* 1 Corinthians x. 11.

III.  The character of individuals is not to be judged by their circumstances here.  When judgments are abroad to punish national wickedness they do not always fall on the most guilty—­they fall on the community.—­All who belong to it are obnoxious.  “Suppose ye that the Gallileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices were sinners above all the Gallileans, because they suffered such things?  I tell you, Nay; except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  All have sins sufficient to justify God in taking them away when, and how, he pleaseth.

Was there not another life, impartiality would require a different divine administration.  Discriminations would here be made according to the difference of moral characters.  They are not made.  The iniquity of fathers is visited on their children; the iniquity of communities on particular generations, and on individuals; and often on those who are not the most guilty!  We see it in every part of the sketch which we have taken of the divine government.

The doctrine of another life clears up this mystery.  Without the belief of it we cannot “ascribe righteousness to our Maker;” but when we take it into the account every difficulty is removed, That there is another life, in which the perfect rectitude of divine providence will appear, is a dictate of reason, and the explicit language of revelation.

IV.  When the mystery of God is finished, and the veil now spread over the divine administration taken away, we shall see the wisdom, justice, and goodness of those parts of it, which now, seeing only in part, we contemplate with surprize and wonder.—­“That all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from that of righteous Abel, to our Savior’s day, should be required of that generation;” and that there should be seasons in which the sins of nations and of the world are avenged on particular generations, who are made to bear the sins of those who had gone before them, and on individuals, not distinguished by their crimes, will no more astonish and confound us!

We now witness such things in the divine administration!  We cannot but witness them.  We shall then see the reasons of them, and be satisfied; we shall join in that angelic ascription, “Even so Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” * Till that decisive day, let us wait on the Lord, and in the way of well doing, trust in his mercy —­“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; To whom be glory forever.” +

* Revelation xvi. 7. + Romans xi. 26.

AMEN.