in the flesh CHAP. III. 2. THe second appearance of Christ will be in Glory at the last day when the world shall come to an end this is the appearance we are treating of and therefore I shall speak of it more largely and show 1. The manner of this appearance 2. The end and transactions at this appearance 1. Concerning the manner of Christs second appearance what tongue of Men or Angels is able to set it forth what heart can conceive the splendour thereof Something the Scripture doth reveale and taking the Scripture for my guide I shall assay to speak something of it See Luke 21. 27. Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a Cloud with Power and great Glory 1. Christ at his second appearance will come with Power with great power he hath all power put into his hands in Heaven and in Earth now and doth exercise it more secretly then he will exercise it more visibly and apparently in the sight of the whole world To give instance 1. He will come with power over Death Death hath had great power since the Fall and is the greatest Conquerour in the world Death hath made an universal Conquest over all the sons and daughters of Adam Enoch and Elias only excepted which lived in former generations and hath led them captive binding their faces in secret chaining their hands and their feet and clapping them up close prisoners in the grave and none have been able to make resistance yea Death did assail the Lord of Life himself and got the victory for a while and shut him up in prison but he got loose before three daies were at an end broke open the doors and gave Death a deep wound as it were and an abolishing stroke in his Resurrection 2 Tim. 1. 10. presaging the compleat victory which afterward he would obtain over this enemy of man-kind Now when Christ makes his second appearance in the world at the last day he will exercise his power over death he will lead captivity captive he will lay his first Hands on Death and tread this Conquerour under his feet and strip him of all his force and spoils which he hath been treasuring up for so many years he will snatch the keys of the grave out of the hand of Death and open the prison doors and let forth all his captives he will loosen all the bonds of Death and knock off his chains and bring out all his prisoners into freedom and enlargment as it is said Hos. 13. 14. I will ransom them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plagues O Grave I will be thy destruction And it is said 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. that all enemies shall be put under the feet of Jesus Christ and the last enemy which he shall destray is Death And v. 54. When this mortall shall put on immortality then Death shall be swallowed up in victory And surely Christ must needs come with great power to get victory over such a potent enemy 2. He will come with power over Men and Devils he will have power over all his enemies which have rebelled against him over all the Principalities and Powers on the Earth that exercise Lordship and dominion in the World he will bring the Kings of the Earth down from their seats and pluck off the robes of Princes he will take the staff and the sword out of their hand and divest them of all their royalty and greatness and they who have employed their borrowed power against him how will they quake and tremble before him See Rev. 11. 15 16 17 18. When the seventh Angel sounded there were great voices in Heaven saying the Kingdomes of the World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And the four and twenty Angels fell on their faces saying we give thee thanks O Lord God all-mighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned And the Nations were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to thy Saints and them that fear thy name small and great and shouldst destroy them which destroy the Earth The Kings of the Earth and great Potentates will be angry when they are dis-throned and the wicked of the Earth will be troubled when the Lord Jesus shall come down from Heaven to call them to Judgment If all the Powers of wicked Men and Devils too who are greater in power than Men could they would make head and resist the Lord Jesus Christ and pull him from his Throne and put him to death as the Iewes did at his first appearance if they had but any hopes of making their party good against him how would they call their forces and gather their Armies and wage War with this great King especially when all the wicked shall be raised up and the ancient Rebels the Giants of the old World shall come forth of their dust and the Prison of Hell where some of them have been tormented by him many years O how would they combine their strength and so many millions of them together rush upon him with rage and violence and endeavour to avenge themselves upon him at least defend themselves against him when he comes to torment them but Christ will come with so great power that he will be able to deale with the whole wicked world of men together when they are raised and united in one body and have obtained more strength of body and are filled with more rage and spight of minde than here they had and are out of all hopes of making any peace with him and have the whole flock of all the Devils in Hell to joyn in to their company I say Christ will come with sufficiency of strength to binde them all in Chains and so to hold them all down that they shall not be able to make the least resistance he that hath power to raise the wicked from the dead will have power to keep all his Enemies from Rebellion he will come with Power 2. Christ will come at his second appearance with great glory At his first appearance he came like a Servant yea like a Servant of Servants at his second appearance he will come like a Lord yea like a Lord of Lords like the great Lord of glory at his first appearance he was â—loathed with dishonour and a chain of contempt was put about him but at his second appearance he will be cloathed with glory and honour and most excellent Majesty will be put upon him at his first appearance his Deity was vailed his beauty was masked with infirm flesh his brightness was under a Cloud though sometimes some beams did break forth with such a dazling lustre as made Peter fall at his feet saying Depart
