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what to do, the Church may confess she is unable to cope with so vast a multitude of enemies. In this juncture, however, God will suddenly defeat the counsel and frustrate the efforts of the nations, and set them at variance with each other, that they may mutually attack one another, and thus exhaust their strength. By this means he will demonstrate that he is Judge in the quarrel into which they wantonly entered with the Church, and which he will decide in her favour, that she may celebrate his praises in joyful songs.5

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XL. With respect to the TIME of the judgment, the following things are to be observed. 1st, God has determined a certain day;f namely, the last day of the world, the day in which the resurrection of the dead and the consummation of all things will take place.s 2dly, It is unknown to men, and should not be inquired into. Christ has prohibited inquiries respecting it.h Paul did not deem it necessary to write of it. It is not known even to the Angels in heaven; nor was it known to Christ himself, according to the human nature, in the state of humiliation. It has pleased God to conceal from us the day of judgment, that we might be always employed in devout and conscientious preparation for it.k

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XLI. 3dly, The Apostles sometimes speak of the last day as if, even in their own time, it were already

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near at hand.

Nay, in some passages the Apostle Paul seems to class himself amongst them whom that day shall find alive.m Those expressions, however, are not to be understood, according to the comments of Grotius, as if the Apostles imagined the day of the last judgment was so near, that it would come whilst themselves were living. This interpretation is inconsistent with the infallibility of the sacred writings, which the Apostles did not compose at random, from their own conjectures; but with absolute certainty, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles, besides, delivered many predictions which they knew could not be accomplished within the space of their own life. They spoke also of their own death, and of events that were to happen after it." Paul, too, gave explicit notice, that the day of the Lord was not so very near, and that his words were not to be understood in that sense; although in his expressions he might sometimes personate those who shall be found alive in that day, and "in a figure transfer to himself," the events which are to happen to them. See another instance of the same figure in 1 Pet. iv. 3. The Apostles' speaking of the day of the Lord as so near, if it ought not sometimes to be explained as referring to the judgment of God on the rebellious nation of the Jews, seems to be owing to this; that in the Divine estimation, and when time is compared with eternity, "a thousand years are as one day." 952

1 1 Cor. x. 11. Philip. iv. 5. James v. 8, 9. 1 Pet. iv. 5. 1 John

ii. 18.

m 1 Cor. xv. 52. 1 Thes. iv. 15.

"Acts xx. 24. 2 Tim. iv. 6. 2 Pet. i. 14.

• 2 Thes. ii. 2.

P 1 Cor. iv. 6. 52 See NOTE LII.

2 Pet. iii. 8.

XLII. 4thly, Christ has announced in Scripture certain signs of the times; and given notice of certain remarkable changes in the Church, which are either more remotely or more immediately, to precede his last coming. Such are, 1. The exhibition of Antichrist in his rise, progress, and destruction. 2. The happy restoration of the nation of Israel. 3. A conversion of nations and kindreds perhaps more extensive and signal than any that has hitherto been seen. 4. The holy and glorious condition of the whole Church on earth. But these and other such signs, we must not now stop to illustrate particularly.

XLIII. Let us proceed to the IMPROVEMENT. And, in the first place, the consideration of this article is useful to awaken men from their security, and to generate in their minds a salutary dread; that, trembling at the thought of so splendid and awful a day, they may turn with the whole heart unto God. Hear, and ponder these truths, ye secure sinners who have been hitherto asleep in your crimes, and caring only for the body, have emulated the profane manners of those Israelites, of whom we read in the book of Amos." The day will certainly come at last, in which your laughter shall be turned into mourning. Hear, ye profane mockers.t Hear, ye carnal men, who refer these concerns to a distant season." Hear, ye unrighteous oppressors of the faithful. Hear, ye unprincipled hypocrites." Hear, ye slanderers of the brethren. Hear, ye unjust stewards. Hear, all ye, whoever you are, that have

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James v. 1-5. u 1 Thes. v. 3. Rom. ii. 16.

y Luke xvi. 2.

hitherto been disobedient to the Gospel. Hear, in fine, all ye wicked men, who have not made it your care to regulate your life according to the will of God. The day will at length come, in which you shall be obliged to render an account to God of all that you have done, and spoken, and thought. The Judge will be omniscient, the judgment exact, the condemnation terrible, the execution prompt. Be alarmed, therefore, be greatly afraid, tremble for fear.

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XLIV. But as this day of judgment is dreadful to the ungodly, so to the godly it is no less desirable, and most devoutly to be wished. Here oppressed innocence sometimes languishes under the calumny of the wicked, but there it shall be brought forth into light. There they shall see the wicked that once lived in luxury, now delivered up to a just destruction, and shall rejoice in the judgments of the Lord; but to them it will be a day of consummate felicity. The mouth of their accusers shall be stopped. The Judge is their Friend, and Advocate, and Bridegroom; who was himself unjustly condemned in their stead, that they might never be justly condemned. Their sentence will be at once gracious and glorious in the highest degree. COME, let no fear, no consciousness of your sins, deter you; draw near with boldness:-YE BLESSED OF MY FATHER, ye dear children of God, given to me by the Father, redeemed with my blood, and long ago enriched and adorned with numerous gifts of the Divine beneficence.-INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD:

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a Mic. vii. 9, 10.

Rise from that low state of servitude to glorious liberty; and as the partners of my kingdom, not merely enjoy its blessings, but sit together with me on the throne, encircled with a crown of never-fading glory. Let the world see what solid joy I have prepared for you; let them see, and pine away because they have lost it. Possess now that full and perfect happiness competent to human nature, which your enemies have so often exerted themselves to prevent, and your own expectation of which was once shaken within you by the incursions of so many doubts. See with what solicitude I have preserved it for you, in spite of your unbelief and of your weakness. Now let all your tears be wiped away, let all your sorrows be forgotten. -ENTER YE INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD, a joy never again to be impaired by any mixture of grief. O delightful sentence, the mere anticipation of which by faith, produces "joy unspeakable.”d

XLV. The prospect of this day ought, in fine, to excite us to an assiduous cultivation of piety, and a careful attention to every part of our conduct. "The day of "the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the "which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, "and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the "earth also, and the works that are therein, shall "be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall "be dissolved, What manner of persons ought ye to be "in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for "and hasting unto the coming of the day of God!"e O were it continually present to our minds, that an account of all our actions must one day be rendered to God, with what solicitude should we guard against sin!

d 1 Pet. i. 8.

e 2 Pet. iii. 10, 11, 12.

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