II. Next let us consider what are the object matter unto which they give their testimony, and that will be found two-fold, accord- ing to the two-fold event the gospel hath upon them that hear it : of both which the apostle gives this account, 9. Cor. ii. 16. " Unto " some we are the savour of life unto life, and unto others the " savour of death unto death." Accordingly a double record is made.
1. Of the obedience and faith of some, which record ^vill be pro- duced to their joy and comfort in the day of the Lord ; when he shall come to he glorified in his saints^ and to be admired in all thsm that believe ; because our testimoiiy among you was believed in that day. Ministers are instruments of espousing souls to Christ, and ivitnesses to those espousals and contracts made betwixt him and them, 2 Cor. xi. 2. Both these offices are exceeding grateful and pleasant to every faithful minister.
2. A record is made, and witness taken of all the refusals, dis- obedience and sligh tings of Christ by others. Thus Moses will be the accuser of the Jews, John v. 45. " Do not think I will accuse *' you to the Father ; there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, " in whom you trust.'"* This is the saddest part of a minister's work; the fore-thoughts of it are more afflictive than all our labours and sufferings. There is a three-fold record made in this case: (1.) Of the time men have enjoyed under the means of salvation ; how many years they have sat barren and dead-hearted under the labours of God's faithful ministers ; Luke xiii. 7. " Be- ** hold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and *' find none." Behold, the same term of notification with that in the text, applied to the time of God's patience towards them. And again, Jer. xxv. 3. " From the thirteenth year of Josiah, even " unto this day, (that is, the three and twentieth year) the word '' of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you '' rising early, and speaking, but ye have not hearkened." O con- sider, all the years and days you have spent under the gospel, are upon your doomsday book. (5.) Records are also made of all the instruments that ever God employed for the conversion and salva- tion of your souls. So many ministers, whether fixed or transient, as have spent their labours upon you, are upon the book of your account. Jer. xxv. 4. " The Lord hath sent unto you all his ** servants, the prophets, rising early, and sending them ; but ye ** have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear." They have wasted their lungs, dropt their compassionate tears, and burnt down one after another, as candles to direct you to Christ and salvation, but all in vain. (3.) Every call, persuasion and argument, used by them to espouse you to Christ, is likewise upon the book of account. Prov. i. 24, 25. " Because I have called and ye refused, " I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded ; but ye have
" set at nought all my counsels, and would none of my reproof/"' These calls and counsels are of too great value with God (though of none with you) to he lost and left out of your account.
III. We shall, in the last place, inquire into the grounds and reasons of these judicial procedures of God, why he will have every man's obedience and disobedience registered, and witnessed for or against him, under gospel administrations; and there are two weighty reasons thereof.
1. That wherever the end of the gospel is attained in the con- version of any soul, that soul, and all that were instrumentally em- ployed about the salvation of it, may have the proper reward and comfort in the great day, 2 Cor. i. 14. " As also you have ac- " knowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye *' also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus." This will be matter of joy unspeakable, both to you that shall receive, and to them that shall give such a comfortable testimony for you. O the joyful congratulations that will be in that day between laborious, faitnful ministers, and their believing, obedient hearers ! Lord, this was the blessed instrument of my happy illumination and conversion ; though I might have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet not many fathers ; for by the blessing of thy Spirit upon this man's ministry, my soul was begotten to Christ. And, on the other side ; Lord, these are the souls for whom I travailed, as in birth, until Christ was formed in them. It is a glorious thing to say, as the prophet, " Here am I, and the children God hath given me.''
Nay, those that were but collaterally useful to help on the work of God begun by others, must not lose their reward in that day. John iv. 36. " And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth " fruit unto eternal life, that both he that soweth and he that *' reapeth may rejoice together."
2. Records are now made, and witnesses taken, that thereby the judicial sentence of Jesus Christ in the last day may be made clear and perspicuous to all the world ; that every mouth may be stopped, and no plea, or apology left in the mouth of any con- demned sinner. For Christ, in that day cometh, Jude 15. to convince all that are ungodly ; to convince by demonstration, that all that are Christless now, may be found speechless then, Matth. xxii. 12. Hence it is said, Psal. i. 5. That the wicked shall not stand, or rise up in judgment. And no wonder, when so many full testimonies, and unexceptionable witnesses shall come point blank against them, the ministers that preached, the word they preached, their own consciences, and the examples of all believers will be produced against them.
1*^ Inference. The undoubted certainty of a day of judgment is hence evinced. To what purpose else are records made, ami witness.
ses taken, but with respect to an audit-day ? This is a truth sealed upon the conscience of the very heathens, Rom. ii. 15. Their con- sciences bear witness. But in vain are all these records made, un- less there be a day to produce and plead them ; and of that day the prophet Daniel speaks, Dan. vii. 10. " The judgment was set, *' and the books were opened." And again. Rev. xx. 12. " And '* I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the ''- books were opened, and another book was opened which is the *^ book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things '' which were written in the book, according to their works.''
Believe it, friends, these are no devised fables, but most awful and infallible truths ; according to the saving effects the gospel now hath, it will be a time of refreshing to our souls, Acts iii. 19. to all others a day of terror, wrath, and amazement, 2 Thess. i. 7, 8. " The day in which the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from hea- *' ven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on ^' them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our *' Lord Jesus Christ.