31:22) (5.) And for those that have yet believed they were in his favour, this iniquity hath driven them to fear that G.o.d would cast them away, and take all his good things from them. (Psa. 51)
Yea, he that would know the hurt that iniquity hath done to them that name the name of Christ, let him consider the cries, the sighs, the tears, the bemoanings, the bewailings, the lamentations, the sorrows, the confessions, the repentings and griefs wherewith they have been attended, while they have complained that they have been put in the stocks, laid in the dungeon, had their bones broken, suffered the terrors of G.o.d, been distressed almost to distraction, and have been fed with gravel, gall, wormwood, and with the water of astonishment, for days, yea, years together. (Job 13:27; Psa.
6:6; Psa. 31:9, 10; Psa. 38:8; Psa. 60:3; Psa. 88; Psa. 116:3; Jer. 8:14; Jer. 23:15; Jer. 31:18; Lam. 3:4, 16; Ezek. 4:16; 2 Cor. 12:21) By all which, and many more which might be mentioned, it appears that iniquity is a dangerous and hurtful thing.
[SECOND, THE EXTENSION OF THE EXHORTATION--TO EVERY ONE THAT NAMETH THE NAME OF CHRIST.]
But I proceed, and come in the next place to the extension of the exhortation, namely, that it reacheth to all those that name the name of Christ. "And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
To handle this a little, and to shew you what the apostle here means by naming of the name of Christ: he meaneth not an irreligious naming of that worthy name, nor those that name it irreligiously.
This is evident, because he pa.s.seth by their manner of naming of it without the least reproof, the which he would not have done had the fault been in their manner of naming of the name of Christ.
Now I say, if he intendeth not those that name the name of Christ irreligiously, then, though the exhortation, "let every one," seems to extend itself to all, and all manner of persons, that any ways name the name of Christ, yet it is limited by this, to wit, that rightly, religiously, or according to the way of the professors of Christ, name his worthy name. And it must needs be so taken, and that for these reasons:
First, For that, as I said before, the apostle taketh no notice of their manner of naming of his name, so as to reprove any indecency or unseemliness in their naming of him; wherefore he alloweth of the manner of their naming of him.
Secondly, because the apostle"s design in this exhortation was, and is, that the naming of the name of Christ might be accompanied with such a life of holiness as might put an additional l.u.s.tre upon that name whenever named in a religious way; but this cannot be applied to every manner of naming the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man shall name the name of Christ unduly, or irreligiously, though he shall never so much therewithal depart from iniquity, and be circ.u.mspect to the utmost in all civility and morality, yet he answers not the apostle"s end, which he seeks by this his exhortation. For,
1. Suppose a man should name the name of Christ vainly, idly, in vain mirth, wantonness, false or vain swearing, or the like, and shall back this, his manner of naming the name of Christ, with all manner of justness and uprightness of life, would this answer the apostle"s end in this his exhortation? Verily no; for this manner of naming the name is worthy reprehension; "Thou shalt not take my name in vain," or vainly make use thereof: and moral goodness attending the so-naming of the name of Christ will do more hurt than good. (Ex. 20)
2. There is a reproachful and scandalous naming of the name of Christ, such as the Jews and Pharisees did accustom themselves unto, as to call him Jesus, the deceiver; and Christ, in a way of scorn and contempt. Nor were these men quite dest.i.tute of that which put a l.u.s.tre upon their opinions; for, said the Lord Christ himself unto them, "Ye indeed appear beautiful outward." (Matt.
23:27)
3. There is such a naming of the name of Christ as to make it a cloak for false and dangerous errors: that men, by the use of that name, and the putting of it upon such errors and delusions, may put off their errors to others the better. "Many shall come in my name, to wit, with their delusions, presenting them, in my name, to the world, and shall put them off, in my name, to the destruction of the soul. (Matt. 24:5) Now, can any imagine that the apostle should extend his exhortation to such, that they, thus continuing to name the name of Christ, should depart from iniquity. To what end should such be comprehended in this of exhortation of his? to no purpose at all: for the more an erroneous person, or a deceiver of souls, shall back his errors with a life that is morally good, the more mischievous, dangerous, and d.a.m.nable is that man and his delusions; wherefore such a one is not concerned in this exhortation.
