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 2 Yes, this from our dear Lord, 3 How careful then ought we 4 Help us to watch our lips 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 he 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, them that kill the body, that they can do: but I my friends, Be not afraid of and after that have no more 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. ROMANS ii. 3, 6, 16. 6. 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. 7. 2 THESSALONIANS i. 7. 8, 9. 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, 8. HEBREWS ii. 3, 4, 5. 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. the spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me. I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 10. 2 PETER ii. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. 11. 2 PETER iii. 7. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 12. JUDE 8. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. OUR Savior has faithfully testified, that for every idle word which men speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment. Man is therefore, a being accountable to his Maker for his actions, as well as dependant for his gifts. A state of accountability always presupposes a time of rendering account; and it is not reasonable to suppose the time of rendering account can be fulfilled,till after the labors of an accountable state are completed. As man's whole life is a state of accountability, it is not easy to determine how he can render account for the last moral action in this life, after the action is performed. Therefore the scripture plainly states, what reason sug gests, that after death comes the judgment.* It can be no otherwise than reasonably expected that when judged according to our works, we should receive the approbation or disapprobation of our judge, according as we have fulfilled or disregarded our accountable state. This idea, likewise, we find supported by scripture. Future punishment, then, seems naturally included in the idea of future judgment, unless all can render a good account at that period. Future judgment must be embraced in the sentiment of accountability, and is necessary to support the idea. The doctrine of accountability is requisite to the support of the moral relation in which we stand to our Creator as his rational offspring, and his right to give us laws, maxims and precepts, requiring obedience. Destroy accountability, and no one has a right to say, Why do ye so? Eradicate the impressive sentiment of a future judgment, and you greatly weaken the sense of moral obligation; for it gives no opportunity of rendering account for the last actions in life, which, perhaps may be the worst. It is, therefore, abundantly evident that the idea of future judgment, and the danger of future punishment, is necessary to strengthen a sense of moral accountability to God. In a scriptural inquiry relative to the important doctrine of this subject, let us attend *Heb. ix. 27. |