The Truly Blessed Man, Part 8 · Section 3
Wicked mens Sorrows, great and innumerable.
DOCTRINE. II.
GReat and innumerable Sorrows are the portion o… wicked men. With this argument the Pſalmi… …tions all men againſt refuſing Divine Teachings, and hardning their hearts againſt the counſels of …od, by ſhewing the miſerable condition of the un…odly. The word Sorrows, is here uſed Metonymi…lly, for the occaſion of Sorrow: Now Sorrow is a …erivative Affection, flowing from Hatred, and is nothing elſe but the manner of its exp…eſſing it ſelf, under the preſſure of any evil that is felt. For as love embraceth a preſent good with Joy, ſo hatred entertains a preſent evil with Sorrow: and for that reaſon, all the miſeries that befal men are called Sorrows, becauſe they will put them to grief who undergo them. Here we may enquire;
1. Wherein ſorrows appear to be the portion of the wicked?
A. The truth of this aſſertion is little believed in the world; and becauſe men are apt to judge according to ſenſe, and not to look beyond the preſent time, no ſmall prejudices have been taken on this account: and there are three obſervations that mens corruptions have taken occaſion from for this.
1. The promiſcuous events of Providence to good & bad. The wiſe man hath ſuch an obſervation, Eccl. 9. 1, 2. And men have been ready to conclude from hence that God regards not the affairs of the world, and that neither doth Sin diſpleaſe him, nor Godlineſs pleaſe him; and ſo to argue that there is no advantage at all in an holy life, nor any good to be gotten by the ſtrict Service of God, as they are brought in, Job 21. 14, 15. Thus do men nou…ſh themſelves in Atheiſm, & think it is with reaſon.
2. The little affliction, and great proſperity that ma… wicked men meet with here. They ſee ſuch as give themſelves up to all manner of leudneſs and abominations, to ſucceed, and enjoy health, peace… grandure, and all that is deſirable, and more than heart can wiſh; and no notorious Judgments o… God do befal them, but they ſpend their days in wealth, and have no hands in their death; this make good men ſometimes envious at them, Pſal. 73. 3. And wicked men to think that God approves of their wickedneſs, Pſal. 50. 21. And hereby they are confirmed in their evil ways, Eccl 8. 11.
3. The great afflictions that many Godly ones are exerciſed withal. Though they fear God, and keep themſelves clear from their ſin, and walk uprightly, in their lives, yet they are plagued every day, and chaſt…ed every morning, how far that good man was prejudiced by this, we may ſee in the concluſion he was ready to draw from it, Pſal. 73. 13. I hav… cleanſed my heart in vain. And how apt is the wicked world to inſult over the people of God in this regard, and bitterly to upbraid them? See, Pſal. 42. 10. And the Prophet takes notice of their inſolence on this account, Jer. 30. 17. And hence men are apt to conclude, that either theſe Sorrows are the peculiar inheritance of Gods people, or at leaſt that they are the common lot of all men. It is therefore needful to clear this matter and ſhew in what regard they are the proper portion of the wicked. The word, wicked is uſed in the Scriptures on a double account.
1 To ſet forth perſons who are notoriouſly vile, that have ſold themſelves to ſin, and live in… Sins againſt the light of nature, rendring them ſcandalous to all that are civil and ſober.
2. To denote all unregenerate men, that have not been Converted, how ſober ſoever their Con…erſation among men may be. Hence Godly and Wicked are frequently put diſtributively, as dividing the whole world between them. Now, though men, by their egregious vileneſs, purchaſe a double portion of ſorrows to themſelves; yet the Doctrine hath a next reſpect to the latter, and reckons every Unregenerate man entituled to this undeſirable portion: and that they, and only they are ſo, and how they come to be ſo, is now to be conſidered, and may be laid forth in the following Concluſions.
1. That all the miſeries which procure ſorrows to men, are the fruits of the Curſe of the Firſt Covement Miſeries are evils, on that account they are ſorrowful to the ſufferer; and being evil, the Creature hath a natural averſeneſs to ſuffering them. When God made man, and placed him under a Covenant obligation to do him Service, he ſtrengthened it with a threatning, that in caſe of his diſobedience, evil ſhould befal him: hence as he …elt no evil before, ſo he was out of danger of e…er meeting any, in caſe he had continued in his Obedience to God. Hence all the ſorrows that man is capable of were put in one word, viz. Death, Gen. 2. 17. And whatſoever hath befallen any man ſince the Creation, that hath been grie…ous to him; aroſe originally from hence. If the …urſe had not taken place, there had no ſuch thing …een heard of but in the threatning.
2. Hence it was by ſin that mankind fell under theſe miſeries. All ſorrows are ſummed up in Death, and Sin brought that into the world, Rom. 5. 12. It was ſhut up in the threatning before, but Sin made way for it, getting looſe and ſpreading all over the world; the threatning is the occaſion of mans undoing, but not the cauſe of it, that muſt be charged upon Sin. God ſtood engaged in Juſtice to ſee to the fulfilling of his own Law; but if Sin had no… violated it, there had been no room for the threatning to take place. Hence all Gods Judgments are ſtill laid at Sins door; for by ſin only is man expoſed, but for which the Law would have had nothing againſt him; had the threatning awed man from Sinning, it had obtained the moſt direct end of it, which was to put a cautious fear into us.
