doctrine of the resurrection whereby he stopped the mouths of the Sadduces his answer made the people astonished and the Sadduces confounded they came with their mouths open but they went away with their mouths shut they came with full cry but they went away in silence he put the Sadduces to silence 2. The second Scripture to prove the Resurrection is in 1 Cor. chap. 15. thorowout It seemeth that some amongst the Corinthians who called themselves Christians did deny the Resurrection now the scope of the chapter is to refuâ—e this dangerous errour and to prove the truth which the Apostle doth by several arguments 1. The first argument is drawn from the Resurrection of Christ If Christ be risen from the dead then believers which are his members shall be raised also he will not suffer his members to lie for ever rotting in the grave because his mystical body then would never be grown up â—nto perfection Christ is the first fruits of them that sleep v. 10. As certainly as he was awakened out of his sleep in the grave on the third day to certainly shall all those that do or shall sleep in Jesus be awakened out of their grave at the last day But Christ is certainly risen from the dead which the Apostle proves 1. From the Prediction thereof in the Scriptures as his death was foretold so also his resurrection was foretold in the type of Ionah's being â—ast out of the belly of the whale on the third day 2. From the testimony of those persons to whom the Lord Jesus Christ did appear after his resurrection namely of Cephas all the Apostles above five hundred brethren at once who saw him before his ascension and last of all in that he was seen by himself upon the way to Damascus after his ascension all which witnesses did with one mouth confirm the truth of Christs Resurrection 3. From the absurdities which would follow if Christ were not risen 1. The Apostles would then be found false witnesses and the Spirit of God which spake in them would be a false spirit which is impossible 2. Then their preaching would be in vain and the whole doctrine of Christianity which was built partly upon this foundation would fall to the ground 3. Then their faith would be in vain because if Christ were still dead he would not be a meet object for their faith for then he could not be the Son of God nor a Mediatour between God and man 4. Then Believers would be yet in their sins their sins would remain unpardoned because satisfaction to Gods justice would not have been compleated had the bonds of death still held ouâ— Saviour 5. Then they which were fallen asleep in Christ would be perished in regard of their bodies liâ—â— the beasts when they die because if Christ were not risen it would be impossible that they should ever rise any more 6. Then believers should have hope only iâ— this life because if Christ were not risen anâ— ascended into Heaven to prepare room for theâ— there they could not have any good-grounde 〈◊〉 hope of ever being received into that place anâ— by consequence it would follow that believeâ— the best of men upon the earth would be the mâ—â— miserable men of all others because they aâ— exposed to so many sufferings for the sake of Jesus Christ If they had hope only in this life theâ— would be most miserable in regard of sorrow though not in regard of sin for their hopes 〈◊〉 future glory do support and comfort them undâ—â— all their afflictions if they should loose their hopeâ— they would loose their comforts and be of all â—thers the most forlorn and sorrowful it would break their hearts and bring them to despaâ—â— Certainly then Christ is reisen and as certainly shâ—â— the dead be raised 2. The second argument whereby the Apostlâ— proves the resurrection is drawn from the Paâ—â—lel between the first Adam and Christ the seconâ— Adam v. 21 c. Since by man came death 〈◊〉 man also shall come the resurrection for as in Adâ—â— all die so in Christ shall all be made alive 〈◊〉 Adam sin came into the world and death by sin and death passed upon all his posterity because all have sinned at least in him By Christ came righteousness into the world and by righteousness life and all his posterity shall be raised by him unto eternal life at the last day because all are partakers of his righteousness 3. The third Argument is drawn from the reign of Christ at the right hand of the Father until all his enemies be put under his feet and the last enemy which shall be destroyed is death and death is no waies perfectly destroyed but by the resurrection of the dead out of their graves and the putting immortality upon the body then when this corruptible shal put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality death shall be swallowed up in victory therefore since death with other enemies shall be put under Christ's feet it is necessity that there should be a resurrection 4. The fourth Argument is in v. 29. Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not why are they baptized for the dead The words are difficult various are the interpretations which are given I like Calvins best if it will hold with the words Why are they baptized for the dead or for dead that is why are they that are dying and given over for dead baptized if the dead rise not why will any when they are going out of the world be baptized in the name of Chriâ—t if they did not hope for a resurrection at the last that as they are buried with him by baptism unto death so they should rise with him not only unto newness of life here but also unto everlasting life and glory hereafter 5. The fifth argument is drawn from the jeopardie and sufferings of Christians which they would not undergoe unless they had hopes of the resurrection 6. The denial of this Doctrine opens a door to licenciousness People would eat and drink and let lâ—oâ—e the reigns to sensual delights and commit sin with greediness if they must die and there were no hopes of a resurrection to glory and happiness and no fears of a resurrection to torment and misery Besides Scripture testimony and argument which is the only firm proof of the resurrection I might add for illustration some Emblems of the resurrection in nature Naturalists tell us of a Phaenix which riseth out of the ashes into which she had burned her self before but it is more certain that some birds lie in holes dead all the winter and get life again in the Summer we see Plants Herbs Flowers and the like wither in the Winter and spring forth again when the cold weather is gone we see the Sun sets at night and arise again in the morning and we our selves as we have an Emblem of death upon us when we are asleep so our
Subjectively body 153 to 157 soul 158 to 160 2. Objectively 161 3. Formally 162 to 166 2. Of their entring into eternal life p. 167 chapter 11 2. Concerning the certainty of Christs appearance proved by 3. Arguments where concerning the Divine Authority of the Scriptures and the Resurrection c. from p. 168. to 206 chapter 12 3. Concerning the speediness and suddenness of Christs coming where is a Description of the Old Worlds drowning and Sodom's burning applied c. from p. 207. to 224 chapter 13 4. The Application 1. More generall from 225 to 229 2. More particularly 1. To sinners 1. To discover them from p. 230 to 234 2. To awaken them from p. 235 to 246 3. To exhort them from p. 247 to 263 chapter 14 2. To believers 1 For the trial of them from p. 264 to 269 2. For the comforting of them from p. 270 to 28◠chapter 15 3. To both sinners and believers to perswade them 1. To believe 2. To consider 3. To prepare where twelv◠Duties requisite in order 〈◊〉 preparation From 283. 〈◊〉 the end Christ's certain and sudden Appearance to Judgment Revel 22. 20. Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Iesus CHAP. I. THe last words of a Dear friend are usually most remarked and best remembred especially when they speak great affection these are the last words of Jesus Christ the best friend that the children of men ever had which he sends his Angel from Heaven after he had been some yeers in glory with the Father to speak in his Name unto his Churches upon the earth v. 16. I Iesus have sent mine Angel to testifie these things in the Churches and of all the things which he testifieth by his Angel this is the last and the sweetest in the Text Surely I come quickly Which words of Promise comming down from Heaven and expressing so much Love to the Church are followed with 〈◊〉 Eccho and resound of the Churches earnest desire Amen Even so come Lord Iesus c. Hence observe Doct. 1. That the Lord Iesus Christ will certainly and quickly appear Doct. 2. That there is an earnest desire and longing in the Church after Christs appearance D. 1. That the Lord Iesus Christ will certainly and quickly appear Here I shall speak 1. Concerning Christ's appearance 2. Show that he will certainly appear 3. Show that he will quickly appear 4. And lastly Apply 1. Concerning Christs appearance There is a twofold appearance of Christ which the Scripture makes mention of 1. In the Flesh. 2. In Glory CHAP. II. 1. THe first appearance of Christ was in the flesh above sixteen hundred years ago in the Land of Iudea unto the people of the Jews the only-then-visible-Church upon the Earth There it was that the Word was made Flesh and amongst that people he dwelt for a while some of whom beheld his Glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth There it was that the eternal Son of God was made man being conceived miraculously by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary without the contamination of original sin which all ordinary conceptions do introduce His real Mother and supposed Father were both of the Tribe of Iudah and of the lineage of David and he was born in the Town of Bethlem according to the Scripture predictions who after he had lived thirty years in obscurity was baptized by Iohn Baptist his Fore-runner and Harbinger in whose Baptism when Iohn saw the Heavens opened and the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and heard the voice from the excellent Glory saying This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased He gave his testimony concerning him that he was the Son of God and the Lamb of God who taketh way the sins of the world Who after his own baptism and temptation and Iohns imprisonment made his appearance more openly unto Israel shewing forth his glory not in outward pomp and splendour but in a more high eminent and wonderful manner altogether Divine exceeding the imitation of any Earthly Monarch in the World He shewed forth the glory of his power in the Miracles which he did work namely in opening the eyes of the blind and ears of the deaf in loosning the tongue of the dumb and the bonds of other infirmities in cleansing the Lepers and healing other diseases with a word in casting out Devils after long profession in calming the Sea and Winds when boisterous and stormy in raising up the dead before and after burial for some daies and the like He shewed forth the glory of his Knowledge in looking into the hearts of those which came unto him being able to perceive their most secret thoughts and imaginations and needed not that any should restifie of man for he knew