TheFinalJudgment

byJonathanEdwards

TableofContents

Introduction

Godisthesupremejudgeoftheworld

That there is a time coming when God will judge the whole world ofmankind

TheworldwillbejudgedbyJesusChrist

Christ’s coming, the resurrection, the judgment prepared, the booksopened,thesentencepronouncedandexecuted

Allwillbedoneinrighteousness

Thosethingswhichwillimmediatelyfollowthedayofjudgment

Theusestowhichthisdoctrineisapplicable

"Becausehehathappointedaday,inthewhichhewilljudgetheworldinrighteousnessbythatmanwhomhehathordained."

--Acts17:31

INTRODUCTION

GodhathappointedadayinwhichhewilljudgetheworldinrighteousnessbyJesusChrist.

Thesewords are a part of the speechwhich Paulmade inMars’ hill, aplaceofconcourseofthejudgesandlearnedmenofAthens.Athenswastheprincipal city of that part ofGreecewhichwas formerly a commonwealth by itself, and was themost noted place in the whole world forlearning,philosophy,andhumanwisdom,Anditcontinuedsoformanyages,tillatlengththeRomanshavingconqueredGreece,itsrenownfromthat timebegantodiminish.AndRomehavingborrowed learningof it,began to rival it in science, and in thepolite and civil arts.However, itwas still very famous in the days ofChrist and the apostles, andwas aplaceofconcourseforwiseandlearnedmen.

Therefore, when Paul came thither, and began to preach concerningJesusChrist,amanwhohadlatelybeencrucifiedatJerusalem(asinActs17:18),thephilosophersthrongedabouthim,tohearwhathehadtosay.Thestrangenessofhisdoctrineexcitedtheircuriosity,fortheyspenttheirtimeinendeavoringtofindoutnewthings,andvaluedthemselvesgreatlyupon their being the authors ofnewdiscoveries, aswe are informed inActs 17:21. They despised his doctrine in their hearts, and esteemed itveryridiculous,callingtheapostleababbler.ForthepreachingofChristcrucifiedwastotheGreeksfoolishness,1Cor.1:23,yettheEpicureanandStoic philosophers, two different sects, had a mind to hear what thebabblerhadtosay.

UponthisPaulrisesupinthemidstofthem,andmakesaspeech.Andashe speaks to philosophers and men of learning, he speaks quitedifferentlyfromhiscommonmodeofaddress.Thereisevidently, inhisdiscourse,agreaterdepthofthought,morephilosophicalreasoning,andamoreelevatedstyle,thanaretobefoundinhisordinarydiscoursestocommonmen.Hisspeechissuchaswaslikelytodrawtheattentionand

gaintheassentofphilosophers.Heshowshimselftobenobabbler,butaman who could offer such reason, as they, however they valuedthemselves upon their wisdom, were not able to gainsay. His practicehereisagreeabletowhathesaithofhimself,1Cor.9:22,“thathebecameallthingstoallmen,thathemightbyallmeanssavesome.”Henotonlytotheweakbecameasweak,thathemightgaintheweak,buttothewisehebecameaswise,thathemightgainthewise.

Inthefirstplace,hereasonswiththemconcerningtheirworshipofidols.HedeclarestothemthetrueGod,andpointsouthowunreasonableitistosuppose,thathedelightsinsuchsuperstitiousworship.Hebeginswiththis,becausetheyweremostlikelytohearkentoit,asbeingsoevidentlyagreeable to the natural light of human reason, and also agreeable towhatsomeoftheirownpoetsandphilosophershadsaid(Acts17:28).Hebegins not immediately to tell them about Jesus Christ, his dying forsinners, and his resurrection from the dead. But first draws theirattentionwiththattowhichtheyweremorelikelytohearken.Andthen,havingthus introducedhimself, he proceeds to speak concerning JesusChrist.

He tells them, the times of this ignorance concerning the true God, inwhichtheyhadhithertobeen,Godwinkedat.Hesufferedtheworldtolieinheathenishdarkness.Butnowtheappointedtimewascome,whenheexpectedmen should everywhere repent, “because he had appointed aday, in thewhichhewill judge theworld in righteousnessby thatmanwhom he hath ordained.” As an enforcement to the duty of turning toGodfromtheirignorance,superstition,andidolatry,theapostlebringsinthis, thatGodhadappointedsuchadayof judgment.AndasaproofofthishebringstheresurrectionChristfromthedead.

Concerningthewordsofthetext,wemayobserve,

That inthemtheapostlespeaksof thegeneral judgment:Hewill judgetheWORLD.—The timewhen this shall be, on the appointedday:Hehath appointed a day. — How the world is to be judged: Inrighteousness.—Themanbywhomitistobejudged:ChristJesuswhomGodraisedfromthedead.

DOCTRINE

ThereisadaycominginwhichtherewillbeageneralrighteousjudgmentofthewholeworldbyJesusChrist.

In speaking upon this subject, I shall show, That God is the SupremeJudgeof theworld.That there is a time coming,whenGodwill, in themostpublicandsolemnmanner,judgethewholeworld.ThatthepersonbywhomhewilljudgeitisJesusChrist.Thatthetransactionsofthatdaywill be greatly interesting and truly awful. That all shall be done inrighteousness.Andfinally,Ishalltakenoticeofthosethingswhichshallbeimmediatelyconsequentuponthejudgment.

SECTIONI

Godisthesupremejudgeoftheworld.

I.Godissobyright.Heisbyrightthesupremeandabsoluteruleranddisposerofallthings,bothinthenaturalandmoralworld.Therationalunderstandingpartofthecreationisindeedsubjecttoadifferentsortofgovernment from that to which irrational creatures are subject. Godgoverns the sun, moon, and stars. He governs even the motes of dustwhichflyintheair.Notahairofourheadsfallethtothegroundwithoutour heavenly Father. God also governs the brute creatures. By hisprovidence, he orders, according to his own decrees, all eventsconcerning those creatures. And rational creatures are subject to thesamesortofgovernment.Alltheiractions,*1*andalleventsrelatingtothem, being ordered by superior providence, according to absolutedecrees so that no event that relates to them ever happenswithout thedisposal of God, according to his own decrees. The rule of thisgovernmentisGod’swisedecree,andnothingelse.

Butrationalcreatures,becausetheyareintelligentandvoluntaryagents,are the subjects of another kind of government. They are so only withrespecttothoseoftheiractions,inwhichtheyarecausesbycounsel,or

withrespect to theirvoluntaryactions.ThegovernmentofwhichInowspeak is calledmoral government, and consists in two things, in givinglaws,andinjudging.

God is, with respect to this sort of government, by right the sovereignruleroftheworld.Heispossessedofthisrightbyreasonofhis infinitegreatnessandexcellency,bywhichhemerits,andisperfectlyandsolelyfit for, the office of supreme ruler. He that is so excellent as to beinfinitelyworthyofthehighestrespectofthecreature,hastherebyarightto that respect. He deserves it by a merit of condignity, so that it isinjusticetodenyittohim.Andhethatisperfectlywiseandtrue,andisonlysoregarded,hasarightineverythingtoberegarded,andtohavehisdeterminationsattendedtoandobeyed.

Godhasalsoaright to thecharacterofsupremeruler,byreasonof theabsolutedependenceofeverycreatureonhim.Allcreatures,andrationalcreatures no less than other, are wholly derived from him, and everymomentarewhollydependentuponhimforbeing, and for all good, sothattheyareproperlyhispossession.Andas,byvirtueof this,hehasaright to give his creatures whatever rules of conduct he pleases, orwhateverrulesareagreeabletohisownwisdom.SothemindandwillofthecreatureoughttobeentirelyconformedtothenatureandwilloftheCreator,andtotheruleshegives,thatareexpressiveofit.

For thesamereason,hehasa right to judge their actionsandconduct,and to fulfill the sanction of his law. He who has an absolute andindependent right to give laws, has evermore the same right to judgethose towhom the laws are given. It is absolutely necessary that thereshouldbeajudgeofreasonablecreatures.Andsanctions,orrewardsandpunishments, annexed to rulesof conductarenecessary to thebeingoflaws.Apersonmayinstructanotherwithoutsanctions,butnotgivelaws.However, these sanctions themselves are vain, are as good as none,withoutajudgetodeterminetheexecutionofthem.AsGodhasarighttobejudge,sohashearighttobethesupremejudge.Andnonehasarighttoreversehis judgments, toreceiveappeals fromhim,or tosaytohim,Whyjudgestthouthus?

II.Godis,infactthesupremejudgeoftheworld.Hehaspowersufficient

tovindicatehisownright.Ashehasarightwhichcannotbedisputed,sohe has power which cannot be controlled. He is possessed ofomnipotence,wherewith tomaintainhisdominionover theworld.Andhedoesmaintainhisdominioninthemoralaswellasthenaturalworld.MenmayrefusesubjectiontoGodasalawgiver.Theymayshakeofftheyokeofhislawsbyrebellion.Yettheycannotwithdrawthemselvesfromhisjudgment.AlthoughtheywillnothaveGodfortheirlawgiver,yettheyshallhavehimfortheirjudge.ThestrongestofcreaturescandonothingtocontrolGod,ortoavoidhimwhileactinginhisjudicialcapacity.Heisabletobring them tohis judgment-seat, and isalsoable toexecute thesentencewhichheshallpronounce.

TherewasonceanotableattemptmadebyoppositionofpowerentirelytoshakeofftheyokeofthemoralgovernmentofGod,bothaslawgiver,andas judge.Thisattemptwasmadeby theangels, themostmightyofcreatures.But theymiserably failed in it.Godnotwithstandingactedastheirjudgeincastingthoseproudspiritsoutofheaven,andbindingtheminchainsofdarknessuntoa further judgment,anda further execution.“Godiswiseinheartandmightyinstrength;whohathhardenedhimselfagainsthim,andhathprospered?”Job9:4.WhereintheenemiesofGoddealproudly,heisabovethem.Heeverhasactedasjudgeinbestowingwhat rewards, and inflicting what punishments, he pleased on thechildrenofmen.Andsohedoesstill.He isdaily fulfilling thepromisesandthreateningsof the law, indisposingof the soulsof the childrenofmen,andsobeevermorewillact.

