A DISCOVERIE OF THE VVorld to Come According to the SCRIPTURES The first Part thereof being Didactical or such as contains a Form of Positive Doctrine WHEREIN 1. The Doctrine of the World to come is propounded explicated confirmed and applyed in a more familiar method then formerly hath been observed 2. The Doctrine of Millenaries touching a New Reformed Church in the latter Times which they call A New World is confuted 3. Sundry passages of holy Writ are interpreted in reference to the World to come which have been formerly wrested and forced in a wrong sense Written by J. SEAGER M. A. and Minister of Broadclist in the County of Devon LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Luke Fawne and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1650. TO The Parishoners of Broadclist Grace and Peace be Multiplyed BEloved in the Lord It is now full eighteen years since that I was placed by the hand of Providâ—nce as a Spirituall Pastor amongst you upon the death of Mr. Robert Stennings three years of which time I was forced by the violence of Souldiers to absent my self from you these three years only excepted I have been constantly with you and as the Lord hath given me much health and strength of nature amongst you so I have spent much of that strength in my private studdies and publick imployments for you In witness whereof I can yet produce diverse volumes of Sermons written by me and published amongst you but I account this needless seeing you your selves can witnesse enough as touching this matter I will not compare my self with other Spirituall Labourers in Gods Vineyard for I know that they have received some of them ten talents some five some two yet this I may safely say that I have not hid my Masters one talent in a napkin but have improved it with diligence for the advancement of his glory and truth amongst you Wherefore after so long a time it concerns you all to enquire how ye have profited by my Ministry for be ye well assured that after so much spirituall husbandry as hath been used amongst you in plowing sowing planting and wattering the Lord will expect a plentiful crop of saving knowledge and obedience from you For my part I am prone to think the best of you as indulgent fathers are wont to think of their children I acknowledge that diverse of your friends and allies have dyed in my time whose life was precious and whose death was comfortable unto me and I hope to be better acquainted with them in the world to come then ever I was in this world I ac-acknowledge also that there are diverse now living amongst you of whom I am perswaded such things as accompany Salvation that they do sincerely love God and his truth and have not received the Grace of God nor the word of his grace in vain and my prayer for such is That they may persevere in grace unto the end holding fast the pattern of wholsome words which they have received and may never suffer themselves to be drawn away with the error of the wicked and so fal from their own stedfastness And I must needs acknowledge a third sort amongst you whom I have hitherto apprehended as proud contemners of the Word of God in my Ministery I pray God to give them Repentance unto life that they may recover themselves out of the snare oâ— the devil and may obtain pardon for this sin before their death otherwise I tremble to think how hard it wil be with them in the great day of the Lord Christ when they shall be accountable for every good Sermon and for every wholesome truth which they have thus contemned and trampled under their feet And now my beloved being desirous before my death to leave among you some token and testimonie of my love towards you I have published this Treatise which I call A Discovery of the VVorld to come some matters herein contained have been delivered in the open Congregation and here your eyes may see what your eares have heard yea here your eyes may see more then yet your eares have heard from me or from any other as I suppose touching this subject I am perswaded in my conscience of the truth of such grounds as are here delivered and my own soul hath felt the comfort of them for which cause I am the more hopefull that the same grounds may proove usefull and beneficiall unto others You may perceive with your eyes that I have not studdied strong lines and lofty expressions in this work but have endeavoured in plain and familiar termes to unfold a great Mystery unto you I do not herein perswade you to seek and search after the knowledge of this present world and the things hereof neither do I herein perswade you to love this present world and the things hereof you are by nature prone enough unto these things but hereby I do perswade and intreate you to study the knowledge of the world to come and to be better acquainted with the Doctrine hereof then yet you are because I apprehend this as a choyce part and high degree of saving knowledge and that which will profit you more at the last then all earthly treasures whatsoever and I am perswaded it is for want of this part of saving knowledge that many errours in these latter times are so readily entertained an assented unto In brief you have here a price put into your hands by Gods providence the Lord give you hearts to make a good use of it and if at any time I shall perceive this first part of my Discovery to be acceptable and useful to the Church of God I shal forthwith if the Lord shal permit studdy to conceive a Second Part and as soon as I shall have conceived it I shall be in travel to bring it forth to publick view In the interim I commend you to God and the Word of Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified Your Servant in such matters as concerns your eternal good John Seager The Contents AN Introduction Sect. I. Shewing That none should be grosly ignorant of the World to come as touching the Nature of it Sect. II. Shewing That the World to come considered as a Country or a Continent is to be distinguished from the third Heaven Sect. III. Shewing That the World to come shall have no Being before this present evil world shall be dissolved but shall begin immediately thereupon Sect. IV. Touching the Nature of the World to come considered as a Continent Sect. V. Touching the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh Sect. VI. Touching the last Resurrection Sect. VII Touching the last Judgment Sect. VIII Touching the Personal-Humane Kingdom of Christ in the World to come Sect. IX Touching the different Conditions of good and evil Angels in the World to come Sect. X. Touching the blessed Condition of Gods Elect
be seen to begin or to be established in the earth And whereas they tell us of the Saints living and raigning with Christ a thousand years Rev. 20. 4. as if that place made much for them I would have them know that that place is not to be understood of Saints on earth as if they should live and raign with Christ in their bodies upon this corrupt earth a thousand years by vertue of a Reformation-change in this world but it is to be understood of Saints departed this life now in the third Heaven in respect of their Souls where they were to live and raign with Christ for a thousand years or more from the time when those words were spoken a certain time being there put for an uncertain even until his coming again from thence 3. It is an Error in these men to think that by the World to come the Scripture means a Reformation-change in this world seeing by the World to come we are to understand a new created world properly so called that shall consist of new Heavens and a new Earth properly so called and of new Creatures and occurrences in them as I hope to shew more fully in my next Section Yea the World to come shall be such a world wherein the righteous shall inherit everlasting life Luk. 18. 30. but supposing there should be such a Reformation-change in this world as they dream of yet we cannot therein inherit everlasting life therefore we may not understand by the World to come such a Reformation-change 4. It is an Error in these men to confound the World to come with this present world seeing the Scripture hath plainly distinguished them in many places Mat. 12. 32. Luk. 18. 30. Ephes 1. 21 c. And as the time to come cannot be all one with the time present nor the time present with the time to come so neither can the World to come be all one or at one time with this present world nor this present world all one or at one time with the World to come But leaving this phansie of theirs I proceed And I acknowledg in the fourth place That the 4 Posit World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world that is to say as soon as this present world shall have an end the World to come shall begin as soon as these visible Heavens shall be dissolved there shall be other Heavens in their stead as soon as this visible Earth shall be dissolved there shall be another Earth instead thereof with other creatures in it and so the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world For confirmation whereof though I cannot produce any plain place of Scripture so clear as to convince all gain-sayers yet I can produce some probable grounds such as have satisfied my self as touching the truth of this Position As 1. The Scripture speaks not of any space of time much less of any considerable space of time that shall be betwixt the dissolution of this present world and the Creation of the World to come therefore it is probable that there shall be no considerable space of time betwixt them and consequently that the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world 2. The Scripture speaks of divers things that shall happen in and upon one and the same day viz. the great Day of the Lord. As 1. The dissolution of this present world 2. The Creation of the World to come 3. The subduing of all Christs Enemies 4. The Resignation of the Kingdom to God even the Father 5. The glorious Appearing of Christ 6. The Resurrection of the dead 7. The Sentence of the last Judgment And if all these things shall happen upon one and the same day viz. the great Day of the Lord then it is probable that there shall be no considerable space of time betwixt them and consequently that the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world 3. I have seriously thought upon that of the Apostle Paul Then shall we which live and remain be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the ayr 1 Thes 4. 17. where he intimates as I conceive That the World to come shall be created after the same order in which this present world shall be dissolved And as this present world shall be dissolved first in its upper part viz. the visible Heavens Clouds and Ayr which now are so the World to come shall be created first in its upper part viz. the new Heavens Clouds and Ayr c. and so the Saints which shall be found living upon this corrupt earth when the fire beginneth to seize upon it shall be caught up together with the Saints that shall come with Christ to meet him and them in the new Clouds and Ayr for I cannot imagine that either the Saints which shall come from Heaven or those that shall come from the Earth shall meet in these corrupt Clouds and Ayr which now are and so I may well gather from this place That the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world Which Position thus cleared crosseth a certain Vse opinion of Mr Mede * In his Book on the Revelation for though he grants That the World to come shall not begin before this present world shall be dissolved yet he thinks that the Day of Judgment shall continue for a thousand years and thereupon shall follow the World to come But I would fain know what he means by the Day of Judgment in that place whether the Day of Sentence or the Day of Execution If he mean the Day of Execution he might as well have said the Day of Judgment shall continue for ever for doubtless the Execution of the last Judgment shall continue for ever and ever But if he mean the Day of Sentence I wonder he should say the Day of Judgment shall continue a thousand years seeing no good reason can be given why the Lord should so long deliberate about the Sentence of Judgment Notwithstanding then this opinion of his I am still of the opinion That the World to come shall begin immediately or suddenly upon the dissolution of this present world And if so there is no reason why good Christians should mourn grieve or be discouraged to hear of the dissolution of this present world seeing the World to come shall begin immediately hereupon It is a comfort against the death of these corrupt bodies of ours to hear that we shall have other and better bodies after the death of these so it should be a comfort against the dissolution of this world to hear that there shall be another and a better world after the dissolution of this SECT IV. Shewing The nature of the World to come considered as a Continent ANd that we may rightly understand
