USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > The ministry of Taunton, with incidental notices of other professions > Part 7
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in the sanctions of the laws of God. Besides these, there is not a motive. Without these, there would be no motive to excite obedience. Therefore, they are necessary, and what in our ideas are involved in divine laws.
THIRDLY, The promises and threatenings will take place. In this view they have influence. For it is the expecta- tion, that the threats will be realized, which makes them a terror to evil doers. It is the prospect, that promised blessing will be granted, which excites hope, and puts us in pursuit of future promised good. It is the prospect, that God will bless his people, and punish his enemies, that his truth, grace and justice appear, which are objects, that excite proper sensations of heart towards him. Were the promises and threatenings never to take place, all the motives, which they contain would be a nullity. Instead of exciting reverence for the laws, they would excite con- tempt. Hence it appears necessary, that his laws should be executed. Every good thing promised to the believer must be granted, according to the genuine import of the promises. And all the terrible things denounced against the wicked must be inflicted, according to the spirit, and true sense of the threatenings.
BUT in this life, the promises and threats are not fulfill- ed. He does not give his people all the blessings prom- ised. Infinitely the greatest are yet to be granted. Neither does he inflict all the evil threatened. The infi- nite evil of sin, and inequality of inflicted punishments in this life, are indubitable evidences, that threatenings are not completely executed here. Therefore, mankind must be judged hereafter in a future state, that the promises and threatening may take place.
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5. IN plain and positive language the scriptures teach us, that God will judge mankind; and that a day is ap- pointed for that purpose.
FOR the works of man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways .* Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.t God shall bring every work into judgment with every se- cret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil .; For thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.§ For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. | In the day when he shall judge the secrets of men. IT Because he hath appointed a day in the which, he will judge the world in righteousness .**
CHRIST frequently spake of the day of judgment. And whenever he did, he considered it as an event, that would infallibly take place. The instances are too many to be mentioned now. Let one suffice.
ON a certain time, when circumstances gave him a fa- vorable opportunity, he introduced it, by delivering a par- able. The substance may be expressed in the following words. A man, being about to go a long journey, called his servants together, and delivered to each one a sum of money, and ordered them to improve it well, that he might reap profit from it on his return. He went his journey, and after long absence returned, and reckoned with the servants. He found, that two of them had been faithful.
* Job xxxiv. 11.
§ Jer. xxxii. 19.
** Acts xvii. 31.
+ Ecc. xi. 9.
|| Rom. xiv. 10.
# Ecc. xii. 14.
T Rom. ii. 16.
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Those he received into his favor. He found, that one had been unfaithful. Him he cast off, and gave him up to the tormenters.
BY the parable he signified, that he was about to go away; but would return after a long time. "I shall leave the world soon, and go to my Father, and dwell with him a long time ; then I will come to the earth again, and reck- on with mankind to see what improvement, they have made of the privileges and abilities, which I have given them. Those who are faithful, I will admit to my favor; but those, who are not, shall be cast off, and given up to suffer extreme sorrow and pain."
WHEN he had thus introduced the subject, he proceed- ed to a particular information of what he would do, when he, the son of man, should come. When the son of man shall come-then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory : And before him shall be gathered all nations ; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats : and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." If language can communicate sentiments, the certainty of a day of judgment is expressed by Christ in these words.
II. ON that day, all mankind will be collected together.
WHEN Saint John had the day of judgment represented to him in a vision, he saw the dead small and great stand before God.t Saint Paul testified, that, we shall all
* Mat. xxv. 31, 32, 33, 34, 41.
t Rev. xx. 12.
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stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Our Lord, you recollect, said, that before him all nations should be gathered. Several things may be offered to show why, they will be summoned to appear together before Christ's tribunal.
1. IN instances of judging people in this life, God has made his judicial proceedings public. That which respect- ed Adam, has been known in every age, since it took place. Those relative to Egypt, Assyria, the Jews, and a multitude of others, too well known to need a recital, were public at the times, in which they took place, and ever since ; and will be to all in future time, who will be acquainted with the Bible. Hence it is rational to con- clude, that in judging the world, he will do it in such a manner, as that his proceedings, in that great affair, will be publicly known. Instances of judging people, and na- tions here, though in themselves vastly important, and an- swering many wise ends; yet compared with judging the world, and ends to be answered by it, become cyphers. Are these comparatively inconsiderable judicial acts ex- hibited to public view; we may conclude, that God will act in the most public manner in an affair of such infinite magnitude, as that of completing his judicial proceedings, by judging a whole world. And we may add, angels and devils. For they will be judged at that time. The infer- ence from his judging in that public manner, which we have reason to think that he will, is, that all will be called together to give an opportunity to make his proceedings known.