3. And theſe miſeries are the proper reward of ſin. God, in the Firſt Covenant, made a cloſe connexion between Sin and Sorrow, and that upon a foundation of Righteouſneſs; for the Covenant laid down a Rule of Relative Juſtice in the proceedings of God with man. Man, being a mutable Creature, notwithſtanding his being made upright, and filled with the Image of God, was yet capable o… falling from his Rule, and ſo Sinning againſt God; and God accordingly eſtabliſhed this Rule of equity, on ſuppoſition that ſuch a thing might be which afterwards did ſo fall out; which, though it were fore known by God, in his all wiſe De…ree, yet it was contingent in reſpect of man; & the threatning contained in it the juſt recompen… of Sin, Rom. 6. 23. So that it is not only according to Covenant, but according to Merit too; and therefore ſaid to be worthy of death, Rom. 1. 32. There is no wrong done the Sinner by it.
4. Hence theſe miſeries belong to all that are under the Curſe. The Curſe is contained in the threatning, and is nothing elſe but the evil comprehended in it: it is the Condemnation which paſſeth upon him, by vertue whereof he is adjudged to ſuffer the miſeries that were before threatned. The threatning was Hypothetical, and as it ſtood in the Covenant, no man was actually curſed by it: but when the Sinner hath done the thing to which the threatning was annexed, it now becomes poſitive, and condemns him actually: and therefore Unbelievers are ſaid to be Condemned already, Joh 3. 18. And now the man is accurſed by God, and by his Holy Law, and henceforward he is under the Sentence which binds him to ſuffer all thoſe miſeries, Ezek. 18. 4. And whether for the preſent he ſuffers them or no, yet they belong to him: as the perſon condemned is ſaid to be a man of Death, or a Dead man, becauſe he is ſo in Law.
5. That all wicked men till they are Converted, abide under the Curſe. That all men fell under it we obſerved; now it muſt needs remain on them, till they are ſome way delivered: if there be no way of deliverance, there is no eſcape to be hoped for; but if there be, he muſt be brought into the way: and therefore till men are ſo, they remain where they were. There is but one way revealed, and that is by Jeſus Chriſt, thro' whom …e are reſcued from the Curſe, Gal. 3. 12. And thoſe that obtain it by him, do ſo in the way of the Goſpel, and as the terms of the New-Covenant declare; and there is a double deliverance, viz. from the Guilt, in which the Curſe lieth, and from the Dominion of Sin, which ever attends the former: and doth of theſe are applied in Converſion, till which men are under the Firſt Covenant, and ſo under the Curſe, Gal. 3. 10 And Gods wrath abides on them, Joh. 3. 36. So that a man muſt ceaſe to be a wicked man, before he is freed from this Sentence.
6. That though Godly men do ſuffer ſome of theſe ſorrows, yet they are not their portion. It cannot be denied but that Gods choiceſt Servants do meet with the ſame afflictions that are put into the Curſe; and may, as to what is viſible, undergo them in as hard, or harder meaſures than many ungodly do; yet it is certain that they do not receive them as any part of their portion by the threatning of the Law; for,
1. They are but ſome of theſe ſorrows that they mut withal; and indeed the least of them too. Theſe ſorrows are ſome of them ſuffered in this life; others are reſerved for hereafter, which are the conſummation and top of all: but Gods Children are put out of danger of them; and it is only i… this life, a little while that they meet with troubles: and though they may be troubled both i… body and mind, yet it is but fo… a ſeaſon, 1 Pet. 6. And theſe under ſuch moderations as infin… wiſdom pleaſeth; and let them be what they w… their latter end is peace, Pſal. 37. 37. Whereas … belong to ungodly men poſitively.
2. And the Curſe is wholly taken out of thoſe Sorrows which they do undergo. They are indeed Croſſes to them, but not Curſes; God hath removed that. An affliction is a Curſe, when it is a fruit of Gods meer Wrath, and derives through the threatning of the Old Covenant; but the believer is no longer under that Covenant, Rom. 6. 14. Chriſt hath born the Curſe, though he is pleaſed that his Redeemed ſhall bear the Croſs. God hath taken ſatisfaction for the ſins of all his people, of Chriſt their Surety, and ſo Revenging Juſtice is not at all concerned in the afflictions that Gods Children meet with in this world.
3. Hence all theſe Sorrows of theirs are ſanctified to them, into benefits. Though they have the nature of evils ſtill in them, as they are grievous to us, yet as they are made profitable, ſo they have a goodneſs in them for us, Heb. 12. 11. They belong to another Covenant, in which God hath undertaken the diſciplining of his Children, in order to their being made meet for the glory to be revealed in them, 1 Pet. 1. 6, 7. And they are under the influence of his Spirit, made beneficial to them, Rom. 8. 28. We are therefore told what they are for, and what they ſhall b… to them in the event, Iſa. 27. 9. And ſo their preſent ſorrows are uſed as means to prevent their ſuffering thoſe hereafter, 1 Cor. 11. 32. Whereas what Wicked men ſuffer here, are but the beginning of …rrows, and in this reſpect theſe belong to the …ints inventory, 1 Cor. 3. 22.
7. Though wicked men are ſometimes reprieved for the preſent, and enjoy much eaſe, and outward proſperity, yet theſe ſorrows are their portion, and properly belong to their birthright: for,
1. As long as they remain wicked, the Curſe lieth upon them. They were born under it by vertue of their being of the progeny of fallen Adam, Eph. 2. 3. And no wicked man, while ſo, is diſcharged from it. If ever God pardon a Sinner, he Sanctifies him too, and then he ceaſeth to be wicked: but till then, he abides in the ſtate into which the Apoſtaſy had dejected him.
