a Power to distribute Rewards and Punishments This some call a Judiciary Power a Power of judging all Nations giving Eternal Live to Believers and Eternal Death to all the world besides The Father judgeth no man but hath cammitted all Judgment to the Son Joh. 5.22 Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divides his Sheep from the Goats Mat. 24. As many Divisions as now there are all will then come under that one Division either Sheep or Goats and will have their Judgment passed by Christ to whom the Father hath given that Power Such a Power over the Nations is here promised to Overcomers Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 6.2 Not Authoritatively and principally not by pronouncing Sentence this is peculiar to Christ but they shall joyn with him in judging them at the Last Day giving their consent unto and applauding his righteous Sentence This seems here chiefly intended for it is such a Power as whereby the Nations are broken as the vessels of a Potter are broken to shivers so the Text expresseth Now earthen Vessels are easily and irrecoverably broken especially by an Iron Rod. Other Scriptures speak the same This honour have all his Saints saies David To execute the Judgment written Psal 149.8 What Judgment and where written Some refer it to Enoch's Prophecy mentioned by St. Jude v. 14 15. Behold the Lord cometh with ten Thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all c. To adjudge the wicked of the Nations to eternal Misery This dominion over the Nations shall the upright have in the Morning of the resurrection Psal 49.14 Quest 3. What is that eminent Glory Christ here promiseth to him that Overcometh Answ I will give him the Morning-star saies Christ A sweet and full promise the sum of it take in the following particulars 1. Some understand it of Christ himself who is stiled The bright and Morning-star Rev. 22.16 Thus he calls himself The sense then is I will communicate my self wholly to him and make him conformable to me in glory Always the proportion of the head and members observed The Morning-star is the most bright and shining of all the stars of Heaven and communicates its light to the world Christ excels all men and Angels as far as the Morning-star all the Stars of Heaven and he communicates all Light of Grace and Glory to the world of Believers He is stiled The Star of Jacob Numb 24.17 this notes his two Natures A Star in its Original is from Heaven which points at his Divine Nature who is the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. yet a Star of Jacob as a man of the Posterity of Jacob so we must conceive him both God and Man And thus considered He is full of Grace and of his fulness do all Believers receive even Grace for Grace The Morning-star dispels the Nights darkness When this Day-star arises fully in our hearts all mists of Ignorance and Errour are dispelled wherein we were wrapped in our night of sin and imperfect condition here 2. It may intimate that Christ will give him that overcomes a glorious Resurrection at the Last-Day The Prophet Daniel hints at this They that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament even as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 There will not be the same measure and degree of this For as one Star differs from another in Glory so it shall be in the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.41 yet all will be adorned with resplendent Lustre and Brightness far exceeding the beauty of the Stars For then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13.43 Those that have here lien among the pots smutched and sullied shall then outshine the Sun in his strength Shine they shall in their Bodies which shall be conformed to the most glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 And in their Souls those Spirits of just men made perfect and in their whole persons as the Spouse of Christ Vxor fulget radiis Mariti she shall shine with the Beams of his Beauty A glimpse of this Glory was seen in Moses's Face in Christ's Transfiguration in Stephen's Countenance But the full manifestation thereof is reserved to the day of the Resurrection 3. It may imply That the Overcomer shall have the next degree of Glory to Christ as the Morning-Star is next the Sun and is called as some think The Son of the Morning Isa .. 14.12 Because it usually appears in the Morning a little before the Sun-rising as if it were by the Morning produced Victorious Souls shall be very near to Christ in Place and Glory When one requested her two Sons might sit the one at Christ's right hand the other at his left in his Kingdom He answers It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of his Father Among others those that have encountred great Troubles and come off Conquerors shall share in this Honour For upon this request of the woman Christ said Are ye able to drink of the Cup I am to drink of and to be baptized with the Baptism I am to be Baptized with Mat. 20.20 c. Implying they must come under a Baptism of Blood and Suffering that would come to this Honour to be so near to me as you desire This honour hath he reserved to give to him that Overcometh All the Saints shall be with him but these so near to him as the Morning-Star to the Sun 4. This Phrase may also intimate that Christ will give the First-fruits of Glory Foretastes of Heaven even whiles in this world to assure of the full enjoyment in another The Morning-star is Anteambulo Solis the Suns Harbinger and Fore-runner of a perfect Day Christ will give such as overcome Prelibations and Pledges of future Happiness assuring them That their path shall be as the Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 This Morning they will not exchange for the brightest Noon-day of worldly Glory which ends in a Midnight of Trouble and Misery but their Morning-Light is in a full Sunshine of Happiness Hence the Saints are said to have received the first-fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 Though in regard of quantity the First-fruits under the Law were but an handful in comparison of the whole yet in their signification they were an evidence to them that they should receive a good crop of the rest So the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit of God Believers have here are not only sweet to their apprehension for the present but also in their reflection as to what is future they are a pledg of the full Harvest Christ is said to be The first-fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 Because his Resurrection was a forerunner of the Resurrection of all his Members so are the first fruits of the Spirit here an assurance of a
