this world ; nor will they experience any thing but tribulation to all eternity^: there will be an impassable gulf between them and heaven. What fear and caution should this thought excite !]
We should fear lest we even " seem" to come short ofit—
[To be in suspense about our eternal state is dreadful: God's honour, as well as our happiness, is affected by it. We should seek to be " always triumphing in Christ," and at la^st to have " an abundant entrance into his kingdom."]
Address —
1. To those who have no fears about their souls —
[Your rest, such as it is, is by no means to be desired : it will soon vanish in the prospect of death and judgment, and it will speedily terminate in everlasting woe. Seek then the true rest, while yet it may be found : seek it in Christ, who alone can impart it to you ; nor doubt but that it will abun- dantly recompense your labours.]
2. To those who are filled with slavish fears —
[These are not fears which you ought to entertain : they are calculated to rob you of the heavenly rest, rather than to bring you into it. The fear you should cultivate, is a jealous and watchful fear : to live under the influence of this, is to be truly blessed^: this well consists with even a present rest in the Lord Jesus. Lay hold then on the promise which is left you in the Gospel, and expect that " He who has promised will also perform :" they " who trust in the Lord, shall never be confounded."]
3. To those who maintain a godly fear and jea- lousy—
[Disputes about the doctrine of perseverance are un- profitable and vain ; but to unite a jealousy over ourselves with a confidence in God, will guard us against mistakes on either hand. Go on then in this good way, in which there is no danger of error or excess : thus will your soul be kept at an equal distance from presumption and despondency, and the attainment of your rest be perfectly secured.]
f 2 Thess. i. 8, 9. Rev. xiv. 10, 11. e Prov. xxviii. 14.