difference betwixt the Godly and the Wicked at last to shew himself upright and that there is no unrighteousness in him Here then we see the proper work of the Sabbath-day and other Duties as Preaching Prayer Meditation Holy Conferences that help forward the main Duties thereof The End of the Fifth Discourse THE SIXTH DISCOURSE Of Christ's Judging all the World ROMANS xiv x But why dost thou judge thy Brother or why dost thou set at nought thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ THe words are a strong and forcible argument to hold Men back from doing that which they are very prone to that is to judge one another There was a great deal of dissention amongst the Believers that Paul wrote to about the use of things in themselves indifferent as Meats and observation of Days the occasion was the inequality of Believers some converted from Gentilism Strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel did live in a freer use of time and meats not observing the Jewish Feasts not tying themselves to the use of meats that the Jews were stinted to under the Law Others that were Jews and were called and embraced the Faith of Christ being weak in Faith did not understand that the Legal Ceremonies were abrogated by the coming of Christ so out of reverence and respect to the Law did abstain from meats therein prohibited and did observe Fasts and Feasts therein enjoyned The believing Jew now contemned the believing Gentile as a contemner of the Law on the other side the believing Gentiles did condemn the Jews for their Judaizing and walking contrary to the liberty of the Gospel and the difference grew to such a height as that each side seems to condemn the other as not having a part in Christ. Now this proud contempt of each other the Apostle strikes at and labours to bring them down to a more charitable opinion and loving carriage one towards another We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ For us to Judge is to place our selves in Christ's Throne to which we shall be all cited by sound of the Trumpet and voice of the Arch-angel and there appear to receive a Sentence suitable to what we were in the body We are to be all Judged by Christ so be not Judges of one another The words hold forth the last and most glorious part of the Administration of Christ's Kingdom Hitherto you have heard only of Christ's ruling in the midst of his Enemies over his Church in the midst of Enemies or mingled with wicked i. e. Enemies not at all subdued and made his Footstool but at the last day he shall sit in a Seat and Throne above his Enemies which are at his left hand to be cursed and his Church come out from the midst of Enemies standing on his right hand to be blessed Doct. 1. There is a Judgment-seat prepared for Christ on which he shall sit at the last day 2. All Men shall stand and appear before his Judgment Seat to receive a Sentence out of his Mouth 1. Christ hath a Judgment Seat prepared Jude 14. Math. 25.31 He shall sit on the Throne of his Glory that is he shall not appear in the form of a Servant as when he came first in the Flesh and was despised but ln the form of the Son of God made Judge Act. 17.31 He will Judge the World by the Man Christ Jesus he shall be Judge not only as God but as Man 2 Cor. 5.10 We must till appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ After Death comes Judgment Heb. 9.27 Judgment shall come that is by Christ's coming to Judgment Quest. What is meant by Judgment Seat whether to be understood properly of a material Throne that Christ as Man shall sit on as Earthly Judges use to sit Answ That which may make for the clearing of this consider in these particulars 1. Christ shall descend from Heaven in that nature which ascended he shall descend He was in the World and shall come into the World again as said the Angel Act. 1.11 This same Jesus which was taken up from you into Heaven shall so come c. that is locally and in the same body thus said Christ himself I will come again and receive you to my self Joh. 14.3 And Paul 1 Thess 4.16 The Lord himself shall descend and Saints shall meet him in the Air as he that ascended is the same that descended into the lower parts that is the Grave so the same shall descend again He descended first by vertue of a Sentence pronounced against him next he shall descend to give Sentence against those that were against him 2. Christ shall visibly appear in the World he shall not hide himself as he did many times at his first coming but to be seen Men shall see their Judge Zach 12.10 They shall look upon me Rev. 1.7 Every Eye shall see him Saints shall see him in whom they have believed Sinners shall see him whom they peâ—secuted and despised It was Job's Comfort and Confidence I shall see my Redeemer he shall stand the latter day on Earth It seems he then comes further than the Air not only Saints see but Sinners Numb 24.17 Balaam said I shall see him but not nigh 3. He shall appear gloriously A Judgment seat is an honourable Place Judges sit in their Robes in the Seat of Justice So Christ shall be seen in his Glory Math. 24.30 with Power and Glory that is a visible brightness and fulgor Math. 25.31 in his Glory the Glory of the only begotten Son of God i. e. that becomes such a Person what this Glory is we can't yet know but shall when we see him Math. 24.30 The Sign of the Son of Man shall appear in Heaven that is as some exceeding Glory and Majesty in Heaven which shall bear witness that Christ the Lord of Heaven and Earth draweth near to Judge the World 1. In the Glory of the Father Math. 16.27 that is such Glory as