od is to cover sin; but because
the water runs in that channel, and is conveyed by the blood thither,
therefore it doth cleanse sin, as well as cover it.

"These things I write unto you, that ye sin not." This then is the design
of the whole gospel, the great and grand design,--to destroy sin, and save
the sinner. There is a treaty of peace made with the sinner, and "Christ
is the peace-maker." A tender of life and salvation is made to him, but
there is no treaty, no capitulation or composition with sin; out it must
go, first out of its dominion, then out of its habitation. It must first
lose its power, and then its being in a believer. Yea, this is one of the
chief articles of our peace, not only required of us as our duty, that we
should destroy that which cannot but destroy us; for, if any man will
needs hug and embrace his sins, and cannot part with them, he must needs
die in their embracements, because the council of heaven hath irrevocably
passed a fatal sentence against sin, as the only thing that in all the
creation hath the most perfect opposition to his blessed will, and
contrariety to his holy nature,--but also, and especially, as the great
stipulation and promise upon his part, "to redeem us from all our
iniquities, and purify us to himself, a people zealous of good works;" and
not only to redeem us from hell, and deliver us from wrath, Tit. ii. 14.
He hath undertaken this great work, to compesce (250) this mutiny and
rebellion that was raised up in the creation by sin, else what peace could
be between God and us, as long as his enemy and ours dwelt in our bosom,
and we at peace with it.

Now, take a short view of these things that are written in the preceding
chapter, and you shall see that the harmonious voice of all that is in the
gospel, is this, "that we sin not." Let me say further, as "these things
are written that we sin not," so all things are done "that we sin not."
Take all the whole work of creation, of providence, of redemption,--all of
them speak one language, "that we sin not." "Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night showeth knowledge: there is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard," Psalm xix. 2, 3. And, as in that place,
their voice proclaims the glory, majesty, and goodness of God, so they,
with the same sound, proclaim and declare, that we should not sin against
such a God, so great, and so good. All that we see suggests and insinuates
this unto our hearts; all t