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Psalm 46:10, ‘Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’

The Christmas holiday season is busy for us. Is it for you? I kind of simultaneously dread the holidays and love them. I dread it because it goes by way too fast, and I’m NOT celebrating in October. I love it because of the nostalgia that pervades almost every moment of my day. From harvesting the Christmas tree, baking goodies, decorating, watching Christmas films, I am constantly reminded of being home for the holidays. But even with all of the business and all of the memories of holidays past, I try my best to find a moment to take a ‘photo’ to store in my mind.

How blessed am I to remain busy with so many enjoyable and memorable activities.

I wonder how the rest of the world is doing.

Take a moment. Be still. Know God.

If you missed last week’s post, go here. It will catch you up on the source material for the following discourse whereby we can stretch our theological muscles and ponder for a moment.

‘Q5. How does it appear that there shall be a general judgment?

A, Both from the principles of reason, and the clear and express testimonies of Scripture.

Q6. How does it appear from the principles of reason that there shall be a general judgment?

A, The Light of Nature discovers to us an essential difference between good and evil, whence by the common consent of mankind, rewards are affixed to the one, and punishments to the other. And according as men govern their actions in relation to these essential differences of Good and Evil, so are their hopes and their fears. The practice of vertue attended not only with present quiet and satisfaction, but with the comfortable hope of a future recompense; the commission of any wicked action, tho’ never so secret, fits uneasie upon the mind, and fills it full of horrour and amazement; all which would be very unaccountable, without the natural apprehension and acknowledgement of future rewards and punishments. And it must be from this principle, that many of the heathens esteemed vertue and honesty dearer than life, with all the advantages of it, and abhorred villany and impiety worse than death. Besides, the dispensations of God’s providence towards men in this world are very promiscuous; good men often suffer and that even for the sake of righteousness, and bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness. So that to clear the justice of God’s proceedings, it seems reasonable there should be a future judgment for a suitable distribution of rewards and punishments. And this principle of a judgment to come, Justin Martyr propounds to the Gentiles as generally acknowledged by all their writers, and as the great encouragement for his apology for the Christian religion.

Q7. How does it appear from Scripture that there shall be a general judgment?

A, God has given assurance unto all men, that he will judge the world by Jesus Christ, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17.31) And the process of that great day, with several of the particular circumstances of it, are fully described by our Saviour. St. Paul declares expressly that we must all appear and stand before the judgement seat of Christ. (Matt. 25, Rom. 14.10) St. Peter, that the day of the Lord shall come, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. (2 Cor. 5.10, 2 Pet. 3.10) No doctrine more clear and express and fundamental in the Word of God, than that of eternal judgment. (Heb. 6.2)

Prayer for Week Two

‘O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy Messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant, that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries, may likewise to prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; that at thy second coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God World without end. Amen.’ (37-38)