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Afflictions, than ordinary. Even the obfcurer Confirmations of this Doctrine in the Old Teftament therefore were a great Benefit to those, who partook of them: and as they had no Right to any fuch Affurances of it; they had no Caufe to complain, that they were not clearer. But we have infinite Caufe to be thankful, who are favoured in the Gospel with the fulleft and ftrongest Atteftation to this moft interefting of all our Concerns. Chriftians, unless they renounce their Chrif tianity, cannot disbelieve a future Judgment. The only Difficulty is, to be influenced by our Belief, as we ought. And in that alfo the Scripture hath given us the best Help, which is poffible to be given; by its affecting Accounts of the feveral Particulars, that relate to this awful Tranfaction: the Perfons on whom, the Perfon by whom, the Time when, the Things for which, and the Manner in which, the final Sentence of Happine fs or Mifery is to be pronounced. Thefe Points therefore I fhall now endeavour to place before ftinctly. And,

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1. The Perfons, on whom, are, the quick, that is the living, and the dead. All that have died before, in every Age of the World, fhall be restored to Life: and all that remain alive, fhall be joined with them to receive their Doom; nor fhall any Exception be made. For we are expressly affured, that the dead, fmall and great, fhall ftand before God. The very highest therefore fhall not escape by their Power, the richest by their Wealth, the wifeft by their Abilities or Artfulness: nor, on the other Hand, fhall the meaneft Wretch be looked on, as too inconfiderable for God's Notice; or the most ignorant be exempted from anfwering 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 fo, and how far we have failed of it, is the

Rev. xx. 12.

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one Inquiry that our Judge will make. Other Diftinctions, how confiderable foever they appear in our Eyes, to him are as Nothing. All Creatures are equally beneath his infinite Majefty; but none are either beneath or above his Infpection now, or his Sentence hereafter. Here then we are put, every one of us, on a fair Trial, without any Disadvantage or Inequality whatever. Both the moft honourable, and the moft contemptible Perfons, as to worldly Circumftances, may be either the happiest or the most miserable in the next Life, juft as they fhall choofe. Let those of high Degreee therefore be humble, those of low be content, and all be watchful over themselves.

2. The Perfon, by whom the Sentence fhall be paffed, is Jefus Chrift. For the Father himself judgeth no Man: but hath committed all Judgment to the Son, and given him Authority to execute it, because he is the Son of Man: because he is the Perfon, described by that Name in the Prophet Daniel, before whom the Judgment was to be fet, and the Books opened: who alfo is no less peculiarly qualified, than expressly appointed for it; fince in him divine Perfection is joined with Experience of human Infirmity. So that being judged by one, who was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin; we may be fure, that every due Allowance will be made to our natural Weakness, and no undue one to our wilful Wickednefs. Unless therefore we repent and amend, he, that came the first Time to fave us, will come the second to condemn us; and the meek and merciful Jefus appear cloathed with fuch Terror, that we fhall fay to the Mountains and to the Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the Face of him that fitteth 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 ftand"?

3. The Time, when these Things shall be, himself informs us, it is not for us to know; being known to the Father alone, and put in his own Power. But ftill, in Heb. iv. 15.

* John v. 22, 27. Rev. vi. 16, 17.

Dan. vii. 10, 13. 9 Acts i. 7.

what

what there is need we should be told concerning it, the Scripture hath revealed: that it fhould come unexpectedly, and that it fhall come foon. The general Judgment may come, when we leaft think of it. But however diftant it may poffibly 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 Judgment. 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 fame will the last Judgment find us alfo. For there is no Device, nor Wif dom in the Grave: but where the Tree falletb, there fhall it be. Take Heed therefore to yourselves, left your Hearts be overcharged, either with the Pleafures and Amufements, or the Cares and Labours of this Life; and fo that Day come upon you unawares : for as a Snare fhall it come on all them, that dwell on the whole Earth. The evil Servant that fhall fay in his Heart, my Lord delayeth his coming; and fhall begin to fmite his Fellow-fervants, 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: bleffed is that Servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, fhall find so doing".

4. The Things, for which we fhall be judged, are, all our voluntary Deeds, Words, and Thoughts. For we must appear before the Judgment-feat of Chrift, that every one may receive the Things done in his Body". Now what we fay, and what we think designedly, is as truly Part of our Doings, as what we act. Our Difcourfe 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 juft, that we fhould account for our Fault. And on the other Hand, it is fit and reasonable, that every good Perfon fhould 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 fees the one, juft as clearly, as the other: there is no Creature that is not manifeft in his Sight; but all Things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him, with whom we have to do. And certainly what he fees, and fees to be proper for his Notice, he will not fail to take fuitable Notice of it. The Scripture therefore affures us, with the utmost Reason; not only, that by our Words we fhall be juftified, and by our Words condemned; giving Account for the very idleft and flighteft of them, either with Grief or Joy, according as its Tendency was right or wrong: but alfo, that God fhall judge the Secrets of Men by Fefus Chrift: that there is Nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. For God fhall bring every Work into Judgment, and every fecret Thing; whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Therefore, with refpect to other Perfons, let us he charitable, and judge Nothing needlessly before the Time; until the Lord come, who will bring to Light the hidden Things of Darkness, and make manifeft the Counfels of all Hearts. And, with refpect to ourselves, let us be easy under human Cenfures, if we have given no Occafion for them; for in that Cafe, it is a fmall Thing to be judged of Man's Judgment: But let us carefully prepare for the divine Sentence, by perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God"; and after all our Care, let us be throughly humble: for though we know Nothing by ourselves, yet are we not hereby juftified, if it be through Partiality or Forgetfulness, as poffibly it may; but he that judgeth us, is the Lord'.

5. As to the Manner of the Judgment, it will be with the greatest Solemnity and Awfulness, and with the greatest Juftice and Equity. The Lord himself fhall defcend from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flaming Fire; and the Trumpet shall found, and all that are in the Graves fhall bear his Voice, and come forth. Then shall he fit upon the Throne of his Glory', and the Books fhall be opened, and they shall be judged out of thofe Things, which are written in the Books, according to their Works. As many as have finned without a revealed Law, fhall perish without a revealed Law: and as many as have finned in the Law, whether Jewish or Chriftian, fhall be judged by the Law". Unto whomsoever much is given, of him fhall much be required: and to whom much is committed, of him will the more be asked. He which hath fowed fparingly, fhall reap alfo fparingly: and he which hath fowed bountifully, fball reap alfo bountifully. Whatfoever a Man hath fowed, that fhall be alfo reap.

What Manner of Perfons ought we to be then in all hely Converfation and Godliness: looking for and haftening unto the coming of the Day of God; wherein the Heavens, being on Fire, fhall be diffolved, and the Elements fhall melt with fervent Heat? Nevertheless we, according to his Promife, look for new Heavens and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteoufnefs. Wherefore, beloved, feeing that ye look for fuch Things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in Peace, without Spot, and blameless: grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift: to him be Glory, both now and for ever. Amen.