Serm.CXCIII. Refult ofChrifianity. 619 the vií1ory that overcometh the world , even our faith. Does the fear of Sufferings; and Perfecution, and Death, keep us in bondage? The Son of God hath refcued us from this fear, by letting before us the glorious hopes of an eternal life. For nothingmakes men afraidof death , but the want of affurance ofanother life, and of the happinefs ofit : but this our Saviour bath brought to light by the Gofpel. By his own death and refurredion he bath given us perfect affuranceof life after death, and a bleffed immortality. And this , the Apoftle tells us, was one great reafon why theSonof God tookour mortal natureupon him, that he might conquer death for us, and free us from the tlavith fear ofit, Heb. 2. 54, 55. Forafmuch then asthe children are partakers offlefh and blood, he elfo bimfelf likewife took partof thefame, that through death be might deflroy bim that bad the power ofdeath that is, the Devil; and deliver them, who through fear ofdeath were all their lifetimefubjed to bondage. The inferences from this difcourfe, thall be thefe two. Firkk, To Phew us what that liberty is which the Son of God confers upon i s. It is not a liberty to fin ; for that our Saviour tells us, is a fiate of flavery and bondage ; He that committetb fin, is thefervant offin. This ufe indeed force made of the Chriftian Doctrine, to encourage themfelves in fin , under the pretence of Chriftian liberty, and that in theApoftles days. So St. Peter tells us, 2 Epb. While they promife them liberty, they themfelves are the fervants of corruption; and in bondage to their Lulls. But nothing can be more direlycontrary to the great defignand intention ofthe Gofpel, which indeed promifeth and declares liber- ty; but not from the Laws ofGod, and the obligation ofour Duty, but as the Apoftle calls it, from the Law offin and death. Chriftian liberty does not conflit in being free from our Duty, but in doing thofe things which really tend to our perfection and happinefs, in beingfree fromfin and becoming the fervants of God: This is the proper ufe and exercife of our liberty, to do what we ought, to live according to reafon and the Laws of God , which are holy, jusî andgood. The freedom which the Son of God defigned, was our being refcued from the bondage ofSin and Corruption, of the Devil and our own Lulls, that being deliveredfrom the bandsof thefe enemies, wemightferveGodwithoutfear, in holinefs andrighteouf- nefs before bim all thedays ofour lives. Secondly, To perfuade us toaffert our liberty, and fiendfag in it. The Son of God hath done that which is fufficient on his part to vindicate mankind from the flavery of their Lulls and Paffions: and if we will vigoroufly fet about the work, Mad put forth our endeavours, we may refcue our felves from this bondage. And becaufe it mutt be acknowledged that this is no eafie work, therefore by way of direction and encouragement, I would commend to men thefe following Particulars. a. Toconfider feriouflythemifery and danger ofthis Condition,and the neceffity of freeing our felves from this flavery. I have ihewn that it is the worft kind of bondage, and it bath the faddeft Confequences. Some fervice, tho' it be hard and grievous, yet men are content to endure it, becaufe it mayprove beneficial to them, and is in order to agreater freedom : but the ferviceof fin is altogether unprofitable. Whatfruit badye then, fays the Apoftle, in thofethings whereofye are nowafbamed? for the endof thole things is death. The wages ofSin id death. All the Reward that £hall be given us for this fervice, is mifery and punifbment, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguifb, to every Soul that Both evil. So that it is neceffary that we thould (hake off this Yoke, as we deflre to efcape the chains of darknefs, and the unfpeakable . and infupportable mifery of another world. He that now makes us his (laves to do his work, will torment us for the doing of it to all eternity. 2. Seeing this condition is fo infupportable, and the confequences of it fodread- ful, let us take up a firm and manly refolution to free our felves from this flavery. It is no eafie matter to break off a vicious habit , which we have been long accu- ítomed to; nayperhaps it is one of the molt difficult things that human nature can attempt, and therefore it requires great firmnefs of mind, and ftrength of Re- folution. It is next to the going againft Nature, and the conquering ofthat; for culiom is a fort of nature, and every habit is a bowing ofnature a certain way, and K k k k a when
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