Godactsasjudgetowardsthechildrenofmenmoreespecially,

First, in man’s particular judgment at death. Then the sentence isexecuted,andtherewardbestowedinpart;whichisnotdonewithoutajudgment.Thesoul,whenitdeparts fromthebody,appearsbeforeGodto be disposed of by him, according to his law. But by this appearingbeforeGod,tobejudgedatdeath,weneedunderstandnomorethanthis,that thesoul ismade immediatelysensibleof thepresenceofGod,Godmanifestinghimself immediatelytothesoul,withthegloryandmajestyofajudge,thatthesinsofthewickedandtherighteousnessofthesaintsarebroughtbyGodtotheviewoftheirconsciences,sothattheyknowthereasonofthesentencegiven,andtheirconsciencesaremadetotestifyto

the justiceof it.And that thus thewill ofGod for the fulfillment of thelaw, in their reward or punishment, is made known to them andexecuted.Thisisundoubtedlydoneateveryman’sdeath.

Second, in thegreatandgeneral judgment,whenallmenshall togetherappearbeforethe judgment-seat tobe judged,andwhich judgmentwillbe much more solemn, and the sanctions of the law will to a furtherdegreebefulfilled.—Butthisbringsmetoanotherbranchofthesubject.

SECTIONII

ThatthereisatimecomingwhenGodwill,inthemostpublicandsolemnmanner,judgethewholeworldofmankind.

Thedoctrineofageneraljudgmentisnotsufficientlydiscoverablebythelightofnature. Indeedsomeof theheathenshadsomeobscurenotionsconcerningafuturejudgment.Butthelightofnature,ormereunassistedreason, was not sufficient to instruct the world of fallen men in thisdoctrine.Itisoneofthepeculiardoctrinesofrevelation,adoctrineofthegospel of Jesus Christ. There were indeed some hints of it in the OldTestament, as inPsa.96:13, “TheLord cometh to judge theworldwithrighteousness,andhispeoplewithhis truth.”AndEcc. 12:14, “ForGodwillbringeverywork into judgment,witheverysecret thing,whether itbegood,orwhetheritbeevil.”Andinsomeothersuchlikepassages.Butthis doctrine is with abundantly the greatest clearness revealed in theNewTestament. There we have it frequently and particularly declaredanddescribedwithitscircumstances.

However,althoughitbeadoctrineofrevelation,andbebroughttolightby the gospel, the brightest andmost glorious revelation that God hasgiven to the world; yet it is a doctrine which is entirely agreeable toreason,andofwhichreasongivesgreatconfirmation.Thattherewillbeatimebeforethedissolutionoftheworld,whentheinhabitantsofitshall

standbeforeGodandgiveanaccountoftheirconduct;andthatGodwillinapublicmanner,byageneralandjustjudgment,setallthingstorightsrespectingtheirmoralbehavior,isadoctrineentirelyagreeabletoreason.Which I shall nowendeavor tomake appear. But Iwould premise thatwhatwewouldinquireintoisnotwhetherallmankindshallbejudgedbyGod.For that is a thing that the lightofnature clearly teaches, andwehavealreadyspokensomethingof it.Butwhetheritberationaltothinkthattherewillbeapublicjudgmentofallmankindtogether.ThisIthinkwillappearveryrationalfromthefollowingconsiderations.

I.SuchajudgmentwillbeamoregloriousdisplayofGod’smajestyanddominion.Itwillbemoregloriousbecause itwillbemoreopen,public,andsolemn.—AlthoughGodnowactuallyexercisesthemostsovereigndominionovertheearth,althoughhereignsanddoesallthingsaccordingto his own will, ordering all events as seemeth to himself good, andalthoughheisactuallyjudgeintheearth,continuallydisposingofmen’ssouls according to their works; yet he rules after a more hidden andsecretmanner,insomuchthatitiscommonamongtheproudsonsofmento refuse acknowledging his dominion. Wicked men question the veryexistenceofaGod,whotakethcareoftheworld,whoordereththeaffairsofit,andjudgethinit.Andthereforetheycastoffthefearofhim.ManyofthekingsandgreatmenoftheearthdonotsuitablyacknowledgetheGodwhoisabovethem,butseemto lookuponthemselvesassupreme,and therefore tyrannize over mankind, as if they were in no wiseaccountable for their conduct. There have been, and now are, manyatheistical persons, who acknowledge not God’s moral dominion overmankind. And therefore they throw off the yoke of his laws andgovernment. And how great a part of the world is there now, and hastherealwaysbeen,thathasnotacknowledgedthatthegovernmentoftheworldbelongsto theGodof Israel,or to theGodofChristians,buthaspaid homage to other imaginary deities, as though they were theirsovereignlordsandsupremejudges.Overhowgreatapartoftheworldhas Satan usurped the dominion, and set up himself for God, inoppositiontothetrueGod!

Now,howagreeabletoreasonisit,thatGod,inthewindingupofthings,whenthepresentstateofmankindshallcometoaconclusion,shouldin

the most open and public manner, manifest his dominion over theinhabitants of the earth, by bringing them all, high and low, rich andpoor,kingsandsubjects,togetherbeforehimtobejudgedwithrespecttoall that theyeverdid in theworld!Thatheshould thusopenlydiscoverhis dominion in this world, where his authority has been so muchquestioned,denied,andproudlyopposed!ThathoweverGodbenotnowvisiblypresentuponearth,disposingandjudginginthatvisiblemannerthatearthlykingsdo.Yetattheconclusionoftheworldheshouldmakehisdominionvisibletoall,andwithrespecttoallmankind,sothateveryeyeshallseehim,andeventheywhohavedeniedhimshallfind,thatGodissupremeLordofthem,andofthewholeworld!

II. The end of judgment will be more fully answered by a public andgeneral, than only by a particular and private, judgment. The end forwhich there is any judgment at all is to display and glorify therighteousness of God; which end ismore fully accomplished by callingmen to an account, bringing their actions to the trial, and determiningtheir state according to them, the whole world, both angels and men,beingpresenttobehold,thanifthesamethingsshouldbedoneinamoreprivate way. At the day of judgment there will be the most gloriousdisplayofthejusticeofGodthateverwasmade.ThenGodwillappeartobe entirely righteous towards everyone. The justice of all his moralgovernmentwill on that day be at once discovered. Then all objectionswill be removed. The conscience of every man shall be satisfied. Theblasphemiesoftheungodlywillbeforeverputtosilence,andargumentwillbegivenforthesaintsandangelstopraiseGodforever:Rev.19:1,2,“Andafter these thingsIheardagreatvoiceofmuchpeople inheaven,saying, Alleluia; salvation, and glory, and honour, and power be to theLordourGod:fortrueandrighteousarehisjudgments.”

III.Itisveryagreeabletoreason,thattheirregularitieswhicharesoopenandmanifest intheworld,should,whentheworldcomes toanend,bepubliclyrectifiedbythesupremegovernor.TheinfinitelywiseGod,whomadethisworldtobeahabitationformen,andplacedmankindtodwellhere, and has appointedman his end andwork,must take care of theorderandgoodgovernmentfortheworld,whichhehasthusmade.Heisnotregardlesshowthingsproceedhereonearth.Itwouldbeareproach

tohiswisdom,andto theperfectrectitudeofhisnature, tosupposeso.Thisworldisaworldforconfusion.Ithasbeenfilledwithirregularityandconfusion ever since the fall. And the irregularities of it are not onlyprivate,relatingtotheactionsofparticularpersons,butstates,kingdoms,nations, churches, cities, andall societiesofmen in all ages,havebeenfullofpublicirregularities.Theaffairsoftheworld,sofarastheyareinthe hands of men, are carried on in the most irregular and confusedmanner.

Thoughjusticesometimestakesplace,yethowoftendoinjustice,cruelty,andoppressionprevail!Howoftenaretherighteouscondemned,andthewickedacquittedandrewarded!Howcommonis it forthevirtuousandpious to be depressed, and the wicked to be advanced! How manythousandsofthebestmenhavesufferedintolerablecruelties,merelyfortheirvirtueandpiety,andinthisworldhavehadnohelp,norefugetoflyto!Theworldisverymuchruledbythepride,covetousness,andpassionsof men. Solomon takes much notice of such like irregularities in thepresentstate(inhisbookofEcclesiastes),herebyheshowsthevanityoftheworld.

Now,howreasonableisittosuppose,thatGod,whenheshallcomeandput an end to the present state of mankind, will in an open, publicmanner, thewholeworldbeingpresent, rectifyall thesedisorders!Andthathewillbringallthingstoatrialbyageneraljudgment,inorderthatthose who have been oppressed may be delivered; that the righteouscausemay be pleaded and vindicated, andwickedness,which has beenapproved, honored, and rewarded, may receive its due disgrace andpunishment; that the proceedings of kings and earthly judges may beinquiredintobyhim,whoseeyesareasaflameoffire;andthatthepublicactionsofmenmaybepubliclyexaminedandrecompensedaccordingtotheirdesert!Howagreeable is it todivinewisdomthus toorder things,andhowworthyofthesupremegovernoroftheworld!

IV.Byapublicandgeneral judgment,Godmore fullyaccomplishes thereward he designs for the godly, and punishment he designs for thewicked.Onepartof the rewardwhichGod intends forhis saints, is thehonorwhichheintendstobestowuponthem.Hewillhonortheminthemostpublicandopenmanner,beforetheangels,beforeallmankind,and

beforethemthathatedthem.Anditismostsuitablethatitshouldbeso.It is suitable that those holy, humble souls, that have been hated bywickedmen, have been cruelly treated and put to shame by them, andwhohavebeenhaughtily domineeredover, shouldbe openly acquitted,commended,andcrowned,beforealltheworld.

Soonepartofthepunishmentoftheungodlywillbetheopenshameanddisgrace which they shall suffer. Althoughmany of them have proudlylifted up their heads in this world, have had a very high thought ofthemselves,andhaveobtainedoutwardhonoramongmen;yetGodwillput them to open shame, by showing all their wickedness and moralfilthinessbefore thewholeassemblyof angels andmen,bymanifestinghisabhorrenceofthem,inplacingthemuponhislefthand,amongdevilsandfoul spirits,andby turning themaway into themost loathsome,aswellasmostdreadful, pit ofhell, todwell there forever.—Which endsmaybemuchmorefullyaccomplishedinageneral, thaninaparticularjudgment.

SECTIONIII

TheworldwillbejudgedbyJesusChrist.

ThepersonbywhomGodwilljudgetheworldisJesusChrist,God-man.ThesecondpersonintheTrinity,thatsamepersonofwhomwereadinourBibles,whowasbornoftheVirginMary,livedinGalileeandJudea,and was at last crucified without the gates of Jerusalem, will come tojudgetheworldbothinhisdivineandhumannature,inthesamehumanbody that was crucified, and rose again, and ascended up into heaven.Acts1:11,“ThissameJesusthat is takenupfromyou intoheaven,shallcomeinlikemanner,asyehaveseenhimgointoheaven.”Itwillbehishuman nature which will then be seen by the bodily eyes of men.However,hisdivinenature,whichisunitedtothehuman,willthenalsobepresent.AnditwillbebythewisdomofthatdivinenaturethatChristwillseeandjudge.

