Solemn Advice to Young Men, Sermon

Solemn Advice to Young Men · Sermon

p. 65The hatefull Evil OF SIN, Discoursed of in A SERMON, Shewing that SIN Unrepented of will be bitterness in the Latter END.

Psalm. XXXVI. II.

He Flattereth himself in his own Eyes, untill his Iniquity be found to be Hatefull.

THE Title of the Psalm sheweth that it was Written by David the Servant of the Lord. There are but two Psalmes in which he is so Stiled, and both of them were Written after his being Anointed King. p. 66He had taken up an holy Resolution to Serve God in whatever Capacity he did sustain whether Private or Publick. No man nor Creature is capable of an higher Advancement than to be accepted as Gods Servant: To be stiled David the Servant of the Lord, is a greater honour, than to be stiled David the King of Israel.

As for the Time when this portion of Scripture was Penned, that is not particularly expressed. A Judicious Expositor ha's Conjectured that David wrote it when Abiather came to him, and acquainted him with what Saul had done in Murdering Ahimeleck, and all the Priests at Nob. Hence a wicked man is described and charecterised from the Example of Saul, in the first verse of this Psalm: The Transgression of the Wicked saith within my heart, there is no fear of God before his Eyes: He seems to intimate that once he had too great a Charity for Saul, supposing that he might sin out of Infirmity, Melancholy, or Passion, rather than out of Malice; but now he was convinced in his Heart and Conscience, that Saul was a very wicked man: That he was wholly destitu…e of the true fear of God; his Murdering the Priests of the Lord was an evidence of it. Such actions were done by p. 67him as were inconsistent with the fear of God.

As for the Words at present to be insisted on, there have been various Translations, and so various Interpretations of them, which (as not being much to Edification) I shall not trouble you with. But as they are before us, two things are affirmed concerning the Wicked man. (1.) That he Flattereth himself in his iniquity: He is secure notwithstanding the sin he ha's been guilty of: He pleaseth himself with vain Imaginations concerning his present and future happiness. (2.) The Psalmist affirms that sin will at last appear in other colours before the wicked man than at present it does. It will be found to be hatefull. Now iniquity is sweet, but the time shall come when it will be bitter: Though at present it appears in false colours, as if sin were a desirable thing, it will in the end of all appear to be a most detestable thing. The DOCTRINE therefore from the words, is,

That although Sinners may Flatter and please themselves with vain. Imaginations to the Contrary, it is certain that Sin will at last appear to be a most Odious thing.

p. 68The particulars contained in this Doctrine may be expressed in three PROPOSITIONS, all which are implyed in it.

Proposition. I.

Persons who indulge themselves in sin, are not apprehensive of the Evil and Danger which is therein. They flatter themselves. They please themselves with vain Imaginations. Otherwise they would be afraid to sin, and much more to go on in their trespasses. There are several vain Imaginations which sinners flatter themselves with.

1. They please themselves with thinking that sin is no sin. That when they sin fearfully they have not sinned at all. How common is it for men, if they intend well in what they do, to think all is well. Like Saul who excused his transgressing a positive Command of God, with saying, he did it for Sacrifice. Sin and Satan do wonderfully blind the eyes of sinners. Hence they sometimes take damning Errors to be rare Truths, as the deluded Christians in Thyatira did, Rev. 2.24. The depths of Satan as they speak. They said that the things which they did believe were deep rare Mysteries; so did they speak concerning those Errors which at last they found to be no better than Satanical delusions. When men have p. 69shut their eyes against the clear light, their light does become darkness, and how great is that darkness? A spirit of strong delusion is sent upon them, so that they believe a Ly. 2 Thes. 2.11. And because men err in their Judgments, they are guilty of such practices as will prove the ruin of their Souls, and yet flatter themselves that their is no sin nor evil in what they do. Idolatry is a Soul-ruining iniquity, yet the Jews of old who lived in that sin, would not believe they were guilty of any such crime. The Prophets by all their Sermons could not convince them of it. Jer. 2.35. Thou sayest, because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me, behold, I will plead with thee because thou sayest I have not sinned. Men may be under the power of Sin and Satan so far as not only to believe that a damning sin is no sin at all, but that it is a duty. To persecute the faithfull Ambassadors of Christ to death is a crime of an high nature: Yet did the Lord say to his Apostles, The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think he does God Good Service. Joh. 16.2. Thus it was with Paul before his Convertion. He verily thought with himself that he ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, Acts 28.9. This indeed was not Sauls p. 70case when he killed the Priest at Nob. He sinned Maliciously against his Conscience, at the very time when he commanded bloody Doeg to Murder them; he called them the Priests of the Lord: Some have therefore thought that he did at that time Commi… the sin against the Holy Ghost, because his knowledge and his malice was very great. But many of those that kill and burn them whom they call Hereticks, do it more out of Ignorance than Malice, thinking they do well in it.

