scene, which shall commence when the last trumpet shall be sounded; we no more repine at the appearance of wo, nor think our light affliction worthy to be compared with that glory that is to be revealed; while we look not at the things that are seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are .eternal."

On the inevitable misery of the wicked.

BUT there shall be no reward to the evil man.-No reward, did I say? Nay, if God be just, then he will render indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, to every soul of man that doth evil, without respect of persons." To him belongeth vengeance.-Though patience may delay, though clemency may mitigate, though mercy, grace, and wisdom, may transfer the punishment to the person of a surety; yet still his wrath must be revealed against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men.

Doth not even nature herself teach us, that sin and punishment are most inviolably connected? For even barbarians could infer, when they saw a viper fasten upon the hand of a person whom they knew not, after he had escaped a dismal shipwreck; "Certainly this man was a

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murderer; for vengeance suffereth him not to live." How often are the wicked consumed with fearful terrors, when they can be under no apprehension of punishment from men? For they know that it is the judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death.” Whence are we struck with trembling at any uncommon appearances of nature? If a storm of thunder and lightning torments the air? the sun labours in an eclipse? If a glaring comet waves his banner over the nations?— Whence the terror of apparitions? Whence the forebodings of misery after death? Whence the prevailing opinion, even among the ancient Jews, that death was to be the consequence of an extraordinary appearance of the Deity? Is it not because we are insolvent debtors that we dread the face of our injured creditors? Is it not because we are traiterous rebels we abhor the presence of our offended sovereign ?-Therefore, with Adam, we hide ourselves from the presence of the Lord. And with the widow of Zarephath, we are ready to thing, that whatever is more than common, is a messenger of the Lord! of hosts to slay us, and bring our sin to remembrance.

Oft times the guilty conscience will create un to itself imaginary horrors, and sinners are in great fears, where no fear is, while they are apt

to say with Cain, Every one that meelelh me, will slay me. What nations under heaven have not attested the truth of this, while they have appeased their gods with bloody expiatory sacrifices? And (horrid to relate!) their altars have reeked even with human gore : the fruit of the body has been given for the sin of the soul! Whether the dreadful custom may be derived from the mangled tradition of Abraham offering up Isaac; or, whether our adversary the devil would, by stirring them up to such abominations, insult over the guilt of their consciences, and blindness of their hearts, by aping the sacrifice of Christ, hereby intending to discredit the glorious method of salvation: one thing is eertain, that mankind, degenerate as they were, did really judge, that an expiation was necessary to be made, and that he will by no means clear the guilty.

And however much their foolish heart was darkened, as to the manner of propitiating the deity, yet certainly the necessity of it is one of the dictates of nature. For, could we suppose, that a sinning creature should escape the righteous judgment of God, and feel no effects of his displeasure; how could it appear that he were a God of purer eyes than to behold iniquity? Would there not be too much reason to say, "every one that doeth evil is good in the sight.

of the Lord, and he delighteth in them, and where is the God of judgment ?" How could his lordship and dominion over the world be maintained, should he forbear to punish the violators of his law? Is it impossible he can be divested of his sovereign rule, or that his creatures can throw off all mortal dependence upon him that made them? So it is impossible but the order of punishment must succeed, when the order of obedience is disturbed and they who burst the bands of the law, must of necessity be bound in the chords of affliction. Consider this, and be

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afraid, ye that forget God. While a method is not fallen upon to appease incensed justice, and separate sin from your souls; if God be the righteous judge of all the earth; if God be the Lord of the creatures; if God be blessed, (0 tremble to think it!) you must be miserable. As the fire devours the chaff, as the flame consumes the stubble; so must you perish at his presence.

But let us hearken to the sacred oracles on this interesting subject. ❝Search ye out of the book of the Lord, and see that every disobedience receives a just recompence of reward." The flames of Sodom, the waters of Noah, the torments of hell, the sufferings of Christ, bear witness unto this. O sin, thou hast kindled fire that will burn to the bottom of the moun

tains! "Behold, he will come with fire, and with his chariots, as a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire: for, by fire, and with his sword, will the Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many." Nor can we reasonably blame the bowels of the Deity because he taketh vengeance; for, according to Moses, it is a branch of his goodness, that he will by no means elear the guilly. According to Joshua, it is because be is a holy God that he will not forgive our transgressions. According to David, it is because the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, that he will rain upon the wicked snares. fire, and brimstone, and a burning tempest, the portion of their cup.

But, especially, had it been an indifferent thing with God to punish or not to punish the guilty, who can pursuade us that he who afflicts not willingly nor grieves the children of men, would take such pleasure in bruising his only begotten SON, whom he loved ?—Was he without necessity exposed to such direful sufferings? Nay: for God hath set him forth to be a propitiation, to declare his love. True; but to declare also his righteousness in the remission of sin, and that he may be just.

Blessed be that matchless grace and wisdom, that has provided a lamb for a burnt sacrifice ;