2. The greater miracle is that any should embrace the christian faith, and yet live sinfully and carelessly ; that they should believe as christians, and yet live as atheists. You cannot drive a dull ass into the fire that is kindled before him : Prov. i. 17, ' Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird.' How can men believe eternal torments, and yet with so much boldness and easiness run into the sins that do deserve them ? Many times not compelled by any terror, nor asked or invited by any temptation, but of their own accord they tempt themselves, and seek out occasions of sinning. On the other side, can a man believe heaven, and do nothing for it ? If we know that it will not be lost labour, there is all the reason we should not grudge at it : 1 Cor. XV. 58, ' Be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.'
Now there are three causes of this : — (1.) Unbelief ; (2.) Inconsi- deration ; (3.) Want of close application.
[1.] Want of a sound belief. Most men's faith is but pretended, as appeareth by the effects.
10 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XVII.
(1.) By our proneness to sin. If God did govern the world by sense, and not by faith, we should be other manner of persons than we are, in all holiness and godliness of conversation. If we were sure and certain that for every law we break, or for every one whom we deceive and slander, we should hold our hands in scalding lead for half an horn', how afraid would men be to commit any offence ? Who would taste meat, if he knew there were present death in it ? yea, that it would cost him bitter gripes and torments ? How cautious are men of their diet that are prone to the stone, or gout or colick, where it is but probable the things we take will do us any hurt ? We know certainly that ' the wages of sin is death,' yet how little are we con- cerned at sin !
(2.) By our backwardness to good works. Sins of omission will damn as well as sins of commission, small as well as great. It is not said, Ye have robbed, but, Ye have not fed, ye have not clothed ; not, Ye have blasphemed, but, Ye have not invoked the name of God ; not done hurt, but done no good : * And cast the unprofitable servant,' &c.
(3.) By our weakness in temptations and conflicts. AVe cannot deny a carnal pleasure, yet we are told, Eom. viii. 13, ' If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.' Nor withstand a carnal fear, yet we are told, Mat. X. 28, ' Fear not him that can kill the body, but fear him that can cast both body and soul into hell.' But shrink at the least pains of duty, when we are told on the one hand, 1 Cor. xv. .58, ' That our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord ;' on the other side, Eev. xxi. 8, ' That the fearful and unbelieving shall have their part in the lake which burnetii with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.' On the other side, that it is the most irrational thing to go to hell to save ourselves the labour of obedience. The whole world promised for a reward cannot induce us to enter into a fiery furnace for half an hour. If one much desiring sleep, which is Chrysostom's supposition, should be told that if he once nodded he should endure ten years' tor- ment, would he venture ?
(4.) By our carelessness in the matters of our peace. If we were in danger of death every moment, we would not be quiet till we got a pardon. All men by nature are children of wrath, liable to this horrible estate that hath been described to you ; but yet few run for refuge, Heb. vi. 18, 19, nor ' flee from wrath to come,' Mat. iii. 7. Seek ' peace upon earth," Luke ii. 14. Labour ' to be found of him in peace,' 2 Peter ii. 14. How can a man be at rest, till he be secured, and can bless God for an escape ?
[2.] Want of serious consideration. The scripture calleth for it everywhere : Ps. 1. 22, ' Consider this, ye that forget God ;' and Isa. i. 3, ' My people will not consider.' Many that have faith do not act it, and set it a-work by lively thoughts. When faith and knowledge are asleep, it differeth little from ignorance or oblivion, till consideration awaken it. Carnal sensualists put off that they cannot put away, Amos vi. 3. Many that know themselves wretched creatures are not troubled at it, because they cast these things out of their thoughts, and so they sleep ; but their damnation slcepeth not, it lieth watching to take hold of them ; they are not at leisure to think of eternity.
[3.] Want of close application : Kom. viii. 31, ' What shall we then
VeR, 30.] SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 11