To impress this exhortation the more deeply on yom- minds. We will call your attention to,
II. The considerations by which it is enforced —
The Apostle urges his request —
1. From the written word —
[" Whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning, that we throug^h patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Every promise of God through- out the Bible has a general aspect upon the Church of God, and, i7i the spirit of it, may be applied to individuals of the present day, as well as to those to whom it was more imme-
diately addressed '^. The promise before us was primarily addressed to the Messiah, assuring him of success among the Gentiles'^: but it is also fitly applicable to us; because all the blessings promised to the Head, belong also to all the members of his mystical body. To hiiu this promise was fulfilled : in every time of need he was succoured; and in due season he was exalted above all his enemies : and so shall it be to us also, if we embrace his preferred salvation : what a delightful thought is this, that the very promise which was made to Christ, and fulfilled in him, is made to us, and shall be fulfilled in us ! What an encouragement is this to receive the grace of God aright, when we are thus assured of the very same assistances and triumphs as Christ himself enjoyed !]
2. From his own inspired comment upon it — [The accepted time, the day of salvation, was then come to the Gentile world ; and we may say with truth that it is come to us also. It is come to us, because the word of recon- ciliation now sounds in our ears, and is proclaimed to us in the name of God himself. How long this shall continue we know not. We know that the candlestick has long since been removed from Churches, where the light of the Gospel once shone as with meridian brightness : and how soon it may be removed from us, who can tell? But it does now shine, and the grace of God is displayed amongst us in all its freeness, and in all its fulness : we are authorized therefore to say with full assurance, that it is now the accepted time re- specting you. But further, it is the accepted time with you, because you are yet here to receive these tidings. With multitudes who once heard the word of reconciliation, the day of grace is passed : they are now^ gone into that world where offers of mercy are never sent. And how soon may this be the case with you! Many who, but a year ago, were as likely to live as you, have been summoned into the presence of their God in the past year ; and many who are now in health will, before another year, be called to follow them : but who they shall be we know not : the young and vigorous have no more security than the weak and sickly : it is of the present hour only that we can speak with any measure of certainty ; and it is of that only that we can say, " It is the day of salvation." But it is possible that you may still be preserved in life, and the Gospel be yet sounding in your ears, and your day of sal- vation may have actually already come to a close. We may, by our obstinate rejection of mercy, provoke God to withdraw his Holy Spirit, who alone can make those offers effectual for our good. He has said, that " his Spirit shall not always strive
•■■ Compare Josh. i. a. with Ilcb. xiii. T), G, ^ Isai. xlix. 8.
2024.] god's grace not to be received in vain. 535
with man :" and vs^hen he sees us obstinately bent on our own evil ways, he may say of us, as he did of Israel of old, " Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone." He has given us many awful warnings on this subject^, and many fearful examples of the judgment actually inflicted ^ Surely, this should lead us all to *' seek the Lord" whilst he may be found, and to call upon him whilst he is near. The Lord grant that we may know the day of our visitation, and " seek the things belonging to our peace, before they be for ever hid from our eyes ! "]