gospel. So: -
product of indwelling sin. Now, it is from here that men have offered that unspeakable violence to the law of nature. So the psalmist tells us, Psalm 106:37, 38. The same is again mentioned, Ezekiel 16:20, 21, and in sundry other places. For the present it may suffice to intimate that they took their children and burnt them to ashes in a soft fire; the wicked priests who assisted in the sacrifice giving them this relief, that they made a clamour so that the wretches might not hear the cries of the poor, dying, tormented infants. Naturalists can give no rational account, they can only admire the secret force of that little fish which, they say, will stop a ship in full sail in the midst of the sea; and we must acknowledge that it is beyond our power to give an account of that secret force and unsearchable deceit that is in that inbred traitor, sin, that can not only stop the course of nature, when all the sails of it, that carry it forward, are so filled as they are in that of affections to children, but also drive it backward with such a violence and force as to cause men so to deal with their own children as a good man could not be persuaded to deal with his dog. And it may be to the advantage of the best to consider that they carry in them what in others has produced these effects.
(2.) The like may be spoken of all other sins against the prime dictates of the law of nature, that mankind has been stained and defamed with, - murder of parents and children, of wives and husbands, sodomy, incest, and similar enormities; in all which sin prevails in men against the whole law of their being and dependence on God.
Should I reckon up the murders of Cain and Abel, the treason of Judas, with their aggravations; or recall the villainy of Nero, in whom sin seemed to give an example of what it could debase the nature of man to? In a word, all the premeditated perjuries; all the bloody revenges; all the filth and uncleanness; all the enmity to God and his ways that is in the world, - is fruit growing from this root.
2. It shows its power in preventing men from believing under the gospel. So: -
(1.) Under the gospel, only few believe. So the preachers complain, Isaiah 53:1, "Who has believed our report?" which the apostle interprets of the paucity of believers, John 12:38. Our Saviour, Christ himself, tells us that "many are called," - the word is preached to many, - "but few are chosen." And so the church complains of its number, Micah 7:1. Few enter the narrow gate; daily experience confirms this woeful observation. How many villages, parishes, towns, may we go to where the gospel, has been preached many years, and perhaps scarce meet a true believer in them, who shows forth the death of Christ in his lifestyle! In the best places, and most eminent for profession, are not such persons like the berries after the shaking of an olive-tree, - two or three in the top of the topmost boughs, and four or five in the highest branches?
(2.) There is presented to men in the preaching of the gospel, as motives to believing, everything that prevails with men to do what they do in their lives. Whatever anyone does deliberately, he does it either because it is reasonable for him so to do, or advantageous, or pleasant, or necessary for the avoidance of evil. And, God knows, often men are prevailed on by very poor things. How often will men, for a very little pleasure, a very little profit, be induced to do what will embitter their lives and damn their souls; and what industry will they use to avoid what they consider grievous to them! Any one of these is enough to oil the wheels of men's labours, and set men working.
But all these things centre in the proposal of the gospel and the command of believing; and every one of them such that the whole world can present nothing like it: -
[1.] It is the most reasonable thing that can be presented to a man, that he who, through his own fault, has lost the way of bringing glory to God and saving his own soul, should embrace that blessed way to attain what God, in infinite grace, love, mercy, wisdom, and righteousness, has shown to him. And, -
[2.] It is the most profitable thing that a man can possibly be invited
to; the forgiveness of sins, the love and favour of God, a blessed immortality, eternal glory. And, -
[3.] It is most pleasant. Surely it is pleasant to be brought from darkness into light, from a dungeon to a throne, - from captivity to Satan and lusts, to the glorious liberty of the children of God, with a thousand heavenly sweetnesses. And, -
[4.] It is surely necessary, not only from the command of God, who has the supreme authority over us, but also for the avoidance of eternal ruin of body and soul, Mark 16:16. It is constantly expressed thus: "Believe, or you perish under the weight of the wrath of the great God, for evermore."
But now, although all these considerations are preached to men, and pressed on them in the name of the great God from day to day and from year to year, very few set their hearts to embrace what they lead to. Tell men ten thousand times that this is wisdom, riches - that all their profit lies in it - that they will assuredly and eternally perish, within a few hours, if they receive not the gospel; assure them that it is their only concern; let them know that God himself speaks all this to them; - yet all is one, they will not heed it, but say, "We will have nothing to do with these things." They will rather perish in their lusts than accept mercy.
(3.) It is indwelling sin alone that disables and hinders men from believing. Blindness of mind, stubbornness of the will, sensuality of the affections, all concur to keep poor perishing souls at a distance from Christ. Men are made blind by sin, and cannot see his excellencies; obstinate, and will not lay hold of his righteousness; senseless, and take no notice of their own eternal concerns.
So what can prevail with men, wise and prudent in other things, to neglect the love of God, the blood of Christ, the eternal welfare of their own souls, on worthless pretences, must have an astonishing power.