[4.] A sanction supposeth a judge, who will take an account whether his law be broken or kept, otherwise all the promises and threatenings were in vain. The law, that is the rule of our obedience, is the rule of his process ; so the word of God hath this in common with other laws ; therefore God hath appointed a judge and a j uclgment-day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by the man whom he hath appointed; and 2 Thes. i. 8, 'He will come in flaming fire, to render vengeance on all them that know not God, and obey not the gospel.' According to the law they have been under, Gentiles, Christians, they must all appear before the Lord, to give an account how they have observed God's law. Now in patience he beareth with men, yet some- times interposeth by particular judgments, but then they shall receive their final doom.
2. Let us see wherein they differ from ordinary laws among men.
[1.] Man in his laws doth not debate matters with his subjects, but barely enjoineth and interposeth authority ; but God condescendeth to the infirmities of man, and cometh down from the throne of his sovereignty, and reasoneth with and persuadeth and prayeth men that they will not forsake their cwn mercies, but yield obedience to his laws, which he convinceth them are for their good : Isa. xlvi. 8, ' Remember this, show yourselves men ; bring it to mind again, ye transgressors ; ' Isa. i. 18, ' Let us reason together, saith the Lord/ God is pleased to stoop to sorry creatures, to argue with them, and make them judges in their own cause : Micah vi. 2, 3, he will plead with Israel, ' 0 my
VER. 142.] SERMONS UPOX PSALM CXLX. 11
people, what have I done unto thee ? and wherein have I wearied thee ? Testify against we.' He will plead with Israel about the equity of his laws, whether they are not for their good. It is a lessening of authority for princes to court their subjects — they command them ; but God will beseech and expostulate and argue with his people ; 2 Cor. v. 20, he draws with the cords of a man, sweetly alluring their hearts to him.
[2.] The laws of God bind the conscience and the immortal souls of men ; the laws of men only bind the behaviour of the outward man, they cannot order the heart. God takes notice of a wanton glance, of an unclean thought, a carnal motion, Mat. v. 28. Men's words and actions are liable to the laws of men ; they cannot know the thoughts ; but the law of God falls upon the counsels of the heart : Rom. vii. 14, ' For 1 know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal ; ' Heb. iv. 12, ' It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'
[3.] The law of God immutably and indispensably bindeth all men without distinction ; no man beggeth exemption here because of their condition ; there is no immunity and freedom from God's law. Men may grant immunity from their laws : 1 Sam. xvii. 25, ' He will make his father's house free in Israel.' Men's laws are compared to spiders' webs ; the lesser flies are entangled, great ones break through. God doth not exempt any creature from duty to him, but speaketh impar- tially to all.
[4.] Men's laws do more propend to punishment than they do to reward. For robbers and manslayers death is appointed, but the inno- cent subject hath only this reward, that he doth his duty, and escapeth these punishments. In very few cases doth the law promise rewards ; the inflicting of punishments is its proper work, because its use is to restrain evil ; but God's law propoundeth punishments equal to the rewards ; eternal life on the one hand, as well as eternal death on the other : Deut. xxx. 15, ' See I have set before thee this day life and good, death and evil;' because the use of God's law is to guide men to their happiness. This should be much observed ; it is legis candor, the equity and condescension of man's law to speak of a reward ; it commands many things, forbids many things, but still under a penalty ; that is the great design of man's power ; in very few cases doth it invite men to their duty by a reward ; only in such cases where every good man would not do his duty. It is more exact and vigi- lant in its proper and natural work of punishing the disobedient, that wickedness should not go unpunished ; the common peace requireth that ; but that good should be rewarded, there is no human necessity. Human laws were not invented to reward good, but pre- vent evil.
Use. Let us humble ourselves that we bear so little respect to God's word, that we so boldly break it, and are so little affected with our breaches of it. Do we indeed consider that this is God's law ? The greatest part of mankind fear the prince more than God, and the gal- lows more than hell. If every vain thought or carnal motion in our hearts were as the cutting of a finger or burning in the hand, men would seem more afraid of that than they are of hell. Nay, I will tell you, men can dispense with God's law to comply with man's : Hosea