Formal professors of his name are called the Lord's people, as well as those who are possessors of his love: the former for want of love to God have no zeal for his glory: hence they are careless of their walk, and are liable to fall from the height of a towering profession into the bottomless pit of perdition. Possessors of God's love are also liable to fall into many things which may wound their souls, bring distress into their consciences, a dishonor on the name and Gospel of Christ, and give enemies an occasion to blaspheme that worthy name by which they are called.

O christians, see to your standing: you are called upon as you love your dear Saviour, as you value the peace of God and the comfort of your souls, to "take heed lest you fall." Be not high-minded, but-fear: you stand by faith. The dreadful falls of others are here set before us for ensamples, types or patterns of the awful judgment of God against sin, and as a warning to us to beware that we fall not as they did.

They fell into idolatry: O beware of sacrificing your precious time and attention to heathenish vanities. Any thing that takes your heart from God is an idol. Mixing with the wicked and profane, to partake of their carnal joys, is a species of idolatry. You as much as say I cannot find complete happiness in God, therefore I seek it here. "Covetousness is idolatry." Col. 3:5. A covetors man seeks that in his gold, which can only be enjoyed in God: be sure the anger of the Lord will smoke against such.

They "tempted Christ:" O beware how you distrust the grace, power, and faithfulness of Christ to keep you and comfort you, so as to withdraw your faith in him, hope in him, and prayer to him: or tempt him, by presuming on his power to keep you in the midst of snares and temptations, while you wilfully run into them.

They "murmured:" O watch against a spirit of dissatisfaction with the dispensations of providence and the displays of grace: the pride of our nature is prone to find fault with both. What caused all this? They "lusted after evil things:" this is the source and spring of every sin: "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1: 15. What is the sovereign antidote against all this? Standing in and walking by the faith of the Son of God: this brings fellowship with God. Hence lust is killed in the heart, that it cannot break out into sin in the life: "Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." 1 Peter 4:7.