1. With respect to God's justice. God, who is the most righteous governor of the world, will make a just difference between the lighteous and the wicked by rewards and punishment. It belongeth to his general justice ttt bonis bene sit, et malis male — that it should be well with them that do well, and ill with them that do ill : Ps. xi. 5, 6, ' Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and an horrible tempest shall be the portion of their cup : for the righteous God loveth righteousness, his countenance beholdeth the upright. Surely God is not indifferent to good and evil, to them that will please the flesh, and them that obey the spirit. His j ustice will not permit that the carnal and the regenerate, who are so different in their lives, should meet together in the end. No, surely ; the end of the one will be death, and the other life and peace.
2. To suit his motives to the profit of men —
[1.] There needeth something frightful to make sin a terror to us ; therefore doth he counterbalance with advantage the pleasures of sin, that are but for a season. We are vehemently addicted to carnal delights ; therefore to check this inclination, God balanceth the choicest and highest pleasures with eternal pain, that by setting one against the other we may be deterred from pleasing the flesh : Rom. viii. 13, ' If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.'
[2.] To encourage the godly in their self-denying obedience. The godly quit and forego many pleasures which others enjoy. Now, to restrain and deny the flesh seemeth a pain and trouble ; therefore to encourage them to continue in a holy course, though it be distasteful to the flesh, and to renounce worldly pleasures and sensual delights while they may enjoy them, God hath told them of life and peace ; they shall have joy enough.
Use 1 is Information, to show us the folly of wicked men, who are self-destroyers, and wrong their own souls, while they despise the ways of wisdom, and prefer carnal satisfactions before the pleasing of God : ' All that hate me, love death,' Prov. viii, 36. Not formally, but con- sequentially ; a wicked man sinneth not- purposely that he may be damned, but that is the issue.
2. It showeth us the security of the wicked. They sleep most soundly when their danger is nighest, as Jonah in the storm that was raised for his sake ; they are upon the brink of hell, yet they go on merrily, lulling their consciences asleep with outward and vain delights ; but though they sleep, ' their damnation sleepeth not.' It were better to waken and escape the danger : Prov. xxvii. 12, ' A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself ; but the simple pass on, and are punished.' A little sober consideration of this truth may be of use to them.
4G8 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. VIII.
Use 2 is Admonition. Oh ! let this stop us from going on in a flesh- pleasing course. Consider whither it will lead you ; what followeth upon this : —
1. It is death. If it were a small thing, you might bear it ; but it is a case of life and death — eternal life and death. This will be the eternal ruin of your precious and immortal souls. The more you please the flesh, the more you add fuel to that fire which shall never be quenched ; and provide matter for that never-dying worm, or eternal sorrow and confusion of face to your souls. Those things that now please the senses, will one day sting the conscience. We should not affect that which will be death to us. Kemember the hook, when the flesh looketh only to the bait.
2. It is death threatened in the word of God, and therefore certain, as well as dreadful : Eom. vi. 23, ' The wages of sin is death ; ' and Rom. vii. 5, ' The motions of sin did bring forth fruit unto death.' If a man warn you of apparent death in a way wherein you are going, you will be cautious. Surely God deserveth more credit than man. He giveth you warning of the danger of this way ; and will you go on, and try what will come of it ? Surely men do not believe the carnal life will be so mortal and deadly to them as it will be. The false prophet in every man's bosom deceiveth him, that it may destroy him.
3. Consider how willing God is to reclaim you: Ezek. xxxiii. 11, ' Why will you die, 0 house of Israel ? ' Hath God any pleasure in your destruction? He delighteth in your conversion rather, and threateneth death, that he may not inflict it.
Use 3. Let us examine what is our frame and temper — the carnal minding or the spiritual minding. This is the great test, or the true and lasting difierence between men and men, in life and death. The great difierence and division is begun here, and continued for ever. Other differences cease at the grave's mouth, but this distinguisheth between heaven and hell.
1. What do you seek after, the gratifying of the flesh, or the per- f ectives of the soul ? that the inner man may be renewed and quickened : 2 Cor. iv. 16; 'That it be strengthened: Eph. iii. 16, decked and adorned : 1 Pet. iv. 3, to keep grace alive in your souls that is our care, our business, and our comfort.