for God requires these Mic. 6.8 but it is a grievous delusion to think that by any such things wee can finde acceptation or bee justified before God No no let a man accompt all the daies of his life that hee hath spent and all the duties that hee hath performed spilt and lost without Faith Christ will tell you this is the work of God that yee beleeve c. Joh. 6.28 29. it is called a work because a work of Gods power and working and a work that hee delights in wee should bee exercised in to take our farewel of the World renounce our selves and to fly to Christ for refuge from the storm of Gods wrath and indignation and to prefer him before all this is the work of faith that takes us off from all our resting on our works and brings us naked unto Christ All other duties are very good in their season and kinde but like Josephs brethren none welcome without a Benjamin No works welcome and pleasing to God without faith which brings Christ God saith without Christ see not my face he would have us put on all Christian graces the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.16 But above all take the shield of Faith Because this plece of armour hath a singular excellency in it above all other because it defends all the rest the breastplate of Righteousness is excellent to keep the heart and the helmet of hope to keep the head but faith must keep both As a broad Shield that quencheth Satans fiery darts at whatever part they bee shot and the truth is there is no grace Satan so much shoots at Luke 22.32 for hereby hee knows wee still prevail against him therefore this is a weapon not only by which wee are said to overcome but the victory it self 1 Joh. 5.4 5. it cannot bee said so of any other weapon therefore above all put on this Now for the attaining of this grace we must know and be convinced 1 That wee have it not by nature In the flesh there dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7.18 and this is a work of the Spirit to convince the World of sin because it beleeves not Joh. 16.8 8. and till the heart bee convinced thus a farther work cannot be expected Luk. 1.53 2 Bee fully convinced that it is the Lord onely that must work it he must draw us or else we will not or can not come to Christ Joh. 6.44 3 Bee convinced of our great unworthinesse that he should bestow it upon us because of our frequent sleighting of Christ and Gadaren-like refusal of him preferring our Swinish lusts before him God gives faith where it may be to the glory of his grace Eph. 1.3 6. 4 Know that beleeving is receiving of Christ in all his Offices and giving up our selves unto his disposal Joh. 1.12 5 Know what a dangerous thing it is to bee mistaken in this Faith there bee many things which the Devil and the World call faith which are not so Act. 8.13 Joh. 2.22 6 That there is no Christ to be received by faith but only in and by the Promises of the Gospel Act. 15.7 he saith the Gentiles should hear the Word of Gods Gospel and beleeve So Eph. 1.13 Oh make much of Promises search them hide them in your hearts look for Christ in them think much on them and turn them into Prayers this it may bee will bee meant by the hiding the treasure Mat. 13.44 45. 7 Bee perswaded that the Promise carrieth Christ when the Spirit of God spreads it and applies it and works with it in the publick Ministry Rom. 10.17 2 Cor. 3.18 Otherwise it may bee said why may I not bee contented with reading at home but know that the Ministry is the Ministry of the Spirit and the Spirit works in it Hence Ministers are said to justify their hearers Dan. 12.3 Quest But will any conviction serve to work faith Answ The Spirits conviction goeth farther than any humane Joh. 16.8 10. that will reach to the heart for it is unresistible 1 Thess 1.5 Our Gospel came not unto you in word only c. this Spirit of Illumination is strong for it subdues all and transforms all 2 Cor. 3.18 Oh then bee instant constant and fervent in prayer for this good Spirit of his for it is promised to them that ask it Luk. 11.13 Now to shut up this use for the attaining this pretious grace I shall commend to you the consideration of one place it is of Act. 17.11 12. where it is said The Bereans were more noble or better disposed than they of Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so therefore many of them beleeved Where observe how the Bereans attained unto faith 1 They attended carefully on the publick Ministry 2 They did this with all readiness of mind though they being Jews Pauls Doctrin was contrary to them yet they laid aside all prejudice against it and heard with readiness It is a great matter to have a minde to the Gospel this was their better disposition 3 They were not contented with the publike Ministry alone but in private they searched the Scriptures daily they did not onely now and then repeat Sermons but made it their work daily to search the Scriptures and that judiciously and with consideration Neither was it any disparagement to Pauls Ministry to bee tryed by them but an honour to it and credit to bee found to bee exact according to the Scriptures And it is not the least part of Christian Wisdome to be often trying of and setting home upon his heart a profitable truth till hee hath fixed it there and driven the nail to the head 4 It follows many of them beleeved not a few but many and therefore they beleeved God gave this great blessing to their diligent attention and frequent search