There Shall Be a Day of Judgment

There shall be a Day of Judgement.

*Matthew 10:15.* It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgement, than for that city.

In this chapter we have both the commission, and the instructions which the Apostles received from the Lord Jesus Christ, when they were first sent forth to preach the Gospel. The Lord instructed them to whom they should first go and make a tender of the Gospel: only to the Jews, and not to the Gentiles, until such time as it would be seen whether the Jews would accept thereof or no. In the preceding verse the Lord directs them how they should behave themselves towards such as would reject them and their doctrine, namely, that they should shake off the dust of their feet against them; and we find that in after times the Apostles practised accordingly (Acts 13:51). Whereby they declared that they looked upon such persons, though Israelites, as profane and as abominable as any Heathen, and therefore such as they would no more hold communion with; but that they would go away from them, and carry the Gospel to others who would give it a better reception. The Jews looked upon the very earth or dust which was brought out of Heathen lands to be impure, yes, as unclean as the ashes of a dead carcase which they might not touch. Hence by shaking the dust of their feet against them, they would signify that they were such sinners as did defile the very ground they trod upon, and so as abominable as any Heathen.

In this verse there are two things contained,

1. A declaration of the grievous punishment which shall come upon them that despise the Gospel. It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha than for such. Sodom and Gomorrha are instanced in, because they were made the most terrible example of divine vengeance that ever was in the world.

2. When this punishment shall be inflicted, namely, at the day of judgment. Hence the words are spoken in the future tense: 'tis not said, it is, but it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha, so that a punishment yet to come on the Sodomites is spoken of.

The Word affords to us several doctrines, I shall only mention three as being the principal.

Doctrine 1. That there shall be a day of judgment.

Doctrine 2. That at the day of judgment all sinners shall not suffer alike, but some will have a far more intolerable punishment than others shall.

Doctrine 3. That they who have despised the offer of the Gospel shall at the day of judgment fall under the heaviest condemnation.

At present only concerning the first of these doctrines, namely, that there shall be a day of judgment.

For the clearing of this doctrine, there are three things to be enquired into. 1. How it does appear that there shall be such a day. 2. What kind of day it will be. 3. The reason why there must be such a day.

Quest. 1. How does it appear that there shall be a Day of Judgement?

Answ. 1. The Scripture does abundantly bear witness to this truth. In the Old Testament there are many testimonies concerning a judgment to come. So in the Book of Psalms, as in Psalms 50:3, 4 and 96:13, not to mention other places. And the Prophets, in special Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi speak expressly and distinctly of this judgment. Hence the Jews themselves acknowledge that there will be a general day of judgment. But in the New Testament this (as well as many other great truths) is more clearly and abundantly made known. Yes, the form of judgment is there described, as in the latter end of the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew we may see.

2. The light of nature, and that conscience which is in men, shows that there must needs be a judgment to come. Conscience is a man's judgment of himself, as subjected to the judgment of God. The Apostle shows that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law; their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts accusing or excusing in the mean while, that is, until the day come that God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ (Romans 2:15, 16). Before the great day of judgment come, they are judging and impleading themselves; there is a day of judgment kept in the conscience, which proves that God will have a day of judgment for all men. If men were not to be judged by God, they would never enter into judgment with themselves. Hence there are secret, awful fears upon the spirits of sinners with respect to this day: yes, sometimes in the worst of sinners. When Felix heard Paul reasoning concerning righteousness and temperance and judgment to come, he trembled (Acts 24:25). Especially when sinners lie upon sick-beds, and death-beds, conscience tells them they must appear before the judgment seat of the great God and answer for all the evils they have done. Or if men commit any great sin, conscience tells them they must to judgment for that sin. He that shall tell a lie against his conscience, or commit any such grievous sin, has that in his own breast (a conscience) which is a preacher of judgment to him, because of that sin.

