5. Nay, the angel of the church at Pergamos also, is exhorted to repent, which implies sin, tho’ our Lord expresly says, thou hast not denied my faith, ver. 13, 16. And to the angel of the church in Sardis, he says, strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die. The good which remained was ready to die; but was not actually dead, chap. iii. 2. So there was still a spark of faith even in him; which he is accordingly commanded to hold fast. Ver. 3.
6. Once more. When the apostle exhorts believers, to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, (2 Cor. viii. 1.) he plainly teaches, that those believers were not yet cleansed therefrom. Will you answer, “he that abstains from all appearance of evil, does ipso facto cleanse himself from all filthiness.” Not in any wise. For instance: a man reviles me. I feel resentment, which is filthiness of spirit. Yet I say not a word. Here I abstain from all appearance of evil. But this does not cleanse me from that filthiness of spirit, as I experience to my sorrow.
7. And as this position, There is no sin in a believer, no carnal mind, no bent to back-sliding, is thus contrary to the word of God, so it is tothe experience of his children. These continually feel an heart bent to back-sliding, a natural tendency to evil; a proneness to depart from God, and cleave to the things of earth. They are daily sensible of sin remaining in their heart, pride, self-will, unbelief: and of sin cleaving to all they speak and do, even their best actions, and holiest duties. Yet at the same time they know that they are of God; they cannot doubt of it for a moment. They feel his Spirit clearly witnessing with their spirit, that they are the children of God. They rejoice in God through Christ Jesus, by whom they have now received the atonement. So that they are equally assured, that sin is in them, and that Christ is in them the hope of glory.
8. “But can Christ be in the same heart where sin is?” Undoubtedly he can. Otherwise it never could be saved therefrom. Where the sickness is, there is the physician,
Carrying on his work within,
Striving ’till he cast out sin.
Christ indeed cannot reign, where sin reigns: neither will he dwell where any sin is allowed. But he is and dwells in the heart of every believer, who is fighting against all sin; although it be not yet purified, according to the purification of the sanctuary.
9. It has been observed before, that the opposite doctrine, “that there is no sin in believers,” isquite new in the church of Christ: that it was never heard of for seventeen hundred years, never ’till it was discovered by Count Zinzendorf. I do not remember to have seen the least intimation of it, either in any antient or modern writer: unless perhaps in some of the wild, ranting Antinomians. And these likewise say and unsay, acknowledging, there is sin in their flesh, although no sin in their heart. But whatever doctrine is new must be wrong: for the old religion is the only true one. And no doctrine can be right, unless it is the very same which was from the beginning.
10. One argument more against this new, unscriptural doctrine, may be drawn from the dreadful consequences of it. One says, “I felt anger to-day.” Must I reply, then you have no faith? Another says, “I know what you advise is good. But my will is quite averse to it.” Must I tell him, “Then you are an unbeliever, under the wrath and the curse of God?” What will be the natural consequence of this? Why, if he believe what I say, his soul will not only be grieved and wounded, but perhaps utterly destroyed: Inasmuch as he will cast away that confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. And having cast away his shield, how shall he quench the fiery darts of the wicked one? How shall he overcome the world? Seeing this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith. He stands disarmed in the midst of his enemies,open to all their assaults. What wonder then if he be utterly overthrown; if they take him captive at their will?Yea, if he fall from one wickedness to another, and never see good any more?——I cannot therefore by any means receive this assertion, that there is no sin in a believer from the moment he is justified; first, because it is contrary to the whole tenor of scripture; secondly, because it is contrary to the experience of the children of God. Thirdly, because it is absolutely new, never heard of in the world ’till yesterday; and lastly, because it is naturally attended with the most fatal consequences; not only grieving those whom God hath not grieved, but perhaps dragging them into everlasting perdition.
IV. 1. However, let us give a fair hearing to the chief arguments, of those who endeavour to support it. And it is, first, from scripture they attempt to prove, that there is no sin in a believer. They argue thus. “The scripture says, every believer is born of God, is clean, is holy, is sanctified; is pure in heart, has a new heart, is a temple of the Holy Ghost. Now, as that which is born of the flesh is flesh, is altogether evil, so that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, is altogether good. Again; a man cannot be clean, sanctified, holy, and at the same time unclean, unsanctified, unholy. He cannot be pure and impure, or have a new and an old heart together. Neither can his soul be unholy, while it is a temple of the Holy Ghost.”