Let us learn then, that we are not elected of God because
by some, and lie long undiscovered, and so go unpunished among men, yet the righteous God will render a recompense.
But the meaning may rather be to show the injustice and wrong that in many cases is done by the sin of uncleanness. Not only are fornication and other acts of uncleanness sins against his own body that committeth them (1 Cor. vi. 18); not only are they very injurious to the sinner himself, both in body and soul; but sometimes very injurious and no less than defrauding, and acts of injustice to others, particularly to them who are joined together in the marriage covenant, and to their posterity. And as this sin is of such a heinous nature, so it follows that God will be the avenger of it. ''Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge"' (Heb. xiii. 4).
(e) The sin of uncleanness is contrary to the nature and design of our Christian calling: "For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness'"' (verse 7). The law of God forbids all impurity, and the Gospel requires the greatest purity; that calls us from uncleanness unto holiness.
(f) The contempt therefore of God's law and Gospel is the contempt of God himself. '"'He that despiseth, despiseth God, not man" only. Some possibly might make light of the precepts of purity and holiness, because they heard them from men like themselves; but the apostle lets them know that they were
God's commands, and to violate them was no less than to despise God. He adds that God has given Christians His Spirit, intimating that all sorts of uncleanness do in an especial manner grieve the Holy Spirit, and will provoke Him to withdraw from us; and also the Holy Spirit is given unto us to arm us against these sins, and to help us to mortify these deeds of the body, that we may live (Rom. viii. 13).
4. ON THE Way TO BEING SAINTS
Let us learn then, that we are not elected of God because we were holy, but that we might be holy. Being chosen of God, we must not live as we list; but if we are chosen to salvation as the end, we must be prepared for it by sanctification, as the necessary means to obtain that end; which sanctification is by the operation of the Holy Spirit as the Author, and by faith on our part. There must be the belief of the Truth, without which there can be no true sanctification nor perseverance in grace, nor obtaining salvation. Faith and holiness must be