CHAP VIII.] Death desirable. [DEATH. practised on instruments of music, breathing harmonious sounds and melodies; the other used hammers and anvils, making noise and tumult; so in some persons, while the heaviest strokes fell on their bodies, their souls were ravished with the sweetest joy and exultation. It is not thus always indeed with the saints; for though sin be pardoned, the apprehensions of guilt may remain. When a stream is disturbed, it does not truly represent the object. When the affections are disordered, the mind does not judge aright of a christian's state. A serpent may hiss when it has lost its sting. Death may terrify when it cannot hurt us. Some excellent saints have been in anxiety to the last, till their fears were dispelled by the actual fruition of blessedness; as the sun sometimes sets in dark clouds, and rises in a glorious horrison. We read our evidences for heaven by the light of God's countenance. His image is made visible in our souls by the illustration of his spirit; and he exercises his prerogative in the dispensation of his comforts. It is his pleasure to bestow extraordinary favours on some, and deny them to others that are equally holy. But every penitent believer has just cause of joy in death; for Jesus Christ has reconciled God, destroyed Satan, and conquered death; and the last day of his life is the first of his glory. ETERNAL JUDGMENT. CHAP. I. The coherence of the text opened—The determining a time, and the designation of the person to judge the world-The two principal parts of God's sovereignty are, giving laws to rule his subjects, and passing final judgment according to those lawsThe Son of God in human nature is wisely appointed to judge men —The quality of this office requires no less person, on account of its superlative dignity, and immense difficulty—It is the reward of his sufferings—The day of judgment is styled the great day-The particular time is beyond the knowledge of any mere creature. BECAUSE HE HATH APPOINTED A DAY, IN THE WHICH HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, BY THAT MAN WHOM HE HATH ORDAINED; WHEREOF HE HATH GIVEN ASSURANCE UNTO ALL MEN, IN THAT HE HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. ACTS Xvii. 31. SAINT Paul had this title of honour eminently conferred upon him, the Apostle of the Gentiles. Ꮮ JUDGMENT.] Eternal Judgment. [CHAP. 1. This office he performed with persevering diligence, diffusing the light of life to those that sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death. In this chapter we have recorded the substance of his sermon to the Athenians; wherein his zeal and prudence are recorded, in the matter and order of his discourse to convince and persuade them to receive the saving truth of the gospel. He first lays down the principles of natural religion, to prepare them for the more easy belief of supernatural revealed religion. The depravation of the minds of men was in no instance more prodigious than in their dishonourable notions of the Deity. They attributed his name and hie glory to various idols, and ascribed to him their own figure; and which was infinitely more unworthy and dishonourable, their own passions and vices. They adored their own vain imaginations. The idols of their hearts were erected on their altars. Venus was a goddess, because impure love reigned in their breasts. Bacchus had religious rites, because sensual pleasures, as sweet as wine, intoxicated their spirits. These errors, as gross as impious, were universal; the philosophers themselves were not exempted from the contagion. The apostle therefore makes use of the clearest arguments to give authority to the plain conspiring voice of nature, which had so long in vain recalled them from idolatry to the worship of the only true God. He therefore declares that the divine Maker of all things,' the Father of spirits, could not be represented by corporeal and CHAP. I.] Eternal Judgment. [JUDGMENT. corruptible things, ver. 29; but was to be acknowledged and adored in a manner becoming his spiritual and infinite perfections. That he made all nations of one blood, ver. 26, though distinguished in their habitations and times, that they might seek and serve the one universal Creator. And though the pagan world for many ages had lived in an unnatural oblivion of God, and seemed unconcerned for their > violation of his laws, yet it was not from the defect of justice, but the direction of his wisdom, that his !patience was so long extended towards them. This he proves by the new and most express declaration of his will: But now he commanded all men every where to repent, because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance to all men, in that he raised him from the dead.' In the words, the eternal counsels of God are revealed in two great things.—First, in determining a time wherein he will righteously judge the world; He hath appointed a day.'-Secondly, the designation of the person by whom he will perform that eminent part of sovereignty: by Jesus Christ, whom he hath raised from the dead.' In order to the handling of the main point, it is requisite to premise briefly some propositions. 1. That God is the universal monarch of the world, and has supreme authority to govern reasonable |