2. Another Imagination which sinners please themselves with, is, That if what they do is a sin, yet that it is no great or dangerous sin. They say of the iniquity which they indulge themselves in, as Lot said of Zoar, Is it not a little one. Gen. 19.20. Thus Ephraim Loved to oppress, and yet he said, they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin, Hos. 12.7, 8. The Hebrew word there translated Sin, is many times used to deno…e a great Sin: Epharim pleased himself that they should find in him no iniquity that was of an hanious or criminal nature, notwithstanding his being guilty of great oppression, he esteemed that to be no sin, that is to say no great sin. There are great Oppressiors in the World, who justify themselves in their Oppression They p. 71that are guilty of biting and oppressing usury commonly do so. Sinners remember not what Christ ha's said, Math. 5.19. Whosoever shall break one of these least Commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; he shall be of no account there, he shall never come there, if he do's allow himself in the willfull breach of the least Commandment. Men are apt to please themselves that none on the earth are without sin; the best have their failings: and that their iniquities are only sins of Infirmity, such as Gods Children whilest in the World are Subject unto; and that therefore they shall have a pardon in course for them: they cannot think that the merciful God will be so severe as to punish them Eternally for such small matters; not believing that the least sin is in its own nature deadly and damning. And it is possible for men to be so blinded as to think that great sins are little ones. The Gentiles thought that Fornication and Drunkenness were no great sins: and therefore they had no Laws to punish such iniquities But the Lord in his Word declares that they which do such things shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God, Gal. 5.21.

p. 72Hence 3. Sinners are apt to flatter themselves, That though they do iniquity they shall escape Punishment. Notwithstanding the awfull threatnings of God in His word, the Sinner thinks he shall do as well as others. When he heareth the words of the Curse, He blesseth himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace though I walk in the Imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. Deut. 29.20. There are many such sinners, who after they have made themselves a thirst with strong drink, will make themselves drunk again, and yet say they shall have Peace. They promise themselves Impunity in sinning against the Holy God. Hence the Psalmist speaketh, as in Psal. 10.13. Wherefore doth the wicked Contemn God? he hath said in his heart thou shalt not require it. Every Sinner so far forth as he is a sinner, is an Atheist: he saith in his hearn that there is no such God as the Lord is. Either he is such an Athost as to Imagine that God does not take notice of the sins of men, Psal. 94.7, They say the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. A vile wretch when he is about to commit a sin, suppose Theft on Uncleanness o… the like odiou… wickedness, if he believed that any man, nay, that a Child of Seven years p. 73old saw him, he would not do that wicked thing: Doth he then believe that God seeeth him? No, he is an Atheist. Or, he sayeth in his heart, that the Lord is not so Holy a God as his Word declares Him to be. That He is not so much offended with sin as His Ministers say He is. They imagine a God made up all of mercy, without any Justice or Holiness. They Judge of God by themselves; because they do not hate sin, they think the Lord hates it not. They flatter themselves that because God bears with them for a time, that He will never call them to an account, Psal. 50.21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughest that I was altogether such an one as thy self; but I will reprove thee, and set them in Order before thee. Or, they flatter themselves that because of some external show of Religion, or some good works done by them, all their sins will be forgiven. They vainly suppose that by some Righteousness of their own they shall make amends for all their transgressions. They think the Lord will be pacified with Rivers of oyl, and that the fruit of their bodies will Compensate for the sin of their Souls. The Jews would Steal, Commit Adultery, and Swear falsly, and yet trust in Lying p. 74words, saying, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, Jer. 7.4. They would go to the Temple and there offer Sacrifice, and then say, we are delivered; we are purged from our past transgressions; and now having cleared the old Score, we may safely venture to sin again, and by going to the Temple we shall be delivered, and never punished for these abominations Do not men in these days Flatter themselves, after the like manner? If they go to the Temple, if they go to Church, if they offer Sacrifice, if they say their Prayers there, they promise themselves impunity though they live in sin. Thus are they who indulge themselves in the wayes of sin secure and not aware of the Infinite danger their Souls are in.

Proposition. II.

Sin is a most Odious thing. Iniquity is hatefull: Men ought to hate every Sin. They have Infinite reason so to do. For,

1. Sin is Contrary to the Holy Nature and perfect Will of God. They that have any Love to God, cannot but hate sin. Psal. 97. 10. Ye that Love the Lord hate evil. There is no sin whatsoever, but it is an evil committed against God: and is indeed a greater wrong to God than any one else. A man p. 75by sin may wrong himself and his neigh… very much, but he is most injurious to the bl…ed God. David had grievously sinned against Uriah and Bathsheba, and against his own Body and Soul; yet he said to God, against thee, thee only have I sinned, Psal. 51.4. Sin is High Treason against the Eternal Majesty. God is Holiness it self, Amos 4.2. The Lord God h…s Sworn by his Holiness: He never Swears by any thing less then Himself. But sin is Unholiness, sinners are called the Unholy: So then sin is contrary to the nature of God. He cannot sin: It is impossible that he should, Heb. 6.18. He can no more sin, then He can cease to be God: Nor can He be the Approver or the Author of sin, Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil, and canst not lo…k on iniquity. He cannot look on ini…uity with approbation or without detestation of it. Hence James speaks as in the first Chapter and thirteen Verse of his Epistle, Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. Neither is there any sin, but it is contrary to the preceptive will of God. Every sin is a Transgression of His Law. 1 Joh. 3.4. There is not the least sinfull Word or p. 76Thought but the Divine Law Condemns it. A sinner and a transgressor of the Law are the same. A sinner does practically declare that the Law of God is no good Law: He trampleth it under foot, he casts it behind his back. Sin is therefore an hatefull and a horrible thing. Jer. 5.30. An horrible thing ha's been Committed in the land. Did men know what an evil sin is, the thoughts of it, would strike them with horror and dread.

