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
29 30. as I shall have occasion hereafter in this Treatise to shew more fully Now what other matters will be objected against my former Assertion I cannot imagine but the former Objections are thus answered and I suppose that other such like may as easily be answered And all that hath been said in this Section tends to the confutation not only of such as think the third Heaven to be a created Heaven but also of such as think the World to come to be all one with the third Heaven whereas it may plainly appear by what hath been said That the World to come considered as a Continent is to be distinguished from the third Heaven SECT III. Shewing That the World to come considered as a Continent shall have no Being before this present evil World shall be dissolved but shall begin immediately thereupon FOr evidencing whereof these four Positions are to be proved viz. 1. This present World is evil 2. This present World shall be dissolved 3. The World to come shall have no Being before this present World be dissolved 4. That it shall begin immediately thereupon That this present World is evil is plainly acknowledged 1 Position Gal. 1. 4. Christ gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World where this present world is called an evil world not in respect of the original first condition of it for that was very good And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good Gen. 1. 31. Nor in respect of the substance of any creature contained in it for every creature of God is good viz. for the substance of it 1 Tim. 4. 4. But it is called an evil world in respect of two accidents belonging to it viz. the evil of sin and the evil of pain or punishment The first thing that proves this present world to be evil is sin whereof there is much to be found and many are the corruptions and pollutions that are in this world through lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 16. For the reprobate Angels who sinned in the beginning do sin still and can do nothing else but sin and all men and women now living in this world are sinful by nature and sinful by practise and do sin dayly in thought word or deed by omission or commission some unto death and some not unto death 1 Joh. 5. 16. And if I should here reckon up in order all the particular sins mentioned or spoken against in the Word of God it would be no hard matter to nominate or find a subject person if not many subject persons for every sin Yea there is no man so just upon earth that doth good and sineth not Eccles 7. 20. Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Prov. 20. 9. If we should say our sins are but few the Prophet will tell us they are more then can be numbered by us for who can understand his errors Psal 19. 12. Or if we should justifie our selves and say We have no sin we should but act the part of Deceivers Lyars Hypocrites and Apostates for if any man say â—e hath no sin he deceiveth himself and there is no â—ruth in him he maketh God a lyar and his Word â—s not in him 1 John 1. 8 10. Now sin is evil Psal â—4 14. and the greatest of evils because it hath no â—eal good in it but is most opposite unto the greatest good and is the cause of all other evils And if sin be evil then the world that hath so much sin in it must needs be evil too because of sin and as it was never evil before sin came into it so it was never good since in this respect And how can it be good â—n this respect seeing sin is a transgression of the Law a work of the Devil the World and the Flesh seeing it is hateful to God and hurtful to men a dishonor to God and a reproach to men a grief to God and to all good men and the only Make-bate betwixt God and man Yea as long as we shall find any sin in the world whether it be original or actual against Law or Gospel against God our neighbor or our selves we may safely say It is an evil world by reason of sin Thus it was an evil world by reason of sin in Noahs time because then the wickedness of man was great upon the earth and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually the earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence Gen. 6. 5 11. It was an evil world when there was no King in Israel because then every man did that which was right in his own eyes Judg. 17. 6. It was an evil world by reason of sin in Zedekiahs time because then the King himself did that which was evil in the sight of his God and all the chief of the Priests the Prophets transgressed very much after all the abominations of the Heathen â—â—d polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem and they mocked the Messenger of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy 2 Chro. 36. 12 14 16. It was an evil world by reason of sin in the Prophet Hosea's time because then there was no truth noâ— Hos 4. 1 2. mercy c. It was an evil world by reason of sin in our Saviours time because then many loved darkness rather then light because their deeds were evil c. John 3. 19 20. And thus it is an evil world by reason of sin even at this day for we know that many Countries at this day are meerly Paganish and Atheistical with God and without Christ and many others have taken up a false Religion as Judaism Mahomatism Antichristianism and Sectarismâ— yea the most reformed Countries and Churches at this day are blemished with many deformities and this English Nation which was wont to be renowned for the form and power of godliness is now become a very sink of errors and abominable practises so that a stranger or forraigner may now nod the head at England and say There are many deceivers in England who have deceived many There are in it many false Prophets that walk about Mat. 24. 11 Mat. 7. 15. in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves There are many false teachers that privily 2 Pet. 2. 1. bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them There are many that creep into 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. houses and lead captive filly women laden with iniquity led away with divers lusts ever learning and never come unto the knowledg of the truth There are many that will not endure sound doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. but after their own lusts do heap to themselves teachers having itching
