God a liarg." Even Job himself says, " If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me : if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse11." But possibly it may be thought that God will never proceed to extremities with all the human race ; and that, consequently, if we are as good as the genera- lity, we have nothing to fear. This, however, is a fatal delu- sion : for already is death inflicted upon all as the wages of sin ; and on all who die in impenitence and unbelief will his ulterior judgments fall, even the destruction of body and soul in hell."]
Application —
1. Let the ungodly, then, seek reconciliation with God —
[Indeed, indeed, ye have angered the Most High God, all ye who have lived to yourselves and not to him. But is there no way of reconciliation with him ? Yes, blessed be his name ! he has given his only dear Son to bear your sins in his own body on the tree, and to effect reconciliation for you through the blood of his Cross. Yes, and he has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, and commissioned us to pro- claim, that " God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." Happy are we, Brethren, to announce, that, however ye may have angered God in past times, ye may yet find mercy with him through the Son of his love. In the name of Christ himself, then, we address you; and in his stead we beseech you all, "Be ye reconciled to God1."]
2. Let the godly forbear to anger him any more —
[Though God will be merciful to his repentant people, he will not spare any who shall live in sin. No : he com- mandeth "everyone that nameth the name of Christ to depart from iniquity." And so far will he be from overlooking sin in his professing people, that he has declared, " His judgments shall begin with themk:" " You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities1." Presume not, then, upon your being in his favour, as though that would preserve you from his judgments : for I tell you, that of all who came out of Egypt, two only were suffered to enter into the land of Canaan : and the only evi- dence of real friendship with God, is the keeping of God's commandments, and the doing unreservedly whatsoever is pleasing in his sight™."]
e 1 John i. 10. h Job ix. 20. * 2 Cor. v. 18—20.
k 1 Pet. iv. 17. l Amosiii. 2. m John xv. 14.