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Judge, and continue enemies to him, and to the way of holiness, droop and hang down their heads, when they think of his coming: but lift ye up your heads, with joy, for the last day will be your beft day. The Judge is your Head and Hufband, your Redeemer, and your Advocate. Ye muft appear before the judgment-feat, but ye fhall not come into condemnation, John v. 24. His coming will not be against you, but for you. He came in the flesh, to remove the lawful impediments of the fpiritual marriage, by his death, he came in the gospel to you, to efpoufe you to himfelf: he will come, at the laft day, to folemnize the marriage, and take the bride home to his Father's houfe. Even fo come, Lord Jefus.

USE II. Of terror to all unbelievers. This may ferve to awaken a fecure generation, a world lying in wickedness, as if they were never to be called to an account for it; and flighting the Mediator, as if he were not to judge them. Ah! how few have the lively im preffions of the judgment to come! most men live, as if what is faid of it, from the word, were but idle tales. The profane lives of many, fpeak the thoughts of it to be far from their hearts, and in very deed make a mock of it before the world, faying, in effect, Where is the promise of his coming? The hypocrify of others, who blind the eyes of the world with a fplendid profeffion, being in ap pearance Chrift's fheep, while they are indeed the devil's goats, is an evidence, that the great feparation of the sheep from the goats is very little laid to heart. How do many indulge themselves in fecret wickedness, of which they would be ashamed before witneffes: not confidering that their moft fecret thoughts and actions will, at that day, be difcovered, before the great congregation! how eagerly are mens hearts fet on the world, as if it were to be their everlasting habitation! the folemn affemblies, and public ordinances, wherein the Judge is upon a tranfaction of peace with the criminals, are undervalued: mens heart, will fwim like feathers in the waters of the fanctuary, that will fink, like ftones, to the bottom, in cares of this life: they will be very ferious in trifles of this world, and trifle in the moft ferious and weighty things of an other world. But O! confider the day that is approaching, in which Chrift fhall come to judgment; the world fhall be fummoned, by the found of the last trumpet, to compear before his tribunal. The Judge fhall fit on his throne, and all nations thall be fifted before him; the feparation fhall be made betwixt the godly and the wicked, the books opened, and the dead judged out of them, one party fhall be adjudged to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting fire, according to their works.

It would be a fight of admirable curiofity, if thou couldst wrap up thyfelf in fome dark cloud, or hide thyfelf in the cleft of fome high rock, from whence thou mighteft efpy wicked kings, princes, judges, and great ones of the earth, rifing out of their marble tomba, and brought to the bar, to answer for all their cruelty, injustice,

I

knew it, being asked the question by his difciples, where Lord? told them only, "Wherefoever the body is, thither will the eagles be "gathered together," Luke xvii. 37. After which anfwer, it is too much for men to renew the question. As for the time when it hali be; in vain do men fearch for what the Lord has purposely kept fecret, Acts i. 8. It is not for you to know the times or the fea"fons, which the Father has put in his own power." The Apofile Paul, after having very plainly defcribed the fecond coming of Chrift, Theff. iv. 16, 17. adds, (chap. v. 1, 2.) "But of the times ❝ and feafons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. "For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of Lord fo cometh, "as a thief in the night." Nevertheless, fome in feveral ages, have made very bold with the time; and feveral particular years, which are now paft, have been given out to the world, for the time of the end, by men who have pried into the fecrets of God. Time has proclaimed to the world their rafhness and folly and it is likely they will be no more happy in their conjectures, whole determinate time is yet to come. Let us reft in that he cometh. God hath kept the day hid from us, that we may be every day ready for it, Matth. xxv. 13. "Watch therefore, for ye know "neither the day nor the hour, wherein the Son of man cometh.” And let us remember, that the last day of our life will determine our flate in the last day of the world: and as we die fo fhall we be judged.

I fhall now fhut up this fubject, with fome application of what has been faid.