Here naturally arises an inquiry,Why is Christ appointed to judge theworld rather than theFatheror theHolyGhost?We cannotpretend toknow all the reasons of the divine dispensations.God is not obliged togive us an account of them. But so much may we learn by divinerevelation,as todiscovermarvelouswisdominwhathedeterminesandorderswithrespecttothismatter.Welearn,

I.ThatGodseethfit,thathewhoisinthehumannature,shouldbethejudgeofthosewhoareofthehumannature.John5:27,“Andhathgivenhimauthority toexecute judgmentalso,becausehe is theSonofman.”Seeing there is one of the persons of the Trinity united to the humannature,Godchooses,inallhistransactionswithmankind,totransactbyhim.Hedidsoofold, inhisdiscoveriesofhimself to thepatriarchs, ingiving the law, in leading the childrenof Israel through thewilderness,and in the manifestations he made of himself in the tabernacle andtemple.When,althoughChristwasnotactuallyincarnate,yethewassoindesign,itwasordainedandagreedinthecovenantofredemption,thathe should become incarnate. And since the incarnation of Christ, Godgovernsboth the churchand theworldbyChrist.Sohewill alsoat theendjudge theworldbyhim.AllmenshallbejudgedbyGod,andyetatthesametimebyoneinvestedwiththeirownnature.

Godseethfit,thatthosewhohavebodies,asallmankindwillhaveatthedayofjudgment,shouldseetheir judgewiththeirbodilyeyes,andhearhimwiththeirbodilyears.IfoneoftheotherpersonsoftheTrinityhadbeen appointed to be judge, theremust have been some extraordinaryoutward appearance made on purpose to be a token of the divinepresence,as itwasofold,beforeChristwas incarnate.Butnowthere isno necessity of that. Now one of the persons of the Trinity is actuallyincarnate, so that God by himmay appear to bodily eyes without anymiraculousvisionaryappearance.

II.Christhasthishonorofbeingthe judgeof theworldgivenhim,asasuitable reward for his sufferings. This is a part of Christ’s exaltation.The exaltationofChrist is givenhim in reward for his humiliation andsufferings.Thiswasstipulatedinthecovenantofredemption.Andweareexpresslytold,itwasgivenhiminrewardforhissufferings,Phil.2:8-12,“Andbeingfoundinfashionasaman,hehumbledhimself,andbecame

obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.Wherefore God alsohath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above everyname: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things inheaven,and things inearth,and thingsunder theearth;and thateverytongueshouldconfess,thatJesusChristisLord,tothegloryofGodtheFather.”

God seeth meet, that he who appeared in such a low estate amongstmankind, without form or comeliness, having his divine glory veiled,should appear amongstmen a second time, in his own propermajestyandglory,withoutaveil.Totheendthatthosewhosawhimhereatthefirst, as a poor, frailman, not havingwhere to lay his head, subject tomuchhardshipandaffliction,mayseehimthesecondtimeinpowerandgreat glory, investedwith the glory and dignity of the absolute Lord ofheavenandearth.Andthathewhooncetabernacledwithmen,andwasdespisedandrejectedofthem,mayhavethehonorofarraigningallmenbeforehis throne, and judging themwith respect to their eternal state!John5:21-24.

Godseethmeetthathewhowasoncearraignedbeforethejudgment-seatofmen,andwas theremost vilely treated,beingmocked, spittedupon,and condemned, andwhowasat last crucified, shouldbe rewarded, byhavingthoseverypersonsbroughttohistribunal,thattheymayseehiminglory,andbeconfounded.Andthathemayhavethedisposalofthemfor all eternity.AsChrist said to thehighpriestwhile arraigned beforehim,Mat. 26:64, “Hereafter ye shall see the Son ofman sitting on therighthandofpower,andcominginthecloudsofheaven.”

III.ItisneedfulthatChristshouldbethejudgeoftheworld,inorderthathemayfinishtheworkofredemption.ItisthewillofGod,thathewhoisthe redeemer of the world should be a complete redeemer; and thatthereforeheshouldhavethewholeworkofredemptionleftinhishands.Now,theredemptionoffallenmanconsistsnotmerelyintheimpetrationof redemption, by obeying the divine law, and making atonement forsinners, or in preparing theway for their salvation, but it consists in agreat measure, and is actually fulfilled, in converting sinners to theknowledgeandloveofthetruth,incarryingthemoninthewayofgraceandtrueholinessthroughlife,andinfinallyraisingtheirbodiestolife,in

glorifying them, in pronouncing the blessed sentence upon them, incrowningthemwithhonorandgloryinthesightofmenandangels,andin completing and perfecting their reward. Now, it is necessary thatChrist should do this, in order to his finishing the work which he hasbegun.Raisingthesaintsfromthedead,judgingthem,andfulfillingthesentence is part of their salvation. And therefore it was necessary thatChrist should be appointed judge of the world, in order that hemightfinish his work (John 6:39, 40, chap. 5:25-31). The redemption of thebodiesofthesaintsispartoftheworkofredemption;theresurrectiontolifeiscalledaredemptionoftheirbodies(Rom.8:23).

ItisthewillofGod,thatChristhimselfshouldhavethefulfillingofthatforwhichhedied,andforwhichhesufferedsomuch.Now,theendforwhichhesufferedanddiedwasthecompletesalvationofhispeople.Andthisshallbeobtainedat the last judgment,andnotbefore.Therefore itwas necessary that Christ be appointed judge, in order that he himselfmightfullyaccomplishtheendforwhichhehadbothsufferedanddied.WhenChristhad finishedhisappointedsufferings,Goddid, as itwere,putthepurchasedinheritanceintohishands,tobekeptforbelievers,andbebestoweduponthematthedayofjudgment.

IV.Itwasproperthathewhoisappointedkingofthechurchshouldruletillheshouldhaveputallhisenemiesunderhisfeet.Inordertowhich,hemustbethejudgeofhisenemies,aswellasofhispeople.OneoftheofficesofChrist,asredeemer,isthatofaking.Heisappointedkingofthechurch and head over all things to the church. And in order that hiskingdombecomplete,anddesignofhisreignbeaccomplished,hemustconquerallhisenemies,andthenhewilldeliverupthekingdomtotheFather. 1 Cor. 15:24, 25, “Then cometh the end, when he shall havedeliveredupthekingdomtoGod,eventheFather;whenheshallhaveputdownallrule,andallauthorityandpower.Forhemustreigntillhehathputallenemiesunderhisfeet.”Now,whenChristshallhavebroughthisenemies, who had denied, opposed, and rebelled against him, to hisjudgment-seat,andshallhavepassedandexecutedsentenceuponthem,thiswillbeafinalandcompletevictoryoverthem,avictorywhichshallputanendtothewar.Anditisproperthathewhoatpresentreignsandis carrying on thewar against those who are of the opposite kingdom,

shouldhavethehonorofobtainingthevictory,andfinishingthewar.

V.ItisfortheabundantcomfortofthesaintsthatChristisappointedtobetheirjudge.Thecovenantofgrace,withall itscircumstances,andallthoseeventstowhichithasrelation,iseverywaysocontrivedofGod,astogivestrongconsolationtobelievers:forGoddesignedthegospelforagloriousmanifestationofhisgracetothem.Andthereforeeverythinginitissoordered,astomanifestthemostgraceandmercy.

Now, it is for the abundant consolation of the saints, that their ownRedeemer is appointed to be their judge. That the same person whospilledhisblood for themhas thedeterminationof their state leftwithhim,sothattheyneednotdoubtbutthattheyshallhavewhathewasatsomuchcosttoprocure.

Whatmatterofjoytothemwillitbeatthelastday,toliftuptheireyes,andbeholdthepersoninwhomtheyhavetrustedforsalvation,towhomtheyhavefledforrefuge,uponwhomtheyhavebuiltastheirfoundationfor eternity, and whose voice they have often heard, inviting them tohimselfforprotectionandsafety,comingtojudgethem.

VI.ThatChrist isappointed tobe the judgeof theworldwillbe for themoreabundantconvictionoftheungodly. Itwillbefortheirconvictionthattheyarejudgedandcondemnedbythatverypersonwhomtheyhaverejected, bywhom theymight have been saved, who shed his blood togive them an opportunity to be saved, who was wont to offer hisrighteousness to them, when they were in their state of trial, and whomanyatimecalledandinvitedthemtocometohim,thattheymightbesaved.How justlywill theybe condemnedbyhimwhose salvation theyhave rejected, whose blood they have despised, whosemany calls theyhaverefused,andwhomtheyhavepiercedbytheirsins!

How much will it be for their conviction, when they shall hear thesentence of condemnation pronounced, to reflectwith themselves, howoftenhas this sameperson,whonowpasses sentenceof condemnationuponme,calledme,inhisword,andbyhismessengers,toacceptofhim,andtogivemyselftohim!Howoftenhasheknockedat thedoorofmyheart!andhad itnotbeenformyownfollyandobstinacy,howmightI

havehadhimformySavior,whoisnowmyincensedJudge!

SECTIONIV

Christ’scoming,theresurrection,thejudgmentprepared,thebooksopened,the

sentencepronouncedandexecuted.

I. CHRIST Jesus will, in a most magnificent manner, descend fromheaven with all the holy angels. The man Christ Jesus is now in theheavenofheavens,or,astheapostleexpressesit,faraboveallheavens,Eph. 4:10.And there he has been ever since his ascension, being thereenthronedinglory,inthemidstofmillionsofangelsandblessedspirits.Butwhen the timeappointed for thedayof judgment shall have come,noticeofitwillbegiveninthosehappyregions,andChristwilldescendto the earth, attendedwith all those heavenly hosts, in amost solemn,awful,andgloriousmanner.Christwillcomewithdivinemajesty,hewillcome in the glory of the Father,Mat. 16:27, “For the Son ofman shallcomeinthegloryofhisFather,withhisangels..”

We can now conceive but little of the holy and awful magnificence inwhichChristwillappear,asheshallcomeinthecloudsofheaven,orofthegloryofhisretinue.Howmeananddespicable,incomparisonwithit,isthemostsplendidappearancethatearthlyprincescanmake!Agloriousvisible lightwill shine roundabouthim, and the earth,with all nature,willtrembleathispresence.Howvastandinnumerablewillthathostbewhichwill appearwithhim!Heavenwillbe for the timedesertedof itsinhabitants.

