y, of his beautiful and lovely qualifications, as the Mediator for
sinners, and of the precious promises which are all "yea and amen,"
confirmed in him, and less in the vain and unprofitable debates of
self-interest, and such like, I am persuaded ye would be more fruitful
Christians. This is not as the business of a holiday, to be done at your
first coming to Christ, and no more. No, it must run alongst, all your
life. The aged experienced Christian must come along as an ungodly sinner,
to a blessed and living Saviour, and have no other ground of glory or
confidence before God, but Christ Jesus crucified.

Sermon VII.

Verse 2.--"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death."

You know there are two principal things in the preceding verse,--the
privilege of a Christian, and the property or character of a Christian. He
is one that never enters into condemnation; He that believeth shall not
perish, John iii. 15. And then he is one that walks not after the flesh,
though he be in the flesh, but in a more elevate way above men, after the
guiding and leading of the Holy Spirit of God. Now it may be objected in
many consciences,--how can these things be? Have not all sinned, and come
short of the glory of God, and so the whole world is become guilty before
God? Is not every man lying under a sentence of death? "Cursed is he that
abides not in all things," &c. How then can he escape condemnation? Again,
you speak of walking after the Spirit, as proper to the Christian; but
whose walk is not carnal? Who is he that doth not often step aside out of
the way, and follow the conduct and counsel of flesh and blood? Is not sin
dwelling here in our mortal bodies? Who can say, my heart or way is clean?
Therefore both that privilege and this property of a Christian, seem to be
but big words, no real thing. And indeed I confess the multitude of men
hath no other opinion of them but as fancied imaginary things; few believe
the report of the gospel concerning the salvation of elect ones, and few
understand what this spiritual walking is. Many conceive it is not a thing
that belongs to men, who are led about with passions and affections, but
rather to angels or spirits perfected.

However, we have in these words an answer to satisfy both objections. He
grants something implicitly, and it is this: It is true indeed, Christians
are under a twofold law, captives and bondmen