One hundred and ninety sermons on the hundred and nineteenth Psalm preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton, D.D. ; with a perfect alphabetical table directing to the principal matters contained therein.

Doct. 2. These proud are cursed. Or, Those that obstinately and impenitently continue in their sins, they are under a curse.

• 1. I shall open the nature of this Curse.
• 2. Shew how impenitent sinners come under this Curse.

First, The nature and quality of this Curse; or what is that Curse which lyes upon all wicked men? That will best be understood by considering that Scripture wherein the tenor of the Law is described, Deut. 27. 26. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And Gal. 3. 10. Cursed is every one which continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. Where there is considerable, the duty which the Law ex∣acteth, and then the penalty which the Law inflicteth.

1. The duty which the Law exacteth, Every one must continue in the words of this law to do it. An innocent holy nature, that's presupposed, for it is said the person must continue. It doth not consider man as lapsed, or fallen, or as having already broken with God. And then he must con∣tinue in all things; there's an universal, a perfect obedience, that is indispensibly required, while we are in our natural condition. And then the perpetuity, he must hold out to the last, if he fail in one point he is gone. All this is indispensibly exacted of all them that live under the tenor of this Covenant, he that doth them shall live in them; and the soul that sinneth shall dye. There is required perpetual, perfect, personal obedience. What will you do if this Covenant lye upon you, as it doth upon all men in their natural condition? If God call you to a pun∣ctual account of the most inoffensive day that ever you past over, what will become of you? If thou, O Lord, shalt mark iniquity, O Lord who shall stand? Psal. 130. 3. better never have been born, than be liable to that judgment. O therefore when the Law shall take a sinner by the throat, and say, Pay me that which thou owest, what shall a poor sinner do? This is the duty exacted.

2. The penalty that shall be inflicted, Cursed is every one that continueth not in the words of this law, to do it. The Law hath a mouth that speaketh terrible things. Cursed, it is but one word, but it may be spread abroad into very large considerations. In one place it is said, The Lord will not spare him. All the curses that are written in this book of this law, shall light upon him, Deut. 29. 20. The book of the Law is full of curses, and all together they show you what is the portion of an impenitent sinner. In another place it is said, Every curse and every plague which is not written in the book of this law, will the Lord bring upon thee, Deut. 28. 61. Mark, though it be not specified in the Law. God hath threatned sundty sorts of punishments, yet he hath many plagues in store which are not committed to record or writing; therefore what∣ever is written or unwritten, revealed in the word, or dispensed in Providence by way of plague and misery, it is but the interpretation of this one word, Cursed is he that continueth not, &c. However, because particulars are most affective, I will name some parts of the Curse.

1. This is one part of the cursed condition of a sinner that is under the Law, that the knowledg of his duty doth but the more irritate corruption, Rom. 7. 9. The commandment came, and sin revived. The more we understand of the necessity of our subjection to God, the more is the soul opposite to God. Sin takes occasion by the Commandment, as oppositions do more exasperate and enrage a waspish spirit.

2. This exaction of duty doth either terrifie or stupifie the conscience; he that escapeth the one, suffereth the other. Either men are terrified; indeed all sinners are liable to it; the con∣science of a sinner is a sore place, and the Apostle saith they are liable to bondage all their days, Heb. 2. 14. as Belshazzar trembled to see the hand-writing upon the wall; and Felix trembled to hear of Judgment to come; so a carnal man is afraid to think of his condition, and some are actually under horror, and wherever they go (as the Devils do) they carry their own hell about them. Or if conscience be not terrified, then it is stupified, they grow sensless of their misery, and are past feeling, Eph. 4. 19. and that's a very sad estate, and dangerous tem∣per of soul, when men have outgrown all feelings of conscience, and worn out the prints of conviction. These are the two extremes that all Christless persons are incident unto.

3. There's a curse upon all that a man hath, as long as he continues in his rebellion and ob∣stinacy against God; He is cursed in his basket and store, in his going out, and coming in, &c. Deut. 28. 15, 16, 17. A man is cursed in his Table, that becomes a snare; his afflictions are but beginnings of sorrows. It is a miserable thing to lye in such an estate. If the curse do not break out so visibly, sensibly, it is because now it is the day of Gods patience, and he waits for our return. But mark, Gods spiritual providence is the more dreadful: when God rains snares upon men, all the seeming-comforts which they have, do but harden them in an evil course, and hold them the faster in the bonds of iniquity.

