16 SEPTEMBER (PREACHED OLNEY FAIR DAY)
Make him your fear and dread
‘And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.’ Revelation 20:11–12
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Revelation 20:1–15
The vanity and weakness of man is remarkably manifested by comparing the fears he is most frequently perplexed with, with their proper grounds and causes. There are very few who are not troubled with some fear or other which the slightest reasoning will show to be unnecessary and vain. Some who are bold and daring enough when in company (as if numbers could protect them from the deserts of their sins) yet tremble at the thoughts of being alone. Some are courageous in the daytime, but cannot bear the thoughts of being in the dark. Some are all life and spirits in settled weather, but a single clap of thunder at a distance will damp their mirth and spoil their spirits at once. Some can brave it out in noise and riot in a public house and yet dare not set their foot in a churchyard after dark. Some are afraid of seeing a spirit, yet are not alarmed at the thought that they must enter into the world of spirit. In a word, many who are ready to start at their own shadows or the fall of a leaf, can hear without concern of the great solemnity my text speaks of, though they profess to believe that it will certainly be so, and they are deeply interested in the consequences. May the Lord help you to improve [make good use of] the subject now before us, to sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, to make him your fear and your dread. So shall you be delivered from the vain fears which have hitherto detained you and be enabled to stand before him with boldness in the great day of his appearing.
FOR MEDITATION:
John in vision saw the day
Dead and living, small and great,
When the Judge will hasten down;
Raised from the earth and sea;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
At his bar shall hear their fate,
From the terror of his frown:
What will then become of me?
SERMON: REVELATION 20:11–12 [1/6] [EASTER MONDAY EVENING]
Milo 