IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES

IN TWO VOLUMES.

BY ALEXANDER MACWHORTER, D. D.

SENIOR PASTOR OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. Paul

1803

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Reprint and digital September 2, 2004.

Alexander MacWhorter, D.D., ( 1734-1807 ) received schooling at the West-Nottingham Academy under Samuel Finley ( later President of Princeton College). Thereafter, MacWhorter at age 22 joined the junior class at the College of New Jersey with Rev. Aaron Burr, which later moved to Princeton, graduating in the first commencement there in 1757. Afterwards, he entered upon the study of Divinity, under the instruction of the Rev. William Tennent, the pious and justly celebrated minister of Freehold, in New Jersey. He was an active Pastor, and in 1772 was elected a Trustee of the College of New Jersey at Princeton. Yale honored him with a Doctorate of Divinity in 1776, which followed with his active involvement in the Revolutionary War, as an advisor to Washington, and as chaplain under General Knox at White Plains, where again he was a frequent guest of Washington's. The Newark Presbyterian Church extended a call to the pastorate to him in 1781, which was accepted.

"He was one of those great and good men, who, in 1788, had principal influence in settling The Confession of Faith, and framing the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States; and in transferring the authority, of the highest judicatory from the Synod to a General Assembly, which met first in May, 1789.—Ten years afterwards, when a board of trustees for the General Assembly was incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, at their session in the winter of 1798- 9, he was named in the charter as one, of the board, and continued to hold this trust, until the growing infirmities of age induced him, in 1803, to resign it."

The biographical summary is taken from Edward Dorr Griffin's Funeral Sermon for Dr. Macwhorter ( 1807). This title may be found at The Willison Center http://willisoncenter.com/

On the Princeton Page, Link 13. And 16 ---Willison Ed.

Alexander MacWorter published a two volume collection of sermons in 1803, from which the following title was selected.

Page numbers in the original are shown as: ( 474 )

The following begins the original text:

SERMON XXXVIII

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PRECIOUS was the experience, peace and comfort, which the apostle and many of the primitive christians enjoyed. They were favored with the sweet assurance of hope; they had heaven in their eye, and all their course tended thither. "We know if that nor earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." For this and all other graces he gives glory to God, and ascribes every blessing to his operation. " He who hath wrought us for the self same thing is God, who hath also given unto us the earnest of the spirit." These views, expectations and consolations, had a quickening influence upon them in the exercises, duties, and all the parts of religion. The more christian assurance any person hath, the more he is engaged in the service of God, and seeking the happiness of his fellow men. Some are ready to think, if they had assurance of grace, they would trouble themselves no more

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about religion. This is a certain evidence that they are both destitute of grace and of a proper understanding of the gospel. For the more godliness any person practices, and the more religion any one hath, the more ardent are his desires after greater acquisitions. Hence says our apostle, "We labour that we may be accepted of the Lord." And the reason why they are so persevering and abundant in their labours is given in our text. " For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ". These words express the certainty and the universality of a future and general judgment, as well as the designation of the person who shall execute this high office.

Wherefore in attending to this solemn and important subject, we shall endeavor to prove,

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annexed to his laws. God is omniscient and intimately acquainted with all our actions, there is not a hair of our heads which is not numbered, and it would be inconsistent with his infinite justice, not to reward obedience and righteousness, and punish sin and iniquity. Therefore there will be a time in which he will display his glory in judging the world, and rewarding every man according to his works. " For God shall bring every work into judgment."

There are indeed many displays of God’s judicial hand its the present dispensations of his

providence; hence he is said "To be known by the judgment he executeth." The visible tokens of his distinguishing regard to his saints in this world, as well as the public and dreadful displays of his vengeance towards his enemies, proclaim his glory as judge of all. What slaughter of men and revolutions of the kingdoms of the earth does he make by war ? He scatters nations and buildeth them up again. How have his judgments buried whole cities in ruins by horrid shocks of the earth? How many nations whose faces have waxed pale with distressing famine? What noxious and pestilential diseases are often sent abroad for the punishment of transgression? But all these dreadful calamities, were they rightly viewed, considered and improved, might become dispensations of mercy rather than judgment. For they are solemn warnings to us and seasonable admonitions, that we should prepare for the great and decisive day. But inasmuch as sin demerits a much greater punishment than any instituted here, and since the divine dealings with the children of men in respect to outward and visible things cannot be satisfactorily accounted for, while we behold the righteous oppressed and the wicked enjoying more than heart can wish, these things plainly indicate that there is a season to come in which all these matters will be perfectly adjusted. Then in the language of the Psalmist, "A man shall say verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth."

