down the head like a bull-rush Isa 58.5 receiving the Lords Supper Christ-murder c. All their Services were but so many sins and the aggravations of sin so many provocations of God as all done from a Carnal principle by a Carnal rule to Carnal ends nevertheless the Scripture tells us these woful wretches will be ready there to plead for themselves their duties and services which they have done for Christ as vile as they are as they did in the dayes of their flesh Isa 58.3 We have fasted they said we have afflicted our Souls so now also in the day of Judgment False Apostles and scandalous Ministers will then be so bold as to plead their Preaching in Christ's Name and that possibly not without success Lord we have Prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Devils peradventure even to the work of Conversion Judas might cast out the Devil and yet himself be a Devil John 6.70 he might convert others and yet be unconverted himself they will plead their doing of miracles healing the sick and raising the dead Mat. 7.25 making the Blind to see and the Deaf to hear and the Lame to go and in Christs Name done many mighty works Lkewise loose Christians and formal Professors will then also plead for themselves their hearing Sermons and receiving Sacraments Luke 13.26 c. take it in their own Language We have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our Streets their external familiarities with Christ in the Assemblies of the Saints their common gifts and graces any thing then that hath but the likeness of grace upon it Christ shall hear of it Rev. 2.18 23. But all in vain The Judg whose eyes are a flame of fire to search the hearts and the reins will reprobate their persons and performances with an I know you not Luk. 13.25 and again with greater Emphasis I tell you I know you not verse 27. yea once more with a more dreadful note of abhorrency I never knew you Mat. 7.23 I never approved of you nor of any of your Services which ever you performed from the first to the last but my Soul hated both you and them Eightly There will be No begging further time of the Judg no adjourning the Tryal to another Assize-day That Court knows no Reprieve the Sinner's Tryal and Sentence 8. No begging of Day and Execution goe all together the day of Patience was out in the other world I gave her space to Repent and she Repented not and now the Judg swears in his wrath that Sinners shall never enter into his rest Ninthly No days-man tointercede with the Judg 9. No Intercessor Prov. 1.28 God will not he will laugh at their Calamity and mock when their fear cometh Oh dreadful Calamity which God will stand and laugh at Angels will not Job 5. ◠and to which of the Saints will those miserable Caitifs turn themselves they are upon Thrones round about the Judg but quite to other purposes than to become Advocates to those guilty Malefactors as will anon appear For Tenthly Therefore the Judg shall proceed to the last Acts of Judgment Two Acts of Judgment 1. The Judg will pronounce them guilty which are Two first to Pronounce them guilty of all the Treasons and Misdemeanors which those wretches have been Indited of The Judg indeed to vindicate the justice and equity of the Court will demand of the Convict Sinner Whether he hath any thing to say for himself why he should not receive Judgment to Dye and Sentence to be Executed according to Law but now Conscience shall speak impartially between the Judg and the Sinner justifying the Judg and Condemning the Sinner who having before hand received in himself the Sentence of Death shall now be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without-excuse Rom. 2.20 not able to make the least apology or defence on his own behalf but shall confess before that formidable Assembly Lord though thou judg me to everlasting flames yet thou dost me no wrong but art justified in what thou speakest Psal 51.4 and clear when thou judgest and alas What a miserable thing is this that all the time that the Sinner and his Conscience dwelt together under one Roof and Conscience would fain have spoken out the vile wretch should stop the mouth of his own Conscience and never suffer it faithfully to do its office till now when it will do him no good and tend to no other end but to justifie God and to aggravate his own Condemnation Oh that Sinners would seriously consider this and lay it to heart in time and hearken to the secret whispers of Conscience before it be too late 1 Jo. 3.21 and deal kindly with Conscience now that Conscience may deal kindly with them in that day when one good word from Conscience will be worth a thousand worlds Oh if the Sinner would have done that once willingly which now he doth whether he will or no if he would have judged himself in the day of the Gospel it might have prevented this fatal Judgment now he should not have been judged of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.31 Oh if the Judg would now speak such a word to the Convicted multitude of Reprobate Cast-aways as once he did to wretched Sinners Behold I make you this Offer that if yet before I proceed to Sentence you will unfeignedly judg your selves I will not judg you neither shall the Sentence of Condemnation pass upon you Oh what an uprore of joy would there be among those miserable Catiffs how would they down on their knees and judg themselves worthy of a thousand Hells and be content to suffer a thousand years Torment to expiate their guilt but though they would do this and if it were possible ten thousand times more no such word shall ever be spoken to them by the Judg their time of Sinning is past and their time of being judged is come and though they do now really judg themselves yet the Judg will proceed to judg them also The Sinner having thus justified the Judg the Judg shall now Condemn the Sinner out of his own mouth and solemnly setting himself down in the Judgment-Seat shall openly in the Court proclaim the Sinner guilty guilty of the whole Indictment preferred against him And then proceed to pronounce Sentence in some such words as these Sinner thou hast been Indited Arraigned and Convicted of High-Treason against the Supream Majesty of Heaven in the breach of his holy Law and in contempt of his blessed Gospel trampling the Son of God under foot Heb 10 29. Chap 6.6 and Crucifying him over and over again and putting him to an open shame c Hear now therefore thy sentence Thou art Accursed for ever the Wrath of God abideth upon thee thou shalt not see light Mat. 25.41 Go thou Cursed into everlasting burnings prepared for the Devil and his Angels and what shall be said to one
shall be said to all Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire where the Worm never dyeth and the fire is not quenched into utter darkness where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth there to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels for ever Now during all this tremendous transaction the Saints shall sit in judicature as Assessors or Justices of the Peace with Christ upon the Bench seeing and hearing all that is done by the Judg voting with him approving and applauding him in his judicial proceedings crying out with loud acclamations Thou art Righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast judged thus and other Saints shall eccho to them saying Even so Lord God Almighty true and Righteous are thy Judgments Thus the Saints shall judg the world Rev. 16.57 1 Cor. 6 2. yea they shall judg the Angels the Reprobate Angels but of this I have spoken more largely in the former part of this Treatise I come now to the Fifth end of the Saints meeting with Christ sc To receive their compleat and final Benediction Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world A blessed Sentence indeed every word in it is Heaven before the Saints come to Heaven Come my Love my Dove my undefiled One stand at no longer distance come and follow me whither I go I will that where I am there you may be also Ye Blessed Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places Your Enemies on Earth accounted you the filth of the world 1 Cor. 4.13 and the off-scouring of all things Sathan hath desired to have you that you might be accursed with him for ever but ye are blessed and shall be blessed for ever Blessed of my Father Blessed in the eternal electing love of the Father Blessed in the Son's purchase you have washed your garments white in the blood of the Lamb Blessed by the Laver of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 and renewing of the Holy Ghost Inherit Ye are Children Heirs Heirs of God joynt-heirs with Christ behold I have adopted you to be follow-heirs with my self and the Father hath made you meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Oh come now and take possession of your Inheritance behold it is not less than a Kingdom for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luk. 12.32 the Kingdom of Heaven the Kingdom of Glory behold it is Prepared In the Father's decree God hath laid it out for you before the foundation of the world was laid and it is prepared by my purchase and by my taking possession of it long since in your Name Jo. 14.2 I went before to prepare a place for you For you whom I also prepared for it and for every one of you personally every one of you shall receive an intire Kingdome to your selves and you shall live and reign with me for ever and ever As Heaven hath been kept for you so you have been kept for it by the power of God through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Oh come now and take possession Behold This is the Saints full and final Benediction I should have spoke to this before I spake of the Sentence passed upon the Reprobate for in our Lord's method it doth precede Mat. 25.34 compared with ver 41. yet because Execution of the Sentence begins with the wicked and ends with the godly as ver 46. to the end that the Saints may behold with their eyes the Sentence Executed and seeing they may as God himself doth laugh at them saying Psal 52.7 Lo these are the men that made not God their strength but trusted in the abundâ—nce of their riches and strengthened themselves in their wickedness I have I say therefore chosen to speak of the Sentence of blessedness which the Judg shall pass upon the Saints in this place that from thence I might pass immediatly to the happy Execution thereof upon them nothing intervening as to the persons of Saints which is the Sixth and last end of the Saints meeting with Christ in the Air sc Their solemn and triumphant Attendance on the Judg The Sixth and last end of the Saints meeting with Christ is Their taking possession to take possession of the Kingdom This last judicial process being thus solemnly finished Sentence on both sides pronounced by the Judg the Reprobate already dragged away by the Executioners of divine Vengeance to the place of Execution where they shall be tormented with the Devil and his Angels for ever and ever immediatly the Bench will rise the Court shall be broken up that great Occumenical assembly shall be dissolved and forthwith the Judg shall ascend his Majestick Chariot waiting ready for him and all the Saints shall follow him in their Wedding-garments glittering as the Sun in his Meridian glory upon their several Chairs of State all the holy Angels of God attending round about them with their Ensigns of glory flying Trumpets sounding Angels singing the Saints themselve shouting all the Regions of the Air resounding with their Celestial harmony the like whereunto never entred the Ear of man from the day wherein God laid the foundations of the Heaven and Earth to this happy moment In this triumphant posture shall they march till they come to the walls of New Jerusalem where the Gates of pearl to whom it shall be proclaimed Lift up your heads oh ye Gates and be ye lifted up ye everlasting Doors and the King of glory shall enter in shall stand wide open to receive them An entrance shall be administred unto them abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ through the Streets whereof which are of pure gold as it were transparent glass they shall ride in Triumph till they come to the Throne of his Majesty where the Ancient of days sitteth Dan. 7.9.13 whose garment is as white aâ— Snow and the hair of his head like pure wool his Throne is like the fiery flames and his wheels as burning fire c. Then shall the Son of God come to Him and taking his new Bride in his hand shall present her to his Father and bespeak him in some such language as this Rev. 7.16 Chap. 5.9 Chap. 12.11 These are they which come out of great Tribulation who have washed their Robes white in my blood These are they which have kept the word of my patience these are they that overcame by my blood and by the word of their Testimony John 17.6 Verse 12. Thou gavest them me out of the world thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word while I was with them in the world I kept them in thy Name those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition that the Scriptures might be fulfilled I have given them thy word and the world hath
