2. The quality of his office. He is the judge of the world, who now Cometh to appear upon the throne, to be seen of all ; therefore there must be a glory suitable. We read. Acts xxv. 23, that Agrippa and Beruice came to the judgment-seat, ixeTa ttoXA,?}? ^avTaa-La<;, with a great deal of pomp and state. And we see in earthly judicatures, when great malefactors are to be tried, the whole majesty and glory of
24 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR, XIX..
a nation is brou.2jlit forth; the judge in gorgeous apparel, accompanied with nobles and gentry and officers, and a great conflux of ])eople, to inake it more magnificent and terrible. So here is a conflux of the whole world, angels, devils, men from all corners of the earth ; all the men that ever were and ever shall be ; and Christ cometh forth in Ids greatest glory.
3. Consider the greatness of his work, and that will show that his o-lory must needs be discovered. His work is, on the one side, to <i-ather together, to convince, to judge, and punish creatures opposite and rebellious ; and to honour and reward his servants, on the other. There is not such a union and confederation of miracles in any one point and article of faith, so much as there is in this of the general judgment. The mighty power and dominion of God is seen in dis- solving the elements, in raising the dead bodies, and giving every dust its own flesh, and bringing them together that they may be arraigned and judged; and then in separating them into their several ranks, in which his omnisciency and wisdom is seen, that not one of the reprobate shall lie hid among the elect. In judging them his justice cannot be eluded ; he that seeth all things in the light of the Godhead cannot want evidence. Then one of the books that is opened is in the parties' custody ; and yet they cannot deface it, or blot it out. And then for execution, the majesty of his person and presence will be enough to confound a wicked man. How will the wolves tremble at the sight of the pure and unspotted Lamb ! Kev. vi. 16. Oh ! it will be a piercing sight to them to see him whom they have despised upon the throne ! That Jesus whose word they have scorned, whose ordi- nances they have neglected or corrupted, whose servants they have molested ! When Joseph, who was so great and high in Egypt, dis- covered himself to his brethren, — ' I am Joseph,' — they were abashed and confounded because of the injury they had done him ; much more shall sinners be confounded when he shall tell them, * I am Jesus,' and that he is come on purpose to be revenged on all the abusers and de- spisers of his grace, and the troublers of his people. How can they then look him in the face ? We read, that when they came to attack Christ, John xviii. 6, as soon as he had told them, ' I am he,' they went backward, and fell to the ground. He would convince his ene- mies in the midst of his greatest abasement how full of majesty and terror his presence is, if he should let out the glory of it upon them. If the Lamb's voice be so terrible, how dreadful will he be when he roareth as a lion ! And if then, when he was taken and led to be judged, you may guess how glorious his presence will be when he cometh in all his glory to judge others. And by this you may under- stand the apostle's expression, 2 Thes. i. 9, ' That the wicked shall be ])unished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.' From there is as much as hy ; it doth not signify there the kind of the punishment, the jocewa damni, but the cause. The majesty of Christ is the cause of their torments ; and his look and face will be terror enough to sinneis. And as he cometh in glory to shame and punish those that despised him, so to comfort and reward his people who have trusted in liim, and served him, and suffered for him. He shall come from heaven in
VeR. 31.] SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 25
state to lead them into those blessed mansions vnth honour : 1 Peter iv. 13, ' Eejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceed- ing joy.' They have seen him in his worst, and now in his best also. The glory of Christ's appearing is sometimes expressed by fire, and sometimes by light. To the saints it is as light, and as a comfortable sunshine ; but to the wicked it is a dreadful fire, ii> irvpl <p\oyb<; : 2 Thes. ii. 8, 'And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.'