h. THE LAST SOLEMN SCENE! A S E R M O N, PREACHED AT THE CHURCH IN BACK-STREET, BOSTON, MAY 22, 1768. - BY THE REV. JOHN MURRAY, A. M. LATE PASTOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THIS TOWN, WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT-SEAT OF CHRIST. PAUL. PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD, O ISRAEL. AMOS. NEWBURY PORT: RE-PRINTED AND SOLD BY G. J. OSBORNEJ MDCCXCIII. ADVERTISEMENT I FIRST FRUIT OF HIS MINISTERIAL LALOURS. T is not from an imagined merit in the performance, nor vain hope the preacher entertains of being thought to have offered ſomething new upon a fubject fo common, ſo long treated in the Churches by very many far abler hands, that the following diſcourſe, compoſed without thought of the preſs, is obtruded on the public eye. Books upon this ſubject are in the hands of all, the work of eminent divines, to whom the preſent publication would not affect to be unobliged; to theſe the preacher would have cho- ſen to refer the public, and with theſe to leave them. But earneſt importunity, diſdaining a repulſe from obſtinate refu. fals, and not to be wearied out by ſtudied long delays, has at laſt conſtrained him to offer to the world, ſuch as it is, THIS Some arguments, which for want of time, were but juſt hinted in the delivery, are here inſerted at their intended length: This has contributed to fwell it in the preſs beyond the uſual ſize of a pulpit-diſcourſe. The greateſt care has been taken not to abufe the public by an impoſition of a fome- thing elſe on them, inſtead of the diſcourfe for which they had fubfcribed. They may be aſſured the train of thought has fuffered no diſcernible alterations; it is taken from the brief ſketch of the compoſition from which it was delivered : But, as it was not committed to writing 'till the publication became inevitable, the writer cannot ſo far depend on his me- mory as to promiſe his reader the ſame language he heard from the deſk. Amidſt many defe&ts in this performance, which it will not be difficult for the critical eye to fpy, and of which the preacher is very ſenſible, he ſhelters himſelf under the import- ance of his Subject; which, without his aid, muſt recommend itſelf to the ſerious attention of all who are not above trial at the bar of CHRIST. If any intereſting truth is here unfolded, he flatters himſelf, that will induce the candid reader, caſily to overlook deformni- ties of ſtyle and compoſition, to which a multitude of ſcenes, of inceſſant hurry, made it impoſible for the writer to attend. GOD is the only patron whoſe protection it craves. To him alone it is humbly dedicated. If he will deign to accept fo poor a mite, from an offerer ſo very unworthy; if he will be pleaſed to go forth with it into the world, and by it, promote his own Glory, and the good of every reader, or even the fal- vation of one Soul; it will ſatisfy the higheſt ambition, and be a gracious anſwer to the humble Petition of THE AUTHOR. dos buo sa robin 100 il bag Lout to Side 3THE LAST SOLEMN SCENE ! : Dou od okolnolest sro 2 THESSALONIANS I. 7, 8, 9, and 10th Verſes. The LORD JESUS ſhall be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, in fi. ming Fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the goſpel is of our LORD JESUS CHRIST: Wbo shall be puniſhed with everlaſting Deſtruction from the preſence of the LORD, and from the glory of bis Power ; when he hall come to be glorified in bis Saints, and to be admira ed in all them that believe, bd svoledad UDOS LL THINGS ARE FULL OF GOD !--His glory fhines in all .. His greatneſs is declared in every А. atom :--His inviſible things are underſtood by what his hand has made. The grandeur of creation, poured in upon the ſenſe from eve- ry quarter, overwhelms the thought, and ſtrikes the ſenſible ſpectator in a maze : ſuitably did David fech its force, when he exclaims, “When I conſider thy Heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the ſtars which thou haſt ordained ; What is man that thou art mindful of him?”+ That the like impreſion may reach your hearts, look around Immortals-view every grace that ſmiles in Nature's countenance-fee her variegated plumes ! here foreſts riſe in ſtately 000 * Romans i, 20, + Pfalm viii. 3. 4. (6) pride-there fields with fruitful ſeaſons laugh and fing-here valleys clad in all their blooming gaieties, and fraught with the rich ſplendors of the Great there tow'ring mountains, in aged majeſty, preſiding over all: look upward and admire yon penſil clouds, thoſe floating magazines of food and phyſic to our world : ſtretch further ſtill your proſpect : fee thoſe radiant lamps that rule the ſeaſons* and gloriouſly be- ſpangle the vaſt expanſe-fee worlds on worlds in my- riads, yet in the exacteſt order, croud immeaſurable ſpace; then pauſe and think how great--auguft the frame ! how expreſſive of the hand of the great Ar- chitect! how calculated to proclaim his praiſe ! all theſe muſt drop. Their grandeur fhall ere long be fo reduced as to leave their places but a mighty void. Mourn ye admirers of created fyítems, ye devotees of nature, the beloved ſubject of all your ſtudies--the miſtreſs whoſe acquaintance dubs you wife, exalts your fame, and crowns you with that philofophic ftate--the theme of all your rhapſodies (leſs honors being paid to her creator) is ſoon to be no-more! ye too ſhall witneſs to her fate. Does ſadneſs cloud your faces at this news? The text declares a ſecret yet more aw- ful—a grand event attending nature's exit; an event in which you are much mere concerned. Our eyes behold mankind move daily on in thought- leſs fecurity, lulled in the lap of carnal eaſe; they live in daily abuſe of the preſent, and no futurity is re- garded by them it “Let us eat and drink, for to- morrow we die," is the only concluſion drawn from the uncertainty of their exiſtence here ; and appears a motto inſcribed in capitals on all their conduct. They live-they die-and nothing in hereafter gives them the leaſt concern! But are they right in this ?-Have * Geneſis i. 16, + 1 Corinthians xv. 32. ( 7 they not fouls that muſt ſurvive the ſtruggle in which theſe bodies ſink into their clay? Yes. We have it from the beſt authority, though the duſt return to the earth as it was, the fpirit ſhall return to God who gave it,"* return to receive its final ſentence, and fo be introduced to endleſs bliſs or unremedied woe. Nor fhall the earth conceal the duſt forever; it muſt not mingle in the ruins of a tottering world. The oracles of Heaven inform us a dreadful criſis is at hand, when this globe, whoſe furface hitherto has been but a huge vault for ſleeping corpſes, as if ſurfeited with human carcaſes, ſhall, at its maker's high command, vomit up the fickening contents, and deliver to judgment all the bodies it had devoured; when the dead, ſmall and great, ſhall ſtand before God,”+ and an impartial trial, in the face of all worlds, ſhall doom their very bodies, together with the fouls that did actuate them here, to a fulneſs of celeſtial joy, or aggravated woe, among infernals to all eternity. This is the awful ſcene our text preſents us with this the great day, firſt in Jehovah's eye, though laſt in the event—the day for which men and things received exiſtence :-when CHRIST fhall “ appear to judge the quick and the dead;"I appear in ſuch wiſe as ſhall at once wipe off the diſgrace of the croſs, vindicate deſpiſed religion and its reviled votaries, and remove all the prejudices ariſing in this life, from fuffering virtue and triumphant wickedneſs, ſhewing his wiſe deſigns in that admini- ſtration, and amply rewarding both according to their works: a day appointed of the Father for the con- fummation of all things; a day revealed, as moſt cer- tainly approaching, by the united voice of facred writ : foretold by angels, prophets, l apoſtles, and our * Ecclefl. xii. 7. † Revelations xx. 12. | Aets x. 42. 2. Timothy iv. I. § A&ts i. 11. || Geneſis iv. 7. Pfalm xcvi. 13 * 1 Theſſalonians iv. 15, 16, 17, . 8) Lord himſelf,* even from Enoch the ſeventh from Adam,t to John the ſurvivor of all the diſciples : a day when the Son of God, to whom the Father, in conſequence of his mediatorial work, has committed all judgment, $ will come in ſuch a manner as fhall give greateſt glory to himſelf--joy to all that believe in him-and terror to every ungodly foul. “When the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed," &c. O folemn, dread- ful hour ! big with the fate of worlds. Nor ſhall a foul in this aſſembly miſs its proper ſhare in the dread iſſue of it. To be prepared for it is our only errand to this world--the one thing needful in it. How ftu- pid then is that negligent mind, how guilty that diſii- pated hour that ſhuts it from our thoughts ! Inſtead of an apology for this eſſay to turn your meditations to that important theme, in the preſent ſacred ſeaſon of attendance in the houſe of God; though it pretends not to offer any thing new on a ſubject fo fully treat- ed by the beſt divines in every age, whoſe help my feebler hand need never be aſhamed to uſe; I ſhall freely claim the concurrence of your prayers, whilft I fay, O fountain of light ! to whom the iffues--the every ſtep of the grand proceſs is already known no leſs than when thy Majefty ſhall bring the valt idea into an event, give light to a purblind eye-teach a ſtammering tongue to ſpeak thy will—let life, and ſtrength, and divine improving grace be now ſupplied whillt, from this thy ſacred word, we humbly may at- tempt to conſider, 1. The manner of CHRIST's appearance to Judg- ment; And, II. The buſineſs of that awful day. But what have i proposed ? To ſpeak of that glo- rious deſcent appointed from eternity to give the laſt * Matthew xvi. 27. 1 Jude xiv. 15. Revelations xi. 18. $ John v. 22. 27. 9 ) ។ w boosoltomisso Issol 2001 diſplay of Christ to earth! A triumph in which 'tis meant to make the grandeur of the Eternal to ſhine out to every eye! Where all the equipage of Heaven are fummoned in array ! A triumph, at fight of which, earth to the centre quakes-Heavens melt-all nature fwoons away to be revived no more! Rétract my ſoul, the too preſumptuous aim-give over the too ardu- ous taſk. This is a fcene, the celebration whereof baffles the tongues of ſeraphs; the contemplation of it amazes the angelic hoits, and breeds a folemn filence through all the heavenly courts. No mortal tongue then can unfold, no human thought can ſcan it. The day itſelf, and that alone, can fufficiently declare its glory. Some deſcriptive hints, however, are kind-- ly handed to our labouring minds by revelation ; and though no perfect picture of this grand event can be collected thence, only a few of the moſt intereſting circumſtances being there diſcovered, yet fince we have no other clue to lead us through the trackleſs la- byrinth, to follow theſe is now our buſineſs. But may I not be allowed first to premiie, what is taken for granted in the text, and what it therefore is not my province here to prove, 1. That it is certain there will be a day of general judgment. The juſtice effential to the nature of God makes this neceffary ; it requires that the approbation of good and abhor- rènce of evil, that is infinite and unalterable in the Governor of the world, ſhould be always shewn to- wards every moral agent in proportion to the good or evil found in his character; rewards muſt ever be cor- reſpondent to the virtues, puniſhments ever propor- tioned to the fins of men. Nothing is more evident than that this is not the caſe in the preſent life; we ſee the wicked here oftentimes ſwimming in the midſt of earthly comforts, as if rewarded for impiety and the B ( 10 ) men, virtuous ſometimes loaded with peculiar diſtreffes, as if inflicted as puniſhments of virtue. Since it is certain then that there is a God that judgeth the actions of that Judge is juftt-juſtice muſt reward and puniſh in the proportion due--that does not univerſal- ly take place in this world; therefore 'tis equally cer- tain there is a judgment yet to come, and the effects of it concerns another life. NATURAL conſcience, that deputy of Heaven in every human breaſt, does give an hourly teftimony to this truth; not only as a monitor of what we ought to do; but eſpecially as a cenfor of what we have done : it looks back on every act, approves, or con- demns, and ſo proves every man his own judge: but this is not altogether with its approbation : it creates ſweet peace and confidence within, and fails not to be- get fad inward accuſations and dire foreboding terrors whenever it condemns; and all this without reference to any thing to be expected in this life ;-thus it ſhews that conſcience is not ſo much a judge as a witneſs provided againſt a future judgment. I So prevalent are the operations of this principle within, that the heathens themſelves have ever had an apprehenſion of a judgment to come ; we find this idea largely diffu- fed through the writings of the ancients, though huri- ed in a chaos of inconſiſtent rubbiſh-the fruits of the untutored human mind naturally ignorant of the things of God. BUT the witneſs of God is inſtead of a thouſand ar- guments to confirm this truth: a few inſtances of this have been quoted already ; but the ſcriptures are full of inſtances; he that runs may read them; and who- ever reads his Bible, cannot but perceive the point firmly eſtabliſhed in almoſt every facred page. * Pſalm lviii. 11. † Geneſis xviii. 25. Romans ii. 15. (11) 2. The next thing to be premiſed as neceſſary to pave the way for what follows, is an anſwer to the im- portant query, "Who ſhall be judge?" For that pur- poſe, I need only aſk to whom does it immediately belong to judge of the fidelity of a fervant rather than his own maſter,* or of the fealty of a fubject ra- ther than his prince ? God is the maſter whom all are bound to ſerve--the prince to whom we owe ſubjec- tion-The great legiſlator who to all obedience hath the juſteſt claim : therefore is “God the judge of all.”+ To God the ſupreme judiciary power origi- nally belongs. If God, as God, be the judge of all, then whoſoever is God is inveſted with this preroga- tive: it follows that the Father, the Son and the Ho- ly Ghoſt, being one and the fame Deity, poffeffed of the ſame eſſence, power and dominion, are the proper ſubject of that authority by which all worlds thall be judged.