IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES

IN TWO VOLUMES.

BY ALEXANDER MACWHORTER, D. D.

1803

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Reprint and digital July 28, 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:

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WE are all, my brethren, made for eternity. There are very solemn scenes before us. It is hard to bring ourselves suitably to observe these things. How difficult to persuade our souls, that all the invisible realities of a future state, of which we read in the gospel, will be present. But so it may be. O my soul, a little while and thou shalt stand before thy judge, thy case shall be stated by the rules of perfection, and thy doom irreversibly fixed. How deep, how awful is thy thought? O what a difference will a few years make in our circumstances. Perhaps a few days, or hours will bring it to pass. Instead of appearing before God in his sanctuary and in his ordinances, we shall all appear before his judgment seat to be tried for our souls and eternity. How does the reflection affect our spirits! Shall we be brought into judgment to be tried! Our hearts faint within us at the prospect !. We cannot stand the inferior trial of our

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reason and conscience. Our hearts condemn us, and God is greater than our hearts. He is perfectly acquainted with all our follies, infirmities and sins. We are apt to have a light idea of our guilt, a small and uncertain insensibility of our transgressions; we think ourselves but little sinners, because we take in and realize but a small portion of sin at a time. We cannot recollect the whole compass of our iniquities at once. When we are afflicted with the sense any particular offence, our other crimes are in a back ground, dropped. from our view, and lost in a general confusion. But what surprise will awaken to have the whole account collected and laid before us; and that in so awful a place as at the bar of God ; and that upon so solemn a trial, as for our eternal destiny. It would now be possible to have these matters settled. Now Jesus Christ exalted as a prince and as a savior to grant acceptance, and the remission of sins.

In a little while he will change, this friendly and compassionate character; and assume the grave solemnities of a judge.

Our appearance before his seat, is a striking consideration, and belongs equally to all men.

How great the distinction that day will display among us! An infinitely more conspicuous one than the gospel or the church now makes. Some among mankind are begotten by the gospel to a lively hope and to faith unfeigned. Their souls are formed to undissembled piety, a proper sense of God and their duty to him; while others remain unsanctified and unholy, without God, without love., without faith or hope. They continue strangers to the christian temper, and all the amiable and precious graces of the spirit. To some the gospel is the power of God to salvation, it proves a savour of life unto life ; while others never feel its influence in any saving manner, and therefore to them it is a savour of death unto death. Great is the difference which here takes place among persons in their appearance before Christ in his holy ordinances ; but much greater will be the differences which will be made between them, when

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they shall appear before him in judgment. It is true, it is a difference which originates from the difference that takes place in this world. It is now evident to God; but then it will be evident to the universe. Then they shall stand as clearly distinguished one from another as sheep from goats. These animal, are of distinct kinds or species ; so man will then be perfectly distinguished from man, as sheep are distinguished from goats.

This subject is well adapted to awaken the sinner and .encourage the saint. Therefore, I shall take occasion from these words to set before you,

First, the difference between your present appearance before Christ, and the future appearance at the judgment.

Secondly ,show the great difference this future appearance will make between the believer and the unbeliever.

First, I am to consider the difference between the appearances which are here made before God and Christ, and that future appearance that we are in a short time to make. I beg leave to apply this branch of the discourse to those who are unconverted and in a state of sin. We have reason to believe there are some such among us. O that God would teach us to say something that may be useful and acceptable. Lord, the residue of the spirit is with thee, let the power of thy word be felt. Let a convincing arrow reach the heart of the sinner that he may no longer go on in his trespasses until iniquity shall be his ruin. O let the careless sinner who now stands before God in his sanctuary be advised consider, he must ere long stand before him in a very different manner and for very different purposes. Let the formal christian and the lukewarm professor be aroused; let him seriously consider with himself the difference between his present and future appearance before Christ while it shall be presented in the following particulars

