they were by ignorance and idolatry, a disposition not indifferent to those proofs of divine revelation, which to Bethsaida and Chorazin were exhibited in vain. He judges according to that hidden temper, according to that inward disposition; not by the acts committed, but by the circumstances also under which they are done; whether they are done knowingly and deliberately, in wilful violation of acknowledged duties, or in mistaken zeal, or in neglected ignorance. Nay He judges of a degree of faith never actually called into existence. For He is aware who would and who would not repent, at the sight of any miracle, or the preaching of any doctrine, if by that miracle or that doctrine they were to be tried. And He has expressly declared that it shall be hereafter more or less tolerable for them accordingly.

I. The first conclusion, to be drawn from the text thus explained, relates to the future condition of those millions of mankind, who depart this life in ignorance of

case by far the greater proportion of all human beings who have ever existed. In this ignorance have lived and died, the heathen of all ages; those who from the flood to the coming of Christ formed, with the exception of the Jews, the whole world, and those who, since his coming in the flesh, have occupied, and even at this moment possess, the most extensive portion of the habitable globe. When we remember the curse which awaits every unregenerate child of Adam, the absolute necessity, so plainly taught in the Gospel, the necessity of faith in Christ, to the justification of man, we must needs feel anxious to learn, if at least we have any feeling at all for these our brethren according to the flesh, we must needs feel very anxious to learn how these who never heard his name can escape from the wrath to come. On this subject there is perhaps no passage in the Bible so full of information as the one before us.

Tyre and Sidon were cities of the heathen. Their inhabitants had lost all tradition of a Saviour to come. And at the

time when Jesus spake these words, they were utterly ignorant of his existence. The men of Sodom were not only ignorant of the Redeemer that should be born, but so advanced to the extremity of daring sin, as to provoke the manifestation of divine vengeance, and to be destroyed by fire from heaven. Yet in these sad instances of complete ignorance, the Judge of all mankind has recorded, that, if they had seen the works manifested in these towns of Galilee, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nay He has expressly referred to the sentence of their future judgment, and pronounced that it shall, at that day, be for this very reason more tolerable for them.

Thus then, we may trust, will the knowledge and goodness of God be manifested towards the whole race of mankind. The sacrifice of his Son made atonement for all. And though so many millions are ignorant of His name, yet in some of them is discerned a spirit which would enable them to have repented at his preaching. By

whether or no the merits of Jesus Christ are imparted for the salvation of their souls; whether or no it shall be more tolerable for them, than for those who having seen yet believed not, or having believed yet repent not nor obey. So may the intercession of our great High Priest be made effectual to every nation under heaven; and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, will have expiated the sins of those who in all ages have existed therein.

Learn then hence to enlarge towards all mankind your notions of the mercy of God. Beware of putting an exclusive trust in the signal privileges of your own nation, your own sect, or your own times. Lest otherwise, like the men of Galilee, ye have nought to plead, except, "We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets." For then shall He declare, "I know you not whence ye are ; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in

the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God." (Luke 13. 26-29.)

II. Secondly, we may learn, from this view of the text, the probability of our being greatly mistaken in our views of the future judgment. We are apt to form our notions from the outward conduct of others. We seldom take into account the various considerations, which, in the secret condition of the heart, extenuate the iniquity of the most profligate, or aggravate the failings of the most upright. These things indeed we cannot see, we cannot know. But we should always remember, that such things are. And then we should be the more inclined to obey that precept of divine wisdom, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matt. 7. 1.)

We see around us numbers abandoned to a course of outward acts, which we know to be highly sinful. We see