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GOD THE AVENGER OF SIN
THE preachers of God’s blessed word have in all ages had reason to complain, “Who hath believed our report?” True it is, that a faithful ministration of the Gospel is, to a certain degree, approved: but it is also true, that the approbation given to it is very different from that entire submission which it requires. The very people that commend the ministry will not obey the word delivered to them. They are pleased with an exhibition of truth; but they do not feel its force, or give themselves up to its influence. But the word of God will stand, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. Now, that the judgments of God are almost exclusively of a spiritual nature, and therefore invisible, we can only declare what God has spoken: but when the commands of God were enforced with temporal sanctions, the prophets could appeal to what he had done. God had threatened, that if his people were disobedient to his voice, they should be subjected to a great variety of calamities, and be cut off by his four sore judgments— by wild beasts, and pestilence, and famine, and the sword. Hence the prophet exhorted the Jews, after the Babylonish captivity, not to walk in the steps of their rebellious progenitors: and, to convince them of the fatal consequences that would ensue if they despised his voice, he appealed to them, “Your fathers, where are they?” that is, ‘Have they not, agreeably to the predictions of former prophets, been made monuments of God’s indignation? and have not you, therefore, reason to expect, that, if you resemble them in their disobedience, you will, like them, be made to experience also the bitter consequences of your transgressions?’
The question thus put to them, may be considered in a twofold view:
I. As a devout reflection—
Have those of former generations been able to protract their existence beyond the period allotted to them by Almighty God?
[No: however little they might think of death, they were overtaken by it; and, in the appointed season, fell beneath its stroke. Neither the people, nor the prophets who ministered unto them, could “live for ever.” They had a space assigned to them for the discharge of their respective duties; and when that period had elapsed, they were summoned into the eternal world, to give an account of themselves to the Judge of quick and dead.]
And shall we continue here beyond our appointed time?
[Not an hour; no, nor a single moment. “Our times are in God’s hands:” and, when called by him, we must bid an everlasting farewell to every thing here below. A tree, cut down, may sprout again: but man, once dead, can live no more [Note: Cite the whole of Job_14:7-10.]. “However esteemed, however admired, however regretted, he falls to rise no more in this world: he perishes like his own dung,” as Job observes; and “they that have seen him in all his glory, shall say, Where is he?” Truly, “his place shall know him no more [Note: Cite also Job_20:4-7.].” Death will shew no respect of persons. Whether we be unprepared to meet our God (and therefore desirous of a further respite); or be, like the holy prophets, actively engaged in his service (and therefore desirous of completing our work); we must equally obey the summons of Jehovah; “our bodies returning to their native dust, and our spirit ascending unto Him who gave it.”]
Let us then reflect on the transitoriness of earthly things, and the certainty of our approaching dissolution—
[We have our occupations and enjoyments, even as our fathers had — — — but how speedily will they pass away, and come to an end! We are apt to be promising ourselves months and years of pleasure; but “we know not what a single day may bring forth.” The fate of the Rich Fool may be ours before tomorrow: “this very night may our souls be required of us;” and all the things from which we hoped to reap such a harvest of joy may be delivered over to some unknown possessor.
Truly this is a reflection which we ought to cherish, and on which we should dwell with deep concern: for, till we have learned to estimate the vanity of time, we shall never feel as we ought, the importance of eternity.]
Let us next notice the question,
II. As a solemn admonition—
Their fathers had been disobedient, and had despised the warnings of Jehovah: but they were made to feel his righteous indignation, and to acknowledge that he had dealt with them according to their deserts [Note: ver. 5.]. In this view the question has the force of a most solemn warning to all who are disobedient to God’s commands—
[“Your fathers, where are they?” We will not speak of persons, but of characters. Of persons we know nothing: of characters we can speak on the authority of God himself. I ask, then, Can it be supposed that all who have passed into the eternal world are alike happy? Are none saying, “Like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us?” Do we believe, or does any one amongst us believe, that God will put no “difference between those who serve him, and those who serve him not?” We cannot but know, that many, whilst they were living amongst us, gave no evidence of real piety: and that, as far as we had any opportunity of judging, or have any just reason to believe, they were never truly and savingly converted to God. Now, our blessed Lord has said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven [Note: Mat_18:3.].” Is this word true then, or is it not? If it be true, where are they who have died in an unconverted state? If not in heaven, there is but one other place in which they can be. In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we hear of the one as “carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom;” and of the other, that, immediately after his decease, he was “in hell, lifting up his eyes in torments.” And such, we are assured, will be the condition of all in a little time, according as they shall be found at the time of death. I know how backward men are to believe this; and how fondly we cherish the delusion, that all, on their departure hence, are happy [Note: In the writings of the pious Baxter, a fact, of which he was himself an eye-witness, is adduced, as illustrative of this truth. A flock of sheep being frightened as they were passing over a bridge, one leaped over the side of the bridge: the rest, in succession, having no apprehension of evil having befallen him, followed the example; and found not, till it was too late, how fatally they had been misled. Precisely thus it is that successive generations rush into the eternal world, deceiving and deceived.]. We will not even admit a thought to the contrary: and perhaps in our whole lives we never had the suggestion seriously proposed to us in reference to any departed soul, “Where is he?” To entertain a doubt of the happiness of any, would be deemed uncharitable in the extreme. But, be it known to you, that, however the wheat and the tares may resemble each other whilst growing in the field, a different end awaits them: the one is growing for the granary; the other for the fire, which, at their separation in the last day, will assuredly be their doom.]
