Spiritual Liberty (6)

When we are called out of Satan's kingdom, we are not only called out of that cursed state we are also made a part of a better kingdom; we are made the members of Christ. And so, in justification we are not only freed from damnation, from the justice and wrath of God, but we can use the plea of our righteousness by which we have claim to heaven, which is a blessed privilege and prerogative. We are not only free from the curse of the law, but we have other gracious prerogatives and privileges. We are not only freed from the dominion of sin, but we are set at liberty by the Spirit to do what is good. We have a voluntary free spirit to serve God as cheerfully as we served our lusts before.
That which terrified and frightened us before, now is our direction. A severe schoolmaster to a very young pupil becomes later, as the pupil grows, a wise tutor to guide and direct. So, the law terrified and whipped us when we were in bondage. The law scares us to Christ. Afterwards, the law comes to be a tutor, telling us what we are to do, counselling us and saying this is the best way. And we come to delight in those truths when they are revealed to us inwardly. And the more we know, the more we want to know, because we want to please God every day.
So, besides freedom from what is ill, and its consequences, there is a blessed prerogative and privilege. That is what is meant here by liberty. For God's works are complete. We must know when he delivers from ill, he advances to good. His works are full works always; he does not do things halfway. We have through Christ and by the Spirit not only freedom from what is ill, but advancement to all that is comforting and graciously good.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 40-41 [45-46]
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