Chap._I_V_. ---,--O::_'f_E_t_er_na_' l_J:_u_d=--gm_'e_nt_. ----------.:..4_61..--. · 1 . There will be no dillinthon 'of Perfons. 2. There will be a dillinEtion of Caufes in that Judgment; and according to their Nature, the Sentence will pafs upon all. . · . 1. There will be nodillinttion of Perfons. In humane Courts the Judges fomeumes extend and amplify, fometimes contraa or fmother the Evidence, and are more rigorous or favourable in their Sentence, as they are biafs'd towards the Perfons before them. But the Righteous Judg of the World is uncapable of being inclin'd to Favour or Severity upon fuch bafe Motives. This is frequently declared in Scripture, to poffefs us with his Fear. If ye call upon the Father, who without rejje/1 of perfons judges according to every mans work, {~;~~~e (.;{;,~ t/[~':/c"{~';~!u~:~e.!Fz1~f;;t :h:;~r~ ·t7e~b~~o?'~~~~u~~fc~~~~g~h~f~h; that tbcy are enrich'd with excellent Gifts, that they enJOY the Ordinances in their purell: Admini!hation, will avail them without real Holinefs in their Hearts and Lives. The being united to Societies of the moll glorious Profeffion, of llrittell Purity, and fublime Devotion, does no more prove one to be a real Saint, than the being of an eminent Company of Merchants proves one to be a rich Citizen. Thofe tlw bo•• the l<jtee and not the :}'~b~l:.£:::'fv7Jb~~~;;;;7iy'Z;~~iv;.:::J "'Jt:~ }.;':t 0~eL:T.~ ':t jc::;~;n;,"Zo"//~::l~u;; have prophefted in thy name, and done many wondrous1vorks. Matth. 7· 22. Then wiU the Judg fay , J knorv you not; depart from me ye workers of iniquity. No degrees of Civil Greamefs will be of any moment and advantage in that day. Sa int 'John tellifies, I fa•• the dead, [mall and gre.r, fland before God, in an equal Line, to receive their Trial. Kings !hall then _be deveiled of thei r Imperial Titles, of their Crowns and Scepters, and their Robes of State, and•only be accompanied with their Works. Of this we·have an undoubted Proof, in that 'they arc no more exempted from rhe common Law of dying than the meaneft Slave. Dearb, rhat rugged Officer, arre!h them without Ceremony, and fummons them ro appear before that Tribunal. The Royal Purple could not protett Herod from being devoured by Worms. The Apollle fpeaks indefinitely in the fore-cited Place; He that does JVrong, fhailremveforthewrong he lwdone; and there IS norejpecrof perfons. Col. ~.ult. NoCil'- cumfiamial accidents can derive pure worth, or truly debafe Perfons, but inherent Q!.Ja!ities, and the A Et ions that flow from them: and accordingly, the High and Holy God will accept or difapprove them. What St. Pat~l obferves of the faving Grace of the Gofpel being indifferently offer'd to all, is applicable in this cafe. He tells us, There is neither Greek nor 1ew, Barbari.:m nor Scythian, Bond nor Free, Col. 1· I I . are prefer'd or excluded upon a Carnal account, but that all may equally partake of fpiritual !llcffings. Thus the diflerencc of Nations will be no Privilege or Prejudice to any in the Day ofJudgmenr. The moll rude and contemptible fi1all have as fair and equal a Trial, as the mofl polite and civiliz'd: Tile ignorant Barbarians as the Learned Greci~tm, that fo much boafted of their vain Excellencies above them: The Negroes in Africa as the People of E11rop"e; for they have the fame Relation to God their Maker, and as truly bear the impreffion of God flamped upon the Humane Nature in the Creation, and therefore common to the whole fpeciesof Mankind. An Image may be fafhion'd in Ebony as well as in Ivory.. Briefly, all Men are equally fubjett to his Laws, and !hall be equally accountable for tberr Att10ns. The Rich .-rnd the Poor JbaU then meet together, Jvithout dijlinc1ion, before Gpd the m.1ker and judg of them ail. 2. There fi1all be a dillinEtion of Caufes, and every Man be judged according to his works, the tenour of good Works, and the defect of bad . The A pollle affures us, That whatfoever aman (ows, tlw fball he reap: He that [oweth to the flefh, f;ali of the flifb reap corrttption ; bm he that Joweth to theJPirit, Jhall of thejpirit reap life everlafling. Gal. 6. 7, 8. The Harvell !hall be according to the Seed both in kind and meafure. ~· Thofinvho by patient ~ontinuance in welfdoing, feel: for g_lory 1 ~.nd.hono/tr, and immor.. taltty, fi1all obtain eternal life. Rom. 2· 7· Indeed, eternal life is the t,i/t of infinite bounty, Rom. 6. 11lt. nay of pure mercy, Jude 21. and Mercy excludes Ment. 'Tis faid of the Bleffed Martyrs, who contended for the Truth and Purity of the G0fpel to the Death, that their robes •vere wafh'dwhitein the blood of theLamb,Rev.7. '4· not in their own Blood. Their Right to Heaven was from the application of his'Merits to them. Bur the Rcwar<l isdifpcns'd from God according to the Evangelical Law; not only as a magnificent Prince, but as aRighteo11s 'Judg. All thofeto whom the Gofpel promifes eterna l Lite, fhall infallibly obtain it, and none that the Gofpcl excludes. Thofe who were fen fib le of their Sins, and cordially forfaking them, did humbly and entirely depend upon the Grace of God, th;ough the bleffed Reconciler and Saviour, !hall be jullifiedand glorified. Then the Judg wrll dtfc~rn between unfeigned Faith and vain Prefumption, and will juflify the Faith of ,the Samts by the ·· genuine F~uitsof it, tl~e G~d[!nefs, Righteoufnefs, and ~obriety ofJ};~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=