The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningwere happy, though only in imagination, and that others are really happy for everwhile they themselves are excluded from any share in any happiness--this will cutthem to the heart.g. They must suffer the loss of God himself, who is the Heaven of Heaven. All goodthings are like a drop in the ocean in comparison with him. 'Whom have I inHeaven but thee' (Psalm 73.25). as if all the rest were nothing. If a saint went toHeaven this very day he would say like Absalom: 'Why am I come up from Geshurif I may not see the King's face' (2 Samuel 14.32). This will be the misery ofmiseries for the damned, that they must depart from God, in whose presence onlythere is joy and pleasures for evermore. They must see his face no more except asthey shall see it frowning upon them for ever. The good people sorrowed most forthe words that Paul spake, that they should see his face no more (Acts 20.38). Thiswill prick and wound sinners to the heart that they must see God's face no more,no more of his goodness, no more of his patience, no more of his mercy. WhenCain, who is a type of this, was turned out of and banished from the presence ofthe Lord, he cried out that his punishment was intolerable (Genesis 4.13).h. They shall continue utterly incapable of any alteration for the better. This makesHeaven so much Heaven, that it is always so, and likewise what makes Hell somuch Hell is that it is always so. In this world there is a door of hope, a day, anoffer, and means of grace, space for repentance, a Mediator in Heaven, a patientGod, and a possibility of being blessed. But once damned, the door is shut and it isin vain to knock. The day, offers, and means of grace are at an end. No room is leftfor repentance. God's longsuffering will suffer no longer. The mediation of ChristJesus is over. There is no possibility of mending one's condition. We should hearthe words of the wise: 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; forthere is no work (no working out salvation) in the grave, whither thou goest'(Ecclesiastes 9.10). Think of it, poor sinner, think of it in time before it is too late;for if you die in your sins, though you should weep out your eyes in Hell it will doyou no good. God will not know you nor hear your cry, but will laugh at yourcalamity and mock you in the midst of your torments (Proverbs 1.25 and 26).I have now briefly shown you the privative part of damnation, that wicked menmust part with all their goods, joys, peace, hopes, and good company, all of whichstood them in good stead in this world, and with Heaven. And what is more andworst of all, they must part with God himself and be utterly incapable of ever beingin a better condition. And what do you think now? Is not sin exceeding sinful, whichseparates man from all good, past, present and to come? If it were only from pastgood, what Adam enjoyed in Paradise, or only from present good, such as menhave in this world, it could be better endured. If the future and eternity weresecured it would be well. But sinful sin has cut off Paradise, so that none of us wereever in Eden since we came into the world; it has spoiled, embittered and poisonedwith a curse all present temporal enjoyments so that they prove satisfactions tonone but vexations to all. Yet of so spiteful and malignant a nature is sin that itreserves its worst until last, namely Hell and damnation. And it will be worse to usin eternity than it was in time. In order to make this still more evident I proceed toconsider the second part of damnation.38