"of the creature, (which now) waiteth for the "manifestation of the sons of God," shall be "completely satisfied :-then, the life of believers,

And if they shall give an account of idle words; how much more shall men's wicked words, their sinful oaths, filthy communications, and bitter words, be called over again that day?—Thirdly, Men's thoughts shall be brought into judgment: The Judge "will make manifest the counsels of "the hearts." 1 Cor. iv. 5. Thoughts go free from man's judgment, but not from God's, who knows men's thoughts without the help of signs. The secret springs of men's actions will then be brought to light, and the sins that never came further than the heart, will then be laid open. And whatever good was in the hearts of any, shall no more lie concealed.

"This trial is held out in Scripture under the notion of opening of books; and men are said to be "judged out of those things written in "the books." Dan. vii. 10. The Judge of the world, who infallibly knoweth all things, hath no need of books to be laid before him, to prevent mistakes in any point of law or fact; but the expression is intended to denote his proceeding as most accurate and just in every part of it. There are four books that shall be opened in that day:-First, The book of God's remembrance, or omniscience. This is an exact record of every man's state, thoughts, words, and deeds, good or evil. This book will serve only as a libel in respect of the ungodly: but it will be for another use in respect of the godly; namely, for a memorial of their good. The opening of it, is the Judge's bringing to light what is written in it; the reading, as it were, of the libel and memorial respectively, in their hearing.—Secondly, The book of conscience will be opened, and shall be as a thousand witnesses to prove the fact. Rom. ii. 15. Conscience is a censor, going with every man whithersoever he goes; taking an account of his deeds done in the body, and, as it were, noting them in a book; which, being opened, will be found to be a duplicate of the former book, so far as it relates to one's own state and case. Thus shall the Judge make every man see himself in the glass of his own conscience.-Thirdly, The book of the law shall be opened. This book is the standard and rule by which is known what is right and what is wrong; as also what sentence is to be passed accordingly on those who are under it. As to the opening of this book in its statutory part, which shows what is sin and what is duty, it falls in with the opening of the book of conscience. But what seems chiefly in

7 Rom. viii. 19.

which is now "hid with Christ in God," shall be fully revealed-their union to him, and their relation to God and to each other clearly manifested,

tended by the opening of this book, is the opening of that part of it which determines the rewards of men's works. Now the law promises life, upon perfect obedience; but none can be found, on the right hand or on the left, who will pretend to that, when once the book of conscience is opened: it threatens death upon disobedience, and will effectually bring it upon all under its dominion. This part of the book of the law, is not opened for the sentence of the saints; for no sentence absolving a sinner could ever be drawn from it. It is opened, therefore, for the sentence against all those on the left hand; and by it they will clearly see the justice of the judgment against them, and how the Judge proceeds therein according to law. Nevertheless there will be this difference, namely, that those who had only the natural law, and lived not under any special revelation, shall be judged by that law of nature they had in their hearts; which law declares," that they which commit such things, (as they will stand convicted of,) are worthy of death." Rom. i. 32. But those who had the written law, to whom the word of God came, shall be judged by that written law. Rom. ii. 12. Lastly, Another book shall be opened, “which is the book of life." Rev. xx. 12. In this, the names of all God's people are written, as Christ said to his disciples: "Your names are written in heaven." Luke x. 20. This book is now lodged in the hands of the Mediator; and having perfected the work his Father gave him to do, he shall on the great day, produce and open the book, and present the persons therein named, “faultless before the presence of his glory,”—“ not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing;" Jude 24. Eph, v. 17. they shall be found qualified, according to the order of the book, redeemed, called, justified, adopted, sanctified, raised up without spot: what remains then, but that, according to the same book, they obtain the great end, namely, everlasting life? This may be gathered from that precious promise :— "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, (being "raised in glory,) and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, ❝ but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Rev. iii. 5. Here is now the ground of the blessed sentence which the saints shall receive.

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"Then shall the Judge pronounce that blessed sentence on the saints,

Col. iii. 3.

9

for "they shall appear with him in glory :" and although now in their suffering state but a "little "flock," they shall then be gathered together as

