2. Expect that God's dealings with you will be in perfect accordance with it —
[To all eternity will the declaration in my text be fulfilled. There will be no bounds to " the respect that shall be paid to the lowly" at the day of judgment. They shall be owned by that Saviour in whom they had believed ; and be placed on his right hand, as distinguished monuments of his favour. To heaven itself also shall they be exalted, as heirs of the Saviour's kingdom, and as partners of his throne for ever and ever. On the other hand, most tremendous will be the aspect of the Saviour's countenance towards the proud, impenitent, and un- humbled sinners. They have despised him, and all the wonders of his love ; and now, they themselves shall be banished from his presence with righteous scorn and contempt. They were too good in their own estimation to flee to him for mercy : and now they shall have no part in his salvation, nor any other doom than what their own works have merited. Would to God that the contemners of the Gospel salvation would consider this, ere it be too late ! The great and glorious " God willeth not the death of any sinner, but rather that he would turn from his wickedness, and live :" nor is there a creature in the universe
i Luke xiv. 11. g g 2
whom lie would not most gladly receive to mercy. But he will never depart from what he has spoken, that " whoso covereth his sins, shall not prosper ; hut that he who confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy."]