5. Great opportunities for service neglected and great gifts not improved are oftentimes the occasion of plunging the soul into great depths. Gifts are given to trade withal for God. Opportunities are the market-days for that trade. To napkin up the one and to let slip the other will end in trouble and disconsolation. Disquietments and perplexities of heart are worms that will certainly breed in the rust of unexercised gifts. God loseth a revenue of glory and honour by such slothful souls ; and he will make them sensible of it. I know some at this day whom omissions of opportunities for service are ready to sink into the grave.
6. Sins after especial warnings are usually thus issued. In all that variety of special warnings which God is pleased to use towards sinning saints, I shall single out one only: — When a soid is wrest-
Ver.1,2.] AGGRAVATIONS OF SINS. Si7
ling with some lust or temptation, God by liis providence eauseth some special word, in the preaching of the gospel, or the administra- tion of some ordinance thereof, peculiarly suited to the state and con- dition of the soul, by the ways of rebuke or persuasion, to come nigh and enter the inmost parts of the heart. The soul cannot but take notice that God is nigh to him, that he is dealing with him, and call- ing on him to look to him for assistance. And he seldom gives such warnings to his saints but that he is nioh them in an eminent man- ner to give them relief and help, if, in answer unto his call, they apply themselves unto him; but if his care and kindness herein be neglected, his following reproofs are usually more severe.
7. Sins that bring scandal seldom suffer the soul to escape depths. Even in great sins, God in chastening takes more notice ofttimes of the scandal than the sin; as 2 Sam. xii. 14. Many professors take little notice of their worldliness, their pride, their passion, their lavish tongues; but the world doth, and the gospel is disadvantaged by it: and no wonder if themselves find from the hand of the Lord the bitter fruits of them in the issue.
And many other such aggravations of sins there are, which heighten provocations in their own nature not of so dreadful an aspect as some others, into a guilt plunging a soul into depths. Those which have been named may suffice in the way of instance ; which is all that we have aimed at, and therefore forbear enlargements on the several heads of them.
The consideration of some aggravations of the guilt of these sins, which bring the soul usually into the condition before laid down, shall close this discourse: —
1. The soul is furnished with a principle of grace, which is conti- nually operative and working for its preservation from such sins. The new creature is living and active for its own growth, increase, and security, according to the tenor of the covenant of grace : Gal. v. 17, it " lusteth against the flesh." It is naturally active for its own preservation and increase, as new-born children have a natural incli- nation to the food that will keep them alive and cause them to grow, 1 Pet. ii. 2. The soul, then, cannot fall into these entangling sins, but it must be with a high neglect of that very principle which is bestowed upon it for quite contrary ends and purposes. The labour- ings, Listings, desires, crying of it are neglected. Now, it is firom God, and is the renovation of his image in us, — that which God owneth and careth for. The wounding of its vitals, the stifling its operations, the neglect of its endeavours for the soul's preservation, do always attend sins of the importance spoken unto.
2. Whereas this new creature, this principle of life and obedience, is not able of itself to preserve the soul from such sins as will bx'ing
848 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver. ] , 2.
it into depths, there is fall jyrovision for continual sapplies made for it and all its wants in Jesus Christ. There are treasures of relief in Christ, whereunto the soul may at any time repair and find succour against the incursions of sin. He says to the soul, as David unto Abiathar, when he fled from Doeg, "Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life, seeketh thy life ; but with me thou shalt be in safe-guard ;" — " Sin is my enemy no less than thine ; it seeketh the life of thy soul, and it seeketh my life. ' Abide with me, for with me thou shalt be in safety.'" This the apostle exhorts us unto, Heb. iv. 16, " Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." If ever it be a time of need with a soul, it is so when it is under the assaults of provoking sins. At such a time, there is suitable and seasonable help in Christ for succour and relief The new creature begs, with sighs and groans, that the soul would apj)ly itself unto him. To neglect him with all his provision of grace, whilst he stands calling unto us, " Open unto me, for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night ;" to despise the sighing of the poor prisoner, the new crea- ture, by sin appointed to die, cannot but be a high provocation. May not God complain and say, " See these poor creatures. They were once intrusted with a stock of grace in themselves; this they cast away, and themselves into the utmost misery thereby. That they might not utterly perish a second time, their portion and stock is now laid up in another, — a safe treasurer; in him are their lives and comforts secured, s^u readiness tor tnhed negligence; they venture all rather than theition, takes little notic for succour." And what think we is the hearlmatters, and knows nes his children giving way to conscience-wasting 1 communion offerqjplication unto him which the life and peace of engaged. But wha upon them for? These are not sins of daily infinhe dark, in the not be avoided ; but their guilt is always attended witfae obtain an}^ ree or less of the relief provided in Christ against themi'.'?.9 for service of preservation from them is blessed, ready, nigh at hancp. occasiomcernment of Christ in our pre- servation great, of our souls u?j3'^withai^e. To neglect and despise means, Christ, souls, peace, and life, m<;ipK needs render guilt very guilty. \nso.