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This doctrine is not only revealed in scripture, but we find strong evidences of its being believed among the heathen nations. Where the immortality of the soul is received, which is the case in most of the pagan tribes, there we find also accountability and a judgment after this life; we find pleasures and happiness for the supposed virtuous and good, and a variety of miseries and punishments for the supposed wicked. Whether this is a doctrine taught by the feeble light of nature, or whether it is the corrupted remains among them of a divine revelation, handed down from the first ages of the world, is not easy to determine. However this may be, they surely have some dark conceptions of it. Hence we read abundantly in the heathen authors of Eacus, Minon and Radamanthus, who pass judgment on every one after death. What strange punishments do they inform us of the wicked’s suffering in hell. Sisyphus is condemned to roll a stone up a steep hill, which constantly returns upon him; Prometheus is bound to a rock on whose ever growing liver a vulture continually preys, and the furies are appointed tormentors for all kinds of wickedness. On the other band, in what lively colours do they paint their Elysian fields, their imaginary heaven, and set forth the peaceful tranquillity, rapturous enjoyments and pleasures of those who had the approbation of their judges for well doing; and a thousand fables of this kind, all which serves to show they had some notion of future retributions or of a judgment in another state of existence.

Moreover this doctrine appears to be impressed upon the consciences of men, and they cannot extinguish their dreadful apprehensions thereof. That secret remorse which sinners feel in their own breasts, which make them very restless and uneasy, especially, when they conceive themselves drawing near to the confines of another world. The distress and anguish of mind which they exhibit, because they have postponed the concerns of eternity to so late an hour, all which are undeniable

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arguments of a future judgement. What was it that made Felix the heathen governor tremble, when Paul reasoned with him of righteousness, temperance, and the judgement to come. And when the same apostle disputed with the learned Athenians, tho’ they mocked and treated what he had to say about the resurrection with ridicule, yet none of them objected to this doctrine, "That God would judge the world in righteousness." With regard to the time when, and the length of its continuance, -r the place where this judgment shall be, infinite wisdom has seen fit to conceal these things from us, and it could not promote your edification to retail the numerous and wild conjectures upon these matters, for it is surely best not to pretend to be wise above what is written. It is enough for us to have full evidence that this is a doctrine clearly revealed in the divine oracles. Of the texts on which it is founded I can now only select a few. "It is appointed unto all men once to die, but after this the judgment. God is judge; the judge of the whole earth. He cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. He hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness. God will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. 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." But there would be no end in producing the authorities for the establishment of this truth that there will surely be a future and a general judgment. What claims our attention in the

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Second place is to show, who the person is that will be honored with the exalted character of being judge. This is a matter of pure revelation. Reason and the light of nature discover something concerning a judgement, but it is the holy scriptures alone which show us the person who is dignified with the high office of being judge. It is often declared that God shall judge the world. There are three persons in the godhead, and each has his respective part assigned him in the economy of man’s salvation. And as the second person of the Trinity sustains among other important offices that of a king, and as a branch hereof, it is devolved upon him to judge the universe, or to be president in that great day of general judgment. Therefore the person appointed in the eternal counsels to this great office is non other than the Lord Jesus Christ. "The Father judges no man; but hath committed all judgement to the Son." And it is also subjoined that he hath given him" authority to execute judgement because he is the son of man." It is part of the work incumbent on him, in accomplishing the redemption of men which will not be brought to perfection till the day of judgment closes. Thus when he speaks concerning his coming in a cloud with power and glory, and bids his people to lift up their heads for their redemption draweth nigh, it evidently appears that he is to draw up the grand decision against which no exceptions can be taken. It is reasonable his cause should have a second and public hearing before men, angels, and devils; before his friends and enemies, to the comfort of the former, and the eternal confusion of the latter. They before whose bar he once stood, and received scoffs, insults and contempt, shall now in their turn stand before his fair and impartial tribunal, where the process shall be reduced to specialty, and no false witnesses be suborned; but their own conscience shall approve of the testimony, be struck dumb, and not a word of apology or excuse be offered against the charge. His coming with clouds in the view of the universe, will cause them who pierced him, and all the kindreds of the