4. There is a naming of the name of Christ magically, and after the manner of exorcism, or, conjuration; as we read in the Acts of the apostles. vagabond Jews, the exorcists, there say, "We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth." (Acts 19:13-15) Thus they called over them that had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus. But what if these should clothe this, their devilish art, and devilish way, of using or naming of the name of the Lord Jesus, with departing from iniquity, so as to commend their whole life to by-standers, for such: as is morally good: what advantage would Christ, or Paul, or the gospel, get thereby? verily none at all; but rather damage and reproach, as will soon appear to any man"s reason, if it be considered that goodness of life, joined to badness of principles is like the devil clothed in white, or Satan transformed into an angel of light. And Paul was grieved in his spirit, when the wench that had a spirit of divination did acknowledge him to be the servant of the most high G.o.d, for he knew it would nothing further, or help forward, the Lord"s design, but be rather an hinderance thereto. For when witches and devils come once to commend, or make use of the name of Christ, Christ and Paul like it not; therefore Paul"s exhortation, which here are presented with by the text, is not extended to any of the four sorts aforenamed, but,
Third, To those upon whom his name is called, they should depart from iniquity. I say those whom G.o.d has so far dignified, as to put the name of Christ upon them. (Acts 15:17) And I will add, that apply that name to themselves. And the reason is, because G.o.d is now concerned. (ch. 11:26) G.o.d has changed thy name from Pagan to Christian, and thou choosest to call thyself by that name, saying, "I belong to Christ." Now thou must depart from iniquity, for that notice is taken of thee, both by heaven and earth, that thou art become a disciple, and "let every one that" so "nameth the name of Christ," or that nameth it, being himself by G.o.d and himself put under such circ.u.mstances as these, "depart from iniquity." (1 Peter 4:16)
Fourthly, It is spoken to those that name the name of Christ either in the public or private worship of G.o.d, being themselves professed worshippers of him; and the reason is, for that the ordinances, as well as the name of G.o.d, is holy, and "he will be sanctified in them that come nigh him." (Lev. 10:3) He therefore that approacheth the presence of Christ in prayer, or any other divine appointment, must take heed of regarding "iniquity in his heart." (Psa. 66:18) Else the Lord will stop his ears to his prayers, and will shut his eyes, and not take notice of such kind of worship or worshippers.
Fifthly, Those that the apostle in this place exhorts to depart from iniquity are such as have taken unto themselves the boldness to say, that they are in him, abide in him, and consequently are made partakers of the benefits that are in him. "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked."
(1 John 2:6) And the reason is, because Christ is a fruitful root, and a free conveyer of sap into the branches; hence it is written, that "the trees of the Lord are full of sap." (Psa. 104:16) So then, he that nameth the name of Christ by way of applying to himself his benefits, and as counting that he is found of G.o.d in him, and so abideth, ought himself to walk even as he walked, that he may give proof of what he saith to be true, by bearing forth before men that similitude of righteousness that is in his root and stem: for such as the stock or tree is, such let the branches be, but that cannot be known but by the fruit: "ye shall know them by their fruit." (Matt. 7:16) So then, he that thus shall name the name of Christ, let him depart from iniquity: yea, let every such man do so.
Sixthly, This exhortation is spoken to them that name Christ as their Sovereign Lord and King: let them "depart from iniquity."
"The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us." (Isa. 33:22) [These] are great words; and as they cannot be spoken by every one, so they ought not to be spoken lightly by them that can. Nor may he that claims so high a privilege be but obedient, submissive, apt to learn, conscientiously to put in practice what he hath learnt of his Judge, his Lawgiver, and his King. Lest when some shall hear him say that Christ, by name, is his Lawgiver and his King, and shall yet observe him to do things evil, and to walk in ways that are not good, they shall think evil, and speak so of his King; saying, Learnt you this of Christ your King? or doth your King countenance you in ways that are so bad? or, do you by thus and thus doing submit to the laws of your king? yea, your King, his name and gospel shall bear the burden of the evil, together with the shame thereof, if thou that namest the name of Christ shalt not depart from iniquity.
