both ourselves and others ; but it cannot invalidate the truth of God, or induce him to deviate from one word that he has spoken. He will say to us, " What I have written, I have written;" and " sooner shall heaven and earth pass away, than one jot or tittle of my word shall fail." If by disputing against the word of God, or even by casting it into the fire, we could put ourselves into a better situation with respect to it, there would be some excuse for us: but we may as well immure ourselves in a dungeon, and deny the existence of the sun : the sun would still shine, though we should not choose to see it ; and would still cheer the hearts of those who felt its refreshing beams, though we excluded ourselves from any participation of its genial influence. So will all the great doctrines of the Gospel continue, though we should shut our eyes against them: "the Scripture cannot be broken;" nor "can our unbelief make the faith of God of no effect11." Every thing- else is " as grass, which wi there th and falleth away; but the word of the Lord endureth for ever: and this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you1."]
2. We cannot prevent the execution of one threat- ening—
[We are very apt to deceive ourselves in relation to this; and to think, that our unbelief will be an excuse for our dis- obedience. But error is not innocent, especially when it is wilful : much less can it induce God to reverse all the judg- ments which he has denounced against sin and sinners. Let us look to fact. The antediluvians scoffed at Noah, and at all his warnings respecting the approaching deluge : but did the deluge not come? or did they escape when the time for executing the threatened judgment was arrived? " Ahab hated and imprisoned Micaiah for not speaking good con- cerning him, but evil;" and ordered him to be fed " with the bread of affliction and the water of affliction, till he should return from the war in peace." But did he return in peace ? Did he survive the battle, in which Micaiah had told him he should die? Did his determined opposition to the word of God screen him from the predicted vengeance ? Thus will it be with all who disbelieve the sacred records : they will learn too late by their own experience, what they would not be- lieve upon the testimony of God : dying in unregeneracy and unbelief, they will be excluded from the kingdom of heaven, and " the wrath of God will abide upon themk." O the folly and madness of plunging ourselves into everlasting misery, when, if we would but turn unto the Lord, we might secure the everlasting enjoyment of his kingdom and glory!]
* Rom. iii. 3. J 1 Pet. i. 24, 25. k John iii. 3, 36.