their Salvation but suggestions of this nature do usually and for the most part come from Satan the father of lyes God perswades all afflicted sinners to beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation But Satan perswades an afflicted sinner to despair of salvatiō with such suggestions as these Thou art a Reprobate Thou art none of Gods Elect none of those for whom Christ dyed thou hast no part in Christ therefore it is in vain for thee to hope for Salvation in the World to come In all which suggestions Satan acts the part of a lyar because he doth not certainly know any of these things to be true of this or that particular person whiles he is yet alive in the body Wherefore an afflicted sinner should not listen to these suggestions of Satan but he should attend to the counsel of Gods Word and labor to beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ effectually as we are all bound to do especially in difficult cases that we may be saved Fourthly It may inform us That Gods Elect should be constantly willing to dye and to leave this world because it is most certain that they shall all be saved in the World to come with a full perfect and everlasting Salvation as hath been proved whereas they cannot expect any such Salvation in this world And amongst other considerations these three especially should make them willing to dye and leave this world viz. 1. Death will put an end to the practice of sin As long as we live here we shall still be in a posture of sinning but after death we shall sin no more And should we not be willing that these days of sin may be finished Yes Then we should be willing to dye 2. Death will put an end to all the afflictions of this life which are caused by sin as wants necessities losses crosses sicknesses diseases vexations and perturbations of what kinde soever And should we not be willing to be delivered from all such afflictions Yes Then we should be willing to dye 3. Death is that which will put Gods Elect into the possession of good things promised as glory honor immortality peace joy tranquillity c. And should we not be willing to be put in the possession of such things Yes Then we should be willing to dye Wherefore let not any of Gods Elect say We could be well contented to abide in this world still it is good for us to be here and to build Tabernacles here For if it be good for them to be here it will be much better for them to be elsewhere either in Heaven or in the World to come and the greater good is more to be desired then the lesser And if our hearts hanker never so much after this world we must leave it of necessity sooner or later But it will be more acceptable and praise-worthy if we shall leave it willingly whensoever the Messengers of death shall be sent unto us Fifthly It should inform us That such as desire to be saved with Gods Elect in the World to come should neither neglect nor contemn the ordinary means of Salvation which God hath prepared and assigned for them whether they be inward as Faith Repentance Hope Love Fear c. or outward as the administration of the Word and Sacraments reading singing prayer thanksgiving in publique or private c. For how shall we escape the judgments of God if we neglect or contemn so great Salvation as God tenders unto us by these ordinary means Hebr. 2. 3. And surely it will be in vam for any to say If I be elected I shall be saved though I neglect or contemn the ordinary means because all such as are elected to be saved in an ordinary way are also elected to the conscionable use of such ordinary means as are or shall be assigned for them in way to Salvation Moreover it should be remembred that we are commanded to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 12. Now to work out our own Salvation is all one as to endevor our own Salvation in and by the use of ordinary means that so we may save our selves as the phrase is Act. 2. 40. And to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling is to endevor it in a reverential way so as to stand in awe of Gods displeasure and of Gods temporal Judgments For as long as we live here we are still in danger of displeasing him by our sins and of suffering for our sins For which cause we should fear both the Offence of God and the Judgments of God and so work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling And surely it is not so easie a matter as some think it to be for he that will be saved in an ordinary way must be contented to do much and to suffer much in obedience to Gods Will before he shall come to inherit the promises For which cause Saint Peter saith That the righteous shall scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4. 18. And Saint Paul saith A man shall be saved yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3. 15. Wherefore we should be careful to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling The next Proposition is That Reprobates shall 2 Proposit be destroyed in the world to come And touching this destruction of theirs we are likewise to understand The Nature of it The Certainty of it The Causes of it The Extent of it The Continuance of it First As touching the Nature of it I affirm That they shall be destroyed in the World to come not in a natural sence so as to be brought to nothing for Reprobates shall have a Being in the world to come to their great grief but they shall be destroyed in a spiritual or mystical sence so as to be brought into a very evil condition and so as to be put to endure all sorts of evils which shall be incidental to the world to come whether they shall be evils of loss or evils of sence Soul evils or bodily evils internal or external evils Yea it shall be evil for them to have any Being it shall be evil for them to see what they shall see to hear what they shall hear to speak what they shall speak and do what they shall do in the World to come So their last day shall be an evil day or a day of evil Prov. 16. 