declares him to be God equal with the Father which the Jews denied and then shall see it shall declare him to be an Infinite Person Heb. 1.2 He is the Express Image of his Father's Person and brightness of his Glory And as he is so he shall be seen at that day God shall be seen in Christ as he is in Christ the fulness of the Godhead in Christ's humane nature shall shine forth 2. With innumerable companies of Angels who shall be his Ministers in gathering the Elect. He hath glorious Attendants Math. 25.31 He shall come and all the Holy Angels Now he hath but a few Poor Men of the World to attend him his followers are esteem'd as himself in the days of his humiliation Rejected of Men despised of the People Christ chuses now the weak things of the World but then all his Angels shall come with him Jude 14. Ten Thousand of his Saints according to Enoch's Prophecy that is as 't is expounded Zech.
14.5 The Lord thy God shall come and all his Saints with thee and Christ shall be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that believe in making them of Sinners Holy of Corruptible Incorruptible changing vile bodies c. 4. At this time he shall have subdued all his Enemies he shall appear in the Glory of a Conqueror This is hinted in that word Seat he shall sit down in his Seat He appeared to Stephen as standing at the Right-Hand of God Acts. 7.56 ready for Action taking his Power rising up to scatter his Enemies And to John as Riding on a White Horse going on Conquering and to Conquer which work he is now about Then he shall sit on a Seat having Conquered by his Power and taken his Enemies as Rev. 19.21 The Beast and false Prophet were taken he shall judicially proceed against them for opposing him As God Creating the World in Six Days rested the Seventh so Christ having Conquered the World shall sit down and rest from fighting and shall proceed to Judge for that he shall appear in the Glory of a Conqueror 1. Of Sin by having satisfied for it removing the guilt and condemning power as to the Saints Heb. 9.28 he shall appear the second time without Sin the meaning is the first time of his appearing in the Flesh he came with the guilt and burden of Sins the Sins of the Elect imputed to him then made Sin the Lord hath layed on him the iniquities of us all as Aaron confessed the Sins of the Israelites over the head of the Goat and sent him into a Land not inhabited But the second time he shall come without Sin without guilt â— Sin 's no longer imputed he being sent away with Sin imputed to the Grave he returns without them having left them in the Land of forgetfulness i. e. the Grave never to be brought in remembrance against Saints because of the full satisfaction he made so that he shall appear without Sin that is to the Saints a Conqueror of Sin 2. Of the Law He was made under the Law being Lord of the Law he suffered that to try its strength upon him and the Law wrought wrath and brought death on him but by the merit of his obedience overcame for he being Lord of the Law that suffered the Curse of it God was more honoured hereby than dishonoured by the transgression of the Law for which he suffered and so Conquered the Law 3. Of Death O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory And Christ shall appear as Conqueror of Death Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and am alive for evermore He hath the Keys of Death and Hell he that was dead and layed in the Sepulchre with a Stone rolled on the mouth of it and Sepulchre sealed he hath Conquered Death and gotten the Keys that is Power to deliver over to or keep from Hell 4. He shall appear as Conqueror of wicked Men and evil Angels Against such Men he shall pronounce Sentence of everlasting Condemnation for their opposing and not believing in him As for evil Angels Jude 6. he hath reserved the Angels in chains of darkness to the Judgment of great day As Prisoners are kept in Prison bound till the Assizes come so are they by God's Power that they cannot escape Doct. 2. All Men shall stand and appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ to receive a Sentence out of his Mouth suitable to what they were and had done in the Body Christ shall be Judge of all Heb. 12.23 Abraham called him the Judge of all the Earth Gen. 18.25 in which negative question is implied an affirmative position that God above all others must and will do right because from his Judgment there is no appeal Acts 10.42 Judge of Quick and Dead of those who being found alive at his coming shall be changed and and of those which shall be raised from the dead to come to Judgment 2 Tim. 4.1 Christ shall Judge the Quick and Dead at his appearing and Kingdom when his Kingdom shall be manifest to all the World as well as over all the World Yea the Man Christ Jesus shall be Judge of evil Angels they are not in full torment Why art thou come to torment us before the time Math. 8.29 All their ease and mitigation of torments is that they have a power over the wicked and rule in them tempting to Sin thus revenging themselves on God and revenge is sweet Luk. 8.31 They besought him much that he would not command them to go out into the deep into Hell For Explication shall be shewn after what form and manner Christ shall proceed in Judgment 1. All shall be cited and called to appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ None shall hide himself then the wicked shall seek to hide in holes of the Rocks and call on the Mountains to hide them c. but thence shall they be taken Math. 24.31 He shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather his Elect 1 