The Sinners Last Sentence, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. That ſins of Omiſſion are dangerous and damnable.
Doctrine. THat ſins of Omiſſion are dangerous and damnable, or Chriſt will ſentence men at the Great Day to eternal puniſhment of loſs and ſenſe, for not feeding the Hungry, and cloathing the Naked. Obſerve how naturally the Doctrine floweth from the Text, Depart ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels: For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat; thirſty, and ye gave me no drink, &c. The ſin mentioned is a bare omiſſion, and the Sentence clearly ſpeaks the puniſhment: Hence I gather, That ſins of Omiſſion are damnable. Chriſt will ſentence men to Hell for them. Saul's not ſlaying Agag, (an omiſſion) loſt him the Kingdom, 1 Sam. 15.20, 26. The Moabites and Ammonites were excluded the Sanctuary of God (an high and ſpecial Priviledge) to the tenth Generation, for an omiſſion, for not meeting Iſrael with bread and water in the Wilderneſs, Deut. 33.4.
But it's as clear, theſe ſins bring eternal as well as temporal pains and puniſhment. The ſlothful Servant is ſentenced, and ſent into utter darkneſs, where is weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, for a bare omiſſion, for not improving his Talent, Matth. 25.24, to 31. The Servant did not waſte his Talent by Riotouſneſs, as the Prodigal did, (for he tells his Lord, v. 25. Lo, here is thine,) only omit to improve it through idleneſs. But he who wanted hands to work, had fetters provided for hands and feet. And he who would not work by the light, is rewarded with utter darkneſs.
Again, we have a clear and full proof of the Doctrine, in Matth. 3.10. And now alſo the Ax is laid to the root of the Trees: therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and caſt into the fire. In the verſe we have three parts conſiderable:
1. the Sin, and that is a bare omiſſion, the not bringing forth good fruit. Our Saviour ſpeaks the ſame in Matth. 7.19. He doth not ſay, Every Tree that bringeth forth evil fruit is hewn down, that bringeth forth Drunkenneſs, or Robbery, or Uncleanneſs, or unſavory Communication, &c. is caſt into the fire; But every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit. The ſin is only a neglect of poſitive holineſs.
2. The ſeverity of the puniſhment is, hewn down, and caſt into the fire. The hewing down, is the fitting and preparing the Sinner for the fire; as the Tree cut down, is prepared for burning. This is done by their provoking God to leave them to impenitency, under the miniſtry of the Word. The Word is compared to a Sword, Epheſ. 6.17. A two-edged Sword, Rev. 1.16. And it will cut, and hack, and hew to purpoſe, Hoſ. 6.5. God heweth them by his Prophets, and ſlays them by the word of his mouth. It cuts to the heart, Act. 4.54. Act. 5.33. And hath dreadful effects on them, Iſa. 6.9, 10. And he ſaid, go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but underſtand not; ſee ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the hearts of this people fat, and make their Ears heavy, and ſhut their Eyes; leſt they ſee with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and underſtand with their Hearts, and convert, and be healed.
And this hewing them down is alſo by death. The Ax of death fells the Tree for the fire of Hell. The rotten Tree, or the barren Tree, is not good for fruit, therefore for the fire.
He is hewn down, and caſt into the fire. Abſciſſion is the way to perdition, to eternal burning. This is the Cataſtrophe of the barren Trees Tragedy.
3. The certainty of it. Both Chriſt and the Baptiſt ſpeak of the puniſhment in the preſent Tenſe, not the Future, Is hewn down, and cast into the fire; not, ſhall be hewn down, &c. The fruitleſs perſon ſhall as certainly be in Hell, as if he were there already; therefore promiſes and threatnings, though future, are delivered to us as preſent. As, to us a Son is born, Iſa. 9.6. Iſa. 21.9. Babylon is fallen.
4. The univerſality of the Perſons, Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit. Every man, what ever his Profeſſion may be, or his Hopes are, or his Priviledges have been, if he bring not forth good fruit, he is hewn down, and caſt into the fire. The Doctrine being thus proved by Scripture, I ſhall proceed to the Explication of it in ſeveral particulars.
1. I ſhall ſpeak to the nature of them, and ſhew what ſins of Omiſſion are.
2. To the danger of them.
3. To the Reaſons why they are ſo damnable.