of that evil fpirit, do by their peftilent examples make you as wicked as themselves, and fit only for the fociety of devils when you die. And lastly, that your own corrupt hearts do not betray you into an indifference for your fouls, and for the things that concern your eternal welfare. And may the bleffed Jefus Chrift, who came into the world to fave finners, may he enable all of us fo to live, that when we come to die we may be numbered with his faints in glory everlasting. Amen. 3 SERMON SERMON XIX. ALL PLEAS AND EXCUSES FOR LIVING IN IGNORANCE AND SIN MADE VOID BY GOD, IN MAKING HIS WILL AND PURPOSES KNOWN IN THE GOSPEL. JOHN XV. 22. BUT NOW THEY HAVE NO CLOAK [NO EXCUSE] for is most natural for people, when they have done amifs, to lay the blame any where but on themselves; and it is as natural, when they would follow their inclinations against their confcience, to hope, that God will accept of what excufe they can make. Our first parents did fo. The man blamed the woman;- the woman blamed the ferpent; when the fault was plainly in themfelves: and accordingly they were both punished, notwithstanding their apology. It was just so with the people of the Jews. They had impatiently expected the Meffiah, whom God had promifed by his prophets from the beginning of the world. When the Meffiah came, they utterly rejected him," though he had most undeniable proofs of his being fent from God; particularly his doctrine, which was most worthy of God, and his miracles, which were fuch as none other ever had done. To thefe Jefus Chrift appeals, and declares, that after this they had no cloak for their fin. That fuch as fhould reject him, and the gracious meffage he brought them from God, whatever they had to fay for themselves, they would be punished as most wicked oppofers of God's good-will towards them. Now; as inexcufable as these people were in denying their Lord and Saviour, notwithstanding the abundant proofs of his authority, it will appear, that this is the very cafe of all fuch Chriftians as profefs to know God, but in works deny him;-that men are as apt now as ever they were, and with as little reafon, to offer excuses for those fins which they commit against the light of Nature and the laws of God:-But that this fentence of Jefus Chrift, they have now no cloak for their fin, is as righteous and true against us, if we obey not the gofpel, as ever it was against the Jews, who crucified the Son of God; and we shall as certainly be punished (whatever we can fay for ourselves) as ever they were. Now; that this may appear with all the plainnefs that a matter of this importance Thould do, and may more fenfibly affect all our hearts, I fhall first lay before fuch you excufes as men are apt to offer for their living in ignorance and fin: and then I fhall endea vour to fatisfy you, that God has most effectually made void all pretences and pleas whatever, by making his will and purposes known to us, after fo gracious and convincing a manner. And then it will appear, whether we can have any cloak for fin,-any that can hide us from the wrath of God revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteoufness of men. And first, I fhall lay before you fuch pleas and excufes as men ufually offer for their living in ignorance and fin. It is certain, no man chooses to live in fin on purpose to displease God. It is as fure, that few people think they shall die in their fins unrepented of, and that they shall have eternal torments for their portion. But here is the cafe:-We are but too apt, through the corruption of nature, to be very fond of many things, which God (knowing they would hurt us) has forbidden us upon pain of his everlasting difpleasure. His everlasting displeasure we cannot think of without horror: neither can we, without fome trouble and pains, deny ourselves, or do what God has commanded us. We have therefore found out fome excuses, which for the present serve to make our minds eafy, though we live in a careless neglect of God's commands, and confequently of our own falvation. For example: ift. There are people who think, that if they have not faith, it is for want of fufficient evidence; |