Ohj. 3. From experience God doth reward many wicked men, there- fore how can it be said their duties are not accepted ? 1 Kings xxi. 29, Ahab's humiliation kept off the judgment, and Nebuchadnezzar had the land of Egypt for his service against Tyre, Ezek. xxix. 18-20 ; that is nothing but a prophetical prediction. He did not think of accomplishing God's decrees, and the expression ' of giving him the land of Egypt for his labour' is taken from the manner of men ; when a servant doth his work, he hath his reward. But for God's rewarding of wicked men, I answer —
[1.] This is ex, largitate donantis, out of the overflow of his own love and mercy ; they can claim and look for nothing : James i. 7, ' Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.' Though something may be given him, yet there is nothing theirs by way of promise ; all the promises being made and made good in Christ ; that is to them that have an interest in him : 2 Cor. i. 20, * For all the pro- mises of God in him are yea, and in him, amen.'
[2.] These mercies are not given for their sakes, but to give the world a document of God's bounty. Saith Calvin, Deus scejje rependit inercedem umh'is virtuium, tit ostendat sihi placere virtutes ipsas — God doth often reward the shadow of virtue that he might show that grace itself is very pleasing and acceptable to him ; wlien Ahab doth but counterfeitly humble himself, God will suspend the judgment to show how he prizeth true repentance.
[3.] All the blessings that wicked men have are but temporal, and salted with a curse ; there is nothing of acceptance to life. Ahab's
VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 25
humiliation gained but a dela}' of wrath, and that increased his sin. Children have the bread of life, dogs have but the crumbs and offals of providence. Wicked men do not serve God with all their heart, there- lore their mercies are defective as well as their duties.
Use 1. It serves for terror to wicked men. A natural man is in a wretched estate ; his most glorious acts, his very prayers, that are dressed up with a fair pretence of devotion, are abominable before God: Prov. XV. 8, ' The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord ' — not only his sins, but his duties. It is the greatest despite that can be done to a man, that when he hath set himself to please, yet he is still hated. So it is with wicked men ; though they may preach, pray, and prophesy in Christ's name, yet nothing is well taken from them. Cain was punished for his murder, but was not accepted for his sacrifice. 'Ex^pcov Boopa dScopa — the gifts of enemies are giftless gifts ; wicked men are God's enemies, and so nothing is jjleasing that comes from them. It is true, Jesus Christ saith, Isa. xlix. 4, ' I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain ; ' but tliis was his com- fort, 'his judgment was with the Lord, and his work with his God.' But with wicked men it is otherwise ; they labour and toil, but all in vain. It may be they may have their penny of profit in the world, and that their gifts may be useful in the church, and they may have temporal reward, but it is salted with a curse ; their sacrifice is but carrion, their prayer but babbling, and their table of the Lord is but the table of devils : Titus i. 15, ' To the pure all things are pure ; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure ; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.'
Use 2. To represent the privilege of persons justified : their persons please God, and so do all their works. You may improve it for comfort and thankfulness.
1. For comfort. When you ai-e discouraged with your infirmities, your many failings in every duty, Christ will accept you : Ps. xxxiv. 15, * The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.' Consider, thou art troubled about the imperfection of thy works ; they cannot be worse than thy person when God took thee into grace. God that pitied thee when thou wert in thy blood and perfectly evil, he will accept and love thee when thou art in thy person .sanctified ; though there be abundance of dross, he can see there is some gold ; though abundance of wax, yet there is some honey : Cant. v. 1, ' I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey.'
2. For thankfulness. Oh ! what a mercy is this, that God should testify concerning our gifts, such worthless duties so tainted and defiled by the adherency of corruption ! There are many considerations to stir up our thankfulness.
[1.] That which is good is rather his own than ours, yet God will put it upon our account : 1 Chron. xxix. 14, ' Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort ? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.' When you come to God with the best enlargement and quickness of affection, it is the Lord that made us thus willing ; yet God counts them as our duties, though they may be fruits of his own Spirit. Then —