2. Hence all the miſeries contained in the Curſe, muſt needs belong to them. A man may be an heir, who is not in full poſſeſſion; and though Sinners do not for the preſent feel thoſe miſeries, they are nevertheleſs theirs, becauſe they are adjudged to them, and the Pſalmist gives a ſummary of their inventory, Pſal. 11. 6.
3. They are therefore reſerved for theſe ſorrows, and they for them. God hath laid them up in his treaſures, to be kept till their time comes, & they are ripe for them: and they are mean while treaſuring up wrath, Rom. 2. 4. and are reſerved for it, Job 21. 30. And that for them, 2 Pet. 2. 17. Jude 13. And they are ſo kept as neither by power not policy can they eſcape: the Curſe holds them …aſt as a priſon and fetters, and they cannot get themſelves looſe.
4. And therefore in due time they ſhall receive them. Delays are not diſcharges, they may eſcape for a while, but the Curſe will work it ſel… out: God is not forgetful of them, nor reconciled to them, and though patient at preſent, they ſhall have all at the laſt in full weight, Deut. 32. 34, 35. God is not ſlack, though he be long ſuffering, 2 Pet. 3. 9. They are now priſoners of Juſtice, and the Aſſizes will ſit on them ere long.
5. And mean while theſe two things are certain.
1. That they have no ſafety or ſecurity for one hour. The Law hath already paſt the Sentence upon them, they ſtand condemned, and it is in the Judges breaſt when he will give out the Warrant for Execution: all their outward peace, and inward confidence is no ſign that they are not upon the brink of that ruine which they are obnoxious to; and how often doth God come upon them when they leaſt dream of or dread it, and are ſinging a requi…m to their own Souls, 1 Theſ. 5. 2, 3. So it was with him, Luk. 12. 19, 20. It is meer patience they live upon, and are every hour provoking to fury.
2. And whiles they are reprieved they are but fitting for the more fearful ſorrows to overtake them. Whiles Patience waits and defers, Juſtice is fetching the greater blow at them, to make their ruine the more amazing; they are but filling up their meaſure, crouding their Ephah; we have therefore that remark, Pſal. 92 7. When the wicked ſpring as graſs, &c. it is that they ſhall be destroyed for ever. God will ſometimes let Sinners ripen, and have a fat ſoil to do it in, a fat paſture, that they may be fatted up as Oxen for the Slaughter.
Only obſerve,
1. That there is a way for the moſt wicked Sinners to eſcape. God hath laid in a ſufficiency in Jeſus Chriſt, ſo that where Sin hath abounded, Grace may more abound, Rom. 5. 21. And therefore Wicked men are invited and encouraged to it, Iſa. 55. 7. God hath found out a ranſome, a way for Sinners to eſcape, and reveals it in the Goſpel; they may exchange their portion, and for the Curſes out againſt them, obtain a title to the promiſes of the New Covenant.
2. Hence God is in the day of his patience giving them fpace for this. So he ſaith of her, Rev. 2. 22. I gave her a ſpace to repent. All that enjoy the Diſpenſation of the Goſpel have this priviledge. If ever the eſcape be made, it muſt be in this life, before Sinners go to the Grave, where when they once come, they are fixed for ever, and their condition is irreverſible; but while they live they are within the reach of the grace of the New-Covenant, and the goodneſs and forbearance of God, are arguments to lead them to Repentance, Rom. 2. 3.
3. Hence if they neglect thus to improve this ſpace, their ſorrows will thereby be made the more intenſe. If they do not uſe it to make their peace, and get into Chriſt, but abuſe it to gratify their luſts, and ſtrengthen themſelves in wickedneſs, this will add to the provocation, and procure for them the more intollerable miſeries: and for that reaſon the threatnings of the Goſpel are the moſt fearful of any, and the portion of Unbelievers the moſt amazing, Luk. 12. 46. And reaſon good, for if the only remedy be deſpiſed, how ſhall men eſcape? it is very fit they ſhould ſmart for their ſo deſpiſing it.
2. It now follows that we obſerve ſomething of the multitude and greatneſs of thoſe ſorrows that belong to them: and this refers to the miſery of that eſtate into which man is fallen, of which only ſome few glances.
1. As to the multitude of theſe ſorrows which are the portion of wicked men: Let us obſerve,
1. That all the Curſes written in the Book of God do belong unto theſe: And what a fearful number of them are there recorded? the Curſes are nothing elſe but the Commentaries that are made upon that word, Death, which is put into the threatning of the Firſt Covenant, and are written to explain to us the meaning of it. Now this Death was declared to be the puniſhment of ſin, and ſo man by Sin is expoſed to it, and to all that is contained in it: God therefore tells us who they be that lay themſelves open to all theſe Curſes, Deut. 28. 15. So that there is no miſery that ever befel any of the Children of men, but every ungodly man is expoſed to the ſame, as long as he continues in his natural ſtate: and who can count them up, they are ſo many? but;
2. Thoſe ſorrows may be referred to three heads: And how many are there ranged under each of theſe? viz. Temporal, Spiritual and Eternal. If theſe three brigades were drawn up in order, what a formidable army would they make? But I ſhall only touch at them.
