2 S E R M O N S upon Ser m. I. 2. That this is the portion of the true Chriflìan, or fuch as are inChri ft. 3. Theft who are in Chrifi obey not the inclinations of corrupt Nature, but the motions of the Spirit. Éirft, It is a great priviledg not to .bç obnoxious to cogylen/vation : The is no cóá - demnation to them that are in Cbjill. To under(tapd this, you mull confider, Firft, What condemnation importeth. Secondly, Bow came roe by this exemption. 1. What condemnation importeth : The terror of it is unfpeakable, when 'cis fuffici- ently underltood ; and therefore, by confequence, our exemption and deliverance from it is the greater mercy. In the general. Condemnation is a fentence dooming us to punithment. Now parti- cularly for this condemnation, 1. Confider, whofe Sentence this is; there is Sentencia Legis, and Sententia judicis, the Sentence of the Law, and the Sentence of the Judge. The Sentence of the Law, is the Sentence of the Word of God: and that is either the Law of Works, or the Law of Grace. The damnatory .Sentence of the Law, concludeth all under the curfe, for all are under fin, Gal. 3. to. For da many as are under the works of the law, are under the curfe : for it is written, Curled is he that continueth not in all things that are written in the bookof the Law, to do them. So all the World is guilty before God, Rom. 3. 1e. But the Gofpel, or the Law of Grace, denounceth damnation to thole that believe not in Chrifi, and obftinately refufe his mercy, Mar. 16. 16. he that believeth not, (ball be damned : and alto againft them that love not Chrifi, and obey him, 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord jefus Chrifi , let him be accurfed This is the Sentence of the Law. But then there is Sententialudicis, the Sentence which the Judg paffeth upon a finner : and is either, 1. The ratifying of that Sentence which the word denounceth, be it either Law, or Go- fpel ; for what is bound in earth, is bound in 'heaven ; and God condemneth thole,whom his Word condemneth : fo that for the prefent, wicked men have a Sentence againft them, they are all caft in Law, condemned already, as it is John 3. 18. If men were fen - fcble of their danger, they would be more earneft to get the Sentence reverted and repealed, before it were executed upon them; they are not lure of a days refpite ;'cis a (cupid dulnefs , not to be afLhted with this woful condition ; there is but a fiep be- tween them and death, and they mind it not. 2.. As pronounced and declared: So it {hall be at the laft day by the Judg cif all the Earth, Aar i7. 30. Fècaufé he kath appointed a day in which he will judg the world in righteoufnef . And 2 Thef' i. 8. He fhiall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on all then: that lenoro not God, and obey not the Gofpel. Then the Sentence is full and folemn, pro- nounced by the Judg upon the Throne, in the Audience of all the World. Then 'tis final and peremptory, and puts men into their everlafting eltate. And then 'cis prefently executed; they go away to that eftate to which they are doomed: Of this the Scripture fpeaketh, John 5. 39. they that have done evil, (hall arife to the refrrrertion of damnation. It is miferable to be involved in a Sentence of condemnation by the Word : Now that (huts up a dinner as in a Prifon, where the Door is bolted and barred upon him, till it be opened by Grace. But doleful will their condition be, who are Condemned by the final Ses terce of the judg, from whiçh there is no appeal , nor efcape , nor deli- verance. a. Confider, The punifliment to which men are condemned : and that is twofold,Eit her the pena damn, the lots of an heavenly Kingdom; they are flint out from that: But the children of the kingdom fha/l be cafi out into utter darknefs: there /hall be weeping and gnaf,¡iing of teeth. Matth. 8. 12. Or pana fenfus, the torments and pains they (hall indure, (eaiJed the damnation of hell ) Matth, 23. 33. Both together are fpoken of, Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me ye turfd into everlafiing fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Words that lhould cut a Benner to the heart, if he had any feeling of his condition; now to be exempted from condemnation to this punifhmenr, is the greater mercy. 'Tis enough to heighten in our thoughts the greáteft fink of the Love of God, that we are freed from the curfe, that Jefushath delivered us from wrath to come, 1 Theft. I. to. that we are as brands plucked out of the burning; but much more when we confider that we (hill be admitted into Gods Blefled prefence, and fee him as he is, and be like him, t John 3. 2. And for the prefent, that being juflifed by faith, we fhould be made heirs according to the hope of Sternal life, Tit. 3. 7. The Apo(tle expreffeth both parts of the deliverance
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