Use 1. Observe how a sinner hasteneth to his own misery by steps and degrees. In this life we are adding sin to sin, and in the next God will be adding torment to torment. Here God beginneth with
86 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XXV.
US : John iii. 18, ' He that believeth not, is condemned already.' Do not say, It is a long time till the last judgment ; the halter is about thy neck, and there needeth nothing but turning over the ladder. Men are not sensible of it till they come to die, then there is a hell in the conscience, a sip of the cup of wrath. The horrors of the dying wicked are the suburbs of hell ; then yellings and bowlings begin. At death the bond of the old covenant is put in suit, and at the separation the gaoler carrieth us away to prison ; there the soul is detained in chains of darkness, in a fearful expectation of more judgment ; ' I am horribly tormented in this flame,' But after Christ's coming to judg- ment we are plunged into the depth of hell, the whole man is over- whelmed with misery. Well, then, if you add drunkenness to thirst, God will add to your plagues, till wrath come upon you to the utter- most.
2. Observe the patience of God ; he doth not take a full revenge of his creatures till the last day. The most miserable creatures are suffered to enjoy some degree of happiness, or rather, do not feel the whole misery at the first. In the most dreadful executions of God's justice you may read patience. God is patient to the fallen angels, though presently, upon their sin, they were cast down into hell, 2 Peter ii. 5 ; but much more to sinning man : ' In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die,' was the sentence ; yet the sentence is prorogued till the day of judgment. To those whom he hath a mind to destroy he is patient. The old world he bore with, first a hundred and twenty years, and then the rain was forty days in coming ; and reprobates, iv TvoXXfj /xaKpodv/jila, Kom. ix. 22, ' He endureth them with much long-suffering ;' intermission of wrath in this life, and respite to the body till the great day. How doth God bear with a company of hell-hounds ! He suffereth them to stand by, as a dog, while the bread of life is distributed to the children. To bear with his children is much, but to bear with his enemies, who seek not his favour, and are the worse because forborne, and do provoke him daily, and do not relent and acknowledge their offence, is much more ; yet all this while God holdeth his hands. Admire his patience, but do not abuse it. We are apt so to do : Eccles. viii. 11, ' Because sentence against an evil-doer is not speedily executed, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil.' Reprobates fare well for a time, live in plenty and ease, and therefore think hell but a dream and vain scarecrow. But take heed ; that which is kept off is not taken away ; and when you see wicked men endured, and not presently cut off, be not offended ; ' their day is coming,' 1 Peter ii. 9 ; they are but reserved. Justice shall break forth, though the cloud of mercy long overshadow it. Their doom was long since passed ; God might strike them dead in an instant.
3. One judgment maketh way for another. Our anger is rash, and therefore cooleth by degrees ; it is at the height at first : but it is not so with God ; his heateth by degrees, and is worst at last. There are first snares, then chains of darkness, then a most active sense of the wrath and displeasure of God, Let no man please himself in that he suffers afiliction in this world; these may be the beginnings of sorrow, miserable here and miserable hereafter. There are wicked poor and
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wicked rich ; some have a double hell — hdre and hereafter too. Do not think death will be an ease : ' Son, in thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things.' There are Lazaruses in hell as well as in Abraham's bosom.
4. Origen's charity was too large. Origen, and after him Gregory Nyssen and others, dreamed of KaOapacov nrvp, a flaming river through which the wicked pass, and so be happy, and that so all are saved, even the devils themselves; abusing Rom. v. 18, and 1 Cor. xv. 2. There is an increase of torments, but no decay ; then it will be said, ' Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.'
Secondly, Let us now speak of the persons sentenced. Here is a double description of them : —
1. From their posture, ' On the left hand.'
2. Their quality, in that title and terrible compellation, ' Ye cursed.'
1. Their posture, ' On the left hand.' It noteth not only the more ignominious place, but hath respect to their choice. The right hand is more honourable among all nations ; the innocent were to plead their cause on the right hand, the guilty at the left. But it hath respect to their own choice; they seek after left-hand mercies: Ps. xvi. 11, 'At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore ; ' eternity, that is at God's right hand. So Prov. iii. 16, * Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour.' At the last day wicked men have but their own choice. As Darius distinguished between his followers ; some love Aapeiov, some Sapelav ; so in the world there is a distinction ; some love the gift better than the giver, make a sinister choice, choose greatness, honour, worldly pleasures. A man may know his future estate by his present choice. Wisdom standeth inviting with both her hands full : ' In her right hand is length of days ; ' here is eternity of pleasure ; all the world runneth to the left hand. Riches and honour look more lovely than length of days in a carnal eye. Which will you have ? Here in the church you will say, Eternity by all means ; but the course of your lives saith. Riches and honour ; these take up your time, care, and thoughts.