Senn. CXXV. the World 'hall be fudged. have a fair and equitable Confidcratiorí of all the Circumftances belonging to it. Now Chrift, as he is the Son of Man, is near to us, Bone of our Bone, and Flefh ofour Hef,, made in all Things like unto os, only without Sin ; which was neceflàry to qualifie him to be our Judge ; he dwelt among us, and uí±, derftands all our Circumftances, and whatever may have- influence upon our Cafe, to extenuate or aggravate our Guilt. What the Apofile to, the Hebrew; fays of Chrift as an High- Priefl, may be applied to him as a judge, Heb., 4. I g. 1e have not a Judge, which cannot be touched with. the Feeling of our Infirmi- ties ; but was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin. That which now remains, is to draw force Inferences fromwhat I have dif- courfed to you upon this Argument. I. If the Lord Jefus Chrift (hall judge the World, and we muff all appear before his judgment Seat, then it greatly concerns every one of us fo to de- mean our felves in this World, that we may be accepted of him in the next; If a Man be to be tryed for his Life, how will he court the Favour pf the Judge, that when be comes to ftand at his Bar, he may receive agracious Sentence from his Mouth ? Why, there is a Day certainly coming,. when every one of us mutt appear before the Tribunal of the great Judge' of the World ; and therefore we thould with :all pofiible Care and Diligence en- deavour to approve our Confciences, and all the A&ions of our Lives tp him. Wherefore we labour, faith the Apo(tle immediately before my Text, that whether prefent or abfent, we may be accepted of him. For we muff all appear before the judgment Seat of Chrifl. This is that which makes his Acceptance and,Appro- ation fo valuable and confiderable, that he is tobe our Judge, to, him we muff {land or fall, by his Sentence we (hall be cafe or cleared for ever; We are very apt to court the. Favour-of great Men, of the Princes and Judges of this World, that when we come to (land in need of it, we may have the Benefit and Comfort of it. But this is not our great Intereft ; for the Sentence that Men can pals upon us, dottit but operate for a little while, the Effie& and Confequences of it do not reach beyond this World; it is not final and conclufive as to our eternal State. To allude to that Saying of Solomon's, Many feel¿ the Princes Favour ; but every Man's judgment is of the Lord. We feek the Favour of the great Men of this World ; but there is a greater Man than any of thefe, whom we are apt to.delpife and negle&, The Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the Man who is ordained of God, to be Judge both of Quick and Dead. Every Man's Judgment dhallbe from bins, 'fis his Sentence which above all other we have molt Reafon to delire or dread. Therefore we fhould have regard to him, and by fubmitting to his Scepter, and yield- ing a willing Obedience to the Laws of his Holy Gofpel, leek his Favour, left he break us with a Rod of Iron, and dal?) Of in Pieces like a Potter's Let1, This Advice we find given to the Kings and Rulers of the Earth, Plal.: 2. ;ro, r t, re. Be wife now therefore, 0ye Kings ; and be inflruiled, ye Judges'of the Earth. Serve the Lord with Fear, and rejoyce with Trembling. Kif the San left he be angry, and ye peril') from the Way, when his Wrath is kindled but 4 little Bleffecl are all they that put their Trull in him. 2. This is Matter of great Comfort to all fincere Chriltians, that Chrift fhall judge the World ; as it likewife is of great Terror to all that difobey the Gofpel, and by their wicked Lives confute their Profeffion, and pretended Belief of it. Chrift is the Author ofeternal Salvation to them that obey him, and. to none elfe. He bath not only purchafed this Salvation for us, but by a publick, and folemn, and authoritative Sentence, will confer it up- on us. Indeed, it is jutly, Matter of great Terror to the Wicked of the World, who live in Iingodlinefs and worldly Lulls, and under the Name and Title of Chriftians, have trampled under Foot the Son of God, and by their Lives have openly declared, that they,would not have this Man . rule over them. Sure it cannot but be Matter of great Horror and Amazement to fuch Perlons, to- think of this Judge, and to confider, that H; whom by their lewd Lives and Pra&ices 1r9
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