Surely this subject is full,
1. Of consolation to the godly —
[You are weak; and your enemies are mighty: but is this any ground for despondency. If an angel had been set at the head of the Church, you might well be afraid"^; but under the care of Jesus you have nothing to fear. Think with yourselves, is not the Lord Jesus possessed of " all power, both in heaven and earth?" Is there not " a fulness treasured up in him," on purpose that " you may receive out of it, even grace for grace?" Does not " all the fulness of the Godhead dwell in him bodily?" and has he not said, " My grace is sufficient for you?" Fear not, then; but " be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." Adopt the triumphant language which the prophet has put into your mouth; and "say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." Fear not, I say ; for " through His strength you shall be enabled to do all things," and " be more than conquerors through Him that loved you."]
2. Of terror to the ungodly —
[Because you behold not many signal interpositions of his power, you think that you may rebel against him with impunity. But see whether this prophecy has not been so far fulfilled already, as to give you reason to expect its full accomplishment! God has even *' sworn that every knee
P Eph. i. 20 — 23. i ver. 8.
^ See Exod. xxxii. 34. and xxxiii. 2, 3.
shall bow to Jesus':" and, if you will not submit to the sceptre of his grace, he will " break you in pieces with a rod of iron*." Nor is it a mere nominal submission that will suffice : you must put yourselves willingly and unreservedly " ujider his feet," ^ as conscious of your ill desert, and as ready to justify him, if he should " execute upon you the fierceness of his anger." You must be wholly and altogether his, in every member of your body, and in every faculty of your soul. O deceive not yourselves by a feigned or partial submission!
but " kiss the Son :" kiss him in token of the ardour
of your affection, and of the delight you take in living to his glory. This is your true " wisdom, even though you be kings and judges of the earth"." He is that " stone which the builders refused, and which is become the head of the corner :" if you build upon him, you will find him " a sure foundation ;" but if you reject him, " he will fall upon you, and crush you to powder ^"]
« Isai. xlv. 23. with Rom. xiv. 11. t Ps. ii. 9.
» Ps. ii. 10—12. X Luke XX. 17, 18.