Earthly Retribution Imperfect-- Probation Limited.

PROBATION,

552. Retribution imperfect during this life.

Ps. 103: 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Ec. 8: 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.-9: 1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. [See 565.]

553. Probation limited to this life — its immeasurable importance.

Pr. 1: 24 Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity: I will mock when your fear cometh: 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.

Ec. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Is. 55: 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

Jer. 8: 20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

Zec. 9: 12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope. Mat. 25: 10 While they went to buy, the bridegroom came;. and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

2 Cor. 6: 2 (He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

[See 390, 572, 727.]

Involves Dangers - Determines our Future State.

554. Probation includes danger of losing the soul.

Mat. 5: 22 Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. 16: 25 Whosoever will save his life, shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? [Lk. 9: 24.]

Mk. 9: 43 If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [Mat. 18: 8.]

Lk. 12: 4 I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. [Mat. 10: 28.]—13: 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be

able.

Heb. 4: 1 Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

1 Pet. 4: 17 The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? [See 563.]

555. Probationary conduct determines our final state; or salvation condi tional.

1 Ch. 28: 9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Determines our Future State.

Pr. 1: 29 They hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 8: 36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. 9: 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.—11: 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Mat. 5: 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. -7: 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because, strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mk. 16: 16 He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.

Rom. 2: 5 After thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honor, and immortality; eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness: indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile : 10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good.

Gal. 6: 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Rev. 22: 19 If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

[See Terms of Salvation, in the Index, and 567, and Mat. 25, (Parable of the ten virgins and of the talents,) and Lk. 19: 12-27, (Parable of the pounds.)]

Its awards accord with moral conduct.

556. Rewards and punishments according to probationary conduct.

Job 34: 11 The work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Ps. 62: 12 Unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Pr. 24: 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart, consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

Is. 3: 10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Wo unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

Jer. 17: 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.32: 19 Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men; to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Mat. 5: 19 Whosoever therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do, and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 16: 27 The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Lk: 19: 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

Gal. 6: 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Rev. 22: 12 Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [See 231-2.]

392

Sin exceeding sinful — God's right and disposition to punish.

PUNISHMENT IN A FUTURE STATE.

557. Sins against God," exceeding sinful."

Gen. 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me, but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

1 S. 2: 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him?

Ps. 51: 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Rom. 7: 13 Sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. [See 230, 236.]

558. God's prerogative to punish according to desert.

Dt. 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. 39 See now that I, even I am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. 41 If I whet my glittering sword, and my hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

Ps. 94: 1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

Rom. 12: 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Heb. 10: 30 We know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

559. Will God's love and compassion save unbelievers ?

Ex. 34: 6 The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.

Is. 27: 11 It is a people of no understanding: therefore he