The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 181

again~ existence, but against its sins and its crimes. Anger in man is necessari1y-,n evil. Hence we are commanded to be "angry and sin not." Learn from this that we turn onr greatest blessing into the greatest curse. Our optic and auricular organs ·may be BO diseased as to give to the most beautiful objects and most mel~oua sounda in Dllitlie a power to convey into us the most poignant anguish, and 80 our moral nature may become so COfrupt as to turn love into wrath, and blessedneas into misery.-D. T. Yer. 17.-:-::-77ie last Jwlgment; or, the dawn qf tAe retrihutiw era. "Who shall be abl~ to i,tand ?". There will assuredly come a day of judgment, or the dawn of_ the retributive era. The material universe symbolically prophesies some such moral crisia in th1;1 history of man. The flowing river, the growing plants, the breathing tribes, the p~e~·systems, all tend to a crisis. The unremitting increase from age to age in tJi'.-i human family, viewed in connection with the limited capacity of this planet ·to su.s~in anb;nal existence, irresistibly indicates some such a turning-point in human hi~ry. The univerSl!l and concurrent references of the human conscience through all ages arid lands give a high probability to the dawn of such a moral jwicture. The !lellten~ preceding our text calls it a great day. It will be great on account of the number. and variety of the moral beings that y.rill be assembled together; great on ac«,unt of the resuJta which will then be effected-redemptive providences ended~ and the.agencies of a righteous retribution brought into full play;. great on account ,of the ,Divine· glories which: will then be displayed. · Our point is, •• Who .shall be able to stand. on that day?" In order to illustrate this solemn question with that simplicity tpat. may make it spiritually serviceable to us now, I shall suppose a case~·· What und_er& legal charge could enable you to look calmly fo:ward to. the c?ming d~y of tria11 ~ling that you co\lld stand ? We can o~ly conceive of six. thmgs which woula ani!wer·ttu~t purpose.. . . . J.' 4 OQNsqI0USNESl:l OF INNOCENCE, AND THE POWER 01!' SHOWlNG TitAT 'l'JIE ClHABGie' 1;u), Nq zi:ouN~ATION.' The feeling of innocence in itself would brace you with energy;· l!,Dd 'eria'ble y<ni to 10:0~ onward with imperturbed heart to the day of trial. But if you 1'1t.th~t in connection with this you have the power of demonstrating your inriocen~' to tlie full convi,ction of t~e court, would you not feel even the stronger and calmer stil\?, Now, h1ne y_ou this inJeliLtiop, t<? the d,aY of judgnie~t? Are yo~conscious of YQUJ: llUlOCence? Still less are you consc1ous of the power to' demonRtrate it? No;· youl'_ QW18Cience con,\lemnf you, and "God ,is great.er than .your conscience, and knoweth alt tbillgs." This, thC/n, will not)erve you, will not' en!l.ble you to stand in tlie judgment• . ll. A.If ASSURANCE THAT ,THE EVIDENCE WILL BE FOUND INSOil':FIOIEN'r TO CO?.'VIC'J'.' Tau.may {!:now tbl,'t you are in reality guilty, you may be certain of the impotency of the·evidence; there may be DO witnesses; or, if there are, they tiiny be shown by the· able counsel you have engaged to be unworthy of belief. You may be sure 'thaJ his ~lll!•is sufficient so to colour and torture th!l evidence as to destroy itll worth._ All this:ipight ma}te you feel, in the supposed case, that you can stand in the trial.· But l\~W you this bi .elation to the day of judgment? No, no. There will be\ 1. The o~ient Judge. He knows everything, about you. 2. The people to whom and through whom you have sinned. All your sins against God have had'io do' with men. ~e, falsehoods you have spoken have, fallen on some ear, and your dishonesties, ornellies, seductions, will have to do with those who then by thousands _confront you e;r.e. 1t<> ~e.. Were you to dare to deny the charge, a million voices would confound you iyith: ~~!: coutr11di~tio~ .. 3. 'l'h~ conscience within _you bearing the strongest _tea.ti- ipony ~ t you. This, then, will not serve you-will not enable you to stand m: th · jQ~gment, . .. . , . · , · .· 111, ,4. :nELlNG THAT THE ()RIME WITH WHICH YOU ABB CHARGED 18 'tERY INB'.IGa ~OA~~ "It is true," you may say, ... I 'am guilty, and the evidence of my gniltia ure.aiatible; but the deed is 80 very' unimportant that the case, if enterta~ned iii court, will r~ult in a mere nominal penalty/' This would enable you to feel that you could itaod the trial. BU:t have you this for the day of judgment? · No. Sin, believe me; it no trifling matter.. l. Think of it in relation to God. It is a violation of the most righ.teo'Qs Jaws; for he is your Proprietor, and you are his stewards. It is a violation of the most wonderful love. He is your loving Father. 2. Think of it in its bearing on yourael/aud on the universe. "One sinner destroyeth much good." What would  oa. VIL 1-11.] THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DlVINE. 205