The Apostle having introduced God's appointment respecting man to illustrate that respecting Christ, we shall point out,
III. The correspondence and connexion between them —
The mention of death and judgment as appointed unto man was not at all necessary to the Apostle's argument : but, as an illustration of it, it was very pertinent.
1. Death and judgment are the consequents o^ sin; and the first and second coming of Christ shall be the means of salvation.
[If there had been no sin, there would have been no death, nor any occasion for a day of judgment : and, if Christ had not come to bear the sins of men, there would have been no salva- tion : all must have inevitably and eternally perished. More- over, as the law required that the High-priest, after having finished his work within the vail, should come forth to bless
^ Heb. X. 14. c Rom. viii. 3.
^ Lev. xvi. 23, 24. with viii. 7, !>. and Numb. vi. 23, 24.
e Matt. XXV. 31.
the people ; so in the Divine appointment, Clirist's second coming is necessary to the complete salvation of his follovi'ers.]
2. Death and judgment shall be fatal to imhe- lievers ; and the iirst and second coming of Christ shall be means of salvation to them that believe —
[The Lord Jesus, as a Judge, will condemn the vs^icked ; " he will come to take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not his Gospel." But as a Priest, he will come forth only to bless his redeemed, who are praying without, whilst he is interceding for them within the vaiH. They are fitly represented as " looking for him ;" and he will appear to their unutterable and eternal joy.]
Address —
1. To those who are regardless of their spiritual welfare —
[O that you would duly consider the certainty and near- ness of death and judgment ! You would then soon turn from vanity and sin, and labour to secure an interest in Christ. Let this subject then dwell upon your minds, till you are quickened by it to seek the Lord, and have obtained through him the remission of your sins.]
2. To those who are anxious to save their souls —
[If you really look to Christ to take away your sins, you need not be afraid of death and judgment. You may look forward to Christ's second coming, not with comfort only, but unspeakable delight. Stand then in this posture, looking for and hasting to that blessed day^: if he tarry, wait for him; and in due time you shall hear from his lips that reviving sen- tence ; " Come, ye blessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you."]
f Luke i. 9, 10. k 2 Pet. iii. 12.