1. Because this is the true principle of resistance against sin. Until a man hate sin, he is never truly set against it ; as a man is never thoroughly gained to that which is good until he loves holiness for holiness' sake. His afiections maybe bribed with other considera- tions, but then he is rooted in holiness when he loves holiness for its own sake. So a man that is not resolved against sin, that will not hate it lor its own sake, may be frighted out of sin for a fit, or by the interposings of conscience put out of humour, but his heart falls in again with his old lusts, until there be an envy and detestation of sin ; but when it comes to this hatred, then temptations cannot easily over- come— examples draw not, nor difficulties compel us to that which is evil. Persuasions and allurements formerly were of great force ; straightway they followed ; but when the bent is another Avay, they are not so easily drawn by force and examples, which seem to have such cogency. Before men did easily swim with the stream, but here is a counter motion when they hate that which is evil. This is the fence of the soul, and draws us to an indignation, Hosea xiv. 8.
2. Partly because this is a true distinctive evidence between those that are good and those that are evil. Many may forbear sin that yet do not hate it ; they forbear it out of restraint, out of fear of pun- ishment, shame, w^orldly ends, yet they 'regard iniquity in their hearts,' Ps. Ixvi. 18 ; as a dog loves the bone, yet fears the blows. God judgeth not as man ; man is blameless, he abstains from sin, but God liateth sin. Man judgeth according to the action, but God judgeth according to the frame of the heart, 1 Sam. xvi. 7 ; for he is able to look to the inward springs, and poise our spirits. So on the other side, good men may slip into an evil action, but their hearts are against it ; •it is tlie evil whicli they hate, llom. vii. 15. They may be foiled, but their hearts are bent another way.
But what is this hatred of sin ?
1. It implies a universal repugnancy in every part of a man against sin, not only in his reason and conscience, but will and affec-
VeR. 104.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 57
tions. There is not a wicked man, but in many cases his conscience bids him do otherwise ; ay ! but a renewed man, his heart inclines him to do otherwise ; his heart is set ai^ainst sin, and taken up witli the things of God : Kom. vii. 22, ' I delight in the law of God accord- ing to the inner man.' It is in the whole inward man, which consists of many parts and faculties. Briefly, then, it notes the opposition, not from enlightened conscience only, but from the bent of the renewed heart. Reason and conscience will take God's part, and quarrel with sins, else wicked men could not be self-condemned.
2. Hatred ; it is a fixed rooted enmity. Many a man may fall out with sin upon some occasion, but he hath not an irreconcilable enmity against it. The transient motions of the soul are things quite distinct from a permanent principle that abides in a renewed heart ; he hath that same ' seed of God remaining in him,' 1 John iii. 9. A habit notes a habitual aversation. A brabble many times falls out between us and sin upon several occasions, when it hath sensibly done us wrong, destroyed our peace, blasted our names, or brought temporal incon- venience upon us. In time of judgment and fears, and present troubles and dangers, men think of bewailing their sins and returning to God. but they fall out and fall in again ; this is anger, not hatred ; like the rising of the heart against a drawn sword, when it is flashed in our faces, whereas afterwards we can take it up without any such com- motion of spirit.
3. Hatred ; it is an active enmity, warring upon sin by serious and constant endeavours, manifested by watching, striving, groaning ; watching before the temptation comes, resisting in the temptation, groaning under it, and bemoaning ourselves after the temptation hath prevailed over us.
[1.] There is a constant jealousy and watchfulness before the temp- tation comes. They that hate sin v/ill keep at a distance from what- ever is displeasing unto God : Prov. xxviii. 14, ' Happy is the man that feareth alway.' A hard heart, that knows not the evil of sin, rusheth on to things according to the present inclination. Ay ! but a man that hath a hatred against sin, that hath felt the evil of it in his conscience, that hath been scorched in the flames of a true conviction, will not come near the fire. A broken heart is shy and fearful, there- fore he weighs his thoughts, words, and actions, and takes notice of the first appearance of any temptation ; they know sin is always pre- sent, soon stirred, and therefore live in a holy jealousy. Certainly they that walk up and down heedlessly in the midst of so many snares and temptations wherewith we are waylaid in our passage to heaven, they have not this active enmity against sin, and therefore hatred is seen by watching.