Wemayargue thegloryofChrist’s appearance, fromhis appearanceatother times.Whenheappeared in transfiguration,his facedid shineasthe sun, andhis raimentwaswhite as the light.The apostlePeter longafterspokeofthisappearanceinmagnificentterms,2Pet.1:16,17,“Wewereeye-witnessesofhismajesty; forhe received fromGod theFather

honourandglory,whentherecamesuchavoicetohimfromtheexcellentglory.”AndhisappearancetoSt.Paulathisconversion,andtoSt.John,asrelatedinRev.1:13etc.wereverygrandandmagnificent.Butwemayconclude,thathisappearanceatthedayofjudgmentwillbevastlymoresothaneitherofthese,astheoccasionwillbesomuchgreater.Wehavegoodreasontothink,thatournature,inthepresentfrailstate,couldnotbeartheappearanceofthemajestyinwhichhewillthenbeseen.

Wemayarguethegloryofhisappearance,fromtheappearancesofsomeoftheangelstomen,asoftheangelthatappearedatChrist’ssepulcher,after his resurrection, Mat. 28:3, “His countenance was like lightning,and his raiment white as snow.” The angels will doubtless all of themmakeasgloriousanappearanceattheofjudgment,aseveranyofthemhavemadeonformeroccasions.Howglorious,then,willbetheretinueofChrist,made up of somany thousands of such angels! And how muchmore glorious will Christ, the judge himself, appear, than those hisattendants! Doubtless their God will appear immensely more gloriousthanthey.

Christwillthusdescendintoourair,tosuchadistancefromthesurfaceoftheearth,thateveryone,whenallshallbegatheredtogether,shallseehim,Rev. 1:7, “Behold, he comethwith clouds, and every eye shall seehim.”

Christwillmake this appearance suddenly, and to the great surprise oftheinhabitantsoftheearth.Itisthereforecomparedtoacryatmidnight,bywhichmenarewakenedinagreatsurprise.

II. At the sound of the last trumpet, the dead shall rise, and the livingshallbechanged.AssoonasChrist isdescended, the last trumpetshallsound,asanotificationtoallmankindtoappear.Atwhichmightysoundshallthedeadbeimmediatelyraised,andthelivingchanged.1Cor.15:52,“Forthetrumpetshallsound,andthedeadshallberaisedincorruptible,andweshallbechanged.”Mat.24:31,“Andheshallsendhisangelswitha great sound of a trumpet.” 1 Thes. 4:16, “For the Lord himself shalldescend fromheavenwithashout,with thevoiceof thearchangel,andwiththetrumpofGod.”Therewillbesomegreatandremarkablesignalgiven for the rising of the dead, which it seems will be some mighty

sound,causedbytheangelsofGod,whoshallattendonChrist.

Upon this all the dead shall rise from their graves. All, both small andgreat,whoshallhaveliveduponearthsincethefoundationoftheworld,those who died before the flood, and those who were drowned in theflood,all thathavediedsincethattime,andthatshalldietotheendoftheworld.Therewillbeagreatmovinguponthefaceoftheearth,andinthewater,inbringingbonetohisbone,inopeninggraves,andbringingtogetherallthescatteredparticlesofdeadbodies.Theearthshallgiveupthedeadthatareinit,andtheseashallgiveupthedeadthatareinit.

However the parts of the bodies of many are divided and scattered;howevermany have been burnt, and their bodies have been turned toashesandsmoke,anddriventothefourwinds;howevermanyhavebeeneaten of wild beasts, of the fowls of heaven, and the fishes of the sea;howevermanyhaveconsumedawayuponthefaceoftheearth,andgreatpartoftheirbodieshaveascendedinexhalations;yettheall-wiseandall-powerfulGodcanimmediatelybringeveryparttohispartagain.

Ofthisvastmultitudesomeshallrisetolife,andotherstocondemnation.John5:28,29,“All thatare in thegraves shallhearhisvoice,andshallcomeforth, theythathavedonegood,unto theresurrectionof life;andtheythathavedoneevil,untotheresurrectionofdamnation.”

Whenthebodiesareprepared, thedepartedsoulsshallagainenter intotheirbodies,andbere-unitedtothem,nevermoretobeseparated.Thesouls of the wicked shall be brought up out of hell, though not out ofmisery,andshall veryunwillinglyenter into theirbodies,whichwillbebuteternalprisonstothem.Rev.20:13,“Anddeathandhelldeliveredupthedeadthatwere inthem.”Theyshall lift theireyes fullof theutmostamazementandhorrortoseetheirawfulJudge.Andperhapsthebodieswithwhich they shall be raisedwill bemost filthy and loathsome, thusproperlycorrespondingtotheinward,moralturpitudeoftheirsouls.

ThesoulsoftherighteousshalldescendfromheaventogetherwithChristandhis angels: 1 Thes. 4:14, “Them alsowhich sleep in JesuswillGodbringwith him.” They also shall be re-united to their bodies, that theymaybeglorifiedwith them.Theyshall receive theirbodiespreparedby

God tobemansionsofpleasure toall eternity.They shall be everywayfitted for the uses, the exercises, and delights of perfectly holy andglorifiedsouls.Theyshallbeclothedwithasuperlativebeauty,similartothatofChrist’sgloriousbody.Phil.3:21,“Whoshallchangeourvilebody,that itmaybefashionedlikeuntohisgloriousbody.”Theirbodiesshallrise incorruptible, no more liable to pain or disease, and with anextraordinary vigor and vivacity, like that of those spirits that are as aflame of fire. 1 Cor. 15:43, 44, “It is sown in dishonour, it is raised inglory: it is sown inweakness, it is raised inpower: it is sownanaturalbody,itisraisedaspiritualbody.”Withwhatjoywillthesoulsandbodiesofthesaintsmeet,andwithwhatjoywilltheylifttheirheadsoutoftheirgravestobeholdtheglorioussightoftheappearingofChrist!Anditwillbeaglorioussighttoseethosesaintsarisingoutoftheirgraves,puttingofftheircorruption,andputtingonincorruptionandglory.

At thesametime, those that shall thenbealiveupon theearthshallbechanged.Theirbodiesshallpassthroughagreatchange,inamoment,inthe twinkling of an eye. 1 Cor. 15:51, 52, “Behold, I show you a greatmystery;Weshallnotallsleep,butweshallallbechanged,inamoment,in the twinklingof aneye, at the last trump.”Thebodiesof thewickedthen living will be changed into such hideous things, as shall beanswerabletotheloathsomesoulsthatdwell inthem,andsuchasshallbe prepared to receive and administer eternal torments withoutdissolution. But the bodies of the righteous shall be changed into thesamegloriousandimmortalforminwhichthosethatshallberaisedwillappear.

III. They shall all be brought to appear before Christ, the godly beingplacedontherighthand,thewickedontheleft;Mat.25:31,32,33.Thewicked, however unwilling, however full of fear and horror, shall bebrought or driven before the judgment-seat. However they may try tohide themselves, and for this purpose creep into dens caves of themountains,andcrytothemountainstofallonthem,andhidethemfromthe face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of theLamb.Yetthereshallnotoneescape.Tothejudgetheymustcome,andstandonthelefthandwithdevils.Onthecontrary,therighteouswillbejoyfullyconductedtoJesusChrist,probablybytheangels.Theirjoywill,

asitwere,givethemwingstocarrythemthither.Theywillwithecstasiesand raptures of delight meet their friend and Savior, come into hispresence,andstandathisrighthand.

Besidestheonestandingontherighthandandtheotherontheleft,thereseems tobe thisdifferencebetween them thatwhen thedead inChristshallberaised,theywillallbecaughtupintotheair,whereChristshallbe,andshallbethereathisrighthandduringthejudgment,nevermoretoset their feetonthisearth.Whereasthewickedshallbe leftstandingontheearth,theretoabidethejudgment.1Thes.4:16,17,“ThedeadinChristshallrisefirst;thenwewhicharealiveandremain,shallbecaughtuptogetherwiththeminthecloudstomeet theLord in theair:andsoshallweeverbewiththeLord.”

Andwhata vast congregationwill therebeofall themen,women,andchildrenthatshallhaveliveduponearthfromthebeginningtotheendoftheworld!Rev.20:12,“AndIsawthedead,smallandgreat,standbeforeGod.”

IV.Thenextthingwillbethatthebooksshallbeopened.Rev.20:12,“Isaw the dead, great and small, stand before God; and the books wereopened.” Which books seem to be these two, the book of God’sremembrance,andthebookofScripture.Theformeras theevidenceoftheirdeedswhicharetobejudged,thelatterastheruleofjudgment.Theworksbothoftherighteousandofthewickedwillbebroughtforththatthey may be judged according to them, and those works will be triedaccordingtotheappointedandwrittenrule.

First,theworksofbothrighteousandwickedwillberehearsed.Thebookof God’s remembrance will be first opened. The various works of thechildrenofmenare,asitwere,writtenbyGodinabookofremembrance.Mal. 3:16, “A book of remembrance was written before him.”Howeverreadyungodlymenmaybetomakelightoftheirownsins,andtoforgetthem;yetGodneverforgetsanyofthem.NeitherdoesGodforgetanyofthegoodworksof thesaints.If theygivebutacupofcoldwaterwithaspiritofcharity,Godremembersit.

The evilworks of thewicked shall then be brought forth to light. They

mustthenhearofalltheirprofaneness,theirimpenitence,theirobstinateunbelief, their abuseofordinances, and variousother sins.The variousaggravationsof theirsinswillalsobebrought toview,ashow thismansinnedafter such and suchwarnings, that after the receipt of such andsuch mercies; one after being so and so favored with outward light,anotherafterhavingbeenthesubjectofinwardconviction,excitedbytheimmediateagencyofGod.Concerningthesesins, theyshallbecalledtoaccount to seewhat answer they canmake for themselves.Mat. 12:36,“ButIsayuntoyou,thateveryidlewordthatmenshallspeak,theyshallgiveaccountthereofinthedayofjudgment.”Rom14:12,“SotheneveryoneofusshallgiveaccountofhimselftoGod.”

The goodworks of the saintswill alsobebrought forth as evidencesoftheirsincerity,andoftheir interest intherighteousnessofChrist.Astotheirevilworks,theywillnotbebroughtforthagainstthemonthatday.Fortheguiltofthemwillnotlieuponthem,theybeingclothedwiththerighteousnessofJesusChrist.TheJudgehimselfwillhavetakentheguiltoftheirsinsuponhim.ThereforetheirsinswillnotstandagainsttheminthebookofGod’sremembrance.Theaccountofthemwillappeartohavebeencanceledbefore that time.Theaccount thatwillbefoundinGod’sbookwillnotbeofdebt,butofcredit.Godcancelstheirdebts,andsetsdown their good works, and is pleased, as it were, to make himself adebtorforthem,byhisowngraciousact.

