to our capacities, we mean our Let every precept be impartially natural powers, not our moral dispo- examined, and these things will sitions: the want of the former pro- appear with still more convincing portionably excuses, the want of the evidence. For instance; "Rememlatter proportionably aggravates, ber the Sabbath-day, to keep it every failure of any given degree holy." Is it not highly reasonable of service. Man, not having the that we should devote this portion powers of an angel, is excusable in of our time to Him, to whom the not performing the services of an whole belongs? Would not our angel: but being of an unholy dis- best interests in connexion with position, he is therefore the more the glory of God, be promoted inexcusable in any particular act of by obeying this commandment? unholiness; seeing it appears that "These things he commands us for it was no inadvertency, but the our good." How unreasonable then rooted disposition of his heart. our disobedience! What need have To love and serve God with our we to repent of forgetting and negall, is the substance of the require- lecting to hallow the Sabbath! ments of the law in the first table. Again, "Whatsoever ye would And what can be more reasonable? that men should do unto you, do ye Can there be any difficulty in loving even so unto them." As we all one who is perfectly lovely, being judge it reasonable that others thankful for such a Friend, or serv- should thus behave to us, let coning such a Master, except what science determine, whether we have arises from the inexcusable badness not done wrong in, and ought not to of our hearts; for this we are con- repent of, transgressing this rule, demned, for this we ought to con- in our conduct to others. We might demn ourselves, " abhor ourselves, easily examine other precepts, and and repent in dust and ashes." show them to be equally reasonable. To love all men with equal esti- Yea, every one of them is so; and mation and benevolence is the sub- therefore every deviation from perstance of the second table: and we fect obedience is entirely unreasonneed only suppose this law given able. There is nothing in the whole to our neighbours alone, as the rule law of God grievous in itself, or diffiof their conduct towards us, in order cult, except to our proud and carnal to perceive its excellency. What hearts.-David and Paul, men after lovely, what happy creatures should God's own heart, greatly loved and we be, and what a delightful world delighted in God's law; Christ, bewould this prove, were all perfectly ing perfectly holy, entirely delightobedient! None is or can be miser- ed in it, and perfectly obeyed it: able, but the transgressor, or they angels and saints in glory enjoy full whom transgressors injure. How liberty in obeying it, and find it excellent then this law, which pro- perfect felicity: yea, God himself, vides for the happiness of the world though absolute Sovereign, is pleasso completely, that by transgressioned to observe, in his own conduct, alone could men become in any the same rules which he prescribes degree miserable! Ought we not for ours (as far as consists with his then to repent of our disobedience, majesty and authority); his law is our continual disobedience, and the transcript of his own holiness; especially of our entire depravity and when he requires our obediof disposition, which renders us ence, he only says, "Be ye holy, morally incapable of obedience. for I am holy." In proportion as

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we bear his image, we take plea-pared for the devil and his angels.” sure in his precepts, and find obe-Are not these words of the loving dience easy and natural: in propor-Saviour most dreadful? "Can thy tion as we resemble Satan, we hate hands be strong, or can thy heart the law, and find obedience irksome, endure," when they shall sound in arduous, impossible. How excel-thy affrighted ear? Is this "the lent then this law! how vile are wrath to come," surely, inevitably we who have broken it! What need to come, upon an ungodly world? have we to repent of our unreason- Are these his words, who saith, able conduct! "Heaven and earth shall pass

III. All have need to repent, away, but my words shall not pass because all have by sin absolutely away?" Art thou one of the very destroyed themselves.-A trifling persons concerned? Art thou a penalty incurred by transgression transgressor of the law? Doth the might reasonably have been disre-word of God run thus: "Cursed garded. When human laws only is every one, who continueth not inflict small fines, short imprison- in all things written in the book of ment, or burning in the hand, offend- the law to do them?" And dost ers may treat such penalties with thou still remain unconcerned? Inindifference: but when excruciating deed, were there no way of escape, tortures and ignominious death are it would not be worth while to torthe threatened punishment; when ment thyself before the time. "But the sentence is impartially and there is forgiveness with God," rigorously inflicted; when the crime there is a space allowed for repentis fully proved, and the prisoner ance, a way of salvation, a proclaclosely confined; the most stubborn mation of mercy: and dost thou still spirit bends, the stoutest heart is trifle, and not apply thyself immeintimidated, and indifference is mad-diately to seek deliverance from ness.-Art thou then, sinner, care-" the wrath to come?"

