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ungodly Perfons fhall be caft into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone for evermore; which is the fecond Death.

Now having feen the meaning of the Text, let us come to speak to the feveral Points one by one, in order. And the God of all Order fo open our Hearts, that we may hear and understand his Will, that our finful Souls may be faved in the Day of our Lord Jesus.

I saw a great white Throne, &c.

His Verfe contains in it a notable defcrip

Trio of the Judge himfelf. and whereas St. John faid, he faw a grear white Throne: That is, Chrift Jefus rev aled to him in a Vifion the manner of his fecond Coming to Judgment; and withal commanded him to write in a Book, for the Comfort and Inftru&ion of his Church and People for evermore.

Doct. Here then we may obferve the great Care and Love of J. tus Chrift towards his por Church and People, that he would not have them ignorant of his fecond Coming to Jungment: But he doth make it known to his Difciple John, and bids him record it in the Book of God, that fo no Man mi ht be ignorant of it, but rather prepare himself by rue Repontance to meet the Lord in the Clouds.

Knowledge of the last Judgment necessary. Do Su cly the knowledge of Christ's coming to Judgm.nt is most necessary, being now fo near at hand, for it was thought of and feck ed for in David's fim, much more muft v A S

expect it in these our finful Days, when we are divided among our felves, at difference in the Church, and fuch a Rent made in the feamlefs Coat of Chrift: What can we expect lefs than that the Day drawing very nigh, which our Saviour foretold, that there should be dif centions and differences among Nations, Wars Abroad, Rumours of Wars at Home, and fuch Policy and Tricks used to deceive Men, and all for their own Ends, and under the Colour of Religion, as, if it were poffible, to deceive even the very Ele&t? Where the Sabbath is fo much prophaned and neglected on all fides; which Day, God himself bath fet apart for Praying and Hearing his Holy Word? It is a Day for Praying, and not for Playing: It is not a Day for bodily Recreations, nor Sport, but to converfe with God in Holy Duties; but it is too much abufed with Sports and other May-games, which God forgive us for Chrift's Sake: And therefore this Doctrine of Eternal Judgment was one of those fix Principles that were taught in the Primitive Church by the Apostles themselves, as one of the most neceffary Points to be known of a Chriftian. There is not one Truth in the Scriptures more urged both in the Old and New Teftament, than this of the last Judgment, as a Doctrine that above all other is most effectual to awaken Men out of their deep Security, to work Mens Hearts to a reverent Fear and Awe of that Majefty, before whom they muft one Day appear to give up their laft

Ac

Account. See the Effects of this in Paul, who knowing the Terror of the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. 11. How did this provoke him and others to a reverence and fear of that dreadful Majefty? When in the 24th of the Acts, Verse 25. St. Paul preach. ed unto Felix of Righteoufnefs, Temperance, and Judgment to come, his Knees fmote together and he trembled. See this likewife in the Prophet Habakkuk, who when he heard of the Judgment to come, faith, My Belly trembled, and my Lips quivered at the Voice, and Rottennefs entred into my Bones, Hab. 3. 16. See this alfo in David himself: My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments, Pf. 119. 120. See this likewife in Noah, of whom it is recorded, that when the Lord had forewarned him of the Judgment that was to come, albeit it was not nigh, but an hundred and twenty Years to come, yet he was moved with the Reverence of that God, which had threatned that Judgment, and was willing to ufe Obedience in that Duty required in framing the Ark. And as St. Austin faith, every Knock that was given upon the Ark by Noah, was as fo many warning-pieces to the Old World.

And what Doctrine can be more needful for thefe times wherein we live,upon whom the ends of the World is come,and every Man fo forgetful of it? Yea the Ignorance and want of due Confideration of this Day of Judgment, the Scriptures make the Ground indeed of all Sin. in the Days of Noah they eat, they drank, they were married and given in marriage, they planted,

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they builded, never dreaming of the Fudgment that was fo nigh at hand, until the Day came upon them as a fnare. See this likewife in those foolish Virgins that flumbred and flept,and provided not their Oil of Faith in their Lamps, for the coming of the Bridegroom. And what was the caufe why that evil Servant in the Gospel fell to eating and drinking, and beating his fellow Servants, but that he put from him the Thoughts of the Return of his Mafter?

Oh, how fhould the confideration of this, caufe every Man to fit and prepare himself for this Judgment, that he may be able to stand before the Son of Man!

Now there are two things principally that hinder this Preparation in God's Children for this Day.

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The first, Security, or careless putting off this Day of Account, that the Mafter will not come yet, and that they have yet time enong to provide for their Reckoning and Account, yet let me tell you, we can call no Time curs, but this prefent Time: For who knows whether he fhall behold the Light of the nex: Day, yea, or no; and, as St. Austin faith, the Day of Death

is not known, therefore every Day and every

Hour in the Day, we must labour to repent and prepare our felves, and to obferve and look for this fudden Change; for who knows how foon he may have his Mutation, which every Man is fubject unto by Netore, although for a time they give themselves to all manner of Diffolutenefs and Prophaneness? And there

fore

fore it is high time to hearken unto the Word of God: While the Gospel is so plentifully preached amongst us, and now wh le he call th and knocketh at the Doors of our Hearts, and would gladly be en ertained; for, faith he, If any Man will hear my Voice, and open the Door, I will come in, and fup with him, and he with me. Chrift makes a Proclamation of his Love, whofoever he be, whether Jew or Gentile, he shall be received; and therefore let us take this prefent time while we have it; for Time and Tide will stay for none; the time past we cannot call back again, it is irrecoverable; the time to come is full of uncertainty; for we may be cut off fuddenly, as Herod was And therefore it is good that we make our Calling and El &tion fure, and labour with the Apostle to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling, and not to lie in Security, which is the fut hindrance, in that we do not meditate on the Day of Death. For after Death there is no Repentance let us not think that God hath leaden Feet, because he is flow in coming, left when he cometh we find he hath iron Hands.

Now the second hindrance that keeps Men from the Thoughts of this Judgment to come, is the Care of this prefent Life,and the immoderate Love of the World; Mens prefent Felicity doth fo affed them, that they will not think of another Life; whereas did Men confider, that even this Night their Souls might be taken from them, Luke 12. 19. how would they husband Time, making it their chief Care to make their reckon