Shame to do Penance only in a Congregation for one particular Fault, when the Punishment is inflicted upon a Man for his Amendment, when Men fh Il pity this Man and pray for him?/ O what Terror will this be to all wicked and ungodly Men and Women in this Day, when they fhall now in the Day be charged with all their Sins before this Judge, before the Saints and Angels, yea, before all the World? Not for their Amendment, for then it is too late, but to their utter Confufion, when none fhall pity them, no Heart fhall lament for them, but all hall rejoyce that have done well at their tighteous Judgment.

Ufe. This ferveth for the Comfort of God's People in this World. We fee fometimes the righteous Caufe is trodden under Foot Mens Lands and Livings are detained and taken from them by unrighteous Judges, and that under Colour of Law. Well, let Men have Patience, and know this, that there will come a Day wherein there fhall be Justice and true Judgment done unto them. Here thy Caufe fhall be heard, it fhall be righted, for Chrift Jefus fhall be the righteous Judge for Poor, the Fatherlefs and Widow.

Again, we fee how thofe which make Con[cience of Sin, and are careful to hear the Word, and to walk accordingly, are defpifed of the World. Well, let us learn to poffefs our Souls with Patience, for there will come a Day of Reckoning, when cur righteous Caufe will be beard, and we shall have Juftice, but all the Con

temners

temners of the Lord Jefus, and fuch as have been Perfecutors of his poor Members, fhall feel the Smart of it. What a Comfort were this to a poor Man oppreffed by Tyrants, having a long time lain under the vile Afperfio as Jofeph, reputed an Adulterer, and fufferin; Imprisonment for the fame, to have his O preffions come to light, and to be deliver'd, to have his Innocency known and be justify'd. Lazarus for fuffering Hunger to have Plenty, and Dives for his Excels and Riot to have Penury and Want? O then what will the Com. fort of thofe be that fhall thus at that Day be fore the Saints and Angels, yea, before all th World, be fet free and at liberty from their Oppreffions and Wrongs they have fo long a time laid under, and clear'd from thofe Cenfures and Afperfions that by the graceless World have been laid upon them? What a Comfort will it be when we shall hear the Judge Ly unto us, Well done thou good and faithful Se vant, come enter into thy Mafter's Joy!

Ufe 2. 2dly, This may perfuade the God'y in their fharpest Sufferings and greatest Wrongs and Injuries they can meet withal here in this World, to poffefs their Souls with Patience, and take heed of Revenge, but rather commit all to Chrift the righteous Judge, that judgeth righteouslys for the Lord faith, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay it. The Lord will ftrike home to them, and will revenge thee upon all thine Enemies above thy weak Power. Obferve we the Rule concerning this Judgment-dav:

B

When

When thou feeft in the place of Judgment Wickednefs, and iniquity in the place of Justice, think in thy Heart, furely God will judge the Fuft and Wicked, for there is a Time for every Purpofe and Work. And again, when thou feeft Oppreffion of the Poor, and the defrauding of Judgment and Justice, be not aftonish'd at the Matter, for he that is higher than the highest regardeth it.

There is nothing in all the World doth prove more certainly the Judgment Day than the Juftice of the wicked World; for thus may we reafon: Will the Lord thus certainly punish the Wicked, and recompenfe the Juft? This being not always here in this Life, certainly it must be at the Day of Judgment. Thus reafons the Apostle St. Paul, fhewing that the Afflictions of the believing Theffalonians were an evident Sign of God's righteous Judgment, in whith Judgment-day Tribulations Thould be render'd to them that troubled them, and to them that now did foffer Reft fhould be given. Upon this very Ground exhorteth St. James, thus: Be ye alfo patient, and fettle your Hearts, As for the coming of the Lord draweth near. if he fhould have faid, do not faint, neither be out of heart that ye are now oppressed by the Men of this World, but wait the appointed time, as the Husbandman the Weeks of the Harveft till the coming of the Lord be, until which time the full Recompense of Righteoufnefs is neither given to the Righteous, nor the deferved Judgment render'd to the Wicked.

Use 3. 3dly, This gives us to fee the Truth of

Solomon's

Solomon's words, Prov. 11. 18. the Wicked worketh a deceitful Work, than the which what greater Deceit than to perfuade themselves that tho they live after the Flefh yet they fhall not die, and that they may fow Iniquity and yet look to reap Happiness; that Men may defpife God's Bounty and Grace, which he rendreth unto them in his Word, and yet look to taste Mercy after Death, that they may all their Life-time walk the broad way that leadeth to Destruction, and yet at the laft arrive at the happy Port and Ha ven of Blifs? Whereas it is a moft fure and grounded Truth of the Apostle, Gal. 6. 8. He that foweth to the Flesh fhall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that foweth to the Spirit fhall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting, Heb. 12. 14 and without Holiness no man fhall fee God.

Ufe 4. 4thly, Seeing Chrift Jefus the Judge tometh thus with Might and Majesty, not as à Saviour or Mediator, but as a Judge, it must admonish all Men and Women now to repent and turn to God in time of Mercy, to feek the Lord while he may be found, to call upon him phile he is near, Ifa. 55. 6. Now while we live Chrift Jefus cometh unto us by his Minifters, s a Saviour to fave our Souls, in Mercy to ring us unto Repentance. He offers his free Grace to all, for in Ifa. 32. 15. the Text faith, will pour out my Spirit upon you; and if you ill not have Veffels of Faith to receive this Spit it will then be a Witness against us; for afr this Life he will no more come as a Saviour. ra Mediator, but as a mighty Judge, full c B2

might

mighty Power and Glory. And therefore look. how Men die fo fhall the Judge find them.

If thou die in thy Sins, and doft not repent and feek for Pardon at the Hands of the Judge while thou liveft here, there is no hope of Mercy after Death, for how Death leaveth thee fo fhall Judgment find thee. Cain died many thou fand Years ago, and Judas in their Sin, fo fhall the laft Day find them; for after Death there is no Mercy, but Juftice and Judgment, when every Man fhall receive according to his Works How glad would Dives have been if he could have perfuaded Abraham to have fent one from the Dead to his Five Brethren to admonish them to repent? No, faid Abraham, they have Mofe and the Prophets, if they will not hear them n believe them, they will not, tho' one come from the Dead, leave their wicked Ways. Therefore while we have Time let us make ufe of it, and employ it to the best Advantage.

And one fitting thereon.

The Perfon of the Judge defcrib'd.

OW

Now who this is which fat upon this grea

Ν

white Throne, you may fee in Rev. 14 14. I saw a white Cloud, and one fitting on like the Son of Man, having on his head a gold en Crown, and in his Hand a fharp Sickle.

Do&t. 4. Chrift the Fudge at the last day. So that we fee that it is the Son of Man, eve Chrift Jefus, God and Man, that fhall be th Judge. And fo doth St. Matthew call him. M 25.21 When the Son of Man cometh in his Gl