304 SERMONS UPON EPIIESIANS V. [SeR. XIII.
sinful practices ? Wo are often quarrelling with God ; what profit is it to serve the Almighty ? Mai. iii. 14, ' Ye have said, It is vain to serve dod ; and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances?' Job xxi. 15, ' What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him ? ' surely it would make us stop in a way of sin if we did ask, What profit ? If it be delightful to the sensual part, in the end it biteth like a serpent : Rom. ii. 9, ^ Tribulation and anguish upon every soul that doeth evil.' As Elisha dealt with the Syrian army, he blinded them all the way, till he had brought them into the midst of Samaria, 2 Kings vi. 20, then he opened their eyes that they might see their danger ; so Satan blindeth sinners till they come to destruction, and then conscience filleth them with horror and despairing fears, and the enchantment is dissolved, and they awake in flames and horror.
Secondly, The acts of our duty about it; and they are two — (1.) That we must have no fellowship with them ; (2.) But reprove them rather.
1. That we must have no fellowship with them in evil. To under- stand that, we must consider how many ways we have fellowship with them.
[1.] If we do the same things that others do. He that committeth sin alone, and without example, is a sinner ; but he that committeth sin after the example of others hath fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, joineth with others to promote the devil's kingdom in the world ; therefore have no fellowship, give not a bad example to others, and follow it not if given by others ; for by giving and taking evil example, there is a fellowship between sinners, and they drive on a common trade, whether they lay their heads together about it, yea or no ; therefore we are not to have fellowship in sin, in whole or in part, in a greater or in a lesser measure. No ; we are to turn from all sin with detestation : Isa. xxx. 22, ' Get ye hence ; ' Hosea xiv. 8, ' What have I any more to do with idols ? ' Yea, we must avoid the very * appearance of evil,' 1 Thes. v. 22 ; for no sin, or anything like it, will become the children of light. Well, then, this is the principal sense ; do not the same things ; whosoever hath a hand in the sin will have a share in the punishment.
• [2.] If we be accessory to the sins of others, which we may be many ways. I touched upon it, ver. 7 ; but we must not be so, for every agent is known to Grod, and cannot escape his discovery and punish- ment ; not the secret contrivers and counsellors, as Jonadab to Amnon, Achitophel to Absalom, Jezebel to Ahab ; not the actors and execu- tioners, as the elders of Israel, and by their procurement the sons of Belial employed by Jezebel in the murder of Nabotli ; not the abettors and assistants, as Joab and Abiathar in Adonijah's treason ; for God can search into the deepest secrets, and hath knowledge both of the offenders, and the quality and measure of their oftence, and will render to every one accordingly. Therefore for a warning, let us see how we may have any fellowship in these things, which are so hateful to God, and do so ill become our renewed estate.
(1.) If we counsel, persuade, allure, or entice others to sin. These are Satan's decoys, who being ensnared themselves, draw others into th?
VeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 305
net. Thus those that provoke others to drunkenness by inviting them to drink more than they would, or the necessities of nature call for, or by healthing engage them to it ; besides, that the first occasion of it was a heathen drink-offering, which therefore the christians refused with the danger of their lives, as several have proved : hihamus pro salute imperatoris. The casuists condemn it, as it is provocatio ad aquales calices. And we read in the book of Esther, chap. i. 8, ' And the drinking was according to law, none did compel ; ' that is, that none should drink more or oftener than it pleased himself. So when men stir up lust in others by lascivious speeches, or persuade others to trans- gress, or blow the coal in strife or contention, or allure them to any evil : Prov. i. 10, ' My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.' This was the devil's sin to tempt our first parents. Gen, iii. ; and all tempters play the devil's part.
(2.) By commanding that which is evil. This is the sin of those that have power over others ; as David commanded Joab to set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire from him, that he may be smitten and die, 2 Sam. xi. 15 ; and Joab obeyed this wicked direc- tion, and so became guilty of innocent blood. So if parents or masters command their children or servants to do anything that is evil.