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I. Who are children of disobedience.

1. Those who are not only sinners, but stubborn, obstinate, and ignorant sinners; such as are prone to all evil, and are not only indisposed, but averse from all good.

2. This good is either to be determined by the light of nature or the light of the gospel.

(1) Wicked men are called "children of disobedience" because they rebel against the light of nature (Job 24:13).

(2) Those that have heard the gospel, and will not suffer themselves to be persuaded to embrace the blessed offers made therein, nor will they give up themselves to the obedience of Christ. Their condition is more terrible, for these are desperately sick, and refuse their remedy (1 Peter 4:17).

3. This obstinacy and disobedience is aggravated.

(1) From the person who is disobeyed. It is not our counsel, but God's.

(2) From the manner of the persuasion, which is by the Word and Spirit. In the Word there are the highest motives to allure, the strongest arguments to persuade, the greatest terrors to scare men out of their sins.

(3) From the plenty of offers. God hath called often and long: "He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1). It is dangerous to slight frequent warnings; these are obdurate in their sins.

(4) From the concomitant dispensations of providence. When our obstinacy and resolved continuance in sin is not broken by afflictions; as Pharaoh was Pharaoh still from first to last.

4. This disobedience, the longer it is continued, the more it is increased.

II. The misery of their condition. It is either matter of sense or matter of faith; of sight, because of present judgments, or foresight, because of the threatenings of the Word.

1. It is matter of sight, as God doth inflict remarkable judgments on obstinate sinners in this life, to teach His children to beware of their sins. These judgments are either spiritual or temporal.

2. It is matter of faith and foresight. And so by this wrath of God is meant eternal destruction, which cometh upon them for their disobedience, which is a sin of the highest nature, and a chief cause of their damnation. At death they feel the sad effects of it (1 Peter 3:19, 20).

III. Why this should deter God's people from being partakers with them. Here I shall inquire(1) What it is to be partakers with them.

(2) Why God's wrath should deter us from this?

1. What it is to be partakers with them.

(1) There is a principal sense, and chiefly intended here, that we should not follow their example.

(2) There is a limited sense of the phrase, "Neither be partakers of other men's sins" (1 Timothy 5:22). There it signifieth not committing the same sins, but being accessory to the sins of others.

(a)  By counselling (2 Samuel 13:5).

(b)  By alluring and enticing (Proverbs 1:10).

(c)  By consenting (1 Kings 21:19).

(d)  By applauding or flattering, and lessening the sin (Romans 1:32).

(e)  Conniving, contrary to the duty of our place (1 Samuel 3:13).

2. Why the wrath of God should deter us from this.

(1)  Because of the unpartiality of God's judgment.

(2)  Because of the greatness of His mercy.Use —

1. To show us that we are not to be idle spectators of God's judgments on others, but judicious observers and improvers of them. .Observe here —

(1)  The use of observing God's providences on others.

(2)  The manner of it.First, The use and benefit of observing God's providences is great in these particulars.

1. To cure atheism (Psalm 58:11).

2. To make us more cautious of sin, that we meddle not with it.

3. To humble us, and make us more earnest in deprecating the wrath of God, and suing out our pardon in Christ. We see sin goeth not unpunished. Alas! if God should enter into judgment with us, who could stand? (Psalm 143:2).

4. To make us thankful for our mercies and deliverances by Christ, that, when others are spectacles of His wrath, we should be monuments of His mercy and grace. Were it not for the Lord's pardoning and healing grace, we had been in as bad a condition as the worst (Romans 11:22). Secondly, the manner of making these observations. This is needful to be stated, because men are apt to misapply providence, and to sit as a coroner's inquest on the souls of their neighbours, and so rather observe things to censure others than for their own caution.Rules concerning the observation of God's providences towards others.

1. Certain it is that judgments on others must be observed. Providence is a comment on the Word, and therefore it is stupidness not to take notice of it. They that will not observe God's hand shall feel it. If we will not take the warning at a distance, and by others' smart and rebuke, there is no way left but we ourselves must be taught by experience. He that will plunge himself into a bog or quagmire, where others have miscarried before him, is doubly guilty of folly, because he neither feareth the threatening, nor will take warning by their example and punishment. Observe we must (Amos 6:2).

2. This observation must be to a good end; not to censure others, that is malice; or justify ourselves above them, that is pride and self-conceit, condemned by our Lord Christ (Luke 13:2-5).

3. In making the observation we must have a care that we do not make providence speak the language of our fancies.

(T. Manton, D. D.)

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KJV: Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

WEB: Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.