2. The justice and equity of it, which is two ways expressed : — [1.] Negatively : they believed not the truth ; tliat is, received not
the gospel in the simplicity of it, as revealed by Christ and his apostles, and recorded in the scriptures, but wilfully, and for their interest's Bake, gave up themselves to these corruptions.
[2.] Positively : had pleasure in unrig] iteousness. In the 10th verse it was, 'They received not the love of the truth;' now when the meritorious cause is repeated, there is something more added : they had a love to, and delight in, other things, evBoKt]aauT€<i iv rf/ ahiKia, Here two things must be explained.
1, What is dBiKia — unriyhteousness?
2. What is evhoKia — Vi.hiny jyleasure in unrighteousness ?
1. What is uhiKia — unrighteousness ? Kighteousness is giving every one his due ; and denying them their due is unrighteousness. There is a giving man his due, and a giving God his due : Mat. xxii. 21, 'Render unto Ctesar the things which are Ctesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.' Righteousness is often put for giving man his due : Titus ii. 12, ' That we should live soberly, righteously,' &c. ; and giving God his due, which is worship and reverence: Ps. xxix. 2, ' Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name ;' and again, Ps. xcvi. 8, ' Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name ; bring an ollering and come into his courts.' Now this unrighteousness here spoken of is principally meant in the latter
2 ThES. II. 12.] THE TENTH SERMOX. 95
sense. False ways of worship are the greatest nnrightcousncss that can be practised ; for the duty that we owe to God is the most rigliteous thing in the w^orld. Now, by false w^orship you withdraw the glory of God from him, and communicate it to another. AVorship is his own proper due, both by the light of nature and scripture ; and therefore the Gentiles, which had the light of nature, are said to 'detain the truth, ev ahiKia,' Eom. i. 18. Why? The reason is ren- dered in tlie after verses. Ver. 23, ' They changed the glory of God into an image made like a corruptible man.' Ver. 25, ' They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.' This was their dScKca, their unrighteousness, or injurious dealing with God. So the antichristians that had the light of -scripture, though under palliated pretences, changed the truth of God into a lie, loved their own errors more than simple and plain Christianity, or the true knowledge of God, and diverted the worship from himself unto an idol.
2. They had ' pleasure in unrighteousness ;' in these things they please themselves, not lapse into it out of simple ignorance and error of mind. And so the apostle parallels the two great apostasies : that from the light of nature, and that from the light of the gospel. Light of nature : Rom. i. 32, ' Not only do these things, but have pleasure in them that do them.' Light of scripture : ' Have pleasure in un- righteousness.' They are mad upon their idols and images ; not only are idolaters, but delight in idolatry and image-worship : Ps. xcvii. 7, ' That boast themselves of idols.'
Now to observe some things.
1. Errors of judgment, as well as sins of practice, may bring damnation upon the souls of men. All sins do in their own nature tend to damnation : Eom. vi. 23, ' For the wages of sin is death.' And errors of judgment are sins, for they are contrary to the rule or law of God : 1 John iii. 4, ' Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.' Any swerving from the law is sin ; and they are inductive of other sins ; for ' if the eye be blind, the whole body is full of darkness,' Mat. vi. 23 ; it perverts our zeal. There is nothing so mischievous, wicked, and cruel, that a man blinded with error will not attempt against those that differ from him : John xvi. 2, ' They shall put you out of the syna- gogues : yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.' A bhnd horse is full of mettle, but ever and anon stumbleth. Therefore, if a man be not guided by sound judgment, his zealous affections will precipitate him into mischief. As the Jews, that persecuted Christ and his apostles, had a ' zeal of God, but not according to knowledge,' Eom. x. 2, so the Popish zealots ; with what fury have they persecuted the innocent and sincere servants of Christ! The papists would be angry if we should not reckon St Dominic a zealous man ; and the poor Albigenses felt the bitter effects of that zeal, in the destruction of many thousands by inhuman butcheries and villanies about Toulouse, &c. The Lord deliver us from the furies of transported, brain-sick zealots !
2. Though all errors may bring damnation upon the souls of men, yet some more especially than others may be said to be damning ; as