denying the Lord that bought them, and bringing both on themselves and their followers, a swift destruc- tion''." One of the most fearful and disgusting traits of such characters is, the boldness and confidence with which they propagate their errors ; professing to expect for themselves, and promising to others, impunity in " their pernicious ways." But, whatever they may dream of in relation to their security, " their judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not ^" In confirma- tion of this truth, the Apostle adduces many striking examples, which attest, that God will put a difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve him and those who serve him not.
The truths deduced from these records will form the ground-work of our present discourse :
I. God knows how to punish impenitent trans- gressors- He has inflicted terrible judgments on account of sin —
[Angels in heaven have experienced his wrath. Respect- ing the fall of the angels we know but little. But this we know : There were a countless multitude of angels, once as holy and as happy as any that are now around the throne of God ; but, on some temptation, they fell, and " left their first estate" of holy obedience, and for their wickedness were cast down from heaven, into a place of inconceivable horror and misery created on purpose for their reception, where they are "reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Their sin will in that day be made known before the whole assembly of men and angels, and the justice of God in their punishment be universally acknowledged. Their misery is not yet complete. God has seen fit to give them some- what of a respite, as it were, till the counsels of God respect- ing the redemption of the world shall be completely fulfilled : but then, together with the ungodly from amongst our fallen race, they shall receive their final doom. They are indeed yet continually adding to their former impiety, by labouring with all their might to frustrate the counsels of heaven in the salvation of mankind : and thus are they treasuring up continually an augmented weight of wrath, which at the ap- pointed season shall come upon them to the uttermost.
On
" ver, 1. ' ver. 3.