The properties of this Judge are worthy here of our observation 1. Christ will be a most glorious Judge Never was there such a Judge seen on the earth It will be the greatest Judgment there will be a general Assize of the whole world and Christ will be the greatest Judge the greatest for dignity and glory that ever eye did behold Christ will be most glorious in regard of his person he will appear to be the Prince and Lord of glory and be admired not only by the Saints but also by the wicked amongst whom before they saw him he was despised The despisers shall behold the lustre of their Judge and wonder and perish as it is said in another case Act. 13. 41. Christ will be most glorious in regard of his retinue all the holy Angels those glorious Spirits who are about the Throne of God shall attend upon him Matth. 25. 31. When the Son of Man cometh in his glory and all his holy Angels with him yea all the holy Saints also shall attend upon him in the judgment of the wicked Iude 14. 15. Behold the Lord will come with ten thousand of his Saints to execure judgment upon all the ungodly c. Yea he will come with all his Saints 1 Thes. 3. 13. The whole innumerable company of Saints shall attend upon Christ in white shining garments with bodies like unto Christ more beautiful and glorious than the most splendid attire can make them and Christ then will be admired in all the Saints and believers by the wicked which shall behold them And Christ will sit upon the Throne of his glory Matth. 25. 31. I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the Earth and the Heaven fled away Rev. 20. 11. We read of a glorious Throne which Solomon made 1 King 10. 18 19 20. But the Throne and Tribunal seat of Christ will be far more glorious than Solomons or any Monarchs that ever lived upon the face of the earth 2. Christ will be a most powerful Judge He will have power to raise all the wicked out of their graves unto life again which requires as much power to effect as the giving them their being and life at the first he will have power to bring all the wicked to his foot to keep them in awe that they shall not stir nor lift up the hand in the least in a way of rebellion which is more than the most potent Prince that ever lived could do He will have power to execute vengeance upon all the wicked together and inflict an infinite punishment upon them and he will put forth no less power in the destruction of the wicked at the last day than was put forth in the first creation of the world herein he will make his power known Rom. 9. 22. When the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes. 1. 9. 3. Christ will be a most knowing Judge He will know all the persons of the wicked not one shall scape his eye he will not know them in any way of nearness and familiar acquainting himself with them but he will know them in a way of perfect cognizance of their persons he knew them when they lived and rebelled against his Law and he will know them again when they are raised he will not only have a general knowledge of them but he will know them particularly none of the ancient rebels shall be able to hide themselves either under rocks and mountains or in the crowd and throng of the wicked which shall be gathered together before him on that day Christ will finde out all his enemies and he will know all their crimes he will read them all written in the book of Gods remembrance and the book of their own consciences being then opened will present all their sins to his view the eye of the Judge will be a piercing all-seeing eye which cannot be blinded and therefore there will be no mistake and errour in the judgment through ignorance or false information as there may be in the Courts of judicature upon the earth 4. Christ will be a most holy Judge He will be without any the least stain of sin he was so when he lived amongst sinners on earth and surely he will be so when he descendeth from the Holy of Holies in Heaven some earthly Judges are guilty in the same kind with the malefactors which are brought before them so that whilst they judge others they condemn themselves but there will not be the least more of sin in the eye of Christ nor any tincture of defilement and therefore as it will be impossible to blind him because of his knowledge so it will be impossible to bribe and corrupt him in judgment because of his holiness and by consequence 5 Christ will be a most impartial and strict Judge he will be most impartial in regard of the persons whom he will judge the high degree and quality of men upon the earth will be of no account with him the rich will be no more regarded than the poor nor the highest Princes more than the meanest of their subjects Death levels all men and puts a conclusion unto all earthly dignities and in the resurrection all will stand upon even ground now some Lords and great men may murder and oppress and break Laws and through favour escape punishment which crimes if meaner persons had been found guilty of would have cost them their lives but Christ will have no more favour for a Lord or a Knight or a Gentleman no nor for a King or a Queen or the greatest Lady than for the most contemptible beggar he will not accept of the persons of any and connive at the sins of some which those that should reprove them now can wink at as if they were no faults because the faults of such persons as are high whose favour they desire and from whom they might receive damage and dis-esteem should they be plain and faithful but Christ he will neither need the favour nor fear the anger of anyl he will not court and flatter any because of their Nobility and greatness but impartially judge the highest and greatest by the same rule as he will do the lowest and meanest and Christ will be a most strict Judge in regard of crimes he will bring forth all the sins of the wicked to light not one sin which they have committed from the day of their birth to the hour of their dissolution but shall be had in remembrance and be brought unto publick view when the Lord shall enter into judgement with the ungodly world some of the wicked do now sin more secretly they have sweet morsels rolling under their tongues which are not perceived they have their Dalilahs in corners who are not known they shroud themselves under the shadow of the wings of the night that they might conceal some of their
from me for I am a sinful Man O Lord Luke 5. 8. And others in the Ship to worship him acknowledging of a truth thou art the Son of God Mat. 14. 33. And often filled his Disciples with fear and astonishment but he was so disguised in flesh that few knew him at all none knew much of him when he was so disrobed and so meanly attired and attended It is said the Princes of this World knew him not else surely they would have laid down their Scepters at his feet had they known him they would not have dared so disgracefully to have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2. 8. But at his second appearance the Vail will be so drawn aside that the Deity of Christ will shine forth with amazing splendour to the view of the whole World his humane nature will be glorious beyond any other Creature but oh how glorious will his Divine nature be when the eyes of the whole World shall be opened to see God in such a way as now we are not able to conceive He will appear in the brightness of his Fathers glory so that they which see him will see the Father the Mâ—jesty Authority Dominion Power Holiness Justice and love of the Father will be like so many sparkling gems to deck the Crown of Christ at his appearance but who can conceive the royalty and surpassing excellency of Jesus Christ when he comes down out of his Fathers Pallace into the World He will come in great glory God will come down in him and with him the Throne of God will be removed the Pallace will be below Heaven will be upon the Earth where Christ is there is Heaven there is God in his greatest glory to be seen he will come in great glory never was there such glory seen upon the face of the Earth never did the eye of man behold such a sight as then it will behold we read of great and pompous showes which some Princes have made in their triumphs but never was there such pomp in the World as there will be at this appearance of Jesus Christ when he cometh triumphing over all his enemies when he cometh with the spoiles of principalities and powers making a show of them openly and decked with such excellent glory A little further to set this forth 1 He will come attended with a glorious retinue of Angels we read Mâ—tth 26. 