3. The providence of God does so order matters in the world, as that we may from there conclude that there will be a day of judgment. For example, he permits wrong judgment to pass among men in the world. Guilty men are here acquitted, and innocent men are oftentimes condemned (Psalms 44:21). Solomon did from that consideration conclude, that things will one day be called over again, and another judgment be passed by him who is the supreme and righteous Judge of all the world (Ecclesiastes 3:16). Great and heinous sinners do sometimes escape punishment, not only from men, but from the hand of God in this world. Though some such are punished to show there is a providence, yet others escape to show that there is a judgment to come (1 Timothy 5:24).

Quest. 2. What kind of day will the Day of Judgment be?

Answ. 1. It will be a great day. Jude speaks of the judgment of the great day (verse 6). Hence it is called that day (2 Timothy 1:12). There never was such a day before, and there never shall be such a day after this. It is styled the day of God (2 Peter 3:10, 12). Great and eminent things are expressed by the name of God in Scripture.

It will be a great day, 1st. In respect of the great multitude which then shall be judged; the whole world: God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world (Acts 17:31). Whole nations, yes all nations shall be gathered before His judgment seat (Matthew 25:32). Not only such as shall be found alive on the earth, when the Judge shall come down from Heaven, but such as are dead, whose souls have been thousands of years either in Heaven or Hell, must then to judgment (2 Timothy 4:1). What a great day will that be, when all the men that ever were in the world or that ever shall be, must every mother's child of them appear before the judgment seat of the great GOD! All good men shall be judged though not condemned (Matthew 25:34). And all wicked men (Revelation 20): 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. No, the angels that have sinned shall then be judged. They are reserved for everlasting chains to the judgment of that great day. Therefore it is that the apostate angels tremble at the thought of this day: when they saw the Son of God they cried and roared and said, Are you come to torment us before our time? (Matthew 8:29). They know that there are hotter chains reserved for them, than those which at present they are in; and the dismal thought thereof makes all the devils in Hell to tremble. 2. The day of judgment will be a day of great discovery. Hence it is called a day. In the night things lie hid, but in the day they are discovered: so in the dark night of this present world, many things are unseen and unknown which then all the world shall see and know (Luke 12:2). It will be a day of great discovery in respect of the works and dispensations of God. Hence it is called a day of revelation (Romans 2:5). The works of creation and the mystery of redemption, and the strange mysteries of providence, and wisdom, and righteousness of God in all, will then be revealed to the admiration of men and angels for ever. There will also be a great discovery of men in that day. The spiritual and eternal estates of all (which are now known to God only) will then be made manifest to the whole world. It will be seen who were sheep and who were goats: who were wheat and who were tares: who were wise and who were foolish virgins. Many that have made a great profession, that walked in fellowship with the people of God, that sat down with them at the Lord's Table, will then be found standing at the left hand of Jesus Christ, and their hypocrisy discovered. And it will be a day of great discovery, as to the works of men (Ecclesiastes 12:14). For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Secret thefts, secret uncleannesses, secret adulteries, all will come out, and the whole world shall hear of those things at the day of judgment. Yes; the very thoughts of men will be discovered. The secrets of all hearts will be disclosed in that day (1 Corinthians 4:5). The good designs and gracious purposes which have been in the hearts of holy men, the Lord Jesus will then reveal them and speak of them to their praise, before all the world. And the evil purposes, and wicked thoughts which have been in the hearts of ungodly men shall then be told of, to their everlasting shame.

2. The day of judgment will be to the unbelieving world a most terrible day. Hence it is expressed in the Scripture by that of the terror of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11). There have been terrible types and forerunners of this dreadful day. Those lesser days of judgment, which have been in the world, when God has called whole nations to an account, and executed judgment upon them, were types and forerunners of the general judgment; and from there are in the Scripture set forth by expressions which are most proper to the great and last judgment. The terror of this day no heart is able to conceive, nor tongue able to express. But it appears especially in 4 particulars.