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First, sinners appear now before Christ as a tender Savior, and compassionate redeemer, but then they will stand before him as an awful, inexorable and inflexible judge. The present appearance is in a season of grace and mercy, but then it will be a time of trial, judgment and condemnation. Now when they come before Christ in the places where he records his name, they hear the sweet and inviting language of grace; and the voice of Jesus calling to them to come and accept of the pardon of their sins and they shall find rest to their souls. How precious, soft and persuasive are the gracious words proceeding out of his lips, " To every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and drink. "Come.unto me all ye distressed, poor, weary, faint and heavy ladened souls and I will give you rest. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that heareth my voice, I will sup with him and he with me; and whosoever will, however great, numerous and aggravated his sins may be, the fountain of grace is opened, let him come, make room for his approach, that he may take of the waters of life, and drink of the wells of salvation heel y, without money and without price." You are now, O sinners, standing within the pale and under the banners of mercy. But alas, when you will appear before Christ in judgment, there will be no more calls of mercy or overtures of grace. Then you must hear the heart rending sound "Your day of grace is past and the door of mercy is shut forever." Christ is now by his word and Spirit knocking at the door of your hearts, but hereafter you will knock at his door, crying, "Lord, Lord open unto us." As the former was vain, so also will be the latter. Nothing will be heard from within, but " depart from me ye workers of iniquity." Who can paint the anguish and confusion this declaration must throw the delaying, lost, and unhappy sinner into ? Now he stands before God in the church, and hears all the promises persuasions and threatenings of the gospel with a perfectly cold indifference ; they pass by him as the idle wind ; but hereafter his cry will be, " A would for one of those hours." His

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sentence will be pronounced, with his name affixed, "thou art the rebellious, thoughtless, disobedient and Impenitent sinner, and thou must die forever. Thou hast not obeyed the gospel, thou hast not accepted the offer of mercy, tbou hast not believed in Christ, and thou must eternally perish." The sinner now stands before Christ in a season of hope, he may now obtain pardon arid grace ; but then he will stand under the sentence of death, under the dark and dolorous feelings of everlasting despair. The sinner now appears before the blessed Savior sitting upon a throne of love, entreating his reconciliation and friend ship, and pouring forth the melting words of compassion, "I delight not in the death of a sinner, turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? I hold forth life and pardon in my hand for your acceptance ; your acceptance would be my highest pleasure and your own everlasting felicity." Pity is now in his heart, and tears of love in his eyes.. O sinners, it is now with you a day of salvation. O that you were wise, that you understood this, that you would consider your future appearance before Christ. The time is fast advancing, and perhaps at the very door with some, that this season of love will be over and gone, and your lamentation hereafter will be, " The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." You now enjoy all the advantages and blessings of the gospel. Christ is now weeping over you, and pouring out his compassionate heart in tears, uttering these tender expressions, " how often would I have gatheered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings ! " O let it not be added, " that you would not.’’ Let it not be said ‘‘ ‘He he came unto his own and his own received him not." Bot in the future judgement, you will behold this lovely and precious Savior, cloathed in terror, with frowns on his brow and anger in his heart, issuing the irreversible sentence of your final destiny, "Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angel ;" All his love will be turned into wrath, and your present ease and security into damnation. Every soul in

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this great day found in his sins, falls under the eternal curse without repeal Who among us can think of enduring the awful scene Who can bear the fight of an angry judge, who. is infinite in power, terrible in majesty, and who hath divested himself of all compassion? Who can think of the Son of. God, cloathed with vengeance, putting on fury as a garment, to revenge the contempt of his milder character? The great day of the Lord is coming and who shall be able to stand ? Christ hath come, O sinners, to request your hearts, your friendship and your love; but when he shall come again no such requests shall be made. You will never hear another soothing invitation. When he shall turn to the left hand, nothing but terror, clouds and darkness, and a horrible temper, and nothing in his voice but the dreadful sound—" Depart." But,

