SERMON UPON ACTS XVIT. 30, 31. 403
of death, but raised him up and assumed him into glory, thereby visibly declaring unto the world that the judgment passed upon him was not right, but that he was indeed what he gave out himself to be, the Son of God and the judge of the world, to whom power is given over all flesh, to save or destroy them. If he live with the Father in glory and majesty, it will necessarily follow that he was not a seducer, but that holy and righteous one by whom God will execute his judgment. Secondly, What influence this hath upon repentance.
1. The very day appointed inferreth a necessity of change both of heart and life ; for how else shall we stand in the judgment who have broken God's laws, and are obnoxious to his wrath and displeasure ? If we should never be called to an account for what we have been and done here in the world, we might then freely indulge ourselves in all fleshly delights, and do what we please. But this is a principle of fear and restraint, that for all these things God will bring thee into the judgment : Eccles. xi. 9, ' Eejoice, 0 young man in thy youth and let the heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth ; and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.' None of us can hide or withdraw ourselves from that great tribunal, before which we are to give an account of what we have done and received in the body. And therefore it is best, while we are in the way, to make our peace with God and break off our sins by repentance ; otherwise what quiet can we have in ourselves ? or how can we keep ourselves when we are serious from trembling at wrath to come ? We may smother conscience, and baffle all convictions for the present ; but, christians, you and I must; be judged. Now when God riseth up to the judgment, what shall we answer him ? Job xxxi. 14, ' What then shall I do when God riseth up ? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him ? ' That must be thought on beforehand. If we have no answer which will satisfy now, much less then.
2. From the manner or strictness of that day's account, he will judge the world in righteousness : Eccles. xii. 14, ' God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.' Hypocrisy shall be disclosed, sincerity shall be rewarded, nothing shall be hidden from God's search ; no person shall be exempted, no work, either open or secret, but God will bring it into judgment. His infinite wisdom knoweth all, and his infinite justice will give due recompense to all. The businesses of all nations and persons shall be openly examined. What then is our duty but to exercise our- selves both in faith and repentance, that our judge maybe our saviour, ajid it may go well with us when this search is made ?
3. Chiefly from the person, sufficiently attested by the miracles of his life and resurrection from death. God hath determined and or- dained the person by whom the whole world shall be judged. And from thence we may judge of the rule ; it is by his doctrine, and by our receiving or not receiving Christ. Surely it is our interest to be in with him who will cite us before his tribunal ; to accept his person as our Lord and Saviour : John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' To believe and entertain his doctrine as the message of God : John v. 24, ' He that
404 SERMON UPON ACTS XVII. 30, 31.
lieareth my word, and believetli on liim that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life.' To imitate his example : 1 John iv. 17, ' Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; be- cause as he is, so are we in this world.' To trust in his merit : Ps. ii. 12, ' Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little : blessed are all they that put theii trust in him.' To love him and live to him : 1 Cor. xvi. 22, ' If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha.' If he say, Come, ye blessed, or, Go, ye cursed, we must abide by it to all eternity. Woe to them that neglect his offers, contemn his ways, oppose his intei-est, oppress his servants. But blessed are they wliose Redeemer is their judge ; he who slied his blood for them, must pass the sentence on them : and one that is iiesh of our flesh and bone of our bone is the final judge between us and God. Will he be harsh to his sincere disciples ? But to say all in a word, surely this considera- tion should do the work effectually, because his gospel and covenant is nothing else but a free promise of pardon upon condition of repentance : Luke xxiv. 47, * That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.' And to this end the apostles were to preach that Christ is judge : Acts x. 42, 43, ' He hath com- manded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he who was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets v/itness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins.' Nothing showeth the necessity of remission of sins so much as the judgment, and the necessity of re- pentance to remission so much as the judge, who in his covenant hath made this condition. Nothing doth befriend the great discovery of the gospel, which is free pardon of sin by Christ upon repentance, so much as the sound belief of this truth, that Christ is judge.