2
Mar

John More (d. 1592) on Romans 2:4 (Homiletic Reference)

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism   in Romans 2:4

More:

Thus we have heard, good brethren, what we have to learn out of this sentence, it remains that we knowing it, put it in practice, and that we do not think it sufficient to come hither to sit here, and to lend our ears to the preaching to give it the hearing, and have yet notwithstanding no purpose of amending, but rather some hard heart still to continue in our sin, as we came: for assuredly if we do so, the eternal God will never suffer unrevenged such horrible contempt of his blessed word: it is an horrible abuse of God’s word, yea of God himself, when we so dally with God. Ye, if I that preach the word should think it sufficient for me, when I have told you God’s will out of his Word, and yet not apply it to myself, to reform my life after the same, assuredly I should answer that horrible contempt of God’s majesty before his eternal throne of justice. If ye shall then (good brethren) harden your faces against this word of God, and shake it off, and say still in your hearts, “For all this I will continue in my sin a while, and for this all his threatening I trust I am not so near death, but I may amend before that day come, let him say what he will, I will not yet begin,” then I testify unto you before the eternal God, that the master of the house will come in an hour when you least think, and give you your portion with hypocrites, where shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth [Matth.24:53.]: and then when would it is too late, alas ye cannot. If ye shall now abuse thus day of mercy, and God’s long-suffering that draws you to repentance [Rom. 2:4.], and like carnal beasts sting abroad, and kick up your heels against the Lord, violently throwing from you all godly admonitions, whereby he goes about to pull you to him [2 Pet. 3:13.], he shall come upon you like a fierce lion, and utterly consume you in your greatest pride, when ye least think: but I hope better of you, brethren, and good cause I have so to do, I thank God for it, I trust the Lord will work in our heart, that ye will not defer the time, but even now begin to turn to him, while he offers you mercy, and presume not of hereafter. Remember the five foolish virgins, that had no oil in their lamps, and yet for all that took no thought, but snorted and slumbered without all care, thinking they should have time enough to prepare, but alas they were deceived, for the bridegroom came suddenly, and those that were found ready enter in, and those jolly fools that deferred so long were shut out, and shall never enter in: for God’s sake, brethren, let these things enter deep into our hearts, that we may think upon them continually, and say always with that holy man, whether I sleep or wake, me think I hear continually sounding in mine ears, the trump of the Lord that says, “Arise ye dead, come to judgement”: let us always be prepared against that day, and always say in our hearts with the saints in the Apocalypse. “Come Lord Jesus, come quickly” [Rev. 22:20.], I am ready for thee, come when thou wilt: that our hearts may still long after it, and say with the Apostle, “I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee, Oh Christ [Phil. 1:23.]: otherwise if we shall defer it, and take our pleasures in this world, then also even the remembrance of death, Oh how bitter will it be to him, that has his heart upon the things of this world? It will nip our heart asunder to part with our goods, to part with our pleasures, and all because we have so long abused God’s long-suffering, and prolonged the day of our repentance, till suddenly we are taken….

John More, “The First Sermon. 2. Cor. 5.10,” in Three Godly and Frvitfvl Sermons (Printed by John Legatt, Printer to the Vniversitie of Cambridge, And are to be solde at the signe of the Sunne in Pauls Church-yeard in London, 1594), 18-20; [sermon 1.]. [Some reformatting; some spelling modernized; marginal references cited inline; and underlining mine.]

This entry was posted on Friday, March 2nd, 2012 at 9:50 am and is filed under Romans 2:4. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Comments are closed at this time.