Doct. That a faithful discharge of our duty will give us comfort and boldness when our Lord corneth to reckon with us.
1. There is a confidence and comfort that ariseth from a good con-
Vers. 19-23.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 453
science, or from sanctification as well as justification. In the inward court, conscience is one of the witnesses, as well as the Spirit of God, Roin. viii. 16, and much comfort ariseth from its testimony : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience.' A carnal man is ashamed of the grounds of his rejoicing, and what it is that keepeth his heart merry ; hut a godly man can own the causes of his joy, which are, in the first place, the blood of Christ: Eom. v. 11, ' We joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement;' next, the testimony of his conscience con- cerning his sincere walking. But if a man can live with these comforts, can he die with them ?
2. The review of a well-spent life is a great comfort in death. Our Lord Jesus, at the end of his days, when he was to go out of the world, John xvii. 4, saith, ' I have glorified thee upon earth, and finished the work thou gavest me to do.' Hezekiah, when that sad message was brought to him, that he must die, and not live, Isa. xxxviii. 4, that comforted him upon his death-bed : ' Remember now, 0 Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done what is good in thy sight.' So the apostle Paul, when he drew nigh his end, 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, saith, ' I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, 1 have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.' Oh ! it is a blessed thing if we can have this comfort, when conscience puts off all disguises, and the everlasting estate is at hand, and we are immediately to appear before the Lord ; to remember then that we have been careful to please and honour God, and done his work, how sweet is it !
3. In the day of judgment ; their works follow them into the other world, Rev. xiv. 13. Their wealth doth not follow them, but the con- science of having done well abideth with them. Conscience is heaven or hell to us. In hell it maketh up a part of the worm that never dieth ; so in heaven, it giveth us confidence, 1 John ii. 28 ; and 1 John iv. 17, ' That we may have boldness in the day of judgment.' Works are not meritorious, and have no causal influence upon our salvation, yet they have the full place of an evidence, and so may wonderfully comfort and embolden our hearts.
Use. Let us labour to get this evidence. The time of death is a time that will rifle all our false hopes. You are in your health and strength now, but how soon you may shoot the gulph, you know not ; we are hastening into the other world apace. When you are imme- diately to appear before God, you will have other thoughts of the world to come, and the necessity of preparation for it, than you have now ; that which will comfort you now, will not comfort you then. You must look that the devil will then be most busy to tempt and trouble you, and as now he prejudiceth you against the precepts of the gospel, so then against the promises of it : all your worldly comforts then will fail, and have spent their allowance, and become to you as unsavoury as the white of an egg. Will this comfort you, that you have sported and gamed away your precious time ? that you have fared of the best, and lived in pomp and honour ? Oh, no ! but this will
454 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SER. XIII.
comfort you : I have made it my business to glorify God, I have been faithful in my place, have gotten some evidence of the love of God. It is not riches or greatness, or any earthly advantage will do you good. Oh! it is a cutting thought to the careless and negligent : Now I must give an account of every clay and hour I have spent in this world; the improvement of every opportunity will be called for. Then all your vanities and carnal pleasures will be smart upon you, and vex your souls with the grievous remembrance of them. Well, then, can you in any measure look back upon the discharge of your duty ? There are two extremes : —
1. Some are presumptuous and confident, because, they are not gross sinners. But what have they done for God ? The sluggish and un- profitable servant was cast into utter darkness ; he did not misspend his talent, but yet he did not improve it. The tree that bringeth forth no fruit is hewn down, though it did not bring forth bad fruit. It is not a negative religion will comfort thee, but a positive and a fruitful one. You are no drunkard, no adulterer, no profane person ; but have you been at work for God ?