yet a coming â—â—om place to place in it wherefore it is plain by â—e Word of God That his second Coming in the â—esh is to be distinguished from all other Comings â—â— his Secondly It informeth us That the second â— Informat â—oming of Christ in the Flesh shall be most sure and â—ertain And we may not doubt hereof because â— is confirmed unto us by many plain testimonies â—f Scripture as by the testimony of Enoch the â—eventh from Adam Behold the Lord cometh â—ith ten thousand of his Saints Jude 14. that is â—he Lord Christ shall come the present tense being â—ut for the future as in other Prophecies So by â—he testimony of David Our God shall come and â—all not keep silence Psal 50. 3. So by the testimoâ—y of Christ himself for while he was in this world â—e said They shall see the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven Mat. 24. 30. The Son of man â—hall come in his Glory Mat. 25. 31. Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven Mat. 26. 64. Luk. 21. 27. If I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self Joh. 14. 3. So by the testimony of two Angels This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 1. 11. So by the testimony of Saint Paul who speaks of the second Coming of our Lord Christ from Heaven aâ— of the manner of it 1 Thes 4. 15 16. So by tâ—â— testimony of Saint James Be patient Brethrâ—â— until the Coming of our Lord Jam. 5. 7 8. Aâ—â— if the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh be coâ—firmed unto us by so many plain testimonies of Scripture we should not doubt hereof but should looâ— upon it as upon that which shall be most sure anâ— certain Thirdly It informeth us of the signs presagiâ—â— 3 Informat the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh whiâ—â— are of two sorts viz. some such as have been alreâ—dy observed in this world and some such as havâ— not yet been observed in it The signs presaging his second Coming whicâ— have been already observed in this world are dâ—vers As 1. The preaching of the Gospel in all places aâ—signed and appointed for this purpose for our Sâ—viour hath shewed That before his second Cominâ— in the Flesh the Gospel of the Kingdom shall bâ— preached in all the world for a witness unto alâ— Nations Mat. 24. 14. where his meaning is not that at one and the same time the Gospel shall bâ— preached to all Nations in all the world but that successively and at several times it shall be preached to all Nations assigned and appointed to hear it in Vid. Dickson ad loc all the world for a witness unto them viz. of good in case they shall receive and obey it but of evil in case they shall reject and contemn it In which sence this sign hath been long observed already for the Gospel was preached shortly after Christs Ascention by the Apostles themselves to all Nations in the world then assigned and appointed to hear it and since their time it hath been preached to all Nations â—ppointed to hear it at this day it is preached in all places of the world assigned for this purpose and doubtless this Ordinance shall continue accordingâ—y until the second Coming of Christ and no â—onger 2. A great Apostacy or falling away from the truth of the Gospel for Saint Paul tells us That the Day of the Lord Christ shall not come except there come a falling away first 2 Thes 2. 3. which sign also hath been long observed in this world for this Apostacy from the truth of the Gospel began in Saint Johns time They went out from us but they were not of us 1 Joh. 2. 19. and it became more general and notorious about the time of Antichrists first rising we have much cause to complain of it at this day and may yet have more experience of it before the Coming of Christ because it is said That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4. 1. 3. The discovery or revealing of Antichrist for the same Apostle saith That the Day of the Lord Christ shall not come except that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition 2 Thes 2. 3. And this sign hath been long since observed in the world and the revealing of Antichrist hath been long since discerned by such as have had discerning eyes though not by others For the Sun it self shining in the firmament is not discerned by such as are blind not through any defect of light in the Sun but through want of eye-sight in such as are blind yet such as have the power and benefit of their eye-sight can discern the Sun when it shines So though the Papists and such as are popishly affected cannot oâ— will not discern the revelation of Antichrist yeâ— the reformed Churches by the light of Gods VVorâ— and Spirit have long since discerned it and havâ— long since unanimously concluded and found the papacy or succession of Popes in the Sea of Rome tâ— be that great Antichrist which the Scripture speakâ— of because all the properties of this Antichrist do so fitly suit with the Papacy as a coat or garment can suit with the body for which it is cut out 4. The Consumption of Antichrist in a spiritual way for the same Apostle sheweth That before the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh he shall be consumed with the Spirit of Gods Mouth 2 Thes 2. 8. that is as some interpret with the spirit of Prophecy in the mouths of orthodox Preachers and Writers opposing his mystery of iniquity And it hath been observed in many Christian Churches that Antichrist hath been long in this Consumption already and that his power both in respect of Doctrine Discipline and Dominion hath been so much wasted and diminished in this spiritual way that he is past all hope of recovery 5. Persecution for Truth and Righteousness sake for our Saviour hath shewed That before his second Coming in the Flesh many of his faithful Servants shall be apprehended and persecuted delivered up to the Synagogues and into prisons and shall be brought before Kings and Rulers for his Name sake Yea they shall be afflicted and killed and hated of all men for his Name sake Luk. 21. 12. Mat. 24. 9. And have we not had much experience of this sign Yes witness the ten Persecutions after the Apostles times and those other Persecutions that have been since in divers parts of Christendom â—s in Spain France England and in other â—laces 6. Treachery or Treason amongst Professors of the â—ame Religion for our Saviour tells us also That â—efore his second Coming many shall be offended â—nd shall betray one another and hate one another Mat. 24. 10.
â—â—e Judgments approaching For as in the days â—â—fore the Flood they were eating and drinking â—arrying and giving in marriage until the day â—at Noah entered into the Ark and knew not â—til the Flood came and took them all away So â—â—all also the Coming of the Son of man be Mat. 24. â—â— 39. Indeed this sign is visible in part at this preâ—â—nt and shall be conjunct and simultaneous with â—e second Coming of Christ in the Flesh yet it â—â—all be more visible then now it is immediately beâ—â—â—e this Coming of his to such as shall have eyes to â—â—scern it 4. A great paucity of true Beleevers is mentioned a sign presaging his second Coming in the Flesh â—â—r Christ himself saith When the Son of man comâ—â—h shall he find faith on the earth Luk. 18. 8. â—hich Interrogation of his sounds in mine years as â—he had said Though at my second Appearing there â—â—all be found much dead faith a great profession â—â— faith and many unprofitable kinds of faith yet â—â—at lively faith which justifies a sinner before God â—â—all be found but in a few And though it be true â—â—at this sign shall be also conjunct and simultaneous â—ith the second Coming of Christ yet doubtless â—â— shall be more apparent then now it is immediately â—efore his second Coming to such as shall have eyes â—â— discern it 5. A great alteration in the visible Heavens anâ— Earth which now are is mentioned as a sign prâ—saging his second Coming in the Flesh for it is saiâ— That there shall be signs in the Sun and in thâ— Moon and in the Stars and upon the Earth distresâ— of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the waveâ— roaring Luk. 21. 25. And before that great anâ— terrible Day of the Lord come the Sun shall â—â— darkened and the Moon shall not give her lighâ— and the Stars shall fall from Heaven and the poers of Heaven shall be shaken Mat. 24. 29. Anâ— though some Writers do put an allegorical sence upon these passages yet the litteral sence must and wâ— stand good which is That all these creatures shâ—â— withhold their wonted operation and influence anâ— shall no more be able to give comfort unto men nâ— to shew forth their glory as before but shall ceaâ— from their service and lose their power as a learneâ— Divine writes And though this sign be not yâ—â— M. Dickson in his commentaries on Mat. 24. 29. apparent yet it shall be immediately before the appearing of Christ in the Clouds 6. After these things it is said Then shall appeâ—â— the sign of the Son of man in Heaven Mat. 24. 3â— And here by the sign of the Son of man I do noâ— understand with some Writers the sign of tâ—â— Cross nor with others the glorious Person of Châ—â—â—â— himself coming in the Clouds but by it I undeâ—stand the fire of the great day of the Lord whicâ— shall begin in these visible Heavens and shall shiâ—â— all the world over as the lightening shineth from onâ— end of Heaven unto the other This is the sign the Son of man and the last sign of his which shâ—â— be in Heaven before his personal approach in tâ—â— Clouds Thus the Word of God informeth us â—â— the signs presaging the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh Fourthly It informeth us touching the time of his second Coming in the Flesh and so teacheth 4 Informat us 1. That the very punctual time that is the day and hour of this Coming of his is known only to God himself not to men nor to Angels nor to Christ himself as he is the Son of man For of that day and that hour knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son but the Father Mark 13. 32. And in this sence our Saviour said unto his followers It is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Acts 1. 7. 2. That we should not think the time of this his second Coming to be far off because the Scripture speaks of it as of that which is near at hand Luk. 21. 31. Rom. 13. 12. Phil. 4. 5. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Rev. 22. 10. Jam. 5. 8. wherefore if we will judg according to Scripture we should judg it to be near at hand And seeing the most part of those signs which presage this second Coming of his have been already observed in the world and the rest of them are dayly expected it seems unreasonable to me that any should think it to be far off or yet a thousand years off as some have thought 3. That the day of this his second Coming shall be a long day and longer then any that hath been or shall be before it for it shall be somewhat like that day in Joshua's time when the Sun and the Moon stood still in the midst of Heaven Josh 10. 12 13 14. and it shall be such a day as is described by the Prophet Zechariah in which it shall not be clear nor dark but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord not day nor night but it shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light Zech. 14. 6 7. Yea we may well conceive that it shall be a very long day because of the great transactions that shall be in it for on that day shall be 1. The dissolution of this present world 2. The Creation of the World to come 3. The subduing of all Christs Enemies unto him 4. The Resignation of the Kingdom of Heaven unto God the Father 5. The Appearing of the Son of man 6. The Resurrection of all the dead And 7. The Sentence of the last Judgment So it must needs be a long day that shall be famous for all these transactions And hereunto I add That though the punctual time of his second Coming in the Flesh be known only to God yet some Divines think that the yearly or annual time of the worlds end and his second Coming are not obscurely pointed at in Scripture by those numbers of 1260. Rev. 11. 3. of 1290. Dan. 12. 11. of 666. Rev. 13. 18. of 1335. Dan. 12. 12. For say they If these numbers were rightly Vide Mr J. E. in his Book entitled The deliverance of the whole House of Israel understood they would put us very near upon the worlds end the second Coming of Christ and from these places they infer That the whole raign of the Papal Antichrist from the first to the last shall be 1260 years and his fall or ruine shall be in the year of our Lord 666. and this second Coming of Christ shall be 45â— years after that But I deliver this only as the opinion of some and so leave it to the censure of the godly and to the experience of after times not doubting that some matter of moment will be found in it Fifthly It informeth us touching the place from 5 Informat whence
saved in the world to come 2. Because they are or shall be all regenerated And they that are or shall be regenerated shall be saved in the world to come Mat. 19. 28. 3. Because they are or shall be all justified by the blood of Christ And they that are or shall be justified by his blood shall be saved from wrath by him Rom. 5. 9. 4. Because they are or shall be all reconciled to God by the death of his Son And they that shall be reconciled to God by the death of his Son shall be saved by his life Rom. 5. 10. 5. Because they are or shall be all the adopted children of God by grace And all that are or shall be the adopted children of God by grace shall be saved in the world to come because they are heirs of Salvation Hebr. 1. 14. 6. Because they do or shall beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ effectually And they that do or shall beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ effectually shall be saved in the world to come according to the Promise Act. 16. 31. Mark 16. 16. 7. Because they do or shall repent unfainedly And they that do or shall repent unfainedly shall be saved in the world to come seeing this is called Repentance unto Salvation 2 Cor. 7. 10. 8. Because they do or shall all hope in God with a lively hope And they that do or shall hope in God with a lively hope shall be saved in the world to come Rom. 8. 24. 9. Because they do or shall all fear the Lord with a godly fear And they that do or shall fear the Lord with a godly fear shall be saved not onely in this world but also in the world to come Psal 85. 9. 10. Because they do or shall all walk sincerely and uprightly before the Lord And they that do or shall walk sincerely and uprightly before the Lord shall be saved in the world to come Prov. 28. 18. 11. Because they do or shall all call upon the name of the Lord in sincerity And they that so do or shall do shall be saved in the world to come Rom. 10. 13. 12. Because they have endured or shall endure constantly in the state of grace to the end And they that shall so endure to the end shall be saved in the world to come Mat. 10. 22. 13. Because they have an inward right to all the Promises of Salvation as to these amongst the rest Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks Isai 26. 1. But Israel shall be saved Isai 45. 17. In mount Sion shall be Deliverance Joel 2. 32. Obadi 17. Israel shall be saved as it is written There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer and shal turn away ungodliness from Jacob Rom. 11. 26. In which promises I understand by mount Sion the triumphant Church of Gods Elect in the World to come not excluding the Militant And by Israel and Jacob the whole body of Gods Elect who are fully to enjoy these Promises in the world to come and not before And thus may we understand the certainty of their Salvation Thirdly As concerning the causes of their Salvation I affirm 1. That the efficient cause of their Salvation in the world to come shall be the Lord Jehovah Father Son and Holy Ghost For Salvation belongeth to the Lord Psal 3. 