The nature, guilt and danger of presumptuous sins : set forth in a sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford at St. Mary's, Septemb. 14th 1707

speciM

COLLeCUONS

tDOUQLAS

LifeKAR^

queeN's uNiveRsiT?

AT KINGSTON

klNQSTON ONTARiO CANAt)A

Mr. Sacheverell's

SERMON,

Preach 'd Before the

Univerfity of OXFORD,

Septemb. 14-th, 1707.

■'•' ■■-

& THE

Nature, Guilt, and Danger

O F

PRESUMPTUOUS SINS

Set Forth, In a

SERMON

Preach'd Before the

Univerfity of 0 X F 0 R D ,

At St. Mar/s, Septemb. 14A 1707.

B Y
HENRT SACHEVERELL, M. A.

Fellow of dMagdalen-College, Oxon.

.OXFORD:

Printed by Leon. Lichfield , for John Stephens, Bookfeller :
And are to be Sold by Jams l\j7.ipton at ihe Cronne in
St. ParSs Church-yard^L O SD O .\T. 1708.

13 Jk\*»ib. I7Q7-

[I]

S E R M O N, &c.

Numbers XV. 30, 31.

But the Soul that doth ought, Prefumptuouf ly, (whe-
ther he be born in the Land, or a Stranger?) the fame
Reproacheth the Lord; and that Soul Jball be cut off
from among his Teople :

Becaufe, He hath Defpis'd the Word of the Lord,
and hath broken his Commandment, that Soul Jhall
utterly be cut off, his Iniquity JJoall be upon him.

THERE cannot be an higher Dernonftration, as well of the
Impartial Juftice of God, in His Government of the World,
as of the Excellency of thofe Laws, whereby it is Admi-
niftred, and Supported, than the ExacT: Diftribution of Re-
wards, and Punifbments, in both ; proceeding always, according to the
Different Proportions of Vice, and Vertue ; Still Guarding Duty with an
adequate Sanction, and as 'twere Adjusting the feveral Degrees or
Quilt, in the Weight, and Number of its Penalties. Upon which ac-
count, We find in this part of the Mofa'ick lnflitution, a Series or Cata-
logue of Sins, dijlinguifjfd from each other, by their Rife, and Grada-
tion, their Complexion, and Magnitude, the many Aggravating Circum-
Jlanccs , wherewith they are lnhanc'd, and the Peculiar Attonements
aihgn'd for them; to Convince Us, of the Real Malignity and In-
trinfick Turpitude of Sin ; that the Pollution of fome Human A&ions
dos not proceed from the meer Arbitrary Impofuion of God , or that
the Funijhments, He has annexed to them, are the Harjh Dettrminations
of a Tyrannical and Uniuft Severity ; but that they are the molt Fit

A and.

The Nature, Guilty and Danger,

and Proper Motives, to work upon ouvl{eafon, and Paffions,th?Lt we may
fubmit our felves to the Divine Will, and Law : whereby, our Sins are
fo nicely Weighed in the Balance of the Sanctuary, and fo Equitably efti-
mated according to the Meafures of Abatement, or Degrees of Provo-
cation, that the Size, and Quality of the Tranfgreflion, is always
vilible in the Penalty attending it. As for thofe Sins of a Lower Clafs,
committed through that Ignorance, or Infirmity, to which Human
pf. 10). ^ature is often unavoidably Obnoxious, He, who knoweth whereof we are
14 made, and remembers, that we are but Dujl, did out of his Great Mercy con-
defcend to Accept of an Expiation by Sacrifice, under the Jewijb Law ;
and do's now, for much more Heinous Sins, (provided we repent)
accept of the Ineftimable Blood of the bleffed Sacrifice of the Lamb
of God, as a fufficient Oblation, and Satisfaction for their Guilt.
Neverthelefs, what Punijbment can be too Great, what Menaces of
Divine Vengeance too Rigid, to Deter Mankind from fo Flagrant
and Dreadful a Degree of Vice, as that of an Open, Wilful, Contu-
macious, and Obftinate Violation of God's Law ; fuch an Exorbitant
Pitch of Iniquity, as without the moft fevere Repentance, cancels and
fuperfedes all Propitiation, Evacuates the Attonement of the Son of
God, and Configns over the Impudent Offender to an Irremillible
State, and utter Incapacity of Pardon ? But the Soul that doth ought
Prefumptuoufly, &c.

Now this Law, being Built upon the Eternal Foundations of Natural
Rtafon, and Juftice, is not confin'd to the Jewijb Nation only, nor
barely to be extended to Strangers, or Profelytes of the Gate, but In-
cludes Gentiles, as well as Jews, and is equally Applicable to all
Chriflians ; and is not (as fome Learned Writers Critically remark)
fo much to be underftood of any One, Specif ck, Diftinct, Kind of Sin in
it felf, as of a certain Manner, or (as the Schools fpeak) of a common
Accidental Difference, or Circumftance of Aggravation, in the Formal
way of Sinning, belonging to all Tranfgrellions \n general, whereby
they are render'd more Heinous, and Provoking, and are therefore
calPd Sins of Prefumption, from the fad Affinity and Analogy they bear
to that Material Great Sin of Prefumption, eminently fo Itil'd ; where-
by, we boldly and arrogantly, prefume on God's Power, Mercy, Juftice,

d Goodmfs, his AJJiJtame without Promife, or Revelation, or his
Pardon, and Pirmiflton, contrary to Either.

And, fince We are fo Prone in the Grand Concerns of our Salvation,
and the Conduct of our Lives, to Flatter our felves with this Dclufive

and

of Prefumptuous Sins.

and Fatal Confidence, that mod of thofe Errors We commit, may be
Covered with the Extenuating Plea of Ignorance , or Infirmity, and
confequently to be Expiated with a General or Superfiu.il PKemorfe ;
which has fo fecurely betray 'd Millions, into everlaiting Perdition;
it is certainly a matter of the HigheO: Importance, and of the molt
Abfolute Necefjity, for the fettling the Peace of our Confciences, upon
a firm and unfhaken Bottom, to Examine, what the Diflinguijbing
Marks of thofe Malicious, and Daring Sins are, what their Sorts and
Degrees, what their Extent and Danger ; that We may be able to
make the Auflerity of ourRepentance, Lommenfurate to the vail Load of
their Guilt. For tho* God's Mercy is in it (elf, as Infinite as his Nature,
(of which it feems to be his moil Delightful Attribute) yet fince He-
has been pleas'd to Circumfcribe it, within Evangelical Bounds, beyond
which, We cannot, (without the utmoll Prefumption,) Claim, or Hope
for it ; it is certainly, no Infolence. want of Charity, or Derogation from
the All-fufficient Merits ofChrifi, to AfTert, that We may by fome
the moll Flagitious, and Confummate Acls, and Habits of Vnrepented
Impiety, Forfeit the Merciful Terms of the G of pel-Coven ant, and
Tranfgrefs beyond the Reach of Grace, or Conditions of Remiffion;
and fo draw down on Our felves the Di/mal Curfe mention'd in the
Texr, not only in a Temporal, but Spiritual Senfe. To Prevent which,
I fhall Endeavour,

I. Firfi, To Enquire into the Nature, and feveral KJnds of Pre-

fumptuous Sins. And

II. Secondly, To fhew their Prodigious Guilt, and Dreadful Danger.

Now to make this Matter Clearer, before Us, it may not be Im-
proper, to Premife this Maxim, That the Guilt of All Sins, is to be mea-
fufd, by the feveral Degrees of Confent, whereby they are Approved of in
the Will, which renders them more, or lefs Immoral; for tho' every
Wicked Acl is either lefferid, or increased in its Obliquity, with regard
to the Difference of the Law, of which, 'tis a Violation, and the various
C ire am fiances of Time, Place, and Perfons, which Aftecl: it, the Mat-
ter, whereof it confifh, the Means, whereby it was accomphjl/d, and the
End, for which it was Produced, together with the fundry Conditions
of Light, knowledge, and Affiftance, the Agent lay under; all which
very much Alter the Cafe of the Delinquent, and either Heighten, or
Diminifh his Crime ; yet the Concurrence of the Will, decs chiefly Dc-

A 2 nominate

The Nature, Guilt, and "Danger,

nominate and Dijlmguijh it ; and is of it (elf, fufficient to change, even the
very Nature oi an Action, render Good, Evil, Indifferent things, Vicious,
and as the Scripture Elegantly (peaks, to make Sin it f elf, more Exceed-
ingly finful. So that of no lels Irrational, than Impious Confequence,
are thofe Wild, Paradoxical Tenets of the Ancient Stotcks, and Our Mo-
dern, Rigid Predefiinarians (the moft Abfurd Philofopbers of the Two)
the Firfi whereof, by holding the Equality of All Sins, fet the molt
heinous Enormities in Nature , fuch as Blafphemy , Murder , Perjury ,
Adultery, and the like, upon a Level, with the moft Pardonable Mi f-
takes, and Weaknejfes ; and the Latter, by inducing a Strange, Fatal
Necejjity of Sinning , dif annul its Guilt , render it a meer Innocent
Notion, deitroy the Freedom of the Will , take off all the Odium, and
horrid Dread of Tranfgreflions , and charge their Malignity upon the
Fountain of all Good , God Blejjed for ever.