Lastly, Whatever man he be that by his naming of the name of Christ shall intimate that he hath any reverence of love to, or delight in that Christ, whose name he nameth, that man should depart from iniquity, not only for the reasons that are above mentioned, but for those that may be named afterwards.
But having thus far opened the word, and shewed who and what manner of man the apostle had in his eye, in this his exhortation, I shall come, in the next place, to make some observations upon the text. As,
[OBSERVATION FIRST.]
That it is incident to men to name the name of Christ religiously, that is, rightly as to words and nations, and not to "depart from iniquity." This was the occasion of this exhortation, for Paul saw that there were some that did so; to wit, that named the name of Christ well, as to words, but did not depart from iniquity. Some such he also I found among them at Corinth, which made him say, "Awake to righteousness, and sin not." (1 Cor. 15:34) He found such at Ephesus, and cries out to them most earnestly, saying, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead." (Eph. 5:14) For albeit they were professors of Christ, yet they lived too much like those that were dead in trespa.s.ses and sins, This he also found among the Hebrews, wherefore he saith to them, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Heb.
12:1) These professors are easily beset with sin, yea, it did hang upon them as weights to hinder them from making of that profession of Christ, whose name they named, as beautiful as did become both him and them.
In my discourse upon this subject, I must endeavour to shew you two things. FIRST, What Paul means when he saith, "depart from iniquity." SECONDLY, Why some, that as to words, rightly name the name of Christ, do not "depart from iniquity."
The first of those doth need some explanation, because in some sense even the best of saints cannot depart from sin, or iniquity.
1. Because as to the being of it, it is seated and rooted in their flesh, and hath its dwelling there. Yea, it hath, and so will have an abiding there, so long as man is on this side that state of perfection, which is not to be enjoyed while we are in the flesh: "for in me, that is, in my flesh," sin dwells, (Rom. 7:18) nor doth any thing else but sin dwell there: "for in me, that is, in my flesh, said Paul, "dwelleth no good thing:" therefore the apostle must not be understood as if he intended to insinuate that there was a possibility that the nature and being of sin could be plucked up by the roots, and so cast clean away from us, as to the very nature thereof. No, that will abide with us, for it hath its dwelling in us.
2. And as they cannot depart from the nature, of it as such, that is, as they cannot be rid of the being of sin, so neither can they depart from the motions and stirrings of sin, no more than they can stir from the motions or stirrings of their natural senses, or of their natural reason: the motions of sin, which Paul also calls the l.u.s.ts thereof, will be where the nature and being of sin is, because it is not dead; for that which liveth, what manner of life soever it hath, will have motion according to the manner of life which it hath; and sin being one of the most quick and brisk things that are, it will also have its motions and l.u.s.ts accordingly. Hence Paul says, it l.u.s.ts, and will l.u.s.t, where it is and dwells; though the very Spirit of G.o.d and the utmost diligence of a Christian be also there to oppose it. (Rom. 6:12; Gal. 5:17)
3. Again, as the being and motions of sin will be with us, so also will it in its endeavours. It will endeavour to overcome us, and to make us captives to itself and to Satan; and these endeavours will be with us. (Eph. 6:11, 12; 2 Cor. 10:5; Heb. 12:4) Nor can we so depart from iniquity, as to be utterly rid of all sense and feeling of what endeavours there are in sin and iniquity to be master and lord, and reign. Sin will endeavour to defile the mind, to defile the conscience, to defile the life and conversation; and this endeavour, as endeavour, we cannot depart from; that is, cause that it should not be in our flesh; for there it will be, since sin in its being is there.
4. As the being, motions, and endeavours of sin will still abide in our flesh, so consequently will its polluting fumes be upon us; nor doth the apostle mean, when he bids us depart from iniquity, that we should think that we can so be, or so do, in this life, as that our being or doing should not smell of the strong scent of sin. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one."( Job 14:4) "We are all as an unclean thing, and" therefore "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." (Isa. 64:6) The scent, the smell, the rank and odious stink of sins abide upon, yea, and will abide upon us, when most spiritual here, and upon our most spiritual actions too, until they be taken away by Christ. Thus far, therefore, we cannot be concerned in the exhortation. For should Paul exhort us to depart from the being, motion, endeavour, and polluting fumes and scent of sin--I mean so to depart from them, as that there shall no such thing have place, or motion, or striving, or scent in, or upon us--he would exhort us to that which is altogether impossible for us to perform, yea, to perform through that working of the Spirit of G.o.d, which is to be with us and in us here. Yea, he must exhort us to that which be could not perform himself. But such exhortations did not stand with the wisdom of an apostle. Wherefore there is a certain meaning in this exhortation, from the which if we swerve, we shall both wrong the apostle and ourselves.
