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We are therefore required to humble ourselves before God, and to allow the justice of his awful sentence: and we must not at all excuse our crimes, or expect deliverance from wrath, and the gift of eternal life, as in any degree our due. "Wilt thou," says JEHOVAH, "condemn me, that "thou mayest be righteous'?" This was precisely the case of the ancient Jews; "they being igno"rant of God's righteousness, and going about to " establish their own righteousness, have not sub"mitted themselves to the righteousness of God." "For Christ is the end of the law for righteous

ness to every one that believeth*."

There are two principal reasons of men's rejecting the gospel. In general they hate religion, and desire to live without restraint. They take pleasure in worldly objects: and if not compelled by their circumstances to labour, or engaged in covetous or ambitious pursuits; they love to spend their time and money in gratifying their own humour and inclinations: but submission to Christ is absolutely contrary to such a course of life. When, however, this seems to be in a measure got over; and men take a nearer view of Christianity; they are greatly offended at its humiliating doctrines. To come before God as dependent creatures, might be endured: but to approach him as justly condemned criminals is an intolerable degradation;

the feet of Jesus, to give the I every good desire, thought, word rely on the all-sufficient merits ar of the Saviour, and to receive et gift of God in him. Yet the g Scripture requires this unreserve sinners to divine justice, and mercy and grace, as essential to s But the language under consid demands implicit obedience to th anointed King over his redeemed all worlds for their advantage. "lest he be angry, and so ye peris When Samuel anointed Saul king testified his cheerful and cordial the Lord's appointment, by the 1 In like manner, we are not only come the salvation of Christ with tude, and to express our love

some particulars, according to our own choice or discretion: but we are called upon to submit to his authority, and yield obedience in all things; and if our repentance, faith, and love be sincere, we shall cordially render it. Our past sins will appear to us, as acts of rebellion against our Sovereign and bounteous Creator; present failures will be considered as additional provocations, which need forgiveness through the atoning blood; and our obedience, the only undeniable evidence of our repentance and conversion. We shall regard every interest or object which would draw us aside, as an idol and usurper; every contrary propensity as the remains of our old bondage; and the path of duty as true liberty, the perfection of which we shall long after with groans and tears.

1

But further, we are required, to "honour the "Son, even as we honour the Father that sent " him." Thus the worshippers of Baal kissed his image, and the idolatrous votaries of the golden calves used the same ceremony*." JEHOVAH therefore seems to say in the words of the text, 'I demand for my beloved Son that very adoration, which I prohibited and abhorred, when offered unto idols.' When our Lord had said, "I and " my Father are One," the Jews accused him of making himself equal with God; and their renewed attempt to stone him, together with the immediate

John, v. 23. * 1 Kings, xix. 18. Hos. xiii. 2.

difference between it, and the a "Him who sitteth on the thron "ever and ever'." It cannot ther ful, if the disciples of Christ on required to learn the worship of h of their "meetness for the inherita "in light."-But we proceed to,

III. Make some remarks, on encouragement, "If his wrath be "a little; blessed are all they tha " in him."

What is this but a declaration, fuse the salvation of Christ, reje and deny him the honour due to be turned into fiery indignation, an his name in taking vengeance on his despisers, as well as in saving and blessing his humble disciples?'-With allusion to the day of judgment, it is said, "The kings of the earth, and the great men, " and the rich men, and the chief captains, and "the mighty men, and every bondman, and every "freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the "rocks of the mountains: and said to the moun"tains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the "face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from "the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his " wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand'?" Observe the words, "the wrath of the Lamb," the wrath, not only of an offended King and Judge, but also of a despised Saviour. This will enhance the guilt and condemnation of those who neglect the gospel, and render their condemnation more intolerable than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Our attention should be peculiarly fixed on the expression, "If his wrath be kindled, yea, but a "little," that is, 'Should you be found among the more plausible and moderate of those, who refuse submission to the Saviour; among those who have least provoked his indignation; your doom will yet be very tremendous.'---This comes home to the case of multitudes. Many persons readily express their abhorrence of the blasphemies, atheism, and other enormous crimes, which alas, have

Rev. vi. 15-17.