Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/54

 quently on  the  assertion  of  St.  Jerome,  and  follow  the principle which  dictated  it:  "  Whether  I  eat,  or  drink, or  whatever  else  I  do,  that  dreadful  voice  is  always sounding  in  my  ears ;  Arise,  ye  dead,  and  come  to  judgment." The sound  was  not  in  vain  in  his  ears;  take  care it be  not  so  in  yours.

I. The  terror  of  this  judgment  will  be  increased  at  the appearance of  the  Judge. " And  then  they  shall  see  the Son  of  man  coming  in  a  cloud,  with  great  power  and majesty." (Luke xxi.  27.)  Legions  of  angelic  spirits will surround  him  ready  to  execute  his  decrees. "And then shall  appear  the  sign  of  the  Son  of  man  in  heaven, and  then  shall  all  the  tribes  of  the  earth  mourn,"  (Matt, xxiv.  30.)  Those  shall  mourn  who  have  been  enemies to this  sign,  or  the  cross  of  Christ. The Judge  will  be seated  on  a  throne  and  His  Saints  will  be  round  him. His countenance  will  beam  with  satisfaction  and  complacency on  his  faithful  servants,  but  it  will  be  lighted up with  the  fire  of  indignation  when  it  is  turned1  towards his enemies:  "A  swift  stream  of  fire  issued  forth  from before  him." (Dan. vii.  10.)  •  Who  would  not  wish  at that  terrible  moment  to  be  a  friend  of  his  Almighty Judge.

II. " The  angels  shall  go  out  and  separate  the  wicked from  among  the  just." (Matt. xiii.  49.)  Dreadful,  eternal separation! The just  will  be  placed  on  His  right, and the  goats,  or  reprobate,  on  His  left. Ponder deeply the untimely  repentance  of  the  wicked,  for  it  will  be  too late to  retract  their  evil  deeds  in  presence  of  their  Judge, and of  those  just  souls,  of  whom  they  will  say:  "We have  had  them  some  time  in  derision  and  for  a  parable