S'S SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. IV,
John V. 10. He tliut Jotli not regard the offer of the gospel, certainly he believes it is not true, and so he dishonours God as the supreme truth.
2. If we would honour God as the supreme Lord of heaven and earth, we must reverence him in his worship. God is not only terrible in the high places of the field, and there where he executes his dread- ful judgments ; and not only so in the depths of the sea, where the wonders of the Lord are seen ; but he is also terrible in his holy places : Ps. Ixviii. 35, ' 0 God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places.' Then are the liearts of his people filled with most aweful apprehensions of his glorious majesty and of his excellent holiness, and this makes them tremble. But now, when we do not come with these aweful apprehen- sions, we do not own God as the supreme mnjesty ; and therefore when they brought him an unbeseeming sacrifice, saith the Lord, Mai. i. 14, ' Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing ; for I am a great king, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathens.' This is not becoming my majesty. And the saints of God never feel such self-abhorrency and loathing of themselves as when they are worshipping God. God is even dreadful then when he is most com- fortable to his people : Deut. xxviii. 58, ' That thou mayst fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God.' Thy God ! this is the comfortablest name in all the scripture ; this is the foundation of our hope, and this puts the saints upon a holy reverence. But now ungodly men come with slight, cold, and careless hearts ; their thoughts are upon the shop, and the cart, and the plough, and anywhere else than upon God ; ' They draw nigh to him with their lips, but their hearts are removed far from him.' They do not come to him as a great king and supreme majesty and authority of all, and so they dishonour God exceedingly. Our thoughts in worship should be more taken up with his glory.
3. If we would honour God as supreme, there must be a willing sub- jection of our hearts and lives to his laws. Usually here we stick in a want of conformity thereto. Men that love God as a creator naturally hate him as a lawgiver. Men love him as a giver of blessings, but they would fain live at large. Thoughts that strike at the being of God and doctrines of liberty are welcome to a carnal heart ; therefore it is tedious to them to hear of one to call them to account ; and it is pleasing to them to think (which is an argument of the highest hatred that can be) that there were no God to call them to a reckoning, that they might let loose the reins to vile affections. We would be absolute, and lords of our own actions. And this subjection must be in heart and life. There must be a subjection of the heart. God's authority is never more undermined than by a mere form of godliness : 2 Tim. iii. 5, ' Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.' This is the greatest ungodliness that can be ; they will not own his authority in their hearts, nor suffer him to have any dominion in their conscience, nor own him without in their actions before men. The heart is his chair of state and cha)nber of presence ; but hypocrites and wicked men rob God of his dominion over the conscience, therefore hypocrisy is practical blasphemy : Eev. ii. 9, ' I know the blasphemy
VeR. 12.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14, 87
of tliem that say they are Jews, aud are not, but are the synago^e of Satan.' Men pretend to obey God, yet blaspheme him in their heart, and refuse the power of that to which they pretend. And the life must be conformed to God's laws. God will be honoured in our con- versation, as well as have his throne set up in the conscience ; his laws must be visibly obeyed in the sight of men. It is the glory of a com- mander to be obeyed : Mat. viii. 9, ' I am a man under authority, hav- ing soldiers under me ; and I say to one. Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come, and he cometh ; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.' So God will have all the world know that he hath his servants at a beck. If he bids them deny and abstain the flesh, oh ! they durst not meddle with it ; or if he bids them practise holiness, they must do it. His honour is much promoted by your lives. God will have all the world see that he hath called you to his foot, and that he hath an absolute authority and power over the sons of men ; they are a people formed for his praise ; he looks for glory in this kind.