1. All Temporal Sorrows belong to them. And theſe are the leaſt and moſt inconſiderable, though for the preſent the moſt ſenſible. By theſe I underſtand all thoſe evils which the outward man i… expoſed to in this life: and they are ſo many, that we can hardly tell where to begin, or where to leave of. There are the troubles to which the Body it ſelf is expoſed, which is by Sin become a ſink of all diſeaſes, ſickneſſes, languiſhings, pains and torments; and the moſt skilful Phyſitians are at a loſs to number up the many ails that mans body is expoſed unto: they all wait upon the Sinner; pining ſickneſſes, burning feavers, faintneſs, ſtrong pains, beſides violent caſualties. There are ſorrows in mens Eſtates, which alſo bring miſery upon men from without; ſore diſappointments in their labours, whence, poverty, ſtraits, loſſes, pinching them with hunger, thirſt, nakedneſs. Sorrows alſo from one another, in name, in eſtate, in body, by reproaches, depredations, impriſonments, ſtripes, all ſorts of tortures, Wars, Rapes, Depopulations, Bereavements of deareſt Comforts Sorrows in the Providences that paſs over them, bringing Blaſtings, Mildews, Epidemical plagues, waſting all before them; and all theſe the leaders to, and which do at length end in a bodily death, which, though it puts an end to all the reſt, yet is it ſelf a terrible thing, and called the King of Terrors, in that it is ſo much againſt the natural inclination in man to part with his life; and he chuſeth rather to undergo a great deal of ſorrow in it, than to have that put to an end, by the diſſolution of na…re, and ſeparation of Soul and Body. The …ontemplation of this very part of mans miſery, …ath made meer Heathen to lament the unhappy …tate that is befallen him, and determine that man …nd miſerable are become terms convertible; and …et if this were all, it were but little compared with that which is yet behind. Hence,
2. All Spiritual troubles do alſo pertain to their …ortion. And here is another Folio in their Invento…y, more formidable than the former: for ſo much as the Soul is more noble, and of more excellent …ubſtance than the Body, ſo much the more terri…ble and grievous are the ſorrows that be…al it. Now ſpiritual plagues, which are the greateſt plagues, belong to the Sinner; and there are many of theſe alſo: but thoſe which are moſt obſervable, may be reduced to theſe, viz. there is the plague of an hard heart, which though men are not ſenſible of, becauſe of the hardneſs of it, yet is a ground of the continuance of men under the Curſe, and as it were binds them over to all the other ſorrows which they meet withal; and this is followed with Gods giving men up to their ſins, and delivering them over to their own counſels, Pſal. 81. 12. Whereby they heap up plagues, and miſeries uncountable to themſelves. There is alſo an horrid reflection of Conſcience charging ſin upon them, and preſenting before them the Wrath of God, accuſing, arreigning, condemning of them, citing them to Gods Tribunal, and ſetting before them eternal vengeance, whence ariſeth amazing fear, which gives them no reſt: they are afraid of every thing, and think it a meſſenger to arreſ… them, and carry them before Gods Judgment-ſeat… and they live in a fearful expectation of fiery indin… nation to fall upon them; and this hath alſo annexe… to it, horrid Deſpair, making them a terror to them ſelves, and all about them: they go up and dow… crying out that they are damned, and their ſ… are greater than can be forgiven, as Cain, Gen. 4. 14. And this eats the ſweet out of all their outwar… comforts, robs them of the benefit of all the mean… of Grace, and fills them with an hell upon earth… and ſometimes drives them to work fearful Trage… dies upon themſelves, as it did Judas, Mat. 27. 4.
3. And there are Eternal Sorrows in their inventor… and theſe are the Conſummation of miſeries, and rea… both to body and ſoul; and for theſe they are reſe… ved, and making haſt to them: and if they ſhoul… in a great meaſure eſcape the other, yet theſe wi… without fail ſieze upon them, and ſwallow then up of endleſs deſtruction. There is an Everlaſting Separation from God the fountain of life, to which they are adjudged, and there is a place prepared ſo them in the Lake which burns with fire and brimſton… where the flames of their torments will aſcend for eve… There is in that place a worm that will not dy, whic… will then make a prey of them, and plague thei… world without end; which will make them … roar out by bitter reflections on the Grace the… deſpiſed, and the opportunities of making th… peace with God, which they regarded not. The… is the Company of Devils, who will be alſo their to… mentors, with whom they are to be fellow ſhare… … thoſe burnings; and all the Damned Souls which …ave been their Companions in ſin, with whom …hey ſhall have a ſorrowful Communion, when they …hall curſe and ban each other, for having been …nſtruments of bringing one another to that fear…ul place. And there will be the contemplation of the Joys of the bleſſed, between whom and them …here is an impaſſible Gulf fixed, which will embit…er their own Sorrows to them, eſpecially when …hey remember, that they once had the offers of …he ſame bleſſedneſs, and been fairly and long …reated with about it. Theſe, and innumerable more, beyond our computation are the Sorrows …hat all wicked men are entitled to, and are ſo en…a…led upon them, that they cannot get rid of them, …f they perſiſt in their ungodly courſes, becauſe a juſt and powerful God hath pronounced the ſen…ence on them, and will ſee to the full execution of it in due time.
