We next appeal for another proof of a general judgment, § 5. To the sacred Scriptures. God has not only impressed this truth on the minds of men, and written it in their consciences, and exhibited it by some extraordinary judgments; but he has also clearly and repeatedly revealed it in the word of God.

Before the flood, Enoch, in the early age of the world, foretold it. "Behold, the Lord cometh, with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all." Jude, ver. 14, 15. Solomon, under the law, repeats this doctrine; "that every secret thing shall be brought into judgment, whether good or evil," Eccl. 12: 14; and God himself speaks in the sublimest style of majesty; "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear," Isa. 45: 23; from whence the apostle infers that "we shall all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ." Rom. 14: 10, 11. In the Gospel we have distinctly described the person of the Judge, the glorious attendants of his coming, and the manner of his proceedings in that day. Now, the many predictions in Scripture, so clearly and exactly accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ, and by him, give infallible assurance that all his promises and threatenings are equally certain, and shall be fulfilled. As sure as our Savior has come in his humble state, and has accomplished the prophecies of his sufferings; so sure will he come in his glory to judge the world.

§ 6. It may not be improper, my dear Benjamin, to observe that the heathen, although they ridicule the idea of the resurrection of the body, yet believed in the day of judgment. Hence, when Paul preached at Athens both the resurrection and the judgment, they mocked at the former, but said nothing against the latter. Acts, 17: 32. Notable are the words of Lucian, "God brought men out

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of nothing to something, and is in heaven beholding the just and the unjust, and writing down in books every man's actions; and he will recompense all men according to their deeds, in that day which he himself has appointed." And as it respects our own people, you well know that a belief of a future judgment constitutes one of their thirteen fundamental articles of faith, which reads thus: "I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed be his name) rewards those who observe his commands, and punishes those who transgress them."

§ 7. With respect to the person who is to be judge, it is very evident that it must be Jehovah himself; for he alone is qualified for the work. For it certainly requires infinite knowledge, perfect rectitude, and almighty power.

§ 8. It is however certain, that Jesus Christ is to be the Judge. "And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it was he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead." Acts, 10: 42. There are wise and just reasons for this appointment.

God being invisible in his own nature, has most wisely ordained the last judgment of the world to be transacted by a visible person; because men are to be judged, and the whole process of judgment with them will be for things done in the body. The person appointed for this work is Jesus Christ the Son of God united to the human nature; "for the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." John, 5: 22, 23.

As there was none found in heaven or on earth who could open and reveal the book of redemption but Jesus Christ; so none but He is fit to open the book of judgment. He only is perfectly qualified to pronounce a just or righteous sentence and carry it into execution. wisdom is infinite and his power almighty.

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§ 9. Christ Jesus was invested with this high office as a

reward for his humiliation and sufferings. The Father "has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." John, 5: 27. We must distinguish between the essential and economical power and authority of Christ. The Son of God, considered in his divine nature, has an original power and authority of judgment equal with the Father; but, considered as Mediator, he has a power and authority committed by delegation.

Now Christ Jesus humbled himself so far as to take upon him our nature, endured all the infirmities which that nature was capable of, with all the miseries of the present life, endured all the pains and sorrows due to our sins; and therefore, in regard of his humiliation, did God exalt him; and part of that exaltation was his appointment of Judge both of the living and the dead. Hence saith the apostle, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: vho, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross: wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name : that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2: 5-11.

§ 10. Another just and wise reason for this appointment may be, that Christ might be glorified as much in his kingly office as he has been in either of the others as prophet and priest. We find some few glimpses of his kingly office breaking forth during his life-time: such as his riding into Jerusalem in the midst of hosannas: his driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple: the title King of the Jews written on his cross, &c. But these

were only faint beams; on the day of judgment that office will shine in its glory, brighter than the sun in the midst of the firmament; for what were the hosannas of little children in the streets of Jerusalem, to the shouts and acclamations of thousands of angels and ten thousands of saints? What was the driving of the profane out of the temple, to his turning the wicked into hell, and sending out of his angels to gather out of his kingdom every thing that offendeth? What was the title written by his judge, and fixed on the ignominious tree, to the name that shall be seen on his vesture and on his thigh, "King of kings, and Lord of lords ?"

§ 11. The manner in which Jesus Christ will appear to judgment, will be glorious, majestic and awful. He will appear in the glory of the Father, Matt. 26: 64, and his own glory, Luke, 9: 26. Matt. 24: 30, with a glorious retinue of all the angels and saints, 2 Thess. 1: 7. Jude, ver. 14, and be seated on a glorious throne. Matt. 19: 28

Rev. 20: 11.

As it is considered the glory of a prince to have many following him as his train, so it will be the glory of Jesus when he comes to judgment, to have all the saints and angels, the glory of creation, to be his attendants.

The Apostle Paul informs us, "that he shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels." 2 Thess. 1 : 7. Lest any should think that the number will be but small, the Apostle Jude informs us that the Lord shall come “with ten thousand of his saints;" and if this be not large enough, the Prophet Daniel informs us that "a thousand ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him ;" and that each and all of these shall attend him, we are assured of by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who said, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." Matt. 25: 31.

When the law was given from Mount Sinai, the mountain was covered with fire, and the voice of God, as loud as thunder, proclaimed it from the midst of the flames, so that the whole army of the Israelites. was prostrate on the plain, struck with a sacred horror and almost dead at the amazing sights and sounds; and if the Lawgiver appeared in such terrible majesty at the proclaiming of the law, how much more when he shall come to revenge the transgressions of it! It is set forth in the Scripture, in the most lofty and magnificent expressions.

The saints shall sit with Christ in judicature, as justices of the peace with the judge. They shall applaud Christ's righteous sentence on the wicked. This, as it will be a great honor to the saints, so it must needs add to the sorrows of the wicked, to see those whom they once derided and hated sit as judges upon them." 1 Cor. 6: 2. Jude, 13: 14.

§ 12. The persons to be tried are all men, both good and bad; "for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ." 2 Cor. 5: 10.

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It is appointed for all men once to die, and after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27. As none can escape death, so none can escape judgment-all men, Isa. 45: 2, comp. Rom. 14: 9, 10. Matt. 25: 31; all the godly, all such as have believed and obeyed the Gospel, Luke, 21: 36. Rom. 14: 22. 2 Tim. 4: 8; all the ungodly and impenitent sinners, Deut. 32: 35. 2 Peter, 2 : 3. Jude, 15.

It will be such an assize as never was seen before; kings and nobles, counsellors and armies; those who were above trial here below, will have no charter of exemption in that day; they must appear before Christ's tribunal and be tried for their lives. Neither power nor policy can be a subterfuge. They who refused to come to a throne of grace, shall be forced to come to a bar of justice. The dead as well the living must make their appearance. Rev. 20: 12. We cannot cite the dead to human tribunals; but at that day the dead will also be called to the bar of Jesus.