The justice of God in the damnation of sinners. Illustrated in a sermon

And without doubt there are those here present that have been in a great measure the means of other's damnation. Though it is true that it is determined of God who he will save, and who not, from all eternity, yet one man may really be a means of other's damnation as well as salvation. Christ charges the scribes and Pharisees with this, Matth. xxiii.13. "Ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering, to go in." We have no reason to think that this congregation has none in it that are cursed from day to day by poor souls that are roaring out in hell, whose damnation they have been a means of, or have greatly contributed to.

There are many that contribute to their own children's damnation, by neglecting their education, and setting them bad examples, and bringing them up in sinful ways: They take some care of their bodies, but take but little care of their poor souls; they provide for them bread to eat, but deny them the bread of life, that their famishing souls stand in need of. And are there no such parents here that have thus treated their children? If their children be not gone to hell, it is no thanks to them; it is not because they have not done what has tended to their destruction. Seeing therefore you have had no more regard to other's salvation, and have promoted their damnation▪ how justly might God leave you to perish yourself?

IV. If God should eternally cast you off, it would but be agreeable to your own behaviour towards yourself: And that in two respects: