Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

CHAP. IT would be an unequal Combat for the conXV. fefs'd Weakness and Degeneracy of human Na

ture, to engage both against the Devil and the Flesh; if there was not Aid ready at hand fuperior to both of them. Therefore the Apoftle, in the Perfon of an unconverted Jew, and Gentile, both of whom he had concluded under Sin, and in the most inoffenfive Metafchematifm of himself, had convicted each of them, in their Turns, of Wretchednefs, cries out, O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death? In the following Verfe, he thanks God thro' Jefus Chrift (which not being a direct Anfwer, it may be queftion'd, as Mr. Locke has obferved, whether й xápis të Oɛ8, which is the Remedy, is not the true Reading, being a more direct Answer) and in the following Chap. † propofes the only Remedy for being freed from the Law of Sin and Death, and that is, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chrift Jefus.

FOR the Spirit of Chrift attending his Gospel (and he that has not his Spirit is no real Chriftian) as it is the Spirit of Adoption, is a new Principle to the carnal Mind, both for freeing it in its Anxiety from the Condemnation of Sin, arifing from the tranfgrefs'd Law of Mofes, and the unperform'd Law of the Mind, i. e. the Law of Nature; and from the ill Confequences of Death, which has no harm in it after its Sting is taken away, viz. the Guilt and condemning Power of Sin: And likewife a new Principle leading to eternal life, by directing, foliciting, and helping our Infirmities of the Flesh to a prefent Newness of Life, not to live after the Flesh but after the Spirit, or the Law of the Spirit, i. e. the Gospel.

+ Rom. viii. 2, 9, &c.

FOR

FORASMUCH as they who govern themselves CHAP. by the old Principle or Rule of Action, the Law XV. of the Members or Flefh, controuling the Mind and bringing it into Captivity to the Law of Sin, cannot, of themfelves, free themselves from Sin; and as long as the Mind fubmits itself to that Law, it is carnally minded, is in a State of Enmity against God, cannot pleafe him; because, being habitually fubject to a contrary Master, and a contrary Law, it is not (at the fame time) fubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be; the Law of Contraries makes it impoffible that it fhould. But when the Mind fubmits to the Law of the Spirit of Life (as all who put on Chrift, or take the Profeffion of Christian upon them, are obliged to do) then it is Spiritually minded, minding the Things of the Spirit, and being fo guided and governed is pleafing to God; and the bleffed Effect of that, is Life and Peace, Remiffion of Sins, and eternal Life: For the Spirit, that raised Chrift from the Dead, dwells and refides in them likewise, to raise them from the Dead to eternal Life; as in ver. 11. Then being led by the Spirit of God as we were devoted in Baptifm, and having that Teftimony of our Confcience that we are govern'd by his Word, and act as becomes our Baptifm and Calling in Chrift, it beareth Witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God, ver. 16.

THE Apoftle's Inference is very juft, Therefore Brethren, we, as many as profefs ourselves Chriftians, are Debtors not to the Flesh, to live after the Flesh, but to the Spirit, to mortify the Deeds of the Flesh, in order to enjoy the Redemption of the Body from the Grave, and the Glory that fhall be reveal'd in the eternal Life enfuing, which the Faithful groan after in their mortal perfecuted

CHAP. perfecuted Bodies; as all Mankind, unwilling to XV. die and part with their Bodies for good and all,

