be no mistake not only the more openly profane and notoriously vile generation of the wicked who were even professed enemies of Gods people and shun their company and separate themselves now shall be separated from them by Jesus Christ at the last day but also all those who were more â—ober and had some kind of love to them but none unto Jesus Christ Yea all hypocrites who seemed to be of their company shall then be parted from them Christ will look upon all with a pierâ—ing distinguishing eye he will easily discern and discover all the hypocrites however they may plead that they have eat and drunk in his presence and some of them cast out devils in his â—ame he will not judge according to the outward appearance but according to the truth which hath been in the heart and they which â—ave so much deceived men shall not be able to â—eceive him None of them shall twine themselves â—â—perceivably and croud into Heaven amongst 〈◊〉 righteous Then the lamps of the foolish virâ—â—ns will be gone out then the vail and mask of 〈◊〉 outward show will be rent and torn to pieâ—â—s then the sheeps-skin will be pluckt off and â—â—ey will appear unto the whole world to have â—een but goats and amongst the goats they must 〈◊〉 Christ will not leave one of the goats â—mongst the sheep and he will not leave one of 〈◊〉 sheep amongst the goats all that belong to his fold shall be gathered into one society of their meeting more in their particular judgment 4 At the second appearance of Iesus Christ the Books will be opened out of which all must be judged Rev. 20. 12. I saw the dead small and greaâ— stand before God and the Books were opened and another Boâ—k was opened which is the Boâ—k of Life and the dead were judged out of thâ—se things which were written in those Books according to their works There are five Books which will then be opened 1. Thâ— Book of Gods remembrance 2. The Book of Menâ— own consciences 3. The Book of the Law 4. Thâ— Book of the Gospel 5. The Book of Life 1. The Book of God's Remembrance will be opened This we are to understand in a spiritual sense no as if there were a real Book which God did makâ— use of for his remembrance of things as men 〈◊〉 who have fraiâ—e and weak memories which woulâ— let slip many things of note without such a help but hereby we are to understand that God doâ— take an exact notice of things and remembers theâ— as if he had them written in a Book by him The Boâ—â— of Gods remembrance will be opened whereiâ— will be sound recorded 1. The names of all the Sons and Daughters 〈◊〉 Adam what ever Age and Generation they haâ—â— lived in from the beginning of the Creation 〈◊〉 the consummation of all things as also the relâ—â—tions they stood in and the charge was commiâ—ted to them Such and such were Magistratâ— and had such and such subjects under them 〈◊〉 had the sword of justice put into their hands 〈◊〉 their charge was to rule under Christ to encâ—â—â—rage and reward them that did well and to punish evil dâ—ers such and such were Ministers and they were entrusted with the care of souls they were set by the Lord for Watch-men to forewarn the people of judgments as Stewards to dispence the food of the Word and to give every one their portion such and such were Governours of Families whose work was to set up Religion and the worship of God in their houses and labour in their places after the salvation of the souls as well as to set those under them about their civil work and to provide for their bodies such and such were Children and Servants whose charge was to yield obedience to Parents and Governors in the Lord with meeknesse and fear with readinesse and diligence 2 There will be found recorded the places where such Persons lived such indeed lived in the dark places of Heathenisme and Idolatry but such and such lived in Israel in a Goshen in a Land of Light such and such lived in England in London in such a religious Family there will be recorded the means of grace which they have enjoyed in those places such lived under such a powerful Ministry heard such heart-awakening and heart-warming Sermons and had such sweet showers of the Word dropping upon them they were planted in a fertile soile and they had fat pastures to feed in 3 There will be found recorded the various dispensations of Gods providence towards them for their good such and such had not only Gods Word but also Gods Rod to teach them they lived under the sound of awakning Judgments they lived in London when the Plague raged so sorely and when the Fire brake forth and consumed the City and such were preserved when thousands fell into the Pit they were brought down to the Doores of the Grave and Eternity and they were brought up again they were preserved and provided for and every day tasted of the Cup of Gods goodness they were loaden with his mercies 4 And especially there will be found recorded all the actions of all the Children of men and their carriage towards God and towards one another in those places in those relations under those ordinances and providences 1 There will be found recorded all the good that hath been found in or done by any from the day of their Child-hood to their dying hour such and such they were obedient to Parents when they were young they were diligent in learning their Catechisme and ready to receive instructions in the Principles of Religion such were acquainted with the Scriptures when they were but Children such had tender hearts in their tender years such loved God and followed God when they were but youths such and such had their hearts opened in hearing of the Word and enlarged hearts in prayer such were awakned by such Sermons and convinced and humbled for sin and perswaded to repent and turn to the Lord such opened the door to Jesus Christ when he knocked and set up his Throne in their hearts and put their necks under his yoke Such and such were frequenters and lovers of the Ordinances and Ministers of Jesus Christ. Such made it their business to be religious such walked with God in their Families and were upâ—ight in their dealings in the World such used to deny themselves and took up their Cross and laboured to follow Jesus Christ where ever he led them such mourned for the sins they could not reform were thankful for the mercies they received were faithful in the relations they were placed were fruitful under the means they enjoyed were merciful to their brethren in misery were patient and chearful under the Rod which was laid upon them and all the good actions of men will be had in remembrance 2 There will be found recorded all the evil actions all the sins of the Children of men Such and such were
