What Wilt Thou Say When He Shall Punish Thee?

1. Will you say, you did not know there was a God? The evidences of his being meet you on every hand. The springing grass, the blooming flowers, the stately trees, the running streams, extended plains, and towering hills testify of him. Not less is his glory written in the heavens. Sun, moon, and stars proclaim their great Original.

In all the forms of animal life with which the earth, the air, and sea abound, particularly in your own organization—physical, mental and moral—there is further evidence of a great First Cause. Equally abundant are the marks of wisdom and intelligence. Everything seems created for a purpose, and in accordance with a plan. Everything bears the impress of contrivance, and of intelligence, as well as of power. The general consent of mankind, the evidence of a superintending providence, the working of miracles, and the gift and fulfillment of prophecy, are additional arguments upon the same side. It is unreasonable in you, with all these proofs, to doubt the divine existence. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

2. Will you say that you had no evidence that the Bible, given for your guidance and instruction, was true? But have you ever made this a matter of investigation? Have you searched the Scriptures with the earnestness of one whose life is depending on the conclusion to which he may come? If you have, you have found that the internal character of the Scriptures—the signs of Deity which glow in every line, their truthfulness, their purity, their adaptation to the wants of man, together with the external evidences, particularly the wonderful changes they have produced in the customs and habits of men—prove indisputably that they are the word of God. No one who examines them can avoid seeing that they are authentic, credible, inspired.

3. Will it be your plea that you did not know you were a sinner? Not know that you were a sinner! when every time you open the sacred volume you meet with such passages as these: "Haters of God"—"Filled with all unrighteousness"—"Dead in trespasses and sins"—"Children of wrath"—"Servants of sin"—"Estranged from the womb"—"Hearts as an adamant"—"Desperately wicked?" And does not your own heart condemn you? Have you not trembled at times under an apprehension of your guilt? Will not conscience be a swift witness against you?

4. Will you say that, knowing you were a sinner, you did not know that there was an atonement, or that it was ample for you? Not know that there was an atonement! Why, what is the minister's business, but to tell you of Christ! What do the Sabbath bells ring out, but that for the lost there is hope in Jesus? What do the sacred hours suggest, but the memory and name of Him "who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification?"

And how is it possible for you to question whether the atonement is ample for you, when the scriptures speak so plainly upon this subject, and when the invitations of mercy are so general and free? Listen to those gracious words, "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved"—"That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man"—"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters"—"The Spirit and the bride say, Come; and let him that is athirst, come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

5. Will it be your plea, that you had no time to attend to your soul's concerns? What is your age to-day? How many years do you number? But what has become of the past? Have you had no opportunity to repent? Have you been driven on by an irresistible current that would not let you clutch for safety at a single shrub on the shore of time? But you are here, eddying, as it were, for a moment before me. I seem to see you. Sinner, now is the time. Here I stand: no, not I, but Christ, and he gives you the hand, saying, "Seize this, and live." Ah, you have had more such opportunities, I fear, than you will ever have again. Yes, you have had time enough to repent, but this you have filled up with other things. God has lengthened out your days, but you have taken advantage of his kindness; and "because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily," have had your heart fully set in you to do evil.

6. Will it be your plea, that you thought your good works sufficient? Your good works; what are these? Name them. But they are not "faith" or "repentance." Your good works can never save you. You may be prompt in your engagements, upright in your dealings, faithful to your promises, kind in your family, generous in your benefactions, regular at the sanctuary, and yet fail of eternal life. "One thing thou lackest." You must be born again, or you cannot see the kingdom of God.

7. Will you say that you thought God was too good to punish? God is a gracious being. He delights in mercy, judgment is his "strange work"; but though it be his strange work, it is his work. It is something that he does execute. When the Lord passed before Moses, he proclaimed himself, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." But he did not stop here. He added, "and that will by no means clear the guilty: visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." And this is in accordance with the teachings and declarations of the sacred volume throughout.

8. Will you say, that you expected and meant to be a Christian before you died? This may be true, but it is a plea that will avail you nothing. Hell, it has been remarked, is paved with good intentions. Probably none that are there really meant to go there. But they are there notwithstanding. One may intend to have his property insured: but if he does not, and it is destroyed, the intention will not only diminish, but actually aggravate his loss.

Such then I have supposed to be some of the excuses which you, my impenitent friend, if lost, will offer at God's judgment-bar; and we have seen how utterly futile they are. I urge then the inquiry upon you, "what wilt thou say, when he shall punish thee?" Shall I tell you what you will say? You will say nothing. You will have no more to say than had the scribes and Pharisees, who retired in silence at the rebuke of the Lord concerning the woman taken in adultery, or the man who appeared at the king's festival without a wedding-garment, and who, when called to account for this, "was speechless." No, sinner; there is not one word that you can offer in extenuation of your guilt. If you go to that grand assize without some one to befriend you, you are an undone man. You are lost forever! There is only One who can befriend you. The question then arises, will you seek his aid? Will you make him your advocate, surety, friend? Now is the time to do this. Lo, I present him to you—Jesus, the Saviour of the world.—Am. Tract Society.