One trumpet has been blown at the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; the voice of it sounded long and waxed louder and louder: it made even Moses to fear and quake exceedingly, and all the people tremble. Soon, very soon –who knows but it may be the next moment, in the twinkling of an eye –the last trumpet shah sound and the dead shall be raised. 1 Cor. 15:52. Tremendous voice! Most solemn sound! The prophet asks, "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?" Amos 3:6. If the alarm of war and the approach of an enemy be sounded in the dead of night, what fear and terror seize us? Must we hear the sound of the last trumpet calling us to judgment?
Blessed, eternally blessed be our God, for the blowing of this great trumpet of Gospel grace; it is the sound of great love: it proclaims a great salvation–to whom? Even to great sinners; such as see their sins so great that they are ready to perish. The sound of this great trumpet expels the legal fears of the first, and the awful terrors which arise in our minds by the sound of the last trumpet; for it proclaims that "the great God" is "our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13. Our judge is our advocate, our Saviour, and friend.
Do we see ourselves ready to perish without hope and help in and from ourselves? Are the curses of a broken law upon us, and is the glittering sword of justice brandished over us? The great trumpet sounds, COME, come to Christ, ye sinners, who are ready to perish, and must perish if ye do not come. Saith Jesus, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." John 6:37. Therefore this great trumpet of Gospel salvation shall not be blown in vain. Those who never saw themselves ready to perish can perceive neither music nor charms in its sound: it is foolishness to them: but to those who feel themselves to be perishing sinners, it is a joyful sound; it proclaims victory over sin, the law, Satan, death and hell, through Jesus, who loved us and gave himself for us. Nor less doth it proclaim holiness than happiness: for it calls us to war with our sins, to peace with God, and to walk in sweet fellowship with God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3. This great Gospel trumpet, like those of old, is all of one piece, Numbers 10:2. It does not give an uncertain sound; but it proclaims a free, full and finished salvation by Christ, to the glory of God, yea and amen.
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