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What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Shall we continue — Quasi dicat, that were most unreasonable, and to an ingenuous nature, impossible. To argue from mercy to liberty, is the devil’s logic. Should we not after deliverance yield obedience? said holy Ezra, Ezra 9:13-14 . A man may as truly say, the sea burns, or fire cools, as that certainty of salvation breeds security and looseness.

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God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Live any longer therein — Fall into it we may and shall; but it is not the falling into the water that drowns, but lying in it; so it is not falling into sin that damns, but living in it.

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Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Baptized into his death — Hoc est baptizari pro mortuis, saith Beza, to be buried with Christ in baptism, Colossians 2:12 , in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, Romans 6:11 .

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Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We are buried — Burial is a continuing under death, so is mortification a continuation of dying to sin, Mors quaedam perpetuata; sin is by degrees abated, and at length abolished, when once our earthly tabernacles are dissolved.

Walk in newness of life — Resurrectione Domini configuratur vita, quae hic geritur. Walk as Christ walked after his resurrection.

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For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

For if we have been planted — Burying is a kind of planting. The Dutch call the burial place God’s Acre.

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Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him , that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

The body of sin — For whole evil is in man, and whole man in evil.

Is crucified — Which is a lingering but a sure death.

Should not serve sin — As those do that commit it, John 8:34 ; not only act it, but are acted by it, having as many lords as lusts, victors as vices. Titus 3:3 .

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For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Is freed from sin — Anacreon saith the like, ο θανων ουκ επιθυμει ; death is the accomplishment of mortification. It doth at once what death doth by degrees. Herbs and flowers breed worms, which yet at last kill the herbs and flowers. So sin bred death, but at last death will kill sin. A mud wall, while it standeth, harboureth much vermin, which when it falleth fly away; so doth corruption, when once these cottages of clay fall to ruin.

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Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

We shall also live — Then we are said properly to live, when our regeneration is perfected in heaven. To live here is but to lie a dying.

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