nightmare, until he has started up in the agony of despair,—­that judge which has made kings tremble on their thrones, and ruffians shiver in their silent cells,—­that awful voice will be allowed then to speak out with the power, as well as with the authority, that belong to it.  It will pass judgment upon all the facts in each man’s life, which shall then, for the first time, be fully and fairly submitted to its inspection; and each page in memory’s book will find a corresponding page in the book of conscience, on that “day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,” A thousand excuses will be silenced by it, and false hopes crushed, and a fiery law go forth to destroy all the coverings which the deceitful heart now draws over its own wilful and desperate wickedness.

4.  “Another book will be opened, which is the Book of Life”—­In that book are inscribed the characters of all God’s people, and the evidence of the reality of their faith in Christ and obedience to Him.  “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord:  Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them!” These works, which are the evidence, results, and rewards of faith, are recorded by that same Spirit through whose power alone the soul has lived, believed, and been enabled to bring forth such fruit to the praise of the glory of God by Jesus Christ.  In the book of life will be found recorded by the omniscient Holy Spirit of Truth, that secret life of every saint which was “hid with Christ in God.”  Then shall be revealed the reality of their repentance and inward renewal of soul; the sincerity of their love to God and to His people; their secret prayers, thanksgivings, confessions, intercessions, and holy communion with God; their plans, longings, and sacrifices for the spread of the gospel, and for the glory of God upon earth; their deeds of charity for Christ,—­every prison they entered, every naked one they clothed; the hungry they fed, or the offences forgiven by them from love to Him who forgave them;—­that whole character, in short, which is the result of union with Christ, will be evidenced to the universe from what is recorded of it in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

And is there not another book, even “the Book,” which may also be opened at judgment as a witness for the Triune God in His dealings with mankind?  How many millions of men have possessed the Bible, and acknowledged it as the word of God!  Who, therefore, among them, will be able to plead ignorance of any truth—­any duty—­any danger—­any promise—­the knowledge of which could essentially affect their eternal salvation?  True, they may never have opened the Bible, or have refused to believe it, or have despised and rejected its warnings, counsels, and reproofs; but the Bible was nevertheless given them, and their very ignorance may be their crime.  Or, if not ignorant, but only “hating knowledge,” and “not choosing the fear of the Lord,”—­their condemnation is, that they preferred the darkness to the light, because their deeds were evil?  Oh, what a witness will that Book be against the slothful, the wilfully ignorant and unbelieving!