Sin Brings a Person Low
"And were brought low for their iniquity." Psalm 106:43
If the Scripture is a spiritual garden, as Chrysostom said, the book of
Psalms is a choice knoll in this garden, set with fragrant flowers. Luther
called the Psalms, "a little Bible". The Psalms make sweeter music, than
ever David's harp did. They are calculated for every Christian's condition
—and may serve either for illumination or consolation.
In this Psalm, David sets down the SINS of the people of God.
First, their sins in general. Verse 6, "We have sinned with our fathers."
The examples of fathers are not always to be urged. Shall we not be wiser
than our fathers? Fathers may err. Sometimes, it is better for a son to
take his land from his father—than take his religion from his father, 2
Chronicles 29:6.
Second, David makes a particular enumeration of their sins.
1. Their forgetfulness of God. Verse 13, "They soon forgot His
works." Or, as it is in the original—they made haste to forget his works.
The Lord wrought a famous miracle for them, verse 11. He drowned
Israel's enemies—and Israel drowned His mercies. Our sins and God's
kindnesses, are apt quickly to slip out of our memory. We deal with God's
mercies as with flowers. When they are fresh, we smell them and put
them in our bosom. But within awhile, we throw them away and mind
them no more. They made haste to forget His works.
2. Their inordinate lusting. Verse 14, "They lusted exceedingly in the
wilderness." They were weary of the provision which God sent them
miraculously from heaven. They grew dainty. They wept for quails. They
were not content that God should supply their needs—but they would
have Him satisfy their lusts also. God let them have their requests. They
had quails—but in anger. "He sent leanness to their souls." In other
words, He sent a plague whereby they pined and consumed away.
3. Their idolatry. Verse 19, "They made a calf in Horeb." They framed
for themselves a god of gold and worshiped it. The Scripture calls idols "a
shame," Hosea 9:10. For this, God disclaimed them from being His
people. Exodus 32:2, "Your people have corrupted themselves." Formerly
God called them His people—but now He does not say to Moses "My
people," but "your people."
4. Their infidelity. Verse 24, "They did not believe His Word—but
murmured." They did not think that God would subdue their enemies and
bring them into that pleasant land which flowed with milk and honey.
And this unbelief broke forth into murmuring. They wished
they had made their graves in Egypt, Exodus 16:3. When men begin to
distrust God's promise—then they quarrel at His Providence. When faith
grows low—murmuring grow high. For these things, God stretched out
His hand against them, as it is in the text, "And they were brought low for
iniquity."
The words branch themselves into two parts.
1. Israel's misery. "They were brought low." Some expositors translate it,
"They waxed lean." The Hebrew and Septuagint render it, "They were
humbled."
2. The procuring cause of it, "for their iniquity."
Doctrine. The proposition resulting from the text—is that sin brings a
person low. Psalm 147:6, "The wicked, He casts down to the ground."
Jeptha said to his daughter when she met them with timbrel and dancing,
Judges 11:35, "Alas my daughter, you have brought me very low." So a man may say to his sin, "Alas, my sin—you have brought me very low!"
Sin is the great leveler. It brings a family low. It cuts off the pillars of the
family. 1 Samuel 2:29, "Why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings?"
Verse 31, "I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my
priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None
will live to a ripe old age." Which threatening God made good when He
cut off Eli's two sons and took the other sons from the priesthood.
Sin brings a kingdom low. 1 Samuel 15:19, "Why did not you obey the
voice of the Lord—but did evil in His sight?" Verse 28, "The Lord has torn
the kingdom of Israel from you this day!"
Sin breaks the foundation of church and state. Hosea 13:1, "When
Ephraim spoke, men trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became
guilty of Baal worship and died." The tribe of Ephraim carried a majesty
with it and was superior to the ten tribes. When Ephraim spoke, he struck
an awe and terror into others—but when he became guilty of Baal
worship—he died. When once he fell from God by idolatry, he degraded
himself of his honor. His strength and glory came to nothing. Now every
puny adversary insulted him, as the timid rabbit will tread upon a dead
lion.
Among the many threatenings against sin, is Deuteronomy 28:43, "You
shall sink lower and lower." And in the text this threatening is
exemplified and made good, "They were brought low for their iniquity."
That I may amplify and illustrate the proposition, I shall show:
How many ways sin brings a man low.
Why sin must bring a man low.
II. WAYS which sin brings a man low
1. Sin brings a man low—in God's esteem. The sinner sets a high
price upon himself, Proverbs 26:16—but God has low thoughts of him—
and looks upon him with a despicable eye. Daniel 11:21, "The next to
come to power will be a despicable man." Who was this spoken of? It was
Antiochus Epiphanes. He was a king, and his name signifies "illustrious,"
and by some he was worshiped. Yet in God's account he was a despicable
person. The Psalmist speaking of the wicked says, "All alike have become
corrupt," Psalm 14:3. In the Hebrew, it is "they are become stinking."
That you may see how low a sinner is fallen in God's account, the Lord
compares him to dross, Psalm 119:119; to chaf , Psalm 1:4; to a pot
boiling with scum, Ezekiel 24:6; to a dog, 2 Peter 2:22, which under the
Law was unclean; to a serpent, Matthew 23:33, which is a cursed
creature. Nay, he is worse than a serpent, for the poison of a serpent is
what God has put into it—but a wicked man has that which the devil has
put into him! Acts 5:3, "Why has Satan filled your heart?"
A sinner has a high opinion of himself. But if he knew how loathsome and
disfigured he was in God's eye—he would abhor himself in the dust!
2. Sin brings a man low in his intellectual parts. Sin has ruined
the rational part. Darkness is upon the face of this deep. Since the Fall,
the lamp of reason burns dim. 1 Corinthians 13:9, "We know but in part."
There are many knots in nature, which are not easy to untie. Why should
the Nile overflow in summer when, by the course of nature, waters are
lowest? Why should the loadstone rather draw iron than gold—which is a
more noble metal? "Where is the path to the origin of light? Where is the
home of the east wind? Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?" Job 38:24-25. "How do the
bones grow in the womb?" Ecclesiastes 11:5. Many of these are mysteries
which we do not understand. The key of knowledge is lost in the tree of
knowledge.
We are especially enveloped with ignorance in sacred matters. "The
sword is upon our right eye," Zachariah 11:16. What a little of the sea will
a nutshell hold? How little of God will our intellect contain? Job 11:7,
"Can you find out the Almighty unto perfection?" Who can fully unriddle
the mystery of the Trinity or fathom the mystery of the the divine and
human natures of Christ? And alas, as to the plan of salvation, and hearttransforming knowledge—we are totally blinded—until God's Spirit lights
our lamp! 1 Corinthians 2:14.
3. Sin brings a man low in affliction. That is the meaning of Psalm
107:39, "They were brought low for their iniquity." Adam's sin brought
him low; it banished him out of paradise. 2 Chronicles 28:18, "In those
days, God cut Israel short." Sin makes God cut a people short in their
spiritual and civil liberties. Sin is the womb of sorrow—and the grave of
comfort! Sin turns the body into a hospital. It causes fevers, ulcers, and
cancers.
Sin buries the name, melts the estate, pulls away near relations like limbs
from our body. Sin is the trojan horse out of which a whole troop of
afflictions comes. Sin drowned the old world—and burnt Sodom. Sin
made Zion sit in Babylon. Lamentations 1:8, "Jerusalem bath grievously
sinned, therefore she is removed." Sin shut up God's affections.
Lamentations 2:21, "You have killed and not pitied." Israel sinned and
did not repent—and God killed and did not pity. Sin is the great humbler.
Did not David's sin bring him low? Psalm 38:3, "There is no rest in my
bones because of my sin." Did not Manasseh's sin bring him low? It
changed his royal crown into fetters, 2 Chronicles 33:11. For sin, God
turned great King Nebuchadnezzar into an animal, "He ate grass like a
cow—and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way
until his hair was as long as eagles' feathers and his nails were like birds'
claws!" Daniel 4:33.
Sin is like the Egyptian reed—too feeble to support us—but sharp enough
to wound us. Jeremiah 2:16, "Egyptians have utterly destroyed Israel's
glory and power." The Egyptians were not a warlike but a womanish
people, imbecilic and weak, yet these were too hard for Israel and made a
spoil of her. Verse 17: "Have you not brought this on yourselves by
forsaking the Lord your God?" Is it not your sin, which has brought you
low?
Nay, sin not only brings us low—but it embitters affliction. Sin puts teeth
into the affliction. Guilt makes affliction heavy. A little water is heavy in a
lead vessel—and a little affliction is heavy in a guilty conscience.
4. Sin brings one low in melancholy. This is a black humor seated
chiefly in the mind. Some have dreadful and dismal forebodings.
Melancholy clothes the mind in sable. It puts a Christian out of tune, so
that he is not fit for prayer or praise. Lute strings will not sound when
wet, nor can one under the power of melancholy make melody in his
heart to the Lord, Ephesians 5:19. When the mind is troubled, it is unfit
to go about work.
Melancholy disturbs reason—and weakens faith. Satan works much on
this temper. It is the bath of the devil. He bathes himself with delight in
such a person. Through the black spectacles of melancholy, everything
appears black. When a Christian looks upon sin, he says, "This Leviathan
will devour me!" When lie looks upon ordinances, these will serve to
increase his guilt. When he looks upon affliction, his gulf will swallow
him up! Melancholy creates fears in the mind. It excites jealousies and
imprisons. I may allude to Psalm 53:5, "They were overwhelmed with
dread, where there was nothing to dread."
5. Sin brings a man low in spiritual plagues. It brings many a one
to a seared conscience—and to spiritual lethargy. Isaiah 29:10: "The Lord
has poured out upon you the spirit of a deep sleep—and has closed your
eyes." Men are brought low indeed when the sound of Aaron's bell will
not awaken them. No sermon will stir them. They are like the
blacksmith's dog—which can lie and fast sleep near the anvil when all the
sparks fly about. Conscience is in a lethargy. Once a man's speech is gone
and his feeling lost—he draws on apace to death. So when the checks of
conscience cease and a man is sensible neither of sin nor wrath—you may
ring out the death bell. He is past hope of recovery. Thus some are
brought low, even to a reprobate sense. This is the threshold of
damnation.
6. Sin brings a man low in temptation. Paul began to be proud—
and he had a messenger of Satan to buffet him, 2 Corinthians 12:7. Some
think it was a visible apparition of Satan tempting him to sin. Others, that
the devil was now assaulting Paul's faith, making him believe he was a
hypocrite. Satan laid the bomb of temptation—to blow up the fort of his
grace! And this temptation was so sore that he called it "a thorn in the
flesh." It put him to much anguish. Such temptations, the godly often fall
into. They are tempted to question the truth of the promises—or the truth
of their own graces. Sometimes they are tempted to blasphemy,
sometimes to self-murder. Thus, they are brought low; they are almost
gone and ready to give consent. The devil nibbles at their heel—but God
wards off the blow from their head.
7. Sin brings one low in desertion. This is a deep abyss indeed.
Psalm 88:6, "You have laid me in the lowest pit."
Desertion is a short hell.
Song of Solomon 5:6, "My beloved has withdrawn himself and was gone."
Christ knocked—but the spouse was loath to rise off her bed of sloth and
open to Him immediately. When the devil finds a person sleeping—he
enters. But when Christ finds him sleeping—He is gone. And if this Sun of
righteousness withdraws His golden beams from the soul, darkness
follows.
Desertion is the arrow of God shot into the soul. Job 6:4, "For the
Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. He has sent his poisoned
arrows deep within my spirit. All God's terrors are arrayed against me."
The Scythians, in their wars, used to dip their arrows in the gall of asps
that their venomous poison might torture the enemy all the more. So the
Lord shot His poisoned arrows of desertion at Job, under the wounds
whereof his spirit lay bleeding.
God is called a light and a fire in Scripture. The deserted soul feels the
fire—but does not see the light. So dreadful is this that the most
tormenting pains—are but a pleasure, compared to it. All the delights
under the sun, will administer no comfort in this condition. Worldly
things can no more relieve a troubled mind—than a silk stocking can
ease a broken leg. Psalm 88:15, "I have suffered your terrors and am in
despair." Luther, in desertion, was close to dying. "He had no color seen
in his face, nor was heard to speak—but his body seemed dead," as one
wrote in a letter to Melancthon.
8. Sin brings many low in despair. This is a gulf which none but
reprobates fall into. Jeremiah 18:11, "You said, there is no hope." Despair
is a devouring of salvation. It is a millstone tied about the soul—which
sinks it in perdition. Despair looks on God not as a Father—but as a
judge. It refuses the remedy. Other sins need Christ; despair rejects Him.
It closes the orifice of Christ's wounds—so that no blood will come out to
heal. This is the voice of despair, "My sin is greater than the mercy of God
can pardon!" It makes the wound broader than the plaster.
Despair is a God-affronting sin. It is sacrilege; it robs God of His crown
jewels—His power, goodness, and truth. How Satan triumphs to see the
honor of God's attributes laid in the dust, by despair! Despair casts away
the anchor of hope—and then the soul must sink. What will a ship do in a
storm without an anchor? Despair locks men up in impenitency. I have
read of one Hubertus who died despairing. He made his will after this
manner, "I yield my goods to the King, my body to the grave, my soul to
the devil." Isaiah 38:18, "They that go down into the pit, cannot hope for
Your truth." They who go down into this pit of despair cannot hope for
the truth of God's promise. And this despair grows at last, into horror and
raving.
9. Without repentance, sin brings a man into the bottomless pit
—and then he is brought low indeed! Sin draws hell at its heels. Psalm
9:7, "The wicked shall be turned into hell." Not to speak of the
punishment of loss, which divines think is the worst part of hell: the
being separated from the beatific sight of God, "in whose presence is
fullness of joy," Psalm 16:11. The punishment of sense is bad enough.
The wrath will come upon sinners to the uttermost, 1 Thessalonians 2:16.
If when God's anger is kindled but a little—and a spark of it flies into a
man's conscience in this life, it is so terrible—what will it be when He stirs
up all His wrath? Psalm 78:38. How sad was it with the infidel Spira,
when he only sipped of the cup of wrath. He became a madman. His flesh
wasted away—and he became a terror to himself. What is it then to lie
steeping in hell?
Some may ask, "where is hell?" But as Chrysostom said, "Let us not be
inquisitive where it is—but rather let our care be to escape it." But, to
satisfy curiosity, hell is some infernal place. It lies low. Proverbs 15:24:
"Hell beneath."
The PLURALITY of hell torments. In bodily sickness, it is seldom
that more than one disease at a time, troubles the patient. But in hell,
there is a diversity of torments. There is:
1. Darkness, Jude 13. Hell is a dark region.
2. There are bonds and chains, 2 Peter 2:4. God has golden cords,
which are His precepts tying men to duty. But He also has iron chains,
which are partly His decree in ordaining men to destruction; and partly
His power in bridling and chaining them up under wrath. The binding of
the wicked in chains, notes that the damned in hell cannot move from
place to place, which might perhaps a little alleviate and abate their
misery; but they shall be tied to the stake never to stir. The wicked could
go from one sin to another—but in hell they shall not move from one
place to another.
3. The worm which never dies, Mark 9:44. This is a self-accusing
conscience, which is so torturing, as if a worm full of poison were
gnawing at a man's heart! Such as would not hear the voice of conscience
—shall be made to feel the worm of conscience!
The SEVERITY of hell torments. It is expressed by a lake of fire,
Revelation 20:15. Fire is the most torturing element.
Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace was but a painted fire—compared to hellfire! It is called a "prepared fire," Matthew 25:41, as if God had been
sitting down to devise some exquisite torment. Dives cried out, "O I am
tormented in this flame!" Luke 16:24.
1.
The torments of hell shall be in every part of body and soul.
The BODY shall be tormented. That body which was so tender and
delicate, that it could not bear heat or cold—shall suffer in every part! The
eyes shall be tormented with sights of devils, the ears with the hideous
shrieks of the damned. The tongue that was fired with passion, shall now
have fire enough! Luke 16:24: "Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of
his finger in water and cool my tongue!"
All the powers of the SOUL shall be tormented. The mind will
comprehend divine displeasure. The memory will remember what
mercies have been abused, what means of grace have been slighted—and
what a heaven is forfeited! The conscience shall be tormented with selfaccusations. The sinner shall arraign himself for stifling and resisting the
motions of the blessed Spirit.
The wicked shall not only be forced to behold the devil—but shall be shut
up in the den with this roaring lion—and he shall spit fire in their faces!
The wicked shall hear the language of hell. Revelation 16:9: "Men were
scorched with heat—and blasphemed the name of God." To hear
reprobates cursing God and have one's ears chained to their oaths and
blasphemies—what a hell will this be!
2. The torments of hell have no end put to them. Origen falsely
imagined a fiery stream in which the souls of sinful men, yes, devils and
all, were to be purged—and then pass into heaven. But the Scripture
asserts that whoever is not purged from sin by Christ's blood (1 John 1:7)
is to lie under the torrid zone of God's wrath to all eternity! Revelation
14:11, "The smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever!" The
word "forever" burns hotter than the fire! At death, all our worldly
sorrows die—but the torments of hell are as long-lived as eternity!
