in which those holy men were Aae\ved by their contem- poraries; yet tliey were dear to God, and were saved by him with a great and glorious salvation: and so shall you be saved alsx) from your trials, whether they regard your temporal or your eternal welfare: nor shall so much as one thing occurj which shall not be ultimately over-ruled for your good.]
Express ye then your faith in God as they did —
[Fear to offend him. No doubt those holy men were sorely tempted at times to yield tu tlie solicitations, and to comply with the practices, of those around them. But they maintained their integrity, and walked before God in all good conscience in the midst of all the abominations that surrounded them. So then do ye : let your one concern be to serve and please him. Never forget that God is a holy God, and that he will ])iuiish iniquity : and *' though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished." Walk uprightly before him ; and none can hurt you : but give way to sin ; and none can deliver you.
Learn also to trust him. Neither Noah nor Lot had any human help. They trusted in God : and he was all-sufficient for them. Confide ye then in God, as they did. Bear in mind, that he is Almigh-ty to effect whatever will conduce to your welfare ; and that he is faithfiil to all his promises ; not one jot or tittle of which shall ever fail.
Finally, dare to serve him. " Fear ye not the reproach of man, neither be afraid of his revilings : for the moth shall eat him up." What if, through the aboundings of iniquity you be as singular as Noah was in the old world, or Lot in Sodom? it is not your fault, but the fault of those who will not serve God. Let the world deride your fears : they will ere long see who was right ; they who mocked at the impending judg- ments, or you who sought to escape them. Let them deride your hopes : the time is quickly coming, when they will wish that tliey also had entered into the ark, or fled to the moun- tain appointed for their abode. Be content to be derided now ; in certain expectation, that God will ere long " appear to their shame, but to your unspeakable and everlasting joy." Whilst they are laughing at you, or sleeping in their sins, " their judgment lingereth not, and their damnation slum- beretli n(»t." And, whilst you are faithfully adiiering to the service of your God, " the mansions in heaven are preparing for you ; and your Lord will quickly come to take you to the possession of them."]