All that we have done in the body will then be made manifest —
[The secrets of every heart shall be disclosed s. The mask will be taken from the face of the hypocrite : the tears and sighings of the contrite will be declared before a\V\]
Then shall every one receive according to his doings, " whether they be good or bad" —
[The seeming inequalities of the Divine government will then be rectified: the godly will not then be any more con- demned, or the wicked be justified. They who from faith and love have obeyed God shall be rewarded : they who have been disobedient and unbelieving shall be punished \]
The rewards and punishments shall be respectively proportioned to the good or evil that has been done — [They who have greatly improved their talents will be greatly rewarded*^ : they whose sins have been peculiarly aggra- vated will be more severely punished ^]
A more important consideration than this cannot enter into the mind of man.
II. The improvement which he made of it —
This subject is extremely awful even to the best of men —
[The most eminently pious are conscious of many defects. They know also the deceitfulness of their hearts. Hence not even St. Paul himself could fully rely on the verdict of his own conscience".]
But it is full of " terror" to the ungodly — [To see him as their Judge, whose dying love they despised ! To be confronted with all their accomplices in wickedness! To have the books of God's remembrance opened ! To have all their secret thoughts and desires exposed ! To know that their doom is irrevocably fixed ! To wait the dreadful sentence from the mouth of their Judge ! To have nothing but an eternity of unmixed misery before them ! What can be more terrible" ?]
Paul well " knew" this terror of the Lord. He therefore laboured " to persuade men" —
[He persuaded men to " flee from the wrath to come, and to lay hold on eternal life:" he spared no pains io attain this
e Eccl. xii. 14. '^ 1 Cor. iv. 5. > Rom. ii. 5 — 11.
^ Luke xix. 17, 24. i Luke xii. 47. "» 1 Cor. iv. 4.
n Rev. vi. 14 — 17.
2020.] CONSTRAINING POWER OF CHRISt's LOVE. 515
object of his wishes" he regarded no sufferings if he
might but prevail on somei^ ]
Application —
[ We would improve this subject as the Apostle did. We know most assuredly these terrors of the Lord. We, on account of our office, are peculiarly interested in the events of that day*!: we therefore would persuade you to repent, and believe the Gospel "■ : we would persuade you by every alarming or encouraging consideration. Consider the certainty of that day — the nearness of it — the greatness of the preparation ne- cessary— and the consequence of dying unprepared. Consider the free remission, and the almighty assistance now offered you, and the blessedness of being prepared to meet your God. May we all lay these considerations to heart ! May we at the last be found, not only almost, but altogether Christians !]
° Rom.xv.l9. iCor. ix. 19— 22. p 2Tim.ii. 10. Actsxx.24. 1 Heb. xiii. 17. If this subject were addressed to the Clergy, this thought should be amplified, r Mark i. 15.