53. Of more than twelve legions of Angels And Dan. 7. 10. Of thousand thousands yea ten thousand times ten thousands which Minister about the throne of God yea further Rev. 5. 11. Of a number of ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of Angels and Heb. 12. 22. Of an innumerable company of Angels All these Angels will attend upon Jesus Christ at his second appearance It is said Mâ—tth 25. 31. That all the holy Angels shall come with him Now the Angels are dispersed in several places some of them are upon the Earth ministring unto the saints which shall be heires of salvation Heb. 1. 14. Others are in heaven beholding the face of the Father ready to execute his will some are ascending some descending but then they will all be gathered together into one company and like so many Courtiers attend upon this great King in this his glorious appearance in the World all will descend with Christ Heaven will be emptied of Angels they will all come forth and come down from their old habitation and oh how glorious will this train be he will come with all the holy Angels Angels that are holy and glorious not like those rotten Courtiers which attend upon some Earthly Kings who have no other glory upon them but what lies in their rich and splendid apparel the bodies of some of which if they were uncas'd would appear to be full of loathsome diseases but whose souls are monstrously ugly and deformed full of loathsome and noisome lusts besmeared with dung and filthiness who could their inside be turned outward and the deformity of sin be seen with bodily eyes would appear too hideously black and swarthy and more mis-shapen than those which are born with the greatest blemishes of nature who carry Hell in their bosomes and like so many bears and ugly hounds are led about by the Devil in chains such such follow many Kings on earth when they appear abroad with hearts full of lust vvith eyes full of adultery vvith mouths full of oaths and filthy ribauldry vvho are like so many spots in the faces of their Princes or like a Cloud about their brow vvhich darkneth their glory in the eyes of the serious and sober minded but Christ vvill come attended vvith millions of holy Angels arrayed in such pure and vvhite garments as shall not have the least spot or tincture of sin upon them he vvill come vvith holy Angels who vvill be like so many flames of Fire full of holy svveet burning Love and covered vvith such Light and glorious excellency as will not darken but illustrate the glory of their Lord and Prince they attend upon 2 Christ will come with a glorious Brightness and great noise such a light will shine in him and about him as will a thousand fold surpass the light of the Sun when it shineth in its full strength we read Matth. 13. 43. That the righteous shall shine like the Sun in the Kingdome of their Father how then will the Sun of righteousness shine from whom they wil receive all their brightness by reflection as the Moon and some other Stars do from the Sun in the firmament It is said Mat. 24. 29 30. That at the coming of Christ the Sun shall be darkned and the Moon shall not give her light and the Stars of the Heaven shall fall and Rev. 6. 12 13 14. That the Sun shall be black as Sackcloath of hair and the Moon shall be like blood and the Stars of the heaven shall fall to the earth even as a Fig-tree casteth her untimely Figges when she is shaken of a mighty winde and the Heavens shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together and every Island and Mountain shall be moved out of their places At the coming of Christ there will be such a brightness as will darken the Sun and other Luminaries in the Heavens even as the Sun doth darken the lesser Stars who though shining all night with a twinkling light and like so many Candles in the Firmament yet upon the Suns first lifting up his head in a morning and casting about its beames they presently sink in their sockets and disappear so the Sun it self and other Luminaries of Heaven will disappear when this more glorious Sun doth arise in the morning of the last day they will then lose their light and what further need of them in Heaven it will be all day Rev. 2. 22. In the City of the new Ierusalem there will be no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of
is come and who shall be able to stand Then profane and wicked Kings who would not submit unto the Government of Christ but brake his bands asunder and cast away his cords from them shall see this King of Kings and Lord of Lords come down from heaven to judge them and O with what fear would they then run and hide themselves in Dens or under some great Rocks and Mountains if they could from the face of him who will then sit upon the Throne of Judgment and with what trembling will they stand amongst the meanest of their subjects devested of all their power and dignity then the Nobles and great Men of the Earth who having been lifted up above the ordinary degree of men have lifted up their hearts also with pride and haughtiness beyond measure and let loose the reigns unto licentiousness and wallowed in filthy delights and pleasures shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds and O how will their proud hearts then be brought down and their haughtiness laid low and their sweet sinful delights be turned into bitter gall and wormwood then they will cry to the Rocks to cover them and the Mountains to hide them if they can finde any such place to receive them in this terrible day Then the chief Captains and mighty Men who employed their force and strength under the banner of the Devil and endeavoured to promote the interest of his Kingdome in the World and rebelled against the Lord of Hosts shall see the Heavens opened and this mighty Captain come down with the Armies of Heaven attending upon him in white to execute vengeance upon them and then their courage will fail them and the wrath of the Lamb will make them tremble and they would creep into a Rock or any hole to hide them then the rich men who have placed their hearts and confidence in their riches especially those who have heaped up riches by injustice and unrighteous practises shall see the Son of Man coming against them and weep and howl for the miseries which are coming upon them and their riches will be so far from profiting them in the day of wrath that they will be witnesses to accuse them aâ—d aggravate their condemnation Then every Bond-man and every Free-man that are slaves to the Devil and their own lusts shall see the Son of Man coming to judge them and be in the number of the mourners crying to the Mountains to fall on them Then there will be distress upon all Nations and great perplexity Sea waves roaring and Mens hearts failing them for fear when they are looking up into the Clouds and see the Son of Man is come down and his Throne is prepared for