Imatges de pàgina
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to no other purpose, than to endure immortal torments, Owhat an inex pressible rack will it be to these wretchto be reunited to such carcases, to be condemned to eternal confinement in such horrid and filthy abodes! Ah! my soul, take thou care to keep thy body now pure from the corruption of carnal sins, lest otherwise it become hereafter an aggrava tion of thy eternal misery.

Consider, fifthly, with how much joy and satisfaction the souls of the just shall be again united to their bodies, which they have so long desired; with what affection they will embrace those fellow partners in all their labours, sufferings, and mortifications; and now designed, to give an addition to their eternal happiness, by sharing in the glory of the hea venly Sion. But, O! what dreadful curses shall pass at the melancholy meeting of the souls and bodies of the reprobate? Accursed carcass! will the soul say, was it to please and indulge thy brutish inclinations, that I have forfeited the immortal joys of heaven? Ah & wretchy to indulge thee in a filthy

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pleasure for a moment, I have damned both myself and thee to all eternity. O.. thrice accursed carrion! it is just, it is just, that thou, who hast been the cause of my damnation, shouldst be my partner in eternal wo. But oughtest thou not rather, unhappy soul, to be a thousand times more accursed by the body, since it was thy business, and in thy power to have subjected its passions and lusts to the rule of reason. and religion; but thou didst rather chuse, for the sake of a momentary satisfaction, to enslave thyself to its sensual inclinations, and so to purchase hell both for it and thyself. Ah! Christians, let us learn to be wise by the consideration of the misfortunes of others.

On the general Judgment.・・

Onsider, first, that immediately after the resurrection of the dead, all mankind shall be assembled togethers in the place designed for the last judgment, commonly believed to be the valley of Josaphat near Jerusalem, in sight of mounts Olivet and Calvary,

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where our Lord heretofore shed his blood for our redemption. O! what a sight will it be to behold all the children of Adam, that innumerable multitude of all nations, ages, and degrees, standing together, without any distinction now of rich and poor, great or little, master or servant, monarch or subject; excepting only the distinction of good and bad, which shall be wonderful and eternal. Alas! how mean a figure will an Alexander, a Cæsar, or any of those great heroes of antiquity, whose very name has made whole nations tremble, then make? Those mighty monarchs, who had once the world at their beck, are now levelled with the meanest of their slaves, and would wish a thousand times never to have borne the sceptre, nor worn the diadem.

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Consider, secondly, that the dead being now assembled together, the great Judge shall descend from heaven" with great glory and majesty, environed with all his heavenly courtiers, and all the legions of angels. O! how different from his first coming will this his second appearance be? His

first coming was in great meekness and humility, because that was our day, in which he came to redeem us by his mercy: but at his second coming, it will be his day, when he shall arm himself with all the terrors of his justice, to revenge upon sinful man the cause of his injured mercy, with a final irrevocable vengeance. Miserable sinners! how will you be able to stand before his face, or endure his wrathful countenance? Ah! then it is you will begin to cry out to the mountains and rocks to fall upon you, and hide you from the wrath of the Lamb, from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. Nay, such a dread and terror will the very sight of the incensed judge carry with it that you will even wish a thousand times to hide your guilty heads in the lowest abyss of hell, rather than endure this dreadful appearance: but all in vain, you must endure it,

Consider, thirdly, that before the judge shall be borne the royal standard of the cross, shining more bright than the sun, to the great comfort of the good, and the unspeakable anguish and

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confusion of the wicked, for having made so little use of the inestimable benefit of their redemption. Here they shall see plainly how much their God has suffered for their salvation; how great has been his love for them, that boundless and unparalleled love, which brought him down from his throne of glory, and nailed him to the cross. O! how will they now condemn their obstinacy in sin, their blindness and ingratitude! O! how will this glorious ensign justify in the face of the whole unive se the conduct of God, and the eternity of hell's torments: for what less than a miserable eternity can be sufficient punishment for so much obstinacy in evil, after so much dove?

Consider, fourthly, how at the command of the sovereign Judge, which shall be instantly obeyed, the servants of God shall be selected from out of the midst of that vast multitude, and placed with honour on his right hand; whilst the wicked, with those evil spirits, whose part they have taken, shall be driven with ignominy to the teft.O dreadful and eternal separation, after

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