s and were ready for trial
before the King of saints whose ways are all _just_ and _true_. I once
read of a criminal who was deeply distressed at the near approach of
his trial. A friend endeavored to soothe his agitated feelings by
telling him that justice would be done him, and that he consequently
had no cause for fear. But the criminal was honest enough to confess
to his friend that JUSTICE was the very thing he was afraid of. I have
no doubt that this very same fear was what made Felix tremble before
Paul.

The Son of man, on the judgment seat, will be the very same in every
particular that he is now on the mercy seat. "Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, and to-day, and forevermore." "The heavens shall depart as
a scroll; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up; but thou art the
same." By viewing him now as he is on the mercy seat we may see what
he will be on the judgment seat. The trembling waters of Galilee
became a pavement under his feet, and his disciples were thrown into
consternation by this miraculous approach of the Lord. But he
instantly dispelled their fears by the assurance: "It is I; BE NOT
AFRAID." Peter, James and John on the holy mount feared as they
entered the cloud and saw his glory; but he most tenderly said to
them: "FEAR NOT." John, on the isle of Patmos, beholding the glory of
his unveiled face, "fell at his feet as dead." But he laid his right
hand upon him and said: "FEAR NOT. I am he that liveth and was dead;
and, behold! I am alive forevermore."

These thoughts lead to the further consideration that there will be no
arbitrary or despotic power exercised in "the judgment to come." "My
words shall judge you in the last day" is given by our Lord as the
standard of judgment. Is there one here who desires to know how he
will bear the searching ordeal of that day? If there is, let me say to
such a one, you can decide that question here in this world for
yourself. You have the Lord's word for this. "Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me,
hath eternal life, _and cometh not into judgment_, but hath passed out
of death into life." To hear is to hearken, and to hearken is to obey,
from a right faith in God. If you believe that this book which I hold
in my hand, called the Bible, is the revealed truth of God, and from
the heart are willing to obey its precepts under a sense of love and
duty to do the will of your Father in heaven therein revealed