disobedient and untoward children slighted the commands of God and their Parents were idle and careless of instruction and would not open their eare to discipline such were old in sin when young in years were strong and skilful in wicked sinful practices when their bodies were but weak and minds sotishly ignorant in the things of God such had good examples before them but they would not follow them they saw dreadful judgments but were hardned under them they received many mercies but they abused them they had seasons of grace but they mis-spent them they had calls but they shut their eare against them they had convictions of conscience but they stifled them they had motions of the spirit but they quenched them they had proffers of Christ and pardon and salvation but they refused them and turned Gods glory into shame and his grace into wantonness Such and such were Sabbath breakers Such were Svvearers Such vvere Drunkards Such vvere unclean persons and Adulterers Such vvere Thieves Such vvere covetous persons and Idolaters Such vvere unjust and unrighteous in their dealings Such were bitter and reproachful in their speeches Such vvere injurious in their actions All the sins of Men and Women will be found in the Book of Gods remembrance Deut. 32. 34. Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed amongst my treasures God stores and treasures up the sins of the wicked and ungodly against the day of his vvrath and their perdition it is said Iob 14. 16 17. Thou numberest my steps dest not thou watch over my sin my transgressions are sealed up in a Bag and thou sowest up mine iniquities God numbereth the steps of sinners one by one sin by sin as a man vvould number every step and he vvatcheth that he may number aright he takes exact notice of the foot-steps of every sin vvhich leave an impression in the Book of his remembrance as the foot-steps of the body do vvhen a man walketh in soft Clay He putteth the transgressions in a bag and soweth the Bag and sealeth the bag all which expressions denote Gods exactness in recording and laying up the sins of men It is said Ier. 17. 1. That the sin of Iudah is written with a Pen of Iron and the point of a Diamond All secret sins will be found there recorded for nothing is secret to God whose eyes are like a flame of fire which gives light to every dark corner darkness hideth not from him but the night shineth as the day he looks into every corner of the Earth and into every corner of the heart and hath set our secret sins in the light of his countenance and all open sins will be found there recorded no man hath taken so much notice of others sins as God hath done he doth as it were book all down in his remembrance and when Christ comes at the last day the book of Gods remembrance will be opened 2. The second Book which will be opened at Christs coming will be the Book of Mens own Consciences and this will be the counter-part to every Mans particular of What is written in the book of Gods remembrance they will finde the same thing there registred indeed conscience now may seem to be asleep and say nothing whilst men are eating and drinking and â—inning yet conscience is secretly awake and busie in writing and taking notes of every Mans actions every day conscience hath its day-book which hath not an empty page the mouth of conscience may be shut and with much adoe for the present restrained from speaking and biting but the eye of conscience cannot be shut from seeing nor the hand of conscience restrained from registring what it takes notice of every one in the World hath as it were whole volumes of his own actions in his bosome written down by conscience and though the letters of some things done long agoe may seem to be rased and worn out so that a Man cannot read them now yet when this Book shall be opened at the last day they will appear in very legible characters like as when a Man writes with the juice of a Lemmon upon fair paper the juice is white and the paper is white and he cannot read a word when it is written nor while it is writing but let him keep the paper many years by him and after bring that paper close to the fire the white letters will turn black and become very legible so the conscience of wicked persons is writing whilst they are sinning and they do not perceive it after it is written they forget many of their old sins yea they do not take notice of them as sins whilst they are committing them but when the last day is come and Christ is come who will be reveased from heaven in flaming fire to take vengeance upon them and the Book of their Consciences shall be opened before the fire then all the notes of conscience will be plain and easie to be read and a ready confirmation conscience will give of all that is written in the Book of Gods remembrance and O how sweet will the testimony of conscience be of good actions how bitter will its records be of sins 3. The Third Book which will be opened will be the Book of the Law which requiring perfect and perpetual obedience will condemn all both righteous and wicked because all have sinned and by the Law are cursed Gal. 3. 