Deuteronomy 30:19

“This day I call Heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live!”

However long a minister may continue with his people, he must part from them at last, and be summoned to give up his account of all his ministrations to them. Moses had now presided over Israel for the space of forty years; and the time was come that he must die, Deuteronomy 31:2. But before his death, he warned them with all fidelity, setting life and death before them; and, in the words which I have just read, he appealed to them, that he had discharged his duty towards them fully in these respects; and urged them to improve the privileges which they had so long enjoyed.

Let me call your attention to,

I. Moses’ appeal.

It is justly said of him, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, that “he was faithful in all his house, Numbers 12:7; Hebrews 3:2.” And, indeed, not even Paul himself labored under greater disadvantages, or persevered with more unwearied diligence than he. The whole of God’s laws, moral, ceremonial, judicial, did he make known to the people, enforcing the strict observance of them all (whether “commandments, statutes, or judgments”) on the penalty of death. The violating of anyone of them willfully and presumptuously, was declared to be such an act of rebellion against God, that nothing less than utter destruction was the punishment annexed to it, Numbers 15:30. On the other hand, he promised to them, that, if they were observant of God’s blessed will, they should live, and long enjoy their promised inheritance, verse 16-18. And so uniformly had he devoted all his time and strength to their service, that he could call both Heaven and earth to testify of his fidelity in executing the office that had been assigned him.

Let it not be thought that we would presume to institute a comparison between that holy man and ourselves. We well know how infinitely short of him we have come, in the whole of our personal and official character. Yet we do hope that we can so far adopt his Words, as to appeal both to God and man, that, during the years that we have ministered among you, we have faithfully, according to our ability, “set life and death before you.”

1. We have ministered the same truths unto you.

[In a young minister this kind of address would be inexpedient; but in an aged minister, who had spent his whole official life in superintending one congregation, it would be thought quite in character.]

In the preceding verses, Moses speaks particularly respecting the Gospel, which he had made known unto the people, “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in Heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into Heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction!” Deuteronomy 30:11-15

The exposition of these words is given to us by Paul, who tells us, that in them Moses spoke, not of the righteousness of the Law, but of the righteousness which is of faith, even of that very faith which Paul himself preached, Romans 10:5-9.”

And what has been the subject of our ministrations? You yourselves will bear me witness, that, from the very first hour that I came among you, “I determined to know nothing among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified, 1 Corinthians 2:2.” What Moses preached in types and shadows, I have declared in the plainest terms; showing, at all times, that “the moral law was a schoolmaster to bring you to Christ, Galatians 3:24;” and that the ceremonial law, in all its ordinances, held forth the Lord Jesus Christ as the great sacrifice, that takes away the sins of the world, Hebrews 10:1-10. Never, at any period, have we attempted to lay any other foundation than this, 1 Corinthians 3:11; nor have we ever hesitated to affirm the sufficiency of this to bear the weight of the whole world, Acts 13:39.”

2. We have too, according to our ability, ministered with the same fidelity.

We hope we may, without presumption, appeal to you, as the Apostle Paul did to the elders of Ephesus, not only that “We have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,” but that “we have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God; and are therefore, as far as relates to that, we are free, not from your blood only, but from the blood of all men! Acts 20:20; Acts 20:26-27.”

You yourselves will bear me witness, that, notwithstanding “the offence of the cross, which neither is ceased, nor can cease, Galatians 5:11,” I have at all times gloried in it, and exalted it as the only means of our reconciliation with God, Galatians 6:14. Nor have I ever amused you with speculative theories. No, I have preached the Gospel practically; and not in a cold and formal manner, but as a matter of life and death. I have never ceased to exhibit it with all its solemn sanctions; assuring you of life, if you would believe in Christ; and denouncing the wrath of God against all who would not obey the Gospel; executing in this respect the commission given to me to preach the Gospel to every creature, saying, “He who believes, and is baptized, shall be saved; and he who believes not shall be damned! Mark 16:15-16.”