Bothgoodandbadwillbe judgedaccording to theirworks.Rev.20:12,“Andthedeadwerejudgedoutofthosethingsthatwerefoundwritteninthebooks,accordingtotheirworks.”Andverse13,“Andtheywerejudgedeverymanaccording to theirworks.”Thoughtherighteousare justifiedby faith, and not by theirworks, yet they shall be judgedaccording totheirworks.thenworksshallbebroughtforthastheevidenceoftheiroftheirfaith.Theirfaithonthatgreatdayshallbetriedbyitsfruits.Iftheworksofanymanshallhavebeenbad,ifhislifeshallappeartohavebeenunchristian, thatwill condemnhim,without any further inquiry.But ifhisworks,whentheyshallbeexamined,provegoodandoftherightsort,heshallsurelybejustified.Theywillbedeclaredasasureevidenceofhishaving believed in Jesus Christ, and of his being clothed with hisrighteousness.

Butbyworkswearetounderstandallvoluntaryexercisesofthefacultiesofthesoul.Asforinstance,thewordsandconversationofmen,aswellaswhat isdonewith theirhands.Mat. 12:37, “By thywords thou shalt bejustified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Nor are we tounderstandonlyoutwardacts,orthethoughtsoutwardlyexpressed,butalso the thoughts themselves, andall the inwardworkingsof theheart.Manjudgethaccordingtotheoutwardappearance,butGodjudgeththeheart.Rev.2:23, “Iamhe that searcheth theheartand the reins,and Iwill give unto every one of you according to his works.” Nor will onlypositivesinsbebroughtintojudgment,butalsoomissionsofduty,asismanifestbyMat.25:42,etc. “For Iwasanhungred,andyegavemenomeat;Iwasthirsty,andyegavemenodrink,”etc.

Onthatdaysecretandhiddenwickednesswillbebroughttolight.Alltheuncleanness, injustice, and violence, of whichmen have been guilty insecret,shallbemanifestbothtoangelsandmen.Thenitwillbemadetoappear, how this and that man have indulged themselves in wickedimaginations, in lascivious, covetous,malicious, or impiousdesires andwishes.AndhowothershaveharboredintheirheartsenmityagainstGodand his law; also impenitency and unbelief, notwithstanding all themeansusedwith them,andmotivessetbefore them, to induce them torepent,return,andlive.

Thegoodworksofthesaintsalso,whichweredoneinsecret,shallthenbemadepublic,andeventhepiousandbenevolentaffectionsanddesignsof theirhearts, so that the realandsecret charactersofbothsaintsandsinnersshallthenbemostclearlyandpubliclydisplayed.

Second,thebookofScripturewillbeopened,andtheworksofmenwillbetriedbythattouchstone.TheirworkswillbecomparedwiththeWordofGod.ThatwhichGodgavemenfortheruleoftheiractionwhileinthislife, shall then be made the rule of their judgment. God has told usbeforehand, what will be the rule of judgment. We are told in theScripturesuponwhat termswe shallbe justified, anduponwhat termsweshallbecondemned.ThatwhichGodhasgivenustobeourruleinourlives,hewillmakehisownruleinjudgment.

Theruleofjudgmentwillbetwofold.Theprimaryruleofjudgmentwill

bethelaw.Thelaweverhasstood,andeverwillstandinforce,asaruleofjudgment,forthosetowhomthelawwasgiven.Mat.5:18,“ForverilyIsayuntoyou,Tillheavenandearthpass,onejotoronetittleshallinnowisepassfromthelaw,tillallbefulfilled.”Thelawwillsofarbemadetheruleofjudgment,thatnotonepersonatthatdayshallbyanymeansbejustified or condemned, in a way inconsistent with that which isestablishedbythelaw.Astothewicked,thelawwillbesofartheruleofjudgment respecting them, that the sentence denounced against themwillbethesentenceofthelaw.Therighteouswillbesofarjudgedbythelaw,thatalthoughtheirsentencewillnotbethesentenceofthelaw,yetitwillbynomeansbesuchasentenceasshallbeinconsistentwiththelaw,but suchas itallows.For itwillbeby the righteousnessof the lawthattheyshallbejustified.

It will be inquired concerning everyone, both righteous and wicked,whetherthelawstandsagainsthim,orwhetherhehasafulfillmentofthelawtoshow.Astotherighteous,theywillhavefulfillmenttoshow.Theywillhaveittoplead,thatthejudgehimselfhasfulfilledthelawforthem.Thathehasbothsatisfiedfortheirsins,andfulfilledtherighteousnessofthe law for them. Rom. 10:4, “Christ is the end of the law for therighteousnesstoeveryonethatbelieveth.”Butastothewicked,whenitshallbefound,bythebookofGod’sremembrance,thattheyhavebrokenthe law, and have no fulfillment of it to plead, the sentence of the lawshallbepronounceduponthem.

Asecondaryruleofjudgmentwillbethegospel,orthecovenantofgrace,whereinitissaid,“Hethatbelievethshallbesaved,andhethatbelievethnotshallbedamned:”Rom.2:16,“InthedaywhenGodshall judgethesecretsofmenbyJesusChristaccordingtomygospel.”Bythegospel,ofcovenant of grace, eternal blessedness will be adjudged to believers.Whenitshallbefoundthatthe lawhindersnot,andthatthecurseandcondemnationofthelawstandsnotagainstthem,therewardofeternallifeshallbegiventhem,accordingtothegloriousgospelofJesusChrist.

V.Thesentencewillbepronounced.Christwillsaytothewickedonthelefthand,“Depart,yecursed,intoeverlastingfire,preparedforthedeviland his angels.” How dreadful will these words of the judge be to thepoor,miserable,despairingwretchesonthelefthand!Howamazingwill

everysyllableof thembe!Howwill theypierce themto thesoul!Thesewords show the greatest wrath and abhorrence. Christ will bid themdepart. He will send them away from his presence, will remove themforever far out ofhis sight, into an everlasting separation fromGod, asbeing most loathsome, and unfit to dwell in his presence, and enjoycommunionwithhim.

Christ will call them cursed. Depart, ye cursed, to whom everlastingwrath and ruin belong, who are by your own wickedness prepared fornothing else, but to be firebrands of hell, who are the fit objects andvesselsof thevengeanceandfuryof theAlmighty.Intofire.Hewillnotsendthemawaymerelyintoaloathsomeprison,thereceptacleofthefilthandrubbishoftheuniverse.Butintoafurnaceoffire.Thatmustbetheirdwelling-place,theretheymustbetormentedwiththemostrackingpainandanguish.Itiseverlastingfire.Thereiseternityinthesentence,whichinfinitelyaggravatesthedoom,andwillmakeeverywordofitimmenselymoredreadful,sinking,andamazingtothesoulsthatreceiveit.Preparedforthedevilandhisangels.Thissetsforththegreatnessandintensenessofthetorments,astheprecedingpartofthesentencedoestheduration.Itshowsthedreadfulnessofthatfiretowhichtheyshallbecondemned,that it is the same that isprepared for thedevils, those foul spirits andgreat enemies of God. Their condition will be the same as that of thedevils, in many respects; particularly as they must burn in the fireforever.

Thissentencewilldoubtlessbepronouncedinsuchanawfulmannerasshallbeaterriblemanifestationof thewrathof the judge.Therewillbedivine,holy,andalmightywrathmanifestedinthecountenanceandvoiceof the judge.Andweknownotwhat othermanifestations of angerwillaccompany the sentence.Perhaps itwillbeaccompaniedwith thundersandlightnings,farmoredreadfulthanwereonmountSinaiatthegivingofthelaw.Correspondenttotheseexhibitionsofdivinewrath,willbetheappearancesof terrorandmosthorribleamazement in the condemned.How will all their faces look pale! How will death sit upon theircountenances, when those words shall be heard! What dolorous cries,shrieks, and groans! What trembling, and wringing of hands, andgnashingofteeth,willtherethenbe!

Butwiththemostbenignaspect,inthemostendearingmanner,andwiththesweetestexpressionsoflove,willChristinvitehissaintsonhisrighthand to glory; saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit thekingdompreparedforyoufromthefoundationoftheworld.”Hewillnotbidthemtogofromhim,buttocomewithhim;togowherehegoes;todwellwherehedwells;toenjoyhim,andtopartakewithhim.Hewillcallthem blessed, blessed of his Father, blessed by him whose blessing isinfinitely themost desirable, namely, GOD. Inherit the kingdom. Theyare not only invited to go with Christ, and to dwell with him, but toinheritakingdomwithhim,tositdownwithhimonhisthrone,andtoreceive the honor and happiness of a heavenly kingdom. “Prepared foryoufrom the foundation of theworld.” This denotes the sovereign andeternal loveofGod,as thesourceof theirblessedness.Heputs theminmind,thatGodwaspleased tosethis loveuponthem, longbefore theyhad a being, even from eternity. That therefore God made heaven onpurposeforthem,andfitteditfortheirdelightandhappiness.

VI. Immediately after this, the sentence will be executed, as we areinformed,Mat.25:46,“Theseshallgoawayintoeverlastingpunishment;buttherighteousintolifeeternal.”Whenthewordsofthesentenceshallhaveonceproceededout of themouth of the judge, then that vast andinnumerablethrongofungodlymenshallgoaway,shallbedrivenaway,shallbenecessitated togoawaywithdevils,andshallwithdismalcriesand shrieks be cast into the great furnace of fire prepared for thepunishmentofdevils,theperpetualthundersandlightningsofthewrathofGodfollowingthem.Intothisfurnacetheymustinbothsoulandbodyenter, never more to come out. Here they must spend eternal ages inwrestlingwith themost excruciating torments, and in cryingout in themidst of the most dreadful flames, and under the most insupportablewrath.

On the other hand, the righteous shall ascend to heaven with theirglorified bodies, in company with Christ, his angels, and all that hostwhich descended with him. They shall ascend in the most joyful andtriumphantmanner, and shall enter with Christ into that glorious andblessed world, which had for the time been empty of its creatureinhabitants. Christ having given his church that perfect beauty, and

crowneditwiththatglory,honor,andhappiness,whichwerestipulatedinthecovenantofredemptionbeforetheworldwas,andwhichhediedtoprocureforthem;andhavingmadeitatrulygloriouschurch,everywaycomplete,willpresent it before theFather,without spot, orwrinkle, oranysuch thing.Thusshall thesaintsbe instated ineverlastingglory, todwell there with Christ, who shall feed them, and lead them to livingfountainsofwater,tothefullenjoymentofGod,andtoaneternityofthemostholy,glorious,andjoyfulemployments.