what was in man He shewed forth the glory of his Wisdom in his most wise answer to the ensnaring questions of the Pharisees and others in the most excellent and heavenly doctrine which he preached wherein he did not teach his Disciples subtile and empty speculations which the greatest wits in the world have busied themselves about but great soul-saving truths indeed he revealed some great and deep mysteries above the reach of the highest wit of the greatest Schollar without the teachings of his Spirit which were momentous and needful in order unto practice but the greatest part of his doctrine was plain and easie He shewed forth the glory of his Holiness in his exact walking and perfect obedience unto the Law of God without the least deviation or sin He shewed forth the glory of his Goodness and tenderness towards the children of men in going about to do them good and give succour to them which were in misery casting out none which came unto him Especially he shewed forth the glory of his Mercy and infinite Love to his own people in submitting to so low a condition as he liv'd in for their sakes in humbling himself and becomming obedient unto death even the cursed disgraceful painful death of the Cross besides the soul miseries which he endured through sense of Gods wrath due for their sins that he might satisfie Gods justice and deliver them from eternal death and wrath to come and purchase Life and Glory for them Thus Christ lived and thus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and being dead the bonds of death could not hold him neither did the holy one see corruption but the third day rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures and after his resurrection was seen of Mary Magdalen of Peter Iames all the Apostles of five hundred brethren at once according to the Scriptures After forty daies was taken up into Heaven and is there in his humane nature at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens making intercession for his people where he will abide untill the second appearance Thus concerning Christs appearance
patience in our steads that he might redeem us from sin and death and wrath to come that we might not perish but have overlasting life O wonderful unconâ—eivable love What so glorious a Person to be made man to be made sin to be made a curse to do such things to suffer such things for such mean vile cursed â—inners as we that we might be blessed and happy with him O surpassing superlative kindness Is this he who made choice of us when he chose so few that called us when the most were passed by that pitcht his love upon us when there was no attractive in us nothing to move him but his own bowels that revealed his secrets to us when he hid them from the wise and prudent that brought us nigh when we were afar off and made us fellow-Citizens and fellow-heirs with the Saints and of the houshold of God who were by nature children of wrath even as others O astonishing free grace Is this he who cloathed us when we were naked even with the robes of his own righteousness that washed us when we were defiled even in the fountain of his own blood that cheared us when we were troubled even with the comforts of his own Spirit that strengthned us when we were weak even with his might and glorious power in our inner man was it from this Person that we received our pardon our peace our supports our graces our encouragements and all the sweet refreshments we have found in Ordinances Is this the Advocate whom we made choice of relied and trusted upon fâ—r life and salvation Is this the Master whom we followed and whose work we were imployed about Is this the Captain whose colours we wore and under whose banner we fought Is this the Lord whom we obeyed the friend the husband whom we loved and is he so glorious O how will the Saints be wrapt up with admiration and joy how will they be all in a flame of burning love and affection when they come to behold the Lord Jesus Christ himself and view him in such glory as then he will be decked withall when they come to see him face to face who hath such loveliness in his face and such love in his heart unto them It is said 1 Pet. 1. 8. whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakabâ—e and full of glory If so be that the Saints do now love Christ whom they never saw only have heard of and belâ—eved the report of the word how will they love him when they have this sight of him and see a thousandfold more beauty in him than was reported or could be imagined if so be that now sometimes they rejoyce with glorious and unspeakable joy in believing what will they do when they come to see him in his glory If they can now rejoyce in tribulations and take pleasure in the cross and reproach of Christ what will they finde in their masters joy and the Crown which he now comes to put upon their heads O how glad will they be that they have been counted worthy to suffer any thing for such a Saviour It will be a joyful time indeed unto the Saints when they are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air And the joy of Christ will be no less to meet with them O with what an eye will he view them when they are arising and ascending with so much of his beauty and lustre upon them none can conceive the love and delight which the Lord Jesus will take in them at that day he will look upon them as those who were beloved by the Father and himself from all eternity as those who fetcht him out of heaven before to redeem them and now to glorifie them he will look upon them as the travel of his soul as the price of his blood