judgment The Heathen Nations will mourn to see him especially the wicked who have had the name of Christians upon them and have sat under the light of the Gospel O how will their faces be filled with shame and confusion and their hearts with terrour and astonishment when they behold the face of the Lord Jesus Christ shining with such beauty and glory but looking on them with anger and disdain And is this glorious King that Iesus Christ whom we heard so much spoken of when we lived upon the Earth Was he indeed so great whose commands we disobeyed whose threatnings we slighted whose grace we abused and whose wrath we dis-regarded Was it so excellent a person who was described and set forth to us by Ministers in such superlative expressions all which he exceeds and yet could we see no form nor comeliness in him nothing for which we should desire him Was this the Saviour that was preached to us and proffered to us This the Iesus Christ that we were pressed so frequently and so earnestly to get an interest in with so many powerfull arguments and yet could not be moved and perswaded Was it this Person that did call us and stretch forth his hand all the day long to us that did wooe us and intreat us by his messengers to accept of parden and grace and salvation and knock at the door of our hearts again and again by his Word and Spirit for entertainment and did we shut our ear and our heart against him and refuse all his gracious tenders which were made unto us What did we hearken to the Devil when he tempted us to sin that he might destroy us and not hearken to Christ who would have perswaded us to faith and obedience that he might save us Could we harbour base lusts which were like so many vipers in our bosoms and give no entertainment to Iesus Christ who would have brought riches and glory with him O what fools mad men and women have we been How have our cursed hearts deceived us and the devil deluded us How have we been bewitched to prefer the vâ—nities of the World and the satisfaction of the desires of our flesh before an interest in such a Saviour Wo wo wo be unto us for now the great day of the Lord is come and who is able to stand This is the fifth Antecedent to the judgment of the wicked they shall see the Lord Jesus coming in the clouds and be summoned to the bar and plaeed at his left hand of which before 6. The sixth Antecedent will be their seeing the Iudgment and hearing the Sentence of the righteous Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World And oh how will they grind and gnash their teeth and their hearts be ready even to burst with envy and indignation to see those poor mean Christians whom some of them have separated from their company and accounted as the offâ—scouring of the earth and not worthy to set with the dogs of their flock exalted to such dignity shining in such glory and adjudged to such happiness when themselves are lookt upon with such contempt and stand waiting for their judgment and final Doom to Torments and eternal misery These are the Antecedents of the Judgment of the wicked CHAP. VIII 2. COncerning the Judgment of the wicked it self I shall here speak of 1. The Iudge 2. The Assessors 3. The Malefactors 4. The Crime 5. The Accusers and Winesses 6. The Conviction 7. The Sentence â— The Iudge of the wicked as of the righteous will be the Lord Iesus Christ. It is said Rom. 3. 6. God shall judge the World but it will be God in Christ and God by Christ Act. 17. 31. God was in Christ reconciling the world of the elect unto himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. and God in Christ will judge and condemn the world of the Reprobates The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son Joh. 5. 22. and he hath given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man v. 27. The same Jesus whom the wicked would not submit unto and take for their King to rule over them they must submit unto and have for their Judge to examine and condemn them
wicked leud practices which should they be found out in would fill their cheeks with shame blushing but Christ will call them at the last day to a strict account and bring to light the hidden things of darkness 1 Cor. 4. 5. And O the contempt confusion which they will be covered withall when all their shameful and abominable sins shall be made manifest 6. Christ will be a most righteous Judge he will judge the wicked in righteousness some of them will be found to have been unrighteous in their judgments and others righteous in their dealings and all of them unrighteous in their state but Christ will judge them all in righteousness he will judge them according to their works as he will be righteous in not inflicting upon them a greater punishment than their sins have deserved he will not punish lesser sinners with more stripes and greater sinners with fewer stripes so neither will he be unrighteous in inflicting upon them a lesser punishment than their sins have deserved but will proportion their punishment to their offence Rev. 18. 7. How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Christ will be exactly righteous in his judgment severely righteous without the least mixture of mercy the wicked shall have from him the summum jus and that sine ullà injuriâ they shall have the highest right and justice without the least injury Gods justice requires satisfaction for their sins and Christ will satisfie the demands of justice to the full upon the ungodly by distribution of such punishments as are the just desert of their sins Christ will even all scores at that day between God and sinners at least he will begin to take the payment of that debt from them which they owe for sin which they will be paying unto all eternity Christ will come with the Ballances and Sword of Justice in his hand he will come to take just vengeance upon disobedient sinners 7. Christ will be a most furious Judge he will be most gracious towards the righteous but most furious against the wicked He will come in flaming fire to take vengeance upon them 2 Thes. 1. 8. He will come in flames of love towards his people but in flames of anger against his enemies a Fire shall devour before him and it will be very â—empestuous round about him see Isa. 66. 15. Behold the Lord will come with Fire and with his Chariots as with a whirl-wind to render his anger with fury his rebukes with flames â—f Fire We read of such wrath on that day in the Lamb as maketh the Kings and great men of the earth to tremble and call to mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them fâ—om it Rev. 6. 