A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 62 (Question 19)
SERMON LXII.
QUESTION XIX.
WH…t is the Miſery of that …ſtate where…to Men fed:
ANSWER.
All Mankind by their Fall loſt Communion with God, are under His wrath and curſe, and ſo made liable to all the Miſeries in this Life, to Death it ſelf, and the pains of Hell for ever.
II. HERE we have an account of the ſecond part of the puniſhment, namely, the miſery, under which the Apoſtacy hath brought Adam and all his poſterity. A ſinful ſtate is indeed in it ſelf a miſerable ſtate; to be carnal and ſold under ſin is a woful infelicity; but when we ſpeak of ſin and miſery, A Tributively, the latter intends the unhappy fruits of ſin: as thoſe effects whereof this is the m…ral cauſe, by which man is become wretched. And theſe fall under our preſent conſideration. I am not now to prove, that theſe things are befallen mankind, by reaſon of the firſt ſin; or to give account of the equity that is in it, that hath been done already, under another head. My preſent buſineſs is to lay open this forlorn ſtate, and give it its true colours, that ſo we may know what we all are out of Chriſt; it being a conviction neceſſary in order to our ſerious enquiry after ſalvation by Him.
THIS Anſwer like the former, is rather a diſtribution than a definition; directing us to thoſe heads unto which this miſery is to be reduced. And here we are to obſerve two things,
1. The condition that man is in from whence thoſe miſeries derive.
2. The miſeries themſelves that derive from it.
I. THE condition that man is in, from whence theſe miſeries derive. And this conſiſts in the relation that he ſtands in unto God, who as lie is the object and author of all the bleſſel…ſs of the creature, ſo He is the principal agent in all the puniſhment that is inflected on them for ſin: which relation is expreſt, 1. P…icly, they have leſt, &c 2. P…ſurvely, they are under, &c. And needs muſt their miſery be great beyond co…cepti…, whoſe ſtate is ſuch as this. To the former of theſe we may refer the puniſhment of l…ſt to the latter the puniſhment of ſenſe, as Divines expreſs them. I ſhall begin with the former.
1. THE privative part of this miſery is that he hath …ſt Communion with God, and … the…o belongs the whole puniſhment of l…ſ; we may take a brief account of it, in theſe following particulars.
1. THAT God is the objective happineſs of the reaſonable creature. Every being that is capable of happineſs, muſt have an object to make it ſo. God who is abſolutely the firſt Being, is His own object, and conſequently His own felicity, the ſecond Being muſt have its happineſs from abroad, and therefore its object muſt be out of it ſelt, and every one is not ſufficient, becauſe nothing elſe will happify, but that which can give compleat ſatisfaction, which no other Bei…g is able to do for the reaſonable creature, but God alone. Hence that, Pſalm 73.23. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides that. There is nothing elſe that can, for ſuitableneſs, for fulneſs for duration, anſwer all the reachings of ſuch a Being; as hath been fully evinced under the firſt queſtion.
2. THAT hence mens actual felicity muſt needs derive from Communion with this Object. Active bleſſedneſs is properly a reſultancy from the cloſing of the faculty with its object, and deriving from it that which giveth it ſatisfaction: except there be a participation in it, and the continued influence of it upon the ſubject, it is not happy. Hence though there is enough in God to make all bleſſed yet all are not …ally ſo, and the reaſ…n …s not for want of ſufficiency in H…m, but becauſe they have not this communion with Him Hence that, Pſal 3…. …. F…r w…th t…e … fountain of life … in … g…t … ſee light if then, th…y be … in this light, they cannot ſee it, or enjoy it. A…d therefore every diſtance from G…d as a m…ſery. Pſal. 73.27. For …o, t…ey that are f… from thee ſhall periſh. This communion is nothing elſe but God's gracious communication of Himſelf to the creature, and its living upon it.