Cor. 15.52 1. Thess 4.16 As the people of God were Assembled in their Solemn Feasts and Fasts by the sound of a Trumpet and as an Mount Sinai the Law was given with a most loud and dreadful sound so the Summons of all to Judgment shall be some such sound which is here callâ—d the last trump When it shall be all shall know what this sound means And those that would not hear the sound of the Gospel nor understand what that meant and called Men to shall know the meaning of the Voice of the Archangel and shall hear the sound of the last Trump 2. As all so in this order That is first the Elect shall be Summoned and Judged and then the wicked this may be gathered from divers places Math. 24.31 he shall send his Angels and they shall gather the Elect c. and 25.34 the King first speaks to them on his Right Hand 1 Cor. 15.23 every Man in his order first Christ then they that are Christ's then shall he put down all rule c. 1 Thes 4.16 the dead in Christ shall rise first You may take this Argument for a further declaration of it The Godly shall be Judges of the wicked 1 Cor. 6.2 Do ye not know that the Saints shall Judge the World c. Christ is primary Judge that hath authority to give Sentence Saints by way of astipulation applauding the equity and righteousness of his Judgment and in and through Christ triumphing over the World Now this dignity affirmed of Saints argues their being first judged that they have received their Blessing Ye shall sit on twelve Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Math. 19. 3. Those that are called to Christ's Judgment-Seat shall be examined and give account of the things done in the Body that is of thoughts words and works 2 Cor. 5.10 that every one may receive the things done in the body that is reward
agreeable to their actions whether good or bad 1. The Godly must be brought to an account Rom. 14.12 every one of us shall give account of himself to God how he hath behaved himself we must answer the Judge concerning our Persons Conversations c. our Thoughts Faith all shall be enquired into 2. Christ shall take notice of the sincere and holy works of Saints whatever proceeds from a pure Heart good Conscience and Faith unfeigned out of a desire to serve the Lord Jesus Math. 25.35 I was hungry and ye gave me Meat c. God is not unrighteous to forget your works of Faith and labour of Love Heb. 6.10 which ye have shewed towards his name Shew respect and reverence to the name of Christ c. 1 Cor. 3.13 every Man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire which is in part made good in this Life by the work of the Holy Ghost through the Preaching of the Gospel causing a discerning Light to shine to put a difference betwixt Truth and Error and this work shall be perfected at the day of Judgment when all Truths shall be made manifest by the revealing brightness of Christ and all errors discovered thereby Quest Whether the Sins of the Godly shall be at all mentioned or taken notice of in that great day Answ 1. The Sins of the Godly shall not appear against them for Condemnation for then they must appear against the Judge who took the guilt and punishment of their Sins upon himself but the Godly shall triumph over their Sins because they stand before him that died for them therefore no fear of Death 2. Nor to their shame all sorrow and so shame done away therefore if the Sins of the Godly be mentioned yet this shall not make them hang down their Heads with shame they shall not do as Adam hide themselves from their Judge these things are clear Now some hold that they shall not be at all brought to light because by Sentence of Justification they are covered and taken away To this may be answered that in the time of this Life Believers are absolved in God's gracious sentence towards them and in their own conscience more privately and secretly by the witness of the Spirit but at the day of Judgment they shall be absolved and acquitted of all Sins more publickly even in the sight of Angels and the whole World Now the Spirit speaks to the Heart and Conscience then Christ shall openly pronounce Sentence Come ye Blessed of my Father c. therefore it seems not contrary to the analogy of Faith to hold that the Sins of the Godly shall be brought to light Nay it seems very suitable to the great design of the Gospel which is to illustrate and commend in the highest manner the free Grace of God the great love of Christ the power of his Death and Infinite Vertue of his Sacrifice As that day is a day of Wrath to the Wicked c. so a day of Love to the Saints wherein the Love of Christ shall in the fulness of it be display'd and to commend it the more it seems not incongruous to affirm that the Sins of the Godly shall be brought to light even their secret Sins He shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that believe his great love to Saints shall cause great admiration that is they shall admire the love of Christ not only to themselves but other Saints and Angels shall admire Christ in the Saints now the knowledge of Sin and of free Grace rejoycing over it or of the love of Christ c. this shall be a meanes to heighten much their admiration and seâ— of the great love of Christ with the more lustre 3. If the Sins of the Godly be recorded and to be read 't is in the Book of Life 't is that they may have some advantage thereby c. and they are all so recorded Rev. 20. Ergo. 2. For the Sins of the wicked that is most clear they shall be all laid open to the view of Men and Angels at that great day there is a Book in which all Sins are written from an idle word to the highest Blasphemy