FIRST--Let us inquire then what Paul should mean, where he bids them "that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity." And for our better understanding of him, we must consider that there is an iniquity that is inherent in us, and an iniquity that is apart, and at a distance from us. Now if he means, as certainly he doth, that they that name the name of Christ should depart from that sin and iniquity that is in themselves; then, though he cannot mean that we should separate that from our persons, for that is impossible, yet he would have us,
First, Take off and withdraw our MINDS and AFFECTIONS therefrom.
And he tells us that they that are Christ"s do so. "And they that are Christ"s have crucified the flesh with the affections and l.u.s.ts." (Gal. 5:24) Sinful l.u.s.ts and sinful motions our minds and affections should depart from them. There are the affections and l.u.s.ts of sin; and there are the affections and l.u.s.ts, or desires of the soul; and again, there are the affections and l.u.s.ts of the new man in saints. Now this is that that the apostle would have, to wit, that the affections and pa.s.sions of our souls should not choose but depart from the affections and l.u.s.ts of our old man, and should be renewed and made willing to be led by the Holy Ghost from them. "This I say," says he, "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the l.u.s.t of the flesh." (ver. 16)
Wherefore, when he saith, depart from iniquity, if he means from our own inherent iniquity, then he must mean thus, take your mind and your affections off, carry your minds away from them, set your minds and affections upon other objects, and let your minds and affections be yielded up to the conduct of the word and Spirit of G.o.d, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the l.u.s.ts thereof." (Rom. 6:12) Now a man, in mind and affections, may depart from that which yet will not depart from him; yea, a man in mind may depart from that which yet will dwell in him as long as he lives.
For instance, there are many diseases that cleave to men, from which, in their minds, they willingly depart. Yea, their greatest disquietment is, that so bad a distemper will abide by them, and might they but have their desire accomplished, they would be as far therefrom as the ends of the earth are asunder, and while they are found to continue together, the mind departs therefrom, and is gone either to G.o.d or to physicians for help and deliverance from it.
And thus it is with the saint, and should be with every one that by way of profession nameth the name of Christ, he should depart from his indwelling sin, with his mind. "With his mind he should serve the law of G.o.d." (Rom. 7:25) And this is an excellent thing to do, and can be done by none but such as are possessed with an excellent spirit. Ah! to find a man that really departs from himself, and that draweth the affections of the soul, from the affections and l.u.s.ts of his flesh is rare thing. (Ezek. 11:19-21) The heart of the most of professors goeth after their detestable l.u.s.ts, and after their inward abominations. But such shall of the flesh reap corruption," notwithstanding they name the name of Christ. (Gal. 6:8)
Sin is sweet to him that is nothing but flesh, or that can savour nothing but what is of the flesh. (Job 20:12) Nor can it be that be that is such should depart from himself, his sweet self. (Rom.
8:5-8) No, they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; wherefore they that are in the flesh, though they profess religion and name the name of Christ, cannot please G.o.d; for such, instead of walking in and after the Spirit, have put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their faces, to hinder their departing therefrom. (Ezek. 14:7, 8) nor will all their inquiring of G.o.d, nor their seeking and praying to him, keep them from stumbling and falling, and splitting themselves in sunder upon the rocks and ruins that are provided for them, as a reward of the evil of their doings. (Job 14:16) Yea, they shall suck the poison of asps, and the viper"s tongue shall slay them, notwithstanding all their profession.
Question. But some may say, how shall I know that I do depart from the iniquity of my flesh, from the iniquity that is in me.