1. In that it will be a fiery day. This visible world is subject to a two-fold destruction, one by water, the other by fire: that by water was accomplished on the old world in the days of Noah; the other by fire will take place at the day of judgment (2 Peter 3:7). The heavens and the earth are reserved to fire against the day of judgment; and verse 12: looking for the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The Scriptures both of the Old and of the New Testament speak of this fire (Psalm 50:3; Isaiah 66:15, 16). The day of judgment will begin with flaming fire (Daniel 7:9, 10; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). Yes, and end so too (Revelation 20:9). Now what a terrible day will that be, when all the earth shall burn at once, and the heavens be all on a light flame also!

2. There will be the most terrible, amazing noise that ever was heard in the world (2 Peter 3:10). But 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. The very noise of the fire which then shall prevail every where will be terrible to hear. If a town be on fire, what a noise does it make! The rattling of the flames is terrible to hear. But what then will it be, when all the world shall be on fire? What an amazing noise will those rattling flames make all the world over! And there will be then the most terrible thunderings and lightnings that ever were known. If when the Lord came down to publish the law on mount Sinai, there were thunderings and lightnings, so that all the people in the camp trembled; how much more when He shall come to judge the breakers of that law. And what fearful out-cries and roaring lamentations will amazed sinners make in every corner of the world! As undoubtedly they did in the old world, when they saw that the windows from on high were opened, and there was no escaping that flood of death which was round about them. So it will be much more when sinners shall behold a flood, a river, a sea of fire and brimstone that they cannot go from.

3. At the Day of Judgement there will be the most terrible destruction and devastation that ever was. All the wicked in the world shall then be destroyed. Mal. 4:1. For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yes and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts. Therefore the day of Judgement is called the day of perdition of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7). And there will be a terrible destruction, not only of men but of other creatures in that day, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat (ver. 12). The Greek word translated Elements is stoikeia, which signifies Hosts: all the host of creatures which are in this lower heaven shall at the day of judgment be no more able to live than if they were (as indeed they shall be in) a furnace of fire, whose fervent heat cannot be endured. And the Apostle says, that the earth also, and the works which are therein shall be burnt up. There are living creatures thereon, beasts of the field, and creeping things. There are works of nature, trees, herbs, etc. And there are works of art, houses, towns, cities, etc. These shall all be consumed at the last day. What a terrible day will that be when there shall not be a house left standing in all the world!

4. The Day of Judgement will be concluded with the pronunciation and execution of a most terrible sentence upon all Christless sinners. The man whom God has ordained to judge the world (that is, his Son Jesus Christ) will then pronounce a sentence of eternal death upon as many as shall be found in their sins. How will their hearts ache, and every joint tremble, when they shall hear that sentence wherein every word does breathe forth death and fire (Matthew 25:41): Depart from me you cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. There will be no appealing from this sentence, nor shall it ever be reversed. And the sentence will no sooner be pronounced, but execution will be done immediately. For the Angels of Heaven will be all standing by, and see it done forthwith. The sentence is, that sinners must be burnt to death for ever, that they must be thrown alive into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. The Holy Angels will see this done. They are the reapers that shall gather the tares together, and bind them in bundles to burn them (Matthew 13:30).

3. The day of Judgement will be to true believers on Jesus Christ a good day. It will be to them a day of rejoicing (Philippians 2:16). A comfortable day (1 Thessalonians 4:18). For,

1. It will be to them a day of salvation (Hebrews 9:28). And indeed, the salvation of believers is not consummated before that day. It is true, that their souls are in perfect blessedness as soon as they depart out of this world. Therefore the Apostle speaks of the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23). But their bodies are not glorified until the Day of Judgement, not till the resurrection at the last day; which is therefore called the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:23). When that blessed day shall dawn upon the world, the saints of God shall never more be subject to any misery. It will be a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). A time of rest (2 Thessalonians 1:7). And there shall be no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4).

