XIX. CONVERSION A GROUND OF THANKFULNESS. Rom. vi. 17. God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. EXEMPTION from the punishment of sin is doubtless an inestimable blessing— But deliverance from its power is equally preciousThe most advanced Christians greatly delight in this part of salvation— Hence St. Paul thanks God for bestowing this mercy on the church at Rome We shall consider from the text 1. The character of all while in an unconverted state All are "servants of sin" till they receive converting grace [All indeed are not slaves to the same sin Some are led captive by their lusts and passions Others are drawn away by the pleasures and vanities of the world Others are under the dominion of pride and self-righteous ness But all without exception are alienated from the life of Goda All are full of unbelief and self-sufficiency-] This, however humiliating, is an indisputable truth [The scriptures every where assert this respecting fallen manb The most eminent saints confess it to have been their own case Experience proves it with respect to ourselves The very excuse which men offer in extenuation of their sins, viz. "that they cannot live as God requires," establishes this truth-] But it does not remain so in regenerate persons; as appears from II. The change they experience in conversion God instructs them in "the form of sound doctrine" a Eph. iv. 18. b John viii. 34. Rom. vi. 16. with the text. [They hear the declarations of God in his wordThey are enlightened by the Spirit to understand themThey have the word applied with divine efficacy to their souls This form of doctrine they "obey from the heart” [They yet indeed feel a law of sin in their membersBut" they no more serve sin" willingly as before On the contrary, "they now delight in the law of God" They obey it, not in appearance only or by constraint, but willingly and without reserve-] They are now cast, as it were, into the mould of the gospel [This is the force of the original; and is the marginal version This is also the case, wherever the gospel takes effect"—" The wax has every lineament of the seal, and the coin of the die So do they resemble God, who are renewed by the gospel-] The blessedness of this change will appear if we consider III. How great a cause of thankfulness such a conversion is The apostle thanks God that they were no longer slaves of sin [Sin is at all times a ground of shame and sorrow——— Paul esteemed it so in his own particular case— Every saint of God views it in the same light St. Paul therefore did not mean that their subjection to it was a ground of thankfulness But the subject of his thanksgiving is, that the Romans, who once were slaves of sin, were now entirely devoted to God-] This is a ground of unspeakable thankfulness on many accounts 1. On account of the moral change in the persons themselves [What can be more deplorable than to be a slave of sin?— What can be more amiable than to have all our actions and affections corresponding with the word of God?Surely this is a ground of thankfulness-] 4. Εἰς οι παρεδόθητε τύπον διδαχης. e Col. i. 6. Rom. vi. 21. VOL. I. f 2 Cor. i. 18. h1 Tim. i. 13. ૨૧ 2. On account of the effects of this change on society [How much better member of society must a child of God be than a slave of sin! How much happier would the world be, if such a change were general!— On this account therefore it became the apostle to be thankful-] 3. On account of the eternal consequences that must follow this change [They who die slaves of sin must suffer its punishmentThey are now the children of the devil, and must soon be his companions in misery— But the regenerate are children and heirs of God Surely eternity will scarcely suffice to thank God for this-] We shall conclude with a suitable ADDRESS 1. To the unregenerate [All who have not been freed from sin are of this number Alas! the friends of such have little cause to thank God for them They have rather reason to weep and mournk They may indeed bless God that the stroke of vengeance has been delayed— that all such persons might know the day of their visi tation! Let all cry to God for his converting grace Nor let any rest in an external or partial changeNothing but a cordial compliance with the gospel, and a real conformity to it, will avail us in the day of judgment—] 2. To the regenerate [The foregoing marks have sufficiently characterized these persons Such persons will do well to reflect on the mercy they have received The recollection of their past guilt will serve to keep them humble A consciousness of their remaining infirmities will make them watchful A view of the change wrought in them will make them thankful Let the regenerate then adopt the words of the Psalmist1Let them beware of ever returning to their former ways Let them press forward for higher degrees of holiness and glory"-] i John viii. 44. Jer. xiii. 17. 1 Ps. ciii. 1-3. 3. To those who doubt to which class they belong [Many, from what has been wrought in them, have reason to hope Yet, from what still remains to be done, they find reason to fear Hence they are long in painful suspense But let such remember, that sin, if truly lamented and resisted, does not prove them unregenerate° On the contrary, their hatred of it, and opposition to it, are hopeful signs that they are in part renewed Nevertheless, let them endeavour to put this matter beyond a doubt?— Let them look to Christ as their almighty deliverer— Let them pray for, and depend upon, his promised aid—] • Jam. iii. 2. • John viii. 36. P 2 Pet. i. 10. r2 Cor. xii. 9. XX. THE PRIVILEGES OF THE GODLY. Ps. iv. 3. Know that God hath set apart him that is godly for himself. SIN has been in all ages an object of the world's regard But religion has been always hated and derided There never have been wanting those who resembled Cain and Ishmael— God however has far other thoughts of those who serve him The recollection of this is a comfort to the godly under their persecutions The consideration of it too might be of great advantage to the ungodly The Psalmist seems to be reproving the wicked, for their contempt of God, and their injurious treatment of his people He therefore, in a way of triumphant exultation, suggests the thought in the text We shall a Gal. iv. 29. I. Shew who are the objects of the divine favour The world is divided into two descriptions of men, godly, and ungodly The godly are to be distinguished by a great variety of marks They fear God [The generality sin without any shame or remorseb But the godly can no longer proceed in such an evil course They humble themselves before God for their past offences They guard against offending him even in thoughtd_] [They are not actuated by a merely slavish fearThey have the spirit of adoption given to them— They unfeignedly delight to do their Father's willf They account the enjoyment of his favour to be their highest happiness-] They serve God [Their religion does not consist in mere inefficacious feelings They make it appear to the world that they are God's ser vants They perform even their civil and social duties with a reference to him They do every thing with a view to his gloryh They are despised indeed by the world, but approved by their God This will appear while we II. Declare the peculiar honour conferred upon them God has testified, in the strongest terms, his approbation of the godly He has moreover" set them apart," as distinct from those that perish— This he did secretly in his eternal purpose [His regard for them did not commence after they became godly Their godliness is the fruit and not the cause of his love1— |