less and unconcerned, in a case Surely these considerations, if infinitely more tremendous? Canst laid to heart in a manner suitable thou find a heart for gay amuse- to their certainty and importance, ments, or coolly apply to worldly would damp the vain mirth of an pursuits, whilst "the wrath of God ungodly world, and turn their songs abideth upon thee," the law thun- and laughter into bitter lamentaders out a dreadful curse against tions. Let me, my fellow sinners, thee, death closely pursues thee, recommend the apostle's advice to everlasting misery awaits thee? you: "Be afflicted, and mourn and That God whom thou hast offended weep; let your laughter be turned is at once the Witness, the Judge, to mourning, and your joy into and the Avenger of thy crimes: heaviness." (James, iv. 9.) Thus thou canst not hide thy transgres- shall your godly sorrow for sin sions from his all-seeing eye: thou" work repentance unto salvation canst not flee from his omnipres-not to be repented of." ence, resist his almighty power, IV. The necessity of repentance bribe his inflexible justice, or en- appears from the justice of this sendure his awful vengeance. The tence, severe as it may seem.sentence, if thou die impenitent, is Sinners are ready to say, I only already published in the Judge's gratify my natural inclinations, and own words: "Depart from me, ye enjoy a little irregular pleasure for cursed, into everlasting fire, pre- a few years; and can it consist with

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the justice and goodness of God to highly criminal: how much more to punish me with everlasting misery? murder a prince of consummate exIs there any proportion between cellency, without the least provocathe crime and the punishment?" tion! for his favourite, on whom But consider, poor deluded man, his bounty had been lavished, to be the infinite majesty, purity, and the assassin! But for his son, his goodness of that God, against whom indulged son, to break through all thy sins are committed: consider obligations, human and divine, and that "his is the kingdom, and the murder his father and prince at power, and the glory for ever:" once, that he might more unreconsider thy relations to him, as his strainedly indulge his lusts, would creature, his property, his subject; stamp the action with stupendous and the reasonableness of his claim baseness! When Absalom designed to thy love and obedience, resulting to act this monstrous part against both from his own excellency and the man of God's own heart, even authority, and the benefits which the ill-judged lenity of the too inhe hath conferred on thee: consider dulgent parent was not permitted the reasonableness of his law, the to rescue the traitor from deserved pleasantness of his service, the punishment. According to the happiness of his subjects, and the plainest dictates of human reason, noble rewards of obedience: then the malignity of the action must estimate, if thou art able, what in- rise in proportion to the authority justice, ingratitude, rebellion, con- and excellency of the party offended, tempt, enmity, and obstinacy there and the offender's relation and obliis in sin, and what punishment is gations to him. In human affairs, adequate to its deservings. this method of computing the comIf a man injure his equal, it is parative criminality of offences, and evil; if he injure his superior, it is proportioning punishments, is geneworse. If a child curse, smite, or rally adopted amongst civilized namurder his parent, his conduct is tions. If we are allowed to combaser than it would have been had pute in the same method the evil of he thus treated a stranger or an sin, (and why should we not?) what equal. The wiser, better, and more heart can conceive, or tongue exindulgent the parent, the more atro-press, or numbers reach, the evil of cious is the crime of the unnatural, every offence committed against the ungrateful child. Should a son mur-majesty of God? By arguments der an excellent parent, in the and meditations of this kind, we midst of a recent profusion of kind- may arrive at some feeble concepness, without any provocation or tion of the odiousness of transgressmotive, except in order to the more ing the divine law: but He alone, unrestrained gratification of some who sees all things exactly as they vile passion, what punishment are, is the competent Judge: and should we deem too severe for the my design is not to demonstrate a parricide? Add, further, the rela- matter before doubtful, but to illustion of sovereign to that of parent; trate the reasonableness of that a rightful, wise, just, clement sove- which is certainly true. Whether reign, the common father of his we see and allow it, or not, sin is people. For a persecuted David infinitely evil, and deserving of to stretch out his hand against the eternal punishment. Thus He hath Lord's anointed, though a cruel determined," whose judgment we treacherous Saul, would have been know to be according unto truth."

All his loyal subjects on earth join by the same insinuation. But if in praising him," as righteous in there be any meaning in words, if all his ways, and holy in all his the idea of eternal misery can be works." All the inhabitants of conveyed in human language, and heaven thus praise him, even while if the Bible be the word of God, "the smoke of the torments of the then the wicked "shall go into EVERwicked ascendeth up for ever and LASTING PUNISHMENT." Though God ever." None but rebels think the is rich in mercy, though there is sentence too severe. If we would plenteous redemption in the blood not have our lot with them in ano- of Christ; yet, neither the mercy ther world, let us not rank ourselves of God, nor the blood of Christ, among them in this: but let us say, avail for any but the penitent: to with holy Job, "I have uttered others, all the threatenings of the things which I understood not: law alone belong: nor have they things too wonderful for me, which any part or lot in the gospel; exI know not." "I will lay my hand cept the deeper condemnation of upon my mouth. Once have I" neglecting such great salvation," spoken, but I will not answer; yea, and abusing the mercy of God, and twice, but I will proceed no far- the redemption of Christ, into an ther." Yea, truly," every mouth encouragement to continue in sin. shall be stopped, and all the world Such sinners" are a people who shall appear guilty before God;" have no understanding, therefore nay, they "shall be speechless" he that made them will have no when ordered to be cast into out- mercy on them." "Oh, consider ward darkness," where is weeping, this, ye that forget God, lest he wailing, and gnashing of teeth."- tear you in pieces, and there be What cause then have all to repent, none to deliver." Psalm 1. 22. who have justly merited so dreadful a punishment!