of the Scripture so that many beleeved both of men and women And sure if any of us do the like wee shall speed as they did It is to perswade and exhort beleevers still to keep on the exercise of faith to maintain this good estate of Justification Exhort 2. To beleevers Faith is of constant use for their continued Justification and the comfort of that estate Gal. 2.16 Even wee have beleeved in Christ Jesus that wee might bee still justified by the faith of Jesus Christ It is observable that is spoken of Abraham Gen. 15.6 that hee beleeved God and it was accounted to him for righteousness though doubtless hee beleeved before upon the calling out of his own Country but at this time hee is said to be justified by faith because the Holy Ghost would give a singular Testimony to his faith at this time for his own and our comfort When God made him a Promise of seed when Abraham and Sarah were both very aged and so an unlikely thing had he not beleeved God who promised Faith therfore justifies at all times it
c. whereas a false heart is ever joyned with a great deal of Carnal confidence will not bee beaten off but that all is well and sound with him hee will not indure the weight of a faithful Ministry nor abide the light of it it dazles his eyes It breeds much peace to him to say That Preaching is for mony and Gods Ministers are deceivers and so despiseth the Ministry and Word too 4 The poor beleever offers himself to the good will and pleasure of Christ inquiring into it with resolution to do whatsoever the Lord requires of him So it was wont to bee in young converts as in Paul Act. 9.6 who said Lord what wouldest thou have mee to do He means that he would do any thing that the Lord should appoint him So it was Act. 12.37 and Act. 16.30 where there are the like Examples as they are not afraid to shame themselves for sins past so their hearts are fixed for the future to imbrace in judgement and practice every duty commanded Let the false heart come to this touchstone and hee will appear counterfeit Oh! how will hee cavil against any strickt truth hee will never be perswaded that men are bound to such precisenesse to sanctify the Sabbath to dayly family-duties and secret prayer or to restitution in case of theft or couzenage and doth wittingly and willingly reject all the word that agrees not with his own judgement and fancies 5 The weakest faith purgeth the heart from the love and allowance of every known sin Act. 15.9 and works inward sanctification in the beginnings of it Act. 26.18 Indeed there are some common gifts of sanctification in Temporaries and such as after become Apostates Heb. 5.7 but their hearts were never truely broken off from Sin Comfort Use 3. It is comfort to every true beleever that justification is by faith and unspeakeable ground of rejoycing to him that there is so great a blessednesse bestowed upon a poor sinner Such an one as comes absolutely from Election and tendes undoubtedly to Salvation Rom. 4.6 2 Thess 2.13 Rom. 18.1 2 3. yea what a removal is there of the great fears and terrours of the Almighties wrath and displeasure Know therefore all you poor beleevers that your persons are justified and your services accepted in Christ Jesus and nothing for condemnation can be ever charged upon you So that I may say with the Psalmist Bee glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye just and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Psal 32.11 Object What need we to comfort beleevers cannot they take their comforts easily enough home to themselves Answ Presumption wants no comfort it will soon catch at that which doth not belong to it but beleevers indeed especially weakones have great need of comfort Comfort ye comfort ye my people c. Isa 4.01 he means that his people have great need of consolation in this point Remember how it was with Job himself Job 9.16 though hee had called and God had answered him yet he would not beleeve that God had hearkened to his voice And David too though Nathan had told him that the Lord had put away his sin that hee should not dye yet how earnest was he Ps 51. for pardon which state befals beleevers not only upon their relapses but even upon their upright walking before God and God will make them to know that not onely Faith and Justification but also the comfort of a justified estate is the free gift of God 2 Cor. 1.3 and they shall finde it true that although it bee easy for nature to consent to justification by works yet it is hard to close with mercy in a way of free grace The consolation therefore will be very great to them in these two particulars 1 It is a Comfort in the poor services they do Comforts and the weakness of their duties And this is one of Satans strong Temptations whereby hee seeks to trouble their peace hee first tempts to set light by Christ and his righteousnesse and to seek justification by our own works and then hee will trouble us with the many fallings of our duties and performances Thou hearest so unprofitably and prayest so deadly and poorly and art so pinching in good works that thou canst not be justified But beloved Beware that you hang not your comforts upon your duties but on Christ reneived by faith as the Publican Luke 18.14 Rom. 9.3 yea the Gentiles that followed not after righteousness viz. of their own have attained unto righteousness even that which is of Faith This therefore is a beleevers comfort in all his imperfect and weak