A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 216 (Question 84)
SERMON CCXVI.
QUESTION LXXXIV.
WHAT doth every Sin deſerve?
ANSWER.
EVERY Sin deſerveth God's Wrath and Curſe, both in this Life, and that which is to come.
WE are now come to the Third & laſt grea… Medium of Conviction, whereby Sinners may be p…rſwaded to entertain the Goſpel of Salvation by CHRIST, viz. he Miſery which fallen Man is expoſed, by his Sin, and whereof he goes in danger during his abode in his Natural State, and that by a juſt Demerit. And this hath a peculiar reſpect to the Puniſhment deriving to Man for Sin: For tho' it is a Truth, that Sin it ſelf is a great Miſery and a Penalty, in that it renders the Man impotent to that which is Good, and eagerly enclined to that which is Evil; whereby he comes ſhort of his great End of glorifying God. (Rom. 3.12.) and conſequently is running into New Arrears with God, every Day, many ways aggravates his Guilt, and treaſoreth up Wrath againſt himſelf; yet the Puniſhment it ſelf comes under a diſtinct Conſideration, and carries with it, matter of Awakening; and by putting the Sinner in Fear, may ſtimulate him the more earneſtly to enquire after a Recovery; and ſo make the offers of a CHRIST, and Salvation by Him ſeaſonable and welcome, inaſmuch as he hath a natural averſeneſs to Miſery, and inſatiable craving after Bleſſedneſs.
THE Caſe before us comes very ſeaſonably to be offered, after the enquiry into the Aggravations of Sin: for when we hear that all Sins are not equally Heinous in God's account, but that ſome do far Exceed others in regard to Guilt: Vain Men, who are naturally in love with their Sins, and think there is no great matter of hurt in them, will be apt to grow ſecure, and make a Mock of Sin, and pleaſe themſelves with an Opinion that theirs are of the ſmalleſt ſize, and next to none; and accordingly to be the leſs ſollicitous in ſeeking to make their Peace with God, and obtain a diſcharge from the Condemnation which they are under, till ſet at Liberty by CHRIST, the great Deliverer.
THE greatneſs of the Miſery to which fallen Man is ſubjected by reaſon of Sin, under the Imputation whereof he ſtands, as he derives from Apoſtate Adam, we have long ſince taken a diſtinct Account of, when we conſidered the Nature and Extent of that Death, which was contained in the Threatning of the Firſt Covenant; and it needs not to be here called over again.
THAT therefore which here properly lies before us for our preſent Enquiry, is, to offer matter of Conviction of the Righteouſneſs of the Sentence, and the due Demerit of Sin; that not only doth Manly open to this by vertue of the Sanction of the Law, but that the Law by which he ſo ſtands Condemned is Holy, Juſt and Good; and that there is no fault to be found with it, in regard of the ſeeming Severity of it, but that Sin doth really deſerve all this: And by this it will appear, that there is no Sin which is really little, when we are given to underſtand, that this Penalty is no other, but the due ſtipend of it, as we are told in, Rom 6.23. The wages of ſin is death. And till this be ſet home on the Conſcience with power, the Threatning will be ſo far from melting the Heart into a kindly Sorrow, that it will but irritate the Corruption that is in Man, and emi…ce the Heart with Indignation at the holy and righteous Law, by which he is bound over to Dy
THERE are Three things contained in the Anſwer,
1. The thing that Merits, viz. Every Sin.
2. The thing Merited, God's Wr… and Curſe, &c.
3. The thing aſſerted concerning this, viz. That it doth Merit all this. A few words will ſuffice to be ſpoken to the … former, and ſomething more will be requiſ… to clear up the latter.
