The Offers of Mercy Recorded and Witnessed for the Judgment-Day
‘’BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COINIE IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE ■VlaTH ME.” Rev. 3: 20.
This day hath our compassionate Redeemer opened unto us a door of liberty — liberty to us to preach, and liberty for you to hear the glad tidmgs of the gospel. This is a day few looked for; how often have I said in the years that are past, God hath no more work for me to do, and I shall have no more strength and opportunities to work for God. And how often have yon said in your hearts, we have sinned our ministers out of their pulpits, and our eyes shall no more behold these our teachers. But lo, beyond the thoughts of most hearts, a wide and, I hope, an effectual door is now opened in the midst of us. 0 that it may be to us as the valley of Achor was to Israel, “for a door of hope,” Hosea 2:15; not only making the troubles they met with in that valley an inlet to their mercies, as ours have been to us, but giving them that valley as a pledge of greater mercies intended for them. Upon the first appearance of this mercy, my thoughts were how to make the most fruitful improvement of it among you, lest we should sin oui’selves back again into bondage.
In the contemplation of this matter, the Lord directed me to this scripture, wherein the same hand that opened to you the door of liberty, knocks importunately at the doors of your hearts for entrance into them, and for union and communion with them. It will be sad indeed if he who hath let you into all these mercies, should himself he shut out of your hearts; hut if the Lord help you to open your hearts now to Christ, I doubt not this door of liberty will be kept open to you, how many soever the adversaries be that will do their utmost to shut it up. Ezek. 39: 29. The mercies you enjoy this day are the fruits of Christ’s intercession with the Father for one trial more: if we bring forth fruit, well; if not, the axe lieth at the root of the tree. Under this consideration I desire to speak, and even so the Lord help you to hear what shall be spoken from this precious scripture,” Behold, I stand at the door and icnock: if any man
HEAR MY VOICE AND OPEN THE DOOR, I “LL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME.”
These words are a branch of that excellent epistle dictated by Christ, and sent by his servant John to the church of Laodicea, the most formal and degenerate of all the seven churches; yet the great Physician will try his skill upon them, both by the rebukes of the rod and by the persuasive power of the word, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock,” etc.
This text is Christ’s wooing voice, full of heavenly rhetoric to win and gain the hearts of sinners to himself; wherein we have these two general parts.
1. Christ’s suit for a sinner’s heart.
2. The powerful arguments enforcing his suit.
1. Christ’s suit for a sinner’s heart, in which is, (1,) the solemn preface, ushering it in,” BeJwldy The preface is exceedingly solemn; for besides the common use of this word behold in other places, to excite attention or put weight into an affirmation, it stands here, as a judicious expositor says, as a term of notification or public record, wherein Christ takes witnesses of the most ^•acious offer he was now about to make to their souls, and will have it stand for a perpetual memorial of this offer, as a testimony for or against their souls to all eternity, to cut off all excuses and pretences for time to come.
(2.) The suitor, Christ himself, “/stand;” I who have a right of sovereignty over you; I who have shed my invaluable blood to purchase you, and might justly condemn you upon the first denial or demur, “behold, I stand:” this is the suitor.
(3.) His iJostitre and action, “I stand at the door and knock:” the word is fitly translated, “I stand,” yet so as that it notes a continual action. I have stood, and do still stand with unwearied patience; I once stood personally and bodily among you in the days of my flesh, and I still stand spiritually and representatively in my ambassadors at the door, that is, the mind and conscience, the faculties and powers which are introductory to the whole soul.
The word “door” is here properly put to signify those introductory faculties of the soul, which are of like use to it, as the door is to the house. This is the Uedeemer’s posture, his action is knocking, that is, his powerful and gracious attempts to open the heart to give him admission. The word “knock” signifies a strong and powerful knock; he stands patiently, and knocks powerfully by the word outwardly, by the convictions, motions, impulses, and strivings of his Spirit inwardly.
