July 20 — On the Separation of the Good and the Bad

Consider, first, how the sovereign Judge, being seated on his glorious throne, aloft in the air, attended with all his millions of millions of angels, in their different orders and hierarchies, shall presently give his command, which shall be instantly obeyed, for the final and eternal separation of the good from the bad; after which, these two companies shall never, never more meet. Then shall all the true servants of God he caught up in the clouds to Christ in the air (1 Thess. iv. 16,) and shall be placed with honour on his right hand; and such of them as, like the apostles, have in their life time quitted all things else to follow him, shall also take their seats with him, as judges both of angels and men. Matt, xix. 25; 1 Cor, vi. 2, 3. But all the wicked, together with the devils, whom they have followed, shall be driven with ignominy to the left hand. And thou, my soul, where dost thou expect to stand at that day? In which of these two companies shaft thou be ranked? Thou hast it now in thy choice; but shalt not have it then Choose then now, in this thy day, that better part that shall never he taken from thee, Luke x.

Consider, secondly, what shall then be the thoughts of the grandees of the world, of the rich, of the worldly wise, of the great heroes, of the fine ladies, &c. when they shall see the poor in spirit, the meek, the humble, that were so contemptible in their eyes, when they were here in this mortal life, now honoured and exalted, and crowned with immortal glory, dignity, strength and beauty; but themselves depressed to the lowest extremity of disgrace, contempt, and irremediable want of all things. O, what horror, what confusion, what envy, what rage, shall oppress their souls, to see this strange catastrophe! O, what shall then be their sentiments of all those empty toys, hich they had been so fond of in their life time! How shall they now condemn their own madness, in having set their hearts upon those lying follies, to the eternal loss of their immortal souls! How shall they now wish, a thousand and a thousand times, they had followed the examples of the saints, and walked in the charming paths of virtue and devotion!

Consider, thirdly, in what manner the sentiments, which the wicked shall have on this occasion, are expressed by the Spiri of God, (Wisdom, v,) These seeing it (viz. the glorious exaltation of the just) shall he troubled with horrible fear and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation; saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit; These are they whom we had heretofore in derision, and for a parable of reproach: we fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour: behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us: we wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction; and we have walked through hard ways, hut the way of the Lord we have not known, What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us 1 AU, those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on, and as a ship that passeth through the waves, whereof, when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found— so we, being bom, forthwith ceased to be; and have been able to show no mark of virtue, but are consumed in our wickedness. Ah, Christians! mark well these. speeches of the reprobate, and take effectual measures, whilst you have time, that their misfortune may never be yours.

Conclude \ofiy now from the midst of Babylon, by standing off from the corruption and infection of a wicked world, and separating yourselves from the society of the wicked, in time, that you may not be involved in their eternal misery.