Nay further we do not onely see what operation the Spirit will have in our Body by the carriage of Christ after his Resurrection but even by many a Saint before their Death The Spirit used to catch Elijah away no man could tell whether It carryed Ezekiel hither and thither It carryed Christ from the Top of the Pinacle of the Temple into Galilee through it he walked on the Sea the Spirit caught away Philip from the Eunuch and carryed him as far as Azotus 1 King 17. 11 12. 2 King 2. 11. Ezek 3. 14. Luke 4. 14. Matth. 14. 25. Act. 8. 39. 40. Thus the great God hath given us a Tast of the power and glory that is in himself and how easily it will help us by its possessing of us at the Resurrection to act and do like Angels as Christ sâ—ith They that shall be counted worthy of that World and of the Resurrection from the Dead they shall not die but be equal to the Angels Luk. 23. 36. Further as the Body by being thus spiritualized shall be as I have said so again it must needs be that hereby all the Service of the Body and Faculties of the Soul must be infinitely inlarged also Now we shall see him as he is and now we shall know even as we are known 1 Joh. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 13. 12. First now we shall see him to wit Christ in his Glory Not by Revelation onely as we do now but then Face to Face and he will have us with him to this very end Joh. 17. 24. Though John was in the Spirit when he had the Vision of Christ Rev. 1. 17. yet it made him fall at his Feet as dead and also turned Daniel's Beauty into Corruption Dan. 10. 8. It was so glorious and so over-weighing a Glory that he appeared in but we shall at the Day of our Resurrection be so furnished that we shall with the Eagle be able to look upon the Sun in his strength We shall then I say see Him as he is who now is in the Light that no Eye hath seen nor any man can see till that Day 1 Tim. 6. 16. Now we shall see into all Things There shall not be any thing hid from us there shall not be a Saint a Prophet or saved Soul small or great but we shall then perfectly know them Also all the Works of Creation Election and Redemption and shall see and know as throughly all the Things of Heaven and Earth and Hell even as perfectly as now we know our A B C. For the Spirit with which we shall in every Crany of Soul and Body be filled I say that searcheâ—h all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. We see that strange Things have been known by the Prophets and Saints of God and that when they knew but in part Abraham could by it tell to a day how long his Seed should be under Persecution in Egypt Gen. 15. 13. Elisha by it could tell what was done in the King of Assyria's Bed-Chamber 2 King 6. 12. Ahijah could know by this Jeroboam's Wife so soon yea before her Feet entred within his Door though he saw her not 1 King 14. 1 2 3 4 5. The Prophet of Judah could tell by this what God would do to Bethel for the Idolatry there committed and could also point out the man by name that should do the Execution long before he was born 1 Kin. 13. 2. What shall I say Enoch by it could tell what should be done at the end of the World Jud. 14 15. How did the Prophets to a circumstance prophecie of Christ's Birth his Death his Burial of their giving him Call and Vinegar Of their parting his Raiment and piercing his Hands and Feet Isa. 53. Of his riding on an Ass Also all this they saw when they spake of him Joh. 12. 41. Peter also though half asleep could at the very first word call Moses and Elias by their Names when they appeared to Christ in the Holy Mount Luk. 9. 33. He is very ignorant of the operation of the Spirit of God that scrupleth these Things But now I say if these Things have been done seen and known by Spiritual men while their knowledge hath been but in part how shall we know see and discern when that which is perfect is come Which will be at the Resurrection It is raised a Spiritual Body Thus in few words have I shewed you the truth of the Resurrection of the Just and also the manner of their Rising Had I judged it convenient I might have much inlarged on each particular and have added many more For the Doctrine of the Resurrection however question'd by Hereticks and Erroneous Persons yet is such a Truth that almost all the Holy Scriptures of God point at and center in it God hath from the beginning of the World shewed to us that our Body must be with him as well as our Soul in the Kingdom of Heaven I say he hath shew'd first he hath shewed us how he will deal with those that are alive at Christs coming by his translating of Enoch Gen. 5. 24. Heb. 1. 5. and taking him Body and Soul to himself As also by his catching of Elias 1 King 2. 10 11. up Body and Soul into Heaven in a Fiery Chariot Secondly He hath often put us in remembrance of the Rising of those that are Dead at that Day First By the Faith he gave Abraham concerning the Offering of his Son For when he offered him he accounted that God was able to raise him up even from the Dead From whence also he received him in a Figure In a Figure of the Resurrection of Christ for Abraham's Justification and of Abraham's Resurrection by Christ at the last Day for his Glorification Heb. 11. 19. Secondly By the Faith he gave Joseph consuming his Bones which Charge the Godly in Egypt did diligently observe and to that end did keep them four hundred years and at length carryed them I say from Egypt to Canaan Heb. 11. 22. which was a Tipe of our being carryed in our Body from this World to Heaven Besides How oft did God give power to his Prophets Servants and Christ Jesus to raise some that was now dead and some that had been long so and all no doubt to put the present Generations as also the Generations yet unborn in mind of the Resurrection of the Dead To this end I say how was the Shunamites Son raised from the dead 2 King 4. The man also at the touching of the bones of Elisha 2 King 13. 20 21. Together with the body of Lazarus with Jairus Daughter and Tabitha and many others Luke 8. 53 54 55. Joh. 11. 43 44 45. Acts 9. 40 41. who after their Soul was departed from them Lazarus lying in his grave four dayes were all raised to life again and lived with that very Body out of which the Soul at their death had departed But above all that notable place in
good or whether it be bad But now because I would prove by the words whatever I would have others receive for a truth therefore I shall in few particulars prove the Resurrection of the wicked First then it is evident that the wicked shall rise from the very termes and names that the raised shall then go under which is the very same names that they did go under when they lived in this World They are called the Heathen the Nations the World the wicked and those that do iniquity they are called Men Women Sodom Sidon Bethsaida Capernaum and Tire The Men of Ninive shall rise up in Judgment the Queen of the South shall rise up in the Judgment and it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of Judgment then for other sinners that have resisted more light The Heavens and the Earth that now are are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of Judgement and perdition of ungodly men 2 Pet. 3. 7. Mat. 12. 41 42. Mat. 11. 21 22 23 24. Luk. 10. 12 13 14. Joel 3. 12 13 14. Mat. 25. 32. Jud. 14. 15. Now these Termes or Names are not given to the spirits of the wicked onely but to them as consisting of Body and Soul Further Christ tells his adversaries when they had apprehended him and shamefully intreated him that yet they should see him sit on the right hand of power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven as John also doth testifie saying Behold he cometh with Clouds and every Eye shall see him and they also that pierced him and all the kinreds of the Earth shall wail because of him Mat. 26. 64. Revel 1. 7. Now none of these sayings are yet fulfilled neither shall they untill his second coming for though the Jews did many of them see him when he did hang upon the Cross yet then he was not coming in the Clouds of Heaven neither did then all kinreds of the Earth wail because of him No this is reserved till he comes to judge the World for then shall the ungodly be so put to it that gladly they would creep into the most invincible Rock or Mountain under Heaven to hide themselves from his Face and the Majesty of his Heavenly presence Rev. 6. 14 15 16 17. There shall therefore that this may be brought to passe be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust For though an opinion of no Resurrection may now lull men asleep in security and impiety yet the Lord when he comes will rouse them and cause them to awake not onely out of their security but out of their Graves to their doom that they may receive for their errour the recompence that is meet Secondly The Body of the ungodly must at the last arise out of the Grave because that Body and their Soul while they lived in the World were Co-partners in their lusts and wickedness God is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed 1 Sam. 2 3. Eccles. 12. 14. He will therefore bring every work into Judgement with every secret thing And as he will bring into Judgement every work so will he also the worker thereof Revel 20. 12 13 14. even the Dead small and great It is not in God to lay the punishment where the fault is not neither to punish a part of the damned for the whole With righteousness shall be judge the World and the People with Equity shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right Psal. 98. 9. Gen. 18. 25. As therefore the Body was Copartner with the Soul in sinning so shall every man receive the things done in his Body according to what he hath done Wherefore he saith in another place Behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be Rev. 22. 12. There shall therefore be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust 3. The body of the wicked must rise again because as the whole man of the just also that is the Vessel of mercy glory so the whole man of the unjust is the Vessel of wrath and destruction There are saith Paul in a great House not onely Vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth and some to Honour and some to dishonour Now as he sheweth us these Vessels to honour they are good men and the vessels to dishonour are the bad 2 Tim. 2. 20 21. Now as these vessels to dishonour are called the vessels of wrath so it is said that God with much long suffering doth suffer them to be fitted to destruction Rom. 9. 22. how they are thus fitted he also further sheweth where he saith They do after their hardness and impenitent heart treasure up wrath against the day of wrath and the Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God Rom. 2. 5. Which treasures of wickedness James saith it is treasured up against the last dayes which is the time of Judgement and observe it He saith that then it shall eat their flesh as it were fire Jam. 5. 12. 3. Now then their Bodies being the vessels of the wrath of God and again seeing with this wrath they must be possessed at the last day that their flesh must with it be eaten it is evident that their body must rise again out of their Graves and before the Judgement Seat appear for it is from thence that each of them must go with his full load to their long and eternal home where their Worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched Mark 9. 47 48. Fourthly The severity of the hand of God towards his Children with his forbearance of his enemies doth clearly bespeak a Resurrection of the ungodly that they may receive the reward for their wickedness which they have committed in this World We know that while the eyes of the wicked start out with fatness the godly are plagued all the day long and chastned every morning Psal. 73. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. Wherefore it is evident that the place and time of the punishment of the ungodly it is another World If Judgement begin at the House of God what will the end of them be that obey not the Gospel of God and if the Righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear 1 Pet. 4. 17 18. Alas poor Creatures they now plot against the Righteous and gnash upon them with their teeth but the Lord laugheth at them for he seeth their day is coming for as he saith the wicked is reserved or let alone in his wickedness to the day of destruction and shall then be brought forth to the day of wrath Psal. 37. 12 13. though in the mean time he may go to his Grave in his banner and rest within his Tomb. As Peter saith again Job 21. 29 30 31 32. the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation but to reserve the unjust to the day of Judgement