Here then,
I. THE thing that Merits; this is, Every Sin. And there are Two Aſſertions contained in this, viz.
1. THAT One Sin deſerves it. The Sinner doth not arrive at this Deſert, or make his Guilt to grow up to ſuch Demerit, by ſuch a Courſe and Progreſs in Sinning; as if to Sin once and away, had no ſuch danger in it, but as ſoon as ever the Perſon Commits any Sin, he is immediately brought by it under this Guilt, and the Threatning falls upon him: Thus therefore the Sanction was ſtated, Gen. 2.17. In the day that thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die. And it is interpreted ſo, Ezek 18.4. The ſoul that ſinneth it ſhall die. It doth not ſay, that if he lives and lies in ſin, but if he Sin; ſo that if a Man do but once Tranſgreſs the Command, he thereby brings himſelf under the Guilt of breaking the Law, J…. 2.10. And no ſooner had our Firſt Parents eaten the forbidden Fruit; but they were ſiezed with Horror of Conſcience, and ſought to hide themſelves, Gen. 3.7, 8.
2. THAT the leaſt Sin hath this deſerving in it. Every Sin contains it under it, every individual, every ſort, every degree whatſoever. We have been told, that all Sins are not alike in reſpect, of Heinouſneſs; and leaſt we deceive our ſelves, and think that ſome may be Venial, or may procure only a temporal Evil, and ſome eaſier Penalty, we are here given to underſtand, that there is but one kind of Puniſhment aſſigned by the Law to Sin, of whatſoever colour or ſize it be: God ſaw good in the Conſtitution of the Firſt Covenant, to make every Sin Capital, and that is enough to terrify the Sinner: And if at any time he thinks his Guilt is not ſo great as others Guilt is, yet this is enough to make him afraid, that let it be no more than a Vain Thought, he muſt Dye for it, and that with ſuch a Death in every part of it, as is contained in the Sanction. Papiſts talk of ſome Sin… Venial, and other Sins Mortal; but as it is certain, that there is no Sin, (one only excepted,) but is Venial, under the Diſpenſation of the Goſpel-Covenant, ſo there are none but are Mortal, by the Sentence of the Law-Covenant. Men may think, that an Idle, trifling Word is little; but we are told, Matth. 12.36. That every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account thereof in the day of judgment. And that a Vain Thought is leſs; but …e are told, Gen. 6.5. And God ſaw that the w…k…neſs of man was great on the earth, & that every …gination of the thoughts of his heart was on… evil continually. And if one and the leaſt …n, hath ſo much Guilt in it, what then muſt …e in the uncountable and ſcarlet Sins, which …en are Chargable withal?
II. THE thing Merited, viz. God's Wrath and Curſe, both in this Life and that which is to …e. And here we may obſerve,
[1.] THE Kind or Quality of this Puniſhment; it is God's Wrath & Curſe. By the Wrath of God we are to underſtand His holy Diſpleaſure at the Sinner, whereby He is become his Enemy, on account of his Sin: God and Man were before Friends, till Sin made …he Breach; but Sin ar… revenging Juſtice againſt the Sinner: for we are aſſured conce… ing God, Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes …an to beho…d evil, and canſt not look on iniquity. And by His Curſe we are to underſtand …ll that Evil which is contained in the Threat…ing; all thoſe Arro…s which are bound up in …be Quiver of the Law; all thoſe Miſchieſs which Death is big of: A Man is then ſaid to be a Curſe, when he is devoted to ſuffer all …iſeries; and therefore the Curſe of God is that Threatning which is out againſt the Sinner, and …ds him over to ſuffer the things therein …naced.
[2.] THE Quantity of this Puniſhment, comprized in thoſe words, both in this Life, & that which is to come. And here are three things,
1. THE Kinds of it, viz. Temporal & Spi…itual Miſerie…; thoſe of the Body & Soul; the whole Man is made liable to theſe Sufferings: Hence we have that Diſtribution; Matth. 10.28. Which is able to deſtroy both ſoul and body in hell. As both of theſe are concerned in the …, ſo they are both doomed to undergo the Pe…ty which is comprehended in the Threatning.