8. And the Salvation of the righteous is of him Psal 37. 39. And the full Salvation of Israel shall come from him out of the heavenly Sion Psal 14. 6. And Israel shall be saved in the Lord Isai 45. 17. that is by the Lord Jehovah Father Son and Holy Ghost 2. That the principal moving cause of their Salvation in the world to come is and shall be the Grace of God I mean the gracious good will and pleasure of God from everlasting And for this cause it is said We are saved by Grace Ephes 2. 8. And it is the grace of God that bringeth Salvation Tit. 2. 11. 3. That the principal final cause of this their Salvation shall be the glory of Gods mercy He shall save them that he may glorifie his mercy upon them which the Prophet knew well and therefore prayed That God would save him for his mercies sake Psal 6. 4. and according to his mercy Psal 109. vers 26. 4. The meritorious cause of this their Salvation is and shall be onely Christ And there is no Salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. as in the meritorious cause But he is the Author of eternal Salvation as God equal with the Father in an efficient way as Mediator and as God and man in one person in a meritorious way Hebr. 5. 9. And he it is by whom this Salvation is to be obtained 1 Thess 5. vers 9. 5. The instrumental cause of this their Salvation is and shall be the Word of God read and preached For this Word hath an instrumental power to save Souls Jam. 1. 21. The Gospel is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1. 16. By it a man may be made wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. And it pleaseth God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that beleeve 1 Cor. 1. 21. 6. The dispositive or helping causes of this their Salvation are and shall be all spiritual blessings or saving graces in this life as Justification Sanctification Faith Hope Love c. For these are the things that accompany Salvation Hebr. 6. 9. And these are the things that do fit and prepare men for Salvation in the world to come Fourthly As concerning the extent of this their Salvation I affirm 1. That it shall extend to all the particular persons of Gods Elect whether Jews or Gentiles by nature for it is said plainly All Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. 26. that is all the Elect God will have all men to be saved that is all his Elect 1 Tim. 2. 4. The promise shall be sure to all the seed that is to all the Elect Rom. 4. 16. God preserveth all them that love him Psa 145. 20. He preserveth them not onely from temporal dangers but he will also preserve them unto Salvation in the world to come Yea we find That the whole house of Israel that is the whole Family of Gods Elect shall be saved Ezek. 37. 11. 39. 25. And 2. as this Salvation shall extend to all their persons so it shall extend to them in all respects both in respect of their Souls and bodies for their Souls shall be saved in the Day of the Lord and they shall receive the end of their Faith the Salvation of their Souls 1 Pet. 1. 9. And if their Souls after they are united to glorified bodies shall be saved doubtless their glorified bodies shall be saved too Fifthly As concerning the continuance of this â—heir Salvation I affirm That it shall continue â—or ever For which cause it is called Eternal Salâ—ation Heb. 5. 9. And it is said That Israel shall â—e saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvatiâ—n
conversation were made the off-scouring of all things yea the godly complained of old Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Psal 103. 4. and David said remove from me reproach and contempt Psal 119. 22. Now when this comes to be our case as it is the case of many good Christians who are of Gods Elect we should consider how our condition shall be altered in the world to come where we shall be so far advanced above the contempt of this world that we shall be honoured on Gods part on Christs part amongst the Angells amongst the Saints and amongst the wicked themselves and shall we not take comfort in this Again this should exhort all of us that may be of Gods Elect for ought we know to the contrary to honour God to the most of our ability here in this world Forasmuch as 1. We are commanded to honour him and to sing forth the honour of his Name Psal 66. 2. 2. We are taught by many examples so to do for our Saviour was carefull on this earth to honour him as he said to the Jews I honour my Father and ye dishonour me Joh. 8. 49. and the faithfull of former times were carefull to honour him as we may well think 1. Because they honoured Christ and had an high esteem of him for they esteemed him to be fairer then the children of men Psal 45. 2. to be the chiefest of ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. to be the wonderfull Counsellor the Almighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Isay 9. 6. to be the chief Shepheard and Bishop of their souls 1 Pet. 2. 25. 2. Because they honoured the word of God and had an high esteem of it for they esteemed it above riches Psal 119 19. better then gold and silver Psalm 119. 72. more then their ordinary food Job 23. 12. 3. Because they honoured the place of his publike worship and would say with the Prophet O how amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts one day in thy Courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse Psal 84. 1. 10. 4. Because they honoured those that feared the Lord with a godly fear Psa 15. 4. it was much to be commended in Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon that after the Almighty had afflicted him sore he resolved to honour him that liveth for ever to honor the King of heaven Dan. 4. 34 37. Having then such examples before us we should be moved to make them our paterns 3. We know that honour must be given to whom honour is due and honour is due to God as he is our Creatour as he is a Father Mal. 1. 6. as he is a King and in these respects we should give honour unto him 4. He is worthy to receive all possible honour from us as the twenty four Elders confessed Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wills sake they are and have been created Revel 4. 11. 5. Unlesse we honour him in this world we have no reason to expect honor from him in that world which is to come 6. But if we honour him in this we shall be sure to be honoured of him in that world according to his promise Them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2. 30. How must we honour him in this world 1. We must honour him in our hearts by having an high esteem of him as Moses had when he said Lord who is like unto thee among the Gods glorious in golinesse fearful in praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 11. as Hannah had when she said there is none holy as the Lord neither is there any rock like our God 1 Sam. 2. 2. as David had when he said Who is a God save our Lord who is a rock save our God Psal 18. 31. as Asaph had when he said Lord whom have I in heaven but thee who is there on earth that I desire in comparison of thee Psal 73. 25. as Paul had when he said O the depth of the wisdome and the knowledge of God c. Rom. 11. 33. without which honour none can be accepted Isai 29. 13. 2. We must honour him in our bodies by yeelding bodily submission and reverence unto him upon all occasions and by keeping our bodies pure and chast 1 Thes 4. 4. 3. We must honour him in our thoughts words and actions as at other times so chiefly upon the Sabbath or Lords day according to that charge of the Prophet Thou shalt honour him not doing thine own waies nor finding thine own pleasures nor speaking thine own words Isai 58. 13. 4. VVe must honour him with our earthly substance when we have occasion and opportunity so to do according to that of Solomon Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine Prov. 3. 9. 10. Now I conceive that in these times men do give the Lord the first fruits of all their increase when they do duly and conscionably part with the tythes or tenths of all their increase and if so then we may safely infer from hence that they which duly and conscionably part with their tythes do honour the Lord with their substance and may well hereupon expect a blessing from him because of this promise 5. VVe must honour him in this world above all others above our selves as our Saviour honoured him above himself Joh. 8. 54. above our earthly Kings Parents Children c. for we know this was imputed as a sin to Eli the Priest that he honoured his sons above God 1 Sam. 2. 29. the chiefest good must have the chiefest honour and we acknowledge him to be our chiefest good therefore we must honour him above others The latter Proposition is That reprobates shall 1 Proposition be contemned in the world to come touching which contempt of theirs we are to consider The nature of it The certainty of it First touching the nature of it I conceive that to be contemned is all one as to be lightly or lowly esteemed of and so the word is interpreted in Scripture as whereas Iesurun contemned God it is said that he lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation Deut. 32. 15. and whereas the wicked shall be contemned if they repent not it is said they shall be lightly esteemed 1. Sam. 2. 30. So then when I say that Reprobates shall be contemned in the world to come I understand that they shall be lightly esteemed of in the world to come on Gods part and Christs part amongst the Angells amongst the Saints and amongst themselves They shall be lightly esteemed of on Gods part in the world to come for he shall esteeme them for no other then reprobates
in the issue by all their mirth and jollity in this world Here indeed they may seem to be the onely merry companions here they are wont to spend much of their time in pleasure they call for the vial the harp and the merry lute in their feasts and say To morrow shall be as this day and much more vile and in their merry meetings they are wont to cry down the spirit of mourning and to say Hang up sorrow for what serves it let us eat drink and be merry let us rejoyce in our youth let our hearts chear us in the days of our youth let us walk in the ways of our hearts c. But suppose any of these mirth-mongers shal happen to dye in the guilt of their sins without repentance and without a pardon and so shall be found Reprobates at the last What then shall all their mirth profit them Surely nothing at all But then they shall finde That it had been good for them if they had never been born Then they shall finde That all their mirth and jollity shall be turned into sorrow and heaviness into weeping and gnashing of teeth Wherefore my beloved that we may not mourn and howl with Reprobates in the world to come let us still pray that God will pour upon us the spirit of godly mourning and contrition that we may walk heavily and grieve heartily for our own sins and for the sins of others here in this life That we may mourn with those that mourn and weep with those that weep now in a good sence And if God shall vouchsafe us this spirit then we shal not mourn with Reprobates but shall rejoyce with Gods chosen for ever in the world to come SECT XXI Touching the Security of Gods Elect and the Fear of Reprobates in the World to Come HEre followeth an eleventh special difference which shall be betwixt the parties before named in the next world Which may be thus expressed Gods Elect shall dwell securely in the World to come Reprobates shall be afraid in the World to come The former Proposition that Gods Elect shall 1. Propo. dwell securely in the World to come And here I speak not of security as it is sometimes taken in evil part for sinfull security for doubtlesse there shal be none such in the World to come but I speak of it as it is taken in good part for holy security and when I say that Gods Elect shall dwell securely in the World to come my meaning is that they shall enjoy abundance of holy security in that World that is to say though they shall have a reverentiall fear of God in that VVorld Psa 67. 7. yet they shal be safe and free from all slavish fear of God and of Christ and from al fear of evil they shal not feare the evil of sin nor the evil of punishment they shal not fear the power of Men nor Devils they shal not fear the power of any creature in that VVorld And that in this sense they shal dwel securely in the VVorld to come may be proved by divers passages of Scripture in which this security is either promised or asserted as 1. They that shal dwell in the house of the Lord for ever shal dwel securely and enjoy abundance of holy security in the VVorld to come Now Gods Elect shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever according to that of David surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever Psal 23. 6. Ergo They shal enjoy abundance of holy security in that VVorld 2. The Lord who is wisdome it self saith he that hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evill Pro. 1. 33. which promise may be in part fulfilled in this VVorld but it shal perfectly be fulfilled only in that which is to come and from hence I may reason thus they that shal perfectly enjoy this promise in the world to come shall abound with holy security in that world Now Gods Elect shal perfectly enjoy this promise in the world to come Ergo. 3. It is said who so putteth his trust in the Lord shal be safe Prov. 29. 25. that is shal be safe from the fear of evil as that Text seems to import which promise also may be in part fulfilled in this world but it shal perfectly be fulfilled only in that which is to come and so from hence I may argue thus they that shall perfectly enjoy this promise in the world to come shall abound with holy security in that world Now God Elect shal perfectly enjoy this promise in the world to come Ergo. 4. The Propher Ieremiah sheweth that in the dayes of Christs Raign Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely Ier. 23. 6. VVhereby Iudah and Israel I understand al Gods Elect and by the Salvation and Safety there promised them I understand chiefly their Eternall Salvation in the VVorld to come together with that safety from fear of evil which shal follow thereupon and so from hence I may reason thus They that shall be Eternally saved in the World to come shall be safe from the feare of evill in that World and so shall abound with holy security in it Now Gods Elect shal be Eternaly saved in the world to come Ergo. 5. It is Gods Promise to his Elect that he will gather them out of all Countries whether he hath driven them and will place them in their own Countrie and will cause them to dwell safely in it Ierem. 32. 37. VVhich promise hath never been perfectly fulfilled as yet but shal be perfectly fulfilled in the VVorld to come From whence I may argue thus they that shal dwel safely in the World to come shal abound with holy security in that world Now Gods Elect shal dwel safely in the world to come Ergo. 6. The like promise is to be found elsewhere for the Lord saith of his chosen People they shal no more be a prey to the heathen neither shal the beasts of the Land devour them but they shal dwel safely and none shal make them afraid Ezek. 34. 28. which promise hath never been perfectly fulfilled as yet but shal be perfectly fulfilled in the world to come Ergo. In the world to come Gods Elect shal dwel securely and shal abound with holy security 7. It is said that perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment 1 Joh. 4. 18. and what fear shal perfect love cast out but slavish fear and fear of evil from whence also I may thus reason They that shall be perfect in love in the World to come shall be safe from the fear of evill in that world Now Gods Elect shal be perfect in love in the VVorld to come Ergo. 8. They that shal have perfect rest in the world to come shal dwel securely therin shal be at rest from the fear of evil Now Gods elect