priviledg of the Resurrection which was an Arcanum or Mysterie not formerly made known to the Church But this is but a conjecture which carrieth with it little probability The Apostle telling us in the same place that the words he heard in that Extatical Vision were Vnspeakable words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. things which were either not lawful to be uttered or not possible to be uttered ineffable words had this Mysterie been that Revelation or any part of it the Apostle had in reporting it to the world either exceeded his commission or done impossibilities Others therefore conceive that this was a mystery revealed to none but to the Apostle himself and that not unto him until he wrote this Epistle and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the word of Lord signifies only the Apostle his delivering this by divine Authority from divine inspiration quasi eo ipso loquente Bern. Christi mandato Grot. Others there are that waving both these Conjectures are apt to think this mystery so called because it was not commonly understood in the Church to be none other than the Doctrine which our Lord himself delivered by word of month in the dayes of his flesh concerning the Resurrection for which Some would make us beholding to Tradition but others more rationally suppose the Apostle to entitle this Doctrine to the Lord not as if any where delivered in terminis in so many express letters and syllables but as a divine Truth deduceable from the general doctrine which the Lord Jesus did deliver in his Sermons and discourses touching the raising of the dead And to this judgment I do much incline as the more safe and warrantable Christ's own words being a much more solid foundation to build an Article of Faith upon than either Tradition or Revelations Witness the Holy Ghost in the mouth of the Apostle St. Peter 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of Prophesie more sure then what Why more sure than the Voyce which the Disciples heard from Heaven when they were with Christ in the Mount ver 18. An infallible Oracle attested by infallible Witnesses and yet behold the written Word is a surer bottom for our Faith to stand upon in taking up divine doctrine than that because though the voyce from Heaven was in it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 infallible yet the holy Scriptures being the standing * Psal 19.7 God's Amen Testimony and Expositor of Gods mind to the world it is a more authentick Touch-stone to try Truth by then a Voyce from Heaven which may be Counterfeited by Satan and Satanical Imposture We shall reckon then this mystery delivered here by holy Paul as the Doctrine which Christ himself Preach'd unto the world and testified by the Evangelists and other Secretaries of the Holy Ghost until Revelation be more clearly revealed unto us in this point Amongst the passages of our Lords Doctrine recorded by the Evangelists concerning the Resurrection from which this particular mystery may be collected we may with safety and modesty select these Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man Math. 24.30 and they shall see him coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory And he shall send forth his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather his Elect from the four Winds from the one end of Heaven to another When they shall rise from the dead Mark 12.25 they neither marry nor are given in marriage And again As touching the Dead that they rise have ye not read in the book of Moses c Behold by the way Jesus Christ that he might give testimony to Moses quotes the testimony of Moses for the Doctrine of the Resurrection But yet further take another testimony or prediction of his own The hour is coming Jo. 5.28 in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear the voyce of the Son of man And shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of life c. To these Scriptures and the like it is most probably conjectured our Apostle doth refer when he doth here quote the Authority of our Lord for the Doctrine here delivered For although it doth not run verbatim word for word with any of the recited Texts yet these things are evident First That in these Scriptures our Blessed Saviour doth positively and expresly assert the doctrine of the Resurrection at the last day The dead must rise Secondly That the main care which Christ will take at his coming will be To gather unto himself all his Elect which have been upon the earth from the Creation until that blessed hour Math. 24.31 He shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather his Elect c. not one of them shall be wanting Thirdly Christ comprehends all these his Elect whether quick or dead under one and the same notion namely the dead and those that are in the Graves not the least mention made or notice taken of them that shall survive and be found alive at his coming whence two things are clearly deducible First That the Resurrection which the Saints that sleep in Jesus shall be made partakers of shall put them into as full a capacity of the glory of Christs coming as if they had remained alive in the body until that blessed hour Yea Secondly That the Saints then surviving can upon no other account become capable of that glory than as they fall under the notion of the dead Christ takes notice in the prediction of his coming of no other but the dead for whom that glory is reserved Whence Some are of opinion that the surviving Saints must dye in a literal sense and a real separation must pass upon them between their bodies and their souls Mirâ celeritate of which opinion Austin himself was though he conceived it would be transacted in a wonderful swift and speedy way But others conceive that the Saints whom Christ his coming shall find in the body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall suffer only some thing analogical to death and to this opinion our faith must needs subscribe the Holy Ghost bearing witness to it in the mouth of the Apostle in the 15th Chapter to the Corenthians 1 Cor. 15.51 We shall not all sleep i. e. all shall not dye in a literal sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what then but we shall all dye or be changed i. e. they that dye not must be changed All must either dye or be changed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that do not sleep must suffer a mutation that shall bear some proportion to death Verse 50 whereby the corruption of their nature must be abolished for flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption The body as it is corruptible much less as it is sinful is not capable of glory there must a refining change pass upon it they must put off their
the Angels of Heaven but the Father there 's the doctrine and then the use is verse 42. Watch therefore for ye know not the hour when the Lord doth come Therefore indeed is the last day concealed from us that we may watch every day And therefore Christians look about you what have you been doing so many years together under the ministry of the Gospel are your accompts yet ready are your evidences cleared is your pardon sealed your interest in Christ secured your calling and Eleclion made sure have ye wrought out your salvation with fear and trembling Luk. 12 35 36. Are your lights burning and your loynes girded and you your selves like unto men that wait for the coming of the Lord that when he cometh and knocketh you may open to him immediatly up and for the Lords sake yea for your own sakes make haste this may be the day the hour when the Son of man may come Wo unto that man to whom the coming of the Lord will be a surprize Therefore I say again watch what you do do quickly I come now to the third branch of this seventh word of Comfort sc Third branch of the seventh word of Comfort The ground and reason of this comfortable truth which lieth in the first clause of the next verse For verse 16. the Lord himself shall descend c. The words are of a twofold consideration sc Absolute And Relative The absolute and positive holds forth a main Article of our Faith sc Christ's last coming to judgment in person The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven The Relative and so they are a confirmation of this comfortable truth They which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep and why so For the Lord himself shall descend c. In their absolute sense the words are as I say a main Article of our Faith concerning Christ's coming to judgment in person and therefore may justly challenge their room to make up one entire and distinct word of Comfort in this divine context And so I will first consider them and then in their relative tendency sc as they are a ground or reason of the former Comfort In the order of this second part they are the second but in the method of the whole Context 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are The Eighth word of Comfort Eighth word of Comfort 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord himself shall Descend Here the Apostle describes unto us the last coming of Christ to judgment In which description we have three considerable particulars sc 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Person that shall come The Lord himself 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The certainty of his coming He shall come 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The manner of his coming With a shout I begin with the first of these The Person that shall come 1. The Person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord himself i. e. Jesus Christ God-Man the Mediator between God and Man He that came at first to purchase and redeem the Elect of God the same person will now come to raise them out of their Graves to gather them together and to bring them with him unto Glory He will not send a Deputy-Angel about the solemn work of that day but will descend Himself in Person to finish that last and grand trust of his Mediatory-Office And that upon a twofold account 1. R. Why Christ will come personally sc because the Judgment must be visible 1. The Lord himself will Descend in his own Person Because the judgment must be visible and therefore the Judge must be so too There is a dispute whether Christ shall sit on a visble Throne and it is very probable he shall sure we are from the Scripture that he shall appear in the Clouds of Heaven that He may be heard and seen of all Behold Rev. 1.7 he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him Clouds are visible things and these Clouds shall not obscure him but rather render him more conspicuous Every eye shall see him He shall so come with Clouds that they shall be a Throne to exalt and lift him up to the view of all the world therefore is the posture noted as well as the Throne Ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of Power Math. 26.64 and coming in the Clouds of Heaven Clouds shall be his Throne and sitting will be the posture the posture of a Judge To judge the world is an act of supream Authority and therefore it must be done by one of the three Persons Now the Father and the Spirit are invisible therefore hath the Father appointed a day Act. 17.31 wherein he will judge the world by the man Christ Jesus The Flesh of Christ is a Veil to his Deity by which God is made visible to an eye of Flesh Christ is God manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God conspicuous in the humane nature and in that humane nature which he assumed of the Virgin will Jesus Christ appear in Judgment that so every eye may see him the wicked to their terror but the Godly to their unspeakable joy Isa 66.5 Secondly 2. R. for the recompence of his abasement The Lord himself shall appear for a recompence to his abasement It is requisite that he that was judged by the world should now come to judge the world He came at first humble lowly despised sitting upon an Ass spit upon Crucified but he shall come again in power and great glory It is good somtimes to compare the two Comings of Christ together At first he came into the Flesh In Carâ—â—â— he shewed himself in the nature of man to be judged But at his second coming he shall come in the flesh In Carne He shall come from Heaven in the same humane nature which he carried up with him into Heaven there to be the Judg both of the quick and the dead His fore-runner then was John the Baptist the voyce of one crying in the Wildeâ—ness At his second coming his fore-runner shall be an Arch-Angâ— With the voyce of an Arch-Angel and the Trump of God as in the Text. Then his Companions were poor Fisher-men Now his Attendants shall be the mighty Angels of Heaven 2 Thes 1.7 Then he came riding on an Ass a Colt the Foal of an Ass Now he shall come riding on the Clouds sitting on a Throne At his first coming he appeared in the form of a Servant Now he shall come as a Lord in the glory of his Father Then he came in the likeness of sinful Flesh to suffer as a Sinner for Sinners Now he shall appear the second time to them that look for him Heb. 9. last without sin unto Salvation Then he drunk of the brook in the way but now shall he lift up his head This for the recompence
