[2.] In the world to come. The errors of men's choice are not well seen in this life, but afterwards all will be manifested. What will they think of their foolish and vain course when they are cast into hell ? They have enough then indeed of sin, when their worldly por- tion is taken from them, and the heavenly blessedness denied to them : for no man shall have more than he sought after whilst he was alive. The conscience of his foolish choice will be a part of his torment, and , who can express the other sorrows of the damned, when they are de- livered over to the worm that dieth not, and the fire that shall never be quenched ? In the parable of the rich man, Luke xvi. 23, 24, you have some account of it : ' In hell he lift up his eyes, being in tor- ments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom ; and he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.' It is not wine that he calleth for then, but a drop of cold water ; not in a vessel, or in the hollow of his hand, but on the tip of his finger only ; not to quench his thirst, but cool his tongue ; and that he could not get. No ; the gulf was fixed, though that drop would soon have dried up. These passages are parabolical ; but thus our Lord saw fit to represent their €ndless, easeless estate.
2. Why? this is not the fulness they sought after, or promised to themselves. They dreamed of nothing but impunity and happiness, and to be feasted with carnal satisfactions. I answer — God doth not consider what they desired, but what they deserved. They brought thia upon themselves by their own way : Hosea iv. 9, ' I will punish
472 SERMON UPON PROVERBS XIV. 14,
tliem for tlieir ways, and reward their doings ; ' and justly ; for (1.) As tliey regarded not his will in choosing their way, so God will not ask their consent in returning a meet recompense or reward of their doings, (2.) It is equal that he who had so soon his fill of goodness, and was weary of well-doing, should at length have his fill of wicked- ness. (3.) They thought they could never have enough of sin in the practice, therefore now they shall have enough in the punishment. (4.) For a great while they enjoyed themselves with comfort and success, to the dishonour of God and the scandal of the godly ; now they have their deserved punishment. Though they escaped long, they shall not escape always. This merry world will not always last ; the longer God's patience is abused the greater wrath is then prepared and treasured up for them.
Secondly, For the good man, he shall find at length that which will satisfy him. Now I shall show you — (1.) What is his satisfaction ; (2.) When he shall have it.
1. What is his satisfaction ? He shall be satisfied from himself. It beareth two senses — (1.) That it is his own works which God will abundantly and graciously reward ; of which in the next point. (2.) Or else it is meant of the comforts which he feeleth within himself. It is not by way of exclusion of God, but of the carnal happiness which the backslider fancieth. His happiness is most within himself, inde- pendent from the world, but not from God. He valueth his good and evil, not by things external, but, internal. As, for instange, the con- science of his integrity : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' Our rejoicing is this, the testi- mony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, &c., we have had our conversation in the world.' The sense of God's love : Eom. V. 5, ' The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us.' The hopes of glory : Heb. x. 34, ' Knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and more enduring sub- stance ? ' Yea, the glory that he expecteth will be ' revealed in him,' Eom. viii. 18. He hath a spring of comfort within his breast, for God is there and Christ is there by the Spirit, and will be more there here- after. Now these inward things satisfy him in the destitution and want of outward; he hath a sufficiency within himself in whatever necessities. 'AvTdp')(i]^ »; aperr) was a maxim among the wisest heathens, that virtue is sufficient to itself ; and the apostle tells us, 1 Tim. vi. 6, 'Godliness with contentment is great gain,' Certainly a good man, whatever he wants, he wants not contentment in God.
2. When he shall have it — (1.) Here the godly have the beginnings of their satisfaction : 2 Cor, v. 1, ' We' know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house- not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' (2.) Hereafter the completion and full fruition of it. Blessed be God who giveth us our hard things in this short life, and keepeth our portion till eternal life, where there shall be nothing but peace and endless joy. We have much now, the first-fruits of the Spirit. We have not Canaan in the wilderness, but we have the clusters of Canaan ; much in present possession, more in expectation and reversion : Ps. xvi. 11, 'In thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures forever- more.' In heaven we shall desire no more than we have : Ps. xvii.