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USE I. Of comfort to all the faints. Here is abundance of confolation to all who are in the flate of grace. Whatever be your afflictions in the world, this day will make up all your loffes. Though you have lain among the pots, yet fhall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with filver, and her feathers with yellow gold," Pfal. xvii. 13. Though the world reproach, judge and condemn you; the Judge will, at that day, ablolve you, and bring forth your righteoufnefs as the light. The world's fools will then appear to have been the only wife men who were in it. Though the cross be heavy, you may well bear it in expectation of the crown of righteoufnefs, which the righteous Judge will then give you. If the world do defpife you, and treat you with the utmost contempt, regard it not: the day cometh wherein you shall fit with Chrift in his throne. Be not difcouraged, by reafon of manifold temptations; but refift the devil, in confidence of a full and compleat victory; for you thall judge the tempter at laft. Tho' you have had wrestling now with the body of fin and death; yet ye fhall get all your enemies under your feet, at length, and be prefented faulilefs before the prefence of his glory. Let not the terror of that day difpirit you, when you think upon it: let thefe who have flighted the

Judge,

Judge, and continue enemies to him, and to the way of holiness, dropp and hang down their heads, when they think of his coming: but lift ye up your heads, with joy, for the last day will be your beft day. The Judge is your Head and Hufband, your Redeemer, and your Advocate. Ye muft appear before the judgment-feat, but ye fhall not come into condemnation, John v. 24. His coming will not be against you, but for you. He came in the flesh, to remove the lawful impediments of the fpiritual marriage, by his death, he came in the gospel to you, to efpoufe you to himself: he will come, at the laft day, to folemnize the marriage, and take the bride home to his Father's houfe. Even fo come, Lord Jefus.

USE II. Of terror to all unbelievers. This may ferve to awaken a fecure generation, a world lying in wickedness, as if they were never to be called to an account for it; and flighting the Mediator, as if he were not to judge them. Ah! how few have the lively impreffions of the judgment to come! most men live, as if what is faid of it, from the word, were but idle tales. The profane lives of many, fpeak the thoughts of it to be far from their hearts, and in very deed make a mock of it before the world, faying, in effect, Where is the promise of his coming? The hypocrify of others, who blind the eyes of the world with a fplendid profeffion, being in ap pearance Chrift's fheep, while they are indeed the devil's goats, is an evidence, that the great feparation of the sheep from the goats is very little laid to heart. How do many indulge themselves in fecret wickedness, of which they would be afhamed before witneffes: not confidering that their moft fecret thoughts and actions will, at that day, be difcovered, before the great congregation! how eagerly are mens hearts fet on the world, as if it were to be their everlasting habitation! the folemn affemblies, and public ordinances, wherein the Judge is upon a tranfaction of peace with the criminals, are undervalued: mens heart, will fwim like feathers in the waters of the fanctuary, that will fink, like ftones, to the bottom, in cares of this life: they will be very ferious in trifles of this world, and trifle in the moft ferious and weighty things of an other world. But O! confider the day that is approaching, in which Chrift fhall come to judgment; the world fhall be fummoned, by the found of the last trumpet, to compear before his tribunal. The Judge fhall fit on his throne, and all nations fhall be fifted before him; the feparation fhall be made betwixt the godly and the wicked, the books opened, and the dead judged out of them, one party fhall be adjudged to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting fire, according to their works.

It would be a fight of admirable curiofity, if thou couldst wr up thyfelf in fome dark cloud, or hide thyfelf in the c high rock, from whence thou mighteft efpy wicked! judges, and great ones of the earth, rifing out of th and brought to the bar, to asfwer for all their

1

knew it, being asked the question by his difciples, where Lord? told them only, "Wherefoever the body is, thither will the eagles be "gathered together," Luke xvii. 37. After which anfwer, it is too much for men to renew the question. As for the time when it hali be; in vain do men search for what the Lord has purposely kept fecret, Acts i. 8. It is not for you to know the times or the fea"fons, which the Father has put in his own power." The Apofile Paul, after having very plainly defcribed the fecond coming of Chrift, 1 Theff. iv. 16, 17. adds, (chap. v. 1, 2.) "But of the times ❝and feafons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. "For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of Lord fo cometh, ་་ as a thief in the night" Nevertheless, fome in feveral ages, have made very bold with the time; and several particular years, which are now paft, have been given out to the world, for the time of the end, by men who have pried into the fecrets of God. Time has proclaimed to the world their rafhness and folly: and it is likely they will be no more happy in their conjectures, whose determinate time is yet to come. Let us reft in that he cometh. God hath kept the day hid from us, that we may be every day ready for it, Matth. xxv. 13. "Watch therefore, for ye know "neither the day nor the hour, wherein the Son of man cometh." And let us remember, that the last day of our life will determine our flate in the last day of the world and as we die fo fhall we be judged.

