SERMON XIII.

THE TERRORS OF FUTURE JUDGMENT.

1 Pet. 4. 17, 18.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

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THE terrors of the Lord are among the chief means of conviction entrusted to the stewardship of Christ's ministers in the Gospel. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord," says St. Paul, “we persuade men." (2 Cor. 5. 11.) 2 Cor. 5. 11.) I cannot therefore refrain from saying something, once more, on this most awful subject, before we part. I cannot feel at ease without reminding you once more of the dreadful end which awaits the ungodly; without charging every one of you to

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consider, that "we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ," (Rom. 14. 10;) that the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of Christ, "and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 4. 29.)

What a fearful alternative," the resurrection of damnation !" to be thus sentenced by the Judge, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25. 41.) Can it be that any of us who are here assembled are really in danger of an end like this? And can there be any in this peril, who notwithstanding live at ease in sin? Surely this cannot be. Surely, to see in what manner many around us live, one would think that Christians, though they sin wilfully, are in some way secured from judgment. Surely those whom we behold so commonly proud, or profligate, covetous or sensual, lovers of themselves more than of their

brethren, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, these, if they do but name the name of Christ, if they have but been baptized in his name, if they occasionally attend on Christian ordinances, in however cold and careless a manner, these surely have some licence or leave, some exemption, some immunity in sinning, some some assurance that they shall escape the wrath to come. Else if they were really looking for the coming of the Judge, and were persuaded that He is really coming to judge them, they would depart from iniquity, they would follow after holiness, they would aim to be in this world like unto their Lord, that they might through Him have boldness in the day of judgment. (See 1 John 4. 17.)

But what then is the truth? Have Christians any such exemption? Or are they not the most liable of all men to be called to account by God? "The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." Are Christians the house of God? Then judgment must begin at Christians. Are we of the house of God?

Then judgment must begin at us. We shall be the first to be judged. We have the most to answer for, and must first be called to account. We shall be judged as Christians. We shall have to answer for the many talents entrusted to our care; how we have put them out to interest, what profit we have made of them, what treasure we have laid heaven, what glory we have gained to our Lord.

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It is true that this text, in its primary application, relates to the severe temporal distress, which, when St. Peter wrote, was about to happen to the church. it is applicable also to the judgment to

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And it may well remind us, that when we shall be judged hereafter, unto whomsoever most has been given, of him will the most be required. The hour of mercy was when Christ died on the cross. When He shall come again, it will be with power and great glory, to give to every man according as his work shall be. (See Rev. 20. 12.) First we are freely forgiven the whole debt. It is then

expected of us that we forgive each other, in conformity to the loving kindness of our Lord. Else, if we forgive not, our debt revives, our trespasses again stare us in the face, and we are condemned to pay, that which we never can pay, the uttermost farthing. First we are assured that God loved us when we were sinners. 'See Rom. 5. 8.) Next we learn to love Him, "because He first loved us." (1 John 4. 19) But if we love Him not, if we prove not our love of Him by loving one another, and by keeping his commandments without counting them grievous, then the last state of that man is worse than the first. (See Matt. 12. 45.) Then it would have been better for us not to have known the way of righteousness, than after we have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto us. (See 2 Pet. 2. 21.)

We have a great salvation set before us. It is given to us freely. God freely forgives us all. God does for Christ's sake call us, invite us, choose us, elect us, unto everlasting life. He justifies.