shal have perfect rest in the world to come as it is written there remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. and again It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shal be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels Ergo. 2 Thess 1. 7 Which proposition thus proved may be applied first Vse for the confutation of such as are wont to promise themselves and others abundance of holy and happy security in this Life and say that the Saints in the latter times shall have so much rest and tranquillity that none shall be able to make them affraid neither shall they fear any evill present or to come But these are much mistaken for it hath been shewed before that the blessing of perfect security is not to be enjoyed in this world but only in that which is to come And how can we expect such a blessing in this World seeing it is well known that as long as we live here we are stil under a possibility of sinning and under a possibility of suffering for sin and can we be free or safe from the fear of evil as long as we are in such a condition surely no because every known act of sin begets in men the fear of punishment and every punishment for sin begets the fear of another punishment away then with this conceit Againe if Gods Elect shal dwel securely from al fear of evil in the VVorld to come then this may informe us that it is a great favour and mercy of God for any to be of the number of his Elect and no marvel that Saint Paul was thankful to God for the election of some amongst the Ephesians and for the election of some amongst the Thessalonians for he knew this election of theirs to be a great grace and favour of God wherefore they that have a share in this grace can never be sufficiently thankfull for it considering that by vertue of it they shal enjoy many priviledges in the VVorld to come and this of perfect and happy security amongst the rest And that we may be abundantly thankfull for it we must stiâ—l be exhorted to use all diligence that are many make our calling and election sure to our selves â— Pet. 1. 10. for as without this assurance we cannot so by vertue of it we shall be abundantly thankful for this grace Thirdly if we desire to partake of this blessing in the World to come we must endeavour whiles we live here to performe such conditions as have the promise of perfect and happy security annexed to them that is to say 1. We must hearken to Gods Counsell with obedient hearts Pro. 1. 33. 2. We must trust in God with all our hearts Pro. 29. 25. 3. We must approve our selves to be stil his covenant People Heb. 4. 9. And then without doubt we shal dwel securely in the VVorld to come according to Gods Promise The other Proposition is that Reprobates shal 2. Propo. be afraid in the World to come that is They shall be perplexed with the feare of evil in that World they shal stil fear the displeasure of God the displeasure of Christ the displeasure of the Saints with a slavish fear they shal stil fear the Paines Punishments and Torments which are to be suffered by them in that World and that with a perplexed feare And for proof hereof these Arguments may be produced 1. If the perplexed feare of evil be a spirituall punishment belonging unto Reprobates in this VVorld then they shall have much more experience of it in that which is to come Now the perplexed fear of evill is a spirituall punishment belonging unto such in this world as may appeare by these passages The strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places Psal 18. 45. They shall be afraid pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them they shall be in paine as a Woman that travelleth they shall be amazed one at another their faces shall be as flames Isa 13. 8. in that day shall Egypt be like unto Women it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of Hosts which he shaketh over it Esay 19. 16. The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulnesse hath surprised the Hypocrites who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire Esay 33. 14. from all which places we may gather that the perplexed fear of evil is a spirituall punishment belonging unto Reprobates in this world and if so how can they escape the full measure of it in that which is to come seeing spiritual punishments in this life are but the first fruits of a full crop to be received hereafter 2. They that shall be afraid of the last judgement shal be perplexed with the fear of evill in the world to come Now Reprobates shall be afraid of the last judgement for they shall hide themselves in the dens and Rock of the Mountaines and shall say unto the Mountaines and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 15. 16 17. Ergo. 3. They that shall have vexing and accusing consciences in the World to come shall be perplexed with the fear of evill in that World but Reprobates shall have vexing and accusing Consciences in the world to come Rom. 2. 15. Ergo. 4. They that shall suffer Hellish torments in the world to come shall be perplexed with the fear of evil in that world But Reprobates shall suffer hellish torments in the world to come Psa 9. 17. Ergo. And this latter Proposition may be applied thus Vse First It confirms that divine Maxim which hath been often repeated viz. That it had been good for Reprobates if they had never been born For if they had never been born they could never have had any experience of such perplexed fears neither in this world nor in that which is to come But now seeing they have been are or shall be born they cannot avoyd them Secondly It may inform us That it shall be worse with them in the world to come in respect of this fear then it can be with them in this life For though whiles they live here they may tremble fear and be much astonished by reason of Gods Judgments yet hereafter they shall be much more astonished in this respect Thirdly It should admonish all whiles we live here to provide for our own safety that we may dwell securely and may be free from fear of evil in the world to come And for this end 1. We must still pray for the blessing of pardon and reconcilion which blessing if we can obtain before our death we shall be safe from the fear of evil in the next world 2. We must still pray for the blessing of
Vers 6. Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of tby hands Psal 19. 1. The Firmament sheweth his handy work Psal 102. 25. Of old hast thou laid the Foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands Isai 48. 13. My hand hath laid the Foundation of the Earth and my right hand hath spanned the Heavens Thus all created Substances were made with hands and consequently that which was not made with hands was uncreated Now we read of the third Heaven that it was not made with hands Heb. 9. 11. and that when Christ entered into it he entered into the holy Places not made with hands Heb. 9. 24. Where the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plainly distinguisheth the third Heaven not only from the Tabernacle in Moses time which was made with mens hands but also from the whole created world which was made with Gods hands not denying the whole Creation to be the work of his hands but saith of the third Heaven That it was not made with hands and if it were not made with hands then surely it was uncreated Agreeable hereunto is that other place 2 Cor. 5. 1. If our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Where the Apostle shews that the Souls of the faithful after their separation from the body shall have an house not made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with hands plainly distinguishing the Souls heavenly house from its bodily or earthly house And as he denies not its bodily house to be made with hands nor could have denyed it because God made it of the dust of the ground Gen. 2. So he affirms that its heavenly house was not made with hands and if it were not made with hands then it was uncreated and if it were uncreated then it must needs follow that the third Heaven also was uncreated Secondly I take this for a ground That which 2 Argument was from everlasting and without beginning was never created which Proposition as I suppose will not be denyed because it is acknowledged on all sides That whatsoever had a beginning and was not from everlasting was created Gen. 1. 1. and whatsoever had not a beginning but was from everlasting was not created Now I assume That the highest Heaven commonly called the third Heaven was from everlasting and without beginning and I am moved to think so for these Reasons 1. God himself was from everlasting and without beginning as it is written Psal 90. 2. Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the Earth and the World even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God And we read in Scripture of Gods Glory before the world was Joh. 17. 5. Of his Ordination before the world was 1 Cor. 2. 7. Of his chusing of men before the foundation of the world Ephes 1. 4. And of his purpose before the world began 2 Tim. 1. 9. From which places I infer That God himself was from everlasting and without beginning and if he were from everlasting then he was somewhere from everlasting I dare not say he was no where from everlasting neither dare I say he was everywhere from everlasting but he was somewhere from everlasting and where was that but in the highest Heaven and if he were in the highest Heaven from everlasting then this Heaven was also from everlasting with God and so without beginning 2. This third Heaven is called Gods Place Isai 26. 21. The Lord cometh out of his Place to punish the inhabitants of the Earth and Mica 1. 3. Yea it is called his high and holy place Isai 57. 15. and his dwelling place 1 King 8. 30. Hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place Now I demand whether it was not Gods dwelling place before the Creation as it hath been since Yes doubtless it hath been his dwelling place ever since the Creation and shall be so for ever and was so from everlasting for which cause he is said to inhabite eternity Isai 57. 15. and to inhabite eternity is to inhabite an eternal place for in the same Text his dwelling in an eternal place is distinguished from his dwelling in the hearts of humble and contrite ones And if the third Heaven was Gods eternal place then surely it was from everlasting with him and so without beginning Yea if we acknowledg God to be an everlasting Being I see no reason why we should deny him an everlasting place suitable to his Being 3. This Heaven of which I speak is called Gods Throne Isai 66. 1. Heaven is my Throne and Mat. 5. 34. Mat. 23. 22. Acts 7. 49. And was it not his Throne from everlasting Doubtless it was and so much I gather from that of the Prophet Psa 93. 2. where he saith thus to God Thy Throne is established of old thou art from everlasting which sounds in my ears as if he had said As God was from everlasting so was his heavenly Throne and if it were from everlasting then it was without beginning and if we acknowledg him to be an everlasting King and to have a Kingdom from everlasting as the Scripture witnesseth in many places why should we not also acknowledg this his heavenly Throne to be from everlasting and so to be without beginning 4. Yea this Heaven of which I speak is that which is predicable and may be predicated of the Essence of God and we may say without a trope or figure this Heaven is God and God is this Heaven for which cause I conceive it is that this Heaven is often put for God himself in the written Word as Dan. 4. 26. where it was said to Nebuchadnezzar Thy Kingdom shall be sure unto thee after thou shalt have known that the Heavens do rule which is all one as if it had been said After thou shalt have known that the most high God shall raign in the Kingdoms of men as it is interpreted for us Dan. 5. 21. So also it is said unto the chief Priests and Elders Mat. 21. 25. The Baptism of John whence was it from Heaven or of men as if it had been said Was it from God or from men only So again Luk. 15. 21. the Prodigal said unto his father I have sinned against Heaven and against thee which is all one as if he had said I have sinned against God and against thee And so lastly John said Joh. 3. 27. A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven that is except it be given him from God from whom every good and perfect gift doth come In all which and other such like places God is described by the name of Heaven and called Heaven and why so For to teach us as I conceive that this Heaven is something appertaining to the Essence of God and doth not essentially differ from God himself but as he is a spiritual Being an independent Being so he is
