which he has made ; and the Avhole of the liuman race are up in arms against him. His authority is ahogether despised. Let any one attempt to impress on men the obedience which they owe to God, how will he be regarded ? What will he meet with from every quarter but ridicule and conteaipt? I . speak not of the liberty which by courtesy is allowed to Mi- nisters in the discharge of their public duty, but of expostu- lations or introaties in social life : and who is there that knows not how such a liberty w'ould be resented? Nor would it give offence only amongst the profligate and abandoned, but amongst the more moral and decent part of the community: nothing more need be done than to exalt God's law as the rule of our conduct, and his authority as paramount to every other consideration, and it will soon be seen how entirely all subjection to him is cast off, and man is become a god unto himself. The same efi^ect Avill be produced if we speak of the love and mercy of our God. Let us declare to those around us what God has done for the redemption of a ruined world ; let us invite them to believe in Christ, to apply to him for the gift of his Holy Spirit, to live in the continual exercise of prayer and praise ; shall we be a whit more acceptable to carnal men, than when calling them to submit to the com- mands of God? No: the language of their hearts is, There is "no God" to controul vis'^; or, if there be, we will not submit to him: " We know not the Lord, neither will we obey his voice ^" And as for his Son, whom you represent as sent to gather in the fruits of his inheritance, " let us cast him out," and live in the undisturbed enjoyment of our own hearts' lusts.
Now who that considers this must not blush, and be con- founded for the indignities which are cast upon his God? How can we reflect upon it a moment, and not wonder, that the whole earth is not swallowed up again with an imiversal deluge, or burnt up with fire as Sodom and Gomorrha?
But it is delightful to know, that a period is coming, when " God will tajve to him his great power and reign," fi-om one end of the earth even to the other. In this contemplation our minds find some relief Our God shall not always be thus dishonoured : his authority shall one day be universally acknowledged, and his will be universally obeyed. The mys- teries of his love also shall be duly appreciated, and all the wonders of his grace be extolled on earth even as they are in he iveii. Well might the four and twenty elders, the repre- sentatives of the whole body of the redeemed, " fall down and worship God " in the prospect of this time, " saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned."]
2. As ''Ps. xiv, 1. 'Eiod. V. 2. Jobxxi. 14, 15.