10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them but then an appeal will be made 4. The fourth Book which will be opened is the book of the Gospel and there the righeous will finde the merits of Christ though they have had none of their own they will finde exceeding great and precious promises of pardon and salvation and eternal happiness which have been made to all them that did repent and believe in Christ and restifie the same by their sincere love to God making choice of him for their chief good and happiness and laying up their treasure in Heaven and by their sincere obedience to his commands and walking in heavens way and then conscience will give in evidence and Gods remembrance will confirm it and the Spirit will witness it and Christ himself will acknowledge it that all his true disciples have had the qualifications which have shown their interest in the promises yea the weakest of believers whatever doubts and fears they have now will then certainly know and confidently plead these qualifications which they have had they will be able to say that they had true faith though it were but weak that they did truly lay hold on Christ though it were with a trembling hand that they had the faith of reliance and recumbance though they had not the faith of assurance and strong confidence that they did heartily repent and grieve for sin though they had not that measure of godly sorrow which they desired that sin did not
reign in them though sometime it did rage and domineer that they had chosen God for their chief good above the whole world and the byas of their wills was towards him and that they had a sincere love to him though they fell short in the fervency which they desired to have that they did walke and keep on in heavens way if sometimes they wandred that they found their way again if some times they stumbled that they got up again and this book of the Gospel will give all true believers such acquittances as that they shall not come into condemnation Iohn 3. 16. Whosoever believeth in the Son shall not perish but have everlâ—sting life And Rom. 8. 1. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit And the like But the unbelievers will get no benefit by this book they may finde great and sweet promises but not one promise in the whole Book of the Gospel belonging to them because they do not belong to Christ they lived and died in impenitency and unbelief and neglect of Christ and salvation and now they cannot finde one favourable word for them and therefore they will be sent back to be tried by the Book of the Law only the Gospel will double the condemnation of such as have not yielded up themselves unto its obedience 5. A Fifth Book which will be opened will be the Book of Life Where all the names of the Elect are enrolled which when they read how will they adore the riches of the free grace of God in choosing them before the foundation of the world was laid and all those whose names are not enrolled in this Book shall be condemned and cast into the lake of Fire Rev. 20. 12 15. 5. The fifth thing proposed and the chiefest is to speak more particularly of Christs judging both the righteous and the wicked at his second appearance And here I shall speak 1. of their particular judgment 2. Of the execution of their sentence pronounced in judgement 1. Concerning the judgment of the righteous and the wicked CHAP. V. THe judgment of the righteous will be first and therefore I shall first treat of it and here speak 1. Of the immediate antecedents to their judgment 2. Of the judgement it self 1. Concerning the immediate Antecedents to the judgment of the righteous 1. The first Antecedent to the righteous judgment will be their resurrection from the dead 1 Thes. 4. 16. The dead in Christ shall rise first when Christ descends from heaven the souls of the righteous shall descend with him 1 Thes. 4. 14. Them that sleep in Iesus will God bring with him The spirits of all the just men and women made perfect shall then come down and finde out their own bodies which have been sleeping in the bed of their graves and they shall enter again into their old habitations they went out of them it may be with fear and trembling with grief and sorrow being unwilling to leave them behind though they were so rotten and ruinous but O with what joy will they return and enter again when the building shall be repaired when their bodies shall be raised by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and healed of all infirmities when they shall be made incorruptible and immortal see 1 Cor. 15. 52. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed And vers 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory then shall they triumph over death and the grave saying vers 55. O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory The Lord Jesus will then make them victorious over this conquerour vers 57. Thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. The parting of soul and body was never so sad unto any of the Saints at their death as the meeting will be sweet at their resurrection O how will the soul wonder at the sudden and strange metamorphosis of the body when the soul left the body vile to putrify and corrupt in the grave and shall finde it come forth more bright and glorious than gold after it hath been refined in a Furnace when the vile body shall be fashioned like unto Christs most glorious body Phil. 3. 