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870 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON X.
Qiiest. But how may we know, discern, and try this true hatred of sin ?
Ans. First, true hatred is universal. He who hates ill truly, hates in universally in the whole kind. As we see in wicked men and devils, who hate God and all goodness. So on the contrary, those that are good hate all ill whatsoever, whether it pleasure or displeasure them ; they stand not upon it, they hate the very nature of all ill. Those whose obedience and affections are partial, they hate some evils, but not others, which is not true hatred wrought by the Spirit of God, for that is universal to the whole kind.
2. Then also, wheresoever true hatred is, it is implacable and unappeasable. There's no true end of sound hatred, but by the abolishing altogether of that thing it hates ; as we see the hatred of Satan to the church and people of God is unappeasable and unquenchable. Nothing in the world ean stay Satan's hatred, nor the hatred of his instruments, who hate the remembrance of God's people. Therefore the very name of Calvin and Luther must be put out of their books, to satisfy their hatred, not only when they are dead, bum their bones, but abolish their memory, if they can, (ni). So there is the like disposition in God's people to that which is ill. A godly disposi- tion, it hateth sin even to the death, and is not quiet until all sin be abo- lished. AVhereupon it is never quiet in this life, but desires heaven, not enduring patiently the least relics and rags of sin ; deshing that that which it so hateth, might have no being at all. Those who mince and cull things, who are so gentle and tender towards their sins and corraptions, in them- selves and others ; is this that hatred which is unappeasable, and never rests, till it see either a thorough reformation, or abolishing of what it so hateth ? Wherein it is a more rooted affection than anger. For hatred is a rooted offensive displeasure, against persons and things ; and so rooted, as that nothing in the world can root it out. Anger may be appeased. It is appeased in God, and it may and must be in men. But hatred is im- placable, aiming at the annihilation of the thing so hated.
3. Again, where true hatred and indignation is, there the nearer the ill is to us, the more ive hate it, dc. As we hate it in itself, so we hate it the more, the nearer it is to us. As a toad or any venomous thing, the nearer it is to us, we loathe and abhor it the more, so certainly, whosoever hates and abhorreth sin as sin (as it is a hateful thing to a renewed soul), so he hateth sin more in himself than in others, because it is nearest in his own bosom. Every man hates a snake more in his bosom than afar off, because it is more likely to do him harm there. Therefore those that flatter their own corruptions, and are violent against others, as Judah against Tamar, ' She shall be burned, bring her forth and burn her,' when himself had gotten her with child, Gen. xxxviii. 24. So many are severe in punishing of others, as if they were wondrous zealous ; but what are they in their own breast ? Do they reform sin in their own hearts and lives ? He that truly hates sin, he hateth his own sin more than others, because it is near him.
4. And so, in proportion, he that hates sin truly tcill hate it in his own family, children and servants, more than in others abroad. It was a great fault in David, that he cockered* up Adonijah, and others in his own house, whilst he was more strict abroad. Can men think to redress and hate sin in the commonwealth, and yet suffer it in their families ? Tnie hatred is most conversant in its strength near hand. Those who suffer deboistnessf and profaneness in their families, and never check it in their children and servants, they hate not sin. "Whatsoever countenance they may take upon
* That is, ' indulged.'— G. t That is, ' debauchery.' — G.
HOSEA XIY. 8. J THE KETUENING BACKSLIDES. 87-1
them, of reformation abroad, it cometh out of by-respects, and not out of true hatred.
5. Again, be that hateth sin truly as sin, ?<(7^ hate the greatest sin in tJie preatest measure, because he hates it as it is hateful. Now in the nature of things, the greatest sin deserveth the greatest abomination, and aversation* from it. Therefore he who truly hateth sin, he hates the greatest sin most of all. Those therefore that are very nice in less matters, and loose in greater things, it is but hj^ocrisy. For he who truly hates sin as sin, where the greatest sin is, thither he directs the edge of his hatred, which is the strongliest cai'ried against the strongest ill. And such a one will not re- spect persons in evil, but wheresoever he findeth it, if he have a calling, there will be an answerable hatred of it. Therefore if one be a minister of the word of God, he will do as good Micaiah did, and will not balkf Ahab for his greatness, 1 Kings xxii. 9, seq. ; and Hke good John Baptist, he will tell Herod of his faults. Because he hates sin as sin, therefore, where he hath a calHng to it, he will hate it proportionably in the greatest measure. Good Eli in this case was too indulgent over his sons, 1 Sam. ii. 27, seq. ; but we must love no man so nearly, as to love the ill in them.