because Christ is risen from the dead Christ is the head of the Just and they are the members of his Body and because of this union therefore the Just must arise This is the Apostles own Argument If Christ saith he be preached that he rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no Resurrection of the dead but if there be no Resurrection of the dead then is not Christ risen 1 Cor. 15. 12 13. Now I say the Reason why the Apostle thus argueth the Resurrection from the dead by the Resurrection of Christ. It is because the Saints of whose Resurrection he here chiefly discourseth are in their Bodies as well as in their Soul the members of Christ know you not saith he that your Bodies are the members of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 15. A very weighty Argument for if a good man be a member of Christ then he must either be raised out of his Grave or else sin and death must have power over a member of Christ. I say again if if this Body be not raised then also Christ is not a compleat Conquerour over his enemies for as much as death and the Grave hath still power over his members The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death Now though Christ in his own person hath a compleat Conquest over Death c. yet Death hath still power over the Bodies of all that are in their Graves now I say Christ being considered with relation to his members then he hath not yet a compleat Conquest over death neither will he until they every one be brought forth of their Graves for then and not till then shall that saying be every way fulfilled Death is swallowed up of Victory 1 Cor. 15. 26. and 53 54. Secondly As there must be a Resurrection of the Just because Christ is their Head and they his members so also because the Body of the Saints as well as their Soul is the purchase of Christs blood Ye are bought with a price saith Paul wherefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit which are Gods 1 Cor. 6. 20. Christ will not lose the purchase of his blood O Death saith Christ I will have them O Grave I will make thee let them go I will ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from death I have bought them and they shall be mine O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy destruction Hos. 13 14. Job 18. 13 14. Revel 1. 18. I say though the power of the Grave be invincible and death be the King of terrours yet he who hath the Keys of Hell and of Death at his Girdle to him belongeth the issues from death He that is our God is the God of Salvation and to God the Lord belongeth the issues from death Psal. 68. 20. and we the price of his blood shall be delivered Thirdly As the Body is the member of Christ and the price of his blood so it is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in us What know you not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you and you are not your own The Body is no such rediculous thing in the account of Christ as it was in the account of the Saduces The Body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the Body and that no onely in this World but that which is to come wherefore he saith God hath both raised up the Lord Jesus and will raise us up also by his power 1 Cor. 6. 13 14. 19. that is as he hath raised up the Body of Christ so will he raise up ours also by Christ. Fourthly The Bodies of the Just must arise again because of that Similitude that must be betwixt the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bodies of the Saints When he shall appear we shall be like him 1 John 3. 2. Now we have it abundantly manifest in Scripture that the Body of the Lord Jesus was raised out of the Grave caught up into Heaven and that it ever remaineth in the holiest of all a glorified Body Luk 24. 3 4 5 6 7 8. 35. 36 37 38 39 40 41 42. John 20. 24 25 26 27. Acts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Acts 2. 31. Acts 17. 30 31 32. Mar. 16. 6 7 19. Heb. 7. 24 25 26. eb 8. 2 3. Heb. 10. 12. Now I say it would be very strange to me if Christ should be raised ascended and glorified in that Body and yet that his People should be with him no otherwise then in their Spirits especially seeing that he in his Resurrection is said to be but the first begotten from the dead and the first fruits of them that sleep Col. 1. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 23. for we know that a first begotten doth imply more Sons and that first-fruits do foreshew an after Crop wherefore we conclude that as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order Christ the first fruits and afterwards them that are his at â—is coming 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. And hence it is that the Scripture saith He shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious Body And hence it is again that the day of Christ is said to be the day of the manifestation of the Sons of God and of the redemption of our body for then shall the Saints of God not onely be but appear as their Saviour being delivered from their Graves as he is from his and glorified in their Bodies as he is in his Phil. 3. 20 21. Rom. 8. 21 22 23. Fifthly There must be a Resurrection of the Body of the Saints because the Body as well as the mind hath been a deep sharer in the afflictions that we meet with for the Gospel sake Yea the body is oft-times the greater sufferer in all the Calamities that for Christs sake we here undergo it is the body that feels the stocks the whip hunger and cold the fire and rack and a thousand calamities it is the body in which we have the dying marks of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus also might be made manifest in our mortall slesh Gal. 6. 17. 2 Cor. 4. 9 10 11 12 13 14. God is so just a God and so merciful to his People that though the bodies of his Saints should through the malice of the enemy be never so dishonourably tortured killed and sown in the Grave yet he will as further will be shewed anon raise it again in incorruption glory and honour as he saith also in another place that we who have continued with Christ in his temptations that have for his sake underwent the reproach and malice of the World to you saith Christ I appoint a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me Luk. 22. 28 29. If we suffer with him we shall reign with him he that hateth his life
in this World shall keep it to life eternall 2 Tim. 2. 12. John 12. 29. all this is to be injoyed especially at the Resurrection of the Just. But sixthly There must be a Resurrection of the Just otherwise there will be the greatest disappointment on all sides that ever was since man had a being on the Earth A disappointment I say First Of the Will of God for this is the will of the Father that sent me saith Christ that of all that he hath given me I should lose nothing not a dust but should raise it up again at the last day John 6. 39. Secondly A disappointment of the Power of God for he that hath raised up the Lord Jesus doth also intend to raise us up by his Power even our Bodies as Paul saith the body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the body and God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his Power 1 Cor. 6. 13 14. Thirdly If there should be no Resurrection of the Just Christ also would be wonderfully disappointed of the fruits of all his sufferings As I told you before his People are the price of his Blood and the members of his Body and he is now at the right hand of God far above all Principalities and Powers and every name that is named expecting till his enemies be made his Footstool and brought under Heb. 1. 13. the foot of the weakest Saint which will not be untill the last enemy Death is destroyed We know that he said when he went away that he would come again and fetch all his People to himself even up into Heaven that where he is there we may be also Joh. 12. 26. Joh. 14. 1 2 3. Joh. 17. 24. But I say how will he be disappointed if when he comes the Grave and Death should prevent and hinder him and with its bars keep down those whom he hath ransomed with his blood from the power thereof Fourthly If the Bodies of the Just arise from the dead then they also will be disappointed 'T is true the Saints departed have far more fellowship and Communion with God and the Lord Jesus then we have or are not yet capable of having Luke 23. 43. They being in Paradise and we in this World but yet I say for all that they are though there very much longing for the day of the Lords vengeance which will be the day in which they will and must arise from the dead This I say is the time that they long for when they cry under the Altar How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth When they died they Heb. 11. 35. died in hope to obtain a better Resurrection and now they are gone they long till that day be come Rev. 6. 10 11. Till the day come I say when the dead even all the enemies of Christ shall be judged for then will he give reward to his Servants the Prophets and to his Saints and to 〈◊〉 that fear his name small and great Revel 11. 1. 8. Fifthly If the Just arise not great disappointment also will be to the Saints yet alive in this World for notwithstanding they have already received the first-fruits of the Spirit yet the wait not onely for more of that but also for the Resurrection Redemption and changing of this vile body Rom. 8. 20 21 22 23. Phil. 3. 20 21. For our Conversation is in Heaven saith Paul from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body But now I say if the body riseth not then how can it be made like to the glorious Body of Christ Jesus yea what a sad disappointment infatuation and delusion are those poor Creatures under that look and that by Scripture warrant for such a thing They look for good but behold evill they expect to be delivered in their whole man from every enemy but lo both death and the Grave their great enemies do swallow them up for ever But Beloved be not deceived Psal. 9. 10. Tâ—e needy shall not always be forgotten the expectâ—tion of the poor shall not perish for ever saith Christ he that seeth the Son and believeth on him that sent him hath everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day John 6. 40. Sixthly If the Just arise not out of their Graves then also is every Grace of God in our Souls defeated for though the spirit of devotion can put forth a feigned shew of holiness with the denyal of the Resurrection yet every Grace of God in the Elect doth prompt them forward to live as becomes the Gospel by pointing at this day as First 'T is this that faith looks at according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we believed and therefore speak knowing that he that hath raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus and shall present us with you 2 Cor. 4 13 14. Secondly Hope looks at this We saith Pâ—ul which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adâ—ption to wit the redemption of our Body that is we expect this by hope but hope which is seen is not hope for what a man seeth or hath in present possession why doth he yet hope for it Rom. 8. 23 24 25. Thirdly The Grace of self-denyal also woâ—keth by this Doctrine If after the manner of men I have fought with Beasts at Ephesus what advantageth it me if the Dead rise not As who should say wherefore do I deny my self of those mercies and priviledges that the men of this World injoy why do not I also as well as they shun persecution for the Cross of Christ If the dead rise not what shall I be the better for all my trouble that here I met with for the Gospel of Christ 1 Cor. 15. 32. Fourthly Both Zeal and patience with all other the Graces of the Spirit of God in our hearts are much yea chiefly incouraged animated and supported by this Doctrine as James saith Be patient therefore my Brethren unto the coming of the Lord for then shall the dead be raised 1 Thes. 4. 16 17. Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the Earth and hath long patience till he receive both the early and latter Rayn be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draws nigh Jam. 5. 7 8. Seventhly The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Just must needs be a certain truth of God if we consider the devilish and satanical errours and absurdities that must unavoidably follow the denyal thereof as First He that holdeth no Resurrection of our Body he denyeth the Resurrection of the Body of Christ this is the Spirits own Doctrine For if the Dead rise not then is not Christ risen
1 Cor. 15 16. He that denyeth the Resurrection of the members denyeth the Resurrection of the Head for seeing the Resurrection of the Saints is proved by the Resurrection of Christ he that doth deny the Resurrection of the Saints must needs deny the Resurrection of Christ that proves it Now this errour as it is in it self destructive to all Christian Religion so it like an Adder carrieth within its bowels many other alike devilish and filthy as 1. He that denyeth the Resurrection of the Saints he concludeth that to preach deliverance from sin and death it is vain preaching for how can he be freed of sin that is swallowed up for ever of Death the Grave as he most certainly is that is always contained therin as Paul saith if Christ be not risen whose Resurrection is the ground of ours then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain then we preach fables and you receive them for truth 1 Cor. 15. 14. 2. This errour casteth the Lie in the face of God of Christ and the Scriptures ye and we also saith Paul are found false Witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised Christ up if so be that the dead rise not 1 Cor. 15. 15. Mark before he said Christ in his Resurrection doth prove our Resurrection but now he saith that our Resurrection will prove the truth of his and indeed both are true for as by Christs rising ours is affirmed so by ours his is demonstrated oâ— 3. The denyal of the Resurrection it also damneth all those that have departed this World in the faith of this Doctrine If Christ be not raised as if he is not we rise not then is not onely your faith vain and ye are yet in your sins that are alive but then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 1 Cor. 15. 17 18. 4 He that denyeth the Resurrection of the Just he concludeth that the Christian is of all men the most miserable Mark the words If in this life onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men the most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. First of all men the most miserable because we let go present injoyments of those that will never come if the deaâ— rise not of all men most miserable because our faith our hope our joy and peace are all but a lie if the dead rise not But you will say he that giveth up himself to God shall have comfort in this life Ah but if the dead rise not all our comfort that now we think we have from God will then be found presumption and madness because we believe that God hath so loved us as to have us in his day in Body and Soul to Heaven which will be nothing so if the dead rise not If in this 〈◊〉 onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable Poor Christian thou that lookest for the blessed hope of the Resurrection of the Body at the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ how wilt thou be deceived if the Dead rise not but now is Christ risen and become he first fruits of them that sleep for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 20 21. 5. But again he that 〈◊〉 the Resurrection of the dead he setteth open a â—â—â—udgate to all manner of impiety he cutteth â—he throat of a truly holy life and layeth the Reins upon the neck of the most outragiâ—us â—ustâ— For if the dead rise not let us eat and drink that is do anything though never so diabolical and hellish let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die and there is an end of us we shall not arise again to receive either evill or good 1 Cor. 15. 32. 