II. The general reasons. The sins of the professing or really godly are most provoking.
1. They sin against a nearer relation, which is more than if a stranger did these things. As David heightens the injuries done to him : Ps. Iv. 12, 13, ' It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it ; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I could have hid myself from him : but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide and mine acquaintance.' So 2 Sam. xii. 11, ' I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house.' By proportion we may judge in this case, for our relation is urged to quicken our duty : 1 Peter i. 14, 'As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.' And if we do otherwise, we increase our puni.shment : Amos iii. 2, 'You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish yon for all }^our iniquities.' They were his peculiar and chosen people, and though he would not altogether spare others, yet he will certainly and more severely chastise them. So Deut. xxxii. 19, ' And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters ;' that is, those that were his children by a gracious calling.
2. They sin against greater helps and advantages than others do. Such as have more knowledge of their duty : James iv. 17, ' To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' Experience of the evil of sin, they have tasted of the bitter waters, and felt more of the sting of sin in the conviction of their consciences, and are scarce yet whole of the old wounds : Josh. xxii. 17, ' Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed to this day, though there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord ? ' Once more, they sin against a principle of life within, and so offer violence not only to the law of God but their own new nature : 1 John iii. 9, ' Whoso- ever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him ; neither can he sin, because he is born of God.'
3. They sin against gTcater obligations. Partly from the mercies of God, and so there is more unkindness and ingratitude in their sins : John vi. 67, ' Will ye go away also ? ' If the rotten multitude do desert him, yet will his disciples be prejudiced and weaken the confi- dence of others ? The more proofs of God's love we have received, he taketh it the worse at our hands. So also there is an obligation, partly
394 SERMON UPON DEUTERONOMY XXXII. 51.
from their own profession of a strict obedience : Eph. v. 8, 'Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord ; walk as children of light.' God hath distinguished them from others, and therefore they should distinguish themselves by eminence of holiness and obed- ience : Neh. v. 9, ' Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies ? ' Partly there is a special obligation from their covenant vow. Now a people in covenant with God are flister bound to him than others, therefore their transgressions are the more heinous ; as adultery is a greater crime than single fornication, because of the marriage-covenant, and sacrilege than theft, because it is a devouring what is holy, or alienating what is dedicated to God. Now God will avenge the quarrel of his covenant : Lev. xxvi. 25, ' I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant.'
4. Because of the effects of their sins.
[1.] Partly as they dishonour God more than others : 2 Sam. xii. 14, 'Howbeit because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die ; ' though God hath pardoned his sin. The scandalous sins of professors give great advantage to the enemies of the truth, who will be sure to make a wicked and evil use thereof. Therefore we should walk the more circumspectly and holily, lest through our sides our profession itself be wounded as well as our souls, and the Lord's holy name be blasphemed. The honour of God is not so much concerned in the actions of the ungodly as it is in the example of great men, or of those that are eminently godly.
[2.] As they harden and justify the wicked : Ezek. xvi. 51, 'Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins, but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.' They do with the more pretence live in their sins, when they see the lapses and falls of the godly themselves.
5. There are special reasons why God should correct them for their sins here in the world.
[1.] To keep up the honour of his government, lest he should by forbearance seem to approve their sin, who are so near to him, and dignified with so many privileges. God is the impartial judge of the world, therefore he will do right ; the disorders of his people are not passed by without some mark of his displeasure, for a warning to others, and that he may be known to be an holy and righteous God : Ezek. xxxviii. 23, ' Thus will I magnify m3\self, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord ; ' that is, by his judgments he will show that he is the ruler of the world, and ruletli with equity.