with indignation the impiety of those who cast off his fear, and walk after the imagination of their own hearts. Wliether their actions be more or less decent in the eyes of the world, it makes but little difference in his eyes, so long as they live to themselves, instead of unto him. He looks for them to repent, and " turn to him:" and for tlris event he waits with much long-suffering and forbearance, " not willing that any of them should perish, but that they all should come to repent- ance and live." If they would turn to him, he would lay aside his anger in an instant, and receive them to the arms of mercy. But, whilst they continue impenitent, he meditates nothing but to display towards them his merited indignation. With a view to their excision, " he whets his sword, and bends, with an unerring hand, his bow for their destruction." Could we but see with the eye of faith, we should behold the arrow, now already on the string, pointed at their hearts ; and nothing remaining, but that the string be loosed from his hand, to bring them down, and to cast them into everlasting perdition. For them, too, he is preparing the instrument of death, even of everlasting death : as it is written, " Tophet is ordained of old ; for the King it is prepared : he hath made it deep and large : the pile thereof is fire and much wood : the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it^." Happy would it be if a thoughtless world would consider this : for, whether they will reflect upon it or not, " their judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not\"]
This equitable discrimination will be rendered visi- ble to all,
IL In his judicial proceedings at the last day — Then will he approve and reward the righteous — [Here they are traduced, and loaded with all manner of obloquy: but there, " He, that trieth the hearts and reins'," will appear in their behalf, and vindicate them from the calumnies with which they have been aspersed. He vdll bear testimony to those secret principles of faith and love whereby they were enabled to live to his glory ; and then shall " their righteousness shine forth as the noon-day." All that they did for him in this world was misinterpreted, as proceeding from pride, or vanity, or hypocrisy : but he will acknowledge them as " Israelites in whom was no guile ;" and, in the presence of their now prostrate enemies, he will exalt them to thrones and kingdoms for evermore.]
But the wicked he will then consign to merited shame and punishment —
s Isai. XXX. 33. ^ 2 Pet. ii. 3. i Ps. vii. 9.
501.] god's indignation against the wicked. 31
[It is remarkable that the day of judgment is called, by St. Peter, "the day of the perdition of ungodly men''." Yes, here, for the most part, they escaped punishment : but there they shall all, without exception, meet a just reward. Where- soever they have fled to hide themselves, " his right hand shall find them out ;" and to his attendant angels he will say, " Bring hither those that were mine enemies, who would not that I shovild reign over them, and slay them before me." Hear how God contemplates the judgments that await them : "To me belongeth vengeance and recompence : their foot shall slide in due time : for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste .... If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment ; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh'." True it is, that these judgments have a primary reference to this world ; but they shew how inconceivably awful must be the vengeance which he will execvite on the ungodly in the world to come. Who can think of these judgments and not tremble ? for " who knoweth the power of his anger ? " and " who can dwell with everlasting burnings ? "]