6. To deny this Resurrection nay if a man do but say it is past either with him or any Christian his so saying tendeth directly to the destâ—uction and overthrow of the faith of them that hear him and is so far from being according to the Doctrine of God that it eateth out good and wholsome Doctrine even as Cankers eat the face and flesh of a man how ill favouredly do they look that have their nose and lips eat off with the Canker even so badly doth the Doctrine of no Resurrection of the dead look in the eyes of God Christ Saints and Scripture 2 Tim. 2. 18. Lastly I conclude then that to deny the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Just it argueth First Great ignorance of God ignorant of his power to raise ignorant of his promise to raise ignorant of his faithfulness to raise and that both to himself Son and Saints as I shewed before therefore saith Paul to those that were thus deluded Awake to Righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame 1 Cor. 18. 32 33 34. as if he had said Do you profess Christianity and do you question the Resurrection of the Body Do you not know that the Resurrection of the Body and glory to follow is the very quintessence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Are you ignorant of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and do you question the power and faithfulness of God both to his Son and his Saints because you say there shall be no Resurrection of the Dead you are ignorant of God of what he can do of what he will do and of what he will by doing glorifie himself Secondly As it argueth very great ignorance of Gods power faithfulness c. so it argueth gross ignorance of the Tenor and curâ—ant of the Scriptures for as touching the Dead that they are raised have ye not read in the Book of Moses saith Christ how that God said unto him in the Bush I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the Dead but of the Living ye do therefore greatly erre Mark 12. 26 27. To be the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob it is to be understood of his being their God under a new Covenant-Consideration as he saith I will be their God and they shall be my People Heb. 8. 10 11. John 8. 44. 1 John 38. 9 10. Hos. 6. 2. Col. 3. 4. Ephes. 1. 4. Now thus he is not the God of the Dead that is of those that perish whether they be Angels or men Now I say they that are the Children of God as Abraham Isaac and Jacob they are counted the Living under a threefold Consideration 1. In their Lord and Head and thus all the Elect may be said to live for they are from Eternity chosen in him who also is their life though possibly many of them yet unconverted I say yet Christ is their life by the eternal purpose of God 2. The Children of the new Covenant do live both in their spirits in glory by open vision and here by Faith Gal. 2. 20. and the
continuâ—l Communication of Grace from Christ into their Souls 3. They live also with respect to their rising again for God calleth those things that are not as though they were Rom. 4. 17. to be born dead buried risen and ascended are all present with God he liveth not by time as we do a thousand years to him are but as the day that is past 2 Pet. 3. 8. Heb. 4. 13. Isa. 46. 9 10. Rom. 8. 29 30 31 32 33. And again one day is as a thousand years Eternity which is God himself admitteth of no first second and third all things are naked and bare before him and present with him all his live unto him There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and unjust A Resurrection of what of that which is sown or of that which was never sown if of that which is sown then it must be either of that nature that was sown or else of the corruption that cleaveth to it but it is the nature and not the corruption that cleaveth unto it that riseth again And verily the very terme Resurrection is a forcible Argument to prove the Dead shall come forth of their Graves for the holy Ghost hath alwayes spoke more properly then to say There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and unjust when yet neither the good nor the bad shall come forth of their Graves but rather something else to delude the World withall Having thus in few words shewed you the truth of the Resurrection of the Dead I now come to the manner of their rising The manner of the Resurrection of the Dead And first of the Just. THE Apostle when he had in the fifteenth of the first of the Corinthians proved the truth and certainty of the Resurrection he descends to the discovery of the manner of it and to the end he might remove those foolish scruples that attend the hearts of the ignorant he begins with one of their Questions But some will say saith he how are the Dead raised and with what Vers. 35. Body do they come To which he answereth first by a Similitude of Seed that is sown in the Earth In which Similitude he inserteth three things First That our reviving or rising must be after Death That which thou sowest is not quickned except it die Vers. 36. Secondly That at our rising we shall not onely revive and live but be changed into a far more glorious state then when we were sown Vers. 37. That which thou sowest thou sowest not that Body that shall be c. But God giveth it a Body as it pleaseth him that is he giveth the Body more splendor luster and beauty at its Resurrection But Thirdly Neither its quickning not yet transcendent splendor shall hinder it from being the same Body as to the nature of it that was sown in the Earth for as God giveth it a Body for Honour and Splendor as it pleaseth him so Vers. 38. to every Seed his own Body And indeed this Similitude by which he here reasoneth the manner of the Resurrection of the Just is very natural and fitly suiteth each particular for as to its Burial First The Corn of Wheat is first dead and after sown and buried in the Earth and so is the Body of Man Secondly After the Corn is thus dead and buried then it quickneth and reviveth to life so also shall it be with our Body for after it is laid in the Grave and buried it shall then quicken rise and revive Again As to the manner of its change in its rising this Similitude also doth fitly suit as First It is sown a dead Corn it is raised a living one Secondly It is sown dry and without comliness it riseth green and beautiful Thirdly It is sown a single Corn it riseth a full Ear. Fourthly It is sown in its husk but in its rising it leaveth that Husk behind it Further Though the Curnel thus dy be buried and meet with all this change and alteration in these things yet none of them can cause the nature of the Curnel to cease it is Wheat still Wheat was sown and Wheat ariseth onely it was sown dead drie and baren Wheat and riseth living beautiful and fruitful Wheat It hath this alteration then that it doth greatly change its resemblance though yet it hath this power as still to retain its own nature God giveth it a Body as it pleaseth him but to every Seed his own Body The Apostle having thus presented the manner of the Resurrection of the Saints by the nature of Seed sown and rising again he proceedeth for further illustration to three more Similitudes The first is to shew us the variety and glory of flesh The second is to shew us the difference of Glory that if between Heavenly Bodies and those that are Earthy The third is to shew us the difference that is between the Glory of the light of the Sun from that of the Moon and also how one Star differeth from another in Glory And then concludeth so is the Resurrection of the Dead 1 Cor. 15. 39 40 41 42. As who should say at the Resurrection of the Bodies they will be abâ—â—â—â—lantly more alâ—eâ—ed and changed then if the flesh of Beasts and Fouls were made as noble as the flesh of men or the Bodies of Earth were made as excellent as the Heavenly Bodies or as if the glory of the Moon should be made as bright and as clear as the glory of the Sun or as if the glory of the least Star was as glorious and as shining as the biggest in the Firmament of Heaven It is a Resurrection indeed a Resurrection every way The Body ariseth as to the nature of it the self-same nature but as to the manner of it how far transcendant is it there is a poor dry wrinkled Curnel cast into the ground and there it lyeth and swelleth breatheth and one would think perisheth but behold it receiveth life it chitteth it putteth forth a blade and groweth into a stalk there also appeareth an Ear it also sweetly Blossoms with a full Curnel in the Ear it is the same Wheat yet behold how the form and fashion of that which now ariseth doth differ from that which then was sown its glory also when 't was sown is no glory when compared with that in which it riseth And yet it is the same that riseth that was sown and no other though the same after a far more glorious manner not the same with its husk but without it Our brun shall be left behind us when we rise again The Comparison also between the Bodies Heavenly and Bodies Earthly hold forth the same The glory of the Celestial is one and the glory of the Terrestial is another Now mark it he doth not speak here of the natures of each of these Bodies but of the transcendant glory of one above another The glory of the Heavenly is one and the glory of the Earthly
is another Wherefore I say at our rising we shall not change our nature but our glory We shall be equal to the Angels Luke 20. 36. Not with respect to their nature but glory The nature also of the Moon is one thing and the glory of the Moon is another and so one Star also differeth from another in glory A Beggar hath the same nature as a King and Gold in the Ore the same nature with that which is best refined but the Beggar hath not the same glory with the King nor yet the Gold in Ore the same glory with that which is refined But our state will be far more altered than any of these in the dayes when we like so many Suns in the Firmament of Heaven arise out of the heart and bowels of the Earth These things thus considered do shew you how vainly they argue that say our humane nature consisting of Body and Soul shall not inherit the Kingdom of God and also how far from their purpose that saying of the Apostle is which saith That flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God And now also because I am fallen upon the Objection it self I shall not passe it but with a short dash at it Wherefore Reader whoever thou art consider that frequently in Scripture the word flesh and blood as also in the place alledged is not to be understood of that matter which God made which flesh cleaveth to our bones and blood runs in our veins but is taken for that corruption weakness mortality and evil that cleaveth to it Which weakness and corruption because it possesseth all men also wholy ruleth where the Soul is unconverted therefore it beareth the name of that which is ruled and acted by it to wit our whole man consisting of Body and Soul yet I say is a thing distinct from that flesh and blood which is essential to our being and without which we are no men As for instance he that is Christs saith Paul Gal. 5. 24. hath Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Who is so vain as to think that the Apostle by these words should mean our material flesh that hangeth on our bones and that is mixed with our natural blood sinews and veins And not rather of that inward fountain of sin corruption and wickedness which in another place he calleth the old man with his deceitful lusts Ephes. 4. 22. Again The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh Is it our flesh that hangeth on our bones which lusteth against the spirit and that also against which the spirit lusteth Certainly if the spirit lusteth against our material flesh then it is our duty not to nourish it at all because by nourishing of it we nourish that against which the Spirit of God fighteth and warreth Nay if the spirit lust against the flesh on our bones simply considered as flesh and if it be our duty to follow the spirit as it is then we must needs kill our selves or cut our flesh from our bones For whatever the Spirit of God lusteth against it must be destroyed yea it is our duty with all speed to destroy it But wilt thou know O vain man that by flesh here is to be understood not the nature that God hath made but the corrupt apprehension and wisdom with those inclinations to evil that lodg within us Which in another place is called the Wisdom of the flesh Yea in plain termes flesh and blood where Christ saith flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 16. 16. Nay observe it all these places with many others do rather point at a corrupt Soul then a corrupt Body for indeed sin and all spiritual wickedness they have their seat in the heart and soul of a man and by their using this or that member of the body so defile the man the weaknesses of the body or that attend our material flesh and blood they are weaknesses of another kind as sickness aches pains soars wounds defection of members c. Wherefore where you read of flesh and blood as rejected of God especially when it speaks of the flesh and blood of Saints you are not to understand it as meâ—nt of the flesh which is their proper humane nature but of that weakness which cleaveth to it Paul in another place reckoneth up the works of the flesh in many things as in Witchcraft hatred variance strife emulation fornication and many others But can any imagine that he there should strike at that flesh that hangeth on our bone or rather at that malignity and rebellion that is in the mind of man against the Lord Gal. 17 18 19 20. by reason of which the members of the Body are used this way and also sometimes that to accomplish its most filthy and abusive deeds They are Enemies in their Minds by wicked Works Col. 1. 21. Thus you see that Flesh and Blood is not to be taken always for the Flesh that is upon our hands and feet and other parts of our Body but for that sinne weakness and infirmity that cleaveth to our whole man Further then touching our reall substantiall flesh it may be either considered as God's Creature purely or as corrupted with sinne and infirmity Now if you consider it as corrupted so it shall not inherit the Kingdom of God but yet consider it as God's Creature and so all that God hath converted to himself through Jesus Christ shall even with that Body when changed inherit the Kingdom of God The Woman whose Cloaths are foul can yet distinguish between the Dirt and the Cloth on which it hangeth and so deals God with us 'T is true there is not one Saint but while he liveth here his Body is arrayed and infected with many corrupt and filthy things as touching bodily weaknesses yea and also with many sinful infirmities by reason of that body of Sin and Death that yet remains in us But yet God I say distinguisheth between our weaknesses and his Workmanship and can tell how to save the whole Man of his People while he is destroying the Corruption and Weakness that cleaveth to them And now to return to the place objected Flesh and Blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God It cannot be truly understood that that flesh which is Man's Nature shall not enter the Kingdom For then as I said before Christ must lose his Members the purchase of his Bloud the Vessels and Temples of his Spirit for all this is our Body Again then Christ also in that his Body which is also our Flesh and Blood is not in Glory contrary to the whole Current of the New Testament Heb. 2. 14 15. Heb. 7. 24 25. Heb. 8. 3 4. Heb. 10. 10 11 12. Rev. 1. 18. Rev. 2. 8. Yea it would be Non-sence to say there should be a Resurrection and that our vile Body shall be changed and made like to the Glorious Body of the
