Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

JUDGMENT.]

Equity of future Judgment.

[CHAP. III.

and observe what is done below; it is the defiance of his eternal power, and provoking him to jealousy, as if we were stronger than he. Job xxii.

14.

(2) If we consider the obligations of reasonable creatures to obey his commands, the guilt of sin ses prodigiously. They were made by his power, th this special character of excellency, according his image.' They were happy in his love; they e endowed with intellectual faculties, capable of erstanding and considering their obligations to

bountiful Lord. From hence it appears that sia is the most unnatural rebellion against God; in it there is a concurrence of impiety, ingratitude, perfidiousness, and whatever may enhance crime to an excess of wickedness.

(3) The meanness of the motives which induce men to prefer the pleasing their depraved appetites before obedience to his sacred will, extremely aggravates the offence. Of this we have a convincing instance in the first sin committed upon earth. Deceitful curiosity, flattering pride, a secret pleasure of acting according to his own will, joined with the low attractives of sense, blinded and transported Adam to eat the mortal fruit, against the express command of God; and ever since the vanishing shadows of honour, gain or pleasure, are the only persuasives to sin. And what can be more provoking, than for a trifle to transgress the law of God, and equally despise his favour and displeasure.

CHAP. III.] Can any punishment less than eternal, expiate such impieties? The rules of human justice may discover to us the equity of the divine justice. It is ordained by the wisest states that many crimes which may be done in a few minutes, shall be punished with death, and the offender be deprived of his natural life for ever. And is it not most just that treason against the great and immortal King, should be revenged with everlasting death?

Equity of future Judgment. [JUDGMENT.

(4) That which farther clears the divine justice in punishing sin with hell, is this,-That God by his infallible promises assures us, that all who sin cerely and uniformly obey him shall be rewarded with heaven for ever: a blessedness most worthy the greatness and love of the eternal God to bestow upon his servants; a blessedness that surpasses our most comprehensive thoughts. If everlasting glory be despised, what remains but endless misery to be the sinner's portion. The consequence is remediless. If sin with an eternal hell in its retinue be chosen and embraced, is it not equal that the rational creature should inherit his own choice. How just is it that those who are the slaves of the devil, aud maintain his party here, should have their recompence with him for ever. That those who now say to the Almighty, Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways,' should hear the dreadful Depart from me into everlasting fire.' As there will be no vain boasting in heaven, where the reward is the gift of pure bounty; so there

[ocr errors]

N

[ocr errors]

JUDGMENT.]

Equity of future Judgment.

[CHAP. III.

will be no righteous complaint against God in hell, where the punishment is inflicted by powerful justice. He that voluntarily sins, by consequence chooses the punishment due to it.

(5) The estimation of an offence is taken from the disposition of him that does it. When it is done with pleasure and obstinacy, there is no place for favour; and final impenitence alone makes sin actually and eternally damning to the sinner. Those who notwithstanding all gracious means, live continually in rebellion against God; those who impenitently die in their sins; those who desire to live here for ever, that they might enjoy their sins; those who are so hardened and naturalized in their vices, that if they were revived and brought again into this world of temptations, would certainly return to the pleasures of sin ;-is it not righteous that their incorrigible obstinacy should be punished for ever. Is it not just that those who would continue under the dominion of sin, should forfeit all their claim to the divine mercy; for if we consider them as impenitent and irreclaimable, there are in them the just provocations and true causes of God's final rejection, and hatred. How zealous an indignation did the Son of God express against the obdurate pharisees: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how should ye escape the damnation of hell.' Matt. xxiii. 33. They in despite of all his miracles, the equal expressions of his goodness and power, resisted his authority, blas

CHAP. III.]

Equity of future Judgment.

[JUDGMENT.

Now

phemed his person, and slighted his salvation. though other sins are of an inferior nature, and of weaker evidence, yet obstinacy added to them, makes a person unworthy and incapable of mercy. Hence the misery of the damned is without redemption, without hope, without allay for ever.

CHAP. IV.

The evidence of facts produced as the reason of judgment-All sins whether secret or open, shall be brought to judgment, with all their aggravations The manner of this judicial proceeding is by opening the books of the law and gospel, of men's lives, and of the book of conscience-Satan will be a principal accuser, and the wicked will accuse one anotherThe saints will give testimony against the wickedThe impartiality of the sentence will make the divine justice conspicuous-There will be no distinction of persons in that judgment, but a distinction of causes-Every man shall be judged according to his works The harvest shall be answerable to the sowing of the seed, both in kind and measure.

[ocr errors]

E now proceed secondly, to consider the evidence of facts produced as the ground or reason of the final sentence.

6

The temper of divine justice is very observable in the particular judgment recorded in scripture. In the first process of justice on earth, we read that God made the enquiry of Adam, Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?' Gen. iii 11. And by palpable evidence convinced him before he condemned him. Thus before the fiery vengeance upon the wicked

« ElőzőTovább »