Veri: 23. the fixtb Chapter to the ROMANS. 155 SERMON XXIV. ROM. VI: 23. For the wages of fin is death : but the gift of God it eternal life, through 7efus aril!. our Lord. THESE words are the Conclufion , confirming all that the Apoftle had Paid before in this Argument , and more efpecially explaining thofe two Claufes, That the end of fin is death, and the end of halin f is eternal life; it is fo but with this difference , the one as Wages deferved , the other as a meer free Gift : Death follows fin by Juftice, but eternal Life follows Holinefs by free favour. Both branches deferve to be confidered by us conjunct- ly and apart. 1. Conjunélly , and there we (hall fee, wherein they agree and wherein they dif. agree. r. Wherein they agree. I. They agree in refpetl of their Duration and Continuance, the Death and the Life are both erldlefs, Mat. 25. 46. Thefe ,!hall go away into everlaf1ing punifhment, bat the righteous into life eternal. 2. As they are the final iflue of mens feveral ways : the one as well as the other is the fruit of mens foregoing courfe here upon Earth. Sin is punifhed by Death, and Holinefs rewarded by eternal Life , Gal. 6. 8. For he that foweth to the flefh, (hall of the flefh reap corruption ; but he that foweth to the Spirit, ¡hall of the Spirit reap life ever- lolling. 3. They agree in this , that both are equally certain , for they depend upon Gods unalterable Truth : he will punifh the difobedient as Cutely as he doth reward the godly. We mull not fancy a God all mercy and fweetnefs, he is a God of Salvation, but he will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairyfcalp of fed, an one as goeth on frill in his treff palls, Pfal. 68. 21. The fame Truth and Veracity of God that confirmeth his Promifes, cloth alto infer the certainty of his Threatnings, Pfal. ii. 6, 7. Vpon the wicked he (hall rain finares, fire and brimflane, and an horrible tempefl , this fhall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous God loveth.righteoufnef, his countenance Both behold the upright. God is a perfeít Judge, and will take order in due time with the wicked who break hisLaws, and will not make ufe of his Mercy , their deftruëtion 'hall be terrible, irrefiftible and remedilefs : but his upright Servants (hall certainly reap the fruits of his Love and their own Obedience. 2. Wherein they difagree. The Text telleth you, the one is Wages, and the other a Gift. God doth not punifh men beyond their deferts, that is Juftice; but he cloth reward men above their deferts , that is Grace : therefore he varieth the word, concerning fin it is ó4.''e . Wages, which alludeth either to the hire due to the Labourer, or the Pay due to the Souldier, both are a juft debt, the Labourer is worthy of his hire, when his work is ended he receives his wages; and Souldiers at the end of their fervice get their Pay. But of theotherhe faith, it is the gift of God : Sin deferveth Hell, and therefore Death. is called Wages : but if eternal Life might in any fort be deferved or merited, the Apoftle would not have changed his word, as he exprefly cloth, he doth not fayEternal Life is 4.5,1.x. the Wages, nay he doth not fay piag., the teward,which fometimes expreffeth the &ecompence of the Faithful, as Heh. t i. 26. Having refpell to the recoutpence of reward ;, but becaufe reward doth not always fignifie a reward of free bounty , he cloth not ufe that word neither : yea neither cloth he ufe the word Eleyr, which properly lignifies a Gift , becaufe one kindnefs cloth deferve another ; but it is 2«,vapy a gracious Gift , the Vulgar renders it Gratia Dei , its Grace fignifieth the flee favour of God, Id.p/aug the impreffion or effeâ of it upon us, this is a word incon- U u u u u 2 liftent
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