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tains a list of all God's people. They are enrolled in it when they begin to live to God. The dead in sin are not, nor can be written in this book. The living only are registered there, and their names being found in that sacred volume in the last day, they will live for ever. Those who fall into sin, and become twice dead, are blotted out; but he who steadily perseveres in the christian warfare, and overcomes all his enemies, "the same shall be clothed in white raiment: and I will not (says Jesus) blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels." After the opening of the books the awful judgment begins.

III. THE DEAD ARE JUDGED OUT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS. 1. The dead are judged. Every individual must be examined, and receive a final sentence. There will be no unconcerned spectator. Each one, in that great congregation, will have a deep interest in the solemnities of the day. The Judge will examine every one in the presence of the whole assembly. Angels, men, and devils, will hear our trial. Our whole life, private and public, will be brought to light. The deepest secrets of our souls will be laid

open. Not a thought, a desire, or a design, will escape the notice of the Judge. Every temper, every work, and every word, will be brought forward. "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

3. The dead will be judged out of those things which are written in the books. One man will not be allowed to accuse another. Devils will not be allowed to accuse men. Nothing but written records will be produced as evidence, either for or against any one. The books, like him who wrote them, will be faithful and true. They will contain full and sufficient evidence to determine the everlasting fate of all; and the evidence will be so full and clear, that no doubt can remain. Devils and wicked men will be silenced, and the saints will triumphantly shout, "Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.

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4. The dead will be judged according to their works. Not according to their professions, opinions, privileges, riches, poverty, rank, or titles, in this lower world. We are justified by faith, in this day of grace; but in the day of judgment we shall either be justified or condemned by the evidence of our works. Works are either good or bad. Amongst the good, we may

reckon works of justice, mercy, and piety: amongst the bad, we may reckon works of vanity, dishonesty, cruelty, uncleanness, drunkenness, and profaneness. All these will appear on our examination, and by them our state will be fixed. At the same time the principles which produced these works, and the ends to which they were directed, will be taken into the account. How dreadful to be "weighed in the ballances and found wanting!" To prevent that, let us seek an union with Jesus, which, leading to a renewal of our hearts, will enable us to bring forth those fruits of righteousness which God will re ward in that day.

It will certainly appear, when the books are opened, that Christ is the only Saviour of a lost and ruined world; and that all men, had they followed the light which he afforded, and the grace by which he influenced their hearts, might have been saved eternally. Those who have only the law written on their hearts may find their way to the right hand of the Judge. And shall we, who are highly favoured with the word of God, and who abound with christian privileges, be found with horror on the left?

That day will put a final period to all fraud, oppression, and injustice. The triumphs of the wicked, and the sufferings of

the righteous, will then come to an end. A just sentence will be pronounced, and every one will enter upon that state in which he must remain for ever.

Amidst the hurry and tumult of this depraved world, let us often think of that great day. When we are disposed to take our fill of pleasure, and to walk in the way of our own hearts, let us recollect, that for all these things God will bring us into judgment. O how shall we appear then! What will be our lot? Must we stand with devils and the damned to hear our sentence? Or shall we be found with saints and angels? What is our state now? Let us now bring ourselves into judgment ! Let conscience speak, and be attentive to its voice! Does conscience condemn? Then, go to a merciful God through Christ. Seek and find the remission of sins. into the fountain which is set open for sin and uncleanness. Thus, when the Judge descends, in all the glory of his father, thou wilt appear before him with joy and gladness. Amen,

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Sinners Banished from Christ.

SERMON XXXIX.

MATT. XXV. 41.

Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

How awful are these words! The bare repetition of them is enough to make the stoutest sinner tremble! They contain the final sentence, which the Judge of all the earth will pronounce upon the wicked in the day of judgment. The sentence contains four parts: the wicked are banished from Christ-they are banished with a curse-they are banished into that fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels-and their banishment will be everlasting.

I. THE WICKED ARE BANISHED FROM CHRIST.

1. The sentence opens with the word depart. While those wretched beings lived in this world, and remained in a state of probation, Christ often said to them, "Come unto me;" and he complained that they would not come: "Ye will not come to

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