92 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XYIII.
The privilege of the christian is baptism, the knowledge of Christ, being of his party, and visibly owning his interest in the world ; they have eaten and drunk in his presence, he hath taught in tlieir streets, and they have frequented the assembly where he is ordinarily present, and inoie powerfully present, Luke xiii. 26. It is possible they have put themselves in a stricter garb of religion, forborne disgraceful sins, been much in external ways of duty, given God all the cheaj) and plausible obedience which the flesh can spare. But if all this be without solid godliness, or that sound constitution of heart or course of life which the principles of our profession would breed, and call for, these privileges will be no advantage to hira. Well then, let the officer come, the apostle, prophet, pastor or teacher, by what names or titles soever they be distinguished, who have borne rule in the church, been much in exercising their gifts for his glory, have taught others the way of salvation ; this is their privilege : Mat. vii, 22, ' Lord, have we not prophesied in thv name, and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name done many wondrous works? Then will I profess unto them, 1 never knew you ; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.' , Well now, if no man's person sliall be accej3ted, if not for his profession, if not for his office, if not for his external ministrations, surely we ought to be sliict and dili,<;ent, and seriously godly, as well as others. And if we shall all appear before this holy, just, and impartial judge, we should all pass the time of our sojourning here in fear.
2. It is a strict and a just judgment: Acts xvii. 30, 31, ' He com- mandeth now all men everywhere to repent : because he hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness.' Now God winketh at every man's faults, and doth not take vengeance on them, judgeth the world in patience ; but then all men must give an account, those who have refused the remedy offered to lapsed mankind, shall have judgment without mercy. And how terrible will that judgment be, when the least sin rendereth us obnoxious to the sevei'ity of his revenging justice ! But those who have heard the gospel, and accepted the Kedeemer's mercy, shall also be judged according to their works, in the manner formerly explained. There is a rennmerative justice observed to them ; we njust give an account of all our actions, thoughts, speeches, affections, and intentions, that it may be seen whether they will amount to sincerity, or a sound belief of the truths of the gospel, and therefore we should be the more careful to walk uprightly before him : Mat. xii. 36, 37, ' But I say unto you, that for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned.' Words must be accoimted for, es})ecially false, blas- phemous words, and such as flow out of the evil treasure of the heart ; and sadly accounted for. For in conferring rewards and punishments, God taketh notice of words, as well as actions, they make up a part of the evidence ; certainly in this just judgment we shall find that it is a serious business to be a christian. But those who have owned the Kedeemer, must esteem him in their heaits above all woi'ldly things, and value his grace above the allurements of sense, and count all things but dung and dioss for the excellency of the knowledge of their Lord, Phil. iii. 7-9; and glorify him in their lives, 1 Thes. i. 11, 12; and
VeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 93
pass through the pikes : ' To him that overcometh/ Eev, ii. 26 ; and resist the devil, and subdue the flesh, and vanquish the world. There must be doincr, and there must be suffering ; there must be giving, and forgiving, giving out of our estates, and foi-giving wrongs and injuries ; visiting the sick, and clothing the naked, and feeding the hungry ; there must be believing, and loving, mortifying sin and perfecting holiness. And this is the trial of those who come under the gospel- covenant ; which might be easily proved, if the thing were not evident of itself. jSTow judge you whether all this should not beget the fear of reverence, or caution at least ; which fear of God should always reign in the hearts of the faithful.
God's final sentence is to be passed upon us, upon which our eternal estate dependeth. Therefore the great weight and consequence of that day maketh it matter of terror to us. We are to be hai)f)y for ever, or undone for ever ; our estate will be then irrevocable. Where a man cannot err twice, there he cannot use tco much solicitude. According to our last account, so shall the condition of every man be for ever. What is a matter of greater moment than to be judged to everlasting joy or everlasting torment ? Matters of profit or disprofit, credit or discredit, temporal life and death, are nothing to it. If a man lose in one bargain, he may recover himself in another; credit may be wounded by one action, and healed in another, though the scar remain, the wound may be cured. If a man die, there is hope of life in another world ; but if sentenced to eternal death, there is no reversing of it. Therefore, now, we, knowing the terror of the Lord^ sue out our own pardon, and persuade others to sue out their pardon, in the name of Christ, to make all sin-e for the present.