3. THAT the ground of t…s communion, was man's union to God, in the covenant of life. All communion requires an anſwerable union, on which it is founded. There is an infi…i…e diſtance and diſproportion between God and the creature, in reſpect of Beings, ſo that there can be no natural union between them; but God was pleaſed to take man near to Him in the covenant that He made with him, in which He promiſed him to be his God, and his portion, if he would take Him as ſo, and accordingly live upon Him alone. A covenant people, are on this account ſaid to be near unto God, Pſal. 148.14. In this covenant way God and man were to have an everlaſting friendſhip and fellowſhip.
4. HENCE the bond of this union being broken, by man's ſin, this c…mmunion was alſo interrupted and violated. For, as God had engaged Himſelf to man to be all to him that he could any way want, on condition that he would reſt ſatisfied in Him, and yield obedience to Him, ſo he threatned to reject and caſt him off, in caſe he did otherwiſe. Theſe terms were the bond of the covenant, and as long as they abode inviolate, that remained firm; but when once they were gone from, the covenant was now broken, and man fallen under the threatning of it. God and he were fallen out, and could walk together no longer. Amos 3.3. Can two walk together except they be agreed? This puts an end to that glorious fellowſhip.
5. THE miſery ariſing from this is very great and manifold. That privations, or loſſes may make the ſufferer of them miſerable, is not to be denied, in as much as felicity conſiſts in fruition; ſo, that if we ſeperate him from his object, we thereby cut him off from his actual happineſs; and what is miſery, if this be not? Now this union being broken, it hence follows.
(1.) THAT man hath loſt God's favour. And this one thing is the abſtract of all miſery. What ſaith the Pſalmiſt on this account? Pſal. 30. 5. In his favour is life. And. 63.3. Thy loving kindneſs is better than life. What a loſs then is ſuſtained by falling out of this? God had a great favour for man at firſt, and gave eminent teſtimonies of it, in that he took him ſo near Himſelf, entertained him in ſuch a covenant, made ſuch liberal promiſes to him, not only put the viſible creation in ſubjection to him, but alſo appointed the glorious Angels themſelves to be miniſtring ſpirits for him. But now he is put out of this favour, he hath loſt it, and as a token of this, G…d turned Adam out of Paradice, where He manifeſted Himſelf to him, and guarded the pla…e againſt him with Cherubims and a flaming Sword.
(2.) HE hath alſo loſt all the benefits, which ſhould have … from this favour. There were unſpeakable kindneſſes that He had laid up with Him, to have beſtowed upon man, in caſe he had kept His favour, but by falling out of that, he hath loſt them all. And here, in general, he hath loſt the claim to all that good which was laid up in the covenant promiſe. It was life, that was promiſed, in oppoſition to the death that was threatned; and that life comprehended in it innumerable and unknown benefits, both for body and ſoul, for time and eternity; and he might have called them his own, and made a challenge of them as ſuch, upon the credit of that promiſe. But now he hath no claim at all; the obedience unto which they were connected is gone, and by that means he hath nothing to ſhew for them. God Himſelf is now no longer his God, though He be his maker; and having loſt his God, he muſt needs looſe all that is good: but what his loſs hereby is in particular, will fall under the ſecond head; when we come to conſider the miſeries themſelves deriving herefrom.
2. THE poſitive part of this miſery is, that he is under God's wrath and curſe. And to this refers all the puniſhment of ſenſe. We may here conſider,