This being in General Premis'd, as the Foundation of the following
Difcourfe, I proceed to the Subject propos'd, Namely,

I. Firfi, To Enquire into the Nature) and feveral Kjnds of Pre- I
fumptuous Sins.

Now tho' this Copious and Fruitful Argument is as wide in its La~ j
iitude, as 'tis neceffary in its umverfal Vfe, rightly to be understood, f
as taking into its Compafs, fo large a Sphere of Practical Morality,
yet I conceive, the moft Considerable Cafes belonging to it, may be Com-
prehended under, or J^educd to, one of thefe following Particulars,
'Namely,

i. Firfi, Sinning either with a Wilful Ignorance, or againft Pofttive
Kjiorv ledge.
. Secondly, Sinning Without, or Comply ing with Small, or Running
into Great, Temptations.

3. Thirdly, Sinning againft the Means of Grace, or after Signal

Judgments, and Mercies.

4. Fourthly, Perfevering without 7{emcrfe, or Shame, in the Habitual

Commiflion of Many Offences, or any One Darling Sin, with '

the vain Hopes of Repentance, and Pardon.

1. And Firfi, Sinning with a Wilful Ignorance. As all Laws both )

of God, and Nature, Exempt Us from the Imputation of Guilt, in I

Cafes of Invincible Ignorance, fo on the other hand, they induce an ^

Indif pen fable Obligation, both of Knowledge and Obedience , when they )

are

of Prefumptuous Sins.

/' are Promulgd, and Under flood. Where our Duty lies Level to Our un?

1 derflanding, and fuited to Our Practice, to Neglect it, is to Pre/ume upon
the Mercy, and Goodnefs of the Lawgiver, neither can the fault of One be
then Pleaded in Defence of the Other. Nonputaram is the apology of a
Sot, and was never alledg'd but by fuch Pools, as thought to Juftify one
Crime, by the commiffion of a Worfe. This is, as if a Man fhould fhut
his Eyes, and pretend Blindnefs, or put out the Candle of the Lord, on
purpofe to wander in the dark. He that has the advantage of a Sure
Guide to fhew him the Road, if He rcfufes his Counfel, can never
Anfwer for his Conduct, in Lofing it. Many of the Lines of Humane
Duty are drawn lb plain and vifible in Our Natures, that nothing can
Efface , or Obliterate them , but what Extinguishes Our J^eafon ; info-
much that the sfpoflle fays, it left the very Gentiles that were Ignorant Rom.
of it, without Excufe. And if Ignorance could not be allow'd in vindica- J 2°*
tion of them, who wanted a clearer Revelation, can it be urg'd in be-
half of fuch, as enjoy the Happinefs of the Glorious Light of the Gofpel?
wherein all its Precepts are written, as 'twere with a. Sun-beam, that
He that Rjws may read them; and a Man may be as well Ignorant of
his Own heart, wherein they lye fo deeply Engraven, as of this Hand-*
writing of Ordinances ; nay it muft be as hard as the Stone on which, the
Commandments werelnfcrib'd, not to perceive 'em, at firft view, Le-
gible : to walk thus in Darknefs, in the midft of Gofben, and of that
Light , that lightneth every Man that cometh into the World, is to Grope
and Stumble in Egyptian Error, at Mid-day, and to abufe the BlefTed
Means of Knowledge, that Providence has provided Us, to Direct Us
fafely in the way of Truth and Salvation; and is doubtlefs, a very
Wilful and Prefumptuous Sin.

2. But, Secondly, if the Sins We commit through this bare Neglect
of Information, which are as 'twere Negative Crimes, are of fo grea:

( Obliquity, an Afftcled and Studied Ignorance, is a Sin of an higher De-
gree, of a more Daring and Prefumptuous Nature. Wherein, We in-

> duftrioufly Labour to Blind the Eye of our J^eafon, and Faith, to Shun
that Knowledge, that would prevent Our Tranfgreffions , and to fhut
our Ears ag&infl the Voice of the Charmer , lealt We fhould be Converted
and heal1 d. We fly from the Light becaufe Our Leeds are Evil, and
skulk in Obrcurity, to avoid their Difcovery. When Men bateKjtow- 3- >o
ledge, and will not chufe the Year of the Lord, when they will have none of his p
Counfel, and defpife all his Reproof', this is an Ignorance that God
will be fb far from Winking at, that He will punifh it with Infatuation

and

6 Tloe Nature, Guilt, and Danger,

and Delufion, by giving up fuch Volunteers in the DeviCs Service, to re-
ceive the JVages of Sin, to tat the Fruit of their Own ways, and befiWd with
* 3'' their Own Devices. The Former fort oi Ignorance, may be look'd upon i
as an Ad of lupine Sloth, and Ofcitancy, wherein We do, as 'twere care- U
Jefsly Pafs by, forget, and overlook Our Duty; but this carries Preme-
ditated Malice in it, 'tis cafling the Law behind Our Backs, endeavouring^
to Evade its Force, by a Mean Subterfuge, or crafty Equivocation, to
commit Sin with the profpecl of an Excufe, to cloath our Nakednefs with
pitiful Fig-leaves, and with a Blafphemous Credulity Imagine to put
upon the Ornnifcience, and Delude the Omnipotence of God. This is a
Second Degree of Sinning through IVilful, and Prefumptuous Ignorance.

3. But, Thirdly, Sinning againji Pofuive andexprefs /knowledge, is I
yet a farther pitch of Aggravation. This Crime rifes, and falls, ac- i
cording to the Advancement , or Jmperfetfion, of the Delinquent's Vn- J
derftanding : Nay, with regard to the fame Perfon, it Alters, with re- 1
fpt6t to his various Circumftances. As We may learn from that in- '
ftruclive Parable about the Talents , from whence Our Bleffed Saviour
has Authoriz'd Us to conclude, that God will proceed with Mankind,
at the great day of Final Retribution, not in an Arithmetical, but a
Geometrical Proportion , expecting and "judging the Performance of our;
Duty, refponfibly to the Endowments , Gifts, and Abilities , that He j
has feverally Difpens'd to every Individual Man, So that this Sin is^
in fome Greater , and in others Lefs , but in all inexcufable. To run
counter to the manifeft Light and pofitive Dictates of Reafon, in any
thing, that it exprefslyF^/Vk, or Commands, in defpight of the Con-
tradictions, and Convictions of Our Conference, the Suggefiions, Perfwa-
lions, and Menaces of the Blejfed Spirit, within Us, in matters of fa&
Notorious, evident, and indifputable, is doubtlefs a very high and
audacious a& of Prefumption. If I had not come, (fays Our Saviour)
andfpoken amongjl them, they had not had Sin, but now they have no Cloak
for their Sin. And if (as St. James affirms) to him that knoweth to do
Good, and doth it not, to him it is a Sin, that is, of Omiffion, fas St. Paul
fay s) much more fo to him, that knoweth the Judgment of God, that they
who commit fuch things are worthy of Death, not only doth the fame, but
takes pleafure in thofe that do them. But even this heinous Tranfgreffion
is yet capable of one degree more of Aggravation. V/hen the Criminal
is not Surprizd, or overborn by his Pajjions, or by fly I nfinu at ion s entic'd
and allur'd into fome Vicious action, but with a Rejolute Calmnefs, and
fedate Deliberation, takes time and Leifure to advi/e with himfelf, and

