Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/675

 Heaven. The  just  will  go  to  God. They will  live  for  ever  in  His sight, having  that  perfect  union  with  Him  which  fills  them  with  inconceivable joy  and  glory.

The punishment  of  hell  consists  in  this,  i.  that  the  damned  are cursed and  rejected  by  God,  and  deprived  of  His  Vision,  in  the  possession of which  alone  happiness  lies;  2. that they  will  suffer  in  fire  unquenchable and in  the  company  of  devils. The punishment  of  the  damned  will  be certainly  as  unending  as  the  happiness  of  the  just.

A comparison of  the  two  sentences  shows  that  the  one  is  the  exact opposite of  the  other:

Faith alone  cannot  save. In  the  parable  of  the  virgins  our  Lord taught us  plainly  that  the  oil  of  good  works  is  necessary  in  addition to the  lamp  of  faith; and  He  related  the  parable  of  the  talents  for  the sole purpose  of  showing  us  that  he  only  can  be  saved  who  uses  the gifts and  graces  given  to  him  by  God,  for  the  practice  of  works  pleasing to God. Now, in  the  account  we  have  read  to-day,  our  Lord  tells  us that  at  the  judgment  those  will  be  condemned  who  do  not  practise  works of mercy,  and  that  good  works  alone  can  claim  the  eternal  reward  of heaven. It is  therefore  our  Lord’s  distinct  doctrine,  that  good  works are necessary  for  salvation,  and  it  is  almost  inconceivable  that  the comfortable idea  that  faith  alone  will  save  us,  should  ever  have  been proclaimed to  be  the  doctrine  of  Christ!

You also,  with  the  rest  of  mankind,  will  be called  before  the  judgment-seat  of  God. On which  side  of  our Lord do  you  mean  to  be? Shall you  be  among  the  sheep  who have obeyed  the  voice  of  their  Good  Shepherd,  or  among  the goats who  have  lived  according  to  their  own  lusts? What a terrible misfortune if  you  found  yourself  on  the  left  hand,  cursed  and rejected by  your  Lord,  separated  from  those  dear  to  you,  and