59.  Our Saviour appears to have had three great purposes in descending from his glory, and dwelling amongst men.  The first, to teach them true virtue, both by his example and precepts:  the second, to give them the most forcible motives to the practice of it, by “bringing life and immortality to light;” by shewing them the certainty of a resurrection and judgment, and the absolute necessity of obedience to God’s laws.  The third, to sacrifice himself for us, to obtain by his death the remission of our sins, upon our repentance and reformation, and the power of bestowing on his sincere followers, the inestimable gift of immortal happiness.

A Comparative View of the Blessed and Cursed at the Last Day, and the Inference to be drawn from it.

60.  What a tremendous scene of the last day does the gospel place before our eyes!—­of that day, when you and every one of us shall awake from the grave, and behold the Son of God, on his glorious tribunal, attended by millions of celestial beings, of whose superior excellence we can now form no adequate idea—­When, in presence of all mankind, of those holy angels, and of the great Judge himself, you must give an account of your past life, and hear your final doom, from which there can be no appeal, and which must determine your fate to all eternity:  then think—­if for a moment you can hear the thought—­what will be the desolation, shame, and anguish of those wretched souls, who shall hear these dreadful words—­“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”—­Oh!—­I cannot support even the idea of your becoming one of those undone, lost creatures!  I trust in God’s mercy, that you will make a better use of that knowledge of his will, which he has vouchsafed you, and of those amiable dispositions he has given you.

61.  Let us, therefore, turn from this horrid, this insupportable view—­and rather endeavour to imagine, as far as is possible, what will be the sensations of your soul, if you shall hear our heavenly Judge address you in these transporting words—­“Come thou blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”—­Think, what it must be, to become an object of the esteem and applause—­not only of all mankind assembled together—­but of all the host of heaven, of our blessed Lord himself—­nay, of his and our Almighty Father:—­to find your frail flesh changed in a moment into a glorious celestial body, endowed with perfect beauty, health, and agility;—­to find your soul cleansed from all its faults and infirmities; exalted to the purest and noblest affections; overflowing with divine love and rapturous gratitude!—­to have your understanding enlightened and refined; your heart enlarged and purified; and every power, and disposition of mind and body, adapted to the highest relish of virtue and happiness!—­Thus accomplished, to be admitted into the society of amiable and happy beings, all united in the most perfect peace and friendship,