no more remembred nor come into mind in respect of its present and pristine condition form and manner of Being Isai 65. 17. Rev. 21. 1. and consequently in this respect it shall one day be dissolved and brought to dust And for further satisfaction in this point I shall â—nswer these three Queries By whom this present world shall be dissolved Quer. 1 Answ It shall be dissolved by him that made it It Ejusdem enim est mundum creare eundem destruere was only God himself that created it in the beginâ—ing Gen. 1. 1. and God himself shall dissolve it Psal 102. 26. Heb. 12. 26. by his mighty power By what means it shall be dissolved Answ It â—hall be dissolved by means of fire of which fire Quer. 2 we read thus A fire shall devour before him and â—t shall be very tempestuous round about him Psal â—0 3. The day cometh that shall burn like an Oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall he stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up that it shall leave them neither root nor branch Mal. 4. 1. The Heavens and the Earth which now are are reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment and Perdition of ungodly men In which day the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat 2 Pet. 3. 7 12. And though I cannot perfectly shew what Qualis autem futurus sit hic ignis Deus novit qui est ignis consumens Wolleb kind of fire this shall be because only God himself who is a consuming fire perfectly knows what kind of fire it shall be yet I dare affirm that it shall be such a Judgment of fire as never was hath been or shall be before it 2 Pet. 3 7. And that this fire shall be extraordinary 1. For its noise because it is said That the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise 2 Pet. 3. 10. that is with such a noise as shall be heard all the earth over while the fire shall be yet in the Heavens 2. For its brightness or shining because it shall be seen all the earth over whiles it shall be yet in the Heavens as the lightening shineth from the one end of Heaven to the other Mat. 24. 27. 3. For itâ— melting and burning vertue because it shall melt and burn up such things as were never melted burnt and consumed since the world began When it shall be dissolved Answ Touching thâ— time of the worlds dissolution the Scripture teachetâ— Quer. 3 us three things viz. 1. That it shall be dissolved in Gods appointed time because he doth all his works in his appointed time and as he hath appointed a day wherein hâ— will judg the world in righteousness so he hath appointed a day wherein he will dissolve this presenâ— world Acts 17. 31. 2. That the time of Christs second coming shaâ— be the time of the worlds dissolution as may appeaâ— plainly Mat. 24. 3. 1 Cor. 15. 24. 2 Pet. 3. 7 10 12 where we find that in the very day of Christs second Coming the Heavens being on fire shall bâ— dissolved the Elements shall melt the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Howbeit as we know not in what day or hour oâ— the year and of the age of the world the Son of maâ— shall come so we know not in what day or houâ— of the year and of the age of the world this presenâ— world shall be dissolved 3. That the time of this worlds dissolution draweth nigh 1 Cor. 10. 11. Jam. 5. 8. 1 Pet. 4. 7. And wâ— have no reason to think it to be far off because manâ— Symptomes of the worlds dissolution mentioned iâ— holy Writ have been observed in our times as wâ— have heard of the plentiful preaching of the Gospel and of great Persecutions thereupon we have heard of Wars and Famines and Pestilences and Earthquakes in divers places we have heard of many false Teachers and false Christs of many Seducers â—â—d seduced persons amongst us we have seen how â—iquity hath abounded and love hath waxed cold â—mongst us And seeing these Symptomes of this â—orlds dissolution have been amongst us we have â—o reason to think its dissolution to be far off Inâ—eed there are some Symptomes of this worlds dissoâ—ution which are not as yet made visible unto us as â—he final Ruine of the Roman Antichrist the battel of Gog and Magog and that alteration which shall â—e in the Sun Moon and Stars Mat. 24. but for ought I know these three may speedily come and soon follow one another And I have read a Judicious Divine * Mr J. Z. in his printed Book on Rev. 20. who thinks that the Ruine of the Roman Antichrist will be made visible about the year 666. that the battel of Gog and Magog will follow shortly thereupon and that the alteration forementioned in the Sun Moon and Stars will immediately succeed This Position thus cleared makes for the refutation of Vse of four erroneous opinions The first opinion is of such as think that this present world is eternal in respect of its present form and condition and so shall never be dissolved which was the opinion of Aristotle the Philosopher who was the more to be pitied because he knew not the Scriptures nor the power of God as therein revealed but we Christians have known the Scriptures and have read often in them of the end of the world and therefore have no reason to hearken to Aristotle in this Assertion of his The second opinion is of those who think that this present world shall cease to be altogether after its dissolution wherein they are much mistaken For though it shall cease to be in some respect aftâ—â— its dissolution viz. in respect of its former and prâ—stine condition yet it shall not cease to be altogâ—ther because it shall have an everlasting Being undeâ— a new form and condition as hath been beforâ— proved and as mans body after its dissolution shaâ— have an everlasting Being under a new form anâ— condition neither do I think it worth my labouâ— to spend more words in confutation of this opinion The third opinion is of those who think that this present world shall only be purged by fire at the latter day from its evil qualities and not dissolved As the old world in Noahs time was drowned in respect of its superficies and in respect of some creatures in it yet the substance of it remained firm So say they This present world shall be purged by fire from its corruptions and evil qualities but the substance of Heaven and Earth shall remain as an everlasting Monument of Gods Wisdom and Power Goodness and Mercy But these are mistaken also For though I grant That fire hath a purging and refining vertue and that if the Lord should restrain the fire of the great Day before mentioned as a Goldsmith restraineth the fire when the
gold is in it it should only then purge and refine the world and the substance thereof should remain yet the Scripture sheweth plainly That by the fire of that great Day the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein whether works of the first Creation or works of nature or works of mans art and industry shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3. 10. Now when any substance is consumed and burnt up it is more then purged â—â—om its corruption but this present world shall â—e one day consumed and burnt up in respect of its â—â—esent substance and so it shall be more then purged â—â—d refined by fire Much more I might say against this opinion if 〈◊〉 had the Books of such as have asserted it â—ut I have them not yea I am a plundered man one â—â—at hath but few Books left therefore I will say â—o more now touching this opinion The fourth opinion is of those who think that the â—â—me of this worlds dissolution is yet one thousand â—ears off at least as some of the Millenaries of these â—imes think in favor of which opinion they bring â—hat of Saint Peter A thousand years with the Lord â—s as one day and one day as a thousand years â— Pet. 3. 8. And that of Saint John The Souls of â—hem which were beheaded for the witness of Jesus â—ived and raigned with him a thousand years Rev. â—0 4. From which places they infer That the time of this worlds dissolution must needs be yet one â—housand years off at least but these places rightly weighed will never prove their opinion For suppose that those passages as they lie have reference to the end of this world and suppose that those two Apostles Peter and John by vertue of those passages in their time thought the end of the world to be a thousand years off yet we should consider that a thousand years and more are by gone and past since those words were spoken by them and consequently though they in their times might conceive the end of the world to be then a thousand years off yet we in these times have no reason to think it so far off Nay I have shewed before That we have good reason to think that the time of this world dissolution is near at hand Again That which hath been said touching thâ— worlds dissolution should admonish us to moderatâ— our minds and affections in the use of all worldlâ— things though never so lawful in themselves according to that of Saint Paul The time is short It remaineth that both they that have wives be â—â— though they had none and they that weep as thougâ— they wept not and they that rejoyce as though theâ— rejoyced not and they that buy as though theâ— possessed not and they that use this world as not â— busing it For the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. Lastly It should exhort us to all holiness of liâ— and conversation according to that of Saint Peterâ— Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolveâ— what manner of persons ought ye to be in all hoâ—â— conversation and godliness 2 Pet. 3. 11. where wâ— may not think that the Apostle teacheth us to distinguish between an holy conversation and godlinesâ— because these two agree in one an holy conversatioâ— is a godly conversation and a godly conversation as holy conversation But in that place he teachetâ— two things First That the certainty of this worlds dissolution should perswade us to be universal in our obedience that is in the practise of holy and godly duties which universal obedience is that which Goâ— commandeth at our hands Let not the Book of thâ— Law depart out of thy mouth but meditate thereiâ— day and night that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein Josh 1. 8. It is thaâ— which God wisheth for on our behalf Oh thaâ— there were such an heart in them that they would â—ear me and keep all my Commandments always Deut. 5. 29. It is that which he hath promised to â—eward with many blessings Psal 19. 11. Josh 1. 8 c. It is that which is and will be dangerous for us â—o neglect For he that breaketh the least of Gods Commandments and teacheth men so without reâ—entance shall be the least in the Kingdom of God Mat. 5. 19. Yea it is that which all men will either wish for or rejoyce in at the time of the worlds â—issolution Therefore I say That the certainty of â—his worlds dissolution should perswade all men to be universal in their obedience in the practise of holy â—nd godly duties Let us not then my Brethren content our selves with the bare and naked professiâ—â—â—f godliness nor with some good words in prayer â—nd conference nor with the doing of many things commanded with Herod while we allow our selves in the omission and neglect of many other But let us strive to practise every known duty prescribed in Gods Word after the example of Zachariâ—as Elizabeth his wife who walked in all the Commandments of God blameless Luk. 1. 6. remembering what David saith Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments Psal 119. 6. Secondly In that next fore-quoted place of Saint Peter he teacheth That all Christians should be eximious and exemplary before others in their obedience and that in all holy conversation and godliness which exemplary obedience also is that which God commands at our hands thus Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works Mat. 5. 16. It is that which will cause the observers of it to glorifie God * Mat. 5. 16 It is that which is commended in the converted Corinthians for their zeal provoked many 2 Cor. 9. 2. and in the converted Thessalonians for they were ensamples to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia 1 Thes 1. 7. And it is that which shall not be forgotten another day for they that exceed others here in the practise of holiness and vertue shall exceed them also hereafter in glory 1 Cor. 15. Yea it is that which many wil wish for and many will rejoyce in at the time of this worlds dissolution Therefore the certainty and nearness of this worlds dissolution should perswade all Christians to be exemplary before their brethren in all holy conversation and godliness Let us not then be altogether careless of a good conversation with Gallio and many others neither let us be of a loose and dissolute conversation with the Gentiles Rom. 1. Neither let us be of a scandalous conversation with those Jews through whom the Name of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles Rom. 2. Neither let us be exemplary for wickedness as Cain Balaam and Jeroboam were Neither let us be lukewarm in the practise of godliness as the Laodiceans were But let us strive to excel in vertue and to
