463 / 674
bisc.
vi.]
THE VAIN REFUGE
OF
SINNERS.
¢4$
.to
Jesus, our
only
and
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
of
Jesus, 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
of
protection,
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
avenging
angels,
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
of
brick
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,