2. Sin makes those that love and live in it to become Odious. Therefore it must needs be the hatefullest evil that can be thought of. It ha's caused some of the most Excellent Creatures that ever were made, to become hatefull and abhorred. This is true concerning the Angels that sinned: They were once among the Sons of God, the morning Stars shouting for joy. Job 38.7. The morning Star is a lovely Creature. Sin ha's turned Angels of light into Devils of darkness; morning Stars into the Darkness of Hell. It may be said of Hell, as the Scripture speaks of Rome, Rev. 18.2. It is become the habitation of Devils, the hold of every fowl Spirit, and a Cage of every Unclean and hatefull bird. The Devils who are compared unto fowls in the Air, are hatefull birds. p. 77Sin ha's made them to be the most hatefull Creatures in the World; and next unto sin we ought to hate the Devil, and to have no communion with him. But how Odious an evil is sin then! It makes men also to become the objects of hatred, Tit. 3.3. We were sometimes hatefull, that is worthy to be hated of God and man. Hence sinners are said to be filthy, Psal. 14.3. They are altogether become filthy. And to be loathsome, Prov. 13.5. A wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. And to be abominable, Tit. 1.15. Being abominable and disobedient and to every good work Reprobate. Sin makes men Odious in the eyes of God, Psal. 5.5. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. The Lord abominates them, Deut. 25.16. All that do Unrighteously are an abomination to the Lord thy God. Yea, sinners do by wickedness make themselves Odious unto good men, Prov. 29.27. An unjust man is an abomination to the just. An holy man does not delight in the Conversation of ungodly ones: They speak such words, and do such works as are grievous and abominable to his Soul. It is said concerning Lot, That he was vexed with the filthy Conversation of the wicked, that righteous man dwelling …r…ong… them, seeing and hearing vexed his righteous p. 78Soul from day to day with their unlawfull deeds, 2. Pet. 2.7, 8. Ungodly wretches out of whose mouths proceed corrupt Communications, that delight in filthy obscene discourse, that will revile the Saints of God, Scoff at Religion, Curse and Swear, and Profane the blessed Name of God, a good man hates to be in their Company. Psal. 139.20, 21. Thine enemies take thy Name in Vain: do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee, and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee; I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them mine Enemies? If sin does make those that live in it thus hatefull to God and good men, it must needs be a most Odious thing.

3. Sin makes men Miserable. And it is therefore an hatefull thing. Men hate to be miserable, but then let them hate sin the procuring cause of all their Miseries. Jer. 2.17, 19. Hast thou not procured this unto thy self—Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee, know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. All Temporal Judgments are the bitter fruit of sin. There are Publick Calamities, which cause Lamentation generally p. 79throughout a whole Land which suffers under the weight of them; such as Wars, Famines, Pestilential and wasting diseases which leave great desolations behind them. These are procured by sin, Mic. 1.8. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. There are Judgments which fall upon particular Families; sometimes a great Family is brought to ruin: Thus it was with the house of Jeroboam, Ahab and others whom we read of in Scripture; and it was sin that provoked the Lord to destroy them all. As for the man that shall do very wickedly, the Lord saith, I will set my face against that man, and against his Family and will cut him off, Lev. 20.5. Nay, which is awfull to consider, if a Godly man shall through the power of Temptation become guilty of a Scandalous sin, it may be God to testify his holy displeasure at the sin of that good man will destroy all his Family: What came on Gideons numerous Family after he was dead and his Soul in Heaven? because of their Fathers sin, threescore and ten persons of them were Murthered in one day. Gideon made an Ephod, and that became a ruining snare to his house. We have another sad instance for this in Eli: A good p. 80old man, but very sinfully indulgent to his Children: The Lord said concerning him, Behold I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the Ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle: In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house, 1 Sam. 3.12. This was fullfilled in the days of Saul, unto whose bloody Malice David (as I told you but now) seems to allude in the Text and Context before us. Doeg being Commissioned by Saul, Fell upon the Priests, and slew in that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen Ephod: And Nob the City of the Priests smote he with the Edge of the Sword, both men and women, children and suckling, 1 Sam. 22.18, 19. Thus did God perform against Eli the thing which He had spoken concerning his Family: And doubtless when this was first done, it made the Ears of them that heard of it to tingle. Again, there are personal Judgments, which sin is wont to bring with it. Men are exposed unto sufferings in Bodies, Names, Estates, none of which would ever have been, if they had not sinned. Isa. 42.24. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers, did not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned. Though Afflictions are sent for other causes, and p. 81not for sin only, as we see in that instance of the man that was born blind, Joh. 9.3. Nevertheless, it is certain, that Sin is the Parent of all Sorrow: If men had never sinned, they would never have known Sorrow: Nor did ever any man in the World suffer any thing, but either his own or other mens sins were the procuring cause of it. Temporal death is also the bitter fruit of sin. Rom. 5.12. By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Sin ha's opened the door to let in death upon all the World Men hate Death, but they have more reason to hate Sin. There are moreover Spiritual Iudgments, which Sin is the wofull cause of; Judgments that light immediately on the Souls of men, and which are indeed the most fearfull; though sinners themselves are for the present the least sensible of them: A blind mind is a dreadfull Judgment. Joh. 9.39. Jesus said, for Judgment am I come into this world, that they which see might be made blind. Natural blindness is a sore Calamity, but Spiritual blindness is incomparably a greater evil. As sight is a great mercy, but Spiritual eye sight a far greater blessing. One of the Martyrs said to a pious blind Youth, that p. 82was cast into Prison for the Gospel sake Alas! poor child, God ha's taken from thee thy bodily eye sight, Himself knoweth best why He ha's done it, but He ha's given thee a far better sight, He ha's given thee an eye of Faith to behold the Lord Jesus Christ. So Spiritual blindness is a thousand times worse than that which is of the body onelyonly. Yet this misery ha's sin brought upon us: Every man in his natural estate, ha's a Soul within him as dark as Hell, 2 Pet. 1.9. He is blind and cannot see a far off. Adams sin ha's brought that misery of Spiritual blindness upon all his Children: And they do by actual sins of their own provoke God to smite them with yet greater blindness: Their foolish heart is darkned, and God ha's given them over to a reprobate mind. Hardness of heart is a Spiritual Judgment: No greater Judgment can befall a poor Creature out of Hell, than to be given up to sin without remorse for it. The more men sin, the more are they hardned and emboldned in sin, untill they have filled up the measure of their iniquity. This is a dismal effect of sin, and of the forest wrath of God for it. Well therefore might the Apostle give that Solemn Caution, Take heed, lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfullness of sin. p. 83Heb. 3.12, 13. Especially, if men sin against the clear light of their own Consciences, they provoke the Lord to smite them with Judicial blindness of mind and hardness of heart. There was a man who fighting a Duel killed his Adversary, for which Murder he was in great horror of Conscience; after that he killed another man, then was his trouble less; after that he did in the same way Murder a third man, untill he had killed seven or eight, and then he had no remorse at all for his bloody crimes. I could tell you of another who having made himself drunk, was in grievous horror of Conscience for his sin, but when in dispite of these Convictions he did commit the same sin again, he was never after that troubled for what he had done, but lived and dyed a Drunken sott. Here now was the fearfull wrath of God, punishing a sinner with everlasting hardness of heart. And thus Sin unrepented of brings the sinner to Eternal ruin. Have not men cause to hate that which will not only hurt them, but ruin them, and that for ever? This Sin without Repentance and Faith in Jesus Christ will certainly do. Nay, one sin will do it. Therefore God ha's said, Repent and Turn your selves from all your transgressions, so p. 84iniquity shall not be your ruin, Ezek. 18.30. One sin not turned from will prove the Eternal ruin of a mans Soul: Will not then his iniquity be found to be hatefull?

