[Were we to see men in danger of perishing in the sea, the most hardened amongst us would be moved to compassion : why then do we not pity those who are ready every moment to sink into the flames of hell? That they themselves are not alarmed is rather the reason why we should feel the more alarmed; because their foot will infallibly " slide in due time," and " the wrath of God will come upon them to the uttermost." Let " our eyes then run down with tears for them," and " our head be a fountain of tears to weep for them day and night." Let our efforts too be exerted to awaken them to a timely care of their own souls.]
2. To be on our guard against being influenced by their advice —
[Those who see not their own danger will be equally secure respecting ush, and will endeavour to lull us asleep by their confident assertions. But, if their presumption will not benefit themselves, it will assuredly not benefit us. The ante- diluvian world, and the inhabitants of Sodom, despised the warnings given them, and accounted them as idle tales : but the threatened judgments came at last, and the deceivers and deceived perished in one indiscriminate mass. So will it be at the end of the world1. Every tittle of God's word shall be fulfilled ; and therefore let those who would draw you back to the world be disregarded by youk. " Let God be true, but every man a liar."]
3. To be thankful if God has made us to differ from them —
[What reason had Noah and Lot to be thankful that they were enabled to believe the divine testimony ! And truly, if we are enabled to come forth from an ungodly world, and to enter into the true Ark, the Lord Jesus Christ, we have no less reason to be thankful than they. It is no less the fruit of God's sove- reign grace, than was the mercy vouchsafed to them. Let us then be increasingly watchful against presumptuous confidence, and all the delusions of our own hearts ; and, in an unreserved attention to all God's commands, let us " keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."]
h Ezek. xiii. 22. * 2 Pet. ii. 4—9. k Eph. v. 6.