' 4 4 '^. ■■■#■ DIVINE GOODNESS AND JUSTICE, AS RETKALED IN ■H.-J. . THE HOLY SCRI n rr RES. 58866 M 3 5t-^ A TREATISE ON THE DIVINE GOODNESS AND JUSTICE, AS RETEALED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. BY JOHN G. MARSHALL. • • ■ * ••• * ■ ■ ' > • i .' • • J . HALIFAX, N. S. PRINTED BY WILLIAM MACNAB, PRiNCfi STREET, 1875. • • • • ' • ■ ON DIVINE GOODNESS AND JUSTICE, ETC, 1. Ill one of our secular newspapers some time past, a brief essay was published under the title, " The Goodness of God." It had no signature shewing its author, but from its whole composition, it is evident that the writer holds the doctrine which denies the punish- ment of the wicked in the future state, as revealed in the ScripturcSi Many of the expressions in the writing are boldly presumptuous, or even profane. An answer to it will here be given, shewing its con- trariety to the plain truth of iScripture, and that such future punish- ment of those who die in an impenitent and guilty state, is perfectly just, and quite consistent with the goodness of God towards all man- kind during the ])resent life. The commencing and other principal portions of the writing referred to, are as follows : — " There are only three positions conceivable as the purpose and end of creating man- kind, whatever the character or disposition of the Cx'eator. 1. The final misery of all. 2. The final misery of a part, and the happi- ness of the rest, 3. The happiness of all One of these must have been the motive for creating, the end which God proposed to himself on entering upon the work. The Jint would make him infinitely malignant ; the second would make him a compound of good and evil, capricious, partial, unjust, and cruel ; and the third only makes him infinitely benevolent, and as the Bible declares, 'good unto all;' and his wisdom 'full of mercy and good fruits, and without partiali- ty.' It is idle to argue that God is infinitely good, and at the same time affirm that he would create an immortal being, knowing at the moment of doing it that the existence He was forcing upon him would prove an endless curse to him.' " ♦ ♦ ♦ * If God deliberately went to the work of creating millions of intelligent beings with the certain knowledge, — wo will not say intention or purpose, — but with the certain knowledge that they would, in any way, through any agency or sin of their own, fall into a condition of endless wicked- ness and torment, then He is not infinitely good, not good to them at all, in any just sense of the word ? If the goodness of Trod does not embrace the conversion, purification, and final welfare of his sinful and rebellious children, how are we to interpret such teaching as the following? — 'I say unto you, love your enemies, do good to them who hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them who de- spitefully use you. * ♦ • * l<'or if ye love them who love you, what thanks have ye, for sinners also do the same ? But love your enemies, and do good, and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest, for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful.' Luke vi. " Is it possible to believe thatJGod expects greater goodness and mercy in us than he himself possesses ? Would he command us, poor, frail, tempted mortals, to love our enemies, when he had not moral courage to do it himself? Can any (.^hristian suppose, for a moment, that God would, command us to bless and do good to those who hate us, when he means eternally to curse and do evil to those who hate him ? * * * * But why ask these questions ? His infinite and everlasting goodness will reveal its power, in subduing enmity, in purifying all hearts from sin, and restoring the whole human family to holiness and happiness." 2. In proceeding to answer that erroneous and delusive production, it may first be premised, as dictated by reason and propriety, that the revelations contained in the inspired Scriptures afford the only true and safe information and guide as to the subjects here treated of, and of all other doctrines, as well as duties, of our divine religion. These sacied records, therefore, will here be appealed to as the only conclusive and binding authority. A few remarks, however, may first be suitably oftered regarding human speculations and opinions on religious subjects. All such speculations, or reasons on those subjects, independent of Scripture, are presumptuous and dangerous, and ever have been more or less erroneous. The world, by its own wisdom, as Scripture declares, and as experience has always shown, never knew the true character of God, or of the nature or design of his dispensations towards mankind, or their true relations and re- sponsibilities to Him as their Creator and Benefactor, their moral Ruler and Judge. And further, under both systems of true religion, especially the present, many, through the prido of unregenerate nature, without searching Scripture, and comparing spiritual thing* with spiritual, as scripturally directed, form schemes and notions of their own on religious subjects, and hence have arlHcn most of the heresies which have afflicted the true Church, impeded the progress of divine