Son of God if this Body do not at all rise again but some other thing which is not in us and our Nature But to be short the Apostle here when he saith Flesh and Blood shall not inherit c. speaks properly of that Mortality and Weakness that now attends our whole Man and not of our reall substantial Body it self For after he had said Flesh and Blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God he adds Neither doth Corruption inherit in corruption Which two sayings are answerable to what he presently adds Saying Behold I shew you a Mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an Eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead mark the Dead shall be raised incorruptible that is the Dead shall be so raised as that in their rising Incorruption shall possess them in stead of Corruption and Immortality instead of that Mortality that descended to the Grave with them For this Corruptible mark this Corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on Mortality Mark I say it is this Corruptible and this Mortal that must be raised though not Corruptible and Mortal as it was buried but immortal and incorruptible it shall leave its Grave-Cloaths of Corruption and Mortality behind it Cor. 15. 50 51. 52 53. The manner of which their Rising the Apostle doth more distinctly branch out a little above in four particulars Which particulars are these that follow 1. It is sown in Corruption it is raised in Incorruption 2. It is sown in Dishonour it is raised in Glory 3. It is sown in Weakness it is raised in Power 4. It is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body 1 Cor. 15. First it is raised in Incorruption We are brought into this World by Sin and Corruption Corruption is our Father and in Sin did our Mother conceive us Job 17. 14. Psal. 51. 5. And hence it is that we have our Life nnt onely like a span shadow or post for shortness but also that it is attended with so much vanity and vexation of spirit But now being raised from the Dead incorruptible which is also called a Begetting and Birth these Things that now in our Life annoy us and at last take away our Life are effectually destroy'd And therefore we live for ever as saith the Spirit And there shall be no more Death nor Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things that is all our Corruptibleness are passed away Rev. 21. 4. There shall be in our Resurrection no Corruption either of Body of Soul no weakness nor sickness nor any thing tending that way as he saith He will present us to himself a Glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing Ephes. 5. 25 26 27. Therefore when he saith it is raised in Incorruption it is as if he had said It is impossible that they should ever sin more be sick more sorrow more or die more They that shall be counted worthy of that World and the Resurrection from the Dead neither marry nor are given in Marriage though 't was thus with them in this World neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the Angels and are the Children of God being the Children of the Resurrection Luk. 20. 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36. Secondly It is raised in Glory the Dishonour that doth attend the Saint at his departing this World it is very great he is sown in dishonour he is so loathsom at his death that his dearest friends are weary of him stop their noses at him see no beauty in him nor set any price upon him I speak nothing here how some of them are banged starved banished and so die torn to pieces and not suffered to be put into Graves but it is raised in glory Glory is the sweetness comliness purity and perfection of a thing The light is the glory of the Sun strength is the glory of youth and gray hairs is the glory of old Age. That is it is the excellency of these things and that which makes them shine 1 Cor. 15 40 41. Prov. 20. 29. Therefore to arise in glory it is first to arise in all the beauty and utmost compleatness that is possible to possess a humane Creature I say in all its features members inconceivably beautifull sin and corruption hath made mad work in our bodies as well as in our Souls 'T is sin commonly that is the cause of all that deformity and ill-favouredness that now cleaveth to us and that also rendereth us so dishonourable at our death but now at our rising we being raised incorruptible we shall appear in such perfections and that of all sorts belonging to the Body that all the beauty and comeliness sweetness and amiableness that hath at any time been in this World it shall be swallowed up a thousand times told with this glory The Psalmist saith of Christ That he was fairer than the Children of men Psal. 45. 2. and that as I believe in his outward man as well as in his inward part He was the exactest purest compleatest and beautifullest Creature that ever God made Isa. 42. 14. Col. 1. 18. Till his visage was so marred by his persecutions for in all things he had and shall have the preheminence Why our Bodies at our Resurrection will not onely be as free from sin as his was before he died but also as free from all other infirmities as he was after he was raised again In a word if incorruptibleness can put a beauty upon our Bodies when they arise we shall have it There shall be no lame legs nor Crump-shoulders no blare-eyes nor yet wrinkled faces Phil. 3. 20 21. He shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body Again all the glory that a glorified Soul can help this Body to it at this day shall enjoy That Soul that hath been these hundreds or thousands of years in the Heavens soaking in the Bosom of Christ it shall in a moment come spangling into the Body again and inhabit every member and vein of the Body as it did before its departure That Spirit of God also that took its leave of the Body when it went to the Grave shall now in all perfection dwell in this Body again I tell you the Body at this day will shine brighter than the face of Moses or Stephen even as bright as the Sun the Stars and Angels When Christ who is our life shall appear we shall appear with him in glory Exod. 34. 29. 35. Acts 6. 15. Dan. 12. 3. Mat. 13. 42 43. Luk. 20. 26. Col. 3. 3 4. Thirdly It is raised in Power While we are here we are attended with so many weaknesses and infirmities that in time the least sin or sickness is too hard for us and taketh away both our strength our beauty our dayes our breath
and life and all But behold we are raised in power in that power that all these things are as far below us as a Grashopper is below a Gyant at the first appearance of us the World will tremble Job 38. 17. Judges 16. 3. Behold the Gates of death and the bars of the Grave are now carried away on our shoulders as Sampson carried away the Gates of the City Death quaketh and destruction falleth down dead at our feet What then can stand before us We shall then carry that Grace Majesty Terrour and commanding power in our souls that our countenances shall be like Lightning compare Luke 20. 36. with Mat. 28. 2 3. For this mortall must put on immortality and this corruptible must put on incorruption So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortall shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to passe that saying which is written Death is swallowed up of Victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. Fourthly It is raised a spiritual Body This is the last particular and is indeed the reason of the other three it is an incorruptible Body because it is a spiritual one it is a glorious Body because it is a spiritual one it doth rise in power because it is a spiritual Body When the Body is buried or sown in the Earth it is a Body corruptible dishonourable weak and natural but when it ariseth it doth rise incorruptible glorious powerfully and Spiritual So that so far as incorruption is above corruption glory above dishonour powerfull above weakness and spiritual above naturall So great an alteration will there be in our Body when raised again And yet it is this Body and not another this in nature though changed into a far more glorious State A thousand times further then if a Hoggard was changed to be an Emperour Mark It is sown a natural Body a very fit word for though there dwell never so much of the Spirit and Grace of God in it while it liveth yet so soon as the Soul is separate from it so soon also doth the Spirit of God separate from it and so will continue while the day of its rising be come Therefore it is laid into the Earth a meer Lump of Man's Nature It is sown a Natural Body But now at the day when the Heavens shall be no more as Job saith Job 14. 12. Then the Trump shall sound even the Trump of God and in a moment the Dead shall be raised incorruptible glorious and spiritual 1 Cor. 15. 52. 1 Thes. 24. 16 17. So that I say the Body when it ariseth will be so swallowed up of life and immortality that it will be as if it had lost its own Humane Nature though in truth the same substantial real Nature is every whit there still 'T is the same it that riseth that was sown it is sown it is raised it is sown it is raised saith the Apostle You know that things which are candied by the Art of the Apothecary they are so swallow'd up with the sweetness and vertue of that in which it is candied that they are now as though they had no other Nature than that in which they are boiled When yet in truth the thing candied doth still retain its own proper Nature and Essence though by vertue of its being candied it loseth its former sourness bitterness stinking smell or the like Just thus at the last day it will be with our Bodies We shall be so candied by being swallow'd up of Life as before is shewed That we shall be as if we were all Spirit when in truth it is but this Body that is swallowed up of Life And it must needs be that our Nature still remain otherwise it cannot be Us that shâ—ll be in Heaven but something besides Us. Let us lose our proper Humane Nature and we lose absolutely our Being so are annihalated into nothing Wherefore it the same it that is sown a Natural Body it shall rise a Spiritual Body But again as I said concerning Things that are candied our Body when thus risen it shall lose all that sourness and stinck that now by reason of sinne and infirmity cleaveth to it neither shall its lumpishness or unweildiness be any impediment to its acting after the manner of Angels Christ hath shewed us what our Body at our Resurrection shall be by shewing of us in his Word what his Body was at and after his Resurrection We read that his Body after he was risen from the Dead though it yet retained the very same Flesh and Bones that did hang upon the Cross yet how Angelical was it at all times upon all occasions He could come in to his Disciples with that very Body when the Doors were shut upon them He could at pleasure to their amazement appear in the twinckling of an Eye in the midst of them He could be visible and invisible as he pleased when he sat at meat with them In a word he could pass and re-pass ascend and descend in that Body with far more pleasure and ease than the Bird by the Art of her Wing Luk 24. 38 39 40 41. Joh. 20. 24 25. Luk. 24. 31 32 50 51. Joh. 20. 19 26. Act. 1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Mark 16. 19. Eph. 4. 7 8 9. Now I say as we have in this World born the Image of our first Father so at that Day we shall have the Image of Jesus Christ and be as he is As is the Earthly such are they that are Earthly and as is the Heavenly such are they that are Heavenly and as we have been the Image of the Earthly we shall at our Resurrection bear the Image of the Heavenly It is so in part now but shall so be in perfection then 1 Cor. 15. 48 49. To mount up to Heaven and to descend again at pleasure shall with us in that Day be ordinary If there were Ten Thousand Bars of Iron or Walls of Brass to separate between us and our pleasure and desire at that Day they should as easily be pierced by us as is the Cobweb or Air by the Beams of the Sun And the Reason is Because to the Spirit wherewith we shall be unconceiveably filled at that Day nothing is unpossible Mat. 10. 27. And the working of it at that Day shall be in that nature and measure as to swallow up all impossibilities He shall change our vile Body and fashion it like unto his glorious Body Now mark according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 21. As who should say I know that there are many things that in this World hinder us from having our Bodies like the Body of Christ but when God shall raise us from the Dead because he will then have our Body like the Body of his Son He will stretch forth such a power to work upon and in our Body that he will remove all impossibilities and hinderances
