II. 1. In what sense then are Christians perfect? This is what I shall endeavour, in the second place to shew. But it should be premised, that there are several stages in Christian life as in natural: some of the children of God being but new-born babes; others having attained to more maturity, And accordingly St. _John_, in his first epistle (c. ii. 12, &c.) applies himself severally, to those he terms little children, those he stiles young men, and those whom he intitles fathers. _I write unto you, little children_, saith the apostle, _because your sins are forgiven_: because thus far you have attained, being _justified freely_, you _have peace with God, thro’ Jesus Christ. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one_; or (as he afterwards addeth) _because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you_. Ye have quenched the fiery darts of the wicked one, the doubts and fears, wherewith he disturbed your first peace, and the witness of God that your sins are forgiven, now _abideth in your heart. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning._ Ye have known both the Father and the Son, and the Spirit of Christ in your inmost soul. Ye are _perfect men, being grown up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ_. 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.