as they speak of before the end come as I have before shewed Wherefore though I have here fit occasion given for to examine their Books and to discover their several Mistakes and Errors yet I am not willing in this Tract either to trouble â—he Reader any further with their conceits or to hinâ—er him from the meditation of profitable matters Again These six Grounds discovering the nature of the World to come should move and excite all â—eleeving Christians to look and hope for such a world to come as is here described with Christian hope after the example of S. Peter and the faithâ—ul with him who looked for new Heavens and a new Earth 2 Pet. 3. 13. So did the scattered Jews to whom he wrote his epistle they looked and hoped â—or the same Wherefore beloved seeing ye look for such things 2 Pet. 3. 14. And when Abraham looked for a City with foundations whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 10. doubtless he hoped â—or the world to come wherein this City shall be found So when the beleeving Romans had in them the hope of glory Rom. 5. 2. and Paul had in him the hope of the Resurrection Act. 23. 6. They had also in them a good hope of the world to come wherein such things are to be found If it be here asked why beleeving Christians should hope for the world to come I answer 1. The world to come is often promised in the Word of God and for this cause we should look and hope for it Nevertheless according to his promise we look for new Heavens and a new Earth 2 Pet. 3. 13. 2. VVe are commanded to look and hope for the world to come Look up for your Redemption draweth nigh Luk. 21. 28. Looking for that blessed hope Tit. 2. 13. And for this cause we should hope for it 3. This hope of the world to come is called the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 23. because the Gospeâ— teacheth and perswadeth it And for this cause we should hope for it 4. This hope of the world to come is called the hope of our calling Eph. 1. 18. because it should accompany the Christian Calling And for this cause it should not be wanting in us 5. Unless Beleevers hope in Christ for the world to come they are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. And if it be asked after what manner beleeving Christians should hope for the world to come I answer thus 1. Our hope for the world to come should be a lively hope 1 Pet. 1. 3. such as should make us active and lively in the performance of Christian duties 2. It should be constant and stedfast such as should continue with us in the worst times unto the end of our days according to that of the Apostle Gird up the loyns of your minde be sober and hope unto the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 13. Prov. 14. 32. 3. It should be a patient hope such as should make us to wait patiently for the world to come and the good things thereof with the faithful at Jerusalem Luk. 2. 38. and with Joseph the Counsellor Luk. 23. 51. 4. It should be chearful such as should make us comfortable under the Cross of Christ with the beleeving Romans who rejoyced in hope of the glory of God to be revealed hereafter Rom. 5. 2. 5. It should be diligent such as should stir us up to be diligent in the exercise of all saving graces acâ—â—rding to that of the Apostle Seeing ye look for â—â—ch things be diligent that ye may be found of â—â— in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. â— where he intimates That they who are diliâ—â—nt in the exercise of saving grace while they live this world shall be found of God and of Christ the world to come and accepted of him as perâ—â—ctly reconciled and as perfectly holy and conseâ—â—ently they shall be found of him in peace withâ—â—t spot and blameless Let us not then cast off this â—â—pe at any time SECT V. Touching the Second Coming of Christ in the Flesh HAving hitherto spoken of the World to come considering it chiefly as a Country or Contiâ—ent Method requires that I should now in the next â—â—ace speak of it in reference to the things which shal â—e contained in it And though I cannot name all â—he particular matters things and occurrences which â—hall be in the World to come yet the Scripâ—ure mentions many of them and such as I find â—entioned in Scripture I shall endeavor to discover â—â— God shall permit And amongst others I here name five principal things that shall be visible to men in the World to come viz. 1. The Second Coming of Christ in the Flesh 2. The last Resurrection 3. The last Iudgment 4. The Kingdom of Christ 5. The blessed Condition of all that arâ— Christs with the cursed Condition of alâ— that are none of his But in this Section I shall speak only of the first oâ— these viz. Of the Second Coming of Christ in the Flesh And here we must know that the Word of God doth inform us of divers things touching this matter As First It informeth us That the Second Coming 1 Informat of Christ in the Flesh is to be distinguished from all other Comings of his for wheresoever this Second Coming of his is mentioned as Acts 1. 11. Heb. 9. 26. and in other places it is distinguished from all other Comings of his And more particularly it is distinguished 1. From his Coming in the Spirit for after his Ascention he came to his Apostles in the Spirit or in a spiritual way in the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his promise before his Ascention I will not leave you comfortless but will come unto you Joh. 14. 