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If Christ be ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead,* 1.1 how miserable a case will Christless Souls be in at that day! They that are Christless now, will be speechless, helpless, and hopeless then. How will their hands hang down, and their knees knock together! O what pale faces, quivering lips, fainting
hearts, and roaring consciences will be among them in that day! O dreadful day! O astonishing sight! To see the World in a dreadful conflagration, the Elements melting, the Stars falling, the Earth trembling, the Judgement set, the Prisoners brought forth; O who shall endure in this day, but those that by union with Christ, are secured against the danger and dread of it? Let me demand of poor Christless Souls, whom this day is like to overtake unawares.
[ 1] First, Do ye think it possible to avoid appearing after that terrible citation is given to the World by the Trump of God? Alas, how can you imagine it? Is not the same power that re∣vived your dust, able to bring you before the bar? There is a necessity that you must come forth, 2 Cor. 5.10. We [Must] all appear. It is not at the sinners choice, to obey the Summons or not.
[ 2] Secondly, If you must appear, are there no Accusers, nor Wit∣nesses that will appear against you, and confront you in the Court? What think you, was Satan so often a Tempter to you here, and will he not be an Accuser there? Yes, nothing surer; for that was the main design of all his Temptations. What think you of your own Consciences? Are they not privy to your secret wicked∣ness? Don't they now whisper sometimes in your ears, what you care not to hear of? If they whisper now, they will thunder then, Rom. 2.15, 16. Will not the Spirit accuse you, for resisting his motions, and stifling thousands of his convictions? Will not your Companions in sin accuse you? who drew, or were drawn by you to sin? Will not your Teachers be your accusers? How many times have you made them complain, Lord! they are Iron and Brass, they have made their faces harder than a Rock; they refuse to return. Will not your very Relations be your accusers? To whom you have failed in all your relational duties? Yea, and every one whom you have tempted to sin, abused, defrauded, over-reacht: all these will be your accusers. So that it is without dispute you will have accusers enough, to appear against you.
[ 3] Thirdly, Being accused before Jesus Christ, what will you plead for your selves? Will you confess, or will you deny the charge? If you confess, what need more? Out of thine own mouth will I Iudge thee, saith Christ, Luk. 19.22. If you deny, and plead not guilty: thy Judge is the searcher of hearts, and knows all things. So that it will not at all help thee to make a lye thy last refuge. This will add to the guilt, but not cover it.
Fourthly, If no defence or plea be left thee, then what canst [ 4] thou imagine should retard the Sentence? Why should not Christ go on to that dreadful work? Must not the Iudge of all the Earth do right? Gen. 18.25. Must he not render to every man accor∣ding to his deeds? 2 Cor. 5.10. Yes, no question but he will proceed to that Sentence, how terrible so ever it be to you to think on it now, or hear it then.
Fifthly, To conclude, if Sentence be once given by Christ [ 5] against thy Soul, what in all the world canst thou imagine should hinder the Execution? Will he alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth? No, Psal. 89.34. Dost thou hope he is more merci∣ful and pitiful than so? Thou mistakest, if thou expectest mercy out of that way in which he dispenses it. There will be thousands, and ten thousands that will rejoyce in, and magnifie his mercy then; but they are such as obeyed his call, repented, believed, and obtained union with his person here; but for unbelievers, it's against the settled Law of Christ, and constitution of the Gospel to shew mercy to the despisers of it. But it may be you think your tears, your cryes, your pleadings with him, may move him; these indeed might have done somewhat in time, but they come out of season now. Alas, too late. What the success of such pleas and cries will be, you may see if you will but consult two Scriptures, Iob 27.8, 9. What is the hope of the Hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his Soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? No, no, and Matth. 7.22. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not Prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out Devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity.
And must it come to this Dismal Issue with you indeed? God forbid it should. Oh then
Infer. 2.