2. It is of these chiefly I speak in the latter part of this discourse. For these only are perfect Christians. But even babes in Christ are in such a sense perfect, or _born of God_ (an expression taken also in divers senses) as first, not to commit sin. If any doubt of this privilege of the sons of God, the question is not to be decided by abstract reasonings, which may be drawn out into an endless length, and leave the point just as it was before. Neither is it to be determined by the experience of this or that particular person. Many may suppose they do not commit sin, when they do: but this proves nothing either way. _To the law and to the testimony_ we appeal. _Let God be true, and every man a liar._ By his word will we abide, and that alone. Hereby we ought to be judged.
3. Now the word of God plainly declares, that even those who are justified, who are born again in the lowest sense, _do not continue in sin_; that they cannot _live any longer therein_ (Rom. vi. 1, 2.) that they are _planted together in the likeness of the death of Christ_. (verse 5.) That their _old man is crucified with him, the body of sin being destroyed, so that thenceforth they do not serve sin: that being dead with Christ, they are freed from sin_ (verses 6, 7.) That they are _dead unto sin_, and _alive unto God_ (verse 11.) That _sin hath no more dominion over them_, who are _not under the law, but under grace_; but that these _being free from sin, are become the servants of righteousness_, verses 14, 18.
4. The very least which can be implied in these words, is, that the persons spoken of therein, namely, all real Christians or believers in Christ, are made free from outward sin. And the same freedom which St. _Paul_ here expresses in such variety of phrases, St. _Peter_ expresses in that one (_1 Pet._ iv. 1, 2.) _He that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sin,――that he no longer should live――to the desires of men, but to the will of God._ For this _ceasing from sin_, if it be interpreted in the lowest sense, as regarding only the outward behaviour, must denote the ceasing from the outward act, from any outward transgression of the law.
5. But most express are the well known words of St. _John_, in the third chapter of his first epistle, verse the eighth, &c. _He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin. For his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God._ And those in the fifth, verse 18. _We know that whosoever ♦is born of God sinneth not. But he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not._