An Expofition npon turneth to their fins as adog to his vo- mit. Laftly, they that bee the fervantsof fin, both in the goodwhich they do,and in the evil which they would do,they are led and driven by corruption,that is the ground -work and beginning of all their a &ions, they n alke after the frefh, not after the fpirit : the &fit (that is, their fintull nature) is the pipe after which they daunce, and the guide which they follow. Ti ss. But tell me what are wee to learne by that word(hencefirrth) in the 6.verfe? S t L. That the Gofpell Both looke forward to do: time to come, it refpe & - eth not what beleevers have been before their repentance and turning to God: but requireth that henceforth ; that is, from the time of their converfon for- ward, they ( hould carefully ferve God by doing his will, forfaking the fervice of their finfull lofts : fee the like place inA &.i7.3o.and Eph.4.17. I Pet. 4.2. W hich affords a great comfort unto thole which mourne for fin, and a (pea- all admonition unto fuch as beeyet ft- cure: it will bee fufficient to either of thefe, if henceforth they looke unto it, mourning and loathing that which is pail, being careful], hereafter no more fo to finne. TIM. What be the reafons which may dif- fwade all mnfrom the fo -vice of fin? St L. Very many and forcible; Fir(t, becaufe the fervice of fin is a fpirituall bondage , the end of which fetvice is shame and everlafting death. Secondly, ifwe ferve finne, we cannot ferve Chrift, for no man can ferve two Curb contrary mailers. Thirdly, it is contrary to our vow in baptifine, where we promife that wee will forfake finne and ferve God. Laffly, we are by mortification dead and freed from fin, and therefore we are not to ferve it. TI It. How do rte malle plaine this laß reafon? S t L . By a cotnparifon of naturali death and theeffe &s thereof, which our Apoftie doth touch in the feaventh ver. when he faith [they which are dead arefree from finne,] the meaning whereof is this; as they which are naturally dead, ceafe Chapad. from their fins, which they were wont to do whiift they lived : fo beleeving Chriflians which are fpiritually dead by mortification, a nil refolve to ceafe from their former fins. Tim. But we cannot be fo free from finne at men that are dead, for t ey finne not at all, whereas there it no man living that firmer not? S t L. True; it is fe; yet the godly Chriftian is free from fume in a twofold refpe&: Firft,becaufe the guilt and puni- thment of fins is forgiven him by Chrift. Secondly, becaufe bee doth no more follow the impulfion or motion of fin, but as a bondman delivered and ranfo- med f om forme cruell Lord, cloth not now any thing at the commandem ut of that Lord, whole yoake bee bath thaken off, So it is with crue beleevers, being once delivered from the dominion and rule of fin, they are no more under the government and beck of fin,and though they be not f, ce from the corruption of fin, which cleaveth to their nature, as ckinto their Bah, or as the Beth to their bones: yet they are free from the cons - mand and compulfion of fin, not any more to be ruled and led by it, but by the Spirit ofChrilt. TIM. By what tokens mery it bee ¡Znowne to our fefvet and others, when wee bee thus freed from fin? S t L. By theft tokens; First, a per- }i whza fon freed from fin, hath not any Fur- rsn1Cs ,,,t pofe to fin,but is determined in all things freedome to pleafe God to far as grace (ball enable 0°' anic Qea. him, and frailty fuffer him. I am deter - minrdto klepe thy righteous judgements. Pf. 119. Secondly,he feares fin as the grea- tell evill, as it is faid of Ezra, That he fea- redGodgreatly. Ezra 7. so . Thirdly, he is very watchfull over himfelfe refitt- ing the very motions in evill. Fourthly, hee fhuneth every rccafiun of finne. Fifthly, heeprayeth hearti- ly and continually ateain(1 the power of finne, Sixely, if hee finne at anytime, it is with godly griefe, which caufeth fre(h repentance, never to be repented of, z Cor. 7. Seaventhly, hee laboti- reth to pull others out of the bondage offin, and to keepe from finning, fuch as
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