2. Abide not in unbelief —
[God has provided a Saviour for you, even his only dear Son; who_has, by his own obedience unto death, effected a re- conciliation for you; and " has committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation;" so that we are not only authorized, but commanded, to say to all of you, without exception, "" Be ye reconciled to God1." He has illustrated this to you in his word, by the appointment of cities of refuge for those who by any accident should slay a man. The very instant he should get within the gates of any one of these cities, he was safe ; and the pursuer of blood, however enraged, could not get at him to hurt himm. And who shall sustain any hurt, that flees to Christ for refuge ? No : in him you will be safe. Once found in him, you have nothing to fear. You are as safe in him as you would be in heaven itself". To every one of you, then, I give this counsel from the Lord : " Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indigna- tion be overpast0."]
3. Abide not in a proud defiance of your God —
[There were, in the days of old, some who, in answer to God's threatenings, said, " Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it ; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know itp." And such there are amongst ourselves, who, in reply to all that we say, exclaim, " Ah, Lord God, doth he not speak parables0-?" But indeed, my dear brethren, God's patience will have an end ; and the very exercise of it will only aggravate our con- demnation, if it do not " prevail to lead us to repentance1." Be persuaded that God's description of himself, in the words of our text, will be found true at the last. He is indeed " a consuming fires:" and " can your heart endure, or your hands be strong, in the day that he shall deal with you*?" " Have you an arm like God ? and can you thunder with a voice like himu?" No: it is in vain to contend with God: for " who shall set briers and thorns against him in battle ? He will go through them, and burn them up together x." Verily, " it will be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Gody." Be convinced of this ; and " to-day, while it is called to-day," implore mercy at his hands : so shall you find, that " he will pardon your iniquity, and pass by the transgression of the
1 2 Cor. v. 18—20. m Numb. xxxv. 9 — 25.
n Heb. vi. 17, 18. Rom. viii. 1. ° Isai. xxvi. 20.
P Isai. v. 19. <J Ezek. xx. 49. r Rom. ii. 4 — 6.
s Heb. xii. 29. * Ezek. xxii. 14. u Job xl. 9. x Isai. xxvii. 4. y Heb. x. 31.