(4.) The design and end of the suit; it is for “opening” to him, that is, consenting, receiving, and heartily accepting him by faith. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia, Acts 16: 14; that is, persuaded her soul to believe; implying that the heart by nature is strongly barred and locked up against Christ, and that nothing but a power from him can open it. ’
2. The ‘poicerful argumenU mid motives used by Christ to obtain his suit in the sinner’s heart; and they arc drawn from two inestimable benefits which accrue to the opening or believing soul.
(1.) Union: “I will come in to him;” that is, I will unite myself with the opening, believing soul; he shall be mystically one with me, and I with him.
(2.) Communion: “I will sup with him, and he with me;” that is, I will feast the believing soul with the delicacies of heaven; such comforts, joys, and pleasures as none but believers are capable of.
And, to set home all, these special benefits are proposed by Christ to all sorts of sinners, great and small, old and young: “If any man hear my voice, and open the door:” that so no soul might be discouraged from believing by the greatness or multitude of his sins, but the vilest of sinners may see free grace triumphing over all their unworthiness, on their consent to take Christ according to the gracious ofiers of the gospel.
The words thus opened afford many great and useful points of doctrine, comprehending in them the very substance of the gospel. The first which arises from the solemn and remarkable preface, “Behold,” will be this:
That every offer of Christ to the souls of sinners is recorded and ivitiiessed with respect to the day of account and reckoning.
Here we shall inquire into three things: Who are God’s witnesses to all the offers of the gospel; what they witness to; and why God records every offer of Christ, and takes a witness thereof.
I. “Who are God’s witnesses to all the tenders and offers made of Christ by the gospel? and they will be found to be more than a strict legal number; for,
1. His tiiinisters, by whom he makes them, are all witnesses as well as officers of Christ to the people. “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness.” Acts 26: 16. Here you see ministers have a double office, to propose and offer Christ, and then to bear witness for or against those to whom he is thus offered; they are expressly called God’s witnesses. Rev. 11: 7. Their labors witness, their sufferings witness, their solemn appeals to God vidtness, yea, the very dust of their feet shaken off against the refusers of Christ, turns to a testimony against them. Mark 6:11. Every sigh, every drop of sweat, much more of blood, are placed in God’s book along with all their sermons and prayers, and will be produced and ‘read in the great day against all the refusers and despisers of Christ.
2. The gospel itself, which is preached to you, is a testimony or witness for God against every one who rejects it. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12: 48. And this is the sense of Christ’s word. Matt. 24: 14, ‘’ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Ah, what a solemn record is here; every sermon you hear, yea, every reproof, persuasion, and conviction is a witness for God to condemn every soul in judgment that complies not immediately with the calls of the gospel: so many sermons, so many witnesses.
3. Every man’s conscience is a witness for God, that he has a fair offer made him; the very consciences of the heathen who never saw a Bible, who had no other preachers but the sun, moon, and stars and other works of nature; yet of them the apostle says, that they “show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.” Rom. 2: 15. Certainly if such vigor and activity was put into the consciences of heathen, who could only read the will of God by the dim moonlight of natural reason, how much more vigorous and active will conscience be in its accusing office against all who live under the bright beams of gospel light. Their consciences will be swift witnesses, and will ring sad peals in their ears another day. They “shall know that there hath been a prophet among them,” Ezek. 2: 5. This single witness is instead of a thousand other witnesses for God.
4. The examples of all ivlio believe a7icl obey the gospel, are so many vdtnesses for God against the despisers and neglecters of the great salvation. Every mourning, trembling soul among you is a witness against all the dead-hearted, unbelieving, disobedient ones that sit with them under the same ordinances. Hence it is said, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” 1 Cor. 6: 2. They shall be assessors with Christ in the great day, and condemn the world by their examples, as Noah did the old world. Thus, “John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” Matt. 21: 32. As if he had said, What shift do you make to quiet your consciences and stifle your convictions, when you see publicans, the worst of men, and harlots, the worst of women, repenting, believing, and hungering after Christ; their examples shall be your judges. These are God’s witnesses.
II. Next let us consider what is the object matter unto which they give their testimony, and that will be found twofold, according to the twofold effect the gospel has upon them who hear it: of both which the apostle gives this account, “To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life.” 2 Cor. 2:16. Accordingly a double record is made.
