The Lord of life the nations bought, 'Twas great to speak the world from nought, 72 We are also assured that there is a display of the exceeding greatness of God's power in the conversion of a sinner that all who are saved are born of the Spirit;70 that all things are of God; and that it is God that prepares the soul for death and eternity. But, my young friend, would all this be requisite if man were able to deliver himself? would he need the help of an almighty arm if he were not in himself deeply fallen and utterly helpless ? Sect. 12. An important inquiry connected with this subject is, are we to understand this sad description, as a description of mankind at large, or only of the worst part of the human race? Let the word of God give the reply. Hear its solemn answer; Death has passed upon all men because all have sinned.73 The Scripture hath concluded all under sin.74 We all like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way. None then, it seems, naturally incline their feet to the ways of God. "Each wanders in a different way; but all the downward road." The whole world lieth in wickedness;76 lies like a wounded and fallen captive, the helpless prey of an infernal foe. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." They are all gone aside; they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no not one. They are all under sin, there is none righteous, no not one.79 There'is not a just man on earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.so If one died for all, then were all dead. So completely do sin and man accord, that a course of sin and rebellion is termed the course of this world; and these humiliating truths are taught us, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God. And who should refuse to submit, for who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin.84 69 Ephes. i. 19. 70 John iii. 5. 71 2 Cor. v. 18. Rom. v. 12. 74Gal. iii. 22. 75 Isa. liii. 6. 77 Rom. iii. 23. 78 Ps. xiv. 3. 79Rom. iii. 9. 10. 72 2 Cor. v. 5. 761 John v. 19. 80Eccles. vii. 10. If we refer this point to the decision of the best of men, they unite from their own sad experience to confirm it, David humbly confesses I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Daniel, who became so peculiar a favorite of Heaven, humbly deplores his rebellion against his Maker. Job, not less distinguished for his piety, said, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Isaiah exclaims, woe is me for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips.88 Paul who rivalled them all in his piety, and in his usefulness outdid them, says, I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.99 We were by nature the children of wrath even as others.90 And in words, already referred to says, we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.91 "Or now put the question to the best of the human species, the watchful, diligent, self-denying Christian, and let him decide the controverSV. Go with him into his closet, ask him his opinion of the corruption of his heart, and he will tell you that he is deeply sensible of its power, for he has learned it from much self-observation and long acquaintance with the workings of his own mind. He will tell you that every day strengthens this conviction; yea, that hourly he sees fresh reason to deplore his want of simplicity in intention, his infirmity of purpose, his low views, his selfish, unworthy desires; his backwardness to set about his duty, his languor and coldness in performing it; that he finds himself obliged continually to confess that he feels within him two opposite principles, and that he cannot do the things that he would."'* O my young friend, after such a review of the Scriptural account of our natural condition, how just and weighty appears the observation of a great and good man gone to rest, "The merely outward irregularities of men, bear no more proportion to the whole of their depravity, than the particles of water which are occa85 Ps. li. 5. 86 Dan. ix. 97Job xlii. 6. 88Isa. vi. 5. 89 Rom. vii. 13. 90Ephes. ii. 3. Titus iii. 3. *Wilberforce's Practical View. sionally emitted from the surface of the ocean, to the tide that rolls beneath.† Sect. 13. Think not that I love to dwell on these melancholy subjects. Far from it; but I warn you of your state that you may seek deliverance from it; and would as plainly warn you of the danger of such a state, that you may flee from the wrath to come. That divine book, which gives the awful description you have now read of your state, gives as affecting an account of your danger. Far from lulling you to sleep in false security, till death and judgment awaken you, it affectionately warns you of the danger, to which as a fallen creature and a sinner you are exposed. By the God of eternal truth you are assured, that men are by nature the children of wrath; that he who believeth not is condemned already,93 and that judgment has come upon all men to condemnation,94 that men as sinners are in a state of death 95 that the wages of sin is death 96 the second and more dreadful death, which consists in being cast into the lake of fire.97 And that the soul which sinneth shall surely die.98 That destruction