The Last Judgment, Tract · Doctrine 35
Ver. 42, 43. for I was an hungred and ye gave me …, meat &c.
Doct. XXXV. is this, That neglect of Mercy to the Saints in their neceſſity, will Condemn thoſe that are guilty of it at the laſt day, Jam. 2.13.
Reaſons: 1. From Chriſt Jeſus, 2. From the Saints themſelves. 3. From the nature of this Sin.
From Chriſt. 1. He is neglected in them: ſo the Text. But if that more afterward, if the Lord win. 2. He commands mercy to be ſhewed to them, Luk. 6.36. and therefore the neglect of it is high contempt and diſobedience to his Commandment. 3. He has threatned condemnation to ſuch, Jam. 2.13. 4. He promiſeth rewards to the Mercifull, Mat. 5.7. Luk. 6.37. and therefore will puniſh the contrary. 5. He was of a Mercifull ſpirit himſelfe to ſuch when on Earth. Joh. 13.29. ſuch therefore are unlike to him, that neglect Mercy; and therefore he will condemn them. 6. He makes account, that not to ſhew Mercy, is to kill, and that deſerves Condemnation.
2. From the Saints. 1. They are owners of our Charity, and Bounty, and Mercy, it's their …ue, Prov. 3.27. and not to give them their due, is a Condemning ſin. 3. They are great Heirs, Jan. 2.5. and to neglect them, muſt needs be a Condemning ſin: ſee for Illuſtration, Judg. 8.18, 19. 3. They are ſuch as the Angels miniſter 10, Heb. 1.14. and not only in their life, but after death, Luk. 16.22. and to neglect … as theſe great Courtiers miniſter to, muſt needs be a condemning ſin. 4. They are our own fleſh, Iſai. 58.7. and to neglect Mercy to our own fleſh; Is groſs. 5. They are ſuch as bleſs thoſe that are Mercifull to them, Job. 31.20. 2 Tim. 1.16. and to neglect Mercy to ſuch, muſt needs be a Condemning Sin. 6. They are ſuch as we ſhould be forward to remember in a way of Mercy; Gal. 2.10.
3. From the Nature of this ſin. 1. Neglect of Mercy to the poor, argues that the love of God dwells not in …, 1 Joh. 3.17. 2. Neglect of Mercy argues that we love not the Brethren, for love will come off with any thing, it is bountifull, 1 Cor. 13.4. 3. Neglect of Mercy, is the neglect of Juſtice, Prov. 3.27. 4. Neglect of Mercy, is the neglect of our own Salvation, 1 Tim. 6.18. Luk. 16.2. 5. Neglect of Mercy to the poor, ſpeeds a man to Hell, Luk. 16.23. 6. Neglect of Mercy is the very Character of a Reprobate, Pſal. 109.16.
Ʋſe 1. for Information: 1. We ſee what the ſad condition of unmercifull ones will be; Condemnation is that that is to be their portion, and that has all miſery in it. 2. We ſee that they that are of an unmercifull ſpirit, though they be often curſed by men, Prov. 11.26. yet there's no need of it, for they are to be Curſed, and Condemned for it, in the laſt and great day. 3. We ſee what little cauſe the Saints have to envy them for what they have, and what they do, Pſal. 73.3. to 11.18, 19, 20. 4. we ſee a reaſon why unmercifull men are afraid of the day of Judgment, they may well bee afraid of it, for then they muſt have the ſentence of Condemnation paſſed upon them, Act. 24.25. 5. We ſee if neglect of Mercy be ſo Damnable, oh what will become of thoſe that exerciſe greateſt cruelty to the Saints by oppreſſion Iſai. 3.15. theſe will be Condemned with a witneſs. 6. We ſee what a vain thing it is for ſuch men to be admired, and extolled of flatterers; what will this do them good, when they ſhall be Condemned at that day? 7. We ſee they are miſerable men that have much of the World, and doe little good with it, for they will loſe their Soules by this meanes, Job. 27.8. Mat. 16.26. 8. We ſee that unmercifull men, are more cruel to themſelves, then to thoſe that they neglect to ſhew Mercy to: for they procure their own Condemnation by it. 9. We ſee that God payes them in their own Coin, and gives them ſuitable puniſhment to their ſin, Rev. 16.5, 6, 7. 10. We ſee how hatefull to God it is, to be of an unmercifull ſpirit.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour: 1. To all that neglect to ſhew Mercy, they ſhall have Judgement without Mercy. 2. To thoſe that are cruel by defrauding, oppreſſing: if they that give not to the poor ſhall be condemned, what ſhall become of thoſe that pluck from them, and are as the Phariſees? Mat. 23.25.
Ʋſe 3 for Exhortation: To take heed of unmercifulneſs, it is a Condemning ſin.
Motives. 1. It is an Heatheniſh ſin, Rom. 1.31. 2. It is a Deviliſh ſin, 1 Joh. 3.10. 3. It is a ſin that caſts reproach upon God, Prov. 14.31. 4. It is a ſin that robs a man of his comfort. Phil. 2.1. 5. It is a ſin that argues a graceleſs heart, Pſal. 112.4. 6. It is a ſin that argues a fearleſs heart, Pſal. 36.1, 3. 7. It is a ſin that will bring deſolation, Iſai. 47.6, 9. 8. It is a ſin that brings miſchief upon a mans ſelfe, Prov. 11.17.
Meanes. 1. Takeheed of a Worldly Spirit. 2. Take heed of a ſenſuall Spirit, Luk 16.19, 21. 3. Take heed of an impletable Spirit, Rom. 1.31. 4. Take heed of an Hypocriticall Spirit, Jam. 2. 5. Take heed of Idleneſs. Ezek. 16.49. 6. Take heed of Pride, ibid. 7 Take heed of a Selfe loving Spirit, 2 Tim. 3.2, 3. 8. Take heed of a ſenſleſs and inconſiderate Spirit, Pſal. 41.1. 9. Take heed of a jolly, Merry, Voluptuous, Intemperate Spirit, Amos 6.5, 6. 10. Take heed of an harſh, churliſh Spirit, 1 Sam. 25.3.
Ʋſe 4. for Examination: whether we be not unmerciful; it concernes us to look to it becauſe it is a condemning ſin.
Queſt. How ſhall we know?
Anſw. 1. If we be ſecure and think not of Adverſity, Iſa. 47.6, 7. 2. If we be given to Pleaſures, Ver. 8. 3. If we flatter our ſelves in our preſent condition, Ibid. 4. If we look at our ſelves as the only goodly ones, Ibid. 5. If we dream of outward felicity with perpetuity, Ibid. 6. If we lay not to heart the end of unmercifulneſs, Ver. 6, 7.