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 3. Consider the qualities of the Judge before whom we must appear. He is infinitely wise, and therefore cannot be deceived; he is infinitely powerful, and therefore cannot be withstood; lie is infinitely just, and therefore will render to every one according to his works. No favour is to be expected at this day: the time of merit and of acceptable repentance is now at an end. Ah! Christians, think well on it now whilst it is your day: you may now wash away your sins by penitential tears, and thus hide them from the eyes of your future Judge: you may at present tie up his hands by humble prayer; you may appeal from his justice to the court of his mercy, and cause him to cancel the sentence that stands against you: but at that day you will find him inexorable: your prayers and tears will then come too late.

4. Consider the inestimable comfort that the souls of the just shall receive at this day from the company of their good works, which, like an invincible rampart, shall surround them on all sides, and keep their hellish foes at a distance. Oh! my soul, let us take care to provide ourselves with such attendants as these against that hour, which is to decide our eternal doom. These are friends indeed, that will not forsake us even in death; and will effectually plead our cause at that bar where no other eloquence will be regarded.

5. Consider in what a wretched plight the sinner, who has taken no care to lay up any such provision of good works, shall now stand before his Judge. Oh! how all things now speak to him the melancholy sentence, that is just now going to fall upon his guilty head. Whatever way he looks, he sees nothing that can give