Revelation 9:6, "They shall seek death—and shall not find it." Always
dying—but never dead. Here on earth, the wicked thought a prayer was
long, a church service long, Amos 8:5—but how long will it be to lie in hell
forever!
3. The pains of hell are without intermission. If a man is in pain,
yet while he is asleep he does not feel it. There is no sleep in hell. What
would the damned give for one hour's sleep? Revelation 4:8. "They have
no rest, day nor night." In outward pain, there is some abatement. The
burning fit is sometimes off and the patient is more at ease than he was.
But the damned soul never says, "I have some ease." Those infernal pains
are always acute and sharp; there is no drop of water to cool the tongue,
in the agony of this fire!
4. In hell, the wicked shall see the godly advanced to a kingdom
—and themselves bound up to eternal misery! Luke 13:28, "Then
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God—and you
yourselves thrust out!" When sinners shall see those whom they hated
and scorned—set at Christ's right hand and crowned with glory—and
themselves cast out to the devils; nay, when the ungodly shall see those
whom they abused and persecuted sit as their judges—and join with
Christ in condemning them. How will this aggravate the misery of this
hellish crew—and make them gnash their teeth for envy? 1 Corinthians
6:2, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?"
5. In hell, the wicked shall have none to sympathize with them.
It is some comfort to have friends condole us in our sufferings—but the
damned have none to compassionate them. God's mercy will not pity
them. God's mercy abused—turns to fury. God the Father will not pity
them; He will laugh at them. Proverbs 1:26, "I will laugh at your
calamity!" Is not this sad, for a damned soul to lie roaring in flames and
have God sit and laugh at him! Jesus Christ will not pity the wicked. They
slighted His blood—and now His blood cries against them! The angels
will not pity them. It is a desirable sight to men, to see God's justice
glorified. The saints in heaven will not pity them. They were continually
persecuted by them—and "The righteous will be glad when they are
avenged!" Psalm 58:10.
Nay, such as were their nearest relations on earth, will not pity them. The
father will not pity his child in hell; nor will the wife pity her husband.
The reason is, because the glorified saints have their wills made perfectly
subject to God's will—and when they see His will is done—they rejoice,
though it is in the damning of their near relations.
Does not sin, then, bring men low—when it brings them to hell! Ezekiel
32:27, "They are gone down to hell." Thus I have shown you how many
ways sin brings one low.
III. WHY sin must bring a man low
1. Because sin is a disease—and that brings low. Take the healthiest
constitution, the most robust complexion, yet, if cancer gets into it, it
brings the body low. The beauty withers. The silver cord begins to be
loosed. So it is in spiritual things. The soul which was once of an orient
brightness, the mind angelified, the will crowned with liberty, the
af ections as so many seraphims burning in love to God—yet by sin, it has
become diseased, Isaiah 1:6—and this disease brings it low. The soul has
fallen from its pristine dignity. It has lost its noble and sublime
operations—and lies exposed to the second death.
2. Sin must bring a man low, because the sinner enters into
war with God. He tramples upon God's law and crosses His will. If God
is of one mind, the sinner will be of another. He does all he can to spite
God, Jeremiah 44:16, "We will not listen to your messages from the Lord!
We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense to the Queen of
Heaven and sacrifice to her just as much as we like!"
The same Hebrew word for sin, signifies rebellion. Now, can the Lord
endure to be thus saucily confronted by proud dust? God will never let his
own creature rise up in arms against Him. He will pull down the sinner's
plumes—and bring him low! God is called El Elim, the mighty of
mighties. When the angel wrestled with Jacob, he touched only the
hollow of his thigh, Genesis 32:25. But when God wrestles with a sinner,
He will tear them apart, "Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack
them and rip them open. Like a lion I will devour them; a wild animal will
tear them apart!" Hosea 13:8. The Apostle said, "It is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God!" Hebrews 10:31. It is good to fall into
God's hands, when He is a friend—but it is dreadful falling into His
hands, when He is an enemy.
3. Sin must bring a man low because the sinner labors to do
what he can to bring God low. He has low thoughts of God. He
slights His sovereignty, questions His truth, looks upon all God's
promises as a forged deed. The sinner, therefore, is said to despise God,
Numbers 11:20.
Again, the sinner lessens God and brings Him low in the thoughts of
others. Ezekiel 8:12, "Have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing
with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, The Lord doesn't see us;
He has deserted our land!" Do but secure yourselves from man's eye—
and as for God's taking notice of sin—you need not trouble yourselves.
"The Lord doesn't see us; He has deserted our land!" Zephaniah 1:12, "I
will search with lanterns in Jerusalem's darkest corners to find and
punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to the Lord,
thinking he will do nothing at all to them." That is—you need not fear
punishment.
Malachi 2:17, "You say—Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s
sight—and He is pleased with them. Where is the God of justice?" Here
they blemish God's sanctity. That is, "God is not so holy—but He bears as
much favor to the wicked as to the good." "Where is the God of justice?"
Here they tax His justice. It is as if they had said, "God does not order
things rightly. He does not weigh matters impartially in an equal
balance." "Where is the God of justice?" Thus a sinner eclipses the glory
of the Godhead—and labors to bring God low in the thoughts of others.
And besides, he does what he can—to extirpate God. He wishes there
were no God. He says, "Get out of the way! Rid us of the Holy One of
Israel!" Isaiah 30:11. A wicked man would not only unthrone God—but
"kill" God. If he could help it, God would no longer be God. Now, if a
sinner is this impious as to endeavor to bring God low, no wonder if God
brings him low. Nahum 1, "I will prepare your grave, for you are vile!"
That is, "I will bring you (O Sennacherib) from the throne to the tomb. I
will kick you into your grave." And Obadiah 4, "Though you soar as high
as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing
down. I, the Lord, have spoken!"
4. Sin must bring a person low, because sin is the only thing
God has an antipathy against. The Lord does not hate a man because
he is poor or despised. You do not hate your friend because he is sick. But
that which draws forth the keeness of God's hatred is sin. Jeremiah 44:4,
"Do not do this abominable thing which I hate." Now, for anyone to
espouse that which God's soul hates, it must undo him at last. Is that
subject likely to thrive, whom his king hates? The cherishing and
countenancing of sin makes the fury come up in God's face, Ezekiel 38:16.
And, if His wrath is once kindled, it burns to the lowest hell. The Psalmist
said, "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell
with everlasting burning?" Isaiah 33:14.
5. Sin must bring the sinner low, because it exposes him to
God's curse—and God's curse blasts wherever it comes. "If you do not
obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and
decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and
overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your
womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your
herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in
and cursed when you go out." Deuteronomy 28:15-19 The curse of God
haunts the sinner wherever he goes. If he is in the city, it spoils his trade.
If he is in the country, it destroys his crop.
God's curse drops poison into everything. It is a moth in the closet, a
plague among the cattle, rot among the sheep. If the flying scroll of
curses enters into a man's house, it consumes the timber and walls of it,
Zechariah 5:4. When Christ cursed the fig-tree, it immediately withered,
Matthew 21:19. Men's curses are insignificant—they shoot without
bullets. But Numbers 22:6 says, "I know that those You bless are blessed
—and those You curse are cursed." God's curse kills, Psalm 37:22, "those
cursed by Him will be destroyed." If all God's curses are leveled against
the sinner—then he must be brought low!
Use #1. Information
Branch
1. See then from this that God's punishing either a person or a
nation is not without a cause. A father may chastise his son out of a bad
temper, when there is no cause—but God never punishes without a just
cause. He does not do purely to show His sovereignty, or because He
takes pleasure to bring His creatures low. Lamentations 3:33, "He does
not willingly bring affliction," or, as it is in the Hebrew, "from the heart."
But there is some impellent cause. "They were brought low—for their
iniquity."
Cyprian writes this concerning the persecution of the Church under the
Emperor Valerian. "We must confess that this sad calamity, which has, in
a great part wasted our churches, has risen from our own internal
wickedness—for we are full of avarice, ambition, emulation, etc."
Jeremiah 4:17, "They surround her like men guarding a field, because she
has rebelled against Me." As horses or deer in a field are so enclosed with
hedges and so narrowly watched that they cannot get out, so Jerusalem
was so besieged with enemies and watched that there was no escape for
her without danger of life. Verse 18, "Your own conduct and actions have
brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it
pierces to the heart!"
As we used to say to children when they were sick, "This is because of the
green fruit you have eaten, or from your going out in the snow," so God
says, "This is because of your wickedness." Jeremiah 30:15, "Why do you
cry out about your affliction? Your pain has no cure! I have done these
things to you because of your enormous guilt and your innumerable
sins!" The sword which wounds you is of your own whetting! The cords
that pinch you are of your own twisting! Thank your sin for all this! 1
Corinthians 11:30, "For this cause many are sick, and weak, and many fall
asleep." The Church at Corinth was punished with physical death,
because of coming unworthily to the Lord's Table and profaning the body
and blood of the Lord.
The abuse of holy things incenses God. Nadab and Abihu found the
flames of wrath hot about the altar! Leviticus 10:1-2. So that there is still
a cause why God brings any person low. There is no reason why God
should love us—but there is a great deal of reason why God should punish
us. "They were brought low—for their iniquity."
Branch 2. See from this what a mischievous thing sin is—it brings a
person and a nation low. Hosea 14:1, "You have fallen by your iniquity."
Sin lays men low in the grave—and in hell too, without repentance. Sin is
the Achan which troubles. It is the gall in our cup and the gravel in our
bread, Proverbs 20:17. Sin and punishment are linked together with
adamantine chains! Sin sets the world on fire. It is a coal which not only
blackens—but burns! Sin conjures up all our afflictions. All the crosses
which befall us, all the storms in conscience—sin raises them! Never let
anyone think to rise by sin, for the text says that sin brings him low.
Sin first tempts—and then damns! It is first a fox—and then a lion! Sin
does to a man—as Jael did to Sisera. First she brought the milk and butter
to Sisera—then she pounded the tent peg through his head! Judges 5:26.
Sin first brings us pleasures which delight and charm the senses—and
then comes with its hammer and nail! Sin does to the sinner, as Absalom
did to Amnon. When his heart was merry with wine—then he killed him,
2 Samuel 13:28. Sin's last act is always tragic!
How evil a thing is sin that it not only brings a people low—but it makes
God delight in bringing them low. Ezekiel 5:13, "When My anger is spent and I have vented My wrath on them—I will be comforted." God does not
take delight in punishing. Judges 10:16, "His soul was grieved for the
misery of Israel." He is like a father who chastises his child with tears. But
God was so provoked with the Jews, that it seemed a delight to Him to
afflict. "When My anger is spent and I have vented My wrath on them—I
will be comforted." Oh, what a venomous, accursed thing sin is—which
makes a merciful God take comfort in the destruction of His own
creature!
Branch 3. See, then, what little cause any have to wonder that they are
brought low. As the Apostle said, 1 Peter 4:12, "Don't be surprised at the
fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening
to you." So do not think it strange if you are as full of eclipses and
changes as the moon. Do not wonder if you are under the black rod. A
sick man may as well wonder that he is in pain—as a sinful man wonder
that he is afflicted. Do not vapors cause thunder? Is it a wonder to hear
God's thundering voice after the hellish vapors of our sins have been sent
up? Sin is a debt. It is set out in Scripture by a debt of millions, Matthew
18:24. Is it a wonder for a man who is in debt to be arrested? Never
wonder that God arrests you with His judgments when you are so deeply
in arrears.
Sin is a walking contrary to God. And if men walk contrary to God, is it
any wonder if God walks contrary to them? Leviticus 26:17, "If you will
walk contrary to Me—then I will also walk contrary to you—and I even I
will chastise you seven times more for your sins."
Oh, sinner, do not wonder that it is so bad with you—but rather wonder
that it is no worse! Are you in the deep of affliction? It is a wonder you are
not in the deep of hell! If Jesus Christ was brought low, is it a wonder that
you are brought low?
Christ was brought low in poverty. A feeding trough was His cradle. The
cobwebs were His curtains.
He was brought low in temptation. Matthew 4:1, "He was led into the
wilderness to be tempted of the devil." No sooner was Christ out of the
water of baptism—than He was in the fire of temptation! Only His
Godhead was too strong a bulwark for Satan's fiery darts to enter.
He was brought low in His agonies. He sweat blood in the garden. He
shed blood on the cross. If Christ was brought low, who knew no sin, do
you wonder that you are brought low, who are so full of sin?
Lamentations 3:39, "Why doth a living man complain—for the
punishment of his sin?" What, a sinner—and you wonder or murmur that
you are afflicted? Sin as naturally draws punishment to it—as the magnet
draws iron!
Branch 4. See the text fulfilled this day in our eyes. Sin has brought our
nation low. We are falling down—if not collapsed. We do not lack for sin.
There is a spirit of wickedness in the land. Ours are mighty sins, Amos
5:12; bloody sins, Hosea 4:2. The sins of Denmark, Spain, France, and
Italy—are translated into English. We have many Sodoms among us—and
may fear to have the line of confusion stretched over us. By our impieties
and blasphemies, we have sounded a trumpet of rebellion against heaven.
Were our sins engraved upon our foreheads, we would be ashamed to
look up!
Men invent new sins. Romans 1:30, "inventors of evil things." Some
invent new errors; others invent new snares. This age exceeds former
ages in sinning. As it is with trades, there may be old trades—but there
are some new tradesmen now who have grown more dexterous and
cunning in their trade, than they were in former times. So it is with sin.
Sin is an old trade—but there are people now alive, who are more skilled
in the trade—and have grown more expert in sin, than those who are dead
and gone. In former times, sinners were bunglers at sin, compared to
what they are now. They are skillful at self-damnation. Jeremiah 4:22,
"They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in
doing what is evil—but they do not know how to do what is good."
The devil's mint is going every day—and sin is minted faster than money.
People sin with greediness, "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given
themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity,
with a continual lust for more." Ephesians 4:19. "Man, who is vile and
corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!" Job 15:16. They have grown
rampant in wickedness, having laid aside the veil of modesty. Zephaniah
3:5, "The wicked know no shame." We read that Nebuchadnezzar had the
heart of a beast given to him, Daniel 4:16. If all who have the hearts of
beasts had the faces of beasts—men would be very scarce!
And if sin is so high, well may it bring us low. While the body is in a
burning fever—it cannot thrive. Our nation, being in this burning fever of
sin—must waste away. Has not sin brought us low? What wars,
pestilences, and fires have broken out among us? The splendor and
magnificence of the city has been brought low and laid in ashes! (Editor's
Note: Watson is here referring to the great fire of London, which
demolished much of the city.)
Sin has brought us low in our reputation. Proverbs 14:34, "Sin is a
reproach to any people." Time was, when God made the sheaves of other
nations do obeisance to our sheaf, Genesis 37:7. But our pristine fame
and renown is eclipsed. Malachi 2:2, "I have made you base and
contemptible." Trading is brought low. Many men's estates are boiled
down to nothing—their gourd is withered. Their jar of oil fails. Ruth 1:21,
"I went out full—but the Lord has brought me home empty!" Sin has
brought other nations low—and do we think to escape better than they?
Salvian observes that in Africa, when the Church of God had degenerated
from its purity—the land abounded in vice and was filled with sin. Then
the Vandals entered Africa and the enemy's sword let them bleed.
Numbers 32:23, "Be sure your sin will find you out!" Like a bloodhound,
it will pursue you.
What are those sins which have brought this city and nation so
low?
1. The first sin that has brought us low is PRIDE. Proverbs 29:23,
"A man's pride shall bring him low." Pride runs in the blood. Our first
parents aspired to Deity. They did not content themselves to know God—
but they would be as knowing as God. Augustine calls pride, "the mother
of all sin!" The Persian kings would have their image worshiped by all
who came into Babylon. Sapor writes of himself—as brother to the sun
and moon, and partner with the stars. Caligula the Emperor
commanded himself to be worshiped as a god. He caused a temple to be
erected for him. He used to have the most costly animals sacrificed to
him. Sometimes he would sit with a golden beard and a thunderbolt in
his hand, like Jupiter; and sometimes with a scepter with three prongs,
like Neptune.
Some people would be better if, as Solon said, "we could pluck the worm
of pride out of their head!" Pride ruins our virtues—and poisons our
mercies. The higher we lift ourselves up in pride, the lower God casts us
down. Proverbs 15:25, "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud."
There is a SPIRITUAL pride, which is three fold:
1. Some take pride in their abilities. The Lord enriches them with wit
and abilities—and pride fumes from their heart into their head and makes
them giddy. Herod was proud of the oration he made, and assumed that
glory to himself which he should have given to God. His pride brought
him low. "He was eaten of worms," Acts 12:23.
2. Some take pride in their duties. This worm of pride, breeds in sweet
fruit. They have said so many prayers, heard so many sermons. Luke
18:12, "I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of all I get." Now they think
they have made God amends—that He is indebted to them and they shall
be accepted for their religious performances. What is this but pride? Is
this not to make a Christ of our duties? The devil destroys some by
making them neglect duty, and others by making them idolize duty.
