Mary the Queen of angels; all the apostles, patriarchs, prophets, and martyrs are seated around in choirs as assessors; below are legions of devils, who as executioners of divine justice await the sentence of the Judge, panting like blood-hounds meanwhile with eagerness. On the right hand are the just in their brightness and glory; on the left the wicked all in confusion, like goats driven together in a disorderly flock. In the midst of these on the public stage is brought forward the sinner to hear and answer for all his wicked actions. What do you think will be his feelings on the occasion? There have been ambassadors and orators admitted to an audience of the Roman emperor seated in pomp on his throne, and the sight of his majesty struck them dumb, so that they were unable to utter a word, although they did not appear as suppliants, much less as criminals. How then will it be with the poor sinner, who in the presence of all in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, must hear the record of his crimes read out?
And his most secret sins even shall be revealed. In their presence, says the Lord by the Prophet Nahum, “I will discover thy shame, and will show thy nakedness to the nations, and thy shame to kingdoms. And I will cast abominations upon thee, and will disgrace thee, and will make an example of thee.”[1] Shall then, O Lord, all that I have thought, spoken, and done be made manifest there? Yes; I will discover it all. Even what I have done in the dark night, in hidden corners, and tried to keep from the knowledge of everyone? I will discover it; all shall be made manifest. Even those sins that filled me with shame when I was committing them alone? Even those that I should die with shame to be barely suspected of? Even those that I would not reveal to my dearest friend to escape death? Shall all those be made manifest? Yes! I will discover them all to the whole world; they shall be seen written on your forehead with all their circumstances; the place, the time, the number, the intention you had when committing them. “Thou didst it secretly,” said the Lord to David by His prophet, of the adultery he had committed, and the same shall be said to all sinners; thou hast secretly caused Urias to be murdered, and taken Bethsabee to wife that no one might suspect thy guilt; “but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel,
- ↑ Revelabo pudenda tua, et ostendam gentibus nuditatem tuam, et regnis ignominiam tuam. Et projiciam super te abominationes, et contumeliis te afficiam, et ponam te in exemplum.—Nahum iii. 5, 6.