truth, and in every age led vast multitudes astray and to final ruin. If such self-sufhcient teachers, when preparing their writings, look into the Scriptures to any considerable extent, they select a I'ew of its passages, the nicaning of which they raisapprc- hcnd, and consequently misapply them, and all the rest of their compositions are merely their own speculations and notions as to good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error, and their opinions arc formed accordingly. The writer now being answered* has evidently proceeded after this presumptuous and erroneous man- ner. The Scriptures he has cited have no reference to the general dispensations of God toward mankind, while in this life, or to future judgment and punishment of the wicked, but they were given to teach the conduct of men toward each other. He has taken no notice, made no reference to the other attributes of the Divine Being, bis wisdom, holiness, justice, and righteousness. Similar to this in- stance has ever been the course of all who have been framers and propagators of heretical or erroneous opinions on religious subjects. Far be it from the thought of the present writer to attempt to lower the scriptural standard of the goodness of God. He is indeed good to all in this life ; makes his sun to shine " on the evil and the good;" sends "his rain on the just and the unjust;" and has de- clared and shown that " He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked ;" but wills that all should repent and find mercy. But all His gracious and beneficent dispensations in the {)resent probationary state, are in perfect consistency \^ith his justice and other perfections, and his determination most clearly and fully declared in his written revelation, that he will finally judge all mankind, and eternally re- ward the righteous, and eternally punisli those who have died in an unrenewed and guilty state. 3. Designs of God in the Creation of Mankind. The author of the writing under review has further shown his reckless presumption in specifying, in most improper, or even pro- 6 fane terms, the supposed "ends" designed by Ood in the human creation. Ife has not mentioned or alluded to anv Scripture on the subject, but has net forth thrv alternatives of his own sjicculative invention regarding it. There are many Scriptures which clearly and satifactorily show the divine pur|)oses in that creation. Here are a few of them ; — " I have created him for my glory." Isaiah iv. 3 — 7. In Colossians i, 16, it is declared of the Lord Jesus Christ — "All things were c-reated by him and for him." And again, in lUvclations iv. 11 — "Thou art worthy, O liord, to re- ceive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Other Scriptures might be mentioned of the same import. There are also :'iany solemn warnings and prohibitions as to mere human specula- tions or supjiosjtions concerning the attributes and character of the iioly and the gloriinis Creator and Kuler,or of his dispensations towards his creatures, or any of his various arrangements or works. The pious and devoted Job truly said — "Canst thou find out ^'^'e Almigh- ty to perfection?'' In Deut. xxix. is the solenni caution — "The sacred things belong unto the Fiord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us ami to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.'' " Why dost strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters." " Wilt thou also (said God himself) disannul my judgments ?"' Jle that repro\etb God, let him answer it.'' — Job xxxiii. 40. Jn Kom. ix. — " man, who art thou, that repliest against (jiod? Shall the tliir.g lormed say to him that formed it, why hast tliou made lue thus?" Surely these inspired warnings ought to be sullicient to restrain from all merely hinnan suppositions or reasonings regarding the dispensations of an iniinitely wise and just God towards his creatures. The author of the writing under review must either not have known, or have not regarded them. In either case he is justly blameable. In further referring to the design and the goodness of God in the creation of man, the first truth for notice is the declaration of inspired Scripture that " God created man in his own image ; in the image of God created he him ; male ami female created he them." That image, in the human creatures, consists ' iefly in knowledge, holi- ness, and righteousness ; wise in the niiuu, holy in the heart, and righteovis in principles and conduct. Created by an infinitely wise and holy Hciiifj, tl»cy could not have boon formod in any other man- ner. Possessing those excellent (iiialitios, they couKl not but be happy, for there can be no true and poruKiMont happiness where those (jiuilities r.nd correspoiulinfj endowments are wautinj^. It is, there- fore, evident that God created man with the desi<];n that ho should be, and remain, in a state of holiness and happiness. But he was formed as a free, moral, and responsible creature, with a will and power either to remain in that happy condition, or by the sin of dis- obedience to the divine command, lo forfeit and lose it. A test and co'nmand, not at all difllcult as to his obedience and continuance of happiness, wore made known to him, and a solemn warniug; especially given, that in the day he disobeyed the command, he should "surely die.'