But those who have despised him shall be despised by him —
[Though they may be exalted among men, God will hold them in the utmost contempt. He will not vouchsafe to them so much as one kind look : but, on the contrary, in the hour of their greatest extremity, " he will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh." No consolations will he administer to them in a dying horn' ; but will rather hide his face from them, and shut his ear at the voice of their cry. And when they stand at his judgment-seat, he will bid them "depart accursed into everlasting fire," regarding them no more than the chaff that is cast into the oven—— — They will then indeed *' be lightly esteemed ;" for they will " awake to shame and everlasting contempt."]
Here then we may see,
1. What estimate we should form of lukewarm religion —
[That religion is most pleasing to men, which is regulated by the opinions of the world: but that alone is acccptal)le witli God, which is agreeable to the standard of his revealed will.
b John xii. 26. c Mark vi. 20.
d Matt, XXV. 34. Mai. iii. 17. VOL. in. K
He requires our wliole hearts ; and looks with utter abhorrence
iipon the kikewarmness of a Laodicean state'' Let us
then not be contented with serving God in oui" closets ; but let us confess him in the world : and let us not only serve him ourselves, but use all our influence to bring others also to a submission to his will. Yea, if all others should determhiately reject his yoke, let us say, " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."]
2. What alone we are to regard as the great ob- ject of our desire —
[" The honour that cometh of man" should be no further of any account with us, than it may augment our influence in ser\dng God. It is the honour which cometh of God that alone deserves our concern. To have the witness of his Spirit and the testimony of our own conscience that we are pleasing God, is worthy of our most diligent pursuit. That will comfort us, when all other soiu'ces of consolation are cut off". Moreover, the approbation of God will continue, millions of ages after that the breath of man's applause has vanished away. Let us then act to God, and live for God, and endeavour so to walk with him, that we may enjoy the light of his cou^ntenance : for " in his favour is life, and his loving-kindness is better than life itsellV]
^ Rev. iii. 15, 16.