220 SEllMONS UPON EPIIESIANS V. [SeR. VL
SERMON VI.
Let no man deceive you ivitli vain tvords ; for because of these tilings Cometh the lurath of God upon the children of disobedience. — Eph. v. 6.
The apostle had argued ab incon(j7nio, from what was indecent and misbecoming in us ; now a pericido^ from the danger of such practices. There is poena damni, the punishment of loss, exclusion from the kingdom of God ; and poena sensus, the punishment of sense, the hazard of God's eternal wrath and displeasui-e : ' Let no man deceive you,' &c.
In the text we have two things —
1. A caution, ' Let no man deceive you with vain words.'
2. A commination, ' For because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.'
First, The caution is against error, and showeth the certainty of their punishment, whatever false teachers whispered to the contrary. This is premised that we may neither deceive ourselves nor suffer ourselves to be deceived by others.
1. That we may not deceive ourselves. Frequent warnings are given against this self-flattery : 1 Cor. vi. 9, 'Be not deceived; neither forni- cators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of them- selves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God ; ' 1 John iii. 7, ' Little children, let no man deceive you ; he that doeth right- eousness is righteous ; ' 1 Cor. xv. 33, ' Be not deceived ; evil communi- cation corrupts good manners ; ' Gal. vi. 7, ' Be not deceived ; God is not mocked : for what a man sowetli, that shall he also reap.' Men do what they can to live securely and undisturbedly in their sins, and to guard their hearts against the apprehension of all danger and punishment.
2. That we may not be deceived by others. There were false teachers in those early days, that countenanced profane and licentious christians; some that taught fornication was an indifferent thing, or at least no such great matter, or not so dangerous ; that a man might be righteous, and yet live in sin ; that a bare profession of faith without a strict life was enough to salvation ; which poison was greedily sucked up by careless christians, who were convinced of the truth of Christianity, but as yet had no power to overcome their lusts. It is strange that such gross conceits should possess their minds. But there is that which the apostle calleth ' a reprobate sense or mind,' Ptom. i, 28. There is such an efficacy of error and deception in our corrupt natures, that men soon hear in this ear, and please themselves with the thoughts of impunity, though they live in gross sins : 2 Peter ii. 18, ' They allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.'
Secondly, A denunciation of God's wrath, 'Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.' You have it again, Col. iii. 6.
YeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 221
lu which words observe —
1. The evil denounced, ' The wrath of God cometh.'
2. The meritorious procuring cause, ' For these things.'
3. The persons, or proper seat and subject of his vengeance, 'Upon the children of disobedience.'
1. The evil denounced, * The wrath of Grod cometh ; ' meaning by
* wrath,' punishment from God, who is angry and displeased with these sins. And it is said, 'it cometh ;' it is an allusion to a thing that falleth from a higher place, and crusheth those upon whom it falleth. So this wrath is said to be poured down upon them from heaven : Ps. xi. 6, ' Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and an horrible tempest ; this shall be the portion of their cup;' that is, their judg- ment shall be terrible, irresistible, and remediless. So Rom. i. 18, ' For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.' They cannot make a wall against heaven to keep off that which shall come upon them from thence.
2. The meritorious procuring cause, ' For these things,' fornication, uncleanness, and such like gross sins. God is not severe upon ordinary failings and frailties, but these sins are of another nature.
3. The persons upon whom this vengeance cometh ; it shall light "^ upon the children of disobedience.' What children of disobedience signifieth I shall show anon. Some by it here understand infidels, as if that were the argument : How could these things be tolerable in christians, when they were the sins for which God plagued the heathens or infidels ? Or rather, take the common sense ; children of disobedi- ence are such as live in an open defiance of God's precepts, and will by no means be reclaimed, and forsake their sins, or be persuaded to seek after God, and his healing and renewing grace. And so it teacheth us two notes —
[1.] Those that are given to these sins are to be reckoned among the children of disobedience, or accounted rebels to God. Though they be christians in name, yet they are heathens, profane christians, that never heartily obeyed the gospel, nor thoroughly renounced their heathenish impurities : ' As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts of your ignorance,' 1 Peter i. 14. TeKva viraKorj'^,