APPLICATION OF THE SUBJECT.

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now in the presence of God, have a good hope through grace of an interest in the blood and righteousness of Jesus your Saviour, who is hereafter to be your judge. As far, Christians, as your hope in the Saviour is well founded, and lively in its exercise, so far you will look for and love the appearing of Jesus. And "to those who look for him, he will appear the second time without sin, unto salvation. There is laid up a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give at that day unto all them that love his appearing." O let it be your concern to be actually as well as habitually ready at all times to meet your Lord in the hour of death, and at the last judgment. May "you have your lamps trimmed and oil in your vessels, that whenever the bridegroom cometh, ye may go forth to meet him with confidence and joy. Let your loins be girt about and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching." Therefore watch and pray. "Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure." Endeavour to keep "a conscience void of offence towards God, and towards man." Pray for grace that you may so spend your remaining days, that your hearts may not condemn you while you live; nor your consciences when you die. "Be stedfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

SERMON X.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

ACTS xvii. 31.

HE HATH APPOINTED A DAY IN THE WHICH HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THAT MAN WHOM HE HATH ORDAINED; WHEREOF HE HATH GIVEN ASSURANCE UNTO ALL MEN, IN THAT HE HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.

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THE present state can be considered only as the infancy of human nature. The apostle has illustrated this subject in his first epistle to the Corinthians : "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known." The events of time, even those which we judge to be of the greatest importance, the affairs of states and kingdoms, when compared with the events in which we shall hereafter be concerned, seem to dwindle into the mere sports of children. What vast, interesting, wonderful,

person; for what less than Almighty power, united with infinite wisdom and knowledge, can fit him to execute universal judgment? It is likewise expedient that he should be the Son of man as well as the Son of God; for who can be so fit to judge us, as one who is a partaker of our very nature? In relation to the manner of the judge's appearance, it was remarked that he would come in all his majesty and glory, as "King of kings and Lord of lords." We proceed now to the consideration of the third part of the subject:

III. The persons to be judged. And the proceedings that will take place in relation to their trial.

1. The parties that will appear at the bar of Christ to be judged, are devils and men.

(1.) Satan and his angels will then receive their final, their everlasting doom.

From the period in which these rebellious spirits first sinned, they were subjected to the righteous justice and vengeance of the Almighty. They were cast down to hell; and wherever they are, they carry about their hell with them. But it is expressly asserted that they are reserved unto the judgment of the great day. Then shall they be judged for all their sinning, and all their temptations to sin, from the time of their apostasy and departure from God to the end of the world. In the day of judgment they will receive a due reward of all the dishonour, they have done to God, and of all the mischief they have occasioned to men. The devil and his angels,