conjecture that we should not too soon forget the Affliction and the Misery the Wormwood and the Gall but that our Souls having them continually in remembrance might be humbled in us Lam. 3.19 20. Possibly that the Children being every way alike both in Person and in Disposition one and the same Plaister might give ease and cure to the wound and one and the same Monument perpetuate their Memorial unto Posterity Truly they were a pair of lovely Babes Babes in Age though men in knowledg and understanding of whom we may in their Capacity sing as David once in his Funeral Elegies of Saul and Jonathan They were pleasant in their lives in their death they were not divided Their lives indeed were short so it seemed good to the Divine Wisdome after He had shewed two such excellent pieces in the Light for a while timely to lay them up amongst his Jewels lest they should receive hurt or stain from a present evil world But although their lives were short yet verily they were precious such as allowing them this Abatement that they were Children neither Parents nor Standers-by could rationally have wished they had been otherwise then they were And though there were some distance of years yet there was the greatest parity of Persons observed between them that though they were but the Brother 's and Sister 's Sons you could not had they been together have distinguished them from natural Brethren or Tynnes rather of the same Birth For Elegancy of Person Loveliness of Countenance Solidness of Judgment Acuteness of Wit Tenaciousness of Memory Sweetness of Disposition Vniversal Innocence and Modesty in behaviour Obedience to Parents Next or Remote Submission to Governours Observance to Superiours Love to Equals Condescention to Inferiours and candor to all And that which deservedly is of higher value with God Reverend Attention to his Word Read or Preached together with some suitable ability to give a methodical repetition of both Studious in learning Catechisms of which they were able to give such a rational account as if they had been Candidates for the Vniversity as many both of the Nobility and others in the Parish of Giles 's in the Fields can at this day witness Love to the best things and a due respect to the best men with a more then a Childish dislike of and adversness to what they understood to be evil c. These Desirablenesses according to yea and above the rate of Children rendered them so like one another as if one Soul had animated two bodies or one and the same Conception had been formed up into two Patterns though reserved to be seen successively to the end as it were that the Elder might out-live himself in the Younger Aut Utrumque putabis esse verum aut Utrumque putabis esse pictum You would have deemed them to be either the same Person or two Pictures one the Original the other a Copy Sic oculos sic ille manus sic ora ferebat He that had seen one might have known them both And as they were alike in their Lives so in their Death they were not divided or if a little in time not at all in the manner and Circumstances They both Lived with us but died with you they lived with the Divine but died with the Physitian to shew that neither Religion doth kill nor Physick can keep alive Nevertheless though they died with you they came not to dye any further than the hidden Decree of the Divine will had before determined They died alive as it were Death gave them so little warning Neither Parents or Children understood wherefore they came until within a very few days Death shewed his Commission and as soon Executed it They died both of them in the absence of their Trustees who though one step higher in the Parental line were not I am sure half a step lower in Parental affection which the Divine eye Saw and pittied and therefore out of Compassion hiding from us what he was about to do As he snatched us from the Elder by sending us abroad So He snatched the Younger from us by sending him Home to his Fathers House So pittying our Infirmity who otherwise possibly might not have parted with them so willingly nor have born their loss so patiently The loss of two such choyce Patterns of Divine workmanship could not but have been an heart-breaking object to us as it was to you but that their constant absence from you was a preparative whereby the terrour of death was somthing abated their very absence so long before was a little death That which sweetneth it to us all is that God hath not left us to mourn as men without hope that in the Context before us The Children are not dead but sleep they sleep in Jesus If any Stander-by shall judg possibly that my affection hath transported my Charity into their excess my Apology is this that I had rather be guilty of an Excess in Charity than a Defect in thankfulness I know we cannot expect such rational accounts of Grace in Children as may be found in Adult Saints but that that doxologie out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast ordeined strength Psal 8.2 doth not exclude Children though not confine the meaning of the words so narrow is the judgment of the old St. Ignatius who from those Scripture instances of Samuel Josiah and others denieth not but that the Spirit of God working in young ones doth many times give out early discoveries of the Grace of the Covenant when Elder Persons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Epist ad Magn. do only carry their Gray-haires as a badg of their Ingratitude to God As for your dear Children God hath not left himself without fuâ—ther witness in their death of an interest in them Those heavenly whispers which the tender Aunt laying her ear to the pale lips of her dying Nephew as he lay upon his back with eyes fixed Heaven-ward when he wanted strength to make his heart audible God Christ Grace c. And her own dear Childs delight in that little Book A Guide to Heaven a book little in bulk but great in Excellency which as it caused him to make it his Vade Mecum while he lived his Golden Cup out of which he drank his Mornings draught every morning in his Bed So it caused him to take it with him as his Viaticum to Heaven when he came to dye For it was found with him when dead These I say are overplusses of Divine Grace and witnesses of Divine Love to those dying Babes from their Heavenly Father Wherefore Dear Children let not the Consolations of God seem small unto you but improve them for your own Comfort and quickning in the holy Education of the surviving Treasures of your Blood that if they live you may have comfort in their Lives or if they dye you may have hope in their Deaths Be steadfast and immoveable and always abounding in the work of the Lord for as
12. Ch. 5.8 Their patient bearing of the Cross Their keeping of the word of God in the precepts of it and keeping close to it in the Truth of it Their superlative Love to Christ Math. 10.37 Their Cordial Love to the Saints 1 Jo. 3.14 Their Contempt of the World 1 Jo. 2.15 Their Love of Christs appearance 2 Tim. 4.8 In a word Their conformity to Christ their Head Rom. 8.29 These and the like Divine Vertues although not seldome more visible to a judicious stander by than to themselves and not to be weighed but with some graines of allowance in the ballance of the Sanctuary these I say may administer abundant matter of hope and rejoycing to surviving Friends that those Relations which are fallen asleep were a people whom God hath set apart for himself pretious in his sight honourable and beloved of him a people formed for himself to shew forth his praise Col s 1.13 and made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Yea even in them whose Sun goes down in the morning of their Youth A teachable Spirit Math. 13.16 Isa 28.9 71 Psal 5. Jo. 16.8 1 John 2.13 John 17.3 Pious Inclinations Sense of a lost Estate by Nature A Competent knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ in his Offices A real sense of the need and use of Christ 1 Pet. 2.7 2 Tim. 3.15 Ps 119.13 An early acquaintance with the Scriptures A good understanding of the Word Preached not without some savour of it Respects to Gods Sabbaths And in a word 1 Kings 14.13 Any good thing toward the Lord God of Israel These early Impressions I say where ever they are found though according to different ages and capacities more or less legible in them are so many hopeful Indiciums that God hath been at work upon their hearts betimes and that he doth not untimely take them away in judgment but are polished Jewels which he hath of special grace laid up and secured from the violence and prophanation of a reprobate world Nay once more Those very Babes and Sucklings whom God is pleased to remove from us very early snatched from their Mothers Breasts yea possibly who pass swiftly from the Womb of their Natural Mother unto the belly of the Earth their Original Mother even these I say they being A Covenant seed Appendices of their believing Parents Children of promise Act. 2.39 Consecrated unto God by their Baptisme or by the Tears and Prayers of their holy Parents in the want of it having a right to the mercies 1 Cor. 7.14 Rom. 9.11 Mar. 10.4 Luk. 1.44 Gal. 1.15 Renatiante quam nati Aug. priviledges of the Covenant as well as to Baptisme Among whom is dispersed God the Father's Election God the Son's purchase God the Holy Ghost's Influence and Operation Even these are not to be looked upon as a lost Generation but may in the warrantable judgment of Scripture Charity be hopefully reputed for an Holy Seed Gods adopted Children owned by Christ and in him heires co-heires of the Kingdome of Heaven by special prerogative advanced to their Inheritance as it were before their time Upon this Foundation stands our hope concerning our Godly Relations which are fallen asleep of what age or state soever we are not to mourn for them even as others which have no hope Let them mourn excessively who know not the Scriptures nor the power of God in raising the Dead who bury their Relations and their hopes together in one Grave but you that upon these Scripture evidences have good hope through grace concerning your deceased Friends that while you are mourning on Earth they are rejoycing in Heaven that whiles you are Cloathed with black they are Cloathed in white even in the long white Robes of Christs Righteousness while you are rooling your selves in the Dunghil they are sitting with Christ upon his Throne Do not I beseech you profane your Scriptural hope with an unscriptural mourning give not the world