performances that these are not his righteousnesse wherby he expects to be justified but the righteousness of Christ most spotless and perfect is that which hee builds upon Object But are not good works required of justified persons Answ Yes as the fruits of faith and justification but not as the merit of it Gal. 3.6 Tit. 3.7 8. when hee saith wee are justified by Grace hee moreover addes That it is a faithful saying and these things I will that ye affirm constantly that they who have beleeved in God might bee careful to maintain good works Neither is that obedience that is required of Beleevers a strict and exact conformity to the Law as it doth in it self require and demand as Legal obedience but Evangelical obedience which stands in the desire resolution and indeavour to obey Gods revealed will 2 If wee were justified by Faith then it is not the strength of faith that justifieth the Beleever or assurance but it is simply his faith if it bee true though it bee weak that which troubles many a beleever is that hee wants assurance and some evident feeling of Gods mercy or sight of it now faith is opposed to so a clear a sight 2 Cor. 5.7 and is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 Excellent is that Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses lifted up the Serpent c. where faith is compared to the Israelites eye now it was not the strong sight of the Brass that healed them but the weakest would do it So it is with Faith and therfore though Christians should labour for strong Faith yet let them not bee discouraged at the weakness of their faith Vse 4. Exhortation and Direction to all sorts of persons to attain unto and maintain this grace of faith 1 To unjustifyed persons those that have not faith to make it their main-task and daily business and to imploy the strength of all their indeavours to obtain Faith and Justification thereby Reconciliation is of wonderful worth It is true wee ought to incourage poor sinners when they begin to reform their lives and leave their base courses Drunkennesse Scorning c. when these become like hot Iron and scalding Lead in their fingers it is some beginning of mercy to such a soul and it is a farther degree when they come to do justly and to love mercy and live peaceably
duties are to bee done though they doe not justifie That howsoever thy good works are not enough to justifie and save thee thy evil works are enough to damn thee Rom. 2.9 2 Thess 2.12 That they might all bee damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse let all prophane wretches consider it that take pleasure in drunkenness and loose conversation that gibe and jeer at all holiness and means of grace There is room enough in Hell for every one that doth evil and especially who living under the Gospel yet delight in wicked courses It is sure thy evil works are perfectly evil and will condemn thee but thy good works are not perfectly good therefore cannot justifie thee nay thy prayers are abominable Prov. 13.8 As the best diet is not able to make a man immortal yet poyson hath strength enough quickly to dispatch him 2 They that doe thus abuse Gods grace in Christ let them know that as any sin allowed is enough to condemn them so this is a sin of unconceiveable hainousness and out of measure sinful to incourage themselves to sin by the grace of God in Christ That whereas Christ came into the world to destroy the works of the Devil they make Christ the means to maintain the works of the Devil and say Wee will therefore sin because grace abounds Rom. 6.1 but the Apostle saith with detestation farre be it Oh despisest thou the riches of Christ Rom. 2.4 thou who livest within the bounds of the Gospel preached where the Angels descended from Heaven to hear and rejoyce in the free grace of God and his righteousnesse dost thou despise it then thy prophaneness is not bare prophaneness but there is a treasure of vengeance in it and thou that wilt neglect publick private and secret duties because they cannot justifie thee art not only wickedly prophane but treasurest up the greatest wrath and indignation that Law and Gospel can provide for a sinner Therefore pray that if it be possible the thoughts of thy heart may bee forgiven thee 3 Let all such Objectors and Cavillers at grace know that it is carnal confi ence in our own righteousnesse or in the means of grace that is a sin that toucheth Gods Crown that turns all our righteousness into filthiness and withdraws the blessing from the means and hinders the benefit and comfort of them The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind Prov. 21.27 The Jewes followed after the Law of righteousness yet attained not unto it the reason is because they followed after a false righteousness and so brought all their sacrifices with wicked hearts But those things which were gain to Paul he accounted loss for Christ Phil. 3.7 that is when ever hee put any confidence in them he counted that he lost by them and so assuredly wilt thou Obj. 2. Again some men will say Why should wee hear and pray and sanctifie the Sabbath continue in sin we may not and it seems the doing of duties will doe us no good what good shall we have by all our righteous courses and what profit is it to walk mournfully and holily before the Lord and what use is there of all other services if we cannot be juslified by them Ans Yea there is a great use of them and much good to had by them I will