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 uuKe university Libraries 
 
 The great gathe 
 Conf Pam 12mo #925 
 
THE GREAT GATHERING. 
 
 Gathering ! Where, ami for what purpose ? Tt is not 
 a gathering of the learned to discuss the [»r<»^r* ss of science; 
 nor of artists to as~i.-t eiK'h other in tl e rievejoj nuiit of the 
 beautiful ; nor of ag? i( ulturists to suggest the t>esi methods of 
 husbandry. These gathci ings ate useiul. and tend to carry 
 fonvntd pood objects. But there is a greater gathering in 
 prospect, compared with which all hese ;ire ;is nothing. It is 
 when the good and had, the wi-e and foolish, ihe learned a.- d 
 illiterate, the high and the lo-* - , kings and their suhjects, ma-ters 
 and servants, young and old, rich and poor, will meet in one 
 Vast assembly hefore the thione i f judgment. 
 
 You will he one of that throng im;n use, and will be deeply 
 concerned in the purpose *ih1 results of that meeting, Every 
 thine here on earth is poin ing to it. Every step you take 
 carries yon towards it Every moment brings yon nearer to its 
 overshadowing solemnity. All nations ;ue to t»e gathci «d 
 there. Eternity is wide enough to hold them all. (jod is 
 greatenou ;h to judge them all. Whit a gathering! All who 
 have died, and all who shall then be alive. Even the sea will 
 he summoned to give up its dead. Parent ■ and children, bus- 
 hands and wives, brothers and sisters, friends and associate**, 
 the small and the great, will come to this gathering, and par- 
 ticipate in its solemn scenes. Mere spectators there will he 
 none. All will be participant* You will be among the num- 
 ber. 
 
 There is a solemn individuality in this gathering. Each one 
 is to stand and answer for himself. k For every one of us must 
 give account ••? himself unto God." Yes> of himself. There 
 mav he other witnesses, but tin- principal witness will he your- 
 self, testifying f yourself Memory will be the tablet, and 
 con cience the accuser . The past will all come up. Forgotten 
 sins w ill rise, and ask to be recorded. All that you have done, 
 all that you have said, all that you hare even thought^ wiU com* 
 
A '1)1; GATHERING. 
 
 into view under Che lighl of that judgment scene\ 
 concealed before, it must all come out then. You will need no 
 accuser ; you . will be yeur own accuser. No false estimate of 
 3^ur character can then be made. You will appear to be just 
 what you arc. The very motives that moved you \\iil be ex- 
 plored,*! for Cod wili bring ever)' work into judgment, With 
 every secret thing," 
 
 It wont do then to lose sight of '.he great fact that you are 
 one of Cod's responsible creatures ;ahd that you must give 
 account of the deeds done in the body," whether (bey be 
 or bad." This being a settled truth, revealed in the Scriptures, 
 and confirmed by conscience, is it not your duly, aye, and your 
 interest too, to anticipate it, and be prepared for it? Depend 
 upon it, you cannot begin this preparation too soon. Death 
 and the judgment are near each Other; "After death Cometh 
 the judgment." Immediately ? ask you. Yes, as to the char- 
 acter of your destiny. Tbe very moment you die, and how- 
 uncertain that moment is you well know, you will realize what 
 your eternal destiny is* to be. You will have tbe consciousness 
 of it in your 7/Msery, or in your happiness: This is o?/;? judg- 
 ment, but not tbe fhval. That is to demonstrate the right- 
 eousness of your doom. Jt is to show to the universe tbe justice 
 and mercy which condemns or saves, according as each one 
 ccepted or rejected the salvation Offered in the gospel. 
 Practically then, and so far as each individual is concerned, the 
 judgment conies immediately after death. It is no less true 
 than often repeated," As death leaves us, so judgment will find 
 us." 
 