4. Sin ha's brought a Curse on the whole Earth, and upon all the Creatures which are in it. It was said to Adam presently after he had sinned, Cursed be the ground for thy sake, Gen. 3.17. Every Creature which men have to do with, ha's a Curse attending it because of sin, so as that they are liable to destruction thereby. The Earth, the Water, the Air, or any Creature therein may cause a mans death. This Curse ha's sin brought: Yea, and all the living Creatures in this Visible World are become miserable by reason of the sins of men, which misery they sigh under and long to be delivered from. We know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain, because it is made subject to vanity, and to the bondage of Corruption. The sin of man ha's procured all this. Rom. 8.21, 22. By these things we see that sin is a most hatefull evil.

Proposition. III.

Sin will at last appear to be hatefull unto Sinners themselves. Though now they see not the evil that is in sin, they shall see it p. 85one day; sooner or later they will have enough of sin: They will rue the day that ever they were guilty of such and such sins. This will most certainly come to pass. Either,

1. By their being brought unto true Repentance for their sins. For then sin becomes exceeding bitter to the Soul. The Jews took pleasure in Crucifying Christ; but when Peters Sermon …d pricked them to the heart, they mourned for him as one mourns for an onelyonly Son, and were in bitterness for him as one in bitterness for his first born. Zach. 12.10. When a man repents truly, his sorrow for sin is much greater, then was the pleasure he had in Committing of it. David found it so, this we see in his penitential Psalms, where we hear him saying, Neither is the…e any rest in my bones because of my sin: for mine iniquities are gone over my head, as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me, Psal. 38.3, 4. And in another place, he speaks of his roaring all the day long: And again, he complains of his broken bones: He could not have been in more bitter anguish if all his bones had been broken, then he was in, after his grievous fall in that matter of Uriah and Bathsheba. And when Solomon was brought p. 86to a true sight of his sin, how bitter was it to him: Do but hear what he saith, Eccles. 7.26. I find more bitter then death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are bands, whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. And did not sin become hatefull to the incestuous Corinthian, when he was in danger of being swallowed up with sorrow, 2 Cor. 2.7. There is nothing got by sin but sorrow and shame. Therefore did the Apostle say, What fruit had you of those things wereof you are now ashamed, Rom. 6.21. A true penitent never thinks of his former sins and follies, but with sorrow and shame. It makes his Soul within him to bleed and to blush before the Lord. Or if not so.

