nation of Israel had offended God, and were to be excluded from the promised land : but two individuals, who had with- stood the torrent of iniquity, were to have the honour and happiness of entering into Canaan. Now on the borders of that land the people are numbered a second time ; and after a complete survey of every tribe, it is declared, yea twice declared, that " not a man" against whom the judgment had been de- nounced, had survived. Thus it will assuredly be in the eternal world. Men are now told that the unrighteous shall not enter into heaven : but, because they constitute the great mass of mankind, they doubt whether the threatening will be exe- cuted : nevertheless, when a scrutiny shall be made of those who shall be at the right hand of God, there will not be found a man, no, " not a man" whom God in his word had consigned to another place. The " broad and frequented road will be found to have led to destruction ;" nor will so much as one have attained to life, who did not " enter in at the strait gate, and walk in the narrow wayc."]
II. That no outward privileges or professions will
save them —
\In this view in particular is the destruction of the Is- raelites proposed to our consideration in the New Testament6-. Their privileges were exceeding great, and they could boast of having experienced the most marvellous interpositions of the Deity in their behalf. But were they therefore saved ? Yea, was not God so offended with them, that he even " sware in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest ? " To what purpose then is it that we have been baptized into the name of Christ ; that we have his word in our hands, his presence in our assemblies, his promises on our lips ? To what purpose is it that we have " eaten spiritual meat, and drunk spiritual drink," at his table, if we are yet children of disobedience ? Were the Jews rejected for their unbelief ? So shall we be, if we have not that " faith, which purifies the heart." If " Christ be not formed in our hearts," so as to make us "partakers of a divine nature," " the labour bestowed upon us will be in vain." We must "live by faith on the Son of God," and "walk as Christ himself walked," or else we shall never find admission into his rest. Nor is it by " running well for a season," but " by a patient continuance in well-doing," that we shall attain eternal life. We must both begin well, and " endure unto the end," if ever we would be counted worthy of that heavenly kingdom.]
III. That the divine judgments, however long de- layed, will overtake them at last —
c Matt. vii. 13, 14.
d Jude, ver. 5. and 1 Cor. x. 1 — 6. and Heb. iii. 17 — 19. and iv. 1.