Math. 12.36 all secret Sins are set in the sight of the Sun Rom. 2.16 He shall judge the Secrets of Men there 's nothing hid that shall not be manifested this day shall declare it Rev. 2.23 All the Churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the Hearts and Reins Rev. 20.12 the dead are judged out of those things that are written therein Whatever you now go about to conceal and hide shall not be ever hid all wickedness that lay hid under a form of godliness c. then the Vail shall be removed c. Eccles 12.14 God shall bring every work to Judgment with every secret thing Eccles 11.19 Rejoyce c. yet know that for all this God shall bring thee to Judgment Take notice of some particular Sins because the Scripture doth particularize them as Whoredom and Adultery Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 Neglect and abuse of the means of Grace this is one of the greatest Sins that Men shall be brought to Judgment for it shall bring a very heavy Punishment It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for this People if you live under the light of the Gospel and walk in darkness sit and hear the word yet are setled on the lees of Sin then at the last day this shall be brought in upon your account so many Sermons you have heard and never benefitted by them so many times Christ came to gather you and you would not so many times the Gospel came knocking at the door of your Hearts and you refused to open know that all is Recorded likewise hard speeches Jude 15. spoken against God or his People or the Commands ways and Administrations of God as to say his sayings his dealings are hard Christ endured and his Members endure the Contradiction of Sinners but you must look to be called to the Judgment-seat of Christ for Contradiction Christ shall give Sentence against those that did speak against him Yea not only hard speeches but Idle words the least Sins if you were guilty of no Sin but one idle word Christ might very justly cast you into Hell for it Some are mentioned to shew that all shall be remembred against you And there is no deluding or deceiving the Judge by your colourable pretences and excuses for he is most Wise and knoweth all things So there 's no covering your Sins for he is most Just and so no corrupting him with Gifts no overcoming with entreaties for then wicked Men shall try and call hard but he is most severe no appealing from this Bar for he is the Supreme Judge there shall be Verity in his Inquisition Impartiality in Sentencing Severity in Execution 4 Godly shall stand apart from the wicked
the Just by themselves Unjust by themselves Sheep by themselves and the Goates by themselves in this life the Wicked and Godly are mingled together Chaff with Wheat therefore 't is that in this life all things happen alike to all Eccles 9.2 There are calamities that are common to the Godly and Wicked The evil despise and persecute the good and Godly as well as the Wicked dye and rise again but great difference appears when brought to the Judgment-seat of Christ then the precious are perfectly seperated from the vile Then the Righteous shall have the upper hand Ps 49.14 The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning 5. Christ shall publâ—ckly and solemnely pronounce Sentence to the Godly and wicked according to the word and their own Consciences which shall set a Seal of approbation to the justness of Christ's Sentence Math. 25.34 The King shall say to them on his Right hand Come ye blessed c. to them on his Left-hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels For the time when Christ shall come to Judgment nothing can be said but that 't is most certain yet most uncertain Most certain that he shall come but most uncertain when he shall come to Judgment The Lord shall come but he so cometh as a Thief in the night And the time is of purpose on weighty reasons concealed that one day is concealed that it might be looked for every day As the Lightening cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West so shall the coming of the Son of Man be Math. 24.27 that is sudden and at an instant appear to all the World that all shall at once know that he he is coming as the Lightening in a moment shineth from the East to the West For the time how long 't is called a Day but longer space than artificial or natural day contains as the great and manifold work of that universal Judgment day will require Use 1. For exceeding terrour to the Wicked who now with Dives enjoy their good things who are not in troubles nor plagued as other Men that live in pleasure serving divers lusts going whither they would doing what is right in their own eyes running to excess of Riot know that for all this God will bring thee to Judgment Eccl. 11.9 The wickedness that is now sweet in thy Mouth shall be bitter in thy Belly Sin is now a wicked Man's pleasure than it shall be his pain A Wicked Man would not have his sins remembred and discovered he hates the Light of the word that reproves him when the Book of the Law is now opened to convince him of sin he shuts his Eyes and stops his Ears and hardens his Heart and will not suffer himself to be convinced of sin he fears his Conscience but then the Book wherein all is Recorded that you have done shall be opened and by him that openeth and no Man shutteth Rev. 3.7 and Conscience shall be opened And out of that Book not only Christ shall Judge you worthy of death the second death but your selves shall Judge your selves Christ and Saints shall Judge the Wicked yea their convinced Consciences shall be Judges too all â—â—ose shall bear Record