SERMON UPON ACTS X. 34, 35. 419
SO that the sinner is left dull, senseless, past feeling : Eph, iv. 7, 8, ' Having the understanding darkened/ By horror of conscience they are made to feel God's displeasure at the courses they walk in. But when that is long despised, and men sin on still, the other and more terrible judgment cometh, the giving up a sinner to his own heart's lusts ; and losing remorse and tenderness is the sorest judgment on this side hell.
5. In all acts of judicature, either in punishing or rewarding, God is no respecter of persons. His own people are not excepted when they fall into wilful or scandalous sins : Amos iii. 2, ' Tou only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you for your iniquities ; ' Prov. xi. 31, ' The righteous shall be recompensed on the earth, much more the wicked and the sinner.' God judgeth not with partiality. In his external government he punishes sometimes with — (1.) A blot on their name : 1 Kings xv. 5, ' David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside in any- thing that he commanded, save only in the matter of Uriah.' His plotting Uriah's death is more laid to his charge than the other sins which he committed. Many failings of his are left on record ; distrust, dissimulation, rash vow to destroy Nabal, injustice in the matter of Ziba and Mephibosheth, indulgence to Absalom, his carnal confidence in numbering the people ; yet all these are passed over in silence as infirmities ; only the matter of Uriah sticks close to him. (2.) With many troubles, for the vindication of his justice and providence, though they be the dearly beloved of his soul. What troubles in his house ensued upon David's presumptuous sin ! his daughter ravished, Amnon slain in his drunkenness, Absalom driveth him to shift for his life, his subjects desert him, 2 Sam. xii. 10-12. So Eli's sons slain, Israel dis- comfited, the ark taken ; his daughter died in child-bearing ; the old man broke his neck. Do not think your estate will bear you out ; sin is odious to God by whomsoever committed.
6. We shall shortly appear before the tribunal of God, where every man's qualification must be judged, whether he fear God and work righteousness. How soon it may come about we cannot tell ; most will be taken ere they think of it. Therefore the word /o2mc^ is often used: 2 Cor. v. 3, ' We shall not be found naked ; ' 2 Peter iii. 14, ' That we may be found of him in peace ; ' Phil. iv. 9. Well, then — (1.) Let us make our peace with God, 2 Cor. v. 19. (2.) Fear God ; get a single heart: Col. iii. 23, ' Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.' (3.) Work righteousness : 1 John iii 7, 'He that doeth righteousness is righteous.' You must do wrong to none, good to all. Charge yourselves to practise this great duty.
SERMON UPON MARK IV. 24.
-4.WC? he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear ; for with lohat measure you mete, it shall he measured to you again ; and unto you that hear shall more he given. — Mark iv. 24.
What one said of laws is true of sermons, that there are many good laws made, but there needeth one, good law to put them all in execu- tion ; so there are many good sermons, but there wanteth one good one to reduce them all to practice. This scripture conduceth to this very purpose : ' And he said unto them, Take heed what you hear,' &c.
The words are a special admonition touching the right way of hear- ing the word.
Wherein we have —
1. A duty.
2. The reason to enforce it, from the fruit and benefit ; intimated in two proverbs, ' For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again ; ' ' and unto you that hear shall more be given.
1. The duty, ' Take heed what you hear.' Attend diligently to the matter of doctrine which I deliver unto you. In Luke viii, 18, it is 7r&>9, ' Take heed how you hear ; ' and take heed tI, namely, what you hear ; so it is here. It is a doctrine most true, as being of divine revelation, most necessary, and of great importance to your happiness ; you are utterly undone without it : most excellent, as being about the greatest matter, the enjoyment of Grod, and the saving of your souls.
2, The reasons, expressed in a proverb, and a promise grounded upon a proverb.
[1.] A proverb : * With what measure you mete, it shall be mea- sured to you again.' This passage is often repeated in the gospel ; sometimes as a threatening : Mat. vii. 2, * For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged ; and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.' Sometimes in the way of a promise, and differently applied ; to alms : Luke vi. 38, ' Give, and it shall be given unto you ; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and run- ning over, shall men give into your bosom : for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.' To ordinances ; so here in the text ; as you deal with God so will he deal with you. Look, what measure of diligence and conscionable care is in you to hear the word, the like measure of spiritual fruit and profit shall you reap by the blessing of God.