one as to be brought to dust as when a mans body shall be dissolved it shall be brought to dust according to that Gen. 3. 19. Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return So when this world shall be dissolved it shall be brought to dust because it is the nature of fire when it burns up any substance to bring it to dust and ashes and this present world shall be burnt up as I am to shew by and by therefore it shall be brought to dust And that I be not misapprehended of any in this point these three Cautions are to be considered before I come to prove my Position 1. I do not say That this present world shall be annihilated or brought to nothing as some have thought because the dust hereof shall remain after its dissolution as the dust of mans body shall remain somewhile after its dissolution 2. I grant That some of Gods Elect shall be found alive in their bodies at the latter day and that their bodies shall not be dissolved but shall be preserved from the dissolution that shall then come upon this world as it is written Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the ayr and so shall we ever be with the Lord 1 Thes 4 17. but these only excepted this whole visible world shall be dissolved 3. Neither do I say That this present world shall be dissolved altogether in respect of its Essence and Being because it shall have a Being viz. a new form and manner of Being after its dissolution as when a man dyes his body is dissolved not altogether in respect of its Essence and Being because mans body shall have a new form and manner of Being after its dissolution Job 14. 14. but when a man dyes his body is dissolved only in respect of its present or pristine condition and shall be no more such a body as it was either for substance or corrupt qualities because the substance thereof shall be turned to dust and the present or pristine corrupt qualities thereof shal cease So when this present world shall be dissolved it shall not cease to be altogether because it shall be again under a new form and condition and that for ever 2 Pet. 3. 13. Isai 66. 22. for which cause it is said That the Earth abideth for ever Eccles 1. 4. and it cannot abide for ever under its present form and condition but doubtless it shall abide for ever under a new form after its new Creation and it is said that God hath established the world never to be moved 1 Chron. 16. 30. Psal 93. 1. Psal 96. 10. Jer. 10. 12. Ier. 51. 15. Isai 45. 18. Yet we know that this world shall be moved at its dissolution Heb. 12. 26. But the meaning of these places places is that after its new Creation it shall never be moved So then this present world shall be dissolved only in respect of its present or pristine condition that is it shall be no more such a world as now it is either for substance or corrupt qualities because the present substance of it shall be turned to dust and the present corrupt qualities and accounts of it shall be no more Now that this present world shall one day be dissolved in the former sence is fully acknowledged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Saint Peter who saith All these things shall be dissolved 2 Pet. 3. 11. meaning by all these things the visible Heavens and Earth which now are with all the creatures and works in them which altogether make up this present world and he saith further vers 12. That these things being on fire shall be dissolved and so he plainly avereth that this present woâ—ld shall one day be dissolved and brought to dust And for further proof hereof these ensuing particulars should be considered 1. That this present world shall one day have an end put unto it as the Scripture witnesseth as often as it speaks of the end of this world as Mat. 24. 3. Mat. 28. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 11. 15. 24. 1 Pet. 4. 7. From whence I may thus reason That which shall have an end put unto it shall be so far dissolved but this present world shall have an end put unto it in respect of its present condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 2. That this present world considered as before shall one day perish according to that They shall perish but thou shalt endure Psal 102. vers 26. Now that which shall perish shall so far be dissolved but this present world shall perish in respect of its present and pristine condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 3. That this present world is mutable and shall be changed according to that As a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed Psal 102. 26. As mans body shall be changed Job 14. 14. Now that which shall be changed shall be so far dissolved as it shall be changed but this present world shall one day be changed as touching its present and pristine condition form and manner of Being therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 4. That this world is corruptible and under the bondage of corruption as may appear Rom. 8. 21. and that which is corruptible shall one day be dissolved so far as it is corruptible but this present world is corruptible inrespect of its present and pristine condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 5. That this present world is moveable and shall one day be shaken in peeces as it is said Once more I shake not the Earth only but also Heaven Heb. 12. 26. and that which may be shaken shall be dissolved so far as it may be shaken but this present world shall be shaken in respect of its present condition form and manner of Being therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 6. That this present world is subject to vanity Rom. 8. 20. and is of a vanishing nature For the Heavens shall vanish away like smoak Isa 51. 6. Heaven and Earth shall pass away Mat. 5. 18. The fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 31. The world passeth away and the lusts thereof 1 Joh. 2. 17. Now that which shall vanish away shall be dissolved so far as it shall vanish away but this present world shall vanish away in respect of its present condition form and manner of Being therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 7. That this present world waxeth old like a garment Psal 102. 26. Isai 51. 6. and hath been in its latter age for one thousand six hundred years 1 Cor. 10. 11. 1 Joh. 2. 18. Now that which waxeth old like a gaâ—ment shall one day be dissolved in that respect but this present world waxeth old in respect of its present condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 8. That this present world shall one day be
â—â—e Judgments approaching For as in the days â—â—fore the Flood they were eating and drinking â—arrying and giving in marriage until the day â—at Noah entered into the Ark and knew not â—til the Flood came and took them all away So â—â—all also the Coming of the Son of man be Mat. 24. â—â— 39. Indeed this sign is visible in part at this preâ—â—nt and shall be conjunct and simultaneous with â—e second Coming of Christ in the Flesh yet it â—â—all be more visible then now it is immediately beâ—â—â—e this Coming of his to such as shall have eyes to â—â—scern it 4. A great paucity of true Beleevers is mentioned a sign presaging his second Coming in the Flesh â—â—r Christ himself saith When the Son of man comâ—â—h shall he find faith on the earth Luk. 18. 8. â—hich Interrogation of his sounds in mine years as â—he had said Though at my second Appearing there â—â—all be found much dead faith a great profession â—â— faith and many unprofitable kinds of faith yet â—â—at lively faith which justifies a sinner before God â—â—all be found but in a few And though it be true â—â—at this sign shall be also conjunct and simultaneous â—ith the second Coming of Christ yet doubtless â—â— shall be more apparent then now it is immediately â—efore his second Coming to such as shall have eyes â—â— discern it 5. A great alteration in the visible Heavens anâ— Earth which now are is mentioned as a sign prâ—saging his second Coming in the Flesh for it is saiâ— That there shall be signs in the Sun and in thâ— Moon and in the Stars and upon the Earth distresâ— of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the waveâ— roaring Luk. 21. 25. And before that great anâ— terrible Day of the Lord come the Sun shall â—â— darkened and the Moon shall not give her lighâ— and the Stars shall fall from Heaven and the poers of Heaven shall be shaken Mat. 24. 29. Anâ— though some Writers do put an allegorical sence upon these passages yet the litteral sence must and wâ— stand good which is That all these creatures shâ—â— withhold their wonted operation and influence anâ— shall no more be able to give comfort unto men nâ— to shew forth their glory as before but shall ceaâ— from their service and lose their power as a learneâ— Divine writes And though this sign be not yâ—â— M. Dickson in his commentaries on Mat. 24. 29. apparent yet it shall be immediately before the appearing of Christ in the Clouds 6. After these things it is said Then shall appeâ—â— the sign of the Son of man in Heaven Mat. 24. 3â— And here by the sign of the Son of man I do noâ— understand with some Writers the sign of tâ—â— Cross nor with others the glorious Person of Châ—â—â—â— himself coming in the Clouds but by it I undeâ—stand the fire of the great day of the Lord whicâ— shall begin in these visible Heavens and shall shiâ—â— all the world over as the lightening shineth from onâ— end of Heaven unto the other This is the sign the Son of man and the last sign of his which shâ—â— be in Heaven before his personal approach in tâ—â— Clouds Thus the Word of God informeth us â—â— the signs presaging the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh Fourthly It informeth us touching the time of his second Coming in the Flesh and so teacheth 4 Informat us 1. That the very punctual time that is the day and hour of this Coming of his is known only to God himself not to men nor to Angels nor to Christ himself as he is the Son of man For of that day and that hour knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son but the Father Mark 13. 32. And in this sence our Saviour said unto his followers It is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Acts 1. 7. 2. That we should not think the time of this his second Coming to be far off because the Scripture speaks of it as of that which is near at hand Luk. 21. 31. Rom. 13. 12. Phil. 4. 5. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Rev. 22. 10. Jam. 5. 8. wherefore if we will judg according to Scripture we should judg it to be near at hand And seeing the most part of those signs which presage this second Coming of his have been already observed in the world and the rest of them are dayly expected it seems unreasonable to me that any should think it to be far off or yet a thousand years off as some have thought 3. That the day of this his second Coming shall be a long day and longer then any that hath been or shall be before it for it shall be somewhat like that day in Joshua's time when the Sun and the Moon stood still in the midst of Heaven Josh 10. 