Let us now apply the point.
Use 1. It serveth to inform us, in the first place, that carnal men are ill skilled in consequences ; from the very gospel would they draw a liberty to sin, than which from such premises no conclusion can be more strange ; it is well worth the observing to note the different arguings in scripture from the same principles, as see some instances ; compare 1 Cor. vii. 29 with 1 Cor. xv. 32 : the principle in both places is, ' The time is short.' Now, the apostle in the former place draweth from
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it conclusions of strictness, temperance, and mortification : ' Let us use the world as if we used it not,' &c. But in the latter the dissolute epicure argueth quite otherwise, ' Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die ;' a quite different conclusion from the same principle. So here, grace aboundeth ; let us be much in duty, saith the spiritual man ; let sin abound, saith the carnal. Again, compare 2 Sam. vii. 2 with Hag. i. 2 : 'I dwell within a house of cedar,' saith David, ' but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.' Surely I should have had more care of the ark of God, now God hath built me such a stately palace. But they in Haggai, we ' dwell in ceiled houses,' therefore ' the time to build the Lord s house is not come ;' so they might live in pomp and ease, they little cared how matters went with God's house. Once more, 1 Sam. iii. 18, 'It is the Lord ; let him do Avhat seemeth him good :' he argueth from thence to meekness and a submissive patience. But now compare 2 Kings vi. 33, ' This evil is from the Lord ; why should I wait upon him any longer ? ' From the same principle he argueth himself into a murmuring and fit of impatience. Thus carnal men are always out in their reasonings : ' A parable in a fool's mouth,' saith Solomon, ' is like a thorn in the hand of a drunkard,' Prov. xxvi. 9. When the spirits are disturbed by excess of drink, men have not an even touch, and so when they would use a thorn, or any sharp thing, they wound and gore themselves ; so do wicked men, being besotted with lusts, argue falsely from the grace and the holy principles of the word to their own destruction.
Use 2. Again, it serveth for caution ; when you meet with such base inferences from evangelical principles, do not blame the gospel, or the ministry and dispensation of the gospel.
1. Not the gospel, as if it were not clear enough, or faithful enough, or wary enough. Such thoughts are wont to haunt us when we see gross errors creeping under a shelter and pretence of scripture : foolish men would give laws to heaven ; we think God should speak more plainly, as if the Lord should make a sun for them to see that shut their eyes: vain man will stumble in God's plainest ways; should things be never so clearly carried, a perverse apprehension would make them obscure. Parables (which are the liveliest and most sensible repre- sentations of things) hardened the Pharisees, Mark iv. 11, 12. If men ruin themselves by their own false logic, we should not therefore accuse God. They that have a mind to fall shall not want a stone of stum- bling ; they that will only be feasted with comforts, no wonder if they contract a spiritual sickness, and undo their souls by a misunderstood and misapplied gospel.
2. Do not blame the ministry and dispensation of the gospel, because some abuse free grace, others cannot endure to hear it preached ; but children must not be kept from their bread because dogs catch at it. Because some are ' drunk with wine,' and others eat to excess, shall the hungry man want his food ? Shall hungry con- sciences lose their portion for others' abuse ? No, no ; if carnal men serve their lusts of these truths, we cannot help it ; we are not in the place of God : we can only deliver the doctrine ; we cannot give them gracious hearts to improve it. The Papists will not let the people have the scriptures upon this reason, for fear of abuses ; and Gardiner
148 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [Ver. 4.
would not have this gap of free grace opened to the people, &c. The devil hath ever maligned a gospel dispensation. Let not us withhold the truth for fear of inconvenience. Let us look to our commission, ' preach the gospel to every creature;' if men abuse it, we are clear, ' their destruction is just,' as the apostle speaketh to this very case : Kom. iii. 8, * Some slanderously report that we say, Let us do evil that good may come thereof, whose damnation is just.' Some gave out that Paul taught that they might sin freely, that God might have the more glory in pardoning ; ' their damnation is just ' ; if they went away with such a vile conceit, saith he, they learned it not from me. Musculus complaineth in one of his books that no place was so pro- fane and irreligious as those where the gospel had been preached ; and Contzen,^ a Jesuit, citing this passage, crieth out, See the fruit of Protestantism and their gospel preaching. Many are of his spirit ; do even hate the publication of the doctrine of grace, as if these were the cause of men's miscarriage. If men abuse the truth, we cannot help it ; however, visible mistakes must be prevented, lest men go away with a scorpion instead of fish, and a stone instead of bread.