light and venial by the ungodly world, stamp the character so clearly and manifestly, that no one who believes the Scriptures can doubt one moment what the issue of them will be in the day of judgments
But whilst these " go before to judgment," others of a more secret and dubious nature " follow after." There are many sins in the heart, which, though harboured and indulged there, escape the eye of men, and are known to God alone. It is no uncommon thing for men to stand well both in their own eyes and in the estimation of others, and yet to be hateful in the sight of the heart-searching God. Their works may externally be good, and yet not be perfect before Godh. Men may " have a name to live, and yet in reality be dead1." They may have much religion in appearance, and yet " all their religion be vainV But it is not till the day of judgment that their real character will be known : and, when disclosed by God, and visited with merited displeasure, it will cause the utmost sur- prise in all who once knew and admired them upon earth1. Then, if not before, " their sin will find them out."]
2. Their good works —
[Some men are so eminently holy, that no one could hesi- tate to pronounce them fit to be employed in the sacred mini- stry of the Gospel : nor can any one doubt respecting the safety of their state when they die. It is said of mariners, that, though the most experienced may sometimes mistake a cloud for land, the most inexperienced never mistakes land for a cloud ; there being in the land something which carries its own evidence along with it. Thus vital godliness, when exhibited in bright colours, and in an uniform consistent tenour, com- mends itself to all who behold it : it is a light, which needs nothing else to testify of it, or to set it forth : its own efful- gence is the most convincing evidence of its existence. The ultimate happiness of those who possess it, is foreseen with an assured confidence by all who mark its course.
But there are some whose piety, in consequence of the slenderness of their attainments, or the privacy of their situa- tion, or the insuperable diffidence and reserve of their minds, is concealed from public view. External circumstances too may sometimes occasion the light, though real, to be obscured ; as was the case with those " seven thousand men in Israel," who, though unknown to the Prophet Elijah, had never bowed
g 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Gal. v. 19—21. h 2 Chron. xxv. 2. Luke viii. 14. i Rev. iii. 1—3. k Jam. i. 26.
1 Job xx. 5 — 7. What language can convey all the pathos that is implied in that expression, " Where is he ? "