he will look upon them as his Jewels as spoils taken out of the hands of his enemies he will look upon them as plants grown up unto perfection as servants who have done their work as those who have kept up his honour in the world he will look upon them as members of his body he will look upon them as his dearest spouse and most beautiful bride who now cometh to be joyned to him more neerly and to live with him for ever O the love and joy of Christ at this meeting If so be that Christ so dearly loved his Spouse and could delight in her too when she was black and sooty when her clothes were spotted and stained when her affections were weak low and inconstant how will he love and rejoyce in her when she is made perfectly like to himself and so beautiful with his comeliness when her stains are all washed off and she is presented before him without spot wrinkle blemish or any such thing when she shall be arrayed in white and hath put on her shining garments and appear so lovely and her love shall be so high and full and strong and flaming Never did Lovers meet with such delight joy on their wedding-day as Christ and his Spouse will meet at the day of his second appearance O the sweet smiles the Saints will see in the face of Christ Smiles upon them such glances of love will sparkle forth from his eyes as will ravish their hearts O the sweet words they will hear the welcome he will give them when they first meet when they are come he will place them at his right hand So much concerning the more immediate Antecedents of the judgment of the righteous CHAP. VI. 2. THe second thing is to speak concerning the Judgment it self of the righteous Anâ— there are two things the Scripture speaks of which Christ will do at his second appearance in the judgment of the righteous 1. He will take an account of them 2. He will pronounce the sentence upon them 1. Christ will take an account of the righteous Rom. 4. 10 12. We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ and every one of us shall give an account of himself unto God though the righteous shall not be brought to condemnation yet they shall be brought into judgment which will be for their masters honour and their own especially of those who can give a good account of the Talents their Lord hath intrusted them withall I know it is a question amongst Divines whether the sins of Gods people will be mentioned and made manifest at the last day of judgment I shall not determine the question since the Scripture is not so plain Possibly the Lord having pardoned them covered them blotted them out of the book of his remembrance he will not mention them on that day but sure I am if they should be mentioned it will not be to their disgrace and grief but to their more abundant joâ— in the Lord who hath forgiven them If they should read their sins in the book of Gods remembrance
cast into a caldron of boiling pitch or lead or put into Phalaris Bull or Nebuchadnezzars fiery Furnace the torture of the damned's bodies will be far beyond the sharpest pain now incident to humane nature by racking diseases or have been inflicted upon any of the children of men by the most cruel tyrant for the bodies of the wicked when raised again will be strengthned unto a greater capacity for punishment when they will be made incorruptible and immortal and punishment will be the end of their resurrection but more of this punishment under the properties 3. Concerning the properties of the punishment which the wicked shall go into 1. It will be universal it will not onely be in soul and body but also in every part of both in every faculty of the soul in every member of the body O the black thoughts the dismal apprehensions the grisly fancies the heavy griefs the sinking fears the dreadful terrors the hellish gripes the utter despair the horrible anguish and confusion which the soul will have when the wrath of God shall be poured in upon it like water the wicked will not only be in hell but they will have a hell in themselves in their consciences they will have a never dying worm which will gnaw and tear them they will have a storm in their spirits raised by the winde of Gods wrath which will blow most fiercely upon them every faculty of the soul will be afflicted according to its capacity and every member of the bodies of the wicked will be tormented O how will their eyes glare their tongues roar their hands and feet fry their flesh rost no part will be free from the devouring flames of this horrible burning Fire There are many diseases which the body is exposed unto in this world but very seldome do they meet together in the same subject if the head ake the members may be free if the foot be pained the hand may be at ease and ready to contribute some relief unto the pained part and if the body be sick the soul may give some consolatory arguments to alleviate the irksomeness of the disease but in hell the punishment of the wicked will be universal it will be in every member of the body and every faculty of the soul. 2. The punishment of hell will be extream the souls of the wicked will be filled with anguish as full as they can hold their capacity will be larger and they will be filled up to the height of their capacity and their bodies also will have the most exquisite pain as it is possible for them to endure their sense of pain will be quicker and their strength to endure pain greater and their pain will be in the uttermost extremity some pains of the body here are not very acnte and some troubles of mind may well enough be born but any disease in extremity is very irksome the pain of the head or the tooth in extremity the gout stone chollick in extremity especially the troubles of the mind in extremity will make a man weary of his life but to have every part afflicted in extremity and the uttermost extremity and that beyond our now capacity or conception this will be very dreadfull 3. The punishment of the wicked will be continual without any intermission or alleviation the wicked will have no rest day nor night Rev. 14. 