To the Serious Reader

One of the great Gospel enquiries that a Christian ought to be most critical and curious in resolving to himself, upon the most impartial examination of his own heart, concerning his spiritual state, and standing in grace, is, whether he be in the faith or no? Which doubt can be resolved but two ways, either by faith itself, closing with its true objects as offered in the Gospel in its direct act; and so it evidences itself, being the evidence of things not seen, as all the natural senses evidence themselves by their own acts upon their proper objects: for he that sees the sun, has argument enough to himself, that he is not blind, but has a seeing eye, and faith, therefore is frequently represented to us by seeing as (John 6:40) and elsewhere; which evidence is according to the degrees of faith, weaker or stronger, and hence carries lesser or greater assurances with it; but such as are of the highest and best nature, giving the greatest glory to the grace and truth of God, and the firmest stay to the soul in the greatest storms of temptation, being as an anchor fastened within the vail sure and stedfast. Or else additionally, that our joy may be full; and, for further confirmation, especially in such cases wherein our faith seems to fail us, and we are like Thomas, God has out of his abundant grace in the Gospel provided arguments for us to raise from spiritual sense, to judge of our state and standing by. But this requires the teachings of the Spirit, and from there a spirit of discerning, experience of, and insight into our own hearts and ways, with senses exercised by reason of use, that these grounds and arguments may be matter of comfort and establishment to us.

I call these latter evidences, subordinate ones, and additional to that of faith, of great use by way of establishment and confirmation to believers, provided they be not abused to sole resting and reliance upon them, to the great prejudice of our life, of faith, for we live by faith (so must all repenting sinners when they have attained to the highest pitch of holiness in this life) and not by sense, no not spiritual sense; it's a good handmaid to faith, but no good mistress to it.

Moreover trials of this nature are often of a marvellous awakening, and convincing nature to poor secure sinners, formal and hypocritical professors, for many of them hold true with great demonstration in the negative, (1 John 3:14) he that loves not his brother, abides in death. And (v. 10) in this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest, whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother. Now these tests come upon an unregenerate man, as clear and strong convictions of his undone estate, when by Gospel light shining into his dark heart, it evidently appears, that there is a total absence of such eminent graces, that are inseparable from a child of God; but when a poor broken-hearted, self-condemning sinner comes to try himself by these tests, especially under great temptation, he charges all that he finds in himself for hypocrisy, formality and sin, sits altogether in darkness in respect of those sparks of internal light, and is fain at last when he has broken all his flints, and worn out all his steel, in compassing himself about with sparks of his own kindling, to turn to Christ by faith, as a prisoner of hope, believing in hope against hope; and from him to fetch by a direct act of faith, as from the Sun of Righteousness, all his light of life and comfort, and then he will be able to light all his small tapers, yes all inferior arguments of his good estate will, flow in with much enlargement, and increase of consolation. As streams of living water flowing forth of the fountain, set open for sin and for uncleanness, into the belly of the true believing sinner, receiving by faith of the fullness of Christ through the Spirit, abundantly supplying him with rivers of true substantial living graces and consolations, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, to the praise and glory of Christ.

Now among disquisitions of this latter nature and use, this is none of the least, whether we are under the dominion of sin or no? Either we are or are not; if we are, our state is most certainly dangerous; for such are under the law, and the law has concluded all under wrath. If we are not under sin's dominion, we are in a blessed and happy estate, being under grace; for these two dominions divide the world, and every son and daughter of Adam is under one or the other, and none can be under both at the same time. Now our being under grace can be no way better evidenced than by our being in Christ by faith, for he that is so is a new creature, is passed from death to life, will still be mortifying sin, the strong man in sin's dominion being cast out, and therefore faith is said to be our victory, through the supply of all grace received from Jesus Christ. Indeed it calls for no small spiritual skill and understanding to pass aright judgment in these matters: undoubtedly many are deceived in taking wrong measures to search out these deep things of God, taking them to belong to the mere faculties and endowments of a natural man, not considering that they are of the Spirit's revelation only. And hence it is that many poor creatures in a bondage state under the law, and therefore under sin's dominion, do work like slaves in the dunghill of their own hearts, to find out some natural religion or moral goodness in themselves, to recommend them to God; but such recommendation must be under the law, it cannot be under grace; and therefore such are under the dominion of sin infallibly as the Israelites were, which followed after the law of righteousness but attained not to the law of righteousness. Therefore, because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, for they stumbled at that stumbling stone (Romans 9:32). And it is greatly to be bewailed, that many professors that sit under the means of grace, are so tender of their secure and palliated consciences, that they cannot endure that the rays of true Gospel light should shine directly into their hearts, being contented with a name only, that they do live; they are loath to come to any narrow search or trial, least they should be found out and appear to themselves in their ugly shapes, while they are willing that all the world should have a good opinion of them, under which they cannot admit of any inward disturbances, but desire to sleep in a whole skin.