Never, at any time, have I dissembled these truths, “I have never daubed the wall of God’s sanctuary with untempered mortar,” nor “sewed pillows to the armholes of my people,” to let them find ease in sin; never have I “spoken peace to you, when there was no peace,” or “promised life” in any other way than a total surrender of yourselves to God, Ezekiel 13:10; Ezekiel 13:18; Ezekiel 13:22.

And here I will mention one point, which, from the beginning, I have kept in mind without turning to the right hand or to the left. I have never perverted one passage of Scripture to make it speak the language of human systems. I have been anxious to set before you the “unadulterated word” of God, 1 Peter 2:2 and 2 Corinthians 2:17; and to let it speak for itself, without ever concerning myself what human system it either countenanced or opposed; having been “allowed by God to be put in trust with the Gospel, I have spoken, not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts, 1 Thessalonians 2:4-5;” and with the “utmost plainness” also, 2 Corinthians 3:12, “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,” “lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect, 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5.”

While, however, “we call Heaven and earth to record this day” respecting these things, let it not be supposed that we are not conscious of innumerable shortcomings and defects in our ministrations; for we are filled with nothing but shame and confusion of face in the review of them, God knows. But as far as respects the fidelity of them, we can, and do, appeal both to God and man, that, like Moses, we have faithfully and invariably “set before you life and death, blessing and cursing,” according as they are revealed in the Gospel, and as they shall be awarded to those who receive or reject the Gospel.

And now let me call your attention to,

II. The advice Moses founds upon it.

“Now choose life!”

A free choice is given to every one among you.

The Gospel is freely preached to you all; and you are all at liberty to embrace or to reject it. Almighty God is sincere when he says, that “he would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9.” Never did he reprobate any man, until that man had brought that sentence upon himself by his own willful obduracy. The whole Scripture bears testimony to this truth. If this is not true, how can we ever explain that solemn oath of Jehovah, “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he turn from his wickedness and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11.”

There is not a human being that is excepted from the invitations of the Gospel, or from its blessings, if he accepts them. “Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! for I am God; and there is none else! Isaiah 45:22.” And “him who comes unto me, (whoever he is, or whatever he may have done,) I will never cast out! John 6:37.” Moreover, the fault of rejecting these overtures is always imputed to the sinner himself, “You will not come unto me, that you might have life, John 5:40.” If any could have been supposed to have been reprobated from all eternity, it was the people who were given up to reject their Messiah, and to crucify the Lord of glory; yet over them did our blessed Lord mourn, saying, “How often would I have gathered you, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not! Matthew 23:37.”

That all have a bias towards sin, is certain; but there is no compulsion. That Satan also is permitted to tempt us, is certain; but he cannot compel any man. We are perfectly free agents in all that we do, whether it is good or evil. If it is said, that God “draws men,” it is true; but he “draws them with the cords of a man, and with the bands of love, Hosea 11:4.” And, if he prevails over the reluctance of their hearts, it is not by the exercise of an overpowering force, but by “making them willing in the day of his power, Psalm 110:3.” If he “works in them to do,” it is by “working in them to will, Philippians 2:13.”

I will appeal to every living man, whether he ever did good or evil by compulsion against his will? That he has acted against his judgment and his conscience, is true enough, and that in ten thousand instances; but against his will he never did. God sets good before us; and Satan evil; and, whichever we prefer, that we choose, and that we do.

Exercise, then, your choice with true wisdom.

The generality of people, in spite of all that we can say, will choose evil. It is in vain that we endeavor to allure them by the offer of “life,” or to alarm them with the threatening of “death;” they prefer evil with all its consequences; and therefore they do it; as God has said, “He who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death Proverbs 8:36.” But do not act thus. “Choose good;” “choose life; that both you and your seed may live.”