Then,

2. Sin will be made hatefull by reason of the Punishment which will follow it. Sin will prove a mischeivous thing at last. As the Lepers said, 2 King. 7.9. We do not well, if we tarry till the morning light some mischief will come upon us. It is in vain to hope otherwise. It is a vain thing for impenitent sinners to think that they shall always go unpunished. Sin will follow the sinner like a blood hound, and will find him out at last. Therefore Moses said to the Rubeuites, p. 87Numb. 32.23. Be sure your sin will find you out: And it will not be long first. Punis…ment treadeth on the heels of sin. Gen. 4.7. Sin lieth at the door: It watcheth at the …or to seize on the sinner. Many times in this Life, sin is made to appear an hatefull thing by bitter Plagues and Punishments which are the natural and wofull fruit of it. Lam. 5.16. Wo unto us that we have sinned. When Jerusalem fell into the merciless hands of bitter enemies, the Prophet tells them, that they might thank themselves and their own iniquities, for all those heart piercing sorrows, Jer 4.18. Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness. because it is bitter, because it reacheth to thy heart. This it is to be wicked: This comes on Impenitency in a course of sin. Such Punishments does the Lord sometimes cause to be inflicted on Sinners, and that in this life, as wound and pierce their very hearts within them. I remember what God said to Pharaoh Exod. 9.14. I will at this time send all my Plagues upon thy heart. Many Plagues came upon him one after another, but Pharaohs hard heart felt them not, till at last a Judgment came upon him, that went to his very heart. There are some p. 88whose Sins go before hand to Judgment▪ they are found out in this World; and when they are brought to open shame an… disgrace their iniquity is found to be hateful▪ Some sins are in a most peculiar man… shamefull and disgracefull amongst men▪ That sin of Theft and Dishonesty in dealing is so, Jer. 2.26. The Thief is ashamed when he is found. But above all, that vile sin of Uncleanness brings Everlasting disgrace on the person that shall be known to have been guilty of it. When Tamar was Sollicited to commit such folly by that wicked Amnon, she said to him, Do not thou thi… solly. And I whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel: q. d. Thou art a Person of quality, and in great reputation, but such a base action as this, will render thee Odious and Contemptible to all the World. 2 Sam. 13.12, 13. Sometimes Sin is Punished with loathsome and shamefull diseases: Thus were the Philistins put unto a Perpetual shame: Then doth sin appear to be hatefull. The wise man therefore giveth wholesome advice, Prov. 5.10, 11. Let not strangers be filled with thy wealth, and thou mourn at last when thy flesh and thy body are consumed. Yet further, Sin carries guilt and horror p. 89along with it: Conscience does smart and fore because of it; and thats a misery intolerable, Prov. 18.14. The Spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity: One that is a man of Spirit and Courage will bear up under great Infirmities; but a wounded Spirit who can bear? Do we not see that the Anguish of a wounded Conscience is intolerable? Do we not see it in Cain? who cryed, My Punishment is greater than I can bear. Do we not see it in Judas? who in the horror of his heart ran to an halter to let out his wretched Soul. It is true, that sinners for the most part, whilest they have health and strength make light of sin, but many times on a death bed sin appears to them with an hatefull visage. Conscience that was asleep before, awakes and rores then. Have you not (if you have not, I have) known some that have gone …oring down to Hell? Who have thought they have seen Hell gaping for them, and Devils ready to seize on their Souls. When pale Death ha's sat on their Lips, how have they trembled? However, if there be no bands in their Death, but they go smoothly into the Grave, as 'tis … for a dying sinne… to have a stupified Conscience, 'tis certain p. 90that after Death, sin will … to … sin: When the sinner beho…s his ini…, …ity by the flames of Hell, it will appea… to him in 'its proper colours: Then and there will sin look like it self What did Dives think of sin? What did he think of Swearing, and Lying, and other abuses of his tongue, when in Hell being Tormented, he cryed out, Owmy Tongue! my Tongue! What did he think of Drunkenness, when he cryed and said, Father Abraham send Lazarus, that he may dip…t he tip of his finger in wates and coo… my tongus, for I am tormented in this fame. Luk. 26.24. An… Miserable Dives! Is it come to that now? Do you cry for a drop of water? How many thousand drops and cupfulls of strong drink, did you swallow down more than you had need of? And are you now crying for a drop? Wi…hout doubt though you flattered your self in, your life time when you fared deliciously every day, yet now you find iniquity to be hatefull. And so it will be found to be at the Judgment day. Then sinners in a moment are brought into all evil in the midst of the Congregation and the great Assembly which shall then appear, before whom all their Secret Sins will be p. 91revealed. Prov. 5.14. Then Millions of sins will be remembred which now are forgotten: They will be all set in Order. They will appear like a formidable Army in battel array against the sinner: And let him then say, whether Sin be not an Odious thing. Psal. 50.23.

We proceed to the APPLICATION of this Doctrine.

First by way of INFORMATION.