2. BY making his judicial acts public, he glorifies him- self. I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, upon all his 8 *
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host, upon his chariots and horsemen .* For this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.t The song, that Israel sang at the over- throw of that haughty monarch, hath for its leading idea the glory which God displayed in the terrible judgments, which were inflicted on him. When God judged Israel in the wilderness, and doomed them to death and ruin, he testified, that, by that act, he would give a most illustrious display of himself. As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.# When he shall judge all mankind, which will be a work, that will infinitely tran- scend all his past works of this nature, it may be expected, that he will make most illustrious displays of himself. But we have more evidence of this, than what rises from infer- ence. The doxology, that will be sung, in the day, when God shall pass sentence upon all, is expressive of the great glory, that he will get by it. "Alleluia: salvation, and glory, and honor, and power unto the Lord our God. For true and righteous are his judgments, and again they said, Alleluia." " And her smoke rose up for ever and ever." To see the display that God will make of himself, there is the utmost propriety of his assembling all mankind before his tribunal. For how will his glory appear, unless man- kind be called together to see it.
BY being present, they will have an opportunity of see- ing the difficulties and objections removed, which they have against the manner of his government of the world. Now they blame God. They think, he might have made a better world, and wonder why he did not. They think things might have been adjusted more wisely. They think
* Exod. xiv. 17. + Rom. ix. 17.
į Num. xiv. 21
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it is unjust, that poor mortals should suffer a burden of afflictions in life, then die and go to hell. They think, it is hard, that some should be left to perish, while others are saved. They cannot see, why God should blame them for not loving him with all the heart, when they think they are unable to do it. I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gatheriny where thou hast not strawed," - is language expressive of the feelings of the sinful heart towards God. And good people have sometimes a degree of the same wicked sen- sations. In the day of judgment God will show that he acted wisely, in governing the world as he did, which will give full satisfaction to holy beings, and excite the highest exercises of joy, and stop the mouths of sinners. By be- ing present they will be under advantage of seeing a glo- rious display of divine grace and justice. The holy sove- reign of the world saves believers and punishes the wicked. Against this conduct many bitter complaints are made. The human heart rises against it. God will look into this matter, in the solemn day of trial, and show on which side the blame lies. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the heart.t Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give ac- count thereof in the day of judgment .¿ He will expose the sins of every one to public view. How exceedingly vile will men appear. They will appear so hateful and ill- deserving, that the riches of God's grace in saving Christ's people, will be magnified beyond conception ; and the pun- ishment of impenitent sinners will appear so perfectly right, that they will be convicted of the impropriety and sin of all their hard speeches against God.
Mat. xxv. 24.
t 1 Cor. iv. 5. # Mat. xii. 36.
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BY being together in the presence of their Judge, they will have an opportunity of sceing in clear light, why God separates sinners and saints. They live together in this world. Let both grow together until the harvest .* They have connections with one another here. Some of which are interesting, and some very dear. Such are those be- tween the partners of cach other's joys and sorrows in the conjugal state-between parents and children-between ministers and people, and between members in church fel- lowship. At death connections are dissolved between the righteous and the wicked. Until the day of judgment they will live apart. And so they will forever after that great day. Though apart, and in infinitely different states, they will be in sight of cach other. Abraham could cast his eyes towards hell, and see the rich man in torment. That same rich man could lift up a painful eye, and see Abraham and Lazarus. The righteous shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men, that have transgressed against me. For their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched.t To be thus separated requires a weighty reason. And to reconcile the righteous to it, and convict sinners of the propriety of it, and stop their cavil- ings against God, the reason must be seen. In the great day he will make the reason known. He tells us now, why he separates them. But then he will do it more clearly, by laying open the character of every one. When he does, the contrast of characters will appear so great, that all will see abundant reason for the wide separation.
THAT God may have an opportunity of exhibiting him- self; and all mankind have opportunity of learning more fully, that he acts wisely in his government of the world;
* Mat. xiii. 30.
+ Isai. Ixvi. 24.
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and that they may behold his grace and justice shine in his treatment of mankind, and see the reason of his sepa- rating his friends and enemies, are reasons, why all should be assembled at the august court of heaven; and reasons also, why such an event may be expected.
3. THEIR connections seem to require, that they should be together at the trial.
THERE are a multitude of things, which take place be- tween the children of men in this life to be settled then; and many kindnesses expressed among saints toward one another to be rewarded, the nature of which, is such, as will require their attendance together.