18. And this his Coming in the Spirit was not his second Coming in the Flesh 2. It is to be distinguished from his first Coming in the Flesh For though his first Coming in the Flesh was a Coming from Heaven as his second Coming shall be as it is written No man hath ascended into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of man which is in Heaven Joh. 3. 13. yet his first Coming in the Flesh was partly a coming into this polluted world at the time of his Birth as he saith To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth Joh. 18. 37. And partly it was a coming from place to place in this polluted world as He came from Galilee to â—rdan to John to be baptized of him Mat. 3. 13. â—e came to his own and his own received him not â—â—h 1. 11. He left Judea and came to a City of â—â—maria which is called Sychar Joh. 4. 3 5. But â—s second Coming in the Flesh shall never be a comâ—â—g into this polluted world nor
together Gods Elect from the four winds of the Earth viz. unto Judgment Matth. 24. 31. They shall sever or separate the good from the bad before the sentence of Judgment shall be given Mat. 13. 49. And I grant that this Judgment shall be attested and approved of by all the Saints of God In which sence it is said That the Saints shall judg the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. And the Apostles shall sit upon Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19. 28. Yet we must know that this Judgment shall be visibly administred onely by Christ as Mediator and as God and Man in one person and by no other person In which sence it is said The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son Joh. 5. 22. God will judg the world by the man whom he hath ordained that is by Christ Act. 17. 31. He will judg the secrets of men by Iesus Christ Rom. 2. 16. And Christ is ordained of God to be Iudg of quick and dead Act. 10. 42. 2 Tim. 4. vers 1. And this without doubt will be a great comfort to Gods Elect at the day of Judgment when they shall consider that they shall have none to pronounce Judgment upon them at that day but Christ their Saviour who dyed for their sins and rose again for their Justification As on the other side it will be a great terror to reprobate sinners when they shall consider that they shall have none pronounce Judgment upon them but Christ whom they have always contemned and despised if not in his person yet in his Ordinances and in his Members and whom they would not have to reign over them in this world by his Word and Spirit Fourthly I affirm That the last judgment shall 4 Inform. extend unto all reasonable Creatures both Angels and men It shall extend to the Angels both good and evil For Christ is the Lord of the good Angels and their office is to worship him as their Lord and therefore he shall judg them at the latter day not for any evil they have done because they have done none but according to the good they have done because they have been always ready to worship him to obey his voyce and to do his Will And he shall judg the evil Angels or Devils for their first fall and for all the evils they have acted since For they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day Jude 6. And hâ—â— Judgment upon them shall be approved of by the Saints Know ye not that we shall judg the Angels that is the evil Angels 1 Cor. 6. 3. This Judgment also shall extend unto all men women and children For this cause it is said That Christ shall judg the righteous and the wicked that iâ— such as shall be found righteous or wicked at that day Eccles 3. 17. And he shall judg the quick and the dead Act. 10. 42. that is such as shall be found alive at his second Coming and such as shall be found dead at that day shall be raised and brought to Judgment And he shall judg the small and the great Revel 20. 13. all the ungodly Jude 15 yea all shall stand before him Rom. 14. 10. Therefore all men shall be judged by him Yet we must understand That he shall judg men in a different way at that day For he shall judg the Elect as righteous persons with the Judgment of Absolution but he shall judg the Reprobates as wicked persons with the Judgment of Condemnation And he shall judg the Elect and Righteous according to the good they have done forgetting their evil works but he shall judg the Reprobates and wicked according to the evil they have done not regarding their seeing good works Fifthly I affirm That the last Judgment shall be just and righteous altogether For which cause 5 Inform. it is said That God shall judg the world in righteousness in uprightness in truth Psal 9. 8. Acts 17. 31. Rom. 2. 2. And if he shall thus judg the world at the last then the last Judgment shall be just and righteous altogether Yea all the proceedings of this Judgment shall be just as may be seen in these particulars 1. There shall be a Throne or seat prepared for Judgment For God hath prepared his Throne for judgment Psal 9. 7. And will not this be just That a Throne shall be prepared before Judgment shall be pronounced on any 2. There shall be a summons to Judgment to this effect Arise ye dead and come to judgment And will not this be just That there shall be a general summons before the Judgment shall be pronounced upon any 3. There shall be a personal appearance of all men made before the Iudgment seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 10. And will not this be just That there shall be a personal appearance of all before Judgment shall be pronounced upon any 4. There shall be a cause produced for this Judgment viz. the righteousness of the Just and the wickedness of the unjust For God shall bring every work to judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Eccles 12. 