12 13 14. and it shall be such a day as is described by the Prophet Zechariah in which it shall not be clear nor dark but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord not day nor night but it shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light Zech. 14. 6 7. Yea we may well conceive that it shall be a very long day because of the great transactions that shall be in it for on that day shall be 1. The dissolution of this present world 2. The Creation of the World to come 3. The subduing of all Christs Enemies unto him 4. The Resignation of the Kingdom of Heaven unto God the Father 5. The Appearing of the Son of man 6. The Resurrection of all the dead And 7. The Sentence of the last Judgment So it must needs be a long day that shall be famous for all these transactions And hereunto I add That though the punctual time of his second Coming in the Flesh be known only to God yet some Divines think that the yearly or annual time of the worlds end and his second Coming are not obscurely pointed at in Scripture by those numbers of 1260. Rev. 11. 3. of 1290. Dan. 12. 11. of 666. Rev. 13. 18. of 1335. Dan. 12. 12. For say they If these numbers were rightly Vide Mr J. E. in his Book entitled The deliverance of the whole House of Israel understood they would put us very near upon the worlds end the second Coming of Christ and from these places they infer That the whole raign of the Papal Antichrist from the first to the last shall be 1260 years and his fall or ruine shall be in the year of our Lord 666. and this second Coming of Christ shall be 45â— years after that But I deliver this only as the opinion of some and so leave it to the censure of the godly and to the experience of after times not doubting that some matter of moment will be found in it Fifthly It informeth us touching the place from 5 Informat whence
go before others in all holy conversation and godliness remembering that whatsoever good any man doth that shall he receive of God whether he be bond or free Ephes 6. 8. The third Position here to be proved is That 3 Posit the World to come shall have no Being before this present World shall be dissolved And for proof hereof It should be considered first That the World to come is often mentioned in Scripture as a Consequent not only of this present world but also of the end of it as Mat. 12 32. Luk. 18. 30. Ephes 1. 21. Heb. 2. 5. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Yea I dare say That wheresoever the World to come is mentioned in the Word of God either in so many words or by way of interpretation it is mentioned as a Consequent of the end of this world Now that which shall be a Consequent of the end of this world shall have no Being before this present world shall be dissolved and ended but the World to come shall be a Consequent of the end of this world therefore â—t shall have no Being before this present world shall be dissolved It should be considered again That all things properly belonging to the World to come shall folâ—ow the end of this present world as at the end of â—his world Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father 1 Cor. 15. 24. At the end of this world the Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all â—hings that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire Mat. 13. 40 41 42. At the end of this world the Angels shall â—ome forth and sever the wicked from among the â—ust Mat. 13. 49 c. And if all things properly belonging to the World to come shall follow the â—nd of this world then the World to come it self shall have no Being before this present world shall be dissolved but the former is true therefore the latter And it should be considered thirdly That where there is an orderly succession of collective bodies there the Being of the latter doth pre-suppose the dissolution of the former as the Monarchy of the Medes and Persians had no Being before the Monarchy of the Babylonians was dissolved the Monarchy of the Greeks and Macedonians had no Being before the Monarchy of the Medes and Persians was dissolved the Monarchy of the Romanes had no Being before the Monarchy of the Greeks and Macedonians was dissolved And as the Kingdom of David had no Being before the Kingdom of Saul was dissolved the Kingdom of Solomon had no Being before the Kingdom of David was dissolved and the Kingdom of Rehoboam had no Being before the Kingdom of Solomon was dissolved So the World to come shall be a collective body in an orderly succession * Vid. learned Dickson in his Commentaries on Heb. 12. 26. therefore it shall have no Being before this present world shall be dissolved Which Position thus confirmed makes against those Vse who think that the World to come shall be one thousand years before the end of this present world which is the opinion of Millenaries of these times I do not say it is the opinion of all of them because Mr Mede being one and not the least of them thinks Mr Mede on Rev. 20. 4. that this present world shall be dissolved before the World to come shall have any Being but it is the opinion of many of them who have thus expressed themselves That by the World to come the Scripmeans nothing else but an Universal Reformation-change all this world over either in respect of Conversion as one saith or in respect of Discipline at least as another of them saith and that the said Reformation-change shall be one thousand years before the end of this world therefore the World to come shall be one thousand years before the end of this world But I will tell these men that this opinion of theirs hath four Errors involved or wrapped up in it As 1. It is an Error to think that there shall be an extraordinary or Universal Reformation-change either in respect of Conversion or in respect of Discipline before the end of this world because the constant current of the New Testament is against this conceit and shews clearly That the latter age of this world shall be a very deformed age both in respect of the evil of sin which shall abound therein and also in respect of the evil of pain and trouble that shall follow thereupon as hath been before hinted nay it shews That at the very time of Christs second appearing in the Clouds he shall find the world I mean the people of this world in a posture of security For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entred into the Ark and knew not until the Flood came and took them all away so shall also the Coming of the Son of man be Mat. 24. 38 39. In a posture of unbelief For when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth Luk. 18. 8. He may find some faith on the earth but it is probable he shall then find but little faith as touching his coming and the World to come In a posture of Atheism scoffing and scorning at Religion especially at the promise of his coming and of the end of the world There shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts 2 Pet. 3. 3. Yea he shall then find the people of the world in a posture of War beating their fellow Servants and preparing a great battel against the Church Rev. 20. 9. Wherefore I see no reason why we should look for such a Reformation-change as these men speak of yet I hope there shall be a Reformation-change in many particular persons before the end of this world and its possible there may be a Reformation-change in some particular Countries at least in respect of Discipline but that there shall be such an extraordinary or Universal Reformation before the end of this world far be it from me and from my friends so much as to dream thereof 2. It is an Error in these men to conceive that the end of this present world shall be a thousand years off after their supposed Reformation shall begin or from this time as some of them say it being now begun seeing the signs presaging the end of the world laid down in the New Testament should teach us to think otherwise And for what other use serves this conceit of theirs but to make men secure in their sins and to perswade them that the Lord delays his coming and to say in their hearts Where is the promise of his coming Yea for my part I think That the Son of man will be seen to come in the Clouds of Heaven before such a Reformation-change as they speak of will
be seen to begin or to be established in the earth And whereas they tell us of the Saints living and raigning with Christ a thousand years Rev. 20. 4. as if that place made much for them I would have them know that that place is not to be understood of Saints on earth as if they should live and raign with Christ in their bodies upon this corrupt earth a thousand years by vertue of a Reformation-change in this world but it is to be understood of Saints departed this life now in the third Heaven in respect of their Souls where they were to live and raign with Christ for a thousand years or more from the time when those words were spoken a certain time being there put for an uncertain even until his coming again from thence 3. It is an Error in these men to think that by the World to come the Scripture means a Reformation-change in this world seeing by the World to come we are to understand a new created world properly so called that shall consist of new Heavens and a new Earth properly so called and of new Creatures and occurrences in them as I hope to shew more fully in my next Section Yea the World to come shall be such a world wherein the righteous shall inherit everlasting life Luk. 18. 30. but supposing there should be such a Reformation-change in this world as they dream of yet we cannot therein inherit everlasting life therefore we may not understand by the World to come such a Reformation-change 4. It is an Error in these men to confound the World to come with this present world seeing the Scripture hath plainly distinguished them in many places Mat. 12. 32. Luk. 18. 30. Ephes 1. 21 c. And as the time to come cannot be all one with the time present nor the time present with the time to come so neither can the World to come be all one or at one time with this present world nor this present world all one or at one time with the World to come But leaving this phansie of theirs I proceed And I acknowledg in the fourth place That the 4 Posit World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world that is to say as soon as this present world shall have an end the World to come shall begin as soon as these visible Heavens shall be dissolved there shall be other Heavens in their stead as soon as this visible Earth shall be dissolved there shall be another Earth instead thereof with other creatures in it and so the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world For confirmation whereof though I cannot produce any plain place of Scripture so clear as to convince all gain-sayers yet I can produce some probable grounds such as have satisfied my self as touching the truth of this Position As 1. The Scripture speaks not of any space of time much less of any considerable space of time that shall be betwixt the dissolution of this present world and the Creation of the World to come therefore it is probable that there shall be no considerable space of time betwixt them and consequently that the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world 2. The Scripture speaks of divers things that shall happen in and upon one and the same day viz. the great Day of the Lord. As 1. The dissolution of this present world 2. The Creation of the World to come 3. The subduing of all Christs Enemies 4. The Resignation of the Kingdom to God even the Father 5. The glorious Appearing of Christ 6. The Resurrection of the dead 7. The Sentence of the last Judgment And if all these things shall happen upon one and the same day viz. the great Day of the Lord then it is probable that there shall be no considerable space of time betwixt them and consequently that the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world 3. I have seriously thought upon that of the Apostle Paul Then shall we which live and remain be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the ayr 1 Thes 4. 