for me this is the man that overcame the flatteries and threats allurements and inticings of a whole World for me behold â—iâ— he is an Israelite indeed the top man in his Generation none like him in all the Earth It is said that when King Ahasuerus had understanding of how good service Mordeeai the Jew had done to and for him he commanded that the royall Apparel and the Crown with the Horse that the King did ride on should be given to him and that he should with that Crown Apparel and Horse be had through the City in the presence of all his Nobles and that Proclamation should be made before him thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour Esth. 6. 9 10 11. Ahasuerus in this was a Type to hold forth to the Children of God how kindly he will take all their labour and service of love and how he will honour and dignifie the same as Christ saith Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning and you your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh ye may open to him immediately blessed are those servants whom their Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and shall make them sit down to meat and shall come forth and serve them Luke 12. 35 36 37. The meaning is that those souls that shall make it their business to honour the Lord Jesus Christ in the day of their temptation he will make it his business to honour and glotifie them in the day of his glorification Verily I say unto you that he will make them sit down to meat and shall come forth and serve them if any man will serve me saith he him will my Father honour Joh. 12. 26. Job 1. 8. Joh. 1. 47. Mark 14. 9. Rev. 3 4. Rev. 14. 12. 3 4 5. It hath bin Gods way in this World to proclaim the acts and doing of his Saints in his Word before all in this World and he will do it in that which is to come Thirdly Another thing that shall be yet added to the glory of the Saints in the Kingdom of their Saviour at his coming is they shall every one of them then have his Throne and place of degree on Christs right hand and on his left in his glorious Kingdom according to the relation they stand in to Christ as the members of his Body for as Christ will have a special eye on us and a tender and affectionate heart to recompence to the full every good thing that any man doth for his name in this World so also he will have as great regard that there be to every member of his body the place and state that is comely for every such member When the Mother of Zebedees Children petitioned our Saviour that he would grant to her that her two Sons might fit the one on his right hand and the other on his left in his Kingdom though he did not grant to her the request for her Children yet he affirmed that there would be places of degrees and honour in Heaven saying To sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father See Mat. 20. 20 21 22 23. In the Temple there were Chambers bigger and lesser higher and lower more inward and more outward which Chambers were types of the Mansions that our Lord when he went away told us he went to prepare for us In my Fathers House are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you c. Joh 14. 1 2 3. The foot here shall not have the place prepared for the eye nor yet the hand that which is prepared for the ear but every one shall have his own place in the Body of Christ and the glory also prepared for such a relation order as it is comely in Earth so much more in the Kingdom of the God of Order in Heaven where all things shall be done in their utmost perfections Here shall Euoch Noah Abraham Moses Joshuah David with the Prophets have every one his place according to the degree of old Testament Saints As God said to Daniel Go thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in the lot at the end of the days Dan. 12. 13. And here also shall Peter Paul Timothy and all other the Church-Officers have their place and Heavenly state according as God hath set them in the Church in the New Testament As Paul saith of the Deacons They that use the Office of a Deacon well they purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ. 1 Tim. 3. 13. And so of all other Saints be they here of what Ranck Quality or place in the Church soever they shall have every one his state his Heavenly State according as he standeth in the Body As he saith seeing those members that are most feeble are necessary to them shall be given more abundant honour 1 Cor. 12. 22 23. Of this Heavenly Order in the Kingdom of Christ when his Saints are risen from the dead was Solomon a notable Type in his Family and among his Servants and Officers who kept such exactness in the famous order in which he had placed all about him that it did amaze and confound beholders For when the Queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon and the House which he built and the meat of his Table the sitting of his Servants and the attendance of his Ministers and their Apparel his Cup-bearers also and their Apparel and the ascent by which he went up into the House of the Lord there was no more spirit in her 2 Chron. 9. 3 4. Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God Having gone thus far I shall now come to the second part of the Text to wit that there shall be a Resurrection of the wicked There shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the Just and unjust For as the Just go before the unjust in Name and Dignity and Honour so they shall in the last day go before them in the Resurrection Now then when the Saints have thus risen out of their Graves given up their accounts received their glory and are set upon the Thrones for there are set Thrones of Judgement the Thrones of the House of David Psal. 122. 5. When I say they are all of them in their royall Apparel with Crowns of glory every one presenting the Person of a King then come the unjust out of their Graves to receive their Judgment for what they have done in the body As Paul saith We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one both Saints and sinner may receive the things done in the body whether it be
Sixthly The dependence that all the Creatures have upon God they teach thee to depend on him that made thee yea and will in the Judgement condemn thee for thy unlawful practices and dealings for thy preservation The young Ravens seek their food from God and will condemn thy lying cheating over-reaching defrauding and the like they provide neither Store-house nor Barn but thâ— art so greedy of these things that thou for them shuttest thy self out of the Kingdom of Heaven Psal. 147. 9. Job 38. 41. Luk. 12. 24. Prov. 17. 16. Seventhly The love and pitty that is in their hearts to their young and one another will judge and condemn the hard-heartedness that is in thee to thy own Soul What shall I say The Heavens shall reveal thy iniquity and the Earth shall rise up against thee Job 20. 27. That is all the Creatures of God they will by their fruitfulness and subjection to the will of their Creator judge and condemn thee for thy disobedience and rebellion against him Now as these Creatures do every day call unto thee and lay before thee these things so he hath for thy awakening in case thou be asleep and senseless Creatures of another nature as 1. Thy Bed when thou lyest down in it preacheth to thee thy Grave thy sleep thy death and thy rising in the morning thy Resurrection to Judgement Job 14. 12. Job 17. 13. Isa. 26. 19. 2. The Goal that thou seest with thy eyes and the Felons that look out at the Grate they put thee in mind of the Prison of Hell and of the dreadful state of those that are there Luke 12. 58 59. 3. The fire that burns in thy Chimney it holds forth the fire to Hell unto thee Isa. 10. 16. Rev. 20. 14. 4. The ugly smell stench and steam of the burning Brimstone it shews thee the loathsom odious and dreadful torments of Hell Rev. 19 20. 5. The darkness of the night in solitary places and the fears that do commonly haunt those that walk therein it preacheth to thee the fears and frights the scares and amazements that will for ever attend all damned Souls Matth. 8. 12. Deut. 28. 65 66 6. 7. 6. By thy delighting when thou art cold to lay sticks on the fire to warm thy self not caring how fiercely they flame therein so thou canst be warm and be refreshed thereby by this I say God preacheth to thee with what delight he will burn sinners in the flames of Hell for the easing of his mind and the satisfaction of his Justice Ah! saith he I will ease me of my adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies Isa. 1. 24. 7. Yea by thy blowing the fire that it may fasten upon the wood the better thou preachest to thy self how God will blow the fire of Hell by the rigour of his Law to the end it may be its flames to purpose kindle upon damned sinners Isa. 3. 33. All these things as inconsiderable and unlikely as they may appear to you now yet in the Judgement will be found the Items and warning words of God to your Souls And know that he who could overthrow the Land of Egypt with frogs lice flies Locusts c. will overthrow the World at the last day by the Book of the Creatures and that by the least and most inconsiderable of them as well as by the rest This Book of the Creatures it is so excellent and so full so easie and so suiting the capacity of all that there is not one man in the World but is catched convicted and cast by it This is the Book that he who knows no letters may read in yea and that he who neither saw New Testament nor Old may know both much of God and himself by 'T is this Book out of which generally both Job and his friends did so profoundly discourse of the Judgements of God and that out of which God himself did so convincingly answer Job Job was as perfect in this Book as we are many of us in the Scriptures yea and could see further by it then many now a dayes do see by the new Testament and old This is the Book out of which both Christ the Prophets and Apostles do so frequently discourse by their Similitudes Proverbs and Parables as being the most easie way to convince the World though by reason of their ignorance nothing will work with them but what is set on their heart by the holy Ghost One word further and I have done with this and that is God hath sealed the Judgement of the World by the Book of the Creatures even by mans own carriage unto such of them which through any impediment have disappointed his expectations As thus if thou hast but a Tree in thy Orchard that neither beareth fruit nor ought else that is good why thou art for hewing it down and for appointing it as fewel for the fire now thou little thinkest that by thy thus judging thou shouldest passe sentence upon thy own fruitless Soul but it is so For now is the Ax laid to the Roots of the Trees and every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire For as truly as thou sayest of thy fruitless Tree cut it down why doth it cumbet the ground so truly doth thy Voyce cause Heaven to Eccho again upon thy head Cut him down why doth he cumber the ground Mat. 3. 10. Luk. 13. 6 7 8. Ezek. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Further The inclination of thy heart towards fruitless and unprofitable Creatures doth fore-preach to thee the inclination of the heart of God towards thee in the Judgement If thou hast either Cow or any other Beast that is now unprofitable to thee though thou mayst suffer them for some time to be with thee as God suffereth sinners in the World yet all this while thy heart is not with them but thou wilt take thy time to clear thy hands of them Why just so shall thy Judgement be as God saith Though Moses and Samuel stood before me that is to pray me to spare this People yet my heart could not be towards them therefore cast them out of my sight and let them go forth Jer. 15. 1. Ezek. 14. 13 14. Thus I say will God judge the World at the last day he will open before them how they have degenerated and gone back from the Principles of nature in which he created them Also how they have slighted all the instructions that he hath given them even by the obedience fruitfulness wisdom labour fear and love of the Creatures and he will tell them that as to their Judgement they themselves have decided it both by their cutting down that which was fruitless and by the withdrawing of their hearts from those things which to them were unprofitable As therefore the Tarâ—s are gathered and burned in the fire so shall it be in the end of this World As men deal with weeds and rotten Wood so will God
speaking for themselves behold how earnestly they groan how gastly they look and how now the brinish tears flow down like Rivers from their eyes ever re-doubling their Petition Lord Lord Lord Lord first thinking of this thing and then of that ever contending seeking and striving to enter in at this strait Gate As Christ saith When once the Masters of the House is risen up that is when Christ hath laid aside his mediation for sinners and hath taken upon him onely to judge and condemn then will the wicked begin to stand without and to knock and contend for a portion among them that are the blessed Ah how will their hearts twitter while they look upon the Kingdom of Glory and how will they ake and throb at every view of Hell their proper place still crying O that we might inherit life and O that we might escape eternal death But now to take away alâ— cavils and objections that of this nature will arise in the hearts of these men forthwith the Book of Life is brought ouâ— for a conclusion and a finall end of eternall Judgment As John saith The Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judgâ—â— out of those things that were written in the Books according to their works Rev. 20. 12. But this Book of Life it is not at this time opened because there are not any godly to be tryed for as I have shewed before their Judgment is past and over before the wicked rise The Book of Life then it is now opened for further conviction of damned Reprobates that their mouths may be stoped for ever as touching all their cavils contendings and Arguments against Gods proceeding in Judgement with them For believe it while God is judging them they will fall to judging him again but he will be justified in his sayings and will overcome when he is judged at this day Rom. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Yet not by a hasty and and angry casting them away but by a legall and convincing proceeding against them and overthrowing all their cavils by his manifest and invincible truth Wherefore to cut off all that they can say he will now open the Book of Life before them and will shew them what is written therein both as to Election Conversion and a truly Gospel-Conversation And will convince them that they neither are of the number of his Elect neither were they ever regenerate neither had they ever a truly Gospel-Conversation in 〈◊〉 World By these three things then out of this Book thou who art not saved must at last be judged and overcome First Here will be tryed whether thou art within that part of this Book wherein all the Elect are Recorded for all the Elect are written here as Christ saith Rejoyce that your names are written in Heaven And again in thy Book saith he to his Father are all my members written Luk. 10. 