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I fhall now fhut up this fubject, with fome application of what has been faid.

USE I. Of comfort to all the faints. Here is abundance of confolation to all who are in the fate of grace. Whatever be your afflictions in the world, this day will make up all your loffes.

Though you have lain among the pots, yet fhall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with filver, and her feathers with yellow gold," Pfal. lxvii. 13. Though the world reproach, judge and condemn you; the Judge will, at that day, abiolve you, and bring forth your righteoufnefs as the light. The world's fools will then appear to have been the only wife men who were in it. Though the cross be heavy, you may well bear it in expectation of the crown of righteoufnefs, which the righteous Judge will then give you. If the world do defpife you, and treat you with the utmost contempt, regard it not: the day cometh wherein you fhall fit with Chrift in his throne. Be not difcouraged, by reafon of manifold temptations; but refift the devil, in confidence of a full and compleat victory; for you thall judge the tempter at laft. Tho' you have had wrestling now with the body of fin and death; yet ye fhall get all your enemies under your feet, at length, and be prefented faullefs before the prefence of his glory. Let not the terror of that day difpirit you, when you think upon it: let these who have flighted the

Judge,

Judge, and continue enemies to him, and to the way of holiness, droop and hang down their heads, when they think of his coming: but lift ye up your heads, with joy, for the last day will be your best day. The Judge is your Head and Hufband, your Redeemer, and your Advocate. Ye muft appear before the judgment-feat, but ye fhall not come into condemnation, John v. 24. His coming will not be against you, but for you. He came in the flesh, to remove the Jawful impediments of the spiritual marriage, by his death, he came in the gospel to you, to efpouse you to himself: he will come, at the laft day, to folemnize the marriage, and take the bride home to his Father's houfe. Even fo come, Lord Jefus.

USE II. Of terror to all unbelievers. This may ferve to awaken a fecure generation, a world lying in wickedness, as if they were never to be called to an account for it; and flighting the Mediator, as if he were not to judge them. Ah! how few have the lively impreffions of the judgment to come! moft men live, as if what is faid of it, from the word, were but idle tales. The profane lives of many, fpeak the thoughts of it to be far from their hearts, and in very deed make a mock of it before the world, faying, in effect, Where is the promise of his coming? The hypocrify of others, who blind the eyes of the world with a fplendid profeffion, being in ap. pearance Chrift's fheep, while they are indeed the devil's goats, is an evidence, that the great feparation of the fheep from the goats is very little laid to heart. How do many indulge themselves in fecret wickedness, of which they would be afhamed before witneffes: not confidering that their moft fecret thoughts and actions will, at that day, be difcovered, before the great congregation! how eagerly are mens hearts fet on the world, as if it were to be their everlasting habitation! the folemn affemblies, and public ordinances, wherein the Judge is upon a tranfaction of peace with the criminals, are undervalued: mens heart, will fwim like feathers in the waters of the fanctuary, that will fink, like ftones, to the bottom, in cares of this life: they will be very ferious in trifles of this world, and trifle in the most serious and weighty things of an other world. But O! confider the day that is approaching, in which Chrift fhall come to judgment; the world fhall be fummoned, by the found of the last trumpet, to compear before his tribunal. The Judge fhall fit on his throne, and all nations thall be fifted before him; the feparation fhall be made betwixt the godly and the wicked, the books opened, and the dead judged out of them, one party fhall be adjudged to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting fire, according to their works.

It would be a fight of admirable curiofity, if thou couldst wrap up thyfelf in fome dark cloud, or hide thyfelf in the cleft of fome high rock, from whence thou mighteft efpy wicked kings, princes, judges, and great ones of the earth, rifing out of their marble tombs, and brought to the bar, to asfwer for all their cruelty, injustice,

op.

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