of spirit I recommend to you : and, if only that be preserved, your joy can never be too exquisite, nor your praises too devout ]
Application —
[But do these congratulations belong to all of you, my brethren ? Must I not rather say to many of you, " Be afflicted, and mourn, and weepk?" Many, I fear, have never sought the removal of their judgments, so that " the wrath of God abide th on them to this very hour1." They are still, as much as ever, the bond-slaves of sin and Satan. As for union and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, they are yet strangers to it, and know nothing of " a life of faith upon the Son of God, as having loved them, and given himself for them." What then shall I say to such persons? That " they shall not see evil any more ? " No : I must rather say that nothing but evil is before them, both in this world and the next — an unholy life, an unhappy death, a miserable eternity. " O that mine head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep over them day and night m!" I pray you, brethren, see what mercies you lose, what blessings you despise. Were you but penitent, and believers in Christ, all the congratulations which we have been contemplating would be yours. The Lord grant that ye may avail yourselves of the opportunity now afforded you, and that " this day of grace may be the day of salvation" to all your souls"!]
k Jam. iv. 9. 1 John iii. 36.
m Jer. ix. 1. n 2 Cor. vi. 2.