But because this is not strict enough, and does not search the core to the bottom, I shall only add two things —
First, That presumptuous sins are double — by way of omission and commission ; when they live in any known sin, or allow themselves in the omission of any necessary duty.
1. For presumptuous sins of commission, there are many texts: 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, * Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived : neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor efieminate, nor abusers of themselves
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with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God;' Eph. v. 5, 'For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God/ They deserve in themselves an exclusion from the favour of God and the kingdom of heaven, and do actually exclude them tliat commit them ; the unregenerate certainly, and the regene- rate from that degree of favour which they enjoyed before ; and if it could be imagined that they could persevere in them, they would eternally exclude them from the kingdom of heaven.
2. For presumptuous sins of omission; when a man omitteth voluntarily, against the light and checks of conscience, any necessary duty : James iv. 17, ' Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' Not only to commit a sin against con- science, but to omit a duty against conscience; for the authority of God is equal, and his threatening and sanction is express, and sins of omission have the nature of sin in them ; so that to live in any of these is to live in a known sin.
Secondly, That sins of infirmity may, by carelessness and neglect, become sins of presumption, and infirmities commence into iniquities. When we are wanting to ourselves, in neglecting the use of the means prescribed to avoid those sins, or for some wilful sin of ours God with- draweth that grace which is necessary for the resisting of these sins, we are partakers of this wilful sin, and are not humbled for them, do not beg pardon, but run easily, frequently, constantly upon every return of the temptation. It might be an infirmity at first, as rash swearing, or taking the name of God in vain ; Christ's words are ])lain : Mat. v. 37, ' But let your communication be. Yea, yea ; Nay, nay ; for whatsoever is more than these cometli of evil;' when a man liath brought a custom upon himself that he cannot speak otherwise. There is no sin but, by a deliberate and licentious multiplication of acts, may become a sin of presumption ; for sins of infirmity are only sins of infirmity to them that watch against them sincerely, repent of them, strive and labour against them. The neglect or contempt of them cannot be without some neglect and contempt of God, and then rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, 1 Sam. xv. 23.
As a small leak neglected may sink the ship as well as the most boisterous and greatest wave. Some sins are of a lighter nature than others, yet may be very presumptuously committed ; as in some colours the dye may be more than the stuff".
Secondly, The heinousness of these sins of presumption.
1. Every sin of presumption is an implicit blasphemy : Num. xv. 30, * But the soul that doth aught presumptuously reproacheth the Lord ; and that soul shall be cut off from among the people ; ' Ezek. xx. 27, ' Thus saith the Lord God, Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.' There is a blasphemy included in it, as if God weie an ignorant God, and did not know his wickedness ; or a careless God, that would not take notice of it ; or an impotent God, that could not punish his rebellion ; or an unjust God, that would not. This drunkenness is blaspheming drunkenness, this whoredom blaspheming whoredom ; for thou makest
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God to be an idol God, that hath no respect to thy actions, or would not judge according as he hath said in his word,
2. There is the highest pride in it that a creature can be capable of. It is that pride whereby you despise God and his authority. When David fell into presumptuous sins, it is said, 2 Sam. xii, 9, 10, ' Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, and done evil in his sight ? Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou hast despised me ; ' Amos ii. 4, ' I will not turn away the punishment thereof, because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandment.' When men walk as they list, they do but make a jest of the word of God. What is he that we should regard him, or his commandment that we should stand upon it? They make a sport of sin, and a mere mock of scripture ; for they knowingly and willingly do the quite contrary to what God would have them.