15 16 17. Never was there greater love and more tender bowels of compassion and pitty than is to be found now in the Lord Jesus Christ towards all them that apply themselves unto him under a sense of sin for salvation here in this world and never was there greater wrath and revengeful fury than will be found in the same Lord Jesus Christ when sinners shall come before him to be judged at the last day He will be very furious ten thousand times beyond a Beare when she is bereaved of her whelps or a Lion when he is hunger-starved How fiercely will Christ look upon the wicked What scorn and contempt of them will they see in his face What dreadful frowns in his brow What fiery anger will there sparkle from his eye in his looking upon them as if he would look them dead or look them into Hell before he hath pronounced the sentence How fiercely will he speak unto them There will be terrour in his looks and there will be terrour in his voice he will speak to them in his wrath and vex them in his hot displeasure His anger then will break forth into a flame he will appeare to be jealous and very furious when he cometh to execute vengeance on his adversaries and punish his enemies for their sins 8. Christ will be an inexorable Judge None is now more easie to be entreated as a Saviour whosoever comes unto him may be welcome to him he hath promised in no wise to cast out such Ioh. 6. 37. The most rebellious sinners may finde entertainment with Jesus Christ now and prevail with him to procure pardon and peace and salvation upon their repentance of their sins but when he is come down from Heaven to judge the world he will be inexorable No prayers or intreaties no tears or arguments will in the least move him to take any pitty on such as shall then be found in their sins When the wicked at the day of judgment shall have their eyes opened to behold the Lord Jesus Christ in his glory and Majesty in such excellency and shining beauty then one smile of his countenance will be really accounted of more worth than the whole world and to be made like to such a person and to dwell for ever in his love and joy they will then clearly see to be unconceiveably beyond all the enjoyment of the creatures in their fullest delights and to be thrust out of his presence they will account their chiefest misery then they will have other apprehensions of Hells torments when they are just ready to be cast into the burning lake when they are awakened in the morning of the resurrection and are brought to Christs bar and they perceive how neer they are to execution and great distress will be upon them when they look about them and all refuge fails and they see no way for them to escape If now with their cries and supplications they might prevail with the Judge for some commiseration if they had but the least hopes of moving his bowels and pacifying his anger and obtaining the favour of admission into the inheritance of the Saints O how would they all fall down upon their knees before him with the lowest submission and reverence how would they cry and weep intreat and beseech how would they kiss his feet wash them with their tears and wipe them with their hairs how earnest and importunate would they be with him for a pardon if importunity would prevaile If there were but one promise left in the whole Book of God for them which might possibly bring unto them some relief how greedily would they all catch at it and humbly wooe the Lord for mercy No no the Judge will then be inexorable they may cry but it will be to no purpose he will shut his eares against their prayers and hide his eyes from their misery they had promises enough whilst they lived but they did not regard them they did not believe and apply them and now nothing but threatnings belong to them and remain for them Christ often cryed to them by his Ministers and moved them by his spirit to open the Door of their hearts and give him room and entertainment
them and we may â—ationally imagine that they will salute them at their rising and welcome them out of their graves we read of the Angel Gabriel's salutation of Mary Luke 1. 28. Hail thou that arâ— highly favoured the Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst Women and the same Angels words to Daniel chap. 9. 23. Thou art greatly beloved Such salutations possibly the Angels may give to the Saints at their resurrection Arise you that are highly favoured of God come forth yee that are greatly beloved welcome welcome yee happy ones ye that are blessed amongst the children of men your Lord is come down and stayethâ— for you he hath sent us to call you and convey you into his presence bring you where he is that you may see and share in his glory O how will such words make their hearts to glow within them how joyfull will such a message be unto them O happy they that ever they were born or rather that ever they were new born O happy they that they should live that they should be raised to see such a day as this will be O what looks what speeches what joyes will they have when they are entertained by the Angels 3. The third Antecedent to the Righteous Iudgment will be their meeting one with another Matth. 24. 31. The Angels will be sent to gather the Elect together 2 Thes. 2. 1. I beseech you â—rethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and our gathering together unto him the Saints will be all gathered together and we shall be gathered with them if we be found in that number there we shall meet with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the holy Kings and Prophets and Apostles and Martyrs and holy Men who have lived in all Generations and all these in another hue than when they lived upon the Earth they will arise like so many shining Suns ouâ— of the Earth O how shall we be delighted with the â—ight of such a glorious train and company when we see the Image and picture of the Lord upon them drawn so to the life what sweet greetings shall we have and mutual congratulations of our old acquaintance in the flesh who were with us acquainted with the Lord and is this the end of our hearing and fasting and praying and self-denial and mortification and the poor services we have done for the Lord Is this the issue of our pains and labour O happy we that ever we repented and believed and closed with Jesus Christ O happy we that laid up our Treasure and waited for our glory and happiness till this time 4. The fourth Antecedent is that the righteous shall be caught up together in the aire all the righteous shall be caught up they that are raised from the dead and they that remain alive upon the Earth on that day 1 Thess. 4. 16 17. The dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the aire we read of the two witnesses which were slain after three dayes and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon theâ—r feet and they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them come up hither and they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud c. Rev. 11. 11 12. In the morning of the resurrection the spirit of life from God will enter into the bodies of all the Saints and they will stand up and possibly they may hear a voice from Christ in the aire Come up hither and then they will be caught up and ascend into the aire to meet with their Lord O what unexpressible pleasure and delight will they finde when they Feel themselves begin to move upwards when they are leaving the Earth and wicked men and so many glorious persons of them together ascending to meet their most glorious Lord 5. The fifth antecedent to the judgment is their meeting with the Lord in the aire 1 Thess. 