Forcible as the question is when considered generally, it will acquire tenfold importance if we regard it with a special Application of it to our own souls—
1. Where are we?
[The general answer to this would be, “I am in a vain and transitory world.” This is true. But there is another answer, to which I would wish to draw your attention; and it is this; “I am on Mercy’s ground.” Could we but view life in this light, what an insight should we have into the great ends of life! We are sinners, condemned sinners, respited for a little season, till it shall be seen whether we will avail ourselves of the overtures of mercy which our God and King has sent us. Regardless of the sentence that has been passed upon us, we are wasting our time in thoughtless gaiety, or spending it in unprofitable pursuits. One and another is led forth to execution; but, not being eye-witnesses of their fate, we continue unaffected by their removal, till we ourselves are summoned to participate their lot. The Rich Man, of whom we have before spoken, had five brethren, who were following the steps which lie had trodden before them, and were hastening unconsciously to the same awful end. So it is with us. We see not the state of those who have gone before us; and we put far from us all thought of the destruction in which their ways have issued, till, by bitter experience, we find that the warnings which have been given us are true.
Remember, then, that the time which is yet allotted us is given on purpose that we may seek reconciliation with our offended God, and avert, by a believing application to the Lord Jesus, the misery that awaits us. If we will consider life in this light, and improve it for this end, we shall be truly happy.]
2. Where shall we be in a little time?
[This is the question which every one of us should ask from day to day: nor should we ever rest, till we can give to it a satisfactory answer. Let us, then, put it to ourselves with all seriousness at this time. Suppose, by disease or accident, we had been removed, as many others have been who were once as likely to live as we; where should we have been at this moment? Shall we reply, “I do not know?” What! Have we lived twenty, or perhaps twice twenty, years in the world, and left it still in doubt what our portion should be at our departure hence? According to our own acknowledgment, then, it appears that we might at this very moment have been in hell, writhing in anguish inconceivable, and looking forward to a never-ending eternity of woe. What an overwhelming thought is this! And what madness is it, to leave for one hour longer in uncertainty our acceptance with God! Let us come, then, to our present state: Where should we be, if we were to die this day? Are we prepared to meet our God? Have we washed in the fountain of the Redeemer’s blood, and clothed ourselves in the spotless robe of his righteousness? Are we living, from day to day, not to ourselves, but unto him? And is the one object of our lives to advance in our heavenly course, so as ultimately to win the prize? If this be not our state, what but misery could await us, if we were taken hence? Awake, my beloved brethren! awake to your true condition! Can you give sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your eye-lids, in such a state as this? Will not the thought of eternity appal you? If any of your fathers, who have gone before, could be restored for any fixed time to your state, think you that they would trifle away their hours as they once did, and as you now do? or, if permitted to come to you from the dead, would they not speak in far stronger accents than ever you were addressed by me? O! arise, and “redeem the time!” and “what your hand findeth to do, do it with all your might.”
Let us not, however, close the subject without contemplating the state of those who have “fallen asleep in Christ.” “Where are they?” O, how delightful the thought! They are at this moment with Christ in Paradise, and joining with all the hosts of the redeemed in everlasting Hallelujahs to God and to the Lamb. Think then, I say, of their state [Note: If this were a Funeral Sermon, here the character and state of the deceased might be drawn, for the comfort and encouragement of survivors.] — — — And endeavour so to live, that, at whatever hour your summons may arrive, you may be found ready, and “have an abundant entrance into the presence of your Lord.”]