b Prov. xv. 3. c 1 Cor. x. 31. d Ps. xi. 4.
e Prov. xvi. 2. f 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. s Luke ix. 54.
2. He records every thing in the book of his re- membrance—
[The thoughts as well as the words of men are recorded in this bookh; and out of these books shall they be judged'. Indeed, they are all " sealed up, as it were, in a bag," in order to be then brought forth as grounds of God's decision, and as evidences of his equityk. Nothing will escape his observation. If there be only " some good thing in any person," he will discern it, and bring it forth to light, with such tokens of his approbation as the occasion may require1. The sigh, the groan, the tear, are put to the account of those who love him ; whilst every advantage that has been abused, and every oppor- tunity that has been lost, will be adduced as swelling the aggregate of his enemies' guilt.]
But this brings me more particularly to notice,
II. The rule by which that judgment shall be deter- mined—
The sentence which will be passed on every man will be in accordance with his works.
This, however, needs to be explained —
[We are not to suppose that our good works are put in one scale, and our evil works in another ; and that, according to the scale which preponderates, our fate shall be. Nor are we to imagine that, when we have done a certain number of good works, the merits of Christ shall be cast, as it were, into the scale, in order to procure acceptance for them. The way of salvation is widely different from either of these. We all, without exception, are sinners, deserving of God's wrath and indignation. But he has given his only-begotten Son to die for us ; and will accept to mercy all who come to him in his Son's name. Those who have believed in Christ will in that day be approved as having embraced the proffered salvation : and those who have rejected the Saviour, will be rejected of their God. But still there will be a great difference as to the measure of misery or of happiness which these different parties will inherit. Amongst the righteous, " one star will differ from another star in glory ;" and amongst the wicked, some will be " beaten with many stripes, and others with few," according as circumstances have occurred to extenuate or aggravate their guilt.]
Rightly understood, this strongly declares the equity of God's future judgments —
h Mai. iii. 16. i Rev. xx. 12, 13.
k Job xiv. 17. '1 Kings xiv. 13.
1057.] god's rule of judgment. 159
[If salvation had been, not by faith, but by works ; not a gift of grace, but a debt discharged ; it would have been ac- corded to men precisely on terms corresponding with the rule which is here established. We are told, that " whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap : he that sows to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption ; and he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting1". We are fur- ther assured, that, " if we have sowed sparingly, we shall reap sparingly ; and if we have sowed bountifully, we shall reap also bountifully"." Due respect, indeed, will be paid to men's abilities and opportunities ; the widow's mite being as accept- able as the largest gifts of the opulent; and " a cup of cold water, given" from a right principle, as valuable as the richest hospitality. In a word, every thing that can affect the quality of an action will be taken into the account, either for the increase of our punishment or the augmentation of our bliss.]
Behold, then,
1. What an awful prospect is here opened to the
ungodly !
[There is not a day or an hour in which an ungodly man is not providing misery for himself, and " treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath." Now, if we congratulate a person that is amassing wealth, how should we pity a man that is amassing misery for himself, even though that misery were but for a few years! But when we see men "drawing out ini- quity " to an indefinite extent, by adding fresh materials to it, as they do to a cord or cable0, methinks we should weep over them. To such an one, even the word preached to him for his salvation " becomes to him a savour of death unto death p." Do but reflect on this, my beloved brethren; and beg of God that you may henceforth improve every hour of your lives for the furtherance of that great work which God has given you to accomplish ; that so, whenever you are called hence, you may " give up to him your account with joy, and not with grief."]