Nehemiah 5:7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, every one of his brother… I wish to show impenitent sinners how great an assembly may be set against them. That so large a majority of mankind are on the side of irreligion, tends powerfully to preserve a majority on that side, for a large proportion of the youth in each successive generation will enlist under the banner of the strongest party. The same circumstance operates to weaken the force and prevent the success of those means and arguments which God employs for the conversion of sinners. When the man who neglects religion looks around him and sees wealth, rank, power, and influence all ranged on his side, he secretly says, "I must be right, I must be safe. If I fare as well as the great mass of my fellow-creatures, I shall fare well enough." This being the case, it is important that sinners should be made to see what a great assembly may be set against them. Among those who are against them, we mention — I. THE GOOD MEN NOW IN THE WORLD. God has not a servant, Jesus Christ has not a friend on earth who is not against you. Their example is against you, their testimony is against you. II. ALL THE GOOD MEN WHO HAVE EVER LIVED IN THE WORLD, the spirits of just men made perfect. III. ALL THE WRITERS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. With one voice they cry, "Woe to the wicked! it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him." IV. THE HOLY ANGELS. V. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Every doctrine which He promulgated, every precept which He enjoined, every threatening which He uttered, every action of his life, is against you. Christ meets all the impenitent, and says, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." He meets the unbelieving, and says, "He that believeth not shall be damned." He meets all the unholy, and says, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." He meets all the unregenerate, and exclaims, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye be born again, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." VI. GOD THE FATHER. (E. Payson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. |
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