"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." --- 2 Corinthians 5:10.
And are there scoffers, who walk madly after their own lusts, and question the coming of the Lord? the hour hastens, when infidelity shall doubt no more: "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." How will sinners fade away, and be afraid in their close places, when, visible to all, the Judge shall appear on his great white throne, and from his face the earth and the heaven flee away! (EDITORIAL NOTE BY JHD: --- As Bible believing independent Baptists, we believe in the the pre-tribulational, premillennial "rapture of the saints," and we do not believe in the "general judgment" as do some, of course, which our ancient Pietist friend in these devotions does not make plain.). Before him shall stand the whole race of men, small and great; and by the testimony of God and their own consciences, it shall be fully proved, and openly declared, what they have been, and what they have done. Then sentence, most righteous, irrevocable, and big with eternity, shall be pronounced. On the wicked, everlasting punishment; on the righteous, life eternal.
Think, oh think, what destruction is hanging over your heads, ye obstinate transgressors; for, "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all (wicked) kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." "Now, now, is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation;" now embrace him as your offered, your all sufficient Saviour; so shall you be ever delivered from him as your angry Judge. If this you neglect now how shall you abide the day of his coming in flaming fire, to take vengeance on all that know not God, and obey not his gospel? Lift up thy head, my soul; none else is judge but Christ. Will he, who bore my sins, plead against me in judgment? No; but he will put strength in me. I know in whom I have believed; and he is able to keep that good thing, my soul, which I have committed to him against that day.
An awful day is drawing near,
When Christ shall judge the quick and dead;
Ah, sinner! how wilt thou appear
With all thy sins upon thy head!
Now mercy seek, which may be found;
For yet you stand on praying ground.