he was a poor man Eccl. 9.15 yet an inheritance without wisdom is not good to the owner of it but a temptation fuel of lust pride vanity and so is harmful for want of this wisdom to order and keep it in its right place out of the heart Moreover there is hostility to be used against the world even in our passing through the world lest it cause us to lose our sight of God by interposing between him and us A man may hide the Sun from his eye with his hand A little of the world if we be not careful may be like a cloud which will keep us from the sight of God But to be curnbred with a multiplicity of cares about these things is to set great mountains between him and us to cause an eclipse of his countenance that we cannot behold him The Moon eclipseth the Sun from our sight earthly things hide the gracious sace of God from us if we be not very watchful against them Yet further we are to fight against this enemy as it doth oppose grace and hinder us in our faith hope and charity In our Faith he that sees a fair estate had need pray and say Lord draw the curtain and let me by faith see thee and thy beauty and glory The God of glory Acts 7. or God in his glory appeared unto Abraham and this so darkned the glory of this world that by Faith he left all at the call of God So much as we fix our eye upon the creature so much the less we see of God and so much the more our faith is hindered When Jacob had least of this world he saw most of God and so it is with many So for hope the world often hurts that the soul is ready to say How shall I travel over the fords and deeps of the world how shall I be able to resign up my all This is hard and difficult to sell all to part with all the hope of better things will carry us through it but if we fix here hope is lost so love and charity they are defiled there is spiritual whoredom between the Soul and the Creature by the love of the world Ye adulterers and adulteresses says St. James Jam. 4.4 know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God Some take it for that spiritual adultrey wherein a man gives his love away from God to the Creature where love to the world prevails the best things are slighted and undervalued we ought to hate Father and Mother Brother and Sister Houses and Lands yea and our own Life also for Christ's sake Luke 14.26 when they stand between us and God then away with them had we not need watch and war against the world to subdue it and get the upper hand of it 1 Cor. 6.12 All things are lawful but I will not he brought under the power of any saith St. Paul He would stand upon the liberty and priviledg Christ gave him he would have the upper hand of these things nothing should command his love his fear or his joy and it is sweet walking with God when in this frame of Spirit That man who stands in right terms with the things of the world is content in every condition instructed in all things and can be in want or abound as it pleaseth God to order for him and this we should account better then the greatest estate in the Countrey these will come on faster in all grace that can cast off this weight and will run the race set before them and none shall hinder them this is the generation of Travellers when Jacob went from his Fathers House he had but a staff and a stone a staff to walk with in the day and a stone to rest his head upon in the night yet he returned two bands and glorious visions of God were given him Gen. 31. Gen. 32. though he met with hardship yet these made him pluck up his feet and go on chearfully This will put resolution into the heart of a Christian Acts 20.23 24. None of these things move me saith St. Paul neither do I count my life dear so I may finish my course with joy This is that which is implied That we have Enemies to war and combate with and we hear what they are 2. That which is expressed is that Overcomers all that get Victory of these Enemies shall eat of the Tree of Life in God's Paradise Some Questions follow for a brief explication of this proposition Quest Who may be said to be Overcomers Answ This Apostle doth best of all resolve the Question which he first propounds and then answers 1 Jo. 5.5 Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God Though the world is only named yet all the Enemies are included for he that gets victory over one overcomes them all some will say who doth not believe this that Jesus is the Son of God There will soon be an end of the war if this be all the Victory will be easy let such know that though there be no great difficulty in giving our assent to this proposition yet the Deity of Christ hath been denied and opposed by none of the meanest for learning not onely by the Pharisees whilst he himself lived but in the times when this Apostle wrote his Epistle and afterwards by the Arrians and Socinians of late How few imbrace it with a Divine Faith which is the only Faith that overcomes in the day of tryal Some take this up upon reasons of antiquity Authority and Consent of the Church in which they live but this Faith will not give us Victory if great trials arise upon this Fundamental Article in the Creed when the Apostle wrote this it was the critical point the Shibboleth as I may say by which one was distinguished from another the discriminating Doctrine the word of Christ's patience Persecution rose so high upon the defenders of this great truth as their Liberties and Lives were in danger to be taken from them for maintaining it at such a day not to be afraid to confess Christ to be the Eternal Son of God gave a comfortable ground to conclude them true Believers such Faith might charitably be judged right by which they thus overcame the world 'T is an easy thing when a Protestant Prince reigns to declare we believe that Transubstantiation is an error contrary to Scripture reason and our very senses but if Popery should come in like a flood and be the prevailing Interest and condemn them to be burnt for Hereticks who deny it as was the case of the Martyrs in the Marian days then to be stedfast even to the death in this perswasion would be a very hopeful evidence of the truth of our belief and of our Victory over the World So in the case this Text mentions O how few would find Faith and Patience to help them to seal to this That Christ is the Son of