2. THE Degroes of the Puniſhment; which …e either Inchoa… or Conſummate. There are the Beginnings of theſe Sorrows in this Life, in which there is a mixture of Mercy, and all God's Wrath is not poured out upon the Sinner, … he partakes in a great deal of God's Pati…ce and Goodneſs; but in the other Life, the Flood gates of God's Indignation are pulled up, and whole Cateracts of His Anger are poured out upon Him, and Wrath without Mercy becomes his Portion: Hence that in, Iſa. 27.11. He that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them, will ſhew them no favour. Jam. 2.10. For he ſhall have judgment without mercy, that hath ſhewed no mercy.
3. THE Duration of the Puniſhment. It contains in it both the Continuance and the Endleſsleſs of thoſe Sufferings. Hence that Expreſſion, Matth. 12.32. It ſhall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come; ſignifies Never. It is true, this Pe…alty becomes Eternal not of it's own Nature, but by reaſon of the Deficiency of the Creature undergoing it, to make Satisfaction for his Offence, in a ſhorter Duration; for our Saviour Chriſt hath an Expreſſion, in Matth. 5.26. Verily I ſay unto thee, thou ſhall by no means come out thence, if I thou haſt paid the uttermost farthing: But a finite Creature, cannot ſuffer infinite Wrath in a ſhorter ſpace. Theſe things have been more diſtinctly Commorated on formerly; I here only recite them, to ſtate the Caſe between God and the Sinner, on account of the leaſt Sin, to make it appear what is the thing which now follows to be demonſtrated, viz.
III. THAT every Sin d…ſerves this Penalty. When our Divines ſay, that it deſerves it, this is warily to be underſtood; and it doth not only intend, that it is worthy of it, which is true, Rom. 1.32. They which commit ſuch things are worthy of death. And this is enough to Juſtify the Threatning, and clear up the Righteouſueſs of God, when He executes it upon the Sinner. But that there are theſe things ſuppoſed in this manner of Speech:
1. THAT there is a poſſibility … the Sinner to eſcape it. It is not ſo determined in the Counſel of God, that he muſt needs ſuffer it in his own Perſon; it doth no… … that God can Pardon it without Satisfaction, and be Juſt, as matters now ſtand; but yet He may conſiſtent with His Righteouſneſs; accept of a … rious Satisfaction, and ſo Pardon the … himſelf: But ſtill it abides a Truth … that for Sin, he deſerved to Dy; and th… … an Act of undeſerved Grace to him … Dies not for …: Hence his Confeſſion, Dan … To us belongs conſuſ… of ſace, becauſe we have ſinned againſt thee.
2. THAT the Sinner is doomed by the Law of God to Dy. That there is ſuch a Sentence paſt upon him, and ſtands out upon Record againſt him, it not only intimates that it would be ſo if he had his deſert, but that he is Judged and Condemned, and that the Veracity of God ſtands engaged to deal with him according to this Sentence, except there be Atonement made and applied to him: It is therefore plumply aſſerted in, Joh. 3.18. He that believeth not, is condemned already.
3. THAT this Sentence is Juſt and Righteous: and that there is all Equity in it, and that God will for ever ſtand clear from any juſt imputation of Cruelty, if He makes it to take place upon the Sinner, to the full extent of it. This is a Truth which Men in their Natural State are ready to call an bard ſaying, and caſt all manner of bitter Reflections upon it, but without any good reaſon. David was of another Mind, when he ſaid, Pſal. 51.4. Againſt thee, thee only have I ſinned, and done this evil in thy ſight: that thou mighteſt be juſtified when thou ſpeakeſt, and be clear when thou judgest.
GIVE me leave then to offer at the clearing up of this Caſe, and vindicate the Honour of God's Juſtice in this regard. Now that Sin, every Sin, deſerves all this Penalty, may be argued from Two Topicks.