Others there are, sincere, broken-hearted believers, scared at the rock of presumption, on which they see so many professors wracked daily, are apt to fall upon the other extreme, and too wrongfully, to free grace, condemn themselves, as being under the dominion of sin, and therefore censure themselves to be under the law and wrath, notwithstanding all their seeming faith and holiness, calling that presumption and this hypocrisy. Hence returning to a kind of spirit of bondage again to fear, their faith is shaken by prevailing unbelief, their peace is broken, and all gospel ordinances rendered ineffectual, as to their true ends of profit, edification and comfort. Hence, though they are truly under grace, they do not know, or rather through temptation, will not acknowledge it, but go mourning all the day long, because of the oppressor, and the enemy. But I beseech such a poor soul to consider a little, and not to receive the grace of God in vain, do you groan under the usurpation and oppression of remaining sin, and is this the dominion of it? Is there no difference between sin's dominion, and sin's tyranny and usurpation? Dominion is upon account of right of conquest, or subjection, there is upon both that sin reigns in, carnal and unregenerate men, who yield up their members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but you reckon yourselves dead to sin, having no joy in its prevalency but grief, being planted in this respect, in the likeness of Christ's death, who died to sin once, but dies no more. Sin shall have no more dominion over him; likewise reckon you also yourselves dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, that is, to be under grace, to put yourself freely and joyfully under the conduct and dominion of Jesus Christ, and to keep up a continual fight and opposition against the prevailing power of sin. Indeed sin will often, as an out-lying watchful enemy, make its assaults and incursions on the best of God's children, as it did on David, Hezekiah, Peter, and though it may make breaches upon them, sin shall not have a dominion, and set up a throne of iniquity in their hearts. Grace will beat out sin's throne; for, indeed, the words of this text, that is, the subject of the ensuing treatise, carry the force of a promise to the saints, to animate and encourage them to fight against sin under the banner of our Lord Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation made perfect through sufferings; for sin shall not have dominion, &c.

In treating of which text, this late learned and reverend author has acted the part of a good workman, that rightly divided the Word of God (as in all his other writings of the like nature) giving every one their portion, as it belongs to them, with so much perspicuity and demonstration, that if (Christian reader) you will afford a little time and pains to read, meditate, dilate and digest well the truths here laid before you, through the blessing of the God of all grace, you will find much satisfaction, and real spiritual advantage to your soul, either to awaken and recover you from under the dominion of sin (the dangerous and palpable symptoms thereof, being here plainly made manifest) or else to discover your happy estate in being taken from under the law, and brought under the dominion of grace, whereby you may assume great encouragement to yourself, to proceed more cheerfully in running the race set before you.

It's enough to say, that the author has left his encomium firmly rooted in the minds of all pious and learned men, that are acquainted with his writings, polemic or practical. Yes, his renown will always be great in after generations among the churches of Christ, and all true lovers of the great truths of the gospel. And that he is the author of this small tract is sufficient to recommend it to your most serious perusal, taking this assurance, that it was left (among other writings of great value) thus perfected for the press by his own hand, and is now by his worthy relict published for the benefit of others besides herself. I doubt not but you will say, that it will answer the several lines that has been drawn in your heart, by sin or grace, as face answers face in a glass, and that this may be the effect of your perusal thereof, in order to your spiritual and eternal welfare, is the hearty desire and prayer of

Your unfeigned well-wisher, J. C.