- But the actual execution of this power, at that day, is particularly devolved on the Son: it is by him only the Father and the Holy Ghoft ſhall act in that buſineſs: beſides that ſupreme, original authority of which he is poffeffed of, as God, Chriſt hath, as God-man, a delegated power to judge the world, by commiſſion, derived from the Father exprefly, and by way of concomitancy from the Holy Ghoft alſo the ſacred records afferting this truth, have likewife condeſcended on a reaſon of this economy, viz. "Be- cauſe he is the Son of man." Not that his being of the human race was the ſimple reaſon of his being judge; the ſame reaſon would exalt every man to that high office, and ſo would preclude any judgment at all, as no objects would remain among men towards whom the office ſhould be executed ; but becauſe of the Three Perſons which are God, he only is alſo the * Romans xiv. 4. + Hebrews xiii. 23. John v. 27. (12) every intelli- Son of Man: it was therefore a part of the glory juftly due to him, as the reward promiſed by the Fa- ther in the covenant of redemption, for his humilia- tion in affuming man's nature, as well as his obedience and fufferings in it, to be entruſted with the ſole Pow- er of judging, in that ſame nature in which he himſelf was judged. --The deſigns of the day ſeemed alſo to require that all be done in open fight of gence; this would demand a Judge viſible to all. It is only the pure in heart who can ever fee God."* Had not the judge then been man, the wicked could not have feen who condemned them; fo would their doom have been far leſs grievous than when they muſt ſee themſelves ſtand before the deſpiſed Mediator. And was it not graciouſly calculated for the comfort of the faints at that day, that the buſineſs of determin- ing their eternal ſtates is in the hands of one who par- takes with them of the fame flesh and blood ?+ One who, by long experience of every innocent diſtreſs, has learnt the tendereft fympathy with their infirmi- tiesi-one who bought their bliſs with his deareft blood-yea, of one who has united them to himſelf in a marriage-covenant by the power of his Spirit ? Ir it now be aſked when ? Where ſhall the Judg- ment begin? And how long ſhall the folemn ſcene continue ? Inſtead of an aniwer, it may be obſerved, as theſe are queſtions of fpeculation only, it would be quite impertinent to detain this audience with them, further than juſt to ſay, The first cannot receive a po- ſitive anſwer from any creature ; when other glorious things, hid in the eternal breaft from the beginning, ſhed their ſurpriſing luftre on our eyes in revelation, this has been kindly ſtill concealed, that ſo the dread- ful ſecret might be a conſtant check to guilty ſum- * Matthew v. 8. + Hebrews ii. 14. Hebrews iv. 15. 33 ) ber, and wreſt from the ſecure preſumer's hand, that old delufive word, T0-MORROW. Whatever may be Taid of propheſies that are not yet accompliſhed, he that conſiders the power of that God with whom a thouſand years are but as one day, will ſee no abſolute neceſſity for prolonged months to complete JEHOVAH'S work, and will reſt aſſured that no mortal can ſay this ſolemn ſcene will not open on us all before the next riſing fun. NOTWITHSTANDING what ſome abler divines have advanced, in anſwer to the next enquiry, to prove the place of judgment to be in the valley of Jeho baphat, or on the mount of Olives—the former grounded on Foel 111. 2.- the latter on Zech. xiv. 4. and Aets i. II. Yet I humbly apprehend the arguments drawn from theſe texts will totter of themſelves—if it is but con- fidered, that the firſt ſpeaks only of the judgments that were to fall on the nations that had troubled the feros, after that people ſhould be enlarged by Cyrus, and that the valley of Fehofhaphat does not point to any particular place, but reſpects the degree to which the humbling judgments of the LORD ſhould abaſe theſe nations (the word Jehofhaphat being ſuppoſed, not a proper, but a common name ſignifying the judg- ment of GOD.) The ſecond is only a poetical and fublime deſcription of the power with which God fhall defend his Church againſt its enemies after the deſtruction of Jeruſalem by the hand of Titus ; the mount of Olives, the ſtation choſen on account of its nearneſs to the temple, cleaving in the midſt as if to make a plain and eaſy way for the fucccurs that come to its relief, beautifully deſcribes God's nearneſs to his church, of which the temple was a type, and his kind care to remove whatever ſhould obſtruct her relief in every ſeaſon of diſtreſs: neither of theſe texts prove any thing at all relating to the place of the laſt judg- ( 14 ) ment: and that in the Arts plainly refers to the mana ner, not to the place of CHRIST's ſecond coming :- indeed, for the aſſembly which that day will convene, no mountain, no valley, nay, nor (as I conceive) the face of the whole earth would be able to afford fuffi- cient room; there is no region known to us that would not be liable to that objection, but the exten- five region of the air ; and here, to put an end to all debate, here the word of God ſeems to have fixed the fpot for judgment- I Thel. iv. 17. How long this fupreme court ſhall fit is uncertain to every one but him who fits as Judge; when we conſider that this day is appointed not to diſcover any thing to God which he had not found out before, not to reverſe the dooms that have already fixed the ſtates of men, nor yet to find ſome better reaſons for con- firming them; nay, nor even to convince the minds of the condemned of the juſtice of their fentence, or lec faints fee the rich grace that faved them; but en- tirely for the information of others, to diſplay to all the affernbled univerſe the propriety of God's con- duct to every individual; this thought ſeems to infer that it will be a long feffion, ſince all the thoughts and words and works throughout the lives of all the fons of men, muſt then be brought to light in the view of all ſpectators; hence fome have been led to conclude it will comply as many years to judge them, as it has taken up to tranſact them from the beginning to the end of time ; and fome, ever fond to turn dizzy with their own calculations, have run their chimeras round and round even to three hundred and fixty-five thou- ſand years. But when we reflect on the aſtoniſhing changes that all creation muft then feel the won- drous alterations that ſhall paſs on the bodies--the en- larged capacities then given to the minds of all men- and the God-like power by which all this is effected, ( 15 ) we ſhall perceive leſs reaſon for that conclufion. Will it be more difficult for the fame Omnipotence at that day, to make the minds of men capable of feeing, in a moment, all that has paſſed through the life of a whole claſs of finners, whoſe very counte- nance will ſpeak the ſecrets of their fouls, than to raiſe their ſcattered aſhes into life? If not, then there will be no need for deferring the meafure of the fine ner's cup-or delaying the conſummation of the bliſs of faints thus long. How ſoon can the work be dif- patched by him that comes on the important errand ? How eaſily in a day-in an hour-(the names that in ſpiration uſually gives this awful ſeaſon) can this com- ing Judge avenge him of his adverſaries, and return in triumph at the head of choſen and redeemed mil- lions, to preſent them at his Father's throne ? THESE things thus premiſed, let us return to the point from which we firſt digreſſed ; and take a view of ſome of the attending circumſtances of CHRIST'S appearance as the facred glaſs of his own werd brings them to our eyes. From every warning we have of this great day, we inuft conclude that it will be moſt ſudden: it is deſigned to give to all worlds the higheſt diſcovery of the majeſty of God that fuch creatures are capa- ble of receiving; it may hence ſeem neceſſary that it be introduced all at once; the mind of the ſpectator would otherwiſe be prepared for greater pomps, by being accuſtomed to the leffer; and in proportion to that preparation the luſtre would the leſs furpriſe. GOD has not left himſelf without a witneſs, nor men without ſufficient warning of this dread hour that it is faſt approaching we are repeatedly affured; “the hour cometh." But when? No creature can declare. No plea remains for man's fecurity: no cir- cumſtance to tell him he is a moment ſafe. And yer, I. fo-kardened is the human mind, no warning does a- larm. Men ſtill are found as ſtupid and fupine as ever. They eat, they drink, they marry and are gi- ven in marriage ;* they greedily indulge every fenfu- al joy and lay the rein looſe on every unbridled luft; heedlefly wandering on from fin to fin, whilft God, and all eternal things, are cautiouſly kept out of fight; and thus are like to perſevere until the mid- night-cry does riſe, « The Bridegroom cometh.” - Yea, he is already come !-Sinners are overtaken in their wild career-and, before they were aware, are caught aſleep! whilſt men are growing bold in iniqui- ty, and ſay in their hearts, "The LORD delays his coming ;---at an hour they think not the Son of Man cometh 1–Cometh in a moment-in the twinkling of an eye !-at the midnight of ſecurity, when man- kind wrap themſelves in fancied peace-a peace they dream immortale they feed the cob-web-hope with dear-bought vanities—and fondly hug the golden phantom in their arms; this awful pomp at once will burſt as from the thickeſt darkneſs, ſudden as the e- lectric fire, collected in its floating vehicle, and drawn near the provoking object, its deſtined prey, diſcharges in full ſheets-the mark is reached ere yet the flaſh is ſeen--ſo fudden breaks this day that never ſhall con- clude ! ſo ſudden the alarm." THE JUDGE IS COME, with all its terrors ſtrikes the careleſs ear, like travail- ing womens' unexpected pains.-As death finds fome, ſo judgment many; the day before, mens' hearts are full of mirth; their merchandize—their pleaſures and their honors are all their care : But lo! as the night-thief breaks in when leaſt ſuſpected, ſo when ſe- curity is greateſt, the awful trumpet finds them out. Oh! how will hardened finners, whom no hope could * Matthew xxiv. 38. + Matthew xxv. 5,6. Luke xxii. 45, 46. ( 17 ) draw, nor fear drive, whom law and goſpel long beſet in vain--how ſhall they ſtart from their couches--ftare in aſtoniſhment! how curſe their madneſs--and beg annihilation, when waked by the trump of God, and called to trial ! how ſhall all ſuch among you, whether within or around theſe walls, continuing ſuch 'till then, earneſtly wiſh (and alas ! ſhall wiſh in vain) that they had this day liftened to the truth, and taken the alarm! watch therefore, for ſudden will the coming of the Son of Man be. This conſideration itſelf informs us, that the revelation of the LORD Jesus to Judgment, will be no leſs dreadful than ſudden: when men are funk down on the pillow, luiled in their nightly repoſe, to be rouzéd by a midnight-alarm would doubtleſs ſurpriſe the fire-bell's ſtroke ſtartles the moſt hardy : How then ſhall the finners in Zion be afraid? What fear- fulneſs ſhall furpriſe the hypocrite,* when the thunders of JEHOVAH knock at the door-when all the artille- ry of Heaven is diſcharged in his ears - To-day, whilſt peace diſplays her pleaſing banners, and finners, warned of the wrath to come, are called to flee to them for ſhelter, they can be hardy enough to " laugh at fear;" and mock in their hearts at each voice from on high ; Jesus is ſtill “ deſpiſed and rejected of inen," † their hearts perceive "no form nor comelineſs in him," and his ways, to make them deſireable; thus is " the evil day put far off, and all Heaven's bounty is ſnuffed at with ſcorn :- But at the little looked for day, when " Jesus is revealed from Heaven"-when this humble, yet rejected, fuitor to their hearts appears clothed in his native majeſty; "every eye ihall ſee him;" nor fee him with the uſual cold neglect-- ail С * Iſaiah xxxiii. 14. † Ifaiah liii. 3. (IS) the kindreds of the earth ſhall wail becauſe of him."* To ſee him whom they have deſpiſed, and whoſe cauſe they have oppoſed, now prove himſelf the only name by which men are ſaved"1-to ſee the meek, the pa- tient Lamb, altered into the furious Lion of the tribe of Judah--to ſee him coming, armed with power, and determined in juſt wrath to avenge the united quarrel of his broken law, and long rejected grace and them- felves obliged to ftand before his bar- and wait their endleſs dooms from his mouth-O! How ſhall their hands be ftrong ?-How can their hearts within them en dure for dreadful a profpe&t If the voice of God, when kindly interpofing for his people's direction in the way to bliſs, made Iſrael tremble, and holy Moſes fear and quake; O! How fhall the offender ſtand the frowns of Omnipotence, when he comes arrayed in all his terrors -- when the diſpenſations of his grace are come to a full period? Ah ! How muſt a fenſe of guilt affright him, when conſcience can be no longer itifed-and no ſhelter from the burning wrath of the LAMB appears? What ſhall I ſay?-The boldeſt fin- ners, who can glory in their ſhame-the haughtieft of- fenders--the lawleſs and diſobedient, too mighty for re- proof, thall riſe with faces pale with ghaſtly looks with fmiting knees; O ! what throbbing hearts ! what weeping eyes ! what wringing hands! Thall-I aſ the cauſe? The inan of ſorrows is clothed with majefty; the great and terrible day of the LORD is come. 3. Nor is the ſuddenneſs the only thing that makes the coming of the LORD thus terrible; the glory of his appearance will be too great to be endured by « Aleih and blood"I-how different from the weeping infant in the manger at Bethlehem ! how unlike the ſcorned ſufferer that groaned on Calvary ! Oh! what * Revelations i. 7. + Acts iv. 12. I 1 Corinthians xy. 19 pomp is here ! 'tis Heaven--all Heaven, deſcending in its grandeur Before, his deity was veiled his beauty marked-his brightneſs clouded he was eloth- ed with diſhonor--received with contempt-thruſt out of life with every token of fhaine ; but now the veil is taken off--the native ſplendor of his perſon fines un- fufferable to mortal eyes : his human nature bright be- yond conception-how admirable then the divine ! O wondrous, wondrous perfon, which cannot be com- pleted, but by all the glories of them both united! how glorious that face! when all the beauteous rays of the Father--of the Spirit ſhine in it. All Heaven's tran- ſcendant luſtre nieets and centres here. It ſtrikes us dumb.--Words fail.-Imagination cannot paint it. Some circumſtances of it are graciouſly revealed, but the effential glory there to be diſplayed, no creature ever could conceive. 1. AMONG theſe, our text informs us, one not in- conſiderable is, “He is revealed froin Heaven;" thence did he come as the bread of life to feed the hungry and ſave them that were loft*--thither he vi- fibly afcended before his choſen witneſſest-there he now fits enthroned in higheſt dignity at the right hand of power !| there is he now retained, concealed from our fight ;-and there muſt be retained 'till the reſti- tution of all things ;S and then from thence he viſibly deſcends-deſcends with all the pomp of GOD. O! glorious ſcene ! -my Brethren, let us try to re- alize it ; fee, far above the region of the ſtars--in the empyreal Heaven-that place long honored with the throne of him whoſe preſence would be a Heaven in hell, fee there, at the appointed hour--the prepartion made-the armies marihalled the gates flung open ; * Matthew xviii. II. + Acts i.9. Matthew xxvi. 64. § Acts iii. 21. ( 20 ) and, from thence, quicker than thought, comes forth in one cortinued flood, the light of Heaven, each of its beams far, far out-fhining a thouſand funs like that which gilds our globe-and there behold, gloriouſly exalted on a throne of burnished Æther, The Son OF GOD ; crowned with that majeſty that ſhone in making and ſupporting worlds, brightened by redeem- ing love, and finiſhed by all the grandeur Heaven can afford.