world, insomuch that " if those days of trouble had not been shortened, no flesh would have been saved : but for the elect's sake those days were shortened s." And if only ten righteous men had been found in Sodom, both that city, and all the other cities of the plain, would have been spared. Who can tell then what judgments would be poured out upon the ungodly world, if the saints by their piety and their prayers did not stay the hand of an avenging God^? But how these benefits are requited, it is needless to observe. Suffice it to say, that God's estimation of his saints is the same as ever ; and his de- claration concerning them is, that " the world is not worthy of them."]
Let us then proceed to state,
II. The sentiments with which this record should inspire us —
It should teach us,
1. To disregard the indignities that are cast upon us —
[Man has his " day :" but God has his also : and in the prospect of the ultimate decision of an infallible Judge, it should be a small matter to us to be judged of man's judg- ment'. When men pour contempt upon us, we should say as our blessed Lord, " Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do." In reference to the persecutors of that imma- culate Lamb, the Apostle says, that " through ignorance they persecuted him," and that, " if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." So, if men really knew what God has done for his chosen people, and how " precious their blood is in his sight," they would not venture to oppose them in the way they do. Men are beguiled by their own prejudices: they persuade themselves that piety is hypocrisy; and that, to diffuse it, is to " turn the world upside down :" and, in opposing it, " they think they really do God service." Towards them therefore we should feel pity, rather than resentment: and on our own account we should feel nothing but exceeding joy ; since we only participate the lot of God's chosen people ^, and are rendered conformable to the example of Christ himself^]
2. To adore and magnify our God, who has so distinguished us —
g Matt. xxiv. 21, 22. h Gen. xix. 22.
» 1 Cor. iv. 3. the Greek. ^ Matt. v. 11, 12.
1 1 Pet. iv. 13.
2332.] god's estimate of his people. 445
[Who is it tliat has made any of us to differ from the world around us'"? Verily, " he tluit hath wrought us to the self-same thing is God"." In ourselves we were no better than others : we were " dead in trespasses and sins," like all around us ; and were " children of wrath, even as others." But he pitied us; " he looked upon us whilst lying in our blood, and bade us live"." O how should we bless and adore him for such amazing love ! " Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God p." Let us enter into the full spirit of these words of the loving and beloved Apostle : and let us never cease to call on " all that is within us to bless" and magnify our adorable Benefactor''.]
3. To walk worthy of our high and heavenly calling —
[" What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness ! " Has God called us to glory and virtue ? has he made us " a peculiar people on purpose that we should shew forth both the praises and the virtues of him that has called us'^?" Let us then " walk as becometh saints," and " walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ." If we profess to have received such mercies at the Lord's hands, the world have a right to expect that we should surpass them as much in real excellence, as we do in the privileges of which we make our boast. " What do ye more than others ? " is a question which they have a right to ask, and to which we ought to be able to return a satisfactory answer. Yea, our very lives should supersede the necessity of a verbal answer ; we should be " epistles of Christ, known and read of all men." If indeed the world be not worthy of us, let them see their in- feriority by our lives; and be constrained from what they behold in us to acknowledge, that " the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour." If the difference between them and us be so immense as the Apostle represents it to be% let us labour to comply with his direction, and to shine before them with all the splendour of a holy people*.]