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all written before him, and the book of remembrance will be opened; and the dead will be judged out of the things written in it, according to their works. They who have sinned and have not repented will be sentenced to everlasting punishment-to that punishment which was prepared for the devil and his angels. This punishment, to give us some impression of its horrors, is metaphorically called a lake of fire, burning with brimstone, where the worm, the miserable sinner, dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

To the wicked man, if at any time he will hear and attend, this must be a dreadful sound. God's word condemns him—his own heart condemns him-God is greater than his heart and knoweth all things-death is near-judgment will follow. Well may he tremble at the dismal prospect before him. Will he be able to contend with God, and stretch out his hand against the Almighty? Can he harden himself and prosper? Can his heart endure, or his hands be strong in the day when God shall deal with him according to his deserts, and judge him for all his sins?-Sinners in Zion are afraid-fearfulness surprizeth the hypocrites-who can dwell with devouring fire-who can dwell with everlasting burnings?

5. Hell is a dreadful sound; but a sound, which, if we attend, we shall often hear from the scripture.

Though we should turn away, or even stop our ears, yet the sound is there. If we will exclude it from our ears, yet we cannot suppress it in the book of God. Though the king of Judah burnt the prophet's roll, because it contained threatenings against him and his people; yet he did not defeat the threatenings denounced. These still remained, when the book was burnt. And another book was written, which contained the same threatenings; and there were added besides many like words.

If God is a moral governor, he has a right to punish sinners. That he will punish those who die impenitent in their sins, he has expressly declared in his word. This punishment is described in terms of awful import. But awful as it is, none have any cause to be afraid, but the wicked and impenitent. All but such will be delivered from the wrath to come. But for such there is no

deliverance the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. A remembrance of their sins-a consciousness of guiltcorrupt and turbulent passions-the company of malignant spirits like themselves the anger of a dishonored and offended God, and despair of a mitigation, or termination of their woful condition, will all conspire to accumulate their misery.

How dreadful the sound. Let the wicked, awakened by it, flee from the wrath to come.

We have shewn what is that dreadful sound, which is in the ears of wicked men.

We will now,

II. Shew how it is regarded and treated by many who hear it. Some regard it as an empty sound, a mere imaginary noise without any real, or substantial cause. God says by the prophet Habakkuk, and again by the apostle Paul, Behold ye despisers; and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though a man declare it to you.

Death is an event, which is made certain to every man by the course of God's providence. No man therefore pretends to call in question his own mortality. But many attempt to extract, or blunt the sting of death, by denying the truth of those things which chiefly render it terrible; such as the perfection of the law, the certainty of judgment, and the punishment of the world to come. The apostle says, There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of Christ's coming to judgment; for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning.

Many, though they will not deny a future judgment, and the punishment of the wicked, yet choose to view them as doubtfulor rather to think little about them. As against other disagreeable sounds, so against this, they stop their ears and will not hear it.

Thus the prophet Jeremiah complains; "To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Behold their ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearken. The word of the Lord is to them a reproach; and they have no delight in it." The like complaint is made by another prophet; "They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears,

that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant-stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord sent in his Spirit by the prophets. Therefore came great wrath from the Lord of hosts."

Some, if they hear the sound, flatter themselves that they are not concerned in it. It may respect others, but not them; or it relates to times afar off, so that they may hereafter prevent the evil threatened.

Moses speaks of those, who, when they hear the words of God's curse, bless themselves in their hearts, saying, we shall have peace, though we walk in the imagination of our own hearts. But he says, the anger of the Lord will smoke against such contemners of his warnings, and the curses written in his law shall lie upon them.

The dreadful sound is of salutary tendency when it is suitably regarded. But if men stop their ears against it and refuse to hear, it will be to them of tremendous issue. However dreadful the sound, a contempt of it, or inattention to it, will be far more dreadful.

It is proper then, that we consider, in the third place, what use wicked men ought to make of this dreadful sound, when it enters into their ears.

Their duty is plain. Let them turn their ears to the pleasant and delightful sound, which they may hear from the gospel. Let them not stifle the dreadful sound, but take warning by it; for if they take no warning, they shall perish in their guilt, and their blood will be upon them; but if they take warning, they shall deliver their souls; for, as I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye therefore from your evil ways, for why will ye die?

The sound of the law-of judgment and of wrath to come is designed, not for destruction, but for the salvation of sinners. It is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ has come into the world to save sinners.

The law of God condemns every transgressor. But Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe. He has

redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. He has borne our sins in his own body on the cross, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness. By his stripes we are healed. The law teaches us, what we deserve for our disobedience, and what we are to expect, if justice takes place. It points out no way of deliverance. It promises no pardon. It prescribes no method in which we can satisfy the demands of justice. It leaves us to deserved punishment. But the gospel comes to us with a pleasing and encouraging sound. It declares the mercy of God to forgive-the death of the Son of God to atone for sin-the acceptableness of repentance as the condition of pardon the grace of the Divine Spirit to renew us to repentance and prepare us for pardon.

What delightful sounds must these be to souls awakened by the terrors of the law. Let such as are terrified by its dreadful sound, hear the inviting voice of the Saviour, Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Do

any

tremble at the sound of death? Let them look to Jesus and take courage.

The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But Christ came to deliver, by his own death, them, who through fear of death, are subject to bondage. Faith in him will give them the victory over death. Have you believed in Jesus? Have you submitted yourselves to his gospel? Have you taken him for your Lord and Saviour? Death need not make you afraid. There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ, and who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Death will, indeed, remove you from all the interests and pleasures of this world. But if this be a loss, it will make you ample amends for the loss. It will bring you to Christ—and the presence of Christ will be a great part of the happiness of heaven. For this happiness Paul was willing to be absent from the world, and absent from the body. Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. They shall rest from their labors, and their works will follow them.

Death cannot be avoided; but it may be conquered-yea, it has been conquered. Jesus has conquered it. Believers may meet it as a vanquished enemy. They may, they will acquire

gain by it. For me to live in Christ, says the apostle, and to die is gain. This will separate the believer from the world, but it will never separate him from the love of God in Christ; no, it will bring him to a more full enjoyment of this love, than ever he experienced before, or ever could have experienced, had he remained in this world.

Judgment will be a solemn scene. It will be dreadful to the wicked. They are offended at the distant sound of it. But there is a delightful sound which issues from the judgment seat. Let them hear this. To some the Judge will say, come ye blessed, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. These shall enter into eternal life. And who are these? They are such as receive and obey his gospel. Unbelieving sinners will be judged by the law according to its strictest tenor-they will be condemned for every transgression of the law. But in regard to believers Christ has fulfilled the law; and they will be judged according to the gracious tenor of the gospel. Their repentance of sin, and faith in the Saviour, interest them in that perfect righteousness which he has wrought out, so that to them who are in him there will be no condemnation. They will be accepted in the beloved, and will be rewarded according to those works of faith and labors of love which by the grace of God they have been enabled to perform.

When Christ shall come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on them who know not God, and obey not the gospel of his Son, he will be glorified in the saints, and they glorified in him, and he will be admired in all them who believe. Guilty, impenitent, unpardoned sinners will tremble and be dismayed in the presence of the Judge. But saints will have boldness in the day of judgment, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord at his coming.

Is judgment a dreadful sound? Be awakened by it to repentance-resort to Jesus by faith-cleave to him by obedience. Then it will become a delightful sound. In that day you will receive from the dust your bodies, new raised, refined and immortal. You will meet the glorified saints and mingle with the joyful throng of those who have been redeemed from the earthyou will be admitted to sit with Christ on his throne, and to share

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