* Behold that glorious fight--the ont-lines of it are drawn by an infallible pencil: “The Ancient of days his head white as ſnow"-his hairs like ſhin- ing threads of light-" his eyes as a fame of fire his feet like the finest burniſhed braſs--clothed in a garment white as ſnow"-this robe of glory reaching down to his feet-"and girt about the breaſts with a golden girdle"--" his voice” majeſtic, like the found of many waters—his countenance like the fun ſhining in his ſtrength. A « face, from before which the earth and the Heaven (not able to ſtand the majeſty of his looks) flee away" and flee 'till they can flee no further ; no place of hiding being found for them- nor need we wonder, for ſee !-his throne is like the fiery Aame-his wheels as burning fire-a fiery-ftreamn iſſues out before him-behind him the flame burneth ; thouſand thouſands minifter unto him ; ten thouſand times ten thouſand ftand before him.”+ What a pic- ture is this? O firs! can you rejoice to ſee it?- ex- * This thought, if I miſtake not, the reader may find preſſed with all the force of language in YOUNG's Laſt Day, a Poem which I remember to have read with pleaſure ; from which, as well as from the Night-thoughts, if the books were now by ine, I ſhould have taken plealure to have obliged my readers with this, and many other thoughts on this ſubject, in the emphatic words of that incomparable author. Daniel vii. 9, 10. Revelations i. 13, 14, 15, 16, ( 21 ) Think; for Oh! He bends his courſe this way. He comes 'as the brightneſs of the Father's glory-the expreſs image of his perfon." He comes in all the power of God-power to which all nature ſtands obea dient; whoſe awful beck makes all revolving worlds, as if ftruck dead with fright, to ſtop their wheels.* He comes in the full exerciſes of all his mediatorial powers alſo ; power by which to wreſt the key from death's cold hand-knock off his fetters-fet his pri- ſoners free--and trample down that aged conqueror of all our race-Power over hell and all its fiends, by which to fuminon forth, convict, condemn, and exe- cute the ſentence on theſe untamed enemies of God and man: a fentence juít-though new to them bearing an additional load, proportioned to the enor- mous guilt they had continually been heaping up by all their helliſh crimes ſince firſt they were hurled down from bliſs; a ſentence which but now ſeems to begin their hell; compared to this their former torment might be called a Heaven.--Power too over men, by which the Kings—the mighty of the earth-yea, all the ſons and daughters of Adam, at a call, are brought, with their firſt father, to the bar--to ſtand obedient to the unreſiſted nod of the great Judge: How great the glory-how God-like the power with which CHRIST comes to Judgment ! 2. Non fhall he come alone : we have already ſaid all Heaven deſcends with him ; yea, faith the text, "When the LORD JESUS ſhall be revealed from Hea- ven with his mighty angels”-or, as the word more ftrictly might be rendered, the angels of his might- the meſſengers of his power. Could he, when hum- bled here on earth-by a word of his mouth, have commanded more than twelve legions of angels to * Joſhua X. 12. ( 22 ) do his pleafure ?»* No wonder theh if myriads on myriads, ambitious, now fill up his train-no wonder the ſcene be magnificent indeed, for the facred volume leaves it beyond doubt that all the holy angels fhall now ſtand around him." But for what end Have they been, in time, as miniftering ſpirits, ſervants as well as watchmen of the beſt intereſts of the heirs of Glory?I Now ſhall they gladly fly on wings of love to gather the elect from the four winds. Were they, Ptill now, employed in the kingdom of his providence, endowed with excellence of his ſtrength to do their Lord's commands, and by conſequence the daily witneſſes of the conduct of the wicked in this life? How readily ſhall they now ſummon finners to the bar-and aliit at his mandate to execute the ſentence to each finner reſpectively addreſſed ?* O glorious tri- umph ! Who shell be able to endure the ſplendors of that day? But there ſhall not be all his retinue : fuch is the condeſcenſion of our great Redeemer, it is not enough to receive finful men to favor; to admit them where himſelf is to behold his glory--and drink immortal bliſs from every ray they fee; but when he comes to give a full diſplay of all his riches, they muſt needs be honored with a ſhare in the tremendous pomp.- We are told by him who cannot lie, that the LORD ſhall not come to judgment without ten thouſands of his faints in company it affured that whenever he ap- pears, all thoſe that ſleep in Jesus he will bring along with him not one forgotten; none then left behind; from the ſtill-born babe, to the Chriſtian funk in years, every foul that died in Christ, ſhall then come at his * Matthew xxvi. 53. + Matthew xxv. 31. # Hebrews i. 14. Mark xiii. 27. | Pfalm ciii. 20, 21. * Matthew xiii. 41, 42, 43. t Jude xiv. 1 Theſſalonians iv. 14. ( 23 ) beck, to find its body and receive its brighter crown: all--all ſhall come-each fhining with a glory bor- Towed from his LORD urging his golden lyre with many a gladſome ſtroke in the triumphant anthem. O glorious fight! where millions unnumbered as the grains of fand, ſhall appear in fplendid ranks, what heavenly joy ſparkles in each eye ! what love and wonder glows on every cheek! the leaſt among them decked in heavenly beauties-bought with Jesus' blood-ſurpaſſes far the beaming glories of the meri- dian fun. O finners, hafte to Jesus' loving arms, while grace is offered, that you may one day mingle with this glorious throng. Fear not, Chriſtians, the meaneft, weakeſt, darkeſt of you ſhall be there : your notes too ſhall be heard amidſt the Allelujahs of that happy train ! 3. ONE other circumſtance of the judge's glory mentioned in the text, is, he comes in fiaming fire," more literally, the fire of a fame," j. e. the moſt piercing heat to which a fire can be raiſed ;-I have no doubt but the word fire is often uſed in fcripture as a figure to expreſs the wrath of God; yet I cannot a- gree with thoſe who think it only metaphorical in this place--the Apoſtle is evidently now deſcribing the vi- lible appearances of that awful day all the reſt are al- lowed to be literal-Why then ſhould this be explain- ed away to a figure only? Nor will I deny that the whole maſs of elementary fire hitherto diſperſed in due proportion through all material worlds, ſhall then probably be collected into one place whilft funs planets-clouds from on high-earth and waters from beneath, on the divine mandate, all at once diſcharge their flaming ſtores, 'till every ſpark they had contain- ed ſince their creation, is quite exhauſted; yet I muſt beg leave to differ from thoſe, however numerous and reſpectable they be, who have afferted this, or fome ( 24 ) material fire newly created, is what theſe words refer to; that fire ſeems to break out chiefly after the judg- ment is paft--this fire is ſeen as ſoon as Christ is revealed--a fire in which he comes from Heaven;" that fire is probably deſigned (may I not beg the li- berty that others take, to expreſs their own conjec- tures ?) to form a material engine of eternal torment for thoſe wretched crouds, that now muſt carry with them material bodies to thoſe doleful regions, where, 'till now, their ſouls alone had lain in anguiſh proper to a ſpirit, anguiſh that could be called fire only in a figure; in that fire, though not without this of a fpi- ritual kind, the devil and his angels, with all the damn- ed crew, ſhall plunge, and fink from gulph to gulph forevermore; but it ſhall never touch the heavenly throng--they ſee it with their eyes—but fee it afar off; who then can think it will come near the Judge ? But the fire in the text is repreſented as his cloathing- his atmoſphere--his vehicle to judgment. The judge is in the midſt of it. If it is here objected that the appearance of God to men, in ancient days, were in the midſt of fire ; it is granted; but theſe were only ſymbols of the divine preſence, and ſo cannot affect this argument at all : and yet it would be very hard to prove that fire to be material; it fcorched not Mofes-nor did it burn the quaking mount-yea the buih in Horeb, though the feat of this flame remained untouched. By the flaming fire here ſpoken of, I would rather underſtand that glory of the Judge's perſon mention- ed above :--This will be ſuch as, like a burning blaze, no mortal eye could bear-fo great, that ſun and moon and ſtars are totally extinguiſhed at its firſt appearance: as the fickly glimmerings of a taper are quickly loft, ſoon as the eaſtern ſun darts his firft morning beam a- croſs the horizon ; fo diſappears all created light, when ( 25 ) light's great oceand original firſt thews his face : at fight of this, "the fun ſhall be darkened, the moon will not give her light--the ſtars of Heaven ſhall fall"*—the Heavens, unable to endure fuch brightneſs, fee before it--the vaſt expanſe, as a flaming ſcroll, furls all its faded beauties, rolls itſelf together, and de- parts as in ſhuddering horrors:t nor are the Heavens alone affected the whole earth feels the ſhock-as this glorious being deſcends, fee, the trembling itlands are diſplaced-melting mountains ſhrink out of sight rocks rend—and univerſal nature ſends out her dying groans ! and when to this piercing light is fuperadded his almighty power-(power with which every thing in this unequalled perſonage, with which every thing eſſentially iſſuing from him is neceſſarily fraught) then, as I conceive, it acts like “flaming fire" indeed; for as fire will ſtrengthen and refine whatever has a nature like its own, ſpark kindling fpark, and fame increaſing fame; whilft on the other hand it ſuddenly deftroys whatever it meets that cannot be changed into its own image, ſo fhall the flaming fire we ſpeak of, whilſt it refines the ſaints-"tries all their works”I as the fur- nace trieth gold-burns up their ſtubble--and bright- en their whole perſons into his own moſt beauteous image-at the fame time prove a conſuming fire to the unchanged finner-the wicked ſhall be like chaff before this fame : by this “the day ſhall burn as an oven,"S (and if the inſtrumentality of material fire, ſpoken of above, were not employed at all, this would be fufficient) by this might earth be quickly burntup- Heavens melted-and creation blotted out: woe to the man that unprepared meets this flame! D # I Corin. * Matthew xxiv. 29, + Revelations vi. 14. thians iii. 13. $ Mal. i. 6. ( 26 ) Thus ſhall the lightnings flaſh; And fhall no thunders roar ? Nothing more certain. For this day, in a ſpecial ſenſe, they were made for this day are thoſe thunders kept that none can underſtand : and then ſhall all be fired off : ſhall roll without ceffation from the higheſt Heaven-with inajeſty more awful than when rebellious angels were thence, of old, hurl- ed down.-Hark! immortals-hark that dreadful found-peal on peal, as it breaks from every low'ring cloud, mingled with the roarings of the affrighted o- cean-the groans of burſting caverns-the clatterings of wafted bones--the hideous murmurs of the quaking earth, convulfed in her laſt pangs--the yell of devils- and the dreadful ſhrieks of damned finners—but loud. er than them all, the trump of GOD! Oh dreadful ſcene ! ſhelter, dear Jesus ſhelter-nature faints-the immortal fpirit totters at the fight! THE LORD ſhall deſcend in thunders- with a fhout, with the voice of the arch-angel, with the trump of GoD :*-the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe.”—’till even they that are entombed ſhall hear and come forth to enquire, what power can knock ſo loud.-It is the voice of the Son of God"--No leſs could make them live-Angels ſhall be dif- patched before him, to give the dread alarm to feep- ing worlds. For this that trumpet founds--ſounds far otherwiſe than that at Sinai ; with knell more awful than if all the elements, drawn up in array, had fallen on each other, and were juſt now engaged in mortal combat: the ſtrongeſt blaft Omnipotence itſelf hath ever raiſed : I need not bid you harken; it ſtrikes all ears in Heaven, earth and heil-awakes the filent dead—and fets univerſal nature trembling: this dread- ful clangour, with a fhriller note than that of ten I Theſlalonians iv. 16. ( 27 ) thouſand clarions together, ſhall rouze the ſleeping duit: and you, my friends---even you, to whom his charming voice, in loving accents, fpeaks in vain to- day-whoſe ear no preſent found from Heaven does pierce to purpoſe—even you ſhall hear it-and if deaf 'till then, ſhall hear with dread : O firs! in the terrors of it, let me perſuade you to be wiſe betimes—Anti- cipate the horrors of this hour: and fiee-flee to the refuge under JESUS' wings; O flee whilſt yet you may, from all this coming wrath. Such circumſtances are the ſmalleſt part of what we are taught to look for as the attendants of this dreadful day. Thus “ will the LORD Jesus be re- vealed from Heaven. But for what end all this pomp? What important cauſe employs ſo much the majeſty of Heaven? What is the buſineſs of this grand advent? To conſider this, brings to the Iid. fection of this diſcourſe. It is, o hear it, fons of men, it is to JUDGMENT ! already it has claim- ed your notice, that the unequal diſtribution of good and evil in this life, would leave the goodneſs, righte- ouſneſs, and purity of God in the dark, were this the only iffue of all things. The particular judgment of each departed fcul, which the moment after death, Tends it to a laſting manfion fuited to its nature, would juſtify the ways of God to man : but all this would not vindicate his government to waiting worlds, who fee not private judgments; nor filence the reproaches of Heaven's malicious foes. Hence this day has been appointed to manifeſt to all intelligents at once, the perfect rectitude of all he did. Although a ſtate of trial did require variety of fortune ; and, for a mo- ment, the brighteſt fate lay clouded; yet an eternity awaits ; in it thall all things be fer right. Yes, the obſcurity ceaſes at its firſt approach; and through in- ( 28 ) terminable ages, the holineſs and juſtice of the fove- reign ſhall be declared pure by every ſubject's final doom: For this purpoſe, at the dreadful criſis here conſidered, all worlds ſhall be fummoned to behold- while angels and men are called to judgment-public- ly tried-and a fentence paſt on each, which all ra- tional natures muſt acknowledge right, Nor ſhall the ſouls of men alone appear; their bo- dies too, muſt be produced ; theſe very bodies that have borne you to God's houſe to-day. Be