Of the beneficial consequences to yourselves you cannot doubt; for, who ever sought the Lord, and was rejected? “Who ever truly believed in Christ, and was confounded? 1 Peter 2:6.” Who ever “chose the good part, and had it violently taken away from him? Luke 10:42.”

Choose God for your Father; and he will acknowledge you as his children.

Choose Christ as your Savior; and “he will present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

Choose the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier; and “he will perfect that which concerns you,” and “complete in you the work he has begun.”

Choose Heaven for your inheritance; and sooner shall Heaven and earth pass away, than you be permitted to come short of it.

The very choice you make will evince that you yourselves have been chosen by your God, John 15:16 and 1 John 4:19; and “his gifts and calling are without repentance, Romans 11:29.”

And shall not this tend to the benefit of “your seed” also? Is it not a part of God’s covenant, that “he will put his fear in our hearts, for the good of us, and of our children after us, Jeremiah 32:39.” What is there so likely to benefit the rising generation as the piety of their parents? The force of good instruction is great; but when enforced by good example, it is almost irresistible. Children of pious parents, who have diligently instructed them, and “labored earnestly and constantly in prayer to God for them,” cannot sin so easily as others; or if, through the power of temptation, they are drawn aside after wickedness, they will, it is hoped, feel the remonstrances of conscience in seasons of sickness and reflection, and be brought home at last with penitential sorrow to their God. At all events, we have encouragement to hope, that “our labor for them shall not be in vain in the Lord;” and that, though in some instances we would fail, it shall be found generally true, that, if we “bring up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it.”

That I may enforce the counsel in my text, I would beg you to consider,

1. The alternative that is here offered to you.

It is not “life” or annihilation; but “life or death!”

It is not “a blessing, or a mere privation of good;” but “a blessing, or a curse.”

And have you ever thought what that “death” is, and what that “curse?” is? Oh! who shall declare what that “second death” is, in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone? Or what that “curse,” which shall be there endured? Were annihilation, or eternal sleep, the alternative—you would at least have the consolation of knowing, that you would be unconscious of your loss; but, as you must live forever, either in Heaven or in Hell, I entreat you to “choose that life,” which shall be “at God’s right hand, in pleasures for evermore! Psalm 16:11.”

2. The responsibility attaching to you for the privileges you enjoy.

Our blessed Lord said respecting his hearers, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin, John 15:22.” And may I not say the same to you? Doubtless, if you had the Gospel ministered unto you with less clearness and fidelity, you would have less to answer for, even as Sodom and Gomorrah had on this very account a lighter condemnation than Bethsaida and Capernaum, Matthew 11:20-24.

It is certainly a great comfort to a minister to know that “he has delivered his own soul, Ezekiel 33:8-9.” But it is a painful reflection to think, that the very means he has used for the salvation of his people, will in many cases only increase their guilt; and the word he has spoken to them, instead of being to them a savor of life, will only be a savor of death to their more aggravated condemnation!

Beloved, let me not have to appear in that day as “a swift witness against you,” but rather have to present you to God as my children, Isaiah 8:18, and possess you as “my joy and crown of rejoicing for evermore! 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20.”

3. The nearness of the final outcome.

Moses had ministered to his people for forty years; and it is now just about that time that I have ministered to you. How much longer God may be pleased to continue my labors among you, he alone knows; but, according to the course of nature, it cannot be long. Be in earnest, then, to improve the light while you have it, John 12:36.

Many who are gone to judgment would be glad enough if they could come back again to hear the invitations and warnings which they once slighted. And it is possible, that, when the present ordinances shall have come to an end, and the tongue that has so often warned you lies silent in the grave, you may wish that you had “known the day of your visitation,” and improved the privileges you once enjoyed.

Let us all “work while it is day; for the night comes, when neither your minister can work for you, nor you for yourselves.” May the Lord grant, that, while we are continued together, I may so preach the word, and you receive it, that we may stand with boldness before God, and obtain his plaudit in the day of judgment!

Charles Simeon (1759-1836)