Father in his Throne The Text is express for it This is variously expressed in the Scripture He is sometimes said to sit at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb. 8.1 Sometimes to sit on the right hand of God Mark 16. All amounts to the same purpose Four things are implied in it 1. It notes Dignity Superiors sit when Inferiors stand The ancient of days is said to sit Dan. 7.9 And God is described sitting upon a Throne Rev. 7.15 Thus Christ sate down in his Fathers Throne that is he was advanced to great honour The Angels never arrived to such honour To which of all the Angels did God ever say sit thou on my right hand Heb. 1.13 The very interrogation implies a negation he never spake thus to any of them It was great honour Solomon did his Mother to cause her to sit down at his right hand 1 Kings 2.19 But Christ is raised to greater Dignity for the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till thine Enemies be made thy foot-stool Ps 110.1 To such a height of honour is he advanced that God hath charged all the Angels to worship him Heb. 1.6 At first made lower than the Angels now above them 2. It imports Authority Thou satest in the Throne judging right says the Psalmist Psal 9.4 Thus God hath highly exalted Christ to be the judge of all the world A throne he shall have in the Clouds and he that once came to be judged shall come the second time to judge The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father John 5.22 23. And to shew his Authority 't is said to him every knee shall bow Phil. 2. All things in Heaven in Earth and under the Earth that is Angels Men and Devils are subject to the Name and Authority of the Lord Jesus And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2.8 9 10. The Devils and wicked men shall at last be forced to acknowledg the Authority of Christ and to say as Julian the Apostate did Vicisti Galilee O Galilean thou hast overcome me and all Saints and holy Angels shall with one consent acknowledg and own him as the Lord and as their Lord And all this to the glory of God the Father which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though it signifies the great end of Christ's exaltation viz. the glory of God yet some understand by it that Jesus Christ is exalted to the same Authority and Glory with the Father in Heaven being now set down with him in his Throne at his right hand 3. It implies a settled continuance of Christ in this Honour and Authority 'T is said that Josephs Bow abode or as some read sate in strength Gen. 49.24 As standing is a posture that shews a man ready to go this way or that way so a sedentary gesture notes continuance or abiding Though man being in honour continued not Psal 49. ult Adam being in honour lodged not whence some conjecture Adam fell in the very day he was created And though our days on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding 1 Chron. 29.15 Yet the second Adam abides and continues in the Fathers Throne for ever 4. It signifies Christ's resting from all his Travels Labours Services and Sufferings As after much Labour a man sits down and resteth himself even so Christ having finished the work his Father gave him to do a cessation from all troublesome Labours followed and he shall know them no more After Gods works of Creation were finished he rested on the seventh day Gen. 2.2 Thus also when Christ had accomplished the works put into his hand He entred into rest and ceased from his own works as God did from his Heb. 4.10 Some carry these words of Believers they are ceased from sins who are entred into heavenly rest others that Believers are ceased from all sufferings and sorrows being once in glory All this is true yet some take it for Christ his Rest from all his labours and troubles Though here he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief yet being exalted to sit with his Father in his Throne is ceased from these for ever Bran. 3. Overcomers shall sit down with Christ on his Throne so saith the Text An allusion say some to the practice of those Eastern Kings whose Thrones were made large and capacious after the manner of a Couch so that besides the Kings place others whom the King would honour might sit down with him in the same Throne what this Throne of Christ is there are various conjectures The Kingdom of Grace say some we are made Kings and Priests and reign on the Earth Rev. 5.10 That is have Dominion over Sin Satan and the World But this is Christ sitting on the Throne of our Consciences rather than our sitting with Christ in his Throne say others who therefore will have it meant of his Throne in Heaven But there Christ hath no Kingdom distinct from the Father for having once ended that great transaction of the last judgment he shall deliver up the Kingdom to his Father and God shall be all in all Cor. 15.24.28 Not that then Christ shall lay aside his humane nature as some have thought but that his present mediatory Kingdom shall give place to the essential Kingdom of the God-head God shall he all in all not personally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but essentially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divine being the Father Son and Spirit shall be all in all that is communicate himself to the glorified Church without the intervention of Ordinances and Creatures and also without the proper and immediate exercise of the Office of the Mediator For when the difference between God and the Creature is compleatly made up what formal need will there be of a Mediator For we cannot make a Mediator of one nor of those that are made one It is an Apostolical maxim A Mediator is not of one Gal. 3.20 But if any say how then is the Kingdom of Christ everlasting I answer this doth not at all hinder it for he hath victory over all the Kingdoms of the world all the four Monarchies being fully conquered by him Dan. 7. and the Gospel of his Kingdom is vertually everlasting Rev. 14.6 And Believers by vertue of it shall possess everlasting glory neither shall this resignation of the Kingdom be any diminution to his glory for the song in Heaven will be Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing c. Rev 5.11 12. Others understand this Text of a Temporal and Visible Throne and Kingdom to be erected in this World before the last Judgment If these words saith an excellent Divine Do not intimate a reigning time for Christ's Church on earth I do