(2.) There is his justice of bounty and free beneficence. God is just by way of bounty when he rewards man capable of reward and accounted worthy, though not in respect of perfect righteousness in himself, yet because he is some way righteous. This capacity of the reward respects either the righteousness of Christ, and that satisfaction he hath paid for us, Eom. iii. 25, 26, or the difference between the person recom- pensed and others ; that he loveth God, is willing to suffer for him, and worketh righteousness. General justice doth require that he should reward the righteous, and put a difference between the godly and the wicked. That governor that useth all alike is not just. Therefore it is said, Ps. xi. 7, that ' the righteous God loveth righteousness.' It is agreeable to justice in general, ratione jusiitice, that wicked persecutors should not go unpunished, but that God should deal with them as they have done with others, and that they who have unjustly suffered in this world should be righted in another world, since they suffer out of love to God, and for his sake, and merely out of the hopes of that other and better world.
(3.) God is just in respect of his promise. The condition being performed, his justice obligeth him ; he hath bound himself by his covenant, and his righteousness implieth his veracity and faithful- ness, 1 John i. 9. Not as if our patience merited it, as the oppressors deserve and are worthy of punishment, but God's promise assureth us of it ; for though his promise be free, yet, if it be once made, justice doth require it, and God is not free, but bound to perform it.
Use 1. Terror to the wicked, especially those that are enemies of Christ's kingdom in the world, and haters of those that are good, 2 Tim. iii. 3. God is just, and will at length call you to an account. Con- sider, he is just in his legislation ; as he would not make unrighteous laws for the pleasure of men, so he is just in execution, he will not pass unrighteous judgment. Your carnal minds are enemies to his laws, Eom. viii. 7, and your unbelieving hearts question his threaten- ings. But his laws are his laws, however you dislike them, and his
222 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SeR. III.
threatenings are his threatening?;, however you question the truth of them. His threatenings to be accomplished within time show always the merit of your actions, often the event ; but his eternal threatenings will be made good. Hell is not a painted fire. As he will not repeal his established laws because you dislike them, so he will not revoke his threatenings for fear of hurting such wilful and impenitent sinners as you are. They that will not fear his judgments shall feel them. The wicked put it to trial whose word shall stand, God's or theirs : Jer. xliv. 28, 'They say, Peace, peace;' God saith, Woe, wrath, tribu- lation, anguish ; and it shall be fulfilled or made good. But it is a sad thing to stand to that adventure ; you may set a good face on it, but conscience owneth the justice, Rom. i. 32. Thence guilty fears arise, which are so natural to man, that we can neither deny nor put off. Nature is afraid of a just judge, and the consent of all people doth evidence it. Therefore we should think of it, and prepare ourselves to be judged by him.
2. For the consolation of the faithful. God is righteous. You experiment his mercy here by the way, in pardoning your sins and sanctifying your afflictions, comforting you under them, and giving h gracious issue out of them; but then you shall find him just — (1.) In punishing your unreasonable enemies, 2 Peter ii. 9. (2.) Your reward is sure : Prov. xi. 18, ' To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.' Therefore we should the more resolutely forsake the pleasures of sin, and endure the afflictions of the gospel, and continue with patience in well-doing, that we may not lose what we have wrought. You have a pledge of this in the new nature given to you. As any are made partakers of a divine nature, they are more just and righteous, hate sin and sinners, love the godly. It is said of Lot, 2 Peter ii. 7, 8, that 'just Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked ; for that righteous man, dwelling among them, vexed his soul from day to day in seeing and hearing their unlawful deeds.' God, that created such a principle of grace in us, is much more righteous. Retributive justice is a ray of God's righteousness. God is said to be with him in the judgment, 2 Chron. xix. 6.
I come now more particularly to discuss the two effects.
First, To recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. Tribu- lation in the issue is the portion of the wicked : Rom. ii. 9, ' Tribula- tion and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil.' But here the apostle would draw us to consider the harmony and agreeableness between the punishment and the offence. And thence we note —
That God usually retaliateth with men.