2. For the greatneſs of theſe Sorrows, we may make ſome eſtimate of it if we look on them under theſe conſiderations.
1. In reſpect of the author of them; and that is no …er but God himſelf. He ſaith, Amos 3. 6. Is there …y evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? A… the offence which wicked men do give by their wickedneſs, is againſt him, ſo it is he who hath …oth appointed, and alſo executes theſe penalties …or it. The threatning of it is called the burden of … Lord: and when Sinners undergo the puniſhment of Sin, they are ſaid to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. 10. 31. And needs muſt it be a ſearful thing, for if it be God that falls upon th… Sinner in his wrath, he will do it like himſelf, Iſ… 47. 3. He will be known to be God in theſe, as w… as in his other works, Pſal. 9. 16.
2. In regard of the merit of ſin, for which th… ſorrows are inflicted. They are the puniſhments o… it, and if that be great, there will be ſome proportion in this. The leaſt Sin is capital: the la… ſpeaks of nothing leſs than Death as the recompenſe of it, Rom. 6. 23. Ezek. 18 4. And there … reaſon for it, for all ſin is rebellion againſt the grea… God; it is a coming ſhort of his Glory, Rom. 3. 2…. It doth what in it lieth to dethrone him; it rejec… his Government, and ſaith he ſhall not reign ove… us. The Scripture every where renders ſin vil… and provoking, to let Sinners know what they ar… to expect from God on the account of it.
3. Reſpecting the Subject of theſe ſorrows; and tha… is not the body only, but the ſoul too, it is the whol… man; this emphaſis Chriſt puts upon it, Matth. 10. 20… There are outward bodily troubles that are ver… great, and almoſt intolerable, enough to make me… tremble at the thoughts of them, and roar unde… the impreſſion; and we may ſuppoſe that queſtion propoſed with regard to them, Ezek. 22. 14. C… thine heart endure? &c. But alas, theſe are ſmal… compared with thoſe ſpiritual Sorrows which ſiea… the Souls of men, when he fills them with horrou… and deadly deſpair; ask Cain, ask Judas elſe; na… David doth not complement or Hyporbolize, Conte… Verſe 3, 4.
4. From the multitude of theſe Sorrows. Suppoſ… …em light and eaſy in their ſingle conſideration, …t all together will make an inſupportable weight: … muſt needs ſink the ſinner to ly under the count…ſs plagues which the threatnings contain in them. One grain of Sand is not heavy; but it will cruſh … man to death, to have all that are on the Sea…hore laid upon him; ſo he complains, Pſal. 40. 12. …nnumerable evils have compaſſed me &c. therefore my …eart fails me.
5. From the deſign of them. As they are not …aſual, but come by Divine appointment, ſo God …ath a deſign in them: now as they are not grate…ul but afflictive to them that ſuffer them, ſo they were not mans lot by Creation, but were procured by his ſin, Jer. 2. 17. And they are the puniſhments of it, and for that reaſon were put into the threatning, and made a Sanction of the Law; that then which God aims at in them, is to diſplay his Holineſs, and particularly to ſhew his hatred of Sin, in the Triumphs of his Revenging Juſtice. Now becauſe Sin is a very hateful thing to him, the ſorrows which he inflicts upon Sinners to diſcover this, are very great, elſe they would not be a witneſs to this great truth. It is ſaid, Pſal. 7. 11. God is angry with the wicked every day. Now if he be angry but a little, it is enough to deſtroy men, Pſal. 2. 12. What muſt it be then when he gives ſcope to his fury, to burn them up in a fire that can… be quenched! So he threatens, Jer. 4. 4.
6 From the Duration of them. We are wont to …ay, a light burden grows heavy by being long …orn: Now there are not only temporary, and paſſing ſorrows that belong to wicked men; b… …hoſe that are the worſt for their kind, are alſo everlaſting; & that muſt needs put a fearful weight to them; that expreſſion of our Saviour, Mark 9 44. The worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched carries horrour in it to thoſe that find themſelves appointed ſubjects of theſe; and when we have put all theſe things together, they muſt repreſent theſe ſorrows very great.
USE 1. For INFORMATION in a few particulars.
1. Learn hence that wicked men have no cauſe to boaſt, nor Godly men to envy. There is too much of this in both reſpects, and the ground or occaſion of it is this; there is a day of Gods patience towards Sinners in this world, in which his mercy moderateth the Execution of the Sentence that is paſt upon them, and his common Goodneſs and Bounty opens its hand to them, ſo that they are not for the preſent in trouble as other men, but flouriſh in great opulency, enjoying whatſoever they can deſire, … they are deſcribed, Job 21. 7. &c. Pſal 73 3. &c. And ſo to outward appearance, they look as if they were the darlings of Providence. and ſpecial favourites of heaven. This is alſo a day wherein God will try and exerciſe the Grace of his Children, in order to the perfecting and glorifying of them: that he may mortify ſin in them, wean them from the world, and prepar… them for the Kingdom: and for this he uſeth many afflictions and troubles in this life, which …y often meet withal, and frequently in greater …eaſures than others do, Pſal. 73. 14. 42. 3 Which …akes them ſeem to a carnal eye, as if God took …o care of, but diſregarded them. From hence …icked men, who know no other happineſs or …iſery than what is in this life, boaſt and brag of …hemſelves, as if they were the only men; they …leſs themſelves, Pſal. 10. 3, 6. And ſcorn the peo…le of God as ſuch who are moſt forlorn, Jer. 30. 17. And Godly men are prejudiced, and envy, Pſal. 73. 3. And complain, verſe 13. But both of …heſe diſcover a great deal of folly, and the truth in hand makes it manifeſt. Are theſe Sorrows for all this the portion of wicked men? do they await them, and ſhall they certainly befal them? needs muſt they have no more reaſon to boaſt, than a condemned man hath of his priſon fare, becauſe it is liberal, whiles he is every day in expectation of being fetched out and Executed. Nor have the Children of God any more reaſon to envy, becauſe this is all the portion they are like to have of good things, and are mean while upon the precipice of ruine. See Pſal. 73. 17, 18. verſe 22.