17. where he intimates as I conceive That the World to come shall be created after the same order in which this present world shall be dissolved And as this present world shall be dissolved first in its upper part viz. the visible Heavens Clouds and Ayr which now are so the World to come shall be created first in its upper part viz. the new Heavens Clouds and Ayr c. and so the Saints which shall be found living upon this corrupt earth when the fire beginneth to seize upon it shall be caught up together with the Saints that shall come with Christ to meet him and them in the new Clouds and Ayr for I cannot imagine that either the Saints which shall come from Heaven or those that shall come from the Earth shall meet in these corrupt Clouds and Ayr which now are and so I may well gather from this place That the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world Which Position thus cleared crosseth a certain Vse opinion of Mr Mede * In his Book on the Revelation for though he grants That the World to come shall not begin before this present world shall be dissolved yet he thinks that the Day of Judgment shall continue for a thousand years and thereupon shall follow the World to come But I would fain know what he means by the Day of Judgment in that place whether the Day of Sentence or the Day of Execution If he mean the Day of Execution he might as well have said the Day of Judgment shall continue for ever for doubtless the Execution of the last Judgment shall continue for ever and ever But if he mean the Day of Sentence I wonder he should say the Day of Judgment shall continue a thousand years seeing no good reason can be given why the Lord should so long deliberate about the Sentence of Judgment Notwithstanding then this opinion of his I am still of the opinion That the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world And if so there is no reason why good Christians should mourn grieve or be discouraged to hear of the dissolution of this present world seeing the World to come shall begin immediately hereupon It is a comfort against the death of these corrupt bodies of ours to hear that we shall have other and better bodies after the death of these so it should be a comfort against the dissolution of this world to hear that there shall be another and a better world after the dissolution of this SECT IV. Shewing The nature of the World to come considered as a Continent ANd that we may rightly understand
Yea the brother shall betray the broâ—her to death the father the son and the children â—hall rise up against their parents and shall cause â—hem to be put to death Mark 13. 12. And hath not â—his sign been already observed in the world Yes â—t sundry times and at this day we find it an hard â—atter to find a faithful friend whom we may safeâ—â— trust mens hearts for the most part are so full of â—uile and deceit of treachery and falshood 7. The trouble of War for our Saviour hath â—urther told us That before his second Coming in the â—lesh we shall hear of Wars and rumors of Wars â—nd Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdom â—gainst Kingdom Mat. 24. 6 7. And surely there â—ath been woful experience of this sign in former â—ges and of latter years amongst our selves and at â—his day we see that the Sword is drawn and doth â—â—ge devour and tyrannize in divers parts of the â—orld yea we know not when it shall be sheathâ—d up again neither is it probable that it shall cease â—nd be quiet before the Roman Antichrist shall be â—estroyed nor yet then in all places because Christ â—t his second Appearing shall find some Nations in â—posture of War Rev. 20. 8 9. 8. The trouble of Famines Pestilences and Earthâ—uakes for our Saviour hath told us That before â—s second Coming there shall be these judgments in divers places Mat. 24. 7. Mark 13. Luk. 21. Now how many of these Pestilences Famines and Earthquakes have been already observed in the world the Chronicles of several Nations may inform us and how many more of such judgments may yet be observed before the end cometh after times may declare 9. The swarming of false Christs false Prophets and false Teachers in the visible Church for our Saviour hath foretold us That before his second Coming in the Flesh many of this generation shaâ—â— arise in the visible Churches and shall swarm anâ— creep into houses like the Locusts of Egypt anâ— shall deceive many Mat. 24. Mark 13. Luk. 21 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. Now the Churches of Christ havâ— many sad stories upon record concerning such Locusts since the Ascention of Christ especially in the Arrian times and since the raign of Antichrist began and the number of such is much increased of late iâ— the Church of England and doth rather increasâ— then decrease in other Countries yea and is likely so to do still towards the end of the world 10. The prevailing of Errors and Heresies in thâ— visible Church by the spirit of delusion for thâ— Scripture testifieth That before the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh God shall send men strong delusions to believe a lye because they received noâ— the love of the truth 2 Thes 2. 10 11. And as somâ— shall bring in damnable Heresies so many shaâ—â— follow their pernicious ways 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. and many shall be deceived by them Mat. 24. Now how long the Churches of Christ have had experience oâ— this sign their Ecclesiastical stories can witness anâ— how such Errors and Heresies have prevailed latelâ— â—â— the Church of England many can witness with â—â—eat regreet and how long this spirit of delusion â—â—all prevail with men before the mouth of all â—ickedness shall be stopt onely GOD himself â—â—ows 11. A great growth of iniquity causing a decay â—â— decrease of love for our Saviour hath shewed â—hat before his second Coming in the Flesh iniquity â—all abound and because it shall abound the love â—â— many shall wax cold Mat. 24. 12. where as it Vide Dickson in his Commentaries on this place â—â—ems to me the abounding of iniquity is to be reâ—â—â—ained to the unregenerate sort whether prophane â—â— formal in whom the practise of iniquity was to â—ound and doth abound in these latter times 2 Tim. â— 2 3 4. and the frigescence or waxing cold of love â—â— to be restrained to the regenerate of the same â—â—mes who perceiving many of their supposed breâ—â—ren to revolt to the practise of iniquity and to reâ—â—rn back with the dog to his vomit shall be jealous â—â—d suspicious one of another and so shall wax cold â—â— love one towards another not knowing whom â—â— trust not as if the habit of love or the truth of â—hristian love should decay in them but they shall â—ot be so servent in the exercise and manifestation of â—â—eir love to each other by reason of the abounding â—f iniquity in others as so merly they were And â—oubtless this sign also hath been already observed â—â— many in the world and is that which may easily â—e perceived in these days by such as have eyes to â—â—scern it For do we not see how shy the godly â—e and how fearful of trusting one another at this â—y And all this because iniquity doth so much â—ound in many professors whom they have lately â—â—â—ken for their beloved brethren Moreover as these before mentioned are suâ—â— signs presaging his second Coming as have been â—â— ready observed in the world So there are othâ—â— signs presaging it which have not yet been nor câ—â— be yet observed in the world because they are noâ— but shall be hereafter As 1. The Ruine of the Roman Antichrist is menâ—â—oned as a sign presaging his second Coming in tâ—â— Flesh for it is said That Christ shall destroy hiâ— with the brightness of his Coming 2 Thes 2. 8. nâ— with his Coming but with the brightness of â—â— Coming and here by the brightness of his Coâ—ing I understand the last temporal Judgment thâ— God shall bring upon the Roman Antichrist whiâ—â— shall be a Judgment of the Sword accompaniâ—â— with hailstones from Heaven Rev. 16. 19 21. Aâ— as this Judgment shall destroy him so it shall be clear and bright evidence of Christs second Approaâ—â— to be near at hand and for this cause may be caâ—â—ed the brightness of his Coming and thougâ— this sign be not yet apparent yet it shall be herâ—after 2. The warlike preparations of Gog and Magoâ— for a battel with the Saints and against the holy Citâ— is mentioned as a sign presaging his second Cominâ— in the Flesh for it is said That Satan being loosâ— out of his prison shall go forth to deceive the Nâ—tions which are in the four quarters of the eartâ— Gog and Magog to gather them together to battel Rev. 20. 8. And though it be true that Christ shaâ— come again and shall with fire from Heaven devouâ— these adversaries before this battel shall be fought yet this warlike preparation of Gog and Magog is to be esteemed as a near and close presage of his seconâ— Coming and albeit this is not yet visible yet it â—â—all be in due season 3. A great security of Nations is mentioned as a â—n presaging the second Coming of Christ in the â—â—esh for we read That Christ at this Coming of â—â— shall find the most part of the world in a secure â—â—sture neither mourning for their sins nor fearing
Truth it self Therefore beware of them Secondly This Doctrine should humble all such as are enemies to Christs spiritual personal Kingdom in this world and will not submit unto it nor suffer him to reign over them by his Word and Spirit Surely such persons without repentance and without a pardon shall suffer for it when Christ shall come into his personal humane Kingdom And so much we may gather from the Prophets commination in Psal 2. For there he tells us of some that did rage and imagine a vain thing and band themselves together not onely against the Lord and against his Christ but also against the Laws of his spiritual Kingdom saying Let us break their bands in sunder and cast away their cords from us Vers 1 2 3. And shews withall how Christ shall deal with such unless they repent in his personal humane Kingdom viz. how he shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in peeces like a Potters vessel Vers 9. Yea our Saviour himself sheweth us how he will punish men in his personal humane Kingdom if they will not submit unto him in his personal spiritual Kingdom when he saith But those mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luk. 19. 27. Be humbled therefore for this offence which is a great offence Thirdly This Doctrine should exhort and perswade all that are called Christians unto sundry duties As 1. To talk and confer much about this Kingdom of Christ that so they may rightly understand the doctrine nature and state hereof for it is said of Gods Saints That they shall speak of the glory of his Kingdom and talk of his power to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his Kingdom Psal 145. 11 12. And we should be like unto such in doing the like 2. To honor Christ as our everlasting King For God would have all men to honour the Son as they honor the Father And seeing he is and shall be our King for ever we can do no less then honor him and we should honor him so as 1. To harken to the Doctrine of his Kingdom Harken O Daughter and consider and incline thine ear Psal 45. 10. 2. To prefer him in our esteem before all the sons of men as the Prophet saith to the Church in reference to this Kingdom of his Forget also thine own people and thy fathers house so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty Psal 45. 10 11. 3. To repent of our sins and offences For the Prophet having spoken of his Kingdom doth thereupon exhort to repentance saying Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be learned ye that are Judges of the Earth Psal 2. 10. As if he had said Be wise to eschew evil and be learned to do good In which two things consisteth the practice of true repentance 4. To worship him with Fear As it is said in relation to Christ He is thy Lord God worship thou him Psal 45. 11. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psal 2. 