all these characters will be brought before him ; and, according as that has been conformed, or contrary, to his revealed word, will be his sentence of condemnation or approval in that day.]
To that period therefore we must all look, and for it we must all prepare —
[As by the written word we must all be judged, we should study it with all diligence, in order that we both know and execute God's holy will. As for the world's standard of religion, we must not regard it : nor must we regard the appro- bation or censure which it assigns to men in accordance with its own erroneous views. But to God's judgment we must look forward with the deepest solicitude, labouring if by any means we may approve ourselves to him, and " have praise of him." To what purpose will it be to have monumental in- scriptions in our favour, when God has sealed our condemna- tion, and loaded us with his merited displeasure ? Or what effect will the censures of men produce on our minds, when God has passed a sentence of approbation upon us, and seated us with himself on thrones of glory ? Methinks that laudatory word, " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," will richly repay all the obloquy that man can cast upon us, and all the pain that he could ever inflict.
Then live, my brethren, in expectation of that day, and in continual preparation for it. Mind not what man approves or disapproves, in comparison of what God commands : and be as attentive to the motions and desires of your hearts as to your outward acts. " If you seek to please man, you cannot be the servants of Jesus Christ." You must therefore "not please men, but God who trieth our hearts." And let me entreat you not to defer this surrender of yourselves to God. Think what is now the mind of thousands, who, having " sought the praise of man rather than the honour that cometh of God," are now reaping the bitter fruits of their folly : and whatever the whole world may either say or do, (for you must " expect to be per- secuted by them if you will live godly in Christ Jesus,") " be steadfast, immoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, assured that at last your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord."]
L ii