 AVe discuss not the question, 7iow the soul suffers or enjoys 
 apart from the body. The bible settles the grader question, 
 namely, that it does so suffer or enjoy. The soul of a Lazarus 
 is borne on angel's wings to the bosom of Abraham. "The rich 
 man also died, and was buried ; and in hell be lifted up bis eyes, 
 being in torments.'' Is not tbe soul susceptible, even in ibis 
 world, of pleasures and miseries far' keener than those of the 
 body ? Remorse : is not that soul suffering? Love, hatred : 
 have not these their seat in the soul ? But at the great gather- 
 ing, soul and body will be reunited. The bodies of tbe just 
 and of the unjust will, at the resurrection, taki each its identical 
 soul ; and thus, in their reorganized, condition, men' will go to 
 the judgment to meet a final verdict, and an eternal doom. 
 
This is the end. This puts 
 
 illustrious ii *H the 
 
 both angels and men, will send up a 
 
 berate from h, -riven to h/.l : "Alleluia; 
 and honor and power 
 
 It is called the " or 1 - the juffgmettf 
 
 earned For fhi 
 
 ■ methinir n 
 
 ; ,(i <)tl . &ui rarther off 
 
 tirally tluii detfth. S^ill any one who die t, and 
 
 who suitors the «•■ of his unt) have 
 
 the decision reversed at the gen ;ra 
 
 latter will but confirm am all that tb 
 
 and all that the It will close for ev 
 
 prison of despah . I the redeemed the title-deed of 
 
 of a glorious inheri'tflih filthj will " be filthy 
 
 Still," and they I us will " stilV 1 
 
 Ifyou take the Bibl< truth, this 
 
 can neither ved nor i\- simple 
 
 and certain verity, thai tb ' ; that :i " 
 
 responsible at it will confirm the 
 
 state of the" righteous and the unrighteous for ever. God has 
 appointed the day. The; man knoweth. It is 
 
 an awful secret in the eternal 1 • ^ not 
 
 be known. It will come, however, when we reast expect it. Tt 
 will come as came tj It wiii find multitudes unpre- 
 
 pared. They will in heart fen 
 
 ise of his coming' V" They will 1 r their traffic, indul- 
 
 ging their lusts, planning for y oars wholly absorbed 
 
 in this world's pursuits. How terrible to such the summons, 
 Come to judgment ! 
 
 Bat the Judge; who is Tie? The same who once stood at a 
 human tribunal crowned with thorns ; the God-man who 
 "endured the cross, despising the shame.!' Behold Rin 
 coming with clouds, on his great white throne, with the sceptre 
 of dominion, and the boo!.- Before Him you must 
 
 stand and give account o( all yon have done in this world of 
 probation. Vain will it be to call upon the rocks and the 
 mountains to cover you. Nothing can hide you from the face 
 of the Judge. The myriads that surround you will be as noth- 
 
4 THE OEKAI tlATtlgfelNft 
 
 lug to you. You will be absorbed in vour state. Tf you have 
 not scared the advocacy of the »fud$e here on earth, there 
 will be none to plead for you then. If her*, you have rejected 
 the Lord jcuia, though often urged to accept him, if you have 
 lived to yourself and to pleasure, what Ban you expect hut to 
 hear that awful and irrevocable yerdic , "Depart from me, ye 
 cursed." If you have made no preparation for these eventful 
 scenes, begin now. Let not another moment 0f indecision pass. 
 Yon have no time to spare -Now is your accepted time. The 
 sceptiv of mercy is now held out to you. Jesus now invites. 
 The atk is now open, and the cry is,*Enter in. Bnt soon the 
 nceptre of mercy will he exchange.! for the throne .of judgment ; 
 the door of hope will be shu; ; and the diy of salvation will be 
 gone for ever. 
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
 
 1 That awful day will surely come, 
 
 Th' appointed hour makes haste, 
 When T must stand before my Judge, 
 And pass the solemn it;st. 
 
 2 Thou lerelj Chief of all my j>yp, 
 
 Thou Sov'reign of my heart, 
 H'iw could I ben- to hear thy voice 
 Pronounce the sound, "Depart !" 
 
 3 The thunder of that .dismal word 
 WouM so distress my ear. 
 Twou d teai • my soul asunder, Lord, 
 With most lurnieniii g fear. 
 
 6 Oh ! tell me that my worthless nnnie 
 Is graven on thy hands ; 
 Show nie some pro in se in thy bo>.-k, 
 
 i?M 
 
 Where my salvalion staud=. v<> f 
 
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