not inlarge this now but take a few things for your present satisfaction See Tit. 3.4 5. where the Apostle tells us of the appearing of the kindnesse and love of God towards us for justification by Free Grace and then a man might say to what purpose is good works injoyned if not for justification He addes vers 14. Let ours learn to maintain good works for necessary uses So there are uses and necessary uses for our good works though they are uselesse as to justification So that it is as if a man should say What shall I doe with my mony seeing I cannot eat it and my house seeing I cannot carry it about c. but no reasonable man will argue so but will say I can buy meat with my mony and dwell in my house c. So there are other necessary uses for which Gods works are to bee maintained though they justifie not 1 God will meet thee in the way of good works Isa 64.5 Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy ways Is it nothing to meet with God and to have fellowship with him in his ways worship and ordinances 2 God shall have a great deal of glory by it Bee filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Phil. 1.11 3 You your selves shall have much benefit thereby Thy righteousnesse may profit the Sons of men Job 35.8 though it cannot profit God Of the Imputation of Christs Righteousness THE ONE AND TWENTIETH SERMON ON Rom. 3.21 22. But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ Vse 2. IT is for trial of our Justification be fore God which is of the greatest concernment in the world to be cleared to our Consciences and it was the greatest question in Jobs time Job 25.4 How shall a man bee justified with God How shall it be truly it is only by imputed Righteousnesse and if we can prove this imputation upon good grounds wee are justified and shall be glorified Q. How may we groundedly conclude that Gods righteousnesse it imputed to us Tri. Trials of imputed righteousnesse 1. It appears by our pulling down of mans righteousnesse It is the nature of it to throw down all other righteousnesse as to the businesse of Justification It is an undoubted effect of the ignorance of Christs righteousnesse to goe about to establish our own righteousnesse Rom. 10.3 now the phrase is taken from the setting up of a King 1 Sam. 15.11 or the setting up of a God as a Chron. 25.24 besides submitting our selves to the righteousnesse of God implyes as much viz. the soveraignty or rule that Gods righteousnesse requires of Sinners and the Apostle saith Gods Kingdome stands in it Now this pulling down of mans righteousnesse it is as the pulling down of one Magistrate and setting up another in his stead as Isa 22.19 and when hee is down from his place and dignity no man will respect him or expect any Government or Power from him so in this case the beleever gives no respect to or makes any account of his own righteousnesse he looks at it as drosse and dung as Paul did he expects no acquittance or discharge by it from his sin or any healing vertue in it But on the contrary whatever sins a Justitiary commits or lives in hee thinks with himself hee can heal himself again at pleasure by some services hee can perform He will
runs away from Christ and his People and Ordinances and can rejoyce when hee is furthest from Communion with him or can be content with beholding Christ afar off or conceit he hath enough of Christ already this is to bee far from Christ and from beleeving Caut. 6. Take heed that we bar not our selves out from Imputed Righteousnesse by inventing or pleading some pretence distinction or difference to exclude us as to say that it is the greatness and multitude of our sins shall hinder us or the imperfection of our duties and services or the littlenesse of our humiliation or the fewnesse of our good works declaration of his righteousness which is mentioned and repeated as a principal matter that the Spirit of God would have us take notice of the which is amplified First by an Exegosis or Explication Secondly By the adjunct of time to declare at this time c. This latter remains to be spoken to Quest What is meant by the Righteousness of God here Answ This is needful to bee opened because it is certain that Righteousnesse is ascribed to God in several respects and significations Righteousness of God the father taken four waies Divines do usually reduce them to four significations First That the Justice or Righteousness of God doth signify his Rectitude and Integrity and Purity as it is opposed to sin Psalm 11. vers the last the Righteous Lord loves righteousness his countenance doth behold the just It was said before vers 5. The Lord tryeth the Righteous but the wicked his soul hates c. This is usually called universal Justice and comprehends all virtues or moral perfections in it Secondly It is taken for the Mercy Goodness bounty of God whereby hee bestows many benefits on his Creatures 1 Sam. 12.7 Samuel saith to Israel Let mee reason with you of the Righteous Acts of the Lord which the Lord did in Egypt sending Moses and Aaron to them and bringing them out of Egypt and in the 45. of Isa 13. The Lord raiseth up Cyrus in Righteousnesse that hee should build up Jerusalem and let go the Captives and his thus sending of Moses and Aaron and raising up of Cyrus were signal Acts of his Mercy Thirdly The Righteousnesse of God signifies his Truth and constancy in keeping his Word and fulfilling his Promises 1 Joh. 1.19 If wee confess our