[No one who could form the least idea what " a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God" would despise his threatenings. But there is a vague notion in the minds of men, that God will never execute them. Thus David de- scribes these poor deluded men : " The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God : God is not in all his thoughts : Thy ways are always grievous : thy judgments are far above, out of Ins sight : as for all his enemies, he puffeth at themd." Would it be right for God to bear such an indignity as this?]
3. As altogether unworthy of any serious regard —
[Were the mind duly impressed with any of the perfec- tions of the Deity, we could not possibly treat him with such contempt. His power and majesty would awe us into fear; his love and mercy would engage our admiration : and though we might still be far from that entire submission to his will which he requires, it would not be possible for us to set our- selves in array against him, and to " run upon the thick bosses of his buckler e."
Conceive, then, of a creature thus rising against his Creator, and you will readily see why presumptuous sin should be thus severely punished.]
But let us proceed to mark, II. The still greater danger of it under the Gospel —
True it is, that under the Gospel we have a sacrifice for presumptuous sins as well as others: but if the Gospel be the object of our contemptuous disregard, we cannot possibly be saved, but must perish under a most accumulated condemnation.
1. Because a contempt of the Gospel is in itself more heinous than a contempt of the Law —
[The Law contained innumerable ordinances, the reason of which, few, if any, could comprehend: and St. Paul, in comparison of the Gospel, calls them " weak and beggarly elements." But the Gospel is the most perfect display of God's wisdom and goodness that ever he revealed to mortal man. It exhibits the works and offices of the Lord Jesus Christ, together with the gracious influences of the Spirit : and, if they be despised by us, there can be no hope. For thus saith the Lord : " He that despised Moses' Law, died without mercy, under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of
d Ps. x. 4, 5. e Job xv. 25, 26.