Sermons upon death and eternal judgment

1.¹ Those who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, shall obtain eternal Life. ²Indeed, eternal Life is the Gift of infinite bounty, nay of pure Mercy, ³and Mercy excludes Merit. 'Tis said of the Blessed Martyrs, who contended ⟨p. 81⟩for the Truth and Purity of the Gospel to the Death,⁴ that their Robes were washed white in the Blood of the Lamb, not in their own Blood? Their right to Heaven was from the application of his Merits to them. But the Reward is dispensed from God according to the Evangelical Law; not only as a Magnificent Prince, but as a Righteous Judge. All those whom the Gospel ordains to Eternal Life, shall infallibly obtain it, and none that the Gospel excludes. Those who were sensible of their Sins, and cordially forsaking them, did humbly and entirely depend upon the Grace of God, through the Blessed Reconciler and Saviour, shall be justified and glorified. Then the Judg will discern between unfeigned Faith and vain Presumption, and ⟨p. 82⟩will justify the Faith of the Saints by the genuine Fruits of it, the Godliness, Righteousness, and Sobriety of their Lives, and a victorious perseverance in their Duty, notwithstanding all the pleasing Temptations or Tortures to withdraw them from it. Thus the Apostle expresses his humble confidence;⁵ I have fought the good Fight, I have finished my Course, henceforth there is laid up for me the Crown of Righteousness, which God the Righteous Judg will give me at that day: and not only to me, but to all that love his appearance. We read in the Description of the Last Judgment, That the Book of Life was opened: ⁶the Names of all that were written in Heaven, shall then be declared, that it may appear they are saved by Grace. For it was his most free pleasure to select some from the