1. Of the obedience and faith of some, which record will be produced to their joy and comfort in the day of the Lord; “when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” 2 Thess. 1: 10. Ministers are instruments of espousing souls to Christ, and witnesses to those espousals between him and them. 2 Cor. 11: 2. Both these offices are exceedingly grateful and pleasant to every faithful minister.
2. A record is made, and witness taken of all the refusals, disobedience, a?id sliglitings of Christ by others. Thus Moses will be the accuser of the Jews. “Do not think ‘that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.” John 5: 45, This is the saddest part of a minister’s work; the forethoughts of it are more afflictive than all our labors and sufferings. There is a threefold record made in this case.
(1.) Of the time men have enjoyed under the means of salvation, how many years they have sat barren and cold-hearted under the labors of God’s faithful ministers. “Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none.” Luke 13: 7. “Behold,” the same term of notification with that in the text, applied to the time of God’s patience towards them. And again, “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Anion king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.” Jer. 25: 3. 0 consider, all the years and days you have spent under the gospel are upon your doomsday-book.
(2.) Records are also made of all the instruments God has employed for the conversion and salvation of your souls. So many ministers, whether fixed or transient, as have spent their labors upon you, are upon the book of your account. “The Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened nor inclined your car to hear.” Jer. 25: 4. They have wasted then’ health, dropped their compassionate tears, and burnt doAT.i one after another like candles, to direct you to Christ and salvation, but all in vain.
(3.) Every call, persuasion, and argument used by them to espouse you to Christ, is likewise upon the book of account. “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.” Prov. 1: 24, 25. These calls and counsels are of too great value with God, though of none with you, to be lost and left out of your account.
III. We shall inquire into the grounds and reasons of these judicial procedures of God: why he will have every man’s obedience and disobedience registered and witnessed for or against him, under gospel admmistrations; and there are two weighty reasons thereof
1. That tcherever the end of the gosjyel is attained in the conversion of a soul, that soid, and all who were i?istrumentallij emijloyed about the salvatio7i of it, may have the froier reward and comfort in the great day. “As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 2 Cor. 1: 14. This will be matter of joy unspeakable, both to you that shall receive, and to them that shall give such a comfortable testimony for you. 0 the joyful congratulations of that day between laborious, faithful ministers, and their believing, obedient hearers. “Lord, this was the blessed instrument of my happy illumination and conversion; though I might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for by the blessing of thy Spirit on this man’s ministry, my soul was begotten to Christ.” And, on the other side, “Lord, these are the souls for whom I travailed, as in birth, until Christ was formed in them.” It is a glorious thing to say, as the prophet, “Here am I, and the children God liatli given me.” Nay, those who Vvere but collaterally useful to help on the work of God begun by others, must not lose their reward m that day. “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit mito life eternal, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John 4: 36.
2. Records are now made, and witness taken, that theTChy the judicial sente?ice of Jesus Christ in the last day may be made clear to all the world; that every mouth may be stopped, and no plea left in the mouth of any condemned sinner. For Christ in that day cometh “to convince all that are ungodly,” Jude 15; to convince by demonstration, that all that are Christless now may be found speechless then. Matt. 22: 12. Hence it is said, “The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment.” Psalm 1:5. And no wonder, when so many full testimonies and unexceptionable witnesses shall come point blank against them: the ministers that preached, the word they preached, their own consciences, and the example of all believers will be produced against them.
Inference 1. The undoubted certainty of a day of judgment is hence evinced. To what purpose else are records made, and witness taken, but with respect to an audit-day? This is a truth sealed on the conscience of the very heathen; their consciences bear witness. E,om. 2:15. But in vain are all these records made, unless there be a day to produce and plead them; and of that day the prophet Daniel speaks, “The judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7: 10. And again, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those tilings which were written in the book, according to their works.” Rev 20: 12.
Believe it, friends, these are no cunningly devised fables, tut awful and infallible truths. If the gospel now produces saving effects, it will then be a time of refreshing to our souls, Acts 3:19; but to all who reject it, it will be a day of terror, wTath, and amazement. It will be the day in which the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angelsp in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. 1: 7, 8.
