[Men seem as careless and indifferent about their eternal interests as if they had notliing to apprehend ; or as if God had promised that the wicked should be received into heaven. But can they set aside the declaration that is now before us ? Or do they suppose it is intended merely to alarm us ; and that it shall never be executed upon us? " Is God then a man that he should lie, or a son of man that he should repent ? " O that they would awake from their infatuation, and flee from the wrath to come !]
2. How just will be the condemnation of sinners in the last day !
[Many think it a hard thing that so heavy a judgment should be denounced merely for forgetting God. But is this so small an offence as they imagine ? Is it not rather exceed- ing heinous? Does it not imply the basest ingratitude, the most daring rebellion, yea, a great degree even of atheism itself? And shall not God visit for these things, and be avenged on such transgressors as these ? Shall they be at liberty to abuse God's mercies, and God not be at liberty to suspend the communication of his blessings ? Shall they despise and trample on God's laws, and God not be at liberty to assert their authority ? Shall they say to God, " Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways ;" and shall God be accused of injustice if he say to them, " Depart ; ye shall never have one glimpse of my presence any more?" But if they ivill dare to open their mouths against him now, the time is shortly coming, when they will stand self-convicted, and self-condemned.]
3. How marvellous are the patience and the mercy of God !
[God has seen the whole race of man departing from him, and blotting out, as much as they could, the remembrance of him from the earth. His authority, his love, his mercy, are, as it were, by common consent banished from the conversation and from the very thoughts of men. Yet, instead of burning with indignation against us, and " turning us all quick uito hell," he bears with us, he invites us to mercy, he says, " Deliver them from going down into the pit; for I have found a ransom"^." O that we might be duly sensible of his mercy! O that we might flee for refuge to the hope set before us ! If once we be cast into hell, we shall never obtain " one drop of water to cool our tongues:" but " this is the accepted time ;" the Lord grant that we may find it also, " the day of salvation ! "]
^ Job xxxiii. 24.