3. The aggravations of our guilt are greater far —
[We have sinned against greater tight than they. What knew they of the mind of God, in comparison with us ? The poorest person in the midst of us is better informed than they : and, consequently, our violations of duty are proportionally heinous in the sight of God. We have sinned, too, against richer mercies than they. What is their redemption from Egypt in comparison of that which has been vouchsafed to us from sin and death ? Theirs was by power only : but who can estimate the price that has been paid for us, even " the pre- cious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot n ? " They ate indeed of manna, and drank of water from the rock : but we have Christ himself, who is the true bread from heaven ; and we have the Holy Spirit, whom Christ pours out abundantly upon us, for the refreshing of our thirsty souls. They had the guidance of the pillar and the cloud ; but we have the word of God, which is both " a light to our feet in general, and a lantern to our paths," for our direction and preservation, every step we take. We have sinned, also, against stronger inducements than they. To them was promised the enjoyment of the land of Canaan, as a land flowing with milk and honey; and the loss of it was threatened as the punishment of disobedience. But heaven and hell are set before us ; even heaven with all its glory, and hell with all its inconceivable terrors : the one, as the reward of our fidelity ; the other, as the recompence of impenitence and unbelief. Say, then, whether the guilt of Israel can be compared with ours? and whether,, whilst we are ready to cast reflections on the Jews of old as a race of unparalleled impiety, we have not reason to acknowledge ourselves their equals, or rather their superiors, in iniquity ?]
But it is time that we descend from general views of this subject, to a personal application of it. Permit me, then, to ask of you individually,
1. What is your state at this time ? [You have seen what the state of Israel was : and you know, by the state of Caleb and Joshua, what it ought to have been. Now, has your state resembled theirs ? Are you " following the Lord fully ? " Have you searched out the Pro- mised Land, and brought from thence the grapes of Eschol ? and are you bearing your testimony before all, that it is the duty of every man to go up and possess the land ? Are you exercising faith in God, as able to put down your enemies, and as pledged to bring you into possession of your promised inhe- ritance ? Is there a wide difference between the unbelieving
n 1 Pet. i. 19.