11. Who shall not fear thee O Lord Rev. 15. 4. 5. To submit to his Government in this life And this is in the Prophets phrase To kiss the Son lest he be angry and we perish Psal 2. 12. 6. To beleeve and trust in him for all good things promised And upon this occasion the Prophet saith Blessed are all they that trust in him Psal 2. 12. 7. To be diligent in our general and particular Callings that we may become profitable servants in them For when Christ shall come into this Kingdom of his he shall plentifully reward his diligent and profitable servants and shall say unto one Be thou Ruler over ten Cities and to another Be thou Ruler over five Cities Luk. 19. 17 19. 8. To be patient in our Tribulations especially in such as we shall suffer for Christs sake For if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him in his Kingdom 2 Tim. 2. 12. 9. To make our Calling and Election sure unto our selves For so an enterance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Cheist 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. Lastly All good Christians should rejoyce and be glad when they hear and read of this Kingdom of Christ Yea we should never think that we have well meditated and throughly considered of this subject until the meditation thereof shall rejoyce our spirirs And for this end and purpose we shall finde in many places of Scripture where this Kingdom is spoken of that we are called upon to rejoyce As Rejoyce with trembling Psal 2. 11. Let the Heavens rejoyce and let the Earth be glad Let the field be joyful before the Lord for he cometh for he cometh to judg the world in righteousness Psal 96. 11 12 13. Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King let them praise his name in the dance let them sing praises unto him with the Timbrel and Harp Psa 149. 2 3. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth let us rejoyce and be glad and give honor to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready Rev. 19. 6 7. SECT IX Touching the different condition of good and evil Angels in the World to come HAving spoken of the Kingdom of Christ in the World to come I shall here in the next place say somewhat of the different condition of good and evil Angels in the World to come Yet I desire not to say much of this subject I had rather leave it to others who have better learn'd the art of amplification And some can better lay a foundation then build thereupon as others can better build then lay the foundation Onely I shall express briâ—fly what I have warrant from the Word of God to beleeve concerning the condition of both sorts of Angels As Concerning good Angels I beleeve 1. That they shall all attend upon Christ at his Coming from Heaven into the World to come For it is aid plainly The Son of man shall come in his glory and aâ—â— the holy Angels with him Matt. 25. 30. And again The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels 2 Thess 1. vers 7. 2. That they shall be serviceable to Christ about the last Judgment For it is said That he shall send his Angels that is his good Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other Matt. 24. 31. And that his Angels viz. his good Angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into a furnace of fire c. Matth. 13. 49 50. 3. That they shall have a constant intercourse or passage between the third Heaven and the World to come as royal Messengers or Embassadors
their Salvation but suggestions of this nature do usually and for the most part come from Satan the father of lyes God perswades all afflicted sinners to beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation But Satan perswades an afflicted sinner to despair of salvatiō with such suggestions as these Thou art a Reprobate Thou art none of Gods Elect none of those for whom Christ dyed thou hast no part in Christ therefore it is in vain for thee to hope for Salvation in the World to come In all which suggestions Satan acts the part of a lyar because he doth not certainly know any of these things to be true of this or that particular person whiles he is yet alive in the body Wherefore an afflicted sinner should not listen to these suggestions of Satan but he should attend to the counsel of Gods Word and labor to beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ effectually as we are all bound to do especially in difficult cases that we may be saved Fourthly It may inform us That Gods Elect should be constantly willing to dye and to leave this world because it is most certain that they shall all be saved in the World to come with a full perfect and everlasting Salvation as hath been proved whereas they cannot expect any such Salvation in this world And amongst other considerations these three especially should make them willing to dye and leave this world viz. 1. Death will put an end to the practice of sin As long as we live here we shall still be in a posture of sinning but after death we shall sin no more And should we not be willing that these days of sin may be finished Yes Then we should be willing to dye 2. Death will put an end to all the afflictions of this life which are caused by sin as wants necessities losses crosses sicknesses diseases vexations and perturbations of what kinde soever And should we not be willing to be delivered from all such afflictions Yes Then we should be willing to dye 3. Death is that which will put Gods Elect into the possession of good things promised as glory honor immortality peace joy tranquillity c. And should we not be willing to be put in the possession of such things Yes Then we should be willing to dye Wherefore let not any of Gods Elect say We could be well contented to abide in this world still it is good for us to be here and to build Tabernacles here For if it be good for them to be here it will be much better for them to be elsewhere either in Heaven or in the World to come and the greater good is more to be desired then the lesser And if our hearts hanker never so much after this world we must leave it of necessity sooner or later But it will be more acceptable and praise-worthy if we shall leave it willingly whensoever the Messengers of death shall be sent unto us Fifthly It should inform us That such as desire to be saved with Gods Elect in the World to come should neither neglect nor contemn the ordinary means of Salvation which God hath prepared and assigned for them whether they be inward as Faith Repentance Hope Love Fear c. or outward as the administration of the Word and Sacraments reading singing prayer thanksgiving in publique or private c. For how shall we escape the judgments of God if we neglect or contemn so great Salvation as God tenders unto us by these ordinary means Hebr. 2. 3. And surely it will be in vam for any to say If I be elected I shall be saved though I neglect or contemn the ordinary means because all such as are elected to be saved in an ordinary way are also elected to the conscionable use of such ordinary means as are or shall be assigned for them in way to Salvation Moreover it should be remembred that we are commanded to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 12. Now to work out our own Salvation is all one as to endevor our own Salvation in and by the use of ordinary means that so we may save our selves as the phrase is Act. 2. 40. And to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling is to endevor it in a reverential way so as to stand in awe of Gods displeasure and of Gods temporal Judgments For as long as we live here we are still in danger of displeasing him by our sins and of suffering for our sins For which cause we should fear both the Offence of God and the Judgments of God and so work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling And surely it is not so easie a matter as some think it to be for he that will be saved in an ordinary way must be contented to do much and to suffer much in obedience to Gods Will before he shall come to inherit the promises For which cause Saint Peter saith That the righteous shall scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4. 18. And Saint Paul saith A man shall be saved yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3. 15. Wherefore we should be careful to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling The next Proposition is That Reprobates shall 2 Proposit be destroyed in the world to come And touching this destruction of theirs we are likewise to understand The Nature of it The Certainty of it The Causes of it The Extent of it The Continuance of it First As touching the Nature of it I affirm That they shall be destroyed in the World to come not in a natural sence so as to be brought to nothing for Reprobates shall have a Being in the world to come to their great grief but they shall be destroyed in a spiritual or mystical sence so as to be brought into a very evil condition and so as to be put to endure all sorts of evils which shall be incidental to the world to come whether they shall be evils of loss or evils of sence Soul evils or bodily evils internal or external evils Yea it shall be evil for them to have any Being it shall be evil for them to see what they shall see to hear what they shall hear to speak what they shall speak and do what they shall do in the World to come So their last day shall be an evil day or a day of evil Prov. 16. 4. and their last end shall be worse then their begining And as in this world so in the world to come evil shall bunt and pursue them to overthrow them Psal 140. 11. Prov. 13. 21. Which evil condition of theirs shall be their destruction their full and final destruction Secondly As concerning the certainty of it I say That Reprobates shall most certainly be destroyed in the world to come As may be proved by these Arguments 1. They whose last end shall be destruction shall be destroyed in the world to come But the last end of Reprobates shall be destruction
illustrated in the Gospel by the separation of goats from sheep Mat. 25. 32. as also by the severing of the bad fish from the good Mat. 13. 49. Now by reason of this everlasting separation of theirs from all Union and Communion with God with Christ and the Saints they shall never have any experience of Gods Goodness Mercy and Love towards them in Christ Neither shall they ever have any experience of the Saints favour and fellowship but shall still abide under the wrath of God And so this everlasting separation of theirs will be unto them an everlasting Death and this Death is called in Scripture the second Death Rev. 20. 6 14. because it shall follow immediately upon the destruction of the first death For the natural death of mankind which is the first death shall be destroyed at the general Resurrection and thereupon shall begin this the second Death It is called everlasting punishment Mat. 25. 46. because it shall be such a punishment to those that shall suffer it And it is called a lake of fire Rev. 20. 14 everlasting fire Mat. 25. 41. everlasting burnings Isai 33. 14. because all that shall suffer it shall be everlastingly tormented with it as it were with fire Thus we may understand the Nature of thiâ— Death Secondly Touching the Certainty of it I affirm That Reprobates shall most certainly suffer this everlasting Death in the World to come As may be made good by these Arguments 1. They who shall not have their names found in the Book of Life shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come Rev. 20. 15. But Reprobates shall not have their names found in the Book of Life Ergo. 2. They that are appointed unto wrath shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come But Reprobates are appointed unto wrath 1 Thes 5. 9. Ergo. 3. They that are vessels of wrath shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come But Reprobates are vessels of wrath Rom. 9. 22. Ergo. 4. They that will never beleeve effectually shall dye in the guilt of their sins and so suffer everlasting Death in the World to come John 8. vers 24. But Reprobates will never beleeve effectually Ergo. 5. They that will never unfeignedly repent and so turn from their evil ways shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come as may appear Ezek. 3. 