* lie wilfully disobeyed the warning and violated the command- and thereby immediately lost his original spiritual life, enjoyments, and blessijigs, and became subject to temporal afllictions, and natural diseases, and death. Having thus fallen into a state of deprivation of holijiess ami of propensity to sin. he was iiicaj)able of conveying to his posterity any other than the like unholy and unhapj)y condition ; and accordingly it is said of Adam in St-ripturc, after this he "begat a son in his o\.ii likeness, after his image.'' All mankind have in- herited ami shown the same natural state of alienation fnjm holiness and righteousness, and propensity to evil in jirineiple and practice. But the gracious Creator, in his wisdom and mercy, devised, and im- mediately on that revolt and degradation of our first parents, intimated to them the nnxle through which they might be restored to his image and favor, by informing them that " the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's heaci," and by protracting their natural life, and contiiniijig to them ninnerous temporal blessings. The typical sacrifices of animals which immediately commenced? and which [)refigured the future holy and atoning sacrifice, must in some way have been intimated to them, though its meaning was not clearly understood, for we see in Hcrii)ture that the otlering to the IjOtiI by Abel, was "of the firstlings of his flock, and of the f-it there- of. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his otrering," The Scriptures also mention the burnt offering of Noah, on an altar, on his leaving the ark ; the offering of a ram by Abraham instead of his son ; and of several offerings of Jacob. We read in Exodus of the institution of the passover, and the killing and sprinkling of the blood of the pascal lamb, and the divine command for the continuance of the institution with its prescribed sacrificial offerings ; and in that book, and the three following booivs of the Pentateuch, numerous sacri- ficial offerings are prescribed f(»r certain persons, and for the whole nation of Israel. Such sacrificial offerings, with occasional interrup- tions, were continued through the whole subsequent hir^tory of tlm nation, down to the end of that legal dispensation, by the destruction of Jerusalem, with its Temple, religious offerings, and services. All the inspired prophets and others of the nation, spiritually eidightened and truly pious, were aware that those offerings had a reference to some holy being who should appear and explain, and fulfil the divine [)urposes for which they were instituted. Moses, as we see in Deut. xxxi., recorded them for their contimied remembrance and hope — "The Lord thy (xod v\ill raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me, unto him ye shall hearken." Isaiah, in cha[)tor liii., foretold in most melting and also heart-re- joicing terms, of a holy, suffering, and divine substitute for affording a full propitiation and satisfaction for the sins of all mankind, and opening a way for their eternal salvation. Daniel also, as we sec in chapter ix, de^'lared — "Messiah]shall be cut off, but not for hiinsell'.'' [n Zachariah it is said of "Zion's King" — •' As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.'' All these sacrificial offerings and inspir- ed predictions, manifest not only the benevolence and goodness of God towards mankind for their encouragement and hope, but also his infinite holiness and justice, the enormous and dreadful nature of sin, and the necessity of the renovation of man's spiritual character, in order to his restoration to the favour of God, and to temporal and eternal happiness. The numerous divine promises in both the Old and New Testa- ment Scriptures, oven more fully exhibit the goodness of God towards mankind. Several hundred years after the deluge, and when nearly the whole world had again become idolatrous and wicked, God in bis continued forbearance and goodness, made himself known to Abratn, and gave him repeated promises, not only as to his posterity being put in possession of the land of Canaan, but declaring to him, " in thy seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." Tiie like pro- mises were given to his desceudant-s, Isaac and Jacob. When the pos- terity of these eminent patriarchs hsd become a very numerous people, and by the Lord's power and goodness were marvelously de» livered from Egyptian bondage, he gave them, in their journeyings through the wilderness towa 'ds the promised land, most wise and excellent institutions and laws for their observance, as to both their religious and civil condition, when in posse'^sion of that land. These institutions, and the numerous precepts for the regulation of their conduct, as given through Moses, their inspired human leader, were recorded by him, as commanded by God, and were carefully secured, and by divine providential goodness have been preserved to the present time, and are the same we now have in the Krst five books of our