Answer. I shall answer this question briefly thus:
(1.) How is iniquity in thine eye, when severed from the guilt and punishment that attends it? Is it as separate from these, beauteous, or ill-favoured? I ask thee how it looks, and how thou likest it, suppose there were no guilt or punishment to attend thy love to, or commission of it? For if in its own nature it be desirable to thy mind, and only therefore shunned for fear of the punishment that attends the commission of it, without doubt thou art none of them that do depart from it; all that thou dost is, thou shunnest the sin, not of abhorrence of the sin, but for fear of the punishment that attends it. Like the thief that yet refuseth to take away his neighbour"s horse, not of hatred of theft, but for fear of the gallows.
(2.) How dost thou like thyself, as considered possessed with a body of sin, and as feeling and finding that sin worketh in thy members? doth this yield thee inward pleasedness of mind, and a kind of secret sweetness, or bow? for to be sure, where a sanctified mind is, there is nothing more; odious in itself, nor that makes a man so in his own eyes, as doth this sight, the sight of sin in him, of the working of l.u.s.t in him. (Job 42:6; Ezek. 16:63; Rom.
6:12) It is this that makes the good man ashamed, that makes him blush, and that makes him abhor himself.
(3.) How look thy duties in thine eyes, I mean thy duties which thou doest in the service of G.o.d? I say, how look the best of these, the most warm and spiritual of these, since not one of them can be performed, but they do catch the stain of sin, as coming from thee? or art thou through the ignorance that is in thee as [one] unacquainted with these things?
(4.) Why wouldst thou go to heaven? Is it because thou wouldst be saved from h.e.l.l, or because thou wouldst be freed from sin? I say, wouldst thou go to heaven, because it is a place that is holy, or because it is a place remote from the pains of h.e.l.l? I ask again, wherein dost thou think the blessedness of heaven consists? is it in the holiness that is there, or in the freedom that is there from h.e.l.l? There is not a man alive but would go to heaven, that he may be saved from h.e.l.l: but how many would go thither that they might be saved from the pleasures of sin, from the inward pleasure of sin; of that I will be silent, though surely they are those that are out of love with sin, and that do depart from iniquity.
Verily, my brethren, it is a great thing to depart from iniquity; it is a great thing to have my will, my mind, and my affections departing from it. But,
Second, As they that depart from iniquity withdraw their minds and affections from the l.u.s.ts and motions of it, so they depart also from the OCCASIONS of it; there are occasions by which sin worketh to bring forth the fruits thereof, and some seek those occasions.
(Rom. 14:13; 1 Tim. 5:4; Ex. 23:7; Prov. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:16) But he that hath set himself to depart from sin in himself, will not seek occasions from abroad to do it. Such a man as will keep far from an evil matter will not company with a person that pollutes and defiles, nor will he come near the door of the adulteress"s house; he will shun profane and vain babbling, for fear of the unG.o.dliness that attends it; he will walk with wise men that he may be wise, knowing that "a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
(Prov. 13:20)
Now there are occasions given and occasions taken to sin against the Lord Jesus; but he that departeth from iniquity departeth from them both. He is not for giving any occasion to others to sin; he had rather wrong himself and put up with injuries done, than give occasion to others to do iniquity; and as he is for giving none, so neither is he for taking any: he is for partaking of no man"s sins, but for keeping of himself pure. (1 Tim. 5:22)
Third, To depart from iniquity, is to depart from it in those EXAMPLES that are set before us thereto: occasions and examples are sometimes the same, but there may be occasions to sin where there are no examples thereto, and therefore in that they differ.
And to depart from iniquity is to shun and depart from those examples, those beastly examples, that in every corner of the country present themselves to men.
Examples to drunkenness; examples to wh.o.r.edom; examples to swearing, to lying, to stealing, to sabbath-breaking, to pride, to covetousness, to deceit, to hypocrisy, and to what not, are now-a-days common among men, and he that is to seek in this matter, and that know not how to be expertly base, may have patterns and examples thereto in every hole. But to depart from iniquity is to depart from sinful examples, to shut the eyes at them, to turn the back upon them, and to cry out to heaven for grace to be kept in the path of life. And, "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
Fourth, To depart from iniquity is to depart from the ENTICINGS of iniquity. There is that in iniquity that is of an enticing nature. Its pleasures, profits, honours, delights, and sweetnesses are enticing, and he that hankers after these is not departed nor departing from iniquity. A man must be weaned from these things, and must find some things somewhere else that are better than these, else he cannot depart from iniquity.