Doct. 2. That purity and charity are true notes of God's children.
These are characters laid down here, as manifest evidences whereby our estate may be determined.
First, Purity. See how it is described in the text, ' He that doeth not righteousness is not of God.' Where observe —
1. That not only sins of commission, but omission, may render our estate questionable. He had said before, ' He that committeth sin is of the devil ; ' now he altereth his manner of speaking, ' He that doeth not righteousness is not of God,' and so by consequence of the devil, though he should not offend by doing harm or doing unrighteousness. To do righteousness is to do that which righteousness calleth for and requireth at our hands, when time and occasion is offered ; and he that doth not so is not of God ; and therefore not only commission of sin, but neglect of a christian life, involveth us in this blemish of being children of the devil : Mat. iii. 10, ' Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.' Not only the poisonous, but the barren tree. And it is made the character of the wicked : Ps. xxxvi. 3, ' He hath left off to be wise, and to do good.' To cast ofi" or neglect the ways of wisdom and holiness is an argument of wickedness, though no other apparent evil should be charged upon us. The unprofit- able servant is cast into everlasting fire. Mat. xxv. 30; not he that embez- zled his talent, but folded it in a napkin. Many think, if they do nobody any harm, God will accept them ; but what good do you do ? That child is counted undutiful not only that doth not wrong and beat his father, but he that doth not give him due reverence. Therefore it should humble us that we do no more good, that we so much neglect God, that we do no more edify our neighbour, or take care for the saving of our souls. We think omissions no sins, or light sins, but God doth not think so. Surely omissions are sins ; there is in them the nature of the first sin, as considered in Adam or us ; there was an aversion from God, and a conversion to the creature. In us there is carentia originalis jiistitioe, first a want of that grace that should incline us to God, and then followeth all the corruption and pollution of nature ; the daughter is like the mother. In actual sin there is a cessation of acts of love to God, then inordinate acts of self-love : Titus ii. 12,
VeR. 10.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 83
' Teaching ns that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.' Secondly, From the natuie of the law. A sin of omission is contrary to the pre- cept, as well as a sin of commission. To the prohibition : ' Cease to do evil, learn to do well,' Isa. i. 16. There we must use the bridle, here the spur. Thirdly, Our mercies are not only privative, but posi- tive ; deliverance from hell, and eternal life, John iii. 16. God is both a sun and a shield, Ps. Ixxxiv. 11 ; Gen. xv. 1, ' I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.' As our mercies, so our obedience. Sin- ning is a direct way to hell, as doing righteousness is to heaven. Fourthly, Christ came that we might live unto righteousness, as well as die unto sin, 1 Peter ii. 24 ; to promote vivification as well as morti- fication ; that we might know the power of his resurrection as well as be planted into the likeness of his death ; that the good principle might be cherished and induced into act, as well as the bad principle curbed and restrained. Fifthly, Because we cannot else improve our talents, but God's best gifts would lie idle upon our hands if we did not exercise our- selves unto godliness. Every relation puts new duties upon us ; so doth every new gift and talent. To be sure our relation to God calleth for more duty at our hands than we are wont to perform ; and the general wickedness that is charged upon mankind is, that they do not seek after God, Ps. xiv. 2 ; and Ps. x. 3, 4, ' The wicked through the pride of his heart will not seek after God ; God is not in all his thoughts.' But be- sides this, consider our relations to one another, as magistrates, subjects, ministers, christians, parents and children, masters and servants ; con sider this, and you will find that the greatest part of the sins of the world lieth in sins of omission. When we look into our bill, to see what we owe to God, according to the advice of the unjust steward, instead of a hundred, to put down fifty, we leave out all our omissions. We do not worship an idol, but we forget the true God days without number, Jer. ii. 32. We do not take away that which is another's, but do not give our own ; they do not swear, but do they honour and glorify the name of God in their conversations ?