Use 2. Of exhortation.
To exhort you to repent and turn to the Lord. The Lord desireth not the destruction of a sinner. God doth not deny the sentence, or retract the law, only it is not his delight. Some abuse it to hopes of impunity, or at least to delay.
VeR 23.] SERBTONS UPON EZEKIEL XVIH. 23. 475
First, To hopes of impunity. Though God doth not with an ante- cedent will desire the death of a sinner, yet with a consequent will he doth, upon supposition of their sin and obstinate rebellion against him. Will you then grow the bolder in sinning because of God's mercy ? This is to suck poison out of the sweetest flower. ' He will by no means clear the guilty,' Exod. xxxvii. 6 ; ' He will wound the hairy scalp of all such as go on in their trespasses,' Ps. Ixviii. 21. The pit is a-digging ; sentence is given, but not executed, Eccles. viii. 11 ; condemned already, John iii. 18 ; forbearance is not remission : Eom. ix. 22, ' He endureth with much long-suffering, the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.' Here is suffering, long-suffering, and much long-suffering, yet all this while fitted to destruction. God giveth them a long day, but reckoneth with them at last. A man may be reprieved when sentence is gone out against him, and at last executed. We are not sure of a day's respite. The warrant for execution is signed, as well as sentence passed. All is forfeited ; will you not be affected with this woful condition ? What, condemned men, and never moved at it ! there is but a step between you and death. Sentence is passed ; God forbeareth the execution, and will you rest only upon that? it is but / lictm', ohmihito capus. It is but one word from God's mouth, and they will cover thy face as they did Haman's and despatch thee presently. That little space that is given is not given to frolic away in sins and carnal pleasures, but for repentance, and making sure your salvation : Eev. ii. 21, ' I gave her space to repent, and she repented not.' God is bending his bow, and whetting his sword, if they turn not : God is angry with the wicked every day, Ps. vii. 11 ; their pit is a-digging, Ps. xciv. 12. Admire God's patience, and make good use of it. Build not thy hopes of heaven upon it. Sue for his forgiveness. Forbearance may be the portion of his enemies ; forgiveness is the portion of his children. Punishment may be respited for a time, and then execution. Oh, therefore, do not make an ill use of God's unwillingness to strike ; we know not the number of God's calls. See what is the right use we should make of it : Ezek. xviii. 32, ' I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God, wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.' Some abuse it to another purpose. When we tell men how ready the Lord is to receive them, this doth but make men delay their repentance, and grow the bolder in sinning. Oh, therefore, now timi to the Lord. If a malefactor arraigned at the bar should perceive by any speech or gesture, sign or token, any inclination in the judge to show mercy, how would he work upon that advantage ? what suit, what means would he make for his life ? how would he importune all his friends to entreat for him; fall down upon his knees, and beg for his life? God maketh an overture of his mercy ; discovereth a desire to pardon you, yea, he stretclieth out his hands all the day long ; why do we not make means to him ? Time was when the flaming sword was in the way, and the curse of God's law would have kept thee back, if thou hadst been never so willing to turn to God ; all that thou couldst do could never hare procured the pardon of thy sins past, if thou hadst never so much lamented and reformed them ; but tliis impediment is taken out of the way, and ' God is in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not
476 SERMONS UPON EZEKIEL XVIII. 23. [SeR. II.
imputing their trespasses to them. But that this exhortation may not be lost, let us consider what this turning is ; whether we have turned, yea, or no ; whether we do not yet need a further turning.
1. What this turning is. We shall know that by three propositions which contain the whole sum of the christian faith.
[1.] That God is man's chief est good and last end ; and unless he be so to every one of us, we cannot be saved : Ps. iv. 6, 7, 'There be many that say, Who will show us any good ? Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time that their corn and wine increased.'
[2.] That there is no way of coming to Grod, and enjoying him ever- lastingly, but by Christ : John xiv. 6, ' Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.'