158 S E R M O N Supon Semi. XXII. fure with us , but this is not their conftant temper, but only in great diflèrcions; for a couftancy , while fin remaineth, fomewhat of bondage remaineth ; but there is a parti. al, predominant legality ; the partial may -be found in the regenerate, who do by degrees overcome the fervile fear of condemnálion, and grow up more and more into a Gofpel Spirit ; certainly where that prevaileth, there will be liberty, 2 Cor. 3. 17. Tho for a while,the heir differeth nothing, or nothing to fpeak of, from a fervant, yet in time he behaveth himfelf as a fon, and is treated as a fon ; and they get more comfort and joy in the fervice of God ; but the predominant legality is in the carnal ; it may be known by the governing principle, fear, or love ; the infeparable companion of the fpi- rit of bondage is fear; and love and fonfhip, or the fpirit of Adoption,go together;and where flavifh fear prevaileth, and influenceth our Religion ; it may be known by thefe twothings: Firft, By their unwillingnefs and reluelancy to what they do for God ; The good they do, they would not, and the evil they do not, they would do; that is, they would fain live in a finful life if they durft, and be excufed from religious duties, except that little outward part which their cuftom and credit engages them to perform; like Birds that in a funfhine day fang in the Cage, tho they had rather be in the Woods ; They live not an holy life, tho Come of the duties which belong to it, they obferve,out of a fear to be damned ; if they had their freeft choice, they had rather live in the love of the creature, than in the love of God; and the pleafures of the flefh, than the hea venly life : But now they that have the fpirit of Adoption, are inclined to the love of God and Holinefs, have hearts fuitedto their work, Pfal. 4o. 8. Thy law it in my heart, and Heb. 8. to. I will put my laws into their minds, and write them upon their hearts. They Obey not from the urgings of the law from without, but from the poile and incli- nation of the new nature; not barely as enjoined, but as inclined. They do not fay, O that this were no duty, or this finful courfe lawful ! but, O how I love thy law ! Pfal. 119. 97. 0 that my ways were diretled, Pfal. 119. 5. They do not groan and complain of the ftrietnefs of the law, but of the remainders of corruption, Rom. 7. 24. Not who will free -me from the law ? but who will free me from this body of death? Their will is to ferve God more and better, not to be excufed from the duties of holinefs, or ferving himat all. 2. By the caufe of their trouble about- what they have done, or left undone : They are not troubled for the offence done to God, but their own danger ; not for fin, but merely the punifhment; as Efau fought the bleffing with tears, when he had loft it; Heb. 1a. 17: He was troubled, but why ? Non quia vendiderat, fed quia perdiderat 5 Not becaufe he fold it, which was his fn ; but loft the priviledges of the birthright, which was his mifery ; fo,many carnal men,whofe hearts are in a fecret love and league with their lefts, yet are troubled about their condition, not becaufe they are affraid to fin, but affraidto be damned; 'cis not Gods difpleafure they care for, but their own.fafety; the Young- man went away fad and grieved, Mark i o. 22. becaufe he had great poffef &ons ; becaufe - he could not reconcile his covetous mind with Chrifts counfel and dire &ion ; Felix trembled, being convinced of fins, which he was loath to difcontinue and break off ; flavifh fear, rho it doth not divorce the heart from its tufts, yet it raifeth trouble about them. 3, SE is to prefsyou to get rid of this fpirit of bondage ; and to prevail upon it more and more. For Motives, a. 'Tia difhonourable to God,and fuppofeth ftrange prejudices and mifreprefentations of God; as if his government were a kind of Tyranny, grievous and hurtful to man ; and we think him an hard Mafter whom it is impofiibleto pleafe,.as the evil and floath- ful fervant, Matt. 25. 24, 25. I knew that thou wert an hard man , reaping where thou haft not Jowed, and gathered where thou haft not ffrawed; and 1 war affraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. His fear was the caufe of his negligence and unfaithfulnefs, which fear is begotten in us, by a falle opinion of God, which rendreth him dread- ful , rigorous , and terrible to the Soul', while we look upon God through the Glats of our guilty fears, we draw a ftrange Pilfure of him in our minds, as if he were a ridgid Lawgiver, and a fevere Avenger, harth, and hard to be pleafed, and therefore unwilling to fubmit to him. 2. 'Tis prejudicial to us, in many regards. r. It findereth our free and delightful converfe with God. The legal fpirit bath no bold- tiers in his prefence, but is filled with tormenting fear and honor at the thought's of him; . :
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=