Vol. 2

556 ST. LUKE.the incredulous Jews, to have seen our blessed Saviourand his miracles, and to have heard his wordfrom his own mouth, but only that they willa severer punishment on that account ?undergoThose Christians,who are distinguished from infidels and impiouspersons by nothing but the external use of the wordand sacraments, will not be owned as Christians byHim who will judge of Christianity by the life andby the works. God is not satisfied at the time ofdeath, with those communions only of ceremony, norwith those shows of piety, which are not accompaniedwith a truly converted and Christian heart." 27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know younot whence ye are : depart from me, all ye workersof iniquity."It is very just that those who would not acknowledgeChrist for their Master and Pattern, by obeyingand imitating him during their life, should bealtogether unknown to him atdeath and judgment.Not to be owned by Jesus Christ, is sufficient toour condemnation. Whoever does not belong tohim, can belong only to the devil. This externalseparation of the creature from its God is a dreadfulpunishment : but the sinner separated himself firstfrom God, by a will which, by means of his death,becomes eternal. He who does not tremble at thisword, "Depart," nor endeavour to lead a life whichmay show him to be a Christian, has either no faithat all, or only so much as will be to his condemnation." 28. There shall be weeping and gnashing ofteeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, andJacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God,and you yourselves thrust out."