against you Judgment 〈…〉 and tâ—ere is no escaping of it Sudden 〈…〉 shâ—ll come as travel on a Woman with 〈…〉 shall not escape Then shall you 〈…〉 Mountains c. Rev. 6.16 As when 〈…〉 was destroyed by the Flood and the 〈…〉 arising the People did get up to the tops of Mountains hoping that the Waters would not 〈◊〉 â—bâ—ve the Mountains in allusion hereto 't is sâ—d the Wicked shall cry to the Mountains c. Put aâ— Amos 9.1 He that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth of them shall not be deliverâ—d though they dig to Hell thence shall my hand tâ—ke thâ—m that is if they hide in Holes and Câ—res of the Earth as the Grave is called Hell Your Judge shall be Omniscient or all seeing all â—hings are naked to him c. the Wicked shall know as well as the Churches Rev. 2.23 That he is the searcher of the Hâ—art and Reins And an Omnipotent Judge His Hand shall execute the Sentence he passes Now let this dreadful day possess your thoughts and be not so overcome with the pleasures of sin ard delights of the World as to banish all serious thoughts of Judgment know that it is appointed to all to dye and after Death the Judgment After Life comes Death and after living and rejoycing in sin comes Judgment for sin Now let this Doctrine be to all Wicked Men as the Hand-writing to Belshazzar Dan. 5. 't was said to him Thou hast brought the Vessels of the Temple of God drunk Wine in them and praised the Gods of Silver and Gold and the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy ways hast thou not glorified and then this Writing was written Mene Mene c. God hath numbred thy Kingdom and it is finished Tekel thou art weighed in the ballance and found too light Peres thy Kingdom is divided even so for you that drink wine c. and praise the Gods of Gold and Silver Brass Iron Wood and Stone that love these earthly things delight more in them than in God and so praise them and glorify not God in whose hands your breath is that is who is Lord of your Life whose are all your ways that is without whose Providence you cannot move a step yet that God you glorify not know that there is a hand writing against you for all this God will bring you to Judgment To strike greater terror Consider 1. That day shall be the day of Christ 's wrath now is the day of Christ's love now is the accepted time and the day of Salvation a time for Sinners to make their peace to make supplication to your Judge but then if this day of Grace be slighted by you and you make it a day of sinning of security Impenitency then shall that day be to you a day of Christ's wrath wherein he shall in as great degree declare his wrath to the Wicked as ever he did love to his Saints Rev. 6.17 The great day of the Lambs wrath is come Now you hear of wrath in a day of Grace when yet is a time and opportunity left you to make peace and to escape wrath but then you shall hear of wrath in a day of wrath when the day of Grace is ended as for the wrath of the Father that may be escaped by flying to Christ for refuge being in Christ wrath cannot break out against us because in Christ the Father is well pleased and he is a propitiation for sin but if the day of Christ's wrath come on you before you have made your peace there is none to deliver from Christ's wrath for this is dreadful wrath The time of this Life is the day of wicked Men's wrath
Grace Gospel Righteousness have a Gospel Spirit So you are well prepared and walk through troubles dangers and oppositions in the midst of Satan's fiery darts and the World's reproaches and still the life of your Peace and Joy in the Love of God in Christ be preserved v. 17. Take the Helmet of Salvation Salvation being made sure shall be an Helmet on your Heads whereby you shall receive the blows of Tongues c. and not be hurt this shall defend you against all the Curses of the Law 1 John 4.17 Herein is our Love or Love with us made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment When others shall fear the Wrath of the Lamb c. you shall have boldness and not be ashamed in this World c. when your Salvation is sure the Soul dwells in God in the Love of God All-sufficiency Power Wisdom c. 4. The more assurance you have of your Salvation the less earthly will your thoughts and hearts be this will raise your Spirits and carry them up to God in Christ So that 1. You shall dwell in Love you shall dwell in God and God in you He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.16 And this is a glorious habitation for a Soul to dwell in the Love of God in Christ The World will be but the habitation for your Bodies The fulness of the Lord Jesus the Love of God which hath length and breadth c. shall be the habitation of your Souls The want of this the not breathing after the Assurance of Salvation makes men so earthly that their Souls are still travelling in the Creature seeking Joy and Contentment in the World 2. You 'll dwell safely and secure who can hurt those that dwell in God God must be overcome before they can be destroyed God is a better habitation then the World so whilst you dwell in the World above all labour for the assurance of the Love of God 5. The more Assurance you have the greater abounding of Grace there is from Christ 2 Pet. 1.11 Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure so an entrance shall be administred aboundantly to you into his everlasting Kingdom then shall you expect the more and receive the more you shall come with the more boldness and receive the more Grace 6. Now is the day of Salvation the day wherein great Salvation is offered to you Behold now is the acceptable time