§. 85. Of serving the living God.
AN especiall end of purging away sin is, to serve the living God. The Greek word translated a 1.1 to serve, is b 1.2 the same that was used, v. 9. §. 49. It comprise•…•… under it all duties which on our parts we owe to God.
The former act of Christ in purging our conscience from dead works, gives evidence of Gods mercy to us. This, of our duty to God. The former sets out our justifica∣tion: this our sanctification.
This is inferred upon the former, to shew that it is a proper effect thereof, and an inseparable companion of it. It declareth both a duty on our part, and also an ability which Christ on his part giveth to perform the same: as if it had been said, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 purged us from sin that we might be able to serve God. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prefigured in the pre∣face to the decalogue, wherein mention is made of freeing Gods people, and there∣upon* 1.3 all the commandements, which comprise all that service we owe to God, are inferred; much is this pressed by Prophets and Apostles, Psal. 56. 13. Luk. 1. 74.
This serving of God is inferred upon Christs purging us from dead works, to shew, that all manner of righteousnesse is from Christ, both the righteousnesse of justification: and also the righteousnesse of sanctification. 1 Cor. 1. 31. Eph. 5. 26. Of sanctification accompanying justification, See The Guide to go to God, or an ex∣planation of the Lords prayer, 6. Petit. §. 89.
This was r•…•…presented by that blood and water, which issued out of Christs side, Ioh. 19. 34. Of Christ the Author of sanctification. See Chap. 2. v. 11. §. 102.
1. This discovers the perverse disposition of such as clean pervert Gods wise or∣der in bringing man to salvation. God freeth man from the bondage of satan, whose wages is death, to be his free servants, whose wages is life. But many that desire to be freed from the foresaid bondage, think much to subject themselves to Gods yoa•…•…. They take liberty to live as they list. They desire to be justified: but care not to be sanctified. Like Balaam, they desire to dye the death of the righteous, (Numb. 23. 10.) but are loath to live the life of the righteous. They know that sin is the sting of death: and that the issue thereof is very bitter: yet they feel so sweet a relish there∣in, as, to please their corrupt humour, they will not forsake it to serve God. This is an high pitch of impiety: and a point of egregious folly: for they prefer death be∣fore life; and a master whose wages is death, before a master whose wages is life. Such are all impious persons that make profession of the Gospell.
It will be our wisdome to endeavour after that which Christ aimed at in purging us from dead workes. Thus will not Christ repent the offering of his blood to purge us.
Let us therefore enquire wherein we may serve God acceptably, Rom. 12. 2. This is distinctly and fully set down in Gods word, wherewith we ought diligently to acquaint our selves.
The God whom we ought to serve is here stiled the living God, in opposition to those dead works, from which our conscience is purged: and it implyeth that the serving of God is a ready way to life, in that he is the living God. Of this title, the living God. See Chap. 3. v. 12. §. 138.