1. What we underſtand by God's wrath and curſe?
2. That man is become very miſerable by falling under them.
1. WHAT we understand by God's wrath and curſe?
A. WE may take a ſhort account of them ſeverally.
1. THE wrath of God is His revenging Juſtice, inclining Him to take vengeance on ſinners, according to their deſerving. Anger and wrath are aſcribed unto God frequently in Scripture, not as if He had any ſuch affections or paſſions in Him; but becauſe he doth ſuch things in His providence, as among men are the uſual effects of ſuch an affection; but they refer to his relative Juſtice, of which we have formerly had an account. Only let us here call to mind, that this juſtice exerts it ſelf to men, according to the reſpect they bear to the rule of it, Rom. 2.6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds. They are ſuppoſed to come under either the promiſe or threatning, and juſtice is concerned in both. With reſpect to the former it is called rewarding, to the latter reverging juſtice. This latter is called His anger and wrath, becauſe He herein makes it appear, how diſpleaſing ſin is to Him He verifies the truth or that, Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look of iniquity. This wrath then is co…trary to His Favour, and c…mes in upon the removal of that; ſo that it is impoſſible for a creature to fall out of His Favour, but it muſt upon it fall under His Diſpleaſure. And it is a ve…y r…ghte…us wrath, it is nothing elſe but what ſi…ers juſtly deſ…rve for their ſin. 2. Th…ſ. 1. …. For, ſince that ſanction of the law a which this was threatned is juſt, the execution of it muſt needs be ſo too.
2. THE Curſe of God is properly the ſentence whole falls upon man for ſin, which binds him …ver to ſ…ffer acc…rding to the Law. We may here co…ſider the curſe either as to the matter or ſ…m of it.
(1.) AS to the matter of it, it contains und…r …t all the evils that is comprehended in the Threatning. It is ſummed up in that one word, d…ath, Gen. 2.17. The word uſed, Gal 2.1…. ſignifies a thing that is devoted to all di…eful miſchie…s. And the word frequent…y uſed in the Old Teſtament is of the ſame …mport. The curſe then, is made up of every thing that God hath ſaid He will teſtify His wrath in, againſt ſinners; (of which we may take a diſtinct account hereafter;) o…ly here obſerve, that there are innumerable evils comprehended under it; and therefore it is often expreſſed in the plural, Curſes, & we have an account of a fearful ro…l that was full of them, in Zech… begin.
(2.) IN reſpect of the form of it: it is properly the ſentence falling upon the man, whereby he is bound over to ſuffer theſe evils. It is the condemnation which comes in upon guilt, which man contracted to himſelf by his ſin. What that guilt is, we have been already told; …o…r the difference between that, and the …ſe lies here, Guilt is that which makes the man obnoxious to the law in reſpect of the threatning, he is by it fallen under that condition; now the Curſe is the ſentence it ſelf, which comes in immediately upon that Guilt, and is inſeperable From it: by guilt the man lies open to the curſe, and therefore this preſuppoſeth that; and upon it, it takes hold of him, and dooms him to ſuffer all that which he hath merited by his ſin; he is now devoted, as the malefactor, after the Judge hath paſt a ſentence upon him, is a man dead in law.
2. THAT man is become very miſerable by falling under this wrath and curſe. Here two things
(1.) THAT all men are in their natural ſtate under …heſe. How they came to be under theſe, and that righteouſly, hath heretofore been made evident: that they are certainly ſo, the Scripture is clear for it, Eph. 2.3. Were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. And hence we have that, Pſal. 7.11. God is angry with the wicked every day. And for the curſe, Gal. 3.10. For as many as are of the w…rks of the law, are under the curſe, for it is written, Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the … and them. That God ſhould be angry at ſin, a … for it, proceed from His H…lineſs by w…ch He is bound for His own gl…ry, and ca…t bear with that which ſets it ſelf agai…ſt … as all ſin doth. R…m. ….…3. He…ce we have ſuch a declaration of it, Pſal. 5.4, 5. For thou are not a God that hath pleaſure in wickedneſs: neither ſhall evil dwell with th…e. The fooliſh ſhal… not ſtand in thy ſight, thou hateſt all the workers of iniquity. That they muſt needs be under the curſe! How, upon their relation to that covenant and becoming tranſgreſſors of it; becauſe God engaged Himſelf to to the ſanctions of that covenant, and He is a God of Truth, ſo that a man can no ſooner become a ſinner, but that curſe takes hold of him, and dooms h…m to ſuffer all that is contained in it: ſo that the Apoſtle makes fallen man's being under the law, and under the curſe inſeperable, Ga…. 2.10.
(2.) THAT by their being under theſe they are very miſerable. What elſe is miſery, b… a ſuffering of ſuch things, as are afflictive and deſtructive to the creature? and ſuch certainly are thoſe things that are contained in the curſe, and are the effects of God's wrath; as will appear convincingly, when we ſhall come to rip them up, and lay them open. Here only in general, I ſhal endeavour to clear it up in the following remarks.
