Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

ployed, it remains barren, then its destruction is unavoidable; at present it serves only to "cumber thy vineyard;" it yields no advantage to the proprietor, it is no honor either to my diligence or skill as the immediate dresser, and it stands to the real injury of the trees around it." The damnation of those who go on wilfully, and incorrigibly in sin is inevitable. The moral order of the universe requires that each "transgression receive a just recompence of reward." The glories of each divine perfection demands that "the wicked be turned into hell;" that the fury of Jehovah go forth against the obstinate, implacable enemy of his government. His forbearance with men in times past, "his good will" in giving them "line upon line," warning after warning is no security, but it is only preparing them for a more unexpected and awful visitation at last. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to us ward; not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." O sinner, the decree shall sooner or later "overflow with righteousness," and the sword of justice, which has long slumbered, shall ere long awake and avenge the quarrel to the lowest hell; and remember, there will be none to pity thee throughout the universe of God. The Father, "who spared not his own Son" that he might spare thee, “will then laugh at thy calamity," the Son,

[blocks in formation]

who spared not his own life that he might spare thee; "who in the days of his flesh offered up strong cries and tears" for thy deliverance, will then "tread thee in his anger, and with thy blood will stain all his raiment" holy angels, who would have cordially rejoiced at thy conversion, who would willingly have conveyed the pleasing tidings from earth to heaven that another child was born into the family of God, and have ministered to thee as "an heir of salvation," these angels will then hasten to be the executioners of thy wrath, and will eternally glory in thy confusion and horror; even ministers of the gospel who are now your "servants for Jesus' sake;" who in the hour of impending judgment stand between an offended God and their offending brethren, deprecating his displeasure and imploring his mercy; who hold the lives of their hearers in some measure dear as their own, and are willing to make any sacrifice of their outward ease or interest in promoting their salvation,these ministers must finally acquiesce in the condemnation of their ungodly hearers. "If not, then, after that thou shalt cut it down" Nay, so swallowed up will be their feelings as men, in zeal for their mas ter's glory, that they will even bring forward the unprofitable servant, and rouse the sword of justice to perform its office in his immediate perdition. Animated by the same spirit they will unite in the awful imprecation of the apostle, "if any man love

not the Lord Jesus Christ," "if he deliberately chooses death rather than life by rejecting the only sacrifice for sin; if he will by a daring unbelief again and again "tread under foot that body which was crucified," and that blood which was shed for his redemption, let his choice be given him, "let him be anathema, maranatha."

As practical reflections have been occasionally made in the illustration of these verses, I shall only detain you with the following inference, that the destruction of the ungodly is certain, infallibly certain.'ટ Though hand join in hand the wicked shall not be unpunished;" and alas, brethren, are there not some, are there not many such in the midst of us? Suppose that the great Lord of the vineyard should this day pass through this part of his heritage, how many "barren fig-trees" might he bebold; some that have stood ten or twenty, others that have been thirty or forty years under the means of cultivation without any sensible advantage? Has he not appointed one DRESSER and a second and a third to

[ocr errors]

dig about them," to use every means which might probably be effectual for rendering them profitable, but where are their appearances of fruit? "When he looked that they should bring forth grapes, have they not brought forth wild grapes?" "If the axe was" this moment" laid to the root" of each barren tree in this vineyard, how many monuments of wrath must appear? Or if all

[ocr errors]

who are spiritually dead were now struck naturally dead, how awful would be the scene? Would not some pious parent be left" to sorrow without hope" over a beloved, yet thoughtless child; or some devout, serious sister bewail the untimely end of a brother, who had lived without God, and now perished without hope? But I forbear indulging these melancholly reflections; I rather rejoice that you are spared another year, and most affectionately exhort you to awake from your security. May "not the time past of your life suffice to have wrought the will of the flesh ?" Is all that you have been hearing, from season to season, of your spiritual and everlasting concerns an empty dream? Is the doctrine of an immortal soul, of death, and judgment, and heaven, and hell, a mere shadow without substance? are these doctrines "high swelling words" without ideas or realities? then "sleep on and take your rest." Let the drunkard freely quaff his flowing bowl; let the gay sport merrily in the enchanting dance; let the sons of wealth eat, drink, and be merry; let them sleep securely on " their beds of ivory, and chant to the sound of the harp ;" let the young man rejoice in the days of his youth, quenching each anxious thought; let the despiser of divine ordinances persevere in this despite; let him neglect his bible, the duty of prayer, the institutions of the sabbath or sanctuary, and even deride those who are conscientious in observing them:

Indulge the pleasing dream, that "to-mor row shall be as this day and much more abundant." But conscience secretly starts back with horror at the thought; this monitor within tells thee, and trembles under the conviction, that thou hast a soul to be saved or damned; that there is a judgment to come; that there is a dread, unknown eternity into which thou must speedily plunge. Is it not then folly, and madness, in the extreme, to halt another day without making preparation? The man who hates his own flesh; who obstinately pines away in hunger when bread is before him; who shivers in the storm of winter, spurning the offers of either a shelter to cover or clothes to warm; who wantonly mangles and tortures his own body, is ten thousand times less cruel to himself than he who "neglects so great salvation." If" he that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" -Brethren, compassion to your souls constrains me to use "this plainness of speech;' to propose any consideration that might probably operate either on your fears or hopes. Another period of your time is now closing; the great husbandman has borne with you another year under the care of the

[blocks in formation]
« ForrigeFortsæt »