tranG VMS 270 Of COMMUNION with :,3.) Thedeath of fin ; fin dying in us, now in fome meafure whilft we are alive. This is a third concernment of fin, which it is our wifdom to be acquainted with, and it is hid only in Chrift. There is s twofold dy- ing of fin, as to the exercife of it in our mortal members, and as to-the root, principle, and power ofit in our fouls. The firftindeed may be ten- oned in part, out ofChrift. Chriftlefs men, may have fin dying in them, as to the outward exercife of it. Mens bodies may be difabled for the.er- vice of theirlofts, or the prafticeof them may not confift with their inte- reft. Sin is never more alive, (a) than when it is thus dying. But there is a dyingof it as to the root, the principle of it, the daily decaying of the ftrength, power and life of it, and this is to be had alone in Chrift. Sin is a thing that of it felf, is not apt to dye, or to decay, but to get ground, and ftrength, and life in the fuhjed wherein it is, to eternity, pre- vent all its actual eruptions, yet its original enmity againft God will gull grow. In believersit is Rill dying and decaying, until it be utterly oho- tithed. Theopening of this treafury you have, Rom. vi. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, &c. Know you not, that as many of us, as were baptized in Jeff's Chrift, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptifin into death, that like as Chrift was railed from the dead by the glory of the a- ther, even, fo we alfo fhould walk in newaefs of life for if we have been planted together in the likenefs of his death, we fha l bealto in the likenefs of Isis refurretlion; knowing this.that our old man is crucified with him, that the body offin might be defiroyed, that henceforth we fhould not ferve fin. This is the defign of the apoffle in the beginning of that chap. not only to manifeft whence is the principle and rife of our mortification and thedeath of fin, even from the death and blood of Chrift, but alfo the manner of fins continuance and dying in us, from the manner of Chrift's dying for fin, he was crucified for us, and thereby fin was crucified in us, he died for us, and the body of fin is deftroyed that we thould not ferve fin, that as he was raifed from the dead, that death fhould not have dominion over him, fo alfo are we raifed fromfin, that it thould not have dominion over us. Titis wifdom is hid in Chrift only. Mofes at his dying day had all his ftrength and vigour, fo have fin and the law to all out of Jefus; at their dyingday, fin is no way decayed. Now next to the receiving of the righteoufnefs prepared for us, to know this, is the chiefeft part of our wifdom, to be truly acquainted with the principle of the dying of fin, to feel virtue and power flowingfrom the crois of Chrift to that purpofe, to find fin crucified in us,asChrift wascrucifiedfor us, this is wifdom indeed, thatis in him alone. 4.) There is a glorious end whereunto fin is appointed, and ordained, and difcovered in Chrift, that others are unacquainted withal. Sin in its own nature tends meerly to the dilhonour of God; the debafement of his Ma- jefty, and the ruin of the creature in whom it is; hell it felf is but the filling of wretched creatures, with the (b) fruit of their own devifes. The comminations and threats of God in the law, do manifeft one otherend of it, even the demonftrationof the vindiftivejuflice of God in meafuring out unto unto it a meet (c) recompence of reward. But here the law flays (and with it all other light) and difcovers no other ufeor end of it at all. In the Lord Jefus there is the inanifeftation of another, and more glorious end ; to wit, the praife of God's glorious (d) grace, in the pardon and forgivenefs of it. God having taken order in Chrift, that that thing which tended meerly to his dithonour, thould be managed to his infi- nite glory ; and that which of all things he defireth to exalt; even that he may be known and believed to be a (e) God pardoning iniquity, () See Marlin of Mortification. (b) Prov. i. a I. jam. xvii. ro. (r) z Shelf. i, 6. (d) Eph.,. Flab. viii. 6, 7, 8, 9, ro, i i, a,, r;.
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