Infor. I. Hence Sinners are foolish Flatterers. And who do they flatter? Sometimes in distress they will Flatter God: they will promise Him fair: If the Lord will deliver them, they say they will never sin against him as they have done, but will turn over a new Leaf, and become new Creatures: They have said well, and Oh that there were such an heart in them. But they are like the Hypocrites, spoken of in the Psalms, who when the Lord slew them, then they sought him, …nevert heless, they did f…ntter him with their mouthes, and they lyed unto him with their tongues, for their heart was not right with him; neither were they stedfast in his Covenant, Psal. 78.36. But p. 92they also like foolish Creatures Flatter and deceive themselves: What folly is it to do so? Sure they had better know the worst of themselves before it be too late to help it. They flatter themselves that they have Faith, when they have no true Faith; they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and they say they trust in him for Salvation, and yet they continue committing iniquity still: This is no true Faith. What doth it profit my brethren, though a man say he ha's Faith, & ha's not works, can his faith save him? Jam. 2.14. There are many such who say they have faith, and they think as they say, but they deceive their own Souls, and their Religion is vain. They flatter themselves that they shall go to Heaven as soon as the greatest Precisian in the World, though they live ungodly lives: They will Swear, and Lye, and be Drunk sometimes, yet they please themselves with vain hopes of Salvation because they have something of a form of Godliness. Will you believe the Word of God? Hear then what He saith, in 1 Cor. 5.9, 10. Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolators, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor Thieves, nor Coveteous, nor Dr…nkards, nor Revilers, nor E…terti…ners, p. 93shall in her it the kingdom of God. It is then folly for men to promise themselves a Kingdom, if they live in any of these sins. Is it not folly for men to flatter themselves that they shall get to Heaven at last, though they never take one step in the holy way which leadeth thither? There are sinners that are convinced of their misery; they know they must either repent or perish; but they foolishly neglect the present day of Grace, and slatter themselves that they will repent hereafter; in the mean time Death overtakes them, and then Repentance is too late. They please themselves with vain thoughts of Repenting when they come to lie upon a sick-bed and a death bed, but then they find that they cannot repent, and that death bed Repentance seldom proveth true.

Ius. II. If Sin be an hatefull Evil; what wofull Creatures are they that take pleasure therein? A good man may sin, but he doth not love to do so. A man may be surprised into the doing of that which his Soul abhors. David was several times guilty of breaking the ninth Commandment, yet he could say truly, as in p. 94Psal. 119.163. I hate and abhor lying, but thy Law do I Love. Sheep may fall into the mire, but they do not love to be there. They are Swine that delight to be wallowing in filth: Such are they who take delight in the ways of sin. Their spot is not the spot of Gods Children. Their state is damnable, 2 Thes. 2.12. That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in Unright cousness. Yet some there are who do not only take pleasure in sinning themselves, but in causing others to sin and dishonour God. This argues men to be wicked in a very high degree: When knowing the Judgment of God, that they who commit such sins are worthy of Eternal Death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. This is to be as like the Devils as 'tis possible for men to be There are those in the World that take pleasure in making others Drunk, especially if they can cause a Church member, or one that ha's made any pretences to Religion to drink to any excess, then they have something to rejoyce in. And there are some that take pleasure in causing others to Swear and to profane the holy Name of God: Are such men? Nay, they p. 95are Devils incarnate; their Souls within them, are Devils clothed with flesh.

Inf. III. If Sin be such an Odious thing as hath been proved, then that which is Contrary unto Sin, namely Grace and Holiness is a most lovely thing. From thence it is that the righteous is more excellent than is Neighbour. Who are the most excellent ones on the earth? Are they rich men? or great men? or learned men? If they be adorned with Grace in their Souls, then are they excellent indeed: but if not, God in His Word calls them Vile Persons, Psal. 15.4. That Antiochus whose admirers gave him the name of Ephiphanes, as if he had been an illustrious and excellent person, the Angel calleth him a Vile Person, because he was a very wicked man, and a base dissembler, Dan. 11.21. But the Saints are the excellent in the Earth, and it is their Sanctity which makes them to be so. Psal. 16.3. Silver and Gold, and Rubies are lovely things in the carnal eyes of men: but Grace in the heart is a far more lovely and desirable thing than all these. This is that Wisdom of which Solomon speaketh, and concerning which he sayes, Happy i… the man that findech it: For the Merchandise p. 96of it, is better then the Merchandise of Silver, and the gain thereof then fine Gold, she is; more precious then Rubies, and all the things thou const desire, are not to be compared unto her, Prov. 3.13, 14, 15. Grace is an Ornam…nt of great price in the sight of God: It makes those to be amiable in whom it is. One true believer that has grace in his Soul is more precious in Gods account, than Millions of other men. Isa 43.3, 4. I gave Egypt for thy ransom, and Ethiopia and Sebafor thee, since thou wast precious in my sight. When a Senner is converted into a Saint, there is a man become an Angel; and that man shall one day the made equal with the Angels. Holiness makes men on Earth like the Angels in Heaven. Wherein do the Angels of Heaven excell the Devils of Hell? It is especially in respect of their Holiness. The blessed Angels delight in all that is Holy, and Just, and Good; but the Devils do the contrary, they delight in all manner of sin and wickedness. Holiness makes Saints and Angels to resemble the ever blessed God. For the Divine Image does consists chiefly In Holiness Eph. 4.24. The new man which after God is Greated in Right cousness and true Holiness. Who are the men that have most of God in p. 97them? It is they that are most Holy. Therefore it is that The Man Christ Jesus, ha's more of God in Him than any Man or Creature, because He is fuller of Grace then can be said of any other man or Angel. It pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell in him: Of his fullness we all receive, and grace for grace. God giveth not the Spirit of Holiness by measure unto him, as He does to all others. More of Gods Glory is to be seen shining in that Man, then in all the World beside…. He is the Image of the Invisible God, Col. 1.19. In respect of His Eternal Person, He is the Essential Image of God, the brightness of the Fathers Glory, and the express Image of His Porson. And as Man He is the Manifestative Image of God; there is more of God to be seen in That Holy Thing, the Humane Nature of Jesus Christ the Son of God, than in all Angels and men. It is said of God that He is Glorious in Holiness. Exod. 15.11. His Holiness is His chief Glory. Yea, it is His Life. The Apostle saith of the ungodly Gentiles, that they were alicuated from the life of God, Eph. 4.18. because they were Strangers and Enemies to Holiness. The blessed God can no more cease to be Holy, than He can p. 98cease to be at all. So then Holiness is a Lovely thing. Moral Vertue which is but a lifeless Picture and Shadow of Holiness is a Lovely thing: If that does render the person in whom it is found, to be amiable real Holiness, does so much more. Whatsoever things are pure, they are Lovoly.