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the aire We have spoken of the meeting of the soul and the body of the meeting of the Saints with the Angels of the meeting of the Saints with the Saints all which meetings will be very delightful but the meeting of the Saints with the Lord himself will be beyond all O how sweet will the sound of Christ's coming be unto them before they see him When they hear the long expected shouâ— and the sound of the last Trump This this will be musick indeed in their eares Then then they will lift up their heads with joy and do but think how transporting the first glance of their eye will be upon the Lord Jesus Christ when they see him yet afar off cloathed with such brightness and beauty never did their eye behold such an object before they admired to see the Saints and to see themselves so transformed but how will they admire to see the Lord in such glory if so be that some of his Disciples did gaze after him with wonder when he was taken from them and ascended into Heaven Acts 1. 11. With what wonder will all his Disciples most of which never saw him in the flesh none of which saw him in such glory then gaze upon him when he shall come down from Heaven Yee Men of Galilee why stand yee gazing up into Heaven Say the Angels this same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as yee have seen him go into Heaven if you look and wonder now at his going how will you look and wonder at his coming which will be as surely but far more gloriously But when they are come neerer unto Christ and have a fuller view of him O vvhat thoughts What affections What joyes vvill there then fill their souls O what workings what beatings of heart what transports and ravishment of spirit will they have O how would they be overwhelmed with this sight and utterly unable to bear it if they were not strengthened beyond their present capacity And is this the Saviour and Redeemer of the world O glorious Son of righteousness Did this most excellent Person who thus appears in the brightness of his Fathers glory and is now come down from his glorious habitation with such a glorious train of Angels once vouchsafe to dwell with men and vaile his glory in the flesh Did this eternal Son of God stoop so low as to take upon him our nature yea to take upon him the forme of a Servant Did he live in such meanness and obscurity and indure such hardship contradiction reproach and injury when he was upon the earth O infinite condescention Did this Lord of life and glory in the dayes of his flesh so weep and pray and cry sweat and bleed and die though with such pain anguish and disgrace yet with such willingness and
you now should I stay and preach unto you again and call and invite you to Iesus Christ and open the treasures of the Gospel and now you will open your ears and hearts to receive Alas now the mysterie of God is finished the treasures of the Gospel are shut up and sealed and the day of grace is quite spend and gone and cannot be recalled could not you have opened before when you know I knocked often and hard in my Masters name for entertainment I called but ye refused I stretched out my hand and lifted up my voice like a Trumpt but you did not regard and follow the counsels which were given unto you and now my preaching work is done for ever Should I sty and pray with you and for you that God would pardon your sins or defer your judgment but a little while if it were but for a week or a day that you might prepare your accounts and O how presently would you make your peace with God how readily would you accept of Christ on any terms do any thing suffer any thing denie self take up crâ—sse O how diligent would you be in the service of God and resist Sathan and take heed of sin Alas poor souls all these desires are too late I have prayed with you and for you and you have had warning and time ro prepare your accounts and have been called to these duties before but now the Oath is sworn by him that liveth for ever and ever that time shall be no longer now the ear of God is shut and no prayer can enter Now Christ is come down from the mercy Seat from the right hand of the Father where he made intercession and the Throne of Grace is now turned into a Iudgment Seat now there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin nothing but a fearfull looking for oâ— judgment to devour the wicked Alas why do you hang about me with teares and weeping what can I do for you now can I carry you all up with me in my armes would not the load be too great for me and if all of us together could hand and help some of you up into the aire with us and bring you into the presence of our dear and glorious Redeemer With what confidence could you stand before him With what face could you look upon him when you are so black and â—ilthy and have such guilt upon your consciences Would not your looks betray you to be none of our number Would not your black and trembling joynts speak what you are and would not Christ then frown you away from our company and then we must of necessity let you fall from on high amongst your fellow hypocrites and unbelievers Could we carry you up with us if you should lay hold on us would not the Angels snatch us out of your armes or would not Devils tear you away from us And could I rescue any of you out of Sathans hands when he comes to seize upon his own Alas what can I do fâ—r you at this time I must away and be gone and bid you now adieu for ever The Saints are all risen and have put on their glorious attire and we are called for It is your own faults that you did not help to fill up this number and when such of us as belong to Christ should be caught up in the clouds O how dreadful would it be for you and all that should be found in the number of them that are left 5. The fifth and most dreadful Antecedent to the Iudgment of the wicked will be their sight of the Lord Iesus Christ himself who will be revealed from Heaven at that day in flaming Fire to take vengeance upon them 2 Thess. 1. 7 8. The sight of their judge will affright them Rev. 1. 7. Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him and all kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him even so Amen Every eye shall see him not only the righteous but also the wicked and they also that pierced him that is the Jewes which crucified him as he saith Matth. 26. 64. Hereafter shall yee see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven O how fearfull will the sight of Jesus Christ be to Iudas that betrayed them unto the Officers that took him unto the base Servant that smoâ—e him with the palm of his hand unto the people that mocked and spit upon him unto the Pharisees that accused him unto Pilate that scourged and condemned him unto Herod that scorn'd him unto the Souldiers that mocked and crucified him unto the Priests that stirred up the People and Pilate against him and in the midst of his agony and anguish railed on him though they did not see him come down from the cross yet when they see him come down from heaven they will believe that he was the Messias and O how will this sight terrify them then they will smite their breasts indeed and be filled with horrour when they perceive that the same Jesus was the Son of God and is now the Judge of the World and is come to call them before his Bar who then did stand before theirs the High Priest that rent his cloathes when Christ call'd himself the Son of God will be ready to rend himself in pieces for not acknowledging it and with what face will Iudas look his Master in the face when he sees him come in such glory and if some Souldiers that kept Christs Sepulchre did so shake and become like dead men at Christs resurrection when they saw the Angel whose countenance was like lightning and raiment white as Snow come and roll away the Stone from before the door thereof Matth. 