a good hope to do it as he sheweth vers 14 15 23 24 28 29 30 31 32. Yet in all this Chapter he speaks not a word of a National Conversion of the Jews of latter times and when he saith Aâ—l Israel shall be saved vers 26. he is so far from speaking of the temporal Conversion of any â—hat he speaks of the final full and everlasting Salvaâ—ion of all the Elect Israel of God as hath been acknowledged by many learned Expositors Wherefore Calvin Gerard Wollebius when you shall awake out of this sleep I hope â—ou will say with me that ye have been in a dream â—hitherto and that this present world is evil and is â—ikely to be yet worse both in respect of sin and punishment But if some shall here object and say We must Object distinguish the morning and the evening of the latter times and must know that though the morning of the latter times doth yet continue perillous yet the evening shall not be so but shall be auspicious and glorious To this I answer It will be hard if not impossible Sol. for any to prove either that these perillous days of ours do belong unto the morning of the latter times or that the evening shall be less perillous then the morning hath been Rather I think it may be proved That the morning of the latter times was less perillous both in respect of sin and punishment and more eximious for holiness and happiness then the evening shall be Wherefore as I conceive this distinction thus applied will not help at a dead lift though it may be very useful as it may be applied some other way And though it be true that all such unconverted Jews as belong to Gods Election shall in time be converted yet it will be a sweating task for any to prove from the 11 Chapter to the Romans or from any other place or places of Scripture That there shall be an Universal or a National Conversion either of the present oâ— of a latter off-spring of Jews or that there shall be so great or so numerous a Conversion of Jews hereafter in any time to come as there was in the days of Christ and of his Apostles And if the Conversion of the Gentiles shall continue in a constant course and succession till the second Coming of Christ from the heavenly Sion Rom. 11. 25 26. what time will there remain for a National Conversion of a latter off-spring of Jews But more will be said of this in the following pages Again If this present world be evil in both the former respects then the sons of men should not love it in those respects nor set their hearts upon it Indeed we have no reason to hate this world as it is Gods workmanship nor as it is the place for Repentance and true Conversion nor as it is the place wherein much good may be received and done and wherein we are to seek the Kingdom of God and his Mat. 6. Righteousness to run the race of Christianity and to make our Calling and Election sure So neither have we any reason to love it for any vanity sin corruption or misery that is to be found in it according to that of Saint John Love not the world neither the things that are in the world 1 Joh. 2. 15. where the world is taken either figuratively for thâ— wicked of the world or else properly for the placâ— of earthly corruption and by the things that arâ— in the world he understands the sinful lusts hereof and shews that this world is not to be loved in these respects because if any man love the world in such respects the love of the father is not in him and all that is in the world saith he the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world Vers 16. And Sainâ— James tells us That the friendship of this world is enmity with God Jam. 4. 4. Nay we should be so far from loving it in those respects that 1. We should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2. 12. 2. We should use it rather for necessity then for delight and this is to use this world as not abusing it 1 Cor. 7. 31. 3. We should strive by faith to overcome and subdue in our selves the love of earthly vanities For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith 1 Joh. 5. 4. 4. We should take heed lest at any time our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day of the Lord come upon us unawares Luk. 21. 34. 5. We should be heavenly minded and affected according to the Apostles advice If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affection on things above not on things on the earth Col. 3. 1 2. And according to our Saviours advice Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where theeves break through and steal but lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theeves do not break through and steal For where your treasure is there will your heart be also Mat. 6. 19 20 21. 6. We should be much conversant in our thoughts and speeches about heavenly matters and affairs and this is to have our Conversation in Heaven from whence we look for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. 7. We should be constantly willing to leave this world and to be wholy divorced from it in the former respects as Elijah was when he said It is enough Lord take away my life for I am no better then my father as old Simeon was when he said Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace and Saint Paul was when he said I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all And then may a man truly say with the Apostle I am crucified unto the world and the world to me Gal. 6. 14. when he is as willing to part with the world as the world is to part with him The next Position to be proved is That this present world shall one day be dissolved 2 Posit And here by this present world I understand the visible Heavens and Earth that now are together with the creatures and works which are in them or shall be found in them at the latter day For though the visible Heavens and Earth which now are may be called this present world considered as a Continent and the creatures and works in them may be called the things of the world yet all these together do but make up this whole visible world as appears 2 Pet. 3. 10. And to be dissolved is all
one as to be brought to dust as when a mans body shall be dissolved it shall be brought to dust according to that Gen. 3. 19. Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return So when this world shall be dissolved it shall be brought to dust because it is the nature of fire when it burns up any substance to bring it to dust and ashes and this present world shall be burnt up as I am to shew by and by therefore it shall be brought to dust And that I be not misapprehended of any in this point these three Cautions are to be considered before I come to prove my Position 1. I do not say That this present world shall be annihilated or brought to nothing as some have thought because the dust hereof shall remain after its dissolution as the dust of mans body shall remain somewhile after its dissolution 2. I grant That some of Gods Elect shall be found alive in their bodies at the latter day and that their bodies shall not be dissolved but shall be preserved from the dissolution that shall then come upon this world as it is written Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the ayr and so shall we ever be with the Lord 1 Thes 4 17. but these only excepted this whole visible world shall be dissolved 3. Neither do I say That this present world shall be dissolved altogether in respect of its Essence and Being because it shall have a Being viz. a new form and manner of Being after its dissolution as when a man dyes his body is dissolved not altogether in respect of its Essence and Being because mans body shall have a new form and manner of Being after its dissolution Job 14. 14. but when a man dyes his body is dissolved only in respect of its present or pristine condition and shall be no more such a body as it was either for substance or corrupt qualities because the substance thereof shall be turned to dust and the present or pristine corrupt qualities thereof shal cease So when this present world shall be dissolved it shall not cease to be altogether because it shall be again under a new form and condition and that for ever 2 Pet. 3. 13. Isai 66. 22. for which cause it is said That the Earth abideth for ever Eccles 1. 4. and it cannot abide for ever under its present form and condition but doubtless it shall abide for ever under a new form after its new Creation and it is said that God hath established the world never to be moved 1 Chron. 16. 30. Psal 93. 1. Psal 96. 10. Jer. 10. 12. Ier. 51. 15. Isai 45. 18. Yet we know that this world shall be moved at its dissolution Heb. 12. 26. But the meaning of these places places is that after its new Creation it shall never be moved So then this present world shall be dissolved only in respect of its present or pristine condition that is it shall be no more such a world as now it is either for substance or corrupt qualities because the present substance of it shall be turned to dust and the present corrupt qualities and accounts of it shall be no more Now that this present world shall one day be dissolved in the former sence is fully acknowledged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Saint Peter who saith All these things shall be dissolved 2 Pet. 3. 11. meaning by all these things the visible Heavens and Earth which now are with all the creatures and works in them which altogether make up this present world and he saith further vers 12. That these things being on fire shall be dissolved and so he plainly avereth that this present woâ—ld shall one day be dissolved and brought to dust And for further proof hereof these ensuing particulars should be considered 1. That this present world shall one day have an end put unto it as the Scripture witnesseth as often as it speaks of the end of this world as Mat. 24. 3. Mat. 28. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 11. 15. 24. 1 Pet. 4. 7. From whence I may thus reason That which shall have an end put unto it shall be so far dissolved but this present world shall have an end put unto it in respect of its present condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 2. That this present world considered as before shall one day perish according to that They shall perish but thou shalt endure Psal 102. vers 26. Now that which shall perish shall so far be dissolved but this present world shall perish in respect of its present and pristine condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 3. That this present world is mutable and shall be changed according to that As a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed Psal 102. 26. As mans body shall be changed Job 14. 14. Now that which shall be changed shall be so far dissolved as it shall be changed but this present world shall one day be changed as touching its present and pristine condition form and manner of Being therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 4. That this world is corruptible and under the bondage of corruption as may appear Rom. 8. 21. and that which is corruptible shall one day be dissolved so far as it is corruptible but this present world is corruptible inrespect of its present and pristine condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 5. That this present world is moveable and shall one day be shaken in peeces as it is said Once more I shake not the Earth only but also Heaven Heb. 12. 26. and that which may be shaken shall be dissolved so far as it may be shaken but this present world shall be shaken in respect of its present condition form and manner of Being therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 6. That this present world is subject to vanity Rom. 8. 20. and is of a vanishing nature For the Heavens shall vanish away like smoak Isa 51. 6. Heaven and Earth shall pass away Mat. 5. 18. The fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 31. The world passeth away and the lusts thereof 1 Joh. 2. 17. Now that which shall vanish away shall be dissolved so far as it shall vanish away but this present world shall vanish away in respect of its present condition form and manner of Being therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 7. That this present world waxeth old like a garment Psal 102. 26. Isai 51. 6. and hath been in its latter age for one thousand six hundred years 1 Cor. 10. 11. 1 Joh. 2. 18. Now that which waxeth old like a gaâ—ment shall one day be dissolved in that respect but this present world waxeth old in respect of its present condition therefore in this respect it shall be dissolved 8. That this present world shall one day be