2, What a motive is here to oninisterial diligence and faithfulness. It is an awful work that is under our hands; the effects of the gospel which we preach will be the savor of life or death to them that hear us. If the Lord prosper it in our hands, we shall be witnesses for you; it will be an addition to our glory in heaven. “They that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.” Dan. 12: 3. But if we are ignorant, lazy, or men-pleasers, our people wall come in as swift witnesses against us, and their blood will be required at our hands; it will be an intolerable aggravation to our misery in hell, to have any that sat under our ministry thus upbraiding us: “0 cruel man, thou sawest my soul in danger, and never didst deal faithfully and plainly with me; the time and breath that was spent in idle and worldly discourse, might have been instrumental to save me from this place of torment.” Let ministers consider themselves as witnesses for God, and their people as witnesses for or against them; and under that consideration, let them so study, preach, and pray, that they may with Paul take God to record that they are free from the blood of all men: no men on earth have more motives to diligence and faithfulness than we have.
3. What an a7’gument is this to banish formality froyn all who hear us. Every Sabbath, every sermon, is recorded in heaven for or against your souls: in what way soever you attend to the word, all that you hear is set down in the “book of your account; think not you shall return as you came; the word will have its effect; it shall not return in vain, but shall accomplish the end for which it is sent. Isa. 55: 11. The decrees of heaven are executed by the gospel; some souls shall be quickened, and others shall be slain by the word of God’s mouth. The gospel is a river of the water of life, which quickens and refreshes every thing that lives; but the miry and marshy places shall not be healed. Ezek. 47: 11. How weighty, therefore, is that caution of our Lord, “Take heed how ye hear.” Luke 8: 18. When you come under an ordinance, you are sowing seed for eternity, which will spring up in the world to come. Preaching and hearing may be considered two ways, physically and morally; in the former respect, these acts are quicldy over and pass away. I shall by and by have done preaching, and you hearing; but the consequences thereof will abide for ever. Therefore, for the Lord’s sake, away with formality; no more drowsy eyes or wandering thoughts. Oh, when you come to attend upon the mmistry of the gospel, that such thoughts as these may prepare your minds: The word I am going to hear will quicken or kill, save or condemn my soul; if I sit dead under it, and return barren from it, I shall wish one day that I had never seen the face nor heard the voice of the mmister who preached it.
4. What a dreadful condition are all those in lolio are enemies, to the gospel and those who preach it: who, instead of embracing and obeying the message of the gospel, reject and despise it; instead of opening their hearts to receive it, open their blasphemous mouths to deride it, and hiss it, if it were possible, out of the world. Ah, what a book of remembrance is written for such men. I fear that never, since Christianity blessed this nation, was there an age more deeply drenched in the guilt of this sin than the present. How are the messengers of the gospel slighted and rejected 1 What have we done to deserve it? Is not our case this day much like that of the prophet? “Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.” Jer. 18: 20. What brutish madness hath possessed the souls of these men I But alas, it is not so much they, as Satan acting in them; he is a jealous prince, the gospel alarms him, his subjects are in danger of revolting from him: no wonder, therefore, he makes an outcry at the preaching of the gospel, as is usually made when an enemy invades a kingdom. In this case Christ directs his ministers to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony against them. Mark 6:11. The meaning of which is this, that as you shake off the dust of your feet, even so Jesus Christ will shake off those men who despise the gospel and abuse his messengers.
5. Hence it likewise follows, that the case of the heathen world will be easier in the day of judgment, than theirs, who live and die unregenerate and disobedient under the goiel of Christ. There are more witnesses prepared, and records filed against the day of your account, than can possibly be against them: they have abused but one talent, the light of nature; but we- thousands, even as many as we have had opportunities and calls under the gospel. Upon this account Christ saith, “Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Matt. 10: 14, 15.
Ah, what a fearful aggravation does it put on our sin and miseiy, that we are not only accountable for all the light we had, but for all that we might have had in the gospel-day. Capernaum was lifted up to heaven in the enjoyment of means and precious opportunities, Matt. 11: 23; and had an answerable downfall into the depth of misery from that height of mercy; as the higher any one is lifted up upon a rack, the more terrible is the injury he receives by the fall.