VI. The necessity of repentance is further evinced by considering V. All have cause of, and need the reasonableness of this awful defor, repentance: because God will termination. There is a contromost certainly inflict this punish-versy between God and sinners, and ment upon all the impenitent with blame must rest somewhere. Either unabating severity. "Except ye God is indeed chargeable with repent, ye shall all likewise perish." blame, for enacting so strict a law, Let no man deceive you with vain and annexing so dreadful a penalty words: the impenitent sinner shall on transgressors; or the sinner is certainly spend eternity "in the as much to blame as this penalty lake that burneth with fire and implies, for breaking the law. To brimstone." An awakening truth harbour one moment the supposiwhich Satan and his instruments tion, that any part of the blame behave in all ages been opposing; but longs to God, is blasphemous; in none more zealously, ingeniously, doubtless the whole fault belongs and, alas! successfully, than in this: to the sinner. Yet every impenifor that great deceiver knows that tent sinner, in excusing himself, nothing so effectually increases the condemns God. 'Wilt thou," saith number of the damned, as the dis- he to Job, "disannul judgment?

belief of eternal damnation. "Ye Wilt thou condemn me, that thou shall not surely die," was the first mayest be righteous ?" Job, xl. 8. temptation of this murderer of souls: Why did the sinner break the law, and still his kingdom is supported if he did not think it too strict?

Doth he pretend it was by surprise the anger of the Lord, and his or sudden temptation, through in- jealousy shall smoke against that advertency, and not deliberate re- man; and all the curses that are bellion? Then why doth he not written in this book shall lie upon repent? His impenitence for the him, and the Lord shall blot out his past, and his present continuance name from under heaven." Deut. in transgression, strongly imply a xxix. 18-20. Let us, beloved, most injurious censure of the law, attend carefully to such plain warnas inconsistent with his happinessings of the word of God, that we and his vindication of himself and may be armed against the temptahis conduct implies a censure on tions of Satan, and the rising prethe justice of God in condemning sumption of our own hearts. sinners, equally injurious.

VII. The necessity of repentance

Now, should God pardon a sinner is further manifested by reflecting, who thus excuses himself, and tacitly that no impenitent sinner can corcondemns him, he would seem to dially approve of the salvation reallow the excuse, and plead guilty vealed in the word of God. Indeed, to the charge; so that the honour of did the gospel require men confiGod and the salvation of an impeni- dently to believe that their sins are tent sinner, are irreconcileable con- already pardoned, and that all the tradictions: but God, conscious of blessings of salvation are already his own most perfect justice, and jea- theirs, though they are destitute of lous of his own glory, would sooner every gracious disposition, as some leave all the world to perish for have incautiously advanced; no ever, than thus consent to his own scheme could better suit the pride dishonour. Every hope, which any and carnality of an impenitent man entertains of pardon in im- heart. This, however, is not the penitency, involves the absurd sup-true gospel of Christ, but another position, when carefully investi- gospel, which must be opposed, gated, that God will dishonour even though." preached by an angel himself, to humour and favour a from heaven." All are bound to proud obstinate rebel. Every such believe that God will forgive the hope is pregnant with the presump- vilest of sinners, who repent and tion spoken of by Moses. "Lest believe in Christ: otherwise they there be among you a root that make God a liar: for he hath atbeareth gall and wormwood; and tested it. When by scriptural eviit cometh to pass, when he heareth dence (even by holy dispositions the words of this curse, that he produced, and holy actions perbless himself in his heart, saying, I formed), I am sure that my faith is shall have peace, though I walk living, and my repentance genuine, after the imagination of mine heart, I may be humbly sure, that my sins to add drunkenness to thirst. The are forgiven, and that I am a child Lord will not spare him, but then of God, and an heir of glory; but

This is often the case of the true be- not before. That I shall be welliever, who delights in the law of God, and come, if I come aright, I may be hates evil, yet is surprised into the com- sure before I come: that I have mission of that which he abhors, and breaks) the law that he loves; but recovering from come aright, and am accepted, I the surprise, he directly and deeply repents. can only be assured by the effects I But this excuse is merely a pretence in

others, by which they cover a rooted en- am conscious of, and the fruits of mity to the law, an habitual love of sin; righteousness produced. and their impenitence discovers their hypocrisy.

The way in which forgiveness