2. Believers shall at the Day of Judgement be publicly absolved and acquitted from the guilt of all their sins. A sentence of absolution will be passed upon them. They will be pronounced blessed; and there are none blessed but they whose sins are forgiven (Matthew 25:34). Hence the Scripture speaks of sins being forgiven in the world to come, that is, at the Day of Judgement (Matthew 12:32). It is controverted among divines, whether the secret sins of believers will be at all spoken of at the day of Judgement: some think they shall not, because that would tend to their reproach and shame. But there is much to be said for the affirmative, that they shall some of them be spoken of: for some of the Elect of God did commit their sins with such as are reprobate; now if the sins of these reprobate must be spoken of, then must the sins of the Elect, who had fellowship with them in their wickedness; but then they shall not be condemned, nor any reproach cast upon them for what they have done. In point of condemnation they shall be as if they had never sinned. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). There was condemnation to them before they were in Christ, but since that, there neither is nor ever shall be any condemnation to them. They are without fault before the Throne, before the judgment seat of God (Revelation 14:5). The Lord will in the day of judgment [declare] that their sins are blotted [out]. They can't remain upon record in God's book against them (Acts 3:19). The Lord Jesus will then say to the true believer, Though you were guilty of many and great sins, yet because I died for you, and you did believe on me, your sins are all forgiven, and therefore do you rejoice for ever.

3. Believers shall at the day of judgment be as so many kings with crowns on their heads. Know you not that the saints shall judge the world? (1 Corinthians 6:2). A sceptre shall be put into their hands (Revelation 2:26, 27): to him that overcomes will I give power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, that is, with a sceptre. They shall reign on the earth then [Revelation] 5:10. There are great disputes concerning the reign of saints on the earth: nothing is more clearly expressed in the Scripture than that the saints of God shall one day possess a glorious Kingdom (Luke 22:29). And their Kingdom they shall not have in heaven only, but in this lower visible world, under the whole heaven [Daniel] 7:27. In the place where they served God and where they suffered for his sake there they shall reign. But they must not look for a temporal dominion in this world: they must stay till the resurrection, and the day of judgment, and then they shall reign. In the morning, that is, in the morning of the day of judgment or at the resurrection, the upright shall have dominion (Psalm 49:14). In the Regeneration (whereby the resurrection is intended) they shall sit upon thrones (Matthew 19:28). Though Christ only shall pass the sentence of death upon the reprobate world, yet the saints shall sit with him upon thrones of judgment, as assistors and approbators of that judgment.

Quest. 3. Why must there be a day of Judgement?

Answ. 1. Reas. That so the glory of the divine attributes may be cleared and vindicated. To vindicate the holiness of God: because He is patient and long-suffering, sinners conclude that He is not so holy as he is, that he does not hate sin with such an infinite hatred and indignation as indeed He does. Therefore the Lord will have a day of judgment that so all men might [illegible] that He is glorious in holiness (Psalms 50:21). And to clear the justice of God: great sinners do sometimes prosper in the world. But therefore a day of judgment must come wherein God will bring them forth and deal with them for all their wickedness. Job 21:7: "Therefore do the wicked live, yes, become mighty in power?" Ver. 30: "The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction, they shall be brought forth in the day of wrath." If they escape punishment here, they shall have the greater punishment in the day of judgment, which is called the day of wrath. So will the justice of God be cleared for ever. Hence it is called a day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Romans 2:5), that is to say, the righteousness of God is not yet clearly revealed, but it shall be at that day. Then also will the truth and faithfulness of God be vindicated. There are many threatenings in the Word of God against wicked men, and many promises to the righteous. The sum and scope of the whole Bible is declared in those few words (Isaiah 3:10, 11): "Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; woe to the wicked it shall be ill with him." Whereas for the present we see it not so: as to outward concerns it goes well with the wicked, and ill with the righteous. Should good men have nothing but what they receive in this world, they would many times be of all men the most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19). Therefore there must be a resurrection and a day of judgment. Things at present are very much out of order. The proud are called happy; and such as fear God are trampled upon by the foot of pride. Hence there must be a day of judgment when all things shall be set to rights: which may be the reason why the day of judgment is called the time of the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21). Thus will the glory of God be vindicated, in the sight and hearing of heaven and earth.

