133. JER 8:6. THE SOLEMN QUESTION ANSWERED
Jer_8:6. The Solemn Question Answered
By the Rev. William Nevins, Baltimore.
"What have I done?"’97Jer_8:6.
The person now addressed is supposed to ask: "What have I done?" and it is designed to answer this question. I shall consider the text as the language of simple inquiry; as the serious interrogation of a person willing to know what he has done.
I. What if you had done Nothing?
That is, supposing you wished this to be a plea for your justification, you would still be condemned; for you are required to do something, yea, much. If you have done nothing, you have broken, at least, one-half of the law of God. In so far as its positive requirements are concerned, you are guilty, according to your own confession. You have not loved God, nor glorified him in your body and spirit, which are his. It was for not doing, that the inhabitants of Meroz were cursed, and the unprofitable servant cast into outer darkness. To do nothing, when there is so much required to be done, is to do evil, to do wrong; and you need no more to ensure your condemnation. But this plea you cannot offer; for,
II. You have done Something.
It is impossible to compute the number of times you have acted and been exercised in the capacity of a moral agent. All these have been acts of obedience, or of disobedience. Each exercise has been right or wrong. They have met the approbation or displeasure of God.
III. You have done wrong.
You have acted unreasonably and unfitly, in opposition to those dictates of duty which come to you from within; you have disobeyed conscience; transgressed the law written upon the heart. You have not only sinned against your soul, but against God; broken his holy, just, and good law.
IV. Suppose you are convicted of one sinful Act, you are guilty, condemned, inexcusable, and undone.
You cannot answer for that one sin The divine law tolerates sin in no respect and in no instance. "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written," &c. See Jam_2:10; Gal_3:10. The angels only sinned once. Adam, by one offence, incurred the penalty of death. If one offence ruined them, is not one offence enough to ruin you? But,
V. You have done Wrong more than once.
Yea, so many times, that there is but one Being who can tell how many’97and he will tell, when "the books are opened," before assembled worlds. Some appear to think, that if their right doings exceed their wrong doings, they have nothing to fear. May the subject, or the child, break this law, provided only he obey that? Into what absurdity and folly, not to say aggravated guilt, will erring mortals plunge! Sin first infatuates, then destroys. But even were this ground available, you could not maintain it, for,
VI. You have not done more Good than Evil, more Right than Wrong.
The facts are against you. Your moral acts and exercises have been all of one kind, and all evil, all wrong. You may have acted agreeably to the revealed rule in some cases, but have never acted from right motive’97love to God; nor with a right aim, that is, to glorify him: "They that are in the flesh, (i. e., in an unregenerate state,) cannot please God." Then it appears, you have done wrong, and nothing but wrong. All the entries in God’s book are against you; and the obedience of the great Surety is not entered to your account, because you have not believed in him. So the case stands. And now consider,
(1) To whom you have done it’97to God, your Creator, Preserver, Benefactor.
(2) Consider under what circumstances you have done it’97circumstances of light and love; despite of exhortation, command, admonition, entreaty, promise, threatening, judgment, mercy; with heaven opened, to allure; and hell uncovered, to alarm you; with the cross full in view.
(3) Consider the evils involved in such doings- -presumption, rebellion, impiety, injustice, madness, baseness, ingratitude, &c. Then,
(4) Consider the consequences of having done so’97the guilt contracted; the tremendous wrath treasured up. Then consider,
(5) You have done so much, that you must do something more. You must act, not wait. You must act quickly the difficulty of the work urges you; uncertainty of life urges you. "Behold, now is the accepted time," &c. You must do, not what you choose, but what God commands. You are not called to make an atonement for sin, or to acquire a title for heaven; but to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Cease to do any thing for yourself, except cordially to trust Christ to do every thing for you. Now do it. He offers himself to you; receive him, and you are saved What is your decision? It is known in heaven’97it is recorded there.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS