Let any man keep an account, on one page, of what he spends for superfluities to the injury of himself and family, and in direct disregard of the commands of God, and then let him put on the opposite page, what he gives annually for the conversion of the world—the important work about which he professes in his prayers so deep an interest. Alas, alas, in too many cases, the missionary page will not be soiled with a single entry. But suppose it is embellished with five or ten dollars, what is that in comparison with what we have spent on our own lusts. The truth is, too many of us consider religion as a secondary matter—a thing of leisure. And our own work-our temporal business or profession, is made of as much importance as the work of creation or redemption. Ask the neglectful member why he was not at meeting. "O, I had businessimportant business to attend to." Well, brethren, God is not mocked. He sits tranquil and calm on his eternal throne, and mildly rolls the seasons round. Spring-time and summer, harvest and winter, come and go in regular succession. The earth annually rolls its millions into eternity, and its thousands, we fear, into endless ruin. hear it, O, Earth! hear the word of the Lord, This globe will yet roll up, and present to the eyes of its Maker, a generation of men and women who will be willing in the day of his power-a generation of saints, who will make religion their profession, and the conversion of the world their chief business. Their little private trades and callings will all be made subservient to this great end, and they "Will only live their God to loveTheir God to glorify."

But

While they attend to God's work as he has commanded, he will attend to their interests, and there shall be no lacking of bread in all their borders; for the abundance of the Gentiles shall be given unto them. Then there shall be nothing to hurt or destroy in all God's holy mountain,

because the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the place of the great deep. Lord, let "thy kingdom come!" Amen.

SERMON XX.

BY REV. SAMUEL P. SHAW.

THE GENERAL JUDGMENT.

"For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad," 2 Cor. v, 10.

EVERY subject has its importance, according to the nature, extent, and character of the doctrine embraced. Of all subjects presented to the human mind, that which proposes to teach the present, future, and eternal welfare of man is of the highest importance. This subject is fully brought to light in the holy Scriptures alone. Without their light and instruction, little satisfaction could be had on the present condition of man, and none on his future state. Following their light, let us prayerfully consider this subject, in the following order:

I. THE NECESSITY AND CERTAINTY OF A FUTURE AND FINAL JUDGMENT.

II. THE JUDGE.

III. THE CHARACTER AND EXTENT OF THIS JUDGMENT. IV. A PREPARATION FOR JUDGMENT, AND ITS IMPOR

TANCE.

Our first proposition holds the doctrine of a future judg ment. This will, in part, appear by noticing,

1. That there is, in the very nature and fitness of things, a moral obligation resting on all to obey God. This will be readily admitted by those who allow either the agency of man, or the divine authenticity of the Bible. Now, the

conclusion to which this admission forces us is, that there must be a state of final retribution, as the end of moral agency can never be demonstrated on the assumption that no account is to be rendered. And, certainly, it neither is, nor can be rendered in this life, from the fact that this agency continues as long as natural life itself. When, then, is man to render to God a final account of his stewardship? It must, of necessity, be after the termination of this life. Moreover, obligation implies service, and service implies accountability, and accountability looks, in all cases, to futurity.

2. The necessity of a final judgment will further appear by considering the injured rights of the poor, and sufferings of the innocent. If the Creator has given this world to its inhabitants as a place of residence, and as affording means of sustenance, he has given it alike to all, to be used as their relations demand, or necessities require. Each has inalienable rights, which cannot be taken away, or disregarded, except to his injury. Whether these rights have been respected and realized, needs no inspiration to tell. The poor and feeble, in all ages, have been oppressed, and no redress been obtained during the period of this life. We then ask, when are these wrongs to be righted? They certainly are not in this life; for they are often continued to its close. Who that looks abroad among mankind, will not be forced to acknowledge the necessity of a judgment to come? If for no other cause, yet certainly for the avenging of the wrongs of the poor, who daily groan on account of the oppression they are made to feel. Here, too, the innocent often suffer in the place of the guilty. It has been well said, "that if God governs the world at all, the equity of his government can never be made to appear, in the eyes of his moral subjects in this life, without a future, final judgment."

3. The proposition is capable of further proof, if we

notice the persecutions of the pious, and opposition, generally, to virtue and religion. The conduct of the ungodly toward the religious, has been, in all ages, more or less, like that of all nations toward the Jews, since their overthrow by Titus. All seem to think they may, with impunity, inflict injuries at their own discretion. Now, if it were even true that the piety of the Church is nothing more than superstition, this forms no justification for the infliction of injuries; and, least of all, where the world around realizes no evil by such religious practice. But the truth of any system of doctrine was never more fully established than is the doctrine of the Christian religion; and yet the Church has ever been the subject of severe persecutions. Certainly, then, the moral Governor of man will not always keep silence: though sentence against an evil work be not executed speedily, yet the Judge of all the earth will do right.

4. Look at the high-handed rebellion of the wicked; at their pride, and the abuse which they make of God's mercies. While God calls on them to walk humbly before him, they, by their conduct, ask, "Who is the Almighty, that we should obey him?" "Pride compasseth them about as a chain." They revel in luxuries, squandering with a reckless prodigality, in dress, furniture, and equipage, the property of their Lord and master. This is often continued to the close of life, and without any signs of repentance even in the hour of death. And yet, in life they enjoy prosperity, and in death they have no bands. It would be natural to suppose, if this world were the place of entire adjustment of man's moral deeds, we should see satisfactory evidence of God's approbation of virtue and obedience, with a suitable opposition to wickedness and rebellion. But this is not the fact; for while his law denounces crime in the strongest terms, and threatens it with the heaviest penalties, we often behold the virtuous left to

the will of their opposers, and no visible demonstration of the divine approval of the one, or disapproval of the other. WhenBut the Bible puts this question to eternal silence. ever it speaks on this subject, it unqualifiedly declares in favor of the doctrine of a final judgment: "But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment, and he shall judge the world in righteousness: he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness." "And (Read Hebrews i, 13. Likewise, Matthew xxv.)

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." These passages are abundantly sufficient to establish the doctrine in question, though they might be greatly multiplied.

II. The Being to whom judgment is committed.

The word of revelation continually assigns this work to Christ: "He shall sit on the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations." Should it be asked, why judgment is committed to Christ, we have several reasons to offer:

1. His having taken upon him the redemption of the world. This relation to those who are to be the subjects of the judgment, very properly belongs to him who has paid the price of their redemption. By this act he became the second Adam; and, as such, he has answered to the claims of justice, in both a legal and representative capacity. He has all the right to decide and fix the final destiny of the race. But,

2. By having taken our law place. Man was created a subject of law. The moral acts of Adam were of a double character-personal and relative-his acts affecting the