Questions on Chapter 41.
Let us look at the import of the final sentence: “Depart from ME.” — What! must they be driven from the presence of their God, the center and source of all bliss? “Ye cursed.” — Not allowed to go alone! No; they must bear away upon their heads the burning curse of their Judge! “Into everlasting fire.” — They must go into a place of most excruciating torment, where the action of the keenest element must prey forever upon their undying sensibilities. “Prepared for the devil and his angels.” — The masters “to whom they have yielded themselves servants to obey” — fiends of darkness — are their only, their doomed, companions forever and ever! “But what shall be the funeral obsequies of a lost soul? Where shall we find the tears fit to be wept at such a spectacle? Or could we realize the calamity in all its extent, what tokens of commiseration or concern would be deemed equal to the occasion? Would it suffice for the sun to veil his light, and the moon her brightness? to cover the ocean with mourning, and the heavens with sackcloth? Or, were the whole fabric of nature to become animated and vocal, would it be possible for her to utter a groan too deep, or a cry too piercing, to express the magnitude and extent of such a catastrophe?” How tremendous, then, how overwhelmingly awful, must be that sentence which shall consign to remediless ruin the millions of the damned!
But how far different the award of the righteous! “Come, ye blessed of my Father.” — Approach near the Redeemer, and receive that blessing which God only can bestow. “Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” — Your race is run — receive the prize. The battle has been fought, and the victory won — receive the crown, and enter the kingdom. And thus they leave the bar of judgment to enter the joys of their Lord on high, where they shall forever be with him, beholding his glory, and basking in the beams of his unbounded love.
“Lo! the heavenly spirit towers,
Like flames o’er nature’s funeral pyre,
Triumphs in immortal powers,
And claps her wings of fire!”
QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 41.
QUESTION 1. What is the first argument offered to prove the certainty of the judgment?
2. How is it proved from natural conscience?
3. What are some of the Scripture proofs offered?
4. What two reasons are given for deferring the judgment till the end of the world?
5. What events are named as preceding the judgment?
6. What are its immediate precursors?
7. What solemn events are connected with our Saviour’s appearance at judgment?
8. What scriptures prove that Jesus is to be the Judge?
9. Who will constitute the subjects to be judged?
10. By what law will they be judged?
11. What will be the subject-matter of adjudication?
12. What are the final issues of the judgment?