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passed with my terrors, (Lam. ii. 22,) to the regions of deep sorrow and impalpable gloom; consign you to augmented misery, accumulated woe, and everlasting despair. "For there is no healing of thy bruise, thy wound is grievous that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee; for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually ?" (Nahum iii. 19.) "Behold, my servants shall sing for joy, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit." (Isa. lxv. 14.) The deepness of thy sorrows none but thyself must know. Remembrance of thy former glory, and of thy former bliss, will unceasingly gnaw thy vitals with unutterable anguish, in these dread realms wherein the pride of all glory will be for ever stained: (Isa. xxiii. 9:) where all who are therein immured are sunk into unending shame, and everlasting contempt, (Dan. xii.) where the terrific fate of the once strong and mighty, who once caused terror, will ever speak from out the midst of hell. (Ezekiel xxxii. 21.) Here fixed for eternity, thou wilt thyself eternally remain the eternal monument of the woe of him whose proud presumption dared to strive with him who is great in counsel and mighty in operation; whose eyes are open upon all, to give to every one according to their ways. (Jer. xxxii. 19.) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Rev. xii. 10.)

With Dr. Horne may we be here allowed to suppose, that even at this tremendous juncture, "the accuser of the brethren still standeth forth in this his proper character." Though burthened with the heaviest load of sorrows inconceivable that ever were sustained, yet that his unconquerable malice, maintaining its full force, still rises paramount over all his direful feelings, and prompts him with bold effrontery to impiously stand forth the accuser of the faithful-" Alledging against them the follies of their youth, and the infirmities of their old age, their fruitless repentance, and frequent relapses: their excesses in the pleasures of sense and their deficiencies in the duties of religion, the wanderings of their prayers, and the coldness of their charity.' To whom the judge-Satan, for once I do allow thou dost in part speak true; frequent were the backslidings, great were the defects of those whom thou dost now accuse during their states of trial; many of these have had to combat with as evil hearts as those whom I reject; but their most energetic powers were strenuously engaged against their wicked inmates; they laboured, strove, and prayed; and I, who search all hearts with pity, viewed their penitential sorrow whenever they yielded to their inbred foe, against my vicegerent, conscience: for their every wandering was quickly followed by a flood of tears; and these I have kept corked up within my bottle, and entered in my book. (Ps. lvi. 8.) They soon returned unto the Lord

* Horne.

and Bishop of their souls; and with fear and trembling worked out their salvation. They ceased to do evil, they learned to do well; sought judgment, relieved the oppressed, judged for the fatherless, pleaded for the widow. They did not stand all the day idle, but laboured in my vineyard; their prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God: my statutes were their song during their weary pilgrimage." (Ps. cxix.) They held men's persons in admiration, because of advantage, (Jude 16;) were children in malice, and never let the sun go down upon their wrath. They are forgiven, as they once forgave; and those do now love most, who have had most forgiven. Now in great boldness do they here stand forth before the face of those who afflicted them, and made no account of their labours. Now do the wicked in great trouble see it; and with terrible fear are amazed at the strangeness of their salvation, so far exceeding all that they looked for.

Repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit, they now say within themselves, These are they whom we had in derision, and a proverb of reproach: we, fools, accounted their lives madness, and their end to be without honour; but now are they numbered among the children of God, and their lot is amongst the saints. Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness rose not upon us. (Wisdom of Solomon v. 1-6.) I call on the assembled universe, on heavenly hierarchies, princedoms, authorities, dominions, powers, and highest potentates of highest heavens, who now behold the thrones cast

VOL. II.

D

down; for I have wounded the heads over many countries, over many worlds, (Ps. cx. 6;) and I, Ancient of Days, in garments white as snow, and hair as pure as wool, seated upon my blazing throne, with wheels as burning flame, a fiery stream forth issuing from before me; thousand thousands ministering unto me, and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before me: the judgment set and passed, the awful records open. (Dan.) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord and Judge; though their sins have been as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they have been red like crimson, they shall be white as wool. Satan did oft insinuate that I am an austere master, reaping where I have not sowed, and gathering where I have not strawed. But those blest beings, severed by my angels the just from the unjust, fully disprove his words they have well improved their talents ; and I now receive from them mine own with usury they have ever kept oil in their vessels to retrim their lamps; they have been wise unto salvation, and now are ready to attend their heavenly Bridegroom, arrayed in marriage costume for they have not been overcome of evil, but have overcome evil with good. I have pronounced them blessed, yea, and they shall be blessed. Had I not permitted evil, none could have been happy; had I not redeemed from it, all had ever been miserable: for I, even I am He, that for mine own sake blot out all transgression, (Isa. xliii. 25,) and the heavens shall now declare my righteousness, for God is Judge himself. (Ps.

xcvii. 6.) Satan, though once thou smote the shepherd, and scattered wide the sheep, thy power is at an end my Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one, and in vain thou disputest the prize. They now are mine, not thine; they are not here, they are risen, and safe secured far far beyond thy reach, in the strong hold of Michael, that puissant prince of angels, and his resistless legions, whose power thou well dost know.†

But this awful day fast wears, and much remains to do; for it is not only resurrection, but coronation day therefore, all parley I must end. Cherubim and seraphim, unsheath your flaming swords, and instant clear my footstool heavens of all things that offend !-soon will they be reoccupied by a new bright creation. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful: and he said unto me, It is done: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Amen.

After these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia! salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto

* Michael the archangel disputed with the devil about the body of Moses. (Jude.)

+ "There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not." (Rev. xii. 7, 8.) "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people." (Dan. xii. 1.)

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