New and Old (Sermons) e-bog

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. For this reason, the prophet calls this day a day of wrath, a day of tribulation and distress, a day of calamity and misery, a day of darkness and obscurity, a day of clouds and whirlwinds. (Soph, i: 15.) The bare thought of these things has sometimes sufficed to alarm the most reckless sinners; and if they tremble to think upon this dreadful day, how much more shall they be terrified when they experience in person all the agony of its actual horrors. They shall wither away for fear.<br><br>2. Shall not the good and pious also fear at the Last Day? Ah! no, my dear Christians, although their pure souls shall be filled with awe, the terrible omens of the approaching judgment will be for the just not signs of terror, but rather, of consolation. Then, shall they recall those comforting words of our Saviour: But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand; and their conscience shall bear joyful testimony of the happiness in store for them. They know that they have a Judge who can neither be bribed by infernal accusers, nor deceived by false witnesses. When God is the Judge, says St. Augustine, no other witness is needed but thine own conscience. Where this Judge and this Witness are concerned there is nothing to be feared but the record of a man's own actions. The very severity of the judgment, the very justice of the Judge (who will render to every man according to his works,) shall prove for the just the foundations of their consolation. Whoever, with the Apostle, can truly say: I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith, can also say with him, with equal confidence: For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge, will render to me at that day. (2 Tim. 4: 7, 8.) While the godle