The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-01
Jesus. the Judge Of Men
g Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMkINS.
Textt ST. John H., t4-.1.


~. AT first II fills us with dread, be :,
cause we measure IL by human judg-
ment. which we know to be SO often
faulty. TO be examined. cross exam
med. confused by catchy questions
from Hhrcwd lawyer who wishes to
WIN his case: To face n Judge supposed
10 be impartial and yet. because he Is
human. often pre1udiced In spite Of
hirnsclf--hOw such an ordeal makes MS
tremble when we stand in n courtroom
ana watch Il case tried! Aud. indeed,
the knowledge of how imperfect our
judgment OF each other must be, be-
cause We know go little and can under
stand but feebly. must cause us no
little dread OF q final Judgment when
everything will be known. and there
VIII be such great surprises.
Added to this is ever, the Knowledge
of our guilt. The Innocent man, how
ever tried and anxious he may DO. yet
has a bulwark to fall back upon in his
self-rGspect. Let men judge as they
Will. let lawyer and jury decide as
they Ike. he knows they can never
change the fact OF his innocence. But
when a man is guilty he is especially
afraid OF Judgment, either private or.
public lie wants to conceal to hide,
TO deceive. II necessary, lest lie he
condemned. and when con1emna ton
comes. the worst agony Is found in the
consciousness that. he deserves it, So
the thought of Gods judgment tcrr.ties
we how faulty we arc. and He can
never be deceived.
WHAT THEN OF THIS
FINAL JUDGEMENTS.
What then OF this final Judgment:
Js IL something OF which tile Christian
ought to he afraid? Certainly the
thought OF II creates solemnity and II
sense Of great responsibility. But no
ticc these things: First. II lis the
Son OF Man WHO will judge us. one
who has passed through all our human
experiences. and so knows our :unrn;-
ties. Second, He died ti,at our sins
might be forgiven, and IL they are for
given they will not be counted against
MS In the day OF Judgment. Third. lie
loves -, and. because of that love, II
VIC have in any wise valued IL and
returned il. loving Hin heCausc lie
loved &c. we may he sure mercy Will
triumph over wrath. And. fourth. We
arc really undergoing this Judgment
every day
We are Judging ourselves in advance
anu 40 learning how TO live as Gods
children Gods law. the life and exam
pie OF Christ. our human experiences
nature history. hope. faith-all these
are forcing us TO judge ourselves, and
by this Judgment to grow into more
perfect living. In other words. Jesus
il Judging ~ all the time. and we need
not be P>ri,id of Ills judgment. because
1t rs Doth educational and remedial:
that rs, ii teaches US how 10 live and
IL gives us strength to overcome
temptation and evil And the thought
OF His loving presence calling us to
account not in wrath. but IN love IKE
Wisc parent or friend, in really n
comfort. recall once crossing il
glacier in switzerland. 1t was some
what porilous. or so II sc.,ncd 10 me-
and was timid, not being used TO H.
Eut there was the guide. and Il was
such comfort to he warned and di-
rccted and sometimes even held by
force when | moved rashly. In some
such way we can understand the daily
Judgment OF Christ. We are on Il
Journey. and II is full of dangers as
wei IA fun OF pleasures aud delights.
Jf We went alone we would surely
perish. for we know SO little about tho
path and tho hidden pcrils Thou art
with me" becomes the dearest part OF
the Christian faith.
TO STAND BEFORE HIM
WILL BE GLORIOUS, NOT FEARFUL
The daily Judgment s his assurance.
And 50. having been led by Christ all
the way, to stand before Him at last
vii! he glorious, not fearful, When
entered college had 4 private tutor.
one of the subprofessors, for a few
weeks. He learned just how much I
knew and could judge of my ability to
pursue the college course. So when
went to my examination he wrote, q
was customary. ~ letter to the com
mittee. saying: This man deserves to
bc admitted" With suck ~ letter had
no fear of being ''plucked." So the
dear Christ, Who has been with us
all the way and with Whom we have
had fellowship. Who has warmed ana
rebuked and taught us all through the
Scnrs. will say nj last: II know this
can never say He deserves to be adj
mittcd to heaven" because no man can.
deserve that honor and glory, He will
say, Il have made him lit. for lie has
been cleansed and clothed by Me-"
The more we think of 1t the dearcr
becomes the thought of Judgment by
the Son of Man. He knows and under
stands. No one else can know me.
People are continually misunderstand
ing me, partly because of my incon-
sistencies and partly because ] can
not mako my motives aud desires clear.
Language is most incompetent to en-
press human wishes and emotions.
There is nothing gloomy or unhealthy
in this Ii is simply n fact.
cannot Judge another nor can
another Judge me with any fair
ness, because we cannot perfectly
understand each other. But think OF
standing before a perfect judge, VINO
looks always at the heart, where the
motives and the desires have birth!
Think of knowing that at last He will
make clear to ourselves and to others
the real longngs and struggles Of the
life. justlfying us where we may have
been condcmnc by others! Think OF
having no fear lest any truth be con-
cealed or any fault CLOSED over: think
of seeing ourselves In the clear light OF
Gods perfection. and yet having with
us our Advocate, Who knows us
through and through. IL Will be tho
J final triumph, for victory Will come for
all who have prayed and longed for
II. through Jesus Christ
CAUSE FOR JOY IN TRUTH
fi OF CIIRIS1,S JUDGING
There is another cause for joy in the
truth OF Christs judging all men. name
iy, that so justice will DO wrought. Wo
grow. so perplexed and we are so trou-
bled over the injusticcs and crueltics and
wrongs of life that If we did not know
that the great King, will. in due time,
balance things up. we would surely lose
Z heart Who has caused this awful war
2 1t, II mot al