Two Discourses, Sermon 2 · Application 2
ƲSE 4. Caution.
1. Think not thy Sins are pardon'd, because they are not so great as those God has pardon'd in others.
This is ad suam consolationem aliena numerare vitia *Hierony in Vol. 1. p. 114. e..
Consider, God cast off Saul for less Sins than David committed. Evil Angels were cast off for one Sin. A few small Sands may sink a Ship as well as a great Rock. Thy Sins may be pardoned though as great as others, but then you must have equal Qualifications with them. They had great Sins, so hast thou; but have you as great a hatred and loathing of Sin as they had?
2. Let not this Doctrine encourage any person to go on in sin.
If thou dost now suck such poison out of this Doctrine, and boast of that Name God proclaims Exod. 34.6, 7. take the Cooler along with thee, and remember it is one part of his Name, By no means to clear the guilty. He never intended those Mercies for Sinners, as Sinners, but as penitent. Penitents, as such, are not guilty, because repentance is a moral revocation of a Sin, and always supposeth saith in Christ. There is forgiveness with God, Psal. 130.4. but it is that he may be feared, not despised. God never intended mercy as a sanctuary to protect Sin.
1st. 'Tis disingenuous to do so. Great Love requires great Duties, not great Sins. Freeness of Grace should make us increase holiness in a more chearful manner. What high ingratitude is it, to be inclin'd to sin, because God is inclin'd to pardon; to have a frozen heart to him, because he hath a melting heart to thee? What, to kick against him, because he has bowels; and to be wicked, because God is good? To turn Grace it self into wantonness. Is this to fear his Goodness? No, 'tis to trample on it, to make that which should excite thee to holiness, a Bawd to thy Lust, and God himself a Pandar to the Devil.
If thou dost thus slight the design of this Mercy, which thou canst never prize at too high a rate, 'tis certain thou never hadst the least taste of it. If thou hadst, thou couldst not sin so freely: For when Grace enters, it makes the Soul dead to sin, Rom. 6.1, 2. The Apostle answers such a Consequence with a God forbid.
2dly. 'Tis foolish.
Would any man be so simple, as to set his House on fire, because he has a great River running by his Door, from whence he may have water to quench it; or wound himself, because there is an excellent Plaister which has cur'd several?
3dly. 'Tis dangerous.
If thou losest the present time, thou art in danger to lose Eternity. There are many in Hell never sinn'd at such a presumptuous rate. He is merciful to the Penitent, but he will not be unfaithful to his Threatnings. If thou art willing to receive Grace, thou mayst have it, but upon God's Conditions. He will not pin it upon thy Sleeve whether thou wilt or no. This is to make that which is the savour of life, to become the savour of death unto thee.
See what an answer Paul gives to such an imagination, Rom. 3.8. Let us do evil, that good may come, whose damnation is just. He takes a handful of Hell-fire and flings it in their faces.
Let but the 29th of Deut. 18, 19. stare them in the face, and promise thy self peace in this Course if thou canst. Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood. And it cometh to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart.
As his Goodness is great, which thou dost despise; so the Wrath will be the hotter, thou dost treasure up. Though great Sins are occasions of great Grace, yet Sin doth not necessitate Grace.
Who can tell, whether ever God would have shown mercy to Paul, had he done that against knowledge, which he did ignorantly?
Repentance must first be; see the order, Acts 3.19. Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. First, Repentance and Conversion, then Justification. This Grace is only given to penitent Sinners. You know not whether you shall repent, but you may know, that if you do not repent, you shall be damn'd. As there is infinite Grace to pardon you, if you repent; so there is infinite Justice to punish you, if you do not repent. The Gospel binds us to our good behaviour as much as the Law.
FINIS.
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End of the text · Stephen Charnock, Two Discourses (1699)