Hebrew Youths rendered less acceptable to God on account of the fewness of those who dared to follow the voice of con- science'^. Neither indeed will the end of any way be changed on account of the numbers who walk in it. The inhabitants of Sodom, and of the antediluvian world, were not exempted from punishment because they were many. They were overwhelmed, as examples of God's vengeance to all future ages"^. Should not this then make us cautious what path we follow? Should it not stimulate us to flee from the destruction to which we are hastening? O! " strive to enter in at the strait gate*^."]
2. The narrow path, however unfrequented, will surely lead us to glory —
[God cannot but delight in holiness ; and he will testify his approbation of it in the last day. Was Lot overlooked in Sodom, or Noah in the antediluvian world ? So if there were but one faithful servant of God in the whole universe, he should in no wise lose his reward. Every step he took in the good way should be marked by God ; and in due season he should arrive at his desired end. And, while tribulation and anguish should be assigned to the disobedient, his patient continuance in well-doing should be rewarded with glory and honour and immortality^. Should any one then be afraid of singularity? Is it not better to be a persecuted Elijah wor- shipping the true God, than to be an a2:)plauded worshipper of Baal ? Let the prospect of glory therefore encourage us to enter upon the narrow path; nor let us doubt but that the enjoyment of the end will amply compensate for the diffi- culties of the way.]
Address —
1. To those who are not yet entered in at the
strait gate —
[Perhaps you think that the multitudes by which you are countenanced, afford a reasonable hope that you shall not perish ; but it is not possible for God to assert the contrary more strongly than he has done in the words before us, Will you then, in spite of this warning, hope that the saved shall be many, and the damned few ? Or will you be contented to perish, seeing that you will have so many companions in misery ? Alas ! what comfort will it be to you to behold others as wretched as yourself? Will their torments assuage your anguish? O dare to be singular in the midst of a wicked world ; and say with Joshua, " As for me, and my house, whatever others may do, we will serve the Lord^.]
<= Dan, iii. ^ 2 Pet. ii. 5, 6. ^ Luke xiii. 24.
f Rom. ii. 7 — 9. " Josh. xxiv. 1.5.