THE USE AND APPLICATION
Use Sixth. Doth Jesus Christ stand up to plead for us, and that of his mere grace and love? Then this should teach Christians to be watchful and wary of how they sin against God. This inference seems to run retrograde, but whoever duly considers it will find it fairly far-fetched from the premises. Christianity teaches ingenuity and the aptness to be sensible of kindnesses, and it does instruct us to a loathness to be overheard upon him from whom we have all at free cost. "Shall we sin that grace may abound? God forbid. Shall we do evil so that good may come? God forbid. Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid" (Rom 6:1, 2, 15).
It is the most disingenuous thing in the world not to care how chargeable we are to that friend who bestows all upon us gratis. When Mephibosheth had an opportunity to be yet more chargeable to David, he would not, because he had his life and his all from the mere grace of the king (II Sam 119:24–28) Also, David thought it was too much for all of his household to go to Absalom's feast because it was free. Why, Christ is our Advocate of free cost, we pay him neither fee nor income for what he doth; nor doth he desire aught of us, but to accept of his free doing for us thankfully; wherefore let us put him upon this work as little as may be, and by so doing we shall show ourselves Christians of the right make and stamp. We count him but a fellow of a very gross spirit that will therefore be lavishing what is his friend's because it is prepared of mere kindness for him; Esau himself was loath to do this; and shall Christians be disingenuous?
I dare say, if Christians were sober, watchful, and of a more self-denying temper, they need not put the Lord Jesus to that to which for the want of these things they do so often put him. I know he is not unwilling to serve us, but I also know that the love of Christ should constrain us to live not to ourselves but to him who loved us, died for us, and rose again (II Cor 5:14, 15). We shall do that which is naught too much, even then when we watch and take care of what we can to prevent it. Our flesh, when we do our utmost diligence to resist, will defile both us and our best performances. We need not lay the reins on its neck and say, What are we? the more sin the more grace, and the more we shall see the kindness of Christ and what virtue there is in his Advocate's office to save us. And should there be any such here, I would present them with a scripture or two; the first is this: "Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise?" (Deut 32:6). And if this gentle check will not do, then read the other. Shall we say, Let us do evil that good may come? Their damnation is just (Rom 3:8). Besides, as nothing so swayed us as love, there is nothing so well pleasing to God as it. Let a man love, though he has the opportunity to do nothing, it is accepted by the God of heaven. But where there is no love, let a man do what he will, it is not at all regarded (I Cor 13:1-3). Now to be careless and negligent, and that from a supposed understanding of the grace of Christ in the exercise of his advocateship for us in heaven, is as clear sign as can be, that in thy heart there is no love to Christ, and that consequently thou art just a nothing, instead of being a Christian. Talk, then, what thou wilt, and profess never so largely, Christ is no Advocate of thine, nor shalt thou, thou so continuing, be ever the better for any of those pleas that Christ, at God's bar, puts in against the devil, for his people.
Christians, Christ Jesus is not unwilling to lay himself out for you in heaven, nor to be an Advocate for you in the presence of his Father; but yet he is unwilling that you should render him evil for good; I say that you should do so by your remissness and carelessness for want of such thinking of things as may affect your hearts therewith. It would be more comely in you, would please him better, would agree with your profession, and also prove you gracious, to be found in the power and nature of these conclusions. "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Rom 6:2)."If ye have risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sited on the right hand of God; for ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Col 3:1–6).
I say it would be more common for Christians to say, We will not sin because God will pardon; we will not commit iniquity because Christ will advocate for us. "I write unto you that ye sin not; though if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father. "Why, the brute would conclude, I will not do so, because my master will beat me; I will do thus, for then my master will love me. And Christians should be above such men, brutish men.
And for a conclusion as to this, let me present you with three considerations: (1.) Know that it is the nature of grace to draw holy arguments to move to goodness of life from the love and goodness of God, but not thence to be remiss (II Cor 5:14). (2.) Know therefore that they have no grace that find not these effects of the discoveries of the love and goodness of God. (3.) Know also that among all the swarms of professors that from age to age make mention of the name of Christ, they only must dwell with him in heaven that do part from iniquity, and are zealous of good works (II Tim 2:19). He gave himself for these (Titus 2:11-14). Not that they were so antecedent to this gift. But those that he has redeemed to himself are thus sanctified by his faith (Acts 26:18).
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