The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
4. Suffer me to add a few words to all of you who are at this day
present before the Lord. Should not you bear it in your minds all
the day long, that a more awful day is coming? A large assembly this!
But what is it to that which every eye will then behold, the general
assembly of all the children of men that ever lived on the face of
the whole earth! A few will stand at the judgment seat this day, to
be judged touching what shall be laid to their charge. And they are
now reserved in prison, perhaps in chains, till they are brought forth
to be tried and sentenced. But we shall all, I that speak and you that
hear, _stand at the judgment seat of Christ_. And we are now reserved
on this earth, which is not our home, in this prison of flesh and blood,
perhaps many of us in chains of darkness too, till we are ordered to
be brought forth. Here a man is questioned concerning one or two facts,
which he is supposed to have committed. There we are to give an account
of all our works, from the cradle to the grave; of all our words, of
all our desires and tempers, all the thoughts and intents of our hearts:
of all the use we have made of our various talents, whether of mind,
body or fortune, till God said, _Give an account of thy stewardship;
for thou mayst be no longer steward_. In this court, it is possible
some who are guilty, may escape for want of evidence. But there is
no want of evidence in that court. All men with whom you had the most
secret intercourse, who were privy to all your designs and actions
are ready before your face. So are all the spirits of darkness, who
inspired evil designs, and assisted in the execution of them. So are
all the angels of God, those _eyes of the Lord, that run to and fro
over all the earth_, who watched over your soul, and laboured for
your good, so far as you would permit. So is your own conscience, a
thousand witnesses in one, now no more capable of being either blinded
or silenced, but constrained to know and to speak the naked truth,
touching all your thoughts and words and actions. And is conscience
as a thousand witnesses? Yea, but God is _as_ a thousand consciences!
O who can stand before the face of _the great God, even our Saviour,
Jesus Christ_.
See, see! He cometh! He maketh the clouds his chariots! He rideth upon
the wings of the wind! A devouring fire goeth before him, and after him
a flame burneth! See, he sitteth upon his throne, cloathed with light
as with a garment, arrayed with majesty and honour! Behold his eyes are
as a flame of fire, his voice as the sound of many waters!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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