he shall come again in the Flesh the second â—â—me so assureth us that this Coming of his shal be fâ—om Heaven viz. that third Heaven or blessed Heaâ—en wherein he now is and raigneth with his Father iâ— his humane nature as God and man in one person â—nd for to assure us hereof it is said This same Jesus â—hich is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 1. 11. The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout 1 Thes 4. 16. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with â—is mighty Angels 2 Thes 2. 7. From Heaven we look for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. and hereunto accords that Vision of Saint John I saw the holy City New Jerusalem coming â—own from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride â—dorned for her husband Rev. 21. 2 10. Where by New Jerusalem I understand all the Saints which Christ shall bring with him at his second Coming to be espoused unto him after a more glorious manner then formerly they were and if this New Jerusalem shall come down from God out of Heaven then Christ himself also shall come down from thence at his next return in the Flesh But it may be here demanded Whether Christ Quest shall come from the third Heaven at this next Return of his with a purpose to leave it To which demand I answer thus First The third Answ Heaven may be considered as the most high and holy place of the Godhead Father Son and Holy Ghost and so I say That Christ considered only as God shall never leave it because it is the essential place of the Godhead Secondly It may be considered as it is now the place of Christs humane Nature wherein he raigneth with the Father as God and man in onâ— person and so I beleeve That Christ at his seconâ— Coming from the third Heaven shall leave it altogether never to possess it again as formerly nor as the constant place of his habitation yet I deny not but conceive that after this descention of his he may be taken up again in his humane Nature at some times into the third Heaven for some ends known only to God as Saint Paul once was before hiâ— death but still I think that at his next Return from this Heaven in his humane Nature he shall leave iâ— altogether as the dwelling place of his humane Nature and that for these Reasons 1. The third Heaven was not promised to Christ for an everlasting habitation but only for a certain time as may be seen in these places Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Psal 110. 1. He must raign till he viz. the Father hath put all enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. And that which is here promised shall be made good unto him at his second Coming and not before And if the third Heaven be not promised unto him for an everlasting habitation but for such a time as is expressed in the promise then we may well think That at his second Coming from this Heaven he shall leave it altogether as it is the dwelling place of his humane Nature 2. It is said That this third Heaven shall receive or contain Christ but for a certain time viz. until the times of restitution of all things Acts 3. 21. that is until the World to come shall be created and all things therein shall be restored according to the Decrees and Promises of God And if so then doubtless Christ at his second Coming from this Heaven shall leave it altogether considered as the dwelling place of his humane Nature 3. It is written That Christ at his second Coming from this Heaven shall resign or deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father 1 Cor. 15. 24. And what Kingdom is this that he shall then deliver up to his Father Ans 1. I do not say with some Writers That he shall then deliver up his Mediatory Kingdom to his Father because this Kingdom which belongs unto him as he is the Son of David shall have no end Luk. 1. 33. Neither 2. do I say with others That he shall then deliver up his Church-Kingdom unto his Fathers sole dispose and Government because the Government of the Church both Militant and Triumphant is laid upon Christs shoulders as a Mediator and shall never be taken off from him Isai 9. 6 7. Neither 3. do I say with others That he shall then deliver up his Representative Kingdom consisting of outward Ordinances and Administrations now in use to be abolished by his Father because these things shall cease and determine of their own accord and be abolished before his second Coming at least in order of nature But I say That he shall then resign and deliver up the Kingdom of Heaven properly so called as it is his Fathers personal Kingdom unto the sole dispose and Government of his Father that so his Father may be all in all in it as he was before Christs coming thither 1 Cor. 15. 28. And if he shall resign this Kingdom to God even the Father then we may well think That at his next Coming from this Heaven in his humane Nature he shall leave it altogether as it is the dwelling place of his humane Nature 4. It is said That Christ after his next Coming from Heaven in the Flesh shall be subject to him that put all things under him 1 Cor. 15. 28. that is as if the Apostle had said While Christ remains in the third Heaven in his humane Nature and as the person of a Mediator we are not to consider him as the Fathers Subject because he is there after a sort equal with his Father his Father having advanced him at his own right hand upon his own Throne and having given unto him all power in Heaven and in Earth but after his coming from thence he shall be subject to his Father as he was before his Ascention and if so then doubtless at his second Coming from this Heaven he shall leave it as the dwelling place of his humane Nature 5. Have we never read That Christ after his personal Coming from this third Heaven shall possess his own personal Kingdom and sit upon his own personal Throne according to his Fathers appointment Luk. 19 12. and 22. 29. Rev. 3. 21. And how can this be unless he shall then leave his Fathers personal Kingdom and personal Throne and unless he shall then leave this third Heaven altogether considering it as the dwelling place of his humane Nature Sixthly It informeth us touching the place whither 6 Informat he shall come when he shall come again in the Flesh And so I cannot think that he shall come again from Heaven into this polluted world because this will be no fit place for a glorified Person to be and reside in but doubtless he shall come again from Heaven into the World to
second Coming of Christ in the Flesh should admonish all men to whom these tydings shall come 1. To beware of Atheism that they be not found Atheists in this point for they that are Atheists in this particular will scoff at this doctrine as it is said There shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the promise of his Coming 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. and it shall be evil for such at that day 2. To beware of ignorance and disobedience that we be not found wilfully ignorant of God and wilfully disobedient to the Gospel of Christ because at his second Coming he shall punish such as shall be found in the guilt of these sins with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his power 2 Thes 1. 9. 3. To beware of intemporance and excess in eating and drinking and the cares of this life Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares Luk. 21. 34. 4. To beware of security that we do not sleep as do others and promise our selves peace and safety in our sins because sudden destruction shall come upon such as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5. 3 6. 5. To beware of causeless contention and strife with our neighbors For if a servant shall say in his heart My Lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to beat the men-servants and maidens the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour when he is not aware and will cut him in sunder and will appoint him his portion with unbelievers Luke 12. 45 46. 6. To beware of all erroneous opinions about this Subject And seeing we have such clear Informations in the Word of God concerning it it will be dangerous for us to listen to any Informations contrary to these or to entertain any erroneous opinions in reference to this second Coming of Christ in the Flesh of which sort I have met with some created at this day As one saith There shall be a third Coming of Mr J. Arch Christ in the Flesh to which many Scriptures before quoted properly belong as he thinks and that his second Coming in the Flesh shall be only to raise the dead Saints and to set up his Kingdom upon this Earth and to establish it in the hands of all his dead and living Saints whereupon he shall withdraw himself into Heaven again until his third Coming at the end of the world whereas the Scripture speaks plainly but of two Comings of his in the Flesh and shews That as his first Coming in the Flesh was to take away sin so his second Coming shall be without sin unto Salvation Hebr. 9 28. Another saith That his second Coming in the Flesh is yet far off a thousand years off at least Another saith That his second Coming in the Flesh shall not be before there shall be a National Conversion of the Jews which shall occasion a more full Conversion of Gentiles Another saith That his second Coming in the Flesh shall be into this corrupt world Another saith That after his second Coming in the Flesh he shall return bodily into the third Heaven there to reside for ever and his Saints with him But I rescent these opinions as so many wild fansies or foperies such as have no footing at all in the Word of God And though I might here fill many pages with a large Confutation of them yet I forbear because I desire to furnish the Reader with more profitable matter and do think that by the light of the former Informations the judicious Reader may discern the darkness of these conceits Again That which hath been said touching the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh should exhort and perswade all men to whom these tydings shall come to these following duties 1. To be watchful against sin and Satan that we may keep a good Conscience in all things Sleep not as do others but watch and be sober 1 Thes 5. 6. Behold I come as a thief blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he be found naked and they see his shame Rev. 16. 15. 2. To beleeve his second Coming in the Flesh assuredly seeing we have no reason to doubt thereof and seeing they that beleeve not this are no better then Atheists and Christ shall come to be admired in them that beleeve 3. To look for that is to hope for this second Coming of his as we are taught to do both by precept 2 Pet. 3. 12. and by example Philip. 3. 20. 4. To love this second Coming of his seeing there shall be a Crown of Righteousness for such as love his Appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. 5. To pray for this second Coming of his that it may be hastened Rev. 22. 20. and that we may be accounted worthy to stand before him at that day Luk. 21. 36. 6. To be diligent whiles we live both in our general and particular Callings For blessed is that man whom the Lord when he cometh shall find sâ— doing Luk. 12. 43. SECT VI. Touching the last Resurrection AS the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh is one of the first things which shall be made visible in the World to come So the last Resurrection is another of them which shall be made visible too upon the same day with his second Coming if not at the same instant And touching this Subject also the Scripture informeth us of divers things As First It informeth us That the last Resurrection 1 Informat is to be distinguished from a spiritual Resurrection 1. Because all that have now a lively faith are partakers of a spiritual Resurrection in that they are quickened together with Christ and are risen together with him Ephes 2. 5 6. Col. 3. 1. according to his promise The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voyce of the Son of man and they that hear shall live Joh. 5. 25. whereas none of them are yet partakers of the last Resurrection 2. Because a spiritual Resurrection is all one with Regeneration being that Grace of God whereby men are quickened spiritually and so raised from the death of sin unto the life of Righteousness and translated from death unto life in a spiritual sense 1 Joh. 3. 14. but the last Resurrection shall not be all one with Regeneration 3. Because a spiritual Resurrection is called the first Resurrection and that properly Rev. 20. 5. 6. but the last Resurrection shall not be the first 4. Because this spiritual Resurrection is proper only unto such as are or shall be blessed and holy as it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection for upon such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ
also which shall be given and pronounced upon the Reprobates under the name and notion of unjust persons shall be to this effect Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And the reason of this Sentence also shall be added thus For I was hungry and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not Verily I say unto you in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me Matth. 25. 41 42 43 44 45. And will it not be just That after a Throne hath been prepared for Judgment and summons have been given and a personal appearance hath been made and a cause hath been produced and evidence hâ—th been brought in that this Sentence of Judgment should be given Yes doubtless Wherefore seeing all the proceedings of this Judgment shall be just I may well infer That the last Iudgment shall be just and righteous altogether Sixthly I affirm That the Word of God teacheth 6 Inform. â—â— something touching the time of the last Iudgment As 1. That this Judgment shall be upon one and the same day with the second Coming of Christ And for this cause the day of his second Coming is called the day of Iudgment Mat. 10. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 7. 1 Ioh. 4. 17. Iude 6. And here it should be remembred that the day of Judgment is taken and used in a double sence 1. For the day of Sentence As when it is said that every idle word that men speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment Mat. 12. 36. 2. For the day of Execution As when it is said The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust to the day of Judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2. 9. Now when I say that the day of Judgment shall be the same with the day of Christs second Coming we must understand it of the day of Sentence not of the day of Execution because the day of Execution shall continue after the day of his second Coming 2. It teacheth us That the time of the last Judgment should not be thought to be far off because Saint Iames saith Behold the Iudg meaning Christ standeth before the door Iam. 5. 9. which expression is taken from an earthly Judg who when he standeth before the door should not be thought to be far of but neer at hand neither should his judgment be thought to be far of but neer at hand but Christ our Judg standeth before the door saith he therefore we should not think him to be far off but neer at hand neither should we think this Judgment of his to be far off but neer at hand Seventhly I affirm That the Word of God teacheth 7 Inform. us something touching the place of the last Judgment and shews where it shall be viz. in the World to come For it is said That Christ shall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing and in his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. Whence I gather That Christ at his second appearing shall have a humane Kingdom such as now he hath not and that where this Kingdom shall be there shall the last Judgment be But this Kingdom of his shall be in the World to come as I shall have occasion to prove hereafter therefore this Judgment of his shall be in the World to come Yet I suppose that all Divines are not of my mind Object in this For perchance one may think That this Judgment shall be in the third Heaven which now is because it is said That God shall call to the Heavens above and to the Earth that he may judg his people Psal 50. 