11. there will be nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Matth. 22. 13. The most painful diseases here have their fits which do not continue long the diseased finde after their fits some ease and asswagement they have intermissions sometimes some lucida intervalla lightsome intervals but the wicked in hell will have no ease or asswagement no lightsome intervals of their grief and pains there will be no mixture of comfortable ingredients in the cup of God's wrath which the damned must drink of there will be but one fit in their disease and this fit will alwaies be at the height they will not have the least drop of water to cool so much as the tip of the tongue which shall be tormented in flames their grief will not have any allay they will not have one comfortable thought no eye to pitty them none to bring any relief unto them O how bitter will their sins be to them here they are but bitter sweets then they will be nothing but bitterness and gall and worm-wood unto them Their punishment will be continuall 4. The punishment of the wicked will be remediless there will be no escaping or flying from the wrath of God now sinners may flee from the wrath which is to come but when it is once come and hath got hold on them it will hold them down so that they shall never get loose from it now they may agree with their adversary upon the way they may make their peace with God in this world there is no sin for which they may not obtain a pardon but the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost which carries men away from God but hereafter in hell there will be no more sacrifice for sin the Saviour of mankind will be their judge and pass an irreversible sentence of condemnation upon them it is possible now for the wicked to be delivered from this punishment but it will be impossible then to be delivered out of it their punishment will be remediless 5. The punishment of the wicked will be eternal hell fire will be unquenchable Mark 9. 43. everlasting Matth. 25. 41. the smoak of the torment will ascend up for ever and ever Rev. 14. 11. This eternity of punishment will be a fearful aggravation of it If you saw a malefactour torn to pieces with wilde horses or thrown into a fiery furnace and there burned to ashes you would say that either of these were dreadful punishments though the pain possibly might not endure a quarter of an hour for death concludes all bodily pains here what then will it be to endure the torments of hell for ever a small pain if it should last long would be very irksome much more some racking pains by the stone strangury gour cholick and the like if they should continue for a year or a moneth together how miserable would they make the life to be yea if a man should hold but one of his fingers in the fire but for a day it would afflict him more than all outward comforts could delight him the torments of Hell will not be in one part only but in every part not in a weaker degree but in the greatest extremity not for a day or a month or a year but for ever the wicked will be alwaies dying never dead the pangs of death will be ever upon them and yet they shall never give up the ghost if they could die they would think themselves happy they wil alwaies be roaring and never breathe out their last alwaies sinking and never come to the bottome alwaies burning in those flames and never consumed
That they had as soul natures as the vilest that they had as leprous poisonous odious hearts until they were renewed and sanctified as those which they shall see condemned and tormented that they were sometimes foolish and disobedient serving divers lusts and pleasures hateful and hating one another until the kindness and free love of God was manifested in the regeneration and renovation of them by the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 3 4 5. That they were dead in sin with others and walked according to the course of the World according to the Prince of the power of the Aire who wrought in them as in other Children of disobedience so that they were as forward as others to fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the minde and ran with others to the same excess of riot until God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved them had quickned them and saved them by his grace and hereby put a difference between them and the wicked who went on to the end of the sinful course in which sometimes they were running with them in company Eph. 2. 