sacred Scriptures. From time to time, through up- wards of a thousand years, the gracious Lord raised up and sent among those his chosen people, prophets and other inspired persons : some to record their history, and others to warn, reprove, and in- struct them, and make known to them gracious promises as to their obedience, and sublime, and incouraging predictions concerning the divine Teacher and Deliverer who was to come among them, and fur- ther instruct them as to the predicted and more gracious system of divine wisdom and mercy. Through a benign providence we now possess all those early prophetical and other sacred books, as well as all the inspired records of the present universal and more glo.ious dispensation. In Heb., chap. 11, mention is made of a great num- ber of those patriarchs and prophets, and other faithful servants of God ; of their persecutions and cruel sufferings ; their firm belief in the divine promises, and confidence as to their fulfilment. It is there said of them — " These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pil- grims on the «arth." The Israelitish nation, in divine mercy, was evidently chosen and designed to serve for the instruction, and as an example to all other people, in regard to the knowledge of the ojdy true (Tod, his worship atul service, and their duties among themselves in all the various relations of life. Had that nation been faithful and obedient, they would indeed, to a great extent, have fullilled those gracious divine purposes, and vast midtitudos of other nations would have been proselyted to the true religion, and the knowledge and the worship of God very far more extensively preserved in the earth* 10 But the Israelites — kings, priests, and people — with few exceptions, fell into idolatry and wickedness in various forms, and thus on the whole, in a very great degree hindered, and at times altogether pre- vented the accoinplishnicnt of those divine purposes as to the rest of mankind. Unhappily it may here be truly remarked, that with greater light and much higher advantages and njotives, professedly Christian nations have always, in greater or lesser degrees, exhibited by their wars and numerous vices and crimes, a similar example of ingratitude, and of disobedience to the plainly declared divine will and design, as to the instruction and salvation of the n)illions of their fellow creatures perishing in ignorance, idolatry, and their various enormities. By the further goodness of God, and according to his many gracious promises, the divine ISFcssiah, at the duo time, ap- peared in Israel, and most fully taught divine and saving truth, exhibited its sublime power and exan)ple, sufl'ored and died, and thereby made, as divinely predicted and promised, the needed proj)iti- ation and satisfaction to divine justice for the sins of the whole world; and for obtaining their restoration to the divine image and favour, and their present and eternal salvation and hap|)iness. The New Testament Scriptures, with the other sacred records ; the established Christian ministry, and ordinances, ami other divinely ap|)ointed and providentially provided means for the religious in- struction and salvation of all maidiind, and to the end of time, aiford further ])roofs of the goodness of God, and his will and design that all may be pardoned, regenerated, and be finally saved and happy. All these manifestations of goodness, however, are in perfect accord- ance with his holiness, justice, and all his other glorious attributes and perfectisns. Some Scripture truths and corresponding remarks may here be given, by way of answer to the objection, by infidels and others, against punishment in the future state, with reference to the opinion or supposition that young children and persons destitute of divine revelation, are liable to such punislnucnt. The Scriptures as to both are surtleiently clear and satisfactory. Therein is repeatedly given the joyous fact, that the compassionate Saviour took "the little child- ren up into his arms, put his hands upon them, and essed them," saying, "of such is the kingdom of heaven.'' Of those destitute of revelation, it is said in liomaus 2 — " For when the (^entiles which 11 have not the law, do, by nature, the things contained in the law ; these having not the law, arc a law nnto themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts ; their conscience also bear- ing witness, and their thoughts, the meanwhile, accusing or else excusing one another.'' They, like all the rest of mankind, have, through the Eternal Word, the second person in the divine and glori- ous Trinity, "that light" and life, which the Scripture declares, "lighteth every man that comcth into the world." An eminent Christian mitiister has of them truly spoken in such terms as these — "That Eternal Light, which is Christ, is to them, as a principle of redemption and salvation, if they act in conformity with that light of reason and conscience with which they are endowed.'' And further of them, as of all the rest of mankind, it is said in Scripture, (lod "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." 