their hope exalting them above the fear of death, and consoling them under the severest afflictions; the greatest of their sorrows is the frailty of their nature, which struggles against the power of divine grace, and gives them daily cause for alarm and for repentance; yet, even this is rendered supportable by the constant sense of God's present help, and by a firm enduring faith that "He will never leave them, nor forsake them;" that their very falls are designed to keep them humble, and apparent desertion to prove their fidelity. Though clouds sometimes obscure the light of heaven, and tempests disturb their serenity, the fertilising shower succeeds, and the sunshine of mercy cheers their contrite spirits. 66 They know in whom they have believed;" they confide that He is both able and willing to save them; and they see, in all their tribulations, only the necessary discipline to prepare them for that glorious inheritance which He has pur chased for them with His own blood. "Yea, they glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given them1." Hope, Hope maketh not ashamed. founded upon faith in Christ, can never give us cause to blush for having reposed a false confidence in delusive expectations. It will eventually afford us the most lively and exulting satisfaction, that having trusted in Him, we have not been deceived." 66 But though the mighty work of restoration is thus complete, and the creation of GOD in due course of being wholly delivered from all evil, and renewed in that original goodness, in which it came from His hands; though this be indispu 1 Rom. v. tably true and manifest, yet there is one sad and sorrowful consideration to damp the exultation of good men, and to alarm all who are not utterly hardened against the hopes and fears of futurity. The knowledge of good and evil remains, and GOD has not seen fit to make the restoration of man compulsory, but to leave it still open to us to choose between them; and, although warnings, the most awful and impressive, threatenings the most terrible, and promises the most encouraging, are set before us; though blessings are manifestly attached to obedience, and curses inflicted upon sin, still the blind perverseness of our fallen nature, acted upon by the restless activity of our spiritual enemy, leads the great mass of mankind to " put darkness for light, and light for darkness, to take bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter;" to choose that evil which they know must render them unhappy in life, miserable in death, and accursed to all eternity. All these, innumerable as they are, must perish from the face of God's creation, at the great day of the restoration of all things. All who offend, all who commit iniquity, will be removed out of sight, consigned to the prisons of darkness, and consumed, as the prophet Isaiah denounces. 66 "They shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me, saith the Lord; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh '." To know that by far the greatest part of our fellow-creatures are dooming themselves to this utter destruction, instead of thankfully embracing the gracious offer and the ready means of their restoration to grace and happiness, would be, of itself, sufficient to cast a shade of sadness over the joy of our own deliverance; but 1 Isaiah lxvi. 24. who dare confine the fear and the sorrow of the prospect to mere commiseration for others? Who is secure himself from that danger which must sweep away so large a proportion of the human race? who can "work out his own salvation," without "fear and trembling?" St. Paul found it necessary to use fasting, and watching, and caution, and fervent prayer, lest, "after having preached to others, he should himself be cast away." Our Lord warned his chosen Apostles to "watch and pray, lest they should fall into temptation;" and all confident security is reprehended by that memorable injunction, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." But had we neither warning in the Word of God, nor caution in the experience of other men, what can we know of ourselves, if we are free from anxiety and apprehension ? Look only at the inconsistency of our desires, at our illregulated affections, our indiscreet con |