19. 18. 20. But Reprobates will never unfeignedly repent and so turn from their evil ways Ergo. 6. They that will Apostatize and grow worse and worse shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come as may appear Ezek. 3. 20. 18. 24. But Reprobates will still Apostatize and grow worse and worse 2 Tim. 3. 13. Ergo. 7. They that will still hate wholesom reproof shall suffer eternal Death in the World to come according to that of Solomon He that hateth reproof shall dye Prov. 15. 10. But Rebrobates will still hate reproof while they shall remain here Ergo. 8. They that will still and finally be wicked persons shall suffer eternal Death in the World to come according to that of the Lord O wicked man thou shalt surely dye Ezek. 33. 8. But Reprobates will still and finally be wicked persons Ergo. 9. They that will still despise Gods Ways and Commandments shall be sure to suffer everlasting Death in the World to come as Solomon saith He that despiseth his Ways shall dye Prov. 19. 16. But Reprobates will still thus do while they shall remain in this world Ergo. Thirdly Touching the Causes of it I affirm 1. That the Efficient Cause of this their Death shall be the whole Trinity God Father Son and Holy Ghost For it is said concerning wicked Reprobates That God hath prepared for them the instruments of death Psal 7. 13. And that he will kill their children with death Rev. 2 23. And if the whole Trinity will do this then it is the whole Trinity that shall inflict eternal Death upon Reprobates in the World to come 2. That the Meritorious Cause hereof is and shall be sin for sin only and every sin in its own nature deserves death both temporal and eternal as it is written Death entred by sin Rom. 5. 12. The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. The Soul that sinneth shall dye Ezek. 18. 20. And though it be true that all such as have or shall have their sins pardoned through Christ shall escape eternal Death notwithstanding the desert of their sin yet it is most certain that Reprobates shall suffer this Death in the World to come even for their sin as the Meritorious Cause thereof and then they shall acknowledg that every sin of theirs hath brought this Death upon them 3. That the Final Cause of it shall be the Glory of Gods Justice for he shall punish them with everlasting Death that he may manifest the Glory of his Justice upon them and that all men may see his Righteousness This latter Proposition may inform us as before 1. That it had been good for Reprobates if they Vse had never been born for if they had never been born they could never have suffered everlasting Death But now seeing they have been are or shall be al born this death shall seize upon them 2. That it will be worse with such in the World to come then it can be with them in this world for here they can suffer no other then a temporal death but hereafter they shall suffer eternal death not without cause but for their sins 3. That all men living in the body should take some speedy course for their own safety that they be preserved from eternal death for I know that none of us are willing to suffer this death with Reprobates in the World to come and the Word of God prescribes a way for the avoyding of it And therefore all should take this way or this course for their own safety and preservation Object But what course must we take for to preserve our selves from this eternal death Sol. First We must earnestly pray to have our sins pardoned as our Saviour hath taught us in his Prayer and this pardon of sin will preserve us from eternal death as may appear by that speech of Nathan to David God hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye 2 Sam. 12. as if he had said Though thou mayst and must dye a temporal death yet thou shalt not dye an eternal death because God hath pardoned thy sin Secondly Because this pardon of sin cannot be obtained without a lively faith in Christ we must in the next place labour and pray for this faith and such a faith as this will preserve us from eternal death as may appear by that saying of Christ to Martha Whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me he shall not dye Joh. 11. 26. that is though he dye a temporal death yet he shall not an eternal death because he beleeveth in me Thirdly Because our faith cannot be good without repentance we must also labour for a
7. They that shall partake of glory in the world to come shall be rewarded with glory in that world But Gods Elect shall be partakers of glory in that world 1 Pet. 5. 1. Ergo. 8. They that are or shall be wise in Gods esteem shall inherit glory in the world to come Prov. 3. 35. But Gods elect are or shal be wise in his esteem Erg. 9. They that are or shall be righteous in Gods account shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come according to the burthen of that triumphant song Glory to the righteous Isa 24. 16. But Gods Elect are or shall be all righteous in Gods account Erg. 10. They that have or shall have their faith tryed as by fire shall have glory in the world to come 1 Pet. 1. 7. But Gods Elect have or shall have their faith tryed as with fire Ergo. 11. They that do or shall walk uprightly before God shall have glory in the world to come according to his promise Psal 84. 11. But Gods Elect do or shall thus walk Ergo. 12. They that are or shall be guided by the counsel of Gods Word here shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come according to that of the Prophet Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory Ps 73. 24. But Gods Elect are or shal be guided with Gods counsel here Erg. 13. They that do or shall glorifie God in this life shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come Joh. 13. 32. But Gods Elect do or shall glorifie him in this life Ergo. 3. Next as concerning the degrees of it I acknowledg That there shal be degrees of glory in the world to come according to the degrees of grace and virtue in this world and that those of the Elect which have been or shall be more gracious then others here shall be more glorious hereafter as on the contrary those of them that have been or shall be less gracious here shall be less glorious hereafter so much the Apostle illustrateth by a comparison taken from the natural glory of the Sun the Moon and the Stars There is one glory of the Sun and another glory of the Moon and another glory of the Stars for one Star differeth from another in glory So shall it be in the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 41 42. And if it shall be so in the Resurrection then it shall be so in the World to come amongst Gods Elect And it was shewed before That some of them shall shine as the Firmament some as the Stars and some as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Now for natural glory we know the Sun hath more then the Moon the Moon more then the Stars some Stars more then others And on the contrary the Firmament hath less natural glory then the Stars the Stars less then the Sun So by these places and similitudes we are taught what to think and judg of degrees of glory in the world to come 4. As concerning the causes of it I affirm 1. That the efficient cause of it shall be the whole Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost For the God of glory shall glorifie his Elect in the world to come and the whole Trinity is the God of glory Psa 29. 3. Act. 7. 2. And he shall give glory to the upright Psal 84. 11. 2. That the meritorious cause of it shall be onely Christ our Mediator who is called the hope of glory Col. 1. 27. and the Lord of glory Jam. 2. 1. because in a meritorious way he hath brought and is to bring many sons unto glory Hebr. 2. 10. 3. That the final cause of it is and shal be the glory of Gods mercy He wil glorifie his Elect in the world to come that he may glorifie his mercy upon them as he doth all things chiefly for his own glory Rom. 11. 36. 4. That the instrumental cause of it is and shall be the Word or Gospel of Christ which hath ever been instrumental unto some for the obtaining of glory 2 Thess 4. 14. and is so far instrumental for this purpose as it is accompanyed with the Ministry of Gods Spirit and therefore it is said in another place We are changed from glory to glory by the Spirit of God 2 Cor. 3. 18. 5. As concerning the continuance of it I say That this glory shall continue for ever upon Gods Elect in the world to come and that they shall never cease to be glorious for which cause it is called an eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. and it is often called eternal glory as â— Tim. 2. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 4 10. Now this doctrine touching the glory of Gods Elect Vse in the world to come is usually applied in Scripture by way of Exhortation to which purpose only I shall here also apply it And in this Exhortation I shall speak unto you all as unto Gods Elect For though I am not certain that all of you are of this sort and of this number yet you may be all or many of you of this sort for ought I know to the contrary Neither dare I say of any particular person now living amongst us that this man or this woman is none of Gods Elect. Wherefore supposing in my charity that you may be of this sort I now in this as in all other Exhortations speak unto you as unto such And so exhort you 1. To be patient in all your present tribulations and afflictions because it is most certain that Gods Elect shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come and therefore you should be patient in the mean time Especially considering 1. That the afflictions of this though grievous in themselves it may be are but light in comparison of the glory that shall be revedled hereafter and so not worthy to be compared with it Rom. 8. vers 18. 2. That the afflictions of this life are but short and momentary in comparison of the glory hereafter 3. That the afflictions of this life if patiently suffered in obedience to Gods will shall be recompenced with glory and so shall work for us a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 2. To be plentiful in good works and in doing Gods Will For to him that doth good shall be glory Rom. 2. 10. And look what good any man doth in obedience to Gods Will the same shall he receive whether he be bond or free Eph. 6. 8. Yea the more good we shall do in obedience to Gods Will the more glory shall we receive according to that of the Apostle He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly but he that soweth plentifully shall reap plentifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. 3. To hope for glory in the world to come For it is most certain that Gods Elect shall be rewarded with glory in that world and therefore they should constantly hope for it as Saint Paul and other Beleevers with him did not onely hope for this
