a24. A CAVEAT AGAINST INPIDELTTY. sin, but acertain fearful expectation of judgment, and of fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that des- pised Moses's law died withoutmercy. Of how much sorer punish- ment shall he be thought worthy, who kath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace 2 Vengeance is mine, I will recompence, saith the Lord. It, had been better for them, as St. Paul expresses it, not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them ; 2 Pet. ii, 21. Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands ofhis saints, to executejudgment upon ungodly sinners; Jude, verses 14, 15. and to accomplish the terrors written against the fearful and the un- believing, as well as the abominable and the murdersers, and all liars? Rev. xxi. 8. against those who are afraid to profess his gospel, and those who deny `the truth of it : against those who sin against the truth, and turn it into a lie; against those who resist the bright evidence of christianity, and by " refusing to believe the record which God has given of his Son, make him a liar also." 1 John v. 10. Behold he comes in the clouds, and in flaming fire, to take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; and they shall hepunished with everlasting destruction,from the presence of the Lord, andfrom the ,glory of his power. 2 Thess. i. 8, 9. The Judge is at the door, he is ready to be revealedfrom heaven, withhis mighty angels, to fulfil the curses, written in his book, against those who have renounced his doctrine, and rejected his salvation. How will.the apostates from christianity be able to lift up their heads in that day, or endure the sight of hisMajesty ? What will you say, when ye shall see,that illustrious and divine person arrayed in the robes of power and judgment, and attend- ed with ten thousand flaming ministers of jeistice, whose laws ye have refused-to obey, and whose grace ye have disdained to re- ceive? What will ye say for yourselvgs, who have known and rejectedhim, who have abandoned his grace and his laws toge- ther, after ye had once seen reason to receive them? Whatwill they do in that day, who have seen and yet hated the Lord of glory ? What an ecstasy of surprize and terror will seize your spirits, when ye shall behold him enthroned and frowning aS a provoked Ruler of the world, whom ye once deridedas a poor wild enthusiast, and made him the subject of your mirth and mockery, or ye called him a vile impostor, and treated him with impious indignities? What do ye think will become of you, if the day should come, when the Lamb of God shall appear as the lionofthe tribe ofJudah, and youshall be forced to call to the rocks and mountains to fall upon you, and cover you from this wrath Rev. vi. 16, 17. What screen do ye think eau defend
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