"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. xxv. 34. Now this sentence passes on the saints, "according to their works;" but not for their works, nor for their faith either, as if eternal life were merited by them. The sentence itself overthrows this absurd notion. The kingdom they are called to, was prepared for them from the foundation of the world; not left to be merited by themselves, who were but of yesterday. They inherit it as sons, but procure it not to themselves, as servants do the reward of their work. They were redeemed by the blood of Christ, and clothed with his spotless righteousness, which is the proper cause of the sentence. They were also qualified for heaven by the sanctification of his Spirit; and hence it is according to their works. So that the ungodly world shall see now, that the Judge of the quick and dead does good to them who were good. Therefore it is added to the sentence, "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat," &c. Matt. xxv.35, 36. which does not denote the ground, but the evidence of their right to heaven. We see, then, the necessary connexion between glory and good works,—works evangelically good,— works having a respect to Jesus Christ, and done out of faith in him, and love to him-without which, they will not be regarded in that day. And the saints will so far be judged according to such works, that the degrees of glory amongst them shall be according to these works; for it is an eternal truth, "He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor. ix. 6. Thus, shall the good works of the godly have a glorious, but a gratuitous reward —a reward of grace, not of debt; which will fill them with wonder at the riches of free grace, and the Lord's condescension in noticing their poor worthless works: which seems to be the import of what they are said to answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered," &c. Matt. xxv. 37. These things will be a matter of everlasting wonder; and should stir up all to sow liberally in time, while the seed time of good works continues. But it is Christ's stamp on good works, that puts a value on them, in the eye of a gracious God; which seems to be the import of our Lord's reply: " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my "brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. xxv. 40.

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a countless multitude, and ranged on "the right "hand" of the "great Shepherd of the sheep;" while the goats on the left hand," the crowd of

"Now the saints having received their own sentence, "they shall judge the world," 1 Cor. vi. 2. This was not fulfilled when the empire became Christian, and Christians were made magistrates. No: the Psalmist tells us, "This honour have all his saints." Psl. cxlix. 9. And the Apostle, in the above passage, adds: “And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels ?" Being called, they come to receive their kingdom, in the view of angels and men: they go, as it were, from the bar to the throne: "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne." Rev. iii. 21. They shall not only judge the world in Christ their head, by way of communion with him; by their works, compared with those of the ungodly; or by way of testimony against them; but they shall be assessors to Jesus Christ the Judge, giving their voice against them consenting to his judgment as just, and saying “Amen” to the doom pronounced against all the ungodly: as is said of the saints in the judgment of the great whore: "Allelujah-for true and righteous are his judgments." Rev. xix. 1-4. Thus the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning of the resurrection. Then, and not till then, shall be fully accomplished, "Let the high praises of God be in "their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people-This "honour have all the saints." Psl. cxlix. 6-9. O! what a strange alteration of affairs here! To see men of riches and power stand pale-faced before those whom they have oppressed! To see the mocker stand trembling before those he mocked! the worldly wise man before whom he accounted fools!

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"The Judge shall then pronounce the sentence of damnation on all the ungodly multitude. "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil “and his angels.” Matt. xxv. 41. Fearful doom! and that from the same mouth from whence proceeded the sentence of absolution before. O! what an aggravation of the misery of the wicked will it be, that he shall pronounce this sentence also!-To hear the curse from Mount Zion, must be most terrible; to be condemned by him who came to save sinners, must

2 Heb. xiii. 20.

3 Matt. xxv. 32, 33.

4

unregenerate and unsanctified souls, shall stand abashed at the disclosure of all their sins, and remain" speechless" 5 at the unanswerable charges:

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be double damnation. But thus it shall be. The Lamb of God shall roar as a lion against them: he shall excommunicate, and cast them out of his presence for ever, by a sentence from the throne, saying, “Depart from me, ye cursed." And all the saints shall say, "Hallelujah-for true and 66 righteous are his judgments." Now there is no wrong done them; "For (our Lord will say) I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was "thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not "in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me "not." These are not only evidences of their ungodly and accursed state, but most proper causes and grounds of their condemnation; for though good works do not merit salvation, yet evil works merit damnation. Sins of one kind only, namely, of omission, are here mentioned: not that these alone shall then be discovered, (for the opening of the books lay all open,) but because these, if there were no more, are sufficient to condemn unpar doned sinners. And if men shall be condemned for sins of omission, much more than for sins of commission. The omission of works of charity and mercy is spoken of particularly, to stop the mouths of the wicked; for it is most just, that he should "have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed 66 no mercy." Jam. ii. 13. The mentioning of the omission of acts of charity and mercy towards the distressed members of Christ, intimates, that it is the judgment of those who have heard of Christ in the Gospel, that is principally intended here; and that the neglecting of Christ will be the great cause of the ruin of those who hear the Gospel : but the enmity of the hearts of the wicked against themselves, is discovered by the entertainment they now give to his members. To disguise their evil practices, they will pretend ignorance of their neglect of Christ; they will then say,— "When saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or "sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?" But this false plea is in vain; for the Lord reckons, and will reckon, the world's unkindness to his people unkindness to himself: "Then shall he answer "them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one "of the least of these, ye did it not to me." Matt. xxv. 44, 45. Sentence being thus passed upon both parties, the full execution of the same immediately follows: "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, “but the righteous into life eternal.” (v. 46.)—Boston's Fourfold State, Part iv. Sect. 4.

4 Rom. ii. 16. Mark iv. 22.

5 Matt. xxii. 12. John xii. 48.