On the contrary, what must be the account of the exercises of a humble, meek, patient, believing, penitent, spirit, filled with love to God and kindness to men.

4thly. He has heard the final sentence pronounced on himself. At the close of this trial, he was declared to be a "good and faithful," or an evil and "unprofitable, servant;" and was received, as being interested in the righteousness of Christ, to "the inheritance of them that are sanctified;" or rejected, as having lived "without GOD" in this world, and died "without hope" in the next. If he sustained the former character; he was found to have "been faithful over a few things ;" and appointed to "rule over many things," and was welcomed" to the joy of his Lord." If he had sustained the latter; he was found to have been useless and worthless, in the Kingdom of God; and was therefore "bound hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth." This sentence was pronounced in his hearing by the Judge; and conveyed to him endless happiness, or endless woe. It was final; it was just: for it was formed by infinite wisdom, goodness, and truth. The Judge, who pronounced it, is perfectly qualified for this awful employment; for He has "searched the heart, and tried the reins," of every intelligent creature, from the beginning. With an intuitive survey, he has seen every action of every such creature; the circumstances, which attended that action; the motives, views, and ends, with which it was performed; together with all its consequent aggravations, and palliations. These he can bring up into one clear and perfect view; settle in every case the degree of guilt or worth, with unerring certainty; and apportion with absolute exactness the allotted reward. From him, also, there is no appeal. No future trial exists, at which the sentence may be reversed. No Judge of superiour authority or skill remains, before whom the cause may be heard anew.

Here, then, our departed friend has appeared, for the final settlement of all his interests. He was not in question concerning conduct, upon which were suspended the enjoyments of another day; or another year; or another such life, as the present. He

was in question concerning his endless well-being. His all was at stake. Himself was to be disposed of. Whatever good he hoped for was to be established; or whatever evil he dreaded to be fixed beyond recall.

5thly. At the close of this interview he has gone to receive his reward.

Of this affecting subject I shall only observe, that to the moral character, the service, the life, and the allotment, which he chose here, he will be sentenced there. If he chose the character of holiness, the service of GOD, and the enjoyments of heaven, in the present world; he will forever serve God, practise holiness, and enjoy the blessings of heaven, in the world to come. If he loved and practised sin; chose the service of Satan, and delighted in the company of wicked men, here; he is consigned to endless sin, the eternal service of Satan, and the perpetual company of the wicked, in the future world. Thus his destiny will be the result of his choice, and will exactly accord with that choice, throughout eternity. In this respect, the reward, allotted to him, exhibits the strongest appearance of the most exact and abso lute equity, on the part of God.

REMARKS.

No subject is more solemn, more awful, or more instructive, than this. From the multitude of practical remarks, which it naturally suggests to a serious mind, I shall, at the present time, select the three following.

1st. These considerations teach us the pre-eminent wisdom of doing that, and that only, here, which will give us support and consolation when we appear at this trial.

All these things will then be present, real, and of the highest importance to us. We shall then have arrived at the final determination of every interest, and every hope. This determination will be founded entirely upon "the deeds, done in the body, whether they have been good, or whether they have been evil.” On the decision of that day eternity will hang; and that decision

is suspended on the conduct of this life. No conduct, therefore, can be esteemed useful, except that which will then be found useful. Happily, it is now easy to know what this is, without any danger of mistake. With the Bible in our hands, and its precepts in our minds, precepts easily acquired, and so far as this object is concerned easily understood, remembered and applied, we have only to ask with respect to any action, word, or thought: "In what manner will this appear before the Judge of the quick and dead?" This question will at once satisfy any mind, willing to be satisfied; and resolve every doubt, not voluntarily retained. In truth, the difficulty, found in regulating our conduct so as to be ready for the final trial and a glorious reward, does not lie in our ignorance of its nature; but in our indisposition to pursue it, when actually understood. To understand it seems easy enough; but to adopt it is usually a business of labour and struggle. In order to overcome this reluctance, few things can so powerfully contribute, as a clear, strong, habitual remembrance of the affecting scenes which have now been presented to our view. Can he, who thus knows and feels that his body will soon go down to the grave, and his " spirit return to God, who gave it;" that he must then give an account of every work, which his heart has contrived, and his hands wrought; that he shall then be acquitted or condemned, as these works shall have been good or evil; that, if acquitted, he will ascend to Heaven, and enjoy endless happiness and glory; and that, if condemned, he will sink down to undying misery, remorse, and despair: can this man fail to examine all his thoughts and all his actions, day by day? Can he fail to inquire with an anxious and prying eye, whether they will be pleasing or displeasing to his judge; whether they will ensure him a glorious reward, or a dreadful punishment? Must not eternity rise up continually to his view; and spread its amazing scenes to his eye, in unceasing and awful succession? Must not "hell be naked before him, and destruction have no covering?" Will not the New Jerusalem appear to him daily, "coming down from GoD out of heaven;" and dawn upon his ravished eyes with delightful and inexpressible splendour? VOL. II.

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Will he not see his former friends, the deceased Christians, whom he loved, standing in the entrance; pointing to him the path of life; calling upon him to strive to "enter in at the straight gate;" stimulating his efforts; encouraging his progress; and waiting to renew their joy over his repentance? Must not the Redeemer of men stand ever in his sight? Must he not see his wounds open; his blood poured out; and his life terminating with agony; that he himself might live? Can he fail to hear the voice of this divine and compassionate Saviour, calling to him with the yearnings of infinite love, "Ho! every one that thirsteth! Come ye to the waters: and he that hath no money: come ye; buy and eat; yea come; buy wine and milk, without money and without price?" Can he forget how transporting it will be humbly to declare, when summoned to the judgment, in the presence of the Son of GOD, "Lord thou deliveredst unto me five talents. Behold, I have gained, beside them, five talents more :" or how ravishing to hear him reply, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Thou hast been faithful over a few things: I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord ?"

How delightful will it then be to have believed in this great Judge of angels and men; this beloved Son of God; this infinitely benevolent Saviour? How delightful to have walked blamelessly in all his commandments and ordinances; and to have had "the same mind, which was also in" him! How supporting, on that solemn day, to have "loved GOD with all the heart, and our neighbour as ourselves;" to have continued patiently in all "well doing ;" and thus to have sought effectually "for glory, honour, and immortality!" How honourable to have worn the image of God; and to be able to display this divine resemblance, as unquestionable proof of our relation to him; as acknowledged evidence, that we are "sons and daughters to the Lord Almighty!" What emotions must the final sentence of approbation excite in our own minds, when pronounced on us!

At the same time how dreadful a reverse will a reproaching, angry conscience, a frowning Judge, and a final rejection; cre

ate in a mind hurried, convulsed with guilt, and overwhelmed by despair? How will the self-ruined, friendless, hopeless, apostate feel, when he sees the time arrived; the trial finished; the sentence declared; and himself driven away to receive the terrible reward?

Of what value will the scriptures then seem to have been? Of what value the Sabbath; the Sanctuary; the privileges of prayer, self-examination, the conversation and example of good men, and all the means of salvation? How much to be prized that little life, on which eternity and its mighty interests were suspended? How wise will it then appear to have hated sin; to have shunned temptation; and to have resisted the fascinations of riches and honour, power and pleasure?

How soon will all these solemn things arrive? Even now they are at the door. A few days will bring them to every member of this assembly. How plainly ought they to be esteemed of the same inestimable importance to us, this day, which they will be seen to wear beyond the grave?

2dly. How interesting, how amazing, will all eternal things then appear?

Death, the Judgment, Hell and its sufferings, Heaven and its endless rewards, the awful anger of GoD, his glorious mercy and unchangeable love all these things will then become real, present; and will affect the imagination as deeply, as if they were now present; and reach the heart in spite of its stupidity and sin. They will terrify and oppress the soul with all the sufferings of perdition; or delight it with the possession of life begun, happiness realized, and glory already enjoyed. These will then be our all. The present world will then have retreated forever from our view. Time will have numbered all its hours; and emptied its glass of all its remaining sands. The vast world to which we are going, will have opened its boundless prospects; its everlasting enjoyments and sufferings. The day will then have dawned, to which no evening will ever arrive. The system of dispensations will then have commenced to which there can be no conclusion. What a prospect will this be! What a progress of be