Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

SERMON V.

JUDE, ver. 14, 15.

And Enoch alfo, the feventh from Adam, prophefied of thefe, faying; "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his faints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard Speeches which ungodly finners have spoken against bim."

[ocr errors]

E have seen our first parents, after their fall, admitted into a new covenant; established on a special promise, and confirmed by fignificant rites. These rites, performed at stated times in the place appropriated to the purpose,; that is, on every

H4

fabbath

1

[ocr errors]

fabbath before the shechinahi; were excellently adapted to preferve in their minds a due fenfe of the mercies of that covenant; and to render them attentive to the terms and conditions, on which they were to enjoy the benefits of it. Nor is there any room to doubt, but that our first parents were careful to comply with these terms; and to testify their gratitude for what God had done, by their steady performance of what he required.

[ocr errors]

It was not long, however, before they obferved the 'pernicious effects of their great offence, in the contrary behaviour of fome of their children. "Sin now began to reign in their mortal bodies; and they obeyed it in the lufts thereof." For Cain and his defcendants, following the propenfities of their corrupt inclinations, fell away, regardlefs of their duty, into all the abominations of vice and immorality: "every generation,

i WINDER'S H. of Knowledge, vol. I. ch. ii. § 1. TAYLOR'S Sch. of Scr. Div. ch. xiv, &c.

Vide R. ELIEZER Pirke, C. XX,

Rom. vi. 12.

ane

[ocr errors]

one after another, not only imitating, but even furpaffing, the wickedness of the former m."

In process of time, the pofterity of Seth, making alliances with the defcendants of Cain, became infected with the fame contagion; and at length degenerated fo far, that all fenfe of the true religion was entirely lost and extinguished among them.

Thus both the branches of Adam's family, the whole antediluvian race (a few only excepted) fell away from their allegiance to God; from the worship and fervice they were bound to pay him; and funk, as will hereafter appear, into grofs idolatry, fuperftition, and magic; and into a general licentioufnefs, and depravation of manners.. For at this period, we are told, that "the wickednefs of man was great in the earth; and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually "."

m

p. 25.

n

JOSEPH. Antiq. Jud. lib. I. c. ii. § 2. EUTYCH. Annal.

n Gen. vi. 25,

Having

[ocr errors]

Having taken this general view of the ftrange corruption of the antediluvian race; let us now look back, furvey in a more particular manner the foul fource from whence it fprung, and then trace it through the feveral gradations by which it rose and increased in the world. For, these things being known, we fhall be better able to dif cover the propriety, reasonableness, and expediency of those extraordinary methods, which Providence made ufe of, time after time, to check its growth and retard its progrefs.

It is abundantly evident from the Scriptureaccount, that Cain was early infected with "an evil heart of unbelief" and therefore it is no

wonder, that he should foon “ depart from the living God." The first act of worship he performed, was performed in hypocrify; which must render it of course deteftable to him, "who pondereth the heart, and requireth truth in the inward parts P." And accordingly we read, that the Lord had

• Heb. iii. 12.

PL. xli. 6.

7

refpe&

refpect unto Abel, and to his offering;" because it was brought in faith and fincerity: "but unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not refpect.

[ocr errors]

This preference, which fhould have taught him the indifpenfable neceffity of inward holinefs; and fhould have put him upon correcting and reforming his heart: this preference, I fay, instead of producing these falutary effects, incited in his breaft ftill viler paffions, which urged him on to the blackest deed. He was thereupon, fays the text, very wroth; and his countenance fell" that is, he was strongly agitated with grief and anger; vehemently tranfported with indignation and revenge.

In this state of mind God kindly accofts him; exhorts him to calm and moderate his refentment, and to refrain from the indulgence of fuch criminal paffions. Why is thy countenance fallen ? And why art thou fo wroth" with thy brother, when the fault

9 Gen. iv. 4, 5: • Ibid. ver. 5: Ibid, ver. 6.

is

« AnteriorContinuar »