and misery are in the ways of men ;99 and that a day of judgment and perdition to ungodly men is approaching 100 for which they are reserved1 2 Even the compassionate God is declared to hate the workers of iniquity, and to have his face set against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth, and it is his solemn assertion that There is no peace to the wicked.4 As it were, if possible to guard men from self-deccption, on a point of such infinite importance, the strongest expressions are used, in the word of God, in asserting that all are thus undone. As many as have sinned without law, (without the advantages of God's written word,) shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law; and its judgment is, that every one is cursed, who hath 92 Ephes. ii. 3. 96Rom. vi. 23. 1002 Pet. iii 7. 4Isa. lvii. 20. 93 John ii. 18. 94 Rom. v. 18. 97 Rev. xxi. S. 98 Ezek. xviii. 4. 12 Peter ii. 9. 2Ps. v. 5. 5Rom. ii. 12. 95 John v. 24. 99Rom. iii. 16. 3Ps. xxxvi. 16. m fir qr wl de le re not kept all things that are written in the book of the law to do them. In other words, that every one who, even by a single sin, has broken the commands of God, has become an accursed creature. Conformable with this, the apostles of our Lord declare that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, not merely against some atrocious crimes, but, against all unrighteousness;7 that every transgression and disobedience shall receive a just recompense of reward; that God will render fo indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, to Pevery soul of man that doeth evil; and that whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all 10 as truly condemned and ruined by that single act, as he would be had he broken the whole. While these are the declarations of inspired apostles, their holy Lord affirms, that even a sinful word exposes the soul to the danger of hell fire." fu in Ni WI SO lu αι to se Sect. 14. Not merely do the Lord's inspired prophets and apostles represent our natural state as full of danger, but they represent that danger as inexpressibly dreadful. They assure us that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.12 That the wicked shall be turned into hell. Even all the nations that forget God; 13 and that on them God will rain fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest 14 that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; for our God is a consuming fire. That the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished, with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. Then while some awake to glory, others shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt. Then in vain shall the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men call on the rocks and mountains to cover them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb.17 Whosoever has not his name found in the 16 Gal. iii. 10. Rom. i. 18. SHeb. ii. 2. ii. 10. Matt. v. 22. 121 Cor. vi. 9. xi. 6. 15Heb. xii. 29. 9Rom. ii. 9. 10James 13 Ps. ix. 17. 14 Ps. 162 Thess. i. 7, 8, 9. Rev. vi. 15. book of life, will be then cast into the lake of fire¿1o and not merely will atrocious sinners meet this dreadful doom, but the fearful and unbelieving, those who are too cowardly to follow Christ, or who disbelieve the truths of his gospel, shall be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.19 Then shall they cat of the fruit of their own ways, and be filled with their own devices;20 while the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever." 23 The divine Saviour, who was a pattern of tenderness and compassion, instead of softening down these dreadful representations, confirms them in the most decisive manner.-Infinite pity dwelt in his heart, but he knew that it was a truer exercise of pity to warn than to delude. Though he wept over wretched men, yet he declared that he himself, on all the irreligious, would pronounce the dreadful sentence, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,22 and he affirms that they shall go away into everlasting punishment into the furnace of fire, where shall be waiting and gnashing of teeth;24 where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. To avoid this he bids you count nothing too dear. Fear not, says he, them which kill the body and after that have no more that they can do, but fear Him who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell. Dreadful doom; whose heart can endure or whose hands be strong in the day that God shall deal with him 27 who can dwell with everlasting burnings! who. can endure devouring fire 128 Sect. 15. While, my young friend, you are thus affectionately warned of your danger, even by the Lord himself, you are as solemnly assured by him that multitudes plunge into this eternal ruin; and that no outward privileges will suffice to deliver you from its horAs it were to quicken your concern after everlasting blessings, the Lord Jesus declares that but a few, a happy few, obtain them. Wide, says he, is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruc rors. 18Rev. xx. 15. 19Rev. xxi. 8. 20Prov. i. 31. 21Rev. xiv. 14. 22 Mat. xxv. 41. 23Mat. xxv. 46. 24 Mat. xiii. 42. 25 Mark ix. 44. |