thing for believers to apprehend or conclude that such a demand is made; this they may often do, as questioning whether they are believers, or in a justified state: however, God’s design, in these afflictive dispensations, is to humble them greatly, and shew them the demerit of sin, whatever he determines shall be the consequence thereof. Moreover, the persons, who are the subjects of this punishment, are considered not as enemies, but as children, and therefore the objects of his love, at the same time that his hand is heavy upon them; for which reason some have called them castigatory punishments, agreeably to what the apostle saith, _Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth_; and that herein _he dealeth with them as with sons_, Heb. xii. 6, 7. From what has been said, concerning the justice of God in rewarding or punishing, we may infer, 1. Since the heavenly blessedness is called a reward, to denote its connexion with grace and duty, let no one presumptuously expect one without the other: the crown is not to be put upon the head of any one, but him that runs the Christian race; and it is a certain truth, that _without holiness no man shall see the Lord_, chap. xii. 14. And, on the other hand, as this is a reward of grace, founded on Christ’s purchase, let us take heed that we do not ascribe that to our performances, which is wholly founded on Christ’s merit. Let every thing that may be reckoned a spur to diligence, in the idea of a reward, be apprehended and improved by us, to quicken and excite us to duty; but whatever there is of praise and glory therein, let that be ascribed to Christ; so that when we consider the heavenly blessedness in this view, let us say, as the angels, together with that blessed company who are joined with them, are represented, speaking, _Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing_, Rev. v. 12. It is the price that he paid which gives it the character of a reward and therefore the glory of it is to be ascribed to him. 2. From what has been said concerning the vindictive justice of God inflicting punishments on his enemies, let us learn the evil and heinous nature of sin, and so take warning thereby, that we may not expose ourselves to the same or like judgments. How deplorable is the condition of those, who have contracted a debt for which they can never satisfy! who are said, _to drink of the wrath of the Almighty, which is poured out, without mixture, into the cup of his indignation_, Job xxi. 20. compared with Rev. xiv. 10. This should induce us to fly from the wrath to come, and to make a right improvement of the price of redemption which was given by Christ, to deliver his people from it.