4. Divine Plan and Means by which all mankind may obtain salvation and eternal happiness, are clearly revealed. In the sublime and beautiful I'salms revelations are given of the glorious attributes and perfections of (xod, of his goodness towards all mankind, especially to those who love and obey him ; his gracious promises to these of numerous blessings, and of their fulfilment, both here and forever; also warnings, reproofs, exhortations, and threaten- ings, to the ungodly and unrighteous, to alarm and reclaim them. Through the whole of the prophetical books are similar announce- ments and promises, with exhortations to repentance, faith, and obedience ; and threatenings against acts and course-, of wickedness, both as to individuals and nations, more especially Israel, and facts are therein given, as to the fulfilment of those awful threatenings The sublime and eloquent tsaiah has recorded these words of the Lord to his chosen people — " Put away the evil of your doings, from mine eyes ; cease to do evil, learn to do well. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land ; but if ye refuse and re- bel, ye shall be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." "Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him. ♦ • ♦ Woe unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him."' Later in the history of Israel, we see in the book of the persecuted and mourning but faith- 12 ful Jeremiah, the following passages — " If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, ret"rn unto me, and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove." * ♦ • '• O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved.'' Hear also the prophet Hosea — " Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and t "n to the Lord." Again, in Amos — ".Seek good and not evil, that ye may live ; and so the Lord the God of hosts shall be with you as ye have spoken." In addition to these warnings against sin, and exhortations to righteousness, they were by several of their inspired prophets and teachers, sought to be allured and encouraged to faith, love, and obedience, by numerous predictions of the appear- ance of the promised and glorious Messiah among them, and by the numerous divine promises of the rich and manifold blessings, both temporal and spiritual, with which he would rejoice and exalt them. In the sublime 72nd Psalm are these beautiful and heart-cheering promises — " The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor ot the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth ; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and precious shall their blood be in his sight." By the highly-inspired Isaiah were given these gracious promises concerning the divine Messiah and Redeemer — " Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. * * * He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead (those that are with young — a bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench ; he shall bring forth judgment unto truth." In the four first books of the new covenant revelation, are recorded the birth and teachings of the divine Messiah and Redeemer, his rejection, persecution, sufterings, and crucifixion by that ungrateful and atrociously impious and wicked people, whom primarily, as well as the rest of mankind, he came to " seek and save," and make happy both in time and eternity. The succeeding book, — the " Acts of the Apostles," contains numerous facts and narratives, relative to the teaching and spread of Christianity, its divine support, the performance of miracles, the peraecutions and 18 various events which befel its first and chief teachers, especially the xealous, intrepid and highly gifted Paul ; the establishment of many churches in different countries, and numerous particulars, as to the reception as well as the rejection of Christianity ; and the endeavours by the Jewish and other rulers to suppress it. The twenty-one Epistles which follow, give more fully than in the previous books, the various doctrines of Christianity, and the duties of every descrip- tion, 'jf all who profess this sacred and consoling religion. The last book of this new and most gracious canon of truth and righteousness, contains warnings to the churches, and numerous most sublime and symbolical representations, and predictions, as to the future history of the church to the end of time, and lastly, regarding the new Heavens and Earth which the holy and righteous God haa promised to create for the perpetual residence and enjoyment of his faithful and glorified people. Throughout these new Covenant Scriptures, the divine plan and methods are fully and clearly revealed, by which the whole of pullut- ed and guilty humanity may be restored to the divine image and favour, and secure salvation and happiness both as to time and eter- nity. The four first books of these inspired records, contain the doc- trinal and other teachings of our Lord and Saviour himself. He gives the sublime announcement, " God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Also the joyful intelligence, that " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life ;" and " sent not his Son to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, might