Of knowing to do Good, and not to do it. (3)

Of knowing to do Good, and not to do it. (3)

3. Do not they sin presumptuously against Conscience, who will sin in spight of Heaven? Though they see the Iudgments of God executed on others, yet will adventure on the same Sins? Exempla efficacius docent quam Praecepta. Dan. 5.22. And thou his Son, O Belshazar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knowest all this. Though thou sawest the Judgments of God upon thy Father, God turn'd him to Grass for his Pride; yet thou goest on in the same Sin. Ier. 3.8. When for all the Causes whereby Israel had committed Adultery, I had put her away, and given her a Bill of Divorce, yet her treacherous Sister Iudah feared not; but went and played the Harlot also. He is a bold Thief indeed, who sees his Fellow-Thief hung up in Chains, yet is not afraid to rob in that place. This is to run upon the thick Bosses of God's Buckler, Job 15.26. To venture in Sin against all the Judgments and Threatnings of God?

4. Do not they sin presumptuously; they know to do Good, yet do it not, who labour to stifle the Convictions of their Conscience, and will not let Conscience speak freely to them? They smother the Light of it; like one that puts his Light in a dark Lanthorn, that it may not be seen. This the Scripture calls, holding the Truth in unrighteousness, Rom. 1.18. They labour to blot out all the common Notions of God engraven in their Minds.

5. Do not they sin presumptuously, who know to do Good, but do it not; who after they have felt the smart of Sin, it hath bred a Worm in their Conscience, a Moth in their Estate; yet after all this, they again embrace their Sins? Though this Viper hath stung them, they will put it again in their Bosom; is not this to sin presumptuously, and to rebel against Light? If there be any such here who are guilty in this high degree, know to do Good, but do is not, let them fear and tremble; their

Case is sad. The Wrath of God hangs over their Heads; and that I may shew you you have cause to scar, and that I may beat you off from presumptuous Sins, let these things be seriously laid to Heart.

1. These presumptuous Sins, knowing to do Good, and yet not to do it; knowing what is evil, yet not forbearing, these Sins do much harden the Heart. These are two of the greatest Blessings, a sound Judgment, and a soft Heart. But sinning presumptuously and knowingly, doth congeal the Heart; it doth both wast the Conscience, and sear it, 1 Tim. 4.2. By sinning knowingly, a Person gets a Custom of Sin; and the Custom of sinning takes away the Sense of sinning. Ephes. 4.19. Being past feeling. Tell the presumptuous Sinner, there are Treasures of Wrath laid up for him; lead him to the Brink of Hell, and bid him hear the Roarings of the damned, and the ratling of their Chains; bid him look upon the infernal Flames, and see the Devils, that must shortly keep him company, he fears not; his Heart is like a piece of Marble or Adamant, that will take no impression. When Men know to do Good, yet do it not, their Hearts harden insensibly, and that is dangerous: Now they cannot repent; that makes the Sin against the Holy Ghost uncapable of Pardon, because he that hath sinn'd it, is uncapable of Repentance.

2. Such as sin presumptuously, they know to do good, yet do it not, are [gap], self-condemned. Tit. 3.11. Being condemned in himself. The Sinner knows in his Conscience he is guilty; he hath sinn'd against Warnings, Education, Conviction, so that his own Heart condemns him. When the Judge saith to the Malefactor, Thou hast committed such things worthy of Death, and the Evidence is clear against thee, What canst thou say for thy self that thou shouldest not die? he is forc'd to cry Guilty. The presumptuous Sinner is self-condemned, and he will clear God when God judgeth him. Psal. 51.4. That thou maist be clear when thou judgest. When God condemns the Prisoner, he will clear his Judge.

