Quest. But some will ask, Is it not possible to be the son of God, and 3'et ignorant thereof?
Ans. I answer, Yes. For the child at the first knows not his father ; but by little and little he comes to know him as he grows in years. So is it with the child of God. At the first he only cries and bewails his miserable estate ; but as they grow up, out of the word they learn to see their estates that is laid up for them, and to know their Father that hath been so good to them, and to call upon him as their Father for anything that they want. They know that the Scripture gives it as a note of one that is born of God, that ' he sins not ' ; that is, that not with delight and continuance in sin, but that his new nature stirs him up to repent, and to beg pardon and to strive against it, so as at length he comes to grow so perfect as no temptation shall overthrow him, though it may foil* him. But he always considers his estate when any temptation comes : Shall I, that am a prince, a son and heir to God, do thus, and offend against him ?
' Without rebuke.'
This is comprehended in the former words, and therefore I speak the less thereof. The words are not to be taken in a strict legal sense, but in an evangelical sense, implying that we should walk so as we may be free from rebuke of the best, from gross sins, from common infirmities and personal corruptions. Whether it be rashness, anger, worldliness, intract- ableness, the child of God must labour to free himself of them. He ought to endeavour to attain to perfection, though we cannot attain to it in this world ; and we ought to pray as the apostle, Eph. iii. 18, ' to know the length, breadth, depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, that passeth knowledge ;' and thus doing we shall dignify this estate of ours.
' In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.'
The word 'crooked,' or .' perverse,' is a borrowed word from timber, f whose excellency is to be right and straight ; and if it be not, must be squared by the rule. Here it is applied to the disposition and nature of men, who naturally are of a crooked condition, especially those that are in the bosom of the church. They are so crooked as they cannot be squared aright by means ; and so it is with those that are right, they are very right.
I)oct. The doctrine then is, that ivicked men are all perverse and crooked, Deut. xxxii. 5.
Reason. The reason hereof is, since the fall of Adam we are under sin and Satan. Sin is nothing but crookedness. We lying in sin are there- fore crooked inwardly and outwardly, in will and in judgment. Even in the church, men 23crversehj judge of a Christian's life, and of preaching. So
* That is, sometimes get the better of him. — G.
t That is, GKoXog, on which of. Bishop Ellicott in he, with his references. — G.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 27
that till WG be converted, our wisdom is enmity to God. But ihe will espe- cial! ij is ])erverse. Men they ivill die. ' Why will ye die, O house of Israel?' Jer. xxvii. 13. 'How often would I have gathered you,' saith Christ, ' and you would not ! ' Mat. xxiii. 37. Endeavour to bring men to rules : they will not ; they will perish. Bring them to make conscience of private prayer, good company : away with it, they will not yield. Our affections are also perverse. Do not most men love their bane ? Ill com- pany, bad courses, swearing and blaspheming. Men will die rather than they will leave their courses. Men are also naturalhj perverse in opposition to means. God commands, promises, sends mercies and judgments, but who regards ? They will go on in their ways ; nay, as in Deut, xxix. 19, ' they will bless themselves in them,' This is the nature of most men in the visible church, more perverse than the Jews, ' Signs hereof.'
1. The first sign of this perverse estate is, hriuff thyself to the rules of God's truth ; if thou do it univiUinghj, and art brought to it by violence, if you shun the uvrd and the means of salvation, if you shun good coinpany, it is a sign you are crooked ; nay, so crooked, as you desire to be crooked still.
2. But be it so that thou canst be content to apply thyself to the rule, then whether do you tremble to apply the rules to your lusts a)id corruptions ? You have many are so set on their sins as they will justify sin by the word, and wrest the meaning thereof to their own lusts. This is a sure infallible sign of a perverse estate.
Cure hereof.
1. Bring thyself to God's ordinance, where thou shalt know thine own crookedness and the danger of it.
2. But especially do this wJien thou, art young ; for those that are settled in their dregs are not to be dealt withal. It is good therefore to do as nurses do, strengthen ourselves when we are 3'oung and pliable.