Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness in all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom. James 3:13. The servants of sin have many masters, their lust hurry them different ways; pride commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful, deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners that they hate one another and it is the duty and happiness of saints to love one another. And we are delivered out of miserable condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God, the merit and suffering of Christ and working of his Spirit. God the Father is God our Saviour. He is the fountain from which the Holy Spirit flows, to teach, to regenerate, and save his fallen creatures and his blessings comes to mankind through Christ. The spring and rise of it, is the kindness and love of God to man. Love and grace have, through the Spirit, great power to change and turn to God. A new principle of grace and holiness is wrought, which sways, and governs, and makes the man a new creature. Here is the outward sign and seal thereof in baptism, called therefore the washing of regeneration. The work is inward and spiritual, yet rest not in the outward washing, but look to the answer with good conscience, without which the outward washing will avail nothing. The worker therein is the Spirit of God, it is the renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit and his saving gifts and graces, come through Christ as a Saviour, whose undertaking and work are to bring to grace and glory. Eternal life is set before us in the promise, the Spirit works faith in us, and hope of that life; faith and hope bring it near, and fill with joy in expectation of it.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 18:17:16 +0000
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