occasion to judge either your selves to live without Faith or your Relations to dye without hope but let your Christian moderation be known to all men that it may be a visible Testimony to all the world of God's grace in them and of your hopes of their glory with God Therefore comfort one another with this word also A third word of comfort followeth and that is A third word of Comfort Our gratious Relations are not alone in their Death The Captain of their Salvation did march before them through those black Regions of Death and the Grave Jesus died this is implied in the following words If we believe that Jesus died This is a third consolatory Argument and it carryeth in it strong consolation Our sweet Relations in dying run no other hazard than Abraham Isaac and Jacob did no other hazard than all the Patriarchs and Prophets and Apostles did in their generations they all died and were resolved into their first dust Yea what shall I say They run no other hazard than the Lord of all the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles did Jesus died this is wonderful indeed the Lord of Life died The eternal Son of God was laid in the Grave If our Children die we know we begot them mortal The Son of God had no principle of mortality in him * i.e. No sin in him to deserve it nor disease to cause it and yet he died Be our Children never so precious to us they cannot be so pretious to us God forbid they should as the Lord Jesus was to His Father who testifies concerning him from Heaven with a loud voyce This is my well-beloved Son Math. 3.17 in whom my Soul is well pleased And yet God gave up this well beloved of his Soul to the death Jesus died And we indeed justly Death is but our wages wages as truly earned as ever was a penny by the poor hireling for his days labour both we and our Off-spring have forfeited our lives over and over again by continual reiterated Treasons against the supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth yea the best blood which runs in our veins is Traytors blood by succession from our first Rebellious Parents for which God might justly have executed the sentence at first imposed even as soon as ever we draw our first breath Thou shalt dye the death Gen. 3. But He what evil had he done He was holy harmless undefiled Heb. 7.26 Isa 53.61.71 Heb. Ho hath made the iniquity of us all to meet in him separate from sinners He did no sin neither was there guile found in his mouth He fulfilled all Righteousness and yet Jesus dyed And why so Surely he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed we all like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid upon him the Iniquity
shall bring them together Math. 24.31 The incineration dissipation of their dust shall have a Recollection in the Resurrection not so much as one dust wanting for he that numbers the Stars doth number also the dust and ashes of his Redeemed as not an hair of their heads so not a dust of their resolved flesh shall perish Thus gathered together Christ by his mighty power shall unite dust to dust every dust in its own proper place and form it up into the same numerical body it was when it was dissolved and laid down in the Grave And thus made up into a beautiful Structure more beautiful than ever it was in its first Creation as I shall shew hereafter Christ will put each Soul into its own body again and unite them together into the same sweet conjugal society and fellowship they possessed before their separation this friendly espoused Pair shall now be solemnly Married together before God and Men and Angels never to suffer Divorce any more and they shall become one entire person a totum compositum as they were in the days of their first contract And this excellent person will Christ animate and quicken with the influences of that blessed Union with himself which during all this long interval of their sleeping in the Grave was not dissolved but hidden only and suspended Now shall the Saints know and feel the meaning of that word which Christ spake to Martha I am the Resurrection and the Life Martha in the verse immediately before had professed her Faith of a Resurrection I know that my Brother shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day Presently Christ replieth Jo. 11.25 I am the Resurrection and the Life discovering to her the Fountain and Cause of that Resurrection namely that Life and Vertue shall then go forth from himself to animate and quicken all his Members and shall cause them to stand upon their feet again as the Children of the Resurrection Thirdly Soul and body thus Vnited Christ God-man shall bring with him unto the place where the great Assizes of the quick and dead shall be solemnly kept which the 17th v. tells us will be in the Air of which more distinctly when we come to that verse Thither Christ will bring with him all his Elect whose bodies to that moment have slept in him Christ will carry the risen Saints with him to the Judgment when he hath awakened them And that upon a Twosold Accompt First For the greater Honour of that Day For the greater solemnity of that last and tremendous Judgment The Saints shall be brought out of their Graves to attend the Judge for his greater State and Grandeur to strike the greater Terrour into the hearts of Reprobate men and Angels who then shall be brought forth in Chains to the Tribunal of Christ to see and suffer the severity and impartiality of that last Tryal The Glory of a King consists in the multitude of his Nobles and Royal Attendants The Judge of Assize is brought in with the Posse Comitatus the power and gallantry of the Country for the striking of the greater terror and aw into the hearts of offenders Angels and Saints shall be Christ's Life-guard as it were Christi Satellitium or as his Troops and Legions which shall conduct him in State and Triumph to the Judgment Seat Secondly when Christ shall have raised his sleeping Saints out of their beds of dust he shall bring them with him from the Grave to the place of Judgment That they may accompany him and be with him throughout the whole carriage and conduct of the last judicial process to hear and applaud his righteous proceedings This is that which the Apostle calls The Saints judging of the World and judging of Angels yea 1 Cor. 6.2 3. it seems that is not all our Saviour tells his Apostles that in that day Math. 19.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nâ—mpe ut Christi vere propâ—è Judicis Assâ—ssâ—res Bern. in â—oe they shall sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes c. judging or condemning how certainly not as bare Spectators only but as Assessors to sit with Him on the Bench to justifie and consent to the judgment of Christ the great and Supream Judg giving in their full and free suffrages to the final sentence which he shall pass upon the Reprobate world of Jews and Gentiles of Men and Devils probably in some such language as we hear from the Saints upon the downfall of Antichrist Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty And by that Doctrine they shall be judged also in the general judgment Math. 13.18 Jo. 12.48 Heb. 117. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He condemned the world partly as the building of the Ark was a visible prediction of the Flood partly as it was a witness and conviction of their infidelity just and true are thy waies thou King of Saints for thy judgments are made manifest Here the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel judged the Wicked of the world by their Doctrine and both Ministers and others of Gods faithful Servants judged them by their Holy lives and patient bearing of the Cross as it is said of Noah that by his Faith in believing the warning and obeying the Command of God in preparing the Ark he judged or condemned the unbelieving World The holiness of the Saints is a tacit reproach and conviction upon the Consciences of Wicked men whereby they condemn them before hand yea whereby wicked men become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Self-condemned But now the Preachers of the Gospel with the rest of the Saints shall Judge the world judicially and probably by an audible Vote to and with the Judgment of Jesus Christ * Rev. 16.5 Thou art Righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast judged thus This honour shall all the Saints have at that Day Thus Christ shall bring the raised Saints with him to the place of Judgment But Fourthly Fourthly God shall bring them with him i. e. that last and solemn Judgment being finished Christ shall carry all his Saints back with him from the place of Judgment the neather Heavens into the upper the supreme Heavens where the Throne of God is and the seat of glorified Angels and Saints All the Saints of God shall follow the Judg in a Triumphant manner into the streets of the New Jerusalem the gates whereof shall be set wide open to receive them An abundant entrance shall be administred unto them into the everlasting Kingdome of the Lord and Saivour Jesus Christ where they shall be welcomed home with lowd Acclamations of joy Heaven will ring again with Triumphant shoutings Thus also God shall bring them with him that sleep in Jesus he will bring them into the Glory of his Father but of this I shall have occasion to speak more largely hereafter This is another Word of Comfort and there is great need
of it Use upon a two-fold Account Comfort to living Saints First To the Saints yet living First In reference to the Saints of God yet living You are now scorned and persecuted the ungodly world doth now judge you and condemn you the Psalmist observed it in his time Psal 94.6 they gather themselves together against the Souls of the Righteous and condemn the Innocent blood Innocence is no security against cruelty and oppression yea it seems no wine so sweet to wicked men as Innocent blood Jam. 5.6 ye have condemned and killed the just and yet that open violence may not want a pretence of Justice they act in the form of a legal process before they kill they do condemn but alas those Fig-leaves will not cover their nakedness It is the just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom they do unjustly Condenm and Murder so it was in Davids time and so it was in St. James his time One saith I should suspect him to be no Abel who hath not a Cain to persecute him ver 7 8. and so it is now the Reprobate world holds on its course to this day and so it will be to the end of the World God's Righteous Abels must expect no better justice at the Tribunals of these unrighteous Cains But be patient my Brethren till the Coming of the Lord and stablish your hearts for that coming of the Lord draweth nigh and then the Scene shall be altered you shall have the Law as it were then in your own hands your turn shall be to sit upon the Bench and your Enemies shall stand at the Bar They Judg and Condemn you now but there is a day coming when you shall Judg and condemn them and they indeed Vnrighteously but you shall Condemn them Righteously because your Judgment shall be according to the Judgment of that Righteous Judg of Heaven and Earth the Searcher of the hearts who will judg men by those two impartial Books the Book of his own Remembrance and the Book of their Consciences Yea you shall judge them for their Vnrighteous judging of you So it was Prophesied of old Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to Execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him not in his person only but in his Members also Loqâ—untur lapides all their ungodly deeds and all their hard speeches wherewith they have unjustly judged the Saints of God shall be judged over again And this honour shall all the Saints have they shall judg their Judges and not be guilty Psal 49.14 The Righteous shall have the Dominion over them in the morning Surely this is an advancement which the poor oppressed people of God could never have expected were they not assured of it from the mouth of him that shall be the Judg at that day Let this stay and stablish your hearts Secondly Secondly In reference to the Saints departed It is a word of comfort in reference to the Saints departed our precious Relations the sense of whose loss and absence we are not able to bear while we