innumerable ; we shall however confine ourselves to three :
1. The fitness of things requires it —
[No man can seriously think that there is one portion to the righteous and the wicked : there is no well-ordered government on earth where this is the case ; much less can we suppose it possible in the divine government. To imagine such a thing, is to strip the Deity of all regard to his own honour. We may be sure that there shall be a distinction made in favour of his servants''.]
2. The promises of God insure it —
[All temporal good is expressly promised to those " who fear God'^:" all spiritual good also is given them as their por- tion®: yea, all eternal good is laid up for them as their unalien- able inheritance^: all the promises are made over to them in one word^. Can any one doubt a truth so fully established?]
3. The experience of all that ever feared God attests it —
[Who ever found it unprofitable to serve the Lord**? What truly devoted soul was ever forsaken by him'? Who ever complained that the means, by which he was brought to fear God, were too severe? Or that any affliction, that in- creased and confirmed that fear, was too heavy? David indeed did at one time question the position in the text ; but on recol- lection he condemned himself for his rashness and ignorance, and acknowledged that his vile suspicions contradicted the experience of God's children in all ages*^.]
On these grounds we " assuredly know" the truth declared in the text —
[We do not stirmise it as a thing possible. We do not hoj)e it as a thing probable. We absolutely knoiv it as infal- libly certain. We are not surer of our existence than we are of this truth. Without hesitation therefore we deliver our messaged O that the word may sink deep into all our hearts! And that we might from experience unite our testimony to Solomon's™.]
We beg leave to ask, whether they who fear ?wt God, have any such assurance in their favour ?
[We are aware that they will entertain presumptuous hopes ; and that, in opposition to God's word, they will expect
c Mai, iii, 18. ^ Ps. xxxiv. 9. ^ Ps. xxv. 12, 13.
f Ps. ciii. 17. g 1 Tim. iv. 8. ^ jgr. ii. 31.
' Isai. xlix. 15. ^ Pg. Ixxiii. 12—15, 22.
' Isai. iii. 10, 11. "> Prov. xxviii. 14.