sins hee is just and faithful to forgive c. Not that hee will forgive meerly for our confession of them as if there were any thing in the Act of confession to deserve forgiveness but 't is because hee is faithfull hee hath promised to forgive them and so will bee as good as his word Isa 45.19 I said not unto the seed of Jacob seek yee mee in vain I the Lord speak Righteousness that is this I have promised and I will do it Fourthly Gods Righteousness signifies that perfection of God whereby hee distributes to every one according to their works rewarding the godly and punishing the wicked Psal 9.7 8. The Lord hath prepared his Throne for Judgement and hee shall judge the world in righteousness The Lord is there described as the Judge of all the World and so judging righteously every person So also the Word is taken Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the righteous judgement of God that they that do such things are worthy of death and the word is rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies righteous Judgement and that is to punish with death them that are worthy of it Nahum 1 2-6 So Jerem. 51.56 The Lord God of recompence shall surely requite you I will not further inlarge this but still the Question remains which of these waies the righteousnesse of God is taken in this place for it is manifest that the righteousnesse of God is in all these respects evidenced in the Justification of a sinner for First There is the Truth and Faithfulnesse of God Luk. 1.69 70. Hee hath visited us as hee spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets c. So Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witnesse c. Secondly His Mercy and Goodnesse doth appear in our Justification This David hath recourse unto in Psal 51.1 2. Bee merciful unto mee and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquities But I conceive the Apostle doth intend onely the first and last sense for they are not contrary I mean Gods rectitude and his distributive or his relative and vindictive justice but are co-ordinate and the one doth infer the other but especially his vindictive justice is meant in the Text and this appears first because the Apostle had mentioned before both his Grace and Free grace in the forgiveness of our sins and also the imputation of righteousness vers 24. and his Truth too vers the 21. This was testified in the Law and the Prophets therefore now he speaks of another distinct Attribute of God namely his Justice Secondly The Apostle addes several Expressions to signify this as first hee saith that hee might bee just and the Justifier they are Conjugates and relate to the proper meaning of the word Justice which is suum cuique tribuere The Justifier of him that is of man who is unjust So that the Apostles meaning is the Lord justifies a sinner in a way of Justice Secondly Hee saith that God would declare his Justice in the way that hee proposes for the sinners Justification Thirdly Hee doubles the words to declare his Righteousness implying this that God would have us to take special notice of it for it is as much as if the Apostle should have said there is not onely Mercy and Truth in a sinners justification but there is also Justice in it The Lord declareth his justice in this thing and therefore it is that the Father set forth Christ to bee a Propitiation that hee might declare his Righteousness If the Lord had said Well ye are great and grievous sinners I am content to forgive you all your sins this would have declared the grace of God But when hee saith also that this is through the redemption that is in Christ and that hee hath set forth Christ to bee a Propitiation and that the blood of Christ was shed for thy sins this doth declare his Justice as much as his Truth and Grace Fourthly There is another expression to this purpose To declare I say at this time what is that but in the times of the Gospel since that Jesus Christ hath shed his blood for though the Justice of God was but darkly signified in the Old Testament by the Types of the Sacrifices and punishments inflicted yet it was far more clearly held forth by the Death of Christ and that the chastisement of our peace was on him Fifthly Adde to all these the like phrase used in other Scriptures declaring the justice of God 2 Thess 1.5 6. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God c. and vers 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with
and clear when thou judgest David was now all for justifying of God in whatsoever hee said and did and so should wee Let us take heed of entertaining such thoughts as do rise up against the justice of God 't is a great sin to fly out against the Justice of civil Courts as is the practice of some The Prophet Isaiah speaks of a sad time wherein hee lived Chap. 59.4 None calls for justice nor any pleads for the truth Amos 5.10 They hate him that rebuketh in the Gate this is a horrid crime to bee against the Justice of the Magistrate but wee speak now of a higher matter which is the justice of God himself and to be against this is to bee against God himself for Gods Justice is his very Name and being It were well if they would consider this who do so vehemently decry the preaching of the Law whereas every wise and sober Christian knows 't is his duty to love the strictest commands of God and that they are very useful to keep him from sinning against God Psal 119.11 