1 Pet. iv. 17. What shall the end be of them that obey not the
Gospel of God ?
MANY are the troubles of the righteous: and though their afflictions are not always penal, yet
they are for the most part to be considered as pater- nal chastisements, and as the judgments which God inflicts on his own household with a view to their advancement in faith and holiness. On the other hand, the enemies of God often triumph, and revel in a fulness of all earthly enjoyments. But the intel- ligent Christian will see in these dispensations the certainty of a future retribution, when the wicked shall receive the just reward of their wickedness, and he himself be exalted to an inconceivable state of bliss. He will argue thus : If God so afflict his chil- dren in the day of his mercy, how will he punish his enemies in the day of his wrath. And, if he so prosper his enemies and load them with benefits in this vale of tears, what prosperity and happiness must he have reserved for his friends in the regions of glory ! If crowns and kingdoms be the portion of many who disregard and despise him, what shall be the inheritance of those who honour and obey him !
Such is the Apostle's mode of arguing in our text ; where, speaking of the trials sustained by Christians, he says, If God's paternal chastisements be so severe, what must his vindictive judgments be ? If judg- ment first begin at the house of God, what must the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God ?
To impress this solemn consideration upon our minds, we shall shew,
I. Who they are that obey not the Gospel —
To ascertain this, it will be proper to state briefly what the Gospel requires —
[The Gospel supposes men to be in a state of guilt and misery, obnoxious to the wrath of God, and incapable of delivering themselves from it. It proposes to them a remedy of God's appointment : it sets forth Jesus as an all-sufficient Saviour ; and declares that sinners of every description may be washed in his blood, and renewed by his Spirit. But, if we will not apply to him by faith, and thankfully accept his proffered benefits, it dooms us to destruction under the aggra- vated guilt of despising, and trampling under foot the Son of God. The commission which our Lord gave to his disciples a,
a Mark xvi. 15, 16.