Let the Last USE be for EXHORTATION.

If Sin Will one day, appear to be hatefull, Oh, Let us hate it noo…. Ab hot that which is evil.

A few Considerations let me spread before you, and Conclude,

CONSIDER. I.

Who they are that Hate and cannot but hate Sin. The blessed God hates Sin with an Infinite and an Eturnal hatred, Psal. 5.4. Thou art not a God that; ha's pleasure in Wichednests And from thence it is, that He does punish every sin. There neve… was, non ever shall be a sin Committed in the Word that shall go unpunished. As for Reprobates that dy in their sins, they p. 99shall be punished with Everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of His Power. The Righteous Lord will make all Angels and men see that Sin is hatefull to Him, in the day when Thousands of Millions of Sinners shall be sent away into Everlasting Punishment. And as for the Elect of God, all their fills have been punished in Christ their surety: Since He was pleased to Substitute Himself in their room, and to undertake to Answer, for their Crimes, God Spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us …, Rom. 8.32. This was the highest demonstation of Gods hatred of sin that possibly could be. When He spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast down Millions of them from Heaven into Hell for ever, and this for one sin. When He drowned all the men in the World at once excepting one small Family: When He rained fire and brimstome upon Sodom and Gomorra, casting them alive into Eternal Fire and Vengeance, He let the World see that Sin is abominable to the eyes of His Glory: But His not sparing His own Son was the most astonishing evidence of His Holy Indignation and abhorrence of sin that can be. For Jesus p. 100Christ the Son of God had no sin of His own, nor was it possible that He should sin, only the Reflection, the Imputation of sin was upon Him, He became a surety for firiners, and then God spared him not, but his Body and his Soul too, was made an Offering for sin: The sorrows of Hell took hold on Him. Shall sin be thus hatefull to the Blessed God, and shall we love it? And how does the Lord Jesus Christ hate sin? It was said of him, Thou lovest Righteousness and hatest wickedness, Psal. 45.7. Never man did hate sin as He did and doth: He declareth it from Heaven. He said to the Church in Perganius, Thou hast them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate, Rev. 2.15. And in the days of his flesh, although he did converse with great sinners in order to their Conversion and Salvation, and did shew such Patience and Meekness as the like never was: Nevertheless, his Zeal against sin did amaze the beholders of it. Joh 5.17. They then that do not hate sin, have not the Spirit of Christ in them, nor are they his true disciples. And the Angels of Heaven hate sin. The Scripture calls them Holy Angels, because they never sinned, but are much Offended when they p. 101see men sinning against the Lord: Those Scraphims burn with an holy Zeal for God and against the sins of men: They are active in Executing the wrath of God upon sinners. Angels destroyed the Sodomites: Angels destroyed the first born throughout the Land of Egypt: Angels destroyed the Assyrians: Angels will lay hold on wicked men at the day of Judgment, and cast them into the ever burning Lake. And every truly Godly man is an hater of sin. The description and character of a wicked man is this, He setteth himself in a way that is not good, he abhoreth not evil, Psal. 36.4. But a good man had rather suffer than sin, yea rather dy any death than sin against his Conscience: thats his spirit when he is himself and out of Temptation. What horrible and tormenting deaths have some holy men chosen to endure, rather than to commit a seemingly little sin against the light of their Consciences? It is said of the Hebrew Martyrs, that they were tortured not accepting deliverance, Heb. 11.35. Doubtless the Apostle in those words ha's respect to the Story of the Maccabees Anticchus told those Martyrs if they would but eat a mouthfull of that flesh which the Law of God had p…ohibited, p. 102he would not only save their lives, but give them rewards; now they would rather be tormented to death than be guilty of such a sin. A man that ha's Grace and the true fear of God in his Soul, hates sin more than death; nay, more than Hell. It was the saying of one of the Ancients, That he had rather be thrown alive into the Flames of Hell, than do that which he knew was sinfull, and evil in the sight of God. Shall God? Shall Christ? Shall Holy Angels? Shall all good men hate sin, and wilt thou love it?

CONSIDER. II.