20. Psal. 139. 16. Heb 12. 22 23. Now then if thy name be not found either among the Prophets Apostles or the rest of Saints thou must be put by as one that is cast away as one polluted and as an abominable branch Isa. 14. 18 19. Thy name is wanting in the Genealogies and Rolls of Heaven Ezra 2. 62. Thou art not prickt for everlasting life therefore thou must not be delivered from that Soul-amazing misery for there are no Souls can though they would give a thousand Worlds be delivered at the day of God but such that are found written in this Book Every one of those that are written though never a one of those that are not written shall in that day be delivered from the wrath to câ—me Dan. 12. 1. But O methinks with what careful hearts will the damned now begin to look for their names in this Book Those that when once the long suffering of God waited on them made light of all admonition and slighted the Counsel of making their Calling and Election sure would now give thousands of Treasures that they could but spy their names though last and least among the Sons of God but I say how will they fail how will they faint how will they die and languish in their Souls when they shall still as they look see their names wanting What a pinch will it be to Cain to see his Brother there Recorded and he himself left out Absalon will now sound and be as one that giveth up the Ghost when he shall see David his Father and Solomon his Brother written here while he with all is written in the Earth among the damned Thus I say will sadness be added to sadness in the Soul of the perishing World when they fail of finding their names in this part of the Book of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. Secondly The second part of this Book is that in which is Recorded the nature of Conversion of Faith Love c. And those that have not had the effectual Word of God upon them and the true and saving operation of Grace in their hearts which is indeed the true life which is begun in every Christian they will be found still not written in this Book for the living the holy living Souls are they onely that are written therein as the Prophet saith And he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem Isa. 4. 3. Eternal life is already in this life begun in every Soul that shall be saved as Christ saith He that believeth in me hath everlasting life And again Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 54. And hence they aâ—e called the living that are written in this Book Here then the Lord will open before thee what Conversion is in the true and simple nature of it which wher thou beholdest thou wilt then be convinced that this thou hast mist of for it must needs be that when thou beholdest by the Records of Heaven what a change what a turn what an alteration the work of Regeneration maketh on every Soul and in every heart where the effectual Call or the Call according to his purpose is that thou who hast lived a stranger to this or that hast contented thy self with the notion onely or a formal and feigned profession thereef I say it cannot be but that thou must forthwith fall down and with grief conclude that thou hast no share in this part of the Book of Life neither the living onely are written herein There is not one dead carnall wicked man recorded here No but when the Lord shall at this day make mention of Rahâ—b of Babylon of Philistia and Ethiopia that is of all the cursed â—abble and crue of the damned then he will say that this man was born there that is amongst them and so hath his name where they have theirs
namely under the black Rod in the Kings black Book where he hath Recorded all his Enemies and Traytors It shall be said of this man of this ungodly man that he was born there Psal. 87. 4. That he lived and dyed in the state of nature and so under the curse of God even as others for as he said of wicked Coniah Jer. 22. 30. Write this man childless so he saith of every ungodly man that so departeth out of this World Write this man Graceless Wherefore I say among the Babylonians and Phylistians among the unbelieving Moors and Pagans his name will be found in the day when it will be inquired where every man was born for God at this day will divide the whole World into these two Ranks the Children of the World and the Children of Zion Wherefore here is the honour the priviledge and advantage that the Godly above the wicked will have at the day of their counting When the Lord maketh mention of Zion it shall be then acknowledged that this and that good man was born in her the Lord shall count saith the Prophet when he wrighteth up the People that this man was born there Psal. 87. 5 6. This man had the work of Conversion of Faith and Grace iâ— his Soul This man 〈◊〉 Child of Zion of the Heavenly Jerusalem which is also written in Heaven Blessed is the People that are in such a case Gal. 4 26 Heb 12. 22 23. Psal. 144. 1â—â— But poor Soul Counters will not go for Gold now for though so long as thou didst judge thy self by the crooked rule of thy own reason fancy and affection thou wast pure in thy own eyes yet â—ow thâ—u must be judged alone by the words and rule of the Lord Jesus Which word shall not now as in times past be wrested and wrung both this way and that to smooth thee up in thy Hypocrites hope and carnall confidence but be thou King or Keser be thou who thou wilt the Word of Christ and that with this interpretation onely It shall judge thee in the last day Joh. 12. 44. Now will sinners begin to cry with loud and bitter cryes Oh! ten thousand Worlds for a saving work of Grace Crowns and Kingdoms for the least measure of saving Faith and for the love that Christ will say is the love of his own Spirit Now they will begin also to see the work of a broken and a contrite spirit and of walking with God as living 〈◊〉 in this World But alas these things appear in their hearts to the damned too late as also do all things else This will be but like the repentance of the Thief about whose neck is the â—alter and he turning off the ladder for the unfortunate hap of the damned will be that the glory of Heavenly things will not appear to them till out of season Christ must now indeed be shewed to them as also the true nature of Faith and all Grace but it will be when the door is shut and mercy gone they will pray and repent most earnestly but it will be in the time of great Waters of the flouds of eternall wrath when they cannot come nigh him 1 Tim. 6. 15. Matth. 25. 10 11. Psal. 32. 6. Well then tell me sinner if Christ shouâ—d now come to judge the World canst thou abide the tryal of the Book of Life Art thou confident that thy Profession that thy Conversion thy Faith and all other Graces thou thinkest thou hast will prove Gold Silver and precious Stones in this day behold he comes as a Refiners fire and as Fullâ—rs Soap shalt thou indeed abide the melting and washing of this day Examine I say before hand and try thy self unfeignedly for every one that doth â—ruth cometh to the light that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Joh. 3. 21. Thou sayest thou art a Christian that also thou hast repented dost believe and love the Lord Jesus but the question is whether these things will be found of equall length heighth and bredth with the Book of Life Or whether when thou art weighed in the ballance thou wilt yet be found wanting Dan. 5. 27. How if when thou comest to speak for thy self before God thou shouldest say Siboleth instead of Shiboleth that is though almost yet not rightly and naturally the Language of the Christians Judg. 12. 4 5 6. If thou miss but one letter in thy evidence thou art gone for though thou mayst deceive thy own heart with Brass instead of Gold and with Tin instead of Silver Gal. 6. 7. yet God will not be so put off You know how confident the foolish Virgins were and yet how they were deceived They herded with the Saints they went forth from the gross pollutions of the World they every one had shining Lamps and all went forth to meet the Bridegroom and yet they mist the Kingdom They were not written among the living in Jerusalem they had not the true powerful saving work of Conversion of Faith and Grace in their Souls they that are foolish take their Lamps but take no Oyl no saving Grace with them Mat. 25. 1 2 3 4. Thus you see how sinners will be put to it before the Judgment-Seat from these two parts of this Book of Life But Thirdly There is yet another part of this Book to be opened and that is that part of it in which is Recorded those noble and Christian acts that they have done since the time of their Conversion and turning to Christ. Here I say is Recorded the Testimony of the Saints against sin and Antichrist their suffering for the sake of God their love to the members of Christ their patience under the Cross and their faithful frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints and their incouraging one another to bear up in his wayes in the worst of times even when the proud was called happy and when they that wrought wickedness were even set up As he there saith Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a Book of Rememrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name Mat. 3. 14 15 16. For indeed as truly as any person hath his name found in the first part of this Book of Life and his Conversion in the second so there is a third part in which there is his noble spiritual and holy actions Recorded and set down As it is said by the Spirit to John concerning those that suffered Martyrdom for the truth of Jesus Write blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them Rev. 14. 13. And hence it is that the labours of the Saints and the Book of Life are mentioned together signifying that the travels and labours and acts of the godly are Recorded therein Phil. 4. 3. And hence it is again that the Lord
the like and cut off all opportunity of good leaving no place for mercy or amendment these shall go away into everlasting punishment c. Mat. 25. 40. This word depart c. is the last word the damned for ever are like to hear I say it is the last voice and therefore will stick longest and with most power on their slaughtered souls there is no calling of it back again it is the very wind-up of Eternall Judgement Thus then the judgement being over the Kingdom ceaseth to be any longer in the hand of the Man Christ Jesus for as the Judges here among men when they have gone their Circuit do deliver up their Commission to the King so Christ the Judge doth now deliver up his Kingdom to his Father And now all is swallowed up of Eternity Mat. 21. 8. The damned are swallowed up of eternal justice and wrath the saved of eternal life and felicity and the Son also delivereth up I say the Kingdom to the Father and subjects himself under him that did put all things under him that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 24 25 26 27 28. For now is the end come and not before even the end of the reign of death it self for Death and Hell and sinners and Devils must now together into the Lake that burns with fire and Brimstone Rev. 20. 14 15. And now is the end of Christs Reign as the Son of Man and the end of the Reign of the Saints with him in this his Kingdom which he hath received of his Father for his work sake which he did for him and for his Elect. Then cometh the end faith Paul when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God the Father But when shall that be why he answers saying When he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power for he must reign saith he untill he hath put all his enemies under his feet which will not be untill the finall Sentence and Judgment be over for the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death For God hath put all things under his feet but when he saith all things are put under him it is manifested he is accepted that did put all things under him And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject to him that did put all things under him that God may be all in all All things being now at this pass to wit every one being in its proper place God in his Christ in his the Saint in his and the Sinner in his I shall conclude with this brief touch upon both the state of the Good and Bad after this Eternal Judgment 1. The Righteous now shall never fear Death the Devill and Hell more And the Wicked shall never hope of life 2. The Just shall ever have the Victory over these things But the Wicked shall everlastingly be swallowed up of them 3. The Holy shall be in everlasting Light But the Sinner in everlasting Darkness Without light I say yet in Fire ever burning yet not consumed always afraid of death and hell vehemently desiring to be annihiâ—â—ted to nothing Continually fearing to stay long in Hell and yet certainly sure they shall never come out of it Ever desiring the Saints happiness and yet alwayes envying their felicity They would have it because it is easie and Comfortable yet cannot abide to think of it because they have lost it for ever Ever loaden with the delight of sin and yet that is the greatest torture alwayes desiring to put it out of their Mind and yet assuredly know they must for ever abide the guilt and torment thereof 4. The Saints are always inflamed with the Consideration of the Grace that once they imbraced but the Wicked most flamingly tormented with the thoughts of rejecting and refusing it 5. The Just when they think of their sins they are comforted with the thoughts of their being delivered from them but the Ungodly when they think of their righteousness will gnaw themselves to think that this would not deliver them from Hell 6. When the Godly think of Hell it will increase their Comfort but when the Wicked think of Heaven it will twinge them like a Serpent Oh this Eternal Judgment What would a damned Soul give that there might be though after Thousands and Hundreds of Thousands of Millions of Years an end put to this Eternal Judgment But their misery is they have sinned against a God that is Eternal they have offended that Justice that will never be satisfied and therefore they must abide the Fire that never shall be quenched Here is Judgment Just and Sad. Again As it will be thus with Good and Bad in general so again more particularly when the Wicked are thus adjudged and Condemned and also received of the Fiery Gulph then they shall find That as he that busieth himself to do good shall have more glory than others So they that have been more busie and active in sin than others they shall have more Wrath and Torment than others For as doing good abundantly doth inlarge the Heart to receive and hold more Glory So doing evil abundantly doth inlarge the Heart and Soul to receive Punishment so much the more And hence it is that you have such Sayings as these It shall be more tolerable in the Judgment for Sodome than for others that is then for those that had sinned against much greater Light and Mercy For these as he saith in another place shall receive greater Damnation Yea it standeth to reason that he who had most Light most Conviction most means of Conversion and that was highest towards Heaven he must needs have the greatest Fall and so sink deepest into the Jaws of Eternal Misery Luke 10. 