The Sinners Hope, Sermon · Chapter 3
CAP. III.
The Nature of the Sinners Hope, as his Priviledge and Duty, truly ſtated.
2. HOw far, or in what ſenſe is this to be underſtood, that ſinners in ſuch caſes as theſe, ſhould yet take notice of, and cheriſh their hopes? In this we ſhall, by the way, endeavour to ſet out, how far we ſhould give way to trouble in caſe of ſin, in our daily courſe, and how far we muſt avoid it. How near we may come to conſternation in ſuch caſes, and how far, or wherein we muſt fly from it.
1. How it is not to be underſtood? We muſt in theſe caſes hope, yet,
1. Not ſo, as not to ſee, and confeſs our ſin, we are not ſo to clap on the Plaiſter, as to hide, inſtead of healing the Sore, the Sore muſt be opened and ſearched, before the Plaiſter be laid on. This elſe were a way to cover, rather then cure the ſin: He that covereth his ſin cannot proſper; Prov. 28.23.but he that confeſſeth and forſaketh ſhall find mercy. David while he kept ſilence, would have hidden his ſin, he was in ſad diſtreſs of Soul, but when he reſolved to acknowledge his tranſgreſſion, then he found eaſe. It is a weary reſtleſs condition of Soul, that any man can look for, notwithſtanding all the hopes, if he yet hide his ſin.
2. Not ſo, as not to be under a ſenſe of Gods diſpleaſure, for what we have done; this hope is not to be ſo fomented, as to make a man think, that God is not diſpleaſed with what we have done; though there may be hope, he may be again pacified: we are to look at God under conviction of ſin, as placable, yet as provoked at it. It is not to hope that God is not angry, but that his anger may be turned away again. David had contrived and carried on his wickedneſs; but thus it concludes, The thing that David had done diſpleaſed the Lord: 2 Sam. 11. ult.the Lord was really offended at it. Jehoſophat, the Lord would pardon him, yet there was wrath out againſt him for what he had done. 2 Chron. 19.2.We are to hope, yet not ſo, as to force kindneſs from God upon our ſelves, to fancy that God looks over our miſcarriages, without any diſtaſt of them, to fancy, that ſuch things as theſe ſhall never be lookt after, as the profane Athieſt that ſaies,Pſal. 10. Tuſh, the Almighty regards not, he will not require it. Who ever do thus, it is not ſuch a hope that God hath left them; not ſuch an Antinomian fancy, to think, that God loves us ſo fondly, as to love us in the very act of ſin, in our very wickedneſs. This is not Faith, we ought not to hope thus, which is beſides all reaſon and Scripture grounds: there may be hope, yet diſpleaſure too.
3. Not ſo to hope, As not to be aſhamed truly before God, for what we have done: it is Impudence in us to look upon God as confidently, as if we had done nothing amiſs; this ſetting a Face upon our ſins, as if we had not offended at all. Ezra was aſhamed and confounded, and could not ſtand before the Lord; Ezra 9. ultCould not look God in the face, becauſe of that they had done. Shecaniah doth not propoſe theſe hopes to take off the ſhame that was due to them for ſin. We are not to hope ſo as not to be aſhamed:Jer. 6 15. Were they aſhamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all aſhamed, neither could they bluſh. This was a great Complaint, and God threatens them for it; Therefore they ſhall fall among them that fall.Jer. 2.26. As a Thief is aſhamed, ſo is the Houſe of Iſrael aſhamed: As a man reputed to be honeſt, & is catcht ſtealing, is ill abaſht; or one that hath uſed ſtealing, and is catcht ſo doing, is made to carry his ſtoln Goods back again in his hand, is fearfully aſhamed of it. So is a Sinner that is apprehended by the Spirit of God, with his ſin upon him, and ſo ſadly and miſerably is to carry in Gods preſence becauſe of it, and yet hope too.
4. Not ſo to hope, As not to be very much humbled and vile in his own Eyes. He is not ſo to run to his hopes, as to ſave his due humiliation for what he hath done, to think baſely and vilely of himſelf for his miſcarriage: we are apt either to deſpair in our ſelves and God too, or elſe to hope in God and our ſelves too; whereas we muſt divide in this caſe, and hope in God, yet utterly deſpair in our ſelves. Oh! upon ſuch a ſtraight, we ought to ſee the vileneſs and weakneſs of our ſelves herefrom. Oh! this is my baſe and perverſe Spirit? this is my folly and wretchedneſs, this is that which is the beſt my heart will bring forth, &c. and yet hope in God.
