SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 365
* Now, and to-day, if you will hear liis voice, harden not your hearts.' As soon as you are convinced of your sinful estate. Why not now ? Sin is such an evil that you cannot he rid of it too soon. Sin is as a poison in the bowels, a fire in a building. Now who will say, We will get an antidote next week ? or quench the fire hereafter ? Sin is a wound, and shall we let it alone till it fester and rankle ? No wound so dangerous as that which destroyeth body and soul ; no fire so dread- ful as the wrath of God ; no poison so hurtful as that of sin ; it robbeth us of eternal life. God hath not given us leave for a day, nor for a moment If a man were banished by proclamation, and it were death whoever should entertain and harbour him after ten days, till the time were out there were no danger ; but God saitli noiv. When we are in any trouble, we cannot brook any delay : Ps. cii. 2, ' In the day when I call, answer me speedily.' We must have a present answer; and shall God stand waiting when there is danger of his dishonour ? Therefore now while it is to-day turn unto God. To-morrow is a very uncertain thing. Besides if you were certain of to-morrow, it is folly to lie under the wrath of God any longer. If really you are con- vinced of a sinful state, why do you not repent and return to God now ? In every sinful action thou art laying thy soul at pawn, and one sin more may fill up the measure of your iniquity. Besides, every day will make you more unfit to turn to God ; and it is base self-love to think of indulging the flesh longer, provided at length you can be saved.
3. The scripture showeth the profit of it.
[1.] What a remedy it is against sin : Ezek. xviii. 30, ' Kepent, and turn yourselves from your transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.' Every man is a sinner, but every man shall not die by sin. There is in sin reatus, culpa, poena, macula. (1.) Beatus, the guilt that is blotted out : Acts iii. 19, ' Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' Sin is written in two books, one in God's keep- ing, the other in our own. He doth not say that we may blot out our sins out of God's book ; that is not the debtor's, but the creditor's work to cross the book : Isa. xliii. 25, ' I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins" There is a handwriting against us, but it is blotted out when we repent. Oar own book is the book of conscience : Heb. x. 22, ' Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.' The worm of conscience gnaws us till we repent, then the Spirit blotteth it out of our hearts. (2.) Macula, the stain ; the more a man sinneth, the more he is inclined to sin, as a brand that hath been once in the fire is apt to take fire again. We lose tenderness by every act of sin, and the smart of repent- ance is a means to kill the sin, as breaking up the fallow ground doth destroy the weeds : Jer. iv. 3, ' Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.' (3.) Culpa, the blame. God will not upbraid us with former sins : Mark xvi. 7, ' Go tell my disciples and Peter.' It is judged in one court already ; not a word of Peter's miscarriage : Tell him, I am risen. (4.) Pcena, the punishment ; that is done away by repentance ; we may look for days of refreshment.
[2.] The comfort it will bring. God hath comforts for his mourners :
366 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
Mat. V, 4, 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.' Never such sweet revivings as after godly sorrow : 2 Cor. vii, 10, ' For godly sorrow worketli repentance to salvation never to be repented of.' Many have repented of their carnal mirth, but never any of their godly sorrow ; you will never curse the day of your new birth.
4. The scripture ofFereth grace and help of God to work this in us : Ezek. xi. 19, 20, ' I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you ; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh ; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them ; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.' Men will say they cannot repent ; come and wait upon God, and he will give you to repent: Acts xi. 18, ' Then hath God also to the gentiles granted repentance unto life.' God doth not only give occasions of repentance, time of repentance, means of repentance, but power to repent, yea, repentance itself: Acts v. 31, ' Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a prince and a saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.' So that if we would turn wrangling into prayer, and bemoan ourselves, and say, Jer. xxxi. 18, ' Turn us, 0 Lord ! and we shall be turned.' If we would follow him close, we need not be discouraged.