4. and their last end shall be worse then their begining And as in this world so in the world to come evil shall bunt and pursue them to overthrow them Psal 140. 11. Prov. 13. 21. Which evil condition of theirs shall be their destruction their full and final destruction Secondly As concerning the certainty of it I say That Reprobates shall most certainly be destroyed in the world to come As may be proved by these Arguments 1. They whose last end shall be destruction shall be destroyed in the world to come But the last end of Reprobates shall be destruction
A DISCOVERIE OF THE VVorld to Come According to the SCRIPTURES The first Part thereof being Didactical or such as contains a Form of Positive Doctrine WHEREIN 1. The Doctrine of the World to come is propounded explicated confirmed and applyed in a more familiar method then formerly hath been observed 2. The Doctrine of Millenaries touching a New Reformed Church in the latter Times which they call A New World is confuted 3. Sundry passages of holy Writ are interpreted in reference to the World to come which have been formerly wrested and forced in a wrong sense Written by J. SEAGER M. A. and Minister of Broadclist in the County of Devon LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Luke Fawne and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1650. TO The Parishoners of Broadclist Grace and Peace be Multiplyed BEloved in the Lord It is now full eighteen years since that I was placed by the hand of Providâ—nce as a Spirituall Pastor amongst you upon the death of Mr. Robert Stennings three years of which time I was forced by the violence of Souldiers to absent my self from you these three years only excepted I have been constantly with you and as the Lord hath given me much health and strength of nature amongst you so I have spent much of that strength in my private studdies and publick imployments for you In witness whereof I can yet produce diverse volumes of Sermons written by me and published amongst you but I account this needless seeing you your selves can witnesse enough as touching this matter I will not compare my self with other Spirituall Labourers in Gods Vineyard for I know that they have received some of them ten talents some five some two yet this I may safely say that I have not hid my Masters one talent in a napkin but have improved it with diligence for the advancement of his glory and truth amongst you Wherefore after so long a time it concerns you all to enquire how ye have profited by my Ministry for be ye well assured that after so much spirituall husbandry as hath been used amongst you in plowing sowing planting and wattering the Lord will expect a plentiful crop of saving knowledge and obedience from you For my part I am prone to think the best of you as indulgent fathers are wont to think of their children I acknowledge that diverse of your friends and allies have dyed in my time whose life was precious and whose death was comfortable unto me and I hope to be better acquainted with them in the world to come then ever I was in this world I ac-acknowledge also that there are diverse now living amongst you of whom I am perswaded such things as accompany Salvation that they do sincerely love God and his truth and have not received the Grace of God nor the word of his grace in vain and my prayer for such is That they may persevere in grace unto the end holding fast the pattern of wholsome words which they have received and may never suffer themselves to be drawn away with the error of the wicked and so fal from their own stedfastness And I must needs acknowledge a third sort amongst you whom I have hitherto apprehended as proud contemners of the Word of God in my Ministery I pray God to give them Repentance unto life that they may recover themselves out of the snare oâ— the devil and may obtain pardon for this sin before their death otherwise I tremble to think how hard it wil be with them in the great day of the Lord Christ when they shall be accountable for every good Sermon and for every wholesome truth which they have thus contemned and trampled under their feet And now my beloved being desirous before my death to leave among you some token and testimonie of my love towards you I have published this Treatise which I call A Discovery of the VVorld to come some matters herein contained have been delivered in the open Congregation and here your eyes may see what your eares have heard yea here your eyes may see more then yet your eares have heard from me or from any other as I suppose touching this subject I am perswaded in my conscience of the truth of such grounds as are here delivered and my own soul hath felt the comfort of them for which cause I am the more hopefull that the same grounds may proove usefull and beneficiall unto others You may perceive with your eyes that I have not studdied strong lines and lofty expressions in this work but have endeavoured in plain and familiar termes to unfold a great Mystery unto you I do not herein perswade you to seek and search after the knowledge of this present world and the things hereof neither do I herein perswade you to love this present world and the things hereof you are by nature prone enough unto these things but hereby I do perswade and intreate you to study the knowledge