accompanied to her soul, that she went home and said, "Come, see a man who has told me all that ever I did8." Now this omniscient Judge is at the door, ready to pass sentence on us, the very instant we are brought before him : and, if our eyes were opened, as those of Elisha's servant were11, we might see the throne of judgment already set; the Judge himself seated upon it ; the books opened before him ; the list of the prisoners, according as they are in succession to be brought before him ; and the officers ready, both to summon them in their turn, and to execute on all the sentence awarded to them.]
To impress this solemn truth upon your minds, let me proceed to shew,
II. The attention it demands —
" Behold ! the Judge standeth before the door :" mark it ; contemplate it ; act upon it. Surely the consideration of this awful truth should prevail upon us,
1. To seek without delay the pardon of our past sins —
[If we " die in our sins," woe be to us ! " it had been better for us never to have been born." But through repent- ance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ all our past sins may be forgiven : they may all " be blotted out, as a morning cloud ;" yea, though they may have been of a " scarlet or crim- son dye, they may be made white as snow." Should we, then, defer a moment to seek this inestimable blessing? When we know not but that the very next hour we may be summoned into the presence of our Judge, should we endanger the ever- lasting welfare of our souls by waiting for a more convenient season? Oh ! " Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him ; lest the adversary deliver you to the Judge, and the Judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Verily, you shall not come out thence, till you have paid the utmost farthing1."]
2. To guard with all diligence against the incursion of fresh sin —
[Remember, that whatever be the state of our souls at the moment of death, that will continue to be our state to all eternity. It may be said, " I have repented long since, and sought for mercy through Christ, and attained to a consider- able measure of righteousness." Be it so. Yet must I declare unto you, that " if you relapse into sin, your past righteousness
8 John iv. 29. h 2 Kings vi. 17. j Matt. v. 25, 26.
2375.] NEARNESS OF JUDGMENT. Ill
shall not be remembered ; but in the iniquity which you have committed, shall you diek." There cannot be a more fatal error, than to imagine that your past experience, whatever it may have been, shall avail you any thing, if you turn back to sin. So far will it be from screening you from the wrath of God, that it will rather render you obnoxious to it, in a ten- fold heavier degree: " You only have I known of all the families of Israel ; therefore will I punish you for your iniqui- ties1." Hear how strongly God himself has cautioned you against this error : " Be not deceived : God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap : he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption : and he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlast- ing111." When, therefore, you consider how suddenly you may be called into the presence of your Judge, it becomes you to " keep your garments clean," and to " use all diligence that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."]
3. To watch in a more especial manner over the secret workings of your hearts —
[It is not our actions only that our God will call into judgment, but " every secret thing, whether it be good or evil." There is much that is externally " good in the eyes of men, which yet is an abomination in the sight of Godn." There may be in the best exercises of our religion much of pride and self-complacency ; and in our most benevolent actions, also, a mixture of ostentation and vanity. Now " God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the heart0." How attentive then should we be to the secret workings of our minds ! They are all discerned by God, as clearly as our overt acts : " He search- eth the heart, and trieth the reins :" " he weigheth the very spirits of men :" and thousands, who took credit to themselves for acting from the best of principles, will be found no better than hypocrites before him. Beloved, know of a truth, that if ever you would find acceptance with your Judge, you must be " Israelites indeed, and without guile."]