6. We may also infer, that the day of judgment must take up a vast space of time. God will bring every thing into judgment, Eccl. 12: 14: not only sinful actions, but words. Matt. 12: 36; not only words, but heart-secrets. Rom. 2: 16. If all the records and registers now made shall then be opened and read, all the witnesses for or against every man examined and heard, judge then what a vast space of time will that great day take up. This is sure, things will not be huddled up, nor shuffled over in haste; you have taken your time for sinnmg, and God will take his time for judging.
Consider the multitudes, multitudes without number, who are to be judged in that day, even all the posterity of Adam, which are as the sand upon the sea-shore; that not only so many persons, but all that they have done, must come into judgment, even the very thoughts of their hearts which never came to the knowledge of men; their consciences to be interrogated, and all other witnesses fully heard: how great a day must this day of the Lord be.
But the main use of this point will be for exhortation, that seeing all the offers of Christ are recorded and witnessed, with respect to. a day of account, every one of you would immediately embrace the present gracious tender of Christ in the gospel, as you hope to be acquitted in that great day: take heed of denials, nay, even of delays; “for if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward: how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2: 2, 3. The question is put, but no answer made: “How shall we escape?” The wisdom of men and ansrels cannot tell how. To enforce this exhortation, I shall present you with ten weighty considerations, which may the Lord follow home, by the blessing of his Spirit on all your hearts.
7. Consider how invaluable a mercy it is that you are yet within the reach of offered grace. The mercies set before you this day, were never set before the angels who fell; no Mediator was ever appointed for them. 0 astonishing mercy I that those vessels of gold should be cast into everlasting fire, and that such clay vessels as we are, should be thus put into a capacity of greater happiness than ever they fell from; nay, the mercy offered to you is not only denied to the angels that fell, but to the greatest part of your fellow-creatures of the same rank and dignity with you: “He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.” Psalm 147: 19, 20. A mercy deservedly celebrated with a joyful Alleluia. What vast tracts are there in the world where the name of Christ is unknown; it is your special mercy to be born in a land of Bibles and ministers, where it is as difficult for you to avoid the light, as it is for others to behold and enjoy it.
8. Consider the nature, weight, and worth of the mercies which are this day freely offered you. Certainly they are mercies of the first rank, the most precious and necessary among all the mercies of God. Christ the first-born of mercies, and in him pardon, peace, and eternal salvation are set before you: it would be surprising to see a starving man refuse offered bread, or a condemned man a gracious pardon. Lord, what a compound of sloth and stupidity are we, that we should need so many entreaties to be happy.
9. Consider who it is that snakes these gracious tenders of imrdon, ‘peace, a7id salvation, to you; even that God whom you have so deeply wronged, whose laws you have violated, whose mercies you have spurned, and whose wrath you have justly incensed. His patience groans under the burden of your daily provocations: he loses nothing if you are lost, and receives no benefit if you are saved; yet the first motions of mercy and salvation to you freely arise out of his grace arid good pleasure. God entreats you to be reconciled. 2 Cor. 5: 20. The blessed Lord Jesus, whose blood thy sins have shed, now freely offers that blood for thy reconciliation, justification, and salvation, if thou wilt but sincerely accept him ere it be too late.
10. Reflect seriously upon your own vileness, to ivJiom such gracious offers of peace and mercy are made. Thy sins have set thee at as great a distance from, the hope of pardon, as any sinner in the world. Consider, man, what thou hast been, what thou hast done, and what vast heaps of guilt thou hast contracted by a life of sin.; and yet, that unto thee pardon and peace should be offered in Christ after such a life of rebellion, how astonishing is the mercy. The Lord is ready to pass by all thy former rebellions, thy deepdyed transgressions, and to sign an act of oblivion for all that is past, if now at last thy heart relents for sin, and thy will bows in obedience to the great commands and calls of the gospel. Isa. 55: 2; 1:18.