of the world to come and to be better acquainted with the Doctrine hereof then yet you are because I apprehend this as a choyce part and high degree of saving knowledge and that which will profit you more at the last then all earthly treasures whatsoever and I am perswaded it is for want of this part of saving knowledge that many errours in these latter times are so readily entertained an assented unto In brief you have here a price put into your hands by Gods providence the Lord give you hearts to make a good use of it and if at any time I shall perceive this first part of my Discovery to be acceptable and useful to the Church of God I shal forthwith if the Lord shal permit studdy to conceive a Second Part and as soon as I shall have conceived it I shall be in travel to bring it forth to publick view In the interim I commend you to God and the Word of Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified Your Servant in such matters as concerns your eternal good John Seager The Contents AN Introduction Sect. I. Shewing That none should be grosly ignorant of the World to come as touching the Nature of it Sect. II. Shewing That the World to come considered as a Country or a Continent is to be distinguished from the third Heaven Sect. III. Shewing That the World to come shall have no Being before this present evil world shall be dissolved but shall begin immediately thereupon Sect. IV. Touching the Nature of the World to come considered as a Continent Sect. V. Touching the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh Sect. VI. Touching the last Resurrection Sect. VII Touching the last Judgment Sect. VIII Touching the Personal-Humane Kingdom of Christ in the World to come Sect. IX Touching the different Conditions of good and evil Angels in the World to come Sect. X. Touching the blessed Condition of Gods Elect
ears and turning their â—ars from the truth are turned unto fables There 2 Pet. 2. 2. â—re many that follow the pernicious ways of Seducers by reason of whom the way of truth is evil spoken of And there are many that are lovers of 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 5. their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankeful unholy without natural affection truce-breachers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof And as it is an evil world at this day by reason of sin so we may well expect that it shall grow worse and worse towards its end and dissolution because our Saviour hath said That towards the end iniquity shall abound and the love of many shall wax cold Mat. 24. 12. wherefore we may well acknowledg this present world to be evil in respect of sin The second thing which proves this present world to be evil is pain or punishment whereof also there is much to be found and as long as a man lives in this world his flesh upon him shall have pain and his soul within him shall mourn Job 14. 22. Sin and punishment are as the cause and the effect as the mother and the daughter the one leads the way the other drags after the one makes men merry for the present the other makes them mourn afterward and as all men living have sinned so they do all suffer for their sin more or less in one kind or other only with this difference those pains which are suffered by Gods Elect in this world are truly said to be castigatory and such as do prepare them for eternal Salvation but those which are suffered by the rest are truly said to be vindicatory and such as do prepare them for eternal wrath And the pains of this life are either inward such as are inflicted upon the Soul or inward man or else outward such as are inflicted upon the body or outward estate of man But if any desire to have a particular accompt of the pains of this life he must hear and observe the several plaints and cries of all particular persons and so you shall have one to cry out Oh my head another Oh my eye another Oh my tooth another Oh my heart another Oh my back another Oh my bones another Oh my bowels another Oh my thigh another Oh my foot You shall have one to complain of the Fever another of the Plurisie another of the Dropsie another of the Palsie another of the Stone another of the Strangury another of the Gout You shall hear one bewail his corporal blindness another his deafness another his lameness another his poverty another his oppression another his losses another his imprisonment another his banishment And perchance you shall have another say The graves are ready for me and the pains of death or the pains of Hell are upon me Thus lust when it hath conceived bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Jam. 1. 15. Yea not only man himself doth thus suffer for his sin in this world but also other creatures do suffer pain for mans sake and the whole Creation is in pain and groans to be delivered from that bondage of corruption which the sin of man hath brought upon it Rom. 8. Now all pain or punishment is evil in its own nature Mat. 6. 13. That which helps to make the days of our pilgrimage to be few and evil Gen. 47. 9. And all the days of the afflicted are evil Prov. 15. 15. And consequently this present world that hath so much pain or punishment in it must needs be evil in this respect And if here it should be asked Whether the latter days of this world shall not be better then the former and more free from pain and punishment My Answer should be I think they shall not because our Savior hath foretold us of many painful evils that shall happen towards the end of this world as of Wars and rumours of Mat. 24. 