from seeking his glory, as my text implies, it is in vain to hope that we shall have any part with him in the world above.]
2. An utter insensibility to all the wonders of Redemption —
[Among the ends for which our blessed Lord came into the world, one of prime importance was, " that we should not henceforth live unto ourselves, but unto Him who died for us and rose again." But the sensual life, which we have before described, is altogether foreign from this, or, rather, directly opposed to it. Shall one then " in Zion" be thus at ease? It would be bad enough for those who have never heard of redeeming love to rest in such a state ; but, for those who profess to have " come unto Mount Zion," and to belong to the Church of Christ, to be thus lost to all that is good, is an abomination that merits, and will assuredly be visited with, God's heavy displeasure. If we would dwell with Christ in a better world, we must " have the mind that was in him," and " walk as he walked " ]
3. An entire forgetfulness of the future judgment — [Could any man living on the borders of eternity rest in
such a state as is here described? What if we were to see a dying man immersed in carnal confidence, and sensual indul- gence, and selfish apathy; should we think such dispositions suited to his state ? Would not even an ungodly man judge it better for him to rise above the things of time and sense, and to have his mind occupied with the concerns and interests of eternity? Think, then, of an immortal being thus occupied; not knowing, but that, before another day shall arrive, he may be summoned to the judgment-seat of Christ, and receive his doom, either in heaven or in hell, for ever: is it not almost incredible that a human being of this description should be found? But so it is, even with the great mass of mankind: they " put far from them the evil day," and scarcely think of eternity till they are constrained to meet it with all its horrors. What, then, shall I say to such persons? What can I say, but " Woe unto them?" I am aware that it must appear harsh; and that it would be more pleasing to the generality, if we were to " prophesy unto them smooth things, and pro- phesy deceits." But we dare not do so. Our blessed Lord, when addressing such persons — even persons in Zion, who, whilst they "professed to know God, in works denied him" — repeated no less than seven times, in one short chapter, this solemn warning, " Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites !" and then closed his address with this terrible denunciation : " Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how shall ye escape the damnation of hellx!" This, by the way, shews us what is
x Matt, xxiii. 13 — 33.
1193.] god's condescension to prayer. 229
meant by the woe denounced in my text. Yes, it is nothing- less than " the damnation of hell" that must be the portion of such self-deceiving professors. I pray you, Brethren, be not satisfied with having it supposed that ye belong to Zion, whilst ye really " belong to the synagogue of Satan." To " have a name to live," will be an awful state, if ye be found " dead" at last. Indeed, if you would obtain the prize, you must " run as in a race:" if you would gain the victory, you must "fight the good fight of faith :" if ever you would have eternal life, glory and honour and immortality must, to the latest hour of your lives, be the one object of your pursuit.]