CHAPTER VI.

OF THE LAST JUDGMENT; BY WAY OF APPENDIX TO THE FOREGOING CHAPTERS.

THE resurrection and judgment are so intimately connected, that a full discussion of the first is not to be expected without including many things pertaining to the last. Accordingly, in the preceding discourse, to interfere with the judgment was unavoidable. But it being inconsistent with the purpose of that discourse, to say as much on some parts of Scripture which naturally come into view, in discussing those subjects, as would give satisfaction without digressing too far from the leading proposals, I have concluded to add a few pages by way of appendix descanting on the resurrection or judgment as either may interfere, but intending to touch mostly on the latter. And no Scripture appears better adapted to introduce the subject than that on which so much has been already written. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Cor. xv. 52.)

In this text are to be noticed: First, the transaction to take place; The trumpet shall sound-the last trumpet. Secondly, The effects to follow; The dead to be raised incorruptible; or the sleeping awaked; and the living to be changed. Thirdly, The time and space in which these matters are to be effected; In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. And,

First. Of the transaction to take place—the sounding of the last trumpet.

This is the only place in Scripture, where the phrase, last trumpet, is used in relation to this scene. And I know no reason beyond conjecture, or the combination of human conceptions transferred from one to another, to fix any impressions on the minds of professed Christians, why this last trumpet should be any other than the seventh, spoken of in the Apocalypse. It is evident from the manner in which the sacred penmen have written, that they did not judge it necessary, to describe minutely every circumstance attending that scene, on every occasion when they spake of it, neither always to describe it in the same words: or, in other words; It did not appear necessary, to the Spirit of God, to show them all things minutely and at all times.

In the text now before us there is no mention of whose trumpet it is, or by whom sounded. But other Scriptures descriptive of the same scene afford information on that particular. In the epistle to the Thessalonians it is announced by these terms; "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, [xελsúoμari; expressing the exhortation or command given by sailors,] with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God." In the description of the same scene by Jesus himself, (Matt. xxiv. 31,) it is said; "And he shall send his angels with the sound of a great trum

pel." Thus by a comparison of those Scriptures which speak of Christ's coming attended by the sound of a trumpet, it appears that the trump of God, or of Christ, is that which the angels sound. And that these angels are messengers of God to the people, and that the message which they bring is the Gospel of Christ for the salvation of all whosoever will hear and obey it, (for that is no Gospel which does not contain the privilege and power of salvation,) will appear by comparing the above with another Scripture descriptive of the same tremendous scene-the commencement of the last judgment. (Rev. xiv. 6, 7.) "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying, with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.' In this description the vision is one angel. Thus an angel with a message, angels with the sound of a great trumpet, the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, as well as the Lord with a shout, are all introduced to communicate the same information. On which we may unhesitatingly observe, that no man can produce the smallest authority, that any one of them, or any other prophecy of that day, is a literal description of the appearances and transactions to which they relate. But as they are all apt figures to represent the publication of the Gospel, as before hinted, and whereas the scene of the last quotation was last shown, in late days, consequently nearest the time of the accomplishment, and to one to whom future events were shown in a singular manner, and as this testimony is expressly, that this loud voice, shout, or trumpet, whichever it be called, is the everlasting Gospel, (and can we expect the tidings of the last day to be any thing less favourable than God has said?) may we not with confidence and safety conclude, from these premises and in perfect consistency with an acquaintance with the work in the present day, that all these symbolical representations uniformly point to the Spirit of Christ in his Church, and going forth to the people on the earth, in his angels or ministers? And as in the first dispensation of Christ the judgment went with the Gospel, as before shown, it is not unreasonable that the last judgment of the world-the final casting out of the prince of this world, should usher in with the everlasting Gospel. At least, such is the statement of the Scriptures; and I must be allowed to believe them until I find more competent authority. And in addition to the truth of God, that judge of all the earth, who will do all things right, and who invites mankind to reason with him on fair and equitable principles, I can appeal to the common sense of every man; to the unbiassed feelings of every heart; to the receptacle of light and evidence, and the comparer of evidences in every man, whether it be not more equitable than any thing which can be proposed to the contrary, to give every one a fair trial by ushering in the Gospel as a concomitant of the judgment, allowing to every one the privilege of confessing all his sins, laying down his rebellion, and bearing his cross in obedience and self-denial; and whether any thing could be imagined more unequal, than to arraign a man and condemn him finally and irrecoverably, for having not done his duty, in a situation

in which he could neither know nor have any power to do it, or for doing that which he had no power to avoid, or knowledge of its being evil; and his inability all this time invincible in his situation. And it is abundantly evident, that by far the majority, thousands and millions of those who are and who have been, knew not the will of God, and had no possible way to know it, and therefore could not possibly do it and at the same time, none can enter into the kingdom of heaven except those who do the will of God. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; "But he but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven." who knew not (his Lord's will), and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes;" yet he is beaten, and therefore not clear.