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earth, who set themselves against him, to wail and lament because of him. It is proper, fit, reasonable, and equitable, that he should judge the world for the open vindication of his people. that had been unjustly condemned and persecuted by it, that they should be defended and openly acquitted in the most perfect and glorious manner. That the man Christ Jesus, who has been rejected and despised of men, who was worthy of the highest esteem and most universal love, who had been excluded heaven and earth, as if room for him in neither, should be restored to his place, again raised to the throne of his dignity, is infinitely fit and proper. This is the expression of wisdom itself; this God- man will descend, and return to earth again infinitely different from his former appearance; he will appear robed in glory and majesty, attended with an innumerable train of angelic hosts, with this sound of the heavenly trumpet, and all nations shall stand before him and shake with horror, or be filled with joy at his deciding sentence. This grand sentence concludes the scene of the most wonderful works of God, to wit, the pre eminent work of redemption. Christ Jesus is the glorious personage who will in perfect righteousness fix the eternal destiny of men and angels. Hence we read, "The Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing." St. Paul asserts once and again, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" But that he will be judge in this great assizes, none deny who profess to believe the scriptures. Therefore I pass onto the

Third head of the discourse, which was to consider the objects of this mighty judgment, or the persons who shall be judged. Whether the holy angels, which fell not, are included in these objects, is matter of tedious and curious dispute. Some have contended this will be the case, as they are rational creatures, subjects of moral government, therefore they must he accountable for their behaviour. They are abundantly employed by God in almost every business of providence and

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grace, they are especially sent forth as ministering spirits, to minister to those who shall inherit salvation.; hence it is deemed reasonable that they shall appear in judgement at the last day, that their faithfulness in the discharge of their duty may be conspicuous in the presence of the universe receive the open approbation of their services, and be with propriety introduced to those higher degrees of glory and happiness, which shall be awarded unto them. But others again suppose them not included among the objects of the judgement; because they are represented as the attendants of Christ’s court in this wonderful scene, as persons never standing before his tribunal in order to be tried, and as long before this confirmed in felicity, beholding the face of God continually in heaven, and consequently to be dealt with as those who are to undergo a scrutiny or trial in order to have a judicial sentence passed upon them of approbation or reprobation. But as this is wholly a matter, of curious speculation only, we pass on to the fallen angels, those rebellious spirits, who shall be brought as criminals before the bar of Christ, where their primary insurrection and apostasy, with all the guilt they have contracted since they were ejected [ from] heaven, will be laid to their charge and supported against them; all that they have done against God and man since the seduction of our first parents, with all their methods of revenge and subtlety, whereby they have opposed the kingdom of Christ, and have virulently attempted the ruin of his people, shall be tabled against them, as also the bold outrage committed on his own person, in daring to desire him to fall down and worship them, and in bearing a high hand in his crucifixion. Thus the devils who were cast down to hell, and are now reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgement, fear and tremble at the forethoughts of that tremendous day, when their anguish will become more intense, and their punishment wrought up to the highest degree of torment. Therefore it is said with a peculiar emphasis, "That the devil shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and be tormented day and night, forever and ever." But

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that which is especially in filled upon us the scriptures, and wherein we are more intimately concerned, is what relates to men., Who shall all be -fern mooed before the judgment feat of Christ, all ranks, orders and conditions, filial! and great, rich and poor, quick and dead, that is, those who shall be found alive at the advent of Christ, and all the dead from the beginning of time. The assertion is in the most general terms, hence no flesh can escape the cognizance of that awful day. For the graves shall be opened, and the sea will yield up her dead, and death and hell shall deliver up the dead which are in them. Yea, they shall be gathered from the four winds of the earth; those who have lived under the law and under the gospel, together with those who have had nothing to direct them but the light of nature. All who have ever been or will be, will constitute this assembly; an immense assembly indeed, when the innumerable generations which have existed, and those which will exist, shall be collected together. The earth will not be sufficient to contain the multitudes, therefore h is probable the judgment will be held in the air or the great expanse. The images by which the proceedings of this grand season are represented, are taken from human courts of judicature. Accordingly the day is appointed in which cases are to be tried, the judge appears with his ensigns of authority, the persons to be judged are brought before him, the law is known and the books are opened, and every charge will be supported by sufficient testimony, and each person here upon acquitted or condemned. Thus it is announced, "When the son of man shall come in his glory, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats;" the righteous shall he divided from the wicked, and the proper witnesses will be produced, both against transgressors, and in favour of those who have wrought righteousness. The former will be testifed against by their fellow men, to whom their conduct was known, both good and bad; by the holy angels who have

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constantly employed in this world; by their own consciences; and the omniscience of God. Thus the witnesses in this court will be more than two or three. And the omniscience of God will be the completion of all testimony. Therefore he declares, "I will come near to you in judgment, I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right and feareth not me, saith the lord of hosts." Hence the trial will be fair:, the witnesses neither ignorant nor partial, and the adjudication perfectly just and good.

