g Matt. xxv. 81.
o o 2
That our minds may be raised to an expectation of that day, let us consider,
II. The ends of his cominsr —
It is not to display his own glory that Christ will come ; but,
1. To pass judgment upon the whole world —
[All, who have ever lived in this wretched world, shall be summoned before him. The old and the young, the rich and the poor, will all come forth out of their graves h, and those that shall be then living upon earth shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and all shall stand together at his tri- bunal'. Every one shall then be tried as by firek; their actions shall then be weighed as in a balance ; and the most secret motions of their hearts be brought to light1. Then shall they that are approved, " have praise of God ;" and they that are disapproved, be driven from his presence. Nor will Jesus merely pronounce the sentence of condemnation or acquittal, but he will " execute" it himself, either exalting them instantly to thrones of glory, or casting them headlong into " the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone."]
2. To manifest the equity of his decisions —
[Whatever endeavours be now used to shew men their guilt and danger, they have many things to allege in their own favour1"; nor even " if we could speak with the tongues of angels," could we bring home conviction to their hearts. But Jesus will shew them, beyond all contradiction, the futility of their excuses : and will prove by such unquestionable evidence " the deeds they have committed, the words they have spoken," and the thoughts they have entertained, that they shall be silenced and confounded before him. The ministers, who once laboured for their salvation, shall then be forced to bear testi- mony against them: their companions in sin, though to their own confusion, must also testify of those deeds of darkness, which they once fondly hoped would be buried in eternal oblivion. The very places, where their most secret iniquities were committed, should rather stand forth to accuse them, than that they should escape with impunity". Above all, " God himself will be a swift witness against them0," and will so thoroughly " convince" them of all their sins, whether of
* Rev. xx. 12, 13. i 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52.
k 1 Cor. iii. 13. x Rom. ii. 16.
m They will impute their negligence to their situation in life, to necessity, or to any thing rather than the true cause, their own utter aversion to God and holiness.
" Hab. ii. 11. ° Mai. iii. 5.
2472.1 Christ's coming to judgment. 565
commission or of omission, that they shall be constrained to acknowledge the equity of that sentence, which dooms them to everlasting burnings. Even in hell will they be compelled to say, " Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments5. "]
Infer —
1. How needful is it that we should instantly begin our preparation for that day !
[Five thousand years ago the prophet spake of Jesus as so near at hand, that it seemed as if he were already come'; and it is in this way that all, whether Prophets or Apostles, have been inspired to speak. So strongly did St. Paul express himself on this subject that the Thessalonians conceived the judgment-day to be almost immediately at hand1. In the same manner must we say, " The Lord is at hand ;" " the Judge is at the doors." He surely is coming as soon as ever the events that are ordained to precede his advent shall have received their accomplishment. And with respect to us, it signifies little whether it be near or distant, since as death leaves us, judgment will find us. Is it not even madness then to delay our repentance, since we cannot tell but that death may come within the next year, or day, or hour ? Beloved, shall your Lord come, and find you sleeping ? Is he hastening towards you, and will you not prepare to meet him? O awake from your slumbers, and turn to him with your whole hearts; that so you may " have confidence before him at his coming."]