more than for God to unloose that secret chain, whereby this irresistible agent is now bound down, and lies quiescent in every particle of matter? And how soon would it tear the universal frame in pieces, and involve all in one common ruin!

5. There is one circumstance more which will follow the Judgment, that deserves our serious consideration. "We look (says the Apostle) according to his promise, for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," 2 Pet. iii. 13. The promise stands in the prophecy of Isaiah, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former shall not be remembered," Isaiah lxv. 17: so great shall the glory of the latter be! These St. John did behold in the Visions of God. "I saw (saith he) a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away," Rev. xx. 1. And only righteousness dwelt therein: accordingly he adds, " And I heard a great voice from [the third] heaven, saying, 'Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God!'" ch. xxi. 3. Of necessity therefore they will all be happy: "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain,” ch. xxi. 4. "There shall be no more curse; but they shall see his face," ch. xxii. 3, 4; shall have the nearest access to, and thence the highest resemblance of him. This is the strongest expression in the language of Scripture, to denote the most perfect happiness. "And his Name shall be on their foreheads;" they shall be openly acknowledged as God's own property; and his glorious nature shall most visibly shine forth in them." And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever."

IV. It remains only, to apply the preceding considera. tions to all who are here before God. And are we not di

rectly led so to do, by the present solemnity, which so

naturally points us to that Day, when the Lord will judge the world in righteousness? This, therefore, by reminding us of that more awful season, may furnish many lessons of instruction. A few of these I may be permitted just to touch on. May God write them on all our heerts!

1. And, first, how beautiful are the feet of those who are sent by the wise and gracious Providence of God, to execute justice on earth, to defend the injured, and punish the wrong-doer! Are they not the Ministers of God to us for good, the grand Supporters of the public tranquillity, the Patrons of innocence and virtue, the great Security of all our temporal blessings? And does not every one of these represent, not only an earthly prince, but the Judge of the earth? Him, whose "Name is written upon his Thigh, King of kings, and Lord of lords?" O that all these sons of the righthand of the Most High, may be holy as he is holy! Wise with the Wisdom that sitteth by his Throne, like him who is the eternal Wisdom of the Father! No respecters of persons, as he is none; but rendering to every man according to his works: like him inflexibly, inexorably just, though pitiful and of tender mercy! So shall they be terrible indeed to them that do evil, as not bearing the sword in vain. So shall the Laws of our land have their full use and due honour, and the Throne of our King be still established in righteousness.

2. Ye truly honourable men, whom God and the King have commissioned, in a lower degree, to administer Justice: may not ye be compared to those ministering spirits who will attend the Judge coming in the clouds? May you, like them, burn with love to God and man! May you love righteousness and hate iniquity! May ye all minister in your several spheres (such honour hath God given you also!) to them that shall be heirs of salvation, and to the glory of your great Sovereign! May ye remain the Establishers of Peace, the Blessing and Ornaments of your Country, the Protectors of a guilty land, the Guardian Angels of all that are round about you!

3. You, whose office it is to execute what is given you

in charge by Him, before whom you stand; how nearly are you concerned to resemble those that stand before the face of the Son of Man? Those servants of his that do his pleasure, and hearken to the voice of his words? Does it not highly import you, to be as uncorrupt as they? To approve yourselves the servants of God? To do justly, and love mercy; to do to all as ye would they should do to you? So shall that great Judge, under whose eye you continually stand, say to you also, "Well done, good and faithful servants: enter ye into the joy of your Lord!"

4. Suffer me to add a few words to all of you who are this day present before the Lord. Should not you bear it in your minds all the day long, that a more awful day is coming? A large assembly this! But what is it to that which every eye will then behold, the general assembly of all the children of men that ever lived on the face of the whole earth! A few will stand at the judgment-seat this day, to be judged, touching what shall be laid to their charge. And they are now reserved in prison, perhaps in chains, till they are brought forth to be tried and sentenced. But we shall all, I that speak, and you that hear, "Stand at the Judgment-seat of Christ!" And we are now reserved on this earth, which is not our home, in this prison of flesh and blood, perhaps many of us in chains of darkness too, till we are ordered to be brought forth. Here a man is questioned concerning one or two facts, which he is supposed to have committed. There we are to give an account of all our works, from the cradle to the grave; of all our words, of all our desires and tempers; all the thoughts and intents of our hearts; of all the use we have made of our various talents, whether of mind, body, or fortune, till God said, "Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.". In this court, it is possible some, who are guilty, may escape for want of evidence. But there is no want of evidence in that court. All men, with whom you had the most secret intercourse, who were privy to all your designs and actions, are ready before your face. So are all the spirits of darkness, who inspired evil designs, and as

sisted in the execution of them. So are all the angels of God, those eyes of the Lord, that run to and fro over all the earth, who watched over your souls, and laboured for your good, so far as you would permit. So is your own conscience, a thousand witnesses in one, now no more capable of being either blinded or silenced, but constrained to know and to speak the naked truth, touching all your thoughts, and words, and actions. And is conscience as a thousand witnesses? yea, but God is as a thousand consciences! Oh, who can stand before the face of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ!

See! see! He cometh! He maketh the clouds his chariots! He rideth upon the wings of the wind! A devouring fire goeth before him, and after him, a flame burneth! See! he sitteth upon his throne, clothed with light as with a garment, arrayed with majesty and honour! Behold his eyes are as a flame of fire, his voice as the sound of many waters!

How will ye escape? Will ye call to the mountains to fall on you, the rocks to cover you? Alas, the mountains themselves, the rocks, the earth, the heavens, are just ready to flee away! Can ye prevent the sentence? Wherewith? With all the substance of thy house, with thousands of gold and silver? Blind wretch! Thou camest naked from thy mother's womb, and more naked into eternity. Hear the Lord, the Judge! "Come, ye blessed of my Father! inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Joyful sound! How widely different from that voice, which echoes through the expanse of heaven, “Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!" And, who is he that can prevent or retard the full execution of either sentence? Vain hope! Lo, hell is moved from beneath to receive those who are ripe for destruction! And the everlasting doors lift up their heads, that the heirs of glory may come in.

5. "What manner of persons then ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godliness!" We know it cannot be long before the Lord will descend with the voice of the Archangel, and the trumpet of God; when every one of us

shall appear before him, and give an account of his own works. "Wherefore, beloved, seeing ye look for these things; [seeing ye know, He will come and will not tarry] be diligent that ye may be found of him, in peace, without spot and blameless." Why should ye not? Why should one of you be found on the left hand, at his appearing? He willeth not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; by repentance to faith, in a bleeding Lord; by faith, to spotless love, to the full image of God, renewed in the heart, and producing all holiness of conversation. Can you doubt of this, when you remember the Judge of all, is likewise the Saviour of all? Hath he not bought you with his own blood, that ye might not perish, but have everlasting life? O make proof of his mercy rather than bis justice! Of his love rather than the thunder of his power! He is not far from every one of us; and he is now come, not to condemn, but to save the world. He standeth in the midst! Sinner, doth he not now, even now, knock at the door of thy heart? O that thou mayest know, at least in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace! O that ye may now give yourselves to him who gave himself for you, in humble faith, in holy, active, patient love! so shall ye rejoice with exceeding joy in his day, when he cometh in the clouds of heaven,