[1.] FROM the Covenant which God made with Man upon his Creation. That there was ſuch a Covenant, we have a Warrant from the Word of God to believe. There was a Law given to Man, and Obedience to it requited of him, and terms offered to him on which he was to ſtand; and which were to be ful…lled on him, according as he demeaned himſelf and that Man conſented to this is not to be doubted, & was confeſſed by her, Gen. 3.2, 3. From hence were may infer the truth in hand, as will appear, if we conſider,
1. THAT God … the Author of the Law given to Man at firſt. It is therefore every where called, The Law of the Lord: And as He had a Sovereign Right to preſcribe a Rule of Government to the reaſonable Creature, which He gave being to, and made for his own Glory, ſo He adapted that Law to the Nature of the Creature, in which He diſplayed both His Holineſs, and Goodneſs, and Wiſdom. Hence we have that great Encomium put upon it, Rom 7.1…. Wherefore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and juſt, and good. Nor indeed can any thing but what is good proceed from that God who is Goodneſs it ſelf; beſides that. His holy Will is the Meaſure of all Created Goodneſs; and therefore this is declared concerning the whole Law, Pſal. 19.9. The judgments of the Lord are …, and righteous altogether.
2. THAT it was God who made this to be one Sanction of the Covenant. That Sanctions were added to the Law, by which it paſt into a Covenant, is evident, for as He required Obedience, and prohibited Diſobedience, ſo He added a Promiſe of Life to that of Obedience, Rom. 10. …. For Moſes deſcribeth the righteouſneſs which is of the law, That the man which do…th theſe things, ſhall live by them. And a Threatning of Death to Diſobedience, Gen. 2.17. And of the tree of the knowledge of … and evil, than ſhall nor eat of it: for in the day that thou eateſt thereof, thou … ſurely die. Now under this threatning was comprehended all that is contained in the Wrath & Curſe, of which we have taken the account: …nd this He had a right to do, as He was the Sovereign of the whole Creation.
3. THAT He put into Man a power of paying … Obedience to Him. This power was contained in that lmage which was Concreated in Man, Gen. 1.26. conſiſting of Knowledge, Col. 3.10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. And Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs, Eph. 4.24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs, and true …olineſs, Man had a perfect knowledge of his whole Duty, & did fully approve of it as that which was good for him, and of his Obligation to conform to it, Rom. 7.16. I conſent unto the law, that it is …. And the Sanctification of his Nature, eacl…n…d & enabled him to pay a perfect Obedience to it; and this is comprehended in that, …cl. 7.29. God hath made man upright.
4. THAT this God who did all this, is in Himſelf … Juſt, and conſequently all His Diſ…c…tions to the Creature, muſt needs be ſo. And hence we have that Univerſal Aſſertion, Pſal. 145.17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. He cannot but … at … own Glory in all that He doth, which is His Holineſs; & His Juſtice is one of theſe Perfections of His, the glory whereof He is concerned for, in His tranſactions with all Cauſes by Counſel: It is therefore impoſſible that any unjuſt thing ſhould proceed from ſuch a God; & to aſſert ſuch a thing of Him, is to deny Him to be God, and to remove Him from His Throne; ſo he, Gen. 16.25. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And this is aſſerted of Him as a manifeſt Truth, Pſal. 92.15. T…ſh… that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteouſneſs in him.
5. HENCE the righteouſneſs of this Sanction, is put altogether beyond diſpute. If God annexed it to the Command, it muſt be right; and it would be injurious to his glory, ſo much as to doubt of it in the leaſt. Suppoſe that we are not able to give a diſtinct account of this affair, yet this is ſufficient to convince us that it muſt needs be right, becauſe it is enacted by that God, who cannot poſſibly do any thing amiſs: This therefore every gracious Soul will ſubſcribe, Pſal. 119.128. I eſteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right. God knows the Merit of Sin better than we do; and if He ſaith, That he who commits any Sin ſhall dye for it, it muſt needs deſerve it.
