which he was informed that great estates were bequeathed to him ? or even towards a map, which would shew him his way through a trackless desert ? How much less then would any disregard the Holy Scriptures, if they really believed them to be the charter of their privileges, and the only sure directory to heaven ! They would rather account them more precious than gold, and esteem them more than their necessary fooda.]
2. What contempt men discover for the truths they do hear —
[Men hear that there is such a place as heaven, where the saints shall live in everlasting felicity ; and such a place as hell, where the wicked shall lie down in everlasting burnings : yet are they neither allured, nor alarmed. When the ministers of God insist on these subjects, they are considered only as preaching " cunningly devised fables." But could this be the case, if men believed the testimony of God ? Do men feel no emotion at the news of some unexpected benefit arising to them, or some unforeseen calamity impending over them ? Do men treat with contempt a sentence of condemnation, or a notice of reprieve ? How then could men so disregard the things revealed in the Gospel, if they believed them to be the very truths of God ?]
3. How men expect things in direct opposition to the word of God —
[Unconverted men will as confidently expect to go to heaven, as if the word of God were altogether on their side. The drunkard, the swearer, the sabbath-breaker, the whore- monger, are as persuaded that they shall never come into con- demnation, as if there were not one word in all the book of God that declared the contrary. They will never believe that the wrath of God is revealed against such sins as theirs, not- withstanding God so positively declares, that " the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God'*." They do not indeed imagine that any will be finally lost. They can hear of thou- sands slain in battle, and yet extend their thoughts no further than the grave. The idea that multitudes of them may possibly have died in their sins, and been consigned over to endless misery, seems so harsh, that they cannot harbour it in their minds one moment, notwithstanding God expressly says, that " the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget Godc." Could all this be so, if they believed the word of God ? Would not their sentiments then be more conformed to it ? Would they not be assured, that, however " it should
a Ps. cxix. 72. Job xxiii. 12. »• 1 Cor. vi. 9.
c Ps. ix. 17.