Reas. 3. There must be a day of judgement that so Jesus Christ, the son of God may be glorified before all men and Angels. For Christ is the person whom God the Father has appointed to be the Judge of the World. Acts 17:31. He has appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He has ordained, whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. Christ's Resurrection is an evidence of this. His Exaltation began in his Resurrection: we may from there conclude that the last degree of His Exaltation — which is in His sitting to judge the world at the great Day, will in the appointed time take place. It is said concerning Joshua, (who in that as well as in many other respects was a type of Christ) On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel (Chapt. 4:14). So on the Day of Judgement, God will magnify His Son Jesus Christ in the sight of all the world. God will have all the world to know, that His Son is more than a man; that the honor due to God shall be given to him. Therefore has He made Him the Judge of all. John 5:22, 23. The Father judges no man, but has committed all judgement to his Son, that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. Moreover, Christ will come to judge the world in greatest state, majesty and glory that ever was, or that can be conceived. Matthew 24:30. They shall see the Son of man coming in power and in great glory. Hence His second Coming is called His glorious appearance (Titus 2:13). He will command a herald to blow the Trumpet, and to summon all the world to appear before Him; and this herald shall be no less than an Angel, yes an Arch-Angel (1 Thessalonians 4:16). For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God. A most glorious retinue will then attend and wait upon Him. All the Angels in heaven shall come down from there to wait upon the Son of God in that Day (Matthew 25:31). The Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with Him. Hence Daniel in his Vision of the Day of Judgement, beheld a thousand thousand ministering to Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. Yes, and all the Saints in heaven shall come down from there to wait upon the blessed Son of God (1 Thessalonians 3:13). At the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His Saints. Yet more, all the Saints then found alive on the Earth, shall be miraculously caught up into the Air, to meet the Lord at His coming (Chapt. 4:17). As when a great Person is coming to this or that place, many go out to meet him; so when the Son of God shall visit this lower world with His Personal presence, all the Saints on Earth shall meet Him in the Air. And this may be the true meaning of that Scripture (Luke 17:34), where Christ says In that night there shall be two men in one bed, the one shall be taken and the other left. One shall be taken and caught up by the holy Angels to meet the Lord Jesus in the air, and the other shall be left to perish in that Fire which shall then consume the world. Moreover, at the Day of Judgement, the Son of God shall sit upon a most glorious Throne (Matthew 25:31). Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory, that is to say, His most glorious Throne: so that He will reign then visibly before the world. It is most true, that Christ reigns now in Heaven, but the greatest part of the children of men in this world, do not know nor believe that: but therefore at the Day of Judgement He shall reign in the visible, lower world. Jeremiah 23:5. A King shall reign and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth. Christ's Judging the world belongs to his Kingly Office (Matthew 25:34). Hence the Dispensation of Judgement is called His Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1). The holy Prophets of Old have spoken magnificently concerning the Reign and Kingdom of the Messiah. At the Day of Judgement the truth of all those divine predictions shall be manifest to all men. Then will Christ appear to be the greatest and most glorious Monarch that ever was. The world has looked upon the King of Persia as a mighty Monarch, because he reigned over a hundred and seven and twenty Provinces (Esther 1:1). But Christ shall reign over all Nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There shall be given to Him dominion and glory, and a Kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve Him, His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away. The Lord shall be King over all the earth, in that day there shall be one Lord, and His Name One.

Reas. 3. There must be a Day of Judgement with respect to the Saints of God, that so they may be vindicated from those reproaches which are cast upon them in the world. The best of men, and those that are most dear to Christ, are oftentimes most reproached and abused. Wicked men speak all manner of evil against them falsely. And it may be their names are never cleared in this world; but therefore the Day of Judgement must come to clear all (Psalm 37:6). Commit your way to God, and He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noon day. This is one reason why good men are so patient under those vile reproaches which are cast upon them; it is because they know that at the day of judgement, the Lord whom they serve will vindicate them. With me (says the Apostle) it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgement; He that judges me is the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:3, 4). And a Day of Judgement must come that so the Lord's faithful ones may be rewarded for all that they have done or suffered for God and for the Lord Jesus Christ. For then God will give reward to them that fear His Name, small and great (Revelation 11:18). And they that have suffered for His sake shall then reign with Him.

