Ps. lxxvi. 7. Thou, even thou, art to be feared : and who may stand in thy sight, ivhen once thou art angry?
THERE is not only a generally prevailing notion that God is merciful, but the consideration of his niercy is with many a ground and reason for dis- missing from their minds all fear of his displeasure. But it is not in this partial view that the Deity is represented in the Scriptures of truth : on the contrary, the whole sacred records bear witness to
him as a God who is greatly to be feared. On many occasions has his indignation against sin and sinners been most awfully displayed ; as when, in one single night, he slew one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrian army, who had besieged Jerusalem and defied his power. It was probably on that occasion that the psalm before us was written : and in reference to it was this testimony given, " Thou, even thou, art to be feared : and who may stand in thy sight, when thou art angry?" To establish and confirm this sentiment, is my purpose at this time.
I. To establish it —
But where shall I begin? or where shall I end? Of course, it is but a very partial view of this subject that can be presented in one discourse. Let us, however, notice,
1. What God is in himself —
[If we contemplate his natural perfections, we shall see this truth in very striking colours. He is omnipresent, so that we can never escape from him for a single moment. He is omniscient, so that there is not so much as a thought of our hearts which can be hidden from him. He is omnipotent also, to deal with men according to their deserts. His moral perfections, too, are well calculated to impress our minds with awe. So holy is he, that " he cannot behold iniquity" of any kind without the utmost abhorrence; and so just, that he cannot but enforce on men the observance of his laws, and execute his judgments upon them for every act of disobedience : and so unalterable is his truth, that sooner should heaven and earth pass away than one jot or tittle of his word should fail. Say, then, whether such a God be not greatly to be feared.]
2. What he has recorded respecting his dealings with mankind —
[Behold Adam in Paradise : he violated the command which had been given him respecting the forbidden tree : and how was he dealt with ? The curse of God came upon him instantly; and he was driven from Paradise, and with all his posterity subjected to misery both in this world and the world to come. See the whole race of mankind after they had mul- tiplied and filled the earth : they had provoked God to anger by their abominations: and he swept them all, with every living creature, from the face of the earth, a remnant only in the ark excepted, by an universal deluge. Trace the Deity at subsequent periods; his judgments upon Sodom and all the