The Sins of men have Exposed the Son of God to all those bitter Sorrows and Death which He suffered. They were the procuring cause of it. I do not say, that we were the Crucifiers of Christ as the Jews were, or that the guilt of His death does lie upon us as it does on them: But this I say, that our sins were the Cursed weapons which wounded Christ to death. How then can we look on sin with a pleasant Countenance? It is reported that when some of Cesars friends shewed the People his bloody robes, saying, Here is the blood of your Emperor, they were filled with rage against the men that had Murdered him. Our sins have been the Murderers of the Prince of p. 103Life: we may see them dyed with the blood of Christ: And shall not the thought of that fill us with an holy rage against sin? The works of Our hands drave the Nailes into His; our feet being so swift to sin, have caused His feet to be Nailed to the Cross. If thou art one that shall be saved, every one of thy sins ha's had a stab at Christ; not one of thy sins but the Soul of the Son of God ha's had a stab for it. He felt that for thy sins which made Him to sweat Blood. If you should see the knife that had Murdered your dearest friend, would you not be filled with indignation at the sight of it? Sin is the Sword that ha's Pierced the heart of the best friend that ever thou hadst in the World. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, Isa. 53.5. Oh! then abhor to have any more to do with sin. When some did with the hazard of their lives fetch water for David to drink, he willing to let the World see that he valued the lives of his Subjects more than the satisfaction of his own sensual appetite, refused to drink thereof, and sayed, Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is not this the blood of the men that went in Jeapardy of their lives, 2 Sam. 23.17. And p. 104shall the waters of sin be sweet unto you, when they have cost the Son of God His Life to save you from them? Will you so undervalue His blood? Shall He dy to redeem you from all iniquity, and shall any iniquity be sweet unto you? Then never call your selves Christians, for though you may be so in name, I am sure you are not so in Heart and in Truth. Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.

CONSIDER. III.

That Sin will not alwayes be sweet, at last is will be bitter. If the pleasures of sin would last for ever, the folly of sinners would not be so great as now it is. You must dy shortly, and then the pleasure of sin will be turned into unutterable and Eternal Torments. I remember I have some where read concerning a Company of profane Persons that as they were drinking and making Merry, one of them had this Expression, We live a brave Life if we could but get some body to go to Hell for us when we dy: True; if you can do so, be as mad and as merry as you please: But since you must dy and then into the fire that never shall be quenched; if madness were not in your hearts, you would hate p. 105sin more then ever you loved it. But what will sin be at last? As sure as the Lord Lives and as thou hast an Immortal Soul within thee, it will be bitter at the last. Sin is a root that beareth gall and wormwood, Deut. 29.18. As Abner said to Joab about the devouring Sword, 2 Sam. 2.26. So I say to thee concerning sin that devourer of Immortal Souls, knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? What will that sin of Drunkenness be at last: The wise man tells you when he sayes, Look not thou on the wine when it is red when it giveth 'its colour in the cup, when it moveth it self aright at the last it biteth like a Serpent and stings like an Adder, Prov. 23.31, 32. There are some Serpents which when a man is first bitten with them, the poyson causeth such a tickling as that he cannot forbear laughter, but when it is come into his blood and bowels, the torment is intolerable: Such a poyson is sin, At the last…r: will bite like a Serpent. What will the Cursed …hum-bottle that ha's destroyed so many Bodies and Souls in New-England, be at last? That strong drink which ha's made thee Drunk will at last prove the poyson of Dragons, and the Cruel Venome of Aspes, which killeth without mercy and without remedy, Deut. 32.33. p. 106What will unrighteous gain? What will Riches gotten by Pyracy and Murder be at last? You Young men, that have a mind to turn Pyrates in hopes of getting Gold, hear what God speaketh to you from His word, Job 20.15, 16. He ha's swollowed down Riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly, he shall suck the poyson of Asps, the Vipers tongue shall slay him, his meat in his bowels is the gall of Asps within him. Such wicked gain will at last prove a bitter and a deadly poyson. And what will thy Secret Adulteries and Uncleanness be at last? What will you get by them? Prov. 6.32, 33. Whoso Committeth Adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; he that doeth it destroyeth his own Soul, a wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. This will be all thy gain at last. A wound to thy Conscience; an Everlasting reproach in the great Congregation when thy Secret sins shall be laid open before all the World, and ruin to thy own Soul.

Wherefore set your selves against sin. Hate it to the death; other enemies you may be reconciled unto, but never to sin. God charged His People concerning the Ammonites, saying, thou shalt not seek their peace, p. 107nor their prosperity all thy dayes for ever. And concerning Amalek, that they should have War with him for ever. Sin is that Ammon, Sin is the Amalek with whom thou must have war for ever. Sin is a bloody Serpent: thou must either kill that Serpent, or it will kill thy Soul. And if you would become haters of sin, you must become believers on Christ: There is not a man in all the world that is an hater of all sin, besides the true Believer on Christ; when Christ becomes Precious, sin becomes Odious: Sin may be restrained, but it will never be mortified in the man that ha's not Faith. As for the world, and the things which are in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (which men naturally love more than they love God o… Christ) it is by Faith that we come to ha… hearts set against them, and are made V… torious over them. And by this may a m… know that he ha's true Faith in Jesus Christ if keeping the Commandments of God be his great delight, or if sin be the chief object of his hatred: Of a truth it is worth more than all this world to be able to say after David, with whose words I conclude, Psal. 1.19 128. Iesteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every fals way.

THE END.