Part 6 (1/2)

But suppose two persons to be equally guilty and deserving of condemnation, may not G.o.d make one of them a vessel of mercy, and the other a vessel of wrath? Would the latter have occasion to complain?

Or could injustice be charged on G.o.d?

We should not dare to charge him with injustice, did we know such a case to happen--neither do we presume to determine what G.o.d hath aright to do. But we are sure that no such case ever will happen--that G.o.d will not make an eventual difference in those who are alike, for _there is no respect of persons with G.o.d_.

Some may find mercy who may appear to us less guilty than some others who may perish in their sins. But it belongs not to us to estimate comparative guilt. It requires omniscience. ”The judge of all the earth will do right.”

INFERENCES

Mankind are here on trial. Different talents are committed to them.

G.o.d acts as a sovereign in apportioning betrustments, and will observe exact impartiality in adjusting retributions.

The idea of talents implies ability to improve them. Gospel applications speak such to be our state--they are adopted to no other state.

The fatalist, and those who conceive every human volition and action to be the effect of divine agency, have no rational motive, to do, or suffer for religion. ”Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

However we may amuse ourselves with idle speculations, this life is approbation season.--Our use or abuse of the talents we possess will determine us to happiness, or misery, honor or infamy.

”All have sinned, and are guilty before G.o.d--In his sight shall no man living be justified”--our sole desert is punishment. But G.o.d hath had mercy on us--provided a Savior, and offers us salvation. The offer is universal--”Whosoever will let him come.”

That _there is no respect of persons with G.o.d_, is alike the dictate of reason and revelation, We have only to act with integrity before G.o.d, relying, on his grace in Christ, and his grace will be sufficient for us.

The man who had the one talent, neglected it, under pretence that he served a hard master, who required things unreasonable and impossible --he was condemned; but _only_ for neglecting the talent which he possessed.

It is required of a man according to that which he hath--this he can render--the neglect will be fatal. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that we may receive the deeds done in the body, according to that which we have done, whether good or bad. For G.o.d will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.

An unseen hand is constantly writing down our volitions and actions, to be reserved to judgment. Ere long the books will be opened, which will open every heart, and life. Not a circ.u.mstance which goes to const.i.tute a state of trial, will be omitted--all will be brought into the reckoning, and serve to determine our eternal state.

That state will be determined by the use which we shall have made of life, and the advantages which we enjoyed in it. The divine impartiality will then appear--”The unG.o.dly will be convinced of their unG.o.dly deeds--and of their hard speeches, which they have spoken against G.o.d.” None will complain of injustice--none of the condemned pretend that they receive aught, which others circ.u.mstanced as they were, and acting as they acted, would not have received from the hand that made them. ”Every mouth will be stopped.”

This, fellow mortals is our seed time for eternity. ”Be not deceived; G.o.d is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also of the Lord, whether he be bond or free--every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor.”

Not only the state into which we are to enter at death, but the rank we are to hold in it depend on present improvement. All the sanctified will be saved; all who die unrenewed will be d.a.m.ned. But there will be different grades, both in the upper and lower worlds. Of the saints, some ”will be scarcely saved.” To others ”will be ministered an abundant entrance into the kingdom of Christ.” There are also greatest and least in the kingdom of heaven. And among those exiled the world of light, differences will be made, suited to the different degrees of criminality. Capernaum will receive a more intolerable doom than Sodom.*

* Matthew xi. 23, 24.

All these discriminations will be built on the present life, and rise out of it. This will be so abundantly manifested, ”when G.o.d shall judge the world in righteousness,” that an a.s.sembled universe will confess, That _there is no respect of persons with G.o.d_.

SERMON VII.

Moses' Prayer to be blotted out of G.o.d's Book.

Exodus x.x.xii. 31, 32.

”And Moses returned unto the Lord and said, 'Oh! this people have made them G.o.ds of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.'”

This is one of the most difficult pa.s.sages in the holy scriptures.

Many haven attempted to explain it, and in our apprehension, failed in the attempt. Some will entertain like opinion of the following.