this he who clothed us when we were naked, even with the robes of his own righteousness ? That washed us when we were defiled, even in the fountain of his own blood? That cleared us when we were troubled, even with the comforts of his own Spirit? That ftrengthened us when we were weak, even with his might, and glorious power in our inner man? Was it from this Perfon that we received our pardon and peace, our fupports, our graces, our encouragements, and all the fweet refreshments we have found in ordinances? Is this the Advocate whom we made choice of, relied and trufted upon for life and falvation? Is this the Mafter whom we have followed, and whofe work we were employed about? Is this the Captain whofe colours we wore, and under whofe banner we fought? Is this the Lord whom we obeyed? The Friend, the Husband whom we loved? And is he fo glorious?"O how will the faints be wrapt up in admiration and joy? O how will they all be in a flame of burning love and affection, when they come to behold the Lord Jefus Chrift himself, and viewing him in fuch glory, as then he will be decked withal, when they come to fee him face to face, who hath fuch loveliness in his face, and fuch love in his heart to them. It is faid, I. Pet. i. 8. "Whom having not feen, ye love, in whom though ye now fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory."

E

If fo be that the faints do now love Chrift, whom they never faw, only have heard of, and believed the report of the world; how will they love him when they have a fight of him, and fee a thousand fold more beauty in him than was reported, or could be imagined? If fo be, that now fometimes they rejoice with glorious and unfpeakable joy in believing,-what will they do when they come to fee him in his glory? If they can now rejoice in tribulations, and take pleasure in the crofs and reproach of Chrift; what will they find in their Master's joy, and the crown that he now comes to put on their heads? O how glad will they be that they have been counted worthy to fuffer any thing for such a Saviour? It will be a joyful time indeed unto the faints, when they are caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And the joy of Chrift will be no lefs to meet with them. O with what an eye will he view them, when they are arising and ascending with fo much of his beauty and luftre upon them? None can conceive the love and delight which the Lord Jefus will take in them in that day. He will look upon them, as those that were beloved by the Father himself from all eternity : as those who fetched him out of heaven,before to redeem them, and now to glorify them.— He will look upon them as the travail of his foul, as the price of his blood: he will look up.

on them as his jewels, as fpoils taken out of the hands of his enemies: he will look upon them as plants grown up into perfection, as fervants who have done their work, as those who have kept his honour in the world: he will look upon them as his dearest spouse, and moft beautiful bride, who now cometh to be joined to him more nearly, and to live with him for ever. O the love and joy of Christ at this meeting. If fo be, that Chrift fo dearly loved his spouse, and could delight in her too, when she was black and footy,when her clothes were black and footed, when her affections were weak, low and inconftant; how will he love and rejoice in her, when she is made perfectly like himself, and fo beautiful with his comeliness? When her ftains are all washed off, and the is prefented before him without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, or any fuch thing ?When the fhall be arrayed in white, and hath put on her fhining garments, and appear fo lovely, and her love fhall be fo high, and full, and ftrong, and flaming? Never did lovers meet with fuch delight and joy on their wedding day, as Chrift and his spouse will meet at the day of his fecond appearance. O the fweet fimiles the faints will fee in the face of Chrift, fuch smiles upon them, fuch glances of love will fparkle forth from his eyes, as will ravish their hearts. O the fweet words they will hear! The welcome he will give them when they firft

meet! When they are come, he will place them at his right hand. So much concerning the more immediate antecedent of the judgment of the righteous.

CHAP. VI.

2. THE fecond thing is to fpeak concerning the judgment itself of the righteous. And there are two things the fcriptures fpeak of which Chrift will do at his fecond appearance in the judgment of the righteous.

1. He will take an account of them.

2. He will pronounce the fentence upon them.

1. Chrift will take an account of the righteous. Rom. xiv. 10, 12.—“We fhall all ftand before the judgment-feat of Chrift, and every one of us fhail give an account of himself unto God;" though the righteous fhall not be bro't to condemnation, yet they fhall be brought into judgment, which will be for their Master's honour and their own; especially of those who can give a good account of all the talents the Lord hath entrusted them withal.

I know it is a queftion among divines, whether the fins of God's people will be mentioned, and made manifeft at the day of judgment. I fhall not determine the queftion,fince the fcrip. ture is not fo plain. Poffibly the Lord, having pardoned them, covered them, blotted them

out of the book of his remembrance; he will not mention them on that day; but fure I'am, if they fhould be mentioned, it will not be to their difgrace and grief, but to their more abundant joy in the Lord, who hath forgiven them. If they fhould read their fins in the book of God's remembrance, they would find them like fo many debts croffed out with the red lines of Chrift's blood. If the devil fhould be permitted to accuse them at that time, who is now the accufer of the brethren, and rip up their fecret faults, the Lord himself will stand up and plead for them. He will make known the fufficient value of his merit for their ranfom, and publicly acquit them from all guilt and condemnation. "Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth: who is he that shall condemn? It is Chrift that died for them," Rom. viii. 33, 34.

But these four things Chrift will take an account of, in the judgment of the righteous.

1. He will take an account of their graces. The veffels of the virgins will be looked into, what oil they have got; the hearts of the faints will be looked into, what graces they have obtained. Chrift will then take notice, what godly forrow they have had for fin, their fecret weeping and mourning will then be made manifeft. He will then take notice, what humility and meekness, what felf-denial and patience. they have had, especially what faith, and love,