Such as these are punished as rebels against light. " They are of those that rebel against the light." (Job xxiv. 13.) And the punishment of such rebels who have been favoured by God with much light, and who are afterwards unfaithful, will be, to remain blind, and so to finish their lives in their sins. " But when the righteous turned away from his righteousness, .... shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done, shall not be mentioned; in his trespass and in his sin, .... in them shall he die." (Ezek. xviii. 24.)
Affections and Prayers.
Ah! my God, I have often merited such a punishment, since by means of the light which Thou gavest me I have often left sin, and I have afterwards miserably returned to it again. I thank very much Thy compassion, for not having abandoned me to my blindness, and left me entirely deprived of light, as I deserved. How greatly, then, O my Jesus, am I indebted to Thee, and how very ungrateful should I have been, could I have turned away to fly from Thee. No, my Redeemer. " My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord." (Ps. lxxxix. 1.) I hope, during the remainder of my life, and through all eternity, ever to sing and to praise Thy great mercy, by ever loving Thee, and not finding myself at any time deprived of Thy grace. The ingratitude which in time past I have shown to Thee, and which above every evil I detest and abhor, makes me ever to weep, and to weep bitterly, for the injuries which I have done to Thee, and to kindle in me fresh love towards Thee, Who, after the many offences which Thou hast received from me, hast given to me such great grace; Yes, I love Thee, O my God, worthy of infinite love; and from this day forwards, Thou shalt be my only Love: my only Good. O Eternal Father, I ask Thee for final perseverance in Thy grace and in Thy love, through the merits of Jesus Christ, and I truly know that Thou wilt grant it me as often as I ask for it. But who can assure me that I shall attend to ask of Thee this perseverance: therefore, my God, I ask for perseverance, and for grace ever to ask for it.