Secondly, sinners appear now before Christ with cold-hearts and careless and irreverent spirits. His tender addresses and moving expostulations are neither heard with seriousness, nor attended to with solemnity. But at his appearance on the shining judgment seat, his presence will strike awe, and it will be impossible to be light; careless, and inattentive. While they now hear the proposals of the gospel laid before them by his ambassadors, beseeching them in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God, they may perhaps notice how the ambassador acts his part, whether he is of brilliant elocution, can perform as a grand orator, or in Eastern stile, can play well on an instrument ; when they have decided upon this business, they retire with a self-approbation, and an inward felicity. But in their appearance at the hall judgment, things will be infinitely different; the consideration of the speaker will be perfectly dropped. When they hear orders issued for the solemn apparatus, and behold all matters disposing themselves to give the highest grandeur to the scene to hasten their depending fate, how will their souls be all trembling alive to the final sentence ? In what a descriptive manner does St. John represent this momentous event ?

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It is as if we saw it with our eyes. " Behold, he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." Then the sinner will hear the voice of the Son of God, and every word will pierce him thro’ with a thousand terrors, and ten thousand torments will wreck his soul. But on the other hand, every preparation, every display, and every word, will be pleasure, comfort, transport, and extatic joy to the believer. Then will he rejoice with jay unspeakable and full of glory.

I have often thought that this appearance will be peculiarly affecting to the ministers of the gospel, both faithful and Unfaithful. Those who have been faithful, and yet have not succeeded as to a great part of their flock-Lord ! how must it affect them to see many of their dear charge, whom once with yearning bowels they besought to secure their salvation, whom they had persuaded with tears by those very terrors which they now behold and feel, but they would not, and they see them departing in the general outcry of lost and condemned souls. They behold them taking leave of Jesus, of their friends, of their ministers and happiness, and go with devils into everlasting punishment. As to such who must reflect upon their unfaithfulness, as the cause of their own and their hearers eternal destruction, who can tell the torments eternally occasioned hereby ! Think of this, O my foul, and take the awful hint, to animate thee in thy work, to cry aloud and spare not, whatever may be the consequence on earth.

secondly, to show the great difference this future appearance will make between the believer and unbeliever.

First, the believer will be treated and distinguished with the highest instances of care and attention. Jesus will take a

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peculiar and tender notice of him in this frightful season. When this day shall commence, the unbeliever must endure in himself all the terrors of the forming scene and judgment—will feel himself left amidst the crush of nature and the wreck of worlds. What tormenting fear, surprise and anxiety, will the very circumstances of the season occasion ? We are told, there will be distress of nature and perplexity; that the sun and moon will be darkened and all the powers of heaven shaken; the archangel’s trumpet shall sound to the extremities of the earth ; the heavens shall pass away with a great noise the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and all its works shall be burnt up. How dreadful will it be for the unbelieving sinner at this time ! How will it shock his inmost soul to descry from afar the awful appearances and signs of the times! To see the azure veil of heaven rending and rolling aside to make way for the descent of the glorious and lofty judge,—to behold companies of mighty angels pour forth to line and guard the way,—to perceive the firmament of heaven in a general blaze,—the forked lightnings flash and the thunders roar,—and descending flames circulating round the earth and involving all in common and promiscuous ruin.——To behold the universe thrown into the utmost hurry and confusion; all its conditions broken and its motions disconcerted ; hear earthquakes, various noise, deep disturbance; and all darkness and desolation. How indescribable must it be to feel the agonies of dissolving nature ; when all the disorderly elements free from their present laws and bearings shall rush tumultuous into warranted confusion. How will the impenitent and unbelieving stand aghast ! how will his heart sink and die within him ! even now perhaps a sudden tempest of wind, rain and thunder , can throw his soul into confusion, and smite it through with pain and terror. But, alas, there will then be another sort of scene. The noise and horror of such a time is no more to be compared with that of the judgement day, than the shaking of a leaf with the report of the loudest thunder. What distress and consternation