be saved." Jv'so the alarming truth, that " Except a man be born again." * ♦ * Bom of water, and of the spirit, ho cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." He therefore called upon men to repent, and believe the Gospel, meaning the new divine system of religiou, he came to pro- claim, for securing the salvation, and present and eternal happiness of all mankind. In his sublime instructive and comprehensive sermon on the mount, said during the whole of his sacred ministry on the earth, he taught and enforced numerous doctrines and duties of the new divine system of religion He was introducing, com- manded the forsaking and avoidance of all sin, and enjoining the fear, love, an^ worship of God ; and faith in his mercy and goodness. 14 the love and forgiveness of enemies, praying for them, and doing them good — prohibiting the judging of others, and laying up worldly treasures, and fordidding the resistance of evil, or returning it ; directing as to prayer, bestowing alms, manner of speech, and cau- tioning as to worldly cares and anxieties. He gave warnings for all his disciples and followers, that unless their righteousness should " exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees," they should " in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven ;"' and commanding, " let your light (example) so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven ;" and that " all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them ; for this is the law and the prophets." He graciously declared that he came "to seek and to save that which was lost ;" that be was " the bread of life ;" " the light of the world ;" the Good shepherd who would give "his life for the sheep." He has invited all the " weary and heavy laden " to come to him, and that he will give them rest ;" and " the water of life " freely ; that none who come to him will he " cast out ;" and saying for the encourage- ment and consolation of all his faithful people. " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you ;" ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full. He that loveth me, shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, and will manifest mysef to him. But that love and enjoyment of his favour depends as he has shown on their abiding obedience, for he has said : — " Not every one has saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven," but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven." •* If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love." And further, in no part of the scriptuies are there more severe and awful threatening against the finally impenitent and wicked and predictions of their future and eternal punishment, than have been declared by the compassionate Saviour himself. All ye who deny the punishment, or disregard the threats concerning it, hear the following, as only a few of his awful announce- ments on the subject : — " If thy hand offend thee cut it off, and cast it from thee ; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched ; where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." The like warnings and threathenings he twice repeated : again, " at 16 the end of the world, the angels shall come forth and sever the the kicked from among the j ust, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire, there shall be waiHng and gnashing of teeth." In describing his final judgments, at the end of the world he declares : — " Before him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, and he shall set the sheep on the right hand, and the goats on the left.'' * * * Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, — depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. * * • And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. In view of all the before-mentioned divine institutions, and laws, doctrinal and preceptive teachings, and instruction, warnings, and ex- hortations, promises and threateniugs, and the refusal or neglect of such vast numbers to accept the promised salvation, the words of God regarding the people of Israel, whom he had delivered from Egyptian bondage, and established in the promised land under such happy circumstances, may well be applied to all under the present gospel dispensation. " Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and jny vine- yard, what could have been done more to my vineyard that J have not done to it ; wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes.'' But the words of the prophet — " Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?'' cannot be employed, for there are both, for affording instant and full relief. The true cause that the great salvation so richly provided and freely offered, is not universally obtained, is precisely this — that 5. The Wicked and Ungodly refuse and neglect to seek that "al- vation as it is 8cripturally proposed. The situation and circumstances of those not possessing the sacred Scriptures have been treated of, in a previous section, therefore what will here be offered is not intended to relate, and will not be applica- ble to their case. Those who posssess those Scriptures, or