YeR. 41.] SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 89
liberty, James ii. 12, 13. It is clear everywhere there are but two states ; either we are under the law or under grace. Hear what the law saith. An innocent nature, that is jiresupposed ; and the person must continue in this perfect obedience. But we have continued in the violation of all things contained in the law, No action without a stain. If God should call us to a punctual account for the most inoffensive day that ever we spent, who could stand before him ? Better we had never been born than to stand liable to that judgment, as all natural men do.
[2.] There is no way of escape but in closing with Christ by faith. The apostle supposeth the objection, Gal. iii. 13. The curse of the law cleaveth to all Adam's posterity ; therefore we must have interest in another, who keepeth up the curse of the law : John iii. 36, ' He that believeth not, the wrath of God abideth on him.' The curse is not taken off ; nay, when Christ is tendered, and finally refused, it is set on the closer ; then we are condemned by the law, and condemned by the gospel too : John iii. 18, ' Condemned already ; ' cast in law. But what hath he done to the remedy ? ver. 19, ' This is the condemna- tion, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light.' Not accepting Christ offered is the great condemning sin. There remaineth no more sacrifice ; we cannot expect another way after refusing that : Heb. x. 26, ' For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,' The condemnation of the gospel can never be remitted. The curses of the law are ratified for our abuse of mercy ; so that, in some sense, better we never had heard of Christ.
Use 1. Is for examination ; how is it with you ?
1. Every man by nature is in a cursed condition, Eph. ii. 3, liable to Adam's forfeiture and breach. Were you ever changed ? Until we change copies, we are still miserable. And —
2. There is no way to avoid this curse but in closing with Christ, In the sense of it fly to Christ for refuge. There is the law driving, and the gospel drawing. Christ is the only remedy the gospel showeth. and so pulleth in the heart to God ; and we are undone without that. The law showeth it, and so we are driven out of ourselves : Heb. vi. 18, ' Who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us.' Fly as if the avenger of blood were at your heels. Phil. iii. 9 : Do you labour to be found in Christ ? When the flood was upon earth, none were saved but they that got into the ark. So Cant. ii. 3, ' I sat under his shadow with great delight.' It supposeth the scorching of the sun in those hot countries. Canst thou find thy heart driven ? Thou art afraid thou shalt not get soon enough ; that God will leave his suit, or thou shalt be called out of the world before the match be made up. Dost thou find thine heart fastening upon Christ ? I will pitch here, as Joab took hold of the horns of the altar.
3. Besides the sense of the benefit that we have by Christ, there must be an unfeigned love to him, or else the curse doth still remain : 1 Cor. xvi. 22, ' If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha, accursed till the Lord come ; ' and that is for ever and ever. Can a man think he shall be the better for Christ when he esteemeth him as dung and trash, hath no delight in him, no
90 sehmons upon matthew xxv. [Ser, XXY.
value for him ? We esteem men either as they are excellent in them- selves, or as they are profitable to us. There is both in Christ. There- fore, if you love liim not, it is a sign you have had no benefit by him. Gospel love, it is a love of gratitude ; it ariseth from faith, Gal. v. 6.
4. This love must be expressed by a sincere obedience : 1 John v. 3, ' His commandments are not grievous.' It is not grievous for Christ's sake. The devil, though he be a proud spirit, careth not for dis- praises, nor Christ for empty profession. Can any man esteem Christ that cannot forbear one pleasure for God, one vanity for his sake? By this you shall know whether you shall do well or ill, yea or no. Is it a pleasure to you to renounce your interests, to deny lusts, to perform duties for Christ's sake ?
Use 2. Is to press us to come out of the curse of nature.
1. Be sensible of it. Consider —
[1.] God's curse is very dreadful : Dei benedicere est benefacere. The ' curse causeless shall not come ;' but God's curse is sure to take place. Micah was afraid of his mother's curse, that he dareth not keep the money ; yet we will keep our sins, Judges xvii. 2. It was money dedicated to make a graven image ; a senseless curse, that was pronounced at random; but he thought it a dreadful thing to lie under a mother's curse, and therefore is not quiet till she had recalled it. Elisha cursed when he was mocked, and it took effect: 2 Kings ii. 24, ' And he turned back and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord ; and there came two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty-two children of them in pieces.' A prophet's curse is a dread- ful thing. And will God put up all the affronts we put upon him, when we do despite to his Spirit and scorn his grace ? This was but a man, these but children ; yet when they scorned his ministry and function, as being bred up in idolatry; God will tear in pieces, and none to deliver. Take notice of God's curse on Cain : Gen. iii. 11, * Now thou art cursed from the earth.' He was the first-fruits of the reprobate, the patriarch of unbelievers, as Tertullian calleth him ; the first cursed man in the world ; and his curse was to be cast out of God's presence, ver. 14 ; a figure of what shall be done at the last day. It stuck close to him all his life ; yea, cursed Cain was sensible of it : ' My punishment is greater than I can bear.' We are cursed again and again, Deut. xxvii. To every curse of the law they were to say Amen, to show the sure accomplishment of it. So certainly it will be; it is just as certain: it is a subscription to the justice of it, and a profession of their faith. Am I a cursed creature by nature ? Are all his curses Yea and Amen, as well as his promises ? Oh ! what will become of me if I do not take hold of Christ ? So the curse on the builder of Jericho is remarkable : Josh. x. 6, ' Cursed be the man before the Lord that raiseth up and buildeth this city ; for he shall lay the foundation of it in his first-born, and in his younger son he shall build it up.' And you shall see, 1 Kings xvi. 34, some hundred of years afterwards was tliis curse executed : ' Cursed is every one.' Yet the sinner blesseth himself, and smileth in his heart, and thinketh none of this shall come upon him ; but after many years it breaketh out.