This comprises the whole remainder of outward sins against the Lord. I shall not need to speak unto them ; I shall only touch upon the aggravation: —
1. The first aggravation of these sins, that makes them ruinous, is when they rise to such a degree as that they are a " provocation unto the eyes of God's glory."
The "eyes of God's glory" intend two things, — First and princi pally, His holiness : " He is of purer eyes than to behold evil," Hab. i. 13. The eyes of God's glory are the purity of his holiness. Se condly, God's omnisciency and omnipresency. His eyes are not eyes of flesh. He sees and knows all things by the infinite immensity of his own presence. Sins committed in an especial manner against the eyes of God's glorious holiness and his omnisciency will always have special influence into the ruin of Jerusalem and of Judah.
What are the sins that have a special opposition unto the eyes of God's glory as it denotes his holiness? I answer, —
All sorts of uncleanness, — adultery, fornication. Uncleanness is in a peculiar manner opposed unto the holiness of God. We are to inquire whether there have been any overspreading of such abo minations in the nation wherein we live. If there have, there have
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been provocations unto the eyes of God's glory. Every impure lust in the heart is provoking to the eyes of God's glory; every unclean- ness wherewith the land is defiled, upon this account, because of its contradiction unto the pure and holy nature of God, is provoking unto the eyes of God's glory.
2. When men are bold in sin, — which brings along with it con tempt of God's omnisciency and omnipresency, — it is a provocation unto the eyes of God's glory.
There are two ways whereby men do manifest themselves bold in their sins ; and they are both mentioned in the text : — (1 .) By ap pearing under all demonstrations of outward pride, while they are filled with inward filth and laden with guilt ; a thing that God doth greatly abhor. "The show of their countenance doth witness against them/' We live in days wherein the nation is overwhelmed with the guilt of sin, and full of all manner of iniquities and defilements. They do compose all their garbs and ways unto pride. And, (2.) They reject the ways of God. They contemn God and man when they have all that guilt upon them.
3. The last aggravation whereby men provoke the eyes of God's glory is when they "declare their sin as Sodom."
How is it to "declare their sin as Sodom ?" (1.) When men will confer and talk together about the vilest sins and wickednesses. So did they in Sodom ; they got together to act wickedness. Time was when profaneness and atheism were not grown to that boldness as now they are. They covered their sin. But now men and women will consult together, talk and advise together, about their sins, how and what way they shall commit them. (2.) When they will come unto that impudence, not only to confer about their sins, but so as to make them a scoffing and a laughing matter.
Let us consider whether there be not those abominations among us against which the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. These are the aggravations the prophet gives of the sins of Jerusalem and of Judah, upon the account whereof he pronounces the one to be "ruined," and the other to be "fallen "from her strength and beauty. The judgment he passes upon all is, " Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves."
I shall close all with a word or two of use : —
First, If this be the deplorable state and condition of the nation wherein we live, let us endeavour, by all ways and means that lie in us, to retrieve the nation out of this state and condition, every one acting unto the utmost of his power to turn men from their evil ways, that God may repent him of the evil that he hath purposed against this nation.
Secondly, If they will not be healed, let our souls mourn in secret
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for them, and let us do something to help the poor dying nation. There is not one of you but may do much towards the saving of this nation, by mourning in secret because of the abominations that are committed in it, whereby we have provoked the eyes of God's glory.
Thirdly, Take heed that we do not partake in any of their sins, that we make no approach unto them, lest we partake of their plagues. There is no greater duty incumbent at this day on persons that fear God than this one, to be cautious of making approaches towards any persons or people against whom God hath declared that he hath a controversy with them.
Fourthly, Prepare to meet the Lord in the way of his judgments. God is righteous in all his ways, when he shall bring the scourge upon the nation, and it " shall be spoiled as Shalman spoiled Beth- arbel in the day of battle/' Hos. x. 1 4.
Lastly, Give glory unto him for all the appearances of sovereign grace and mercy in preserving this nation from that late horrid design and plot, which might have swallowed us up unless God himself had immediately interposed.