The Worlds Great Sermons, Volume 3 | Page 5

of his fellow
creatures, and himself the consolation of the afflicted; regards his wealth as the property
of the poor; humble in affliction--a Christian under injuries, and penitent even in
prosperity. Who will merit salvation? You, my dear hearer, if you will follow these
examples; for such are the souls to be saved. Now these assuredly do not form the
greatest number. While you continue, therefore, to live like the multitude, it is a striking
proof that you disregard your salvation.
These, my brethren, are truths which should make us tremble! nor are they those vague
ones which are told to all men, and which none apply to themselves. Perhaps there is not
in this assembly an individual who may not say of himself, "I live like the great number;
like those of my rank, age, and situation; I am lost, should I die in this path." Now, can
anything be more capable of alarming a soul, in whom some remains of care for his
salvation shall exist? It is the multitude, nevertheless, who tremble not. There is only a
small number of the just who work out severally their salvation with fear and trembling.

All the rest are tranquil. After having lived with the multitude, they flatter themselves
they shall be particularized at death. Every one augurs favorably for himself, and vainly
imagines that he shall be an exception.
On this account it is, my brethren, that I confine myself to you who are now here
assembled. I include not the rest of men; but consider you as alone existing on the earth.
The idea which fills and terrifies me is this--I figure to myself the present as your last
hour, and the end of the world! the heavens opening above your heads--the Savior, in all
His glory, about to appear in the midst of His temple--you only assembled here as
trembling criminals, to wait His coming, and hear the sentence, either of life eternal, or
everlasting death! for it is vain to flatter yourselves that you shall die more innocent than
you are at this hour. All those desires of change with which you are amused, will
continue to amuse you till death arrives. The experience of all ages proves it. The only
difference you have to expect will most likely be only a larger balance against you than
what you would have to answer for now; and from what would be your destiny, were you
to be judged in this moment, you may almost decide upon what it will be at death. Now, I
ask you--and, connecting my own lot with yours, I ask it with dread--were Jesus Christ to
appear in this temple, in the midst of this assembly, to judge us, to make the awful
separation between the sheep and the goats, do you believe that the most of us would be
placed at His right hand? Do you believe that the number would at least be equal? Do you
believe that there would even be found ten upright and faithful servants of the Lord, when
formerly five cities could not furnish that number? I ask you! You know not! I know it
not! Thou alone, O my God, knowest who belong to Thee.
But if we know not who belong to Him, at least we know that sinners do not. Now, who
are the just and faithful assembled here at present? Titles and dignities avail nothing; you
are stript of all these in the presence of your Savior! Who are they? Many sinners who
wish not to be converted; many more who wish, but always put it off; many others who
are only converted in appearance, and again fall back to their former course; in a word, a
great number, who flatter themselves they have no occasion for conversion. This is the
party of the reprobate! Ah! my brethren, cut off from this assembly these four classes of
sinners, for they will be cut off at the great day! And now stand forth ye
righteous:--where are ye? O God, where are Thine elect! What remains as Thy portion!
My brethren, our ruin is almost certain! Yet we think not of it! If in this terrible
separation, which will one day take place; there should be but one sinner in the assembly
on the side of the reprobate, and a voice from heaven should assure us of it, without
particularizing him, who of us would not tremble, lest he be the unfortunate and devoted
wretch? Who of us would not immediately apply to his conscience, to examine if its
crimes merited not this punishment? Who of us, seized with dread, would not demand of
our Savior, as did the apostles, crying out, "Lord, is it I?" And should a small respite be
allowed to our prayers,