Ponders

of Prefumptuous Sins. 7

Ponders every Motive, and Circumflance, Weighs the Temporal Advantages
and Pleafures on the one hand, and the Eternal Punifhments and Divine
Vengeance on the other ; and yet maugre all the Arguments of hisReafon,
and Decifwns of his Judgment, will follow his Own wicked Inclinations,
fulfil his Lewd Defires , and Accomplifh his Worldly ends; this is fo
Dreadful and Prefumptuous a way of Sinning, that nothing can Ex-
tenuate its Flagitioufnefs, or mitigate its Guilt. And yet as Slight, as
Ambitious, Covetous, Time-ferving, Profane Libertines , and Atheifical
Debauchees make of this Tremendous matter, who can with Shamelefs
Foreheads, and obdurate Hearts, commit fach Deadly and Damning
Impieties , there is no one Flagrant , and Deliberate A£fc of Vice but
falls under this Heltifb Character : As all Hypocrify, (particularly that
N> QuintefTence of Fanaticifm, Occasional Conformity) Betraying the Church
I in its Doctrine or Difcipline , Lying , Fornication , Adultery, Perjury,
^Murder, Rebellion, Sacn ledge , &c. and the like, if there can be any
other Sins in the Devil's Catalogue of a more Crimfon Dye, committed
againft the Reluctance of Confcience, and the Commands, and Laws,
of God and Men.

Now in all thefe Grofs and palpable Points, there is not onely a full
Concurrence, but a peremptory Election of the Will > overbearing, and
a&it were forcing the Intellectual Powers, to a fordid Compliance, For Men
ufually in thefe Cafes, acl with Subtle contrivance, and anxious Forecaft, 7^.4. «
they are Wife to do Evil (as the Prophet fpeaks) like crafty Politicians
they lay Plots and Schemes of Iniquity, Sin with Artifice and Stratagem,
and as dextrous Profeffors, that are Skill'd in the Myjlery ofVngodltnefs,
Cultivate and manage every piece of Villany to advantage, fuck out
all the Poyfon, and Dram the very laft Drop of Pleafure, and Profit,
that it contains.

Our of the Great Number of Examples , that the Scriptures fo
plentifully abound with, to illuftrate this Matter, I (hall only pro-
duce Two of each Kind. The Firft is, that Altonifhing Inilance of
a wilful and affected Ignorance, in that Obftinate, Perverfe, and
Wayward Nation of the Jews ; a Nation Rais'd, Supported, Govem'd,
and Deliver'd, by a continual and uninterrupted Series of a Miraculous
Providence; to whom, as the Peculiar Favourites of Heaven, were
committed the Oracles of God, and his Will reveal'd by a Succeffivt
Mijjion of Prophets after Prophets, to inftruct, warn, invite, and
threaten them into a Senfe of their Duty, with repeated Mercies and
Judgments, of both which they fo deeply Tailed, but in vain : tho'

their

8 The Nature, Guilt, and "Danger,

their Lkw was fo Intelligible, and the Predictions of the Meffiah and Gofpel-
Difpmfition fo Evident, that nothing but their forc'd and falfe Glojfes
could obfcure the 0//e, and their ftudied Obftinacy, induce them to reject
the Other ; yet by their long Abufe of all thefe Divine Priviledges, they
EndeavourM to make the Counfel of God of none effett , and fulfilled that
ilrange Prophecy of Efaias upon themfelves, which faith, By hearing Tc
1 Jl' fhall hear, andfljall not under ft and ; and feeing Te (hall fee, and not perceive ;
for this Peopled Heart is waxed grofs , and their Ears are dull of hear-
ing ', and their Eyes they have closed, left at any time they fhould Jee with
their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and fhould under ft and with their Heart,
and fhould be converted, and 1 fhould heal them.

Again , there is not in the whole Body of the Sacred Hi/lory a more
Execrable In (lance of Prefumptuoufty Sinning againfi Poftive Knowledge ,
than in the Example of Ahab, who is Emphatically Stigmatized by the
i<5- 33- Holy Ghofl: with the abominable Character, of provoking the Lord God
Lf*o. °f Ifrael to Anger, more than all the Kjngs of lfrael that were before him,
nay, of having fold him f elf to work Wickednefs in the fight of the Lord ;
as if he had Bargain d with the Devil , for the higheft Poft in the King-
dom of Darknefs , and had Bartered his Soul for a more exquifite De-
gree of Damnation. Among the many Flagitious Acts , whereby he
Signalized his wicked Reign, and render'd it Odious to all Pofterity, *ve
lrj „. find molt particularly recorded, with all the Circumflances of Aggra-
[\\ I's'.vation, that Imperial Villany in the Murder of Naboth the jfezreelite;
:lT'°- Becaufe the poor Innocent Man would not, contrary to the Exprefs
Command of the Law , Alienate his Paternal Inheritance, this curfed
Tyrant by the Initigation and Contrivance of his Two Privy Coun-
n-tfellors, the Devil and his Wife, for the more Solemnity and Sanctifi-
23. cation of this Tranfcendent Wickednefs, firit orders a Faft to be pro-
claim d, then Naboth to be fet up on high, before a pretended Court
ofjuflice, to fentence him to Death for BUfphemy, by the falfe Accusa-
tion of Two fubornd IVitnejfes. What an horrid Complication of Sins
were there here join'd in One, Oppreffion, Robbery, Hypocrify, Perjury,
Murder , to fatisfy Us that a Prtfumptuous Crime fcarce ever goes

Single I

II. But Secondly , The next Kind of Prefumptuous Sins I mention'd
was , Sinning without , Complying with Small , or Running into
Great, Temptations.
i . And Firft, Sinning without any Temptation at all. When there is 1
no Motive, either of Real Pleafure, Honour^ or Profit, to induce Us ]

to

of Prefumptuous Sins.

r to the Commiflion of it ; when out of afalfe Principle of Vain-Glory ,
| or Singularity , an OJlentation of being above the Check or Controul of
Law j Rjafon, or Faith, or a Diabolical, Monftrcus, Malignity of * Nature ,
delighting in Evil, Men feek Opportunities of becoming Sceptical ,
Profligate, and Cruel ; and in cool Thoughts, when their PaJJions and
Intellectuals are lefs difturb'd, they bid Defiance to God, his Truth, and
his Power; fuch as are, the Denying or Que f toning the great Myfteries
of our Religion, Bjdiculing, or Blafpheming God's Word, or Providence,
Irreverently Profaning his Holy Name, in common Oaths or Impreca-
tions, or Afferting, and Propagating Corrupt, Seditious, Lewd, Schifma-
tical, or Latitudinarian Principles, with a virulent Intention of fpread-
ing Po'tfon, and doing Mifchief: Or when Men of Invidious and £?/4f&
Difpofitions , purely to gratify their Spleen or Rancour , fecretly re/>j/?e
at their Neighbour's Happinefs, and without any Profpecl: of Advan-
tage to themfelves, give an Underhand Stab to his Fortune, or Character :
To thefe, we may add theO/d Debauchees, who when they are grown
Maimed, and Emerit in the Devil1* Service, and are left Impotent, and
Vanquifh^d by their beloved fF/we and Women, when the i#? 0/ T/Ve
has quite forfaken their decaf d and rotte/? Conjlitutions, rejoice to view
its Commiflion in others, enjoy it ztfecond-hand, play over their former
Lives, in their own Filthy Imaginations, call up the Ghofi of their <fe-
parted Sin , and are perhaps more Lafcivious in their Thoughts, than
. they were before, in their Practices. In all thefe Cafes, Men act the
I Tempter's Part upon themfelves , and are moft Prefumptuoujly Wicked,
I without fufficient Allurement, Provocation, or Gain.
I 2. Secondly, Complying with [mall Temptations , is another kind of
*) Prefumptuous Sinning. As the Great nefs ol : the Temptation, and Power
( of Inducement, do Mitigate the Guilt on the one hand ; fo by a Parity
j of Reafon , on the other , mult its Little Influence , and the Capacity
] of Refinance in the Offender , aggravate and inhance his Crime. For
" here , tho' he ftands re^ and prepaid to meet his Enemy , he throws
down his Arms, bafely Capitulates , and Surrenders upon the firft 0»/ef.
A Man that thus Difbonourably gives up himfelf , wants only an Op-
portunity to be a Traytor to his Caufe ; whereas, nothing but the Lafb
iOppofition can Acquit the fpiritual Souldier thus fortify d with the Sue-
cours of Strength and Gr^ce ; he mull difpute his Ground, /^ £7 F<?<tf,
and like a True Chriflian Champion, rather Dye upon the Spot, than
Yield the leaft Point to the Powers of the Kjngdom of Darkmfs. God
do's indeed out of his Infinite Mercy , make fome Allowances for the