who say that Mr. H. A. the time of perfect liberty either is come or is neer at hand to be injoyed in this world when the godly shall neither sin themselves nor feel any more fruits or effects of Gods anger and displeasure for sin but I may say of such as S. Peter saith of Sectaries in the latter times Whilest they promise liberty to others they themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage 2 Pet. 2. 19. So we find by sad experience that these men are in bondage to corruption whilest they promise a state of perfect liberty to others Indeed I acknowledge a spirituall liberty belonging to the adopted children of God in this world That 1. They are at liberty from the rigor of the Law in as much as God doth not expect perfect obedience from them 2. They are at liberty from the curse of the Law in as much as Christ was made a curse for them Gal. 3. 13. 3. They are at liberty from the ceremonies of the Law in as much as they are not bound to observe them for which cause they should stand fast in this liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free that they be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage Gal. 5. 1. And I acknowledge that Christ hath purchased a state of perfect liberty to be injoyed by all Gods Elect in the world to come as hath been proved but that they shall injoy such an estate of perfect liberty from sin and from the wrath of God in this life is utterly denyed by Orthodox Writers For how can they have a perfect liberty from sinne in this wold seeing they are in danger of sinning daily as long as they live here Eccles 7. 20. Jam. 2. 3. 1 Joh. 1. 8. And how can they have a perfect liberty in this life from the wrath of God seeing God is angry and displeased with them for every offence As Moses the servant of the Lord sinned and GOD was angry with him for it Deut. 1. 37. Aaron the Saint of the Lord sinned and God was angry with him for it Deut. 9. 20. The Israelites sinned and Gods anger was kindled against them for it 2 Sam. 24. 1. Solomon sinned and God was angry with him 1 King 11. 9. Wherefore let not any confound this world with that which is to come nor dream of such a state of perfect liberty here as onely belongs to the world to come Secondly it should perswade all good Christians to bear with godly patience their present experience of Gods wrath anger and displeasure for sin seeing there will come a state of perfect liberty for them they should in the mean while possesse their souls with patience especially considering 1. That our present experience of his wrath is no more then what we have deserved we should resolve with the Prophet I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned Micah 7. 9. 2. That our present experience of his wrath is lesse then we have deserved 3. That though God be angry with every sin yet he is slow to execute his anger Psal 103. 8. 4. That though he hath executed his anger upon us yet upon our unfained repentance he will cause it to cease from us again Psal 30. 5. Isa 54. 8. Wherefore we should be patient under his afflicting hand expecting a glorious and perfect liberty from his wrath and the fruits of it Thirdly it should admonish all the same parties not to fear the wrath to come with a distrustfull fear indeed we ought to fear it with a reverentiall feare so as to stand in awe of it as David did My soul trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgments Psa 119. 120. but we should not fear it with a distrustfull fear as if it were impossible for us to escape it because Christ hath purchased God hath promised a perfect liberty from it in the world to come wherefore in this sense a Christian should resolve and say with David Though I walk thorough the valley of the shadow of death I will fear none evill Psal 23. 4. Wherefore should I fear in the daies of evill when the iniquity of my heels shall compasse me about Psa 49. 5. but we should leave this perplexed fear to reprobate hypocrites who are likely sooner or later to be possessed with it according to that of the Prophet The sinners in Zion were afraid fearfulnesse hath surprized the hypocrites who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire who amongst us shall dwel with the everlasting burnings Isai 33. 14. The later Proposition is That reprobates shall 2 Proposition be in bondage under the wrath of God in the world to come as may appeare by these ensuing arguments 1. They that are vessells of wrath shall be in bondage under the wrath of God in the world to come but reprobates are vessells of wrath Rom. 6. 22. Ergo. 2. They that are appointed unto wrath shall be in bondage under the wrath of God in the world to come but reprobates are appointed unto wrath 1 Thes 5. 9. Ergo. 3. They that will still remain the children of wrath shall be in bondage under the wrath of God in the world to come but reprobates being by nature the children of wrath as others are will still remain such Ephes 2. 3. Ergo. 4. They that will still by their impenitency heap up wrath against the day of wrath shall be in bondage under the wrath of God in the world to come but reprobates will still by their impenitency heap up wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2. 5. Ergo. 5. They that shall never receive the spirit of adoption shall still be in bondage under the wrath of God both here and hereafter Rom. 8. 15. for where the spirit of adoption is not there is the spirit of bondage Now reprobates shall never receive the spirit of adoption Ergo. 6. They that will still obey unrighteousnesse in this world shall be in bondage under the wrath of God in the world to come Rom. 2. 8. but reprobates wil still obey unrighteousnesse in this world Ergo. 7. They that shall never please God in the world to come nor be accepted of him in any of their thoughts words or actions shall be in bondage under the wrath of God in that world now reprobates shall never please God in that world as they cannot please him in this Isai 66. 3. Ergo. 8. They that shall ever be afflicted and tormented in the world to come shall be in bondage under the wrath of God in that world now reprobates shall ever be afflicted and tormented in the world to come as we may gather from that of the Prophet The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Psal 9. 17. Ergo. 9. They that shall seek to hide themselves from the wrath of God and of Christ in the world to come
shall 2 Proposit have a poor estate in the World to come which may be thus confirmed 1. They that have no riches purchased for them to be enjoyed in the World to come shall have a poor estate in that world but Reprobates have no riches purchased for them to be enjoyed in the world to come Ergo They shall have a poor estate in that world 2. They that shall have no inheritance with the Saints in the world to come shall have a poor estate in the world now Reprobates shall have no inheritance with the Saints in the world to come as appeareth 1 Cor. 6. 9. Gal. 5. 21. Ephes 5 5. which threats shall be executed only on Reprobates who shall finally be found to be such unrighteous and wicked livers Ergo. 3. They that shall inherit nothing in the World to come but the reward of their folly shall have a poor estate in that world But Reprobates shall inherit nothing in the World to come but the reward of their folly as appeareth Prov. 14. 18. Ergo. 4. They that shall have no portion of wealth but in this world shall have but a poor estate in the World to come Now Reprobates shall have a portion of wealth but in this world as I gather from that of the Prophet where he prayeth to be delivered from the men of the world which have their portion in this life whose belly God filleth with his hid treasure Psal 17. 14. Ergo. 5. They that shall have their wealth perish with them shall have but a poor estate in the World to come Now Reprobates shall have their wealth perish with them as it was said to Simon Magus Thy money perish with thee Acts 8. 20. Ergo. 6. They that shall have their part and portion hereafter in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone shall have a poor estate in the World to come But Reprobates shall have their part and portion hereafter in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Ergo. 7. They that shall be filled with want in the World to come shall have a poor estate in that world But Reprobates shall be filled with want in the world to come Prov. 13. 25. Ergo. 8. They whose portion in the world to come shall be to drink still of the cup of Gods wrath shall have a poor estate in that world But it shall be the portion of Reprobates in the world to come to drink still of the cup of Gods wrath Psal 11. 6. Erg. And this latter Proposition thus confirmed may be Vse useful too As First It may inform us That none should envy the prosperity of wicked men in this world so as to grudg and be grieved at it And that for these Reasons 1. It is no new thing to hear of worldly wealth and riches conferred on the wicked sort in this world For scoffing Ishmael prophane Esau churlish Nabal had a large portion of worldly wealth conferred on them and our Saviour speaks of a foolish man who had such an increase of worldly wealth that he knew not what to do with it Luk. 12. 17. and cursed Dives was so rich in worldly substance that he was clothed in purple and fine linnen and fared sumptuously every day Luk. 16. 19. Yea it is ordinary at this day to find the wicked sort amongst the richer sort of this world And if this be no new thing we have the less cause to grudg and murmur at it 2. It is by the hand of divine Providence that the wicked sort are made rich in this world For the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich he bringeth low and lifteth up 1 Sam. 2. 7. He it is that filleth their bellies with his hid treasure Psal 17. 14. Now the Lord is a free Dispensator and may do with his own as pleaseth him And why should our eye be evil because his is good 3. The worldly wealth of the wicked is sometimes at least a Judgment of God upon them according to that of Solomon There is a sore evil which I have seen under the Sun namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Eccl. 5. 13. And why should we envy the Judgment of God upon them 4. The worldly wealth of the wicked is sometimes at least cursed unto them For God doth curse them in their basket and in their store in the fruit of their land in the increase of their kine and the flocks of their sheep Deut. 28. 17 18. And why should we envy the Curse of God upon them 5. The worldly wealth of the wicked may be of short continuance and be soon taken from them according to that of the Prophet I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay-tree Yet he passed away and lo he was not yea I sought him but he could not be found Psal 37. 35 36. Though they have swallowed down riches yet they shall vomit them up again God shall cast them out of their belly Job 20. 15. Or their riches may perish by evil travel Eccles 5. 14. And why should we envy their short prosperity 6. The worldly wealth of the wicked may fall by inheritance unto the godly and to such as shall make a good use thereof according to that of Solomon The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just Prov. 13. 22. And he that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance he shall gather it for him that will pitty the poor Prov. 28. 8. And if so we have the less cause to grudg at their wealth 7. It is possible that some yea many wicked rich persons may be brought to repentance before their death and so may honour the Lord with their substance as well as others And if so then we shall have more cause to rejoyce then to grieve for that they are or have been so rich in this world 8. But suppose the worst that many or any wicked rich persons shal never be brought to repentance but shall dye out of Gods favour and so be found Reprobates in the world to come what then Surely then wo shall be unto them according to that of our Saviour Wo unto you that are rich for you have received your consolation Luk. 6. 24. Then they shall wish that they had never been rich in this world then they shall be brought into a very poor estate and condition yea then they shall not only be countable to God for their riches according to that in the Parable Give account of thy stewardship but also shall be punished for the abuse of them according to that of S. James Go too now ye rich men weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you Your riches are corrupted and your garments moth-eaten Your gold and silver is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ye have heaped treasure together for the last days Jam. 5. 1 2
