[If your ministers must be careful in the discharge of their duty, so must you also in the discharge of yours : and if they have need to fear lest they contract additional guilt by the neglect of their duty ; so have you, lest you, by not paying due attention to the word, bring upon yourselves an aggra- vated condemnation. Capernaum, which was exalted to heaven in its privileges, was cast the deeper into hell for its abuse of them. Yea, even Sodom and Gomorrha will have a less severe doom at the day of judgment, than they will who har- den themselves against the Gospel of Christ. Remember, you too have entered into covenant with God : and you too have your proper offices to sustain and execute, if you will approve yourselves God's faithful servants. May you then know the day of your visitation ! and may we so preach, and you hear, that we may all rejoice together for ever in the great day of the Lord Jesus !]
Mai. iii. 1 — 3. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me : and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his people, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in : behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But ivho may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth ? for he is like a refiner s fire, and like fullers' sope. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver : and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
THE goodness and long-suffering of God are often made an occasion of profane derision and atheistical contempt. Because he does not instantly interpose to vindicate the honour of his injured Majesty, many will deny his interference in the concerns of men, and his determination to punish sin in a future world. We are assured that such scoffers will be found in the latter days, who will insultingly cry, " Where is the promise of his cominga?" And such there have been in every age and place. In the days of Malachi there were many who " even wearied God " by their impi- ous language : they said, that God delighted in the
a 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4.