I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee and so in another place By the words of thy mouth saith David I have kept mee from the paths of the destroyer And as some are against the strictnesse of the Commands so others are offended at the severity of Gods threatnings Amos 7.10 The Prophet there denounced the judgements of God against Jeroboam and Amaziah said The Land was not able to bear his words and hee must bee gone from Bethel vers 12.13 How harshly did the chief Priests and Pharisees resent those threanings of Christ Luk. 20.16 when Christ there told them that the Lord of the vineyard should destroy the cruel Husbandmen and give the vineyard to others they said God forbid and as it was with them so it is with the people with whom wee have to do in our ministry God forbid say they that there should bee so much severity in God as Ministers speak of but beloved is not preventing justice pretious justice and preventing Physick the best doth it not argue much tenderness in a father to threaten the Rod to his Childe if hee shall adventure to come near to a pit where hee may bee drowned So I say of the judgements of God as they are all righteous and just when they are executed upon Gods Enemies so they are for the prevention of sin in his Children wherefore instead of slandering the Justice of God or repining at it let us justify his waies Lam. 3.39 40. Why doth the living man complain a man that suffereth for his sin Let us search and try our waies and turn again unto the Lord. The drowning of the Old World the burning of Sodome with fire and brimstone the destruction of Jerusalem seems harsh to flesh and blood and some there are that quarrel against and are not afraid to deny the eternity of Hell torments and yet wee are not displeased with a man that kills a brood of Serpents or a kennel of wolves and why Because there is an antipathy in our natures against such harmeful Creatures Now thus it is in Case of sinning against God sin is contrary to Gods nature and Gods nature is contrary to sin if fire burns fuell who blames it or wonders at it and why it is the nature of fire so to do and it is the nature of the holy God to hate sin Psal 119.137 Righteous art thou O Lord and upright in thy judgements Conclusi 3. If there bee so much evil in sin Wonder at Gods patience in forbearing sin then wonder at the patience of God in forbearing of thee thus long and grow to a self-abhorring and see what an indispensible necessity lies upon every soul for to bee deeply humbled for sin and turned universally from it even whilst it is called to day take notice of that Jerem. 8.8 No man repenteth of his wickedness saying what have I done and let that place bee verified in us Zach. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they have peirced and mourn Mr. Calvin interprets that place of God the Father and there may be a truth in it that each person is pierced by our sins Oh! Therefore Mourn as for an onely Sonne and let us bee ashamed that wee can mourn for every petty loss or cross Yea suppose it were the loss of an only Son but cannot mourn at our peircing of Jehovah If a man had brought confusion or destruction upon the whole Creation yet this were infinitely short of the evil of sinne that is a wearinesse to God himselfe Isaiah 1.14 The Lord there complaines of the sinnes of his people though they did so many costly duties that hee was weary to bear them what cannot the infinite God bear them and can a sinful heart bear them Yea how dare a poor wretch live wilfully one hour in sin when as hee knows that God will not pardon it without great Repentance But here perhaps hee will shift or pervert some Scripture or another to palliat his Conscience But now if wee thorowly understand and consider the Argument I am upon wee can finde out no way to escape punishment for our sinnes If this bee true that God cannot in justice pardon sin without punishment God will punish all our sinnes either in our own Persons or in our Surety When I say God cannot let sin pass unpunished the Reason is because God cannot do that which is contrary to his Nature nor change his Nature it were a contradiction to conceit this It is said in the second of Timothy 2.13 God cannot deny himself c. And shall a Sinner then dare to live one hour in such an estate that if God do not or cannot deny himself if hee dye in it hee shall infallibly bee damned Doe not go away now and say as the people did of Ezekiel Chapt. 20. verse the last Do they not say of mee O Lord God doth not this man speak Parables But Friends this is no parable that I Preach but a plain Truth and undeniable and therefore if you are rational you must needs yeeld to the strength of these things 4 If there bee so much evil in sin then let us set our strength against it and all the temptations of Satan whereby by hee labours to draw us into it I might here tell you of the danger of sinne how that death is the wages therof and that eternal fire shall bee the portion of all impenitent sinners But Brethren it is a stronger Argument when I tell you that it is contrary to God and this is true not only of great sinnes but also of small as it is sin those little sinnes as wee term them even vain thoughts Jer. 4.14 and Idle words Matth. 12.36 do expose you to Eternal Wrath not onely a prophane Conversation but also a vain Conversation will prove thy destruction without a Redeemer and therefore Christ dyed for this end to redeem