not fur- priſed, my brethren, at this affertion; I readily grant our bodies in this life, like the prophet's golden lamps,* are in perpetual flux, ever ſhifting old mate- rials for new; and, like a running ſtream, we cannot ſee them twice in all reſpects the ſame ; nor is it ne- ceſſary that all the particles, of which our bodies have confifted from firſt to laſt, be raiſed again; then would they reſemble mountains more than men; any one ſett of theſe conſtituents is the body, and it ought to be remarked, there are eſſential ſtamina that ſtill re- main unchanged, from the unborn embryo to the hoary head entombed; theſe are laid in the grave- theſe raiſed at that day, clothed with whatever fuit of matter they had worn in life, whether the aſhes lodg- ed with them in the ſame pit, or (what is not impoffi- ble) fome of the atoms they had depoſited in every itage of life, now gathered and conjoined with theſe, are yet that very body that had lived, and breathed, and walked on earth: if not the very fame, it is no reſurrection, a new creation only; nor would the jur- tice of that unſpotted tribunal ever conſent to reward one body more than it could one foul, for the ſervices and fufferings of another; far leſs conſiſtent would it be to put an innocent, a new-created frame to endleſs * Zechariah iv. 2, II. ( 29 ) torture for the fins committed by another, that, if it ſhall exiſt at all, exiſts only as fenfeleſs earth, and feels not the general wreck of nature in which it mingles. Nor is the raiſing the ſame body at all impoffible; that all-piercing eye, to which our ſubſtance long be- fore our birth, to which our every thought, whilft but a forming, lies quite naked, can eaſily diſtinguiſh duſt from duft : that mighty voice that ſpoke the fiat when all worlds aroſe, can without pain recall each fevered atom to its proper body-though ſcattered by winds- waſhed away by waves—and ſeparated to either pole ; though rotten in the duſt, grown up in vegetables ; and theſe, eaten by men, wrought into garments, or burnt as our common fuel ; though devoured by ani- mals, which fall a prey to the teeth of animals more fierce than themſelves, and the bodies of theſe laſt be- coming human food, are blended with ſome other frames that muſt be raiſed as well as they; yet, by the hand that built them out of nothing at the firſt, fhall all that is their own be now brought back, and an im- mortal ſtructure raiſed from theſe materials, more glo- rious, or frightful, than ever. Aleſh beheld. Or this, nature affords a variety of emblems-the ſpringing of a feed that was dead and buried in the earth-the revival of the plant in ſpring, that ſee ned totally deſtroyed by the winter's froſt, may daily give the bluih to the moſt labored ſcruples of the infidel with regard to refurrection with a good grace then may the Apoſtle chailenge men to ſay, "Why it ſhould be thought a thing impoſſible that God ſhould raiſe the dead,"* when he had the doctrine proved by facts: he need but let the notorious inſtances of the children at Shunemt and Sareptat-the daughter of * Aets xxvi. 9. † 2 Kings iv. 35. 1 Kings xvii. 22. (30) Jairuss the widow's fon at Nain|lma Dorcas,* or a Lazarus,t ſpeak plainly for themſelves-he need on- ly turn them to the writings of Mofes, Daniel and Job, to convince then this doctrine was no noveltyt-yea, might make their own eyes their teachers by what they daily fee. THOUGH theſe fame bodies ſhall all be raiſed a- gain- yet, in very different circumſtances; both faints and finners ſhall be revived by Omnipotence; but the reſurrection of the former, is owing to a ſecret ener- gy from that of Christ, reaching the bodies that, by covenant, had been united to himſelf in a bond which death could not untie ; juſt as the vital influence is diffuſed from the head, down through the members of all this mortal frame-the reſurrection of the wicked is the effect of the abſolute power of God, exerciſed by CHRIST over his enemies, for their deſtruction, as an appendix to his mediatorial office : both ſhall be raiſed firong (ſtronger than any material body in the world) imnuortel, incorruptible, incapable of uſing meat, drink, apparel, or any ſenſual object; beyond -the reach of aliment, digeſtion=circulation, or (with reſpect to faints at leaſt) any gravitation to weigh them down: But Oh the difference! The faints are raiſed Spiritual, not that they are changed into fpirits; then they could not be bodies in any tenſe at all; but with as much refinement as bodies can receive; though that ſhall make them differ in appearance from their preſent felves, more than the fineſt lawn can differ from the earthen ſeed it ſprung from;-more than the cleareft cryſtal can from the aſhes it is made of-yea, more than yonder fun, which is but periſhing matter more refined, can differ from the mud that incom- $ Mark v. 41. Luké vii. 11, 15. * Acts ix. 40. † John xi. 39, +4. Luke xx. 37, 38. Daniel xii. 2. Job xix. 26. ( 3 ) modes the ſtreets; from this ſpirituality it is preſum- ed their bodies will be ſo light as, like our thoughts at preſent, they may move (on GOD's behefts) throngh future worlds, ſwifter than lightning darts acroſs the globe.- 2. Immortol, incapable of ſickneſs—wearineſs- or pain* -fortified to bear an exceeding great and e- ternal weight of glory ; fit to be eternally employed in acting for, beholding of, and ſinging praiſes to the God that is all their joy; and that without fupply of nouriſhment from any thing created; they live on God alone, as well as in him for evermore. 3. Glorious, as the foul, at entering into Glory, muſt be ſtripped of all the rags of filthineſs-corrup- tion-imperfection that were about it in this life ; fo when theſe bodies are about to be received there, they muſt be purged of every defect they labored under here ; infirmities that offend the body, are no leſs in- capable of an entrance there, than thoſe that hurt the ſoul :t Jacob will not there go halting—nor Mephibo- ſheth lame--the eyes of Ifaac will not be dim-nor Leab's tender; no fores, no blemiſhes, no deformnities, nor decripitneſs at all ſhall be among them ; no dwarfs of immortality--no giants there of monſtrous fize- no feeble infant of a ſpan-no wrinkled face-nor heads drooping with the weight of years :-no faded fickly aſpect--no withered or uncomely feature in the general aſſembly of theſe firſt born. All comely in the bloom of endleſs youth; and though we have noground to ſay there will not be fome diverſity of looks and ftatures, by which, as it is in faces on the earth, each will be eaſily diſtinguiſhed from the reſt, yet ic is per- haps moſt probable none will be advanced beyond full maturity-none fall below it. But, * Revelations xxi. 4. + Matthew xxii. 30. Revelations xxi. 27. Iſaiah xi. 9. 32 ) It muſt not be forgotten that the quinteſſence of their beauty is the image of their Lord; though in de- gree the difference between his comelineſs and theirs, will be greater than between the noon-day fun and the dimeſt twinkling ſtar, yet it is no uncertainty that eve- ry one of them ſhall be faſhioned like his fplendid bo- dy*-brightened with his brightneſs-glorious with re- flection of the beams of his glory; "they behold him with open face”--the rays of his beauty ſtrike not on thein as fun-beams do upon opaque bodies—but as upon a lively mirror that is thereby made to ſhine like then, and reflect them back on every beholder; thus they are changed into his image, from glory to glo- ry:”+ This it is that makes all the righteous to thine as the fun in the kingdom of their father”I-but not all with equal fplendor ; ſince all their beauty ſprings from the impreſſion made on them by his, the nearer they advance to him that is the fountain, the great centre of it, the greater impreffion they muſt needs receive, and the more gloriouſly they muſt needs Thine ; grace and glory differ only in degree ; the mor- al image of the LORD here begun in the fouls of men in regeneration, and gradually increaſed as the Holy Spirit's fanctifying work proceeded, is but the ſame principle with which made perfect, they ſhine in Heaven ; and, which, as the occaſional cauſe, produces this external luſtre on the bodies there, that have been inftruments of the exerciſes by which it was increaſed here: it follows that the more of this image any per- fon has obtained in life, the nearer to the LORD he comes at death ; and (ſince the doctrine of the con- ftant increaſe of glory in the ſaints in Heaven before the day of judgment, may juſtly be diſputed though af- ter it, that doctrine ſeems clear to me) by conſequence * Phil. iii. 21. + 2 Corinthians iii. 18. | Matth. xiii. 43. 33 ) the nearer to him he ſhall be ſtationed at the reſurrec- tion; the more grace therefore any man has exerciſed here, the more beautiful he ſhall appear at that day. The traces of the graces he had exerciſed, though all now ſwallowed up in love and joy--the memorials of the works of charity and faith in which he had ta- ken pleaſure the ſcars of perfecution borne for CHRIST, though now the brighteft fpots upon him- all-all ſhall appear to enhance the ſplendørs of the Chriftian by his Saviour's fide :--- thus, though every one is as glorious at that day as his capacity will ad- mit, yet ſhall it riſe in fome degree above the reft, “as one ftar differeth from another ſtar in glory."* - But ah! the horrid contraſt to all this that glooms in the appearance of the riſing rebel-crew: marks of immortality, it is true, their bodies bear: but marks that prove them engines only of immoftal tortures- their ſtrength does only contribute to make them ca- pable of greater pain: "O finners ! glory no longer in the faireft face--ceaſe the daily contemplation of the idol in the glaſs”- quit the ill-fpent drudgery of pam- pering the rotten carcaſe : for here it iffues; as faints are raiſed in the image of their King; fo all the damned appear in the likeneſs of the gloomy prince of darkneſs-ſtript of all the external beauty that was upon them-beauty which many have abuſed as a means to bring them there ; blackened with all the deformity of hell : Where now is the ſparkling poi- fon of the wanton eye? Altered into the baleful image ef horror and deſpair--the very picture of the uglieſt fiend below: wherever they roll their eye-balls, their ghaſtly looks are telling all within them. The very viſage of the finner points out the favorite pallion of E * 1 Corinthians xv. 41, 42: ( 34 ) his ſoul, as ſtrongly as if you ſaw the drunkard rife rolling in his vomit-the laſcivious taken in the adul- terous moment—the prophane lips juſt ſtretched open with their uſual blafphemies-the thief caught in the nick with his fingers in his neighbour's coffers--the murderer juft plunging in the fatal dagger in the dark: brought to the bar in ſuch circumſtances as theſe, who can wonder that ſome appear more direful ſpec- tres than the reſt ? The crimes encumbered with the greateſt aggravations, put on the blackeſt hue; fo ihail the finner, loaded with them, make the moſt monſtrous figure at that day : horrid pre-eminence ! But all-Can you behold it firs?--All appear like incarnate devils ; What haggered uglineſs ? What ob- ſcene forms ?-What blackneſs ?-What monſtrous ſhapes are here ? What malice-rage-deſpond-en- vy? What ſhocking-hateful but I muſt for- bear !--For what tongue can utter? What ear can bear to liſten ? “O my ſoul ! come not thou into their ſecret ;-unto their affeinbly mine honor be not thou united."* But to recover from this digreſſion, whatever dif- ferences in their forms, yet, “ in the ſame fleſh," raiſed by a power like that which made them, “ſhall faints fee God:” thefe very bodies, that in this life are fin's devoted Naves, ſhall juſtly feel fin's wages in the other. To raiſe them then-to call them from the grave, is one of the works of this important day. # Angels, for this, are diſpatched from on high, to have them ready when He comes. An invitation this, you can- not fit: a call the deafeft ear fhall hear ! The human congregation being brought together, we are inſtructed a public trial ſhall enſue; the Judge's * Geneſis xlix. 6. Matthew xxiv. 31, † Job xix. 26. # Matthew xiii. 41. ( 35 ) eye, piercing through every being, diſcovers, in a mo- ment, all that men would fain ſecrete: the ſtandard of a perfect law is now erected; and to it all mankind are brought : it is none other than the moral law, one naturally binding every moral agent as ſoon as crea- ted, previous to any revelation-a law that cannot paſs neglected one moment of its ſubjects being ; nor call for leſs than perfect obedience in every moment; nor overlook one thought, or word, or act in the accompt: nor doom the leaſt defect to any leſs than a penalty that is infinite ; a law whoſe binding force can never change, before good and evil come together, and the awful throne of the great law-giver is overſet ;* by this ſtandard, then, fhall every man be meaſured; the man who, weighed in this impartial balance, is found wanting, who, not conformed to this upright rule, hath nought to anſwer for his obliquity, ſhall meet the doom it has denounced. THERE is, originally, in nature's volume, fufficient promulgation of this law to all mankind; and if our crimes effaced the notices of duty we are thereby fa- vored with, our obligations to it cannot be in the lea abared by violating them. But as God has been gra- ciouſly pleaſed to renew theſe loſt diſcoveries to ſome by revelation, it is reaſonable they ſhould be reſponſi- ble for their fuperior advantages : by the ſeveral edi- tions of this moral law, natural or revealed, Moſaic or Chriſtian, they who enjoyed them fhall be judged:t and unleſs they have taken ſhelter in the blood of him, who died to ſatisfy all its demands for finful mortals, it will be found that “every mouth muſt be ſtopped, and all the world become guilty before God:"I and ii. 10. * Pſalm xix. 7. Romans vii. 12, 14. Galatians iii. 10. James Romans vi. 23. Matthew v. 18. + Romans ii. 12. Romans iii. 19. (36) it is the rule of that impartial day, that every man ſhall receive according to his works :This leads us to obſerve, that It is to be conſidered as the great errand of the LORD JESUS, in this appearance, to aſſign to every man in righteouſneſs, a portion for eternity; the right- eous and the wicked may live in near connexion in the preſent life, juſt as tares and wheat may grow toge- ther in the fame field; but now all maſks are taken off-hypocrites are ſtripped of the gilded covering their rottennefs appears to all: and as ſheep and goats, which feed on different foils, are uſually divided into feparate flocks ; fo ſhall the faint and finner now part company : * however hard to diſtinguiſh them with our pur-blind eyes, the firſt glance of the Judge ſhall point each to his proper companions: a total ſeparation ſhall then be made ; a ſeparation that is endleſs :-How many dear relatives ſhall then take a laſt look each of the other? How many too indul- gent parents ſhall then ſee darling children hurried to the left ? How many married pairs ſhall part, to meet, and love no more? And then the books are open- ed!