15. Oh, that men were wife, that they understood this, that they would confider their latter end! Oh, that they would lay these things to heart, and "take heed left at any time their hearts be overcharged with furfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and fo that day come upon them unawares, for as a fnare fhall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the earth!" Oh, that they would "watch and pray always, that they might escape those things which are coming upon the earth, and stand before the Son of Man, with joy and not with grief!"

"The Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift.". 1. T being abfolutely certain that our Lord

be revealed in all the glory of his majefty, and in all the terror of his juftice; not properly in the character of a Saviour, but in that of a Judge, to examine into the conduct of all mankind, and pafs a final fentence upon them according to their works;-it furely concerns all men to lay these things to heart, and to prepare for his appearing. And it equally concerns us not to defer this bufinefs, not only because what is always reasonable and fit to be done, cannot be done too soon; but because

E 3

becaufe a delay may be of the most dangerous confequence, for at "fuch an hour as we think not, the Son of Man cometh" to call us hence by death, as well as to judge the world in righteoufnefs, and if, when he cometh, he find us unprepared, we are undone for ever.

2. And yet (dreadful to fay!) almost all mankind live from day to day in entire forgetfulness or total neglect of this matter! While every thing elfe, however trifling and impertinent, is ftudioufly and eagerly profecuted, this is almoft univerfally difregarded. The toy of bufinefs is dili gently attended, the phantom of honour unweaiedly purfued, the enchantments of pleasure asfiduoufly courted, the dream of amufement folicitoufly fought; in fhort, the things of time and fenfe, tho' tranfitory in their duration, uncertain in their stay, unfatisfactory in their nature, and even perplexing in their enjoyment; thefe engage the attention and engrofs the affections of high and low, young and old, rich and poor.-In the mean time, our immortal interefts, the favour of our God, and the eternal advantages and pleafures of religion, are generally buried in oblivion and neglected. Unreafonable is this conduct indeed, but too certainly may it be laid to the charge of the generality of mankind, whofe whole behaviour clearly demonftrates that they are more intent upon providing for their momentary abode on earth, than their everlasting existence in heaven; and on fecuring the favour and applaufe of their fellow-worms, than the good-will and approbation of their final Judge! But in this refpect, let not us follow the multitude to do evil, to offend our God and throw away our own fouls! Nay rather, let us take care to be thofe perfons whom the Lord will acquit and reward at his coming, that we may make our appearance at his bar with joy and not with grief.

3. But

3. But who are thofe perfons? and what character do they bear? To know this we have only to enquire whom the Lord Jefus will condemn at his coming, for the character of thefe is exactly. the reverse of that of the former. Now this is defcribed in the words of our text, and that very fully and clearly, altho' at the fame time with great brevity. The Apoftle tells us that Chrift, when he is revealed, will "take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jefus Chrift." Having then already confidered the Certainty and Manner of our Lord's Second Coming, I proceed, as was propofed,

Secondly, To enquire into the Character of those who shall be condemned at his coming to mifery and perdition. The Apoftle informs us, ift. They know not God. And, 2dly. They obey not the Gospel. And, ift. They know not God.

1. There is hardly any fubject within the whole compass of religion, concerning which people in general are fo grofsly mistaken as the knowledge of God. All men profefs to know God, tho' alas! the generality by unholy tempers and wicked works, contradict that profeffion, and prove themfelves to be entire ftrangers to him.If a man have but heard or read a little about the Author of his being, if he do but believe his existence and perfections, he forthwith concludes that he knows God, and is very much offended if you prefume to call his knowledge of him in queftion? tho' at the fame time, this pretended acquaintance with his Maker, has no happy influence upon his fpirit and behaviour, but they are juft the fame, which one might fuppofe they would be, if he were a mere Atheist in the world.