est. .*-Had punishment instantly follow. ed the commission of sin, what would have become of Manaffeh, when he was making the house of God the theatre of his dissoluteness and idolatry ;-while he was 'making groves, building altars for all the host of heaven,-making his son pass through the fire, and working much ' wickedness in the sight of the Lord?'† It was the long-suffering; the patience of God, that bore with him, that led him to humble himself, to pray fervently, and to obtain grace to enable him to become an exemplary convert.-Had punishment instantly followed the commission of sin, what would have become of St. Peter, when frightened and confounded at the sight of the judges and executioners of his Saviour, he made this false and cowardly asseveration. I know not the man?' It was the long-suffering; the patience of God, that gave him an opportunity of seeing (immediately after this shameful denial of him), the merciful look of Jesus, of fleeing from a place fatal to his innocence, of * Psalm li, 1, 2, 3, 4. Matt. xxvi, 74. † 2 Kings xxi, 3, 5, 6. going out to weep bitterly, and of making this solemn appeal; Lord! thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.'*-Had punishment instantly followed the commission of sin, what would have become of St. Paul while he was breathing out threatenings and slaughter, and soliciting letters from the high priest to pervert and punish the disciples of Christ? It was the long-suffering; the patience of God, that gave him an opportunity of thus imploring, trembling, and astonished,' Lord what wilt thou have me to do?' fand of honestly confessing, I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and inju'rious, but I obtained mercy.'‡—But here we need not refer to the case of those only who lived in former times. What would have become of ourselves, if punishment had immediately followed the commission of sin? We should all, long ere now, have been miserable. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. The delay of punishment is a demonstration of his mercy; it does not prove that he is unjust, but it John xxi, 17. + Acts ix, 6. 1 Tim. i, 13. clearly proves, that besides being perfectly wise, he is also unspeakably good. WE conclude then, and upon the best grounds, that we are the subjects of a moral government. No valid objection can be urged against the truth of this doctrine. What we know of the Divine character; what we discern to be interwoven with human nature, and to pervade the whole course of human affairs, carries an evidence not to be resisted.-We might as well doubt whether the sun was intended to illuminate the earth, or the rain to fertilize it, as whether God intended to announce to mankind the law of righteousness, as the rule of their conduct. LET then what has now been advanced engage us more and more in the study of the divine government. In a nobler study we cannot be engaged. No study is more fruitful in wise instructions, in salutary admonitions, and reviving consolations. May we therefore cherish, by all possible means, the belief of this doctrine, which is at once so purifying and so pleasing; so important to the proper enjoyment of our comforts, and to the right regulation of our practice, May we all seriously remember that we are accountable beings, and that as we now sow, we shall reap; that under the divine administration no one shall be permitted, with impunity, to gratify his criminal passions, and make light of the great duties of life.Do we really believe this? Let us think then, what we should be in respect of boli ness, and what we may be in respect of fortitude, peace, and happiness.-Righteous man! continue thou, acting as a faithful subject of the King of heaven, and let not thine • heart envy sinners; but be thou in the • fear of the Lord all the day long, for surely there is a reward, and thine expecta, tion shall not be cut off.'* * Prov. xxiii, 17, 18. MORAL OBLIGATION. PSALM 1xxviii, 1. Give ear, O my people, to my law. THESE words were originally addressed to the people of Israel; and they are still solemnly addressed to us. of God in every age, This is the voice Give ear, O my people, to my law.'-All are giving ear to something or another; one to the voice of flattery, another to the invitations of carnal pleasure; one to the demands of avarice, and another to the calls of worldly honour. In short, everywhere we see the great majority of our fellow-creatures giving ear to any thing, however inferior, however contemptible, rather than to the voice of wisdom. But, O ye sons of men! how long will follow after vanity? How long ye |