groan for a Refurrection in the constitutional Defires of their Nature. So far is it from the true State and Conftitution of Things, that the Body is the Prison of the Soul, that it is its dear and ever defirable Partner, an effential Part of the Nature and Being of Man, to revive again and live for ever.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are (adopted) Sons of God: And therefore Heirs hereafter with Christ, of that Redemption, and Glory, which he is now in Poffeffion of. In the Hope of which incomparable Glory we are faved in the Sufferings of this prefent Life, counting them, tho' fo much the Lot of Chriftians at that time, as nothing in the Comparifon. Befides that Hope, Chriftians, who are led by the Spirit, and by being adopted to that future State, have this further Advantage, that the fame Spirit is ready, invifibly, as the Things hoped for are invifible, to help our Infirmities; when in our Diftreffes we pray to God, and yet know not, in particular, what to pray for as we ought, whether for Increase of Patience under, or Deliverance from them; but the Spirit itself (which worketh those Defires of Glory and eternal Life in the Adopted) intercedeth for us with Groanings that can't be utter'd, i. e. filent, fervent, moving, and effectual, fuch as becomes adopted Sons, and according to the Will of God towards them; what is beft for them at fuch preffing Junctures, which the Spirit knoweth, tho' they don't; and therefore fupplies their mental Prayers with that filent Sorrow and Sighing which is the moft moving: Silence proceeding from inward Grief at Sin is most loud, and

XV.

moving to the Ears of Heaven! By Parity of CHAP. Reason it may be concluded, that when the Matter of our other Prayers and Addreffes are according to the known Will of God, the Holy Spirit excites fuch filial Freedom and Chearfulnefs, fervent Defires, devout Affections, and Poftures of Mind, as are fuitable to the refpective Matter and Subject of them: For that, in refpect both of Matter and Manner, is praying in the Holy Ghost, Jud. 20.

[ocr errors]

As God formerly in peculiarity of Favour dwelt among the Jews by Tabernacle, and by Temple, with a Partition Wall exclufive of the Gentiles; fo, upon the Ruins of the Temple, when the Duration, or for ever of that Difpensation was at an end, the Habitation of God thro the Spirit was erected indifcriminately in the Hearts of all who embraced the Faith of Chrift; and the powerful miraculous Operations of the Spirit, fo commonly display'd among the Gentiles, demonftrated to the then Jews, that God dwelt as vifibly among the Gentiles as ever they could pretend he had done among them; and consequently that their Peculium and Adoption to Favour was at an end.

AND as the Ufe of a Seal was to render a thing peculiar and appropriate, fo by the undeniable Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, the Gentiles, to the ample Conviction of the other, were fealed and appropriated a chofen Generation, a royal Priesthood, a peculiar People, an boly Nation, as well as they had been, being fanctified in Baptifm by Water, and the Renewal of the Holy Ghost to all moral Holiness, as thofe had been by Circumcifion to legal ceremonial Holiness. The

#Eph. ii. 22.

+ 1 Pet. ii. 9.

Foundation,

CHAP. Foundation, or Covenant, of God ftandeth fure, XV. having this Seal, The Lord knoweth who are his,

c. And as their Kings, Priefts, and Prophets, had their particular Anointing and Defignation from Heaven; fo Chriftians having receiv'd a general Anointing, or the thing couch'd under that Symbol, i. e. Sanctification and Confecration from the Holy Ghost, in allufion to the other, are ftiled Kings and Priefts, but no where Prophets; for that laborious Office, as to the Teaching, Exhorting, and Reproving Part, was appropriated to a particular Order of Men. Tho' Chrift prefenting thofe, who fuffer for him, to the Father as Kings and Priests to reign with him, feems to mean a particular Glorification of Honour for the Difgrace and Contempt they met with on Earth for the Sake of his Religion: Yet, even upon Earth, to ferve God and Virtue, is to Rule and be a King, in the most valuable Dominion over a Man's felf; and moreover to offer to God Sacrifices enough, being the higheft rational Ho nour in the greatest moral Liberty. Hence that of the Stoicks, The wife Man only has true Liberty, be folely Reigns, he only enjoys Empire. With refpect to the other, there is a Paffage in Hieroch. Carm. Pyth. p. 24. to this effect, "The wife Man "is only called the PRIEST of God; he is "only acceptable to him; be only understands how

to pray to him, and only knows how to honour "bim, without confounding the Dignity due to him. "For in the first Place, he offers himself a Sacri"fice, making his Mind the Image, and preparing "bimfelf to be his Temple."

IT may be added, that as Man was made. the Prieft of Nature, to offer up to the Creator the Praises of all inanimate and irrational Creatures, fo Chrift has obliged every Christian to be

a Priest

« AnteriorContinuar »