6 7 10 30. Wars of Famines Pestilences and Earthquakes in divers places of the rising of Nation against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom of the rising of parents against their children and children against their parents of hating and betraying one another and sheweth That at the very time of his second appearing all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn and doubtless they shall then mourn not only by reason of sin but also by reason of pain and punishment that shall be then upon them Wherefore I infer from what hath been said That this present world is evil and is likely to beget worse both in respect of sin and also in respect of pain or punishment Yet I find in some Books printed of late years Vse that some men have dreamed of a great change in this world before the end not for the worse but for the better they say That this old world in its latter age and towards its end shall grow better and be more free from sin and pain then ever it was for say they Upon the fall of Antichrist there shall be a National Conversion of the Jews and thereupon shall follow a great Conversion of the Gentiles and such a golden age for holiness and happiness as never hath been Yea some of them have said That there shall be a Reformation-change all the world over at least in Discipline before its end But I would tell such Dreamers Surely a deep sleep is fallen upon you you sleep in the day of spiritual light and not in the night of spiritual darkness as others do you are more swayed by the letter then by the proper sence and scope of those Scriptures which you bring for the proof of that phantastical New-World of which you speak you balk the New-Testament and hide your selves under the dark Prophecies of the Old whereas you should consider that Christ and his Apostles have so clearly interpreted the Prophets as touching the latter times and have so fully stated the evil and perillous condition of them that we need not appeal from them to the Prophets in this Argument And whereas in your printed pages you quote divers passages out of the 11 Chapter to the Romans as if they were pat and sure for your opinion I would tell you also That you much mistake the proper occasion and scope of that Chapter for you should know that the Apostle in the said Chapter doth speak of the Jews of his present time and not of a latter off-spring of them as may appear vers 5. and that the Jews of his then present time were some of them of Gods Election and others not vers 7. and that those of the Election were some of them converted and others were not vers 14. but as for such as were unconverted among them he was willing to convert and save them and had
come which shall be created instead of this that is into the new Heavens and the new Earth And so first he shall come into the new Heavens there to be made visible to the Inhabitants of this Earth that some of them viz. his friends may be caught up together in the Clouds to meet him in the ayr of the new Heaven 1 Thes 4. 17. and that others viz. his enemies may be afflicted and astonished to behold him Rev. 1. 7. And from thence he shall descend unto the new Earth there to reside and dwell for ever and all his Saints with him as it is written We look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein shall dwell Righteousness viz. the Lord our Righteousness with all his righteous Ones and nothing else but Righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. And as it is written again Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them Rev. 21. 3. Yea this dwelling of Christ and his Saints upon the new Earth was lively represented unto us at the time of his Transfiguration upon the Mount for then and there Christ himself with Moses and Elias appeared Mat. 17. in a humane shape and Peter said Master it is good for us to be here that is to reside or dwell here let us build three Tabernacles one for thee one for Moses and one for Elias By which Transfiguration we are plainly taught what shall be hereafter But here perhaps some will be ready to object and Object say It will be a dishonour to Christ and his Saints if they shall leave the third Heaven for to reside and dwell in the World to come or upon the new Earth This will be no dishonour at all unto them because Christ and his Saints shall be in some respects Answ more glorious in the World to come and upon the new Earth then now they are in the third Heaven as we may well conceive for these Reasons 1. Because the World to come will be more suitable and proportionable unto humane bodies and natures then the third Heaven now is 2. Because in the World to come Christ shall raign in his own personal Kingdom with all his Saints with him whereas now in the third Heaven he raigns as Mediator only in his Fathers personal Kingdom and with only some of his Saints with him 3. Because in the World to come all Christs Enemies shall be manifestly subdued unto him whereas now while he remains in the third Heaven we cannot see all things put under him Heb. 2 8. 4. Because in the World to come the Saints shall raign with Christ both in soul and body and that for ever whereas now in the third Heaven they raign with him onely in respect of Souls and that but for a time These things considered I am so far from thinking that it will be a dishonour to Christ and his Saints when they shall leave the third Heaven for to reside upon the new Earth that I rather think it will be an encrease or augmentation of honour and glory unto them Seventhly It informeth us touching the manner 7 Informat of his second Coming in the Flesh and sheweth that he shall come again in like manner as he went into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 1. 11. that is to say 1. As he ascended in a visible manner in the sight of many so he shall come again in a visible manner for they shall see the Son of man come in the Clouds Mat. 24. 30. And every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him Revel 1. 7. 2. As he ascended in a bodily manner and in his humane nature so he shall come again in a bodily manner and in his humane nature Mat. 24. 30. 