+ O! my brethren, What various emotions inay now be ſeen in that affembly ? Here joy-there ter- ror-here deſpair-there extatic rapture :--How dif- ferent their coming ſentence inay eaſily be read in their faces. The book of God's remembrance firft, O! hear- er, think, How canſt thou bear the opening of that volume-where all that can concern thee ſtands fair recorded ? It is anfwered in every tittle of a book that is thine own, viz. that of CONSCIENCE ; whoſe ſecret records, locked far within the breaft, unſeen per- * Matthew xxv. 32. Mal. iii. 16. + Revelations xx. 12. § Romans ii. 15. ( 37 ) haps by him who was their theme, are opened now : thoſe very pages where not a word appeared before, like ſecret ink, brought to the fire, are legible to all pages well filled indeed! and every day a page ! Theſe two, like faithful witneſſes in every thing agree- ing, jointly give in a valid teſtimony of all thy thoughts, thy words, thy works; each rightly ſtated as they are found conformed to the law of God, or o- therwiſe. There all the diſpenſations of God's pro- vidence to thee are awfully noted downı ; afflictions, warnings, privileges, mercies, opportunities, together with the improvement or the contrary that thou haſt made, as truth declares. spiralno The book of God's law comes next; it publiſhes before all worlds its purity and juſtice, the perfect obe- dience it requires, the dreadful penalty denounced on each tranſgreſſion ; each tittle here muſt be fulfilled, or all the threatened load endured; with this muſt every record of the former two be then compared and by this judged right or wrong: and, O! the dreadful iſſue : one ſingle breach condemns Sall men are now found finners : and thus are all the fons of Adam brought in condemned-not one juſtified here: the whole human race at one ſtroke cut off for- ever !* But was there not a ranſom found for guilty ſouls? Yes. A ranſom full, fufficient, ſuitable for every cafe ; a ranſom free to all who would lay hold of it for life; whoever is poffeſed of it ſhall yet be ſafe : perhaps the convict has fied for refuge to this hope-perhaps he is in CHRIST: This muſt be tried before the final fentence is made up :--and for that purpoſe, RECOURSE is had to the book of the Goſpel : the myſtery of grace is here unfolded--the precious pro- * Romans iii. 20. ( 38 ) miſes to all believers here recorded--the many calls and invitations—the many offers of peace and CHRIST, the many days of grace--the fermons-facraments--- admonitions-reproofs with which each one has been favored in life, are here read over ; immediately annexed to each, your acceptance or refuſal is entered on the record; if the former, then the righteouſneſs of Christ ſupplies fufficient anſwers to all the charges in the other books-this owns the debt, and pays it all-and then the accompt, thus fully ſettled, is pub- licly croffed out ; and all your growth in grace and la- bor of love, which you had long forgotten--and readi- ly acknowledge now is not yours, but the work of God's own grace in you—yet all openly ſtand forth as ſo many witneſſes to prove your title to that right- eouſneſs, and each ſhall be a jewel in your crown :* but if the latter, if all the offers of CHRIST have been rejected; if not a word is found in any page here to atteſt the happy hour of your eſpouſals to the bleſſed Jesus, nothing remains to hinder juſtice to ſeek its own of you; and then all the curſes denounced in the book of the law, ſhall be poured out in unmixed fury, in juſt proportion to the charges laid againſt you in that of God's remembrance, ſo loudly atteſted by the records of your own conſciences. No further evidence is needed to fix the eternal ſtates of faint and finner, yet to leave the matter be- yond all heſitation, the Judge's hand, in fight of all the multitude, lays the book of life wide open ; of all the denizens of New-Jeruſalem; where, written with atoning blood, that of the Lamb Nain from the foundation of the world,” we may behold the names of all believers : O! now look in, my Brethren ;- fearch for your own: if they are there, they are legi- * Revelations xiv. 13. ( 39 ) ble-the eyes of faith, even here below, can fome- times read them in large red capitals; the goſpel-book may give the notice of it : Haſt thou accepted CHRIST? If ſo, thy glory reſts fecure ; this clears at once thy right-nor man, nor devil ſhall ever rob thee of thine inheritance : if not, the filence of the book of life fully confirms thy doom ; and all the world Thall ſee thy miſery juſt. * Not that there are real books then to be examin- ed, that Christ may be enabled to judge aright.- No. He needeth not thoſe helps which the weakneſs of our minds obliges us to uſe. Theſe are figures choſen on purpoſe to bring down this mighty ſcene to our conceptions ; by painting it in colours drawn from the well known proceſs of courts of juſtice here be- low : figures the moſt ſignificant that can be ; they clearly ſhew that the wiſdom of Jehovah, neceſſarily knowing all things, ſhall, at a glance, diſcover the cha- racters and ſtates of all in Judgment, in ſuch a light, as all worlds muſt ſay is true ; fhall point out, as with a ſun beam, every thought, and word, and deed to themſelves, and all around, beyond all poſſible denial; ſo that to every ſentence paſſed at that day, the con- ſciences of all ſhall fay Āmen. However, the trials being over, and endleſs dooms pronounced without ap- peal, How ſhall the congregation be divided ?- * Theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment- thoſe into life eternal.” Hence it Hence it appears, THAT the buſineſs of this awful appearance is to take vengeance on them that know not God, and o- bey not the Goſpel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST;" all who have never known him fpiritually, by an ex- perimental diſcovery of his nature and perfections, made by himſelf to the eye of an awakened and re- * Revelations xx. 12, 15. + Matthew xxv. 46. t ( 40 ) Go on, ye newed mind; giving it a right idea of God, and er pecially diſplaying his“ glory in the face of Jesus CHRIST;"* all who are without this, and ſo muſt be deemed utterly void of any true knowledge of God's nature, his exiſtence, word, works, or any thing about him, ſhall then feel the wrath they did not fear: all who have lived and died in willful ignorance of God, even down to thoſe who have finned againſt the light of nature, when they had none better ; much more then theſe taller finners here, who regard not the goſ- pel though publiſhed in their ears : prophane, laugh at religion, deſpiſe its offered grace, call it cant-enthuſiaſm-ſick-brain fiction-idle bug- bears, and all you will-caſt off all reſtraintand live like men, as you are pleaſed to call the life of devils- yea rather that of brutes; but know ye, this day, from the LORD, "your damnation lingereth not !" Long hath an injured God borne with your impieties, whilft ſome ſcoff at revelation-and deny futurity, others go on in fin, and ſay, "It is no harm; God ſurely muſt have mercy on the ſoul himſelf has made ; he could not make a ſpirit to be damned; it is but a little we have enjoyed ourſelves ; time enough to turn from our pleaſures yet-we muſt-we will indulge them now; our will ſhall be our maſter, let him hurt us if he can." Miſerable wrętches ! you think God alto- gether ſuch as yourſelves it look to the text and tremble ; he can and will take vengeance, ſudden ven- geance, on all ſuch, except they quickly repent. Nor ſhall they fare better who profefs to believe the Goſpel, and name the name of CHRIST, but in works deny both it and him : that faith that is fincere will purify the heart || and fo produce new obedience; a vid samt * 2 Corinthians iv. 6. + 2 Peter ii. 3. Pſalm 1. 21, 22. $ Luke xiii. 3. || Acts xv. 9. ( 41 ) CHRIST declares himſelf the author of eternal falva- tion only to them that obey him ;* for without ſuch fruits faith is dead :t Ho all ye formalifts ! ye falſe profeſſors, hypocrites, the ſharpeft thunders of divine vengeance are levelled at your diſguiſed breaſts ! flee now to CHRIST ; confefs your fecret guilt; caſt your foul on him immediately; accept his offered grace ; or you ſhall periſh in the day of his fierce anger.- However long it may delay, all ſuch ſhall ſurely be puniſhed at laſt. But how? What is the doom? And when inflict- ed? That awful word, DEPART, does in a moment fix it beyond a poſſibility of change. It is no trifling penalty, it is ſuited juftly to ſin's deſert; and there- fore called "deſtruction :" deſtruction, not of their be- ings (this o how deſirable to them !) but of their bliſs : it is baniſhment from him in whom alone true happineſs is found ; baniſhment to endleſs diſtance, beyond the reach of every pitying look ; it is impri- ſonment in total darkneſs; whoſe higheſt comforts are to be bound in the iron fetters of intolerable anguiſh; wrapped in ſheets of liquid fire ; torn by the relent- leſs worm that never dies,” trampled, racked, yea perpetually ground to pieces by the teeth of devils, their only companions ; to be “weeping, wailing, and gnaſhing the teeth," without the leaſt remiſſion of their forrows-without “one drop of water to cool the tongue,amidſt inceffant draughts of boiling brim- ſtone ; yea to be ingulphed in the doleful lake of fire, and therein, without a moment's reſpite, finking, like maffy leaden globes, towards that bottom, which eter- nal finking, under a load of boundleſs wrath, can ne- ver find. Oh dreadful doom ! where pain without a F * Hebrews v. 9. † James ii, 17. ( 42 ) years that pauſe, in the uttermoſt extreme a God can infiet, tor- ments the whole man, foul and body. But is it for a day? Nay, did it end with number thouſands for every moment ſince the birth of worlds, years that meaſure millions for each grain the globe, the univerſe converted into ſand, could number, how glad would be the tidings ! But ages multiplied as often into theſe as there are moments in that number, ages thus numerous beyond conception, will ſee their torments but juſt beginning to begin- the end as diſtant as at firſt, the text has ſaid it; it is everlaſting : deſpair ye worlds in woe-deſpair of any period to your torture. It never fees an end-Never! How finks the ſoul at this moſt killing found ? It is the hell of hells. But wiſhing is in vain-it cannot be otherwiſe, for God is eternal—this is his unchang- ing wrath-it falls on an immortal being-a being whoſe fufferings, becauſe finite, never can be ſatisfy- ing-a being beyond the reach of mercy or of grace. Ah terrible ! But what aggravates this torment is, that it is not only excluſion “from the preſence of the LORD ;" but the very puniſhment comes from his preſence ; his immediate preſence diſcovered, with a full ſenſe of their own contrariety to this all-pervading, all-ſur- rounding God, is the very inſtrument of the ruin of the wicked at this day; himſelf inflicts it by himſelf. The glorious brightneſs of CHRIST's appearance, fraught with God-like power, we have already ſeen, is to every thing unlike itſelf, "a conſuming fire.” This baniſhes the wicked into hell, and kindles about them tophet's flames. The “ glory of his power," there- fore, is here faid to be the fountain of their woe; this is an Hebraiſm for his glorious power ; and the words might as properly be tranſlated the power of his glory, His power thall be magnified in magnifying holineſs )) ( 43 ) in their eternal puniſhment: if ſo, woe! woe! woe! to every one that falls under this awful frown : mifer- able beyond all thought, the man who then is found not to have known God, nor obeyed the Goſpel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST !” Sirs ! Is this caſe yours? O! fly to Jesus now by faith ; " acquaint now your- felves with him, and be at peace;" or you may expect your eyes ſhall no more ſee good. * FAR other is the portion of the godly in that day. Lift up your heads, O Chriſtians; all that has been ſaid need give you no diſmay. CHRIST's errand to the world is joy to you. The book of remembrance, it is true, fhews reaſon large enough on every page, for your deſtruction ; and you really ſtand condemned by the ſentence of the Law; but the Goſpel-book ſeals your acquittance; there it is found you are Be- lievers. You have been powerfully awakened by the Holy Ghoſt, to ſee yourſelves undone : your hearts have felt the horrid evil of your fins-and bled in deepeſt anguiſh for their abhorred guilt: as you were realizing your doleful doom-owning its juſtice—and, as it were, juſt falling--ſinking under it; whilft, by the rueful taſte of ſome preſent bitter drops, you were fadly anticipating the approaching ſhower, then did light break forth upon your ſouls, juſt as of old it did upon the darkſome undigeſted heap of worlds unform- ed :t CHRIST, your morning fun, then ſhewed his face; with raptures you beheld its beauty : the fight attracted all your aſtonished hearts—you flew to the magnet-and, ftript of all your righteouſneſs-and changed, by a new birth, into the divine nature, you did ftedfaſtly cling to the beloved centre : willingly you embraced the offered Saviour ; and in his righte- ouſneſs you have reſolved to ſtand. This faith has * Job xxii. 21. † Geneſis i. 2, 3. ( 44 ) not been fruitleſs ; it has purified you from every luft- luft- adorned you with every chriſtian grace; and kept them in growing exerciſe, in all the duties of morality and religion. You are found ſaints, not in name a- lone : your natures are renewed—your hearts cleanſ- ed, filled with the love of CHRIST ; and thence the converſation of a faint has iſſued. Hail ye highly fa- vored of the LORD! the ſentence, on the evidence of thoſe works that proved the grace of God in truth, in you, prevents all fear : it is Come ye bleſſed to your Father's arms. Tranſporting words! Great was your joy at meeting an open entrance into Heaven at death; but now that triumph is eclipſed: the reproach of all your tribulations, croſſes, perſecutions, is now wiped off-your former pains are all forgotten ; death is ſwallowed up in victory; your ſouls now freed from every imperfection-your bodies, as you have heard, « faſhioned like to that of your exalted Lord"-ſhin- ing as the fun, by the reflection of the glory that bur- niſhes in him ; hence, as his power and juſtice are ex- alted in the vengeance taken on every unbeliever ; ſo ſhall his love and grace, and every attribute at this day be glorified in the ſalvation of every faint : glorified with loudeſt ſongs of praiſe by the redeemed ones themſelves, whilſt they vie with each other who ſhall moſt diſplay the riches of his grace ; recounting, as they ſing, the wondrous ſteps of mercy towards them, and within them through all their lives; publiſhing to every by-ſtander their own unworthineſs—the free grace—and the glorious righteouſneſs that ſaved