Willful Impenitency, Sermon
Wilfull Impenitency the groſſeſt Selfe-Murder.
EZECH. 18.31, 32.
For why will yee dye, O yee houſe of Iſrael.
THe wicked in this Chapter diſpute againſt God; the Fathers have eaten ſower Grapes, The diviſion of the Text.and the childrens teeth are ſet on edge, Our Fathers have ſinned, and we are puniſhed; a common cavill in every naturall mans heart, when its urged. Adam fell and his poor poſterity ſmart for it, if God will needs damne us he may, we have no power for to help it, for who hath reſiſted his Will? Gods calme anſwer to their froward cavils in ſeven particulars.this is mans Syllogiſme. God who might ſend man to hell for an anſwer, anſwers calmly.
1. By abjuration, as J live ſayth the Lord, ye ſhall not have occaſion to uſe this proverbe any more as Iſrael. v. 3.
2. By an aſsertion, the ſoule that ſinneth it ſhall dye, v. 4. no ſoule ſhall dye but only the ſame that doth ſin.
3. By explication of himſelfe, if a man do that which is right, he ſhall live, verſ. 5, 6. if he have bin never ſo wicked, yet if he returned he ſhall not dye, v. 21.
4. By appealing to their conſciences, have I any pleaſure at all that the wicked ſhould dye ſaith the Lord? and not that he ſhould returne and live? verſ. 23. have I any pleaſure, I appeale to all your conſciences, have I any pleaſure at all that the wicked ſhould dye?
5. By retorting, heare now O houſe of Jſrael is not my way equall? or are not your wayes rathere unquall? v. 25.
6. By a concluſion; therefore I will judge you O houſe of Jſrael, every one according to his wayes, verſ. 30.
7. By a finall deciſion of the whole controverſie; repent and turne your ſelves, &c. ſo iniquity ſhall not be your ruine, caſt away from you all, &c for why will ye die, &c.
Where we have theſe foure things.
1. God diſclaimes all cauſe of their damnation from his ſecret will, I have no pleaſure in the death of him that dyeth.Foure things very obſervable
2. He removes all cauſe of their deſtruction from his revealed will; repent and turn your ſelves, &c. ſo iniquity ſhall not be your ruine; caſt away, &c.
3. He diſavowes all cauſe of their deſtruction from his permiſſive will, as though that were gilty, acceſſary to it; they can have no colour why they are not wrought upon; make you a new heart and a new ſpirit, Make the fault lie not at his dore, no it lies at your dore, make you a new heart.
4. He caſts all the cauſe of their deſtruction upon their own rebellious wills. Why will ye dye O houſe of Jſrael?
1. What is the cauſe yee live in your ſinnes, and die and periſh in your ſinnes? is it becauſe I am not mercifull? you know I am gracious and full of mercy and ready to forgive, why then why will ye die O houſe of Iſrael?
2. Is it becauſe I am ſwift to revenge? you know I am ſlow to anger, and give you a warning before I conſume you;Iſraels perdition not from God but from it ſelfe. why then will ye die O houſe of Jſrael?
3. Is it becauſe I will deſtroy you for Ahaz or Manaſſes, or Zedekiahs, or Adams ſinne? quaſi canis peccatum ſus dependeret? you know that if the ſonne walke not in the fathers ſinne, I uſe to receive him, you can beare me witneſſe I call you to a new covenant, why then will ye die O houſe of Jſrael?
4. Is it becauſe ye have no Saviour? you know that the Lambe of God Chriſt Ieſus was ſlaine for you from the beginning of the World, Rev. 13.8. Joh. 3.16.that you may be ſaved upon faith.
5. Is it becauſe ye have no power? ye know I offer you grace and power and ye will not have it; why then will ye die, &c.
6. Some Authors alleadge five whies more, why will ye, &c. Is it for this cauſe or that cauſe or that? or what cauſe is it? no cauſe on Gods ſide, no, ye may thanke your own wils if you periſh; this, this only accuſeth you,Id unum vos eccuſat, reſipiſcere non vultu. you will not be ruled: you are careleſſe of God, Chriſt, grace, and you will be ſo, ye are vaine and carnall and obſtinate, and ye will bee ſo; woe unto thee O Ieruſalem wilt thou not be made cleane? when ſhall it once be? Jer. 13.27. he does not ſay woe unto thee Jeruſalem, canſt thou not be made clean? but wilt thou not be made clean?