1. THAT God d…th all things like Himſelf. All God's works of efficiency are deſigned by Him, to be the diſplays of His glory; He is in them making Himſelf known to be God; and that is by the manifeſtation of His Divine Perfections, ſo as that the reaſonable creature may be led by the things that are ſeen to diſcern and adore Him. Rom. 1, 2…. Which that they may do, it is requi…e that He ſo work, as no other Being doth … can. Hence is the Pſalmiſt's acknowledgment, Pſal. 86.10. For thou art great and … est wondrous things; thou art God a… Herein alſo Chriſt evidenced His Deity, wh… by His works He forced that confeſſion from them, Mat. 14.33. Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
2. THAT hence whatſoever attribute He deſigns to declare. He wi…l give it its luſtre. God is made known to us in His back parts; thoſe Perfections which are in Him one and the ſame God, are variouſly diſplayed … us: accordingly there are ſome works i… which He deſigns the more peculiar dicovery of one, …nd in ſome another of theſ… Perfections. Hence that, Rom. 9.22, 23. What if God, willing to ſhew his wrath, and … make his power known, endured with much la… ſuffering the veſſels of wrath fir…ed to deſtru… on: And that he might make known the rich… of his glory on the veſſels of mercy, which he … …ſ…re prepared unto glory? Now His infini… Wiſdom contrives every one of theſe ſuita… to the purpoſe, and His mighty hand pe… forms forms them accordingly. And hereupon are thoſe two things aſcribed to His whole efficiency, Iſai. 28.29. Wonderful in counſel and excellent in working. And this they celebrate him for, Exod. 15.11. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, amongſt the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holineſs, fearful in praiſes, doing wonders!
3. IT muſt therefore needs be a terrible thing to be under the wrath of this God. The wrath of God is that whereby He is ſet againſt the creature, and engaged to do it hurt, and when He once comes to declare Himſelf to be ſo, it is enough to fill it with conſternation. Hence that, Ezek. 5.8, 9. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold I, even I am againſt thee, and will execute judgments in the midſt of thee, in the ſight of the retires. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like; becauſe of all thine abominations. Joſh. 24.20. If ye forſake the Lord, and ſerve ſtrange gods, then be will turn and do you hurt, and conſume you, after that be hath done you god. And when He is thus ſet, and gives way to his anger, it is moſt dreadful; ſee what He himſelf ſaith of it, Deut. 32.41, 42 If I whet my glittering ſword, and mine band take b…d on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them … me. I will make mine arro…s drunk with bled (and my ſword ſhall devour fleſh) and that with the blood of the ſtain, and of the … from the beginning of revenges upon the …y. And what a reſentment holy … have had of it, Pſal. 76.7. Thou, even th… art to be feared, and who may ſtand in thy … when once thou art angry? Heb. 10.31: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Surely nothing leſs than r…n can befall thoſe that muſt meet Him as a God taking vengeance.
4. THE execution of God's wrath conſiſts in the ſulf…ing of the curſe upon ſinners. So that by reading over the curſe, and taking an account of the contents of that, we may know what is like to be the portion of thoſe on whom-His wrath muſt fall. For, ſince God's wrath is nothing elſe but the application of His revenging Juſtice to the ſubject … is fallen under it, it muſt have an eye to and take its meaſure from the t… of Juſtice, which is the law with reſpect to the threatning; in which threatening is contained the whole curſe, and it is to be collected from it.
5. THE things contained in the curſe are fearful things. There is nothing there but what carries conſternation in the aſpect of it: it is enough to aſtoniſh the creature to read it over. What ſaith David? Pſal. 119.120. My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am e…d of thy judgments. We have a ſhort …me containing but ſome of them, and that ſuch as are the leaſt, Dent. 28 15, &c. And yet who can read them ſeriouſly without horror? but there are ſuch as are more terrible on record in the book of God. Nature cannot but relent, and look at them with abhorrence; needs then muſt it be ſwallow… ed up of miſery, when it is ſeized on by them.
