1. There will be no distinction of Persons. In humane Courts the Judges sometimes extend and amplify, sometimes contract or smother the Evidence, and are more rigorous or favourable in their Sentence, as they are biased towards the Persons before them. But the Righteous Judg of the World is uncapable of being inclined to Favour or Severity upon such base Motives. This is frequently declared in Scripture, to possess us with his Fear. If ye call upon the Father, 1who without respect of Persons judges according to every Man's Work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. No spiritual Privileges upon which Men are so apt to presume, viz. that they are Members of the Reformed Church; that they are enriched with excellent Gifts; that they enjoy the Ordinances in their purest Administration, will avail them without real Holiness in their Hearts and Lives. The being united to Societies ⟨p. 198⟩of the most glorious Profession, of strictest Purity, and sublime Devotion, does no more prove one to be a real Saint, than the being of an eminent Company of Merchants proves one to be a rich Citizen. Those that bow the Knee and not the Heart in faithful Reverence, that give the empty Title of Lord to Christ, without the tribute of Obedience, will be rejected by him. Many shall say at the Day of Judgment, 2Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy Name, and done many wondrous Works. Then will the Judg say, I know you not: Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity. No degrees of Civil Greatness will be of any moment and advantage in that day. Saint John testifies, I saw the Dead, small and great, stand before God, in an equal Line, to receive their Trial. Kings shall then be devested of their Imperial Titles, of their Crowns and Sceptres, and their Robes of State, and only be accompanied with their Works. Of this we have an undoubted Proof, in that they are no more exempted from the common Law of dying than the meanest Slave. Death, that rugged Officer, arrests them without Ceremony, and summons them to appear before ⟨p. 199⟩that Tribunal. The Royal Purple could not protect Herod from being devoured by Worms. The Apostle speaks indefinitely in the fore-cited Place; He that does wrong, 3shall receive for the wrong he has done; and there is no respect of Persons.
1. There will be no distinction of Persons. In humane Courts the Judges sometimes extend and amplify, sometimes contract or smother the Evidence, and are more rigorous or favourable in their Sentence, as they are biass'd towards the Persons before them. But the Righteous Judg of the World is uncapable of being inclin'd to Favour or Severity upon such base Motives. This is frequently declared in Scripture, to possess us with his Fear. If ye call upon the Father, 1who without respect of Persons judges according to every Man's Work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. No spiritual Priviledges upon which Men are so apt to presume, viz. that they are Members of the Reformed Church; that they are enrich'd with excellent Gifts; that they enjoy the Ordinances in their purest Administration, will avail them without real Holiness in their Hearts and Lives. The being united to Societies ⟨p. 198⟩of the most glorious Profession, of strictest Purity, and sublime Devotion, does no more prove one to be a real Saint, than the being of an eminent Company of Merchants proves one to be a rich Citizen. Those that bow the Knee and not the Heart in faithful Reverence, that give the empty Title of Lord to Christ, without the tribute of Obedience, will be rejected by him. Many shall say at the Day of Judgment, 2Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy Name, and done many wondrous Works. Then will the Judg say, I know you not: Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity. No degrees of Civil Greatness will be of any moment and advantage in that day. Saint John testifies, I saw the Dead, small and great, stand before God, in an equal Line, to receive their Trial. Kings shall then be devested of their Imperial Titles, of their Crowns and Scepters, and their Robes of State, and only be accompanied with their Works. Of this we have an undoubted Proof, in that they are no more exempted from the common Law of dying than the meanest Slave. Death, that rugged Officer, arrests them without Ceremony, and summons them to appear before ⟨p. 199⟩that Tribunal. The Royal Purple could not protect Herod from being devoured by Worms. The Apostle speaks indefinitely in the fore-cited Place; He that does wrong, 3shall receive for the wrong he has done; and there is no respect of Persons.
- 11 Pet. 1.17.
- 2Matth. 7.22.
- 3Col. 3. ult.
