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ble than for Capernaum in the day of judg ment. Nothing said of this after the day of judgment. For every idle word men shall give account in the day of judgment; shall be justified or condemned. Here is nothing said about condemnation continuing after that day. There is also a passage that says, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished;" but this likewise says nothing of punishing them afterward.

It is not convenient to add much labor to this part of our subject in this Lecture; but I hope to be able more fully to elucidate it in another.

In view of the scriptural evidences of a future day of judgment, I think it may be added, the present situation of man seems to evince the truth of the doctrine. His present accountability presupposes a time when he shall answer for its use. His moral agency, without which accountability could not exist, naturally implies the truth of the same idea.

2

Some reasons for this process of general judgment are very manifest. It explains the ground, nature, and propriety of punishment; and the justice of God in his dealings with his sinful children. It clearly opens and explains the dark dispensations of his providence; exhibits his justice, goodness, wisdom, and mercy conspicuously in all his works. The character of the Supreme must there appear in the native lustre of his attri

butes. The saved will then learn from what they are redeemed; and for what they praise the Lord of life and glory, giving thanks forevermore. All that the Lord has done for mankind, and the grace of our heavenly Father, must from that period be eternally realized in the many hearts of gratitude, and by the numerous family of the redeemed.

To close, let us recapitulate the subject, and notice particularly the beads of what it affords.

1st. We learn that we have reason to expect a certain period, called "the day of judgment," when men will be judged after this life, and receive according to the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad. Our present individuality, then, must be recognized in the future state.

2d. We find every work is then to be manifested, and every one of the human family to share his part in that day of giving account to God.

3d. Every work of man will then be approbated or disapprobated, according as it is good or bad, and the then present character of every one plainly shown him by the Judge of all the earth.

4th. That we have no account of being judged for sins committed in a future state of existence, but according to deeds done only in the body.

5th. Though we learn the wicked are condemned, we do not find that they are sentenced to a stated duration of punishment, as at

judicial trials in human courts; nor do we find any account of the common idea, that the condition of man is then permanently fixed, separating some for endless felicity, and others to an eternity of woe.

My brethren, let us remember these things, and learn to fear God, and love one another.

AMEN.

HYMN.

I WILL there a judgment day
Be found in future life,
Revealing ev'ry word we say,
And every baneful strife?

2 Yes, this from our dear Lord,
Whose lips the truth impart ;
No one can hide an idle word,
Or secret of his heart.

3 How careful then ought we
In word and works to live,
When such exact account to thee,
Kind Lord, we soon must give.

4 Help us to watch our lips
With holy awe and fear;

Let not the soul that mercy keeps,
Sink down in long despair.

LECTURE II.

Delivered April 24.

ON FUTURE MISERY AND PUNISHMENT.

1.

MATT. xii. 32.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

2.

MATT. xiii. 42.

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

3.

Verses 49, 50.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

4. MATT. Xviii. 6.-MARK ix. 42.-& LUKE XVii. 2.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

5.

LUKE Xii. 4, 5.

And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do: but I will forewarn you whom ye

shall fear: Fear him which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

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And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Who will render to every man according to his deeds; in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

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And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence* of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,

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How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put into subjection the world to come whereof we speak.

9.

HEBREWS X. 28, 29, 30. He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, he shall be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite upto

* Gr. face.

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