6. GOD ſtands firmly obliged by the Curſe. Not only muſt He needs be diſpleaſed at fin, becauſe it ſets it ſelf againſt his glory, which His Holineſs will not ſuffer Him to part withal; but he doth by the curſe ſtand bound to the execution according to the tenor of it: for what elſe is it but a declaration of his holy will, and a paſſing ſentence upon the creature according to that law, which he confirmed to man in a covenant; and having declared it, His truth and immutability ſtand to ratify it, and he will not go back from his word. This we have aſſerted in this reſpect, 1 Sam. 15.29. And alſo the strength of Iſrael will not lie, nor repent: for he is not a nan that be ſhould repent. And our Saviour Chriſt hath told us, Mat. 5.18. For verily I ſay unto you, till heaven and earth ſaſs, one jot or one tittle ſhall in no wiſe paſs from the law, till all be fulfilled.
7. HENCE theſe that are under God's wrath and curſe have Him certainly for their enemy. God loves his friends, and though he may ſometimes be angry with them, yet they are not the ſubjects of his wrath and fury, as all who are under the curſe, are; but wicked men are called God's enemies, Pſal. 37. 20. And he is always engry with them, Pſal. 7.11. And if that be not a miſery with a witneſs, to have the infinite, eternal, almighty; holy and righteous God armed againſt them to their deſtruction, what can be reputed ſo? We are told, that whiles we are in our natural ſtate, we are enemies, Rom. 5.10. And if a man find his enemy, will he not deſtroy him? And ſhall not God do ſo?
8. HENCE to fall into God's bands as an enemy, contains the quintiſcence of all miſery in it. There is every afflictive evil contained in it; and that in the height and tenor of it; for as the man is, ſo is his ſtrength; what is He then who is God? And when He comes to meet His foes in His fury, He will not do it as a man? As there is no eſcaping, for whether ſhould he flee from an Omnipreſent God? ſo there is no enduring. Exek. 22.14. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be ſtrong in the days that I ſhall deal with thee. Him therefore our Saviour gives us warning to be afraid of, Mat. 10.28. Fear Him which is able to deſtroy both ſoul and body in bell.
USE. I. LET this be a word of ſolemn awakening to convince ſinners of the preſent miſery that is upon them. It may be, for the preſent, you are under the patience of God, and the miſeries which are the portion of ſinners are not fallen, in their full weight, upon you, and you begin to bleſs your ſelves, and ſay, the bitterneſs of death is over; but come hither, and think on the things but now repreſented, and ſay, whether ſuch as you are be not in a forlorn condition. And it concerns Children as well as others. Know then, that if you are Adam's poſterity, and ſtill under his Covenant, as all unconverted ones are, this is your real ſtate; there is an entire breach between God & you, You have no fellowſhip with Him, you are far from Him, at an everlaſting diſtance; you are the ſubjects of his wrath, and ſtand juſt in the way of the floods of his indignation; you are the very butts ſet up for Him to ſpend his arrows upon … you are curſed creatures, devoted to direful deſtruction, and muſt needs therefore be in danger of it every moment; and is this a condition to be quiet and contented in? can you live a night longer thus? can you go up and down Jocund and merry for all this, as if you ailed nothing? ſurely madneſs muſt be in your hearts, Hence,
USE. II. LET this conſideration make Chriſt precious to you, and drive you apace to Him. Bleſs God that you hear, that there is a city of refuge, and that you are invited to repair to it from the avenger of blood: that there is a Saviour that can reconcile you to God, and reſtore you to communion with him, and remove you from under his wrath and curſe, and bids you to come unto him, that he may do it for you. Let the terror of the Lord then perſwade you; be afraid of his wrath and vengeance, and let that fear give wings unto you, that you may, with preſent ſpeed, betake your ſelves to his wings for refuge, left the curſe ſhould overtake you, and fall in its weight upon you, and then there will be no remedy.
[JULY 11. 1693.]