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their fouls are in favour with him, and fo are in a state of life, and they fhall never fee death; the second death fhall have no power over them, Rev. xx. 6. and they being made partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. i. 4. are in part fanctified, and fo are living the life of holinefs; thus the Spirit is life, because of righteoufnefs, viz.

inherent.

| all things, except fin, Heb. iv. 15. and his death was a real death, and no imaginary thing: for here, he is faid to be raijed again.

III. Chrift Jefus, after he had lien under the power of death for a time, it being impoffible for him to abide in the state of corruption, Acts ii. 24. Pfal. xvi. 10. did truly and really arife from the dead; his body, which was detained in the grave until the third day, Mark xvi. 19. 1 Cor. xv. 4. being really and naturally joined to his foul again: for he is faid to be raised. IV. Chrift Jefus did fully and completefatisfy the juftice of God for the fins of man, fo that no more was required of him, as to the price he was to pay; and God was well pleased with the fatisfaction which he made, and therefore brought him out of prifon: for it is faid here, that God raised him up: See Acts ii. 24. not, that he did not raise himself up alfo; John

XXV. The only meritorious caufe for which the fouls of believers are thus put into an eftate of life and falvation, is only the righteoufnefs of Chrift, the Spirit is life, because of righteousness, viz. imputed. XXVI. Man is a noble and excellently piece of work, confifting of a body, and of a foul that is immortal in its kind; for in him there is a body, and a fpirit, Gen. ii. 7. XXVII. Thoughts of the life of grace begun into the foul, and carried on by the Spirit of grace which is in them, and of the life of glory which will follow, fhould comfort believers against all their troubles here on earth, yea, and death itfelf; therefore he tells them, that tho' the body be dead, yet the fpirit is life, and death itfelf fhall not mar this life.

From Verse 1I. OBSERVE,

1. So fweet and excellent are the promifes, and fo fad and dreadful a thing is it to imagine a right unto a promife, and rejoice in the hope of receiving it at length, and yet be difappointed; that whenever a promife is held forth, we fhould ferioufly and earnestly put ourfelves to the trial, whether we have the condition unto which that promife is made: Therefore doth he again fay, If the Spirit dwell in you, &c.

II. Chrift Jefus ftanding in the room. of finners, making fatisfaction to the Father for their tranfgreffions, did undergo the miferies of this life, yea, death itself, feeing no lefs could fatisfy, because of the threatening annexed to the command, Gen. . 17. and fo the body which he affumed, was a true body, he being like us in

x. 18.

V. However our bodies must rot in the grave, and worms muft feed upon them, Job xix. 16.; yet will there be a refurrection of the dead, and all, except thofe who fhall be in life on the laft day, who fhall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, 1 Cor. xv. 51. 52. fhall arife out of the duft: See Matth. xxii. 32. Mark xii. 26. Luke xx. 38. Dan. xii. 2. 1 Cor. xv. 54. &c. John vi. 39. &c. Acts iv. 2. and xxiii. 6. and xxiv. 15.

VI. However this refurrection of the body feem incredible and impoffible to fiefh flesh and blood; yet this fhould abundantly fatisfy us, that it is the work of God only, and none elfe can do it but he, and it is he who fpeaketh to thofe things which are not as though they were, Rom. iv. 17.: for here it is faid to be the work of the Lord, to quicken the dead; and hence it is clear, that Chrift is God, in that he is faid to raife the dead, John v. 28. and vi. 39. 49. 44. 54. and xi. 25. for no natural caufe can bring back from the privation to the habit, from death to life: and tho' angels

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are faid to have fome hand in this; yet it is inftrumental, Matth. xxiv. 31. and that only as to thofe actions which go before the refurrection; for it is the immediate work of God to form the bodies out of the duft, and re-unite them to their fouls.

VII. In this refurrection, only the body is quickened and raifed up, the foul being immortal, and therefore returning to God after death, Eccl. xii. 7. fo that the foul cannot die, when the body dieth, Mat. x. 28. but is either made partaker of glory, 2 Cor. v. 1. 6. 8. Phil. i. 23. with Acts iii. 21. and Eph. iv. 10. or caft into the pit, Jude verfe 6. 7. 1 Pet. iii. 19. for only the mortal bodies are quickened. 1 Cor. xv. 53. ----This mortal must put on immortality.