[2.] FROM the Nature of Sin, compared with the Nature of the Puniſhment denounced againſt it. This conſideration will not only prove that it muſt be ſo, but alſo give the evidence, whereby it will appear convincingly to be ſo. Here then le… theſe things be obſerved,
1. THAT it is a known Rule, that if the Puniſhment do not exceed the Merit of the work, it can be no wrong to the ſufferer. Puniſhment belongs to diſtributive Juſtice, and the Equity of it conſiſts in the Proportioning the Penalty of it to the Offence: It is therefore compared to work & wages, Rom. 6 23. The wages of ſin is death. If therefore this doth not exceed that, it cannot be charged of Cruelty, but muſt be acknowledged Righteous. A great Puniſhment for a finall fault, is among Men reputed barbarous; but when the fault is heinous, if the Penalty be heavy, no man of Reaſon will impute wrong doing for it; and every degree wherein it comes ſhort of this Severity, is to be confeſſed to be ſo much Mercy: For which cauſe the Jews made that humble declaration, in regard of all the terrible Calamities which had befallen their Nation, … 9.13. Thou our God haſt puniſhed us leſs than our ini…uities deſerve. So that there can be no true Judgment paſt upon the ſuffering in point of Righteouſaeſs till we weigh the cauſe for which it is inflicted, & that will determine it.
2. THAT …here is more of Evil in the leaſt Sin, than there is in the greateſt Puniſhment. Both of theſe are wont to be ranked under the conſideration of Evil, becauſe they are the Objects of the ſeparating Affections; whereas that which is Good refers to the cloſing; but then they differ ſpecifically, and come under two ſeveral Kinds, the one is denominated the evil of Fault, the other the evil of Suffering or Penalty. The one comes under the Title of a Moral, the other of a Phyſical Evil; between which there is hardly any Compariſon to be made. Now the leaſt Sin belongs to the former of theſe, whereas all Puniſhment, as it is Puniſhment, comes under the latter; and by this Rule are the meaſures to be taken.
HERE then obſerve,
1. THAT all Sin is againſt God Himſef, whereas the Penalty terminates on the Creature. And this muſt needs make an unconceivable Difference, there being no Proportion between God and a Creature. It is true, there are Sins againſt the Firſt Table, which are directly and immediately againſt God, and againſt the Second Table, which nextly terminate upon the Creature; but ſtill they ultimately, and as they are Sin, are againſt God; and this David in his Confeſſion takes a peculiar Notice of, Pſal. 51.4. Against thee, thee only have I ſinned. And remarkable is that of him, 1 Sam. 2.25. If one man ſin againſt another, the judge ſhall judge him: but if a man ſin againſt the Lord, who ſhall intreat for him?
2. THAT every Sin is a Violation of the holy Law of God. This we obſerved belongs to the Definition of Sin, 1 Joh. 3 4. And therefore the Apoſtle hath that Obſervation, Rom. 4.15. For where no law is, there is no tranſgreſſion. The Law is that which gives the …eaſures both to Sin and Duty; except therefore that be broken, there is no Sin can be Charged. Now a Vain Thought is as much a Violation of God's Law, as Murder or Blaſphemy; for that Law which forbids the one, forbids the other, both proceed from God; Jam. 2.11. For be that ſaid, Do not commit adultery, ſaid alſo, Do not kill. There is therefore the Authority of the Law-giver deſpiſed by one, as well as by the other.
3. THAT every Sin is committed by a Creature which owes it ſelf entirely to the Fear and Service of God. This follows from it's being a Creature, and having it's Original from Him: And therefore that is an Argument, which the natural Conſcience cannot deny the force of, Pſal. 10….2, 3. Serve the Lord with gladneſs: … before his preſence with ſinging. Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that made us, … not we our ſelves. And uſed by the Prophet to convince that proud Rogation of the Righteouſneſs of the Menace, Dan. 5.23. The God in whoſe hand thy breath is, and whoſe are all thy …oays, haſt thou not glorified. God made all things for Himſelf, and every Creature to ſerve Him in it's Order; in every Sin therefore it contradicts the end of it's Being, which muſt needs carry a deſperate Malignity in it; and he is Condemned by all other inferiour Beings, which in their order do glorify God.
