btBC. Y.] THE WRATH OP THE LAME. 4'29 knowledge," rph. iii.. 18. But God is, an universal so- vereign, a wise and righteous governors There is majesty with him, as well as grace; and Jesus " is Lord of lords, and King of kings:" He bears thé image of his Father's justice, as well as of his Father's love; otherwise he could not be the full " brightness of his glory, nor the express image of his person," Heb. i. 3. And besides, the Father hath armed him with powers of divine vengeance, as well as with powers of salvation. Ps. ii, 9., He has put the " rod of iron into his hands, to dash the nations like a potter's vessel." Rev. ii. 27. and xix. 15. He is the " elect and precious corner -stone laid in Zion," 1 Pet. ii. 6. But he is a stone that " will bruise those who stumble at him, and those on whom he shall fall, he will grind them to powder," Mat. xxi. 44. He is a lamb and a lion too : He can suffer at Jerusalem and Mount Calvary with silence, and not open his mouth," Is. liii. 7. and he can roar from heaven with overspreading terror, and shake the world with the sound of his anger.- See that bis mercy be not abused. Remark II. " The day of Christ's patience makes haste to an end. ' Every day of neglected grace hastens on the hour of his wrath and vengeance. Sinners waste their months and years in rebellion against his love, while he waits months and years to be gracious: But Christ is all- wise, and he knows the proper period of long-suffering,, and the proper moment to let all his wrath and resentment loose on obstinate and unreclaimable sinners. Oh may every one ofour souls awake to faith and repentance, to religion and righteousness, to hope and salvation, before this day of our peace lie finished, and gone for ever. Ps. ii. 12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye pe- rishfrom the way, when his wrath is kindledbut a little. There was once a season when he saw the nations of the Jews, and the people of Jerusalem, wasting the propo- sals of his love ; they let their day of mercy pass away unimproved, and he foretold their destruction with tears in his eyes. Luke xix. 4:., 49. 11e beheld the city, and wept over it; alas, for the inhabitants, who would not be saved-! He was then a messenger ofsalvation, and clothed with pity to sinners; but, in the last great day of his wrath, there is no place for thèse tears of compassion, no room for pity or forgiveness.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=