VIII. At the refurrection we fhall not receive aerial bodies, but the felf-fame numerical bodies, which now we have, and which fhall rot in the grave; all the pickles of duft, how far fo ever fcattered, fhall be gathered together again, that the fame body may receive the reward, 2 Cor. v. 10. and fo flesh and blood, in refpect of nature, fhall inherit the kingdom, (for fuch a body was Chrift's) but not in refpect of corruption, 1 Cor. xv. 50. and fo it will not fuffice, that the man then have the fame foul or form, but he must alfo have the fame body, or elfe it fhould not be the fame man : therefore, fays he, he fhall quicken your mortal bodies.

IX. Tho' all the wicked muft arife, no lefs than the godly; yet it is only the refurrection of the godly which is merited by Chrift: and as he is the meritorious canfe of the refurrection of the godly; fo is his refurrection the exemplary caufe; and hence is he called, the firt fruits of them that fleep, 1 Cor. xv. 20. and the first begotten of the dead, Rev. i. 5. Col. i. 18.: therefore it is faid here, He that raised up Chrift, fhall alfo quicken their mortal bodies.

X. As the refurrection of the wicked is not merited by Chrift, fo neither is it brought about the fame way after which

the refurrection of the godly is effectuated: The wicked are raifed by the power of God, who is Almighty, but the godly are raifed by the virtue of the Spirit, which is in Chrift their Head, and in them; that Spirit whereby they and Chrift are united in one, keeps all their bones, and at that day will gather all together, that as their head is up, fo they may rife alfo: therefore he addeth here, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

XI. The belief and ferious thoughts of the refurrection of these fame bodies which we now carry about with us, fhould comfort us against the prefent miferics which they endure, and the fear of death that king of terrors: for he is labouring to comfort them against death with this, That even the self-fame bodies fhall arife again.

XII. Though now our bodies be subject to diseases and death, and is difhonourable, full of imperfections and blemishes, and vile and carnal, carried away with earthly things; yet at the refurrection they fhall be changed, and raifed up immortal, 1 Cor. XV. 22. honourable, verfe 43. glorious, Phil. iii. 21. and Spiritual, 1 Cor. xv. 44. 45. 46. 48. 50.: for our bodies, though now they be mortal, fhall then be quickened.

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right which thele believing Romans had to that grand confolation, fet down in the begining of the chapter, viz. That there is no condemnation to fuch; prefeth upon them an ufe therefrom, before he go further; and that is, that they fhould not live after the flesh, but mortify the deeds of the body, and fo advance in ho

linefs and fanctification: And this duty he preffeth from feveral arguments; as, 1. We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the fief; we are bound by virtue of a strong tye and obligation, not to be fervants to the body of death, flesh and corruption, but to the Spirit, for this is clearly to be underflood. And, 2. If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: this is an argument taken from the difadvantage, or lofs which they fhall be at, if they follow fuch a courfe to the end; there is a connection betwixt fuch a courfe and death, as betwixt the means and the end; fo that if they follow the motions and defires of corruption, they will have a comfortless, fad dwining life here; and if they hold on, will utterly perifh eternally. 3. But if ye through the Spirit do moriify the deeds of the body, je fall live: upon the other hand, if they, by virtue of the Spirit of God, be labouring daily to put the life out of corruption, and that body of death, they fhall have a comfortable and refreshful life here, and in end fhall live the life of glory for ever. 4. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the fons of God; that is, If ye will mortify the deeds of the body, by following the inftruction and guidance of the Spirit of God, ye fhall thereby evidence, both to your own confciences, and to others, that ye are the fons of God. And hereby alto he confirmeth the former argument, and fheweth, why they fhall live if they mortify the deeds of the body; becaufe, if they do fo, they are children, and all his children fhall live. And all this is confirmed by a fweet compellation, Brethren, fays he; whereby he would fhew, that he was under the fame obligation with them, and that he laid no more bonds on them than on himself.

From verfe 12. OBSERVE,

I. Affurance of an interest in Chrift, and of a right to the excellent privileges which are the inheritance of believers here-away, and in particular, an affurance of freedom

from the curfe of God, and the fentence of the law, is fo far from loofing believers from a clofe and hely walking, and opening a door to licentioufnefs and impiety; that, on the contrary, it is the most kindly ground on which diligence and incrcafe in holiness groweth, and a fweet kindly principle from which it floweth: for from the former doctrine, touching their inte reft in Chrift, and freedom from condemnation, he now infereth by a formal, rational confequence, Therefore we are debtors, &c.

