October 17 AM

Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Rom. 6:14.

Who are under the law? All who think they can fulfil it, seek to be made righteous by it, and expect salvation from it; all such are under the dominion of sin and the curse of the law. Who are under grace? All who fly from the law as a ministration of condemnation, embrace the gospel as a ministration of righteousness, and cleave to Jesus and expect righteousness and salvation in him ONLY. Over such sin has no power to destroy; they are out of its territories, in another kingdom, under another king: Jesus rules in and over them; and he says of every one of them, sin shall not have dominion over you. O, what a heart-reviving promise is this! how delightful to hear our worst foe, our bitterest enemy shall not lord it over us! Art thou, O disciple, ready to cry out, Would to God sin had no being in me, then I should be completely happy! Remember what thy Saviour said to his mother, "Mine hour is not yet come." John 2:4. It is enough that thou art called to the marriage of the Lamb; the bridegroom keeps the best wine for the last; this is excellent wine on earth, sin shall not have dominion over us; in glory, sin shall have no being in us.

Be assured, O Christian, thine enemies are all conquered, though sense and experience afford thee daily proof they are not all dead. Never think of laying down thine arms, folding thine hands, and setting up thy rest here; thou art still in the camp; the enemy lies in wait to take all advantage; but here is thy victory, though sin is an enemy, whose life is commensurate with the life of thy flesh; though so nearly allied to thee that it is part of thyself; yet, being one with Jesus, thou hast a spiritual and eternal life, and the power of omnipotence is engaged to preserve and keep thee; therefore sin shall not maintain its usurpation, nor hold dominion over thy soul; its empire is dethroned, the kingdom of Jesus is set up in thy heart; Christ dwells there by faith, thy heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience by his blood; he who hath conquered for thee will also conquer in thee.

Take heed of a state of independence on him, and vain confidence in thyself; think not the root and being of sin are destroyed, and thyself in a sinless state; for then thou hast no need of Jesus, faith in him, hope on him, nor prayer to him. O, if Satan thus rocks any poor sinner asleep, it is in the cradle of delusion, while he sings a sweet siren's song: be ever active and vigilant to oppose and conquer thy inbred foe. Daily attend this wholesome advice, "Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof," ver. 12.