HIDDEN FROM US FOR A TIME; BUT SURE. 129 the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting:" Gal. vi, 7, 8." And these (the wicked) shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal" Matt. xxv, 46.

During the period of those preparatory dispensations, under which the realities of an eternal future were far less clearly revealed than they are at present, the faith of the servants of God appears to have been very often tried by the temporal prosperity of the wicked. "Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper?" cried the mournful Jeremiah; "wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?" xii, 1. So also David, when he contrasted his own wretchedness with the riches and power of the Lord's ènemies, exclaimed, "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me :" Ps. lxxiii, 16. Yet when he went "into the sanctuary of God"-when he humbled himself before the righteous Judge of all flesh— he understood the end of the wicked. "When the wicked spring as the grass," said he on another occasion," and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, it is that they shall be destroyed for ever," Ps. xcii, 7 -a truth which in the New Testament our Saviour has elucidated and confirmed in the most awful and explicit terms: see Matt. xxv, 46; John v, 29, &c.

III. In the administration of that retributive system which constitutes the moral government of God—a system which in the present world is incipient, and in the world to come will be completed-the Deity displays a perfect equity. "Without respect of persons, he judgeth according to every man's works :" I Pet. i, 17. He "accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;

K

for they are all the work of his hand:" Job. xxxiv, 19. "Whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free:" Eph. vi, 8. "God is no respecter of persons; but, in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him:" Acts x, 34, 35. "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. .Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel! Is not my way EQUAL? Are not your ways unequal?" Ezek. xviii, 20. 29. The ignorance and rashness of men are manifested in nothing more clearly, than in those unmeasured judgments which they are so prone to form one of another. But God, who is absolutely free from partiality, condemns or acquits, punishes or rewards, his creatures, on a perfectly comprehensive view of all those circumstances by which their guilt is either aggravated or diminished. The more numerous the gifts bestowed, the greater the responsibility incurred: the more abundant the light communicated, the more complete the obedience required. In the history of the poor widow who threw her last mite into the Lord's treasury, we are furnished with a beautiful exemplification of the apostle's doctrine, that "if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not: II Cor. viii, 12. Nor can we doubt that the very same equitable principle is maintained by the Judge of all flesh in reference to matters of the highest moment. The man who makes a right use of his single talent is, in the most important point of view, on a par with his

neighbour by whom the five talents are improved. Both shall be made rulers over more-both shall enter into "the joy of their Lord." When Jesus was conversing with his disciples on the subject of divine retribution, he elucidated his doctrine in the following memorable words—words which may teach us at once to tremble for ourselves, and to abstain from any sweeping condemnation of others to whom the law of God is less fully revealed-" And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:" Luke xii, 47, 48.

IV. That God is good-abounding in kindness towards his creatures-our bounteous Protector and Father is a truth to which the Scriptures bear an unequivocal testimony. "The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works:" Ps. cxlv, 9. "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord:" Ps. xxxiii, 5. "We also are men of like passions with you," cried Paul to the deluded inhabitants of Lystra," and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein; who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness:" Acts xiv, 15-17. "He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust:"

132

AND COMPASSION ESPECIALLY

Matt. v, 45. "God giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not....Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights :" James i, 5. 17.

It is matter of great consolation, that the destitute and afflicted amongst men, are in a peculiar manner, the object of divine tenderness and regard. "A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation:" Ps. lxviii, 5. (He) " executeth judgment for the oppressed; (He) giveth food to the hungry; the Lord looseth the prisoners; the Lord openeth the eyes of the blind; the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down..... the Lord preserveth the strangers he relieveth the fatherless and widow:" Ps. cxlvi, 7-9. "They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way: they found no city to dwell in: hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble; and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Ps. cvii, 4-8.

While, however, the benevolence of God is in many ways exerted towards the whole family of mankind, we are never to forget that it is those who fear the Lord, those who are devoted to his service, those who really belong to his church on earth, who are in an especial and preeminent manner, the objects of his care and favour. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the

TOWARDS HIS PEOPLE.

133

fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler:" xci, 1—4. “Who is he that will harm you,

if ye be followers of that which is good?" I Pet. iii, 13. "But thou, Israel, art my servant, the seed of Abraham my friend. Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness:" Isa. xli, 8. 10. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom :" Luke xii, 32.

The rewards bestowed upon the righteous, form one essential part of that retributive system which I have already noticed as evincing the justice of the Deity. Here, however, it ought to be observed, that although the wicked deserve the wrath of the Lord, the most righteous among men are far indeed from having any claim in themselves, on the happiness which he condescends to bestow upon them. It is his own goodness which follows them; and of that goodness they are utterly unworthy. After they have done all which he commands them, they are unprofitable servants;" for "who hath first given" unto the Lord, that it should "be recompensed unto him again?" Let us observe the distinction-" The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord:" Rom. vi, 23.

66

Such are the descriptions presented to us in Holy Writ of the benevolence and bounty of the Deity. Now, we know that the creatures of God are many of them endued with exquisite sensibility-that while their frame is adapted to delightful and pleasurable