vengeance on them" in the great and awful day1. In con- firmation of this truth, St. Peter appeals even to our own consciences : " What shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of Godu?" Our text informs us, that we must " come to the knowledge of the truth," yea, and to the acknoiv- ledgment of it alsox. In other words, we must believe in Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins, and must make him all our hope and all our salvation : then shall the blessings of grace and glory be accorded to us, and all God's purposes of love be accomplished in us.]
From hence we may see,
1. Whence it is that any are saved —
[To God alone must all the glory be given, if so much as one be ever admitted to the realms of bliss. For what but his love provided a Saviour for us? or what but his grace ever enabled us to believe in him? Never had we " come to the knowledge of the truth," if he had not revealed it in our hearts ; nor would it ever have proved effectual for us, if his almighty power had not made use of it for the renovation and salvation of our souls. It was " He, and he alone, who of his good pleasure wrought in us either to will or do" what was acceptable in his sighty.]
2. Whence it is that any perish —
[To none but ourselves can any blame attach in this matter. Even the most ignorant heathen are " without excuse," because they walk not according to the light they have2. And as for us, to whom the Gospel is revealed, our blessed Lord complains, " How often would I have gathered you, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would nota!" The fault is altogether in yourselves: " ye will not come unto me, that ye may have life V Yes, brethren, I testify against you this day, that whatever excuses you may now urge, when the Judge of quick and dead shall call you to account, you will be "speechless" (muzzled), even as he was who had not on the wedding-garment c : and to all eternity will your anguish be inconceivably enhanced by this reflection, that, in all you suffer, you reap only the fruit of your own obstinacy and unbelief.]
1 2 Thess. i. 8. u 1 Pet. iv. 17. x iiriyvwaiv.
y Phil. ii. 12, 13. z Rom, i. 20. * Matt, xxiii. 37.
b John v. 40. c Matt. xxii. 12. tyifiwdn.