B In-

io The Nature, Guilt, and Danger,

Inevitable Infirmities of Our Nature, whereby we are often furprizd
into Evil, and overt then by a quick and fudden Temptation, before
we could well view its Danger, Guard againft, or Prevent its Attacque ;
or where, (poffibly we having Lei/ure or Will to do this) the Violence
of Our PajJ'wns may perhaps Overbear Our Intentions , and the fre-
quent Returns, and almolt irrefiftible Jffaults of fenfual Enjoyments,
prove too Powerful for Fltjh and Blood to Encounter and Subdue : In
this Combat, wherein he does not Cowardly defert his Colours, the Juft
Man may be faid to fall [even times a day, and yet to maintain his Pofb
and Character, tho* he may be frequently defeated in it. But lead; we
fhould be too Favourable to our felves , in that worft and mod fatal
Self-Flattery of Excufing or Leffenfag our Crimes, we mufl carefully ob-
ferve , that even the Sins of Infirmity, howfoever Pardonable in them-
felves, may become Sins of Prefumption, when we are wilfully deficient
in our honefi Endeavours to guard our blind-fide, to watch againft thofe
Vices that/0 eafily befet us, and lofe the Victory through a Culpable Neg-
lect ; which he is grofsly Guilty of, who is fo far from fencing againir,
that he Anticipates the Dull and Lingring Temptation, is not fo much
carefs'd into , as courts his own Slavery, prevents Importunity, clofes
2 r/w.2. in with the rlrft Offer, and lazily fufTers himfelf to fall into the Devil's
- ' Snare, and be taken Captive by him, at his Will.

$. Thirdly, Next to Complying with Small, is Running into Great I
Temptations , which is a different Inftance of Prefumption, Tho' a j
Man is never fo well aflur'd of the Strength of his l{eafon , and the
Steadinefs of his Refolution , to undergo the greateft Difficulties and
Trials; tho' he fhould (as our BlefTed Saviour fays) like one KJng go-
Luk. 14. fag to make War againjl another , fit down fir f , and confult , whether he
31 ' be able with TenThoufand, to meet him that comet h Againjl him , with
Twenty Thoufand ; (which great odds, as it muft be always expected,
is enough to make any Man, thus Out-numbered, doubt of Succefs ;)
tho' he fhould by a ftrange, and unaccountable Fortune, gain the Day, ,
yet he fcarcely deferves, either Thanks, or Reward, for a Victory,
he fo rafhly and unadvifedly Hazarded at the Expence of his J{uine ;
and if he is Beaten, may not unjuftly be Condemn'd for his Foolhardi-
nefs, and Indifcretion. A Man may as well touch Pitch , and be unde-
?rov,6.i%fifd, or go upon Coals, and not be burnt , as engage prevailing Allure-
ments, oxOccafionstf Evil, without forfeiting, or betraying his Vertue;
All Caution in this Infidious Cafe may prove vain, we are catch *d and
intangCd before we think, or are aware of it \ Nay, tho' we fometimes

fee

of Prefumptuous Sins. n

fee our Deftruftion before us, we may fide on the f moot h, fippery way,
inevitably into ir. There is a ftrange Deceitfulnefs in Sin, (as rhe ff«*-3. »}■
Holy Ghoft expretTes it) which may beguile and infatuate the nv/e/2
Man upon Earth; and no one can be Secure againft a Fall, thar^oej
//* ffo midft 0/ Snares , or walks upon the Battlements of a City, 'i he Rectus. 9.
Bewitching Temptations of Riches, Honour, Flea/tire , and Beauty, r3-
prove too often an Over-match for our Reafon ; and thofe Bold Com-
batants, that are to wreftle, not only againft Flejb and Blood, but againft f>6. 12.
Principalities , againft Powers, againft the Rulers of the Darknefs of this
World, againft fpiritual Wickednefs in high places ; had need to take unto
them , the whole Armour of God , that they may be able to with ft and in
the evil day , and having done all , to /land ; that when they are
tried, they maybe found faithful, bhmelefs, and harm le/s, the Sons of God pi. 1. 15.
without Rebuke, in the midft of a crooked and perver/e Generation. But
what Man can have fuch an infallible AfTurance of his own Heart,
t which is deceitful above all things, who can know it) as without the Shield j::. .17.9.
of Faith, and the Breajl-plate of Righteoufnefs, to open his Bofom, and
expofe it to all the fiery Darts of an indefatigable, and implacable
Enemy; and efpecially, when 'tis as much betray d within, as befet
without, what a prefumptiveMadne/s is it, caufelefly to venture in fuch
a Danger ? where he may probably be bereft of the Protection of the
Grace of God, and given up to the cruel Mercy of the Devil? This
may prove an uncall'dfor, and unjuftifiable Walking thro' a Fire
Ordeal, not fo much to prove our Innocence, as to incur Guilt; 'tis
like St. Peters (who was a Sorrowful inftance of human infirmity)
treading on the f ait hlefs Deep , where, without immediate Divine
AtTiftance, a Man m\ift fink and perifb. He that engages in this pe-
rilous Enterprife , knows not where it will end; and this vain Con-
fidence has often foil'd the flouted Heroes in Chriftianity, and brought
them to a fhameful Defeat and Repentance , for trujting too much to
their own Strength, without the Aids of Grace, in difficult, and un-
warrantable Cir cum fiances. So great Reafon have the bell of Men to
pray not to enter into Temptation*, tofet (as it were) Scourges ozer their
Thoughts, and the Difcipline ofWifdom over their He ay is ; to flee from 2» 3-
Sin as from the face of a Serpent, notjo come near it bite us \ for

the Teeth thereof are as the Teeth of a Lion, faying the Souls of Men ; like
a two-edgd Sword, that cannot be touch1 d, without a Wound, which cannot
be healed. To converfe within the Infection of the Plague, and to vifit
the Confines of Death, is certainly the molt ready way to catch the one,
and fat 7 into the other. 15 2 III. Third-

ix The Nature y Guilt, and Danger,

III. Thirdly, The next Kjnd ofPrefumptuous Sins, is againft the Vifible )
Means of Grace, or after fignal 'Judgments, or Mercies. By the Means 7
of Grace, I underftand not here, the Internal Operations of the Blejfed I
Spirit , on our Souls, Sinning againtt which, I have already obferv'd
to be a heinous Degree of Prefumption, and which in fome degree at-
tends all other forts of it : But here, 'tis rather meant of ail thofe
External Gifts, and Favours, which Providence beftows upon us , as
the Means of doing Good in the World , and being Serviceable , either
to Gcd, our Country, or our Friends, in promoting their Glory, or In-
terejl in Church, or State. Such as are , Wealth, Honour, Reputation,
Authority, Power, with the noble Faculties, and ufeful Endowments of)
Mind, ox Body; as Learning, Wit, and Eloquence , Health, Strength J
Addrefs, Beauty, and the like ; which are given, as Co many mighty
Blejfings , and Talents, for Excellent Ends; and when miffpent, or j
abused, in the bafe Purpofes of Avarice, Ambition, Pride, or Luft ; or 7
any ways imbezzeCd, ox mifemploy d, draw a fearful Reckoning down, /
on the Prefumptuous Offender.

