ire thing, and all the parts of
it more nearly conjoined together, that they may mutually enforce one
another. Precepts and promises are thus linked together, that if any soul
lay hold, indeed, upon any promise of grace, he draws alongst with it the
obligation of some precept to walk suitable to such precious promises.
There is no encouragement you can indeed fasten upon, but it will join you
as nearly to the commandment; and no consolation in the gospel, that doth
not carry within its bosom an exhortation to holy walking. Again, on the
other hand, there is no precept but it should lead you straightway to a
promise; no exhortation, but it is environed before and behind with a
strong consolation, to make it pierce the deeper, and go down the sweeter.
Therefore, you see how easily the apostle digresseth from the one to the
other,--how sweetly and pertinently these are interwoven in his discourse.
The first word of the chapter is a word of strong consolation, "There is
no condemnation to them that are in Christ," and this like a flood carries
all down with it,--all precepts and exhortations, and the soul of a
believer with them; and, therefore, he subjoins an exhortation to holy and
spiritual walking upon that very ground. And because commandments of this
nature will not float (so to speak) unless they have much water of that
kind, and cannot have such a swift course except the tide of such
encouragements flow fast, therefore he openeth that spring again in the
preceding words, and letteth the rivers of consolation flow forth, even
the hope of immortality and eternal life; and this certainly will raise up
a soul that was on ground, and carry him above in motion of obedience;
and, therefore, he may well, in the next place, stir them up to their
duty, and mind them of their obligation. "Therefore, brethren, we are
debtors not to the flesh." To make this the more effectual, he drops it in
with affection, in a sweet compilation of love and equality, _brethren_.
There is nothing so powerful in persuasion as love; it will sweeten a
bitter and unpleasant reproof, and make it go down more easily though it
maketh less noise than threatenings and severity and authority; yet it is
more forcible, for it insinuates itself, and in a manner surpriseth the
soul, and so preventeth all resistance. As when the sun made the traveller
part with his cloak,(207) whereas the wind and rain made him hold it
faster; so affection will prevail where auth