reproaches which they bear on account of their fidelity; but a hope of benefiting your souls emboldens them to proceed ; and they account themselves richly recompensed, when they see you bringing forth fruits meet for repentance. Do not then be angry with them for speaking plainly and pointedly, as the Pharisees were when they saw that our Lord had spoken a parable against them^; but rather take occasion, from what they say, to search and examine your own hearts with sincerity and diligence, desiring and determining, with God's help, to know the worst of yourselves.
You will do well also to encourage your friends to commu- nicate to you freely what they see amiss. You cannot but know, that if a skilful lawyer were to point out to you a flaw in the title of an estate which you were about to purchase, you would feel greatly indebted to him : and why ? Because you would save your money. And will you not be thankful to one who by his counsel endeavours to save your soul? Alas! alas! to flatterers we can listen without weariness ; but to a faithful monitor we can scarcely for a few minutes lend an ear : what the one says is received gladly, even though we have every reason to believe that he goes beyond the truth ; but what the other says, calls forth all our ingenuity to weaken its force, though we know every syllable of it to be true. Beloved, be on your guard against this self-love : you may easily deceive yourselves, but you cannot deceive your God.]
3. Let nothing retard you in fleeing from the wrath to come — •
[There is no room to ask, " Who hath warned you?" for I have warned you; and God has warned you; and, I hope, your own consciences have warned you : or, if none of these have spoken yet so as to attract your attention, I now warn you, with all plainness and faithfulness, to "flee from the wrath to come." Consider whose wrath it is : it is the wrath of Almighty God. Consider the description given of it : it is, and ever will be, the wrath to come : yes, many millions of years hence, it will be no nearer its termination than at this moment: to all eternity it will be the same. The wrath to come. Can you reflect on the greatness and duration of this wrath, and not be diligent in fleeing from it? What other work can you have to do that is of the least importance when com- pared with this ? Would the man-slayer loiter, when he saw the pursuer of blood just ready to overtake him ? Do ye then use all dihgence : leave nothing till to-morrow that can be done to day. I would lay hold of your hand, as the angels did of Lot and his daughters, and hasten your steps. Stop not
^ Luke XX. 19.