Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/52

 sacramental character,  which  it  may  have  received,  will adhere to  it  for  its  greater  confusion,  and  enable  its  infidel companions  to  upbraid  it  for  all  eternity  in  the  language of  Scripture:  "This  man  began  to  build,  and  was not  able  to  finish." (Luke xiv.  30.)  Lastly,  all  that  Ezechiel  foretold  shall  be  fulfilled  in  its  regard:  "They shall  strip  thee  of  thy  garments,  and  take  away  the  instruments of  thy  glory,  and  shall  let  thee  go  naked  and full  of  disgrace.    (Ezech.  xxiii.  26,  29.)

II. Consider the  terror  of  the  sentence  which  will  be pronounced  against  the  wicked:  "Cast  ye  out  the  unprofitable servant  into  the  exterior  darkness." (Matt, xxv. 30.)  Ah! wretched state! How will  the  poor  soul feel on  that  occasion! The devils  will  instantly  hurry  it to  the  bottomless  pit. Then there  will  be  no  remedy,  no escape,  no  hope  for  you,  as  yet  there  is;  take  advantage of it  therefore  now,  while  you  can.

III. Consider the  happy  condition  of  the  just  at  that awful time. The sentence  which  they  will  hear  affords sufficient subject  for  meditation. "Because thou  hast been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  set  thee  over many  things:  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." (Matt, xxv. 23.)  Imagine  what  joy  that  will  be,  and  if  you  aspire to  it,  imitate  those  who  will  deserve  it.

I. Why  has  God  instituted  a  general  judgment? t. To manifest  to  all  mankind  the  glory  and  power  of  the humbled Redeemer. " The  Father  hath  committed  all judgment  to  the  Son,  that  all  men  may  honor  the  Son" (John v.  22),  and  that  He  who  appeared  before  all  men  for their salvation  might  also  appear  before  them  in  the glorious character  of  universal  judge,  and  that  the  wicked