fears, however, are utterly groundless; we need only understand the subject, in order to restore our tranquillity, provided our tempers and dispositions are not depraved. We shall then not only acquiesce with submission, but also adore with gratitude.

§ 2. It is inconsistent with the divine perfections to suppose that God acts arbitrarily towards his creatures, except in the communication of good. The very notion of judgments or punishments, implies that they are deserved by those on whom they are inflicted: and even the manner of the infliction is not, properly speaking, arbitrary, except when there is a favourable deviation from the rigid claims of justice. Though mankind are sometimes afflicted with the sword, pestilence, or famine, still they might say with truth, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed" to a greater degree, and in a more dreadful manner. Justice in every manifestation of it is indeed supreme, as is every attribute of the Deity, but never arbitrary. Had CALVIN duly reflected on this fundamental principle, he would not have disfigured his admirable pages with a reprobating decree; nor would many other valuable writers have attempted to soften the sentiment by the self-contradictory notion of a decree to permit moral evil.

§ 3. The divine prerogative of sovereignty which is here asserted, is that of communicating good of any kind, in any degree, and in whatever manner God pleases. Hence we find, that different persons have not only a greater portion of corporeal beauty and strength, but also a greater degree of mental capacity than others. And in this respect the words of the Apostle are apposite; "Who maketh thee to differ from another; and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ?"* Whatever mental quality differs from another for the better, is from the sovereign pleasure of God, who worketh all such things according to the infinitely wise counsel of his will. It was this sovereign pleasure that formed all the laws of the universe, and has given to to all intelligent creatures an accountable

existence.

4. It enters into the essential nature of accountability, that the subject of it is, in his own nature, liable to transgress. And we all are constrained to acknowlege it, as an awful and alarming fact, that all mankind are transgressors, whereby they are adverse to the holiness and justice of the supreme Governor, and

* 1 Cor. iv. 7.

whereby, as a necessary consequence, the same glorious attributes are adverse to them, in the same degree. From the divine prescience no future state of man, or any individual event was concealed. Hence the exercise.of the divine sovereignty in a plan of mercy. All mankind, if left to feel the just demerit of sin, must have continued in guilt and misery. But now, in virtue of an atoning substitute in our nature, provided by sovereign mercy, a ministry of reconciliation is established. A proclamation is gone forth, "Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom." The gospel of the kingdom was ordered to be published among all nations, and to be proposed to every human creature capable of attending to it.

5. Now let us enquire, Who believes the report? The natural man understandeth not the things that are spiritual, nor can he know them, because, in order that they may savingly profit, they must be spiritually discerned. Millions turn a deaf ear to the call of wisdom, though they cannot object to the plan, without at the same time displaying their folly. "Wisdom crieth without, she uttereth her voice in the streets; she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the

scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof; behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.' This is the language of merciful wisdom to the human race: and shews the compassion of God towards the ignorant and wicked; the obligations of men to turn to God by submission and repentance; and, a gracious promise annexed, which would be fulfilled upon their compliance.

§ 6. As the promise of divine favours is proposed to men on an equitable condition, the alternative of refusal is accompanied with an awful threatening. "Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they have hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they

Prov. i. 20-23.

eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."* In this awful passage of God's holy word, we observe these particulars: First, that the persons addressed, however wicked, must possess all the requisites of moral obligation: Secondly, that a refusal of what is in itself so reasonable, deserves the severest punishment: Thirdly, that the nature of this punishment is the righteous opposition of God to their wickedness, that they eat the fruit of their own way, and are filled with their own devices: Fourthly, that there is a period be yond which God will not wait to be gracious, Slighted mercy to the end of life, leaves the wicked in fear, distress and anguish.

§ 7. The question again returns, Who belieces the report ? The answer is, They to whom "the arm of the Lord is revealed." They who are made "willing in the day of his power." They into whose hearts a divine light shines, that they may be enabled to recognize the voice and design of divine wisdom. All men to whom the call and the warning are addressed ought to submit and obey, but all yield obedience and

Prov. i. 24-33.