VSE. Let every soul endeavour to be prepared for this Day. A Day of Judgement will come. All that are wise will make it their chief endeavour to give up their account with joy and not with grief in that Day.

Consider. 1. That all and every one of us must make our personal appearance, before that dreadful tribunal. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). O do you think of that! All in this congregation, every mother's child; and throughout the whole world, high and low, rich and poor, old and young they must all to judgment. I saw the dead small and great stand before God; and the books were opened, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 22:12). Whoever you are, God will have you to judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Know you, God will bring you to judgment. Therefore it will be a vain thing for any sinner to think he shall escape. If God that made heaven and earth will bring him into judgment, how shall he escape? Not a soul of man shall escape the trial. The great God has resolved, and said, and sworn, that every one shall come before his tribunal. We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ; for it is written, as I live says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God: so then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:10, 11, 12). If but one man should escape appearing, the oath of God must be broken, which is impossible. O man, as sure as the Lord lives, you shall stand before his judgment seat, and be tried and judged, either to everlasting life, or everlasting death.

Consider, 2. That at the day of judgment, men must be called to a very particular and strict account. All the actions of their lives must then be looked over. The things which they did while their souls continued in their bodies, they must be accountable for them. God shall bring every work into judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Yes, they must be called to account for their words: so has Truth himself declared, "I say to you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36). How much more shall men give account for wicked words, for unclean, filthy words, for lying words, for oaths and curses, and blasphemies which they have poured forth out of an evil mouth. And what a dreadful account will many sinners have to give up for these things in the day of judgment. Yes, men shall be called to an account in that day, not only for all that they have done, but for all they have received. It is said in the parable concerning the talents, after a long time the Lord of those servants comes and reckons with them (Matthew 25:19). Whatever talents God shall entrust any man withal, first or last a day of reckoning will come. The Lord Jesus will say to some at the great day, You had such estates in the world, but what did you do with your riches? Did you improve them for God, or did you not abuse them for sin and to dishonor his name? He will say to another; You had a talent of understanding, you had wit and memory and learning above many others, but how did you make use of your parts? He will say to another, You enjoyed the means of grace, you heard many sermons: did not you live in New England? And whose ministry did you live under there? What account can you now give concerning all the sermons which you have heard? Did you repent of sin and believe on the Son of God, and deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in the world?

Consider. 3. That as death leaves a man, so judgment will find him. All the time which men have to prepare for judgment is only while they are in this world. There is no [illegible] grace where you go. For there is a particular judgment that passes upon every soul at death (Hebrews 9:27). It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment. When once a man's soul is out of his body, it appears before the Judge of all, and is sentenced, either to life or death for ever; which particular judgment will be published at the last day. If death find a man unprepared, so will judgment. Therefore it highly concerns every man to prepare now. Miserable sinner, you know not how soon death may come upon you like an armed man, and drag your soul before the judgment seat of God! It may be this night it will be so. Death sometimes gives no warning before it comes. Remember that scripture (Amos 4:11), "I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." And how was that? Verily by thunder and lightning from heaven. And has it not been so among us also? There have been (to my observation) about twenty persons in this land, who have at several times, and places been killed with lightning: some such very lately. Therefore if God fell upon them, and struck them dead in a moment; how do you know but that it may be so with you? If you continue unprepared for death and judgment, you know not but that the next thunderstorm that comes, may prove to your soul, as snares, and fire, and brimstone, and a horrible tempest.