21. O how will the soul delight in the beauty strength and immortality which then shal be put upon the body whereby it will be more suited to its nature and fitted for its operations and participation in its glory and how will the body delight in the wonderful glories and shining excellencies which the soul hath attained since its separation If the love between the soul and the body were so great when the body was so vile and the soul so sinful what will it be when both are glorified If the conjunction between the soul and body were so sweet vvhen the body vvas so frail and subject to death and the soul a spiritual and never-dying substance vvhat vvill it be vvhen the body shall be made immortal and in some sort spiritual O with what pleasure will the body awake out of its long sleep and arise and shake off its dust and put on its beautiful garments of immortality and glory with what delight and joy will it first open its eyes upon those beautiful and glorious objects which vvill quickly present themselves to its vievv Thus concerning the resurrection of the righteous bodies 2. The second Antecedent to the Iudgment of the righâ—eous will be their meeting with the Angels at their Graves mouth Matth. 24. 31. He shall send his Angels with the great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather the Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other no sooner are they awakened and risen out of their Graves but they are entertained by Angels those holy and excellent creatures who have such a dear love to them and before have done many good offices for them though when before in the body they did not perceive it and were too low and unfit for their acquaintance but they will then know them and be able to discern the beauty of those lovely spirits who for so many years have been beholding the face of their Father in heaven which will have cast such a lustre upon them that will be matter of their admiration and these shall be part of their acquaintance and companions in glory instead of Devils those Angels of darkness which used to assault buffet and molest them when in the body before they shall now have Angels of light with them and about them to joyn together in the Love and praise of the great Jehovah The Angels will be sent to call them and gather
the eternity of Hel wil be the Hel of Hel. When our Saviour endured equivalent punishment to this of Hel for his people it had not this circumstance of eternity in it there not being that need because of the excellency of his person so that though the pains of Hel gat hold on him yet they could not keep him in hold but he brake thorow them and triumphed over them and could say in the conclusion It is finished but the damned wil not be able to break thorow their punishment they wil be compassed about with them and hedged in and shut down and never be able to lift up the head never shall they say of this punishment It is finished for their pains wil alwaies be as it were beginning when they have spent the time of as many years in Hel as there are Stars in the Firmament Sands on the Sea shore and Moats in the Sun their torment wil be as it were beginning and no nearer a conclusion than the first day they were cast into that place Who can express this eternity when we lanch forth our thoughts in the consideration thereof we lose them quickly it being such a deep which cannot be fathomed such a vast Ocean which cannot be measured yet a little to extend your thoughts in the consideration of the Eternity of the wickeds punishment I shall by one or two suppositions illustrate something of the vastness hereof Suppose that this globe of Earth on which we tread were hollow and that it were filled with great folio Books as full as it could hold and moreover there were Books heaped up upon it to fill the whole circumference of the aire round about it yea that the whole space of place to the uttermost verge of the Empyrean Heavens were filled with Books and all this vast number of Books were filled with figures in the highest degree of multiplication O what a number of Books would there be in the whole space of place what a number of figures in these Books and what a vast number would there be deciphered by these figures A bit of paper half as broad as an half penny will hold the figure of the number of as many years as have been since the creation of the World what then would a whole leaf of a great folio hold what would a whole folio hold what then would a room full of folios hold but what would the whole World full of folios hold now if at the end of time when the wicked go to Hell God should fill the whole space of the World with folios full of figures of numbers and tell the wicked that every thousand year one of these numbers should be substracted and promise them when all the numbers were substracted our of all these Books they should have a release out of their torments they would have a small spark of hope that after the substraction of so many millions millions millions of innumerable numbers in the revolution of so many millions millions millions of innumerable years yet at last there would be an end there would be time then set and a wearing towards an end yet if we could cast our thoughts so far in a supposition that all this number of years wherein all this number of figures were substracted by one in a thousand years were past and gone yea wherin they were all substracted as many thousand times as the number of the figures in all those Books would amount unto yet even then the punishment of the damned would be as far from ending as at the very first beginning of them Yea suppose further that there were as many Worlds as the number in the Books before supposed would arise unto and these Worlds should continue as