Lord, " Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn f."]
We cannot conclude the subject without recom- mending to all,
1. To beware of appealing lightly to God —
[It is grievous to hear how carelessly men swear by God, or use the term, ' God knoweth.' But, however light men make of such appeals, God heareth them ; and he will, sooner or later, manifest his indignation against all who so profane his holy name. Instantaneous displays of his vengeance are sometimes even now given, in order to check such impiety: but, if he bear with such persons for a season, in due time " their sin shall surely find them out" ]
2. To stand ready for the final judgment —
[This law has ceased: but there is another tribunal, to which all, whether male or female, married or unmarried, shall be summoned. Thither shall we be brought by our heavenly " Husband," " who is a jealous God, yea, whose very name is Jealousg:" and by his infallible decision will our eternal state be fixed. Think what must have been the frame of a woman's mind on the eve of her trial, when she knew herself to be guilty : must she not be filled with fear and trembling ? How then can any of us be gay and thoughtless in the prospect of such an ordeal as we have to pass ! We cannot but acknow- ledge that we are justly branded as " adulterers and adul- teresses11:" let us therefore confess our sins with all humility of mind, and wash in that " fountain which was opened for sin and for uncleanness."]
f Isai. liv. 17. and lxvi. 5. s Exod. xxxiv. 14. h Jam. iv. 4.