4. EVERY Sin carries in it, a manifest Con… of God's Authority over the Creature. Reaſon it ſelf tells the Man that if there be a God, and he owes his Being to Him, his Authority is a ſufficient Obligation; and therefore for him, notwithſtanding the Command, to neglect his Duty, and break His Law, is a trampling upon the Divine Sovereignty: God in Commanding, ſaith, I am the Lord; the Sinner by every Sin ſaith, I will not Obey him, as effectually, tho' not as preſumptuouſly as they did, Jer. 44.16. As for the word that thou haſt ſpoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. Saul's very Act therefore, notwithſtanding his Excuſe, hath that brand ſet upon it, 1 Sam. 15.23. Rebellion & Stubbornneſs. And can it be thought a light matter to Deſpiſe the great God?
5. EVERY Sin is a trampling on God's love, and a ſcorning of His Anger. There are potent Obligations laid upon Men to Fear God; He gave them their Being, He furniſhed them with their noble Faculties and Powers, He promiſed them a conſtant Life of Happineſs upon their Obedience, He threatned them with Death, in caſe of Diſobedience; and all this laid potent Obligations on them; theſe were the Cords of a Man, and bands of Love: But now the language of every Sin is, that we regard not His Love and good Will, and that we Fear not His Diſpleaſure, nor are concerned about it. Sin therefore is ſaid to be a running upon all the Divine Attributes or Perfections of God, Job 15.26. He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick beſſes of his bucklers.
6. IT's natural tendency is, to ſeek to dethrone God, and deſtroy His Being. It is true, The Sinner cannot come at it; God is out of his reach, and will ſit King for ever, after all the vain Attempts of the Sinner, Job 35.6, 8. If thou ſinneſt, what doeſt thou againſt him? or if thy tranſgreſſions be multiplied, what doeſt thou unto him. Thy wickedneſs may hurt a man as thou art, and thy righteouſneſs may profit the ſon of man. Nevertheleſs, this is the daring Eſſay of the Sinner, and every Sin gives a ſtroke to this; it ſaith, that he will not have God to reign over him: It is a riſing up, and rebelling againſt His Government; and could he have his deſire, there ſhould be no God; and that is included in Pſal. 14.1. The fool hath ſaid in his heart, There is no God. He doth but utter his Wiſh, and he would fain Believe it to be true.
7. HENCE the Puniſhment allotted to Sin, Viz. Death, is but a Retaliation: When he hath ſuffered the full of the Miſery contained in the Threatning, God h ath done no more to him, than if he had been able, he would have done to God: And there is a mixture of this Malignity in every the leaſt Sin that is Committed, becauſe it is againſt God; it is an Undern… ning of His declarative Glory, and that ſaith that if he could come at Him, He ſhould ceaſe to be God: The Sinner by Sin effers the higheſt Affront to God that he is capable of d… ing; certainly then, it is but Juſt, that he ſhould ſuffer from the hand of God, the … Miſery that his Nature is capable of ſuſtai… And there is … …ice way for God to recover His Glory upon Im…e… S…nn…es.
8. EVERY Sin is an Implicite chuſing this Miſe…y. It is true. Humane Nature relucts againſt the evil of Suffering, and ſeeks to avoid it: but when God ſets Laſe and Death before Men, and puts it to their Election, and lays out the way before them, and the greateſt aſſurances both of the Promiſe & Threatning; & after all this they do ſpontaneouſly forſake the way of I…ſe, and …h…ſe thoſe things to which Death is …xed; they therein in a true account chuſe Death, and ſo God accounts of it, Prov. 1.29, 30, 31. For that they hated knowledge, and did not …heſe the fear of the Lord. They would none of any …ſe… they deſpiſed all my reproof. Therefore ſhall they … of too fruit of their … way, and … with their own d…aces.
THE main Objection that is urged againſt the Truth in hand, is taken from Mens lampotency to ke…th Command perfectly: And hereupon the World is filled with clamours on this account; and this Doctrine is attacked with horrible barges, as if it rendred God barbarous, cruel, and horribly injurious. And we find that the ſlothful Servant thought to have acquitted himſelf by ſuch an impeachment, Mat. 25.24. Than he which had received the one talent, came and ſaid, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an bard man, reaping where thou haſt … ſourn, and gathered where thou haſt not ſtr…d. But alas all this noiſe is but a noiſe, & all theſe clamours will be ſilenced one day. I ſhall here only make theſe Four Remarks on this Objection, which will ſhew the Unreaſon ableneſs of it.
