Outline 30.

(3.) Slow to anger. - Witness our being cut of hell.

(4.) Of great kindness. - Witness the dying Jesus, intreating ministry, sweet promises, alluring mercies.

(5.) Repents him of the evil. - Nineveh. No pleasure in him that dies.

APPLICATION. -

1. Ye careless. - There is need of much ado, heart work, rending of the heart. This is not so terrible as to be rent from all good, and from God. Soon will be rent from earth, and the soul from the body.

2. Ye mourners. - Dwell on God’s titles in the text.

3. Backsliders. - See Christ rent in the veil of his flesh. And see that of the temple.

4. Godly. - Mourn for others.

OUTLINE 30.

“Why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 18:31. INTRODUCTION. - Strange expostulation of God to man.

I. What danger there is of our dying?

From the word of God, experience of sinners.

1. Death is the wages of sin and impenitency. O cast away from you all your transgressions.

2. It is the consequence of not turning to God, verse 32.

3. It is that of an unregenerate state, (new heart, verse 31.) This consequence is natural, necessary; the gradation is sin, death, - sin, sickness, death, grave.

One, the least sin is killing, Adam, Sabbath breaker, Numbers 15:39; undutiful son, Israel unbelieving, disobedient prophet at Bethel, Uzza, Ananias, Nadab, Abihu, Asa, Herod, Corinthians, lying, &c.

II. What death we are in danger of?

Why will you be twice dead? Die with horror, and die throughout all ages? III. Enforce the expostulation of the text, Why will ye die?

1. “Sin is sweet” to a vitiated taste. Ask the unclean, passionate, drunken, pleasure taker, miser. Damnation is bitter.

2. “I fear a bad name.” People will suppose me to be mad, (Beelzebub.) What of that? When dead, God will give you a new name.

3. “I have married a wife.”

4. “I have merchandise to mind.”

5. “I will do as the rest of my neighbours.”

6. “I am loath to beg for life, and hope I am not in such danger as you say.”

1. Death follows sin as the shadow the body.

2. Why? - Will you imbitter your own death, hasten to it, and secure endless agonies, by refusing life upon God’s offers? Refusing the Prince of life, the ways of life?

3. Why? Is there not a Saviour, balm, promises, helps, warning? Some must, you need not.

Will you? - Let brutes, heathens, Turks, Jews, die: you need not. You that have the Gospel, means, baptism, precepts, convictions, reformation, calls. Will you, the house of Israel?

4. Why? - Is spiritual and eternal life odious? Can any thing be given you in exchange for your lost souls? Is it not enough that so many die? Is death so sweet a state? Will you deprive Christ and angels of the satisfaction in your conversion? Will you please Satan and evil men?

APPLICATIONS - Some of you will answer in a different way: “We will not die, - we want to live. How shall we escape death?” See your danger, cry for help, fly to Jesus, hide in Jesus, abide in Jesus. Live in him, who is the resurrection and the life. Touch not the poisoned cup. Eat the bread of life. Hang the scarlet thread. Be sprinkled with the blood. Live the life of faith, hope, and love. You need not die. See Jesus dying for you. See the promises of life.

Quickened souls. - Why should any deadness come on you? Why should not you triumph more in Christ’s life? Why should not you do more the acts of the living? Why do you not expostulate more with dying souls, and ask, “Why will you die?”