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Now, many things are dark and obscure; we see things but in part. Wicked men seem to go unpunished; they often have authority and power, and use it wickedly; good men are tried and afflicted, despised, and lightly esteemed; many things seem quite out of place, and Satan triumphs, and the godly mourn, and the wicked flourish. But the resurrection day will clear up things; just as the sun dispels the mists and fogs, and discovers to us the beauty of nature, so the rising of the Sun of Righteousness in the morning of the resurrection will clear up all the now hidden beauties of providence and grace. We shall discover with inexpressible clearness and distinctness, the wisdom and truth, the justice and mercy of all God's dealings, and say from the heart, He hath done all things well.

IT COMPLETES THE WORK OF REDEMPTION.

In one view, that was completed when on the cross our Saviour uttered the words, It is finished. A further step in its completeness was taken when he, the first-begotten of the dead, rose from the dead. The first fruits only however, of them that slept were then presented to God; but when all that sleep in Jesus are raised, then shall the last enemy, death, be destroyed, yes,

swallowed up in victory, and the grand design of redemption in bringing many sons to glory, be completely accomplished.

And now, brethren, I have set these things before you, let me ask what are your purposes The gospel is either a savour of death unto death, or a savour of life unto life. If, just excited for a moment, you leave the house of God and your seriousness is dissipated in worldly conversation, and you return to your old course again, you will be more hardened than ever and farther from God, and more likely to perish with the wicked, than if the gospel light had never beamed upon you. I beseech you, every one for your own sake, for my sake, for the Saviour's sake, let not this be the sad end of our labours, no, not to one soul among you.

But if, on the other hand, this all important subject lead any hitherto careless to inquire, What must I do to be saved; I proclaim in their ears, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And as to you, my Christian brethren, may this subject quicken every spiritual affection in your hearts. May you say and feel with the Apostle, I count all things but loss for Christ,

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

SERMON VII.

THE JUDGMENT DAY.

REVELATIONS XX. 11-13.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

AND is there such an event to be anticipated? And must earth and heaven fly away, and this great white throne, with its awful and trans

cendently glorious Judge seated upon it, appear? And must the whole human race stand before Him? And every one be judged according to their works? Surely every thought is directed towards, and influenced by, such an event. Surely all other matters that can engage the mind of man will be subordinate to this overwhelming truth! We say every Sabbath, "We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge," and yet, Alas! alas! the prospects of any temporal loss or worldly advantage will far more readily enter into the mind, and occupy the whole attention of those beings for whom that judgment is set.

Surely were there not a tremendous perverseness within, a deep slumber, an awful death in trespasses and sins, to this event all eyes would be directed, on this all thoughts would be engaged, by this all cares engrossed. Every fear and hope, joy and sorrow, would have a reference and bearing to our acceptance at last before the great and final Judge.

How is this unconcern to be removed, but by distinctly placing the subject before you. May our God enable me to do so at this time!

We have already considered death conducting the spirit into the eternal world, the awful rea

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