SECTIONV

Allwillbedoneinrighteousness.

CHRISTwillgivetoeverymanhisdue,accordingtomostrighteousrule.Thosewho shallbe condemned,will bemost justly condemned,will becondemnedtothatpunishmentwhichtheyshallmostjustlydeserve,andthejusticeofGodincondemningthemwillbemademostevident.NowthejusticeofGodinpunishingwickedmen,andespeciallyinthedegreeoftheirpunishment,isoftenblasphemouslycalledinquestion.Butitwillbemadeclearandapparent toall.Theirownconscienceswill tell themthatthesentenceisjust,andallcavilswillbeputtosilence.

So those that shallbe justified, shallbemost justlyadjudged to eternallife.Although theyalsowere great sinners, anddeserved eternaldeath;yetitwillnotbeagainstjusticeorthelaw,tojustifythem,theywillbeinChrist.Buttheacquittingof themwillbebutgivingtherewardmeritedby Christ’s righteousness, Rom. 3:26, “That God may be just, and thejustifierofhimthatbelievethinJesus.”

Christwilljudgetheworldinrighteousness,particularlyashewillgivetoeveryoneadueproportioneitherofrewardorpunishment,accordingtothe various characters of those who shall be judged. The punishmentsshallbedulyproportionedtothenumberandaggravationsofthesinsofthewicked.Andtherewardsoftherighteousshallbedulyproportionedtothenumberoftheirholyactsandaffections,andalsotothedegreeof

virtueimpliedinthem.—Iwouldobservefurther,

I. That Christ cannot fail of being just in judging throughmistake.Hecannottakesometobesincereandgodly,whoarenotso,norotherstobehypocrites,whoarereallysincere.Hiseyesareasaflameoffire,andhesearcheththeheartsandtrieththereinsof thechildrenofmen.Hecannever err in determining what is justice in particular cases, as humanjudgesoftendo.Nor canhebeblindedbyprejudices,ashuman judgesarevery liable tobe.Deu. 10:17, “He regardethnotpersons,nor takethreward.”It is impossibleheshouldbedeceivedbytheexcuse,andfalsecolors,andpleasofthewicked,ashumanjudgesverycommonlyare.Itisequallyimpossiblethatheshoulderr,inassigningtoeveryonehisproperproportionofrewardorpunishment,accordingtohiswickednessorgoodworks.Hisknowledgebeinginfinite,willeffectuallyguardhimagainstallthese,andothersucherrors.

II. He cannot fail of judging righteously through an unrighteousdisposition.Forheisinfinitelyjustandholyinhisnature.Deu.32:4,“Heis the rock,hiswork isperfect; for allhisways are judgment: aGodoftruth,andwithoutiniquity,justandrightishe.”Itisnotpossiblethataninfinitelypowerful,self-sufficientbeingshouldbeunderanytemptationtoinjustice.Norisitpossiblethataninfinitelywisebeing,whoknowethall things, should not choose justice. For he who perfectly knows allthingsperfectlyknowshowmuchmoreamiablejusticeisthaninjustice.Andthereforemustchooseit.

SECTIONVI

Thosethingswhichwillimmediatelyfollowthedayofjudgment.

I.AFTERthesentenceshallhavebeenpronounced,andthesaintsshallhaveascendedwithChristintoglory,thisworldwillbedissolvedbyfire.Theconflagrationwillimmediatelysucceedthe judgment.Whenanendshallhavebeenputtothepresentstateofmankind,thisworld,whichwas

the place of their habitation during that state, will be destroyed, therebeing no further use for it. This earth which had been the stage uponwhich so many scenes had been acted, upon which there had been somanygreatandfamouskingdomsandlargecities,wheretherehadbeensomanywars,somuchtradeandbusinesscarriedonforsomanyages,shall thenbedestroyed.These continents, these islands, these seasandrivers,thesesmountainsandvalleys,shallbeseennomoreatall.Allshallbedestroyedbydevouringflames.ThisweareplainlytaughtintheWordofGod.2Pet.3:7,“Buttheheavensandtheearthwhicharenow,bythesame word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day ofjudgment,andperditionofungodlymen.”Verse10,“Butthedayof theLordwillcomeasathiefinthenight;inthewhichtheheavensshallpassawaywith a greatnoise, and the elements shallmeltwith ferventheat,the earth also and theworks that are therein shall beburntup.” 2Pet.3:12, “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elementsshallmeltwithferventheat.”

II.Boththemiseryofthewickedandthehappinessofthesaintswillbeincreasedbeyondwhat shall bebefore the judgment.Themiseryof thewickedwillbeincreased,astheywillbetormentednotonlyintheirsouls,but also in their bodies, which will be prepared both to receive andadminister torment to their souls.Therewill doubtless thenbe the likeconnection between soul and body, as there is now. And therefore thepainsandtormentsoftheonewillaffecttheother.Andwhymaywenotsuppose that their torments will be increased as well as those of thedevils?Concerning themwe are informed (Jam. 2:19) that they believethere is oneGod, and tremble in thebelief; expectingnodoubt thathewillinflictuponthem,induetimemoreseveretormentsthaneventhosewhich they now suffer. We are also informed that they are bound “inchainsofdarkness,tobereserveduntojudgment;anduntothejudgmentof the great day,” (2Pet. 2:4, and Jude 6)which implies that their fullpunishment is not yet executed upon them, but that they are nowreservedasprisonersinhell,toreceivetheirjustrecompenseonthedayofjudgment.HenceitwasthattheythoughtChristwascometotormentthembeforethetime.Mat.8:29.Thusthepunishmentneitherofwickedmennordevilswillbecompletebeforethefinaljudgment.

Nomorewill thehappiness of the saints be complete before that time.Therefore we are in the New Testament so often encouraged withpromisesoftheresurrectionofthedead,andofthedaywhenChristshallcomethesecondtime.ThesethingsarespokenofasthegreatobjectsoftheexpectationandhopeofChristians.AstateofseparationofsoulandbodyistomenanunnaturalstateThereforewhenthebodiesofthesaintsshall be raised from the dead, and their souls shall be again united tothem, as their state will bemore natural, so doubtless it will be morehappy.Theirbodieswillbegloriousbodies,andpreparedtoadministeras much to their happiness, as the bodies of the wicked will be toadministertotheirmisery.

Wemaywithgoodreasonsupposetheaccessionofhappinesstothesoulsof the saints will be great, since the occasion is represented as themarriage of the church, and theLamb.Rev. 19:7, “Themarriage of theLambiscome,andhiswifehathmadeherselfready.”Theirjoywillthenbe increasedbecause theywillhavenewargumentsof joy.ThebodyofChristwillthenbeperfect,thechurchwillbecomplete.Allthepartsofitwillhavecomeintoexistence,whichwillnotbethecasebeforetheendoftheworld.Nopartsofitwillbeundersinofaffliction.Allthemembersofitwillbeinaperfectstate.Andtheyshallallbetogetherbythemselves,nonebeingmixedwithungodlymen.Thenthechurchwillbeasabrideadornedforherhusband,andthereforeshewillexceedinglyrejoice.

Then also theMediator will have fully accomplished his work. He willthenhavedestroyed,andwilltriumphover,allhisenemies.ThenChristwill have fully obtained his reward, and fully accomplished the designwhichwasinhisheartfromalleternity.ForthesereasonsChristhimselfwillgreatlyrejoicewithhim.ThenGodwillhaveobtainedtheendofallthegreatworkswhichhehasbeendoingfromthebeginningoftheworld.All the designs of God will be unfolded in their events. Then hismarvelous contrivance in his hidden, intricate, and inexplicable workswill appear, the ends being obtained. Then the works of God beingperfected,thedivineglorywillmoreabundantlyappear.Thesethingswillcauseagreataccessionofhappinesstothesaints,whoshallbeholdthem.ThenGodwillhavefullyglorifiedhimself,hisSon,andhiselect.Thenhewillseethatallisverygood,andwillentirelyrejoiceinhisownworks.At

thesametimethesaintsalso,viewingtheworksofGodbroughtthustoperfection,willrejoiceintheview,andreceivefromitalargeaccessionofhappiness.

ThenGodwillmakemoreabundantmanifestationsofhis glory, andofthegloryofhisSon.ThenhewillmoreplentifullypourouthisSpirit,andmakeanswerableadditionstothegloryofthesaints,andbymeansofallthesewillso increasethehappinessof thesaints,asshallbesuitable tothecommencementoftheultimateandmostperfectstateofthings,andtosucha joyfuloccasion, thecompletionofall things. In thisgloryandhappinesswillthesaintsremainforeverandever.

SECTIONVII

Theusestowhichthisdoctrineisapplicable.

I. THE first use proper to be made of this doctrine is of instruction.Hence many of the mysteries of Divine Providence may be unfolded.There aremany things in the dealings of God towards the children ofmen,whichappearverymysterious, ifweviewthemwithouthavinganeyetothislastjudgment,whichyet,ifweconsiderthisjudgment,havenodifficultyinthem.As,

First, thatGodsuffers thewicked to liveandprosper in theworld.Theinfinitely holy and wise Creator and Governor of the world mustnecessarily hate wickedness. Yet we see many wicked men spreadingthemselvesasagreenbay-tree.They livewith impunity; thingsseemtogowellwiththem,andtheworldsmilesuponthem.Manywhohavenotbeenfittolive,whohaveheldGodandreligioninthegreatestcontempt,whohavebeenopenenemiestoallthatisgood,whobytheirwickednesshave been the pests ofmankind.Many cruel tyrants,whose barbaritieshavebeensuchaswouldevenfillonewithhorrortohearorreadofthem;yethavelivedingreatwealthandoutwardglory,havereignedovergreatandmightykingdomsandempires,andhavebeenhonoredasa sortof

earthlygods.

Now, it is verymysterious, that theholyand righteousGovernorof theworld,whoseeyebeholdsallthechildrenofmen,shouldsufferitsotobe,unlesswelookforwardtothedayof judgment.Andthenthemysteryisunraveled.ForalthoughGodforthepresentkeepssilence,andseemstolet them alone; yet then he will give suitable manifestations of hisdispleasure against their wickedness. They shall then receive condignpunishment.ThesaintsundertheOldTestamentweremuchstumbledatthesedispensationsofProvidence,asyoumayseeinJob21,andPsa.73,and Jer. 12. The difficulty to themwas so great, because then a futurestate andadayof judgmentwerenot revealedwith that clearnesswithwhichtheyarenow.