4. There's a curse upon all he doth; his duties are lost, his prayers are turned into sin, his hearing is the savour of daath unto death, whilst he remaineth in his impenitency. It is said Prov. 21. 27. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination; how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? Though he should come in the best manner he can with his flocks and herds, yet all will be to no purpose, it is an abomination to God.

5. Impenitency binds over a man body and soul to everlasting torment, in time it will come to that, Go ye cursed, &c. Mat. 25. 41. They are only continued until they have filled up their measure, and are ripened for hell, and then they lye eternally under the wrath of God. Look as it is sweet to hear, Come ye blessed, &c. so dreadful in that day to hear, Go ye cursed, &c. Thus are the proud cursed, (that is, obstinate, impenitent sinners) while they stand off from God.

Secondly, Let me examine upon what score they are cursed.

1. Every man by Nature is under the Curse; for until they are in Christ, they are under Adams Covenant, and Adams Covenant will yield no blessing to the fallen creature, Gal. 3. 10. As many as are under the works of the Law, are under the curse, &c. Mark, every man that re∣mains under the Law, that hath not gotten an interest in Christ, the curse of the first Cove∣nant remains upon him; and accordingly at the last day he shall have judgment without mercy; he shall be judged according to the terms of that Covenant: for there are but two states, un∣der the Law, or under Grace; therefore while they are in a state of Nature, they must needs be under wrath. So John 3. 18. He that believeth not, is condemned already; that is, in the sen∣tence of the Law; there is a curse gone out against him; the man is gone, lost, condemned already.

2. This curse abideth upon us until we believe in Christ. The Sentence of the Law is not repealed, John 3. 36. He that believeth not, the wrath of God abideth on him. Gal. 3. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us, &c.

3. When Christ is tendered, and finally refused, then the sentence of the Law is ratified in the Gospel, or the Court of mercy. A Court of Chancery God hath set up in the Gospel for penitent sinners; but then it follows, This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men choose darkness, &c. When God shall tender men better conditions by Christ, and they turn their backs upon it, then is this curse confirmed.

USE 1. Consider how matters stand between God and us; examine how it is with you. Here let me lay down these propositions by way of trial.

1. Every man by nature is in a cursed condition, Eph. 2. 3. every man is liable to Adam's forfeiture and breach; the elect children of God, as well as others, are liable to the curse.

2. There is no way to escape this curse, but by flying to Christ for refuge, Heb. 6. 18. As a man would flye from the Avenger of blood, so should we flye from the curse of the Law that is at our heels. Wrath is abroad seeking out sinners; now, saith the Apostle, O that I might be found in him.

3. A sense of this benefit we have by Christ, will necessarily beget an unfeigned love to him; else we can have no evidence, but the curse doth still remain; and therefore it is said, 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha, accur∣sed till the Lord come, that is for ever and ever. How can a man think he shall be the better for Christ, that doth not love Christ, nor delight in him, and have no value for him? and therefore if you have not this love to Christ, it's a sign you have no benefit by him, you have not that faith that will give you a title.

4. This love must be expressed by a sincere obedience; for this is love to keep his Command∣ments, 1 Joh. 5. 3. and Gal. 5. 24. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the lusts thereof. They are not Christs, are not to be reckoned to him meerly that make a profession of his name, and with whom his memory seems to be precious; but they are Christs that testifie love to Christ. Do you perform duties for Christs sake?

USE 2. To press you to come out of the curse which cleaves to all impenitent sinners. O what a dreadful condition are they in! and how soon God may take advantage of this curse, and cut us off from a possibility of grace, we cannot tell; and at the last day this curse will be ratified. Therefore be sensible of the burden, come out of it; this is Gods end in shutting up a sinner under such a fatal necessity. Either you must perish for ever, or run to Christ. This should quicken us the more to fly to his mercy.

Thirdly, They are not only cursed, but rebuked: Thou hast rebuked the proud, &c. Observe: