NExt to these transgressions against the Law, we ought to enumerate our sins against the Gospel, which for the general kindes of them are reducible to these two heads Unbelief. Impenitence.
- Our Vnbelief, in the several degrees of it.
Not labouring to acquaint our selves with the duties, promises, priviledges of the Gospel,1 though it does contain the best glad tidings, and of the greatest consequence that can possibly be imagined.
Our not assenting to it, according to its full latitude, being easily carried about with every winde of doctrine, any wilde erroneous fancie, apt to turn aside unto our own crooked wayes; And to have our minde corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ; (Ps. 125.5)2 Not being sound in the faith.
Our not loving and esteeming of it. Not sufficiently admiring that miracle of divine bounty wherein the Love of God was more especially commended and manifested towards us, (Rom. 5.8) in that he sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 Joh. 4.9)
Our too much slighting and under-valuing the great love and merits of our blessed Redeemer. Treading underfoot the Son of God, (Heb. 10.29) prophaning the blood of the Covenant, and doing what we could to make Christs passion of none effect. Being apt to prefer drosse and dung before the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Phil. 3.8) Not counting him all in all. Not rejoycing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,3 by whom we have received the Attonement. Not glorying alone in Christ, and him crucified. (Gal. 6, 14) Not counting his favour and loving-kindnesse to be better then life. (Psal. 119.115) Not claiming his promises as our heritage, esteeming them the joy of our hearts. Not looking upon them as being unsearchable riches,4 exceeding great and precious.
Our not living by faith, in all estates and conditions; Not embracing the promises of the Gospel with so much readinesse, nor adhering to them with so much stedfastness, as the excellency and certainty of them does require.
Not improving and applying this rich treasure of Gospel-promises unto the various changes of this temporal life, in respect of Prosperity. Adversity. being very apt to be altogether immersed in sensitive, external things; without reflecting upon those advantages we might from thence enjoy in this regard.
And so for our spiritual life, being apt to rely on our own righteousnesse, and self-justifications, thereby endeavouring (as much as in us lies) to deprive Christ of his Saviour-ship.
Not owning of Christ in all his offices, not willing to accept of him as well for our Lord, as our Saviour.
And this heart of unbelief does prove unto us a root of Apostasie, (Heb. 3.2) making us to depart from the living God.
- Our Impenitency,5 in that when God had in some measure discovered unto us our own miserable condition, by reason of the Covenant of Works, we have not yet humbled our selves in any proportion to the multitude or greatnesse of our sins; Nor applied our selves with any fervency of heart unto the onely means of pardon and reconcilation in the Covenant of Grace.
Not being inquisitive after our sins, not endeavouring to examine and finde out our particular failings, but rather to hide and excuse them.
Not being humbled and grieved for them, as considering that wretched injustice, folly, unkindnesse, that we have expressed by them.
Not resolving and striving against them, not improving all advantages for the avoiding and subduing of them.
Refusing to repent, though God has vouchsafed us time and means.6 Though light be come into the world, yet loving darkness rather then light. Receiving the grace of God in vain. Turning it into wantonness.7 Tempting, grieving, quenching the holy Spirit of God, whereby we should be sealed to the day of redemption. (Eph. 4.30)
Hardning our selves, by a custome and delight in sin, and by this means, Treasuring up for our selves, wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God.8
‘Tis here to be observed, that though these two sins be more immediately and directly against the Gospel, yet the other breaches of the Law before mentioned, are in some sense reducible also under this head, Evangelical obedience including Legal, as subordinate to it; and the Law being the rule of Gospel conversation. And for this reason I am the more brief upon this head.
We should here likewise remember that all these offences before enumerated, are but the generals and kindes of our sins. The particular acts of them being past our numbring. To all which may be added, our pronenesse to maintain, justifie, extenuate our offences.
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