think of them as smothered and extinguisht in their own ashes silent in the land of forgetfulness in whose sweet converse we were wont to solace our selves with much delight their souls having left the habitation of their bodies and their bodies resolved into dust and that dust possibly mixt with the dust of wicked men or of the brute Creatures it may be dispersed into the remotest part of the world Ah these be some of the heart-dividing thoughts wherewith we do afflict our Souls But give check to your passions Oh ye mourners of hope and make use of the Cordials which your Heavenly Physitian hath prescribed to keep you from fainting Remember that although their bodies are in the Grave their Souls are with the Spirits of just men made perfect beholding the face of their Father which is in Heaven from whence Jesus Christ God-man when he shall come in the glory of his Father attended with all his mighty Angels will bring them with him And then shall he go to their Graves and as he formerly said unto them Come my people enter into thy Chambers shut the doors about thee go to bed in the Grave and take thy rest so now he will awaken them out of their sleep with a sweet voyce Awake and sing you that dwell in the dust Arise shine for thy light is come the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee c. yea he will kiss them awake with the kisses of his mouth and then as a Father and a Priest will give the Soul in Marriage to the Body again and unite them one to another and both to Himself in an indissoluble bond Oh Christians think with your selves what a joyful meeting that will be when two such ancient Friends that have been parted so long shall meet and embrace and kiss one another never to suffer any more Divorce or fear of Divorce to Eternity How will the Soul bless God when it shall receive its own body again it 's true Yoak-fellow and Fellow-labourer which laboured with it much in the Lord and which was wont to be its Oratory and Temple wherein the Soul performed all its Sacra its holy devotions in season and out of season And how will the Body rejoyce to see the Soul again to whom it was espoused which was the guide of its youth that in its capacity which Christ is to the Soul it 's King Priest and Prophet and by vertue of whose conjunction with it the very body as poor and mean as it was in its original extraction was preferr'd and admitted into Fellowship and Communion with the Son of God and upon that account not forgotten all the while it slept in the land of forgetfulness and thought not of it self I say Solace your selves with the praevision of that Triumph and Exultation that will fill this blessed new-Married couple especially when they shall receive one another so much more excellent than themselves at their last parting that the body shall seem to be Transessentiated into a Soul and the Soul transformed into an Angel of Light Rejoyce O Christian Soul to think how these two morning Stars will sing for joy in this their new and for ever blessed Conjunction Thirdly Thence follow them in your Contemplations following the Judg to the place where the Thrones shall be erected for judgment and there placed on Thrones not as Spectators only but as joynt-Commissioners Where the Saint of a day shall judg the Sinner of an hundred years old yea they shall judg the Old Serpent himself and all his infernal Angels And as that Sentence leaves them so shall they remain to all Eternity Fourthly and in the last place Christians think not so much on your precious Relations
Rags of mortality before they put on the Robes of Glory and this must be done Partly that the Statute of Heaven may not be broken Heb. 9.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decreed wherein it is appointed for all men once to dye It was a Statute Law past in the Parliament of Heaven Gen. 2.17 In the day that thou eatest thou shalt surely dye Heb. in dying thou shalt dye Christ himself as man submitted himself to this Statute and so must all the Sons and Daughters of Adam they must dye either literally or analogically Death makes a change in some and this change is a death in others a death to mortality and a death to corruption Partly that hereby they may also be made partakers of the Resurrection Our Saviour's prediction of the Resurrection comprehends all the Saints of God and the living Saints at that day can by no other means be counted the Children of the Resurrection than as they are begotten again as it were by this mysterious and ineffable change Math. 19.28 whence possibly it is called the Regeneration because all the Elect of God shall then begin to live their new perfect life all over in their bodies and Souls both the quick and the dead From these Premises we draw this Conclusion c. That our Apostle here doth not start any new doctrine of his own or as * 1 Cor. 7.12 somewhere he doth deliver his own judgment as an holy knowing man and not as one infallibly inspired from above but he doth expound Christ unto us and gives us the sense of His words who was both the Truth and the Resurrection So that the doctrine here laid down as it is a word of exceeding comfort to dying Saints and to their surviving Relations Non primi extitimus Resurrectionis testâ—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so here is a consideration which may adde great weight to it and make it so much the stronger consolation in as much as it hath the stamp and sanction of Christ's own Authority Christ himself hath made assidavit to it we have the word of him that cannot lye the Apostle being in this but Christs Interpreter From hence by the way we are informed of these two things Use of Inform. worth our notice First Vse 1 There is no sure and infallible foundation for our faith to stand upon but the word of God Thither therefore the Holy Ghost sends us Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them The Apostle himself would not aver such a solemn truth as this is but from the mouth of Christ himself Uncertain Revelations dubitable Traditions Authority of the Church and all humane Testimony whatsoever is too weak a foundation to build our Faith upon in any Article of Religion Search the Scriptures for in them ye hope to have Eternal Life Jo. 5.39 Secondly We gather hence that Scripture-Inference Vse 2 is Scripture that is to say That which may be inferr'd from Scripture by natural and necessary consequence is to be received as the Scripture it self The word of God rightly interpreted is the word of God Thus our Lord himself Luk. 12.27 proves the Resurrection out of the old Testament by inference and deduition from the words which God spake to Moses I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob he thence inferrs God being not the God of the dead but of the living that Abraham Isaac and Jacob are alive in their better part sc their Souls and shall live again in their inferiour part sc their bodies So the holy Apostle here inferreth this comfortable truth that the dead Saints shall lose nothing by their not being found alive at Christs coming from Christ's own doctrine of the Resurrection in general And doubts not to honour it with this Title The Word of the Lord This I say unto you by the Word of the Lord. Let the Ministers of the Gospel take heed how they Preach any doctrine opinion or practise 1 Caution to Ministers which cannot either in terminis or at least by just and necessary consequence be justified to be the word of God lest they incurre the brand and censure of false Prophets Jer. 29.9 And let Christians take heed how they reject any doctrine which is so evidenced 2 Caution to private Christians lest they be found to reject the Word of the Lord Jer. 8.9 I have done with the second branch of the seventh word of Comfort sc the Authority quoted for it save only that there is one scruple yet to be removed and that is Quest Why the Apostle in delivering this truth doth use this phrase we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord and not rather they which are alive for Did the Apostle indeed think that he himself should live to see Christ coming in glory to judg the quick and the dead Ans Certainly No for 1. Grotius aliter opinatur quem vide in loc arque etiam Bez. The event shews that that had been a mistaken presumption in him that day is not yet come and the Apostle is long since fallen asleep 2. We hear him Prophesying of his own dissolution and that as a thing hard by 2 Tim. 4.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand Gr. it is instant upon me See the Apostle was far from flattering himself with any such conceit of being one of them that should live and remain unto the coming of the Lord. What means the expression then Ans The holy Apostle divides all the Elect of God into two ranks sc 1. Such as are fallen asleep from the fall of the first Adam to the coming of the second or 2. Such as should survive and remain unto that day not making himself of the number of either the one or of the other but one of the whole number of Gods Elect some of whom should sleep some should live till Christ's last coming and when he saith we that are alive and remain it signifies no more but this in general such of us as are then alive shall not prevent such of us as are then asleep this is all he intends in this expression Beza and others spy out a mystery in this manner of speech Doct. as if hereby the Apostle would hint unto us the uncertainty of Christ's Coming Vult omnes suspensos tenere ne sibi tempus aliquod promittant that for ought that was revealed of that day Christ might come while some of that generation were superstites living upon the face of the earth If that doctrine be in the Text Vse Christ himself hath made the use of it Lanet ultimus dies ut expectetuâ— singulis ut fideles emnibus horis parati essent Math. 24.36 of that day and hour knoweth no man no not
of his humiliation Thirdly Third Reas to finish his Mediatory Office Our Lord Jesus Christ must come himself at the last day to perfect and finish his Mediatory-Office At his first coming his Mediatory-work was to pay a price to divine Justice 1 Per. 1.19 So he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so to purchase us of his Father At his second coming his Mediatory-work will be to gather all his Redeemed ones together and to present them a glorious Church to his Father not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but holy and without blemish in some such language as was long before Prophesied Behold here am I and the Children whom thou hast given me Isa 8.18 And again as when he was going out of the world he gave his account to his Father of all whom thou hast given me Joh. 17.12 I have lost none but the Son of perdition At his first coming his Mediatory-work was to fight with the Devil Act. 26.18 Colos 1.13 Luk. 11.21 22. In this respect he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 11.26 and all the powers of darkness and to rescue what he had bought of the Father out of the power of Satan that strong man armed who kept his goods in peace At his second coming his Mediatory-work will be to vanquish all those Enemies out of whose dominion he hath freed his Elect to bind them with chains to cast them into everlasting darkness and to seal the bottomless pit upon them for ever And when he hath done this the Lord Jesus shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father His Office is not compleated till this be done God's Oath is past upon it and cannot be reverst Isa 45.23 c. The Text is applyed to Christ presently upon his Exaltation to this very purpose Phil. 2.20 Well then we have now found out the person of the Judg. The Lord Himself c. And for the Use it may serve 1. For infinit terror to the Wicked 2. For unspeakable Consolation to the Godly First it serves for infinit terror to the Wicked Use 1 That the Judgment now should be put into the hand of Him Terror to the Wicked whom of all the world they counted their Enemy at least if they did not call him so they used him so Oh what a dreadful sight will his Appearance be If Ahab cryed out with so much discomposure of spirit at the suddain appearance of Elijah the Prophet of God Hast thou found me Oh mine Enemy With what horror and affrightment will Reprobate