Second, God sometimes suffers some of the best ofmen to be in greataffliction, poverty, and persecution. The wicked rule, while they aresubject. The wicked are the head, and they are the tail. The wickeddomineer,while theyserve, and are oppressed, yea are trampledundertheir feet,asthemireof thestreets.These thingsareverycommon,yetthey seem to imply great confusion. When the wicked are exalted topower and authority, and the godly are oppressed by them, things arequiteoutof joint.Pro.25:26, “Arighteousman fallingdownbefore thewicked, isasatroubledfountain,andacorruptspring.”Sometimesonewickedmanmakesmanyhundreds,yea thousands,ofprecious saintsasacrifice tohis lust and cruelty, or tohis enmity against virtue and thetruth,andputsthemtodeathfornootherreasonbutthatforwhichtheyareespeciallytobeesteemedandcommended.

Now, if we look no further than the present state, these things appearstrangeandunaccountable.Butweoughtnottoconfineourviewswithinsuchnarrowlimits.WhenGodshallhaveputanendtothepresentstate,thesethingsshallallbebroughttorights.ThoughGodsuffersthingstobe so for the present, yet they shall not proceed in this course always.Comparativelyspeaking,thepresentstateofthingsisbutforamoment.Whenall shall be settled and fixedby adivine judgment, the righteousshall be exalted, honored, and rewarded, and the wicked shall bedepressed and put under their feet. However the wicked now prevailagainst therighteous,yet therighteousshallat lasthave theascendant,

shall come off conquerors, and shall see the just vengeance of Godexecuteduponthosewhonowhateandpersecutethem.

Third, it is another mystery of providence, that God suffers so muchpublic injustice to take place in the world. There are not only privatewrongs, which in this state pass unsettled, but many public wrongs,wrongsdonebymenactinginapubliccharacter,andwrongswhichaffectnations,kingdoms,andotherpublicbodiesofmen.Manysufferbymenin public offices, fromwhom there is no refuge, from whose decisionsthereisnoappeal.Nowitseemsamysterythatthesethingsaretolerated,whenhethatisrightfullytheSupremeJudgeandGovernoroftheworldis perfectly just. But at the final judgment all these wrongs shall beadjusted,aswellasthoseofamoreprivatenature.

II.Ourseconduseofthissubjectshallbetoapplyittotheawakeningofsinners.YouthathavenotthefearofGodbeforeyoureyes,thatarenotafraid to sin against him, consider seriously what you have heardconcerningthedayofjudgment.Althoughthesethingsbenowfutureandunseen,yettheyarerealandcertain.Ifyounowbelefttoyourselves, ifGod keep silence, and judgment be not speedily executed, it is notbecauseGodisregardlesshowyoulive,andhowyoubehaveyourselves.NowindeedGodisinvisibletoyou,andhiswrathisinvisible.Butatthedayofjudgment,youyourselvesshallseehimwithyourbodilyeyes.Youshallnotthenbeabletokeepoutofhissight,ortoavoidseeinghim.Rev.1:7,“Beholdhecomethwithclouds;andeveryeyeshallseehim,andtheyalsowhichpiercedhim:andallkindredsoftheearthshallwailbecauseofhim.”Youshallseehimcominginthecloudsofheaven.Yourearsshallhear the last trumpet, that dreadful sound, the voice of the archangel.Youreyesshallseeyourjudgesittingonthethrone,theyshallseethosemanifestationsofwrathwhichtherewillbeinhiscountenance.Yourearsshallhearhimpronouncethesentence.

Seriouslyconsider, ifyoulive inthewaysofsin,andappearat thatdaywiththeguiltofituponyou,howyouwillbeabletoendurethesightorthehearingofthesethings,andwhetherhorrorandamazementwillnotbelikelytoseizeyou,whenyoushallseethejudgedescending,andhearthetrumpofGod.Whataccountwillyoubeabletogive,whenitshallbeinquiredofyou,whyyouledsuchasinful,wickedlife?Whatwillyoube

abletosayforyourselves,whenitshallbeasked,whyyouneglectedsuchandsuchparticularduties,asthedutyofsecretprayer,forinstance?Orwhyyouhavehabituallypracticedsuchandsuchparticularsinsorlusts?Althoughyoubesocarelessofyourconductandmanneroflife,makesolightofsin,andproceedinitsofreely,withlittleornodreadorremorse;yetyoumustgiveanaccountofeverysinthatyoucommit,ofeveryidleword that you speak, and of every sinful thought of your hearts. Everytimeyoudeviate from the rulesof justice,of temperance,orof charity;everytimeyouindulgeanylust,whethersecretlyoropenly,youmustgiveanaccountofit.Itwillneverbeforgotten,itstandswritteninthatbookwhichwillbeopenedonthatday.

Considertheruleyouwillbejudgedby.Itistheperfectruleofthedivinelaw, which is exceeding strict, and exceeding broad. And how will youeverbeabletoanswerthedemandsofthislaw?—Consideralso,

First, that the judge will be your supreme judge. You will have noopportunity to appeal from his decision. This is often the case in thisworld.Whenwearedissatisfiedwith thedecisionsof a judge,weoftenmayappealtoahigher,amoreknowing,oramorejustjudicatory.ButnosuchappealcanbemadefromourDivineJudge.Nosuchindulgencewillbeallowed.Orifitwereallowed,thereisnosuperiorjudgetowhomtheappealshouldbemade.Byhisdecision,therefore,youmustabide.

Second, the judge will be omnipotent. Were he a mere man, likeyourselves,howeverhemightjudgeanddetermine,youmightresist,andby thehelpofothers, ifnotbyyourownstrength,preventorelude theexecutionofthejudgment.Butthejudgebeingomnipotent,thisisutterlyimpossible.Invainisallresistance,eitherbyyourselves,orbywhateverhelpyoucanobtain.“Thoughhandjoininhand,thewickedshallnotbeunpunished,”Pro.11:21.Aswellmightyou“set thebriersandthorns inbattleagainstGod,”Isa.27:4.

Third,thejudgewillbeinexorable.Humanjudgesmaybeprevailedupontoreversetheirsentence,oratleasttoremitsomethingofitsseverity.Butinvainwill beall your entreaties, all your cries and tears to this effect,withthegreatJudgeoftheworld.Nowindeedheinclineshisear,andisreadytoheartheprayers,cries,andentreatiesofallmankind.Butthen

the day of grace will be past, and the door of mercy be shut. Thenalthoughyespreadforthyourhands,yetthejudgewillhidehiseyesfromyou.Yea,thoughyemakemanyprayers,hewillnothear.Isa.1:15.Thenthe judgewilldeal in fury.Hiseye shallnot spare,neitherwillhehavepity.Andthoughyecryinhisearswithaloudvoice,yetwillhenothearyou.Eze.8:18.Andyouwill findnoplaceofrepentance inGod,thoughyouseekitcarefullywithtears.

Fourth,thejudgeatthatdaywillnotmixmercywithjustice.Thetimeformercytobeshowntosinnerswillthenbepast.ChristwillthenappearinanothercharacterthanthatofthemercifulSavior.Havinglaidasidetheinvitingattributesofgraceandmercy,hewillclothehimselfwithjusticeandvengeance.Hewillnotonly,ingeneral,exactofsinnersthedemandsof the law,buthewill exact thewhole,without anyabatement.Hewillexact the very uttermost farthing,Mat. 5:26. Then Christ will come tofulfillthatinRev.14:10,“ThesameshalldrinkofthewineofthewrathofGod, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of hisindignation.”Thepunishmentthreatenedtoungodlymeniswithoutanypity.SeeEze.5:11,“Neithershallmineeyespare;neitherwillIhaveanypity.”Herealljudgmentshaveamixtureofmercy.ButthewrathofGodwillbepouredoutuponthewickedwithoutmixture,andvengeancewillhaveitsfullweight.

III.Ishallapplymyself,thirdly,toseveraldifferentcharactersofmen.

First,tothosewholiveinsecretwickedness.Letsuchconsiderthatforallthese things God will bring them into judgment. Secrecy is yourtemptation. Promising yourselves this, you practice many things, youindulgemanylusts,underthecovertofdarkness,andinsecretcorners,whichyouwouldbeashamedtodointhelightofthesun,andbeforetheworld. But this temptation is entirely groundless. All your secretabominations are even now perfectly known to God, and will alsohereafter be made known both to angels and men. Luke 12:2, 3, “Forthereisnothingcovered,thatshallnotberevealed;neitherhid,thatshallnotbeknown.Thereforewhatsoeveryehavespokenindarkness,shallbeheard in the light: and thatwhich yehave spoken in the ear in closets,shallbeproclaimeduponthehouse-tops.”

Beforehumanjudgesarebroughtonlythosethingswhichareknown.Butbefore this judgeshallbebrought themost “hidden thingsofdarkness,and even the counsels of the heart,” 1 Cor. 4:5. All your secretuncleanness, all your secret fraud and injustice, all your lasciviousdesires, wishes, and designs, all your inward covetousness, which isidolatry, all your malicious, envious, and revengeful thoughts andpurposes,whetherbroughtforthintopracticeornot,shallthenbemademanifest, and you shall be judged according to them. Of these things,however secret, there will be need of no other evidence than thetestimonyofGodandofyourownconsciences.

Second, to such as are not just andupright in their dealingswith theirfellow-men.Consider,thatallyourdealingswithmenmustbetried,mustbebroughtforthintojudgment,andtherecomparedwiththerulesoftheWordofGod.AllyouractionsmustbejudgedaccordingtothosethingswhicharefoundwritteninthebookoftheWordofGod.Ifyourwaysofdealingwithmenshallnotagreewiththoserulesofrighteousness, theywill be condemned.Now, theWordofGoddirects us to practice entirejustice.“Thatwhichisaltogetherjustshaltthoufollow,”Deu.16:20,andtodotoothersaswewouldtheywoulddotous.Buthowmanyarethere,whose dealings with their fellow-men, if strictly tried by these rules,wouldnotstandthetest!

Godhas,inhisword,forbiddenalldeceitandfraudinourdealingsonewith another, Lev. 11:13. He has forbidden us to oppress one another,Lev. 25:14. But how frequent are practices contrary to those rules, andwhich will not bear to be tried by them! How common are fraud andtrickishnessintrade!Howwillmenendeavortoleadonthosewithwhomtheytradeinthedark,thatsotheymaymaketheiradvantage!Yea,lyingin trading is too common a thing among us. How common are suchthingsasthatmentioned,Pro.20:14,“Itisnought,itisnought,saiththebuyer;butwhenheisgonehisway,thenheboasteth.”

