The Greatest Sinners Exhorted and Encouraged, Proposal 3 – Proposal 4
Propos. 3. Every sinner unto whom the Word of God comes, is bound to turn from his evil way. The first thing which God required of man was that he should not sin at all. The Law required that: nor does the Law speak any thing of Repentance, but the Gospel does. The Law requireth that men should not turn from God; The Gospel requireth that men having turned from God, should turn to him again. Faith and Repentance are the great duties required in the Gospel. This was the Scope and summe of all the Apostles preaching. Act. 20, 21. Testifying both to the Jewes and also to the Greeks, Repentance towards God, and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And this Commandment reacheth every sinner where the Gospel cometh. Chapt. 17. 30. Now God commandeth all men every where to repent. True Repentance consisteth chiefly in Turning from sin. Hence it is sometimes called Conversion. When a man is gone out of the right way, and turns back again, that's Conversion. So tis with sinners: They are all gone astray; but God in the word of the Gospel calls aloud to them that they should turn back again. And that turning from sin which the Word of God requireth, is to be both External and Internal. It is necessary that a Sinner should lead a new life, that his outward Actions, and Conversation should be Reformed. Jer. 7. 3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your waies and your doings, but thats not all which God requireth. He calls for the Heart. Many a man turns from sin outwardly for fear of Punishment either from God or man, who yet loveth it in his heart still. But the Word of God requireth that men should hate sin. Rom. 12. 9. Abhor that which is evil. When a mans heart within him is turned and set against sin, as sin, then he has truly experienced that Conversion which the Word of God requireth. Ezek. 18, 31. Cast away from you all your Transgressions, and make you a new heart. Thats a new heart which hates Sin, and loveth Holiness. And that Sinners might be perswaded to this turning, the Word of God is full of gracious Promises unto repenting, returning sinners. God in his Word assureth them, that they shall find mercy, whatever their Provocations and Rebellions have been. Isai. 55. 7. Let the wicked for sake his way, and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon. God promiseth the Sinner his life if he will return. He saith, turn your selves and live you. And if the wicked be warned from his wicked way, he shall save his life. Ezek. 3. 18. and 18. 32. Heaven is promised to returning sinners. Thus in my Text, Turn every one from his evil way—and dwell in the land for ever and ever. There's something Spiritual ultimately intended in those words, viz. that every one that truly repents of sin shall dwell in Heaven for evermore, of which dwelling in the land of Canaan was a Figure. And the Word of God denounceth no less than Eternal Death to every Sinner that will not turn. Ezek. 33. 11. Say unto them, as I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked: but that the wicked should turn From his way and live. Turn you, turn you from your evil wayes for why will you dye, O house of Israel. This is the great voice of God in his word to every Sinner, the great design of the Scriptures both in the old and new Testament is to declare this, that the Sinner who shall turn from all his Sins shall live, but the Sinner that will not turn from all his Sins shall dye for ever. Thus saith God to every soul of of man, unto whom his Word cometh, thou must either turn from thy evil way, or burn for ever in the fire that shall never be quenched.
Propos. 4. Men ought not only to turn from every evil way but to doe it Now, and in no wise to delay that matter. Thus did the Prophets with one voice declare, as is in the Context intimated. And indeed this follows upon what has bin spoken. If God command men to turn, it is necessary that they should doe it now. For every Commandment of God ought to be immediately complyed with. There ought to be no delaying, or disputing whether what the great GOD requireth should be obeyed or no. When the Lord commanded Abraham to circumcise his Family, it is noted that in the self same day he did as God said to him. Gen. 17. 23. And when he was required to Sacrifice his only son, its recorded of him, that he rose early in the morning, and went to the place of which God had told him. Cap. 22. 3. When the Lord Christ called his Disciples to follow him tis said, that straightway they did so. Mat, 4. 20. And when Paul was called to the Apostleship, he did not consult with flesh and bloud, h. e. he did not ask counsil of any man whether he should do what God required of him, but immediately fell about the work, Gal, 1. 16. Thus every divine precept ought presently to be complyed with. So should this of turning from every evil way. And there is Infinite Reason that men should turn now; as we cannot but see if we duly mind, either what they are commanded to turn from, or whom they are to turn unto.
1. What is it that sinners are to turn from? It is from Sin, which is an unprofitable thing. Men don't use to stand considering whether they shall retain a thing which they are sure they shall never gain any thing by: Now they may be sure they shall never gain any thing by sin. Rom, 6. 21. What fruit had you of those things whereof ye are now ashamed? There is nothing but shame and Sorrow to be gained by sin. Yea, it is not only an unprofitable, but a hurtful thing. If a man were running into the mouth of a bloudy serpent ready to devour him, would he stand pausing upon it whether he should turn back? No, he would presently turn about. Sin is a cruel Serpent which devoureth immortal souls, and therefore it is the greatest madness in the world for men to make a question whether he should not presently turn from such an evil.
2. Who is it that sinners are to turn unto? It is unto God in Jesus Christ. Joel. 2. 12 Turn you even to me with all your heart, saith the Lord. Even unto that God who is the Fountain of Living water. He in whose favour is Life, and whose Loving Kindness is better than life it self. He who will give Grace and Glory, and will with-hold no good thing from them that shall turn unto him.