Object. But many think this lesseneth sorrow. Chi-ist hath endured so much, what need they be troubled ?
A71S. (1.) These know not what faith and love meaneth. Can a man love Christ, and not mourn for that which was the cause of his sufferings ? Thou art the man that laid all this upon Christ. (2.)
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Sliglit thoughts of sin are a disparagement of Christ's sufferings : you make nothing of that which cost him so dear. (3.) Christ's death doth not nullify our duty in this kind, but ratify it. He died not only to expiate the guilt of sin, but also to show the heinousness of it. God might have taken another course. This for humiliation.
[2.] As to reformation. The death of Christ furthereth this —
(1.) By way of obligation : Gal. ii. 20, ' I am crucified with Christ : nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.' The great argument that quick- eneth us to the spiritual life is that it is a thing pleasing and acceptable to him. If we knew anything pleasing and acceptable to a man that had redeemed us out of a miserable thraldom, we would do it. They are unthankful wretches that dare to deny Christ anything.
(2.) By way of purchase. Our liberty from sin was bought at a dear rate ; not with silver and gold. You disparage your redeemer and seek to put him to shame, if you live in sin, for you go about to make void the purchase, and to overturn the whole business which Christ hath been establishing with so great a cost. He paid dear for that grace which you slight ; you tie the bonds which he came to loosen.
(3 ) By way of conformity to the purity of our sacrifice. He was without spot and blemish. A carnal christian dishonoureth his head, and puts him to an open shame, as if the church were but a sanctuary for naughty men, and Christianity a design to make us less careful and holy. What a spotted Christ do we hold forth to the world ! We are to look upon Christ crucified so as to be crucified with him.
Secondly, The day of judgment. The serious consideration of that day is an help to repentance: Acts xvii. 30, 31, ' He hath commanded all men everywhere to repent ; because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness.' As hell worketh on fear, so this on shame. It helpeth humiliation and reformation.
[1.] Humiliation. It is a means to prevent the shame of that day ; if we do not call sin to mind, God will call it to mind : Ps. 1. 21, ' I will set thy sins in order before thee.' The book of conscience shall be opened, and not only ours, but God's book too. Now it will cost us grief to look upon our sins, then grief with desperation ; terms of grace are ended, and we can have no hope. A sinner now blots the book that is in his own keeping, but then he cannot. We will not own the con- victions of the word when it showeth our face, but then, Jude 15, ' He will convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds that they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.' Confession now is neglected, but then all shall be brought to light out of our own reins : 1 Cor. iv. 5, ' Judge nothing before the time imtil the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts ; and then shall every man have praise of God.' Let us take shame before it be imposed on us. Sins repented of will not be mentioned to our confusion, but only to the glorifying of the riches of the Lord's grace. They that repent, their sins shall be then blotted out : Acts iii. 19, ' Eepent and be converted, that your sins
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may be blotted out when the days of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.'
[2.] Eeformation. It includeth faith and obedience, (1.) Faith. Let us get our discharge before that day cometh ; then we shall have boldness : 1 John ii. 28, 'And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.' The members of Christ's mystical body need not be afraid of Christ's judgment ; their advocate shall be their judge ; their hearts are sprinkled with his blood, as the door-posts against the destroying angel. They that are not careful to be found in Christ, surely they do not believe that God will make inquisition for sinners. Is the day of judgment a fable ? Scripture and conscience saith the contrary. Or are we innocent? Or hath God provided another way than Christ ? (2.) Obedience. Everything is written, and must be reviewed. If things were forgotten as soon as we forget them, we need not revise our acts or be so careful of our conversation. Oh ! but we must come to an account : James ii. 12, ' So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty ;' Ps. i. 5, ' There- fore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.* What a shameful story will there be pro- duced against careless sinners ! All the business of our lives is to stand in the great congregation, and to appear with confidence. Would a man give way to vain thoughts if he knew he were to give an account ? or to vain discourse if he thought every idle word would be brought to judgment ? or to carnal actions, though never so secret, if he thought that all these would come to a review ? or neglect the duties of his calling if he knew he were to give an account of his stewardship ? or be unmerciful to the poor if he did think of. Have you fed ? have you clothed ? or that he should be examined upon these questions ?