28. 2 3 4. O how will they all that had a hand in his death quake and tremble when they see the Lord Jesus Christ himself come with such Power and Glory and all the Holy Angels with him to call them to Judgment Further it is said that all the kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him so Matth. 24. 30. All the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn when they see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven this we are to understand of the wicked kindreds and tribes of the Earth the sight of Christ will be matter of the greatest Joy unto his Disciples but of the greatest sorrow unto the wicked World the mourning of the wicked see how it is set forth Rev. 6. 15 16 17. And the Kings of the Earth and the great Men and the rich Men and the chief Captains and the mighty Men and every Bond-man and every free-man hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks and in the Mountains And said to the Rocks and to the Mountains fâ—ll on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lawb for the great day of his wrath
Hell 3. Concerning the aggravations or vexing considerations which Gospel sinners will have in their going away as the sin of those is more hainous who sin against the light of the Gospel than of those who sin only against the light of nature so their punishment will be more severe all shall be beaten but these persons with many stripes as there will be degrees in glory though all will be filled with glory yet some will have a larger capacity so there will be degrees of torment and misery all shall be filled with torment but some will have a larger capacity especially Gospel sinners will have stings beyond what heathens will be capable of in their punishment of loss when 1. They shall have a clear discovery of the glory and happiness which they have missed now they hear of heaven and the happiness which the Saintâ— shall have in the vision and fruition of God but there is a vail of unbelief upon their minds that they do not apprehend such a happiness as is spoken of they have mean thoughts of God and of Heaven they think there is no heaven like the earth and no happiness like the fruition of the creatures no glory like the glory of the world no treasures like earthly treasures and no delights like those which they finde in the objects of their sense but when their portioâ— in this life shall be spent and the good things which they enjoyed shall be taken away from them when their honours shall vanish like smoke or a thin vapour their riches shall flie away like an Eagle or sail like a ship out of their â—ight when their sensual delights and pleasures shall fail them and die like sweet flowers in their hands when the bright cloud of earthly things which shadowed the glory of heavenly things from their view shall be blown away and the vail shall be torn in pieces which was before them and hindred them from looking into the Holy of Holies and the scales shall fall off from their eyes In a word when the heavens shalâ— pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works thereof shall be burnt up and they shall be awakened out of their long sleep in their graves and shall be summoned before the tribunal seat of Christ and stand there stripped and quite naked of all their enjoyments in the world which they had set their hearts upon and they shall be examined and condemned for their sins then then their eyes will be opened and they will clearly see their mistake of happiness then they will perceive and be fully perswaded of the fulness of joy and unspeakable pleasures at the right hand of God the least taste of which would ravish their hearts ten thousand times more than all the full draughts which they have taken in the sweetest of all their sinful delights I say they shall see this happiness and that which will vex them to the heart will be that they shall only see it not injoy the least share in it O what high apprehensions will they then have of the glory of Heaven they will see the Crown which will be put upon the head of the righteous which will have more worth then in their esteem than all the Crowns and Scepters of the greatest Kings upon the earth then they will be clearly convinced that the choicest treasures were in Heaven and the sweetest delights were to come and the thoughts of missing this Crown and glory such treasures and sweetness will tear their very hearts they must go away from heaven and happiness 2. In going away they shall remember the capacity which they had once of obtaining this happiness if they had been bruits indeed and had capacity for a sensitive life only and grace and glory had been removed so far beyond their reach that it had been impossible for them to attain it it would not much trouble them to lose it whatever other miseries they should endure but they were capable of the beginnings of Heaven in the life of grace and the compleating of their happiness in glory they will remember that they had souls endued with reason and hereby advanced to a higher capacity than beasts that they had minds capable of divine contemplation and hearts capable of divine affection that they had wils which might have chosen God for their portion and Heaven for their heritance that they had desires and loves and hopes and joyes which if they had wrought-god-ward and Christ-ward as they did toward the creature if they had wrought upward and heaven-ward as they did downward and towards the earth and earthly things they might have been happy for ever they will see that others who had the same natures as they had and were guilty at first of as great sins as they had committed yet repented and turned believed and reformed were changed and saved and with unexpressible vexation they will think that thus it might have been with them if they had not been fools if they had seriously endevoured to fill up the capacity which God hath given them 3. In gâ—ing away they will remember the proffers which they had of this happiness that they lived in places where the light did shine and the Gospel did sound and Christ was preached and tendered with all the benefits of his purchase they will remember how often they were called to repent how earnestly they were entreated to be reconciled they will remember the discoveries which were made to them of future glory and the invitations which they had to come unto Christ that they might have pardon and life and partake of the inheritance of the Saints in light all which was little regarded by them they will remember how long and how loud Christ knocked at the door of their hearts for entertainment that he knocked by such a Sermon such a motion of the Spirit by such a judgment such an affliction such a deliverance and yet that they barred the door deafned the ear and if they did not fully resolve to keep him out yet they put him off with such redious delayes untill on a sudden death knocked at their door and broke it open and drag'd them away to Hell before they had given entertainment unto Jesus Christ and had provided an eternal habitation for their souls they will then remember the opportunities and seasons of grace which once they enjoyed that once they had a Day a Day of grace and that with some of them it was a long Summers day and that they had calls at the first hour and the third hour and the ninth hour and at the eleventh hour and that all the day long God stretched forth his hand unto them but they did not know the day of their visitation they were more foolish than the Crane and the Stork and the Swallow they did not understand their appointed time they did not mind the things which belonged to their peace untill