1 2 3 4 c. yea some of them will remember how they out-stripped others in sin and were guilty of more gross breaches of the Law than many millions of the wicked whom they will see condemned and that they should escape and be awakened to repent and enabled to believe and reform and that they should obtain pardon and salvation thorow Christ when others were passed by and let alone to perish under smaller sins this will fill them with astonishing admiration and wondering joy when they see some of their neer Relations going to Hel their Fathers their Mothers their Children their Husbands their Wives their Brethren their Sisters their intimate Friends and Companions however they are grieved now to see them take such courses and walk in the way to Hell and they labour to pull them out of that way and would fain perswade them to walk with them in Heavens way and are troubled to forethink of the torment which they must endure if they go on yet hereafter relative tyes and those affections which now they have to relations out of Christ wil cease and they wil not have the least trouble to see them sentenced to hel and thrust into the fiery furnace but rejoyce in the glory of God which wil be manifested upon them in their destruction and O the joy that they wil be filled withal to think that they were not passed by with the rest of their relations that they are not under the same deserved-condemnation with them that God should chuse but one or two in many families and they should be in the number of the chosen ones that when his chosen were comparatively so few and the reprobates so many that they should be elected when there was no motive in them to encline God to the choice of them that he should chuse them freely if he had not chosen them if they were now to change places with some of their wicked relations going to Hel this would be dreadful but that they are going from Hel when their relations are going into it this wil fil them with joy unspeakable Especially 3. When they consider in their going away that they were sometime so neer to Hell that whilst they were in a state of nature and under the guilt of sin that some of them were neer to death that they were brought to the sides of the pit to the doors of the grave to the very brink of Hell before they had repented and accepted of Jesus Christ some of them will remember how neer they were to death when they were young how neer they were to death by some casualties how neer by some diseases some of them will remember the great Plague in London which swept away so many thousands how ill they were provided for death at the beginning thereof how neerly they escaped the disease and some which had the disease how neerly they escaped death by it and if they had died then that they should certainly have gone to Hell O how will they admire the Providence of God in keeping them alive notwithstanding the many dangers they were in of death all the daies of their unregeneracy and when they moreover consider how they tried Gods patience and trampled upon it by their hainous provocations how they abused his goodness and turned his grace into wantonness how they did hasten in the waies of sin towards hell and were come even to the end of the line that some of them were Drunkards and Sabbath-breakers and profane persons and swearers and unclean persons and persecutors of the people of God and were arrived even to the heighth of wickedness and wanâ—ed but a step or two of falling into Hell and yet that the Lord should meet with them with a flaming sword in the way of sin they were driving on so fast and furiously in and stop them and turn them and change them and bring them home to himself yea when they had deafned their ears against many calls and stifled many convictions and often quenched the motions of his spirit and were so unwilling to leave their sins and to come out of the way of destruction were so desperately bent upon their ruine that yet he should knock and call again and again and follow them still by his Spirit that he should lay hold on them as the Angels did on Lot and bring them out of Sodom even by force and over-power the contranitency of their stubborn wills and break open the door of their hearts and overturn the strong holds of sin and sathan and set up the throne of his Son within them that he should snatch them like fire-brands out of the fire and pluck them out of the snare of the devil that had almost drag'd them into Hell O how will they be astonished to remember Gods infinite pitty and love and the power of his rich grace that did work salvation for them especially when they perceive how dreadful the misery is which they were hastning unto I have heard of a man who in the night galloped over a high bridge which was broken down all but a narrow plank which Gods providence directed his horses feet upon which if they had slipt never so little on the one side or the other horse and man had fallen into the deep stream and been drowned which the man did not know till the next morning but then viewing the place and considering the danger he had so narrowly escaped was struck with such astonishment at it that he fell down dead in the place When some of Gods people shall go away from Hell at the last day and look behind them into the bottomless-pit and take a view of the streams of fire and brimstone which are running in the burning lake and remember how they have galloped over those streams when they were in the carreer of their sins and by how narroâ—