Better is that infirmity which humbles me—than that duty which makes
me proud!
3. Some take pride in their graces. This seems strange, seeing grace is
given to the humble, that any should be proud of their graces. But pride is
not from the grace in us—but the corruption in us! It is not from the
strength of holiness—but the weakness of holiness.
Christians may be said to be proud of their grace when they lay too much
stress upon their grace. In Matthew 26:33, Peter says, "Even if all fall
away on account of you, I never will." Here was a double pride. First, that
he thought he had more grace than the rest of the Apostles. Second, in
that he laid much weight upon his grace. He leaned more on his grace —than on Christ.
Men are proud of their grace when they slight others whom they think are
inferior to them in grace. Instead of the strong bearing the infirmities of
the weak, Romans 15:1, they are ready to despise the weak. Our Savior
saw this pride breeding in his own disciples; therefore He cautioned them
against it. Matthew 18:10, "Take heed that you despise not one of these
little ones."
There is a carnal pride. I call it carnal because it is conversant about
carnal objects.
1. Some are proud of their BODIES. Pride is seen in long and meticulous
dressings. People spend that time between the comb and the lookingglass, which should be spent in prayer and holy meditation.
Pride is seen in painting their faces, overlaying God's work with the
devil's colors. But virtue is most beautiful to God. "Don't be concerned
about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive
jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that
comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is so precious to God." 1 Peter 3:3-4
Pride is seen in spotting themselves. Pimples in the face show that the
blood is corrupt. Spots in the face show that the heart is corrupt. Cyprian
said, "They who paint and spot their faces may justly fear that at the
resurrection their Creator will not know them." Pride is seen in the
outlandish fashions with which some people dress, or rather disguise
themselves. They clothe themselves like the rainbow. Adam was ashamed
of his nakedness; these should be ashamed of their clothing. They are so
plumed and gaudily attired, that they tempt the devil to fall in love with
them.
2. Some are proud of their ESTATES. Riches are fuel for pride. Ezekiel
28:5, "Your heart has become proud because of your wealth." Men's
hearts rise with their estates—like the boats on the Thames rise with the
tide. Now, all this pride will bring a person low. For this sin, God strikes
many with frenzy, and so levels the mountain of pride. God has stained
the pride of England's glory, Isaiah 23:9. He has stripped us of our jewels.
Proverbs 16:8, "Pride goes before destruction." Where pride leads the
van, destruction brings up the rear.
2. Another sin which has brought us low, is neglect of family
worship. Religion in men's families is brought low. There is little
reading of Scripture. They more often look at a deck of cards, than a
Bible. There is little praying. It is the mark of a reprobate that "he does
not call upon God," Psalm 14:4. The atheist never prays at all. The
Grecians asked counsel of their pretend gods—by their oracles; the
Persians—by their Magi; the Galls—by their Druids; the Romans—by
their Augures. Shall pagans pray—and not Christians? Creatures, by the
instinct of nature, cry to God. Psalm 147:9, "The young ravens cry to Him
for food." Prayer has no enemies, unless they are infernal spirits—and
such as are near of kin to them.
Keys that are often used, are bright—but if they are laid aside and never
used they grow rusty. So it is with men's hearts. If they are not used to
family prayer, they will be rusted over with sin!
For this, God has brought us low. Why did He pull down many houses in
this city—but because they were unholy houses. There was no prayer in
them.
How can we think to have a blessing from God—if we never ask for it?
God would be doing more for us than He did for His own Son. Hebrews
5:7, "In the days of His flesh, He offered up prayers, with strong cries and
tears."
3. Another sin which has brought us low, is COVENANT
violation. Psalm 78:10, "They kept not the covenant of God." Verse 50,
"He prepared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but
gave them over to the plague." The people of Carthage were noted for
covenant breaking. Oh, that this sin had died with them! Does not this
poisonous weed grow in our soil? Did we not make a vow in baptism to
fight under Christ's banner—against the world, the flesh, and the devil?
Did we not solemnly covenant to be the Lord's people, to shine in
sanctity? Deuteronomy 5:28-29, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined
to fear me and keep all my commands always!" We have much
conforming to the world—but where is the conforming to Christ?
Is not Jesus Christ opposed in His kingly office? This is the great
controversy: Who shall reign—sin or Christ? For this, God has been like a
moth to us—and we may fear lest He makes good that threat, Leviticus
26:25, "I will bring a sword that shall avenge the quarrel of My covenant."
4. Another sin which has brought us low, is the ABUSE of the
gospel. We are sick with Israel's disease. They despised manna.
Numbers 21:5, "Our soul loathes this light bread." We have been
nauseated by the Bread of Life. The gospel is the visible token of God's
presence. It is the sacred conduit that empties the golden oil of mercy
into us! It is the looking-glass in which we see the face of Christ! It is the
celestial banquet with which God cheers and revives the souls of His
people! Isaiah 25:6. But was there not a gospel glut in England? People
had itching ears and did not know what to hear. And has not our curiosity
brought us to scarcity? God has no better way to raise the price of the
gospel—than by taking it away.
God surely brought us low, when darkness overspread our horizon—and
the Lord allowed so many hundred lights to be put under a bushel at one
time. (Editor's note: Perhaps Watson is talking about the "Great
Ejection" when the British government persecuted godly pastors—and
banned them from preaching.) The Egyptian priests of old told the people
that, when any eclipse happened, the gods were angry and great miseries
would follow. What sad catastrophies have ensued this spiritual eclipse, is
not unknown.
5. Another sin which has brought us low, is COVETOUSNESS.
"Covetousness, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5. When men, with the
serpent, lick the dust—then God lays them in the dust. Isaiah 57:17, "I
was angry and punished these greedy people. I withdrew myself from
them—but they went right on sinning!" Covetousness is the cancer of the
soul. Men are set upon the world—when God is plucking it from them.
Covetousness is a key which opens the door to further wickedness. 1
Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil.
And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and
pierced themselves with many sorrows!" A covetous man will stop at no
sin. Covetousness made Absalom attempt to dethrone his father.
Covetousness made Adhab murder the innocent Naboth.
And what is one the better for all his wealth—at death? 1 Timothy 6:10,
"We brought nothing into the world—and it is certain we can carry
nothing out." When the rich miser dies, what scrambling is there! His
friends are scrambling for his money! The worms are scrambling for his
body! The devils are scrambling for his soul!
This sin is most unlovely in those who profess better. They pretend to live
by faith—and yet are as worldly and covetousness as others. These are
spots in the face of religion. Jeremiah 45:5, "Are you seeking great things
for yourself? Seek them not!" For this sin, God has brought us low. He
has made our fig tree to wither—and allowed the caterpillars to eat our
vine.
6. Another sin which has brought us low, is BARRENNESS
under the means of grace. Hosea 10:1, "Israel is an empty vine." His
juice runs out only into leaves. We have had much pruning and dressing.
The silver drops of heaven have fallen upon us—but we have not brought
forth the fruits of humility and repentance. We can discourse of religion
—but this is only to bring forth leaves—not fruit. Barrenness has laid us
low—and we may fear it will lay us waste. God may pull up the hedge—
and let in a foreign wild boar!
those who fled out of England in Queen Mary's days acknowledged that
that calamity befell them for their great unprofitableness under the
means of grace. What man will sow seed in barren ground? If the Lord
lays out His cost and sees no good return—the next word will be, "Cut
down the tree, why does it so uselessly occupy the ground?"
7. Another sin which has brought us low, is the sin of
SWEARING. Christ said, "Swear not at all," Matthew 5:34—and a godly
man is said to fear an oath, Ecclesiastes 9:2. Truly it is a matter of tears—
that we can hardly go out in the streets without having our ears crucified
with hearing oaths and cursings. Chrysostom spent most of his sermons
at Antioch against swearers. We need many Chrysostoms nowadays to
preach against this sin. This may well be called "the unfruitful work of
darkness," Ephesians 5:11, for it is a sin which has neither pleasure nor
profit in it. How men shoot their oaths—as bullets against heaven!
I knew a great swearer, said Robert Bolton, whose heart Satan so filled
that on his death bed, that he swore as fast as he could—and desired the
bystanders to help him with oaths and swear for him. Will the Lord
reckon with men for idle words? What will He do for sinful oaths? For
every oath a man swears—God puts a drop of wrath in His vial. Nay,
usually, God's judgments overtake the swearer in this life. I have read of a
German boy who was given to swearing—and used to invent new oaths.
The Lord put a canker into his mouth which ate out his tongue!
"But," you say, "it is my habit to swear, and I cannot help it."
Is this a good plea? It is as if a thief should plead for a judge not to
condemn him, because it is his habit to rob and steal. The judge will
therefore say, "Then you shall surely die!" This sin has brought us low.
Jeremiah 23:10, "For because of swearing, the land mourns."
8. Another sin which has brought us low—and is likely to bring
us yet lower, is IMMORALITY. The unchaste heart is a volcano—
burning with lust! Immorality is the shipwreck of chastity—and the
murder of conscience. It was said of Rome of old that it had become a
brothel. I wish it might not be imitated of many parts of this land.
Immorality is a brutish sin. Jeremiah 5:8, "They are well-fed, lusty
stallions, each neighing for another man's wife."
Immorality is a
branded sin. It not only stigmatizes men's names, Proverbs 6:33—but
God makes them carry the marks of this sin in their bodies. Immorality is
a costly sin; it proves a purgatory to the purse. Proverbs 6:26, "The
prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon
your very life." "You will lose your honor and hand over to merciless
people everything you have achieved in life. Strangers will obtain your
wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor. Afterward you
will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body!" Proverbs 5:9-11
Immorality is a foolish sin. "Why be captivated, my son, with an
immoral woman, or embrace the breasts of an adulterous woman?"
Proverbs 5:20. "But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he
destroys his own soul!" Proverbs 6:32. "Can a man scoop fire into his lap
and not be burned? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it
is with the man who sleeps with another man's wife. He who embraces
her will not go unpunished!" Proverbs 6:27-29.
The immoral person hastens his own death. "She seduces him with her
persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk. He follows her
impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward
a trap until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare—he
doesn't know it will cost him his life!" Proverbs 7:21-23. By an early
death--the immoral person takes a shortcut to hell! "Outside are the dogs,
those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral." Revelation 22:15.
"Nothing impure will ever enter it." Revelation 21:27
Creatures void of reason will rise up in judgment against such. The dove
is an emblem of chastisty. The stork comes into no nest but his own—and
if any stork leaves his mate and joins with another, all the rest fall on him
and pluck his feathers from him! God will chiefly punish those who walk
in the lust of uncleanness, 2 Peter 2:10. This sin has brought us low. The
fire of lust has kindled the fire of God's anger.
9. Another sin which has brought us low, is our unbrotherly
animosities. Matthew 12:25, "A kingdom divided against itself cannot
stand." The Turks pray that the Christians may be kept at variance. We
have, in a great measure, fulfilled the Turks' prayer.
What seeds of dissension are sown among us! How we have crumbled
into parties! One is for Paul and another for Apollo—but few, I fear, are
for Christ. Our divisions have given much advantage to the Popish
adversary. When there is a breach made in the wall of a castle—the
enemy enters there. If the Popish enemy enters, it will be at our breaches.
These divisions have cut the lock of hair where our strength laid. Cut off
the top of the beech tree and the whole body of the tree withers. Divisions
have taken away unity and amity. Here is the top of the beech tree cut off
—and this has made us to wither swiftly.
These are the sins which have brought us low—and, if the Lord does not
prevent it, are likely to bring England's gray hairs to the grave with
sorrow!
Branch 5. If sin brings a person low—then what madness is it for
anyone to be in love with sin! 2 Thessalonians 2:12, "Who delighted in
wickedness." The devil can so cook and dress sin—that it pleases the
sinner's palate. But hear what Job said, Job 20:12, 14 "Though evil is
sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue—yet his food will
turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within
him!" Herodotus writes of the river Hypanis which, near the fountain,
the water is sweet—but a short distance away—it is exceedingly bitter. Sin
will bring one low—and who would love such an enemy! The forbidden
fruit is sauced with bitter herbs. Sin is a poisonous viper along the path,
which bites! Genesis 49:17.
When you are about to commit sin, say to your soul as Boaz said to his
kinsman, Ruth 4:4, "The day you buy the field, you must have Ruth with
it." So, if you will have the seed of sin, you must have the curse with it. It
will bring you low. To love sin is to love a disease. A sinner is filled with
madness. Solomon speaks of a generation of men thusly, "the hearts of
people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts," Ecclesiastes 9:3. It
is true of those who love sin, that sin puts a worm into conscience, a thorn
into death—yet that men should love sin shows that madness is in their
heart. There is no creature who willingly destroys itself—but man. Sin is a
silken halter—yet he loves it! Oh, remember that saying of Augustine,
"The pleasure of sin is soon gone—but the sting remains!"
Branch 6. See what little cause we have to envy sinners. Proverbs 3:31,
"Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways." Men are high in
wordly grandeur. God has given them large estates—and they sin with
their estates! But though they build among the stars, God will bring them
down. Ezekiel 28:18, "I reduced you to ashes." Who would envy men their
greatness—when their sins will bring them low? Deuteronomy 32:35,
"Their foot shall slide in due time."
There is a story of a Roman who was condemned to die, for breaking his
rank to steal a bunch of grapes. As he was going to execution, some of the
soldiers were envious that he had grapes while they had none. He said,
"Do you envy me my grapes? I must pay dearly for them." So the wicked
must pay dearly for what they have!
The prosperity of the wicked is a great temptation to the godly. David
stumbled at it and would likely have fallen. Psalm 73:2, "My feet almost
slipped; my steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant; I saw the
prosperity of the wicked." We are ready to murmur when we see
ourselves low—and envy when we see the wicked high.
Sinners may live in a serene climate, under a perpetual calm. Psalm 73:4-
5, "They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and
strong. They aren't troubled like other people or plagued with problems
like everyone else." But this prosperous state of the wicked is matter for
pity—rather than envy. Their sins will bring them low! Isaiah 14:12, "How
are you fallen from heaven, Oh, Lucifer, Son of the Morning." This is
spoken of the Chaldean monarch who, though high, had a sudden change
befall him. Isaiah 47:1, "Come down and sit in the dust." Babylon was the
lady of kingdoms—but God says, "Sit in the dust." Verse 2, "Take the
millstones and grind." So will God say to the wicked, "Come down from
all your pomp and glory, sit in the dust; nay, sit among the damned and
there grind at the mill!" The Lord will proportion torment to all the
pleasure which the wicked have had. Revelation 18:7, "She has lived in
luxury and pleasure—so match it now with torments and sorrows!"
Branch 7. See the great difference between sin and grace. Sin brings a
man low—but grace lifts him high. Sin tumbles him in the ditch—but
grace sets him upon the throne. Psalm 91:14, "I will set him on high,
because he has known My name." Grace raises a person in four ways.
1. Grace raises his AIMS and ASPIRATIONS. He does not look at
things which are seen, 2 Corinthians 4:18. His eye is above the stars. He
aims at enjoying God. When a clumsy country bumpkin goes to the court,
he is greatly taken with the mirthful pictures and paintings—but when a
member of the king's private council passes by those things, he looks at
them as scarcely worthy of his notice. His business is with the king. So a
carnal mind is greatly taken with the things of the world—but a saint
passes by these mirthful things with a holy contempt—his business is
with God! 1 John 1:3, "Our communion is with the Father and His Son
Jesus." A Christian of the right breed, aspires after the things within the
veil; his ambition is for the favor of God. He looks no lower than a crown;
he is in the altitudes and trades among the angels!
2. Grace raises a man's REPUTATION. It embalms his name. 1
Samuel 18:30, "David's name became very famous," or, as the original
carries it, "It was precious." Hebrews 11:2, "By faith the elders obtained a
good report." How renowned were the godly patriarchs for their sanctity!
Moses for his self-denial, Job for his patience, Phineas for his zeal! What
a fresh perfume their names send forth to this day! A good name is a
saint's heir. It lives when he is dead.
3. Grace raises a man's WORTH. Proverbs 12:26, "The righteous is
more excellent than his neighbor." As the flower of the roses in spring, as
the fat of the peace offering, as the precious stones upon Aaron's
breastplate, so is a saint in God's eye. Besides the shining luster of the
gold, it has an eternal worth and is of great price and eternal value. So
grace not only makes a man's name shine—it puts a real worth into him.
"He is more excellent than his neighbor." A heart full of love to God, is
precious. It is God's delight, Isaiah 62:4; it is the apple of His eye; it is His
jewel; it is His garden of spices; it is His lesser heaven where He dwells.
Isaiah 57:17, "I dwell with him that is of a humble spirit."
4. Grace raises a man's PRIVILEGE. It advances him into the
heavenly kindred. By it he is born of God, 1 John 3:1. He is a prince in all
lands, Psalm 45:16 (though in this world he is like a prince in disguise).
