This verse is large, and full of points ; but because the doctrine of the day of judgment hath been already touched upon, and ungodli- ness opened at large, ver. 4, therefore the briefer notes will serve the turn.
Ohs. 1. Christ's second coming is to judgment; so it is said in the text, ' He shall come with ten thousand of his saints to execute judg- ment.' Of his first coming it is said, John iii. 17, ' God sent not his Son to judge the world, but that the world through him should be saved.' He came not then as a judge, but as a redeemer, offering and procur- ing grace and life. When we frustrate the end of his coming as a redeemer, we make way for the end of his coming as a judge, and he that then came to us will now come against us.
Ohs. 2. When Christ cometh to judgment, one great part of his work will be to convince sinners, and that openly, publicly. Some think that the whole work will be dispatched in the conscience, with- out any audible and external voice, both as to examination and sen-
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tence ; others tliink the trial and conviction shall be in the conscience of a sinner, but the sentence audibly pronounced ; and because the punishment is to light upon the body and the soul, the ear is to receive it as well as tlie conscience feel it. I conceive that conviction, trial, and sentence will be all open and public. Though I cannot expressly say that every particular sin shall be discovered before the whole world, yet enough manifested to show the sentence just ; as their unfaithfulness in their callings, their opposition of God and god- liness, their oppression of his servants, their neglect of grace, &c., with all the circumstances and aggravations of it, as tlie gracious opportunities and means which they have enjoyed, stirring sermons, motions of the Spirit, checks ot conscience, blessed methods of love and mercy, &c. God keepeth an account of these things. Those passages which imply God's reckoning with his people in the world are but pledges of what he will do at the day of our last account. Now here God taketh exact notice of the long time and many means which we have enjoyed ; as Luke xiii. 7, ' These three years,' &c. It alludeth to the time of Christ's ministry ; he >!vas just then entering upon his last half year, as by a serious harmonising the evangelists will appear : John iv. 54, ' This second miracle did Jesus in Cana of Galilee ; ' account is kept of a 'former : 1 Kings xi. 9, ' Ap})eared to him twice ; ' so ' these twenty-three years,' Jer. xxv. 3. AH this is remembered and produced to convince the sinner.
This conviction implieth two things : — (1.) The opening of the con- science : Kev. XX. 12, ' The books were opened ; ' that is, the book of conscience and the book of God's remembrance; the consciences of men shall then be extended to an exact view of all their works and deeds past. It is wonderful, but it shall be done by the mighty power of God ; for it is said here, ' he shall convince them of all their un- godly deeds and hard speeches.' Their works and words are not lost and forgotten, but do follow them into the other world, and stand in the view of conscience, challenging the sinner, Tu nos egisti, opera tua sumus — sinner, these are the things that thou hast done and spoken ; we will not leave thee, but bring thee to judgment; see Hosea vii. 2, Ps. xlix. 5. Then is that expression made good, ' Their iniquities shall find them out,' Num. xxxii. 23. Our old sins and carnal prac- tices were long since forgotten and worn out of memory, so that we think we shall never hear of them more, but there they find us out, and pursue us to Christ's tribunal. (2.) There is an outward publica- tion and manifestation of all these sins, or of most of them, before the world ; for the ajiostle saith, 1 Cor. iv. 5, ' Hidden things shall be brought to light ' in that day ; that is, not only called to remembrance by the sinner himself, but exposed to the notice and censure of others, as the context there showeth. So Eccles. xii. 4, it is said, ' Secret sins shall be brought to judgment.' If only discovered to the conscience of the sinner, tliey are still kept secret. Wicked men are already in a great measure convinced, yea, and condemned, in their own con- sciences. It is, then, God's design to shame them before all the world. How otherwise sliall the suspected innocency of his servants be vin- dicated, and saints and angels apj^laud the equity of his judgments, unless thev have some cognisance of the matter for which wicked men
296 AN EXPOSITION, -WITH NOTES, [VeR. 15.
are condemned ? Now, these sins may be discovered many ways ; either by their own confessions and pitiful complaints extorted from them by the power of God. They shall bewail and bemoan their case thus, probably : Oh ! that ever I despised Christ, oppressed his servants, opposed his truth, slighted the seasons of grace,' &c. ; see Kev. vi. 16, 17. Or by the sentence of Christ, in the pronouncing of which there is some repetition of their sins, see Mat. xxv. 41-43 ; and also by the testimony of the good and bad angels against them. The good angels and guardians of the saints are sensible of the injuries done to them, and may possibly accuse you to Christ upon that score, Mat. xviii. 10. The devil, who is now a tempter, will then be an accuser. One of the fathers bringeth in the devil pleading thus, Domine, sit meics per culpam, qui tuns esse noluif per gratiam, &c. — Lord, lethim be mine by sin, who would not be thine by grace. I never died for him, had no heaven to offer him, only a little carnal pleasure or profit, and this was enough to draw him from thee, &c. Yea, further, the ministers and other godly persons, by whose example they have been reproved or condemned, may give testimony against them : John v. 45, ' There is one that accuseth you, even Moses,' &c. The cries of those whom they have oppressed and wronged may pos- sibly be renewed, James v. 4. Abel's blood may cry out against Cain afresh. Starved souls may cry out against a lazy minister, oppressed subjects against a bloody magistrate, the neglected poor against those that have shut their bowels against them ; as, on the other side, the godly poor that have been refreshed and relieved by the bounty of the rich are said to ' receive them into everlasting habitations,' Luke xvi. 9. Again, the example of those that have had less means may be l^roduced against them, because they went further in a way of com- pliance with the Lord's purpose. Mat. xii. 41, 42. Others with whom we have sinned may complain of us. Dives was afraid ' lest his brethren should come into the place of torment,' Luke xvi. 28, which might be a means to increase his anguish, they sinning by his example. I have produced these suppositions only to make the conviction at the day of judgment more intelligible and effective.