But among all the External Means of Grace, the Divine Mercies, and j
JudgmentsSignzWy fhewn, ought to have the mod quick and powerful (
Influence upon Our Thoughts , being as 'twere the manifeft Difplay
of God's Favour, oxfengeance upon Us, which fhould either Melt down/
the mofr Flinty heart into a pious Senfe of Gratitude , and Praife , or
into an humble Acknowledgment of, and Submiffion to, the Hand that
Blefles, or Smites Us. Vrofperity, and Succefs, fhould make Us Na-
turally remember the Kjnd Benefactor; and Diftrefs , and Affliction ,
Whet, and Sharpen the3oul, Roufe and Awake a Stupify'd and Lethar-
gic!: Confcience> and like the Handwriting on the Wall, ftrike Terror,
Aftonifhment, and Remorfe, even into a Bel/bazzar, caroufing in the
midfr of Wine, Women, and Banquets. But the Man whom neither)
Mercy can Soften, nor Punijhment Terrify into Duty, is under a worfe j
State of Imptnitency, and Oh ^duration, than Pharaoh, Manaffth, or ATe- I
buchadnezzar. To Sin under thefe Provoking Circumftances, is to Spit
in the Face of Providence, Kjck at Omnipotence, baffle and Difap-
point all its tender Defigns upon Us, and in the appofite Language of
the Prophet, to turn judgment into Gall, and the fruit of Right eoufnefs,
into Hemlock. What greater Obligations can there be to Piety and Re-
ligion, than the Vifible Demonftrations of God's Blefling in our Succefs,
or Advancement^ in Supporting Us under, or Delivering Us out of, any
preffing Difafter, Calamity, or Danger? Thefe are Times of En-
courage-

)

of Frefumptuous Sins. 13

couragement, and Trial, and Opportunities of Exemplifying a more than
ordinary Tbankfgiving, Humility, Patience, and Obedience. We may
obfervethe juft Refle&ions that the Holy Ghoft has made upon thole
Two remarkable Inftances of Both, Hezekiab, and Abaz. To the One,
as the Reward of his Eminent Vertues, God had given for the mod parr,
a very Profperous Reign, had promoted him to more Honour, Riches,
and Glory, than any Prince, next to Solomon, that (ate upon the Throne
of David ; He Deliver'd him by two Altonifhing Miracles out of the
molt, perilous Circumltances, the Danger he was in from his powerful
Enemy Sennacherib, and a Mortal Diflemper ; Bleffings one would think,
worth perpetual Acknowledgment ! Yet it is faid, Hezekiab rendered ^ .
not agen, according to the Benefit done unto Him : for his Heart was lifted 32| 2<r.'
up, therefore there was Wrath upon him, and upon judah, and Jerufalem.
For in the bufwefs of the Embafjadors of the Princes of Babylon , who fent v *.
unto him to enquire of the Wonder ', that was done in the Land, God left him
to Try him, that He might know all that was in his heart, and accordingly
punifh'd his Pride in the Scandal, and Mifery of his Poflerity. But Abaz
was the very Reverfe of his Son, and molt exorbitantly Wicked, and
therefore God vifited him throughout his impious K^gny with a con-
tinued Series of Plagues and Troubles, which were fo far from bringing
him to a Senfe of his Crimes, that when God had Surrounded him with
innumerable Holts of Enemies, who laid his Kingdom in bloud and de- ^
folation, led Captive one part, and ilew the other with a rage that reached 2g.
unto heaven, and left the Land as Naked of inhabitants, as of God's Pro-
tection , yet even under thefe difmal Extremities, it is emphatically ob-
ferv'd of him, that in this time of his DiJlreJ?, did He trefpaj? yet more and
more, againjl the Lord. For which Incorrigible and Diabolical Temper,
whereoy he did as 'twere Defy, and Jet him f elf againfl God, the Holy
Ghoit has fix'd this infamous Brand upon his Character, to diftinguifh
him, for a moil audacious Sinner, to all Eternity, This isThatjhaz '
Such unpardonable Ingrati tude , and exafperating Preemption is it,
to abufe the Mercy , and Long-fuffering of God , to Spurn at his Rod ,
and Revolt when U'e are Smitten, and not perceive the If'ound , or en-
deavour the Cure, when bis Arrows (lick f aft in Vs, and bis Handpn
Vsfore. ' *8~

iV. Laftly, Per fever, ng without Rtrnorfe, or Shame, in the Habitual
Commiffion of Many Offences, or any one Darling Sin, wrh the Vain Holes *
of Repentance, or Pardon, is an exceeding Prefumptuous Sin. There cannot'
be Invented by the Wit of Man or the Sophijhy of the Grand Deed',

14- The Nature > Guilt, and Danger,

of Souls, any Two more Erroneous Opinions, or more dire&ly and fatally/
Deftructive or ail Practical Chrijlianity, than thofe ^bfurdTenets, of the/
Unlimited Mercy of God, thro' Chriffs Sufferings , Jo as that they may be
Extended to the utterly impenitent , andmojt Harden d Wretches : and that
?ithujiajlick, arrogant Notion of God's Ab folate Decree of uncovenanted
Solvation, to certain Favourite Perfons, without any theleajt refpeel had, to
their Qualifications, or Demeanours: both which Opinions do in a manner,
Difannul the Conditions of the Covenant, Abrogate the Ntceffity of Re-
pentance, and permit the moRlnfolent Offenders,to run on with Comfort,
and Alacrity, in their Vices, without check or Regret otConfcience. Upon
thefe Two equally Falfe Foundations , Men are apt to Flatter them-
felves that the Day of Grace can never bepafs'd, that they can Reform
themfelves, when they pleafe, and that tho' they Offer to come in at
the very Laft Hour, they lhall be Admitted, and never Deny 'd Entrance :
With this Alluring Profpect , they refolve to enjoy the Pleafures of
Sin, together with the Hopes of being Sav'd, take their full Swinge of
Iniquity, and when They have Squeezed out all the Satisfaction, and
Profit they can , then to Relinquilh it ; and when they are fit for no-
thing elfe, Sit down and Reflect a while, upon their Follies. Now to
Sin with a bare Intention to Repent of it, afterwards, is to do Defpight
to the Grace of God, in order to Obtain it ; that is, in other words, Af-
fronting all thzDivine Attributes,^ et depending on that Single one of his <
Mercy. But tho' God has gracioufly promised Pardon to all thofe that Y
truly Repent , yet He has no where promis'd the Grace of Repentance, ''
to fuch as Slight, and Abufe His Holy Spirit, which alone can beftow it.
Of fuch vaft importance is that excellent Advice of the Wife Man , Say
. not, I have finned, and what harm hath happen d unto Me ? for thd the Lord
:. is long-fuffering, He will in no wife let Thee go. Concerning Propitiation,
be not without fear, to add Sin unto Sin. And fay not his Mercy is great ;
he will be pacify' d for the Multitude of my Sins ; for Mercy, and Wrath
come from him , and his Indignation refleth upon Sinners. Make no tarry-
ing to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day : for fuddtnly fhall
the Wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy Security, Thou jhall't be de-

fl flrofd, and per ijh in the day of Vengeance. Therefore Bind not one Sin

^vcrf. 8. upon another] for in one, Thou fball't not be Vnpunifh'd.

There is another Sort of Demure and Refervd Sinners, who out
of regard to the World's Cenfure, or their Own Reputation, will not
live in the Commiffion of any Flagrant, and Scandalous Vice, but Stick
not in Private, at thofe of a Lejfer Quality , which are Suited to their

Parti-

of Prefumptuous Sins. 15*

Particular Humour, Intereft, o\ Con ft nut ion, in which they think they
may with Fmpunicy Indulge themfelves,and Perfevere, without Reluct-
ance. Oh! this is but Little one, and their Souls (hall Live. They
will Compound to hold thefe Bofom-Sins undifturb*d, to Rail mod de-
voutly at All others : thus the Covetous Man will condemn Senfuality ,
and Extravagance, the Epicure Declaim again ft Avarice', and the like,
in all Oppofite Sins. Now tho' the Danger of thefe Crimes (however
Little in them ft Ives) is very Great , in that they pafs Vnobfervd, are
eafily admitted, and infenfibly Sta*/upon Us, grow frequent, ordinary,
and at length Habitual ; and tho' they make up in Number , what
they want in Weight ; yet paffing thus for mere Inadvertencies, or In-

r frmities, feldom bring the Delinquent to a particular Repentance, which.

) all Voluntary Tranfgreffions certainly Require. But it is undoubtedly
fure, that God's Sovereignty and Authority is equally Impeach'd and
Oppugn'd, in the tranigrelfion of any branch of his Commands ; there
is no Difpenfation for any part of Our Duty, as by way of Commutation
for the reft ; and whoever chufes finally to perfift in any particular
Sin, tho' He (hall keep the whole Law besides, and Offend in that One point, 7«
is Guilty of all.

