From the evil which they committed, we proceed to notice,
II. The judgments denounced against them —
Under the Jewish dispensation, the commands of God were enforced with temporal rewards and pu- nishments : but to us he holds forth rather such as are spiritual and eternal. Certain it is that God will put a difference between those who serve him, and those who serve him not.
He will do it in this world —
[The servants of God, as to external things, may be, and for the most part are, in a state inferior to others : nevertheless they have in reality an infinitely better portion than the greatest or happiest of God's enemies. " The very blessings of his enemies are cursed to them," so that " in the midst of their sufficiency they are in straits :" but the Lord's people have even their afflictions sanctified to them, so that they are enabled to " glory in their tribulations," and to " take pleasure in their distresses." They have " meat to eat which the world knows not of:" and so refreshing are their draughts from the Fountain of living waters, that " they never thirst again" for the polluted streams which this world affords. Their minds are tranquil and at ease, whilst " the wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest ;" they live in higher regions, where the storms and tempests of this lower world can scarcely reach ; and enjoy in the light of God's countenance a very fore- taste of heaven itself ]
He will do it in the world to come —
[O ! who can conceive how different from that of the ungodly will be the lot of God's servants there? The para- ble of the Rich Man and Lazarus will serve to give us some idea of it. Here the Rich Man's state appeared to have in it all that was desirable, whilst the destitution of Lazarus was extreme : but how different their condition there ! the one banqueting at the table of his Lord, and " drinking of the rivers of pleasure which are at God's right hand ;" the other wanting " a drop of water to cool his tongue !" the one exalted in glory on his Saviour's throne, and filled with a comjilete fruition of his God; the other " weeping and wailing, and gnashing his teeth," in anguish, which no words can utter, no imagination can conceive ! Verily the words of my text will then have their full accomplishment; and then shall every soul understand what is comprehended in this sentence, " Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry ; behold, my
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