Different degrees of happiness and misery wilt be awarded to all, exactly as their characters shall be found to be. As to the godly all will be perfectly happy, yet some will possess more felicity than others according as their virtues and trials and works, have been; some shall have ten portions of happiness, and others only five. Capacities will differ in the future state as in the present. There are different grades of angels, and the greater possess more felicity than the less. So it is probable it will be with the saints in heaven, each one will be completely happy, and this happiness will be in proportion in his capacity. This will likewise he the case with the miserable; all will be tormented and perfectly wretched, yet some will be unspeakably more so than others. there are various grades among the devils, and each one suffers according to his capacity. Thus it will be more tolerable for some of the wicked in hell than others. Hence we rend of the men of Nineveh, the Queen of the south, of the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, Sodom and Gommorah, as liable to a less degree of punishment than those who have enjoyed greater advantages and sinned against greater light and knowledge. Therefore it will be more tolerable in the future state for the heathen then for the christian world, who shall have misimproved their

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A few hints are all that can be given in a contracted discourse, upon so sublime, grand and extensive a subject; that we shall take different views of it in some future lectures, and conclude at present with a very brief improvement.

First, this doctrine of a future judgment administer reproof to the profane and unbelieving, who mock and scoff at the coming of the Lord, who say, " Where is the promise of his coming, for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Was this doctrine suitably impressed upon the minds of men, that one day or other they must be called to an account for all their conduct in the presence of the assembled universe; Would they not be more watchful and circumspect in their behaviour and conversation? More diligent in enquiring how they should approve themselves to God? How necessary is it that we should repent of all our sins, obtain an interest by faith in the meritorious righteousness of the Saviour, that we should be justified and sanctified, seeing we must all stand in judgment? It also reproves all those who abuse the divine patience, because his coming is delayed, not considering that he will, " Come in a "day, when they looked not for him, and shall cut them a sunder, and appoint them their portion with hypocrites, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Should we not often be placing ourselves in the presence of the heart searching, and rein trying God, and reflecting how we shall appear in judgment? This would have a mighty tendency to awaken our minds and command our souls to make preparation for the great event. For he will come and he will not tarry.

Secondly, seeing Christ Jesus is the glorious personage who shall judge the world, and will appear with innumerable attendants of holy angels, how should this fill us with high and exalted thoughts of him, and low and abasing thoughts of ourselves ? Since the angelic tribes count it their happiness and

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highest honor to wait upon him as his ministering spirits, how should it awaken in us in holy ambition, that we might approve ourselves to him as his servants in all things, and to reckon it our greatest honour and chief blessing to be employed as such by him. Seeing he, with whom there is no shadow of partiality, shall sustain the office of being judge, this ought effectually to silence all murmuring thoughts against the unequa1 distributions of providence in this world.

We ought not impatiently to complain of poverty, sickness, bereavements or other calamitous circumstances, since the God of all the earth- is doing and will always do that which is perfectly right. Can a child of God desire more than that he should do righteously. All these adverse dispensations still be perfectly adjusted and when properly improved, they will encrease our felicity throughout eternity. Why should christians be anxiously distressed about friends, children, health, riches, honors and toys, seeing they are not to expect their heaven upon earth?— Let us cultivate the graces of faith, patience, submission and humility, in full assurance that all will be best in the great day of the Lord.

Thirdly, since the persons who shall be judged are angels and men, since we, my brethren will form a part of this grand assembly, should not this excite and command us to universal holiness both of heart and life. The sentiment that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, should cause us to break off our sins by righteousness, and our transgressions by shewing mercy to the poor; should influence us to deny ourselves, take our cross, and become the faithful followers of Jesus; should engage us to deny all worldly lusts and affections, and become christians in reality. Let us, my dear friends, be christians and all shall be well for time, for judgment, and eternity.