But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
I pause over this verse to consider it alone, as it stands, in my view, unconnected with every other. And, I do it the rather, because I am free to confess, that I have never yet seen any Writer, which hath given to my satisfaction the full sense of it. I should observe, that the words, as they stand in our translation, are perfectly correct, and in exact agreement to the original. There is no possibility, without injury, to add to the verse itself, or to take from it. Paul thanks God, that they were in times past the servants of sin. But now, were in obedience, from the heart; that is, were now regenerated. Some read the passage: God be thanked that though ye were the servants of sin. But certain it is, that the original favors no such latitude of construction. But, say you, can it be thought, that the Apostle would thank God, that they had been in the drudgery of Satan, wearing his livery, and doing his service? Could this be a motive of thankfulness? To which in answer, I say, without deciding positively upon it; if the Lord's glory be the more advanced, and sin, which in itself is a deadly evil, working nothing but death, and everlasting ruin; be overruled, for bringing about greater glory to God, and greater happiness to man; it then puts on a different aspect. Just as poison is sometimes made a sovereign medicine for healing: and sickness, when sanctified, hath been found a means, under the Lord, of changing the heart. The sin of Adam, laid the foundation for the manifestation of Christ, as a Savior. The Son of God would have been known as the Head and Husband of his Church, had sin never entered into the world; for he betrothed her to himself from everlasting, Hosea 2:19. But as the Redeemer, the Church would never have known him, had not her shame in sin, afforded an opportunity for the display of his glory, in washing her from her sins in his blood! And in this case, all those sweet songs in heaven would have been lost, which the redeemed now chant aloud, and will be sung by the Church forever, Revelation 5:9. For myself, if I know anything of my own heart, I hope that 1 can truly say, I hate sin, I would not willingly and wilfully commit a single sin for the world: yea, I loath myself in my own sight for sin, the sin of my poor fallen nature. And sin becomes more bitter to me, as Christ becomes more precious. But, with all this, I say, I would rather be a sinner saved, and saved in such a way as I am saved in, by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ; than to have never known sin, neither known. Christ as a Savior. Angels in heaven, which have never sinned, may, and do, praise Jehovah for his glory, and their happiness: but no angel can know Jesus, and love Jesus, for the same cause as a poor sinner can; and for which his name is called Jesus: he shall save his people from their sins, Matthew 1:21. I therefore can accept the Apostle's words in this verse, just as they are; and find cause to bless God, that I was once darkness, and in the shadow of death, when the Son of God came and brake my bands asunder. Like the poor man in the parable, having lain at the gate in a state of nature, full of wounds and sores; I can now better value a state of grace in the Lord Jesus, having been cleansed and healed in his blood. And, having once known by deep affliction, what it was to be miserable in sin; I now can better tell what it is to be everlastingly blessed and happy in Christ. God he thanked, (saith Paul), that ye were the servants of sin. And God be thanked, my soul makes her responses to Paul's words, and adds, that by the regeneration of the Holy Ghost, the soul-union with Christ, and the gift of the Father to his dear Son; by grace I am enabled to obey from the heart, that form of doctrine which hath been delivered.