many years as by this account there would be Worlds and all these Worlds were filled with Angels and Men and all these Angels and Men should be employed in nothing else from the beginning of these Worlds unto the end of them but in conceiving numbers of years unto the uttermost conception which they could have of numbers what a-to-us-inconceivable number of years would there be conceived by so many Angels and Men in so many years in so many Worlds yet if all that vast number of years were joyned to the end of the time wherein all the numbers in the figures of so many before-mentioned Books were substracted by one in a thousand years and these multiplied as many thousand times as numbers were conceived such a vast number of years would reach a great way but they would not be so much as a haires breadth in the measure of eternity and if we should suppose the space of all these years too to be spent by the damned in torments even then their torments would be as far from a conclusion as they were upon their first entrance into Hell O Eternity Eternity Eternity how vast is Eternity how infinite and immeasurable how horrible will the thoughts of Eternity be unto the damned to be punished so extreamly and that without any intermission or hopes of a conclusion to fall into such a horrible Pit and fiery Lake and there burn for ever without any possibility of ever getting forth O dreadful O blinde World O sottish sinners that take no more care now to avoid and get deliverance from such a punishment as this which they are exposed unto and will be the certain consequent of sin without repentance Thus concerning the punishment which the wicked shall go into 2. Concerning their entrance into this punishment when the whole crew of wicked and ungodly persons together with the whole Flock of Devils are departed from the presence of Christ and the glorious Saints and Heaven is now upon their backs and Hell before their face and they are now come to the very mouth of the bottomless Pit unto the Doors and great Gates of Hell and now they are opened before them and unto them and for them and they see the black smoke ascending up from thence and smell a horrible stink from the sulphurions Fire which they must be thrown into and when they behold the horrible slakes of Fire flashing forth from the Furnace of Hell ten thousand times more dreadfully than those which were seen to arise from London on the Munday night and now begin to feel the heat and see others tumbling in before them and they following of them and when they begin first to put their hands and their feet into the Fire and now they are in and covered with flames and begin to boile and fry and when they perceive the Gates of Hell to be shut upon them and great Stones rowled before them which can never be removed and great Bars put upon them which can never be broken and they are out of all hopes of ever breaking Prison and getting forth O how will they shreek and roar and cry out in the anguish of their souls and torture of their bodies Woe woe le unto its miserable sinners and
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
yea to lay down their life for Christ as many of necessity must and did do that would be Christians indeed in those daies and when the Doctrine of the Gospel was such surely it was not likely of it self to receive entertainment unless the power of God had accompanied it 5. The power of the Gospel in the first preaching appears in that it met with so much opposition the Devil stirred up instruments against it the powers of the Earth were against it as well as the powers of Hell great men did oppose it Philosophers were against it Learned men did oppose it the Iews were against it and raised up persecution against the Apostles and the hearts of all men naturally were against it and when there was such an opposition against it surely it was none but the power of God which could cause it to prevaile and conquer and cause so many Nations to bow and yield obedience hereunto 2. The wonderful power and efficacy of the word where it is preached unto this day is a strong argument that it is the Word of God 1. The power of the Word to search the heart and convince of sin Heb. 4. 12. The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart there is a light in the Word which discovereth the dark filthy corners of the heart and convinceth of secret sins and there is a sharp edge in the word to cut and wound no word in the world searcheth and pierceth like the word in the Scriptures 2. And especially the power of the Word doth appear in the work of conversion and regeneration which it effecteth it is called the incorruptible seed by which men are born again 1 Pet. 1. 23. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth Iam. 1. 18. there is a great power goeth along with it â—o break rockie hearts to bow stubborn wils to spiritualize carnal affections to subdue strong lusts to work a gracious and thorow change in the heart of man which exceedeth the power of nature or moral suasion and in so much as all are not wrought upon by it which read or hear it yea sometimes the more disposed subject receiveth no impression thereby and the less disposed subject is effectually changed which shows that the â—ower doth proceed from God and that the work is effected by his Spirit and proves the diâ—ine Authority of this Word 3. The Word is powerful not only for the first working of grace but also for the encrease thereof for the building up believers Act. 20. 