[1.] God allureth us to obedience by promises of this world and the next, which, if they were believed, men would be more forward and ready to comply with his will. As to the promises of the next world, lie hath told us of eternal life. Surely God meaneth as he speaketh in liis word, he will make good his word to the obedient ; but the sinner tbinketh not so, and therefore is loath to undergo the diliiculties of obedience, because he hath so little sense and certainty of fulfil- ling the promise. The apostle telleth us, Heb. xi. 6, ' That with- out faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently serve him ;' implying that if the fundamental truths of God's being and bounty were believed, we could not be so careless as we are, not so barren and unfruitful as we are ; but unbelief lieth at the bottom of all oiu- carelessness : 1 Cor. xv. 5S, ' Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your laboiu* is not in vain in the Lord.' They that know what a reward is prepared for the righteous, cannot but be -erious and diligent themselves, and pity others, and be troubled at I heir neglect. Oh ! what a good God they deprive themselves of, and throw away their souls for a trifle ! But because the Lord knoweth how apt we are to be led by things present to sense, that work strongly upon our apprehensions; and that things absent and future lie in another world, and wanting the help of sense to convey them to our minds, make little impression upon our hearts ; therefore God draws us to our duty by present benefits. Even carnal nature is apt to be pleased with these kinds of mercies, protection, provision, and worldly comforts : Ps. cxix. 56, ' This I had, because I kept thy precepts :' Mat vi. 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all these thing shall be added to you ;' 1 Tim. iv. 8.. ' Godliness is profitable to all things, having tlie promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' But alas ! the naughty heart cannot depend on God for the effects of his common goodness. Men distrust provi- dence, and therefore take their own course, which is a grief and trouble
• 60 • SERMONS uroN PSALM cxix. [[Ser. IjIX .
to a gracious heart, to see they cannot depend on God for things of a present accomplishment.
[2.] The other part of the sanction is his threatenings and punish- ments. Now in what a direful condition are all the deserters of God's law! Besides the loss of heaven, there is eternal fire, which is the portion of the wicked : Ps. xi. 6, ' Upon the wicked he will rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest ; this shall be the portion of their cup.' They may flourish for a time, yet at length sudden, terrible, and irremediable destruction shall be the portion of their cup. God's judgments are terrible and unavoidable, both here and hereafter : Eph. v. 6, ' For these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience ;' Eom. ii. 9, ' Tribulation, wrath, and anguish upon the soul of man that doth evil.' Alas ! these things are slighted by wicked men, or else they would not venture as they do ; you cannot drive a dull ass into the fire that is kindled before him : Prov. i. 17, ' In vain is the snare laid in the sight of any bird;' and would a reasonable creature wilfully run into such a danger if he were sensible of it, and venture upon so dreadful threatenings if he did be- lieve them ? No ; they think it is but a vain scarecrow, a deceitful terror, or a false flash of fire, and therefore embolden themselves in their rebellion. But God's people, that know the certainty of these things, they cannot but conceive a great horror at it when they think of the end of these men, their judgments in this world, but especially their eternal condemnation in the world to come. Well, then, forsaking the law, despising the precept, and slighting the sanction, should be a matter of great horror to a tender and gracious spirit.
Secondly, It argueth that they have a due sense of things, though others have not,
1. They have a due sense of the evil of sin : Prov. xiv. 9, ' Fools make a mock of sin;' they sport at it, and jest at it, and count it nothing ; but gracious and tender hearts have other apprehensions ; they know that this is a violation of the holy and righteous and good law of God, and that it Avill be bitter in the issue, and that they which had pleasure in unrighteousness shall be damned. They look upon it with sad hearts, though it be committed by others, that the wicked go dancing to hell, and are angry with those who mourn for them, and dislike that vain course which they afi'ect.