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the human nature, he may be visibly seen of all. It is requisite the judge should be seen, Rev. i. 7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him."

How can a guilty prisoner endure the sight of the judge? If Felix trembled when Paul preached of judgment, Acts xxiv. 25, how will sinners tremble when they shall see Christ come to judgment? Christ is described (sitting in judgment) with a fiery stream issuing from him, Dan. vii. 10. Now the Lamb of God will be turned into a lion; the sight of

2. As he partakes of the Godhead: he is of infinite prudence to understand all causes brought before him, and of infinite power to execute offenders. He is described with seven eyes, Zech. iii. 9, to denote his pru-Christ will strike terror into sinners. As dence; and a rod of iron, Ps. ii., to denote his power. He is so wise that he cannot be deluded; and so strong that he cannot be resisted.

when Joseph said to his brethren, "I am Joseph whom ye sold into Egypt, they were troubled at his presence," Gen. xlv. 4: now, how did their hearts smite them for their sin?

QUEST. 4. When will the court sit, when so, when Christ shall come to judgment, and will the time of judgment be?

ANS. For the quando, or the time of the general judgment, it is a secret kept from the angels, Matt. xxiv. 36, "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven." But this is sure, it cannot be far off; one great sign of the approach of the day of judgment, is, "That iniquity shall abound,' Matt. xxiv, sure then this day is near at hand, for iniquity did never more abound than in this age, and lust grows hot, and love grows cold. This is certain, when the elect are all converted, then Christ will come to judgment; as he that rows a ferryboat, stays till all the passengers are taken into his boat, and then he rows away, so Christ stays till all the elect are gathered in, and then he will hasten away to judgment. QUEST. 5. What shall be the modus or manner of trial?

ANS. 1. The citing of men to the court. The dead are cited as well as the living. Men, when they die, avoid the censure of our law-courts; but at the last day, the dead are cited to God's tribunal, Rev. xx. 12, "I saw the dead small and great stand before God." This citing of men will be by the sound of a trumpet, 1 Thess. iv. 16, and this trumpet will sound so loud, that it will raise men out of their graves, Matt. xxiv. 31. Such as will not hear the trumpet of the gospel sound in their ears repent and believe, shall hear the trumpet of the archangel sounding, arise and be judged.

A. 2. The approach of the judge to the

bench.

First, This will be terrible to the wicked.

say, "I am Jesus whom ye sinned against,I am Jesus whose laws ye have broken, whose blood ye despised,-I am now come to judge you," O what horror and amazement will take hold of sinners! They will be troubled at the presence of their judge.

Secondly, The approach of Christ to the bench of judicature will be comfortable to the righteous. 1. Christ will come in splendour and great glory. His first coming in the flesh was obscure, Isa. liii. 2. He was like a prince in disguise; but his second coming will be illustrious, "he shall come in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels," Matt. xvi. 27. O what a bright day will that be, when such a number of angels, those morning-stars, shall appear in the air, and Christ the Sun of Righteousness shall shine in splendour above the brightest cherub! 2. Christ will come as a friend. Indeed, if the saints' judge were their enemy, they might fear condemning; but he who loves them, and prayed for them, is their judge; he who is their husband is their judge, therefore they need not fear but all things shall go well on their side.

Thirdly, The trial itself, which hath a dark and a light side. 1. A dark side. It will fall heavy on the wicked: the judge being set, the books are opened, Rev. xx. 12,—the book of conscience,—and the book of God's remembrance. And now the sinner's charge being read, and all their sins laid open, their murder, drunkenness, uncleanness, Christ will say, "Sinners, what can you plead for yourselves that the sentence of death should not pass?" The wicked being convicted will be speechless.

Then follows that dismal sentence, Matt. xxv. 41, Ite maledicti,-" Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!" He that said to God, "depart from me;" Job xxi. 14, and to religion, "depart from me;" must now hear that word pronounced from his judge, "depart from me;"-a dreadful sentence, but righteous! Ps. li. 4. The sinner himself shall cry, Guilty! Though the wicked have a sea of wrath, yet not one drop of injustice. And when once the sentence is past, it is irreversible, there is no appealing to a higher court. 2. The trial hath a light side: it will be for increasing the joy and happiness of the righteous. The day of judgment will be a day of jubilee to them.

1st. At that day Christ their judge will own them by name. Those whom the world scorned, and looked upon as precisians and fools, Christ will take by the hand, and openly acknowledge them to be his favourites. What is Christ's confessing of men, Luke xii. 8, but his openly acknowledging them to be precious in his eyes?

