Use. It reproves those that rest in Negatives. As it was said of the Emperor, he was rather not vicious than virtuous. Many men, all their Religion runs upon Nots. Luke 18. 11. I am not as this Publican. That ground is naught, though it brings not forth briars and thorns, if it yields not good increase. Not only the unruly servant is cast into Hell that beat his fellow-servant that ate, and drank with the drunken; but the idle servant that wrapped up his Talent in a Napkin. Meroz is cursed, not for opposing and fighting, but for not helping, Judges 5. 23. Dives did not take away food from Lazarus, but he did not give him of his crumbs. Many will say, I set up no other Gods; I, but dost thou love, reverence, and obey the true God? In the second Commandment, I abhor Idols; but dost thou delight in Ordinances? I do not swear and rend the Name of God by cursed Oaths; I, but dost thou glorify God, and honour him? I do not profane the Sabbath; but dost thou sanctify it? Thou dost not plough and dance; but thou art idle, toyest away the Sabbath. Thou dost not wrong thy Parents; but dost thou reverence them? Thou dost not murder; but dost thou do good to thy neighbour? Thou art no Adulterer; but dost thou study temperance and a holy sobriety in all things? Thou art no slanderer; but art thou tender of thy neighbours honour and credit, as of thy own? Usually men cut off half their bill, as the unjust Steward when he owed a hundred, bade him set down fifty. We do not think of sins of omission. If we are not drunkards, adulterers, and profane persons, we do not think what it is to omit respects to God, and want of reverence to his holy Majesty; to delight in him and his ways.
Use. It reproves those that rest in Negatives. As it was said of the Emperor, he was rather not vitious than vertuous. Many men, all their Religion runs upon Nots. Luke 18. 11. I am not as this Publican. That ground is naught, though it brings not forth briars and thorns, if it yeilds not good encrease. Not only the unruly servant is cast into Hell that beat his fellow-servant that ate, and drank with the drunken; but the idle servant that wrapt up his Talent in a Napkin. Meroz is cursed, not for opposing and fighting, but for not helping, Iudges 5. 23. Dives did not take away food from Lazarus, but he did not give him of his crumbs. Many will say, I set up no other Gods; I, but dost thou love, reverence, and obey the true God? In the second Commandment, I abhor Idols; but dost thou delight in Ordinances? I do not swear and rend the Name of God by cursed Oaths; I, but dost thou glorifie God, and honour him? I do not prophane the Sabbath; but dost thou sanctifie it? Thou dost not plough and dance; but thou art idle, toyest away the Sabbath. Thou dost not wrong thy Parents; but dost thou reverence them? Thou dost not murder; but dost thou do good to thy neighbour? Thou art no Adulterer; but dost thou study temperance and a holy sobriety in all things? Thou art no slanderer; but art thou tender of thy neighbours honour and credit, as of thy own? Usually men cut off half their bill, as the unjust Steward when he owed a hundred, bade him set down fifty. We do not think of sins of omission. If we are not drunkards, adulterers, and prophane persons, we do not think what it is to omit respects to God, and want of reverence to his holy Majesty; to delight in him and his ways.
