Luke 17:26-27 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.… ? — I. WHEN DO LAWFUL THINGS BECOME SIN TO US? 1. When they become hindrances in our way to heaven, instead of helps as they were intended to be. 2. When our hearts are wrapped up in them. II. HOW WE MAY JUDGE OF OUR HEARTS, AND KNOW WHEN THEY MISCARRY AND OFFEND IN THE PURSUIT, USE, AND ENJOYMENT OF LAWFUL THINGS. 1. When our desire of, and endeavours after, worldly things grow strong and vehement and very eager and impatient. 2. When you have raised expectations and hopes of great contentment and satisfaction from your comforts. 3. When the obedience and willing submission of the soul is brought off to any worldly comfort, and the soul stoops to its sceptre, and the faculties, like the centurion's servants, do as they are bid. Such comforts which are slavishly obeyed are sinfully enjoyed. 4. When the soul groweth very tender and compassionate towards such a comfort, and begins to spare that above other things; then that becomes a lust, and lust is very tender and delicate, and must be tenderly used. 5. When the care, anxiety, and solicitude of the soul runs out after the comforts of this life, saying, "What shall I eat? what shall I drink? How shall I live and maintain my wife and children? what shall I do to get, to keep such or such a thing?" 6. That comfort which thou art not dead unto, neither is that dead to thee, thou wilt hardly enjoy with safety to thyself, or thou wilt part withal but upon severe terms. 7. If, after God hath been weaning us in a more special manner by His word and rod, and taking off our hearts from our worldly comforts, yet the strong bent of the soul is towards them, it argues much carnal love to them that we are not crucified to those comforts. III. WHAT ARE THE SINS THAT ATTEND THE IMMODERATE SINFUL USE OR ABUSE OF LAWFUL COMFORTS? I will confine myself to the sins in the text. 1. The first sin in their eating and drinking, etc., was sensuality. 2. Pride, ease, and idleness generally go together. 3. Security follows. (H. Wilkinson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.WEB: As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. |
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