2. Learn hence how wofully Sin and Satan impoſe upon men. If they were not deluded, they would never manage themſelves as they do. And it herein appears.
1. In that they do upon choice prefer the ways of Sin …fore the ways of God; and that notwithſtanding all the encouragements offered on the one hand, and all the ſolemn warnings given them on the other. They hold faſt wickedneſs, and will not part with it; and this muſt needs becauſe they are perſwaded to believe that ly, viz. That there is more of comfort and ſatisfaction to be had in a way of wickedneſs, than in a way of piety; ſo they, Jer. 44. 17, 18. And ſo they count them their greateſt enemies, who give them moleſtation, and would draw them from their leud courſes, and win them to God. Did men belive that there are ſuch ſorrows entailed on wickedneſs, they would not be ſo wheedled.
2. In that they live in all wickedneſs ſecure, and without fear. Although God hath faithfully told them how it is, and given them warning what to expect at his hands, and bidden them to provide for it; they are not concerned at all about it, but ruſh on in ſin as the horſe into the battel; ſay as, Iſa. 56. ult. And thus they paſs on, till the Wrath of God falls upon, and cuts them off with a ſwift deſtruction, from which there is no deliverance. Did men believe there is a God, and that the Scriptures are his Word, it could not be ſo. Nay, though they ſee awful inſtances of his ſeverity, in ſuch as are cut off by unwonted deaths, and gone irrecoverably, who were once their companions in ſin, they do ſtill as formerly; were not men under the entire power of an evil heart, and a curſed Devil, it could not be ſo.
3. How infinitely then doth it concern every one of us to try himſelf, to which of theſe companies he belongs. I ſhall here only improve the conſideration of the woful ſtate of the Wicked, to awaken us all to make a work of it, and ſo be very inquiſitive about it: Conſider then,
1. We are all of us in our natural ſtate among the wicked. It is the unhappineſs of fallen mans progeny, that this is their denomination from their birth, Pſal. 58. 4. The ſtate of nature is a ſtate of alienation from God: every Child is a Child of wrath, full of the ſeeds of all wickedneſs; for that Original Sin, which is their birth ſin, hath every luſt in it; and ſo, though before the uſe of our underſtanding we cannot act ſin, yet we are full of this corrupt biaſs, ſo that all our Humane actions are, from the beginning, acts of wickedneſs, of rebellion againſt God: and hereupon, whatſoever the word of God declares to be the portion of the wicked doth properly belong to us, and is our birthright; Man is born to trouble, Job 5. 7.
2. Hence if there hath not a change been wrought in …, we ſtill remain in the ſame ſtate, and under the ſame dum. There is a deliverance provided for ſome, ſaid up in Chriſt, revealed in the Goſpel, applyed by the Spirit; and in the Juſtification of a Sinner, the Curſe is removed upon their being put into Chriſt, Rom. 8. 1. But there is evermore a change in the perſon, as well as of his ſtate; there is a Real change together with the Relative one, which is inſeparable, 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any be in Chriſt, he is a new Creature. Till then we are changed from our ſinful life, we remain under the efficacy of the doom paſt on us, and theſe ſorrows are our portion.
3. Nor is it every change that will evidence our be… delivered. A great many are deceived on this account, there is an alteration on them, and Sata… doth all he can to impoſe on them, knowing, if he can perſwade them all is right, he ſhall hold them faſt enough. There is a converſion that is not ſaving, and great danger lieth in it, Matth. 20. 16. There are many that are awakened by the word, made afraid of wrath, and ſo paſs under an outward change, they leave off their former debauched courſes, and take up the performance of before neglected duties; the drunkard is ſober, the forni… tour abſtemious, the profane perſon leaves … Swearing, and falls to praying, &c. but the heart … not changed; God is not ſo put off, we muſt have a better Righteouſneſs, Matth. 5. 20.
4. Satan, and our deceitful hearts will impoſe on … if they can. It is the Devils device to make me confident in their unregenerate ſtate, and one w… is, to perſwade them to think God like themſelves but if that will not do, he will endeavour to ma… them think they have the Grace of God, when the… is no ſuch thing. And the fleſh in us is always … dy to joyn in with this; and it follows from a goo… opinion which the natural man hath of himſelf, … his own doings: and becauſe there is ſo much … ning in theſe adverſaries of our Souls, it concer… us to be ſo much the more watchful to our ſelve… leſt we be impoſed on and undone by it, we … therefore warned both concerning the Heart, J… 17. 9. and Satan, 1 Pet 5. 8.
5. If you are found among the wicked at laſt, … ſee your doom. The aſſertion is poſitive, and adm… o… no exceptions, but only that the man who o… …as wicked, be ſo no more; for if he continues ſo, … is his lot from the hands of God; and what a …iſe…y will it be to pleaſe our ſelves with a deceiv…d hope, that we are eſcaped the danger, and con…ary to all our expectation to fall into all theſe ſor…ows, and be ſwallowed up of them in eternal perdition? and let our hopes be never ſo ſtrong, yet if they be Hyp…eritical in the foundation of them, we ſee what they will come to, Job 8 12. Let us …hen ſee to it, and b…ing our ſelves to the touch…one of the word, & prove our ſelves with greateſt …xactneſs.
