Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

199

SERMON VI.

1 COR. xiij. 6, 7.

Rejoyceth not in Iniquity, but rejoyceth in the Truth:

Beareth all things,

H

Aving done with the Fifth Verfe, the Sixth Verse follows, which contains one Property of Charity more; She rejoyceth not in Iniquity, but rejoyceth in the Truth. For the right understanding of which words, we must first inquire what is here meant by Iniquity and Truth ; and then in what fenfe Charity is faid not to rejoyce in Iniquity, but in the Truth. As to the former of these, Iniquity is in this place to be taken in the largest sense for all manner of Sin, and not strictly for Injuftice, or wrongful dealing, as the word indeed most properly fignifies. In that larger fenfe is Iniquity often taken in Scripture; it is needlefs to 0 4

men

mention the places. And fo confequently Truth is here to be taken, not as it ftands in oppofition to Errour, or Falfhood, but to Sin. So then to rejoyce in the Truth, is to rejoyce in what is good, vertuous, laudable and agreeable to Truth, or the Rule of the Word. That Truth in this place must of neceflity be fo taken, is evident, because it could not elfe be opposed to Iniquity, as we fee it is. Thus is Truth taken, 3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that thy Children walk in Truth ; that is, that they do what is right and good; that they walk holily and unblameably. Now whereas the Apostle faith, that Charity rejoyceth not in Iniquity, we must understand it not of a Man's own Iniquity, but of the Iniquity or Sins of other Men, which we at any time either hear of, or obferve in them. Now we may rejoyce in their Iniquity two ways.

1. As loving it, approving of it, delighting in it, commending and applauding them for it. Thus many being very bad themselves, take great pleasure in the lewd and vile practices of others, loving their Persons so much the better, and taking fo much the

more

more content in their Company and Acquaintance; and likewife upon all occafions relating and making report of their wicked pranks with a great deal of delight and fatisfaction to themselves. This fome conceive to be the meaning of the Apostle in this Character of Charity. And 'tis certainly moft contrary to the Nature of true Love, of that Charity or the Grace of Love which the Apostle in this Chapter recommends unto us. For Charity would affect us with grief when we obferve the misdemeanours and wickednefs of Men. When Men fhall take delight in the Sins of Men, and Rejoyce when they do evil, as the Prophet speaks, Jer. 11. 15. 'tis a most convincing and irrefragable Argument, that they are utterly void of any true Love either for God or Man. If they truly loved God, how could they take pleasure in what he hath strictly forbidden, in what he perfectly hates and abhors, and is an abomination to him, in what reflects difhonour upon his Name, provokes him to wrath, and which he hath threatened to punish with everlasting Damnation? And if they had any true-Love for Men, how could they take pleasure in those their

finful practices which deprive them of God's Favour, derive upon them his displeasure, expose them to his fierce wrath and indignation, together with all the fad and difmal effects thereof both here and, hereafter?

[ocr errors]

Hence we may infer that whatsoever kind of Love there is found among wicked Men, grounded only upon their likeness to one another in Sin, and the affection they all have for the fame lew'd and ungodly practices, is so far from having any thing of the Nature of the Grace of Charity, which the Apostle here describes, that it much better deferves the Name of Hatred than of Love. For if I Hated any Man with the most rank and deadly Hatred, how could I more evidently discover it than by rejoycing in that, by applauding and encouraging him in that which will most effectually promote, and most unavoidably end in his Eternal Ruin? Let not therefore lew'd and ungodly Men please and flatter themselves in the Love they have for their gracelefs Compani ons, the mutual delight they take in the Society of one another, and the agreement there is between them in the like affection which they all have for

the

« FöregåendeFortsätt »