Gaitiff's cry out when they shall be drag'd from before the Tribunal of the Lord Jesus the Lord of the Prophets Hast thou found us Oh our Enemy If Josephs Brethren were so astonished at the presence of Joseph when he said unto them I am Joseph whom you sold into Egypt How will all the world of ungodly men be confounded at the presence of the Lord now coming in the glory of his Father to Judg them when he shall say unto them I am Jesus I am Jesus whom ye sold for less than ever Judas sold me even for the price of a base Lust I am Jesus whom ye Crucified over and over again to your selves and put me to an open shame I am Jesus whose Person you have slighted whose Government you have spurn'd at crying in the Pride and Rebellion of your obstinate spirits We will not have this man Reign over us I am Jesus whose Counsel you have rejected whose Threatnings you have laughed to scorn whose Promises you have derided and set at nought I am Jesus whose Blood you have trampled under your feet as an Vnholy thing even doing despite to the Spirit of grace c. I say Now will the Reprobate world be confounded at the presence of their Judg Behold in the days of his Flesh when he appeared in the forme of a Servant and was even led away as a Sheep to the Slaughter and as a Lamb before the Shearer not opening his mouth by way of murmur against his Father or reviling against his Enemies yet how did that Lamb-like Word I am He fill the hearts of those sturdy Souldiers who came to apprehend Him with horror and strike them to the ground like a blast of Thunder and Lightning Oh how will that word when he shall come cloathed with Majesty and terror with all the glorious Host of Heaven attending his Person I am he fill Reprobate Souls with astonishment and distraction and even strike them backward into Hell before their time How will it cause them to woo the Mountains and Rocks now as hard and inexorable as their hearts once were in the day of God's patience crying out to them to the amazement of Heaven and Earth Mountains Fall on us Rev. 6.26 27. Rocks cover us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne and from the presence of the Lamb for the great day of his Wrath is come and who shall be able to stand But all in vain As the Lord Jesus once in the day of his grace cryed unto them and they would not answer c. So they shall now cry to Heaven and Earth to Rocks and Mountains Prov. 1.24 25 26. Psal 50.22 and they shall not answer yea the Judg shall laugh at their Calamity and mock when their fear cometh Oh consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Second Use Second Use of Comfort to the Saints Christ Himself will be their Judg. But on the contrary unspeakable Consolation may this doctrine of Christ's personal Appearance speak to the Godly the Sheep of Christ which have heard his voyce speaking to them in the Gospel of peace and have obeyed it Behold He that in the days of his flesh came to be their Redeemer now in the day of his power shall come to be their Judge He that so often pleaded for them to his Father and for whom they so often pleaded and contended with a disobedient and gain-saying Generation I say He shall now be their Judg and pass sentence upon them their Friend their Brother their Head their Husband What need they fear that Tribunal where not their Enemies who were wont fasâ—y to accuse and condemn them no not their prejudiced and imprudent Friends who somtimes have rashly and causelesly mis-judged them much less the Accuser of the Brethren Rev. 12.10 who accused them before their God day and night none of these I say shall sit in Judgment But their dear Redeemer who for their sake came down from Heaven that loved them so dearly that he died for love of them that he might Redeem them and wash them in his own Blood He that Regenerated Sanctified Justified Preserved and Perfected them He to whom both in Life and Death they were so nearly and inseparably Vnited and by vertue of which Conjunction they are now
cheeks with Tears asking solicitously of every one they met Saw ye not him whom my Soul loveth I say To meet him now on the Throne of his glory of whom could they have had but a glimpse in a glass darkly in the Evangelical Ordinances Can. 6.12 their Souls would have made them like the Chariots of Aminadab To see him whom having not seen they loved and in whom though they then saw him not yet believing they rejoyced with joy unspeakable and full of glory I say now to see him and so to see him as to have a full sight of his unveyled face shining more gloriously than ten thousand Suns at Noon-day Once more So to see him as never to lose the sight of him to all Eternity How will this transport their Souls with unspeakable extasies of joy which will cause them to break forth into Triumphant Hymns yea and to call to their now fellow Angels to help them with their Coelestial Hallelujahs Behold such and infinitely more than tongue can express or heart conceive will be the mutual joy triumph between Christ and his Saints at his blessed appearance Go forth in the mean time Use Oh ye Daughters of Sion and behold King Solomon with the Crown Cant. 3.11 wherewith his Father will Crown him in the day of his Marriage and in the day of the gladness of his heart Gird up the loyns of your minds 1 Pet. 1.13 be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is brought to you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ Ch. 4.13 that when his glory shall be revealed you may be glad with exceeding joy Thus I have done with the first thing considerable in this meeting The Persons meeting Christ and the Saints I come to the second The place of meeting and that is In the Air. We shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the Air That is the place where Christ stays for his Saints There they meet him and there this great Oecumenical Assize will be held The Judge shall sit upon the Throne and all the Saints shall be placed on bright Clouds as on seats or Scaffolds round about him The Wicked remaining below upon the Earth there to receive their final doom and sentence and from thence to be drag'd away by the Executioners of divine Vengeance Infernal Spirits to the place of Execution the bottomless-Pit yet standing and to the greater aggravation of their horror looking on If it be demanded Qu. Why this Solemn Meeting must be in the Air. Answ It may suffice for answer The Lord Jesus hath made choyce of this place It is the priviledg of earthly Judges in their Circuits to appoint the place where they will keep their Assizes or Sessions wherein if stat pro ratione volunt as their will is a sufficient reason surely it is not less the prerogative of this great Judg of the quick and the dead to appoint the place where he will hold this last and tremendous Judgment And we may well acquiesce in the choyce not only because his will is the soveraign Law of the Creature but as his insinite Wisdome hath judged it the place most convenient for the designe And yet if it be lawful to make our Conjectures where Scripture is silent we may humbly suppose this two-fold Account of it 1. The Capacity of the Place 2. The Conspicuity of the Judgment 1. The Capacity of the Place Vast For the Capacity of the Place and as to us insinite will be the numberless numbers of those that do meet in this universal Assembly Behold the Lord will come with ten thousands of his Saints Jude 14. Yea thousand thousands minister unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him All the Saints that slept in Jesus from the Creation of man and all the Saints which are found alive upon the Earth at Christs Coming must all appear before the Lord Josus And besides these the Judge cometh with his Royal Satellites his Officers of State Myriads and Legions of Angels All his holy Angels Math. 25.31 There shall not be an Angel as it were left in Heaven as it were Jacob met two Hosts or Camps of Angels of God in his Travel Gen. 32.12 Our Saviour mentions more then 12 Legions which as a commanded party Math. 26 53. would have been in an instant sent out for his rescue if there had been need What an infinit Army of Angels must it needs be then when all the Angels come in Christ's Train An innumerable company of Angels Heb. 12.22 And all these must not appear in confused heaps and multitudes but in their distinct ranks and order and the Saints are to sit in Order in their several degrees round about the Throne Why now the Place had need be of an huge extent and circumference that will suffice to receive and contain such variety of multitudes So that even in this respect no place so fit for this August and solemn Convention as the Air for its vast extensiveness and capacity But Secondly Much more in respect of Conspicuity that so the Judg and Judgment with all the Assessors and Attendants might be more eminently visible from Heaven above to the Earth beneath that the whole process of this general Assize may be heard and seen by all good and bad Elect and Reprobate Heaven and Hell Heaven would be too high the Earth would be too low the smoke of the bottomless pit would obscure this glorious vision The Air where is no interposition of Hills and Mountains and now serened and brightned by the confluence of so many glorious Suns will render this last tremendous Transaction visible and audible to every Creature Behold he cometh with Clouds Clouds which will not obscure him but bright Clouds which filled with the beams of his glory shall render him most visible and conspicuous Math. 24.30 Rev. 1.7 So it is Prophesied Every eye shall see him c. Thus it shall be and this will make for the exceeding Glory and Majesty of the Judg For thus it is even in humane Judicatories upon Earth the Tribunal of the Judg and Bench of Assessors is erected in open Court and lifted up on high in the sight of all the people that all may see and hear the whole judicial procedure of the Law with the posse Comitatus attending in Arms for the greater solemnity and honour of the Judge Upon the same accompt hath our Lord made choyce of the Air to keep his great Arsize in there to erect his Royal Throne and to place seats of Judgment for all the Saints to sit upon round about him all the holy Armies of Angels surrounding them This will make Christ very glorious in the eyes of all the Spectators Hence it is said He shall come in the glory of his Father and his own glory The Father sends the Son about this great Work of the last Judgment with as much pomp and glory as can
