shall endure, unconsumed and with unabated feeling, the torment of that tremendous suffering-" where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched!"

II. Proceed we now to discourse OF THE DOCTRINE OF ETERNAL JUDGMENT.

Though this part of my subject hath been already spoken of, in a general way, in order to obtain a practical view of the doctrine of the resurrection; we now take it up in a more particular manner as to the view in which it is presented to us in the text. But an introductory remark or two may be necessary.

Though the judgment be deferred till after the general resurrection, let it not be supposed that whilst the body slumbereth in the grave, and waiteth the summons of the Son of God, that the soul likewise remains in an unconscious trance. No. For as a criminal amongst us is prejudged by the magistrates and committed, in order that, in due time, he may be brought to trial and judgment; so the souls of the dead are forthwith sent to their several places, there to be reserved for the judgment day. But there is this important difference arising from human imperfection. The magistrate may err, and ignorantly may commit to prison the man that is innocent; or, for want of evidence, he may acquit the guilty. In the pre

judgment, however, none righteous can possibly suffer by mistake; nor can any of the wicked or impenitent by possibility escape. The righteous are the sheep of Christ: Christ knows his sheep; he gives his angels charge over them; and none that the Father giveth Him can be lost. But their souls being separated ascend at once to their Redeemer. For the soul of the penitent thief, leaving his tortured, crucified body till the general resurrection, finds its way the self-same day into the glorious regions of paradise. And as suddenly as the souls of the godly are received into glory, so suddenly are the spirits of the wicked sent to their dreadful place. Hence we read that Lazarus died, and was conveyed by angels into Abraham's bosom; and the rich man died, and whilst his own brethren after the flesh were yet alive, he went into hell, and there lifted up his eyes in helpless despair, being in torment!

But let us not mistake about the occasion and necessity of that result of the judgment day, both to the righteous and wicked, which the scriptures so distinctly and emphatically declare. For we know, most certainly, that the judgment of mankind will not only be just, because of its being according to their works; but it will also be suitable and necessary, because of its being according to their capacity and fitness. The unsanctified souls, like the tares in our Lord's

parable, have a consuming principle within themselves—the source of their own misery and destruction-which, when like the tares they are bound together in bundles, causes them to burn with the fiercer flame. And the regenerate souls, like the wheat, have the principle of life and of excellence also within them, and these cause them to be carefully gathered into the garner of the heavenly husbandman, there to be kept for the glorious purposes, which, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, he hath reserved in heaven for them.

Let us now consider and illustrate what is revealed in the text, and other scriptures, about the solemnities of the final judgment, when the bodies of all the dead shall be raised-' when the sea shall give up the dead which are in it, and death and hell shall deliver up the dead which are in them—and when every man shall be judged according to their works.'

'The dead, then, small and great, standing before God, the books are opened; and another book is opened, which is the book of life; and the dead are judged out of those things which are written in the books, according to their works; and whosoever is not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire!'

Believers; followers of Jesus! Behold your

glorious privileges, and the firm anchor of your soul in that solemn day! Suppose the bar of judgment, where, with strictest scrutiny, the Lord will come and bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.' And there you await the decision of unbending justice. The books are opened, and your sins are read out, and all your works declared before assembled worlds; and Christ, who has been your Saviour, is now your Advocate, as well as your Judge. Is the general charge from the books, Guilty? Your Advocate pleads for justice-pleads for you, Not guilty. Perhaps the accusing spirit asks, "are they not sinners?" "My blood," saith Christ, "cleanseth from all sin!" "Are they not condemned by the law?" "I am their propitiation," saith the Lord Jesus; "they are justified by my blood." "Were they not sold under sin ?” "True; but these are bought with a price; I laid down my life for them." "But," it may be pleaded against them, "they were originally ignorant of God,* and that is a damning sin; they were unrighteous, and the wrath of God cometh against all ungodliness; they were unholy, and without holiness no man can see the Lord; once were they slaves of Satan, even as others, and heirs of his misery in everlasting fire!" "One scripture," saith the

*2 Thess. i. 8. + Rom. i. 18.

Saviour, "will answer the multifarious charge;Of God, was I made unto them wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption!" "Yet where," it may be asked, " is their merit? How can they, who deserve nothing, be heirs of God, and entitled to a heavenly inheritance?" "Because I am by birth-right the Son of God, and heir of all things, and they are one with me!" "But have they not been traitors to their heavenly king? Have they not rebelled against Him, and are therefore guilty?" "I have reconciled them; I have paid their ransom." Still the charges are not exhausted;—" I see here recorded in the book, ten thousand transgressions of different dye-ten thousand omissions of duty-ten thousand defects in their best performances; here I find written, weakness in their faith-deadness in their heavenly affectionscoldness in their gratitude towards God;-here also I perceive hardness of heart-wanderings in ordinances—and imperfection in every thing! Shall they not be condemned for these things written in the book?" "No," saith our faithful Advocate, "they have believed in me, therefore are they in me, and there is no condemnation to them; they have redemption through my blood, even the forgiveness of sins!" But the accusing angel still may add another charge-" Their names are written in this book of judgment and