is like that of God's children? ov what comparison is there between the riches and honours of this world, and those which are imparted to us on our union with Christ ? If then our joy and gratitude excited by the Gospel salvation, be not in some measure proportioned to its value and importance, we cannot but be considered as making light of it.]
Nor will this be thought a venial matter, if we duly consider,
III. The folly and sinfulness of their conduct —
But what words can sufficiently express this ? for they make light of,
1. That which is of the greatest possible value —
[Estimate the blessings of salvation either j^ositively by the price paid for them, or comparatively by weighing them, as it were, in a balance against all other things, and then see what it is that they despise. Only consider, that every one of those blessings was bought with blood, with the blood of God's co- equal, co-eternal Son, a price infinitely exceeding ten thousand worlds. Is there no guilt, no folly in disregarding things of such inestimable value ? Bring into competition with them all that the world can give ; and it will be found lighter than dust upon the balance, yea, " altogether lighter than vanity itself." Well therefore does the Apostle pxit that unanswerable question, " How shall ye escape, if ye neglect so great salvation' ?"]
2, That without which they can never be happy —
[The creature, at best, is but " a broken cistern :" in vain shall any one go to it for solid happiness s. " There is not, there cannot be, any true peace to the wicked'^." Let any man try to make himself happy, while the gviilt of all his sins continues to lie upon him, and he is in awful suspense about his eternal state ; he may be thoughtless as a child, or stupid as a beast ; but he cannot be happy. And if this be the case in the midst of all his gaiety, what will be his situation in a dying hour? At all events, supposing him ever so happy in life and in death, how will he feel himself on his first entrance into the invisible world? Will he who made light of the marriage-feast on earth, sit down with boldness at the " marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven ? " Will all those employments to which he was averse in this world, be at once his joy and delight, as soon as he passes into the world above? If he disregarded earthly things, he would have reason on his side ; because he might be happy in God, even though he were destitute of every
f Heb. ii. 3. e Jer. ii. 13. ^ Isai. xlviii. 22.