3. To know to do good, yet not to do it; such presumptuous Sins make deep Wounds in the Soul. A Prick of a Pin fetcheth Blood; but the Thrust of a Rapier brings Death. The least Sin fetcheth Blood; but presumptuous Sins are like a stab at the Heart. 'Tis a Miracle if ever such recover by Repentance. Every little Hole in the Tiling, lets in Rain; but a Crack in the Foundation, indangers the Fall of the House. Every Sin of Infirmity is hurtful; but presumptuous Sin cracks the Conscience, and threatens the Ruine of that Soul. Presumptuous Sin makes way for Despair; (a deep Wound.) Despair is the Agony of the Soul. Spira, in Despair, was like a living Man in Hell; Despair did suck out his Marrow and Vital Blood; it made him a very Anatomy. Now, to sin against the Light of Conscience, will bring to despair at last. The Sinner goes on stubbornly; yet his foolish Heart tells him, all will be well: But when God begins to set his Sins in order before him, and Conscience, which before was like a Lion asleep, begins to be awakened, and roars upon him, and he sees Death and Hell before him, now his Heart faints, his Presumption is turn'd to Despair, and he cries out as Cain, Gen. 4.13. My punishment is greater than I can bear. Now the Sinner begins to think with himself thus; I would have my Sins, and I had them; and I have the wrath of God with them. Oh, how foolish was I to refuse Instruction! but it is too late now; the Mercy-Seat is quite covered with Clouds; I am shut out from all hope of Mercy; my Wounds are such, that the Balm of Gilead will not heal. The more Presumption in the Time of Life, the more Despair at the hour of Death.

4. To know to do Good, and not to do it, to sin presumptuously, God may in just Judgment leave such an one to himself. It is a terrible thing when God shall say, Thou hast by thy presumptuous Sin affronted me, and provoked me to my Face, therefore I will give thee up to thine own Heart; thou shalt sin still; seeing thou wilt be filthy, thou shalt be filthy still. 'Tis sad for a Man to be left to himself: 'tis like a Ship without a Rudder or Pilot, driven of the Winds, and dashing upon a Rock. Rom. 1.21, 24. Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God; wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness. What is the Condition of a Patient when the Physician gives him over, and leaves him to his own sick Palate? Saith he, Physick will do him no good; he may eat what he pleases; for he will die. So God, after Men have sinn'd wilfully, gives them up to their Lusts; let them do what they will, they are in a dying condition.

5. To know what is good, yet not do to it; to sin presumptuously, is a great degree of the Sin against the Holy Ghost. Such as sin presumptuously, sin wilfully: Put but one Weight more into the Scale, add but Despight and Malice against the Spirit, and it becomes the unpardonable Sin. Though Presumption is not final

Apostacy; yet it comes very near to it, and a little matter more will make thee so guilty, that there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin. To sin presumptuously against Light, may in time bring on Malice and Despight to the Spirit. As it was with Iulian, who threw up his Dagger in the Air, as if he would be revenged on God: When once it is come to this, there's but one step lower a Man can fall, and that is into Hell.

6. A presumptuous person, who knows to do Good, and doth it not, is possessed with the Devil; Satan hath a great power over him: A Man that is resolved in Sin, let God and Conscience say what they will, I may say, as Acts 5.2. Why hath Satan filled thy Heart? The Prince of the Air hath blown on thee, and fill'd thy Sails, that thou movest so swiftly in Sin. In Christ's time, there were many bodily possess'd; but in our time, I fear they have their Souls possess'd with the Devil; she would have her Will licet Corpus & Animam in aeternum damnavit. May it not be said of such a Person, as Mat. 15.22. My Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil?

7. There is little hope for such as know to do Good, yet do it not, know what is evil, but will not forbear. There were Sacrifices for Sins of Ignorance; but no Sacrifices for Sins of Presumption. Numb. 15.30. Indeed presumptuous Sinners hope all will be well. Prov. 14.16. The Fool is confident. Such a Fool is spoken of, Deut. 29.19. When he hears the words of this Curse, he blesseth himself, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk after the imagination of my heart, to add Drunkenness to Thirst; the Lord will not spare him, but the Anger and Iealousie of the Lord shall smoke against that Man. Though the humble, penitent may fly to the Mercy of God, as to an Altar of Refuge; yet God will pluck the presumptuous Sinner from this Altar. Exod. 23.7. I will not justifie the wicked. Should God favour presumptuous Sinners, he should justifie the wicked, seem to like and approve all they have done; but he will not justifie the wicked. So that such who rebel against Light, and sin presumptuously, there is little hope for such. The presumptuous Sinner stops his Ear to the Councels of the Word, vexeth the holy Spirit, tramples on Christ's Blood; he rejects the Remedy, he necessitates himself to Damnation.