c. So that it is of ancient revelation The first coming of Christ was foretold to Adam in the promise that the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head and the second coming of Christ was foretold to Enâ—ch It is foretold by the Angels Acts 1. 10 11. Whilst the Disciples looked stedfastly upon our Saviour in his Ascension two Angels say unto them Ye men of Gâ—lilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven this same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come down in like manner as â—e have seen him go into Heaven however Devils are Lyars and the Fathers of Lyes and Lyars yet the good Angels are true and Ministers of truth and this is a true restimony further this is foretold by the Apâ—stles who were employed to be the Pen-men of part of the holy Scripture and were guided by an infallible spirit the Apostle Paul speaks often of it especially see his testimony I Thes. 4. 15 16 17. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord Thus he sets forth Christs coming in a comfortable manner unto his people therefore exhorteth Christians to comfort one another with those words and hopes of Christs glorious appearance when they should be caught up to meet with him and be with him for ever and he sets it forth in a dreadful manner in regard of the wicked 2 Thes. I 7 8 9. The Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his Mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them which know not God and obey not the Gospel who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Moreover this coming of Christ is spoken of by the Apostle in every Chapter of both of these Epistles I Epist Chap. 1. 10 And to wait for his Son from Heaven Chap. 2. 19. What is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing are not ye in the presence of the Lord Iesus at his coming Chap. 3. 13. To the end he may establish you unblameable in holiness at the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. Chap. 4. 16. The Lord himself will descend from Heaven with a shout Chap. 5. 23. I pray that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. 2. Epist. Chap. 1. 10. He shall come to â—e glorified in his Saints Chap. 2. 1 3. Now I beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that ye be not soon shaken in minde c. Chap. 3. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and patient waiting for Christ. I might turn you to further testimonies of his Tit. 2 13. Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Heb. 9. 28. Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time unto salvation We have also the testimony of the Apostle Iames Chap. 5. 7. Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Of the Apostle Peter 1 Epist Chap. 5. 4. When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away 2 Epist. Chap. 3. 10. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night Of the Apostle Iohn 1 Epist. Chap. 3. 2. When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is And in his Revelation frequently Rev. 1. 7. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him and all the kindreds of the earth shall waile because of him Even so Amen To conclude we have the testimony of our Saviour himself whilst on earth to his Disciples Mat. 16. 27. The Son of man shall come in the glory of the Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Matth. 24. 27. As lightning so shall the coming of the Son of Man be V. 30. They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven V. 31. And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet to gather the Elect from the four Winds Mat. 25. especially from the 31. to the end where his judicial proceedings are set forth and our Saviour doth testifie to his enemies that he would come again Matth. 26. 64. Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power coming in the clouds of Heaven And our Saviour testified by his Angel to Iohn his beloved Disciple after his ascension into Heaven that he would come again especially Rev. 22. where we have three promises of the same thing V. 7. Behold I come quickly Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of this Book V. 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be V. 20. Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Iesus If any one word in the whole Book of God may be believed this concerning Christ's second coming and appearance may be believed of which we have such frequent and evident testimonies in the Word as surely as he came the first time in the flesh according to the predictions hereof in the Old Testament so surely will he come the second time in glory according to the predictions in the New Testament God can as soon cease to be God as this Word concerning Christs second coming fail when the Sun goes down in the evening we believe it will return and arise at such a time in the morning accordingly it comes to pass So now Christ the Sun of righteousness is gone into Heaven whilst the night of this world doth last though we cannot know the certain time yet we may believe that he will certainly return and come down from Heaven in the morning of the resurrection it is more possible that the Sun when it is set should abide for ever in the other parts of the world and never arise any more in our Horison than that Christ should abide for ever in Heaven and not return to judge the World when the thing is evidently revealed and frequently promised in the Scripture 2. That the Scriptures are true is evident because they are the Word of God who is a God of truth and cannot lie who can as soon cease to be God as cease to be true untruth in God would argue weakness and imperfection in God which cannot be since to be
