus: being well assured, that "Whatsoever is, is best," because it is his will, cons cerning them. So that in all the vicissitudes of life, their heart standeth fast, believing in the Lord. II. 1. A second scriptural mark of those who are born of God is hope. Thus St. Peter, speaking to all the chil dren of God, who were then scattered abroad, saith, * Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope. Entida (waar, A lively or living hope, saith the apostle : because there is also a dead hope (as well as a dead, faith) a hope which is not from God, but from the enemy of God and man; as evidently appears by its fruits; for, as it is the offspring of pride, so it is the parent of every evil word and work. Whereas every man that hath in him this living hope, is holy as he that calleth him is holy; every man that can truly say to his brethren in Christ," Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and we shall see him as he is, purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 2. This hope implies, 1. The testimony of our own spirit or conscience, that we walk in simplicity and godly sincerity; secondly, the testimony of the Spirit of God, bearing witness with, or to, our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. 3. Let us well observe, what is here taught us by God himself, touching this glorious privilege of his children. Who is it, that is here said to bear witness? Not our spirit. only, but another, even the Spirit of God; he it is who "beareth witness with our spirit." What is it he bear 1 Pet. i. 3. eth eth witness of? "That we are the children of God; and If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him" (if we deny ourselves, if we take up our cross daily, if we chcarfully endure persecution or reproach for his sake)" that we may also be glorified together." And in whom doth the Spi rit of God bear this witness? In all who are the children of God. By this very argument does the apostle prove, in the preceding verses, that they are so: "As many" saith he, as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the Spirit of bon→ dage again, to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!" It follows, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." 4. The variation of the phrase in the 15th verse, is worthy our observation. "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father !" Ye, as many as are the sons of God, have in virtue of your sonship, received that self-same Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. We, the apostles, prophets, teachers, (for so the word may not improperly be understood) we, through whom you have believed, the "ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." As we and you have one Lord, so we have one spirit; as we have one faith, so we have one hope also. We and you are sealed with one Spirit of promise, the earnest of yours and of our inheritance: the same Spirit, bearing witness with yours and with our spirit," that we are the children of God." 5. And thus is the scripture fulfilled, Blessed are they tha mourn, for they shall be comforted. For it is easy to believe, that though sorrow may precede this witness of God's Spirit with our spirit, (indeed must, in some degree, while we groan under fear, and a sense of the wrath of God abiding on us) yet as soon as any man feeleth it in himself, his sorrow is turned into joy. What soever his pain may have been before, yet as soon as that hour is come, he remembereth the anguish no more, for joy that he is born of God. It may be, many of you have Rom. viii. 16. 17. now now sorrow, because you are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel; because you are conscious to yourselves that you have not this Spirit, that you are without hope and without God in the world. But when the Comforter is come*, then your heart shall rejoice; yea, your joy shall be full, and that joy no man taketh from you. We joy in God, will ye say, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement: by whom we have access into this grace, this state of grace, of favour, of reconciliation with God, wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Ye, saith St. Peter, whom God hath begotten again unto a lively hope, are kept by the power of God unto salvation wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith-may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.—In whom, though now ye see him not, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Unspeakable indeed! It is not for the tongue of man to describe this joy in the Holy Ghost. It is the bidden manna, which no man knoweth, save he that receiveth it. But this we know, it not only remains, but overflows in the depth of affliction. Are the consolations of God small with his children; when all earthly comforts fail? Not so. But when sufferings mest abound, the consolations of his Spirit do much more abound; insomuch that the sons of God laugh at destruction when it cometh; at want, pain, hell, and the grave; as knowing him who hath the keys of death and hell, and will shortly cast them into the hottomless pit: As hearing even now the "great voice out of heaven saying, S Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying: neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are past away,” III. 1. A third scriptural mark of those who are born of God, and the greatest of all, is love: even * John xvi. 22. +Rom. v. 11. Rev. xxi. 3, 4 1 Pet. i. 5, &c. || Rom. v. 5. "the |