14. And will not this be just That there shall be a cause produced before the Judgment shall be pronounced upon any 5. There shall be evidence brought in on both â—â—es viz. for the acquitting and absolving of the Just and for the condemning of the unjust Which evidence shall be found written in the books which shall then be opened for the books shall be opened Dan. 7. 10. Revel 20. 12. What Books These 1. The book of Gods Omniscience 2. The book of every mans Conscience 3. The book of the Law Iames 2. 12. 4. The book of the Gospel Rom 2. 16. 5. The book of Life Rev. 20. 13. These books shall be opened and in them shall be found written whatsoever shall make for acquitting of the Just and the condemning of the unjust And they shall be judged according to that which shall be found written in these books And will not this be just That evidence shall be brought in on both sides before the Judgment shall be pronounced upon either party Yes 6. There shall be after all this a Sentence of Judgment given and pronounced both upon the Just and unjust The Sentence that shall be given and pronounced upon the Elect under the name and notion of just persons shall be to this effect Come ye blessed Children of my Father receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world And the reason of this Sentence shall be added thus For I was hungry and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was naked and ye clothed me I was sick and in prison and ye came unto me And in as much as ye have done it to one of these little ones which beleeve in me ye have done it unto me Mat. 25. 34. 40. The Sentence
be pronounced blessed at the general Judgment shall be blessed in the World to come But this shall be true of all Gods Elect therefore they shall all be blessed in the World to come 4. Because Gods Elect are all under that Covenant which God made with Abraham and his seed and have an inward right unto it which was a Covenant of blessing them and is extant in this form In blossing I will bless thee In thee shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Genes 12. 2 3. 18. 18. that is the Elect of all Nations Now they that have an inward right to this Covenant shall be blessed in the world to come But Gods Elect have all an inward right unto it therefore they shall all be blessed in the World to come 5. Because Gods Elect shall enjoy all that Christ hath merited for them But Christ hath merited for them a blessed condition in the world to come for which cause it is said That God sent his Son to bless us Act. 3. 26. And he sent his Son to bless his Elect in that he sent him to merit for them the blessings both of this world and the world to come Doubtless then they shall all be blessed in the World to come 6. Because Christ hath promised That none of Gods Elect shall be lost Joh. 6. 37. And if none of them shall be lost then they shall all be blessed in the world to come 7. Because God doth continually bless his Elect in this world with spiritual blessings Eph. 1. 3. and with corporal and external blessings Prov. 10. 6. Wherefore doubtless they shall all be much more abundantly blessed in the world to come Now touching this blessedness of theirs there are four Queries here to be resolved As Of whom they shall be blessed in the World to Quere 1 come Ans They shall be blessed of the whole Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost For the God that made Heaven and Earth shall bless them Psal 134. 3. And the God that made Heaven and Earth is Father Son and Holy Ghost The God Almighty shall bless them Gen. 28. 3. And God almighty is Father Son and Holy Ghost The Father is almighty the Son almighty and the Holy Ghost almighty Neither may we think that the act of blessing is to be appropriated onely unto any one person in the Godhead because it is common to all For what causes they shall be blessed in the World Quere 2 to come Ans Primarily and chiefly they shall be blessed for Gods sake for his will and pleasure sake as the original cause and for the glory of his grace as the final cause And as God doth all things chiefly for his own sake Rom. 11. 36. so he shall bless his Elect in the world to come chiefly for his own sake Secondarily they shall be blessed in the world to come for Christs sake as the meritorious cause For as in Isaac typically so in Christ really shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Rom. 4. that is the Elect of all Nations Thirdly they shall be blessed in the world to come for the same graces and virtues for which they are blessed in this world As God doth bless them in this Partly for their effectual knowledg of him and of his Will as it is said Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound Psal 89. 15. And for this he shall bless them in the World to come Partly for their faith and confidence in Christ Blessed are all they that trust in him Psal 2. 12. And for this he shall bless them in the world to come Partly for their humility godly sorrow hungering and thirsting after righteousness for meekness mercifulness Blessed are the poor in spirit blessed are they that mourn blessed are they that hunger Matth 5 3 4 5 6 and thirst after righteousness blessed are the meek blessed are the merciful c. And for these causes they shall be blessed in the world to come And partly for their godly fear Psal 112. 1. for their upright walking Psal 119. 1. for their godly conversation Psal 1. 