Would to God this point were sufficiently considered ! Bre- thren, mark attentively the declaration in the text, and then see what becomes of those presumptuous sentiments which are so confidently asserted, and so generally received. See whether morality be all : see whether you are at liberty to disregard the Gospel : see whether the principles of Christianity are of so little consequence, that you may be saved without them : see whether that obedience to the Gospel, which is derided as fanaticism, be a matter of indifference, or deserving of the odium cast upon it. Ah ! be assured that, whatever the un- godly world may say or think, all they who do not truly knoiv God, and cordially obey the Gospel, shall perish for everk.
Nor let it be thought that the punishment of such persons shall be light, or of short duration. The Apostle enlarges on the idea, in order to fix it more deeply in our minds. Such persons shall be banished " from the presence of the Lord," and from all the bright displays of " his power and glory." Nor shall they merely suffer this loss (though that were inex- pressibly dreadful) : they shall also be exposed to pain and
1 Joelii. 11, 31. k 1 Pet. iv. 17.
anguish, such as God alone can inflict, and such as would de- stroy their very existence, if the same power that inflicted it did not uphold them under it. To this punishment there shall be no mitigation, no intermission, no end : it will be " everlasting :" they will have " no rest day or night ; and the smoke of their torment will ascend up for ever and ever1." The Judge himself will pronounce this sentence on them, " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels"1."]
2. The salvation of the righteous —
[As the honour of God is pledged for the condemnation of the wicked, so is it also involved in the happiness of the righteous. But who are the righteous? Mark the description given of them in the text : they are " the saints," and " those who believe." Here then again let infidels and scoffers read their doom : the people, the only people that shall be saved, are they who believe in Christ, and are sanctified by his Spirit. Let the term " Saints" or " Believers" be used as expressions of contempt: the time is coming, when they who are worthy of those names shall be held in different estimation, and receive a juster recompence.
The Saviour, at his coming, shall be " glorified and admired by them." Now he appears exceeding glorious in their eyes, even "fairer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely";" and now he is the one object of their love, their praise, their glory- ing0 : but, in that day, how will they be filled with wonder at the sight of him! How will they admire his sovereign grace, that chose them from the midst of an ungodly world; his love, that undertook to save them by his own blood ; his patience, that bore with them under all their backslidings ; his power, that kept them amidst so many enemies ; his faithfulness, that accomplished to them so many promises ! How will they adore his wisdom and goodness, in every one of his dispensations towards them ! And how will the countless multitudes of the redeemed unite in one universal chorus, singing, " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain ;" " Salvation to our God, and to the Lamb, for ever ! "
Then also will the Saviour be glorified and admired in them. While they were in this world, they shined as lights in it, and were " his epistles, known and read of all men."
But how will he be glorified in them in that day, when all their unworthiness shall be contrasted with his goodness, and the work that he has wrought in them shall fully appear ! If, in beholding a curious work, we begin to admire the artist,