2. There is no remedy to be devised" —
[While we are in this world, our " knowledge and wisdom" may be applied with effect. There is a " device" for the restora- tion of God's banished people*^; and, if we be wise enough to adopt it, we cannot fail of obtaining mercy at the last day. But, if we neglect to use the remedy which is now afforded us, no other will remain for us ; nothing can ever be devised whereby we may alter, or avoid, or mitigate, or shorten our doom.
We cannot alter it. — When once the Judge has said, " Go, ye cursed," we can never prevail on him to reverse the sentence, and say, " Come, ye blessed." Noiv, though " we are under condemnation, and the wrath of God abideth on us*^," yet we may obtain reconciliation through the blood of Jesus, and be made heirs of a heavenly inheritance. But no such change can be effected in the eternal world : " as the tree falleth, so it will lie for ever."
We cannot avoid it. — We may " call upon the rocks to fall upon us, and the mountains to cover us from the wrath of the Lamb," but they cannot perform the friendly office. " If we should go up to heaven, or make our bed in hell, or take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, there would God seize us, and thence would he bring us" by his irresistible power, in order that we might suffer the just reward of our deeds.
We cannot mitigate it. — Here men may flee to business or pleasure: they may drown care in intoxication, and obtain some relief from it in sleep : they may shake it off in a measure by infidelity. But in the eternal world they will find no jovial companions to associate with, nothing to divert their thoughts, nothing to alleviate their pains : " wrath will have come upon them to the uttermost," and their misery will be complete.
We cannot shorten it. — Men in this world have one method (as they think) of terminating their miseries, namely, by suicide. A poor and fatal " device" indeed ! yet such as it is, they resort to it for relief. But in the future world even this refuge will fail them : " they shall seek death, but shall not find it ; and shall desire to die, but death shall flee from them^." Eternity will be the duration of their woe : " the smoke of their torment will ascend up for ever and ever."
How forcible then is this argument! If any " device" re- mained for them, and their "knowledge and wisdom" could be effectual for their relief, then they might be the more in- different about the improvement of their day of grace. But since " this is the only accepted time, the only day of salvation," surely they should " work out their salvation instantly with fear
<= Compare 2 Sam. xiv. 14. with Job xxxiii. 24. ^ John iii. 18, 3G. ^ Rgv. ix. 0.