CONSIDERATION XXV
The General Judgment
"The Lord is known to execute judgment." Ps. ix. 16.
First Point.
If now we consider well, there is no person in the world more despised than Jesus Christ. We take more account of a peasant than we do of God; because we fear, if we have offended such an one, lest he being filled with wrath, should avenge himself; but we commit offences against God over and over again as if God were not able to avenge Himself whenever it pleases Him so to do. " Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?" (Job xxii. 17.) But therefore it is that the Redeemer has appointed a day which will be the day of general judgment, called, even in Holy Scripture, " The day of the Lord," in which Jesus Christ will be known to be that Sovereign Lord, Who indeed He is. " The Lord is known to execute judgment." (Ps. ix. 16.) Hence such a day is no longer called a day of mercy and pardon, but " a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess." (Zeph. i. 15.) Yes, for then will the Lord very justly redeem to Himself the honour which sinners during this life have sought to deprive Him of. Let us try to imagine in what way the judgment of that great day will come to pass.
Before the Judge shall come, "there shall go a fire before Him." (Ps. xcvii. 3.) Fire shall come from heaven which will burn the earth, and all the things of the earth, " The earth also
