cording to their works. This is the great end that God had in his view, when he created us; and it is the principal point that we should have in our own view, through the whole of our lives. More or less of mankind, even in their darkest ignorance, have always had some persuasion of a future recompence, which, however, mixed with errors, yet, being thus universal and lasting, must have been grounded in nature and truth. And the wiser and better any persons were, amongst the Heathens, the stronger and more rational belief they had of this doctrine; which, yet, was not owing merely to their wishes and their hopes; for the worst of sinners, that were the farthest from desiring a just reward hereafter, feared it, whether they would or not. Thus, we find it recorded of a very wicked Heathen, that when Paul reasoned of righteousness and "temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled." 998 66 But still, while the evidence of this great Article; consisted wholly in mere human reasonings, about a matter that was out of sight, bad persons, though they could not help, at some times; believing enough to fright them, yet made a shift at others, to disbelieve enough to make them tolerably easy in doing wrong; and good persons, though they might have hope sufficient to influence them in common cases, yet often had not sufficient to support them under harder duties, and heavier afflictions than ordinary. Even the obscurer confirmations of this doctrine, in the Old Testament, therefore, were a great benefit to those who partook of them; and as they had no right to any such assurances of it, they had no cause to complain that they were not clearer. But we have infinite cause to be thankful, who are fa (8) Acte xxiv. 5. voured in the Gospel with the fullest and strongest attestation to this most interesting of all our concerns. Christians, unless they renounce their Christianity, cannot disbelieve a future judgment. The only difficulty is, to be influenced by our belief, as we ought. And in that, also, the Scripture hath given us the best help, which is possible to be given, by its affecting accounts of the several particulars that relate to this awful transaction; the persons on whom, the persons by whom, the time when, the things for which, and the manner in which, the final sentence of happiness or misery is to be pronounced. These points, therefore, I shall now endeavour to place before you distinctly. And, 1. The persons on whom, are, the quick; that is, the living, and the dead. All that have died before, in every age of the world, shall be restored to life; and all that remain alive, shall be joined with them to receive their doom; nor shall any exception be made. For we are expressly assured, that "the dead, small and great, shall "stand before God." The very highest, therefore, shall not escape by their power, the richest by their wealth, the wisest by their abilities, or artfulness; nor, on the other hand, shall the meanest wretch be looked on as too inconsiderable for God's notice; or the most ignorant be exempted from answering for the care which he hath taken to get the knowledge that he might; and to use the knowledge that he had of his duty. Whatever our station be, we are bound alike to behave in it as well as we can; and how far we have done so, and how far we have failed of it, is the one inquiry that our Judge will make. Other distinctions, how considerable soever they appear in our eyes, to him are as nothing. All creatures (9) Rev. xx. 12. are equally beneath his infinite Majesty; but none are either beneath or above his inspection now, or his sentence hereafter. Here, then, we are put, every one of us, on a fair trial, without any dis advantage or inequality whatever. Both the most honourable, and the most contemptible persons, as to worldly circumstances, may be either the happiest or the most miserable in the next life, just as they shall chose. Let those of high degree, therefore, be humble-those of low be content, and all be watchful over themselves. 66 66 2 2. The person by whom the sentence shall be passed, is Jesus Christ. For the Father him"self judgeth no man; but hath committed all judginent to the Son, and given him authority "to execute it, because he is the Son of Man:"1 because he is the person, described by that name in the Prophet Daniel, before whom " the judgment was to be set, and the books opened: who also is no less peculiarly qualified, than expressly appointed for it; since in him divine perfection is joined with experience of human infirnity. So that being judged by one, who "was, "in all points, tempted like as we are, yet with"out sin; we may be sure, that every due allowance will be made to our natural weakness, and no undue one to our wilful wickedness. Unless, therefore, we repent and amend, he, that came the first time to save us, will come the second to condemn us; and the meek and merciful Jesus appear clothed with such terror, that we shall say to the mountains and the rocks, fall on us, “ and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on "the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; "for the great day of his wrath is come, and who "shall be able to stand ?"4 66 3. The time when these things shall be, him- { (1) John v. 22, 27. (3) Heb. iv. 15. (2) Dan. vii. 10, 13. (4) Rev. vi. 16, 17. 66 66 self informs us, "it is not for us to know;" being known to the Father alone, and put in his own ." power."5 But still, what there is need we should be told concerning it, the Scripture hath revealed; that it shall come unexpectedly, and that it shall come soon. The general judgment shall come when we least think of it. But, however distant it may possibly be in itself, yet, to every one of us it is, undoubtedly, in effect, very near, and even at the door. For "it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judg A❝ment."6 A few years, it may be a few days, will bring us to our end here; and in whatever state death finds us, in the same will the last judgment find us also. "For there is no device, nor wisdom in the grave:"7 but "where the "tree falleth, there shall it be."8 "Take heed, "therefore, to yourselves, lest your hearts be overcharged, either with the pleasures and amusements, or the cares and labours of this life; " and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell 66 on the whole earth."9 "The evil servant that "shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow 66 66 66 66 servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; "the Lord of that servant shall come in a day "that he looketh not for him, and in an hour that "he is not aware of; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." "Watch ye, therefore, "and be ready; blessed is that servant, whom "his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so "doing."2 66 4. The things for which we shall be judged, are, all our voluntary deeds, words, and thoughts. "For we must appear before the judgment seat (5) Acts i. 7. (6) Heb. ix. 27. (7) Eccl. ix. 10. (8) Eccl. xi. 3. (2) Matt. xxiv. 42, 44, 46. "of Christ, that every one may receive the things "done in his body." Now, what we say and what we think designedly, is as truly part of our doings, as what we act. Our discourse may be of as much service or harm to others; and even our inward imaginations may as much prove us to be good or bad in ourselves, and contribute to make us yet better or worse. Often, indeed, we cannot help wicked fancies coming into our minds; and that, alone, will never be imputed to us as a sin. But we can help inviting, indulging, and delighting in them; and if we do not, it is just that we should account for our fault. And on the other hand, it is fit and reasonable, that every good person should be rewarded, not only for the religious and worthy actions that he hath performed, but for every good word that hath proceeded from his good heart; for his pious and virtuous purposes and affections. For God sees the one just as clearly as the other; "there is no creature "that is not manifest in his sight; but all things "are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with "whom we have to do."4 And, certainly, whatever he sees, and sees to be proper for his notice, he shall not fail to take suitable notice of it. Scripture, therefore, assures us, with the utmost reason, not only that "by our words we shall be "justified, and by our words condemned;" giving account for the very idlest and slightest of them, either with grief or joy, according as its tendency was right or wrong; but also, that "God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ:"6 that there is nothing covered that shall not be "revealed; and hid that shall not be known."7 "For God shall bring every work into judgment, "with every secret thing; whether it be good or "whether it be evil."8 The (5) Matt. xii. 36, 37. (8) Eccl. xii. 14. |