world ; and that all the efforts which are making for the enlarging of our Redeemer's kingdom, and which were sanc- tioned and aided by him whom we have lost, will yet be honoured with success. " The wall is to be built in troublous times:" " the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ :" and, though darkness should yet increase upon us, we hope and trust that " in the evening time it shall be light."]
But though God's counsel shall stand, we are not the less accountable to him for our actions ; nor can we doubt but,
IV. That however men may escape punishment in this world, their sins shall be recompensed in the world to come^
[To that tribunal David looked forward, when he saw that " the sons of Zeruiah were too hard for him ; " and he found consolation in the thought, that " the Lord would reward the doer according to his wickedness'^." It was a misfortune to him to have a subject so powerful, that he could set the laws at defiance. Through the goodness of God, the laws of our land are enforced ; and the atrocious act that has been committed has met vdth its deserved recompence. But there are sins of a less heinous nature, which are committed daily with impunity. Let us not however suppose that they will be unnoticed by the Judge of quick and dead. The vindictive thought will there be noticed, as well as the vindictive act ; yea, and the impure desire also, as well as adultery itself: for God will bring into judgment every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. Nor will there be any respect of persons with him. Now there is a kind of partiality in favour of the rich and great ; evils arc allowed in them, which, if committed by persons of the lower class, would be reprobated and abhorred : but the high and the low will hereafter be equally tried by the imerring standard of God's law, and be judged " according to what they have done in the body, whether it be good or evil." Let not the hope of impunity therefore encourage any man to sin; for God has warned us, that " though hand join in hand," (yea, though earth and hell should unite for the protection of any,) " the wicked shall not pass unpunished."]
k ver. 39.