infinitely perfect is his essential property That God doth know whether Christ shall appear to Judgment I suppose none will deny who acknowledge the Deity and by consequence his omniscience and prescience especially when the futurity of things doth depend upon his predetermination and that his revelations of future things are true I suppose none wil deny who acknowledge his beeing and perfection whence follows an impossibility of Gods speaking untruths and falshood besides that he need not do it But then the question wil be concerning the Divine Authority of the Scriptures whether they are indeed the Word of God which if proved wil evidence the certainty of Christ's coming to Judgment which is there revealed and foretold That the Scriptures are the Word of God will appear 1. From the Superscription and Image of God upon them 2. From the marvellous power and efficacy of them 3. From the Historical Relation in them of Prophesies fulfilled and Miracles whereby they were confirmed and the rationally unquestionable certainty of this History as it is handed down to pâ—sterity 1. From the superscription and Image of God upon them I mean in that 1 They bear the name of the Word of God 2 In that they bear such evident marks and characters of Divinity 1. The Scriptures bear the name of the Word of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by divine inspiration We cannot rationally imagine that the all-seeing and jealous God should permit such an impious forgery and deceit to receive credit for so many generations amongst the most zealous worshipers of him in the World and by such wonderful providences preserve and maintain the Scriptures against the rage and fury of an ungodly World who have opposed the truths therein contained and endeavoured the suppressing of the Light which therein hath shined if so be that they had been a forgery and deceit indeed and the fancies and inventions of Men fathered upon him as his Word and will and proceeding from the inspirations of his spirit but that he would have made known their falshood unto some at least who had the greatest love and respect to his name and honour and have been the most diligent enquirers after truth and unwilling to be imposed upon with deceits especially in such things as are of the highest concernment which the Lord having given no testimony against but all along owned and when none in the World either worshippers of him or others of highest pretensions to reason have any evident and swaying reason to believe that the Scriptures are a deceit whatever some black mouths mutter in corners it is not irrational for us to believe that the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God which they bear the Title of 2. Moreover and especially the Scriptures appear to be from divine inspiration insomuch as they bear such evident marks and characters of divinity beyond all other Books 1. The first character of Divinity in the Scriptures is the clear discoveries and high praises which they give of God and the chief design of the whole Book which is Gods glory No Heathen Philosopher or Writer could think or speak so highly of God as the Scriptures do speak However God hath put characters of himself in the Book of the Creatures to be read of all making known by his Works his eternal Beeing his infinite Power Wisdome and Goodness yet most of the wisest Men who have lived in the Heathen World and have been the greatest Students of the Book of the Creatures and have had no view of the Book of the Scriptures have been so gross in their conceptions of God that as the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 22 23. When they professed themselves to be wise they became fools and changed the Glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man and to Birds and four-footed Beasts and creeping things They have figured to themselves and worshipped many Gods unto the dishonour of the true God And if some of them have arrived by the light of nature unto the notion of one God yet their conceptions of him have been low mean and unworthy of him and in no Book in the World is God set forth so fully and highly in his glorious attributes and superlative excellencies as he hath set forth himself in the Book of the Scriptures We may finde in heathen Writers high Elogium's and Panegyricks of some men and Women famous in their time for their valour and some moral vertues whom they have deified in after ages and given room amongst their feigned Gods and Goddesses dedicating Temples and giving worship unto them but in no Heathen writings shall we finde the praises of the true God and rules given for the service and worship of him alone as we shall finde in the Scriptures Large Volumes some Heathens have left behinde them the design of which hath been their own glory and as much as in them lay the eternizing their Fame which is an evidence that themselves were Authors of them because we cannot rationally think that any motive should induce others to make and put forth Books in their names that they might obtain glory for them unto whom it did not belong so this little volume of the Scriptures designing the glory of God and the promoting of his Interest in the hearts of Men and the Pen-men employed in the writing thereof not in the least pretending that what they wrote was the invention of their own brain doth evidence God himself to be the Author of this Book Wherefore the Scriptures being so clear in their discoveries of the one true God and setting him forth more gloriously than any other Book and ascribing all praise and honour to him and appointing all religious worship to be given to him only and designing his glory throughout the whole doth evince that the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God 2. The second Character of Divinity in the Scripture is the sublime mysteries therein revealed namely concerning the Trinity of Persons in one nature and essence of God the hypostatical union of the two natures of God and Man in one person of Christ the mystical union of Christ and his members and the like which mysteries are so sublime so high that no mortal Man of the highest reason and most elevated understanding could possibly invent in as much as noâ— they are revealed they exceed the capacity of the most enlightned to understand especially if we further consider by whom these mysteries were revealed not by the great Schollars and subtle Philosophers of the World not by them who were brought up in Schools and had conversed with Books and learned Men not by Men of high parts who had polished their reason and heightned their understandings by all possible humane helps but the most of the Pen-men of the Scripture especially those by whom the greatest mysteries are revealed were Fisher-men Publicans and the like Men of mean education illiterate Men Men of no reading and of but mean