They perhaps are zealous for the doctrines of the gospel, and for their own particular form of church governmentBut they are not solicitous to live nigh to God in holy duties Nor do they manifest the efficacy of religion in their spirit and conduct Yet, because of their professing godliness, they think themselves possessed of it And buoy up themselves with expectations of happiness in the world to come Alas! what disappointment will they one day experience!m What will it avail them to "have had a name to live while they were really dead?" Ór to have "cried, Lord, Lord, while they departed not from iniquity?". The pains they have taken to keep up a profession, will all be lost Nothing will remain to them but shame and confusion of face-] From the seed which they sow we may easily preceive II. What they may expect to reap "A whirlwind" is a figure used to represent extraordinary calamities" And such is the harvest which they will reap in due season Their calamities will be 1. Sudden [The corn ripens gradually for the sickle, and its fate is foreseen But the destruction of the ungodly cometh suddenly and at an instant They indeed have many warnings from all which they see around them But they put the evil day far from them, and think it will never comeo Thus it was with the whole world before the deluge Though Noah preached to them for many years, they would not regard him And were taken by surprise at last, as much as if no notice had been given them— Thus also it will be with all who reject the gospel salvationSolomon has expressly declared it in reference to those who sow discord Matt. xxv. 11, 12. " Prov. i. 27. o 2 Pet. iii. 4. And St. Paul has asserted it respecting all that live in a neglect of God] 2. Irresistible [Sinners of every description can withstand the word spoken by their fellow-creatures' But they will not be able to resist God when he shall call them into judgment Then, if the whole universe should enter into a confederacy to protect one sinner, they would fail in their attempt' There is not any thing more irresistible to man, in some climates, than a whirlwind Yet far less power shall the ungodly have to avert the wrath of God They will be carried to destruction as the chaff before the wind" And call in vain to the rocks to fall upon them, or the hills to cover them] 3. Tremendous [Nothing can be conceived more dreadful than the desolation made by whirlwinds Yet this suggests a very inadequate idea of the ruin that will come on the ungodly The raining of fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah must have been exceeding terrible But even that was light, when compared with the vials of God's wrath which will be poured out upon the ungodly world Who can comprehend the full import of that threatening in the Psalms? Who can form a just idea of the judgment denounced by Isaiah May we never experience such dreadful calamities! May we tremble at the apprehension of them, and seek shelter in Christ!-] INFER 1. How earnest should we be in redeeming time! [The present hours are given us that we may sow for eternity Every action, word and thought is as seed that will spring up hereafter According to what we saw now, we shall reap at the last dayb Every moment increases our treasure of wrath," or our "weight of glory" How should we be affected with this considration! Let us lay it to heart, and "walk not as fools, but as wise men" And let that just expostulation shame us to a sense of dutyd—] 2. How blessed are they who are living to God! [There is not a work which they perform for him that will not be rewarded God would esteem himself unjust if he made them no recompence® However small and insignificant the service be, it shall not be forgotten1 Some perhaps may complain, that they cannot do any thing for God And, that they can only weep for their unprofitablenessBut the sighs and tears of the contrite are "precious seed" They will spring up to a glorious and abundant harvests Let the humble then go on "sowing in tears till they reap in joy" Let them persist in their labour, assured that it shall not be in vain-1 Isaiah lvii. 20, 21. The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. WE need not wait till a future life in order to discern the difference between the righteous and the wicked: it is plainly discoverable now in their conduct; nor is it less so in the inward frame of their minds-To a superficial observer indeed the wicked may seem to have the advantage; they being light and gay, while the righteous are often weary and heavy-laden: but God, who sees through the vail of outward appearances, affirms the very reverse of this to be true-We shall 1. Confirm his assertion There certainly is a kind of peace which the wicked may, and do possess [By "the wicked" we are not necessarily to understand, those who are vicious and profane; but all persons who are not devoted to God in the habitual exercise of righteousness and true holiness-And when it is said that such persons have "no peace," we must not imagine that they have no comfort or satisfaction in earthly enjoyments; for they are full of life and spirit; they shake off, what they call, melancholy; they banish all thoughts of God, and indulge in conviviality and mirth; and, as far as animal gratifications can conduce to happiness, they are happy-Neither must we suppose them wholly destitute of what they mistake for peace: they often persuade themselves of the safety of their state, and in a very confident manner assert their relation to God as his childrenb -Having fixed the standard of duty according to their own mind; and, finding that, for the most part, they attain to what they deem a sufficient measure of religion, they “speak peace unto themselves, when alas! there is no peace"-] But there is a scriptural peace of which they are wholly ignorant [The peace, which our Lord gives to his faithful followers, and which he emphatically calls his peace,d is very different from any thing which an unregenerate man has ever experienced-It consists in a well-grounded hope that "Christ has loved us and given himself for us;" and in "the testimony of our conscience" that we are walking agreeably to his mind and will-This peace is not a blind persuasion contrary to all the declarations of God's word, but an humble confidence founded upon the sacred oracles, and a joyful expectation that God will fulfil his gracious promises-Now such a peace as this, the wicked never feel: they do not seek it; they would not even accept it upon God's terms, because they would not submit to have their conduct regulated by his holy law: indeed they account the experience of it to be the height of enthusiasm, and suppose that they who profess to have attained it are actuated by pride, and blinded by delusion-Can it then be any wonder that such persons should never enjoy this peace themselves?-] The truth of this assertion will more clearly appear while we II. Shew the grounds and reasons of it We need not look further than the text to find ample materials for confirming the declaration before us: for it asserts that the wicked are in a state absolutely incompatible with true peace-" Like the troubled sea they can never rest" by reason of 1. Depraved appetites [However eminent for piety men may be, it is certain they will find much occasion for sorrow on account of their inward depravity: but they strive to mortify their lusts; they resist them in their first rise; and pray to God for strength to. subdue them: whereas the wicked, however moral they may outwardly appear, encourage the growth of their vile affections: instead of repressing inward impurity, they enjoy the company, they relish the conversation, they read the books, they frequent the amusements which have a tendency to foster their corruptions; and, though from prudential considerations they impose a restraint on their actions, they will harbour evil thoughts without resistance and without remorse--The same may be said respecting their worldliness, their ambition, and every other evil appetite-As the apostle says of the impure, that they have" eyes full of adultery, and that they cannot cease from sin," so, whatever else be the predominant passion of their hearts, they cease not from the indulgence of it; but yield to it as far as they can consistently with the preservation of their character in the world-How then can they possess peace, whose hearts are so disturbed and defiled by their depraved affections?-] 2. Ungoverned tempers [There is indeed a wonderful difference in the natural tempers and dispositions of men, insomuch that one person, notwithstanding his real piety, shall have much to conflict with, while another shall feel comparatively but little temptation to transgress-Still however, the righteous will have peace, because they labour to bring their minds into subjection to Christ, and apply to the blood of Christ for pardon under every renewed failure; but the wicked will not have peace, because they neither cry to the Lord to pardon their evil tempers, nor pray to him for grace to subdue themWhatever be their besetting sin, they will fall into it as soon. as ever a temptation occurs: is it pride? they will be inflamed: at the smallest insult or opposition; and, like Haman, feel no comfort in life, because they are not treated with all the reverence they think due to them-Is it envy? they cannot en |