2d. Christ as judge will plead for them. It is not usual to be both judge and advocate, to sit on the bench and plead: but it shall be so at the day of judgment.

1. Christ will plead his own blood for the saints. "These persons I have paid a price for, they are the travail of my soul; they have sinned, but my soul was made an offering for their sin."

forth as the wings of a dove covered with silver.

3. Christ as judge will absolve them before men and angels; as Pilate said of Christ, “I find no fault in this man," Luke xxiii. 4, so will Christ say of the elect, “I find no fault in them, I pronounce them righteous." Then follows, "come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom," Matt. xxv. 34. As if Christ should say, "O ye happy ones, the delight of my soul, the fruit of my sufferings, stand no longer at the bar! Ye are heirsapparent of the crown of heaven, enter and take possession." At the hearing of this sentence, with what ravishing joy will the saints be filled? This word, “Come, ye blessed," will be music to their ear, and a cordial to their heart.

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4. Christ will mention before men and angels all the good deeds the saints have done, Matt. xxv. 35, "I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink." You that have wept in secret for sin,-that have shown any love for Christ's name, that have been rich in good works,-Christ will take notice of it at the last day, and say, "well done, good and faithful servants." He himself will be the herald to proclaim your praises; thus it shall be done to the man whom Christ delights to honour.

5. Christ will call his saints from the bar, to sit upon the bench with him to judge the world, Jude 14, "Behold the Lord cometh 2. Christ will vindicate them from all un- with ten thousand of his saints, to execute just censures. Here they were strangely judgment upon all;" 1 Cor. vi. 2, "Do ye misrepresented to the world, as proud, hypo- not know that the saints shall judge the critical, factious; Paul was called a seditious world?" The saints shall sit with Christ in man, the head of a faction, Acts xxiv. 5; but judicature, as justices of peace with the judge, at the day of judgment Christ will clear the-they shall applaud Christ's righteous sensaints' innocency, then he will "bring forth tence on the wicked, and, as it were, vote their righteousness as the light," Ps. xxxvii. with Christ. This, as it is a great honour to 6. As he will wipe off tears from their eyes, the saints, so it must needs add to the sorrows so dust from their name. Moses, when he of the wicked, to see those whom they once was charged with ambition that he took too hated and derided, sit as judges upon them. much upon him, comforted himself with this, 6. The saints shall be fully crowned with "To-morrow will the Lord show who are the enjoyment of God for ever. They shall his," Numb. xvi. 5. So may the saints, be in his sweet presence," in whose presence when reproached, comfort themselves with is fulness of joy," Ps. xvi. 11; and this shall the day of judgment; then will Christ say be for ever. The banner of God's love shall who are his; then shall the saints come be eternally displayed; the joys of heaven

are without intermission and expiration, 1 Thess. iv. 17, "And so shall we be ever with the Lord."

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judged, and then perhaps he may be acquitted, and thou condemned.

Branch 2d. So demean and carry yourselves, that, at the day of judgment, you may be sure to be acquitted, and have those glorious privileges the saints shall be crowned with.

QUEST. How is that?

tation of Christ's coming to judge us, would keep us from judging our brethren. We are apt to judge others as to their final state; Use. As it is sad news to the wicked.which is for men to step into Christ's place, They shall not stand in judgment," Ps. i. and take his work out of his hand, James iv. 5. They shall come to judgment, but they 12, "Who art thou that judgest another?" shall not stand in judgment, viz. they shall | Thou that passest a rash sentence upon annot stand acquitted,-they shall not stand other, thou must come thyself shortly to be with boldness, but sneak and hang down their head, and not be able to look their judge in the face so it is great consolation to the godly. When the apostle had said, "The Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and the trump of God;" he presently adds, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words," 1 Thess. iv. 16, 18.-1. The day of judgment ANS. 1. If you would stand acquitted at the is comfort, in respect of weakness of grace. day of judgment, then, 1st, Labour to get into A Christian is ready to be troubled, to see Christ. Phil. iii. 9, "That I may be found his grace so minute and imperfect; but, at in him." Faith implants us into Christ,-it the last day, if Christ find but a drachm of engarrisons us in him, and then “ there's no true grace, it shall be accepted. If thine be condemnation," Rom. viii. 1. There's no true gold, though it be many grains too light, standing before Christ, but by being in Christ. Christ will put his merits into the scales, and 2dly, Labour for humility. It is a kind of make it pass current.-2. It is a comfort to self-annihilation, 2 Cor. xii. 11, “Though I such of the saints who have met with un- be nothing." Christian, hast thou parts and righteous judgment in the world,-who have abilities, and dost thou cover them with the been wronged of their estates in law-suits, or veil of humility? as Moses, when his face had their lives taken away by an unrighteous shone, put a veil over it. If thou art humble, sentence,-Christ will judge things over thou shalt be acquitted at the day of judgment, again, and will give a righteous sentence. If Job xxii. 29, "He shall save the humble your estates have been taken away wrong-person." An humble man judgeth himself for fully, you shall be restored a thousand-fold his sins, and Christ will acquit them who at the day of judgment. If you have lost judge themselves. your lives for Christ, yet you shall not lose your crown; you shall wear a garland made of the flowers of paradise, which fade not away.