USE II. Let it be for a word of ſolemn awakening … every wicked perſon, to whom it ſhall come. And …ſtake me not; I do not only ſpeak …o ſuch as are …uilty of, and live in flagicious c…imes, ſuch as the …ght of nature, and common Morality teſti…y a…ainſt; but to all that are not yet gotten out of …heir natural ſtate by a true Converſion, but re…in under the dominion of ſin, and never felt the …fficacy of the Grace of God, in bringing of them …ut of themſelves unto a Saviour, and turning them …rom Sin to Himſelf; that are ſtrangers to the Sav… change wrought by the Spirit in all thoſe whom … makes the Children of God; and there are ſe…eral practical leſſons I have to offer to ſuch, and …treat them to ſet about in good earneſt.
1. Let this help to wean your affections from ſin. There is a natural delight which all ungodly men … in their wicked courſes: they are ſo eager af… them, that they loſe their reſt for them, Prov 4. 16. …d there is nothing ſo ſweet to them, as that which God hath forbidden, Chap 9. 16. But it is from their prodigious ignorance of the after claps of ſuch courſes, Ver. 17. It is indeed the diſpoſition of corrupt nature to call evil good, and ſo purſue it with its cloſing Affections, but ſure this is enough to take off the edge of theſe affections, to conſider, and believe what a fearful reckoning men muſt come to after their pleaſant morſels; what ſorrows men lay in for themſelves by their delightful Sins, and that in proportion to the content they take therein, Rev. 187. Is it not enough to make a man throw a cup of the moſt inviting drink on the ground, to conſider that it is mixed with the moſt deadly poyſon? Such is the caſe here, hence ſuch a caution, Prov. 23. 31, 32. Who but a mad man, will for a moments pleaſure expoſe himſelf unavoidably to eternal ſorrows?
2. Hence let it help to quench in you the temptations to ſin. It Satan and your wicked hearts incite you to the Commiſſion of ſin, they uſe arguments to allure you to entertain this invitation, and endeavour to accommodate them to your carnal inclinations, which readily work on the luſts that are in you: and how ſhall we ſup…reſs theſe? Certainly it is beſt to do it with ſuch arguments as may carry more force in them to deter us: and if the reſpect we have for God wi… not do it, who calls it the abominable thing that he h… teth; which argument is of no force with a wicked man, who is fallen ſhort of the Glory of God yet one would think, pity to our ſelves ſhou… have ſome efficacy upon us, who have a ſelf lo… rooted in us, although horribly defiled by Orig… nal Sin; Well, you ſee what it will come to at length: Lay then all in the ballance; ſay, there is a certain deſtruction attends, uncountable and incomparable ſorrows will be the exit; and now ask ſeriouſly, is there that in any, in all of the allurements offered, which will countervail, and make amends for this: and if not, ſay, I will not caſt my ſelf into eternal torments for a moments content in ſin.
3. Let it mar your mirth in the commiſſion of ſin. It is horrible to ſee what mirth and pleaſancy Sinners take in their leud courſes, how jocund they are when they get together, ſinging and drinking, and taking Gods Name in vain: but here is a thought that will ſpoil all, and it would be well if thus they might prevent that which is infinitely worſe. Think with your ſelves in the midſt of your Cups, and Cards, and laſcivious dalliances, and debauched Songs; what makes me thus merry, who are an heir of ſorrow? It is the Wiſe mans obſervation, Prov. 14. 13. Even in laughter the heart is ſorrowful; and the end of that laughter is heavineſs, and ſo it is of all wicked mens carnal ſports. Think then, thus am I damning my own Soul, filling up the Cup of bitter wrath, that muſt be given me to drink ere long, if I follow ſuch courſes as theſe are.
4. Let it embitter ſin to you after the commiſſion of it. It is none of the leaſt infelicities of ungoldly men, and that which tends to harden them in ſin to deſtruction, that they not only ſport themſelves in ſin, whiles they are committing of it, but take a great deal o… ſin…ul pleaſure in ruminating on it afterwards: wi…h what pleaſancy do they think. how d…li…htfully do they …alk of their merry bouts but I can tell you a more profi…able recollection or review of theſe things, though it be more troubleſome for the preſent, yet let me adviſe you to it, and that is, ſet Conſcience to work, and think, I have been diſhonouring God, provoking him by my leud carriages, and daring of him …o fall upon me in his wrath; I have been carrying Wood to my Pile of vengeance, and laying up ſorrows for my ſelf: Let Conſcience ſol…mnly enquire, What have I done? And fe…ch in the Word of God, & that will tell you a fearful ſtory: how might this tend to your deliverance?
5. Let it make you reſt leſs till you are delivered from the Guilt and Dominion of ſin. When God comes to Convert Sinners to himſelf, and win them to a compliance with t…e offered grace of the Goſpel, he is wont to begin with awakenings and terrors, to ſhew them their miſery and danger, ſo to ſire them out of their refuges of lies, and break the league between them and their luſts; for which he applies ſuch things to their conſideration, as ſhall convince them, and put them into a concernedneſs about themſelves, and the Goſpel Ordinances are appointed as means for this end. Now there is no conſideration of more weight on this accouut than this before us; be then adviſed to right improving of it, and to that end:
1. Think much and often of theſe ſorrows. The threatnings of the Word of God, the miſerie… contained in the Curſe, and included in the death which Sinners are doomed too, is a common place very profitable for them to be much in the contemplation of: it is the neglect of this that makes them ſecure and confident. God would have men to meditate on terrours. It is, I confeſs, a very ſad and uncomfortable ſpeculation, but profitable; and there is no hope that ever you ſhould fly to the City of Refuge, till you are ſoakingly affected with theſe things; and to what end hath God recorded them in his Word, but that Sinners ſhould meditate of them; that ſeeing their miſery, they may be excited to look about them, and be driven from their vain ſecurity.