1. IT is certain God made …an Upright. Eccl. 7.29. I confeſs to have made a Creature for, and enjoyned on it a Service whereof it was not capable, would have reflected on both the Wiſdom & Juſtice of God; and to have puniſhed it in a forinſecal way for ſuch defect, would have been unrighteous; but there was no ſuch thing, nor was it ag…ecable to the holy Nature of God: It is therefore evident by the Renewal al of it, that the Image of God which was conferred on Man at Firſt, had in it all that is requiſite to furniſh him for his Obedience. It was therefore very Juſt to require it of him under Sanctions.
2. THAT God laid Man under the moſt potent Moral Obligations to Maintain his Uprightneſs. He gave him a good Law, it was ſuited to God's Glory, and Man's own Nature; it was that which is by ſanctified Reaſon approved; he ſecured to him entire and endleſs Bleſſedneſs upon his Obedience, and acquainted him with the danger of Diſobeying, and the dreadful Miſery which would enſue; and what could poſſibly have greater Force in it upon a reaſonable Creature, that had the reſentments of Happineſs and Miſery on it?
3. THAT Man … power by … inſa…t. That we all ſtood in our Firſt Father, and accordingly ſell with him, we have formerly obſerved, and the Equity of it hath been vindicated. Now Man's Natural cenſ… muſt witneſs to the juſtice of this. That of ſinful Man hath diſabled himſelf, be cannot thereby make God to loſe His Right, and cauſe to be Glorified by ſuch a Creature; this is an Unreaſonable way to acquit a Man from G…lt, and diſcharge him from Puniſhment. It ſhould put him upon it to ſeek the Remedy: but to excuſe himſelf from Puniſhment on this Score, is ridiculous, Math. 25.20, &c.
4. THAT the Natural Man Sins upon Ch…i…. If he were forced to it by an in…ſiſtible Power, entirely againſt his Wall, there would be ſome Pretence; the ra…d …irgis was acquitted by the Law: But Sinners Act ſpen…ancouſ…y; their own Luſts do hurry them, Jam. 1.14. Every man is tempted, when be is dramn away of his own inſt, and enti…ed. But neither Satan, … Men, not the Objects of Senſe can co…pell them; and that they do C…ſent, is their own Blame; and they are juſtly Charged for it, Acts 5.3. Pe…er ſaid Ananias why hath Satan filled … heart to … to the h…ly Ghoſt? Yea, How … quer…y do Sinners reſiſt the Spirit of God, and …ench His Motions, and ſtifle their own Conſciences? So that they are Inexcuſable.
USE. I. LET this be a ſolemn Watch, word to us againſt the Temptations of Sin. It is none of the leaſt Pleas urged upon us, It is not a Little One? But reflect upon the T…th in hand, and now ſay, H… Little is it? I will expoſe you to the Wroth & Curſe of God in Time and thro' Eternity; and if you can for all count that Little, certainly you are Gr…d in your Minds, and madneſs is in your Fe…ts: Ask then your Souls, Ezek. 22.14. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be ſtreng in the days that I ſhall deal with thee?
USE. 2. LET then the Guilt of the l…ſt Sin drive you to CHRIST, to take away the Curſe from us. We may think we are not ſuch Sinners as others, and pleaſe our ſelves with that: But did we never Sin in a Thought? Have we never omitted a Duty, or tranſgreſſed a Command? Let it tell us, That the leaſt Sin gives us a deadly Wound, and none But CHRIST the great Phyſician can heal us of it. Let it then make us account Him Precious, and make haſt to Him, and Cry as he, Pſal. 41.4 L…rd, be merciful unto me, heal my ſoul, for I have ſinned againſt thee. And reſt not till we have his Sanative Balm poured into our Wound.
[DECEMBER 10. 1706.]