1. That obstinacy and impenitency is. pride.
2. That it is the worst sort of pride.
First, That there is pride in impenitency and obstinacy in a course of sin. Why ?
1. Because they neglect God. To slight a superior, and not to give him due respect, hath ever been accounted pride. Surely then this is pride with a witness, to neglect ' God, who is over all, blessed for ever :' Ps. X. 4, ' The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God ;' that is, of his heart, bewrayed by his countenance, he will not seek after God, and ' God is not in all his thoughts ; ' that is, scarce troubled with such a thought of what will please or displease God; he doth not think it necessary or Avorth the time to look after.
2. They oppose God, and set themselves as parties against him :
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James iv. 6, ' God resisteththe proud ;' God standeth in a posture of war against the proud. The word implies that every proud man is in battle array or posture of war against God : so every impenitent per- son sets himself against God. The quarrel between God and him is, who shall stoop, whose will shall stand ? whether God shall serve or they ? Isa. xliii. 24, ' You have made me to serve with your sins, and wearied me with your iniquities.' Indeed, they do not only oppose him, but they would depose him, or put him out of the throne, while they would subject God's will to their own. He that would be at his own dispose, and do what pleaseth him, is a god to himself.
3. In all this opposition they slight God, and despise — (1.) His aifthority in making the law; (2.) His power and greatness in making good the sanction of the law.
[1.] They despise the authority of God in the law itself. When men will set up their own will in a contradiction to God, it is a mighty dishonour to God : 2 Sam. xii. 9, ' Wherefore hast thou de- spised the commandment of the Lord ?' Every sin that is committed slights the law that forbids it, as if it were not to be stood upon ; it is no matter what God saith to the contrary. There is fearing the com- mandment, and despising the commandment. Fearing the command- ment, that is the effect of a wise heart : Prov. xiii. 13, ' Pie that fear- eth the commandment shall be rewarded.' If God interpose, it is more than if there were an angel in the way with a flaming sword. There is a commandment in the way ; he fears it, his way is hedged up, he dares not go on. But now impenitency, that slights the command- ment. A sinner dares do that which an angel durst not do. It is said of Michael the archangel, Jude 9, that ' he durst not bring a railing accusation;' he had not the boldness. Thus they despise the authority of God in the law.
[2.] They despise the power of God in the sanction of the law, when they will run the hazard of those sad threatenings, as if they were a vain scarecrow, as if they could make good their cause against God : 1 Cor. x. 22, ' Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy ? are we stronger than he?' Sinning is an entering the lists with God, as if they could carry their cause against him ; and therefore one great cure of hardness of heart and impenitency is seriously to meditate upon God's power : Deut. x. 16, 17, ' Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.' Why ? ' For the Lord your God is a God of gods and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and terrible.' Do you know what God is ? and will you contend with him ? Certainly you will fail in the enterprise and undertaking.
Secondly, Let me prove there are none so proud as they that can brave it thus with God. I will take the rise of my argument thu.s —
1. Of all pride, that against superiors is most heinous.
2. Of all superiors, God is the highest, and deserveth our chiefest respect.
1. Of all pride, that against superiors is most heinous. Pride bewrayeth itself either by a disdain of inferiors, neglect of equals, or contempt of superiors. Now, of all the others, this is tlie most offen- sive, because there is more to check it ; therefore it is threatened as a great disorder, Isa. iii, 4, 5, that ' the base should rise against the
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honourable, and the child should behave himself proudly against the ancient.' When men carry themselves insolently to those that are far their betters, that is counted a great arrogancy in the world : to injure equals or contemn inferiors is not so much. There is the ground of the argument,
2. Of all superiors, God is the highest, and deserves our chiefest respect ; therefore to deal proudly against him is worst of all. Con- sider—
[1.] That God hath an absolute jurisdiction.