4. Whereunto I reply That this conceit is against Answ that Article of our Creed wherein we profess to beleeve that Christ shall come from the third Heaven for to judg the quick and the dead And what need he come from thence for to judg them if he shal judg them there or there pronounce Judgment upon them Besides this place quoted from the Psalmist relates not to the place of this last Judgment but to the persons that shall be judged And so the meaning of it is as if he had said God shall command the Heaven from above to let forth the Souls that are therein and the Earth from beneath to yeeld forth the bodies of men therein that so both in Soul and body they may be judged Wherefore I cannot imagine that this Judgment shall be given or pronounced in the third Heaven Another may think That this Judgment shall be Object in the Ayr that now is because it is said That such as shall live and remain at the second Coming of Christ shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the ayr 1 Thess 4. 17 Whereunto also I reply That the Apostle in the Answ place quoted speaks not of the clouds and ayr which now are but of those which shall be created instead of these as hath been before intimated That the glorified bodies of Christ and his Saints shall not come into this corrupt ayr And so from this place we may better prove that this last Judgment shall be in the World to come then that it shall be in the Ayr that now is And withall I add That those Divines which have taken much pains to describe Christs Throne in the Ayr that now is might well have saved that labor Another may think That this Judgment shall be Object upon the Earth that now is and particularly in the valley of Jehoshaphat which as some say is scituate beween Mount Sion and Mount Olivet because the Prophet Joel saith That God will gather all Nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there Ioel 3. 2. But to this I answer That if we view the Context Answ well we shall finde that the Prophet Ioel there speaks of a temporal judgment that was to be brought upon the Enemies of Israel and Iudah in the valley of Iehoshaphat and not of this last Judgment How then can it be proved from hence That this last Judgment shall be upon the earth that now is and namely in the valley of Ichoshaphat But if any will say This Temporal judgment might be a type of the last Judgment I will not gainsay it Yet all that I can gather from this is That this last Judgment shall as certainly be in the World to come as that was in the valley of Ichoshaphat that now is And it may be that the Throne of the last Judgment shall be neer about the valley of Ichosaphat which shall be in the World to come Eighthly I affirm That the Word of God teacheth 8 Inform. us something also touching the Execution of the last Judgment As
know that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of God at the day of Judgment whether he be bond or free Ephes 6. 8. More particularly it should exhort us 1. To beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ effectually so as to rely upon him for Pardon Peace Sanctification and Salvation and not to content our selves as many do with a bare profession of faith or with an historical faith or with a temporary faith or with a false faith saying they beleeve that all shall be saved c. seeing we know that a dead faith cannot save any but it shall be well for such Beleevers as have a lively faith at the day of Judgment as it is written He that beleeveth shall be saved Mark 16. 16. Christ shall come to be admired of those that beleeve 2 Thes 1. 10. And whosoever beleeveth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 16. Joh. 11. 2. To repent of our sins dayly by way of confession contrition and prayer seeing we know it shall go well with such penitent sinners at the day of Judgment when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of God Acts 3. 19. 3. To be doers of Gods Word and not hearers only deceiving our own Souls seeing we know it shall be well with the doers of Gods Word at the day of Judgment as it is written Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of God which is in Heaven Mat. 7. And it shall be then said unto every doer of Gods Will Well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful in little I will make thee Ruler over much enter into thy Masters Joy 4. To be merciful unto such as are in misery seeing we know that Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment yea against the last Judgment Jam. 2. 13. 5. To be circumspect in our ways according to that of Saint Iames So speak and so do as they that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty Jam. 2. 12. 6. To fear the last Judgment not with a distrustful fear but with an awful and reverential fear so as to be admonished thereby to eschew the evil forbidden and to do the good required as David feared the temporal Judgments of God Psalm 119. 120. 7. To make our Calling and Election sure seeing we know that it shall be well with Gods Chosen at the day of Judgment Rom. 8. 33. SECT VIII Touching the Personal-Humane Kingdom of Christ in the World to come THough the Kingdom of Christ be Monarchical and so but one Kingdom in a large sence there being no other Christ superior or equal to him in it yet there be different estates of his Kingdom and every estate of it is called a Kingdom in Scripture and so we have warrant from the Word of God to distinguish of the Kingdom of Christ and to say there is a three-fold Kingdom of his viz. 1. His Essential Kingdom 2. His Personal-Divine Kingdom 3. His Personal-Humane Kingdom 1. The Essential Kingdom of Christ is that Kingdom which belongs to him as he is God equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost for whatsoever is common to the three persons in the Trinity is essential to each of them as the Godhead is common to all and essential to each of them Omnisciency is common to all and essential to each of them Omnipotency is common to all and essential to each of them So there is a Kingdom common to all of them which therefore may be called the essential Kingdom of Christ as he is God equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost which Kingdom of his is called by some His Natural Kingdom by others His Native or Providential Kingdom by me His Essential Kingdom And this Kingdom of his hath for its Object both this world and the World to come It is every where in Heaven in Earth and under the â—â—â—th it extends to all creatures together with their actions and all accidents incidental unto them as it is said God hath established his Throne in Heaven and his Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 103. 19. O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth Psal 8. 1. God ruleth in the kingdoms of men Dan. 4. 17 25. And the Wisdom of God saith By me Kings raign and Princes decree Iustice By me Princes rule and Nobles even all the Iudges of the Earth Prov. 8. 15 16. 2. The Personal-Divine Kingdom of Christ is that Kingdom which belongs unto him as he is God and man in one Person and wherein he now raigns in his Divine Nature For it is commonly acknowledged by Divines That Christ now raigneth over his Militant Church in his Divine Nature and hath so raigned from the beginning hitherto and shall so raign unto the end of the world in a spiritual way and that both inwardly by his Word and Spirit and outwardly by the Discipline and Government which he hath appointed in his Church And they say The Person which thus raigns is God and man yet the Nature wherein he raigns is not the Humane but the Divine Nature and therefore I call it his Personal-Divine Kingdom Of this Kingdom of his it is said The Kingdom of God is at hand Mar. 1. 15. The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation The Kingdom of God is within you Luk. 17. 20 21. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. And I acknowledg that this Kingdom of his may fitly be called his Spiritual Kingdom because his Government in it is altogether Spiritual It may fitly be called his Donative Kingdom because he received it by donation and gift from his Father Joh. 17. 2. It may fitly be called his Mediatory Kingdom because it belongs unto him as he is a Mediator between God and man And it may fitly be called his Oeconomical Kingdom because it extends properly to his Family the visible Church Neither do I think that think this Personal Kingdom of Christ considered as meerly Divine shall extend to the Church Triumphant 3. The Personal-Humane Kingdom of Christ is that Kingdom which belongs unto him as he is the Son of man and the Son of David and wherein he shall raign in his Humane Nature bodily and visibly And though I grant That this Kingdom of his shall be a second estate of his Personal Donative Mediatory Occonomical Kingdom yet for distinction sake I call it his Personal-Humane Kingdom because only in this estate of his Kingdom shall he raign after a bodily and humane manner Now this is the Kingdom of which I am here to speak and I shall speak of it partly by way of Doctrine and partly by way of Use and Application By way of Doctrine I shall lay down several principles or grounds needful to be known concerning this Kingdom of Christ As First I affirm That Christ shall one day have
Dominion Psal 7. With everlasting Riches 1 Pet. 1. 8. With everlasting Peace Isai 26. 9. With everlasting Light 10. With everlasting Joy 11. VVith everlasting Security But my purpose is to speak of these particulars more fully in the following Sections It may suffice in this place to mention them onely because all that I intended in this Section touching this blessed condition of Gods Elect was to speak of it in a general way which I have done accordingly in this Proposition If so be that Gods Elect shall be blessed in the Vse world to come then we may here inform our selves That it is in vain and will be in vain for any in this world to curse them First Because God hath not doth not will not curse them And how shall we curse whom the Lord hath not cursed Num. 23. 8. Secondly Because God will bless them though men curse them never so much as the Prophet saith Let them curse but bless thou Lord Psal 109. 28. And God shall bless us Psal 67. 7. Thirdly Because God will curse them that curse his people Gen. 12. 2 3. Fourthly Because the curse causless shall not come Prov. 26. 2. Fifthly Because we cannot curse them so secretly as that the Lord shall not know it For which cause Solomon saith Curse not the King no not in thy thought and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber for a bird of the ayr shall carry the voyce and that which hath wings shall tell the matter Eccles 10. 20. For these causes it is in vain for any to curse Gods Elect in this life VVherefore my brethren let us not curse one another as the manner of some is let not Parents curse their Children nor Children their Parents Masters their Servants nor Servants their Masters Husbands their VVives nor VVives their Husbands the Rich the Poor nor the Poor the Rich c. foâ— in so doing we may curse Gods Elect unawares and it will be in vain to curse them Nay those curses which we shoot as arrows against them may recoyl upon our selves as Balak and Balaam desired to curse the Israelites but this became a curse to themselves at last So Shimei cursed David the Lords anointed but this became a curse upon himself at the last Object Though it be not lawful to curse Gods Elect yet I hope it may be lawful to curse wicked Reprobates Sol. If we certainly knew Reprobates from others in this life we might lawfully curse them as God doth and will curse them But this knowledg is too high for us we cannot without extraordinary revelation know in particular who are Reprobates in this life therefore we ought not to curse any as such Object Noah cursed his son Cam Genes 9. 25. and Elisha cursed the two and fourty children that mocked him 2 King 2. 24. and why may not we do the like Sol. These examples of Noah and Elisha are extraordinary and are not recorded for our imitation But concerning them I thus judg and conceive That either Noah knew by extraordinary revelation his son Cam to be a Reprobate and thereupon cursed him or else that he sinned in this act And so that Elisha either knew by extraordinary Revelation those two and fourty children to be Reprobates and thereupon cursed them or else that he sinned in this act Now in these days we have no such extraordinary Revelations but must walk by that ordinary rule which our Saviour hath given us viz. Bless them that curse you Bless I say and curse not Mat. 5. 44. Again If eternal blessedness in the world to come shall be the reward and portion of Gods Elect then we should learn from hence too That Christians must live in this world as becometh Gods Elect that so they may receive the portion of such in the world to come Now it becometh Gods Elect in this life to know God to fear him to love him to beleeve in him to hope in him to be zealous for him and willing to keep his Commandments It becometh them to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world yea it becometh them to live virtuously in every kinde as Saint Paul adviseth us Put on as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering Forbearing one another and forgiving one another as Christ forgave you And above all these things put on charity which is the bond of perfectness Col. 3. 12 13. 14 c. And if we thus live here the life of Gods Elect we shalâ— undoubtedly receive the portion of Gods Elect in the world to come viz. eternal bliss and happiness Reprobates shal all be cursed in the World to come 2 Proposit As we we may well conceive for these Reasons 1. Because they shall not be known of God and of Christ in the world to come with the knowledg of approbation as may appear by our Saviours speech to the foolish Virgins Verily I say unto you I know you not Mat. 25. 12. and to the Hypocrites at the latter day I tell you I know not whence ye are depart from me ye workers of iniquity Luk. 13. 25 27. And they that shall not be known of God and of Christ with the knowledg of Approbation shall be cursed in the World to come 2. Because they shall not have their names found written in Heaven And such as shall not have their names found written in Heaven shall be cursed in the world to come 3. Because they shall be pronounced cursed at the general Judgment and Christ shall then say unto them Matth. 25. 41. And they that shall be pronounced cursed at the general Judgment shall be cursed in the world to come 4. Because Christ was not made a curse for them as he was for the Elect Gal. 3. 13. And seeing Christ did not suffer the cursed death of the cross for them they must suffer the curse for themselves and in their own persons both in this world and in the world to come Deut. 27 15 to 26. 28. 15 16 17 5. Because men are still under the curse of God until they repent effectually and beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ Now we know that Reprobates shall never have grace to repent effectually and to beleeve effectually in the Lord Jesus Christ therefore they shall be cursed in the world to come 1. And if it be here demanded Of whom they shall be cursed in the World to come I answer They shall be cursed of the whole Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost He that made them shall curse And as the curse of the Lord Father Son and Holy Ghost is now upon the house of the wicked Prov. 3. 33. So the curse of the Lord Father Son and Holy Ghost shall be upon the heads of wicked Reprobates in the world to come 2. If it be demanded again For what causes they shall be cursed in the World to come I answer They shall be cursed for all their
