And though the whole race be so intermingled, one amongst another, by the various offices and duties and relations of life, that to the eye of man there may be no distinguishable difference amongst them; yet the all-seeing God, who “is a discerner of the thoughts of the heart,” will not be misguided by any outward appearances; will perceive a very manifest difference in characters seemingly alike: will infallibly know whom to punish and whom to spare. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, He singled out, and selected for preservation, one righteous person, (and for his sake, a portion of his family also,) so, in the storm of vengeance about to fall upon the devoted city of Jerusalem, He would, in many signal instances, make the same merciful distinction. And the declaration, thus made, was calculated at once to comfort and encourage the faithful, and to alarm the conscience and check the presumption of the wicked. The intimation here afforded of the perfect knowledge and the just discrimination of the Almighty, in regard to His judgments upon the Jewish people, applies with peculiar force and truth to His perfect dealings with all mankind, at the last great day. Although, when Jerusalem was destroyed, it is undoubtedly true, that the faithful disciples of Jesus were generally delivered, yet it cannot be supposed that, in so extensive an overthrow, all the Christians, and all their innocent children, without any exception escaped. But when Christ shall sit upon His throne of judgment, not one undeserved victim shall there be; and not one, who “has sinned against the light,” shall escape with impunity. All those inequalities, which are unavoidable in the present constitution of things, shall then be made right and recompensed. The murdered innocent shall be requited with a robe of glory; and the prosperous sinner be abased with scorn and infamy.