Manymenwilltaketheadvantageofanother’signorancetoadvancetheirown gain, to his wrong. Yea, they seem not to scruple such practices.Besidedownright lying,menhavemanywaysofblindinganddeceivingoneanotherintrade,whicharebynomeansrightinthesightofGod,andwillappeartobeveryunjust,whentheyshallbetriedbytheruleofGod’s

Wordatthedayofjudgment.Andhowcommonathingisoppressionorextortion,intakinganyadvantagethatmencanbyanymeansobtain, togettheutmostpossibleoftheirneighborforwhattheyhavetodisposeof,andtheirneighborneeds!

Letsuchconsider,thatthereisaGodinheaven,whobeholdsthem,andseeshowtheyconductthemselvesintheirdailytrafficwithoneanother,andthathewilltrytheirworksanotherday.Justiceshallassuredlytakeplaceatlast.TherighteousGovernoroftheworldwillnotsufferinjusticewithoutcontrol.Hewillcontrolandrectifyitbyreturningtheinjuryupontheheadoftheinjurer.Mat.7:2,“Withwhatmeasureyemete,itshallbemeasuredtoyouagain.”

Third, to those who plead for the lawfulness of practices generallycondemned by God’s people. You who do this, consider that yourpracticesmustbetriedatthedayof judgment.Consider,whetherornotheyare likely tobeapprovedby themostholy Judge at that day.Pro.5:21,“ThewaysofmanarebeforetheeyesoftheLord;andheponderethallhisgoings.”However,byyourcarnalreasonings,youmaydeceiveyourown hearts, yet you will not be able to deceive the judge, he will nothearkentoyourexcuses,butwilltryyourwaysbytherule.Hewillknowwhethertheybestraightorcrooked.

When you plead for these and those liberties which you take, let it beconsidered,whethertheybelikelytobeallowedofbythejudgeatthelastgreatday.Willtheybeartobetriedbyhiseyes,whicharepurerthantobeholdevil,andcannotlookoniniquity?

Fourth, to those who are wont to excuse their wickedness. Will theexcuses which you make for yourselves be accepted at the day ofjudgment? If you excuse yourselves to your own consciences, by sayingthat you were under such and such temptations which you could notwithstand,thatcorruptnatureprevailed,andyoucouldnotovercomeit,that it would have been so and so to your damage if you had doneotherwise, that if you had done such a duty, you would have broughtyourselves into difficulty, would have incurred the displeasure of suchandsuchfriends,orwouldhavebeendespisedandlaughedat.Orifyousay,youdidnomorethanitwasthecommoncustomtodo,nomorethan

many godly men have done, no more than certain persons of goodreputationnowpractice,thatifyouhaddoneotherwise,youwouldhavebeensingular.Ifthesebeyourexcusesforthesinswhichyoucommit,orfor the duties which you neglect, let me ask you, will they appearsufficientwhentheyshallbeexaminedatthedayofjudgment?

Fifth, to those who live in impenitence and unbelief. There are somepersons who live in no open vice, and perhaps conscientiously avoidsecret immorality, who yet live in impenitence and unbelief. They areindeedcalledupontorepentandbelievethegospel,toforsaketheirevilways and thoughts, and to return to God, that he may have mercy onthem;tocomeuntoChrist,laboring,andheavy-ladenwithsin,thattheymayobtainrestofhim;andareassured,thatiftheybelieve,theyshallbesaved; and that if they believe not, they shall be damned; and all themost powerfulmotives are set before them, to induce them to complywith these exhortations, especially thosedrawn from the eternalworld.Yettheypersistinsin,theyremainimpenitentandunhumbled.TheywillnotcomeuntoChristthattheymayhavelife.

Nowsuchmenshallbebroughtintojudgmentfortheirconduct,aswellasmore gross sinners. Nor will they be anymore able to stand in thejudgmentthantheother.Theyresistthemostpowerfulmeansofgrace,gooninsinagainsttheclearlightofthegospel,refusetohearkentothekindest calls and invitations, reject themost amiable Savior, the judgehimself,anddespisethefreeoffersofeternallife,glory,andfelicity.AndhowwilltheybeabletoanswerforthesethingsatthetribunalofChrist?

IV.Iftherebeadayofjudgmentappointed,thenletallbeverystrictintryingtheirownsincerity.Godonthatdaywilldiscoverthesecretsofallhearts. The judgment of that day will be like the fire, which burns upwhatsoever isnot truegold.Wood,hay, stubble, anddross, shall be allconsumed by the scorching fire of that day. The judge will be like arefiner’s fire, and fuller’s soap, which will cleanse away all filthiness,howeveritmaybecoloredover.Mal.3:2,“Whomayabidethedayofhiscoming?andwhoshallstandwhenheappeareth?forheislikearefiner’sfire,andlikefuller’ssoap.”AndMal.4:1,“Forbeholdthedaycomeththatshall burn as anoven, and all theproud, yea, and all that dowickedly,shallbestubble,and theday thatcomethshallburn themup, saith the

Lordofhosts.”

There aremultitudes ofmen that wear the guise of saints, appear likesaints, and their state, both in their own eyes and in the eyes of theirneighbors,isgood.Theyhavesheep’sclothing.Butnodisguisecanhidethemfromtheeyesofthejudgeoftheworld.Hiseyesareasaflameoffire.Theysearchtheheartsandtrythereinsofthechildrenofmen.Hewillseewhethertheybesoundatheart.Hewillseefromwhatprinciplestheyhaveacted.Afairshowwillinnodegreedeceivehim,asitdoesmenin thepresent state. Itwill signifynothing to say, “Lord,wehaveeatenanddrunkinthypresence;andinthynamehavewecastoutdevils,andinthynamehavedonemanywonderfulworks.”Itwillsignifynothingtopretendtoagreatdealofcomfortandjoy,andtotheexperienceofgreatreligiousaffections,andtoyourhavingdonemanythingsinreligionandmorality,unlessyouhavesomegreaterevidencesofsincerity.

Wherefore let everyone take heed that he be not deceived concerninghimself.Andthathedependnotonthatwhichwillnotbearexaminationat the day of judgment. Be not contented with this, that you have thejudgment of men, the judgment of godlymen, or that of ministers, inyour favor. Consider that they are not to be your judges at last. TakeoccasionfrequentlytocompareyourheartswiththeWordofGod.Thatisthe rule by which you are to be finally tried and judged. And tryyourselvesbyyourworks,bywhichalsoyoumustbetriedatlast.InquirewhetheryouleadholyChristianlives,whetheryouperformuniversalandunconditionalobedience toallGod’s commands,andwhetheryoudo itfromatrulygraciousrespecttoGod.

AlsofrequentlybegofGod,thejudge,thathewouldsearchyou,tryyounow,anddiscoveryoutoyourselves,thatyoumayseeifyoubeinsincerein religion. And that he would lead you in the way everlasting. Beg ofGod, that ifyoubenotuponagood foundation,hewouldunsettleyou,andfixyouuponthesurefoundation.Theexampleofthepsalmistinthisisworthyofimitation.Psa.26:1,2,“Judgeme,OLord,examineme,andproveme;trymyreinsandmineheart.”AndPsa.139:23,24,“Searchme,OGod, andknowmyheart: tryme, andknowmy thoughts.And see iftherebeanywickedwayinme,andleadmeinthewayeverlasting.”Godwillsearchushereafter,anddiscoverwhatweare,bothtoourselvesand

to all theworld. Let us pray that hewould searchus, anddiscover ourheartstousnow.Wehaveneedofdivinehelpinthismatter;fortheheartisdeceitfulaboveallthings.

V. If God has appointed a day to judge the world, let us judge andcondemn ourselves for our sins. This we must do, if we would not bejudged and condemned for them on that day. If we would escapecondemnation,wemustseethatwejustlymaybecondemned.Wemustbesosensibleofourvilenessandguilt,astoseethatwedeserveallthatcondemnationandpunishmentwhicharethreatened.AndthatweareinthehandsofGod,whoisthesovereigndisposerofus,andwilldowithusas seemeth to himself good. Let us therefore often reflect on our sins,confess them before God, condemn and abhor ourselves, be trulyhumbled,andrepentindustandashes.

VI.Ifthesethingsbeso, letusbynomeansbeforwardtojudgeothers.Someare forward to judgeothers, to judge theirheartsboth ingeneralanduponparticularoccasions,todetermineastotheprinciples,motives,andendsoftheiractions.ButthisistoassumetheprovinceofGod,andtosetupourselvesas lordsand judges.Rom.14:4, “Whoart thou, thatthou judgest anotherman’s servant?” Jam. 4:11, “Speak not evil one ofanother,brethren.He that speakethevilofhisbrother,and judgethhisbrother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law.” To be thusdisposed to judgeandact censoriously towardsothers, is theway tobejudgedandcondemnedourselves.Mat.7:1,2,“Judgenot,thatyebenotjudged.Forwithwhat judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: andwithwhatmeasureyemete,itshallbemeasuredtoyouagain.”

VII.Thisdoctrineaffordsmatterofgreat consolation to thegodly.Thisdayofjudgment,whichissoterribletoungodlymen,affordsnogroundofterrortoyou,butabundantgroundofjoyandsatisfaction.Forthoughyounowmeetwithmoreafflictionandtroublethanmostwickedmen,yeton that day you shall be delivered from all afflictions, and from alltrouble. Ifyoubeunjustly treatedbywickedmen,andabusedbythem,what a comfort is it to the injured, that theymay appeal to God, whojudgethrighteously.Thepsalmistusedoftentocomforthimselfwiththis.

UpontheseaccountsthesaintshavereasontolovetheappearingofJesus

Christ. 2 Tim. 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown ofrighteousness,whichtheLord,therighteousjudge,shallgivemeatthatday:andnottomeonly,buttoallthosethatlovehisappearing.”Thisistothesaintsablessedhope.Tit.2:13,“Lookingforthatblessedhope,andthe glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.Thisdaymaywellbetheobjectoftheireagerdesire,andwhentheyhearofChrist’scomingtojudgment,theymaywellsay,“Evensocome,LordJesus,”Rev.22:20. Itwillbe themostgloriousday thatever the saintssaw.Itwillbesobothtothosewhoshalldie,andwhosesoulsshallgotoheaven,andtothosewhoshallthenbefoundaliveonearth.Itwillbethewedding-day of the church. Surely then in the consideration of theapproachofthisday,thereisgroundofgreatconsolationtothesaints.

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TheFinalJudgementbyJonathanEdwards,Copyright©2016

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