He is higher than the kings of the earth, Psalm 89:27. He is allied to
angels!
In short, grace lifts a man up where Christ is, far above all heavens. And
grace raises a nation as well as a person. Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness
exalts a nation."
Branch 8. If sin brings a man low, see what an imprudent choice they
make—who commit sin to avoid trouble. Job 36:21, "Take heed, regard
not inquity; for this have you chosen rather than affliction." This was a
false charge against Job—but many may be charged with such folly. They
choose iniquity rather than affliction. To avoid poverty, they will lie and
deceive. What imprudence is this, when sin draws such dark shadows
after it—and entails misery upon all its heirs and successors. By
committing sin to avoid trouble, we meet with greater trouble. Origen, to
save himself from suffering, sprinkled incense before the idol. Later,
preparing to preach, he opened his Bible and accidentally fell upon that
text in Psalm 50:16, "But to the wicked God says, what have you to do to
declare My statutes, or that
you should take My covenant in your mouth?" At the sight of this
Scripture, he fell into a passion of weeping—and was so stricken with
grief and consternation that he was not able to speak a word to the people
but came down from the pulpit. Spria sinned against his conscience to
save his life and estate; he chose iniquity rather than affliction—but what
a hell he felt in his conscience. He professed that he envied Cain and
Judas, thinking their condition to be more desirable. His sin brought him
low.
Oh, what unparalleled folly is it to choose sin, rather than affliction.
Affliction is like a tear in a coat; sin is like a tear in the flesh. He who, to
save himself from trouble, commits sin—is like one who, to save his coat,
lets his flesh be torn. Affliction has a promise made to it, 2 Samuel 22:28
—but there is no promise made to sin, Proverbs 10:29.
Surely, then, those do badly, who choose sin rather than suffering; who,
to avoid a lesser evil, choose a greater evil; who, to avoid the stinging of a
gnat—run into the teeth of a lion!
Branch 9. If God brings His own people low for sin (Israel was brought
low), then how low will He bring the wicked! David was in the deep
waters, and Jonah went down to the bottom of the sea. Jeremiah was in
the deep dungeon. Then what a deep gulf of misery shall swallow up the
reprobate part of the world?
God's people do not allow themselves in sin, Romans 7:15. They tremble
at it. They hate it—yet they suffer. If they who blush at their failings are
brought low, what will become of those who boast of their scandals? "If
this is done to the green tree, what shall be done to the dry?" If the godly
lie among the pots, Psalm 68:13, the wicked shall lie among the devils. "If
judgment begins at the house of God, what shall be the end of those who
don't obey the gospel?" 1 Peter 4:17. If God mingles His people's cup with
wormwood—He will mingle the sinner's cup with fire and brimstone!
Psalm 11:6. If God threshes the wheat—He will burn the chaff! If the Lord
afflicts those He loves—how severe will He be against those He hates!
They shall feel the second death! Revelation 21:8.
Use 2. Exhortation
Branch 1. If sin brings a person low—then let us fear to come near sin. It
will either bring us into affliction—or worse. Its foul face may offend—but
its breath kills! Sin is the Apollyon, the man-devourer. Oh, that we were
as wise for our souls—as we are for our bodies! How afraid are we of that
food which we know will bring the gout or stone, or will make our fever
return. Sin is feverish food which will put conscience into a shaking fit—
and shall we not be afraid to touch this forbidden fruit? Genesis 39:9,
"How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" When the
Empress Eudoxia threatened to banish Chrysostom, he said, "Tell her I
fear nothing but sin!" It was a saying of Anselm, "If hell were on one side
and sin were on the other, I would rather leap into hell than willingly
commit sin."
Love will be apt to grow wanton, if it is not poised with holy fear. No
better curb or antidote against sin—than the fear of God. If we could see
hell-fire in every sin—it would make us fear to commit it! The fiercest
creatures dread fire. When Moses' rod was turned into a serpent, he was
afraid and fled from it. Sin will prove to be a stinging serpent. Oh, fly
from it! Most people are like the leviathin—a creature devoid of fear, Job
41:33. They play upon the hole of the asp. Sinners never fear hell—until
they feel hell! Nothing will convince them—but fire and brimstone!
Branch 2. If sin brings a person low—then when we are brought low
under God's afflicting hand, let us behave wisely and as befits Christians.
I shall show:
What we must not do when we are brought low. When our
condition is low—let not our passions be high. Murmuring against God is
not the way to get out of trouble—but rather to go lower into trouble.
What does the child get by struggling—but more blows? Oh, do not lisp
out a murmuring word against God! Murmuring is the scum which boils
off from a discontented heart. Psalm 39:9, "I was silent; I would not open
my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!" David's ear was open
to hear the voice of the rod—but his mouth was not open in complaining.
Christian, who should you complain of—but yourself! Your own sin has
brought you low.
1. When we are brought low in affliction—let us search for the
sin which is the cause of our trouble. Job 10:2, "Show me why you
contend with me." "Lord, what is that sin which has provoked You to
bring me low?" Lamentations 3:40, "Let us search and try our ways." As
the people of Israel searched the cause when they were beaten in battle—
and at last found out the Achan who troubled them, and stoned him to
death, Joshua 7:18. Just so, let us search out that Achan which has
troubled us.
Perhaps our sin was censorious. We have been ready to judge and slander
others—and now we lie under an evil tongue and have false reports raised
on us. Perhaps our sin was pride and God has sent poverty as a thorn to
humble us. Perhaps our sin was being remiss in holy duties. We had
forgotten our first love and were ready to fall into slumbering fits—and
God has sent a sharp cross to awaken us out of our security. We may
oftentimes read our sin, in our punishment. Oh, let us search the Achan
and say as Job, chapter 34:32, "I have done iniquity—I will do so no
more!"
2. When we are brought low in affliction—let us justify God.
God is just not only when He punishes the guilty—but when He af licts
the righteous. Let us take heed of entertaining hard thoughts of God, as if
He had dealt too severely with us and had put too much wormwood in
our cup. No, let us vindicate God and say as the Emperor Mauritius,
when he saw five of his sons slain before his eyes by Phocas, "Righteous
are You, Oh, Lord, in all Your ways." Let us speak well of God. If we have
ever so much af liction—yet we never have one drop of injustice. Psalm
97:2, "Clouds and darkness are round about Him, righteousness and
justice are the foundation of His throne."
3. When we are brought low in affliction—let let us bring
ourselves low in humiliation. 1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves under
the mighty hand of God." When we are in the valley of tears—we must be
in the valley of humility. Lamentations 3:19, "Remembering the
wormwood and the gall, my soul has them continually in remembrance—
and is humbled in me." If our condition is low—then it is time to have our
hearts lie low.
4. When we are brought low in affliction—let let us be on our
knees in prayer. Psalm 130:1, "Out of the depths have I cried to You,
Oh, Lord." Psalm 79:8, "Let Your tenderhearted mercies quickly meet our
needs, for we are brought low to the dust." Jacob never prayed so
fervently as when he was in fear of his life. He oiled the key of prayer
with tears! Hosea 12:4, "He wept and made supplication." One reason
why God lets us be brought low—is to heighten the spirit of prayer.
But what should we pray for in affliction? Let us pray that all our hell may
be here in this world. As Pilate said concerning Christ, Luke 23:22, "I will
chastise Him and let Him go," so pray that God, when He does chastise
us, will let us go—that He will free us from hell and damnation. Let us
pray for the sanctification of affliction—rather than the removal of it.
Pray that the rod of af liction may be a divine pencil to draw God's image
more lively upon our souls! Hebrews 12:10. Pray that affliction may be a
furnace to refine us—not consume us! Pray that if God does correct us, it
may not be in anger, Psalm 6:1, that we may taste the honey of His love at
the end of the rod of affliction. Let it be our prayer that God will lay no
more upon us, than He will enable us to bear, 1 Corinthians 10:13—and
that if the burden is heavier, our shoulders may be stronger.
5. When we are brought low in affliction—let our faith be high.
Let us believe that God intends us no harm. Though He casts us into the
deep, He will not drown us. Believe that He is still a Father. He afflicts us
in as much mercy—as He gives Christ to us. By His rod of discipline, He
fits us for the inheritance, Colossians 1:12. Oh, let this star of faith appear
in the dark night of af liction. Jonah's faith was never more in heaven
than when he lay in the belly of hell, Jonah 2:4.
6. When we are brought low in affliction—let us labor to be
bettered by being brought low. Pick some good out of the cross. Get
some honey out of this lion! The wicked are worse for affliction. Weeds
crushed in a mortar are more bitter. 2 Chronicles 28:22, "When trouble
came to King Ahaz, he became even more unfaithful to the Lord." But let
us labor to be mended and made better by affliction. Christ learned
obedience by what He suffered, Hebrews 5:8. If we are brought low in
affliction, and get no good—then the affliction is lost.
Question. When are we bettered by affliction?
Answer 1. We are bettered by affliction—when our eyes are more
opened and we are not only chastened—but taught, Psalm 94:12.
Wormwood is bitter to the taste—but is good to clear the eyesight. Our
spiritual eyesight is cleared:
1. We are bettered by affliction—when we see more of God's holiness. He
is a jealous and sin-hating God. He will not allow evil in His own children
to go unpunished. If they make light of sin—He will make their chain
heavy! Lamentations 3:2.
2. We are bettered by affliction—when we have a clearer insight into
ourselves. We see more of our hearts than we did before. We see that
worldliness, impatience—and distrust of God—which we did not see
before. We never thought we had such a mass of corruption, or that there
had been so much of the old man in the new man. The fire of affliction
makes that scum of sin boil up—which before lay hidden. When our
eyesight is thus cleared and both the rod and the lamp go together—now
we are bettered by affliction!
Answer 2. We are bettered by affliction—when our hearts are softened.
Affliction is God's furnace, where He melts His gold. Jeremiah 9:7, "I will
melt them in a crucible and test them like metal." We are bettered by
affliction—when our eyes are more watery, our thoughts more serious,
our consciences more tender, when we can say as Job, chapter 23:16,
"God makes my heart soft." This melting of the heart whereby we are
fitted to receive the impression of the Holy Spirit—is a blessed sign we are
bettered by affliction.
Answer 3. We are bettered by affliction—when our wills are subdued.
Micah 7:9, "I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned
against Him." Why does God bring us low—but to tame our cursed
hearts? When a wicked man is brought low, he quarrels with God.
Therefore he is compared to a wild bull in a net, Isaiah 51:20. If you rub a
piece of rotten cloth—it frets and tears. Just so, when God rubs a wicked
man by af liction—he frets and tears himself with vexation! Isaiah 8:21,
"They shall fret themselves—and curse their King and their God."
But when our spirits are calmed—and we are brought to a sweet
submission to God's will—then we accept the punishment, Leviticus 26:41
—and in patience possess our souls, Luke 21:19. When we say as Eli, 1
Samuel 3:18, "It is the Lord—let Him do what He thinks best." "I know
this trial is in mercy. God would rather af lict me—than lose me. Let
Him hedge me with thorns—if He will only plant me with flowers. Let
Him do what He thinks best." Now we are bettered by the affliction.
Answer 4. We are bettered by affliction—when sin is purged out. Isaiah
27:9, "This is all the fruit—to take away iniquity." Our hearts are foul and
sinful. Our gold is mixed with dross—our stars with clouds. Now, when
affliction consumes pride, formality, hypocrisy, when God's lance lets out
our spiritual abscess—then we are bettered by affliction!
Answer 5. We are bettered by affliction—when our hearts are more
unglued from the world. What are all these earthly things! The cares of
the world, exceed the comforts. The emblem which King Henry VII used,
was a crown of gold hung in a bush of thorns. Many who have escaped
the rocks of scandalous sins—have been cast away upon the golden
sands. The Arabic proverb is, "The world is a carcass—and those who
hunt after it are dogs." Has not love of the world become a disease of
almost epidemic proportions? If the Lord bestows a plentiful estate upon
men, they are apt to make an idol of it! Therefore, God is forced to take
that out of their hand—which kept Him out of their heart. Now, when the
Lord comes and afflicts any of us in that which we love most—He hits us
in the apple of our eye and our hearts grow more dead to the world and
love-sick for Christ. When God has been withering our gourd and our
love for the world begins to wither—when He has been digging around
our root and we are more loosened from the earth—then we are bettered
by affliction!
Answer 6. We are bettered by affliction—when affliction has produced
more appetite for the Word. Perhaps in health and prosperity—we and
the Bible seldom met, or, if we chanced to read, it was but in a dull,
cursory manner. But the Lord, by embittering the breast of the creature—
has made us run to the breast of a promise! Now we can say with David,
Psalm 119:103, "How sweet are Your words unto my taste; yes, sweeter
than honey!" Solomon said, "Truly the light is sweet," Ecclesiastes 11:7.
But we can say, "Truly the Word is sweet!" We have tasted Christ in a
promise; the Word has caused an exuberance of joy, Psalm 19:8. This is
the manna we love to feed upon. Every leaf of Scripture drops myrrh and,
as a rich cordial, cheers our spirit. When it is thus, we are bettered by our
trials, Psalm 119:50.
Answer 7. We are bettered by affliction—when our title to heaven is
more confirmed. In prosperity, we are more careless in getting, at least
in clearing our spiritual title. People would be afraid—if their evidences
for their land were no better than their evidences for heaven. Many a
man's evidence for heavenly glory—is either forged or blotted. He is not
able to read any saving work of God's Spirit. He is wavering and hangs in
a doubtful suspense—not knowing whether lie has grace or not. Now,
when we are brought low by affliction and we fall to the work of selfexamination, we see how matters stand between God and our souls. We
turn over every leaf of the book of conscience. We make a critical
examination upon our hearts and, after a thorough survey of ourselves,
we can say, "We understood God's grace in all its truth," Colossians 1:6.
"We have received the holy anointing," 1 John 2:27. Our grace will bear
the touchstone, though not the balance. Certainly—then, we have made a
good proficiency in the time of affliction and are bettered by it.
Answer 8. We are bettered by affliction—when we grow more fruitful
in grace. A Christian should be like the olive tree, "beautiful to see and
full of good fruit" Jeremiah 11:16. There is a tree in the Isle of Pomonia,
which has its fruit folded and wrapped up in its leaves. This is an emblem
of a godly Christian who has the fruits of grace wrapped up in the leaves
of his profession. Now, after pruning, what fruits have we brought forth?
Have we produced the fruits of obedience, love, self-denial, meekness,
heavenliness, and longing to be with Christ? If the sharp frost of
af liction has brought on the spring flowers of grace, which the Apostle
calls the "peaceable fruits of righteousness," Hebrews 12:11—then we are
bettered by affliction. A fruitful heart, is better than a full crop.
Answer 9. We are bettered by affliction—when we really commiserate
and show pity to those who are in a suffering condition. Jesus Christ,
having suffered—is touched with our infirmity, Hebrews 4:15. Having felt
hunger and cold, He knows how to pity us. Before we have drunk of the
bitter cup, instead of pitying others in misery, we are ready to despise
them! Psalm 123:4, "We have endured much ridicule from the proud,
much contempt from the arrogant." But when we have been under the
harrow, and we can sympathize with our suffering brethren—and weep
with those who weep—this is a sign we are bettered by the affliction. In
music, when one string is touched, all the rest sound. "My heart laments
for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth," Isaiah 16:11.
Answer 10. We are bettered by affliction—when we have learned to
bless God in our affliction. Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's
womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken
away; may the name of the Lord be praised!" Many can bless God when
He is giving. Job blessed Him when He took away! This is excellent, not
only to praise God when we are upon the mountain of prosperity, but
also in the valley of adversity. Deuteronomy 8:10, "When you eat and are
full, you will praise the Lord your God." But it is a greater matter to bless
Him when we are empty and in need. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In
everything give thanks."
Question. But what should we bless God for, when we are in
affliction?
Answer. We are to bless God that it is no worse with us. He might have
put more gall in our cup, Ezra 9:14. We are to bless God that He will
choose rather to correct us in the world—than to condemn us with the
world! 1 Corinthians 11:32. We are to bless God that He has made
affliction a means to prevent sin—that He has proportioned our strength
to our trials—that He gives us needed support in our trouble, Psalm 112:4.
Though He does not break our yoke—He lines our yoke with inward
peace and makes it soft and pleasant. We are to bless God that He deals
with us as children, setting His seal of affliction on us—and so marking
us for His own. We are to bless God that Christ has taken the sting out of
the affliction, that there is a hope of better things laid up for us in heaven,
Colossians 1:5. When we can, upon these considerations, break forth into
a holy gratitude and triumph in affliction—this is to be bettered by
affliction; and it shows that the Spirit of God and glory rests upon us, 1
Peter 4:14.
To bless God in heaven, when He is crowning us with glory is no wonder.
But to bless God when He is correcting us—to bless Him in a prison, to
give thanks on a sickbed, not only to kiss the rod but to bless the hand
which holds it—here is the sun in its zenith! This speaks a very high
degree of grace, indeed—and very much adorns our sufferings.
