Let us yet further contemplate the inscrutableness of God's ways, III. In the final issue of all things —
How tremendous will be the difference between the states of different men !
[View heaven and all its glory, and hell with all its misery; and consider that both the one and the other will be eternal: and then consider how short the period of time is in which any man is preparing for the one or the other of these states ; and how small the distance between their real characters, if estimated by the common standard of the world Above all, con- template the youth, who thought he had fulfilled the whole Law from his earliest youth, cast out; and the dying thief, who spent his whole life, even to his latest hour, in sin, exalted to glory !]
Is there nothing mysterious in this ?
[Truly, we must acknowledge that these things utterly pass all human comprehension. We are sure that "the Judge of all will do right," and that the day of judgment is especially appointed " for the revelation of the righteous judgment of God0 :" but we must wait till he shall be pleased to throw the true light upon his own mysterious ways, and to take the veil from our hearts, that we may be able to comprehend them.]
Surely from this subject we may learn,
1. Submission —
[Your trials, I will suppose, are great. But are they
greater than your desert of punishment ? or do you
know all the gracious designs which God has to accomplish
by them? " Be still, then, and know that he is God:"
and, under the most grievous affliction that can come upon you, learn to say, " It is the Lord ; let him do what seemeth him good " ]
2. Gratitude —
[Look back upon the ways of God ; and, however you may have been disposed at the time to say, " All these things are against me," say whether you have not found that he has brought good out of evil, and given you reason to acknowledge, that his judgments were mercies in disguise? Were you left to your- selves, you would choose nothing but what should be pleasing to flesh and blood : but God consults your best interests, and deals with you, not according to your wishes, but according to your necessities. Be thankful then to him, for having acted towards you as a wise and loving parent, who has withheld nothing that was good for you : and if at any time he have
0 Rom. ii. 5.