done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" " If judgment begin at the house of God," says the Apostle, "what must the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of Godh?" If those who are comparatively as "a green tree" are afflicted by God for the purging of their sins, what must not they expect, who, like " a dry tree," are prepared for the punishment of their sins ? Doubtless their misery will be inconceivably great, insomuch that they will curse their very existence, and wish that by any means they could bring it to a termination '.
Brethren, know assuredly, that that day will come ; and that repentance then will be too late. Then, not they only who crucified the Lord Jesus must give account of themselves to God, but those also who have " crucified him afresh" by con- tinuing in sin k. Prepare ye then for that great account ; and beg of God, that "when he shall appear, ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless1."]
h 1 Pet. iv. 17, 18. l Rev. ix. 6.
k Heb. vi. 6. » 2 Pet. iii. 14.
Luke xxiii. 31. If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry ?
THE Jews, at this day, know not how to account for the judgments that are upon them. But we can tell them the true reason : it is for the murder of their Messiah. Whilst yet they were in the commission of that act, it was foretold by Jesus himself, that they, even their whole nation, should endure such tribu- lation as had not been experienced by any people from the beginning of the world ; nor ever should again be, as long as the world shall stand a. He was now, at this time, bearing his cross to the place of crucifixion. And, though the nation at large were gratified at the miseries inflicted on him, there were some whose hearts were tender and compassionate, and who greatly " bewailed and lamented him." These, however, he exhorted to weep, not for him, but for themselves and for their children ; since the
a Matt. xxiv. 21, 22.