THERE are many things between parties, which are nev- er settled in this life, that will be settled in the day of judgment. We often hear it said concerning people at variance, who cannot, or will not settle their quarrels, " their affairs must be left to be settled in the day of judg- ment." If matters between parties are to be settled at that time, both parties must be present. And those par- ties may have difficulties with other parties to be settled. And those other parties with others. In this sense the connection may be general; and of consequence all must be present. But there are many affairs among mankind of extensive connection, which are to be settled then; such as those that are national. A tyrant may abuse millions of his subjects, and do infinite mischief to other nations. The cruel sword of Alexander brought millions to an un- timely end, and entailed wretchedness to posterity. A king may be the wicked cause of rivers of blood among his subjects, and by influential connection be the unjust cause of the same horrid calamity among many nations. And those nations may be the instruments of spreading
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the calamity to others. In this way, it may extend over all the nations of the earth. Further the present nations may be instrumental of carrying the calamities of war down to posterity. And posterity still further down. We can conceive, and doubtless it is true, that this kind of connection extends itself through the earth, and through all ages. If so all mankind must be together, in the day of judgment, when God will settle all national affairs, ex- pose the tyrant, and vindicate the innocent.
GOOD people have their connections. They assist one another in the journey of life towards heaven. The be- nevolent man loves his christian brethren. He watches their conduct, prays for their spiritual good, and shows them kindness, by imparting to them such things as they need. For every thing that he does, for his brethren in the exercise of love, he will be rewarded. A cup of cold water, given to a disciple of Christ, will not be forgotten. A reward is in store for the christian who gives it. And no inconsiderable part of the reward, will be the joy, that their presence will give him in the day of Judgment. The Apostle Paul was instrumental of converting many, and of building them up in the faith, and order of the gos- pel. He is to be rewarded in the day of judgment for all his labor for their spiritual good. And his reward will be the joy, that it will give him to see them standing before the tribunal, as monuments of the victorious grace of God. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming .* If the reward of Paul is to consist in the joy that he will have in seeing his converts at the day of judgment, they must be present, or he will not have his reward.
* 1 Thess. ii. 19.
-
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IF the converts of Paul must be present, Timothy must be there ; for he was one of the converts of St. Paul. And the converts of Timothy must be there also, that Timothy may have his reward for his labors for their spir- itual good. The converts of Timothy, some of whom, were probably instrumental of converting others, and they of others, all for the reason just given, must be there on the solemn day of rewards and punishments. The connection in this sense may, and probably does exist through the great body of the people of God, in all ages, which shows that all must be together, when God judges the world.
III. The day of judgment will be a great day.
A DAY may be called great on account of the great things, which are done upon it. The fourth of July is esteemed a great day ; because on that day of the month, we declared ourselves free independent states. That was a great day, when God promised to give a Saviour to fal- len man. That was a great day, when the rain began to fall, which destroyed the world. That also, on which fire fell from heaven, and consumed the people of Sodom. That was a great day, in which God gave the law from Sinai. That likewise on which the Saviour was born, and that on which he hung upon the cross. All these have been great days. But were not so great as that, in which God will judge mankind, except that, on which the Lord of life, cried out upon the cross, " It is finished." Grand scenes, and infinitely interesting events will then take place. Such as will attract the attention of heaven, earth and hell. Some of which, I shall now mention with a view to show, that it will be a great day.
1. Ir will be a great day; because Christ will appear again to our world.
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ALMOST eighteen hundred years ago he appeared among mankind, lived to the age of thirty and three years, and then suffered death on the cross, was buried, arose and as- cended into heaven to tarry there until the end of the world. Then he will come again to our earth. That same Jesus, who lived a term of time in the land of Israel, and who was taken up into heaven, will open the heavens, de- scend, and come again to this world. He tarries to get things ready for his coming, as he did for his coming in the flesh. He then tarried to get things ready for his appearance. He now tarries to get things ready to come to judge the world. When all things were ready, he came down, and died to make atonement. When all things are ready, he will come down a second time, and then judge the world. He now upholds the world; he raises up na- tions and empires, and casts them down; he sends forth the heralds of his gospel to call in the elect from the four winds of heaven; he diffuses light round this blind world, and by his almighty power opens the eyes of his chosen to see it; he calls away generations and lays them in the dust, and brings forward others in their room; he shakes the heavens and the earth; that is, civil and ecclesiastical powers, to prepare things for his second appearance. And when all things are ready, he will appear.
