great white throne" appears, and "the Ancient of days" fits upon it, "from whofe face the earth and the heaven fly away, and there is found no place for them. The dead, fmall and great, ftand before God, and the books are opened *.

Thus all, in that numerous affembly, fhall be witneffes of the honour of Chrift; but with how different affections will they meet him! There are thofe, who, with holy exultation, will then fing, "Lo! this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will fave us this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad, and rejoice in his falvation +." Others, confounded and terrified at his prefence, fhall fay to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that fitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come, and who fhall be able to stand ‡."

The Lord Jefus, then, at his glorious advent, will proceed to judge the world with righteousness §." To this high office he is exprefsly appointed by the Covenant. It is committed to him, in order that the dignity of his character may appear; ❝ that all men fhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father " It properly belongs to him, as the fovereign univerfal King. Judgment, being a part of executive government, appertains to majefty; and, therefore, Jefus, who is "Lord of all," poffeffes the right of exercising judicature over the subjects of his dominion.

It will be one of the important objects of that day, to exhibit the perfections of God, which now feem to be obfcured, and to vindicate his present difpenfations, the equity and wisdom of which are frequently difputed and denied. Such is his amazing condefcenfion, that he will fubmit his general pro

Dan. vii. 9, 10. Rev. xx. 11, 12. † Ifa. xxv. 9. Rev. vi. 16, 17. § Pfal. xcvi. 13. John v. 23. 4

ceedings

ceedings to our infpection, and call on us to declare our approbation. The reafons of his dealings with us in this world are often concealed. "His way is in the fea, and his path in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known *." We foolishly presume to fpeculate, cavil, and find fault; when we ought to acquiefce, with patience and thankfulness, in his dif pofal. We may confider him, as faying to each one of us, "What I do, thou knoweit not now; but thou shalt know hereafter +." Every thing, event then, may not be perfectly explained; but fo much, at leaft, of the divine conduct will be laid before us, as to convince us, that in all its parts it has uniformly been "holy, and juft, and good." For that will be "the day of revelation of the righteous judgmentof God ." Under dark difpenfations, therefore, when our minds are perplexed with doubts and fears, let us learn to wait for clearer information. difficulties will foon be removed, and our objections anfwered. The fevereft calamities, which believers endure, will appear to have been appointed in wisdom, faithfulness, and love. They will all with one voice cry out, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of faints $!"

Our

Another purpose to be effected in the judgment, and what our plan leads us chiefly to infift on, is, the manifeftation of the wonderful fcheme of redemption, in its various connections and dependencies, and the public difplay of the dignity, the work, and offices of the Saviour. Jefus will then be acknowledged over all, God bleffed for ever ||.” Indeed the per- ́ fections, which he muft neceffarily poffefs, as fupreme and univerfal Judge, evidently prove, that he is fuperior to any creature. At the fame time, his hu

* Pfal. lxxvii. 19. † John xiii. 7.
Rom. ix. 5.

I 6

Rom. ii. 5. Rev. xv. 3.

miliation and grace will feem the more aftonishing, when viewed in conjunction with his glory. He will be feen, not only as "King of kings, and Lord of lords," but as "the Lamb, that was flain:" nor will he be ashamed to propose to the examination of the universe, the print of the nails in his hands and feet, and the hole in his pierced fide, as the certain marks of his crucifixion.

The nature and confequences of the trial, which will then be inftituted, and the qualifications of Jefus for his high function, will appear from the following confiderations.

1. He is wife. A clear difcernment of the demands of the law, and of the different cafes of the perfons arraigned, is of peculiar importance in a judge and this is what Jefus poffeffes without any defect. He cannot be ignorant of the rule of duty, which he himself came to enforce and explain; nor can he poffibly be mistaken in the characters or conduct of thofe, who are fummoned before him. Every difguife, which might blind the eyes of men, is removed in his prefence. No vain pretences, however fpecious, can deceive him; no falfe atteftations obtain credit at his bar: for "He fearcheth the reins and hearts *, He may be pleased to admit the teftimony of others, yet he ftands in no need of their information. He might convict or acquit, on the ground of his own unerring obfervation; every fecret thing is noted down in his book, and he knows "every man's work, of what fort it is." How different it is in many human courts of judicature, where the evidence may be fo defective, or fuch fhameful impofitions practifed, that the guilty may efcape, and the innocent fuffer!

It will be allowed, that judgment properly belongs to Jefus, if we observe,

• Rev. ii, 23.

2. He is juft. However clearly men understand the cafes, which are fubmitted to their decifion, they may determine under the influence of corrupt motives, fo as to "condemn the innocent blood," and sc accept the perfons of the wicked *" But it is not poffible, that Jefus fhould feel any prejudice or partiality, or be misled by wrong affections. "Shall

not the Judge of all the earth do right+?" "Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne ‡." He is "Faithful and true, and in righteoufnefs he doth judge §." "There is no refpect of persons with him." Accordingly, in claffing the numerous affembly at his tribunal, he pays no regard to any other confideration than that of their characters. For "he shall separate them one from another, as a fhepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the fheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left 4.”

A very different fentence awaits thefe different deferiptions of men; but, even in that decifion, he will manifeft his own holinefs, truth, and equity. He will condefcend to declare the reafons, for which he admits fome to his blifsful prefence in heaven, and dooms others to a ftate of everlafting punishment. Such as have believed in his name, are completely juftified through his obedience; yet he will prove, that they are faved confiftently with his eternal love of righteousness. It will appear, that they were renewed after his image "through fanctification of the Spirit," which they had evinced by their habitual regard to his will, and by their pious labours. He will, therefore, produce their good works for his own glory, as well as the vindication of their characters. The impenitent will be confounded by the horrors of an accufing confcience, and by the fight of the Judge, who is privy to all their fecret tranfactions of iniquity,

Pfal. lxxxii. 2. xciv. 21. § Rev. xix. 11.

+ Gen. xviii. 25. Rom. ii. 11.

Pfal. lxxxix. 14. Matt. xxv. 32, 33.

and

a

nd malignant difpofitions. But he will, alfo, demonfrate the juftice of their condemnation before the affembled univerfe, by publicly exhibiting their evil. deeds, their neglect and contempt of every thing truly excellent. So that, however tremendous that state may be, to which they are awarded, none will prefume to fay, "My punishment is greater than I deferve,"

We confider further, the qualifications of Jesus for his office, while we obferve

3. He is powerful. The whole proceedings of our courts of judicature would be trifling and abfurd, if the judge poffeffed no authority to execute his fentence. The Lord Chrift bears the fword: He is "the Almighty *"; "Strong is his hand, and high is his right hand +." Whoever may be difpofed to doubt of the equity of his decifion, yet it must be carried into effect. What his lips pronounce, he will inftantly perform. Vain would be all refiftance: for who fhall dare to contend with Him? The gates of heaven fhall be opened at his command, and admit his redeemed people: not one, of that fociety, can poffi-bly be excluded. If he fhould fay to us, "Enter ye into the joy of your Lord," the united force of the whole creation would be unable to prevent it. His word, also, will be with power, when he shall utter that tremendous doom, "Depart from me, ye curfed." Do any complain, or refuse to obey? Alas! to what purpofe? The mandate is irrefiftible, as being enforced by omnipotence. Whoever, therefore, may with or attempt to evade the fentence, it must take place. The wicked "fhall be punished with everlasting de-ftruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power t."

Whilft we allow and maintain, that it is the prerogative of Jefus to execute judgment, let us not forget

* Rev. i. 8. † Pfal. lxxxix. 13. + 2 Theff. i. 9.

that