God they can afford him little ground of Confidence alas hinc illae lachryâ—ae hence his fears and doubts and diffidence do arise His Prayers need Pardon his Tears need washing Job 10. his very Righteousness will Condemn him here is no place for the sole of his foot to stand uponâ— If thou Lord should'st mark iniquity O Lord Psal 30.3 who shall stand Gal. 2.19 This was that which scared Paul from coming to the Law for Justification Why saith he I through the Law am dead to the Law q. d. That I seek not to the Law for Justification and Life The Law may thank it self I come to the Law for Justification and it convinceth me of sin I plead my innocence that I am not so great a Sinner as others are I plead my Righteousness my duties and good meanings and good desires and it tells me They are all too leight the best of my duties will not save me but the least of my sins will damn me It tells me mine own Righteousnesses do Job 9.20.21 as filthy rags defile me and my duties themselves do witness against me I plead Repentance and it laughs me to scorn It tells me my Repentance needs Pardon and my Tears need washing Besides if they were never so good What careth it for my Repentance It looketh for my Obedience perfect and personal which because I have not it tells me I am Cursed and pronounceth Sentence and when it hath so done it hath no mercy at all for me though I seek it carefully with Tears What can I expect from so severe a Judg I l'e come no more at that Tribunal Behold I appeal to the Gospel there Repentance will pass and Tears will find pitty there imperfect obedience so sincere will find acceptance though not to Justification There there is a better Righteousness provided for me an exact perfect Righteousness as perfect as that of the Law for it is indeed the very Righteousness of the Law though not performed by me yet by my Surety for me The Lord my Righteousness I here 's a foundation for the feet of my Faith to stand upon here I can have pardon of all my debts though the Law will not abate me one farthing here be long white Robes though I never spun a thread of them with my own fingers To this Tribunal will I come and here will I wait for my Justification If I Perish I Perish Yea here Obj. may one say is foundation for presumption to stand on here 's a Bed for Security to sleep in here 's a doctrine to send men merrily to Hell while they break the Law to tell them There is one that hath fulfilled it for them while they sin Christ hath Righteousness enough to justifie them Surely this is a doctrine that makes God not only the Justifier of Sinners but the Justifier of sin too So disputed the Free-will men of those times against the Apostles and so the Free-will men of our times against us but for Answer 1. Answ The Apostle disclaims the Consequence with a vehement negation Absit q. d. God forbid any one should be so impudent to force such a scandalous Conclusion upon such immaculate Premises 2. He shews the reason of it and the reason is taken from the New Covenant wherein God hath inseparably joyned the merit of Christs Cross and the power of Christs Cross together in so much that whosoever hath a share in the merit of the Cross for Justification hath also an interest in the power of his Cross for Mortification He instanceth in himself Verse 20. I am Crucified with Christ q. d. While through grace I appeal to the merit of Christ's death for my Justification I can also through grace evidence my appeal to be Scriptural by the power of the Cross whereby the World is Crucified to me and I to the World Gal. 6.14 And as it is with me so it is with all truly justified persons for they that are Christ's have Crucified the flesh with the Lusts and Affections thereof They have Crucified them Gal. 5.24 and they do Crucifie them they are upon the Cross and with their Lord and Redeemer refuse to come down till they can say with him It is finished therefore let the scandal of the Cross and of Justification cease for ever The Sinner's necessity to such a justification in the day of Judgment Phil. 3.6 Inveniri in Christo tacitam habet relationem ad Dei judicium in ijs nullam invenit condemnationem quia justitiá qualem esse requirit i. e. perfectâ ac cumulatâ exornatos nos invenit nempe justitia Christi per sidem nebis imputaâ—a Bern. in loc Secondly The other indispensable necessity the Sinner hath of such a Righteousness to his Justification is For the securing of his Appearance in the day of Judgment The great Apostle who had as fair a shew for a legal Justification as any other in the world protesteth he dares not think of appearing without this positive Righteousness in the last and dreadful Judgment But oh that I may be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law In Him in Christ not in my self in his Mediatory Righteousnes not in mine own Personal Righteousnesses away with them they are but filthy Rags rotten Clouts dogs-meat in comparison of Christ's Robes Give me the Righteousness which is of God by Faith of Gods Ordination and of Faith's Application That that the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled by Christ in my behalf and then the Law cannot say black is mine eye I fear it not In that if I appear not I am undone for ever Behold here is the Sinner's necessity of such a Justification Peace of Conscience and Boldness in the day of Judgment I come to the fourth Accompt The Excellency of the Redeemer This way of justifying believing Sinners doth infinitely become the excellency of our glorious Redeemer set forth Heb. 7.26 Such an high Priest became us saith the Apostle who is holy harmless undefiled separate from Sinners made higher than the Heavens Holy By Gods special and immediate Vnction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Consecration of him to his office 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Harmeless He did no sin neither was there guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2.22 He that would expiate the guilt of others must have none of his own so expounded Verse 27. Vndefiled Immaculate in respect of his humane Nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as of the divine without the lest stain or spot of a sinful Nature in him to the same end also he must be Separate from Sinners conceived and born 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not after the Law of other the Sons Daughters of Adam for that which is born of flesh is flesh Made higher than the Heavens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. of an higher Perfection than all created Powers in Heavenly Places whether Angels or
precious Souls of Men which they being damn'd themselves ceased not to draw into the same Condemnation The Angels which kept not their first Estate or principality Jude 6. but left their own habitation he hath reserved in chams under darkness unto the judgment of the great Day With these chains ratling at their heels shall they be drag'd to the bar of divine Judgment and there having received their dreadful Sentence they shall be hanged up in those * There be two Chains viz. God's Wâ—ath and their own Guth chains in the mid'st of unquenchable flames to all Eternity but first they shall have a just and a fair Tryal And as the Reprobate Angels so the Reprobate world of ungodly men and women shall be judged for all the wickedness done in the body For the sin of their Natures Eph. 2.3 for they were by Nature Children of Wrath And for their actual sins for as they were Children of Wrath so also they were Children of disobedience they shall be judged for their Atheism whether secret by which as Fools Psal 14.1 they have said in their hearts only There is no God or open whereby as proud Blasphemers they have set their mouth against the Heavens Psal 73 9. saying How doth God know and Is there knowledg in the most High who through the pride of their Countenance Psal 10 4 13. would not seek after God yea contemning God said concerning all this wickedness and that to God's Face Tush thou wilt not require it But that Judgment shall fully convince the Atheist and he that would not believe a God shall know him by the judgments which he executeth Then shall the Idolater whether Ethnick or Romish or of what other impression soever the Blasphemer of God's Name whether by prodigious Oaths or by lighter taking his Name in vain the Prophaner of the Sabbath which violateth that holy day of God by work or sport either by sinning or idling out that holy time either by writing against the Sabbath or by living down the Sabbath the disobedient to Fathers or Mothers Natural or Political the Murderer the Adulterer the Thief the false Accuser the Covetous whom God hateth all these I say in what degree of wickedness soever even to every idle word Rom. 2.16 Math. 12.36 and every vile yea vain thought which with David Psal 119.113 they have not hated shall be judged I say out of those books The Gospel-Sinner shall then be brought to the Bar to answer for his unbelief impenitency his rejecting of Christ's Yoke his despising the tenders and offers of free grace his ignorance of and disobedience to 2 Thes 1.8 the Gospel shall then be judged the Lord Jesus is now revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take Vengeance of them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ All the Persecutions whether by the mouth of the Sword Imprisonment Banishment Martyrdom c. or by the sword of the mouth revilings scandals false accusations cruel mockings of proud Sinners now they shall be all charged upon the world of ungodly men whether out of the Church Jude 15. or in the Church Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly men have spoken against Him whether his Person or Members every sin with all the Circumstances and Aggravations yea Omissions shall then be reckoned to them that thought themselves safe because they were not gross and scandalous Sinners Math. 25.42 43. men shall be judged for their nots yea for defects and coming short in the manner of duties as well as the matter Mal. Rom. 2.12 1.14 Formality and Perfunctoriness and Hypocrisie shall then come into open view In a word all the world of ungodly men that have sinned and not repented of their Sin shall be judged at Christs Tribunal and every man according to the Light and Law under which he hath lived As many as have Sinned without Law shall Perish without Law Heathens shall be judged by the light of Nature and as many as have Sinned * Bez. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum lege Verse 16. in the Law shall be judged by the Law And they that have Sinned under the Gospel shall be judged by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel Yea they that sin against the Gospel shall be judged by the light of Nature by the Law of Moses and by the Gospel too as having not only sinned against Moses's Ink but against Christ his Blood And all these Tryals will be severe but especially the Tryal in the Gospel Court So that whereas Sinners flatter themselves with thoughts That Tryal by the Gospel will be the easiest Tryal as if the Gospel were all Mercy the Tryal of the Gospel will be found to be the most severe and above all others intolerable It was indeed a Gospel of Mercy and a Gospel of Peace in the tenders and invitations and expostulations and woings and beseechings that were used the Tears of the Ministers and the blood of a Crucified Redeemer while once the long suffering of God waited in the day of Grace but all these are now past and gone having been rejected despised and laughed to scorn by wretched proud Sinners who with the bloody Jews preferred a Barabbas before a Jesus a base Lust before a precious Saviour now is the time of Recompence come the day of Vengance from the presence of the Lord is come and the Sinner shall know it The terrour of which day will further appear in these following Particulars First There will be no denying of any matter In the day of Judgment there will be 1. No denying of sin small or great that shall be charged upon those guilty Malefactors By the mouth of those two Witnesses the book of Gods Remembrance and the book of Conscience shall every branch of the Indictment be established the one of these books was kept before the Face of the Lord continually so that the great Accuser himself nor any of his malignant Agents could get in thither to alter or add to any thing upon Record in that sacred Register unless per-adventure he could find a time when God was a-sleep And the other book the book of Conscience was in the Sinners own keeping and who could break in there to interline it Indeed the Sinner writ down many sins there with the juice of a Lemon but the Fire of the day of Judgment will make it legible he writ them with the point of an Onion but God writ them with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond deep and durable Characters that should never be raced out of the Conscience of a Sinner Now these two Books will agree so exactly like two Tallies one with another that it will be
