DISC. y.] THE WRATH OF THE LAMB. 425 miracles and prophecies? Were you not told, that I was; exalted, after my sufferings, to the right-hand of God, on purpose to " bestow repentance and remission of sins ?". Acts v. 31.. And were you not informed also, that I had a "rod of iron" given me, to dash rebels to death ? Ps. ii. 9. What is the reason you never came to me, or submitted to my government, or accepted of my grace ? Did you never hear of the threatenings that stood, like drawn swords, against those who wilfully re- fuse this mercy? Did you think these were mere bug- bears, mere sounding words, to frighten children with, and harmless thunder, that would never blast you? Did you think these flashes of wrath, in my word, were such sort of lightnings as you might safely play with, and flame that would never burn? What punishments, think you, doyou deserve, first, for the abuse of my authority, and then for the wilful and obstinate refusal of my grace? Is it not divinely fit and proper my wrath should 'awake against such heinous criminals? Where is any pro- per object for my resentment, if youarenot made objects of it? Take them, angels, bind them hand and foot, and cast them into outer darkness : Let them be thrown headlong into the prison of hell, where fire and brim- stone burn unquenchably, where light, and peace, and hope can never come. Let them be crpshed with the rod of iron, which the Father bath put into my hands, as the first minister of his kingdom, as the avenger of his despised grace ?" 4. It is a wrath that is excited by a final and utter re- jection of the last proposals of divine love. 'Whenmercy was offered to men by the blessed. God at first, the dis- coveries were móre dark and imperfect, there were still further. discoveries to be made in following ages: Therefore the crime and guilt of sinners, in those former days; was much less than the crime and guilt of those who reject this last proposal of mercy. There is no fur- ther edition of the covenant of grace, for those who re- fuse this offer. Those who neglect Christ, as he is set forth in the gospel, to be a sacrifice for sin, " there re- mains no more sacrifice for them, but a certain fearful expectation of vengeance, and fiery indignation, which shall consume the adversary," Heb .x:26, 27, All the former dispensations of grace are contained
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