For the attainment of this happy frame of mind, we should be watching our progress in the Divine life, and praying day and night to God to perfect in us the work that he has begun ]
Let us next attend to, II. The considerations with which it is enforced — These may be comprehended in the two following:
1. The uncertainty of the time when our Lord shall call us —
[The time of the general judgment is unknown to the holy angels ; nor was it revealed even to the Messiah himself for the purpose of communicating it to usa. And there was good reason why it should be concealed ; because if it had been represented as at a great distance of time, men might have become secure ; whereas the idea of its speedy arrival tended to quicken all to holy exertion. In like manner the uncer- tainty of the time of our death has a very salutary effect ; since it necessitates us to be always ready. The idea of a man going a long journey, and leaving his servants their appointed work, and ordering them to expect him every moment till they see him, justly illustrates this point. There is not a moment of our lives when we may sit down secure. The night was divided into four watches, which terminated at evening, at midnight, at the cock-crowing, and in the morning. Now at no one of these periods are we sure that we shall not be sum- moned into the presence of our God.
What a consideration is this to enforce the duty in our text ! Who that reflects one moment on the possibility of his being called this night to the judgment-seat of Christ, must not desire to be found in the exercise of watchfulness and prayer ? ]
2. The awfulness of being found in a sleeping state — [In the parable of the Ten Virgins we are informed what
we must assuredly expect, if we indulge in careless security ; we shall be shut out from the marriage-supper of our Lord, and be " cast into outer darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth." It will be to no purpose to plead, that we were not engaged in any wicked projects. We were " slothful servants," and therefore are justly regarded as "wicked:" we were unprepared, and therefore are justly cut off from all fur- ther opportunity to prepare for our great account ; we treated heaven with contempt, and therefore we are consigned to the miseries of hell
a As (rod, one with the Father, he. knew all things; but as the Mediator, he received his instructions from the Father, and delivered nothing but what he had before received. John xiv. 31. Rev. i. 1.