man
slowly breathing away his life. All his friends are kneeling around him
praying; now he becomes unconscious; now the death rattle sounds in his
throat; now the eyes are fixed and glassy. A few minutes more and that
poor soul will stand in the awful presence of God, to give an account of
that man's whole life--of every thought, word, and deed. All he has done
on earth will be spread out before him like a great picture. He will,
towards the end of his life, have altogether forgotten perhaps what he
thought, said, or did on a certain day and hour--the place he was in and
the sin committed, etc.; but at that moment of judgment he will remember
all. How he will wish he had been good! How, then, can we be so careless
now about a matter of such importance, when we are absolutely certain
that we too shall be judged, and how soon we know not. When you are
about to be examined on what you have learned in school or instructions
in six months or a year, how anxious you are in making the necessary
preparation, and how you fear you might not pass, but be kept back for a
while! How delighted you would be to hear that a very dear friend, and
one who knew you well, was to be your examiner! Prepare in the same way
for the examination you have to stand at the end of your life. Every day
you can make a preparation by examining your conscience on the sins you
have committed; by making an act of contrition for them, and resolving
to avoid them for the future. You should never go to sleep without some
preparation for judgment. But above all, try to become better acquainted
with your Examiner--Our Lord Jesus Christ; try by your prayers and good
works to become His special friend, and when your judgment comes you
will be pleased rather than afraid to meet Him.

409 Q. What is the judgment called which we have to undergo immediately
after death?
A. The judgment we have to undergo immediately after death is called the
Particular Judgment.

"Particular," because one particular person is judged.

410 Q. What is the judgment called which all men have to undergo on the
last day?
A. The judgment which all men have to undergo on the last day is called
the General Judgment.

"General," because every creature gifted with intelligence will be
judged on that day--the angels of Heaven, the devils of Hell, and all
men, women, and children that have ever lived upon the earth. The Holy
Scripture gives us a terrible account of that awful day. (Matt. 24