Consider. 4. As judgment shall find a man so it will be with him to all eternity. Eternity will fasten its iron teeth upon your soul then. Hence the Scripture speaks of eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:2), because men shall then be judged to an eternal estate either of weal or of woe. The wicked shall then go away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into life eternal. If judgment find a man in a good estate he shall be for ever with the Lord, he shall be where there is fullness of joy, and pleasures for evermore. But if judgment find him in his sins, he shall be cast into a dungeon out of which he shall never come, even into blackness of darkness forever. O think of this one word, If judgment find you in your sins; after you have been in misery as many millions of ages as there have been [illegible] minutes since the world began, you are no nearer to an end of your misery than you were the first hour that the Son of God passed on you a sentence of eternal death.

For direction here,

Think often on the day of judgment, and what will then become of you. Often set the thought of that come into your heart. One of the ancients has such an expression as this: Wherever I go, whether I am at home or abroad, alone or in company, methinks I am still hearing the last trump sounding, and that heaven-shaking voice of the Son of God, Arise you dead, and come to judgment. Think what will then become of you. Must I then go to heaven or hell? If the Lord Jesus should come to judge the world this night, what would He say to me? What answer can I give to Him concerning my time in this world, how I have spent it? Would the Lord say to me, Come you blessed! or will He not say, Go you cursed.

Make thorough work of it, in the matter of repentance. Thoughts of the day of judgment should awaken hereunto. Now God commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world (Acts 17:30, 31). As for impenitent sinners that live so, and die so; the longer they live the worse it will be for them at the day of judgment. But after your hardness, and impenitent heart, you treasure up wrath against the day of wrath (Romans 2:5). An impenitent sinner adds to the heap of wrath by every sin which he does commit. Those treasures of wrath which he has been heaping up for his miserable soul will never be spent. O therefore confess sin: enter into judgment with yourself now, if you would not have God enter into judgment with you at that day. And forsake sin: he that confesses and forsakes shall find mercy. Nor is it enough to forsake some sins only, but all known sin. If you have been a swearer, confess that sin before God, and forsake it. If you have been a drunkard, confess that sin and forsake it. Or if you have lived in wantonness, uncleanness, self-pollution (the sin which young men are commonly damned for) confess it to God and forsake it. Or if you have lived in any other sin, O turn from it to God with your whole heart. If you should continue to live but in one sin, at the day of judgment you will wish that you had never been born. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Make sure of an interest in Christ. When the flood came, they in the ark were safe, but all others perished: so at the day of judgment, they that shall be found in Christ, will be happy, but all others must into the fire that never shall be quenched. Verily an interest in Christ will be thought worth more than a thousand worlds in that day. Make sure of it then now. Let no man please himself, that he is of a civil blameless conversation; that may be, and yet you a stranger to Christ: and then woe to you at the day of judgment. Neither your civility nor your external privileges, nor your performance of religious duties can save you without an interest in Christ. Therefore it was the Apostle's greatest care, that at the judgment day, he might be found in Him (Philippians 3:9). Let that be the greatest care of every soul.

Be fruitful in every good work. The more good any of us do with a sincere heart, the more comfort and glory shall we have in the day of judgment. Now sow plentifully in works of charity, and you shall reap the fruit of all at that day. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed towards his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister (Hebrews 6:10). Not the least deed of charity but shall be remembered and honorably rewarded. Whoever has given but a cup of cold water, to a disciple in the name of a disciple, shall be rewarded for it in that day: how much more shall great services for God and for his people be highly and eternally recompensed! Be likewise abundant in works of piety. O be much in prayer, especially in secret prayer, and you shall be rewarded openly in the day of judgment. Alas, there's many a wretched man that will think with himself at that day, Oh if I had spent that time in secret prayer and communion with God, which I [illegible] in vain company, in unprofitable discourses, in taverns, in mad merry meetings; my soul might have been saved and my reward great in heaven; whereas now, because I have been an unprofitable servant, I must be cast into outer and eternal darkness. Oh then, let every man practice [illegible], as he will at that day wish he had done. Christians may live so, as that every thing they do shall be fruit, and so add to their crown in the day of judgment: so it shall be, if they have respect to God and his glory in every thing they do. Let us then labor to become like to Jesus Christ, who did always the things that please the Father. And if as He was, so are we in this world; we shall have boldness in the day of judgment.