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will rack his soul, when he finds himself deserted in these circumstances, and no where to escape; while he sees the true believer, one perhaps he formerly knew and despised as a weak and ignorant hypocrite, kindly attended with a heavenly guard, and safely conducted out of the general uproar. Jesus will send his angels to gather his saints, and to place them as the most glorious assembly ever beheld on right hand—Who can develop the comfort of having a kind angel near to support the timirous spirit and strengthen it by his presence; and sustain it by his mighty arm. —But,

Secondly, the believer will receive a sentence of acceptance and approbation, will be crowned with the honours of the gospel, and all the promises of grace will be fulfilled to him ; while the unbeliever will have the final sentence of condemnation passed upon him, and be punished with all the calamities and curses of a broken law and despised grace and mercy; all the threatnings of the sacred volume will be executed upon him. How great the difference which will then take place between the believer and the unbeliever. Your eyes, my brethren, shall behold it. You and I will be present at this grand solemnity.— And is there not awful danger it may be a time of sorrow with some of us. 1 tremble for myself; I fear for you. When the day shall open and come to pass, then we shall all know that this is the truth of God, and that though now you may refuse to hear, and be too callous to feel,, then you shall both hear and feel forever ; though your hearts will not soften and relent, yet then you shall be broken upon a thousand wheels. What a different sensibility will then be awakened in every soul, when the last sentence shall be pronounced ? How infinitely varient will your future from your present feelings be ? How will the sinner, who can now trifle with God, his soul, and all the solemnities of eternity, then ardently wish for one of those opportunities of mercy and seasons of grace, which he now enjoys and slights ? Hear him pouring forth the lamentable and despairing

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moan, "0 that I had one Lord’s day more in the divine service, one of those afternoons when I heard as tho’ I heard not, behaved as tho’ God saw me not, and the matter was no concern of my soul. How would I now improve the hour, how carefully would I hear, how fervently would I pray, and implore the pardon of heaven and seek divine mercy and grace. But, alas, it is now too late; once I had good things, but now must suffer evil things forever. I remember I was often admonished and told, this would be the case, but then I was careless, stupid and secure; but now I care, I feel, and am tormented. O that all my senses were locked up in everlasting insensibility; O that my being might be taken away; O that I was at once tormented out of existence, overborne and destroyed by a sudden crush of God’s almighty arm."

But allow me to comfort the poor, feeble and affrighted believer. Be not alarmed and distressed, O christian this shall never be your case. The Saviour is your judge, and God is your friend. You now go mourning, jealous of the divine favour, and often filled with misgivings of heart lest your sins are not pardoned. You weep, and floods of tears flow from your eyes in secret places, on this account. But let saints lift up their heads and look forward to the all important day, when everything shall terminate in their favour, and they shall have all their desires, and be ever with the Lord. Your sorrow will then cease, your fears will vanish away, your distress pass off like an afflicting dream of the night, your tears will be dried up, and you shall find yourselves in the perfection of happiness.

A word of exhortation will finish the present discourse:

Let sinners tremble, and saints rejoice at the approaching prospect. To the former it will be the completion of your misery, and to the latter the consummation of your bliss. The difference between saints and sinners in this world is apparently

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very inconsiderable but in the great day it will be as manifest as between heaven and hell. Let not the terrors of the awful season affright the sincere penitent and the true christian. Be not afraid with any astonishment, cr317 let it be recommended to you to watch and be sober. Continually be putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and strike no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking, for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, when the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Little children, abide in Christ, that when he shall appear, ye may have confidence, and not be ashamed at his coming.— Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him that made heaven and earth and the fountains of waters. But what shall I say unto you, O sinners. Behold the day of the "Lord that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts. Who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall hand when he appeareth, for he is like a refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap." Let us all, my hearers, prepare for the solemn day. Let the awful scene recommend to us a speedy retreat from the forms of divine vengeance under lmmanuel’s wings. Let us ever be influenced by this sentiment, "that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ."