14, 15. that not only the reprobate are cast into the lake, but death and hell are cast into it likewise: all effects of sin and of the curse are removed out of the world (for which very cause shall the conflagration be) and they are confined to the place of the damned. Besides all this, it is evident the end of the world is by the conflagration and the apostle tells us, (1 Cor. xv. 24, 25.) that "then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom of God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." The which last, as it must be done before the end; so it seems not to be done by putting the sentence in execution, past in the day of judgment, against the wicked.

Now, if the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, that are "set forth for an example," (Jude 7.) was so dreadful, how terrible will that day be, when the whole world shall be at once in flames! How will wretched worldings look when their darling world shall be all on fire? Then shall strong castles and towering palaces with all their rich furniture, go up together, in one flame, with the lowest cottages. What heart can fully conceive the terror of that day to the wicked, when the whole fabric of heaven and earth shall at once be dissolved, by that fire! When that miserable company shall be driven from the tribunal to the pit with fire within them, and on every hand of them; and fire before them awaiting them in the lake: whither this fire (for ought appears) may follow them!

As for the particular place of this judgment, though some point us to the valley of Jehoshephat for it; yet our Lord, who infallibly knew it, being asked the question, by his disciples, "Where, Lord!" told them only, "Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together," Luke xvii. 37. after which answer, it is too much for men to renew the question. As for the time, when it shall be, in vain do men search for what the Lord has purposely kept secret, Acts. i. 7. "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power." The

apostle Paul, after having very plainly described the second coming of Christ, 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. adds, (chap. v. 1, 2.) "But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you for yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Nevertheless, some, in several ages, have made very bold with the time; and several particular years, which are now past, have been given out to the world, for the time of the end, by men who have pried into the secrets of God. Time has proclaimed to the world, their rashness and folly: and it is likely they will be no more happy in their conjectures, whose determinate time is yet to come. Let us rest in that he cometh. God has kept the day hid from us, that we may be every day ready for it, Matt. xxv. 13. "Watch therefore: for ye know neither the day nor the hour, wherein the Son of Man cometh." And let us remember, that the last day of our life will determine our state in the last day of the world: and as we die, so shall we be judged.

I shall now shut up this subject, with some application of what has been said.

Use 1. Of comfort to all the saints. Here is abundance of consolation to all, who are in the state of grace. Whatever be your afflictions, in the world, this day will make up all your losses. "Though ye have lain among the pots: yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold," Psal. Ixviii. 13. Though the world reproach, judge, and condemn you; the Judge will at that day absolve you, and "bring forth righteousness as the light." The world's fools will then appear to have been the only wise men who were in it. Though the cross be heavy, you may well bear it, in expectation of the crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge will then give you. If the world do despise you, and treat you with the utmost contempt, regard it not: the day cometh, wherein you shall sit with Christ, in his throne. Be not discouraged by reason of manifold temptations. But resist the devil, in confidence of a full and complete victory; for you shall judge the tempter at last. Though

you have hard wrestling now, with the body of sin and death; yet ye shall get all your enemies under your feet at length, and be" presented faultless before the presence of his glory." Let not the terror of that day dispirit you, when you think upon it: let those who have slighted the judge, and continue enemies to him, and to the way of holiness, droop and hang down their heads, when they think of his coming: but lift ye up your heads with joy, for the last day will be your best day. The Judge is your head and husband, your Redeemer, and your Advocate. Ye must appear before the judgment-seat, but ye "shall not come into condemnation," John v. 24. His coming will not be against you, but for you. He came in the flesh to remove the lawful impediments of the spiritual marriage, by his death: he came in the gospel to you to espouse you to himself: he will come, at the last day, to solemnize the marriage, and take the bride home to his Father's house."Even so, come Lord Jesus."

Use 2. Of terror to all unbelievers. This may serve to awaken a secure generation, a world lying in wickedness, as if they were never to be called to an account for it; and slighting the Mediator, as if he were not to judge them. Ah! how few have the lively impressions of the judgment to come! Most men live, as if what is said of it, from the word, were but idle tales. The profane lives of many speak the thoughts of it to be far from their hearts, and in very deed make a mock of it before the world, saying in effect, "Where is the promise of his coming?" The hypocrisy of others, who blind the eyes of the worid with splendid profession, being in appearance Christ's sheep, while they are indeed the devil's goats, is an evidence, that the great separation of the sheep from the goats, is very little laid to heart. How do many indulge themselves in secret wickedness, of which they would be ashamed before witnesses; not considering, that their most secret thoughts and actions will, at that day, be discovered before the great congregation! How eagerly are men's hearts set on the world, as if it were to be their everlasting habitation! The solemn assemblies, and public

ordinances, wherein the Judge is upon a tranasction of peace with the criminals, are undervalued: men's hearts will swim like feathers, in the waters of the sanctuary; that will sink like stones, to the bottom, in cares of this life: they will be very serious in trifles of this world; and trifle in the most serious and weighty things: of another world. But O consider the day, that is approaching, in which Christ shall come to judgment, the world shall be summoned, by the sound of the last trumpet to compear before his tribunal. The judge shall sit on his throne, and all nations shall be sifted before him; the separation shall be made betwixt the godly and the wicked; the books opened, and the dead judged out of them, one party shall be adjudged to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting fire, according to their works.

It would be a sight of admirable curiosity, if thou couldest wrap up thyself in some dark cloud, or hide thyself in the clift of some high rock, from whence thou mightest espy wicked kings, princes, judges, and great ones of the earth, rising out of their marble tombs, and brought to the bar; to answer for all their cruelty, injustice, oppression, and profanity, without any marks of distinction, but what their wickedness puts upon them: profane, unholy, and unfaithful church-men, pursued with the curses of the ruined people, from their graves to the judgment-seat, and charged with the blood of souls, to whom they gave not faithful warning: mighty men standing trembling before the Judge, unable to recover their wonted boldness, to outwit him with their subtilties, or defend themselves by their strength; delicate women cast forth of their graves, as abominable branches, dragged to the tribunal, to answer for their ungodly lives; the ignorant, suddenly taught in the law, to their cost; and the learned declared, before the world, fools and laborious triflers; the atheist convinced; the hypocrite unmasked; and the profane, at long run, turned serious about his eternal state: secret murders, adultries, thefts, cheats, and other works of darkness, which scorned all human search, discovered and laid open before the world, with their most minute circumstances: no regard had

to the rich, no pity shewn to the poor: the scales of the world turned; oppressed and dispised piety set on high; and prosperous wickedness at last brought low all not found in Christ, arraigned, convicted, and condemned, without respect of persons, and driven from the tribunal to the pit; while those found in him at that day, being absolved before the world, go with him into heaven. Nay, but thou canst not so escape. Thyself, whosoover thou art, not being in Christ, must bear a part in this tragical and frightful action.

Sinner, that same Lord Christ, whom now thou despisest, whom thou woundest through the sides of his messengers, and before whom thou dost prefer thy lusts, will be thy Judge. And a neglected Saviour will be a severe Judge. O! what mountain, what rock wilt thou get to fall on thee, aud hide thee from the face of him, who sitteth on the throne? Thou hast now a rock within thee, a heart of adamant, so that thou canst count the darts of the word as stubble, and laugh at the shaking of the spear: but that rock will rend at the sight of the Judge; that hard heart will then break, and thou shalt weep and wail, when weeping and wailing will be to no purpose. Death's hands will fall off; the grave will vomit thee out; and the mountains shall skip from thee; and the rocks refuse to grind thee to powder. How will these cursed eyes abide the sight of the Judge! Behold he cometh! Where is the profane swearer, who tore his wounds? The wretched worldling, now abandoned of his God? The formal hypocrite, who kissed him, and betrayed him? The despiser of the gospel, who sent him away in his messengers groaning, profaned his ordinances, and trampled under foot his precious blood? (murderer, the slain man is thy judge: there he is whom thou didst so maltreat: behold the neglected Lamb of God appearing as a lion against thee. How will thine heart endure the darts of his fiery looks! That rocky heart, now holding out against him, shall then be blown up that face, which refuseth to blush now, shall then gather blackness; arrows of wrath shall pierce, where arrows