what they now have Esa 65. 15. a name better then of sons and daughters an everlasting name Esa 56. 5. 2. They shall be highly esteemed of in the world to come on Christs part for he shall still esteem them as his brethren he was not ashamed Heb. 2. 11. to call them his brethren in this world neither shall he be ashamed to call them such in the world to come he shall still esteem of them as of the children of God according to that compellation of his Come ye blessed children of my Father Mat. 25. 34. He shall still esteem of them as of his familiar friends as may appear by this because it is said that they shall eat and drink with him at his table in his Kingdome Luk. 22. 30. and shall sit some of them at his right hand and some at his left in his Kingdome Mat. 20. 23. Yea he shall so highly esteem of them that he shall still own them for Kings and Priests to God Rev. 1. 6. 3. They shall be higâ—â—y esteemed of in the world to come amongst the Angells good and evill for the good Angells shall so highly esteem of them that they shall own them for their superiours in some respect seeing Christ took not upon him the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham and the evill Angells shall so highly esteem of them that they shall owne them for their Judges and shall not dare to think dishonourably of them 1 Cor. 6. 3. 4. They shall be highly esteemed of amongst themselves for we know that Gods Elect after they are effectually called do honour one another with an high esteem here in this world Psal 15. 4. much more shall they honour one another with an high esteem in the world to come 5. They shall be highly esteemed of in the world to come amongst the reprobate sort of mankind for these also shall have an high and honourable esteem of Gods Elect in the world to come for this cause it is said that the Gentiles shall see their righteousnesse and all Kings their glory Isai 62. 2. God shall establish Jerusalem a praise in the earth Isai 62. 7. which I understand to be spoken chiefly of the new earth or world to come yea saith the Lord they shall be a praise and an honour before all the Nations of the earth Jer. 33. 9. I will get them praise and fâ—me in doing laud where they have been put to shame Zeph. 3. 19. Secondly touching the certainty of it I say that Gods Elect shall most certainly be honoured in the world to come as may appear by these arguments 1. They that are vessells of honour shall be honoured in the world to come but Gods Elect are vessells of honour for which cause they are compared to such vessells of a potter as are made for honour Rom. 9. 21. and to such vessells in a great house as serve for honourable uses 2 Tim. 2. 20. Ergo. 2. They that do or shall know God effectually in this world shall be honoured in the world to come according to that promise I will set him on high because he hath known my Name Psal 91. 14. which is as if the Lord had said I will honour him both in this world if I shall see it expedient and much more in the world to come but Gods Elect do or shall all know God effectually in this world Ergo. 3. They that shall call upon God in sincerity here in this world shal be honoured in the world to come according to that promise He shall call upon me and I wil answer and honour him Psal 91. 15. But Gods Elect do or shall call upon him in sincerity in this world Ergo. 4. They that do or shall go fear the Lord with a godly fear here in this world shall be honoured in the world to come as we may gather from that of Solomon by the fear of the Lord are riches and honour Pro. 22. 4. but Gods Elect do or shall fear him with a godly fear here in this world Ergo. 5. They that do or shall humble themselves for their sins after an holy manner here in this world shall be honoured in the world to come according to that of Solomon before honour is humility Pro. 15. 33. and honour shall uphold the humble in spirit Pro. 29. 23. but Gods Elect do or shall all humble themselves for their sins after an holy manner here in this world Ergo. 6. They that are or shall be mercifull towards others and follow after mercy here in this world in obedience to God shall be honoured in the world to come according to that promise He hath dispersed abroad he hath given to the poor his righteousnesse remaineth for ever his horn shall be exalted with honour Psal 112. 9. and Solomon saith he that followeth after mercy findeth honour Pro. 21. 21. but Gods Elect are or shall be mercifull in this senie here in this world Ergo. 7. They that do or shall regard wholesome reproof shall be honoured in the world to come as Solomon saith He that regardeth reproof shall be honoured Pro. 13. 18. but Gods Elect do or shall regard wholesome reproof in this world Ergo. 8. They that do or shall do good in obedience to Gods will here in this world shall be honoured in the world to come according to that of the Apostle Honour to every one that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Greek Rom. 2. 10. but Gods Elect do or shall do good in obedience to Gods will here in this world Ergo. 9. They that are or shall be the faithfull servants of Christ here in this world shall be honouin the world to come according to that of our Saviour If any man serve me him wil my Father honor Joh. 12. 26. but Gods Elect are or shall be faithfull servants of Christ here in this world Ergo. 10. They that shall conscionably purge themselves from the errors of these times shall be honored in the world to come according to that of the Apostle If any man purge himselfe from these he shall be a vessell unto honour 2 Tim. 2. 21. but Gods Elect are such as do or shall purge themselves from the known errors of their times Ergo. 11. They that do or shall honour God sincerely here in this world shall be honoured of him in the world to come as the Lord saith Them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2. 30. but Gods Elect do or shall sincerely endeavour to honour him here in this world Ergo. This Proposition should comfort all Gods Elect Vse that are now effectually called against the reproach and contempt of this wicked world for such of all others are most obnoxious to be contemned of the wicked if for no other cause yet for their graces and vertues as our Saviour himself though full of grace and vertue was despised and contemned of many in this life and the Apostles themselves notwithstanding their gracious
3. These things considered I see no reason why any should grudg at the prosperity of wicked rich men in this world seeing that the Reprobate sort of them shall have a very poor estate in the world to come But I infer with the Prophet Fret not thy self because of evill doers neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity for they shal soon be cut down like the grasse and wither as the green herb Psal 73. 1 2. Secondly if we wil not be as none desires to be poor with Reprobates in the world to come we must labour to be poor in Spirit and rich in grace while we live in this world for if we be poor in Spirit here in this life we shall not be poor in the world to come as we may gather from that of our Saviour Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 3. And if we be rich in grace that is in knowledg faith repentance love and hope c. we shall not be poor in the World to come as we may gather from that of Saint James Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2. 5. SECT XVIII Touching the Peace of Gods Elect and the Tribulation of Reprobates in the World to come HEre followeth an eighth special Difference which shall be betwixt the parties before named in the World to come which may be thus expressed Gods Elect shall have Peace in the World Reprobates shall have Tribulation to come The former Proposition is That Gods Elect 1 Proposit shall have Peace in the World to come which Peace of theirs is to be considered As touching the Nature of it As touching the Certainty of it As touching the Nature of it I affirm 1. That their Peace in the World to come shall be great Peace According to that promise Great shall be the Peace of thy Children Isai 54. 13. which promise may be performed partly in this world and partly in Heaven but it shall be perfectly performed only in the world to come wherein the peace of Gods Elect shall be great for variety and great for excellency Their peace shall be great for variety because in that world They shall have peace with God God shall be no enemy unto them neither shall he lay any thing to their charge but shall be more fully reconciled unto them in respect of manifestation then now he is They shall have peace with Christ for Christ shall be no Enemy unto them neither shall he lay any thing to their charge in that world but shall own them for his Friends his Spouse his Love his undefiled They shall have peace with their Consciences Their Consciences shall not accuse nor trouble them for any sin for any thing but as they shall have boldness at the day of Judgment arising from peace of Conscience 1 Joh. 4. 18. so this peace shall continue still They shall have peace among themselves that is they shall worship and serve God peaceably together with one minde and with one heart and so there shall be one Lord and his Name one Zech. 14. 9. because the Elect shall worship onely one Lord and that with one kinde of worship and with one heart and one Soul in that world They shall have peace from the Angels for as the good Angels shall have no will so the evil Angels shall have no power to hurt or molest them as we may gather from that Promise The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. vers 20. They shall have peace from wicked men and women for though the Saints shall have power to molest and trouble the wicked yet the wicked shall have no power to molest and trouble the Saints in that world seeing they shall be bound in chains Psal 149. 7. They shall have peace from all other creatures in that world as it is written Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee and thou shalt know that thy Tabernacle shall be in peace Job 5. 23 24. Again it is said The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lion shall eat straw like the Bullock and dust shall be the Serpents meat They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain saith the Lord Isa 65. 25. Which prophetical Promises shall never be perfectly fulfilled in this world but they shall be so fulfilled in that which is to come Such shall be the peace of Gods Elect in that world And as this peace of theirs shall be great for variety so it shall be great for excellency in as much as the excellency of it shall far surpass all that we can now in our mortal condition think or speak of it And if there be any peace of God out of God belonging to any creature which passeth all understanding as it should seem there is Phil. 4. 7. surely this shall be such a peace And who knows not that the peace of this world is more obvious to our present apprehension and understanding then that of the world to come 2. I affirm That this peace of theirs shall be abundant for measure and degree as it is promised They shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace Psal 37. 11. And God shall extend peace to them like a river Isai 66. 12. Which Promises shall perfectly be fulfilled not in this world but in that which is to come 3. I affirm That this peace of theirs shall be perfect without defect as the Prophet assures us when he saith unto God Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee Isa 26. 3. The best peace which can be had in this world may be in some respect defective but in that which is to come the peace of Gods chosen shall be in nothing defective but they shall have so much of it as their hearts can wish or desire to have 4. I affirm That this peace of theirs shall be everlasting without end For which cause it is said That God shall keep them in perfect peace in the former place Isai 26. 3. without any limitation of time to intimate That he shall keep them in this peace for ever And the Covenant of peace which he hath made with his chosen is called an everlasting Covenant Ezek. 37. 26. And if this Covenant be everlasting then surely the peace which they shall enjoy by virtue of this Covenant shall be everlasting too And so we have seen the nature of this peace As touching the Certainty of it I aver it for a most certain truth That Gods Elect shall have peace in the world to come such a peace as hath been described as may be proved by these Arguments 1. They that shall be perfectly reconciled to God in the world to come shall have perfect peace in that