them and we may â—ationally imagine that they will salute them at their rising and welcome them out of their graves we read of the Angel Gabriel's salutation of Mary Luke 1. 28. Hail thou that arâ— highly favoured the Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst Women and the same Angels words to Daniel chap. 9. 23. Thou art greatly beloved Such salutations possibly the Angels may give to the Saints at their resurrection Arise you that are highly favoured of God come forth yee that are greatly beloved welcome welcome yee happy ones ye that are blessed amongst the children of men your Lord is come down and stayethâ— for you he hath sent us to call you and convey you into his presence bring you where he is that you may see and share in his glory O how will such words make their hearts to glow within them how joyfull will such a message be unto them O happy they that ever they were born or rather that ever they were new born O happy they that they should live that they should be raised to see such a day as this will be O what looks what speeches what joyes will they have when they are entertained by the Angels 3. The third Antecedent to the Righteous Iudgment will be their meeting one with another Matth. 24. 31. The Angels will be sent to gather the Elect together 2 Thes. 2. 1. I beseech you â—rethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and our gathering together unto him the Saints will be all gathered together and we shall be gathered with them if we be found in that number there we shall meet with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the holy Kings and Prophets and Apostles and Martyrs and holy Men who have lived in all Generations and all these in another hue than when they lived upon the Earth they will arise like so many shining Suns ouâ— of the Earth O how shall we be delighted with the â—ight of such a glorious train and company when we see the Image and picture of the Lord upon them drawn so to the life what sweet greetings shall we have and mutual congratulations of our old acquaintance in the flesh who were with us acquainted with the Lord and is this the end of our hearing and fasting and praying and self-denial and mortification and the poor services we have done for the Lord Is this the issue of our pains and labour O happy we that ever we repented and believed and closed with Jesus Christ O happy we that laid up our Treasure and waited for our glory and happiness till this time 4. The fourth Antecedent is that the righteous shall be caught up together in the aire all the righteous shall be caught up they that are raised from the dead and they that remain alive upon the Earth on that day 1 Thess. 4. 16 17. The dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the aire we read of the two witnesses which were slain after three dayes and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon theâ—r feet and they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them come up hither and they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud c. Rev. 11. 11 12. In the morning of the resurrection the spirit of life from God will enter into the bodies of all the Saints and they will stand up and possibly they may hear a voice from Christ in the aire Come up hither and then they will be caught up and ascend into the aire to meet with their Lord O what unexpressible pleasure and delight will they finde when they Feel themselves begin to move upwards when they are leaving the Earth and wicked men and so many glorious persons of them together ascending to meet their most glorious Lord 5. The fifth antecedent to the judgment is their meeting with the Lord in the aire 1 Thess. 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the aire We have spoken of the meeting of the soul and the body of the meeting of the Saints with the Angels of the meeting of the Saints with the Saints all which meetings will be very delightful but the meeting of the Saints with the Lord himself will be beyond all O how sweet will the sound of Christ's coming be unto them before they see him When they hear the long expected shouâ— and the sound of the last Trump This this will be musick indeed in their eares Then then they will lift up their heads with joy and do but think how transporting the first glance of their eye will be upon the Lord Jesus Christ when they see him yet afar off cloathed with such brightness and beauty never did their eye behold such an object before they admired to see the Saints and to see themselves so transformed but how will they admire to see the Lord in such glory if so be that some of his Disciples did gaze after him with wonder when he was taken from them and ascended into Heaven Acts 1. 11. With what wonder will all his Disciples most of which never saw him in the flesh none of which saw him in such glory then gaze upon him when he shall come down from Heaven Yee Men of Galilee why stand yee gazing up into Heaven Say the Angels this same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as yee have seen him go into Heaven if you look and wonder now at his going how will you look and wonder at his coming which will be as surely but far more gloriously But when they are come neerer unto Christ and have a fuller view of him O vvhat thoughts What affections What joyes vvill there then fill their souls O what workings what beatings of heart what transports and ravishment of spirit will they have O how would they be overwhelmed with this sight and utterly unable to bear it if they were not strengthened beyond their present capacity And is this the Saviour and Redeemer of the world O glorious Son of righteousness Did this most excellent Person who thus appears in the brightness of his Fathers glory and is now come down from his glorious habitation with such a glorious train of Angels once vouchsafe to dwell with men and vaile his glory in the flesh Did this eternal Son of God stoop so low as to take upon him our nature yea to take upon him the forme of a Servant Did he live in such meanness and obscurity and indure such hardship contradiction reproach and injury when he was upon the earth O infinite condescention Did this Lord of life and glory in the dayes of his flesh so weep and pray and cry sweat and bleed and die though with such pain anguish and disgrace yet with such willingness and