[2] It is a just dispensation. It is just with God to take the refusal and be gone, and to cease to deal with your hearts any more, when, after all the melting entreaties of his grace, you cast him off; he commands, and you will not obey ; he is willing, and you are not willing ; he entreats, and you will not hearken ; he wishes : Deut. v. 29, ' 0 that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my com- mandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever ! ' he laments : Ps. Ixxxi. 13, ' 0 that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways ! ' and you will not join with him. He is grieved that his offer of grace is not received, and j^ou will not lament. It is but just that a man should be left to his own choice, that a man should miss of that salvation which
234 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
he cared not for ; that if, after warnings, convictions, and entreaties, he will be filthy, he should be filthy still. In hell conscience will acquit God ; 670) eyttot rov toov alria, I have been the cause of all this to myself.
[3.] It is a merciful dispensation to the rest of the world. We are told of these things beforehand, not that we may despair, that is an ill consequence ; but that, as we love our souls, we should take heed of resisting grace, and turning our backs upon our own mercies. It is a merciful and fatherly warning to strike in betimes, and own the God of our mercies. Delay is that that undoeth all the world. Now this is the best cure of delay.
2. The causes of it.
[1.] Sinning away the light of nature. By nature men have some knowledge of good and evil. There are Kolvai evvoiai, some connnon principles, as that God is, and must be worshipped, that we must do wrong to none, nor pollute ourselves with promiscuous lusts. The heart of a pagan would rise against it : Kom. ii. 14, 15, ' For when the gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts.' Now, when men hold the light of nature ' in unrighteousness,' Rom. i. 18, when they hold poor truth fettered and bound that it cannot break out into an holy conversation, this provoketh God to give them up to hardness. There are many sins which nature discovereth, and may be avoided upon such reasons and considerations as nature suggesteth. Now, when men put the finger into nature's eye, or will not suffer reason to exercise any dominion, but let loose the reins to lust, God leaveth them to a carnal and sottish heart. Though by the light of nature men cannot convert to God, yet by the light of nature men may practise many duties and avoid many sins. The gentiles were left to an unsound injudicious mind. When men fall into foul sins against the light of nature, conscience loseth its feeling and tenderness : Eph. iv. 19, ' Who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.' Hearts prejudiced against the things of God may grow to very stones.
[2.] Refusing God's many calls: Prov. xxix. 1, 'He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.' God may bear with us a while after one or two or more reproofs, but when we are often reproved and often convinced, and yet will not be reclaimed, God may give us over. The exact date of Christ's patience, or the number of his calls ere the fatal period of final induration cometh, we know not ; but when it is often, you are in danger. Take heed of forfeiting your own mercies by refusing the most earnest motions of the word and Spirit. When God importuneth to be heard and obeyed, his Spirit being thus resisted and refused, God will be at length wearied, and will not give as much grace as before : Isa. Ixiii. 10, ' But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit ; therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.' Scevit infelix amor. Gen. vi. 3, ' My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh.* The heathens did acknowlege that the roTTLKoi 6eo\ the gods of cities and nations, did for the provocation of
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 235
the inliabitfints forsake tlunr altars and tcniples. The more calls and convictions we resist in this kind, the more difficult and improbable is the reducing a sinner to God ; every day he groweth more wicked and profane. To resist the clamours of conscience is sad, but to weary and grieve the Spirit is dreadful : Ezek. xxiv. 13, ' In thy wickedness is lewdness ; because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.' God sets them over the fire till their hearts begin to be warmed, and then lets the sun remain on them.