lose those children which they had trained up in such impious habits ; and the children deserved to be cut oif from all further enjoyment of the privileges which they so despised. For the transgressions of their parents they might well have suffered, even as the children of Sodom and Gromorrha did : but their own iniquities richly merited the displeasure they experienced^.]
2. As a lesson to the world — [Truly in this dispensation were many valuable lessons contained.
It shewed that smaller acts of persecution, as well as greater, will be noticed by God. It might be thought a light matter to revile a servant of God ; but did God account it so in the instance of Ishmael? He " mocked Isaac," as professing him- self to be the child of promise, and the heir of Canaan : and for that sin both he and his mother were cast out from the house of Abraham^. This conduct of his is by St. Paul ex- pressly caWedi persecution, and is set forth as illustrative of the way in which carnal men still persecute the children of God, and of the everlasting exclusion from heaven which they shall suffer for their impiety^. St, Jude also, having declared that there wiU be "mockers" in the Church, tells us what fearful ruin they must expect from the hands of an angry God''. To all therefore who are disposed to deride either religion itself or those who profess it, we would say with the prophet, "Be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong',"
Another lesson which this judgment teaches us is, that young persons, as tvell as adults, are objects of just retribution. We readily acknowledge that the criminaHty of our actions is deep, in proportion as our light is clear, and our judgment matured. But we must not on that account imagine that God will take no notice of the evils committed by young persons : we have here an awful instance to the contrary. We are told in Scrip- ture, that a young person who shall despise his earthly parents, shall be visited with some heavy calamity '^i and shall God be so careful of the honour of earthly parents, and not be jealous of his own ? Shall young people insult him with impunity ? O let them not suppose that their youth is any excuse for their misconduct : for, if they are old enough to know what is right, they are old enough to do it: and " to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin^" On the other hand, if they will employ their tongues in praising and magnifying their Redeemer, they shall receive from him a rich recompence of reward'",
e 2 Chron. xxxvi. 16. f Gen. xxi, 9. s Gal. iv. 29, 30.
1' Jude, ver. 15, IS." ' Isai. xxviii. 22. i^ Prov. xxx. 17,
1 Jam, iv. 17. '" Matt. xxi. 15, 16.