136 SERMONS upon Serm. XXI. SERM'ON XXI. ROM. VI. 2 I. What fruit hadye then in thofe things, whereof ye are now a/ha- med ? for the end of thofe things is death. H E Apo(lle purfueth his Argument, why they should be as free from Sin, as formerly they were from Righteoufnefs, by comparing the two Servi- ces together, the fervice of Sin , and the fervice of Righteoufnefs; he fpeaketh in the next Verse of the fervice of Righteoufnefs, in the Text of the fervice of Sin. As to the fervice of Righteoufnefs, it is matter of joy and pleafure, while it is a doing, of comfort and confidence in the remembrance of ir, and for the future, Life and eternal Salvation : But on the contrary , if we take a view of fin with refpeCt to the three diflinâiotis of time , pall, prefent, and to come, we (hall find it evil and very evil, What fruit had of thofe things, whereofye are now afliamed? for the end of thole things is death. Sin may be conldered three ways, either as to the time of committing it, or the time of remembring it, or the time of Gods rewarding and punishing of it ; and you find in all fo many Arguments againft it. Firfi , As to the Time of committing it, fo the Apostle argueth ab inutili 5 There is no fruit: then when you lived a carnal life, whit fruit had you ? Secondly, As to the prefent Remembrance, Te are now ashamed. Nose, that is, a. Now, the Commiffion is over. Or rather, 2. Now, after your Converfion to God. Grace breedeth shame in us,becaufe of foregoing fins; fo that here the Apostle argueth à turpi. Thirdly, As to future Expeetation, The end of thofe things is death: there the Argu- ment is à damno , from the hurt and damage that cometh to us thereby. As to time pall fin is unprofitable ; as to time prefect shameful; as to time to come pernicious and deadly. By all there Considerations it may be made fearful to us. Firft, The Apostles Argument ab inutili is propounded by way of Qeflion, which is the ftrongefl way either of Affirmation or Denial; for it is an Appeal to Conscience and Experience : if the fervice of fin was at any time fruitful, it was queflionlefs when it was a doing, when you were fervants of fin , and had nothing to check and allay it, but were altogether blinded by your lulls, feeding the obleflation and pleafure of your flefhly minds with the vanities of the World; What fruit had you then? that is, you had none at all. Do &tine. There is no folid Benefit or Profit to be gotten by Sin. The Scripture reprefenteth it as unfruitful and deceitful. t. As unfruitful, Eph. 4. r r. Have no fellowfhip with the unfruitful works of darknef. A .slate of fin maketh us unfruitful to God, we cannot gather Grapes of Thorns, and Figs of Thifiles, fo it is unfruitful to the Sinner himfelf, who lofeth his time and ftrength, for that which will only occafion shame and trouble, and hereafter Eternal death. 2. As deceitful, Eph. 4. 22. That ye put of concerning the former converfation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfid lofts. Heb. 3. 13. Left any of you be bard- tied through the deceitfdnefi of fin. It is fo called, because it promifeth much , and per-. formeth but little. t. Is promifeth much. Sin fmileth on the Soul with inticing blandishments, Satan told our first Parents, Te fball be as Gods , Gen. 3. q. and (till we promife our (elves fomething from fin, tome contentment, fome profit ; for no man would be wicked gra- tis, meetly for his minds fake , or without an aim at fume further end; meer evil, evil,
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