bisc. vi.] THE VAIN REFUGE OF SINNERS. ¢4$ .to Jesus, our onlyand sufficient hope ? There is a protec- tion provided against a provoked God, but there is none against a neglected and abused Saviour: I mean, where this neglect and abuse is final and unrepented. " Oh, how solicitous should every soul be in a matter of this divine moment, this everlasting importance ! What words of compassion shall we use, what words of awakening terror, to put sinners in mind of their extreme danger, -if they neglect the only security which the gospel has ap- pointed ? What language of fear and importunity shall we make use of, to hasten you, Oh sinners, to the ac- quaintance, the faith and the love ofJesus, the Saviour, that you may behold his face, and the face of the Father, with serenity and joy, in the last day? Give yourselves .up to him then without further delay, as your teacher, your high-priest, your reconciler, your Lord and king. His blessed offices are the only chambers ofprotection, when God shall arise to burn the world, and to avenge himself on his enemies that will not be reconciled? Reflection VII. Let us take occasion from my text, also, to meditate on the " happy circumstances of true christians, in that day of terror :" Behold, the Judge, ap- pears, he cometh in the clouds surrounded with armies of avengingangels, the ministers of his indignation; he rideth on a chariot of flaming fire, the earth, with all its moun- tains, melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, the fields and the forests become one spacious blaze, the sea grows dry, and forsakes its shores, and rivers flee away at his lightning; the rocks are broken and shivered, at the appearance of his majesty, the tombs are thrown open, and with terrible dismay shall the graves give up their dead; the pyramids ofbrick and stone moulder and sink into dust, the sepulchres of brass and marble yield up their royal prisoners, and all the captives of death awake, and start into life, at the voice of the Son of God. Amidst all these scenes of surprise and horror, with how serene a countenance, and how peaceful a soul do the saints awake from their beds of earth ? Calm and serene, among all these confusions, they arise from their long slumber, and go to meet their returning Savi.. our and their friend. They have seen him in the glass of -iris gospel, submitted to his laws, and rejoiced in his graçe, and they now delight . to see hirn face to face,
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