Branch 1st. Meditate much upon the day of judgment. Feathers swim upon the water, but gold sinks into it; light feathery Christians float in vanity, they mind not the day of judgment, but serious spirits sink deep into the thoughts of it.-1. The meditation of this last day would make us very sincere. We would then labour to approve our hearts to God the great judge and umpire of the world. It is easy to carry it fair before men, but there is no dissembling or prevaricating with God; he sees what the heart is, and will accordingly pass his verdict.-2. The medi

A. 2. If you would stand acquitted at the last day, then keep a clear conscience. Do not load yourselves with guilt, and furnish your judge with matter against you. "The Lord," saith Paul, "hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world," Acts xvii. 31. And how would Paul fit himself for that day? Acts xxiv. 16, "Herein I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence, towards God and towards man." Be careful of the first and second table; be holy and just. Have hearts without false aims, and hands without false weights. Keep conscience as clear as your eye, that no dust of sin fall into it. They that sin against conscience, will be shy of their judge: such as take in prohibited goods, cannot endure to see the searchers that are

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and made them five talents more, "his lord said unto him, well done good and faithful servant," Matt. xxv. 21.

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appointed to open their packs. Christian,
thy pack will be opened at the last day,-I
mean, thy conscience; and Christ is the
searcher, to see what sins, what prohibited A. 4. If you would stand acquitted at the
goods thou hast taken in; and then he pro- day of judgment, get an entire love to the
ceeds to judgment. O be sure to keep a good saints, 1 John iii. 14, We know we are
conscience; this is the best way to stand with passed from death to life," &c. Love is the
boldness at the day of judgment! The voice truest touch-stone of sincerity. To love
of conscience is the voice of God; if con- grace for grace, shows the Spirit of God
science doth upon just grounds acquit us, to be in a man. Doth conscience witness
God will acquit us, 1 John iii. 21, "If our for you? Are you perfumed with this sweet
heart condemn us not, then have we confi-spice of love? Do you delight most in those
dence toward God."
in whom the image of God shines? Do you
A. 3. If you would stand acquitted at the reverence their graces? Do you bear with
last day, then trade your talents for God's their infirmities? A blessed evidence that
glory; lay out yourselves for God, honour you shall be acquitted in the day of judg
him with your substance; relieve Christ's ment. "We know that we have passed
members; this is the way to be acquitted. from death to life, because we love the bre-
He that had five talents traded with them,' thren."

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OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S REVEALED WILL.

DEUT. xxvii. 9, 10. Take heed and hearken, O Israel, this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God; thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.

QUEST. XXXIX. What is the duty that | meaning is, God looked chiefly at obedience, God requireth of man?

ANS. Obedience to his revealed will.

without which, sacrifice was but devout folly. The end why God hath given us his laws, is obedience, Lev. xviii. 4, "Ye shall do my judgments, and keep my ordinances." Why doth a king publish an edict, but that it may be observed?

QUEST. 1. What is the rule of obedience? ANS. The written word; that is proper obedience which the word requires; our obe

