1. First, he may be considered as united to, and having a spiritual being on Christ; and so it is true, he is under Grace, and the covenant of Grace, and not under the Law, nor the covenant of works; and hence not being under the Law, nor bound to keep it as a covenant of life (though it be a rule of life) no sin can condemn him, there being no condemnation to them that are Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. But as Christ is above condemnation, and law, and death, and curse, so is he. And this truly understood, is the foundation of a Christian's joy and peace, and glory, every day; yet so, as tho' sin doth not condemn him, yet he has good reason to say, it is mercy, and mere mercy, Lord, that I am not consumed, that I am not condemned. For sin is the same; nay grace and God's love aggravates sin; for to sin against the law, deserves death without recovery; but to sin when grace has received me, and loved me; when the blood of Christ has been shed abundantly, to deliver me from sin; Oh this makes the most secret silent sin a crying one! So that if you do consider this well, you may see what little cause there is to have your ⟨p. 16⟩heart rising against the deepest humiliation for the least sin, though you be in Christ, and under grace: For as Daniel, when he was put into the Lions den, had not he cause to wonder that he was not torn in pieces by them? and why? because it was not from any defect on their parts to tear him in pieces, but from the omnipotent power, and mercy, and grace of his God, that muzzled their mouths; so though no Lion can tear, though no sins can hurt or condemn a Christian, as he is considered in Christ, yet, has not he cause to confess and wonder, and say, Lord, it is thy mere grace and mercy that it is not so? Which is the act of humiliation your letter saith you can hardly come unto; and why? not because God's grace puts any less evil in sin, but because it is merely grace that keeps it from spitting that venom which otherwise it would.
1. First, he may be considered as united to, and having a spiritual being on Christ; and so it is true, he is under Grace, and the covenant of Grace, and not under the Law, nor the covenant of works; and hence not being under the Law, nor bound to keep it as a covenant of life (though it be a rule of life) no sin can condemn him, there being no condemnation to them that are Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. But as Christ is above condemnation, and law, and death, and curse, so is he. And this truly understood, is the foundation of a Christian's joy and peace, and glory, every day; yet so, as tho' sin doth not condemn him, yet he has good reason to say, it is mercy, and meer mercy, Lord, that I am not consumed, that I am not condemned. For sin is the same; nay grace and God's love aggravates sin; for to sin against the law, deserves death without recovery; but to sin when grace has received me, and loved me; when the blood of Christ has been shed abundantly, to deliver me from sin; Oh this makes the most secret silent sin a crying one! So that if you do consider this well, you may see what little cause there is to have your ⟨p. 16⟩heart rising against the deepest humiliation for the least sin, though you be in Christ, and under grace: For as Daniel, when he was put into the Lions den, had not he cause to wonder that he was not torn in pieces by them? and why? because it was not from any defect on their parts to tear him in pieces, but from the omnipotent power, and mercy, and grace of his God, that muzzel'd their mouths; so though no Lion can tear, though no sins can hurt or condemn a Christian, as he is considered in Christ, yet, has not he cause to confess and wonder, and say, Lord, it is thy meer grace and mercy that it is not so? Which is the act of humiliation your letter saith you can hardly come unto; and why? not because God's grace puts any less evil in sin, but because it is meerly grace that keeps it from spitting that venom which otherwise it would.
