Rewards and Punishments.
By C. H. B.
THAT in the great Judgment day we are to be rewarded or punished according to the deeds done in the body, is a doctrine believed and advocated by the majority of professed Christians. If this be true (and the Scriptures certainly teach it), then there are degrees of rewards and punishments; that is, there are among those who receive the “wages of sin,” which the apostle informs us is “death,” some who have been great sinners, having committed enormous crimes, and others who have not been so wicked, but who have, to a certain extent, lived moral lives; and the punishment of the former class will be greater than that of the latter. Also, among those who are saved are some who, on account of their spiritual attainments, and their sufferings, toils, and privations, for the cause of Christ, will receive a greater reward than others. That this will be the case is evident, not only from the plainest declarations of holy writ; but justice also requires it; for how can a judgment in which justice is administered, be otherwise? In our courts of justice, if a person is proved guilty of violating the law, punishment is assigned him by the judge according to the nature of the crime he has committed. If he is guilty of murder, his punishment will be greater than if he had committed theft. If he is guilty of both crimes, his punishment will be still greater. So it is, or at least should be, in rewarding for labor. If one servant performs twice as much labor as another, justice demands that his reward shall be greater than that of the other. And thus it will certainly be in the great day when the Lord shall sit in judgment; for we are informed by the psalmist that “justice is the habitation of his throne.” The Saviour says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” The apostle Paul also says, “Who will render to every man according to his deeds;” and again, “For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Again, “He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.” If a man sow forty bushels of grain, he will reap a larger harvest than if he had sowed only twenty. Thus the more he sows, the more he will reap; so it is in spiritual things. The seed no doubt represents good works. The more we sow of this kind of seed, the greater will be our reward in the kingdom of Heaven. What a consoling thought there is here for the weary and worn pilgrim, who has spent his life in the cause of God. No sufferings, toils, or privations, have been endured in vain; for the Master has said, “Every one . . . shall receive an hundred-fold.” No means expended for the relief of the poor and suffering is lost; for it is declared in Holy Writ that “he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” The manner in which a distinction is made in the reward of the righteous, we may learn from 1 Cor. 15, where the apostle brings to view the resurrection of the righteous dead. After speaking of the glory of the sun, moon, and stars, he says, “For one star differeth from another star in glory.” “So also is the resurrection of the dead.” As we see a difference in the brilliancy of the stars which glitter in the heavens, some emitting more light than others; so also in the resurrection of the dead, some bodies will be made more glorious than others. This time of rewards and punishments is just before us. Jesus is soon coming. The sowing time will soon be over. Soon the last seed will fall to the ground. Then let the weary, worn pilgrim toil on; for he is nearing the haven of eternal rest. May those who are asleep be awakened to engage in this work; for “it is high time to awake out of sleep.” “The night is far spent; the day is at hand.” C. H. B.