It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of that honour we owe to God, Mal. i. 6, "If I be a Father, where is my honour?" Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. "Obey the voice of the Lord God, and do his commandments." Obedience without knowledge is blind, and knowledge without obedience must correspond with the word, as the dience is lame. Rachel was fair to look upon, but, being barren, said, “Give me children, or I die:" so, if knowledge doth not bring forth the child of obedience, it will die, 1 Sam. xv. 22, "To obey is better than sacrifice." Saul thought it was enough for him to offer sacrifices, though he disobeyed God's command: no, "to obey is better than sacrifice." God disclaims sacrifice, if obedience be wanting, Jer. vii. 22, "I spake not to your fathers concerning burnt-offerings, but this thing commanded I them, saying, obey my voice." Not but that God did enjoin those religious rites of worship; but the

copy with the original. To seem to be zeal-
ous, if it be not according to the word, is not
obedience, but will-worship. Popish traditions,
which have no footing in the word, are abo-
minable; and God will say, Quis quæsivit
hæc?
"Who hath required this at your
hand?" Isa. i. 12. The apostle condemns
the worshipping of angels, which had a show
of humility, Col. ii. 18. The Jews might say
they were loath to be so bold as to go to God
in their own persons, they would be more
humble, and prostrate themselves before the
angels, and desire them to present their pe-
titions to God: this show of humility was

hateful to God, because there was no word to must reach to all God's commands, Ps. cxix. warrant it.

QUEST. 2. What are the right ingredients in our obedience to make it acceptable? How must it be qualified?

6, "Then shall I not be ashamed, (or, as it is in the Hebrew, lo ehosh blush) when I have respect to all thy commandments." Quicquid propter Deum fit æqualiter fit. There is a stamp of divine authority upon all God's com

ANS. 1. Obedience must be cum animi prolubio,-free and cheerful, else it is pen-mands; and, if I obey one precept because ance, not sacrifice, Isa. i. 19, "If ye be will- God commands, I must obey all. True obeing and obedient." Though we serve God dience runs through all duties of religion, as with weakness, let it be with willingness. the blood through all the veins, or the sun You love to see your servants go cheerfully through all the signs of the zodiac. A good about your work. Under the law, God would Christian makes gospel-piety and moral have "a free-will offering," Deut. xvi. 10. equity kiss each other. Herein some discoHypocrites obey God grudgingly, and against ver their hypocrisy, they will obey God in their will; they do facere bonum, but not some things which are more facile, and may velle. Cain brought his sacrifice, but not his raise their repute, but other things they leave heart. "Tis a true rule, Quicquid cor non undone, Mark x. 21, "One thing thou lackfacit, non fit,' what the heart doth not do, est,"-unum deest. Herod would hear John is not done.' Willingness is the soul of obe- Baptist, but not leave his incest; some will dience; God sometimes accepts of willing-pray, but not give alms; others will give ness without the work, but never of the work without willingness. Cheerfulness shows that there is love in the duty; and love doth to our services, as the sun doth to the fruit, mellow and ripen them, and make them come off with a better relish.

some part of the work he sets them about, and leave the other undone.

alms, but not pray, Matt. xxiii. 23, “Ye pay tithe of mint and annise, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith. The badger hath one foot shorter than the other so these are shorter in some duties than in others. God A. 2. Obedience must be devout and fer-likes not such partial servants, that will do vent, Rom. xii. 11, "Fervent in spirit," &c. Quæ ebullit præ ardore—it alludes to water that boils over-so the heart must boil over A. 4. Obedience must be sincere, viz. with hot affections in the service of God. We must aim at the glory of God in it. The glorious angels-who, for their burning Finis specificat actionem,-in religion the in fervour and devotion, are called Sera- end is all. The end of our obedience must phims-these God chooseth to serve him in not to be to stop the mouth of conscience, or heaven. The snail under the law was un- to gain applause or preferment, but that we clean, because a dull slothful creature: obe- may grow more like God, and bring more dience without fervency is like a sacrifice glory to God, 1 Cor. x. 31, "Do all to the without fire. Why should not our obedience glory of God." That which hath spoiled be lively and fervent? God deserves the many glorious actions, and made them lose flower and strength of our affections. Domi- their reward, is, when men's aims have been tian would not have his statue carved in wood wrong; the Pharisees gave alms, but blew or iron, but in gold: lively affections make a trumpet that they might have glory of golden services. It is fervency makes obe-men, Matt. vi. 2, alms should shine, but not dience acceptable. Elijah was fervent in blaze. Jehu did well in destroying the spirit, and his prayer opened and shut hea- Baal-worshippers, and God commended him ven; and again he prayed, and fire fell on his for it; but, because his aims were not good, enemies, 2 Kings i. 10. Elijah's prayer (he aimed at settling himself in the kingdom,) fetched fire from heaven, because, being fer- therefore God looked upon it as no better vent, it carried fire up to heaven: quicquid than murder, Hos. i. 4, "I will avenge decorum ex fide proficitur, Aug. the blood of Jezreel upon the house of A. 3. Obedience must be extensive,-it Jehu." O let us look to our ends in

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