Thus I have endeavour'd in asfhorta Compafs, as this copious
Matter would permit, to fhew the True Nature , and Point out the
Several Sorts of Prefumptuous Sins. I proceed

II. In the Second place to Evince their Prodigious Guilt, and Dread-
ful Danger, that We may Avoid them.

And firft, as to their Guilt, which is fet out in the Text, in the
higheft Expreftions tf Aggravation , the Senfe whereof, I fhall Com-
prehend and Draw out, in thefe following Particulars.

1. Becaufe they are Committed againft the Light of T{eafon, and
the Conviction of Confcience.

2. Becaufe they proceed from an Open Contempt of God's Laws, and
do Reproach his Power and Majefty.

5. Becaufe they ftrangely lay waft? the Confcience , and in time,

produce an Habitual NeceJJity of Sinning.
4. Becaufe they Judicially drawdown the Wrath and Vengeance of

God upon Us , by Quenching His Holy Spirit within Us.

*. And firft, The Guilt of thefe Prefumptuous Sixs :s very Great , be-
en !.

i6 The Nature, Guilt, and Danger,

can ft they are Committed again]} the Light of Re a f on, and the Convictions
of Confcience. Sins' of infirmity Slide infenfibly upon the Soul, and as
\\vere Steal the Content of the Will. A Vicious Thought rifes up, al-
moir. imperceptibly in it , and Surprizes a Man into Evil. But thefts
Qntragious and Daring Sins Prefent their Overgrown and Monflrous
Bulk in full view, at a Diftance, they give Warning of their Approach,
raife an Alarm and Vproar in the Underftanding, and give it time to
Recollect , and Mutter its Forces , to Deliberate on the Danger, call
in Divine Afliftance, and having done all, to Withftand the Adverfary,
with a vigorous Refiftance. Now in fpight of all thefe Advantages, .
not only Cowardly to Submit to, but bafely and Treacheroufly to Clofe
in with the Enemy, notwithstanding the Reprefentations , Advices,
and Menaces, of that faithful Monitor, God's Vice-Gerent within Us, is
to do Violence to Our Nature, to Vn-Man our Selves, and to Sink Us
lower, than the very Beafls that perifh. A Man muft Enlarge his Con-
&ab. z. 5 fcience , as Hell, and his Appetite be as infatiable as Death , and the
Grave, thus with his Eyes open, to Swallow Damnation ingrofs. And if
Crimes committed thro' meer Ignorance ftand in need of Mercy, and the
i Jim. i. Propitiation of a. Saviour's Merits, (as St. Paul tells Us in his Own Cafe)
*3' what Judgment, what Condemnation mud: await that impudent and
refolute Criminal, that dares to Stifle and Outface his Convictions,
Luke 12. and to Break through all Bounds and Reftraints? The Servant that
7' knew his Lord's Will, and did it not, fhall be Beaten with many Stripes.
2. Secondly, The Guilt of thefe Prefumptuous Sins, is very Great,
becaufe they proceed from an Open Contempt of God's Laws, and do reproach
his Power, andMajefty. And thus the Original Hebrew, with an Ad-
mirable Emphafis, and Signifkancy of Expreflion, calls it, in the Text,
Sinning with an high hand, which we render Prefumptuoufly. Now
were fuch Crimes committed thro' an Actual Disbelief, or Atheiftical
Venial of God's Being, poflibly they might feem to be lefs Preemptive ;
but to acknowledge his Sovereignty and Juftice, and at the fame
time trample upon, and defpife it, to [pit upon him, with an HailKjng
of the Jews, to fet at naught his Laws, and mock and ridicule the Al-
mighty Creator, and Governour of all things, with a Tufh, God thou
careft not for it ; to prefer the Service of the Devil, or an empty and
tranfitory Enjoyment, or the Fears of Men, before the confideration of
Heavenly Pleafures, and Eternal Vengeance; or like .7*^, to fell
our Saviour for the Price of a Slave ; is fuch Folly, and Madnefs, fuch
a Dreadful Affront, and Contumelious Difdain, and Provocation, from

Dufi

of Prefumptuous Sins. 17

Dufl andAfbes, againft the Great God, as did not his Infinite Mercy
interpofe, would call down Fire from Heaven , to ftrike the Daring
Offender, dead upon the fpot, for fuch unparailel'd Rebellion.

5. Thirdly, The Guilt of Prefumptuous Sins is very Gtcat, bccaufe
they flrangely lay rvajle the Conference, and in time, produce a. fort of Ha-
bitual Necejfity of Sinning. Jt is the Opinion of ibme School Writers,
that a (ingle Commiflion of a very Grofs and Flagitious Crime is
Equal to an Habit of the fame, as containing in it the Force of many
Leffer Acts, or a Complication of many Enormities together ; as the
Commiflion of Adultery, Murder, and the like ; wherein, thrre can
never bes\eftitution made : Whether this will abfolutely hold True,
or not, has been queftion'd by many Learned Divines, and I fhall noc
pretend at prefent to Determine *, but I think it can hardly be doubted*
but that One fingle Commiflion of this high Nature implying a deli-
berate and perverfe Election of the Witt, may poflibly prove of the fame
Deadly Guilt, even with an Habit of Leffer Sins, beisg as Vicious in
its t\ife, and Principle, as that is, in its End, and Operation. For, tins
is a fort of Spiritual Apoplexy, that at Once amazes, ftuns, and ftupifies
theConfcience, fo that the Soul is for a long while unable to Recover
its Senle, and Understanding : And fuch Exorbitant Sins feem to bet
as it were, a Compendium of the Malignity of many fmall Ones, which
indeed gain Ground upon Us, by little and little ; and by multiply }d
Atts, and a deceitful Cuftom, are render'd Eafy and Familiar, and fo
Gradually and Infenfibly Decoy the Sinner into their Yoke, and Sla-
very : But, fuch fwelling Prefumptuous Sins, like an Impetuous Tor-
rent, Break in upon the Soul, overturn its State, and bear down its
Faculties, with an irrefiftible Violence : At one Stroke, they gain
fo compleat a Victory over it, that 'tis alma ft Irrecoverable out ot their
Dominion: and having once gain'd the Conq.wft, they feldom fail to
keep the Captive under their Bondage ; and then, from frequent Repeti-
tions, grow io Habitual,, as at length to Superinduce, asAwere, a i Ve-
ceffity of Sinning : For having Erased all the Principles of Reafon, and
Uiftinciions o\ Good and Evil , the Lamp of the Lord is quite Extin-
guifh'd within, and the Whole Man , like theWandring Stars in St.
Judet isEclipsi'id with theBlacknefs of 'D/trJtmfj for ever ; o ply the :

tteautitulDelcriptionofto/tf/ww*,^^

;gue,. He isfhut up as a Prifcner of Darknefs, and fettered with the Bo^ci,
of 4 Ibng Night, being exiCd from the Eternal Providence : he lies hid ttfV-
his ftcret Sins, under a dark vail of Forget fulnefs, king horribly ajtomflid,

C

1 8 The Nature, Guilty and Danger,

Hid (leering a fleep, which is indeed intolerable, and 'which comes out of the
httom of inevitable Hell. So that, Arguments and Demonftration, to
one bclbtted under thefe infatuating Circumjiances, are no better than
a dilcourfc of Colours to the Blind ; they can make no ImprefTion upon
the Intellect ualPowtrs, when they lye thus fubdued, intoxicated, and
confounded, by an headftrong, and Tyrannical Will; fuch an abandon d
Wretch obftinately refiits and oppofes all the beft means of Conviction ,
and mo ft proper methods of Perfuafion, that God generally makes Ufe of
to reclaim Sinners, and fets himfelf with a pervicacious Malice againft
the brightest Evidence of Truth », and ftrongeft Motives of Repentance,
The Senfe olConfcience being thus loft as *twere in the Sin of Witchcraft,
the Man Commences a Devil Incarnate, gets into a Love of, and Compla-
cency in Mifchief, Embraces it as fuch, and is fo far from Committing it
with Shame or Remorfe, that He arrives at that Superlative Perfection
of Iniquity, even to Glory in his Shame, and Boaft of his Folly. Men
ftr. x. e. of fuch harden d Hearts, and Whore's Foreheads, (as the Prophet fpeaks)
if*, i. 9. refufe to be Afbamd , the fbew of their Countenance doth witnefs againfi
them , and they declare their Sin, as Sodom, they hide it not, they muft
Dtut. =9. Stick at no Impiety, but take it in the Grofs, and/4// from Sin to Sin,
Eph9^*^ Drunkennefs to Thirjl , and (as thzApoftle excellently Defcribes
'8, 19 them ) having the Vnderft&nding Darken d, being Alienated from the Life
of God, thro* the Ignorance that is in them, becaufe of the Elindnefs of their
hearts : Who being pafs*d feeling, have given themj elves over unto Lafcivi-
oufnefs, to work all Vncleannefs with Greedinefs. Thus do thefe Mortal
and Portentous Sins, Naturally, and in their ufual, andgenuin Effects,
firft Debauch , and then Murder the Conference ; and from an Habitual
per fever ance in Sinning, induce a fort ol Neceffity of it , and fo bring a
Man at length to a Final Impenitency. Which will further appear if
We confider,

