3. It is most for the comfort of the creature. There are some principles planted in the heart of man for the restraint of sin, which may be bafiled for a time, but our fears will return upon us ; and till the soul be subject to God it can never be comfortable, nor at ease within itself ; and it is in vain to think we shall find rest for our souls till sin be more hated and God more loved : Mat. xi. 28, 29, ' Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and
. lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' The same reasons that enforce the necessity of a satisfaction to God's justice do also enforce the necessity of repentance, for else the heart of man is so constituted, that it will be a stranger to comfort. It is true God is not quick and severe upon every miscarriage, but yet the soul apprehendeth him an holy and just God, and therefore must be set to serve the 'living God,' or else the conscience is not ' purged from dead works,' Heb. ix. 12.
Use. Is to press us to mind this work of repentance. We put all upon faith, but overlook repentance ; yet the gospel aimeth at this, and without it the grace thereof is not rightly applied. It is a duty of great use, for God's glory, man's obedience, duty, and comfort dependeth on it. And it is indispensably necessary, by God's authority, necessitate prcecejyti, and by the new covenant constitution, necessitate medii. And dare we be slight in it ? The times of our ignorance show how necessary it is, and the light of the gospel doth more enforce it. Christ upbraided the cities where his mighty works were done, because they repented not : Mat. xi. 20-22, ' Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they
408 SERMON UPON ACTS XVII. 30, 31.
would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judg- ment than for you.' And there is a judgment will pass upon us: and if we repent not, who can stand in the judgment? Ps. cxxx. 3, ' If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand ? '
What shall we do ?
1. Expect not extraordinary dispensations. We have advantage enough by God's word : Luke xvi. 30, ' If one went to them from the dead they would repent.' There Christ impersonateth our natural thoughts, there is no need of that, conscience is awakened with the word. Christ is risen from the dead, and hath sent this message to us.
2. Kouse up yourselves : Ps. xxii. 47, ' All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord ; ' Ps. cxix. .59, ' I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.' Man is incon- siderate, and will not give conscience leave to work.
3. Observe God's checks. We are. negligent, therefore God seeketh to awaken us : Prov. i. 23, ' Turn you at my reproof.' Smothering convictions breedeth atheism and hardness of heart.
4. Do what you can : Hosea v. 4, ' They will not frame their doings to return unto their God.' Then we are the more inexcusable in our impenitency when we will not so much as think and endeavour, or use the outward means which tend to repentance, or set about the work as well as we can. If we shut the door upon ourselves, who will pity us? God may do what he pleaseth, but we must do what he hath com- manded, bend our course that way, for he has commanded us.
5. Ask it of God. Pray for it : Jer. xxxi. 19, ' Turn thou me, and I shall be turned.' Surely he is able to help you out of your difficulties : Mat. xix. 26, ' With God all things are possible.' He is willing, for he faileth not the serious soul: Acts v. 31, 'Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a saviour, for to give repentance and for2;iveness of sins.'
SERMONS UPON MARK X 17-27.
SERMON L
Andiohen lie was gone forth into theivmj, there came one running, and kneeled to^him, and ashed him, Good master, lohat shall I do that J may inherit eternal life? — Mark x, 17.
A>:y reigning sin maketli us incapable of faith, and by consequence of salvation,, of whicli we have a notable instance in the conference that passed between Christ and a young ruler of the Jews. The story begins in the words read, ' And when he was gone forth into the way,' &c. The words give an account of a question put to Christ. And here — ■
1. The time and place, when and where this question was put to him, 'When he was gone forth into the way." In the 10th verse we read he was in some private house, where the pharisees did resort to him, and dispute with him about divorce ; and ver. 13, ' They brought young children to him, that he might bless them.' Now when he had pleaded their right, and ' Lud his hands upon them, and blessed them,' Matthew tells us that ' he departed thence,' chap. xix. 15 ; and by the wayside, as he was in his journey to some other place, this ruler comes to him. Thus doth our Lord find new occasions of doing good ; in the house, and by the wayside. Acts x. 38, it is said, ' He went about doing good.' The life of Christ was a constant course of service to God and bounty to men ; he went about, and he went about doing good. This is the time and place, when and where.