the city, and defy the threats of his adversary: for the whole city were pledged for his security. And may not the sinner, who has taken refuge in Christ, behold without alarm the threatenings of the law, secured as he is by the promise and oath of Jehovah ? From the city of refuge indeed they who had com- mitted wilful murder were brought forth for execution. But was ever one cast out who came to Christ ? Was ever one taken from that sanctuary in order that he might suffer the sentence of the law ? It is possible that through the remissness of the magistrates the rights of those privileged cities might be violated : but who shall violate the engagements of Jehovah? Who shall break in to destroy a sinner lodged in the bosom of his Lord ? God himself assures us, that " there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."
There is however a striking and salutary intimation given us, respecting the necessity not only of fleeing to Christ, but of abiding in him. If the man-slayer for one moment ventured beyond the bounds of the city, he lost his privilege, and became exposed to the wrath of the avenger. Thus, if after we have escaped, as we think, from the vengeance of our God, we grow insensible of our guilt and danger, and do not carefully, by renewed applications to the Saviour, abide in him, we expose ourselves to the most immi- nent peril : for, as " we cannot escape if we neglect so great salvation," so neither can we, " if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth: there will remain nothing for us then but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation to consume us." Our situation will even be worse than ever ; and " our latter end be worse than the beginning : for it would have been better never to have known the way of righteousness, than, after we have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to us."
Permit me then to address you all as in the situa- tion before described, (for none of us will presume to deny that we are sinners, or that, as sinners, we are obnoxious to the divine displeasure;) and let me