quently on the assertion of St. Jerome, and follow the principle which dictated it: " Whether I eat, or drink, or whatever else I do, that dreadful voice is always sounding in my ears ; Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment." The sound was not in vain in his ears; take care it be not so in yours.
The General Judgment. II.
I. The terror of this judgment will be increased at the appearance of the Judge. " And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty." (Luke xxi. 27.) Legions of angelic spirits will surround him ready to execute his decrees. "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn," (Matt, xxiv. 30.) Those shall mourn who have been enemies to this sign, or the cross of Christ. The Judge will be seated on a throne and His Saints will be round him. His countenance will beam with satisfaction and complacency on his faithful servants, but it will be lighted up with the fire of indignation when it is turned1 towards his enemies: "A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him." (Dan. vii. 10.) • Who would not wish at that terrible moment to be a friend of his Almighty Judge.
II. " The angels shall go out and separate the wicked from among the just." (Matt. xiii. 49.) Dreadful, eternal separation! The just will be placed on His right, and the goats, or reprobate, on His left. Ponder deeply the untimely repentance of the wicked, for it will be too late to retract their evil deeds in presence of their Judge, and of those just souls, of whom they will say: "We have had them some time in derision and for a parable