11. Consider how many offers of mercy you have already refused, and that every refusal is recorded against you; how long you have tried, and even tired the patience of God already, and that this may be the last overture of grace that ever God will make to your soul. Certainly there is an offer that will be the last offer, a strivmg of the Spirit which will be his last striving; and after that, no more offers wdthout you, no more motions or strivings within you for evermore. The treaty is then ended, and your last neglect or rejection of Christ recorded against the day of your account; and what if this should prove to be that last tender of grace which must conclude the treaty between Christ and you? what an undone wretch must you then be, with whom so gracious a treaty breaks off upon such dreadful terms.
12. Consider well the reasonable and gracious oiature of the gospel-terons o?i tvliich life and pardon are offered to you. Acts 20: 21. The gospel requires of you repentance and faith. Can you think it hard when a prince pardons a rebel, to require him to fall on his knees, and stretch forth a willing and thankful hand to receive his pardon? Your repentance and faith are much of the same nature. Here is no legal satisfaction required at your hands, no reparation of the injured law by your doings or sufferings; but a hearty sorrow for sins committed, sincere purposes and endeavors after new obedience, and a hearty, thankful acceptance of Christ your Saviour; and for your encouragement herein, his Spirit stands ready to work in you all that you need. “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” Prov. 1: 23. “Thou also hast wrought all our works m us.” Isa. 26: 12.
13. Consider how your way to Christ, by re2’)e7itance a7id faith, lias been travelled before you by thousands of sinners for your encouragement. You are not the first that ever ventured his soul in this path; multitudes have gone before you, and that under as much guilt, fear, and discouragement as you can pretend to; and not a man among them was repulsed or discouraged: here they have found rest and peace to their weary souls. Heb. 4:3; Acts 13: 39. Here the greatest sinners have been set forth for an ensample to you that should afterwards believe on his name. 1 Tim. 1:16. You see, if you will not, others will joyfully accept the offers of Christ. What discouragements have you that they had not; or what greater encouragements had they which God has not given you this day? therefore they shall be your judges.
14. Consider the great hazard of the precious seasons you 710W enjoy. Opportunity is the golden spot of time, but it is a very slippery and uncertain thing: great and manifold are the hazards attending it. Your life is uncertain, your breath continually going in your nostrils; and that which is every moment going, will he gone at last. The gospel is as uncertain as your life; God hath made no such settlement of it, hut that he may at pleasure remove it, and will certainly do so if we thus trifle under it: it is but a candlestick, though a golden one. Rev. 2: 5, and that you all know is a movable thing. Not only your life, and the means of your eternal life, I mean the gospel, are uncertain; but even the motions and strivings of the Spirit with your soul are as uncertain as either. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil. 2: 12, 13. That God now works with you is matter of great encouragement to your work; but that he works at his own pleasure, as a free agent who can cease when he pleases and never give one knock at your heart more, should make you work with fear and trembling.
15. Think luhat a fearful aggravation it will be both of your sin and misery, to ieriih in the sight of an offered remedy; to sink into hell between the outstretched arms of a compassionate Redeemer, that would have gathered you, but you would not. Heathens, yea, devils will upbraid you in hell for such unaccountable folly and desperate madness; heathens will say, “Alas, we had but the dim light of nature, which did indeed discover sin, but not Christ the remedy. Ah, had your preachers and your Bibles been sent among us, how gladly would we have embraced them.” God said to Ezekiel, “Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.” Ezek. 3: 6. See also Matt. 11: 21. The very devils will upbraid you: “0 if God had sent a Mediator in our nature, we would not have rejected him as you have done;” but “he took not on him the nature of angels.”
Christ Knookinjr. 2
16. How just, as well as sure, will your condemnation he in the great day, against whom such a cloud of witnesses will appear. 0 how manifest will the righteousness of God be; men and angels shall applaud the sentence, and your own consciences shall acknowledge the equity of it. You that are Christless now, will be speechless then. Matt. 22: 12. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” 2 Cor. 5: 11. I tremble to think of being summoned as a witness against any of your souls, 0 that I may be your rejoicing, and you mme in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.