248 APPEARANCE BEFORE GOD. tSERM. XIV. my nature, or in my circumstances that can secure me against the summons of death and judgment ?" It may be but a few days before we are called; and is every one ofus here ready? This is a question of infinite import- ance, and let us not give rest to our souls, till we can answer it to our satisfaction. O how should we live ! how should we act ! how should we speak ! how should we worship ! if this were always upon our hearts ! O that we could but realize these awful things to our minds, and make them more familiar to our thoughts daily ! Could sinners then be one day contented without converting grace, and with- out a justifying righteousness? Could they any longer refuse the mercyof the gospel, and Jesus the Saviour ? Could they be satisfied to appear all guilty before God, and no friend there to speak for them ? no intercessor to plead for them? none to undertake their cause? Could theygo on to sin with a negligent mind, if they thought the judgment-door just opening upon them, and Jesus Christ at hand? Could it be possible we should have such cold and lazy desires after a Saviour and his salvation, if we thought our everlasting happiness or misery depended upon the next day, the next hour, or the next moment? For we know not how soon the summons may come, and state us before his tribunal. II. The second part of my discourse leads me to con- sider the blessed difference that there shall be betweena christian's appearing before God in heaven, and his áp= pearance here in divine ordinances beforeGod on earth:- and by a comparison of these two, may the Spirit of God awaken our faith, our hope, our love, and our joy, and all join to promote our sanctification. The differences then between our standing before God in worship now, and our worshipping before God in heaven, are such as these : 1. Now the true christian appears in a mixed assem- bly of saints and sinners : there the_ assembly is all holy, and not one sinner amongst them. Here sincere souls and hypocrites meet together in worship; there the hy- pocrite is for ever banished. In the houses of God, on earth, the wicked Canaanites will mingle with the chil- dren of Israel ; but in his temple, in heaven, every one is an Israelite indeed; There shall no more be found
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