them: and glorified in them, by admiring heavenly hoſts; the ſplendor of the members of Christ's myſtical body, now put on, ſhall not only be their own infinite bliſs, but alſo ſhall redound to the honor of the head from which that ſplendor comes. Angels themſelves ſhall wonder and adore, when, in the meaneſt ſaint, at that ( 45 ) great day, they fee a work more glorious than all the worlds they ever had beheld rolling from the Almighty hand; no wonder then if faints, thus dignified, be ftruck with aſtoniſhment, loft in love, and extaſies of joy; when, embraced kindly by their Judge, they tri- umph with him over all his enemies, and enter Heaven with Allelujahs worthy of that place. Thus we have ſeen the buſineſs of that day; O fo- lemn period ! How grand the ſcene ! How tremen- dous the proceſs ! We ſhall ſhortly ſee it. It might not be loft pains if we could here make a ſtand, and realize, in one view, what has been preſented to our minds in theſe detached thoughts:Then ſhould we BEHOLD the world in all the circumſtances of the preſent day, mankind in general drowned in ſenſuality- ſecurely Neeping in their lufts-living as they lift; drenched in every abomination-yet aſſuring them- felves of laſting peace ; pulling down their barns and building larger,"'* each taking his brother by the throat, ſaying, Give place to me, and ſinging the old requiem to his ſoul, a Soul take thine eaſe; thou haft much ſtore laid up for many years it when Lol a ſudden and unuſual alteration is ſeen in the air ; it thunders from afar: how faſt it approaches ! enlarg- ing, deepening, one peal no ſooner over, than another more alarming burſts over our aſtoniſhed heads; the mightieſt winds, now ruſhing from all points at once, preſage fome fearful deſolation ; whilſt the thick re- peated flathes throb through the ſturdieſt hearts; but Oh! here is ſomething worfe-the ſun is darkened at the moon has loſt its light and juſt ap- pears like a globe of blood—the ſtars are gone-uni- verſal nature is convulfedf-Ah me! the earth, how ſtrong it quakes ! it rends to pieces ! But hark that once- 29. * Luke xii, 18. † Luke xii. 19, 20. Matthew xxiv. ( 46 ) dreadful note poured from above-it ſhakes the whole creation : amazing blaſt! the heavenly hoſts did ne- ver liſten to its equal. It is the TRUMP OF GOD! and ſpeaks a language all ſhall underffand; AWAKE YE SLEEPING DUST ARISE, YE DEAD, AND COME TO JUDGMENT. Words big with majeſty and terror; their found is gone to the world's end; and echoes life into the fenſe- leſs earth: For ſee the awful ſcene that follows.- Earth pouring out the buried duſt in trembling con- vullions tombs burſting-charnels rattling-fever- ed atoms fying to their kindred clay-bone to its bone---thunders roaring-lightnings flaſhing----rocks rending-Heavens melting-nature fainting-and the Judge coming, to meet with him all worlds now faft preparing! But not with equal ſpeed; the dead in CHRIST claim precedence here :* their fouls the Judge has brought down with himſelf ;† glad they return to find their beloved duft, and fuſhed with joy, the waiting corpſes they had left, receive their animating partners, delighted each in each : the body refined, purified, immortalized, will now be embraced (O with what rapture !) by the happy ſoul; and in what mutual ex- tafies will the fleeping machine then open its long cloſed eyes, break its confinement, ſhake off its clay, awake to the wonders of that glorious hour, to ſleep no more forever! How aftoniſhing this fight to the generation then found alive on earth! to feel the ground heaving under their feet- ſee the human forms begin to ſew themſelves in the opened bowels of the teeming earth—ſome hairy ſcalps appearing in mo- tion-ſome heads juſt ſhooting above the trembling furface-fome far fetched limbs dropt down where the * Theſſalonians iv. 16. t. 1 Theſſalonians iv. 14. (47) beholder ſtands, whilft clattering bones, now ſeeking their ancient ſtations, wafted in ſhoals on every haften- ing gale, at once ftun the ear, and darken the proſpect as far as eye can reach ; fee fome half raiſed-fome ſtarted to their feet-and crowding in for room among the living. But O! what joy appears freſh in the face of every raiſed ſaint! ANGELS, diſpatched" to gather the elect from the four winds," ſtand ready on the ſpot to embrace and entertain them. If Gabriel's bail was once ſo ſweet, whilft in this diſtant ftate, how ſhall the ſouls of ſaints exult, when faluted by whole hofts of well-known glo- rious Spirits, thus, « Arife, dear faints, long loved, and watched with tender pleaſure, ye highly favored of the LORD, let us embrace you, and bid you wel- come to the honors of this day: long have you been detained in trial; long labored under various afflicti- ons-long groaned being burdened-and long main- tained a warfare againſt fin and hell. But now the fcene is ſhifted, your LORD is come down to take you to his arms, and avenge your injuries upon the perſe- cutor's head; He is come! He is come! and ſtays for you yonder: He has fent us now to finiſh all the work of care aſſigned us over you ſince firſt you had a being, by calling you to meet him, and bearing you upon our wings to his embrace. Come ſee your Lord in ſplendor ; a ſplendor like to which he foon will make yourſelves appear. You ſhall ſee him as he is; for where he is you ſhall alſo be." O ſweet intelligence ! But ſweetened more, when in their way they meet with their beloved friends. « The faints ſhall all be gathered together :"* but gathered fo as may beit ſerve to make each one's bliſs to be the joy of all a- * 2 Theſſalonians ii. 1. ( 48 ) round-as well as to improve each faint as a witneſs in the caſe of him that is next; hence families, pa- riſhes, kingdoms, may juſtly be conceived to be claff- ed together as far as their ſtate will now permit. O! the congratulations of huſbands and wives; of parents and children; of friends who mutually helped each other to this joy; yea of ſtrangers with whom com- inunion has been held below, although never ſeen face to face-of ancient worthies-ancient faints. How ſweet the meeting of thoſe who ſuffered together here for the LORD's fake! How delightful the recollection of all their trials, perſecutions and labors of love ! “And is this the reward of our poor, trifling and un- worthy ſervices ? Is this the iſſue of our light afflicti- ons ? O wonderous grace ! O wonderous, wonderous Saviour !” is their language. The children of Abraham being thus all aſſembled, the Heavens open! Light unſufferable iſſues forth in one glorious dreadful fea! and, higher than we can glance a look, the Ancient of Days, the ſource of life and death, appears in all his majeſty: all Heaven ſhines forth in all its pomps; loud thunders roll, and flaſhing lightnings play around his train : angelic hoſts attend in glorious files-each to his part, founding his high praiſes in ſweet celeſtial ſtrains. Swift and ma- jeſtic he deſcends : but fee, far above the region of the clouds the triumph makes a ſtand : where, on an ærial baſe, richly emblazoned with the enſigns of the God, as he had already ſhewn them through all his works, a cloud of Glory, like to that the tabernacle once contained, now faſhioned by divine ſkill into the model of a Throne of ftate, is ſpeedily "pitched There the King of kings ſhall take his feat for Judgment. O glorious, dreadful fight ! down."* + Daniel vii. 9. 12 (49) . THITHER are this great aſſembly wafted up; and, O tranſporting thought ! now placed on his right hand, and, on them all, his propitious eye ſheds joy and life wherever it turns : fure earneſt of their com- ing reception ! But the contraft! Look down and fee miſer- able worlds approaching, for the trumpet continues ſtill founding, and the wicked ſtill riſing, riſing with reluctant horror and amazement, 'till all are delivered up to Judgment : ſee then, the howling millions come ; when hell opens again its mouth, and ſpews up its contents : they come, dragged by tormenting de- vils, and by them forced into their hated, dreaded car- cafes ; carcaſes more horrid and loathſome now than even in the grave. How bitter will the entrance in- to theſe be to the ſouls that left them, pained at the ſeparation ! How unwelcome their reception, and how dreadful, to the trembling corpſe ! What dire re- vengeful looks----What accuſations--curfes--ſad ac- coſtings may we reaſonably imagine now paſs between them? Devils unveiled ſhall meet them at the grave's mouth ; no more to footh their conſciences by the blandiſhments of vice; no more to whiſper peace, and enſure the utmoft fecrecy ; but, by cruel mock- ings, inſults, and tormentings, to manifeſt their will and power ; by theſe miniſters of darkneſs, the tribes of woe are dragged to meet that Judge, whom both alike do hate and dread. But, in aſſembling for that purpoſe, the reaſons before laid down, induce me here to add, that every one joins his old ſelect companions : and ere he is a- ware, he finds himſelf plunged into the croud of all his curſed relatives, friends, acquaintance, partners in impiety; for this is a day when none ſhall be parted from this ſort of ſociety of which his heart has hither- G ( 50 ) more. to made choice. Will this be an alleviation of the forrows of the day? Ah No! Theſe feaſons are no All former fondneſs now turned to hatred, ípight, malice, how unwillingly they come together! They hate to look each other in the face, what hor- rid falutations yell through all this wretched mob! Curſing at firſt fight, fome their too negligent parents, others a huſband or a wife, affiftants in their guilt- fome a darling child-others a dear companion, and every one his birth, his folly, himſelf; and eſpecially the day in which he got the firſt acquaintance with thoſe he finds around him. Theſe mutually ſtaring, and ſtared at, with gnaſhing teeth, and faces haggard as hell, they come, tearing themſelves and one ano- ther, to The Bar ; but mingle no more with faints : they never loved their company as ſuch, and now they ſhall have done with that incumbrance forever : they ſtand off-ſtand like criminals indeed ſet aſide on the left hand by themſelves. ALL now are met. The concluding trump, com- mands all worlds to univerſal ſilence; when O! The Books are all unſealed! in preſence of the whole con- courſe, the mighty Voice that ſpoke them into being, ſpeaks again. His words are firſt addreſſed to his ſaints.-A ſtrict account of them is taken : « all ſhall appear,” ſays the Apoſtle : the ſaint as well as the un- pardoned finner : all too “ ſhall give account"t- ſhall be tried by the ſame rule-tried by their works: though this mode of trial enſures them condemnation by the law, yet it is the only way to prove them jufti- fied by the Goſpel; they are tried by works that they may appear juſtified by Grace; facts are called for; and every thought, and word, and work, each in its place, is now produced to light. Their works are * Matthew xxv. 32, 33. + 2 Corinthians v. 1o. Romansxiv. 12. ( 51 ) now divulged in evidence of their intereſt in CHRIST, and qualification for eternal bliſs. It has been thought by many ſound divines, that no mention will be made of the fins of ſaints at all: that being already pardon- ed, and, as it were, blotted out of God's remem brance, they ſhall no more be brought into the ſaints' accompt; Satan not fuffered to accuſe the brethren then; none ſhall preſume to lay any thing to the charge of God's elect:* but whether this be the caſe or not, it is certain, the naming of their fins will then be neither to their fear nor ſhame :—the Judge him- ſelf is advocate for them; "guilty of this, ſays he, and all is true, I found them but here, ye wondering worlds, fee here the ſcars that ſhew I bled; I bled for them ; for theſe ſame fins I yielded to be flain.” O wonderous mercy! The blood and righteouſneſs of Christ anſwers for every charge ; anſwers to his greater honor, and their greater joy, than if no men- tion had been made of fin : Their faith, and love, and repentance, and all its fruits, ſince firſt the Spirit of GOD had changed their hearts, and brought them to CHRIST's feet, are now examined, to make their title clear to abſolution by virtue of his death. diſcover the different degrees of glory they are ripen- ed for, their former meaſures of preparation muſt be enquired into : now all their graces, talents and im- provements; all their works of juſtice to the oppreff- ed mercy to the poor-fympathy with the afflicted all their labors of love, beneficence and charity to all mankind-even from giving all their goods to feed the poor, down to a ſingle mite caft into the Lord's treafury-one word ſpoken for God--the ſmalleſt hint dropped for the conviction or edification of a foul, or “a cup of cold water imparted to a diſciple:" And to * Romans viii. 33. (52) all their prayers, tears, and ſecret conflicts—all their afflictions, forrows, perſecutions, for Christ and his cauſe : all-all are now made public to the univerſe in full aſſembly :-the warm zeal-diſinterefted bene- volence-divine love that was the ſpring of each, are all laid open-their injured characters now at laſt ful- ly cleared-and ſuch notice taken of their poor fer- vices as then aſtoniſhes themſelves—and each article (ſo rich the grace that fixes the rewards) enhances the fplendor of their crowns of Glory evermore. Lift up then your heads with joy, O Chriſtians ! Heretofore you have groaned for ſin; now fhall you exult in perfect love : you have longed for CHRIST; now he is come; no ſeparation, no withdrawing more ſhall you ever mourn: you have fuffered for him be- low; now ſhall you be glorified with him forever ; and you ſhall find that theſe light afflictions, which were but for a moment, have all along been working for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."