1. for their patience in suffering for truth and righteousness sake Mat. 5. And doubtless for these causes shall they be blessed in the world to come In what manner shall they be blessed in the World to come Quere 3 Ans First They shall be fully and perfectly blessed For though there be no perfect bliss to be expected in this world neither is there perfect bliss enjoyed now in Heaven by the faithful Souls departed yet there shall be perfect bliss for Gods Elect in the world to come as we may gather from those words of the Apostle These all having obtained a good report through faith received not the Promises God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect Hebr. 11. 39 40. where he shews that the faithful mentioned before in this Chapter were not perfectly blessed in this life because they received not all the Promises and that their Souls now being in Heaven are not perfectly blessed there because they cannot be made perfect without us that do or shall beleeve in after-times But withall he intimates That both the faithful of former times and those of latter times shall be made perfect all of them together in the world to come And though these vessels of mercy may not be all of one size in the world to come but some of them may hold and contain more of Gods benediction then others yet all of them shall be filled up to the brim therewith and so shall be perfectly blessed Secondly They shall be everlastingly blessed For Gods mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him Psal 103. 17. And as their inchoate blessedness in this world shall end in that which is to come so that which is to come shall have no end Thirdly They shall be exceedingly blessed above all that we can now think or speak or conceive of their blessed condition according to that of the Apostle Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. where indeed the main scope of Saint Paul is to shew that the natural man is no competent judg of heavenly things as the spiritual man is Howbeit though the spiritual man can better judg of such things then the natural man can yet we must understand that the spiritual man cannot perfectly judg them while he is in this world neither can he fully comprehend the blessed condition of the Saints in the world to come Wherewith they shall be blessed in the World to Quere 4 come Ans They shall be blessed in the world to come 1. With everlasting Salvation Rom. 11. 2. With everlasting Life Joh. 3. 16. 3. With everlasting Glory 4. With everlasting Honor Rom. 2. 5. With everlasting Liberty Rom. 8. 6. With everlasting
illustrated in the Gospel by the separation of goats from sheep Mat. 25. 32. as also by the severing of the bad fish from the good Mat. 13. 49. Now by reason of this everlasting separation of theirs from all Union and Communion with God with Christ and the Saints they shall never have any experience of Gods Goodness Mercy and Love towards them in Christ Neither shall they ever have any experience of the Saints favour and fellowship but shall still abide under the wrath of God And so this everlasting separation of theirs will be unto them an everlasting Death and this Death is called in Scripture the second Death Rev. 20. 6 14. because it shall follow immediately upon the destruction of the first death For the natural death of mankind which is the first death shall be destroyed at the general Resurrection and thereupon shall begin this the second Death It is called everlasting punishment Mat. 25. 46. because it shall be such a punishment to those that shall suffer it And it is called a lake of fire Rev. 20. 14 everlasting fire Mat. 25. 41. everlasting burnings Isai 33. 14. because all that shall suffer it shall be everlastingly tormented with it as it were with fire Thus we may understand the Nature of thiâ— Death Secondly Touching the Certainty of it I affirm That Reprobates shall most certainly suffer this everlasting Death in the World to come As may be made good by these Arguments 1. They who shall not have their names found in the Book of Life shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come Rev. 20. 15. But Reprobates shall not have their names found in the Book of Life Ergo. 2. They that are appointed unto wrath shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come But Reprobates are appointed unto wrath 1 Thes 5. 9. Ergo. 3. They that are vessels of wrath shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come But Reprobates are vessels of wrath Rom. 9. 22. Ergo. 4. They that will never beleeve effectually shall dye in the guilt of their sins and so suffer everlasting Death in the World to come John 8. vers 24. But Reprobates will never beleeve effectually Ergo. 5. They that will never unfeignedly repent and so turn from their evil ways shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come as may appear Ezek. 3. 19. 18. 20. But Reprobates will never unfeignedly repent and so turn from their evil ways Ergo. 6. They that will Apostatize and grow worse and worse shall suffer everlasting Death in the World to come as may appear Ezek. 3. 20. 18. 24. But Reprobates will still Apostatize and grow worse and worse 2 Tim. 3. 13. Ergo. 7. They that will still hate wholesom reproof shall suffer eternal Death in the World to come according to that of Solomon He that hateth reproof shall dye Prov. 15. 10. But Rebrobates will still hate reproof while they shall remain here Ergo. 8. They that will still and finally be wicked persons shall suffer eternal Death in the World to come according to that of the Lord O wicked man thou shalt surely dye Ezek. 33. 