Distant Thunder
When we bear the thunder rumbhiig in some distant quarter of the heavens, we sit cahii and secure amidst our business or diversions, we feel no terrors about us, and apprehend no danger. When we see the slender streaks of lightning play atar off in the horizon of an evening sky, we look on and amuse ourselves as with an agreeable spectacle, without the least fear or concern. But, lo, the dark cloud rises by decrees, it o-rows as black as niofht, and bio with tempest; it spreads as it rises to the mid-heaven, and now hangs directly over us; the flashes of lightning grow broad and strong, and like sheets of ruddy fire, they blaze terribly all round the hemisphere. We bar the doors, and windows, and every avenue of light, but we bar them all in vain; the flames break in at every cranny, and threaten swit’t destruction. The thunder follows, bursting from the cloud with sudden and tremendous clashes; the voice of the Lord is redoubled with violence, and overwhelms us with terror; it rattles over our heads as though the whole house were broken down at once with a stroke from heaven, and were tumbling on us amain to bury us in the ruins. Happy the soul whose hope in his God composes all his passions amidst these storms of nature, and renders his whole deportment peaceful and serene amidst the frights and hurries of weak spirits and unfortified minds.
What lesson shall we derive from such a scene as this? Methinks I see here in what manner the terrors of the book of God and the threatenings of divine vengeance are received and entertained by secure sinners. These threatenings appear to them like streaks of lightning afar off: The most dreadful predictions of the fury of God sound in their ears but like the feeble murmurs of the sky, and far distant thunder. The poor among mankind go on to pursue their labors of life, and the rich their vain amusements; they have no fear about these future storms afar oft, nor any solicitude to avoid them. But the hour is hastening when every threatening in the Bible shall appear to be the voice of God, and his power shall employ all the terrible things in the creation for the accomplishment of his dreadful word. The wings of time bring onward the remote tempest: These dark clouds unite and grow big with divine and eternal vengeance; they rise high, they hang over the nations, and are just ready to be discharged on the head of impeuitents. The God of thunder will roar from heaven, and cause his voice to be heard through the foundations of the earth, and to the very centre of hell. The spirit of the haughtiest sinner shall tremble with unknown astonishment, and the man of mockery shall quiver to his very soul. The lightnings of God shall kindle the world into one vast conflagration; the earth with all its forests and cities, shall make a dreadful blaze; the enemies of the Lord shall be fuel for this devouring fire, and a painful burning shall be kindled in the consciences, which innumerable ages shall not extinguish. “Who can dwell with this devouring fire? AVho can endure these everlasting burnings?”
Blessed souls, who in a wise and happy hour have heard these divine warnings, who stood in awe of these distant thunders, and reverenced and obeyed the voice of the Lord in them. Blessed souls, who beheld the flashes of the wrath of God while they were yet afar off; who saw them kindling terribly in the threateniugs of the broken law, and fled for refuge to the hope set before them in the gospel! They are divinely secured amidst the promises of the covenant of grace, from all the approaches of the fiery indignation. Jesus has sprinkled his own blood upon them; a sovereign and preventive remedy against these terrors, a sure and eternal defence against the power of the destroying angel, and the burning tempest. “Their feet shall stand on high, their habitation is a munition of rocks;” they shall live secure, and rejoice in their God amidst the ruins of the lower creation.