sons with God, they will be but as a heap of cinders, which are equally hideous, though some may be the ashes of costly articles, others of vile materials.
One alone distinguishing mark will be left, the love of the Cross, by which to judge them.
III. By the Cross will the saints be recognized, as in Ezekiel ix. the prophet saw in vision the destruction of the last day, when God’s command was, Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark Tau.
This Tau, Deza observes, is the Cross, the mark on the brow by which the faithful shall be known. Tau is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and it is the last sign which shall appear in Heaven. The preacher then goes through the list of those slain, old and young, maids, and little children, and women, and shows how that wisdom of grey hairs, or innocency of childhood, or purity of virgins, are of no avail to stand the fire of trial unless the Cross be the source of those graces.
The Cross is the banner of the King in His army on earth. It is the tree of life in the Paradise of His Church.
