not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay before me. O Israel, O nominal people of God! you have undone yourselves. This is a rebellious people, lying children, that will not hear the law of the Lord. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in abominations; I will also choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because, when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear; but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." O consider the inexpressible load of misery that will justly fall upon you, because you will not do all that you can to avert it. God is not willing that you should perish; he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked: he has provided you with a remedy equal to all your maladies; he wishes you to make use of it, but you will not. God gives you warning after warning, judg ment after judgment, threatening upon threatening, invitations after invitations, and to no purpose; you scorn them all: you will not believe a word that he says; you will perish; you choose everlasting destruction, in preference to everlasting life. Can any conduct be so pitiable, so foolish, so mad? What exquisite satisfaction must you experience from your transient and insubstantial pleasures, to give up for them not only the pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore, but for the sake of them to ensure a positive punishment of eternal duration ! I have written this discourse expressly with the view of showing sinners the large provision the Gospel holds out for their salvation; and to point out to them this awful truth, that, if they perish, it will be entirely their own fault, and because they will perish. O let me not, Sabbath after Sabbath, and year after year, speak to you in vain! Believe me, it is your interest alone that I have at be heart. My salvation will not be endangered by your refusing to accept the gracious offers laid before you. I do my duty as an ambassador of Christ, by delivering the message of the Gospel to you; and if I believe, whether you believers or not, I shall be saved. But I want you to be saved also. I could wish that you should all go to heaven. There is no man on the face of God's earth, that I would not, if it were in my power, save. But what I cannot do, God can; he can strike the adamantine rock of your hard hearts, and the waters shall flow; he can make the wilderness and the solitary place be glad, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose; he can open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys, and make the dry land springs of water. And, what is more, he wishes to do so; his revealed will is to this purpose. He will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth; for |