4. Fourthly, That theft Pre fumpt nous Sins JVD1C 1A LLT draw
down the Wrath ana Vengeance of God, upon Vs, by Quenching his Holy
Spirit within Vs. Every prtiumptive Crime We are Guilty of, is faid
Spb.4,30. to Grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whereby JVe are Seal1 d unto the Day of Re-
demption ; and our Blefled Saviour has told Us, that his Grace fhall be
taken away, from even fuch as Negleff and Abitfe, and therefore much
more, from fuch as Defpife, and \eproach it. Tho' it cannot be deni-
ed that there is no Degree or State of Sin or Infidelity, howfoever tre-
mendous, refolute, and provoking, but the extraordinary, and mi-
raculous Influence of the Divine, Grace, is at any times able and fufB-

cient

-^.5.29.

6

of Prefumptuous Sins. 19

cient to break through and fubdue it, and in this cafe, upon Conviction
and Repentance, Remiflion mufr. certainly follow ; yet for ail that,
God has exprefsly declar'd, that his Spirit fhatt not always ft rive withG:n
Man, and that He will withdraw the NecefTary Aids and Supports of
it, where they are Oppos'd with an opprobrious, and incorrigible Ob-
iiinacy ; that He mil give his Grace only to the Humble, and that he rejift- ?«». 4. 6.
eth the Proud , and Contumacious ; and confequently , it is a Pofition
as highly confident with the ilricteft Rules or Reafon and Juftice , as
with the infinite Mercy and Goodnefs of God , that fuch Perfons are
given over to a Reprobate Mind; and being deferted by the Divine
Grace , the onely Means of Reformation , are irrecoverably aban-
doned to go on and continue in a State of Damnable Sin , and utter
Impenitency ; and fo exclude themfelves, and are excluded by God ,
out of the Terms of Forgivenefs, both in this World, and that which is
to come. And there feems not any Truth more clear or capable of
Demonftration , from the Holy Scriptures, being of fuch vaft Im-
portance for the cautious Condud of Human Life, than that dreadful
Period of Grace, that Limitation of a certain Day, or Time, Hebrews 4. 7.
wherein the Meafure of Our Iniquities is fulfilPd, the things which be-
long to Our Peace hidden from Our Eyes , the Covenant Seal'd up, and Mat. 3 $ .
no Adniiffion or Acceptance granted to fuch profane Perfons , who Lnk \*'
fall from the Grace of God, and like Efau, have fold their Birth- right for a 41.
morfel of Meat ; who when they would inherit the Blefjing, are rejected, and ^J^1"'
can find no place of Repentance, t ho* t hey feek it carefully, with Tears. Such
Men may in vain feek the Lord when he cannot be found, and call upon him J^;JJx '
when he is not near ; becaufe He has called, and they refus 'd,Jiretd id out his ,+j fa,
hand, and noMan regarded ; but they have fet at naught all his Counftl, and
would none of his R eproof. I alfo (fay s Godj will laugh at their Calamity,
and mock when Tour Pear comet h ; when your far cometh as Defolation, and
your dtjlruclion cometh as a 11- hirlivind, when Dijlrefs and Anguifb cometh
upon Tou : Then jhall they call upon Me, but I will not anfwer ; they fb all
feek Me early, but they (hall not find Me, for that they hated B^nowli dge, and
did not choofe the fear of the. Lord. From thefe, and many other plain
Faffeges of the Scriptures, the Primitive Writers rcJ the

Do&rine of a Man's being under a final and fata ' the

Bltffcd Spirit of God; whereby he \vtecon(i«»d over to the power or
his Own Lujrs, and the Poffeffion of the Devil, who never faiPd to Enter
with his Heliilh Retinue, and Lodge in the forfaken ManHcn. Tho'
it is not [0 eafy to Determine precilely, when this Terrib'e and Severe

C 2 Curfc

zo The Nature, Guilt, and Danger,

Curie happens to any Pafcn; yet as 'twas certain, in the firit Ages
of the Church, for fome time, after Excommunication ; fo 'tis more than
chat it may now befall Men, after a long Repetition of many
Habitual, and PrefumptuousSins, perfever'd in, contrary to the frequent
Threats and Commands of the Holy Ghojl. And what a difmal Con-
3 :. dition is this, to be left naked (as the Scriptures exprefs it) both of the
-5 Protection and Providence of God ; to be Bereav'd of the onely Prin-
-s. ciple of Vertue and Goodnefs in Us, and have Our Bleffed Comforter and
;? Advocate, turnd to be our Enemy , and to fight againft Vs, as the Prophet
7 ' 63 defcribes it ! What elfe can be the Deplorable Confequence of this
c frightful State, wherein Men defpife the riches of God's Goodnefs,
Run. z forbearance , and long-fuffering, which fhould lead' em to Repentance, and
4j 5- after their hardnefs and impenitent heart , treafure up unto themf elves JVrath
Againfl the Day of Wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God ;
but that he iliould permit fuch willful and Obdurate Wretches to fall
into a total Defertion, zndfnalApo/iacy, tha t gr e at Tr a nfgreffion which
i»/ 19.13. thzPfalmijl probably means, as the ufual Refult of being under theDo-
minion ofPrefumptuousSins; and which Teems not obfcurely pointed out
in that Grievous Sentence pafs'd upon them in our Text, in that Varie-
ty and Gradation of ExpreiTion, as that Soulfhallbt Cut off, from among.
his People, tkit Soul fh all be utterly Cut off, and his Iniquity (hall be upon
him. Which as the RabbinicalWr iters generally underftood of Apofta-
cy, fo it matters not, whether it was Pnnifb'd, as fome interpret this
Place, with a Temporal Death, by the immediate hand of God, or his Vize-
Gerents ; or an Ettrn.il, as others ; both being eafily confident and re-
concilable together, and perhaps, the confequence of each Other.
However, by its Penalty, it appears to be one of the Greater!: Crimes,
iliac Man can commit againit God, or God can Punifh with the fe-
/erell Vengeance : it h that Capital Offence, that Summ-Total and
Abridgment of Guilr, that mtift make a Man Renounce his Baptifm,
Deny his Saviour, Defy and Defpife all Law, enter into an Aciud
Hofiility agiinfr, and ut:er Abhorrence and Deteftation of, God
and his Providence, ft is, in a Word, the Laft, Superlative, jiniftj-
i.ing Stroke of Six, which (as the Apoftle fays) bringeth forth Death;
IJ- Death here, and without God's infinite and Vncovenan:ed Mercy, Death
for ever in the World hereafter. Which brings Me,

Lap)', in a very few Words, to (hew the Prodigious Danger of theft
Vrefumptuous Sins, both, firfl, in Regard to this Life ', and, fecondly, in
regard to that which is to come.

I. Now

of Prefumptuous Sins. zi

i. Now were We here to Enumerate the many fearful judgments
and Calamities, the ftrange a;:ci unaccountable Dilailers, that God's
Providence has brought upon Men, in this Lift, for thefe frupendous
Sins, either in P erfonal Viftt ations on themfelves, or Vicarious Plagues
on their Poiterity, inflicted on their Soulst Bodies, Eftates, or Reputa-
tions , both Your Patience , and the Time would fail Me. Let that
Notorious Example of David , in thofe Prefumptuous Sins of Murder ,
and Adultery, fuffice for All ; whofe Repentance, as well as Punifbment,
if] all thefe Initances, were as emiaently remarkable, as his Crimes.
When God, by the Miffion of a Prophet, had rous7d his Conference out
of that fad Lethargy, thefe Execrable Ads had calf it into, for the
fpace of .an whole Year, what a difmal Series of Afflictions, with the
Delivery of his Pardon, at the fame time, were Denouuc'd as the A^-
tural Conferences of that Crying Guilt, upon himielf, and his wretched
Family, from whom the Sword was never to depart ! Infomuch, that his 2 Sam-
Whole Life after, together with the Bloody Sacrifice of his Koufe, were Xi ,J~
as 'twere one continued Expia,tion of it ; and happy was it for him,
that God, by a Peculiar and aim oft unprtfidented Grace, accepted his
Penitential Sorrow in this World, in exchange and prevention of ever-
lading Mifery in the Next ; and fuflfer'd him, for a while, to lofe
his Temporal Crown here, that he might not forfeit his Eternal one,
hereafter.