If we can find these sweet fruits of affliction—we may assure ourselves
that the affliction is sanctified. We may say with David, Psalm 119:71, "It
is good for me that I was afflicted!" And then God will throw away the rod
and will make us glad after the days of our mourning. Ezekiel 16:42,
"Then My wrath against you will subside and My jealous anger will turn
away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry."
Branch 3. If sin brings us low—let us labor to bring our sins low. Let all
our hatred be at sin. Let us pursue it with a holy malice. Sin has brought
us even to the dust—and would bring us lower into the abyss of hell! Let
us then shed the blood of sin which would shed our blood. Colossians 3:5,
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual
immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."
We are apt to plead for sin, "Is it not a little one?" Who would plead for
the one who seeks his life! We are ready to say to the minister concerning
sin, as David said to Joab concerning Absalom, 2 Samuel 18:5, "Deal
gently with the young man." So, we are ready to say, "Sir, deal gently
with my sins. Oh, do not be too sharp in your reproofs!"
Why not? Does not the sin seek to take away your crown of glory, as
Absalom did his father's crown? Would it not bring you low? If, therefore,
you are wise—do not spare it! Do with your sin—as Joab did with Absalom. He took three spears and thrust them through the heart of
Absalom, 2 Samuel 18:14. So take these three spears—the Word of God,
prayer, and mortification—and strike through the heart of your lusts, so
that they die! Do as Sampson did in dealing with the Philistines. They
brought him low, and gouged out his eyes. He never left until he was
revenged on them and brought them low. Judges 16:30, "Samson said,
'Let me die with the Philistines!' Then he pushed with all his might, and
down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it!" Sampson
died—but we live by the death of our enemies. Oh, that every day, some
limb of the old man may drop off!
What is the end of all a Christian's duties, praying, and hearing—but to
weaken and mortify lust? Why is this spiritual medicine taken—but to kill
the child of sin? Sin will insinuate itself and plead for a reprieve—but
show it no mercy. Saul's sparing Agag lost him the kingdom—and your
sparing sin will lose you the kingdom of heaven. Do with your sin, what
Samuel did to Agag, "He hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal."
1 Samuel 15:33.
Branch 4. Lastly, let this make us weary of living in the world, for while
we live in sin, sin brings us low. We eat the forbidden fruit—and then are
sick afterwards. How should this make us to long to be gone and cry, "Oh,
that we had the wings of a dove, to fly away and be at rest!" Only then,
shall we forever shake off those vipers which leaped upon us! 1
Corinthians 3:22, "Death is yours." At death, we shall have an eternal
jubilee—and be freed from all sins and troubles.
Sin shall be no more. Death smites a believer—as the angel smote Peter
on his side—and made his chains fall off, Acts 12:7. So death smites a
believer—and makes the chains of his sins fall off.
Trouble shall be no more. This world is full of storms. Troubles and
vexations are some of the thorns, with which the earth is cursed. But in
the grave, a believer has his quiet place. "There the wicked cease from
troubling, there the weary are at rest," Job 3:17. God will shortly wipe
away all tears, Revelation 7:17. How this should make the saints desire to
depart—and be with Christ! Philippians 1:23. Israel's being so often stung
with serpents—made them weary of the wilderness, and caused them to
aspire after Canaan. The discourtesies a prince meets with in a strange
land—make him long to be in his own country where the royal crown will
be set upon his head. When we are with Christ, we shall be brought low
no more. We shall never be fixed stars until we are in heaven.
Oh, the felicity of glorified saints! They have a full-eyed vision of God!
Those refulgent beams of glory are darted from His blessed face and will
delight, yes, ravish their hearts with ineffable joy! The birds of a certain
island, are nourished with perfumes. After death, the saints shall be
forever nourished with the aromatics and perfumes of their Savior's love!
The Desperateness of Sinners
"In spite of all this—they kept on sinning!" Psalm 78:32
The people of Israel were called by God's name. They were chosen from
all the people of the earth. "The Lord your God has chosen you out of all
the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people—His treasured
possession!" Deuteronomy 7:6. The other part of the world was but
rubbish; these were God's jewels! The other was a wilderness; these are
God's special garden. Exodus 19:6, "You shall be unto me a Kingdom of
priests." But even Israel had a blot on their name-plate. The text draws up
a black charge against them, "In spite of all this—they kept on sinning!"
Why was this? God had been very good to Israel. He had bestowed many
favors on them. "They forgot what He had done—the wonderful miracles
He had shown them, the miracles He did for their ancestors in Egypt, on
the plain of Zoan. For He divided the sea before them and led them
through! The water stood up like walls beside them! In the daytime He
led them by a cloud, and at night by a pillar of fire. He split open the
rocks in the wilderness to give them plenty of water, as from a gushing
spring. He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow
down like a river!" Psalms 78:11-16. All this was a special figure of God's
protection. The pillar of cloud was to conduct them and keep off the
scorching heat of the sin. The pillar of fire was to be their torch to light
them by night. "He commanded the skies to open—He opened the doors
of heaven—and rained down manna for them to eat. He gave them bread
from heaven. They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could
hold. The people ate their fill. He gave them what they wanted." It was
called angel's food for the excellence of it, such as the angels might have
eaten if they ate food. Israel had the cream of God's blessings—but "in
spite of all this—they kept on sinning!"
Then, God inflicted punishment on them. After the sunshine of mercy
came the thunder of punishment. Verse 31, "The fire of his wrath burned
against them." What this wrath was is specified in verse 49, "He loosed on
them his fierce anger—all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched
against them a band of destroying angels." These destroying angels smote
the people with pestilence. Yet, in spite of all this—they kept on sinning!"
This showed the evil hearts of this people. They were worse for all the
medicines God had used for their healing. "In spite of all this—they kept
on sinning!"
The text divides itself into three parts:
1. Israel's crime—they sinned.
2. The aggravation of their sin—in spite of all this.
3. Their continuance in sin—they kept on sinning.
Doctrine: "None of God's dealings with the wicked, will prevail
with them to break off their sins." "In spite of all this—they kept on
sinning!"
To keep on sinning is, first, heinous—because it shows a contempt of
God. Let God say what He will—yet men go on in sin. This is to despise
God—and bid Him do His worst. Psalm 10:3, "Why do the wicked despise
God?"
To keep on sinning is, second, desperate—because it is to sin against the
remedy! If no means God uses will prevail—people are incurable. If a
gangrened limb is not cut off—there is no help for the patient and he
must die. If nothing will do the sinner good and he still continues in sin,
this man's case is past hope. There is no way but hell.
Use 1. Information
Branch 1. Note the blindness of every sinner. He does not see that
evil in sin, which would make him leave it. "In spite of all this—they kept
on sinning!" To this day, the veil is upon his heart. Sin is the quintessence
of evil—but the unregenerate person is enveloped with ignorance. If he
dies in sin—he is irrecoverably damned. But he sports with his own
damnation—he keeps on sinning. Sin has made him not only sick—but
senseless. Though sin has death and hell following it—yet he is so blind
that he keeps on sinning!
We pity blind men. How is every graceless man to be pitied, whom Satan,
the god of this world has blinded! 2 Corinthians 4:4. The devil carries a
wicked man as people carry a hawk—with a hood over its head. Wicked
men go hoodwinked to hell. But he does not see the danger he is in. He is
like a bird which hastens to the snare—and does not see the snare.
Branch 2. Note the love and amity between man's heart and
sin. "They kept on sinning!" Sin is a dainty dish which men cannot
forbear. Hosea 3:1, "Who love flagons of wine." Psalm 4:2, "How long
will you love delusions?" The heart and sin are like two lovers—which
cannot endure to be parted! A sinner is the greatest self-denier. For the
love of sin, he will deny himself a part in heaven! One would think,
"There is so little in sin, why should it be loved?" Who would sweet
perfume, into a sink? Who would spend so sweet an affection as love,
upon so filthy a thing as sin!
Sin is a thorn in the conscience. It is a sword in the bones. Psalm 38:3, "I
have no rest in my bones, because of my sin." Whatever deflowers,
disturbs. Yet such is the love that a man bears to his sin, that he will
venture all for his lusts—the loss of God's favor and the loss of his soul.
Branch 3. See the desperate obstinance of sinners; they persist in
sin rebelliously. "They kept on sinning!" Though God has pronounced a
blessing and a curse (a blessing upon those who forsake sin—and a curse
upon those who continue in sin)—yet they choose the curse over the
blessing! The wicked are unyielding and resolved. "They kept on
sinning!" The heart of man by nature is like a garrison which holds out in
war. Though articles of peace are offered, though it is straightly besieged
and one bullet after another is shot—yet the garrison holds out. So the
heart is a garrison which holds out against God. Though He uses
entreaties, gives warnings, shoots bullets into the conscience—yet the
garrison of the heart holds out. The man will not be reclaimed.He is said
to have a brow of brass, in regard to his impudence—and a sinew of iron,
in regard to his obstinance, Isaiah 48:4. "They kept on sinning!"
The sinner is not reformed by all God's judgments. We see metal that
melts in the furnace—but take it out and it returns to its usual hardness.
The Lord sent one judgment after another on Pharaoh—and though he
seemed to be melted (Exodus 9:27, "I have sinned, the Lord is righteous")
—yet no sooner was he taken out of the fire and the plague removed but
he sinned still. Verse 34, "He sinned yet more and hardened his heart."
Some men, in a fit of sickness, when their consciences are so far
awakened as to be brought to a sight of hell—and they begin to smell the
fire and brimstone—Oh, what promises they make if only God will spare
their lives! But, when they recover, they are worse then ever before. "They
kept on sinning!" Isaiah 9:13, "For after all this punishment, the people
will still not repent and turn to the Lord Almighty." Amos 4:6, "I gave you
absolutely nothing to eat." Verse 7, "I have withheld the rain." Verse 10, "I
sent plagues against you like the plagues I sent against Egypt long ago. I
killed your young men in war and slaughtered all your horses. The stench
of death filled the air! But still you wouldn't return to Me, says the Lord."
What sin do we have left, after all God's judgments which have been upon
us? Can we show the head of that Goliath lust which is slain? There is so
much atheism and hard-heartedness in men, so close an adherence of
lust to their souls, that they will go on in sin inflexibly until God, by a
miraculous power, stops their course, as He did Paul when he was going
with letters to Damascus, Acts 9:2. Oh, the vile obstinance of men! "They
kept on sinning!" Though they are sometimes convinced that they are in a
bad way—yet their corruptions are stronger than their convictions. If a
wicked man could be fetched out of hell and brought back into a capacity
of mercy—yet he would in a second life follow his lusts and sin himself
into hell again!
Branch 4. Note how hard it will be for such people to be
savingly wrought upon—who go on sinning. At first the heart is
more tender and fearful of evil. But by keeping up the trade of sin, it is
deadened and seared. By sinning still, a man is brought to such a state,
that he despises the Word and resists the Spirit.
Reason and conscience are bound like prisoners—with the chains of lust!
By sinning still, men have contracted a habit of evil. Jeremiah 13:23, "Can
the Ethiopian change his skin—or the leopard his spots?" Habit in sin
stupefies conscience. It is like a gravestone laid upon a man. Oh, how
hard their conversion who go on still in their trespasses! That tree will be
very difficult to pluck up—which has been long rooting in the earth. How
hard will they find it to be plucked up out of their natural estate—who
have been many years rooting in sin! He who had been possessed with
the devil from his youth up, found it more difficult to have the devil cast
out of him, Mark 9:21.
Branch 5. See the reason why men's prayers are not heard. It is
because they persist in sinning. Sin clips the wings of prayer—so that it
will not fly to the throne of grace! Psalm 66:18, "If I regard iniquity in my
heart—the Lord will not hear me." In the original it is, "If I look upon sin"
so as to lust after it. Suppose a man had never so sweet a breath; yet, if he
had the plague, you would not come near him. A sinner may give God
many a sweet expression in prayer—but the plague sores still break out in
his life! He keeps on sinning! Therefore, God will not come near, to
receive a petition from him. Malachi 1:10, "I have no pleasure in you, says
the Lord Almighty, neither will I accept an offering at your hand."
Sin makes the heart hard—and God's ear deaf! Men pray, "Lord, have
mercy on us; Christ, have mercy on us." But, though they pray still—they
sin still. Therefore, God hears their sins—and not their prayers. The Lord
loves the mourning of His doves--but counts the prayers of the wicked, no
better than the howling of a dog. Hosea 7:14, "They have not cried to Me with their heart when they howled upon their bed." Prayer is a sovereign
plaster for a wounded soul—but sin pulls the plaster of —so that it will
not heal!
The prayers of the wicked put God in mind of their sins, and makes Him
more speedy in His process of justice against them. Hosea 8:11-13, "Israel
has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places
for sinning! Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws
don't apply to them. The people of Israel love their rituals of sacrifice, but
to me their sacrifices are all meaningless! I will call my people to account
for their sins, and I will punish them." Their sacrificing put God in mind
of their sin.
Branch 6. See the reason why we suffer still—because we sin
still. Jeremiah 8:15, "We looked for peace—but no good came." We
expected golden days. We persist in sinning. Therefore, God's hand is
stretched out still, Isaiah 9:12. Oh, to what a height, is wickedness boiled
up! There are sins in the nation not to be named. Ezekiel 24:13, "It is the
filth and corruption of your lewdness and idolatry. And now, because I
tried to cleanse you but you refused, you will remain filthy until my fury
against you has been satisfied." We pour on the oil of sin—therefore God's
anger still flames. While the measure of sin fills—the vial of wrath fills.
"They kept on sinning!" Therefore, we are still under the black rod of
affliction.
Branch 7. See our unhappiness in a lapsed state. Being fallen
from God, we go further and further from Him. "They kept on sinning!"
Every sin sets one a step further from God. Jeremiah 2:5, "They are gone
far from Me." How far are they from God—who have been all their lives
wandering from Him! Psalm 58:3, "They wicked are estranged from the
womb, they go astray as soon as they be born." To keep on sinning, is to
take our farewell of God and go with the Prodigal into the hog pens, Luke
15:13. The further one goes from the sun—the nearer he approaches to
darkness; the further the soul deviates from God—the nearer it
approaches to misery!
Branch 8. Note hence how vain are all resolutions to leave sin
and be converted—until God changes the heart. "They kept on
sinning!" Many think to themselves, "Well, now they will become new
men; they will never do as before; they will be drunk no more; they will
be unclean no more." Alas, they have wind and tide to carry them to hell
and, when they are once sinning, they know not where they shall stop.
"They kept on sinning!" Let God's afflicting hand lie upon men, though
their strength to sin is abated—yet not their appetite. When they grow
old, their lusts grow young. Unless the daystar of grace arises in their
hearts and alters their course, they will never leave sinning—until they
have sinned themselves to the devil. A ball rolling down hill, seldom stops
in the middle.
Branch 9. See the exact notice, which God takes of men's
impieties. "They kept on sinning!" God observed—and His pen was
going in heaven all the while! People, through atheism, think surely that
the Lord does not see their sins, nor will He call them to account. Psalm
10:11, "He has said in his heart, God has forgotten, He hides His face, He
will never see it." But God takes a full inspection into men's actions.
Jeremiah 16:17, "My eyes are upon all their ways, they are not hidden
from My face!"
God takes notice of the aggravations of sin against knowledge, mercy and
example. To God, the world is a clear, transparent body. He sees curtain
wickedness. He beholds all the sinful workings of men's hearts like we
can see the bees working in their combs in a transparent hive. Matthew
6:4, "He sees in secret." God observes how long a person persists in
wickedness, "They kept on sinning!"
As a merchant keeps his book of accounts and enters debts down in his
book, so God has His book of accounts—and He enters down every sin
into the book. Psalm 49:9, "He who formed the eye, shall He not see?"
The clouds cannot be a canopy, or the night a dark shade to hinder His
sight. I think this should be a counter-poison against sin—that God's eye
is never off us! He makes a minute examination upon our actions. We
may deceive men—but we cannot deceive our omniscient Judge.
Ecclesiastes 12:14, "God will bring into judgment every evil thing."
Branch 10. See the difference between the wicked and the
godly. Nothing can make a wicked man leave off being evil. "They kept
on sinning!" And nothing can make a godly man leave off being holy; he
is godly still. Though there may be death-threatening times, he will pray
still, and love God still. Daniel invoked his God, though for all he knew, a
prayer might cost him his life, Daniel 6:10. Let the waters be ever so
salty, the fish will still keep their freshness. Genesis 7:11, "Noah was
upright in his generation." When all flesh had corrupted itself, Noah held
on to a course of piety. A godly man will still be godly, whatever he
suffers. Psalm 44:17, "All this has come upon us—yet have we not
forsaken You, nor dealt falsely in Your covenant."
Gold, though cast in the fire, retains its purity. Acts 20:23, "Chains and
afflictions are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so
that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord
Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace." Though the archers shoot at
a godly man—yet the bow of his faith abides in strength. Whatever he
loses, he holds fast the jewel of a good conscience. He knows the crown of
true religion is steadfastness. And though persecution brings death in one
hand—piety brings life in the other. Though religion may have thorns
strewn in the way—the thorns cannot be as sharp, as the crown is sweet.