5. Not ſo to hope,1 Tim. 1.1. As not to ſee our abſolute need to Chriſt: to hope ſo in ſuch caſes is ſinfull hope. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of Chriſt Jeſus who is our hope. Though ſin ſhould not drive us to deſpair, yet it ſhould drive us to Chriſt alone to hope in: We are ſo far to be troubled, as to make ſute to our Blaſtus, to ſpeak a good word for us: Hope, to skip beſides, or without Chriſt to Souls eaſe, is ſad, prepoſterous, and unchriſtian hope.
6. Not ſo to hope, As not to combat and ſtrive to the utmoſt againſt the ſin: We are not to hope that the ſin ſhall be pardoned, if we ſtill allow it. It is not an hope to let the ſin alone: we are not to deſpair, ſo neither to hope with the ſin ſtill upon us; not to hope, to ſave us any further labour about the buſineſs, but to engage to the utmoſt againſt our ſin, upon the ground of this hope which the Lord hath left us in our difficult caſe.
But ſecondly, How is it to be underſtood? We are not in caſes of ſin to give way to conſternation of mind ſo far; As (1.) in generall.
1. To undo any of the concluſions concerning Gods goodneſs, that are made from Scripture grounds. Sin concerns us, but Forgiveneſs belongs to God; what we have done, we ought to be humbled for, but what he will do hereupon doth not concern us to determine againſt. What ever we are, we muſt leave God as we find him in Scripture; while we bring down our ſelves, we muſt not go about to bring down him too: while we truly diſcover our own badneſs, we muſt be carefull we diſparage not his Goodneſs; what ever caſe we are in,Pſal. 86.5 & 103.8. Exod. 34.7 Neh. 9.17. we muſt ſtill conclude, that God is where he was, A God ready to forgive, a God ſlow to anger, a God pardoning iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſin. Thou art to ſay, what thou haſt done, that thy ſin is great, &c. but to ſay, it cannot be forgiven, this is not left to thee to determine on: what God will do to thee is altogether with him, he is a gracious and a mercifull God ſtill.
2. Nor to make any peremptory concluſion about the event and iſſue of the thing. To ſay, I ſhall one day periſh by the hand of Saul. To ſay,1. Sa. 27.1. I am cut off, my hope is periſhed from the Lord. To ſay, I cannot be ſaved; this will bring me to Hell: I am ſure I muſt periſh: this is to prevent God. It is not for thee to make Decrees; thou knoweſt not, what ever thou art at preſent, what yet God may make thee,Mat. 19.26. and what thou mayſt come to before thou dieſt: With God all things are poſſible, Sinners ought therefore to be ſparing in their finall determinations concerning themſelves, for ſecret things belong to God, And many ſuch things are with him. It is a mercy thou art not in Hell already, and it may be hoped, thou ſhalt not in the end ever come there.
2. More particularly, We are not to let down our hopes.
1. For a Sinner, upon his Conviction he is to hope, that upon his repentance he may yet find mercy. God hath given forth his Son, That whoever believes in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. 1 Jo 3.16.The vileſt Sinner that comes in upon the Proclamation of pardon, is bound to believe he ſhall find acceptance.
2. For the Godly, upon any failing, or ſin, they are faln into, or diſcover in themſelves.
1. They are to hope, ſo as not to caſt down all their evidences of grace in their Souls, raiſed and duly gathered before, for this one ſin; one ſin doth not evidence the want of Grace: He that is born of God ſinneth not,1 Jo. 3.9. The Seed of God abideth in him. This Seed of God, that bringeth him off, makes him humble and turn to God, abides in him. Thy ſin may argue a defect of ſtrong Grace, but not of true Grace.
2. They are Not to conclude againſt perſwaſions of Gods love to them, if ever they had any upon Scripture grounds. I am God, I change not. God doth not caſt off for every Offence:Mar. 3.6. 1 Sam. 12.21. God will not forſake his People, for his great Names ſake; becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make them his People.
3. They are Not to conclude this ſin leſs pardonable then another. God can forgive this, as well as he hath forgiven others, and will do it upon their repentance for it.Pſa. 151.1. Forgive my ſin for it is great: A great Sin, infinite Mercy can forgive: If we ſin, he is not only Mercifull, but juſt and faithfull, in reſpect of his Juſtice ſo fully ſatisfied by Chriſt, and his Truth, of promiſe whereby he is engaged to forgive us our ſins.