Hell too combines with all the rest, and is opening wide its jaws to receive its destined prey. What the prophet said re- specting the king of Babylon, may be said to every impenitent sinner under heaven : " Hell from beneath is moved for thee, to meet thee at thy coming'." As in that instance " it stirred up the chief ones of the earth, and raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations " to exult over the fallen monarch, so those persons who were once our partners in sin, or whom by our example we hardened in their iniquities, will all come forth to meet us, that they may in the midst of all their own torments have the malignant pleasure of beholding and of aggravating ours. It is said, that in the last day " the angels will bind up sinners in bundles to burn them ;" and for this end, no doubt, that they who have been associates in wickedness may, by their mutual execrations, augment each other's misery to all eternity. For this all hell is waiting. We are told indeed respecting the rich man, who, lifting up his eyes in torments, desired that a mes- senger might be sent to his five surviving brethren, to " warn them, lest they also should come into the same place of torment :" but this was not from any love to them, but from self-love ; knowing as he did, by bitter experience, how greatly his own suf- ferings would be increased by the reproaches of those whom by his influence and example he had so contributed to destroy.
Know ye then, Beloved, that if David was in danger from the thousands who sought his life, so are ye ten thousand times more in danger from sin, which deceives you ; from the law, which de- nounces its curse against you ; from Sala?i, who arms against you all the hosts of hell ; from death, that is ever waiting to cut you down; and from hell, that is already yawning to swallow you up.]
Say then whether David's petition be not altogether suited to our state?
[To ^ Rom. v. 12. ' Isai. xiv. 9,
no PSALMS, XXXV. 3. [S55.
[To ivhom will you go for salvation, if not to the Lord Jesus Christ P Will you look to any efforts of your own ? Can you ever cancel the guilt of sin? Can you ever satisfy the de- mands of God's law? Can you ever vanquish Satan and all the powers of darkness ? Can you ever overcome death and hell, so that they shall lose all their terrors, and have no power over you? The hope of any such thing were vain : it is impossible: and if the whole world were combined to aid you, they could effect nothing. " Though hand joined in hand " throughout the globe, " no sinner in the universe could go unpunished °\" None can ever blot out one single sin, but He who made atonement for sin by the blood of his cross. None can silence the demands of God's law, but He who endured its penalties, and obeyed its pre- cepts, in order that he might " bring in an everlasting righteous- ness," and " make us the righteousness of God in him." None can " bruise Satan under our feet," but He who " triumphed over him upon the cross," and in his ascension " led captivity itself captive." None can divest death and hell of their terrors, but *' He who has the keys of both, and openeth so that none can shut, and shutteth so that none can open."
Go then to him for it i?i David's zvords ; " Lord, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." Offer this petition humbly : offer it earnestly : offer it in faith Never, from the foun- dation of the world, did he cast out one who came to him in sin- cerity and truth. If you plead with him in faith, all these ene- mies shall be subdued before you; and all your sorrows be turned into joy. See, in the prophecies of Isaiah, what your state shall then be : " In that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee : though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation ! 1 will trust, and not be afraid : for the Lord Jehovah is ray strength and my song ; he also is become my salvation"." Here you see that he will not only give you the deliverance you desire, but (he assurance of it also, saying to your soul, " / am thy salvation." Beloved Brethren, think what blessedness you will then enjoy. See it in David : " My soul, wait thou only upon God : f(»r my expectation is from him. He only is ^ my rock and my salvation ; He is my defence ; I shall not be moved. In (jod is my salvation and my glory : the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God°." He then encourages you to fcAw his example: "Trust in him at all times, ye people: pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge for usP." Thf? is the very advice which I would give also : " Pour out your hearts before him, and trust in him." For, what happiness can you possess in this ivorld, whilst your soul, your imn^ortal soul, is in such imminent danger ? If you were only, like David,