Branch 11. See from hence how provoking it is to the holy and jealous
God, to persist in wickedness. "They kept on sinning!" God speaks as if
He were very angry. To sin once may be out of ignorance—and when a
man comes to know it he repents. Or he might sin out of passion—and
when the passion is over he weeps. But to persist in sin highly incenses
God and calls aloud for vengeance. Jeremiah 9:3, "They proceed from one
evil to another." Verse 9, "Should I not punish them for these things?"
Every sin is treason against the crown of heaven. Now, the more treasons
a person commits, the more he enrages his king. To persist in sinning is
to dare God's justice; it is to affront Him to His face—and an affront will
make God draw His sword!
Is not this spot upon us? Are there not those among us who habituate
themselves to evil and rebelliously persist in their impieties? Shall not
God punish for these things? Surely England's furnace is heating—and we
may sadly suspect God has some other judgments to bring up the rear.
Either God will make us weary of our sins—or weary of our lives!
Branch 12. See here the nature of sin. One sin makes way for more.
"They kept on sinning!" The more they sinned, the more fit they were to
sin. It is a curse upon sin—that one act of sin prepares for more. Acts
13:2, "And now they sin more and more." In the Hebrew it is "they add to
sin." When Jereboam had left off sacrificing to the true God, he did not
stop there but set up golden calves at Dan and Bethel for the people to
worship, I Kings 12:29. Absalom prevaricated with his father and made
religion an excuse for his lie. This sin prepared him for treason, 2 Samuel
15:10. Peter's denial of Christ was seconded with an oath—and that oath
backed with a curse. Matthew 26:74, "Then he began lie to curse." Some
think he cursed Christ. Cain first envied his brother. Then envy begat
anger and anger begat murder. One sin draws on more. If you let a little
water out of a pipe it makes way for more. Oh, how dangerous is it to give
way to one sin! One sin leads the van—and whole troops follow. "They
kept on sinning!" When acts of sin are multiplied, men go to hell and
never stop sinning!
Branch 13. See the patience of God towards men. They persist in
sinning—yet God bore with them and, many times, deferred judgment.
Psalm 78:38, "Many a time He turned His anger away." How long did
God bear with the old world? He strives with men by His Word and
Spirit. He comes to them in a still small voice. He would win them with
His love. "He waits to be gracious," Isaiah 30:18. God is not like a hasty
creditor who requires the payment of the debt, and will give no time for
the payment. Revelation 2:21, "I gave her space to repent." The Lord
blows the trumpet a long time, before His vengeance is meted out. The
wicked sin still—and God is patient still. 2 Peter 3:9, "He is long-suffering
to us, not willing that any should perish."
God's Justice says, "Cut them down!"
God's Patience says, "Spare them a year longer!"
When God is going to strike, He waits so long, that He is weary of
repenting, as the Prophet speaks, Jeremiah 15:6. We of this nation spin
out our sins and God is yet patient. But He will not always be so. If we go
on impatiently, the lease of patience will at last be run out. And the longer
God is saving His blow, the heavier it will be.
God's patience has bounds set to it. There is a time when God will say,
"My Spirit shall no longer strive," Revelation 14:7. The angel cried, "The
hour of God's judgment has come," Ezekiel 30:3.
Sodom
was the wonder of God's patience—but now has been made a monument
of His anger. The Lord may keep off the stroke for a long time—but if men
are unreclaimable and persist in sinning, let them know that vengeance is
not dead—but sleeping. Sins against God's patience, exceed the sins of
the fallen angels. Therefore, the fiery furnace will be heated seven times
hotter!
Branch 14. See here that which will justify God in damning the
wicked: They persist in sinning. Oh, how righteous God will be,
when He shall pass the sentence against them! When a thief goes on
stealing and, after he has been reprieved, he still robs—how will all
applaud the judge in condemning him! Wicked men are now ready to
charge God with partiality and injustice. Ezekiel 18:25, "You have said,
The way of the Lord is not equal." They think it very hard that they
should die for eating the apple of sinful pleasure. But God will say, "Did I
not forbid you that fruit? Yet you ate it! nay, you continued eating it. You
persisted in sinning. What can you say for yourselves as to why you
should not die?"
Sinners will be found speechless. Psalm 51:4, "That You may be clear
when You judge." A wicked man will, at the last day, clear God of all
injustice. It is a great vindication of a judge when the prisoner at the bar
clears his judge and acknowledges that the sentence of death is righteous.
Every wicked man's conscience shall set his seal, to the righteousness of
God's judgment.
Branch 15. See what a powerful thing grace is, which gives
check to corruption and breaks the heart off from the love of
sin! Though a gracious soul has sin in him—yet he cannot be said
properly to persist in sinning, 1 John 3:9. He does not allow himself in
sin, Romans 7:15. He maintains a combat with it, Galatians 5:17. Though
he may fall into sin, he does not lie in it! A sheep may fall into the mire—
but does not lie there. In this sense, a child of God is said to be dead to
sin, Romans 6:2. Oh, how mighty and sovereign is divine grace—which
divorces a person from sin!
If you consider what power sin has in a man, it is a miracle that he should
forsake it. Sin is a man's self, like a member of the body which is not
easily parted with. Sin is woven and incorporated into the nature of a
man. It is as natural for him to sin—as for fire to burn. Sin has bewitched
and stolen away the heart. Now, that sin which has gotten such power
over a man—that it should be beaten out of all its forts and castles—what
a wonder this is! How is it but from invincible grace! The Spirit draws
sweetly—but irresistibly. The Spirit allures—yet conquers. Grace sits
paramount in the soul. It is that strong corrosive which eats asunder the
iron chain of sin. Grace repels and beats back corruption. So, in a man
who before was under the command of corruption, at last sin flies and is
driven back. Why is this? Behold the power of omnipotent grace, which
has made such a sudden alteration in him. It has routed sin's forces and
caused it to be driven back.
Branch 16. See the sordid ingratitude of sinners. "They kept on
sinning!" Notwithstanding the fact that they had such eminent and signal
favors from God—the pillar of fire to lead them, the rock split to give
them water—yet mercy could not, with all its oratory, prevail with them
to leave their iniquities. "They kept on sinning!"
A father bribes his son to obedience by giving him money—yet he still
goes on in dissolute courses. So God would draw men from sin by His
mercies—yet they will indulge their lusts. Oh, how ungrateful! It is an ill
nature—which will not be won with love. Beasts are wrought upon with
kindness, Isaiah 1:3—but sinners are not.
The wicked are worse for God's
mercies. They, like vultures—draw sickness from these perfumes!
The wicked deal with God as we do with the Thames River. The Thames
brings us in our riches—our gold, silks and spices—and we throw all our
filth into the Thames. Just so do the wicked deal with God. He gives them
all their mercies—and they commit their filthy sins against Him. "They
kept on sinning!" Ingratitude is, as Bernard said, the enemy of salvation.
If mercy is not a magnet to draw us nearer to God—it will be a millstone
to sink us deeper into hell. Nothing so cold as lead—yet nothing more
scalding when it is melted. Nothing is so sweet as God's mercy—yet
nothing is so dreadful, when it is abused! Sinners never escape when
mercy draws up their indictment.
Branch 17. See the detestable folly of sinners. "They kept on
sinning!" Though they had felt the smart of sin, verse 21, a fire was
kindled in Jacob and anger came up against Israel. Yet for all this, they
persist in sinning. This viper of sin had pained them—yet they hugged it
in their bosom again. Sin has done all the harm to men which it can. It
has exhausted their health; it has brought them to a prison and almost to
hell—yet they persist in sinning!
While the bears lick the honey around the hive, they are stung with the
bees. So, for that little pleasure in sin, men's consciences are stung and in
torment—yet they persist in sinning! They would be angry to have others
call them fools—but the Scripture does, Proverbs 14:9. Nay, the time is
coming when they will call themselves fools! Provers 11:12, "And you
mourn at last saying, How have I hated instruction!" "What, to love those
chains which bound me? How foolish I was! How have I hated
instruction!"
Branch 18. See what vast treasures of wrath are laid up for
unrepentant sinners. "Do you show contempt for the riches of His
kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads
you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your
unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day
of God's wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed." Romans
2:4-5. "They kept on sinning!" As guilt increases—so does wrath. Every
sin committed, is a stick to heat hell—and make it burn the hotter! It is a
thing to be lamented, that men should live in the world only to increase
their torments in hell. While they commit new sins, they are burdening
themselves with more iron chains, which will be so heavy at last, that they
will not be able to bear them—or avoid them. "They kept on sinning!"
Oh, sinner! Know that for every lie you tell, every oath you swear, you are
only adding to your torment! Every dish Satan serves you—will increase
your fatal reckoning. Every time you defraud others and make your
weights lighter, you make your condemnation heavier. Every sin is a drop
of oil upon hell's eternal furnace!
Branch 19. See what cause they have to admire the stupendous
goodness of God, who has wrought a change in them—and checked
them in their full career of sin! Matthew 11:26, "Even so, Father, for it
seems good in Your sight." Christians, you who are vessels of election,
were by nature as wicked as others—but God had compassion on you and
plucked you as brands out of the fire! He stopped you in your course of
sinning, perhaps by an arrow shot out of a pulpit, perhaps by setting a
thorn-hedge of affliction in your way. Even as the angel stood in the way
to stop Balaam when he was riding on, Numbers 22:31, so God stood in
your way and stopped you when you were marching to hell! He turned
you back to Him by repentance. Oh, here is the banner of love displayed
over you! 1 Timothy 1:13, "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a
persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy." Literally, I was
"bemercied." Literally, "I was bemercied." Christians, why might not you
have been in the number of those who persist in sinning? Because God
has bemiracled you with mercy!
Behold sovereign grace! Let your hearts melt in love to God. Admire His
royal bounty. Celebrate the memorial of His goodness. Set the crown of
all your praises, upon the head of free grace! "By the grace of God I am
what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10
Branch 20. Last, I note from this, how agreeable to reason it is
that God should damn men eternally for sin—not only because sin
is acted against an infinite majesty—but because there is an eternity of sin
in men's nature. "They kept on sinning!" If men would men live forever—
they would sin forever. Some think it harsh that for the sins committed in
a few years, they should undergo eternal torment. But here lies the justice
and equity of it--it is because sinners have an everlasting principle of sin
in them. Their stock of corruption is never spent. They have a neverdying appetite for sin, which is justly punished with a never-dying worm!
"Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched!" Mark 9:44.
"They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,
who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify
him. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven
because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what
they had done. Revelation 16:9, 11
Use 2. Reproof
It serves to reprove such as persist in sin. He who was unclean—is
unclean still; he who was drunk—is drunk still. Hosea 7:10, "They do not
return to the Lord." Jeremiah 9:3, "They proceed from evil to evil." Psalm
78:17, "They sinned yet more against Him."
Let me not only speak to scandalous sinners, who seem to have
'damnation' written upon their foreheads—but to secret sinners. "Cursed
is he who makes an idol and puts it in a secret place." Deuteronomy
27:15. Some of the Jews would not be seen openly bowing to an idol—but
they would put it in their closet or some other place and there worship it.
There are many in like manner who will not sin on the balcony, or be like
Absalom and sin in the sight of all Israel, 2 Samuel 16:22. But they shut
up their windows, and commit their sin in secret. They have a private
back door to hell--which nobody knows of! Perhaps they live in secret
adultery or secret envy and malice or secret neglect of duty. God knows
that they are living in secret sins. What an aggravation of sin is this! "Can
anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do not I fill heaven
and earth?" declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:24. "I have been watching!
declares the Lord." Jeremiah 7:11. "I have seen your detestable acts! Woe
to you! How long will you be unclean?" Jeremiah 13:27
God's watchmen have been sent to warn men of their evil ways. They
have told them how damnable a thing it is to persist in sin. The
judgments of God, like arrows, have been shot at them for sin. Yet for all
this, they persist in sinning. This is worse than to be Balaam the Sorcerer.
For when he saw the angel before him with a naked sword, he dared not
ride on. But these desperate, heaven-daring sinners, though they see the
flaming sword of God's justice before them, resolvedly venture on in sin!
This sin is willful. Willful disobeyers are said to reproach the Lord,
Numbers 15:30. To defy a king's authority is to reproach him. Willfulness
in sin amounts to daring presumption. Psalm 19:13, "Keep back Your
servant from presumptuous sins." Under the Law, there were sacrifices
for sins of ignorance—but no sacrifices for sins of presumption, Numbers
11:30. To sin willfully accents and enhances the sin. It is like die to the
wool, or like a weight put in the scale which makes it weigh heavier. This
leaves men without excuse, John 15:22. A sea mark is set up to give
notice that there are dangerous rocks. It the mariner will persist in sailing
there—and he is shipwrecked, no one will pity him—because he had
warning given.
Pilate sinned desperately. He knew the Jews had arraigned Christ, out of
envy, Matthew 27:18. He confessed that he found no fault in Him, Luke
23:14. And God Himself went about to stop him in his sin. He
admonished him through his wife's telling him, to have nothing to do
with that just man, Matthew 27:19. Yet for all this, he went on and gave
sentence against Christ. While Pilate condemned Christ, he himself was
condemned by his own conscience.
Add but one degree of sin more to presumption—spiting the Spirit—and
it becomes the unpardonable sin. When men sin and will persist in sin—it
is just with God to harden them and leave them to themselves! Seeing
they will be filthy—let them be filthy still, Revelation 22:11. That is a
heart-saddening text in Hosea 8:11, "Though Ephraim built many altars
for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning!" It is dreadful for a
man to be left to himself—like a ship without a rudder or pilot driven out
of the winds and dashed upon a rock. Roman 1:24, "Therefore God gave
them over in the sinful desires of their hearts!"
The condition of that patient is past hope—when his physician gives up
on him—and leaves him to his own sick palate. The physcian is saying,
"Medicine will do him no good; you may let him eat what he pleases, for
he will die!"
Use 3. Exhortation
Let it exhort all to take heed of Israel's disease of persisting in sin. John
5:14, "Do not sin any more, so that something worse doesn’t happen to
you." Oh, sinners, if Christ, glory, or salvation is of any value to you,
hearken to this sacred charm of the gospel—and be entreated to "break
off your iniquities by righteousness," Daniel 4:27. It is not arbitrary—but
lies upon you by virtue of a solemn command. Job 22:23, "You shall
remove wickedness far from your tent." The Hebrew word there signifies
to put away sin with indignation—like Paul shook off the viper. Either
you must put your sin far away—or God will put you far away from
Himself and heaven. It is sad that a man should be so far bewitched with
the woman's hair—that he does not read the lion's teeth, Revelation 9:7.
Oh, break off a course of impiety!
Let your hearts be cleansed from the love of sin. Grace begins with the
heart. Jeremiah 4:14, "Wash your heart, Oh, Jerusalem." Wash in holy
tears! The salt water of tears—kills the worm of conscience! To go to
cleanse the life before the heart is cleansed—is as if you should wash the
channel when the fountain is polluted!
Enter upon a new course of life. Jeremiah 7:3, "Amend your ways and
your doings." In the Hebrew it is, "Make good your ways."
Objection. But we have no power of ourselves to put a stop to sin. We
cannot convert ourselves.
Answer. Do what you can. Men are not mere logs; they may do more
than they do. They may avoid the occasions of sin. They may put
themselves upon the use of means. They may lie at the pool of an
ordinance and there wait for the angels to stir the water. Those feet which
will carry them to a tavern or play—will carry them to a sermon. They
may implore God in prayer to enable them to break off sin. God, who
sometimes meets those who are running from Him—will not despise
those who run to Him. There is a promise on record, Jeremiah 29:13,
"Then you shall find Me—when you search for Me with all your heart." Go
to God, then—and He will give grace. God no sooner speaks—than He
creates. When God speaks—the heart opens to Him like the flower opens
with the sun!
Poor sinners, if you see yourselves lost and seek Christ—while you are
seeking Him, He is seeking you, Luke 19:10. And to encourage you in
your earnest addresses to God, remember that God has made a promise
not only to those who have grace—but to those who lack it. Proverbs 1:23,
"If you turn to my discipline, then I will pour out my Spirit on you and
teach you my words." Pray over this promise and, in due time, God will
infuse His Spirit which shall work that in you which He requires of you.
Some Motives to Divorce Sin
Having answered this objection, let me use some few prevalent motives—
to persuade men to put a bill of divorce in the hand of their sins!
1. Consider that, while men go on still in sin, God is their
professed enemy! Psalm 68:21, "God will smash the heads of his
enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways." A
wound that touches the brain is mortal. All God's barbed arrows fly
among the wicked. It is dangerous to stand in the place where God's
arrows fly! Perhaps, some may think that God's wrath is not so dreadful—
as you think that the lion is not as fierce as he is painted. Consult that
text, Deuteronomy 32:41, "I sharpen my flashing sword and begin to
carry out justice, I will bring vengeance on my enemies and repay those
who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood!"
