July 23 — On the last Sentence of the Good

Consider, first, that the great assizes of the I concluded by a definitive sentence, by which rious rehearsal of all their good works, sh Idngdam where sorrows never enter and wicked shall be condemned to the dismal dungeons of everlasting fire. But first give ear, O my soul, to that sweet and amiable in vitation, (which thou hopest shall be one day thine,) by which their dear Lord shall call all his servants, his friends, and his children, into the glorious mansions of eternal bliss. Come, ye blessed of my Father shall he say; possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the worlds Matt. xxv. 34. O happy invitation! O happy, thrice happy they, that shall be found worthy to partake of this joyful sentence! What unspeakable satisfaction and delight, what torrents of joy and pleasure, shall flow into their souls at the hearing of it 1 But, oh 1 what envy, what rage, shall possess the souls of the reprobate, when they shall hear this invitation, and shall see several of their own acquaintance going to take possession of that eternal kingdom, which they might also have so easily purchased, but, by their folly and stupidity, have blindly exchanged for the flames of hell 1

Consider, secondly, and weigh we)l at thy leisure, the words of this happy sentence: Come, says the Judge, ye blessed of my Father &c. Come (O sweet invitation!) from the vale of tears, to the blissful regions of never-ending joys. Come from a tedious banishment to your true heavenly country; from your mortal pilgrimage, in the midst of crosses, labours, conflicts and dangers, to your blessed home, in the fair and lovely mansions of rest and peace, in the eternal Sion, where yoq shall meet with all that your heart can desire, to complete your happiness, where you shall be for ever inebriated by the plenty of my house, and drink for ever at the fountain of life. Arise my beloved the tm»- ter is now past the floods and storms are all over, arise and come. Come, enter into the joy of your Lord, the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning, a universal good, a blessing including all blessings, and extended to endless ages. O my soul, learn thou to despise all other happiness, in hopes of having a share, me day, in this blessed sentence.

Consider, thirdly, that what is most to be admired and loved in this heavenly sentence, is, that it brings our souls to an eternal union with God himself, our only true and sovereign Good. This cumc, this sweet word of salvation, draws us to our God, unites us to him, receives us into the very bosom of his goodness, and in a manner transforms us into him. And nothing less could ever truly satisfy our souls. O happy blessing indeed, to be thus blessed of the Father by an eternal union with himself! O happy kingdoMy in which we shall eternally live and reign with the ever-living God! I rgoicedy said the royal prophet, (Ps. cxxi,) at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord, But, O my soul, how much more oughtest thou to rejoice at the happy prospect of thy being one day called, not only into the house of the Lord, but even to a union with the Lord himself!

Conclude to spare no pains to secure to thyself this happy sentence, by a diligence in all good works, more especially works of mercy and charity, which, by the Gospel, are particularly entitled to the sentence of the elect.