now is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Now in my absence work out your own Salvation Now is the day to make Salvation sure now Salvation is offered to you and revealed Christ now calls on Sinners and beseeches them to be reconciled to God Now God lets down the coâ—ds of his love in Christ that you may take hold on them and live Now is the Righteousness of God revealed for Sinners to embrace that they may be justified Now is the day in which the Spirit is poured forth Now is the day in which Christ is working the works of God that is for calling of Sinners out of the World and gathering the Elect into his Kingdom by the preaching of the Gospel for the saving of Souls and reconciling them unto God And this day shall have a night And now is the day and season for you to work out your Salvation to make it sure A night shall come when none shall have the means and opportunity of working out their Salvation the Night of Death or day of Judgment which is a Night in this respect then 't is too late to work out Salvation if you neglect Salvation now you shall not escape wrath in that day Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at first begun to be spoken by the Lord 't is great Salvation Salvation from the greatest misery to the enjoyment of the greatest Glory to an exceeding eternal weight of Glory 't is great Salvation spoken to not hid from you but spoken to you that you might make it sure And if the Gospel be hid when spoken consider what the Apostle says 2 Cor. 4 3. If our Gospel be hid it is to them that are lost Section 5. Use 2. Direct 1. To Sinners Such as are yet strangers from Christ and from the Covenant of Promise that you may make Salvation sure To this end 1. Build on a sure Foundation let your hopes of Glory be founded on Christ Christ is a sure Foundation Isa 28 16. A foundation of Justification Sanctification and Life that will not fail You may be as sure of acceptance as Christ anâ—â—o continue in favour with God as sure of Glory as Christ and to remain in a state of Glory and as sure of Life as Christ as sure to live because I live ye shall lille also Joh. 14.19 Christ's Life is a sure foundation of a Believers Life Christ's Acceptance a sure foundation of his Christ's Glory a sure foundation of his Glory so then hearken to the Lord's call Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth Sinners look to me who came to save you from your Sins know that there is death in Sin there is Damnation to all that are out of me your Lusts are hurtful Lusts if you follow them they will work out your ruin will bring everlastiâ—g hurt to your Body and Soul Fleshly Lusts war against the Soul they war against the Salvation Life and Peace of your Souls your Life consists not in the abundance of your Riches c. 'T is no profit to you to gain the World and loose your Souls in the Creature Neither is theâ—e any life in youâ— Dâ—tiâ—s These aâ—e no sure foundations to build youâ— Salâ—ation upon hopes of Salvation built only â—n them is like a House built on the Sand. So 〈◊〉 Christ to you look off from all those Behold me behold Life in my Death Peace in my Blood Righteousness in my Obedience Behold Love in me and Bâ—wels of Compassion with which you shall be received by me thus look to Christ and you shall â—e Salvation in him he that believes on him shall not be ashamèd for he shall be sure of Salvaâ—â—on You are all by nature of the World that lies in wickedness on which condemnation is coming apace Now prepare an Ark for the saving of your Souls Christ is this Ark as Noah in the Ark was safe and sure of being safe let the Waters rise as high as they would the Ark caâ—ried Noah still above them and when he was in the Ark God shut him in and then if any would have entred in none could Christ is the Ark prepared for the saving of Souls the Door of the Ark is not yet shut Christ calls you to come in unto him if you come not before God shuts the Door of this Ark there is no escaping of Condemnation O whilst it is to day if you will hear his voice harden not
us a Child is born to us a Son is given c. or as the Wise Men or as Peter thou art the Son of God the Saviour of the World thou hast the Words of Eternal â—ife What Christ said was wanting in them that followed him because of the Loaves let that be in 〈◊〉 Joh 6.26 Ye follow me because ye eat of the Loaves not because of the Miracle of the Loaves thar is you do not follow me because I am the Son of God sent into the World to save Sinners which you should have been convinced off by the Miracle of the Loaves but you follow me for the advantage of eating the Loaves Thus you must know Christ not after the Flesh only not only as having Flesh and being Man not only as you pereceive something in him to satisfy your Carnal Desires of being filled with temporal good thingâ— or fâ—â—â—d from Temporal and Eternal Evilâ— but know him as the Son of God and Christ anointed of the Father to be the Saviour of the World You will never know Christ aright in his Glory you will never fully resign up your selves to him till you be convinced of this O therefore reâ—ieve this Truth that Christ whom we Preach is the Son of the Living God Then you know that he is able to save and you will believe in him then you know that he must be worshiped and served by you being the Great God so you will obey him then you will apprehend greatest love in Christ that being God he should die for you then you will love him and your love will constrain you to obey him and this is totum hominis the whole of a Man the whole of a Christian Man to believe in him as the Son