The generality of those who profess Christianity live only for this world, and seldom think about the next.
Their pleasures and diversions are the chief object of their pursuit, and money and honor and power are sought after, that they may enjoy themselves the better.
All worldly men are upon this scheme; and while they pursue it, they go on securely in their sins, and are careless about the concerns of eternity.
Their hearts are engaged upon other matters, than preparing to meet their God.
Their attachment to the world is the greatest obstacle to their preparation, and therefore we are forbidden to "love the world, or the things of the world, for if any man loves the world, the love of the father is not in him."
And if the love of God is not in us, we cannot be prepared to meet him in judgment.
Consider this all you who speak peace to your souls, while you indulge yourselves in sin.
You believe that God will call you before his judgment-seat, and that if you live and die in your sins, you cannot escape the eternal punishment of them.
You know not but the judge may call you before him this night, and you are not prepared, and yet you have no concern about it.
You sin on with the judgment-seat of Christ before your eyes, to which you may be brought before the next act of sin be finished.
What can we think of this unaccountable conduct?
Certainly men in their sober senses cannot act such an absurd part.
It is against reason: for if these very men were setting out upon a journey of two or three hundred miles, they would make more preparation than they do for eternity!
It is against self-interest: for who would take some present empty indulgences of sin, as an equivalent for eternal happiness?
It is against all principles of good sense to prefer sin to holiness, and to choose Hell before Heaven.
It is destroying religion, whose sole business it is to prepare the soul to meet its God.
And are any of you, my brethren, in this strange careless state?
Do you act thus against reason and self-interest, against common sense and religion?
You are guilty of all these inconsistencies, if the judge should come in an hour, when you look not for him.
He may come and find you unprepared as you are at present.
You cannot promise yourselves an hour to prepare in.
His judgments are now in the earth, and they are sent to rouse you out of your security.
Oh that you would be awakened by them and see your danger.
Do you not suppose, that the inhabitants of Lisbon thought themselves as safe as you may do at present?
They had no apprehensions of an earthquake.
They did not imagine that God was going to destroy them that morning.
But you hear how they were surprised and overthrown with a great destruction.
While they were speaking, peace, peace, unto themselves, they were called and hurried in a moment to judgment.
One had set his heart upon getting a handsome fortune, and was just sitting down to cast up his accounts, and he was cut off that moment, and called to judgment, with a soul full of the love of money.
Another, intent upon his pleasures, was feeding his sensual imagination with a vile scene of indulgences, and his filthy soul was taken in the midst of this impurity, and brought before the all-pure and holy God.
One with an oath in his mouth was calling for damnation upon his soul, and it came, while the words were in his mouth, and down he sunk into the pit of Hell!
It is dreadful to think of the manner, in which they were surprised and cut off in their sins.
Suppose such a judgment should be sent to this city at the same time of the day, how would it overtake sinners both high and low?
The great people, tired with diversions of the preceding day, would be surprised in their sleep, and would awake in the eternal world full of hatred to Jesus Christ, and his people, and his holy faith. What can they expect from the judge?
The lower people would be up, but at the devil's work, going on careless in their sins, lying, and cursing, and swearing, and blaspheming God, and snatched away with some horrid imprecation in their mouths.
Why may not this happen to you, as well as to the inhabitants of Lisbon?
Why may you not be thus cut off, and die in your sins, yes in the very act of sin!
You have more reason to fear it than they had: for your sins are greater than theirs.
Think not that they were sinners above all the inhabitants of the earth, because they suffered such things.
I tell you, nay; but unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish!
~William Romaine