Reflections —
1. On what a slender foundation are the hopes of the generality fixed !
[A strange idea pervades the great mass of the Christian world, that God will relax somewhat of his demands, and for- bear to act agreeably to the strict tenour of his word : and, when we urge upon their consciences the strictness of his precepts, or the awfulness of his threatenings, they reply, ' God is too merciful to act thus ; we have no fear, but that he will relax somewhat of these things in the day of judgment.' Thus they hope that God's purposes shall change ; and they contentedly rest their everlasting salvation on this ground. What an amazing infatuation is this ! O, beloved, think well, ere you determine to venture your everlasting happiness on such a pre- sumption as this. Know that, in so doing, you absolutely bar heaven against yourselves ; and render it impossible for God himself to save you. True, he can work faith in your hearts ; but he can never save you in unbelief: " he cannot deny him- self;" and if you will not seek him in his appointed way of faith
g 1 Pet. ii. 7 — 9. The words in italics, ver. 8. should be omitted, and the word O'l be translated These. Then the contrast observable in that whole passage will be complete. There is a double antithesis :
'Yfilr ovv nicTTEvovcny — awudovm ce — o'l ■KporjKOTZ'Ovai — v^elc
^e . See Doddridge's note on the place.
h lCor.vi.9, Johniii.3,5. ■ Prov.i. 24— 31. Ezek.xxiv. 13, 14.