*—For hear your fentence, nay, rather your invitation to eternal bliſs, ſweetly diftilling from his lips that bought it with his blood. “Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Come with me to yonder bright world—to be forever in my prefence- to dwell under my kindeſt ſmiles to eat and drink with me at my table-to lay your heads upon my breaft-your very fouls upon my boſom-to be as glorious as my power can make you—as happy as the blood of God could buy-Come, enter now your loving maſter's joy-and live and reign as Prieſts and Kings to me forever and ever.” -Hark the joyful ſounds ! All Heaven is ringing with their Allelujahs ! wonder, love, joy, extafy, all join their acclamations, * 2 Corinthians iv. 17. ( 53 ) Grace ! Grace! Sovereign Grace ! reſounds on every tongue. Angelic choirs now raiſe their higheſt notes; now try their ſkill on all their harps of gold. His words are works. No ſooner had he ſaid, than crowns of Glory, robes of heavenly ſplendor, palms of victory, did viſibly adorn them all; acquitted thus with honor, and accepted now as friends, they take their ſeats on the bench, in the quality of affeffors near the Judge's throne; "every man in his own or- der," the Apoſtles' feats, no doubt, exalted above others; then every faint according to the meaſure of grace improved, and ſervice done for God, by doing, or by ſuffering; but all the ſaints fhall judge the world :"* the meaneſt of them ſhall be raiſed to this honor :f they ſhall not only be preſent to ſee the wick- edneſs of men diſcovered, and give in evidence upon the trial, but ſhall approve their condemnation, and thout a glad Amen to every ſentence. Will this be pleaſant to the wicked to behold? How will they feel at ſeeing thoſe deſpiſed, perſecu- ted, worthleſs creatures in their eſteem, thus altered, and thus honored ? Our eyes ſhall anſwer this for us ; for ſee that multitude-how they gnaw their tongues for pain ! How they already gnalh their teeth with rage, and burſt their hearts with envy at the ſight! How earneſtly they wiſh to tear Christ's lambs to pieces ! But o ! The Judge turns to the left in righteous fury; and calls to all the howling crouds, now claſſed in bundless fitted for the flames, “Draw near." Alas! What trembling horrors, what dumb amazement, when, with vengeful frowns--and a voice more terrible than thouſand thunders, he in determined accent, repeats 1 Corinthians vi. 2, 3. † Pfalm cxlix, 9. Revelations xvi, 10. § Matthew xiii. 30. John xv. 6. ( 54 ) the challenge. Draw near ye ignorant « who know not God”-you are indicted, What is your de- fence? Draw near ye flothful and unprofitable, with all your miſſpent talents*-you are indicted as ene- mies to God, What is your defence ? Draw near all ye neglectors of religion, and its exerciſes you are in- dieted as ſelf-murderers, What is your defence ? Draw near all ye prayerleſs heads of families--you are in- dicted as murderers of your own children and ſervants, What is your defence ? Draw near all ye profane fwearers-blaſphemers of me and my word-you are indicted for a train of treaſons of the higheſt kind a- gainſt the LORD of Hofts, What is your defence ? Drew near all ye fabbath-breakers, ye abſentees from ordinances--you ſtand indicted as robbers of God, What is your defence ? Draw near ye ſcoffers at re- ligion, its truths, and powerful influence--you are in- dicted for crucifying CARIST, and pouring contempt upon the Holy Ghoſt, fay, What is your defence ? Draw near all ye perſecutors of my children-you are indicted for defying the God of all the earth to battle, prepare now your defence. Draw near all ye licenti- ous and intemperate, gluttons and drunkards-you ſtand indicted as deſtroyers of the work of God-as attempting to fink the human nature into that of brutes, and as murderers of your own ſouls and bodies both at once; What is your defence ?+ Draw near all ye adulterers, whoremongers, and lewd indulgers of your hearts in ſecret filthineſs-you are indicted as ha- ters of the purity, and ſacrilegious defilers of the liv- ing temples of the Moft High--What is your de- fence ? Draw near all ye envious and malicious, ye covetous and proud, ye thieves and extortioners, ye * Matthew-xxv. 30, + 1 Corinthians vi. 9, 10, 11. Gala- tians v. 19, 20, 21. Revelations xxi. 8. (35) liars, flanderers and back biters, yea, and all the claffes of empty meer formaliſts, who truſted in your civil conduct, and moral carriage ; with all the forts of painted hypocrites, loathſome to behold; come forth, and anſwer to the charge ; ye ſtand indicted as rebels againſt the imperial crown of Heaven, and enemies to him that wears it, fay, What is your defence ?” O dreadful words ! No more is needed for the finner's own conviction : methinks he would be glad to paſs off the ſtage Condemned, without a formal trial: but that every creature may ſee the grounds of each des gree of woe that any criminal there receives as his reſpective portion; the books are open ftill. Each in his turn is brought forth in fight of all, and mea- fured by the holy ftandard of the moral law, but eve- ry one is found a decalogue inverted; unlike the ſtand. ard--the very contrary in every part. Now all the thoughts that paſſed through their breaſts, each vain and idle word is charged home upon them, and not a miſfpent moment but enters into the account: fins of omiffion are little thought of now-but thefe are par- cicularly dwelt upon, as we are informed in the 25th of Matthew by the Judge himſelf: How keenly then ſhall fins of commiſſion, riſing freſh to view, now fting the minds by which they had been long forgot- ten; when the Book of God's remembrance, loudly read in the ears of all, ſhall publicly proclaim the deeds of darkneſs the finner thought unſeen, the ſecret plots, the hidden ſcenes of vice, the laſcivious or re- vengeful looks,* the wanton and the bitter words, with all the wicked fprings of every motion ; each inſtance bearing its dire doom in front as it appears to public view ! Condemned, Condemned, re-echoes from all the aftoniſhed hearers : poor ſouls ! But O! Where * Eccleſ. xii. 14. Matthew xii. 36. 1 Corinthians iv. 5. ( 56 ) is the ranſom? May we not hope they have reſorted to him for offered life? Perhaps fome clauſe in the Goſpel-book contains a ſure reprieve. It is ſearched throughout. But ah! it is ſilent ; quite filent on this head. We hear from every page what mercies have been flighted-what fabbaths-ſermons-counſels were abuſed-what eſcaped dangers—what wonderful deli- verances-what unſeen proviſions made were all def- piſed-what afflictions, croſſes, pains were kindly ſent, but fent away without their errand; yea what convic- tions ftified-what motions of the Spirit impiouſly re- fifted-and, in fhort, what opportunities they have improved only as freſh occaſions of diſcovering their deſpite againſt a crucified Saviour: but not a tittle of their taking hold of “the horns of the golden altar for a ſhelter." Will they plead not guilty to the charge? Wit- neffes infallible are here produced. The glorious perfections of Jehovah that had been manifefted in conſtant care of them through all their lives, ſhall now accuſe and teſtify againſt them; whilft his om- niſcience fets all their fins in terrible battallia before them ; minifters who painfully have brought them news of peace, and tendered faithfully a whole falva- tion, who prayed, and wept, and agonized in ſecret for them (O cutting thought !) muſt now ſtand forth and tell the diſmal tale of a thouſand efforts vain. Be- lieving neighbors ſhall then be witneſſes. And O a= larming news! the believing huſband fhall give fatal evidence againſt the unbelieving wife-the believing wife ſhall not ſpare the unbelieving huſband-parents fhall then accuſe their children-children their pa- rents.--Yea the ungodly ſhall readily witneſs to each others condemnation-the greateſt intimates in fin ſhall wink and cloke no more. What need for en- largement ? Their own conſciences ſhall be inſtead of (49) THITHER are this great aſſembly wafted up; and, O tranſporting thought ! now placed on his right hand, and, on them all, his propitious eye fheds joy and life wherever it turns : fure earneft of their com- ing reception Lib. But the contraſt ! Look down and fee miſer- able worlds approaching, for the trumpet continues ſtill ſounding, and the wicked ftill riſing, rifing with reluctant horror and amazement, 'till all are delivered up to Judgment: fee then, the howling millions come ; when hell opens again its mouth, and ſpews up its contents : they come, dragged by tormenting de- vils, and by them forced into their hated, dreaded car- caſes ; carcaſes more horrid and loathſome now than even in the grave. How bitter will the entrance in= to theſe be to the ſouls that left them, pained at the feparation ! How unwelcome their reception, and how dreadful, to the trembling corpſe! What dire re- vengeful looks-—what accuſations---curſes---fad ac- coſtings may we reaſonably imagine now paſs between them Devils unveiled ſhall meet them at the grave's mouth; no more to footh their conſciences by the blandiſhments of vice; no more to whiſper peace, and enſure the utmoſt ſecrecy; but, by cruel mock- ings, inſults, and tormentings, to manifeſt their will and power ; by theſe miniſters of darkneſs, the tribes of woe are dragged to meet that Judge, whom both alike do hate and dread. But, in aſſembling for that purpoſe, the reaſons before laid down, induce me here to add, that every one joins his old ſelect companions : and ere he is a- ware, he finds himſelf plunged into the croud of all his curſed relatives, friends, acquaintance, partners in impiety; for this is a day when none fhall be parted from this fort of fociety of which his heart has hither- (50) to made choice. Will this be an alleviation of the ſorrows of the day ? Ah No! Theſe ſeaſons are no more. All former fondneſs now turned to hatred, ſpight, malice, how unwillingly they come together! They hate to look each other in the face; what hora rid falutations yell through all this wretched mob! Curſing at firſt fight, fome their too negligent parents, others a huſband or a wife, affiftants in their guilt- ſome a darling child-others a dear companion, and every one his birth, his folly, himſelf; and eſpecially the day in which he got the firſt acquaintance with thoſe he finds around him. Theſe mutually ſtaring, and ſtared at, with gnaſhing teeth, and faces haggard as hell, they come, tearing themſelves and one ano- ther, to THE BARbut mingle no more with ſaints : they never loved their company as ſuch, and now they ſhall have done with that incumbrance forever : they ſtand off-ſtand like criminals indeed ſet aſide on the left hand by themſelves.* ALL now are met. The concluding trump, com- mands all worlds to univerſal ſilence; when O! The Books are all unſealed ! in preſence of the whole con- courſe, the mighty Voice that ſpoke them into being, ſpeaks again. His words are firſt addreſſed to his faints.-A ſtrict account of them is taken: all ſhall appear,” ſays the Apoſtle : the faint as well as the un- pardoned finner: all too “ ſhall give account": ſhall be tried by the ſame rule-tried by their works though this mode of trial enſures them condemnation by the law, yet it is the only way to prove them jufti- fied by the Goſpel; they are tried by works that they may appear juſtified by Grace; facts are called for ; and every thought, and word, and work, each in its place, is now produced to light. Their works are * Matthew xxv. 32, 33. † 2 Corinthians v. 10. Romans xiv. 12. ( 51 ) now divulged in evidence of their intereſt in CHRIST, and qualification for eternal Elifs. It has been thought by many found divines, that no mention will be made of the fins of faints at all: that being already pardon- cd, and, as it were, blotted out of God's remem- brance, they ſhall no more be brought into the ſaints' accompt; Satan not ſuffered to accuſe the brethren then; none ſhall preſume to lay any thing to the charge of God's elect:* but whether this be the cafe or not, it is certain, the naming of their fins will then be neither to their fear nor ſhame :-the Judge him- felf is advocate for them; « guilty of this, ſays he, and all is true, I found them but here, ye wondering worlds, fee here the ſcars that ſhew I bled; I bled for them; for theſe fame fins I yielded to be flain.” O wonderous mercy! The blood and righteouſneſs of CHRIST anſwers for every charge ; anſwers to his greater honor, and their greater joy, than if no men- tion had been made of fin : Their faith, and love, and repentance, and all its fruits, fince firſt the Spirit of God, had changed their hearts, and brought them to CHRIST's feet, are now examined, to make their title clear to abſolution by virtue of his death. And to diſcover the different degrees of glory they are ripen- ed for, their former meaſures of preparation muſt be enquired into: now all their graces, talents and im- provements.; all their works of juſtice to the oppreff- ed-mercy to the poor-Sympathy with the afflicted- all their labors of love, beneficence and charity to all mankind-even from giving all their goods to feed the poor, down to a ſingle mite caft into the Lord's treaſury.-one word ſpoken for God--the ſmalleſt hint dropped for the conviction or edification of a foul, or a cup of cold water imparted to a diſciple:") * Romans viii. 33 (52) all their prayers, tears, and fecret conflicts--all their afflictions, forrows, perfecutions, for Christ and his cauſe : all-all are now made public to the univerſe in full affenbly the warm zeal--diſintereſted bene- volence--divine love that was the ſpring of each, are all laid open-their injured characters now at laſt ful- ly cleared-and ſuch notice taken of their poor fer- vices as then aſtoniſhes themſelves and each article (fo rich the grace that fixes the rewards) enhances the fplendor of their crowns of Glory evermore. Lift up then your heads with joy, O Chriſtians ! Heretofore you have groaned for fin ; now fhall you exult in perfect love : you have longed for Christ; now he is come ; no ſeparation, no withdrawing more ſhall you ever mourn: you have fuffered for him be- low ; now fhall you be glorified with him forever; and you ſhall find that theſe light afflictions, which were but for a moment, have all along been working for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."* -For hear your fentence, nay, rather your invitation to eternal bliſs, fweetly diftilling from his lips that bought it with his blood. «Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Come with me to yonder bright world—to be forever in my preſence to dwell under my kindeſt ſmiles to eat and drink with me at niy table-to lay your heads upon my breaft-your very fouls upon my boſom-to be as glorious as ny power can make you-as happy as the blood of God could buy-Come, enter now your loving maſter's joy-and live and reign as Prieſts and Kings to me forever and ever." Hark the joyful founds ! All Heaven is ringing with their Allelujahs! wonder, love, joy, extafy, all join their acclamations. * 2 Corinthians iv. 17. ( 53 ) Grace ! Grace ! Sovereign Grace ! reſounds on every tongue. Angelic choirs now raiſe their higheſt notes; now try their ſkill on all their harps of gold. His words are works. No ſooner had he ſaid, than crowns of Glory, robes of heavenly ſplendor, palms of victory, did viſibly adorn them all; acquitted thus with honor, and accepted now as friends, they take their ſeats on the bench, in the quality of affeffors near the Judge's throne; "every man in his own or- der," the Apoſtles' feats, no doubt, exalted above others; then every faint according to the meaſure of grace improved, and ſervice done for God, by doing, or by fuffering; but all the faints ſhall judge the world :"* the meaneſt of them ſhall be raiſed to this honorst they ſhall not only be preſent to ſee the wick- edneſs of men diſcovered, and give in evidence upon the trial, but fhall approve their condemnation, and fhout a glad Amen to every ſentence. Will this be pleaſant to the wicked to behold? How will they feel at ſeeing thoſe deſpiſed, perſecu- ted, worthleſs creatures in their efteem, thus altered, and thus honored ? Our eyes ſhall anſwer this for ſee that multitude-how they gnaw their tongues for pain ! How they already gnaſh their teeth with rage, and burft their hearts with envy at the fight! How earneſtly they wiſh to tear CHRIST's lambs to pieces ! But ! The Judge turns to the left in righteous fury; and calls to all the howling crouds, now claffed in bundless fitted for the flames, « Draw near." Alas! What trembling horrors, what dumb amazement, when, with vengeful frowns--and a voice more terrible than thouſand thunders, he in determined accent, repeats us; * 1 Corinthians vi. 2, 3. 