II. The greater room minifters have in the affections of people, their exhortations to duty will be the more heartily welcomed: Therefore, fays he, brethren, we are debtors, &c.

III. However there be great difference among the children of God, both in refpect of gifts, 1 Cor. xii. 4. &c. and of graces, 1 John ii. 12. 13.; yet all have the fame fpiritual and real intereft in God as their Father, Matth. vi. 9. Gal. i. 4. Eph. i. 2. Col. i. 2. 1 Thef. iii. 11. 2 Thef. ii. 16. and in Chrift as their brother, Heb. ii. 11. and therefore fhould fo lock upon, and carry themfelves towards one another, in all their deportment, and contribute their affiftance, for the mutual furthering of one another in the ways of God, and that in a most loving and brotherly manner; as Paul, doth here, though an apostle, and fo one who might have used authority, and thereby have commanded, he exhorts them as brethren; Therefore, brethren, &c.

IV. Tho' there be fome duties which peculiarly are laid upon ftrong and eminent Chriftians, Rom. xiv. 1. 2. 3. &c. and xv. 1. &c. and fome preffed upon fuch as are weak, Rom. xiv. 3. 22.; yet the duty of growth in grace, and advancement of Christianity, is that which all, be they as eminent as Paul the apostle, or be they far fhort of him, are obliged unto: Therefore fays he, we are debtors, &c. puting himfelf under the yoke with the reft. Nn 2

V. Tho'

V. Tho' believers, while in black nature, not being as yet called home effectually, were fervants of unrighteoufnefs, Rom. vi. 19. working the works of the flesh, Gal. v. 19. and following their own corruption and depraved difpofitions, and were as buty in the work of fin as hired fervants, who are under an obligation, are at their work; yet now being fled in to Chrift by faith, that natural tye is broke, and they are no more debtors to the body of fin and death within them, but are freed from that bondage; we are not now debtors to the flesh, &c.

VI. To be making a trade and a conftant exercife of fin, and in all our deportment to be following the motions and inclinations of corruption within us, without any combat or reluctancy, is a palpable evidence that we are under the power and dominion of fin and corruption: for thefe that are debtors to the flesh, they live after the flesh.

VII. The obligation which lieth upon believers to walk after the Spirit, fhould ftrongly enforce them to a holy walking, and to a conftant progrefs in holinefs; and the not ferious pondering and confidering of this, makes many fit up, many backflide, and many advance flowly, in their courfe of Chriftianity: Therefore the apoftle makes ufe of this as an argument to duty, ye are debtors, to the Spirit, and not to the flesh.

From Verse 13th OBSERVE,

I. Even believers, who have a new nature and difpofition, being renewed by the Spirit of grace, are backward to duty many a time, through the remnants of corruption within them, quickened and fired up by Satan, and have need to be fpured up to their duty by ftrong motives and inducements; for the apoftle ufeth fharp incitements even to thofe who are in Chrift, and delivered from the dominion of fin, verfe 12. faying, If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die, &c.

II. Seeing believers are thus flack in their diligence, it is not only lawful but laudable for minifters to be preffing holinefs upon them, with all seriousnefs, and for that effect may lawfully ufe fharp threatenings to fet them on work, and not be accounted legal preachers: and believers may lawfully fet forward, upon the confideration of the threatenings and evils which, by their negligence, they will bring upon themselves: Paul tells them, if they walk after the flesh, they shall die.

III. Threatenings which hold forth death eternal, on fuch and fuch conditions, do no way fay, either that believers shall apoftatize finally, or perifh; but a godly fear of falling away, through the fenfe of their own weaknefs, ftrength of corrup tion, force, cruelty and fubtilty of Satan, may well confift with an affurance of life, and of perfeverance in grace unto the end, founded upon the unchangeable nature of God, and his promife; for the apoftle fays even to fuch as were in Christ, and to whom there was no condemnation, verfe 1. that if they lived after the fle they should die.