shal have perfect rest in the world to come as it is written there remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. and again It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shal be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels Ergo. 2 Thess 1. 7 Which proposition thus proved may be applied first Vse for the confutation of such as are wont to promise themselves and others abundance of holy and happy security in this Life and say that the Saints in the latter times shall have so much rest and tranquillity that none shall be able to make them affraid neither shall they fear any evill present or to come But these are much mistaken for it hath been shewed before that the blessing of perfect security is not to be enjoyed in this world but only in that which is to come And how can we expect such a blessing in this World seeing it is well known that as long as we live here we are stil under a possibility of sinning and under a possibility of suffering for sin and can we be free or safe from the fear of evil as long as we are in such a condition surely no because every known act of sin begets in men the fear of punishment and every punishment for sin begets the fear of another punishment away then with this conceit Againe if Gods Elect shal dwel securely from al fear of evil in the VVorld to come then this may informe us that it is a great favour and mercy of God for any to be of the number of his Elect and no marvel that Saint Paul was thankful to God for the election of some amongst the Ephesians and for the election of some amongst the Thessalonians for he knew this election of theirs to be a great grace and favour of God wherefore they that have a share in this grace can never be sufficiently thankfull for it considering that by vertue of it they shal enjoy many priviledges in the VVorld to come and this of perfect and happy security amongst the rest And that we may be abundantly thankfull for it we must stiâ—l be exhorted to use all diligence that are many make our calling and election sure to our selves â— Pet. 1. 10. for as without this assurance we cannot so by vertue of it we shall be abundantly thankful for this grace Thirdly if we desire to partake of this blessing in the World to come we must endeavour whiles we live here to performe such conditions as have the promise of perfect and happy security annexed to them that is to say 1. We must hearken to Gods Counsell with obedient hearts Pro. 1. 33. 2. We must trust in God with all our hearts Pro. 29. 25. 3. We must approve our selves to be stil his covenant People Heb. 4. 9. And then without doubt we shal dwel securely in the VVorld to come according to Gods Promise The other Proposition is that Reprobates shal 2. Propo. be afraid in the World to come that is They shall be perplexed with the feare of evil in that World they shal stil fear the displeasure of God the displeasure of Christ the displeasure of the Saints with a slavish fear they shal stil fear the Paines Punishments and Torments which are to be suffered by them in that World and that with a perplexed feare And for proof hereof these Arguments may be produced 1. If the perplexed feare of evil be a spirituall punishment belonging unto Reprobates in this VVorld then they shall have much more experience of it in that which is to come Now the perplexed fear of evill is a spirituall punishment belonging unto such in this world as may appeare by these passages The strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places Psal 18. 45. They shall be afraid pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them they shall be in paine as a Woman that travelleth they shall be amazed one at another their faces shall be as flames Isa 13. 8. in that day shall Egypt be like unto Women it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of Hosts which he shaketh over it Esay 19. 16. The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulnesse hath surprised the Hypocrites who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire Esay 33. 14. from all which places we may gather that the perplexed fear of evil is a spirituall punishment belonging unto Reprobates in this world and if so how can they escape the full measure of it in that which is to come seeing spiritual punishments in this life are but the first fruits of a full crop to be received hereafter 2. They that shall be afraid of the last judgement shal be perplexed with the fear of evill in the world to come Now Reprobates shall be afraid of the last judgement for they shall hide themselves in the dens and Rock of the Mountaines and shall say unto the Mountaines and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 15. 16 17. Ergo. 3. They that shall have vexing and accusing consciences in the World to come shall be perplexed with the fear of evill in that World but Reprobates shall have vexing and accusing Consciences in the world to come Rom. 2. 15. Ergo. 4. They that shall suffer Hellish torments in the world to come shall be perplexed with the fear of evil in that world But Reprobates shall suffer hellish torments in the world to come Psa 9. 17. Ergo. And this latter Proposition may be applied thus Vse First It confirms that divine Maxim which hath been often repeated viz. That it had been good for Reprobates if they had never been born For if they had never been born they could never have had any experience of such perplexed fears neither in this world nor in that which is to come But now seeing they have been are or shall be born they cannot avoyd them Secondly It may inform us That it shall be worse with them in the world to come in respect of this fear then it can be with them in this life For though whiles they live here they may tremble fear and be much astonished by reason of Gods Judgments yet hereafter they shall be much more astonished in this respect Thirdly It should admonish all whiles we live here to provide for our own safety that we may dwell securely and may be free from fear of evil in the world to come And for this end 1. We must still pray for the blessing of pardon and reconcilion which blessing if we can obtain before our death we shall be safe from the fear of evil in the next world 2. We must still pray for the blessing of
3. These things considered I see no reason why any should grudg at the prosperity of wicked rich men in this world seeing that the Reprobate sort of them shall have a very poor estate in the world to come But I infer with the Prophet Fret not thy self because of evill doers neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity for they shal soon be cut down like the grasse and wither as the green herb Psal 73. 1 2. Secondly if we wil not be as none desires to be poor with Reprobates in the world to come we must labour to be poor in Spirit and rich in grace while we live in this world for if we be poor in Spirit here in this life we shall not be poor in the world to come as we may gather from that of our Saviour Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 3. And if we be rich in grace that is in knowledg faith repentance love and hope c. we shall not be poor in the World to come as we may gather from that of Saint James Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2. 5. SECT XVIII Touching the Peace of Gods Elect and the Tribulation of Reprobates in the World to come HEre followeth an eighth special Difference which shall be betwixt the parties before named in the World to come which may be thus expressed Gods Elect shall have Peace in the World Reprobates shall have Tribulation to come The former Proposition is That Gods Elect 1 Proposit shall have Peace in the World to come which Peace of theirs is to be considered As touching the Nature of it As touching the Certainty of it As touching the Nature of it I affirm 1. That their Peace in the World to come shall be great Peace According to that promise Great shall be the Peace of thy Children Isai 54. 13. which promise may be performed partly in this world and partly in Heaven but it shall be perfectly performed only in the world to come wherein the peace of Gods Elect shall be great for variety and great for excellency Their peace shall be great for variety because in that world They shall have peace with God God shall be no enemy unto them neither shall he lay any thing to their charge but shall be more fully reconciled unto them in respect of manifestation then now he is They shall have peace with Christ for Christ shall be no Enemy unto them neither shall he lay any thing to their charge in that world but shall own them for his Friends his Spouse his Love his undefiled They shall have peace with their Consciences Their Consciences shall not accuse nor trouble them for any sin for any thing but as they shall have boldness at the day of Judgment arising from peace of Conscience 1 Joh. 4. 18. so this peace shall continue still They shall have peace among themselves that is they shall worship and serve God peaceably together with one minde and with one heart and so there shall be one Lord and his Name one Zech. 14. 9. because the Elect shall worship onely one Lord and that with one kinde of worship and with one heart and one Soul in that world They shall have peace from the Angels for as the good Angels shall have no will so the evil Angels shall have no power to hurt or molest them as we may gather from that Promise The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. vers 20. They shall have peace from wicked men and women for though the Saints shall have power to molest and trouble the wicked yet the wicked shall have no power to molest and trouble the Saints in that world seeing they shall be bound in chains Psal 149. 7. They shall have peace from all other creatures in that world as it is written Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee and thou shalt know that thy Tabernacle shall be in peace Job 5. 23 24. Again it is said The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lion shall eat straw like the Bullock and dust shall be the Serpents meat They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain saith the Lord Isa 65. 25. Which prophetical Promises shall never be perfectly fulfilled in this world but they shall be so fulfilled in that which is to come Such shall be the peace of Gods Elect in that world And as this peace of theirs shall be great for variety so it shall be great for excellency in as much as the excellency of it shall far surpass all that we can now in our mortal condition think or speak of it And if there be any peace of God out of God belonging to any creature which passeth all understanding as it should seem there is Phil. 4. 7. surely this shall be such a peace And who knows not that the peace of this world is more obvious to our present apprehension and understanding then that of the world to come 2. I affirm That this peace of theirs shall be abundant for measure and degree as it is promised They shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace Psal 37. 11. And God shall extend peace to them like a river Isai 66. 12. Which Promises shall perfectly be fulfilled not in this world but in that which is to come 3. I affirm That this peace of theirs shall be perfect without defect as the Prophet assures us when he saith unto God Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee Isa 26. 3. The best peace which can be had in this world may be in some respect defective but in that which is to come the peace of Gods chosen shall be in nothing defective but they shall have so much of it as their hearts can wish or desire to have 4. I affirm That this peace of theirs shall be everlasting without end For which cause it is said That God shall keep them in perfect peace in the former place Isai 26. 3. without any limitation of time to intimate That he shall keep them in this peace for ever And the Covenant of peace which he hath made with his chosen is called an everlasting Covenant Ezek. 37. 26. And if this Covenant be everlasting then surely the peace which they shall enjoy by virtue of this Covenant shall be everlasting too And so we have seen the nature of this peace As touching the Certainty of it I aver it for a most certain truth That Gods Elect shall have peace in the world to come such a peace as hath been described as may be proved by these Arguments 1. They that shall be perfectly reconciled to God in the world to come shall have perfect peace in that