Now let us inquire, what there is, in any or all the representations of the last day, or judgment, by which they can be proved to be at all different from the sounding of the seventh trumpet in the Apocalypse. Nothing can be argued from the suddenness and quick accomplishment in any of those representations; for although in this no mention is made of a moment or an hour, the work is described as being as instantaneous and momentary as language can point it out; even as quick as the trumpet gave the blast. "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. " (Rev. xi. 15.) Neither can any thing be shown in the sounding of this seventh trumpet, by which it can be proved to fall short of the general and last judgment; for no language could more forcibly paint that important day, in respect to the things which were shown to take place in the time of it; as to the setting up of that kingdom of God in which he is to reign forever and ever; and added to this, The wrath of God on the nations, the dead raised, his servants rewarded and his enemies destroyed. "And the four-and-twenty Elders, who sat before God, on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth.”

At the same time, there is nothing in the sounding of this seventh angel, to contradict its being the ushering in of the everlasting Gospel, to make final settlement with all people, and to reward them according to their works; and in the mean time, to give every one a fair trial of access to God in his holy temple, to obtain forgiveness on the same principle with others: with God is no respect of persons. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."

According to the general representations given of God, by professed Christians, he is the most unjust of all judges, who will take a man to an account, and condemn him irrecoverably, for not having

done his duty, when he had neither knowledge nor power to do it Whereas it is always honourable in a judge or potentate, to publish a universal amnesty to those who have been in rebellion, although with the fullest knowledge of it, on the condition of confessing their wrongs and becoming obedient subjects; and it is justly esteemed cruel to do otherwise.

On the contrary; some seeing, in a measure, the unreasonableness of the prevalent notions concerning the judgment of God, and at the same time ignorant of the terms of pardon and acceptance, or unwilling to submit when informed, have fallen into the opposite extreme; and believe, or affect to believe, that men will all be accepted of God in doing what they conclude is right, each one for one, and thus annul the will of God and his judgment altogether, subjecting him to the judgment of every man, and requiring him to sanction whatever course of life each man says in his mind is right. This scheme serves for a temporary plaster on the conscience; but that only partial, because none of that faith are able to lead such a life, as to have the unreserved approbation of their own consciences in all things. I speak especially of those who acknowledge the truth and necessity of Christianity. This scheme therefore must fall to the ground, and make way for the doctrine of Christ, that nothing can include the title to eternal life, short of knowing the will of God and doing it, as stated above.

Another matter makes it appear reasonable, not to say unavoidable, that the judgment should be in union with the Gospel, or included in it, and consequently that the everlasting Gospel should usher in, together with the last judgment, which is, that the Gospel cannot have its proper and full effect without it. The effect, or end, of the Gospel is a full acquittal, or remission of sins, with acceptance with God in justification and peace. But as no man can be justly condemned until he is tried, so neither can any be justified, or acquitted; and no man can be tried before the time of trial, or day of judgment. This shows the inconsistency and the flimsy foundation of those professors, who boast, or even hope, that they are justified of God, and yet expect to come to the judgment, and have their character examined and their final condition fixed, according to an order of judgment yet unknown.

But the sounding of the seventh angel is acknowledged to have been going on a considerable time already; consequently, it will not be denied, that the Gospel is preached during that time. So likewise it will have to be granted, that the Gospel is preached during the time of which Christ spake, saying, "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, [before its commencement,] no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (This is acknowledged to be the day and hour of judgment.) But as the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be,or, and as "it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." (Luke xvii. 26.) "For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matt. xxiv. 31, 36–39.) Now in the days of Noah he was a preacher of righteousness to the

people; so in the coming or days of the Son of man, the Gospel shall be preached until the work is finished, and the angels or ministers of Christ have gathered in the elect, the faithful and obedient, from under the whole heaven, and he has fitted out the kingdom ready to be delivered up to the Farther.

Observe; It is not said, as in the day that Noah entered into the ark, so shall the coming, or days, of the Son of man be; but it is expressly stated, as in the days that were before the flood; and this continued until the day of entering in, when he had fulfilled to them his commission, and the people being disobedient were swept away; so shall it be in the day of the Son of man; those who are obedient to the everlasting, or finishing Gospel, shall be kept safe in the ark, as Noah and his family were, while the disobedient and impenitent shall be swept away.

However energetic the language which describes the day of judgment, there is no description of it at all incompatible with preaching the Gospel successfully in the time of it. For although in the process of the time the judgment is certain, and it will also come as a snare on all the earth, and there can be no escape; when the nature of the language used in the Scripture, relating to that day, is considered, it cannot be proved, that the process will be too swift for the successful preaching of the Gospel. Thus when it is said, "That the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thess. v. 2, 3.) This is very forcible language; but any one of moderate understanding may see, that it does not describe a momentary, or instantaneous accomplishment. For however suddenly and suprisingly the travail of a woman with child may in some cases commence, it is not suddenly over; and the woman has the encouraging prospect of being delivered from the distress after the birth, and of being more happy than before her travail came "A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. (Jno. xvi. 21.)

on.

So also when the judgment of the last day commences and brings destruction to the wicked, it is not without the Gospel announcing pardon and life to the penitent, but to the impenitent, inevitable, and most aggravated destruction. For while to the one it is the savour of life unto life, to the other it is the savour of death! unto death. Besides; as travail is the certain lot of a woman with child, in the ordinary nature of things, so judgment is sure to overtake all, and destruction the finally impenitent, and that speedily. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." But "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." "And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them? I tell you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?" (Eccl. viii. 11; Prov. xxix. 1; Luke. xviii. 7,8.) The elect therefore are then to be searched out and proved, before they are avenged, and before the wicked are destroyed with a swift destruction.