12. Luke 20. 47. As one Star that is as one Saint differeth from another in Heaven so one damned Soul shall differ from another in Hell It is so among the Devils themselves they are some worse than others Matth. 9. 34. Mar. 3. 22. Belzebub is the Prince or the Chief of the Devils That is One that was most glorious in Heaven Chief among the reprobate Angels before his Fall Isa. 14. 2. and therefore sinned against the greater Light Mercy and Goodness and so became the Chief for wickedness and will also have as the wages thereof the Chief of Torments For that will be true of the damned in Hell which is prayed for against Babylon Revel 18. 7. How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Can it be imagined that Judas should have no more torment who betrayed the Prince of Life and Saviour of the World than others who never came near his Wickedness by ten thousand degrees He that know his Masters Will and prepared not himself neither did according to his Will shall be beaten with many stripes With many moâ—e stripes than others that through ignorance did commit sin worthy of many stripes But what should I thus discourse of the degrees of the Torments of the damned Souls in Hell For he that suffers least will the waters of a full Cup be wrung out to him The least measure of wrath it will be the Wrath of God eternal and fiery Wrath insupportable wrath it will lay the Soul in the Gulph of that Second Death which will for ever have the Mastery over the poor damned perishing Sinner And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire which is the Second Death And whosoever was not found in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of fire Rev. 20. 14 15. FINIS See more of this in their Judgement The first Book opened in its first part Mans nature is a Book or law to it self The Book of Gods Remembrance opened The Witnesses give in their Evidence The sinners plea for himself at the Judgment-Seat The Book of Life opened
appeared such flames such Thunderings and Tempests as there were at the giving of the Law what flames and blackness will there appear at the execution thereof and if at the giving of the Law there appeared so much Holiness and Justice that it made all Israel flie yea holy Moses exceedingly fear and quake what will become of these that God shall judge by the rigour of this Law in the day of Judgement Exod. 19. 16. Heb. 11. 21. O what Thunderings and Lightnings what Earthquakes and Tempests will there be in every damned Soul at the opening of this Book then indeed will God visit them with Thunder and Earthquake and great noyse with Storm and Tempest and the flame of a devouring fire For behold saith the Prophet the Lord will come with fire and with his Chariots like a Whirl-wind to render his anger with fury and his rebukes with flames of fire Isa. 29. 6. Isa. 66. 15. The Lord will come with fire that is in the flaming heat of his Justice and Holiness against sin and sinners to execute the rigour of his threatnings upon their perishing Souls Secondly The second general Head that is contained in this Law to be opened at this day is its exactness and purity and strictness as to all acts of good that any poor Creature hath done in this life whereby he in the Judgement will think to shelter or secure himself from the wrath of God This is the Rule and Line and Plummet whereby every act of every man shall be measured and he whose righteousness is not found every way answerable to this Law which all will fall short of but they that have the Righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ he must perish as he saith Rom. 3. 21. 22. Judgement also will I lay to the line and Righteousness will I lay to the Plummet and the Haâ—l shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the water shall overflow the hiding places Isa. 28. 17 18. That is though men may now shelter themselves under legall Repentance cold profession good meaning thinkings and doings yet all these things must be measured and weighed in the ballance of Gods most righteous Law and as I said whatever in that day is not found the Righteousness of God it will be found a reâ—uge of lies and will be drowned by the over-flowing of the wrath of God as the waters of Noah over-flowed the World Mal. 4. 1. And hence it is that all the ungodly will at this day be found as stubble and the Law as fire As it saith From his Right hand went a fiery Law And again his lips are full of indignation and his tongue as a devouring fire Deut. 33 2 Isa. 30. 27. For as fire where it seâ—zeth doth burn eat destroy devoure and consume so will the Law all those that at this day shall be found under the transgressioâ— of the least tittle of it It will be with theâ—â— Souls at the day of Judgement as it is witâ— those Countries that are over-run with moâ—â— merciless Conquerours who leave not any thing behind them but swallow up all with fire and sword For by fire and by his Sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many Isa. 66. 16. There are two things at the day of Judgement will meet in their height and utmost strength and they are sin and the Law for the Judgement will not be till the iniquity of the World be full ripe Joel 3. 13. Rev. 14. 15 16 17 18 19 20. Now then when sin is come to its full having plaid all its pranks and done all the mischief it can against the Lord of Glory then God brings forth the Law his holy and righteous Law one of which will now reign for ever that is either the Law or sin Wherefore sin and sinners they must tremble with all that help and hold them up for God will magnifie the Law and make it honourable Isa. 42. 21. That is will give it the Victory over the World for ever for that is holy just and good they are unholy unjust and bad Therefore by this Law will the Lord rain snares fire and Brimstone and a horrible Tempest this shall be the potion of their Cup. Psal. 11. 5 6. Let no man say then that because God is so famous in his mercy and patience in this day of his Grace that therefore he will not be fierce and dreadful in his Justice in the day of Judgement for Judgement and Justice is the last thing that God intends to bring upon the stage which will then be to the full as terrible as now his goodness and patience and long sufferance is admirable Lord who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath Psal. 90. 11. You may see if you will a few of the sparks of the Justice of God against sin and sinners by his casting off Angels for sin from Heaven to Hell by his drowning the old World by his burning of Sodom and Gomorah to ashes condemning them with an overthrow making them an example to those that after should live ungodly 2 Pet. 2. 4 5 6. Jude 6. 7. For whatsoever the Law saith it saith it to them that are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the World become guilty before God Rom. 3. 19. Moses seems to wonder that the Children of Israel could continue to live when they did but hear the Law delivered on the Mountain Did ever People saith he hear the Lord speak out of the midst of the fire as thou hast done and live Deut. 4. 73. O that ye did but know the Law and the wonderous things that are written therein before the Lord cause that fearful Voyce to be heard Cursed is every one that continueth not in every thing that is written in the Book of the Law to do them which curse must fall on all that walk not in all the Commandements of God without iniquity which none do I say but they that walk in Christ who hath alone fulfilled them all Gal. 3. 10. Ezek. 33. 15. Col. 2. 10. The Law is that which standeth at the entrance of the Paradice of God as a flaming Sword turning every way to keep out those that are not righteous with the righteousness of God that have not skill to come to the throne of Grace by that new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh Gen. 3. 24. Heb. 1. 19 20. for though this Law I say be taken away by Christ Jesus for all that truly and savingly believe yet it remains in full force and power in every tittle of it against every Soul of man that now shall be found in his Tabernacle that is in himself and out of the Lord Jesus Col. 2. 14. Rom. 3. 19. Job 18. 14. it lyeth I say like a Lyon rampant at the gates of Heaven and will roar
upon every unconverted soul fiercely accusing every one that now would gladly enter in through the gates into this City Joh. 5. 45. So then he that can answer all its most perfect and legal commands and that can live in the midst of devouring fire and there injoy God and solace himself he shall dwell on high and shall not be hurt by this Law His place of defence shall be the munitions of Rocks bread shall be given him and his waters shall be sure thine eyes shall behold the King in his Beauty they shall see the Land that is very far off Isa. 33. 14. 15 16 17. Blessed then is he whose Righteousness doth answer every point of the Law of God according to 1 Cor. 1. 30. he shall be able to escape all those things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man for in himself ouâ— God is a consuming fire and man out of Christ is but as stubble chaff thorns briers and fuel for the wrath of this holy and sinner-consuming God to seize upon for ever Nah. 1. 6. Heb. 12. 29. Mala. 4. 1. Mat. 3. 12. Heb. 6. 7 8. Isa. 27. 4. 2 Sam. 23. 6 7. Who can stand before his indignation Who can abide the fierceness of his anger His fury is poured ouâ— like fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him Now when these three Books are thus opened there will without doubt be sad throbbing and pricking in every heart that now stands for his life before the Judgement-Seat of Christ the Righteous Judge and without all question they will be studying a thousand wayes to evade and shift the stroak that by the sin that these three Books do charge them with will immediately fall upon them But now to cut off all these at a blow forthwith appear the Witnesses who are ready to evince and make full and Soul-killing proof of every particular charged against them And the first is God himself I saith he will be a swift witness against the Sorcerers and against the Adulterers and against false swearers and against those that oppress the hireling of his wages the widow and the fatherless and that turn aside the stranger from his right and that feareth not me saith the Lord. Mal. 3. 5. This must needs be of great sway with every Soul that God should now come in I will witness saith God that these things of which you are accused before the Judge is true I hâ—ve seen all know all and writ down all There hath not been a thought in your heart nor a woâ—d in your Tongue but I have known it altogether all things have alwayes bin open and naked to my Eye Yea my Eye-lids try the Children of men I have known your down-sitting and your up-rising and have understood your thâ—ughts a far off I have compassed your path and am well acquainted with all your wayes Heb. 4. 13. Psal. 11. 4. Psal. 139. 1 2 3 4. 1. You have not continued in that state of nature in which I did at first create you Eccles. 7. 29. you have not liked to retain that knowledge and understanding of God that you had and might have had by the very Book of the Creatures Rom. 1. You gave way â—o the suggestions of fallen Angels and so your foolish â—earts were darkned and alienated and estranged from God 2. All the Creatures that were in the World have even condemned you they have been fruitful but you fruitless they have been fearfull of danger but you fool-hardy they have taken the fittest opportunity for their own preservation but thâ—◠〈◊〉 both blindly and confidently gone on to thy punishment Prov. 22. 3. 3. Touching the Book of my Remembrance who can contradict it Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord was not I in all places to behold to see and to observe thee in all thy ways My eye sâ—w the Thief and the Adulterer and I heard every Lye and Oath of the wicked I saw the hypocrisie of the dissembler They have committed villany in Israel and have committed Adultery with their Neighbours Wives and have spoken lying words in my name which I have not commanded them even I know and am a Witness saith the Lord. Jer. 29. 23. 4. God will also come in against them for their transgressing his Law even the Law which he delivered on Mount Sinai he will I say open every tittle thereof in such order and truth and apply the breach of each particular person with such conâ—â—â—â—g Argument that they will fall down silenced for ever Every mouth shall be stopped and all the World shall become guilty before God Secondly There is yet another wâ—â—â—â—s for the condemning the transgressors of these Laws and that is Conscience their Consciences also beating witness saith 〈◊〉 Apostle Rom. 2. 14 15. Conscience is a 〈◊〉 Witnesses Conscience it will cry Amen to every word that the Great God doth speak against thee Conscience is a terrible accuser it will hold pace with the Witness of God as to the truth of Evidence to a hairs bredth The Witnesses of Conscience it is of great Authority it commands guilt and fastneth it on every Soul which it accuseth And hence it is said if our hearts or Conscience condemn us 1 Joh. 3. 20. Conscience will thunder and lighten at this day even the Consciences of the most pagan sinners in the World will have sufficiently wherewith to accuse to condemn and to make paleness appear in their faces and breaking in their loins by reason of the force of its conviction O the mire and dirt that a guilty Conscience when it is forced to speak will cast up and throw out before the Judgment-Seat it must out none can speak peace nor health to that man upon whom God hath let loose his own Conscience Cain will now cry My punishment is greater then I can bear Judas will hang himself and both Belshazzer and Felix will feel the joynts of their loins to be loosened and their knees to smite one against another when Conscience stirreth Gen. 4. 13. Mat. 27. 3. Dan. 5. 6. Acts 24. 23. When Conscience is once thorowly awakened as it shall be before the Judgment-Seat God need say no more to the sinner then Solomon said to filthy Shimei Thou knowest all the wickedness that thy heart is privy to 1 King 2. 44. As who should say thy Conscience knoweth and can well inform thee of all the evill and sin that thou art guilty of To all which it answereth even as face answereth to face in a Glass or as an Eccho answereth the man that speaketh as faâ—â— I say as God chargeth Conscience will cry out guilty guilty Lord guilty of all of every whit I remember clearly all the Crimes thou layest before me Thus I say will Conscience be a witness against the Soul in the day of God Thirdly As God and Conscience will at this day be most dreadful witnesses against the sinful man at this day so
