Are you dying daily to the world, and living altogether as pil- grims and sojourners here, having your conversation in heaven, and looking forward to the second advent of your Lord as the consummation and completion of your bliss ? If you be not thus brought to live unto your God, you have not yet complied with his reproofs : and if you are speaking peace to yourselves in such a state, then are you hardening your necks against him. In words indeed you call him Lord, Lord : but whilst you do not the things which he says, you are still among the number of those to whom he will say, " Depart from me ; I never knew you, ye workers of iniquity " — ]
Having then seen the character that is described in our text, let us consider,
II. The judgment denounced against him —
What but destruction can await such a character, even " destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power ?" Yes, this is the judgment denounced against him ; and his destruc- tion, whenever it shall arrive, shall be, 1. Sudden — [Not unfrequently does God mark by some signal judg- ment those who have obstinately withstood his warnings and invitations. The Ante-diluvian infidels, who would not be re- claimed by the ministry of Noah, were swept away, as soon as ever their day of grace was ended; as were Pharaoh also, and all his host, when they proudly set themselves in array against the Majesty of heaven. Ananias and Sapphira were also made examples of God's indignation against wilful and deliberate sin. But though death should come upon us gradually, as it respects the body, it may, as far as it respects our preparation for it, be altogether instantaneous. The effect of wilful sin is, to harden the heart, and to render us more and more indis- posed for repentance. It also grieves the Holy Spirit of God, and provokes him to withdraw those gracious influences which he has hitherto vouchsafed. When delaying our repentance, we are apt to fancy that we shall in a time of sickness have such a favourable opportunity for spiritual exercises, as will abundantly make up for all the time that we have lost : but when sickness comes, we find that we cannot realize all our fond expectations : the state of our bodies perhaps unfits us for exertion : and the indisposition of our mind for holy things is become more deeply rooted, so that we cannot relent, or humble ourselves before God. The word of God, when we look into it, is only as a sealed book. The instructions we re- ceive, produce no effect. Even during their full enjoyment of