IV. Albeit the Lord hath certainly determined and concluded, that his own children fhall certainly enjoy the purchased poffeffion, Jer. xxxi. 3. 2 Tim. ii. 19. John vi. 37.---40. Matth. xxiv. 24. and hath firmly promised the fame in the new covenant, Gen. xvii. 7. Deut. 1. 6. Jer. xxxii. 38. 39. 40. and xxxi. 31. 32. 33; yet bringing about this happy end defigned and promifed, he dealeth not with them a ftocks and ftones, but as rational creatures and for this caufe he maketh ufe of threat enings to fpur them up, and of allurement to draw them on to duty: and fo to pre thefe to duty who are in Chrift, and hav the promise never to come into condemna tion, he makes ufe both of threatening and allurements, faying, If they live aft the flesh, they shall die; but if they morti the deeds of the body, &c. So that th ufing of threatenings is a rational way, ap

proven of God, in the depth of his wifdom, for bringing fuch to life who are appointed thereto in God's unchangeable purpose.

14. and easily befering us, Heb. xii. 1. for we hear of the deeds of the body.

IX. Tho' this body will never be gotten utterly rooted out of the believer while he is here, fo as it fhould no more have any refidence or abode, Phil. iii. 12.; yet it may be gotten fo weakened in its habitual actings, as it fhall not trouble the pcor believer as formerly; it fhall not have fuch life, vigour, ftrength, activity; and readinets in perplexing and crofling him in duties, and drawing him to fin; for this body and its deeds may be gotten mortified, and believers are preffed to this duty, to mortify the deeds of the body; hence it is faid to be crucified, Rom. vi. 6. and fo its blood and fpirits, as it were, are let out See Gal. v. 24. 2 Cor. iv. 16.

V. Albeit the threatenings of eternal death in the word, which we find knit to fuch and fuch conditions, fay not that believers fhall, or may, finally and fully fall into that courfe, nor yet that they shall or may utterly perish; yet they hold forth a firm connection between the evil, threatened as the end, and the condition for which, as the mean; fo that it is an everlasting truth, that whofoever followeth fuch or fuch a courfe, and particularly liveth af ter the fleth, they fhall die; for if ye live after the flesh, ye jhali die. See Rom. vi. 25. VI. Yet as believers may, in many things, be fwayed with corruption, and X. Albeit this body of death will never follow the fwing thereof; fo fhall they be totally killed, and its life fully put out, hereby procure to themfelves a dead, fo long as our life is in; yet it is the duty heartlefs, and comfortlefs condition in a of believers to be defiring its utter deworld, and fo lose the comfort of their ftruction, to be aiming at, and endeavourfpiritual condition; and thus, If they walking fo to kill it, as it may never ftir more; after the flesh, they shall die; taking the threatening in this fenfe.

VII. There is no perfection in holiness on this fide of time, but God hath thought fit, that though at once Chrift has fatisfied for the guilt of fin, and it be fo far removed, as that believers fhall never therefore be brought into condemnation, yet their advancement in holiness fhall proceed by degrees, Phil. iii. 12. 2 Cor. iv. 16. 2 Pet. iii. 18. and therefore there is ftill an old man of fin within them, and a body, that fill abides fo long as they are in the body, Rom. vii. 24.; for here there is even in believers, a body, whofe deeds must be mortified. See Gal. v. 17. 1 John i. 8.

VIII. This body and indwelling fin, which flit abides in believers, is not idle and dead, but is living and working, la bouring to bring forth deeds of the flesh daily, rebelling against the law of the mind, Rom. vii. 23. and lusting to envy, James iv. 5. and against the Spirit, Gal. v. 17. tempting and conceiving fin, James i.

to have an irreconcileable hatred thereat; and therefore to be daily fighting and contending against it, and looking upon it as his deadly enemy, and acting towards it accordingly, he fhould be mortifying it, giving it fresh blows and wounds every day: If you mortify the deeds of the body. See Heb iii. 5. 1 Cor. iv. 27. 2 Cor. iv. 16. and vii. 1. And all this notwithstanding that it was utterly crucified and flain upon the crofs with Chrift, by way of merit and example, Rom. vi. 6. and initially in our regeneration, when we get a new difpofition, and a principle of life.

XI. It is not a duty within the reach of believers, which they will get accomplished of themselves; it will not be their duties, vows, purposes, and refolutions, that will put out the life of corruption, or weaken its force; but the only efficient caufe of this work is the Spirit of God, who fends down new influences of grace, Eph. iii. 16. 17. 8. and makes the habit of grace to grow and flourish, who weakens corrup

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