Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

parents, unthankful, unholy, &c. The world lying in wickednefs lays fnares for them, that by drawing them into their courfes, they may make them like themselves. And at all times they are in hazard by them, either by omiffion of neceffary duty, or commiflion of fin.

4. It is a world wherein wickedness thrives apace as in its native foil, but any good has much ado to get up its head, Jer. iv. 22. "For my people is foolish, they have not known me, they are fottish children, and they have none understanding; they are wife to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." The ground being curfed, thiftles and thorns grow up their own accord; but after much labour for the feedcorn, the husbandman has but a forry increase. So the work of wickedness goes on with speed; but O how hard is it to make a good work take! The most prudent management can hardly carry a good work, but one finner deftroyeth much good, Eccl. ix. ult.

Sixthly, This accounts for the frightful end this vifible world will make, by the general conflagration, 2 Pet. iii. 10. There is a curfe on it, for the wickednefs in it, that once deluded it, it will in the end burn it up. It has been a ftage of wickednefs, and will be pulled down; a fink of abominations, and will be overthrown. The creatures groan in it, under the abuse of them to the ferving of the lufts of men; they must be delivered.

Laftly, This fhews the dangerous ftate of the unregenerate world; they lie in wickednefs. Therefore,

1. They now lie under wrath, hanging in the threatening and curfe, which is over their heads, Eph. ii. 3. Being the region of wickednefs, it is the region of wrath, John iii. ult. They are in a state of wrath, it is on them and theirs.

2. They will perish under that wrath, whoever continue and come not out from among them. For the world now lying in wickedness, will fink down

into the pit, and lie eternally under their guilt and filth, Matth. xxv. ult. Rev. xx. 14, 15.

USE II. Of exhortation.

1. To all I would say, Search and try what fociety ye belong to, whether ye are still of, or separated from, the world lying in wickedness. It is certain, we are all naturally of the world; there is no coming out of it, but by regenerating grace; and being come, ye will have taken another route. What has been already faid, particularly on the first clause of the verse, touching the marks and characters of those that are of God, and so separated from the world, may ferve to discover your state in this point.

2. To faints separated from the world, I would say, (1.) Do not much wonder at the harsh entertainment ye meet with in it. Value not the frowns of the world lying in wickedness; and think not strange of frowns of providence on you while ye are in it. For it will never be quite well with the family of God, while they are here in the fame place with the world.

(2.) Watch against it while ye are in it, as being in hazard of fins and fnares in a world lying in wickedness. Be not fecure; knowing that your adver fary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about feeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. v. 8.

(3.) Look homeward, and long to be with Christ, where you fhall be for ever out of the reach of all evil, and enjoy fuch peace and freedom as your enemies can disturb no more.

3. Laftly, To finners of the world lying in wickednefs, I would fay, Come out from among them, and be separated, as ye would not be ruined with them, and perish eternally in their deftruction. But of this in the next discourse.

THE

AMONG THE WORLD LYING IN WICKEDNESS, EXPLAINED AND URGED.

Several Sermons preached at Etterick, in 1729.

I JOHN V. 19.—The whole world lieth in wickedness. 2 Cor. vi. 17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye feparate, faith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

YE

E have had a frightful defcription of the world lying in wickedness. We come now to prefs the exhortation to come out of it, in the words of this compared text. In which we have,

1. The gofpel call to finners, Come out from among them. For whereas the words are taken out of Ifa. lii. 11. it is plain the prophet there speaks of the days and preaching of the gospel, tho' with an eye to the deliverance from Babylon, ver. 7,-10. In it we have,

(1.) The fubftance of the duty that finners are called to, Come out from among them, viz. the world lying in wickedness, whereof Babylon was an emblem, as the Jews were of the elect. Babylon was the mother of abominations, and devoted to deftruction; fo the world lying in wickedness is. To come out from among them, is to come out of your natural state, unto Christ by faith; that is the only way to come out from among them. And that the text aims at no lefs, is evident,—that adoption into God's family is thereupon promised.

(2.) The touchftone of fincerity in it. Be ye fepa rate. Right coming out from among the world ly*ing in wickednefs, is a coming out from among them freely and for altogether. A withdrawing for a time,

the

the relation standing will not do; nor a halting between two; there must be a total feparation, by going quite to the other fide, and fetting up against them. Thus the apostle explains the double call to depart, Ifa. liii. 11. Depart ye, depart ye, going ftill farther and farther from them, till the great gulf be fixed betwixt you and them.

(3.) A neceffary direction for the right managing of your coming away, Touch not the unclean thing. They are an unclean fociety, like a leprous person : confult not with them, but be refolute without tampering with them. Every thing among them is unclean; take up none of it to carry with you, as Rachel did her father's images. Be afraid of every perfon and thing in the world lying in wickedness, as of fire.

2. The gospel offer and promife, to be accomplished on complying with the call, I will receive you. I the Lord Chrift will take you in. Be not afraid that ye fhall be at any lofs in the cafe; fuch refugees fhall have the borders of the Lord's land, the gates of his houfe opened to them.

Now the doctrine of thefe texts thus compared, is,

DOCT. There is a call from the Lord to finners, to come out from among the world lying in wickedness, and leave them.

IN handling this point, I fhall,

I. Shew fome things implied in it.

II. Shew what is the finner's coming out from a mong the world lying in wickednefs.

III. Confider the call from the Lord to come out from among them.

IV. Lastly, Apply the whole.

I. I fhall fhew fome things implied in the doctrine. It implies,

1. The world lying in wickedness is a society hateful to the Lord, elfe he would not call to come out from among them. They may please themselves, as

if they only were the people. The region of a natural ftate has the cloud of wrath abiding on it, John iii. ult. They are a fociety, whom God abhors as unclean: a people of God's indignation, as being his enemies; and against whom he will have war for ever that shall end in their deftruction, or rather never end. 2. Sinners, ye are all by nature in among them, and of them; elfe, why is the call, Come out from among them? Whoever has not heard this call, and come out from among them, in converfion, is among them yet, John viii. 44. I told you there are in the world lying in wickedness, the lower and the upper world; but both these make but one world, the devil is the head of both; and if a few years were gone, they will be both turned into one, and all the inhabitants houfed under one roof, Matth. xxv. 41. Therefore unconverted finners are as fure among them, as the damned Sinners, ye are children of hell, a prifon-house, a dark house, a miserable house, Matth. xxiii. 15. As long as ye are among them, ye are like the house, and like the father of it: he is a fallen creature, lying in wickednefs, his nature is enmity against God; fo art thou and thine: and though thou put a fair face on it, by a form of godlinefs: no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light, 2 Cor. xi. 14.

3. Great is the danger of abiding among them, Ifa. lii. 11. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing, go ye out of the midst of her. There are three fpecial emblems of the wretched world lying in wickedness, and the danger of abiding among them, to which this call may have reference. One is Babylon doomed to deftruction, Pfal. cxxxvii. 8. See the call to leave her, Jer li. 6. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his foul; be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Rev. xviii, 4. Come out

of

« AnteriorContinuar »