32. for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying the body of Christ there is Milk in the Word for babes and strong meat for strong men wholsome words which have much spiritual nourishing vertue in them the Word is powerful for the â—uenching Sathans fiery darts for the repelling and driving back the tempter for the comforting and rejoycing of distressed and disconsolate souls â—hen they are brought even to the brink of deâ—air there are no such joyes in the world as â—â—ose joyes which Christians sometimes finde in â—eading and applying the Word when they mingâ—e it with faith and have the breathings of the Spirit therewith and there is no book in the world that can produce such powerful effects aâ— the Scriptures do wherefore it must needs follow that these Scriptures are indeed the Word oâ— God 3. The Scriptures appear to be the Word of God from the Historical relation in them of Prophecies fulâ—filled of miracles whereby they were confirmed aâ—â— the rationally unquestionable certainty of this History as it is handed down to pâ—sterity 1. In the Scriptures we have relation of Prâ—â—phecies and the fulfilling of them which doâ—â— prove these writings to be from God alone because he alone can certainly foretell futuâ—â— things indeed wise men may guess and througâ— prudence foresee the effects of some thingâ— in their causes and foretell some things thâ— are not very far off yet not certainly and wiâ—â— all their circumstances But it is Gods prerogâ—â—tive to foresee and foretell such things certainlâ— and with their circumstances and long before 〈◊〉 time for which no cause in nature can be aâ—signed sucâ— as many of the Prophesies of 〈◊〉 Scriptures were By this argument God doth 〈◊〉 the Prophet Isaiah prove the Heathenish gods 〈◊〉 be no gods because they could not foretell fuâ—ture events Isa. 41. 21 22 23. Produce your cauâ—â— saith the Lord bring forth your strong reasons 〈◊〉 them shew us what shall happen and declare to 〈◊〉 things to come shew the things which are to 〈◊〉 hereafter that we may know that ye are Gods 〈◊〉 v. 26. There is none that sheweth there is none thâ—â— declareth c. Therefore he concludeth v. 29 Behold they are all vanity their works are nothing their molten Images are winde and confusion 〈◊〉 The Prophesies of Scripture as they prove the Lord who spake them by the Prophets to be God so they prove the Scriptures in which they are spoken to be of Divine authority It would take up too much room in this small Treatise to enumerate all the Prophesies of Scripture take two or three instances See Gen. 15. 13 14. God foreâ—elling to Abraham that his seed should be strangers in a Land which was not theirs and serve them and be afflicted by them four hundred years and that afterward they should come forth with great substance This Prophesie is fulfilled Exod. 12. So also the return of the children of Israel â—rom the Babylonish captivity after seventy years was foretold Ier. 25. 12. and the name of Cyrus who should deliver them before he was born â—sa 45. 1 2. So also the name of Iosiah who â—hould destroy the Altar which Ieroboam had reaâ—ed and burn the bones of the Priests upon it was foretold three hundred thirty and three years before he was born the Prophesie is in 1 King â—3 2. the fulfilling of it 2 King 23. 17. But â—specially the Prophesies in the Scripture concerâ—ing the Messiah are remarkable of his birth lâ—fe death and the fulfilling of them in the History of the Evangelists the Prophesie of the destruction of the Temple and Ierusalem by Daâ—iel and especially by our Saviour and the â—ulfilling thereof before that generation wherein our Saviour lived were all in their graves 2. In the Scripture we have relation of Miâ—â—cles whereby they were confirmed such as the â—lague of Egypt the dividing of the Sea for the â—â—raelites to pass â—horow the raining of Manna from Heaven the standing still and going back of the Sun the preservation of the three Children in the fiery Furnace and the like in the old Testament especially the Miracles wrought by our Saviour and his Disciples which the new Testament do record such as healing the sick the lame blinde deaf leprous by a word the feedinâ— many
will be durable and unsearchable Rejoice then believers rejoice what though you are poor in the world you are rich in saith and hope what though you have no inheritance on earth yet you are heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven you shall have an inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled what though you indure some hardship in your journey through the world when you come home to your Fathers house you shall be freed from all want and have such treasures to spend upon which can never be exhausted 6. Think what Honours you shall have the meanest of you will be exalted unto higher dignity than the greatest Monarch that ever lived you will be crowned with immortal glory you will be honoured by God and the Angels and you will not only have honour but you will be made most honourable Rejoice then believers and take comfort though you are scorned by some and accounted as the off-scouring of the earth you are reproached and vilified by men here but all your reproaches especially those which you have born for the sake of Jesus Christ shall be wreathed into a Crown and make you the more glorious in Heaven there you shall not have