It is a sign that we do not hate sin when we take not to heart the sins
of our land. 'Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell in the tents of
Kedar,' saith David; 'mine eyes gush out with tears because men keep
not thy law' Ps. cxx. 5. Lot's soul was vexed at the unclean conversation
of the wicked, 2 Peter ii. 7. But, alas! how do we come short of this!
The greatest number are so far from mourning for the abominations of the
land, that they rather set themselves against God in a most disobedient
manner, and press others to sin against him. Are magistrates of David's
mind, to labour to cut off all workers of iniquity from the land? Indeed,
for small trifling things they will do a man justice, but where is the tenderness of God's glory? Where are those that seek to reform idolatry,
Sabbath-breaking, and profaneness amongst us? Pity it is to see how
many do hold the stirrup to the devil, by giving occasions and encouragements to others to commit evil. Do we hate sin, when we are like tinder,
ready to receive the least motion to it, as our fashion-mongers, who transform themselves into every effeminate unbeseeming guise? Shall we say
that these men hate sin, which, when they are reproved for it, labour to
defend it or excuse it, counting their pride but comeliness, their miserable
covetousness but [thrift], and drunkenness only good fellowship?
To strengthen our indignation against sin the better, consider the ugliness thereof, how opposite and distasteful it is to the Almighty,
as appears in Sodom and in the old world. It is that for which God himself
hates his own creature, and for which he will say to the wicked at the day
of judgment, 'Go, ye cursed, into everlasting lire,' Mat. xxv. 41. Sin is the
cause of all those diseases and crosses that befall the sons of men. It hath
its rise from the devil, who is the father of it, and whose lusts we do whensoever we offend God.
There is not the least sin but it is committed against an infinite majesty,
yea, against a good God, to whom we owe ourselves and all that we have,
who waits when you will turn to him and live for ever; but if you despise
his goodness, and continue still to provoke the eyes of his glory, is a
terrible and [avenging] God, and ready every moment to destroy both body
and soul in hell.
... And to strengthen our indignation against sin, we should drive our
affections another way, and set them upon the right object. A Christian should
consider. Wherefore did God give me this affection of love? Was it to set
it on this or that lust, or any sinful course? Or hath he given me this
affection of hatred that I should envy my brethren, and condemn the good
way? No, surely. I ought to improve every faculty of my soul to the glory of the giver, by loving that which he loves, and hating that which he
hates. God's truth, his ways, and children, are objects worthy our love,
and Satan with his deeds of darkness the fittest subjects of our indignation
and hatred.
- Richard Sibbes (Josiah's Reformation, Sermon 2)
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