Oh, sinner! You who still wallows in your swinish filthiness—do you know
what an omnipotent enemy you have! It is He who stretches out the
heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, Isaiah 51:13, who rebukes
the wind and bridles the sea! It is He who can look you into your grave—
and who can bind you in chains among the devils! And will you go on to
provoke Him? Can you overcome the almighty God? "Do you have an arm
like God's?" Job 40:9. Can an infant grapple with a an arch-angel?
Ezekiel 22:14, "Can your heart endure, or your hands be strong—in the
day that I shall deal with you!"
Sinner, you have done enough to damn your soul already—but there is yet
a white flag of mercy held forth. You may yet make your peace with God.
And there is no way to appease God—but by the death of your sins. Oh—
then, make haste. Bring to God the head of your beloved sin on a platter!
There is no pacification of God—but by mortification.
2. What is there in sin that anyone should persist in it?
It
is the spirit of evil and destruction; it is a breach of the royal law, 1 John
3:4. It defaces God's image in the soul; it is like a stain to beauty; it is the
matter out of which the worm of conscience breeds; it is properly the
work of the devil. 1 John 3:8, "He who does what is sinful is of the devil,
because the devil has been sinning from the beginning." And is there no
other employment a man can busy himself about—but the work of the
devil! Sin ushers in death, Romans 6:22. Do not say that sin is sweet.
What wise man would drink poison—because it is sweet! Who would
desire a pleasure—which kills!
3. The great BENEFIT which accrues to a person by breaking
off sin. Sinner, the day you leave your sins and set upon a course of
holiness—God will pardon all your past sins. It shall be as if you had
never offended Him. God will pass an act of oblivion upon your sins.
Jeremiah 31:34, "I will remember your sins no more." The Lord never
upbraids a penitent with former sins and unkindnesses.
Objection. But may the sinner say, "I am so loaded with guilt that I fear
there is no hope of mercy for me?"
Answer 1. Though you are guilty—and conscience, like God's attorney,
charges you with foul sins—yet, if you are truly humbled and bruised in
the sight of God—know that your case is not desperate. 1 John 2:1, "If any
man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
Righteous."
Nay, Christ is not only an Advocate but a Surety, Hebrews 7:22. And,
though you are even drowned in debt—yet Christ, by His merit, has
satisfied justice and brought in everlasting righteousness for you, Daniel
9:24. Wait but awhile, and He will, in due time, give to your conscience a
full discharge sealed with the testimony of His own Spirit.
Answer 2. All winds of providence shall blow you to heaven. Romans
8:28, "All things work together for good." You shall be a gainer by your losses. Your crosses shall be turned into blessings. Poverty shall starve
your lusts. Sickness shall refine your grace. Persecution shall bring you
nearer to God. All the stones the Jews threw at Stephen—only knocked
him faster to Christ, the Cornerstone, Isaiah 28:16. Every cut of God's
spiritual diamonds—makes them sparkle the more. Afflictions are not so
much to wound the godly—as to warn them. Afflictions are not the blows
of an enemy—but the love-tokens of a Father! God will sugar every
affliction with His love. The people of God gather grapes—from thorns. It
is a great controversy between the chemists and the physicians, whether
gold may be made liquid and drunk as a cordial. I am sure that, to the
people of God, afflictions become gold and, being drunk down, they have
been cordial and cheering to their hearts! 2 Corinthians 1:5, "As the
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds."
Answer 3. God will display the banner of free grace over you! He will
smile on you, embrace you in the arms of His mercy—and kiss you with
the kisses of His lips! He will lead you into the banqueting house, and
feast you with those royal dainties and rare foods with which the angels
are delighted. He will give you the hidden manna and the wine of
paradise. He will "put rich garments on you—and set the fair mitre" of
glory on your head, Zechariah 3:4-5.
In short, God will say to you, as Pharaoh said to Joseph, Genesis 45:20,
"The best of all the land is yours." So, the whole kingdom is before you;
the good of that heavenly land is yours; and, as the father of the repenting
Prodigal said, Luke 15:21, "Son, all I have is yours!" My power is yours to
help you. My Spirit is yours to comfort you. My mercy is yours to save
you. All I have is yours! I give you not only My jewels—but Myself! What
more can I give you!
Oh, therefore, all you sinners, be persuaded to put a stop to your sins. Do
it sincerely, Jeremiah 24:7. Hypocrisy in religion will damn—as well as
profaneness. Do it speedily, Jeremiah 18:11. Death may be within a few
day's march of you. Only part with your lusts—and "this day salvation has
come to your house!"
Objection. But suppose a few of us break off a course of sinning? What
are we the better if the greatest part of the people go on sinning still?
Wrath is still likely to come upon the land?
Answer 1. Yet if you cannot save the kingdom, you may still save your
own souls. And a soul saved—is more than a world gained!
Answer 2. Perhaps the reformation of a few may help to keep off wrath
from the nation. Jeremiah 5:1, "Run you to and fro—and see now if you
can find a man who seeks the truth—and I will pardon it." God would
have spared Sodom for ten righteous men—but here He comes lower. If
there were but one righteous man, He would pardon. The people of
Jerusalem were generally so corrupt that one might have gone up and
down the streets in it and scarcely found a man who was sincerely
righteous. But if by this word "man" we understand "few," yet that shows
us that sometimes the repentance of a few may help to save a nation. A
few ears of good corn, may save a whole field of tares from being plucked
up.
Answer 3. Perhaps, if desolating judgments would come upon others—
God may spare you. Zephaniah 2:3, "Beg the Lord to save you—all you
who are humble, all you who uphold justice. Walk humbly and do what is
right. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you from his anger on that
day of destruction." The Lord knows in a storm, how to hide His jewels.
God hid Jeremiah in captivity. He hid a hundred prophets in a cave, 1
Kings 18:13. He hid several under His wings, in the Marian persecution.
The Lord commanded His angel to seal His servants on the forehead (a
mark of safety) before He opened His vial and poured His curses upon
the earth, Revelation 9:4.
It may be you shall be hidden; nay, if you discard your sins, you shall
certainly be hidden. You shall be hidden either above ground or below
ground, Job 14:13. You shall be hidden in the wounds of Christ—and then
you are safe. You shall escape, if not the stroke of death—yet the sting of
death—damnation. If your life is not spared—yet your sin shall be
pardoned. You shall be hidden within the veil. God will put all His elect
jewels into the cabinet of heaven!
Use 4. Consolation
Here is a pillar of support to every soul who has broken off sin and
espoused holiness. This is an undoubted evidence that you are a true
child of God. Flesh and blood could not reach to this, only omnipotent
grace could conquer your corruptions! 1 John 3:9, "He who is born of
God does not practice sin." He does not sin deliberately. He does not sin
with delight. In his heart—he abhors sin; in his life—he forsakes it. Here
is one who is born of God. And let this comfort the real penitent. Though
he cannot get rid of a body of sin—but will have his failings, though he
does what he can—yet these failings shall not be charged upon him—but
his Surety! God will be propitious through Christ. He will take notice of
the sincerity—and pass by the infirmity!
The Last and Great Change!
"I will wait until my change comes." Job 14:14
If all that has been previously said will not stop men in their sins, I shall
add little more. Only let me make this one warning to them—that they
would remember their mortality and think seriously how soon death may
come—and how terrible it will be to die in their sins! John 8:21. For this
purpose, let them hearken to this death-watch in the text, "I will wait
until my change comes."
This book of Job treats much of death and mortality. Job looked upon
himself as a man who was not long for this world. Job 17:1, "I am near
death. The grave is ready to receive me!" And he loved to be walking often
among the tombs—and so to familiarize himself with death. "I will wait
until my change comes."
"Until my change comes"—that is, until death comes.
In the text there is:
Job's resolution, "I will wait."
The length of time he will wait, "until my change comes."
From which words flow three propositions:
1. Death is a change.
2. This change will come.
3. It is a great part of Christian prudence, to wait until this change comes.
Doctrine 1. Death is a change.
There is a threefold change:
A change before death.
A change at death.
A change after death.
1. There is a change BEFORE death. Death being ready to approach
—changes a man's OPINION. When a person comes to die, he has
another opinion of things, than he had before. He now sees with other
eyes!
He now has another opinion of the WORLD than he had. He sees what a
vain thing it is. He could never before, see its nothingness, the devil
having cast a mist before his eyes. He once doted upon the world. Now,
all its jewels are pulled off—and he sees it in its night dress. He sees how
the world's paint falls off—and how unable it is to give one drop of true
comfort at the hour of death!
Death approaching changes a man's opinion about SIN. Before, he
looked upon sin, as merely a matter of merriment. He thought swearing
an oath, drinking to excess—and wasting his precious time in vanity—was
but a light thing. He said of sin, as Lot did of Zoar, "Is it not a little one?"
Genesis 19:20. But when he sees death's grim face appear—he now has
other apprehensions of sin than he had before. The wine that showed its
color in the glass and smiled at him—now bites like a serpent! Proverbs
23:32. Those sins which before were thought to be light as feathers—are
now like a ton of lead ready to sink him.
King Belshazzar was carousing and drinking wine in the cups taken from
the Temple of God in Jerusalem; but when there came forth "fingers of a
man's hand—and wrote upon the wall—then the King's "face turned pale
with fear! Such terror gripped him that his knees knocked together and
his legs gave way beneath him!" Daniel 5:6. So, after sinful pleasure
enjoyed, when death begins to show itself and put forth its fingers—and a
man sees a dreadful handwriting in his conscience—and then oh, how is
his opinion about sin changed! How his thoughts trouble him! Now what
would he give to have his sins pardoned? He never saw the face of sin as
ugly as in the looking-glass of death!
When death comes near a man, it changes his opinion about
HOLINESS. He once thought it a shame to be seen with a Bible in his
hand. Holiness before was the object of his scorn and hatred. He called
pious discourses, "mere cant;" repentance, "whining;" fervent praying,
"babbling." He baptized true zeal with the name of fanaticism. But when
death begins to approach, it changes his judgment. He now sees how
mistaken he was—and that without holiness he can never see God,
Hebrews 12:14. Now his eyes begin to be opened and he subscribes to that
maxim, Job 28:28, "The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom!" He now sees
the best way to be safe is to be sincerely pious. Oh, now what would he
give for a grain of that holiness, which before he despised! How glad he
would be to"die the death of the righteous," though he hated to live their
life!
Thus, there is a change made not long before death. The sinner now sees
himself in a snare and labyrinth! Now the minister must be sent for in all
haste, though oftentimes he comes too late!
2. There is a change AT death. This is a change in the BODY. Job
14:20, "You always overpower them, and then they pass from the scene.
You disfigure them in death and send them away." The most lovely
complexion is greatly changed, when once the pale horse of death rides
over it! The eyes are hollow. The cheeks are ashen. The jaws are sunken.
That beautiful face which once allured—now frightens! Psalm 39:11, "You
make his beauty consume away like a moth." Death is a moth which
consumes a beauty of the finest spinning. Hence, the body being so
discolored by death—and turned into a vile carcass—the patriarchs
desired to have their dead buried out of their sight, Genesis 23:4. Death
so changes the body and puts it into such a frightful dress—that none fall
in love with it but the worms!
3. There is a change AFTER death. This change is chiefly in regard
to the SOUL.
To the godly—it is a blessed change.
To the wicked—it is a cursed change.
The GODLY, after death, have a blessed change. They have a full acquittal
from their sins and are put into an actual possession of their blissful
inheritance. Faith gives them a propriety in glory—and death gives them
a possession of glory. Oh, blessed change, from a desert—to a paradise;
from a house of mourning—to a banquet house; from a bloody battle—to
a victorious crown! "Glorified believers shall change their place—but not
their company," said Preston. They shall have transforming sights of
God. 1 John 3:2, "When He shall appear—we shall be like Him."
As the souls of the godly shall have a blessed change after death, so shall
their bodies at the resurrection, John 6:40 and 1 Thessalonians 4:19.
Though the grave is their long home, it is not their last home. Mother
earth shall be in travail—and bring forth the bodies of the saints—and
they shall shine as the sun in its meridian splendor! "He will take these
weak mortal bodies of ours—and change them into glorious bodies like
His own!" Philippians 3:21.
Death will make a cursed change to the WICKED. They must go out of the
bed of pleasure, and leave all their mirth and music. Revelation 18:21,
"Never again will the sound of music be heard there!" The wicked must
change from joy—to misery; from a temporary paradise—to an eternal
prison! "I am in agony in this fire!" Luke 16:19.
Doctrine 2. This change WILL come!
Death can no more be stopped in its race—than the sun. Death's scythe
cuts asunder, even the royal scepter. God's messenger of death finds out
every man. Ecclesiastes 8:8, "There is no discharge in that war." Among
men, if one is summoned to the war—he may find some excuse. He may
plead unfitness or he may substitute another in his place. But in this war
with death—there is no getting off. "There is no discharge in that war." As
death sends its challenge to all, so it is sure to conquer. When death, like
God's sergeant-at-arms, arrests men, there is no bribing this sergeant or
making resistance.
Death will not be bribed. It was a saying of Beauford, a wicked bishop in
King Henry the Sixth's time, "Why should I die, being so rich? Will not
death be hired? Will money do nothing?" Ezekiel 7:19, "Their silver and
gold will be unable to save them, in the day of the Lord’s wrath!"
Death cannot be resisted. Take a man in his best estate. Let him be
dignified with honor like Solomon, armed with strength like Sampson.
Were his flesh as hard as bronze—yet God's bullet of death would shoot
through him! How easily can God look us into our grave! Men may set up
their banners—but God always sets up the trophies!
That there must be a change, is evident. The body, being but an earthly
tabernacle, 2 Peter 1:14, the cords of it will soon be loosed. Besides, there
is a decree of death passed upon all people, "Man is destined to die once—
and after that to face judgment!" Hebrews 9:27. And how soon this
change will come—we do not know. Death may be within a few days
march of us—and when it comes with its letter of summons—we must
surrender!
Use 1. Exhortation
Branch 1. Let us all exercise ourselves with THOUGHTS of this
great change. Let us not be of that Emperor's mind—who judged it
cowardly to think of death. Job 17:14, "I have said to corruption—you are
my father; and to the worm—you are my mother." Job, by often
meditating on death, was as well acquainted with it, as he was with his
father and mother. By often handling this serpent—it will be less
frightful. The serious contemplation on this great change, death—would
produce these four excellent effects.
1. It would HUMBLE us. Why should we set up banners and trophies
of pride—when we are but dust and rottenness! The thoughts of the grave
would bury our pride.
2. The thoughts of a sudden change would be an antidote
against SIN. Shall we go on in sin—when God may say this night, "Give
an account of your stewardship!" The way to give sin a mortal wound—is
to set up a death's-head on our table—which will make us think of our
face after we die!
In particular, the thoughts of our change would keep us from sinful
compliance. Some latitudinarians can cut their religion according to the
fashion of the times. They can be Protestant or Papist. They can sail with
any wind that blows to their advantage. But that man will not be for every
change—who thinks seriously of his last change.
3. The thoughts of this change would cure our inordinate love
of the WORLD. A change will come shortly—and then what will this
fleeting world be to us? All our money will serve only to buy us a burial
sheet! Saladine, the Turkish Emperor, lying at the point of death,
commanded that a white sheet should be carried before him to his grave
on the point of a spear, with this proclamation, "These are the rich spoils
which Saladine the Emperor carries away with him—of all his triumphs
and victories obtained—of all his realms possessed. Nothing is left him
but this sheet!" After a great feast comes the basket for leftover food.
Shortly, death, like such a basket, will take away all our earthly comforts.
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be
demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for
yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for
himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20-21.
4. The serious thoughts of our last and great change, would
make us spend our TIME better. How diligent men would be in
Scripture reading, how fervent in prayer, how watchful over our hearts,
how useful to our relations! We should live every day as if it were our
dying day. He who knows how short his time is in his farm, will make the
best advantage of it. He who remembers the shortness of his time here on
earth—and how soon a change may come—will improve all the seasons of
grace for his soul that he may give a good account of his stewardship.
Branch 2. Let us PREPARE for this change. All the changes we
meet with in the world, are but to fit us for our last change. Men
unprepared, being summoned by the king of terrors before God's
tribunal, go as the prisoner to the bar to receive their fatal doom! The
thoughts of this, should be enough to put them into a frenzy. Would it not
be sad for a man to have his house on fire—and the fire so fierce that he
has no time to get out his goods? Such is the case of many at death. A
fever has set their house of clay on fire—and they are snatched away so
suddenly that they have no time to make provision for their souls!
Question. What shall we do to be fitted for our great and last change?
Answer 1. Let us labor to get into Christ. It is dreadful when death finds
any outside of Christ. As if the avenger of blood had overtaken the
manslayer before he had gotten to the city of refuge. You who are in
Christ, are as the dove in the rock. Romans 8:1, "There is no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Christ has fully atoned
for the sin of believers. Christ's blood turns a deathbed into a bed of
roses!
The best way to be fitted for dying, is being married to Christ. It does not
matter if death unties the knot between the body and the soul—as long as
faith has tied the knot between Christ and the soul. The Prince of Peace
secures against the king of terrors.