2. IT will be a great day; because the appearance of Christ will be most public.
WHEN he appeared in the flesh but a very few people, compared with the great body of mankind, saw him. He confined himself to the land of Palestine. And although he went into many places in that land, he did not go over the whole country. Multitudes of the people never saw him. None of the people of other nations ever saw him
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except some, who either resided in the land of Israel, or occasionally came there, during his residence in the flesh. But when he shall appear in the day of judgment, he will be seen by all mankind. Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him .* All that will be alive on the earth at his appearance, will see him. The people of the present day, and all that have lived before, and that will live in future days, will behold him.
3. Ir will be a great day; because he will appear in his glory. When Christ spoke of his coming in the day of judgment, he said, when the son of man shall come in his glory ; t plainly signifying that when he should appear to judge the world, he should appear in his glory.
BY his glory, which he spake of, is meant, that bright appearance, which was often seen to attend him, and which was a token of his majesty and of his presence. When he spake to Moses from the bush in Horeb, he appeared in a light, that appeared like fire. When he conducted Israel from Egypt to Canaan, a bright cloud hung over them by day and by night. When the people set up the tabernacle in the wilderness, that brightness hovered over it, and part of it entered into the tabernacle, filling it with the appearance of light and fire, and collected into a small body in the most holy place, over the mercy seat and ark, under the wings of the cherubim. This bright appearance was called the glory of the Lord. It tarried in the most holy place, until the days of Eli, the High Priest and then, because of the wickedness of Israel, it forsook the taber- nacle and appeared no more till the days of King Solo- mon. When Solomon had completed the building of the temple, it returned and entered in at the door, and filled
Rev. i. 7.
1 Matt. xxv. 31.
9
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the whole house ; and then collected in a small body, in the most Holy Place, in the manner it had done in the tabernacle. In the temple it tarried, till about the time of the great captivity of the people of the kingdom of Judah, among the Babylonians, and other nations subject to the Babylonish King ; and was seen no more, till the God of Israel appeared in the flesh to redeem a lost world.
THEN it appeared several times. Probably this glory was the star, which appeared to the wise men of the east, and conducted them to Judea to the place, where the Sa- viour was. This bright appearance, called a bright cloud, overshadowed Christ and the three disciples, who were with him in the mount. And when he ascended into heav- en, he went up in a bright cloud. And when he appears in the day of judgment, he will be surrounded with the same appearance. Thus testified the angels, who appear- ed and spake to those, who stood gazing on Christ, as he was going from earth to heaven. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heav- en .* "He is gone up from you to take his residence in the mansions of glory ; but he will return again and visit your world. He went up in a bright cloud; and when he comes again he will come in a bright cloud." To this declaration of the angels, agree the words of John. Be- hold he cometh with clouds.t John doubtless alludes to the manner of his appearance in instances before, signify- ing that he would come in the same brightness, called the
* Acts i. 10, 11.
t Rev. i. 7.
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glory of the Lord. That glory, in which he will appear, will be brighter than the meridian sun. It will illuminate the world. May it be not said the universe. What a magnificent appearance will the Lord Jesus make.
4. THE angels will come with him. Heaven will pour forth its legions of angels, who will attend on Christ, when he shall come to our world again.
ANGELS were made to attend on Christ. Two angels attended him, when he came to Abraham at Mamre. Ja- cob in a vision saw angels descending from heaven and as- cending, while the angel of the covenant, who was Christ, was renewing the covenant with him, which the Lord had made before with Abraham. When Christ gave the Law to Moses on mount Sinai, he did it by the disposition of angels. An angel announced to the shepherds his birth. When he was tempted by Satan, angels descended and administered unto him. When he agonized in the garden, in the deepest sorrow, an angel was dispatched from heav- en to strengthen him. An angel came down and rolled away the stone, that lay on the mouth of his sepulchre, that when he awoke into life he might have opportunity to come from his grave. Mary saw two angels in his grave, after he had risen, one sitting at the head, and the other at the place, where his head and feet had lain. When he ascended, two angels appeared at the same time to those who saw him go up into heaven. When he shall clothe himself in majesty, open the heavens, and come down again, all the holy angels will come with him. Legions of bright seraphs will attend him down the skies, and shout his praises in the most sublime songs. Ifis appearance will be very different from that, which he made when he appeared to take away sin. A few men from the cast
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presented their gifts, and paid homage to him: when he shall appear again all men will bow to him, some willingly, others against their wills. Then a few poor people fre- quently attended him, and his very disciples were not men, who made a figure in life : when he shall come again, all the hosts of angels will be his attendants. Then a few poor mortals lisped his praise : when he comes the second time, millions of angels will sound his praises aloud.
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