second part of this lesson that the apostle
teaches us; as ye ought to correct, as it were, precepts of the gospel, by
subjoining promises in this manner, so ye ought to direct promises towards
the performance of his precepts, as their chief end. Whensoever you read
it written, "The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin,"--"If we
confess, he is faithful to forgive our sins,"--"God so loved the world that
he gave his Son,"--"He that believeth hath everlasting life," &c.--then make
up the entire sense and meaning after this manner, "These things are
written that we sin not." Is there a redemption from wrath published? Is
there reconciliation with God preached? And are we beseeched to come and
have the benefit of them? Then say, and supply within thine own heart,
These things are written, published, and preached, that we may not sin.
Look to the furthest end of these things, it is, "that we sin not." The
end of things, the scope of writings, and the purpose of actions, is the
very measure of them, and so that is the best interpreter of them. The
scope of scripture is by all accounted the very thread that will lead a
man right in and out of the labyrinths that are in it. And so it is used
as the rule of the interpretation in the parts of it. Now, my beloved in
the Lord, take here the scope of the whole scriptures, the mark that all
the gospel shoots at, "These things I write unto you, that ye sin not."
You hear, it is true, of pardon of sin, of delivery from wrath, of not
coming into condemnation, of covering offences, of blotting them out as a
cloud, all these you read and hear of, but what do they all aim at? If you
consider not that attentively you shall no more understand the plain
gospel, than you can expound a parable without observing the scope of it.
Do you think these have no further aim, than to give you peace, and to
secure you from fears and terrors, that you may then walk as you list, and
follow the guiding of your own hearts? Nay, if you take it so, you totally
mistake it. If you do not read on, and had all these things written to
this end, "that ye sin not," you err, not understanding, or
misunderstanding, the scriptures.

"These things I write unto you, little children." To enforce this the more
sweetly, he useth this affectionate compellation, "little children," for
in all things affection hath a mighty stroke, almost as much as reason. It
is the most suitable way to prevail with the spirit of a man, to