impossible for the Sinner to deny any particular but he will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Self-condemned Secondly As there will be no denying 2. No Extenuation so there will be no room for extenuation this was one of the Sinner's hiding places while in the Land of the Living Sinners have their buts Eccle. 5.6 Iâ— was an Errour per exteruationum It was but a mistakâ— now It was but thus and thus it was but a little one c. Great sins were but small sins and small sins were no sins Now the Sinner will have no such Sanctuary to fly unto the Account will now be inverted Those that were no sins before will be sins now small sins will be great sins and great sins will be infinite the last Judgment will give sin its just proportion that which the Law could never do though it were given on purpose the Fire of the day of Judgment will effectually do make sin appear exceeding sinful The Popish distinction of mortal and venial sin will vanish before that fire into smoak while Penitent reforming Sinners will find all their sins Venial in the blood of Christ secure impenitent Sinners will find every sin mortal and damning in its own merit and nature the Carnal Protestant will then find to his cost there is no such thing as a small sin because then he will be convinced there is no small God against whom sin is commited no small Law whereof sin is the violation no small Christ whom sin hath Crucified no small Heaven which sin hath forfeited no little Hell which sin hath merited and by its merit hath justly now plunged him into for ever Thirdly 3 No translating of sin there will be no translating of sin upon others as here below there was the Thief enticed me the Drunkard seduced me Gen. 3.13 the Harlot deceived me the Serpent beguiled me yea what bold Sinners are not afraid to speak will not then be heard amongst the Malefactors at Christ's Bar God tempted me Jam. 1.13 or God decreed it no these and all other palliations and colours wherewith men do wash the face of sin will melt before the fire of the day of Judgment God will say to the Sinner Jer. 2.17 Hast thou not procured these things to thy self yea Sinners shall then own their own guilt confess that their destruction is of themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pâ—ut de seâ—â Num. vindict their heart shall cry out as Apollodore dreamt his heart cried to him in a Cauldron of boyling Lead O Apollodore I am the Cause of this Vengeance how have I hated Instruction and my heart despised Reproof and have not obeyed the voyce of my Teachers nor inclined mine Ear to them that instructed me Fourthly There will lye no appeal from this Tribunal 4. No appealing once there lay an appeal from Moses to Christ from the Law to the Gospel but proud Sinners scorned it or securely presumed they had made the appeal by a loose verbal Application of Jesus Christ whil'st yet they stuck in themselves and their own foolish presumptions their serving of God their good works and their good meanings and their good desires and why should not they be saved as well as others but now if they should appeal their appeal's with themselves will be cast out as Reprobate Silver this is now the supream and last Judicatory from hence is no appeal once doomed here the sentence is irreversible for ever Fifthly 5. No Pardon Neither is there any Pardon to be expected at this Judgment Seat Pardons were tendered in the Gospel upon gracious terms but ungracious Sinners would have none of them or would have them upon their own terms Sin and Pardon too their Pardons were nothing unless they might have dispensations also such as the Pope sells often times but Christ's Pardons sc Pardon Repentance Pardon of sin and forsaking of sin Pardon of sin and Hatred of sin Act. 5.31 Prov. 28.13 Jude 23. Heb. 12.14 Pardon and Holiness would not be accepted and now the time of Pardons is out the day of Grace is expired no cries nor entreaties will prevail with the Judg no though the Sinner would fall upon his knees and weep as many Seas of Tears as once the Ministers wept Tears of Compassion over them or as Christ himself shed drops of blood upon the Cross Christ was once upon his knees in the Person of his Ministers beseâ—ching them to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Though the Sinner was first in the Transgression yet God was first in the Reconciliation and followed the Sinner as it were on his knees intreating him to accept of Mercy as if God had stood in as much need of the Sinner as the Sinner did of Mercy but nothing would prevail a deaf ear was still turned to Christ's importunity and now Repentance is hid from the eyes of the Judg as once Repentance was hid from the eyes of the Sinner the things of their peace are everlastingly hid because they knew them not in that the day of their Vision As Sinners obdurated their heart against Christ's voyce so Christ will harden his heart against the Sinner's cry Prov. 1.24 Sixthly There shall be no mitigation of the punishment not a farthing abated of the whole debt 6. No mitigation Math. 5.26 there was once Mercy without Judgment before the Sinner now there shall be Judgment without Mercy now Sinners shall know that God is not mocked that the Lamb of God is also the Lyon of the Tribe of Juda His voyce was once Fury is not in me Isa 27.4 now the voyce will be Meckness is not in me mercy is not in me now must the Sinner expect nothing but the utmost severity of divine justice who once despised the yearnings of Christ's bowels the lowest condescentions of divine Grace the Sinner in his day knew no moderation in sin the Judg now in his day will know no mitigation of Judgment there will be a Sea of wrath without a drop of Mercy Seventhly Not a word of any good that ever the wicked did 7. No mention of any good that ever Sinners did shall now be mentioned to their honour or advantage as none of the sins which ever the Saints committed were mentioned to their shame in their Process so none of the good that ungodly Sinners have done shall be once named unless it be by way of aggravation of their sins for indeed they mannaged the good they did at such a rate Splendida peccata Aug. as even their duties differed not from their sin As under the Law the Sacrifice of the Wicked was abomination to the Lord killing Oxen but Murder Prov. 15.8 Isa 66.3 Sacrificing Lambs but cutting off Dogs necks Oblations as Swines blood Incense as Idolatry so under the Gospel their Prayers were but so many takings of God's Name in vain and hearing the Word mocking of God Fasting but holding
Not sufficient to capacitate the Saints for glory 2.139 Accusation the Saints shall not be accused by Christ 2.131 Adam most probably saved 3.78 Affections the Saints shall be like God in their affections 3.80 They may be moderately exercised 3.144 Air the place where Christ will stay to meet his Saints and why 1. Because of the capacity of the place 2.125 2. Because of the conspicuity of the judgment 2.126 Angels instruments of the Saints ascension divers wayes 2.106 They separate the sheep from the goats ministerially 2.114 They shall present the elect before Christ in the air 2.127 They shall drag the wicked to the Tribunal to receive their sentence 2.164 The reprobate Angels shall be judged for their first Apostacy and for all their malice against the Saints ever since 2.164 How Saints shall hereafter converse with them 3.15 How they converse among themselves 3.16 How they will be interpreters of God to the Saints in Heaven 3.18 Communion with them in heaven will be a great encrease of our happiness 3.16 They will communicate excellent notions to the Saints in heaven 3.17 Antinomians notion about Christ his being in us 1.29 Apology the sinner shall not make any Apology for himself at the great Assize 2.172 Apostles how they shall judge the twelve tribes 1.49 Appeal there will be no appeal from the great Tribunal 2.169 An appeal from Moses to Christ 2.169 Arrians in denying the deity of Christ discover a double ignorance 1.25 Ascension of the Saints one consequent of Christ his Resurrection It will be effected 1. By the power of Christ 2.104 2. By the ministry of the Angels 2.106 3. By the spirituality of the Saints own bodies 2.107 It is a continued resurrection 2.104 How the Saints ascension holds due proportion with their Lord 2.108 The Saints shall meet together before their ascension 2.112 Assessor the Saints shall be assessors with Christ at the judgment 2.164 Assurance some Saints have it but not all 2.136 Motives to it 3.111 It hath been obtained 3.112 A work never unseasonable and most seasonable in times of danger 3.114 It will make Christians fruitful 3.117 To endeavour after it an evidence of heaven 3.119 It brings divers priviledges 3.114 Whether every one that hath a right to heaven hath an assurance of it Neg. 3.121 What are the mediums to attain assurance 3.123 A twofold Office of the Spirit in attaining assurance 3.123 It is much hindred by our unkindness to Christ 3.128 Atheists and divers other sorts of sinners will be convinced at the day of judgment 2.165 Attributes of God a foundation of the Saints eternity 3.87 B Believers how said to be in Christ and Christ how said to be in believers 1.22 They are Kings Prophets Priests 1.31 They are the sons of God 1.31 They are united to the whole divine nature in the Diety and to each Person of the Trinity 1.35 Blessedness the blessedness of the Saints in heaven is everlasting 3.84 The reasons of it 1. Christs merit 3.85 2. The Saints immortal souls 3.86 3. The Saints graces eternal Ib. 4. The attributes of God 3.87 1. His wisdom ibid. 2. His veracity and truth 3.88 3. His immutability 3.91 4. His mercy 3.92 5. His omnipotency ibid. 6. His eternity ibid. 7. His love 3.96 8. His justice 3 92 Blood the blood of Christ is the fountain of merit but the spirit of Christ the fountain of efficacy 1.122 Body the body shall be incorruptible 2.89 It shall be glorious 2.90 1. By vertue of a Principle within 2.90 2. By vertue of an external irradiation ibid. It will depend wholly on the soul at the resurrection 2.95 It is a vile body 2.97 The bodies of the saints shall be like unto God 3.82 Book the book of Gods remembrance and the book of conscience will agree exactly together 2 267 C Children of believers when they dye are not to be looked upon as a lost generation 1.8 Christ accounts not himself full without his members 1.17 His resurrection why called his youth 1.16 He rose as a publick head on which account 1. The saints are said to be risen already 1.14 2. They are assured they shall arise 1.15 He arose by his own strength 1.12 He is risen as our first fruits 1.19 How he is said to be in a believer and a believer said to be in Christ 1.22 How he is the hope of salvation 1.43 His own words more authentick than tradition or revelation 2.63 Whether he shall sit on a visible throne 2.70 He will appear in the same humane nature he assumed of the Virgin and why 2.71 He will appear personally for three reasons 2.70 His first and second coming compared 2.71 His being Judge great terror to the wicked 2.73 Great comfort to the godly 2.75 Two reasons of the certainty of his coming 1. Reason saith he may come 2.78 2. Faith saith he must come ibid. Witness 1. His purchase ibid. 2. His promise 2.79 3. Sacrament of the Supper ibid. 4. His Resurrection ibid. The manner of his coming it will be by a threefold summons 1 A shout 2.80 2 A voice of Archangel 2.81 3 The Trump of God ibid. His coming to give the Law and his coming to judgment compared 2.82 Separation from him the worst part of hell 2.105 His blood the fountain of merit but his spirit the fountain of efficacy 1.122 The benefit of his subjecting of himself to the Law redoundeth not unto himself but to the saints 2.145 He solemnly espoused the saints to himself 2.162 He had a twofold right to the Kingdom of glory 1 Natural 3.19 2 Constitutive ib. A superlative love to him an evidence of heaven 3.120 Christians must reject no doctrine warranted by the word 2.67 Church it is Christs outward not inward fulness 1.17 Comfort for them that are unjustly excluded 2.117 Closet closet duties shall be remembred at the last day 2.128 Cohabitation with Christ containeth four priviledges 1 Presence 3.2 2 Vision ibid. 3 Fruition 3.50 4 Confomity 3.77 Commendation Saints shall be praised and commended at the last day for their graces though wrought in them c. 2.132 Comfort we should administer comfort to mourning friends 3.150 All comfort is in God 3.153 Ministers must see that the comforts they administer be Gods comforts 3.154 Much pride in refusing comfort 3.157 It is as great an indignity to God to slight his comforts as to scorn his counsels 3.156 No comfort belongs to wicked men when they die 3.158 We should labour for comfort in our own death and leave matter of comfort to our surviving friends 3.160 Words of prayer to be joyned with words of comfort 3.165 Compassion compassions of God are great and therefore so are his consolations 3.148 Confidence many confident of heaven that have least right to it 3.117 Conformity of the saints to Christ in the resurrection hath its beginning in regeneration 2.101 Study soul-conformity to Christ 2.102 It is the fountain of complacency 3.42 Conscience the book