SERM. ing to due measures of mercy and severity; the XXXIII. highest angel in heaven were incapable so rightly Isa.xi. 2, 3,4. to distinguish the strict bounds of these things. Wherefore in regard to these dispositions peculiar to him, we are even by the ancient prophets informed, that this office is allotted to him; The spirit of the Lord, saith Isaiah, shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, nor reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with Isa. xliii. 3. equity for the meek of the earth: and, A bruised reed (saith God in the same prophet, intimating his incomparable sagacity, equity, and temper, as it were, for this purpose) shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth Psal. xlv.7. judgment unto truth: and, Thou, saith the Psalmist concerning him, lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity: therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 5. By this designation the glory of God is especially promoted, his most excellent attributes being much illustrated thereby : his wisdom appeareth in constituting one so in all respects most fit to discharge the office, and his goodness most clearly shines therein: for since it was requisite that a judgment should pass upon us, how could the terror thereof be better allayed, than by putting it into the hands of his Son? to whose cognizance, were the choice permitted to us, should we rather submit our actions, than to his? to whom rather should we freely commit all our life and welfare, than to him, Heb. ii. 17. who by nature is so nearly allied to us, and hath not SERM. disdained to call us brethren? who in disposition of XXXIII. spirit is so meek and lowly, so merciful and com- Matt. xi. 29. passionate? who here was visibly in disposition and iv. 15. demeanour a lamb, and is represented to us continuing such; than to him, who by so many signal experiments hath expressed an excess of kindness towards us, and tenderness of our welfare; who hath conspicuously evidenced himself to be the best friend to mankind; that he ardently desireth the salvation of all men, even of his worst enemies; for whom he willingly did spend his blood, for whom he dying earnestly prayed; whom he continually wooeth to reconciliation and repentance, and consequently to the enjoyment of greatest happiness? How then could God more plainly express his goodness toward us, than in assigning such a judge for us. How also could he exhibit a more illustrious instance of his justice, and love to righteousness, than in advancing him to so glorious an office, who out of perfect compliance to his will did freely stoop so low, and gladly undergo so much? Worthy of God it was, and a congruous retribution, to place the crown on Rev. v. 12. his head, to put the sceptre into his hand, who willingly bore a cross, who patiently submitted to a scourge; to constitute him the Judge, who, out of abundant piety to God and charity to God's creature, was contented to be arraigned, to be sentenced, to be executed as a malefactor: he dearly purchased the right to be Lord of dead and living, and just it was Rom.xiv.9. that in effect he should obtain it. 6. Just it likewise was, that to him, immediately and solemnly, should be consigned a power to acknowledge and reward his faithful friends and ser SERM. vants; those who had believed his word, had observXXXIII. ed his laws, had out of love and respect done much and suffered much for him. Just also it was, that he should be empowered to do himself right upon his proud and spiteful enemies; that he should see them lying under his feet, and at his disposal, who had so scornfully insulted on him, and so cruelly misused him; that he righteously should judge them, who so maliciously had accused and so injuriously condemned him; should chastise them severely, who most unmercifully had afflicted and slaughtered him; should worthily reprobate all those, who had unworthily rejected him: in fine, that he should render a due recompense to all wicked persons, who by distrusting his word, by despising his overtures of grace and mercy, by resisting his will and rejecting his authority, by trampling upon his holy doctrine and laws, had wronged, had dishonoured, had disclaimed him. 7. This appointment of Jesus for our Judge is further very conducible to our edification, in way of excitement to the practice of our duty, and encouragement thereto; in way of consolation and satisfaction to our soul. It considered is apt to raise in us a high reverence and dread of our Saviour; and consequently to dispose us to the observance of his laws, and imitation of his example. It is matter of special comfort and encouragement to consider, that hence assuredly we shall find a fair and favourable trial; since it is no enemy, not one disaffected, yea, not one indifferently affected toward us, who shall judge us, but our best friend; XXXIII. from whom we may expect not only justice and SERM. equity, but all the favour and kindness our cause will bear. It also duly pondered is most proper to work in us an earnest care, and fear of sinning, and thereby of becoming obnoxious to condemnation: for what an aggravation will it yield to our whether foolish perverseness or slothful negligence; how extreme disingenuity, how wretched ingratitude will it argue in us, to be cast and condemned by such a judge; a judge so fair and equal, so mild and gentle, so benign and favourable to us; so willing to acquit us, so desirous to save us! With what face, think we, having transgressed his most good and righteous laws, having rejected all his gracious tenders of mercy and favour, having defeated all his most serious purposes, and frustrated his most painful endeavours for our welfare; having violated our manifold obligations and engagements to him; having abused his so unexpressible great love and good-will toward us; having hence deplorably forfeited all his favour, and incurred his most grievous displeasure; with what face, I say, having done all this, shall we appear in his presence? how then shall we bear the frowns of his tender love changed into fierce disdain, of highest patience turned into extreme fury, of so terrible a majesty provoked by so heinous affronts? with what heart shall we hear that once most sweet and charming voice, which in so pleasant and affectionate a strain did sound forth words of peace and comfort in our ears; that so kindly invited us to reconciliation, 2 Cor. v. 20. so meekly sued us to a compliance with him, so liberally offered to us the best things in the world upon so gentle terms, now only uttering toward us SERM. bitter complaints and sore rebukes; thundering forth XXXIII. words of indignation and terror, denouncing most μυριάσιν. Heb.xii. 22. 31. horrible menaces and curses upon us. Thus, and to such purposes, is Jesus our Lord appointed to be our Judge: I shall only further touch the manner of his exercising and executing this office, or the way of his address and proceeding thereto; the which in holy scripture (for the begetting in us a regard, veneration, and awe suitable thereto) is described to be with greatest glory, state, and solemnity. Our Lord came once in a meek humility to shew us our duty, but he shall come again with a dreadful majesty to exact an account thereof; taking his progress from the highest heavens in most royal magnificent equipage, attended upon with a numer ous, or with a numberless, and most pompous train Matt. xxv. of angels, (with all the holy angels, it is expressly said,) accompanied with triumphal shouts and acclamations; a trumpet of God, (that is, a wonder2 Thess. 1.7 fully and unconceivably sonorous trumpet, blown, as it were, by the mouth of God,) and the voice of an archangel resounding before him an universal sum 52. mons, with a noise so loud and piercing, as shall im1 Cor. xv. mediately, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, shake all the earth, and rouse all the dead out of their mortal slumber; the irresistible breath of that all-powerful voice wafting them, together with all Thess. iv. surviving people, through the clouds into the preMatt. xxv. sence of their Judge, conspicuously seated in most 31. Acts i. 11. glorious state upon his royal tribunal. This same Jesus, said the two angels to the apostles, expressing this matter in the most simple and plain manner, shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven: a cloud took him up from |