Use 5. Trial. Let us examine if we are not guilty of sinning thus presumptuously, knowing to do good, yet not to do it. (L) Is it not to sin presumptuously, when we live in the total neglect of duty ? We know we ought to pray in our families, yet do it not. To live in the neglect of family duties, is not this to sin presumptuously? (2.) Is it not to sin presumptuously, when we will venture upon the same sins which we condemn in others ? Rom. ii. I. Thou (Christian) condemnest another for pride, and yet thou livest in that sin thyself. A father condemns his son for swearing, yet he himself swears : the master reproves his servant for being drunk, yet he himself will be drunk. Is not this to sin presump- tuously, to live in those sins which we con- demn in others? (3.) Do not they sin pre- sumptuously against conscience, who will sin in spite of heaven ? Though they see the judgments of God executed on others, yet will adventure on the same sins ? Dan. V. 22., " And thou his son, O Bel- shazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou k newest all this :" that is, thou saw- est the judgments I inflicted on thy father. (4.) Do not they sin presumptuously, they know to do good, yet do it not, who labour to stifle the convictions of their conscience, and will not let conscience speak freely to them ? This the scripture calls, " Holding the truth in unrighteousness," Rom. i. 18. (5.) Do not they sin presumptuously, who after they have felt the smart of sin, it hath bred a worm in their conscience, a moth in their estate; yet, after all this, they a- gain embrace their sins.
That I may shew you what you have to fear, and that I may beat you off from pre-
ON KNOWLXG GOD AND DOING GOOD.
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sumptuous sins, let tlicsc tilings be serioiis- ly laid tolieait: \sf, These j)resumj)tuous sins, do much harden the heart. These are two of the greatest blessings, a sound judgment and a soft heart ; but sinning presumptuously and knowingly doth con- geal the heart, — it doth both waste the con- science and sear it, 1 Tim. iv. 2. By sin- ning knowingly, a person gets a custom of sin ; and the custom of sinning takes away the sense of sinning, Eph. iv. 19., " Being past feeling." Tell the presumptuous sin- ner, there are treasures of wrath laid up for him, he feai's not ; his heart is like a piece of marble or adamant that will take no impression. When men know to do good, yet do it not, their hearts are harden- ed insensibly, and that is dangerous.
2d, Such as sin presumptuously, or they who know to do good, yet do it not, are self-condemned, Tit. iii. 11. The sinner knows in his conscience he is guilty ; that he hath sinned against warnings, education, conviction ; therefore his own heart does and must condemn him. And when God judges and condemns him, he will clear his judge, Ps. li. 4.
3d, Presumptuous sins make deep wounds in the soul. They lead to despair, and des- pair is the agony of the soul. Spira, in despair, was like a living man in hell ; des- pair did suck out his marrow and vital blood ; it made him a very anatomy. The sinner goes on stubbornly, yet his foolish heart tells him all will be well ; but, when God begins to set his sins in order be- fore him, and conscience, which was before like a lion asleep, begins to be awakened and roars upon him, and he sees death and hell before him, now his heart fiiinls, his presumption is turned to despair, and he cries out as Cain, Gen. iv. 13., '' My pu- nishment is greater than I can bear." Now the sinner begins to think with himself thus: I would have my sins and I had them ; and now I have the wrath of God upon them ; O how foolish was I to refuse instruction ! But it is too late now; the mercy-seat is quite covered with clouds ; I am shut out from all hopes of mercy; my wounds are such, that the balm of Gilead will not heal. The more presumption in the time of life, the more despair at the hour of death.
4t/i, To know to do good and not to do it, to sin presumptuously, God may, in just judgment, leave such an one to himself. It is a terrible thing, when God shall say, thou hast, by thy jiresumptuous sin, af- fronted me, and jjrovoked me to my face ; therefore I will give thee up to thine own heart, thou shalt sin still ; seeintr thou wilt be filthy, thou shalt be filthy still.
5fh, To know what is good, yet not to do it; to sin presumptuously, is a great degree of the sin against the Holy Ghost Such as sin presumptuously, sin wilfully Though presumj)tion is not final apostacy, yet it comes very near to it ; and a little matter more will make thee so guilty, that there remains no more sacrifice for sin. To sin presumptuously against light, may in time bring on malice and despite to the Spirit; as it was with Julian, who threw up his dagger in the air, as if he would be revenged on God. When once it is come to this, there is but one step lower a man can fall, and that is into hell.