Answer 2. If we would be fitted for our last change—let us labor for a
spiritual change. Before our bodies are changed, let us labor to have our
hearts changed. Oh, let us get the holy anointing, 1 John 2:27. Grace is as
needful for the soul—as oil is for the lamp, and as breath for the body.
John 3:7, "You must be born again." He who is born but once—shall die
twice. Grace makes an admirable change. To be changed from sin to
holiness—is as if iron were changed into gold, or dust changed into diamonds. Now, the soul is all glorious within. Oh, labor for this gracious
change! At death, a good face may change for the worse—but a good
heart changes for the better.
Doctrine 3. It is a high point of Christian prudence, to wait
until our change comes. "I will wait." Waiting implies two things:
EXPECTATION. "I will wait for my change"—that is, I will look for it. A
gracious soul is ever expecting to hear news of his going home to be with
Christ. Death does not come to a child of God unawares—but it come as
Jonathan's arrow did to David, who went into the field and expected
where the arrow would be shot, 1 Samuel 20:24. A godly man looks every
hour for the arrow of death to be shot at him.
DILIGENCE. "I will wait until my change comes"—that is, I will be setting
my soul in order for death. We must not wait and sit still—but wait and
work. He who waits for his master's coming will be careful that
everything is in good decorum. Matthew 24:46, "Blessed is that servant
whom his Lord when he comes, shall find so doing." Be often calling
yourselves to account; every night review what you have been doing all
the day. This is the right waiting for our final change—when we put our
souls in a ready posture for death and judgment.
Use 2. Reproof
Branch 1. This reproves such as are so far from waiting for their
change, that they cannot endure to think of their change. They are no
more willing to think of death—than a man drowned in debt is to think of
going to prison. Amos 6:3, "You who put far away the evil day." He hopes
for long life. The bud of youth hopes to come to the flower of manhood—
and the flower of manhood hopes to come to old age—and old age hopes
to renew its strength as the eagle. Psalm 49:11, "Their inward thought, is
that their houses shall continue forever." They would rather be building
fine houses—than providing their tombstone. The mirthful youth does
not like the noise of the death-bell—and the powdered hair forgets his
final destiny.
Branch 2. It reproves such as wait—but not in the right sense. They wait
to fulfill their lusts. "The adulterer waits for the twilight, for he says, No
one will see me then." Job 24:15. The unjust man waits for an opportunity
to defraud. Is this to wait as Job did? Where do men wait for their
change? In a tavern, or at a theater? Alas, their change comes before they
are aware! The graves are ready for them—but they are not ready for their
graves!
Use 3. Exhortation
It exhorts Christians to wait for their change. As the farmer waits until
his seed sown springs up, as the merchant waits for the coming home of
his ship—so we should wait until death comes to ship us over to the
eternal world.
1. Let us wait with watchfulness. Mark 13:33, "Watch and pray." Let us
watch our hearts—that they neither decoy us into sin, nor charm us
asleep in carnal security.
2. Let us wait with patience. "I will wait until my change comes." That
is, "I will be patient until my change comes."
The sufferings the godly endure in this life—and the joys they will have
after death—may put them upon desiring this blissful change. But though
they should covet to die—yet they must be content to live. Wait with
patience until the appointed time has come. The Father knows when the
best season is, to bring his child home. Christian, do not be desirous to be
in heaven, before your time. Wait but awhile—and you shall have what
you have prayed and wept for. It is but awhile—and God will take the
cross off your shoulders and set a crown upon your head!
The Furnace Heated Hotter!
A clear description of such people as shall have a greater share in hell
torments.
"These shall receive greater damnation." Mark 12:40
I had thought to have stopped my pen here—but supposing the largest
discourses of this nature are little enough to divert wicked people from
their excesses, I have one word more to add—that if sinners have not lost
their reason, they would be persuaded to reflect a little and consider
seriously the damnableness of their state after this life—and lay to heart
this text dropped from our Savior's own lips, "These shall receive
greater damnation."
I do not intend to meddle with the context—but shall take the words as
they lie entirely in themselves. In the text there are three parts:
A fiery furnace—damnation.
The furnace heated hotter—greater damnation.
The people for whom this furnace is doubly heated—These shall receive.
Doctrine. The proposition I intend is this: There are some kinds of
sinners who shall be more severely tormented in hell than
others. "These shall receive greater damnation."
In respect of the duration of torment—all shall be punished alike. All
the black regiment of reprobates shall lie in hell forever! But in respect of
the degree of torment—all shall not be punished alike. Some shall have a
more fiery indignation than others, "How much worse punishment, do
you think one will deserve!" Hebrews 10:29.
Those who have the least punishment in hell shall have enough. The
coolest part of hell is hot enough punishment—but there are some who
shall have a hotter place in hell than others. All shall go into that fiery
prison—but some sinners God will thrust into the fiery dungeon. Those
whose impieties are more fearfully heightened, and who have sinned at a
higher rate than others—God will take His full blow at, in hell, and will
tear them in His wrath, "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear
you to pieces, with none to rescue!" Psalm 50:22. For such, He will heat
the infernal furnace seven times hotter. I shall briefly give you a list and
catalogue of such sinners as dying in impenitence, shall receive greater
damnation.
1. Such as are willfully ignorant. It is one thing not to know—and
another to be unwilling to know. They might have the notion of the true
God—but they will not. They trample upon this pearl of divine knowledge.
They not only neglect knowledge, but reject it! Hosea 4:6, "Because you
have rejected knowledge." Or, as the Hebrew word signifies, "you have
hated it." The Ethiopians curse the sun—just so do these reject the light of
saving knowledge. These knowledge despisers shall have a greater share
in the torments of hell. Isaiah 27:11, "Israel is a foolish and stupid nation,
for its people have turned away from God. Therefore, the one who made
them will show them no pity or mercy." And for God to show no pity—is
to take the extremity of the Law upon them.
2. Such as will neither follow the thing that is good for
themselves, nor yet allow others. Luke 11:52, "How terrible it will be
for you experts in religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from
the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent
others from entering!" Such as will neither read the Bible themselves, nor
allow their children to read it; such as will neither hear a good sermon
themselves, and discourage their neighbors from hearing; such as will
stop the pipes which are to convey the water of life and who eclipse the
lamps of the sanctuary—these shall receive greater damnation. 1
Thessalonians 2:16, "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, for fear some
might be saved. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the
wrath is come upon them to the uttermost!"
3. Such as sin against clear illuminations and convictions. These
the Apostle speaks of in James 4:17, "He knows the good he ought to do
and doesn't do it." They are not ignorant that the things they do are sin.
Conscience, like the cherubim, stands with a flaming sword to deter them
—yet they will eat the apple of pleasure—though they die! These men's
sins have a vehemence. This made the sin of the fallen angels so great, for
which they lie in chains. They had no ignorance, no passion to stir them
up, no temptation—but they sinned voluntarily and out of pure choice!
This sinning against conscience, is accompanied with pride. Sinners
know the mind of God—yet act contrary to it. They set their will above
God's will. They say in their heart as did Pharaoh, Exodus 5:2, "Who is
the Lord that I should obey His voice?"
This sinning against conscience, is accompanied with impudence. Let
what will come of it—let God punish or not—men will pursue their sins!
Here the veil of modesty is laid aside.
If God has been so dreadful against sins of infirmity and passion—as we
see in Moses and Uzzah—how fierce will His anger be against tenacious
sinners!
Sins against illumination, and conviction make deep wounds in the soul.
Other sins fetch blood; these are a stab in the heart! Every little hole in
the roof lets in rain—but a crack in the foundation endangers the fall of
the house. Every sin of weakness is harmful—but sins against
illumination crack the conscience, and threaten the ruin of the soul. To
sin in this matter makes sin the heavier—and hell the hotter!
Consider this, all you who rebel against gospel light—if you do not repent
—you will be more scorched in hell. Luke 12:47, "That servant who knows
his master's will and does not do what his master wants, will be beaten
with many blows."
4. Such as are plotters and contrivers of sin. Psalm 36:4, "They lie
awake at night, hatching sinful plots." Many men's heads ache until they
have found out some new sin. Such were those men who invented a
decree against Daniel and got the king to sign it, Daniel 6:9. These
inventors of evil things, shall be more plagued in
hell than others! He who first plots a treason is counted the capital
offender, and has the most aggravated tortures. Micah 2:1, "Woe to those
who devise iniquity." This woe is as a ton of lead to sink them deeper into
damnation.
5. Such as are haters of holiness. The diamond of grace is hated
because of its sparkling luster. If men hate the saints for their grace, how
they would hate Christ if He were now upon the earth! Will God lay those
in His bosom who hate Him? No! they shall have a lower place in hell
than others. Deuteronomy 7:10, "But those who hate Him, He will repay
to their face by destruction; He will not be slow to repay to their face,
those who hate Him." The repetition shows both the verity and severity
of their punishment.
6. Such as are lovers of sin. Jerome said that it is worse to love sin—
than to commit it. He who loves sin—his heart is in the sin. He follows it
with delight—like a man does his game, "They actually rejoice in doing
evil!" Jeremiah 11:15. Sinners say they hate the devil—but they love that
which will bring them to the devil! Lovers of sin shall have more of hell
torment. The fire will make them forget the pleasure. Revelation 22:15,
"Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually
immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and
practices lying." It is bad enough to tell a lie—but he who loves a lie shall
lie lower in hell.
7. They shall have a greater degree of torment, who persecute
the people of God. Acts 7:52, "Which of the prophets have not your
fathers persecuted?" The godly are called sheep—and the wicked called
briars. These briars tear not only the wool—but the flesh of the sheep.
These shall be more fearfully punished. What they are to endure
afterwards, may be witnessed by the hell many of them feel in their
conscience and by the judgments of God upon them in this life.
Charles IX of France, who shed so much Protestant blood in the massacre
at Paris, that it dyed the rivers a crimson color—was struck by God with
an excessive bleeding in several parts of his body, to the amazement of
the beholders. If God in this life ordains His arrows against the
persecutors, Psalm 7:13—then surely He will make them His standing
mark in hell—at which He will be shooting to all eternity!
8. Such as are seemingly good—so that they may be really bad.
Those who make profession a specious covering for their wickedness so
that, under this mask, they may lie and deceive. They
do the devil's work in Christ's uniform! Proverbs 7:14, "This day have I
paid my vows, come let us take our fill of love." Who would have
suspected this harlot, having been at church? She made her devotion, a
preface to adultery. Luke 20:47, "They devour widow's houses—and for a
show make long prayers, the same shall receive greater damnation." To
make long prayers for this end—that they might do unrighteous actions—
was damnable hypocrisy! Those who make religion a covering to carry on
their sin more smoothly—these shall lie in the hottest place of hell!
9. Such as do no works of mercy. Their hearts are hardened against
Christ's poor. These shall have a greater portion in hell torments. James
2:13, "He shall have judgment without mercy—who has showed no
mercy." He shall have torment—and nothing but torment. A person may
as well be cruel by not relieving the poor—as by wronging him. Such a
one shall have judgment without mercy.
10. Such as die under final unbelief. Many think none are to be
counted infidels, but Turks and pagans. Yes, there are many infidel
professors—whodo not believe God's veracity and holiness. They do not
have as much faith as devils, James 2:19. Infidelity is linked with
impenitence. Acts 19:9, "Some became hardened and would not believe."
Unbelief gives God the lie, 1 John 5:10. Therefore, such people are put in
the forefront of those who go to hell. Revelation 21:8, "The unbelieving
shall have their place in the fiery lake of burning sulfur."
11. Such as have grown gray under the gospel—but are never
the better. These have enjoyed the prayers, tears and lessons of God's
choicest ministers. They have been put in the fattest pastures of
ordinances—but yet they may say with the Prophet, "My leanness, my
leanness," Isaiah 24:16. They have had warm preaching—but they freeze
in the sun. They can hear ministers preach the most startling messages—
and see them throw the flashes of hellfire about in the congregation—but
their consciences are no more stirred than the pillars in the church!
Proud they were—and they are proud still. Profane they were—and they
are profane still. All the sermons they have heard are like the showers
falling on a rock which is never made softer or more fruitful. The lungs of
ministers are spent—but no refining work of grace has passed upon them.
These certainly shall have greater degrees of torment!
If heathen who never heard of Christ are damned, these shall be doubledamned. Matthew 11:23-24, "And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up
to the skies? No, you will go down to hell. If the miracles that were
performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained
to this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for Sodom on the
day of judgment than for you." Jesus Christ preached in Capernaum,
there He worked miracles. Therefore, by not repenting and believing, she
was in a worse condition than Sodom and would be more severely
punished.
You who have had God's golden candlestick among you and are not more
holy, it would have been better to have lived in Africa where Christ had
never been preached, than in London. It will be better with Indians—than
with such nominal professors who live in the bosom of the Church.
12. Such as who apostatize and fall away from the truth. There
are some in this age, who have not only lost their former strictness in
religion—but the very leaves of their profession are dropped off. As their
sin is more odious because their apostasy brings a scandal upon the ways
of God—so their punishment shall be answerable. These renegades shall
be hung up in chains in hell. Hebrews 10:38, "If any man draws back, My
soul shall have no pleasure in him." It is as if God should say, "I will
execute the fierceness of My anger upon him. He shall drink the dregs of
the cup of wrath—and that cup shall never pass away from him!"
13. Such Ishmael spirits, as scoff at true religion. The Apostle has
foretold it as a sin of the last times. 2 Peter 3:3, "I want to remind you
that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and
do every evil thing they desire." This is fearful, when men have arrived at
such a height of impiety as, with Lucian, to deride holy living. The tongue
of the scoffers is the devil's gun out of which he shoots his bullets against
true religion. There are some who, though they are not good themselves—
yet they have a venerable esteem of those who are good. Herod
reverenced John the Baptist. But such the devil has taken great
possession of—who reproach others for that wherein they most resemble
God.
Take heed of this sin," said Latimer, "for I never knew but one scorner
who repented." Scoffers are, for the most part, atheists. When men have
outfaced their conscience and lost all principle of sincerity and modesty—
then they fall a-scoffing. These shall have greater damnation. Isaiah
28:22, "So scoff no more, or your punishment will be even greater. For
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has plainly told me that he is determined to
crush you." You shall be bound in chains of darkness—and these chains
shall be made strong.
14. Such as have perverted others by their corrupt writings.
They have set forth books full of error—and others have sucked in the
poison of those books and been damned. Some have published to the
world that moral virtue does not differ from grace—and so have caused
people to rest in their moralities, never aspiring after the New Birth. Alas,
a man may keep a moral decorum—yet there may be some sin which
reigns in his heart. The Pharisee could say, "I am no adulterer," Luke
18:11—but he could not say, "I am not proud." Morality may curb—but it
cannot change.
The Socinians have broached many damnable errors in print against the
deity of Christ. These shall drink deeper in the cup of wrath. If the
breakers of God's law are punished seven-fold—then those who teach
men to break God's law, shall be punished seventy-seven fold. Revelation
19:20, "The false prophet was taken (he who by his errors had deceived
the world) and was cast alive into the midst of the lake of fire!"
15. Such as make their bodies (which should be the temples of
the Holy Spirit) vessels of uncleanness. Those who burn in lust
shall one day (without repentance) burn in hotter flames than others, 2
Peter 2:9. Oh, who would, for a cup of pleasure, drink a sea of wrath!
16. Such as send other men to hell by their bad example. The
drunken master has made his servant to reel by his example. The
swearing father has taught his son to swear, and damned him by his
example. Would it not be something to be lamented, if the child should
get the plague of his father and die? And is it not often so, in a spiritual
sense, that the father poisons and infects his child by his cursed example!
Doubtless, such monsters in wickedness shall have a greater portion in
hell torments. They shall not only be damned for their own sins—but for
other men's sins. This was the reason why Dives desired that some might
go preach to his brethren—that they might not come to hell. He had given
his brethren a bad example—and he thought that if they were sentenced
to hell his torments would be increased, and he would be punished for
their sins as well as his own.
Exhortation 1. As we should take heed of living in any sin (for the least
sin lived in and unrepented of will bring us to hell), so especially let us
take heed of being in the black roll of these sinners I have now
mentioned. These dying in final impenitence shall be more severely
punished. A greater millstone of wrath will fall upon their head. If a spark
or two of God's anger is so grievous, what is it when He shall stir up all
His wrath! "Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his
full wrath!" Psalm 78:38.
Exhortation 2. Let us labor to fly to Christ by faith. Let us get Him to
stand as a screen between us and the fire of God's indignation. Romans
8:1, "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." God the
Father will not condemn them, because He is satisfied in the price paid
for them. He will not require the debt twice—from both the Surety and
the debtor. And Jesus Christ will not condemn them, for believers are His
spouse; and Christ will not condemn His own spouse. So that, if ever we
would be safe, let us get into Christ—and being in this city of refuge,
God's justice, that avenger of blood, will not touch us. Having put on the
garment of our Lord's righteousness, the fire of hell can never singe this
garment! 1 Thessalonians 1:10, "Jesus, who rescues us from the coming
wrath!"
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