of God and Saviour of Men and to be constrained by Love to Obey him This is the second means 3. Take heed of any conceits of a sufficiency of Knowledge Many think they know enough of Christ as much as they need and content themselves with what they have they hear not the Word they apply not their Hearts search not for more Knowledge If there be any of such an Opinion I shall leave two places for you to meditate on 1 Cor. 8.2 You that think you know enough know nothing as you ought c. You that dream of a sufficiency of Knowledge that you have are like the hungry Man that dreams he eats but waking he is empty You are most deficient 1 Cor. 3.18 Become a Fool. Though never so wise in regard of Worldly Wisdom yet know your selves to be Fools in respect of the Knowledge of Christ that you do want and this you must know that you may be wise Joh. 14.21 4. If you have attained any measure of knowledge you must follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 follow on in Study Prayer Hearing Meditating to get more Knowledge His going forth is prepared as the Morning Christ doth not reveal himself all at once but as at going forth of the morning-light 't is by degrees there is a dawning and twilight and then perfect light when the Sun goeth forth in its might so is the going forth of Christ and so you must follow on to know more still of Christ You are not capable of receiving perfect knowledge at once John 16.12 I have many things to say but you cannot bear them now Men are at first but Babes in Christ they we know encrease in understanding strength and stature by degrees what you cannot bear now you must learn another time you must go from strength to strength from one degree of knowledge to another you must follow on to know you must grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ Use 3 Comfort to those that have gained the knowledge of Christ I shall shew 1. Some Signs whereby to know this 2. The grounds of comfort arising from thence 1. The Signs as 1. If you know Christ in such a manner as that your Souls are raised up to an esteem of him above any thing in the World thus it must be and this is the least of Christ that a true Christian can have he must love Christ more then these Esteem Christ more then Honours Riches c. in some degree otherwise he hath not the true Knowledge of Christ He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me The Young man being brought to the Trial which he loved most Christ or Riches left Christ hence it appears that he knew not Christ aright for there is no comparison betwixt Christ and Riches He that will nor forsake the World for Christ is ignorant of Christ he knows not the worth of Christ John 11.48 49. 2. If the word that hath been spoken unto you have been Spirit and Life if the Gospel hath been the Power of God to beget Faith in you to embrace it and lay hold on Christ revealed in it John 6.63 As when Christ said to Lazarus Come forth his words were Spirit and Life to Lazarus he cometh forth so if the words of Christ in the Gospel calling you to repent and to believe the Gospel have been life in this regard if that word Come forth from amongst them that are Sons of Belial have been life to you then have you gain'd this Knowledge When Christ said to his Disciples follow me they followed him O this hath Christ said to you often you have been called on many times have you left your Lusts to follow Christ left the practice of Sin to practice Holiness have Christ's words been Spirit and Life have they been as the Seed that is cast into good ground that lives and grows and brings forth Fruit Then may you comfortably assure your selves that you have gained the Knowledge of Christ 3. If you can rejoyce in the knowledge of perfect Holiness Righteousness and Justice of Christ as well as the Merit Grace and Loving kindness of Christ as well in this that he hath no sin and that he will not have sin to reign in his Members as in this that sin was imputed to him and that he imputes it not to his Members Many love the Knowledge of Grace to hear of satisfaction made c. but yet would continue in Sin They love to hear of a Pardon that might Priviledge them to commit Sin they would be freed from the malediction but not tyed to direction of the Law But if you know Christ aright you will rejoyce in him as pardoning Sin and purging Sin as in his freeing from the condemnation of Sin so in his condemning Sin in the Flesh as in pardoning and exercising Loving kindness towards humbled Sinners so in executing Judgment on impenitent and hardened Sinners Jer. 9.23 24. 4. If the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence Math. 11.12 that is since Christ Preached and men knew him there is a great slocking and concâ—â—â—se of People as if men would take Heaven by force the meaning is Men will strive to enter in at the