2. To conclude, It is thegreateji flazard, and a very important Queftion,
not, ea fily to be refolv'd, Whether any. Per/on, under the Abfolute Dominion
Oj thefe Prefumptuous Sins, ever comes to Repentance, or confequently, it
Pardon for them. The Holy-Gholi fpeaks of this Lamentable Condi-
tion, as if it were in fome meafure Defperate and given over, and next
to a Moral impoffibtluy to be Retrieved, under that Figure ( hptrhdical

conquering the power of thefe Habitual Prefumpr
have already lhewpj how difficult this Matter is, with regard to.
turalCaufszpfkrEffuis, .wherein We find the 'Reafon f.
Ccnfcitn^ffmitf ated, and the Will cbntumaciojufly ben: crJ Evil: as
well as with regard to the future Djfpinf.it ions of flighted Crs.ce, which
feem to leave no room for any thing bur Lifpair, and horrid Ret
tionsof Perfevering in Sin, without Recovery. To which [need c
add, by way of Ilfuftration, fome dreadful Denunc- ihhaHoJy

Scriptures relating to this purpoie , which c

oi 77?? Nature, Guilt, a?id "Danger 3

culcated on Our thoughts ; and which feem not onely to refer to, but
; run Parallel with, the Text. St. Peter tells Us, if after We have efcafd
the foliations of the World, thro* the knowledge, of the Lord and Saviour
Jtfnf Chri/f We are agen therein intangVd and overcome, the Utter End
is worft with Vs, than the beginning. For it had been better for Vs, not to
haze known the way of Right eon fnefs, . than after We have knuvnit, to turn
13 $.16 from the Holy Commandment dclizeid unto Vs. And St. John calls this
a Sm unto Death, that is out of the reach of Our Prayer?. But the: Author
;. of the Epiflle to the Hebrews railes this point to a more Exalted Strain.
■ It is tmpoffible f fays He) for thofe who were once Enlighten d, and have
tafied of the Heavenly Gift, and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghofl,
And have tajfed the good Word of God, and the powers of the World to
come ; If they (J) all fall away, to renew them agen unto Repentance ; feeing
they Crucify to themfelves, the Son of God afrefh, and put him to an open
jharne. For the Earth which drinketh in the rain, that comet h oft upon
it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them , by whom it is drefs^d, re-
ceivtth Bleffing from God : But that which beareth Thorns and Bryars is re-
jected, and is nigh unto curjing, whofe end is to be burnt. And that We
may not miftake the Apoftle's fenfe, 'tis agen repeated and illuftrated,
Chap. X. verf. 26, &C If We Sin wilfully after that We have received
the Knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sins :
But a certain fearful looking for of Judgment, and fiery Indignation, which
Jh all devour the Adverfaries. He that defpis'd Mofes's Law, dyed without
Mercy, under two cr three Witneffes : Of how much for er punifhment, [up-
pofe Te, (hall he be thought worthy, who hath troden under foot, the Son of
God, and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith He was Santfi-
fyyd, an unholy thing, and hath done defpite unto the Spirit of Grace ? For
IVe know him that hath f aid, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recom-
pence, faith the Lord ; And agen, the Lord /hall Judge his People. It is
a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. From all which
Paffages, fome Learned Interpreters have drawn this Conclufion,That
if in the Mofaick Law there was no Attornment, by Sacrifice, for Pre-
fumptuous Sins, but the Guilt of them was to reft upon the head of the
Offender ; by Analogy', it follows, that under the Chriftian Difpenfation,
of which that was a Type, there can be by the Merits of Chrift, no
Expiation made for thern, habitually continued in, or not retraced by
a bitter, thorough, and P A RT ICULAR Repentance,.* Repentance
not to be repented of ; without which , our BlelTed Saviour's fufferings
can never be appiy'd to the Criminal thus Dying in his Sins, who
ir) mull

cf Prefumptuous Sins.

-*

mud be thereby inevitably deliver 'd over to Eternal Deftru&ion.
This Doctrine, at firit fight, may feem very Terrible, and Severe;
and it may be reply'd, if thefe things are fo, what Flejh can befavd?
It mult be confefs'd indeed, that this is the FJgour of the Law, and
tho this fttms impojjible or very hard, with Men, yet all things are pojfiblt Mat.z9
with God: We mail remember, there is no \ Abatement, or Di/pen-
fation in the Conditions of the Covenant ; and if there may be any
Extraordinary Inflames of God's fuper abundant and unpromis'd Mercy,
in f Hatching fome, like Firebrands out of the Fire, by his mighty Hand and
(intend out Arm, as in thofe wonderful Examples of David, and So-
lomon, yet are tiich furprizing and Singular Preildents to be look'd.-
upon as the Miraculous and Tranfcendent Qver-ftowings ot the Divine
Grace, willing to difplay its Omnipotence and Glory, in its Exceeding £?' - 7*
fetches and Power; and no more to be depended on, in the ordinary
Courfe of Providence, than that of the Penitent Thtifon the Crofs ; or
that a Man fhould Vrtfumptuoujly expect to be heal'd of a Plague, or a
Feaver by Infpiration, or a Voice from Heaven. Repentance is the Gift
of God, not the Power of Nature, and fad Experience will tell Us, that
where one Man has, in thefe Defperate Cafes, happily obtain'd it, a
Thoufand for ought we know, have funk into Eternal Perdition,
without it.

What is here urg'd ought to be fo far from deterring Us in the
Purfuit Gf Repentance for thefe Sins, that it fhould be the ftrongeft.
Motive to incite our Zgal, and quicken our Jndu/iry, and to awaken our
Confciences out of this fatal Repol'e, to fhake off this deadly Spirit of
Slumber, (as the Apoftle exprefies it) and to view the dreadful Danger &•».„.&
we are encompafs'd with ; left thefe clamorous Iniquities, like the
Voice of AbePs Bloody cry aloud to Heaven for that Vengeance, which G „ Jo
nothing can flop but his Blood, that fpeaketh better things than that ofHeki^
Abel. The Senfe whereof fhould engage our utmoft Endeavours to
prevent, or recover our felves out of them, by a conftant and vigilant
Attention to the Voice of God, fpeaking in the Confcience ; by a itead-
faft and unfhaken Adherence to the g: eat Principles or cur Duty and
Religion ; by defpifing the vain Pomps, empty Allurements, and
deceitful Pieafures and Enjoyments of this World ; by mortifying the
Craving and Importunate Commands of cur Ftme, Ambition, Lufl,
or Avarice ; and denying our Paffions, even fon. in things Law*

ful\ by abliaining not only from ItfferSins, but the very firft motions and
Appearance of Evil; and never truiting our feives within the Contagion

of

24- The Nature, Guilt, and Danger,

of Vice, or the Purlieus of Death, And, Laltly, fince We are not able
to do any thing as of our f elves, and God permits ibmetimes the Wileft
and Beit of Men, to fall into this horrible Pit, this direful and amazing
Guilt, We mult have a continual, and fervent Reccurfe to his Grace,
which alone can Govern the unruly jiff efi ions of fmful Men ; that out of
his infinite Mercy, and Compamon to Human Frailty, He would
kindly prevent and aflift us, under all the deluding Wiles and Power
of the Devil, and his Temptations; and that in the excellent Prayer of

- r9 13 • thePenitential Yfalmifi, jfyep bach thy Servants, 0 Lord, fromPrefumptu-
ous Sins, and let them not have the Dominion over Vs ; fofhall We be Vp~

Dtut. 17. right, and Innocent from the Great Tranfgrefjion : And God grant, that
13 We may all hear, and fear, and do no more Prefumptuoufly.

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