(4.) Fourthly, True hatred includes a constant and. perpetual con- flict : * The flesh will be still lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh.' Though sin and grace were not born together, and though sin and grace shall never die together, yet whilst a believer lives in this world, they must live together ; and whilst sin and grace do cohabit together, they -will still be opposing and conflicting one with an- other. Gal. V. 17, Rom. vii. 22, 23. That man that truly hates sin will ever- lastingly conflict with sin. He will die fighting against his sins, as one of the dukes of Venice died fighting against his enemies with his weapons in his hand. Well, Christians, remember this, though to be kept from sin brings most peace and comfort to us, yet for us to oppose sin, and for God to pardon sin, that brings most glory to God, 2 Cor. xii. 7-9.
(5.) Fifthly. True hatred includes a deadly intention and destruc- tion, for nothing satisfies hatred but death and ruin. Saul hated David, and sought his life ; he hunted him up and down as a partridge in the mountains ; he left no stone unturned, nor no means unattempted, whereby he might revenge himself upon David, 1 Sam. xxvi. 19, 20 ; 1 Sam. xxiii. 22. Haman hated Mordecai, and nothing would satisfy him but to bring him to a shameful death, to see him hanged on a gallows fifty cubits high, Esth. v. 14, which was designed, saith Lyra, to put Mordecai to the greater shame, for he hanging high, every one might see him and point to him. Now when there was but one night betwixt Mordecai and a shameful death, divine providence opportunely struck in and saved him from Haman's malice, and caused the mischief which he had plotted against Mordecai suddenly to fall upon his own pate ; for he who was highly feasted with the king one day, was made a feast for. crows the next day. Absalom hated Amnon and killed him, 2 Sam. xiii. 22-33. Julian the apostate hated the Christians with a deadly hatred. He put many thousands of them to death, and threatened and vowed that at his return from fighting against the Persians, he would put all the Christians in his empire to the sword ; but God prevented him by cutting him off in that expedition. A Christian that hates sin can't be satisfied but in the death and destruction of it. In all his duties the language of his soul is. Lord, let my sins be destroyed ; who- ever escapes, let not my sins escape the hand of thy revenging justice. And in all ordinances the language of his soul is, O Lord ! when shall my sins be subdued and mortified ? when shall my cursed corruptions be brought to an under ? yea, when shall they all be droA\Tied in the Red Sea of my Saviour's blood ? &c.
* Lawyers often fall out at the bar, but are very well agreed when they meet at the tavern.
450 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. IV.
(6.) Sixthly, True hatred includes an impa7iial aversation ; true hatred is of the ivhole kind. But of this before.
To wind up all, ask thy heart what is it that thon abhorrest as the superlative evil ? What is that which thou wouldest have separated as far from thee as heaven is from hell ? What is that thy heart will never renew league or friendship with any more ? What is that against which thy soul doth rise, and with which, as Israel with Amalek, thou wilt have war for ever ? Exodus xvii. 16. What is that which thou wilt be avenged of, and daily dost endeavour the mortifying and crucifying of? What is that which thou settest thy heart against in the compre- hensive latitude thereof, whether great or little, open or secret ? If it be sin, if it be thy sins, if it be all thy sins, then assuredly here is a true hatred of sin, and assuredly here is a most distinguishing character of a child of God, of a sound conversion, and of a saving change. It was not wont to be thus with thee, nor is this findable in any hypocrite, or in any unconverted person upon the face of the earth. Sin was once to thee as Delilah to Samson, Judges xiv. 3, 7 ; but now it is to thee as Tamar to Amnon, 2 Sam. xiii. 15. Once it was a sweet morsel which thou boldest fast and wouldest not let it go, Job xx. 12, 13 ; but now it is the menstruous cloth, Isa. xxx. 22, which thou castest away, saying, ' Get thee hence.' Now with Ephraim thou criest out, 'What have I to do any more with idols?' Hosea xiv. 8. Oh, if it be indeed thus with thee, then thou hast cause for ever to be much in blessing and in admiring of the Lord for his distinguishing grace and favour towards thee. O sirs ! the world is full of baits, snares, and temptations ; but whilst the hatred of sin burns in your breasts, you may cast up your caps, and throw the gauntlet to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Well, remember this for ever, there are three things an hypocrite can never do : (1.) He can never mourn for sin as sin. (2.) He can never mourn for the sins of others as well as his own. Moses, Lot, David, Jeremiah, Paul, and those in that Ezek. ix. 4, 6, mourned for others' sins as well as their own ; but Pharaoh, Ahab, Judas, Demas, Simon Magus never did. (3.) He can never hate sin as sin. But,
[8.] Eighthly, No hypocrite is habitually loiu or little in his oivn eyes. No hypocrite has ordinarily mean thoughts of himself, or a poor esteem of himself. No hypocrite loves to lessen himself to greaten Christ, to debase himself to exalt Christ, 1 Cor. viii. 1, 2, John vii. 49 and ix. 34?. No hypocrite loves to be outshined; all hypocrites love to write an /, not a Christ, upon what they do. The pharisce stood and prayed thus with himself: 'God, 7 thank thee that Jam not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican; 1 fast twice in the week, / give tithes of all that I possess,' Luke xviil 11, 12.' All hypocrites stand not only upon their comparisons, but also upon their disparisons : ' I am not as this publican.' All hypocrites stand much upon their negative righteousness and their comparative goodness. There is no hypocrite in the world but sets down his penny for a pound, and always prizes himself above the market : 2 Kings x. 15, 16, ' And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him ; and he saluted him, and said
' Monday and Thursday were the pharisees' fasting days; because Moses weut up to the mount on a Thursday and came down on a Monday, saith Drusius.
Chap. IV.] a cabinet of jewels. 451