The Sinners Last Sentence, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. The agreement and difference between ſins of Omiſſion and ſins of Commiſsion.
2. IT will further explain theſe ſins of Omiſſion, to conſider the difference between Omiſſions and Commiſſions, as alſo their agreement.
1. They agree in the Authority forbidding them. The ſame God forbids each ſin; He that ſaith, Thou ſhalt not kill: The ſame ſaith, Thou ſhalt ſerve me diligently, Exod. 20. Jer. 48.10. Matth. 22.37. With all thy heart, Matth. 7.13.
2. They are both againſt the ſame particular Command. In the ſame Command wherein he forbids theft, he commands diligence in our Callings, and the uſe of all lawful means for the increaſe of our own Eſtates. In the ſame Law wherein he forbids Ʋncleanneſs, He commands Care and endeavour to preſerve our own and our Neighbours Chaſtity.
3. They are both a privation of that Rectitude which is required by the Law to the goodneſs of every action. For if malitia moralis, non eſt quid poſitivum, If there be nothing poſitive in the formal nature of ſin, according to the Schoolmen, (as there can be nothing poſitive in it, unleſs we will make God the Author of it,) but a want of a conformity to the Law; then every Commiſſion is an Omiſſion in this reſpect, and ſo they agree in their formal nature.
4. They agree in their fruit and effect; ſins of Commiſſion exclude Heaven, and condem to Hell. Know ye not that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven? Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Drunkards, nor Covetous, ſhall inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Epheſ. 5.9. and ſo do ſins of Omiſſion, as the Text doth abundantly prove.
The difference between ſins of Omiſſion and ſins of Commiſſion conſiſteth,
1. In that ſins of Commiſſion are againſt a Negative Law, and ſins of Omiſſion are againſt an Affirmative Law, Oppreſſion is againſt a Negative Law, Thou ſhalt not oppreſs thy Neighbour, Thou ſhalt not oppreſs a Stranger. Neglect of Charity is againſt an Affirmative Law; duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow, turn not thou away, Matth. 5.42.
2. They differ in this; Every Commiſſion proceeds originally from a ſin of Omiſſion, but ſins of Omiſsion do not proceed originally from ſins of Commiſſion. All ſin ſpringeth from this, The departure of the heart from God, Jer. 2.5, Heb. 3.12. and the want of true love to, and fear of his Majeſty, 1 Joh. 5.3. Joh. 15. which are ſins of Omiſsion. Where there is no love to God, there is no care to forbear what he forbids, Joh. 14.24. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my ſayings. And where there is no fear of God, all manner of wickedneſs will abound, Pſal. 36.1.2. David concludes a wicked mans Omiſsion from his ſins of Commiſsion. The tranſgreſsion of the wicked ſaith within my heart, That there is no fear of God before his eyes; i. e. His ſcandalous Practices, and ſins of Commiſsion, tell me, That he is guilty of inward Omiſsions, That there is no fear of God before his eyes. He who caſteth off fear, will ſoon let the Reins looſe to all Licentiouſneſs. They who called not on God will devour Jacob, and make waste his dwelling-place, Jer. 10. ult. No ſin comes amiſs to them, Rom. 3.9, to 14. The monſtrous, horrid, unnatural ſins of the Heathen had their beginning in ſins of Omiſsion. When they knew God, (i. e. by the light of nature, which plainly ſpeaks a Deity) they glorified him not as God; (e. i. did not love him, fear him, truſt in him, honour him as God,) neither were thankful, (did not acknowledge their Ingagements to him, for their noble Beings, and manifold Mercies): Theſe were ſins of Omiſsion; but what followeth upon them? Truly unnatural beſtiality, unrighteouſneſs, fornication, wickedneſs, covetouſneſs, maliciouſneſs, envy, murther, pride, &c. Rom. 21.21, to the end. Men leave the fountain of living Waters, and then hew themſelves broken Ciſterns which will hold no water, Jer. 2.13.
The firſt and great ſin of Mankind proceeded from an omiſsion. Adam's heart was turned from God by Unbelief, (I humbly conceive) before ever his Hand touched, or Tongue taſted the forbidden fruit. But now ſins of Omiſſion do not proceed originally from ſins of Commiſsion; James 1.14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own luſt, and enticed. Then when luſt hath conceived, it bringeth forth ſin: and ſin when it is finiſhed, bringeth forth death.
Barlow exercit.3. They differ in this, that ſins of Commiſsion are founded in ſome act or habit: Sins of Omiſsion only in the Soul, without acts or habits. 1. There is ſomewhat poſitive about ſins of Commiſsion, but nothing about ſins of Omiſſion, and that is the reaſon. 2. As Drunkenneſs is an immoderate uſe of Beer or Wine: Here is an act of the Creature, and much poſitive about this ſin, though nothing poſitive in the ſin it ſelf. So in theft another ſin of Commiſsion, there is ſomewhat poſitive about the taking away our Neighbours goods, and keeping them as our own; but in ſins of Omiſsion there is nothing poſitive; as in not praying, not hearing, not believing, not giving to the Poor; there is nothing poſitive, no acts, but a neglect of acts required. Sins of Omiſsion are wholly privative, and have nothing of poſitivity in them.
4. They differ in this, that ſins of Commiſsion are more ſcandalous in the eyes of men than ſins of Omiſsion. I do not ſay ſins of Omiſsion are always leſs hainous than ſins of Commiſsion, (I ſhall prove by and by they may be more hainous) but that they are leſs ſcandalous. Sins of Commiſsion, as Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs, Theft, Swearing, Murther; theſe make a great noiſe in the World, are taken notice of by all, and with the Snail, leave a ſlime and filth behind them whereſoever they are; But ſins of Omiſsion, as not praying in our Cloſets, not examining our own Hearts, not relieving the Poor and Needy, not bringing up our Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, &c. Theſe are more ſtill and quiet, obſerved by few or none.
5. They differ in this, that ſins of Omiſsion are the averſion of the heart from God, and ſins of Commiſsion are the converſion of the heart to the Creature, or ſomewhat below God. Omiſſion turns the heart from God: Hence we read of mans going far from God, Jer. 2.5. and of their departing away from the living God, Heb. 3.12. Which is not meant in regard of local motion, (for ſo none can depart from God, Pſal. 139.2, 3, 4, 5.) but in regard of their inward carnal Affections, and diſobedient Converſations, Jer. 17.5. Whoſe heart departeth from the Lord. Commiſſions are a turning to the Creature, Whoſe heart is after covetouſneſs. They imagine miſchief in their hearts, Pſal. 140.2. Eccleſ. 9.3. The heart of the Sons of men is full of evil.
Having ſpoken to the nature of ſins of Omiſsion in general, and more particularly by their ſeveral diſtinctions, and their agreement with, and difference from ſins of Commiſsion; I come to the ſecond thing promiſed in the explication of the Doctrine, and that is the danger of them.