4. Pfalm cxlix. 9. Revelations xvi. 10. Matthew xiii. 30. John xv. 6. ( 54 ) the challenge. Draw near ye ignorant « know not God'--you are indicted, What is your de- fence ? Draw near ye flothful and unprofitable, with all your miffpent talents * --you are indicted as ene- mies to God, What is your defence ? Draw near all ye neglectors of religion, and its exerciſes--you are in- dicted as felf-murderers, What is your defence? Draw near all ye prayerleſs heads of families—you are in- dicted as murderers of your own children and ſervants, What is your defence ? Draw near all ye profane fwearers-blafphemers of me and my word-you are indicted for a train of treaſons of the higheſt kind a- gainſt the LORD of Hofts, What is your defence ? Drew near all ye fabbath-breakers, ye abſentees from ordinances-you ſtand indicted as robbers of God, What is your defence ? Draw near ye fcoffers at re- ligion, its truths, and powerful influence--you are in- dicted for crucifying CHRIST, and pouring contempt upon the Holy Ghoſt, ſay, What is your defence ? Draw near all ye perſecutors of my children--you are indicted for defying the God of all the earth to battle, prepare now your defence, Draw near all ye licenti- ous and intemperate, gluttons and drunkards-you ſtand indicted as deſtroyers of the work of God-as attempting to fink the human nature into that of brutes, and as murderers of your own fouls and bodies both at once; What is your defence ?t Draw near all ye adulterers, whoremongers, and lewd indulgers of your hearts in ſecret filthineſs--you are indicted as ha- ters of the purity, and facrilegious defilers of the liv- ing temples of the Moſt High--What is your de- fence ? Draw near all ye envious and malicious, ye coverous and proud, ye thieves and extortioners, ye * Matthew xxv. 30, + 1 Corinthians vi. 9, 10, 11, Gala fans v. 19, 20, 21. Revelations xxi. 8. ( 55 ) liars, flanderers and back biters, yea, and all the claſies of empty meer formalifts, who truſted in your civil conduct, and moral carriage; with all the forts of painted hypocrites, loathſome to behold; come forth, and anfwer to the charge ; ye ſtand indicted as rebels againſt the imperial crown of Heaven, and enemies to him that wears it, ſay, What is your defence ?" O dreadful words! No more is needed for the finner's own conviction : methinks he would be glad to paſs off the ſtage Condemned, without a formal trial : but that every creature may ſee the grounds of each de- gree of woe that any criminal there receives as his reſpective portion ; the books are open ftill. Each in his turn is brought forth in ſight of all, and mea- fured by the holy ſtandard of the moral law, but eve- ry one is found a decalogue inverted; unlike the ſtand- ard--the very contrary in every part. Now all the thoughts that paſſed through their breaſts, each vain and idle word is charged home upon them, and not a miſſpent moment but enters into the account: fins of omiffion are little thought of now-but theſe are par- ticularly dwelt upon, as we are informed in the 25th of Matthew by the Judge himſelf: How keenly then ſhall fins of commiſſion, riſing freſh to view, now fting the minds by which they had been long forgot- ten; when the Book of God's remembrance, loudly read in the ears of all, ſhall publicly proclaim the deeds of darkneſs the finner thought unſeen, the ſecret plots, the hidden ſcenes of vice, the laſcivious or re- vengeful looks,* the wanton and the bitter words, t with all the wicked ſprings of every motion ; each inſtance bearing its dire doom in front as it appears to public view! Condemned, Condemned, re-echoes from all the aſtoniſhed hearers : poor ſouls ! But O! Where * Eccleff. xii. 14. + Matthew xii. 36. I Corinthians iv. s. ( 56 ) is the ranſom? May we not hope they have reſorted to him for offered life? Perhaps ſome clauſe in the Goſpel-book contains a fure reprieve. It is ſearched throughout. But ah! it is filent ; quite filent on this head. We hear from every page what mercies have been ſlighted—what fabbaths-ſermons-counſels were abuſed-what eſcaped dangers---what wonderful deli- verances-what unſeen proviſions made were all def- pifed-what afflictions, croſſes, pains were kindly ſent, but fent away without their errand; yea what convic- tions ftifled—what motions of the Spirit impiouſly re- fifted-and, in ſhort, what opportunities they have improved only as freſh occaſions of diſcovering their deſpite againſt a crucified Saviour: but not a tittle of their taking hold of the horns of the golden altar for a ſhelter." WILL they plead not guilty to the charge? Wit- neſſes infallible are here produced. The glorious perfections of JEHOVAH that had been manifeſted in conſtant care of them through all their lives, fhall now accuſe and teſtify againſt them; whilſt his om- niſcience fets all their fins in terrible battallia before them ; miniſters who painfully have brought them news of peace, and tendered faithfully a whole falva- tion, who prayed, and wept, and agonized in ſecret for them (O cutting thought !) muſt now ſtand forth and tell the diſmal tale of a thouſand efforts vain. Be- lieving neighbors ſhall then be witneffes. And O a- larming news! the believing huſband ſhall give fatal evidence againſt the unbelieving wife--the believing wife ſhall not ſpare the unbelieving huſband-parents fhall then accuſe their children-children their pa- rents.--Yea the ungodly ſhall readily witneſs to each others condemnation-the greateſt intimates in fin ſhall wink and cloke no more. What need for en- largement ? Their own conſciences ſhall be inſtead of ( 55 ) and greater than the greateſt of all other finners, who yet hopes in Jesus, to befeech you, as on his bended knees, to rouze and fee from the wrath to come. O Dear Souls! Why will ye die ? Here I proclaim a free welcome to all the favors Christ can do for you. He is able he is quite ſuitable to your need—he is how willing->freely willing to ſave you-yes, while I thưs coldly ſpeak, the bleffed Jesus ftands knocking at your hearts for entrance, * and can you find in your hearts to ſhut out this dear ftranger ? O! confider your condition-mourn over your many fins-fall down immediately before the throne of grace, confeſs your finfulneſs-ſpread your miſerable condition be- fore himbeg-cry--plead, with every breath you araw, for a new heart, and an affured intereſt in CHRIST-let nothing divert you-turn not your thoughts from this one object-take care of refting ſhort of CHRIST--never reft, 'till you have found him fpeaking peace from Heavent-bringing you from the horrid pit-ſetting your feet upon the rock, and putting a new ſong in your mouths: then ihall this great day be looked for with joy--and come for your glory. But on the other hand, if the queries above can be anſwered in the affirmative (as I truſt they can by many of your conſciences) then muſt I change my ftrain to you. The Judgment is the moſt comfortable fubject of meditation I can offer to you. You are the Judge's friends, and he is yours. He that hath Wrought you for this felf-fame thing is God.I Liit up then theſe drooping hearts-let all your fears give way to joy and praiſe. Let others faint and tremble at this proſpect ; but ſaints can find no object here of I * Revelations iii. 20. + Pfalm xL 2, 3. #2 Corinthians v. 5, ( 66 ) terror. Are you in the midſt of perſecuting foes ? A mighty friend is coming for your reſcue. Do pover- ty and pinching want afflict you? He comes to change your rags for robes your perury to a perpetual feaft-and all your cares to crowns of glory. Have fickly bodies been your clog, and racking pains dif- treſſed you? He comes to change theſe vile bodies into a likeneſs of his own :" the day is at hand when your heads ſhall ache no more-your ſpirits ſhall not fail, nor your weakened Aeſh drag heavily in the fer- vice of your God. Do ſin and hell block up your way? Do ſtrong corruption's blows oft make you ſtagger? This is the time appointed to make an end of fin: He comes to “tread Satan under your feet ;" he will make you come near, and ſet your feet upon the necks of your enemies," and rejoice; fight on then, ye chriſtian warriors, a few ſtrokes more, and victory ſhall declare for you, and end the ſtrife for- Does a hard rebellious heart now weigh you down, and make you weep in fecret ? This day will greatly change the ſcene, no ſins, no burdens ſhall be left, no fighs, no forrows then ; but for every ſigh a palm--for every tear a bleſſing. Is diſtance from your beloved Jesus your complaint ? Does the hid- ing of his face give an emphaſis to all your forrows? Behold the day-the glorious day appears-when you ſhall take a final leave of darkneſs-his face ſhall ne- ver more be out of ſight-no glaſs ſhall interpoſe be- tween this object and your bleffed eyes nor any room be left for the leaſt fufpicion of a frown :-you ſhall no more complain of diſtance ; but get as near your LORD as you can wiſh-ſhall lay your weary heads upon his loving breaſt—and in ſweeteſt raptures feel his own ſoft hand wipe every tear away. And do you look upon this day with dread ? My brethren (were I not unworthy to call you by that name) it is the ever. 2 ( 67 ) day of your redemption from all your woes. Say 1100, ah! how terrible the ſcene ! It is your LORD that comes : it is that ſame Jesus who gave his very ſoul to prove his love to you: methinks I hear him kind- ly check the riſing fears, with a « Why are you troub- led? Why do gloomy thoughts ariſe in your hearts ? IT IS I MYSELF, I who have bought you with my blood; have fued and won your hearts, and married your ſouls to myſelf -I who have held up your ſink- ing heads a thouſand times : have fupported you in every trial--and on ten thouſand occaſions, by tokens of my love, have kiſſed your. griefs away; it is 1, come, handle and behold ; an enemy comes not with ſcars--and hands and ſmiles like theſe." O Chriſtians ! lift up your heads with joy; he that comes to judge you is your advocate too : What have ye to fear from all the dreadful circumſtances of this criſis? It is but your elder Brother coming to plead his kindred's cauſe, and fight their battles : Are the thunders of that hour affrightening to you ? Huſh all the rumors of your minds: it is your Father haften- ing with all the Father in his heart, to feek his abfent children out, and ſee what enemy. ſhall dare to keep them longer from his eager boſom. Do the dread- ful tribunal , the proceſs, and the dooms appal you? It is your huſband, dreſſed in royal robes, come on a ſecond journey, to take his bride forever to his arms; trial is deſigned but to wipe off your ſpots; himlelf has undertaken--and muſt anſwer to every charge a- gainſt you, and you ſhall keep the field 'till all your enemies, fin, hell and death are driven from your ſight, to everlaſting woe : OTHEN dart up to Heaven, each day you live, the eye of confidence and hope—fend to the courts above many a wiſhful glance—to ſpeak the longings of your fouls «Why tarry the wheels of that princely cha- ( 68 ) riet? O why is his chariot ſo long a coming? When fhail that glorious morning dawn, that will take me to the ſkies, where I ſhall ſin and wound my bleſſed LORD no more? When ſhall I ſee theſe interpoſing Heavens drawn afide, that I may feaſt my eyes on my beloved ? Q when ſhall the trumpet break its te- dious filence, that I may fly and meet him in the air? When ſhall the angelic convoy arrive to waft me where I may ſee him as he is? Haſt thou not ſaid “ Yet a little while and ye ſhall fee me?” And can it, dear Immanuel, be a little while if thou be abſent? My foul faints ; my heart pants, my feſh itſelf cries out, O Lord, how long ! Haft thou not faid ſurely I come quickly?” My ſoul re-echoes a joyful Amen. Even ſo come LORD JESUS." AND is this your language? Then be of good cheer, the LORD is not ſlack concerning his promiſe : ere long your higheſt expeclations will be ſatisfied. Improve the few remaining moments to meditate on your portion : think of the love that has prepared it for you at ſuch expenſe : lay out your hearts to no 0- ther uſe but to love him ; few that love by humble holy-watchful obedience: give more and more dili- gence to enfure your peace with Heaven, to maintain peace in your own breaſts-and cultivate peace with all men: live looſe from this world let no affection on any thing here-be ever “ laying up your treaſures all in Heaven;" keep cloſe to ordinances; borrow a coal from the LORD's altar to keep your incenſe ever burning-cultivate the friendſhip and ſociety of faints; the eſteem of others is not worth the keeping : be zealous for God; ſtand up boldly for his cauſe-bę not ashamed to own him in the world at all hazards : and if you be honored to ſuffer for him, take it раз tiently; thank your maſter for that favor--and bleſs them that curfe you:” feek nearer communion with ( 69 ) your LORD: labor for growth in every grace, and thus go on, go on, dear Sirs, with ten thouſand bleff- ings on your heads, unto the end and then, when you ſhall fee kings and fubjects-great and ſmall finners of every fize cry for a rock to cruſh them--a kind mountain to cover them from that face before which the pillars of Heaven tremble, ye ſhall fly off and meet him with a ſong: “This is our God; we have wailed for him ; and now he comes to ſave us ! this is the LORD; we have wailed for him; and now we will be glad, and rejoice in his ſalvation :" In the midſt of the amazing ſcene-when ye behold Hea- vens melting-earth quaking-funs dropping-ſtars dying-nacure fainting-graves opening-hell yawn- ing--finners howling--devils yelling--the trumpet ſounding—and the great cauſe of all approaching, ye ſhall "ſtand ſtill and ſee the ſalvation of your God"- calm-unmoved—and with ſmiles of joy you will be- gin the ſong, “ Worthy is the Lamb that was flain to receive power, and riches, and wiſdom, and ſtrength, and honor, and glory, and bleſſing-for he hath loved us and waihed us from our fins in his own blood--and made us Kings and Prieſts unto our GOD' -thus, finging you ſhall riſe—and as you rife ſhall ſing louder and louder ſtill-till your notes are heard by all the happy choir, who with encreaſed pleaſure join in your Allelujahs, and ſweetly feal your praiſes with their loud AMEN. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 3 9015 08837 3967 1:30 lo Er