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Or, fhall we fo infult him, as to cry," Hail, Mafter," at the very time when we entertain the bafest intentions against him? What have we found in his decided adversaries, which fhould induce us to espouse and promote their interefts? Are thefe the men, with whom we would affociate, and whofe hands we would ftrengthen? Can we, then, prove, that our former profeffed principles are falfe, or that Jefus will not make good his engagements? Or what emolument do we expect from the oppofite party? Alas! it is not poffible, that they fhould offer any equivalent, any proper compenfation for the immenfe lofs, we fhall incur by our perfidy.

Judas, perhaps, confidered not what would follow. He might imagine, that his Mafter would escape out of the hands of his enemies, as he had done before. But be that as it may, when he faw him condemned, and about to be nailed to the cross, his confcience was alarmed, and he felt inexpreffible horror for the atrocious deed which he had committed *. Ah! what would he then have given, to have revoked his bargain? What comfort did he receive from the thirty pieces of filver, the wages of his unrighteoufnefs? He could not bear to retain the money in his poffeffion, but immediately reftored it to the Jewish rulers, declaring his heinous guilt, and the anguish of his foul, for delivering up an innocent perfon to fall by their violence.

And did not thofe furious perfecutors relent, when they heard fo ftriking a confeffion? Did they not tremble for themfelves, and endeavour to refcue the holy fufferer? No: they remained obdurate. But the traitor, unable to fupport himielf under the convictions and terrors of his mind, caft down before them the bribe which he had accepted, and inftantly fled away, that he might put an end to his wretched life. "He went and hanged himfelf." Probably, the place which he chofe for his own execution, was

Matt. xxvii. 3-10.

on

on a precipice, and the rope, by which he was fulpended, failed: for "faliig headlong, he burst asunder in the midft, and all his bowels gushed out*." Thus, it fhould feem, he lay a miferable fpectacle, and a public monument of God's vengeance; as the fact excited general notice at Jerufalem.

What an ignominious and lamentable death for a folloper and Apostle of Chrift! How foolish, as well as wicked, the expedient, by which he attempted to release himself from his acute anguish! He went " to his own place t," the place, for which alone he was fitted by his difpofition and conduct, where his accufing confcience will continue to torment him with inconceivably great and uninterrupted horrors, and where he will be exhibited as an example of divine juftice for ever. "It had been good for that man,

if he had not been born."

But is it not faid, that he repented? Yes; on fome accounts he was forry for what he had done. Shocked with the dread of confequences, he made confeffion of his guilt, and restored his impious gain. But he poffeffed not that "godly forrow," which "worketh repentance to falvation not to be repented of t." He difcovered no proper humiliation; he offered up no petition for mercy. Under extreme mifery, his heart remained full of vile affections and rebellion against God: and this will be the cafe of every one, who "fuffers the vengeance of eternal fire." The manner of his death proved, that he was not a penitent: he died in the actual commiffion of fin, and of that fin, which, from its nature, excludes repentance. He died as a murderer; "and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him §."

From fuch a precedent, will any undertake to plead for fuicide? We obferve, that Satan generally tempts men, who are a burden and terror to them

* Aasi. 18, 39. i. 25. 2 Cor. vii. 10. §1 John iii. 15.

felves,

felves, to feek relief by this expedient. We therefore warn them to confider, whither it will lead. You wish to fly from prefent pain; but you are rushing into that, which is infinitely more intolerable and eternal. This the Devil tries to conceal, or perfuades you to disbelieve, till your ruin be unavoidable and remedilefs. O liften not to his fuggeftions; for "he is a liar!" O lift not up against yourselves the hand of violence, which would render your falvation impoffible! Cry to God with inceflant importunity, that he would extend his mercy, and communicate peace to your fouls. Though you fear it is too late, we would encourage your application: many, whofe cafes feemed defperate as your's, have obtained forgiveness and comfort. Only confent to make the trial, and wait upon the Lord. At any rate, dare not to meditate your own deftruction: furely it will be foon enough to enter upon a state of never-ending torment, when God himself fhall give you the fum

mons.