8. Such as sin presumptuously, that know to do Good, yet do it not; know what is evil, yet will not forbear it, God refuseth all their Services. They sin against their Conscience, and yet come and worship God. God abhors their Sacrifice. Isa. 1.15. When you make many Prayers I will not hear, your hands are full of Blood. For Men to sin presumptuously, and come and pray, and hear the Word, they do but provoke God the more. And take notice, such as live in Sin against their Conscience, when they pray most, God will punish them most. Hos. 8.13. They sacrifice Flesh for the Sacrifices of mine Offerings; but the Lord accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquities, and visit their Sins. They were highly guilty of Idolatry; they had set up one Idol in Dan, and another in Bethel: Here they sinn'd presumptuously, went against Light, and now they come and offer their Sacrifices to God: Saith God, I will not accept your Offering; now will I remember your Iniquities; and while you are worshipping me, I will punish you. Now will I visit your Sins. Thus you see what cause you have to tremble, who are guilty in this kind; you see your Misery.

Besides all that hath been said, consider these Two Things.

2. You that sin presumptuously, that know to do Good, and do it not; that know what is evil, yet will not forbear, you cannot sin so cheap as others; though Sin will cost every one dear, yet it will cost you dearer. You go directly against Conscience, and if there be either Justice in Heaven, or Fire in Hell, you shall be sure to be punished. Some Places you use to say are dearer to live in than others; it is dearer living in the City than the Countrey: Let me tell you, it is dearer sinning in the City, than in a blind Village, where they have not had the Means of Grace. To lye, cozen, and be drunk after the powerful Preaching of the Word, the Convictions of Conscience, the Enlightnings of the Holy Ghost; this will put a Weight into the Scale; it will make Sin the heavier, and Hell the hotter.

2. You who sin presumptuously, cannot take so much Pleasure in your Sin as another may have. One whose Conscience is less enlightned, though his Sin will be bitter to him afterwards, yet at present he may rowl it as Honey under his Tongue, and find Pleasure in it; but you that sin against your Knowledge, you cannot have so much pleasure in Sin as he; for Conscience will put forth a Sting; and all the Threatnings of the Word will set themselves in Battel array against you; so that you can have no quiet. He that hath the Tooth-Ach, doth not taste so much sweetness in his Meat as another. O presumptuous Sinner, every step thou takest in Sin, thou goest with a Thorn in thy Foot, and that Trouble thou feelest now in thy Conscience, is but the beginning of Sorrow.

Quest. What shall we do that we may not sin presumptuously against Conscience?

Answ. Take heed of little Sins; though, (to speak properly) there are no such things as little Sins, no little Treason; but comparatively, one Sin may be lesser than another. Take heed of little Sins. The frequent committing of lesser Sins, will prepare for greater. A lesser Distemper of Body, if it be let alone, prepares for a greater Distemper. Being unjust in a little, prepares for being unjust in much, Luke 16.10. Such as were at first more modest, yet by accustoming themselves to lesser Sins, by degrees their Sins have boiled up to a greater height. Jayl-Sins have begun at little Sins.

2. If you would not sin presumptuously, viz. knowingly and wilfully, then reverence the Dictates of Conscience; get Conscience well inform'd by the Word, as you set your Watch by the Sun; and then be ruled by it; do nothing against Conscience. If Conscience saith, do such a thing, though never so unpleasing, set upon the Duty. When Conscience saith, Take heed of such a thing; come not nigh the forbidden Fruit. Conscience is God's Deputy or Proxy in the Soul. The Voice of Conscience is the Voice of God. Do not stifle any Checks of Conscience, lest God suffer thee to harden in Sin, and by degrees come to presumptuous Sin.

3. Labour to have your Knowledge sanctified. Men sin against their Knowledge, because their Knowledge is not sanctified. Knowledge is like the Moon, Light in it, but no Heat. Sanctified Knowledge works upon the Soul; it inclines us to Good; it makes us fly from Sin. Sanctified Knowledge is like a Breastplate, which keeps the Arrow of presumptuous Sin from entring.