Let us next notice the question, II. As a solemn admonition —
Their fathers had been disobedient, and had de- spised the warnings of Jehovah : but they were. made to feel his righteous indignation, and to acknowledge that he had dealt with them according to their deserts0. In this view the question has the force of a most solemn warning to all who are disobedient to God's commands —
["Your fathers, where are they?" We will not speak of persons, but of characters. Of persons we know nothing: of characters we can speak on the authority of God himself. I ask, then, Can it be supposed that all who have passed into the eternal world are alike happy ? Are none saying, " Like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us?" Do we believe, or does any one amongst us believe, that God will put no "difference between those who serve him, and those who serve him not?" We cannot but know, that many, whilst they were living amongst us, gave no evidence of real piety : and that, as far as we had any opportunity of judging, or have any just reason to believe, they were never truly and savingly converted to God. Now, our blessed Lord has said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven d." Is this word true then, or is it not ? If it be true, where are they who have died in an un- converted state ? If not in heaven, there is but one other place in which they can be. In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we hear of the one as "carried by angels into Abra- ham's bosom ;" and of the other, that, immediately after his decease, he was "in hell, lifting up his eyes in torments." And such, we are assured, will be the condition of all in a little time, according as they shall be found at the time of death. I know how backward men are to believe this ; and how fondly we cherish the delusion, that all, on their depar- ture hence, are happy6. We will not even admit a thought
c ver. 5. d Matt, xviii. 3.
e In the writings of the pious Baxter, a fact, of which he was him- self an eye-witness, is adduced, as illustrative of this truth. A flock of sheep being frightened as they were passing over a bridge, one leaped over the side of the bridge : the rest, in succession, having no apprehension of evil having befallen him, followed the example ; and found not, till it was too late, how fatally they had been misled. Pre- cisely thus it is that successive generations rush into the eternal world, deceiving and deceived.