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sinner do evil an hundred times；〃 says the wise man； 〃and his days be
prolonged； yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God；
which fear before Him： but it shall not be well with the wicked。〃
Ecclesiastes 8：12； 13。 And Paul testifies that the sinner is treasuring up
unto himself 〃wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God； who will render to every man according to his deeds；〃
〃tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil。〃 Romans
2：5； 6；9。
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〃No fornicator； nor unclean person； nor covetous man； who is an idolater；
hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God。〃 Ephesians 5：5；
A。R。V。 〃Follow peace with all men； and holiness； without which no man shall
see the Lord。〃 Hebrews 12：14。 〃Blessed are they that do His commandments；
that they may have right to the tree of life； and may enter in through the
gates into the city。 For without are dogs； and sorcerers； and whoremongers；
and murderers； and idolaters； and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie。〃
Revelation 22：14； 15。
God has given to men a declaration of His character and of His method of
dealing with sin。 〃The Lord God； merciful and gracious； long…suffering and
abundant in goodness and truth； keeping mercy for thousands； forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin； and that will by no means clear the
guilty。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7。 〃All the wicked will He destroy。〃 〃The
transgressors shall be destroyed together： the end of the wicked shall be
cut off。〃 Psalms 145：20； 37：38。 The power and authority of the divine
government will be employed to put down rebellion； yet all the
manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the
character of God as a merciful； long…suffering； benevolent being。
God does not force the will or judgment of any。 He takes no pleasure in a
slavish obedience。 He desires that the creatures of His hands shall love Him
because He is worthy of love。 He would have them obey Him because they have
an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom； justice； and benevolence。 And all
who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because they are
drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes。
The principles of kindness； mercy； and love； taught and exemplified by our
Saviour； are a transcript of the will and character of God。 Christ declared
that He taught nothing except that which He had received from His Father。
The principles of the divine government are in perfect harmony with the
Saviour's precept； 〃Love your enemies。〃 God
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executes justice upon the wicked； for the good of the universe； and even for
the good of those upon whom His judgments are visited。 He would make them
happy if He could do so in accordance with the laws of His government and
the justice of His character。 He surrounds them with the tokens of His love；
He grants them a knowledge of His law； and follows them with the offers of
His mercy； but they despise His love； make void His law； and reject His
mercy。 While constantly receiving His gifts； they dishonor the Giver； they
hate God because they know that He abhors their sins。 The Lord bears long
with their perversity； but the decisive hour will come at last； when their
destiny is to be decided。 Will He then chain these rebels to His side？ Will
He force them to do His will？
Those who have chosen Satan as their leader and have been controlled by his
power are not prepared to enter the presence of God。 Pride； deception；
licentiousness； cruelty； have become fixed in their characters。 Can they
enter heaven to dwell forever with those whom they despised and hated on
earth？ Truth will never be agreeable to a liar； meekness will not satisfy
self…esteem and pride； purity is not acceptable to the corrupt；
disinterested love does not appear attractive to the selfish。 What source of
enjoyment could heaven offer to those who are wholly absorbed in earthly and
selfish interests？
Could those whose lives have been spent in rebellion against God be suddenly
transported to heaven and witness the high； the holy state of perfection
that ever exists there； every soul filled with love； every countenance
beaming with joy； enrapturing music in melodious strains rising in honor of
God and the Lamb； and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the redeemed
from the face of Him who sitteth upon the throne；could those whose hearts
are filled with hatred of God； of truth and holiness； mingle with the
heavenly throng and join their songs of praise？ Could they endure the glory
of God and the Lamb？ No； no； years of probation
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were granted them； that they might form characters for heaven； but they have
never trained the mind to love purity； they have never learned the language
of heaven； and now it is too late。 A life of rebellion against God has
unfitted them for heaven。 Its purity； holiness； and peace would be torture
to them； the glory of God would be a consuming fire。 They would long to flee
from that holy place。 They would welcome destruction； that they might be
hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them。 The destiny of the
wicked is fixed by their own choice。 Their exclusion from heaven is
voluntary with themselves； and just and merciful on the part of God。
Like the waters of the Flood the fires of the great day declare God's
verdict that the wicked are incurable。 They have no disposition to submit to
divine authority。 Their will has been exercised in revolt； and when life is
ended； it is too late to turn the current of their thoughts in the opposite
direction； too late to turn from transgression to obedience； from hatred to
love。
In sparing the life of Cain the murderer； God gave the world an example of
what would be the result of permitting the sinner to live to continue a
course of unbridled iniquity。 Through the influence of Cain's teaching and
example； multitudes of his descendants were led into sin； until 〃the
wickedness of man was great in the earth〃 and 〃every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually。〃 〃The earth also was
corrupt before God； and the earth was filled with violence。〃 Genesis 6：5；
11。
In mercy to the world； God blotted out its wicked inhabitants in Noah's
time。 In mercy He destroyed the corrupt dwellers in Sodom。 Through the
deceptive power of Satan the workers of iniquity obtain sympathy and
admiration； and are thus constantly leading others to rebellion。 It was so
in Cain's and in Noah's day； and in the time of Abraham and Lot； it is so in
our time。 It is in mercy to the universe that God will finally destroy the
rejecters of His grace。
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〃The wages of sin is death； but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord。〃 Romans 6：23。 While life is the inheritance of the
righteous； death is the portion of the wicked。 Moses declared to Israel： 〃I
have set before thee this day life and good； and death and evil。〃
Deuteronomy 30：15。 The death referred to in these scriptures is not that
pronounced upon Adam； for all mankind suffer