8. But Reprobates will still and finally be wicked persons Ergo. 9. They that will still despise Gods Ways and Commandments shall be sure to suffer everlasting Death in the World to come as Solomon saith He that despiseth his Ways shall dye Prov. 19. 16. But Reprobates will still thus do while they shall remain in this world Ergo. Thirdly Touching the Causes of it I affirm 1. That the Efficient Cause of this their Death shall be the whole Trinity God Father Son and Holy Ghost For it is said concerning wicked Reprobates That God hath prepared for them the instruments of death Psal 7. 13. And that he will kill their children with death Rev. 2 23. And if the whole Trinity will do this then it is the whole Trinity that shall inflict eternal Death upon Reprobates in the World to come 2. That the Meritorious Cause hereof is and shall be sin for sin only and every sin in its own nature deserves death both temporal and eternal as it is written Death entred by sin Rom. 5. 12. The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. The Soul that sinneth shall dye Ezek. 18. 20. And though it be true that all such as have or shall have their sins pardoned through Christ shall escape eternal Death notwithstanding the desert of their sin yet it is most certain that Reprobates shall suffer this Death in the World to come even for their sin as the Meritorious Cause thereof and then they shall acknowledg that every sin of theirs hath brought this Death upon them 3. That the Final Cause of it shall be the Glory of Gods Justice for he shall punish them with everlasting Death that he may manifest the Glory of his Justice upon them and that all men may see his Righteousness This latter Proposition may inform us as before 1. That it had been good for Reprobates if they Vse had never been born for if they had never been born they could never have suffered everlasting Death But now seeing they have been are or shall be al born this death shall seize upon them 2. That it will be worse with such in the World to come then it can be with them in this world for here they can suffer no other then a temporal death but hereafter they shall suffer eternal death not without cause but for their sins 3. That all men living in the body should take some speedy course for their own safety that they be preserved from eternal death for I know that none of us are willing to suffer this death with Reprobates in the World to come and the Word of God prescribes a way for the avoyding of it And therefore all should take this way or this course for their own safety and preservation Object But what course must we take for to preserve our selves from this eternal death Sol. First We must earnestly pray to have our sins pardoned as our Saviour hath taught us in his Prayer and this pardon of sin will preserve us from eternal death as may appear by that speech of Nathan to David God hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye 2 Sam. 12. as if he had said Though thou mayst and must dye a temporal death yet thou shalt not dye an eternal death because God hath pardoned thy sin Secondly Because this pardon of sin cannot be obtained without a lively faith in Christ we must in the next place labour and pray for this faith and such a faith as this will preserve us from eternal death as may appear by that saying of Christ to Martha Whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me he shall not dye Joh. 11. 26. that is though he dye a temporal death yet he shall not an eternal death because he beleeveth in me Thirdly Because our faith cannot be good without repentance we must also labour for a
When pride cometh then cometh shame Prov. 11. 2. but reprobates will still live in this sin without repentance in this world Ergo. 8. They that will still refuse wholesome instruction in this world shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come as it is said Shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction Prov. 13. 18. but reprobates will still refuse wholsome instruction in this world Ergo. 9. They that shall rise againe to shame at the generall Resurrection shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come But reprobates shall rise again to shame at the generall Resurrection Dan. 12. 2. Ergo. Thirdly Touching the degrees of this their shame I conceive that they shall be proportioned according to their degrees of sinning in this world as their sins shall be more or lesse so shall their shame be the greater sinners amongst them shall have the greater shame and the lesser sinners amongst them the lesser shame in the world to come And so I conceive because as every one of them shall bear his own iniquity so every one of them shall ber his own shame Ezek 16. 54. yet every one of them shall be filled with shame Hab. 2. 6. Fourtthly Touching the causes of this their shame I say 1. That the meritorious cause of it is and shall be onely their sin for one sin deserves shame and every sin of it's own nature deserves the shame of this world and of that which is to come And though it be true that such sinners as have or shall have their sins pardoned shall never be put to shame in the world to come yet Reprobates who shall never have their sins pardoned because they will never repent in season shall be sure in the world to come to beare the whose shame which their sins have deserved or shall deserve 2. That the efficient cause of it shall be the whole Trinity God Father Son and Holy Ghost for the same God that is now displeased and offended with their sins is he that shall bring them to shame and put them to shame and fill their faces with shame in the world to come as appears by the prayer of the Prophet Psal 83. 