executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own. hands." (Psalm ix. 16.)

The New Testament is eminently a revelation of God's grace and mercy to a ruined world, rich, free, and abounding. Yet it contains examples of providential retribution, which clearly prove that sin cannot be committed with impunity, and that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Jesus Christ did indeed by the grace of God "taste death for every man;" but not that "every man," or any man, might live in sin; but that He might redeem mankind from the guilt, defilement, and curse of "all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus ii. 14:) and all who "neglect so great salvation," and especially all who place themselves in an attitude of opposition to its Author, shall feel the power of His avenging arm.

We have seen that Herod, who killed James the brother of John with the sword, and intended to slay Peter in the same manner, for the pleasure of the Jews, and who had the presumptuous daring to usurp Divine honours, died miserably under the hand of an angel. Ananias and Sapphira "agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord," by the utterance of a lie to the apostles, who acted avowedly under His direction, presuming that the Spirit could not detect the fraud and both of them died by the hand of God in the commission of this aggravated sin. "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." (Acts v. 1-11.) When Elymas the sorcerer openly withstood Paul and Barnabas in the exercise of their ministry, and sought to turn away Sergius Paulus from the faith, "Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set

;

his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand." (Acts xiii. 7-11.) In this case, as in many others, judgment was mixed with mercy. The blindness, it would appear, was only intended to remain" for a season; " and we may hope that under the calamitous visitation he would repent of his sin, and believe to the saving of his soul.

The facts which have now come before us show how hateful sin is in the sight of the God of purity, and how vain it is for men to hope that their evil deeds can be effectually concealed, and the punishment of them avoided. God witnesses the transgression of His law with just indignation; and He often brings to light secret wickedness in a manner which the guilty parties never suspected. Cain, Joseph's brethren, Achan, Gehazi, all attempted to conceal their sin; but their deep-laid schemes were all vain. No man, and no number of men, can successfully contend with God. His wisdom is too deep for human cunning; and what is a worm in the hand of Omnipotence? If the punishment of sin in this world, and during the day of grace, is often so terrible as we have seen; what will it be in a future state, when grace is for ever withdrawn, and wrath comes upon sinners to the uttermost ? "The fear of the Lord," by which men are restrained from sin, "that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, is understanding."

CHAPTER X.

THE REMUNERATIONS OF PROVIDENCE.

It is not in this world, but in the next, that righteousness receives its full and appropriate reward. To "the coming of the Lord" Christians are taught to look for the completion of their happiness. This is their seedtime; and they must not expect to "reap" till the time of harvest, which will arrive "in due season." At present they are called to "fight the good fight of faith;" and the promised "crown of glory" is reserved till the victory is won. Yet, as some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment," "likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand;" and Almighty God is pleased, in various instances, to express His approval of His servants by favourable interpositions of His providence. Many examples of this kind are recorded in Holy Scripture; and to a few of them we may with propriety direct a brief attention.

66

In the antediluvian world Enoch was not only an eminent example of piety, but was also a faithful witness for God. Amidst the cares of a family, (for he had "sons and daughters,") for at least three hundred years he "walked with God;" and he prophesied of the coming of Christ to judgment. He did this in an age of abounding iniquity. Upon this upright and holy man was

૨

conferred the signal favour of being translated to heaven without the pain and humiliation of dying; so that in him was typified, at that early period of the world's history, the final glorification of God's people, both in body and soul: a consummation to which they shall all at length attain. (Gen. v. 22; Heb. xi. 5; Jude 14, 15.) We conceive of his translation as an expression of God's approval of distinguished piety, and as a confirmation of the doctrine of the future blessedness of the saints; for with God there is no respect of persons; so that all who in this world are equal to Enoch in piety shall in the world to come be equal to him in glory and blessedness.

Of Noah it is said that he "was a just man, and perfect in his generations;" and that he also "walked with God." (Gen. vi. 9.) His character and conduct, thus described, were the more remarkable, because he lived in an age of general ungodliness and profligacy, and he had no religious companions but the few persons that composed his own family. "The wickedness of man was great in the earth;" for "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." "The earth was filled with violence," and "all flesh had corrupted his way." (Gen. vi. 5-13.) Wickedness thus enormous, and diffused through the entire mass of the people, the Almighty resolved to punish by a general deluge. He "spared not the old world," but destroyed them with a flood. At the same time, He was mindful of the solitary family that feared and loved Him. He devised the ark as the means of their preservation; He gave direction as to its size, and the mode of its construction; He provided for the preserva

tion of the various classes of animals then existing. When the ark was completed, and the fountains of the great deep about to be broken up, and the windows of heaven to be opened, "the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation :" and, when they had entered, "the Lord shut him in." (Gen. vii. 1, 16.) What a series of providential interpositions! When the silence of death reigned without, when nothing was to be seen above but dark clouds, charged with death, and nothing around but a wide world of waters, every tree and mountain having disappeared, Noah and his family floated in perfect safety under the guardian care of an almighty Providence, which had directed all their previous arrangements. Before they had finished their earthly course, they had demonstrative evidence that "in keeping the commandments" of God "there is great reward.” The waters. which drowned the world, supporting the ark, were the means of their preservation; for all things serve the sovereign will of the great Creator. In this case, as in a thousand others, thoughtful men and holy angels " discern between the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not."

The same care was extended to Lot, when another terrible judgment of God was inflicted upon a guilty people. "The cities of the plain" rivalled the antediluvian world in irreligion, to which they added a worse than brutal sensuality; and were destroyed, not by an overwhelming flood of water, but by a shower of liquid fire; which, while it consumed the people, left its impress upon the country, presenting a permanent warning to ૨ ૨