2. Apply them all to your ſelves. The miſery of many is, that when they read or hear of theſe things, though poſſibly they found dreadfully yet they ſhelter themſelves from the terrors of them, by reckoning themſelves not concerned: and woful are the deluſions by which Sinners are wheedled into a fond ſecurity on this account; the Covenant, or their Morality, or their not being ſo bad as others are, &c. But read the deſcription given in the Word of God, of them to whom they belong, & ſee if you do not find your ſelves as really contained in it, as if your names had been mere written at length; and take it as your portion.
3. Be perſwaded to look upon theſe things as certain. Satan endeavours to perſwade men to think, they are politick devices to keep men in aw, and not realities; that God is not ſo cruel to his Creatures, and they are only fools that credit them, that wiſe men underſtand better; and a vain heart is willing to believe him: But Conſider;
1. The doom is poſi…ively paſt upon you. The Sentence is not a may be, but a muſt be; Eve was cheated when ſhe thought it only an hazard, Gen. 3. 3. For God had declared it firmly, and with a ſtrong aſſeveration, Chap. 2. 17. And all men in their natural ſtate are under this Sentence, Eph. 2. 3. And the Sentence of Condemnation is not in ſuſpenſe, but already gone forth againſt them, …oh. 3. 18.
2. And you have in this affair to do with a God who is,
1 Juſt and Righteous This Attribute is abundantly celebrated in the Scriptures, & God ſtands upon the honour of it; and good reaſon, becauſe he is the Judge of all the Earth. Now the Relative Juſtice of God is declared in his ſtanding by his own Laws, and performing the Sanctions of them, according as men ſtand related to them: God therefore aſſerts that he will thus do, Ezek. 18. 4.
2. One that hates ſin. It is the odious thing to him; he cannot abide it, Hab. 1 13 Indeed there is nothing he hath an indignation for but that, & it cannot but be abominable to him, being directly contrary to his Holineſs, by which he is bound for his own Glory, which ſin is ſet againſt, Rom. 3. 23. He therefore cannot endure Sinners, Pſal. 5. 3, 4.
3. Is able to give being to his Word. He threatas wicked men with no more than he can do with eaſe, for he is a conſuming fire, and there is …one that can hide from him, withſtand him, or any way ſecure themſelves from the impreſſion of his anger, Pſal. 76. 7. And if he both will & can, what can be more to make it certain?
4. Conclude what a fearful thing it will be to be made the Subject of all theſe ſorrows. Think your ſelves now to be under the impreſſion of them; realize them thus to your ſelves, & ſay, how ſhall I endure the fierce anger of God? How ſhall I ſtand up under the weight of all the ſorrows which the fury of God ſhall heap on me, when it ſhall be kindled in a fire that ſhall not be quenched; thus are they brought in deliberating, Iſa. 33. 14. Surely ſuch reflections will put you in fear, and that fear will be ſerviceable to make your preſent ſtate uncomfortable, and create longings in you to get from under it.
5. Now enquire and hearken after a way to eſcape. It is Gods rich mercy that he hath declared that there is ſuch a way, and accordingly ordered the Law to be diſpenſed in the hand of a Mediator. Should Sinners only be treated with the Law, and … thundring menaces of it, it would make them deſperate in their ſinful courſes: but becauſe God is pleaſed together with ſhewing you your preſent miſery, to tell you of, and offer to you a ſalvation, and point you the way to come by it: What then is there for you to do, but enquire? Are you pric…ed at the heart? Do as they did, Acts 2. 37. Are you terrified? Do as he, Chap. 16. 31. This is the only profitable improvement that can be made of the terrors of the Lord.
6. And let this perſwade you, without delay, to hearken to the counſel of God. God himſelf hath given you advice, Iſa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forſake his way, &c. And be entreated to comply with it; and do not protract the time, and put off the calls that are given you, but make haſte and live no longer in ſo fearful a condition, but give diligence to eſcape theſe Sorrows. Conſider therefore,
1. Theſe ſorrows are already upon you. Poſſibly you feel them not, by reaſon of many outward mercies you partake in, but if you are wicked, if unregenerate, The wrath of God abides on you, John 3. 36. The Curſe hath faſt hold of you, & there is a ſecret operation of it, whether you reſent it or no, and you are at preſent, but ripening for the more full and fierce depredation of it upon you. God hath paſt the Sentence, and he will ſurely execute it, if you do not in ſeaſon, while the Scepter of Grace is held out to you, ſecure your ſelves.
2. If you make not the more haste, it will quickly be too late. You are now warned, but if you deſpiſe this; it may be God will give you no warning in his Providence; but fall upon you in the height of your proſperity, and cut you off ſuddenly, 1 Theſ. 5. 3. And know it, when it once cometh to this, and you are carried away by the flood of Gods anger into the pit of ſorrows, there will be no Redemption from thence. Take your time then while you may, elſe it will repent you when it will not profit you.