Abraham, and thought that their relation to him was a certain pledge of their acceptance with Gode. These things were subjects of complaint against them, and strongly characterized the people at large f.
And do we see here no resemblance to the present genera- tion? The people of this land have thousands of monitors, who call them to repentance : yet whom do we see smiting on their breasts and imploring mercy? Who calls himself to account, " saying, What have I done?" " Who asks, Where is God, my Maker?" Because we are called Christians, we imagine ourselves to be Christians, even though we could not mention one single particular wherein ive resemble Christ. All that die are, as a matter of course, supposed to go to heaven, even though they never took one step in the way that leads thither. Say then, whether the appellation given to them, be not suitable to us also ?]
2. An unbelieving generation —
[The Scriptures were publicly read and expounded in their synagogues every Sabbath-day. To them also our blessed Lord appealed as testifying of himg : and he confirmed his word with miracles unnumbered. Yet did the whole nation, except a few individuals, reject him : so that the complaint which had many hundred years before been uttered against them by the prophet, was abundantly verified11 —
Would to God there were less occasion to involve the pre- sent generation also in the same condemnation ! We have the Scriptures, which are appealed to by every faithful minister of Christ. But who believes what we say ? Who believes the necessity of conversion to God ? Who believes, that, " unless he be born again he can never enter into the kingdom of God?" and that " without real, universal holiness, no man can see the Lord?" That men profess to believe these things, we acknowledge : but who follows after the attainment of them, and evinces the sincerity of his faith by the earnestness of his exertions ? A little gleaning of believers may be found ; but the harvest is borne away by unbelief.]
3. A persecuting generation —
[In every age the Jews had persecuted their prophets unto death: and that generation filled up the measure of their lathers' iniquities, by " crucifying the Lord of Glory." Against the Apostles also they raged with insatiable fury, and against all that called upon the name of Christ.
e Matt. hi. 8, 9. John viii. 33—41. ' Matt. x.xi. 31, 3-2.
k John v. 39.
h Isui. liii. 1. with John xii. 38. and Rom. x. Hi.