WERE mankind wholly given up of God, and his Spirit withdrawn from them, fuch might be come their ftate; but this is not the cafe. The Holy Spirit ftrives with them. They are empow. ered to refift the Spirit, or cherish its influences. This is manifeft from the divine exhortations addreffed to them, and from their conduct. Some times they pause in the way to destruction-listen to counfels and warnings-do things which God requires, and deny themselves gratifications which are in their power, because God hath forbidden and threatened to punish them. The person is not to be found who hath not a witnefs in himfelf that this is the cafe. SHOULD WE affirm that none, who are in a ftate of nature, can be influenced by sense of duty to deny themselves, or attempt obedience to God's law, it might give occafion to false hopes. Thofe, the general course of whofe lives is oppofition to God, fure that they fometimes deny themselves, and like Herod, do things enjoined from above, might flatter themselves that they were children of God, while belonging to another family, and that they should have peace, when there was no peace to them. Yet when the Lord cometh, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifeft the counfels of the hearts, every man fhall have praife of God. GOD will overlook nothing commendable which may have been done by the vileft of the human race, while on probation; and fome things commendable will be found in the most degenerated; though in many, the good will be found fo low as to leave them on the whale, the fervants of fin, and confequently to take their portion among the workers of iniquity. REFLECTIONS. I. THE day is coming which will scatter the darkness of the present ftate. Here many things confound us. "We fee but we understand not." We wonder fometimes at what God orders, and oftener at what he permits. The time approaches in which all these myfteries will be cleared up. We fhall perceive wifdom and goodness in all the divine administration. Our wonder at providential regulations will terminate. Now we often wonder at things done by our fellow men-are unable to discover the motives which actuate them-perhaps frequently mistake them. But this uncertainty will not be perpetual. The veil spread over these things will be removed when the hidden things of darkness are brought to light and the counfels of the hearts made manifeft. Then every hidden purpose will be laid open, and every fecret counsel disclosed. II. VAIN are the attempts of mankind to conceal their crimes, or difguife their characters. For a time they may hide their nefarious views, and pass themselves for other manner of persons than they are; but it is only a temporary matter; all are haftening to an omnifcient tribunal which will open every heart and life to general inspection. Every one will then be made to ftand out, as he is to public view! "Some men's fins are epon beforehand, going before to judgment; and fome men they follow after. Likewife alfo the good works of fome are manifeft beforehand; and they that are otherwife cannot be hid." Hitherto there are fecret fins, and mistaken characters; but ere long there will be neither. "Every man's work fhall be made manifeft, for the day fhall declare it.” WHAT folly then is hypocrify? Every one would defpife the delinquent, who, while paffing to trial fhould impofe on his fellows with protes tations of innocence, when he knew the judge acquainted with his guilt, and that he would foon disclose it, and open it to public view. Such is the part acted by those who endeavor to hide their true characters, while making their way to the bar of God. III. THESE Confiderations speak comfort to the righteous, and terror to the wicked. The fincerity of the former will ere long be made manifeft. All the injurious charges brought against them, will appear to be injurious, and they will be cleared of every afperfion. Their integrity will be dif played, and they will have praife of God. Nothing they shall have done or fuffered, out of regard to God will be forgotten or go unrewarded. Yea, their defires and purposes to honor him here, though ability or opportunity to carry them into effect might not be allowed them, will be proclaimed and rewarded. "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love"-" David did well that it was in his heart to build an house to God's name"-therefore the divine promife" to build him an house and establish the throne of his kingdom forever." BUT the wicked who may have paffed through life under the fhades of darkness, been mistaken, perhaps, for the righteous, will rife at the great day, "to fhame, and everlasting contempt." Their fins will then find them out. For God's eyes are on the ways of man, and he feeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor fhadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themfelves." And all are written in God's book, and referved to judgment; when he "will give to evry one, according to his works. Woe unto the wicked, it fhall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands fhall be given him." This will be enough to make miferable. There needs no more than the withdrawing of mercy, and leaving justice to take its courfe. This will be the portion of those who neglect offered falvation. But, IV. SINNERS who have, at all, denied themfelves, out of regard to the divine authority, or done aught which God required, though ever fo partially, will not loose the benefit of it. Proportioned to its nature, and the degree of rectitude found in it, it will deduct from the punishment which the want of it would have occafioned. The condemned will ftand fpeechlefs before the judge -have no reason to offer why judgment fhould not be executed upon them. By the clear manifestation of their guilt, and the impartial justice of God, they will be constrained to acknowledge the perfect fairness and equity, yea, the moral neceffi. |