DISCOURSE V. 127 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 Isa. liii. 7. and he can roar from heaven with overspreading terror, and shake the world with the sound of his anger. See that his mercy be not abused. 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 rebel- lion against his love, while he waits months and years to be gra- cious : 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 of our souls awake to faith and repentance, to religion and righteousness, to hope and salvation, before this day of our peace be finished, and gone for ever. Ps. ii. 12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. 'There was once a season when he saw the nation of the Jews, and the people of Jerusa- lem wasting the proposals of his love ; they let their day of mercy pass away unimproved, and he foretold their destruction with tears in his eyes. Luke xix. 41, 42. He beheld the city, and wept over it ; alas, for the inhabitants who would not be saved!: He was then a messenger of salvation, and clothed with pity to sinners ; but in the last great day of his wrath, there is no place for these tears of compassion, no room for pity or forgiveness. III. " When we preach terror to obstinate sinners, we may preach Jesus Christ, as well as when we preach love and salvation, for he is the minister of his Father's government, both in vengeance and in mercy." The Lamb hath wrath, as well as grace, . and he is to be feared, as well as to be trusted ; and he must be represented under all-the characters of dignity to which he is exalted, that, knowing the terrors of the Lord, as well as the compassion of the Saviour, ee ?nay persuade sinful men to accept of salvation- and happiness ; " 2Corv. 11.
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