CHAP. IV.]

Impartiality of the sentence.

[JUDGMENT.

and harden others in sin; who by their power discountenance serious religion, and obstruct its progress, heap up damnation to themselves.

Ministers of the word, who are obliged to watch for the souls of men; and should like the heavens, by their light, their influence and motion, their doctrine and lives, guide and quicken others in the ways of holiness; if by their neglect and wickedness others are lost for ever, their account will be most heavy and undoing.

Of this number also are those who by their unholy conversation weaken the authority and efficacy of the word, and more successfully persuade men to do evil, than by their preaching to do well; for we are apt to take a deeper impression through the eye than through the ear, and to follow the physician's practice rather than his counsel. These perish not alone in their iniquity. Such also as are unfaithful dispensers of the treasures of their Lord, and by loose doctrines corrupt the minds of men, to fancy a mercy in God derogatory to his holiness, that clthough they live indulgently in sin, they may obtain an easy pardon and happiness at last. And such who employ their high commission for low and base ends; who instead of preaching Christ and him crucified, the pure and saving truths derived from the fountain of the gospel, entertain their hearers with flashy conceits and studied vanities to give a relish to curiosity, and to have the applause of fools, and obscure the native majesty of the word, enervate

Р

JUDGMENT.]

Impartiality of the sentence.

[CHAP. IV.

its force, and render it powerless to conscience-these shall perish in their iniquity. And those who spend their zeal in things of no moment to salvation, and let fly bitter invectives against those who dissent from them in unimportant matters, by which they harden scorners in vilifying the office of the ministry as a carnal invention, set up and used for secular ends; and induce others to place religion in formalities and slight observances, as if conformity to needless rites would exclude the defects of substantial holiness.

It is observed in the Chaldee paraphrase, when God was inquiring of Cain concerning Abel, that he charges him by saying, The voice of thy brother's blood cries unto me.' As if Cain were a murderer not of a single man only, but of a numerous race that might have descended from his brother. Thus a wicked minister will be charged not only for murdering himself, but as many precious souls as might have been converted and saved, if he had faithfully performed his duty. Parents also are required to instil the principles of godliness into their children in their early age to season their minds with the knowledge of the divine laws, to regulate their lives. and make them sensible of their obligations to obey them, and should recommend religion to their affections by a holy and heavenly conversation; but if by the neglect of duty their children are exposed as a prey to the tempter, and are ruined for ever, it will enhance their last reckoning, and encrease the score of their guilt beyond expression. Masters of families,

CHAP. IV.]

Impartiality of the sentence.

[JUDGMENT.

and all others that have authority and advantage to preserve or reform those committed to their care; if they neglect to instruct and command them to do what is pleasing to God and profitable to their souls, will be sadly accountable for those that perish by their neglect.

In short we see by common experience, that company and mutual consent is the usual motive to sin; and many persons who if alone would with abhorrence reject some temptations, yet become sociably sinful. Now all those who by excitement or example lead others to destruction, as they are first in sin, so they will be chief in punishment. We read in the parable of the rich voluptuary, that being in hell he desired a messenger might be dispatched from the dead to warn his brethren, lest they should come come to that place of torment. Is there then such charity in hell to the souls of others? No, that furnace always burns with its own flames; there is not a spark of that divine fire there; but remembering how guilty he had been of their sins, be feared that his torments would be increased by their coming thither. Society in endless sorrow

does not divide, but reflect them.

Now if damnation for sin be such a misery as is expressed in scripture by the most violent figures, and words of the heaviest signification; if all the possible tortures suffered here are but a lenitive to the preparations of wrath in hell; how miserable shall those be, who, as if a single damnation were a

JUDGMENT.]

Impartiality of the sentence.

[CHAP. IV.

light matter, do not only commit sin in their own persons, but are in combination with Satan to corrupt and destroy others, and multiply curses against themselves. These treasure up wrath against the

day of wrath.

Briefly; the whole process of that day, the arraignment and sentence will be so ordered, the righteousness and reasonableness of the proceedings will be so manifest, as to clear the Judge and confound the guilty. God will be justified in his sentence, and overcome when he judgeth.'

CHAP. V.

Motives to confirm our faith-Reason sees the necessity of a future judgment, and divine revelation expressly declares it-The belief of a future judgement clears the honour of God's governing the world, from the imputation of unrighteousness with respect to the prosperity of the wicked, and the sufferings of the saints—It is a powerful support to the saints in their persecutions, and an effectual restraint from secret sins-The consideration that the Son of God clothed in our nature shall judge the world, affords great consolation to his people, and is a source of great terror to the wicked.

FROM what has been said of a judgment to come,

let us be excited to confirm our faith in this great and useful doctrine, and by serious and frequent thoughts apply it to ourselves. Some have only a superficial belief of this, as a point of the religion wherein they were educated; but carnal affections, fear, hope, love, and desire, controul their ascent, as to its operation upon them. They believe in general that God is the judge and rewarder of our actions, and in the absence of temptation resolve to obey him; but when a strong trial comes from some temporal good or evil that is present, their faith is negligent and inactive to keep them from siu.