His address to them on the occasion forms a lively contrast with the abstruse speculations and vain reasonings which universally prevailed among them. He told them that there was one God, who was the Creator and Governor of all things, who claimed from them a spiritual worship, and whom exclusively they were bound to serve ; who also had appointed a day in the which he would judge the world by that Man whom he had ordained, even Jesus, whom he had raised from the dead.
We do not see in this address any just ground for those extravagant encomiums that have been passed upon it, as though it was the summit of human elo- quence : but we account it a sober, judicious, lumi- nous exposition of the first principles of true religion ; well adapted to inform the minds of his audience, and to dispel the vain imaginations with which they had hitherto been blinded.
The point to which we shall direct our attention at this time, is the assurance here given us of a future judgment. The assertions contained in our text are two :
I. That there is a day fixed in which the world shall be judged — The day of judgment is certainly fixed —
[" Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world :" much more therefore must so important a work as that of judging the world be fixed in the Divine counsels. It is true, the period is not known to any human being, nor to any angel in heaven ; no, nor even to the Son of Man himself; at least it was not made known to him as man, for the pur- pose of revealing it to the world a. But it is every moment approaching ; and will come as unexpectedly upon the world as the deluge did, or as it would do if it were to arrive at this moment b.]
On its arrival, the whole race of mankind shall be called to judgment —
[All the successive generations of men, from Adam to that very hour, shall be called forth from their graves0. Their
a Mark xiii. 32. '' Matt. xxiv. 37 — 42.
c John v. 28, 29. Rev. xx. 12, 13.