16 17. 3. That the finall cause of it shall be the glory of Gods justice he shall reward them with shame that he may glorifie his Justice upon them Fifthly Touching the continuance of it I say that this shame of theirs shall continue for ever in the world to come for which cause it is said that their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten Jer. 20. 11. and their perpetuall shame shalâ— never be forgotten Jer. 23. 40. Which latter Proposition doth not only confirm wâ—at hath been formerly said viz. that iâ— had been good for Reprobates if they had never been born and that it shall be worse with them in the World to come then it can be with them in this World but also it should admonish all mankind now living amongst us to take some effectuall course for their own safety that they may be preserved from this everlasting shame we are not willing to have our share with Reprobates in it therefore we should take some effectuall course for our preservation from it What course must we take for our preservation Quest 1. We must sue out a pardon for our sins in Answ the name of Christ while we live and if we can obtaine this pardon we shall be preserved if not from temporall yet from everlasting shame 2. We must constantly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and this faith will preserve us if not from temporall yet from everlasting shame in the world to come as it is written Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect and precious and he that believeth on him shall not be ashamed Rom. 9. 33. shall not be confounded 1 Pet. 2. 6. viz. in the world to come 3. We must hope in the Lord for good things promised and this hope if it be a lively hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5. 5. but will preserve us if not from temporall yet from eternall shame in the world to come 4. We must patiently wait upon God for the accomplishment of his promises and then we shall not be ashamed in the world to come as it is said they shall not be ashamed that wait for me Esa 49. 23. 5. We must be willing to observe and keep all the knowne precepts of God so far as they shall concern us and then we shall be preserved from this eternall shame as David saith Then shal I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandements Psal 119. 6. 6. We must be soundly affected to Gods Word and then we shall be safe from eternall shame according to the prayer of David Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed Psal 119. 80. 7. We must walk uprightly and sincerely before the Lord because the Lord knoweth the days of the upright and they shall not be ashamed in the evill time Psal 37. 18 19. 8. We must persevere in grace received which is to abide in Christ unto the end and then we shall be safe from eternall shame according to that of S. John Little children abidein him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming 1 Joh. 2. 28. SECT XIIII Touching the honour of Gods Elect and the contempt of Reprobates in the world to come HEre followeth a fourth speciall difference which shall be betwixt the parties before-named which difference may be thus expressed in two Propositions Gods Elect shall be honoured in the world to come Reprobates shall be contemned in the world to come The former Proposition is That Gods Elect Proposition shall be honoured in the world to come touching which honour of theirs we are to consider two things viz. The nature of it The certainty of it Frst Touching the nature of it I conceive that they shal be honoured with an high esteem in the world to come and that on Gods part on Christs part amongst the Angels amongst themselves and amongst the reprobate sort of mankind 1. They shall be 〈◊〉 esteemed of in the world to come on Goâ— for part for he shall still esteem them as his Covenant-people according to his promise I will be your God and ye shall be my people Rev. 21. 3. which promise is often repeated he shall still esteem them as his children according to his promise I will be a father to you and ye shall be sons and daughters unto me saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 18. He shall still esteem them as his faithfull servants according to that saying Well done good and faithfull servant Mat. 25. 23. He shall still esteem them as his triumphant Church as the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 2. Yea he shal so highly esteem of them in the world to come that he shal put a new name upon them Esa 62. 2. another name from