That we may be impreffed with an abhorrence of departing from the faith, let us contemplate, more minutely, the tremendous confequences of the apoftafy of Judas.

1. He involved the faithful difciples of Jefus in deep diftrefs. Those, who had been attached to the Gofpel, would be ready to fufpect the truth of their own principles, when they obferved a zealous preacher totally renounce them, and even fell his Mafter to his enemies, "for filthy lucre's fake." This circumftance, probably, ftaggered the Apoftles themselves, and increafed their confufion, when they all forfook their Lord. You, who love the Saviour, cannot but grieve more than for any temporal calamities, for fuch inftances as this. You lament, that the Saviour is "wounded in the house of his friends." You bewail the perfons, who thus "draw back unto perdition," and in whom all your fond hopes are difap

pointed.

pointed. You are ready to fear, that the work of God will come to nought, and "the armies of the aliens" prevail. Perhaps, you tremble under an apprehenfion, that you yourfelves, alfo, in fome evil hour of temptation, fhallfall after the fame example of unbelief." But we entreat you to compose your minds. God will plead his own caufe, and vindicate his honour. He is faithful, and therefore you are fecure in his Covenant. He will not fuffer any real believer to depart and perish, as Judas did. These cafes, we allow, are painful, but they ought not to fhake your firmness or your hopes. We are forewarned of them in the fcriptures: even the treachery of Judas was no other than a completion of feveral exprefs predictions." It must needs be, that offences come; but wo to that man, by whom the .offence cometh *."

2. He afforded the enemies of Jefus cause of triumph. Long had they reprefented the Saviour as a deceiver; and, probably, they were confirmed in that opinion by the conduct of Judas. It might then be afferted, with fome plaufibility, that the cheat was difcovered, fince one of the preachers of this new religion had forfaken it, and come over to their intereft. Thus it is now. Apoftates bring the Gofpel into contempt, and incrcale the prejudice and obduracy of infidels. The Lord, in righteous judgment, permits fuch occurrences, as furnifh men with a pretext for oppoking that truth, which they hate. They exclaim, therefore," The whole fyftem is a delufion: there can be no real value, at leaft, in those principles, which fo many, after long trial, have renounced. It should feem, that the moft zealous advocates for the faith are all actuated by finifter motives, fince lome of their company have betrayed their unfoundness :" we may judge of the reft from these fpecimens."

*Matt. xviii. 7.

Will you hear, what may be faid in reply? Afk those very perfons, who have deferted Chriftianity, afk them feriously, Who are in the right? In general, they are constrained to bear a decifive teftimony in favour of that religion, which they have relinquifhed, and to condemn themselves. This Judas did. Many, alfo, like him, have fhewn the greatest horrors for their fin, and perifhed miferably. Their cafe, therefore, loudly proclaims the folly and madnefs of forfaking the ways of God. That fome, that numbers of thofe, who profefs the faith, have never felt its influence, we confefs and lament. But ftill "the foundation of God ftandeth fure." If, indeed, it be fair to judge of a whole fociety from certain individuals, there is no fuch thing as fincerity in the world. Then all the Apostles were vile impoftors; and Judas acted the most honest part, when he threw off the mask. But this, we fuppofe, will not be afferted.

Let us view the apoftate once more, and observe 3. He brought upon himfelf aggravated mifery and ruin. We have feen, that he received no comfort from the money, which he fo eagerly defired. "Riches profit not in the day of wrath :" when procured by unrighteoufnefs, they frequently fill the minds of their poffeffors, even in this life, with anguish and difinay. Thus, alfo, Saint Paul teftified, "The love of money is the root of all evil: which while fome coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themfelves through with many forrows t." In various ways God can afflict and punish finners, while he fuffers them to accomplish their wishes. He can render them fo much a terror to themselves, that they fhall "choole ftrangling, and death rather than lifet." But the most tremendous difplay of his juftice, in the perdition of ungodly men, is referved for another world, where they fhall

* Prov. xi. 4. † 1 Tim. vi. 10. ‡ Job vii. 15. VOL. IV.

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