Sin and taken great pleasure in it and when they hear what the word says that such must be damned banish'd from the presence of God and be everlastingly tormented with Devils and that this that the word speaks should strike such unspeakable terror to the Heart of Man what doth this argue but that the word is powerful Joh 18.6 as Christ spake but a word and his Enemies that came to take him fell back so that Mens proud and stubborn hearts should fall down before the word and are made to say as the Devils why art thou come to torment us this shews that there is an Almighty God speaking in the word and this fâ—â—ther That some Men yet in a natural condition who love Sin as their own Souls should not dare to commit some Sins because the word pronounceth Judgment and that Men that hate holiness as 't is evident that many do yet out of fear of Judgments denounced in the word should be brought to make some Profession of Holiness that as the unclean Spirit fell down and confessed Christ to be the Son of God so Men of unclean Hearts not renewed are forced to confess the word is of God 2. In the Conversion of Sinners I may say concerning the Word as Christ in his Message to John The Dead are raised the Deaf hear the Dumb speak and tâ— the Poor the Gâ—spel is Preached that a word preached should do this shews it to be the word of God so Men that are dead in Trespasses and Sins are raised by it the word doth bore some Mens Ears and make them hearken and obey it Consider that Men that take such great delight in Sin as we all do by Nature working uncleaness with greediness going to it as an hungry Man to his Meals ready to pine away for the pleasures of Sin and be discontent when we cannot satisfy our Lusts as it was with Ammnon Now that any of us because the word says cease to do Evil Sin no more should loath what we so dearly loved and that our hatred of Sin should be greater than our love was to it and it may be some can tell the time and remember the word that wrought such a mighty change what is to be concluded hence but that this is none other but the word of God Again we know how we love our selves by nature even so as that self-love is the supreme Law with corrupt Nature now that such an one should because the word says if any Man will be my Disciple let him deny himself cast off self-love and self-respects and sacrifice or give himself up to Christ and be his only and prize the Glory of God more than his own good yea choose to undergo the greatest Evils rather than dishonour God this shews the invincible power of the word Again if you have any knowledge of your selves you know what bitter enmity there is in our natures against holiness now that because the word commends holiness any of us should come to delight in it this likewise adds a Seal for the confirmation of this Truth that the word is in truth Gods word Again you know how we naturally love the World even so much that some can even in these plundering times think it better to loose our Lives than our Goods now that any should despise the world for Christ's sake and esteem his Reproaches better Riches only because the word doth commend Christ above the World and propose him as the best Good What doth this argue but a divine efficacy of the word and the power of a God making use of his word as an instrument of his own to bring to pass such mighty works 3. In confounding Christ 's Enemies Psa 8.2 Out of the mouths of Babes hast thou ordained strength to stâ—ll the Enemy this strength of mouth â— Prayer which is grounded on the word and preaching when men come with revengeful Spirits and think to swallow up the People of God the word shall stop and still them the word doth gather Men together and stir them up to fight against Anti-christ Rev. 16 16. and Rev. 17.16 The ten hornes shall hate the Whore c. why the word shall discover her and hence 't is said 2 Thess 2.8 That Man of Sin shall be revealed c. he shall destroy him with the Sword of his Mâ—uth and brightness of his coming Dan. 2.34 A stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands breaks the Feet of the Image and that shall overcome the great Roman Monarchy What is this stone c. a poor weak dispised People of God called by the word believing the same and walking by it these shall overcome all Antichristian powers and as the worm Jacob thresh the Mountains Use To make some application of this by the way Is there such a power in the word and may that be truly said of the word which is falsly of Simon Magus it is the great Power of God 1. Then take heed of despising it Heb. 12.25 see that ye dispise not look well to it if you despise the word you dispise the Power and Authority of God which is in it and which shall be manifested by it either in Conversion or Confusion either in unspeakable Terror or Consolation either it shall be the power of God to save you and then you must believe it and receive it with all readiness or to condemn you if you despise it if it do not now work effectually in you to turn you from Sin into the obedience thereof then it shall Judge you in the last day now you may hear it speaking comfortably to you bringing the glad Tydings to your Souls of good things of a Saviour that is offered to you a Pardon proclaimed Heaven opened to Men that are shut up under Sin and Wrath that is if you will now suffer your Consciences to be awakned to see what condition you are in but if it be not hearkned to it shall speak terribly to you and then you shall not sleep when 't is spoken you shall not sit carelesly under it as you do now but then you shall know the Terrors of the Lord you shall know the power of Divine Wrath to prevent which you should desire to feel the exceeding greatness of his Power in creating Faith in you and the length and breadth of his Love which is revealed therein so when the word is spoken to you let me exhort you as the Prophet Jer. 13.15 Learn be not proud the Lord hath spoken Act. 13.41 Behold ye Despisers and wonder I 'll work that you will not believe If you will not believe what I have said in the Word Precepts and Promises such Judgments shall be brought on you which you would not before believe 2. Believe the Word rest on it be strong in Faith your Faith shall not be in vain you rest not then on a broken reed but on the word of the great God on the great Power of that God The Power of God