November 10

He that believeth not shall be damned. - Mark 16:16.

WE are here called to consider the condemnation of the unbelieving. We do not determine their doom: this has been decided by a Being who knows all things, and who will judge the world in righteousness. He here emphatically declares that “he that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned;” and under this impression the Apostle Paul has said, “How can we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Against which, as unreasonable, the infidel protests, and claims that the criminal be the judge of the law and the judge of the Judge.

“Oh,” say some, “we are not accountable for our belief!” To which we answer, that if we are not accountable for our belief we are accountable for nothing, for all our actions spring from belief; and infidelity does not arise from want of evidence, but from want of inclination. We may judge of the moral disposition of a man from the nature of the things he opposes. In proportion as a man is holy, he is adverse to sin; in” proportion as a man is sinful, he is adverse to every thing that is holy, and we know the Bible is distinguished by holiness. Its promises are holy, its commands are holy, it requires holiness of life and heart. Why do men dislike the Bible? Why do they love darkness rather than light, but because their deeds are evil? If the aim and design of the Scriptures be to “cleanse us from the filthiness of the flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord,” it is easy to determine why a man opposes this. He who destroys the principle of all good actions would destroy, if he could, all good actions themselves; and his disposition says unto God, “Depart from us; we desire not the knowledge of thy ways;” and, “Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease before us.”

There is nothing, therefore, that implies so much wickedness, as to deprive men of the Scriptures; and it is the design of Papists and infidels to get the Scriptures banished from men’s homes and hearts. And if we consider a man guilty who robs his neighbour of valuable earthly treasures, how much more culpable is he who would deprive his fellow-creatures of the unsearchable riches of Christ! If they are guilty who have been instrumental in ruining the health or the reputation of others, what can we think of those who would poison their minds and would destroy their souls forever? And this is the wish and endeavour of the deniers and opposers of the Scriptures of truth; and God will give them credit for their design, and judge them according to their works and according to their wishes, for they may be guilty without being successful.