the least disgrace cast upon you any more and you shall be kept from doing any unbecoming action to blot and sullie you in the least but you shall shine like so many Stars or glorious Suns in the Kingdom of your Father 7. Think what Peace and Rest you shall have you shall have a most sweet peace and tranquilitie of mind no enemie without to disturb and molest you no devil to tempt and assault you no lusts within or distempered passion to disquiet you then you shall have perfect peace and then you shall rest from all wearisome imploiments and take up your repose in God for ever Rejoice then believers and set this chear your hearts in your passage through the tempestuous sea of this world ere long you will come to the haven where there will be no waves nor winds sometimes now you are troubled on every side and have no rest in your spirits without are fightings within are fears but in Heaven you shall be freed perfectlie from all disturbance and molestation 8. Think what Ioyes and Pleasures you shall have you shall have fulness of Joy Psal. 16. 11. you shall drink of the rivers of pleasures Psal. 36. 8. O the delights which you shall have in the immediate views of Gods face in the sense of Gods love in the high actings of your love in the fruition of the chiefest good and the high emploiment which you shall have in Heaven Rejoice then believers rejoice in hope of these joyes now you mourn and weep for your sin and because of the eclipses of the light of Gods countenance it troubles your hearts that you can see and enjoy so little of God that your love is so low and inconstant that your highest services are but mean and diverted many times by little trifling businesses in the world from converse with God in heaven all tears will be wiped away from your eyes and all sorrow with all the grounds thereof will be removed you will come with singing into the new Ierusalem you will enter and live in the vision and fruition in the love and joy and spend an eternity in the praise of the Lord. 2. Believers consider the sureness of the happiness of Heaven as surely as you are believers so surely shall you obtain this happiness you cannot be sure of any thing in the world but you may be sure of the glory of heaven and though there be not the certitudo subjecti and many of you be not assured of it but are full of doubts and fears that you shall fall short yet there is certitudo objecti the thing is sure to you Rejoice then believers rejoice your names are written in the book of life our of which they shall never be blotted labour to answer your doubts and to get your hearts wrought up to a full assurance of this happiness by such arguments as these which will evidently prove that if you be true believers you shall not you cannot miss of Heaven I. God hath chosen you to glory he hath elected you to salvation before the world was Act. 13. 48. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed Hence it follows that all believers were ordained to eternal life and I Thes. 2. 13. God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and beliefe of the truth All true believers are elected persons and Gods decree of election cannot be frustrated because God is unchangeable because God changeth not therefore you are not consumed because God changeth not therefore you shall be saved 2. God hath promised this happiness to you I Iohn 2. 24. This is the promise which he hath promised even eternal life And Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie hath promised If God hath promised this happiness and your faith doth give you interest in the promises and God be faithful to fulfil to them it being impossible for God to lie then as certainly as God is true you that are believers shall obtain 3. The Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased this happiness for you it is called the purchased posfession Eph. 1. 14. as certain as the purchase so certain will be the possession 4. The Lord Jesus hath taken possession of Heaven for you The fore-runner is for us entred Heb. 6. 20. He is preparing these mansions in the fathers house for you Ioh. 14. 2. and as certain as Christ is in Heaven so certainly shall those that are believers be received thither in time 5. Christ praied that you might have this happiness whilst he was on the earth Iah 17. 24. Father I will that those which thou host given me be with me where I am that they may behold the glory which thou host given me Which prayer was made for you if believers as well as for his present Disciples v. 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word And for this thing Chirst intercedes above and whatever he praies and intercedes for he will prevail for you and therefore you will obtain 6. Ye are Christs as ye are believers and therefore all things are yours saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. amongst which things to come are enumerated ye are Christs servants and do his work and he will give you your wages You honour him in the world and therefore you shall be honoured by him You follow your Master in a way of self-denial and suffering and if you suffer with him you shall reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 12. and be glorified together Rom. 8. 17. and where Christ is there shall his servants be Ioh. 12. 26. Ye are Christs members and where the head is there shall the members be Ye are Christs Sponse you are joined married to him and therefore shall