awaking again and arising from our beds is an Emblem of our resurrection at the last day It is certain that the dead shall be raised which hath been proved 2. And secondly it is as certain that Christ shall raise them I will raise them at the last day Ioh. 6. 40. this is spoken of believers but it is spoken also of all Ioh. 5. 28 29. The hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation Hence it strongly follows If the dead shall certainly be raised the Lord Jesus shall raise them that the appearance of Christ to do it is certain 3. Arg. The third Argument to prove the certainty of Christ's second appearance may be drawn from the certainty of the last general Judgment If there will certainly be a day of general Iudgment and the Lord Iesus Christ will be the Iudge then the second appearance of Christ is certain But there will be certainly a day of general judgment and the Lord Iesus Christ will be the Iudge therefore Christs appearance is certain 1. The certainty of the last judgment is evident from Scripture Heb. 6. 2. 2 Pet. 3. 9. Rom. 2. 5 6 7. and elsewhere frequently and I shall further prove it by Scripture arguments It doth appear there will be a day of Judgment 1. From Gods appâ—intment Act. 17. 31. He hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness God appointed the creation of the world which accordingly he effected he appointed the reconciliation of the world to himself which he brought to pass and having arpointed the judgment of the world it shall as certainly be brought to pass in its day Nothing can frustrate God's appointments God being so infinite in wisdom doth not appoint any thing about which there shall be any reason to after his determination and God being so infinite in power nothing can hinder the effecting of what he hath determined shall be done 2. From Gods Supreme and universal Soveraignty he is the blessed and the great Potentate which rules over all the Kingdoms of the earth He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Timâ— 6. 15. All the children of men are not only his creatures but also his subjects As it is the work of earthly Kings to judge their subjects and to dispense rewards and punishments so God being the supreme Soveraign will judge all his subjects Kings are but Gods Vicegerents they rule under him and they must give an account unto him God wil judge the Judges of the Earth men do often judge unrighteously sometimes through their own wickedness and partiality sometimes through ignorance and false information the righteous are condemned by some and notorious offenders are acquitted and those which judge most righteously cannot finde out all that should fall under the lash of the Law and the strictest laws of men do not reach all offences against God therefore there is need that the Soveraign Lord and King should call the whole world to another judgement which will be at the last day 3. From Gods most excellent Wisdom in the mannagement of his government over the children of men the wisdom of God now is much out of sight and is little taken notice of in the world there seems now to be a great disorder and confusion in the government of men the most faithful subjects of the King of Heaven in most places are trodden under foot and have many bitter cups put into their hands and the most vile Traitors and Rebels against the highest Majesty are lifted up into the seat of honour and spend much of their daies in mirth and jollity we read in Scripture of the various and great afflictions of Gods People Heb. 11. 36 37. Some there were mocked and sâ—ourged and tortured they were sawen asunder they were slain with the Sword they wandered about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented and yet such as the World was not worthy of whereas it is said of the wicked Psal. 73. 5 7 10. Their eyes stand out with fatness they have more than heart could wish and Waters of a full Cup are wrung out unto them and they are not in trouble like other Men neither are they plagued like other Men. See also Psal. 17. 14. Iob 31. from the 7. vers to the 14th So that if there were not another Judgment God would seem to have been an ill-contriver of Government for the welfare of his people and to have ill-consulted his own glory in the World yea his enemies would seem to have out-wiâ—ted him therefore it is needful there should be a day of Judgment when all things shall be set at rights and put in order when Gods wisdome all along shall plainly appear in the view of all and his glory be made manifest when his people shall be exalted and his enemies debased 4. From the infinite holiness of God now the holiness of God is trampled under foot by ungodly sinners they scorn and deride it whereever they see any Image or apearance thereof they scoff at the name of a Saint they hate holiness and many do their uttermost to banish it the World which is a high affront which such Persons offer to the highest Majesty in this high attribute it is therefore necessary that there should be a day of Judgment that God may redeem the honour of his holiness which now lies under such contempt then he will make his holiness to shine with an amazing excellency in the eyes of all those that did despise it 5. From Gods justice and righteousness God hath given unto Man a most just and righteous Law and annexed threatnings of everlasting punishment which he will inflict upon the breakers thereof Gods justice cannot be satisfied without execution of his vengeance in the punishment of all transgressors except it be of such who have an interest in the satisfaction which was made by the Lord Jesus Christ and all the Children of Adam being transgressours and very few of them having an interest in Christ and his merits and none receiving condigne punishment for their sins in this life therefore there will be a day for the revelation of the just and righteous judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. This righteousness of God doth engage him not only to punish the wicked for their sins but also to give his people that reward which the Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased and prepared for them therefore there must be a day for him to do it in Thus it doth appear that there will be a day of general Judgment 2. That Christ will be the Judge is also evident from Scripture Acts 17. 31. He hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the World in righteousness by the Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he