have the means of obtaining them, or a knowledge of their contents, are the persons whose conduct, as to divine revelation, and true religion, will here be considered. In all countries /here that revelation and re- ligion have been known, there have always been vast numbers, who have either rejected, or constantly disregarded both. There are many such persons in tiie present day, in all lands who do or may poasesf^ 16 al! the inspired records. Such characters are wilfully content to live utterly ignorant of the truths contained in the scriptures, and in the indulgence of all their base and wicked propensities and pas- sions, and impious and flagitious courses. They have readily within their reach, not only the scriptures, but numerous other means, to show them the way of life and salvation ; but they wilfully despise or utterly disregard the whole of those divine blessings, as well as con- science and reason, and live many of them to fifty, sixty, or more years, in the same vile and wicked habits, and die in their sins and guiltiness. Surely, all these are without the least excuse, as to not obtaining the gospel salvation and future happiness ; and are justly deserving of that indignation and punishment, from a holy and righteous God, which he has so explicitly and repeatedly declared he will, at last, inflict on all such characters. In all countries which have possessed the divine records, there has always been another and very numerous class of the ungodly, and of wilful sinners, neglecters of a spiritual salvation, and careless as to fu- ture happiness or misery, whose conduct and character, and final des- tiny and circumstances, must bo here brought under special considera- tion. They are not openly wicked and immoral persons, such as those previously described. They are outwardly what are generally called honest, moral, and respectable characters, discharging the ordinary duties of civil life in an average and useful manner. They make no profession of spiritual or experimental religion, but attend regidarly, on its public services ; many of them, indeed, are members of churches. All of them have the Sacred Scriptures in their houses, but large numbers seldom or ever look into them, except on the Lord's day, when some small portions of them will be read, and the book will bo carefully laid aside in some safe place, until the return of thai day. Yet this is a book, in which the great and glorious God who has their present good or un happiness, and future bliss or misery entirely in his power, has clearly and fully informed them that he is hohf, juM, and ri1) ^"iiib, .{jppli^ati(i)ti and meaning of endless duration. The punishment will not in d'tjree be the same to all, for the Jiord Jesus, the appointed and righteous Judge, has declared that "then he will reward every man aceordintj to his works ;" and Psalms xcviii., 9, declares — " With righteousness shall he judge the v\orld, 36 and the people ^^•ith equity.'' There would be good reason to con- clude that the punishment of the wicked in the other world would be everlastiiKj, even if the Scriptures had not been so express in declar- ing it, by reason that they will then be continually under the power and influence of the base, furious, and other evil passions which possessed theip while here, but in a far greater degree, and doubtless will be continually blaspheming the being who is punishing them ; and as none can be admitted to a state of glory without having first become endued with the love of God, and goodness, and a principle of holiness ; and as their time of (/race and probation, as scripturally shown, has for ever passed away ; and the endurance of such tor- menting punishment can never beget love to the being by whom it is inflicted, it must follow that their unholy and blaspheming condition will still remain, and consequently their puidshment must eternally endure. 12. Seeing then, that the eternal glories and happiness of the righteous, and the everlasting punishment of the wicked, as plaiidy declared in the Scriptures, are most solemn realities, it will be the highest wisdom for all, — not only the unconverted, — but those who ha\G found and those who are seekiny present salvation, to think fre- quently of the views and a2>2)rehensions which will fill their minds, on that day of Final Retribution ; and on its Awful Solemnities, when they will have a clear view of the indescribable happiness, and the horrible miseries of anotlier world; when, in short, Heaven, with all its glories, shall be open before them ; and, as expressed in the Book of Job, — '* Hell shall bo naked before us, and Destruction have ni» covering." Eeflecting on these awful Truths, may all, as Seriptiirally connnanded, " give all diligence to make their calling and election sure,'' so that when " the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with His Mighty Angels., in' Flanling Fini,'' taking vengeance on His enemies, their portion shall' iiot'be w ith thbse '^ iit the left hand,'' who " shall be punished with cver],astiug do'«*:rui'ti'oii from the pre- sence of the Lord, andlVo'n the "Glfcrv of Hii PoN^er," but shall be among those at His lii