158 SERMONS upon Serm. XXIV. r. The Righteoufnefs of it. 2. The Certainty. r. The Juftice and Righteoufnefs of it ; for many make a queflion about it upon this ground, becaufe between the work and the wages there muft be fome proportion: now how can an Aft done in a fbort time be punifhed with eternal Death, or everlaft- ing Toiments. I anfwer, I. We muft confider the Objea againft whom fin is committed, it is an offence done againft an infinite Majefty. Now finning wilfully againft the infinite Majefty of Hea- ven , deferveth more than any thing done againft a man can do : 1 Sam. 2. 25. If one man fin againft another, the Judge (halljudge him; but if a man fin againfi the Lord, who fbai intreat for him ? Sins againft men are not fo great as fins againft God, and the re- conciliation and fatisfa &ion is more eafie. 2. Confider the Nature of Impenitency in Sin. t. Their great unthankfulnefs for Redemption by Chrift , they forfook their own mercies, and Gods healing grace to the laft : 3oh. 3. r 9. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world , and men loved darkpeff rather than light, becanfe their were evil. Heb. 2.3. How (hall we eft-ape , if we negleJ fo great falvation ? And then when they are in Termino , there is no further Tryal , their time and day of Grace is paft. 2. God offered them eternal Life, and then their foolifh choice is juftly punifbed with eternal Death. Every fin includeth a defpifing of eternal Life 5 for rather than men will leave their brutish and fordid pleafures , that they may live an htily life , they will run this hazard, the lofs of that eternal Life which God offereth , and the incurring thefe eternal pains which he threatneth. This immortal bappinefs far exceedeth all thofe bife pleafures, for which they lofe their Souls. Well then, man wilfully exchan- ging his éverlafling Inheritance for momentany and tranfient pleafures, becometh the Author of his own wo, whilft he preferreth fuch low things before Gods eternal joyful pretence. 2. The Certainty. This Debt will be paid, if we confider, r. The Holinefs of Gods Nature, which inclineth him to hate fin and ¡inners Pfal. 5. 4, 5. Thom art not a God that haft pleafure in wickedneff, neither ¡hall evil dwell with thee. the foolifh (hall not Rand in thy fight , thou hate ft all the workers of iniquity. - They that take pleafure in fin , God cannot take pleafure in them , and if they will not part with fin, God and they mutt part; and therefore if they will do fins work, all that fin bringeth to them, by way of ftipend, is everlafting feparation from the prefence of God, that is, implacably adverfe to all that is evil; and though he hath prepared a place where the holy may dwell with him, yet he cannot endure the wicked thould be fo near him. 2. His Juflice moveth him to punifh it. As Holinefs belongeth to his Nature, fo his Juflice to his Office : his Holinefs is the fundamental Reafon of punithing the wick- ed, his Juflice is the next Cattle. His Holinefs is indeed the fundamental Caufe, as ap- peareth by the fears of Sinners: r Sam. 6. 20. And the men of Bethfhemefb fail, Who is able to Rand before this holy God? And by the fecurity'of Sinners, Plitt. 5o. 2I. Theft things haft thou done, and I kept Pence; thou thonghteft that I was altogether finch an one ae thy Pelf: but the neareft Caufe is his Juflice as Reeeor of the World , declared both in his Laws and Providence : Rom. 1.32. Who knowing the judgment of God , that they which commit fuch things, are worthy of death, &c. Gen. 18.25. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right ? 3. His unalterable Truth, which is firmer than Heaven and Earth : if he threaten, will not he accomplifh? The truth of his Threatnings is as unchangeable as the truth of his Promifes , for in both God is one , I Sam. i5, 29. The ftrength of Ifrael will not lye, nor repent 5 for he is not as man, that he ¡liould repent : it is fpoken in the cafe of depo- fang Saul for his difobedience to God. The doubt is this, Gods Threat nings do not al- ways foretel the Event, they thew the merit, but not the event. I anfwer : The object is changed , but God remaineth for ever the fame : if from impenitent we become pe- nitent, we are not liable to his Threatnings, but objeâs of his Grace, and capable of the benefit of his Promifes : a man walking in a room upward and downward , bath Come - times the wall on his right hand , fometimes on his left 5 the wall is in the fame place, but he changeth pofture. 4. His irrefiflible Power. God is able to inflift thefe punifbments upon them, Deut. 32. 39. There ir none that can deliver out of my hand. 2 Theft: I.9. Who (hall be punijied 0
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