safe for any to remain still in the state of nature and unregeneracy because all unregenerate persons as long as they remain such are in a state of spiritual darkness being alienated from the life of God through the darkness that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts Ephes 4 18. being destitute of all saving knowledg of God of Christ and divine Mysteries and being destitute of all real holiness and godly experience And if they shall remain such until their death without doubt they shall be punished with everlasting darkness spiritual in the World to come as hath been proved Wherefore it cannot be safe for any to remain still in the state of nature and unregeneracy But there is a necessity of Regeneration on their part who are not regenerated because without this grace they cannot escape the judgment of spiritual darkness temporal nor eternal but if they can obtain this grace of Regeneration they shal be sure to obtain the blessing of spiritual light here in this life and the fulness of it in the life to come according to that of the Apostle Awake thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light that is the light of saving grace here and the light of glory hereafter And for the better obtaining of this grace they that want it 1. Must diligently attend unto the outward Ministry of the Word this being the instrumental Cause or Means of Regeneration as S. Peter saith We are born again not of corruptible but of incorruptible seed by the Word of God 1 Pet. 1. 23. 2. They must diligently pray for the inward Ministry of the Spirit this being the efficient Cause of Regeneration as our Saviour saith That which is horn of the Spirit is Spirit Joh. 3. 6. SECT XX. Touching the Joy of Gods Elect and the Sorrow of Reprobates in the World to come HEre followeth a tenth special Difference which shall be betwixt the parties before-named in the next world and it may be thus expressed in two Propositions Gods Elect shall abound with Joy in the next World Reprobates shall abound with Soroow in the next World The former Proposition is That Gods Elect shall abound with Joy and Gladness in the World to come VVhich Joy of theirs shall be such as none in this life can â—ully conceive nor express For doubtless it shall be exceeding wonderful and glorious and that 1. In regard of the manner of it for it shall be suitable to their new natures which they shall reâ—eivâ— 2. In regard of the measure of it for it shall exceedingly abound beyond all their former joys 3. In regard of the several objects and occasions of it for in that world they shall joy and rejoyce in God in Christ in the Nature of God the Mercies of God the Judgments of God in their inward peace and glorious condition and in all that they shall see or hear or speak or do yea the several objects and occasions of their Joy in that world shall be such and so many that they cannot now be numbered by any But that Gods Elect shall abound with Joy in the world to come may be thus proved 1. They that have such Joy and gladness already sown for them as shall be reaped in the world to come shall abound with Joy in that world Now Gods Elect have such joy and gladness already sown for them as shall be reaped in the world to come as we may gather from that of the Prophet Gladness is sown for the upright in heart Psal 97. 11. And if it be sown for the upright in heart then it is sown for all the Elect who are or shall be upright in heart and consequently they shall abundantly reap it in that world 2. They that have or shall have the beginnings of spiritual joy in this world shall abound with joy in that which is to come Now Gods Elect have or shall have the beginnings of spiritual joy in this world for so many of them as are or have been effectually called have already rejoyced in God in Christ in the works of God in the word and Promises of God in the testimony of a good conscience yea they have already rejoyced in tribulation and in hope of the glory of God and the rest of them shall one day be effectually called too so shall have the same beginnings of spiritual joy with the former sort Erg. they shall abound with joy in the world to come 3. They that have or shall have the spirit of godly sorrow in this world shall abound with joy in that which is to come according to these Promises Heaviness may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning Psa 30. 5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. Blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall laugh Luk. 6. 21. Now Gods Elect are such as have or shal have the spirit of godly sorrow and contrition here in this world Erg. 4. They that shall have no cause of sorrow in the world to come shall abound with joy in that world Now Gods Elect shall have no cause of sorrow in the world to come For God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away Rev. 21. 4. Ergo. 5. They that shall sing for joy of heart in the world to come shall abound with joy in that world But Gods Elect shal sing for joy of heart in the world to come Isai 65. 14. Ergo. 6. They that shall be created a rejoycing and a joy in the world to come shall abound with joy in that world But Gods Elect shall be created a rejoycing and a joy in that world Isai 65. 18. Ergo. 7. They that shall enter into their Masters Joy in the world to come shall abound with joy in that world Now Gods Elect shall enter into their Masters Joy in that world Mat. 25. 21. Ergo. 8. They that shall have fulness of joy in the world to come shall abound with joy in that world Now Gods Elect shall have fulness of joy in the world to come as it is written In thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right haend are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Ergo. 9. They that shall have everlasting joy upon their heads in the world to come shall abound with joy in that world Now Gods Elect shall have everlasting joy upon their heads in the world to come Isai 35. 10. 61. 7. Ergo. Which Proposition thus proved may be useful Vse thus First It makes for the confutation of such as expect a time of much joy if not perfect joy for Gods faithful people here in this world before the end and say That the Sword which is now drawn shall subdue all the open