[4.] There is a curse upon all he doth ; his duties are lost, his prayers are 'turned into sin,' his hearing is 'the savour of death unto death,' whilst heremaineth in his impenitency. It is said : Prov. xxi. 27, ' The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination ; how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind ?' Though he should come in the best manner he can with his flocks and herds, yet all will be to no purpose, it is an abomination to God.
[5.] Impenitency binds over a man, body and soul, to everlasting torment. In time it will come to that, ' Go ye cursed,' &c., Mat. xxv. 41. They are only continued until they have filled up their measure,
202 SERiioNs upox rsALM cxix. [Ser. XXII.
and are ripened for hell, and tlientliej' lie eternally under tlie wrath of God. Look, as it is sweet to hear, ' Come ye hlessed,' &c., so dreadful in that day to hear, ' Go ye cursed,' &c. Thus are the proud cursed, that is, obstinate, impenitent sinners, while they stand off from God. Secondly, Let me examine upon what score they are cursed.
1. Every man by nature is under the curse ; for until they are in Christ they are under Adam's covenant, and Adam's covenant will yield no blessing to the fallen creature : Gal. iii. 10, ' As many as are under the works of the law are under the curse,' &c. Mark, every man that remains under the law, that hath not gotten an interest in Christ, the curse of the first covenant remains upon him, and accordingly at the last day he shall have judgment without mercy ; he shall be judged according to the terms of that covenant : for there are but two states, under the law, or under grace ; therefore, while they are in a state of nature, they must needs be under wrath. So John iii. 18, ' He that believeth not is condemned already ;' that is, in the sentence of the law ; there is a curse gone out against him ; the man is gone, lost, condemned already.
2. This curse abideth upon us until we believe in Christ. The sentence of the law is not repealed : John iii. 36, ' He that believeth not, the wrath of God abideth on him;' Gal. iii. 13, 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us,' &c.
3. When Christ is tendered, and finally refused, then the sentence of the law is ratified in the gospel or the court of mercy. A court of chancery God hath set up in the gospel for penitent sinners. But then it follows, ' This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men choose darkness,' &c. When God shall tender men better conditions by Christ, and they turn their backs upon it, then is this curse confirmed.
Use 1. Consider how matters stand between God and us ; examine how it is with you. Here let rae lay down these propositions by way of trial : —
1. Every man by nature is in a cursed condition, Eph. ii. 3 ; every man is liable to Adam's forfeiture and breach ; the elect children of God as well as others are liable to the curse.
2. There is no way to escape this curse but by flying to Christ for refuge, Heb. vi. 18. As a man would flee from the avenger of blood, so should we flee from the curse of the law that is at our heels. Wrath is abroad seeking out sinners ; now, saith the apostle, ' Oh, that I might be found in him !'
3. A sense of this benefit we have by Christ will necessarily beget an unfeigned love to him ; else we can have no evidence, but the curse doth still remain : and therefore it is said, 1 Cor. xvi. 22, ' If any man love not tlie Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha,' accursed till the Lord come, that is, for ever and ever. How can a man think he shall be the better for Christ that doth not love Christ, nor delight in him, and have no value for him ? And therefore, if you have not this love to Christ, it is a sign you have no benefit by him, you have not that faith that will give you a title.
4. This love must be expressed by a sincere obedience ; for ' this is love, to keep his commandments,' 1 John v. 3 ; and Gal. v. 24, ' They
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that are Christ's have crucified the flesh witli the hists thereof.' They are not Christ's, are not to be reckoned to liim, that merely make a profession of his name, and with whom liis memory seems to be precious ; but they are Christ's that testify love to Christ. Do you perform duties for Christ's sake ?
Use 2. To press you to come out of the curse whicli cleaves to all impenitent sinners. Oh, what a dreadful condition are they in ! And how soon God may take advanta<;e of this curse, and cut us off from a possibility of grace, we cannot tell ; and at the last day this curse will be ratified. Therefore be sensible of the burden ; come out of it. This is God's end in shutting up a sinner under such a fatal necessity ; either you must perish for ever or run to Christ. This should quicken us the more to fly to his mercy.