Souls as appears by the grace that was in your hearts For I was an hungred and you gave me meat was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and you visited me and in Prison and you came unto me Matth. 25. 34 35 36. you owned me stood by me and denyed your selves to nourish me and my poor members in our low and weak and most despised condition This I say the World shall see hear and be witnesses of against themselves and their Souls for ever for how can it be but these poor damned sinners should be forced to confess that they were both Christless and Graceless when they shall find both in the book of life and in the hearts of the holy and beloved Souls that which themselves are quite barren of and greatest strangers to The Saints by the fruits of Regeneration even in this World do testify to the World not only the truth of conversion in themselves but also that they are yet Christless and so heavenless and salvationless that are not converted 1 Tim. 6. 12. 1 Thess. 2. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 2. But alas while we are here they will evade this testimony both of our happiness by calling our Faith fantacy our communion with God delusion and the sincere profession of his Word before the World hypocrisy pride and arrogancy yet I say when they see us on the right hand of Christ commingled among the Angels of light and themselves on his left hand and commingled with the Angels of darkness and I say when they shall see our hearts and wayes opened before their eyes and owned by the Judg for honest hearts and good wayes and yet the same wayes that they hated slighted disowned and contemned what will they or what can they say but thus We fools counted their lives madness and their end to be without honour but how are they numbred with the Saints and owned by God and Christ. And truly was it not that the world might by seeing the turn that is wrought on the godly at their Conversion be convinced of the evil of their wayes or be left without excuse the more in the day of God with some other reasons they should not I am perswaded stay so long from Heaven as they do nor undergo so much abuse and hardship as frequently befalls them God by the lengthening out the life of his people that are scattered here and there among men in this world is making work for the day of Judgment and the overthrow of the implacable for ever and ever and as I have said will by the Conversion life patience self-denyal and heavenly mindedness of his dear children give them a heavy and most dreadful blow Now When God hath thus laid open the work of Grace both by the booâ— of life and the Christians heart then of 〈◊〉 self will fall to the ground their pleading what gifts and abilities they had in this world they will now see that gifts and grace are two things and also that whosoever is graceless let their gifts be never so excellent they must perish and be lost for ever wherefore for all their gifts they shall be found the workers of iniquity and shall so be judged and condemned Matth. 7. 22 23. That is a notable place in the Prophecy of Ezekiel Thus saith the Lord saith he If the Prince the Prince of life give a gift to any of his sons that is to any that are truly gracious the inheritance oâ— the profit that he gets thereby shall be his sons that is for the exercise of his gift he shall receive a reward but if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants that is not a son then it shall be his but to the year of liberty after it shall return to the Prince c. Ezek. 46. 16 17. This day of liberty it is now when the Judg is set upon the throne to Judgment even the glorious liberty of the children of God Rom. 8. 21. wherefore then will Christ say to them that stand by Take from him the pound and give it to him that hath ten pâ—unds this servant must not abide in the house for ever though with the son it shall be so Joh. 8. 35. Luke 19. 24. A man may be used as a servant in the Church of God and may receive many gifts and much knowledg of the things of heaven and yet at last himself be no more than a very bubble and nothing 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. But now I say at this day they shall clearly see the difference between gifts and grace even as clearly as now they that have eyes can see the difference between gifts and ignorance and very foolishness This our day doth indeed abound with gifts many sparkling wits are seen in every corner men have the Word and truths of Christ at their fingers ends but alas with many yea a great many there is naught but wits and gifts they are but words all their Religion lyeth in their tongues and heads the power of what they say and know it is seen in others not in themselves these are like the Lord on whom the King of Israel leaned they shall see the plenty the blessed plenty that God doth provide and will bestow upon his Church but they shall not tast thereof 2 Kings 7. 17 18 19 20. Before I conclude this matter observe that among all the objections and cavils that are made and will be made by the ungodly in the day of the Lord Jesus they have not one hump abouâ— election and reprobation they murmur not at all that they were not predestinated to eternal life and the reason is because then they shall see though now they are blind that God could in his Prerogative Royal without prejudice to them that are damned chuse and refuse at pleasure and besides they at that day shall be convinced that theâ—e was so much reality and downright willingness in God in every tender of Grace and mercy to the worst of men and also so much goodness justness and reasonableness in every command of the Gospel of grace which they were so often intreated and beseeched to imbrace that they will be drowned in the conviction of this that they did refuse love grace reason c. love I say for hatred grace for sin and things reasonable for things unreasonable and vain Now they shall see they left glory for shame God for the Devil heaven for hell light for darkness Now they shall see that though they made themselves beasts yet God made theâ— reasonable Creatures and that he did with reason expect that they should have adhered to and have delighted in things that are good and according to God yea now they shall see that though God did not determine to bring them to Heaven against their hearts and wills and the love that they had to their sins yet then they shall be convinced that
God was far from infusing any thing into their Souls that should in the least hinder weaken obstruct or let them in seeking the welfare of their Souls Now men will tattle and prattle at a mad raâ—e about election and reprobation and conclude that because all are not elected therefore God is to blame that any are damned but then they will see that they are not damned because they were not elected but because they sinned and also that they sinned not because God put any weakness into their Souls but because they gave way and that wilfully knowingly and desperately to Satan and his suggestions and so turned away from the holy Commandment delivered unto them yea then they will see that though God at sometimes did fasten his cords about your heads and heels and hands both by godly education and smarting convictions yet you rusht away with violence from all saying Let us break these bonds asunder and cast their cords from us Psal. 2. 1 2 3. God will be justified in his sayings and clear when he judgeth though thy proud ignorance thinks to have and to multiply cavills against him Psal. 51. 4. But secondly as the whole body of the Elect by the nature of conversion in their hearts shall witness a non-conversion in the hearts of the wicked and as the ungodly shall fall under the conviction of this cloud of Witnesses So to increase their conviction there will also be opened before them all the labours of the godly both Ministers and others and the pains that they have taken to save if it had been possible these damned wretches and now will it come burning hot upon their Souls how often they were forewarned of this day now they shall see that there was never any Quarter-Sessions nor general Goal-delivery more publickly foretold of then this day You know that the Judges before they begin their Assizes do give to the Countrey in Charge That they take heed to the Laws and Statutes of the King Why Râ—bel thou shalt be at this day convicted that every sermon thou hast heard and that every serious debate thou hast bin at about the things of God and Laws of eternity they were to thee as the Judges Charge before the Assizes and Judgment began Every exhortation of every Minister of God it is as that which Paul gave to Timothy and commanded hiâ— to give in charge to others I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angells saith he that thou observe these things and again I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Jesus Christ who before Ponâ—us Pâ—laâ—e witnessed a goâ—d confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukable untill the appearing of Jesus Christ these things give in charge saith he that they may be blameless 1 Tim. 3. 21. and c. 6. v. 13. This I say hast thou heard and seen and yet thou hast not held fast but hast cast away the things that thou hast heard and hast bin warned of alas God will multiply his Witnesses against thee 1. Thy own Vows and Promises shall be a Witness against thee that thou hast contrary to thy light and knowledg destroyed thy Soul as Joshuah said to the children of Israel when they said the Lord should be their God Well saith he Ye are Witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him that is if now you turn back again even this Covenant and resolution of yours will in the great day be a witness against you and they said we are witnesses Jos. 24. 20 21 22. 2. Every time you have with your mouth said well of godliness and yet gone on in wickedness or every time you have condemned sin in others and yet have not refrained it your selves I say every such word and conclusion that hath passed out of thy mouth sinner it shall be as a witness against thee in the day of God and the Lord Jesus Christ as Christ saith Matth. 12. 36 37. By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned I observe that talk with who you will they will with their mouth say serving of God and loving of Christ and walking in wayes of holiness is best and best will come of it I observe again that men that are grosly wicked themselves will yet with heavy censures and Judgments condemn drunkenness lying coveâ—ousness pride and whoring with all manner of abominations in others and yet in the mean time continue to be neglectors of God and imbracers of sin and the allurements of the flesh themselves Why such souls every time they speak well of godliness and continue in their sins they do pass Judgment upon themselves and provide a witness even their own mouth against their own Soul at the Judgment seat Out of thy own mouth saith Christ will I judg thee thou wicked servant thou knewest what I was and that I loved to see all my servants zealous and active for me that at my comming I might have received again what I gave thee with increase thou oughtest therefore to have bin busying thy self in my work for my glory and thy own good but seeing thou hast against thy own light and mouth gone contrary Angels take this unprofitable servant and cast ye him into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth he sinned against his light he shall go to hell against his will Matth. 25 26 27 28 29 30. The very same I say will befall all those that have used their mouth to condemn the sins of others while they themselves live in their sins Saith God O thou wicked wretch thou didst know that sin was bad thou didst condemn it in others thou didst also condemn and passe Judgment upon them for their sin Thou art therefore inexcusable a man whosoever thou art that hast thus Judged for thou that judgest dost the same thing Wherefore wherein thou hast judged another thou hast condemned thy self I must therefore saith Christ look upon thee to be no other but a sinner against thy own mouth and cannot but judge thee as a despiser of my goodness and the riches of my forbearance by which means thou hast treasured up wrath against this day of wrath and Revellation of the Righteous Judgment of God He that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Rom. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. Thus will God I say judge and condemn poor sinners even from and by themselves to the fire that Lake of Brimstone and fire Thirdly God hath said in his Word that rather then there shall want witness at the day of Judgment against the works of iniquity The very dust of their City that shall cleave to his Messengers that publish the Gospel shall it self be a witness against them and so Christ bid his Servants say into whatsoever City ye enter and they receive you not go your wayes out into the streets of the same