3. As he ascended in a triumphant manner triumphing over Death Hell and the Grave so he shall come again in a triumphant manner triumphing over all his Enemies 4. As he ascended gloriously so he shall come again in the glory of his Father with power and great glory 5. As he ascended in a kingly manner with some good Angels attending on him so he shall come again in like manner with all his holy and mighty Angels attending on him 2 Thes 1. 7. Mat. 25. 31. 6. As his Ascention gave his Enemies great cause to lament and bewail their condition so his Coming again shall give them great cause so to do for then the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn Mat. 24. 30. And all the kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him Rev. 1. 7. 7. As his Ascention into Heaven gave his friends great cause to rejoyce because he went thither to prepare a place for them so his Coming again from thence shall give them great cause to rejoyce too because unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 9. 28. Eightly It informeth us touching the ends of 8 Informat his second Coming in the Flesh which ends may be thus expâ—essed 1. He shall come again from Heaven for to judg and raign in the World to come for it is said He shall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing and in his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. From whence I gather That Christ shall have a Kingdom in the World to come wherein he shall judg and raign So much also may be gathered from 1 Chron. 16. 31 33. And if so then he shall come again from Heaven for to judg and raign in the World to come Luk. 1. 33. Jude 15. 2 He shall come again from Heaven for to render unto every one according to his works as it is written Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Rev. 22. 12. From whence I gather That as Christ in the World to come shall render unto the good according to the good works which shall be found upon them not remembering their evil works and unto the wicked according to the evil works which shall be found upon them not regarding their seeming good works So he shall come again from Heaven for this end 3. He shall come again in flaming fire for to take vengeance on them which know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 8. viz. in case they shall not repent of these sins before their death 4. He shall come again from Heaven for to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. 5. He shall come again from Heaven for to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that beleeve 2 Thes 1. 10. viz. in the World to come All these Informations put together and all that Vse hath been here said touching the
second Coming of Christ in the Flesh should admonish all men to whom these tydings shall come 1. To beware of Atheism that they be not found Atheists in this point for they that are Atheists in this particular will scoff at this doctrine as it is said There shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the promise of his Coming 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. and it shall be evil for such at that day 2. To beware of ignorance and disobedience that we be not found wilfully ignorant of God and wilfully disobedient to the Gospel of Christ because at his second Coming he shall punish such as shall be found in the guilt of these sins with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his power 2 Thes 1. 9. 3. To beware of intemporance and excess in eating and drinking and the cares of this life Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares Luk. 21. 34. 4. To beware of security that we do not sleep as do others and promise our selves peace and safety in our sins because sudden destruction shall come upon such as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5. 3 6. 5. To beware of causeless contention and strife with our neighbors For if a servant shall say in his heart My Lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to beat the men-servants and maidens the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour when he is not aware and will cut him in sunder and will appoint him his portion with unbelievers Luke 12. 45 46. 6. To beware of all erroneous opinions about this Subject And seeing we have such clear Informations in the Word of God concerning it it will be dangerous for us to listen to any Informations contrary to these or to entertain any erroneous opinions in reference to this second Coming of Christ in the Flesh of which sort I have met with some created at this day As one saith There shall be a third Coming of Mr J. Arch Christ in the Flesh to which many Scriptures before quoted properly belong as he thinks and that his second Coming in the Flesh shall be only to raise the dead Saints and to set up his Kingdom upon this Earth and to establish it in the hands of all his dead and living Saints whereupon he shall withdraw himself into Heaven again until his third Coming at the end of the world whereas the Scripture speaks plainly but of two Comings of his in the Flesh and shews That as his first Coming in the Flesh was to take away sin so his second Coming shall be without sin unto Salvation Hebr. 9 28. Another saith That his second Coming in the Flesh is yet far off a thousand years off at least Another saith That his second Coming in the Flesh shall not be before there shall be a National Conversion of the Jews which shall occasion a more full Conversion of Gentiles Another saith That his second Coming in the Flesh shall be into this corrupt world Another saith That after his second Coming in the Flesh he shall return bodily into the third Heaven there to reside for ever and his Saints with him But I rescent these opinions as so many wild fansies or foperies such as have no footing at all in the Word of God And though I might here fill many pages with a large Confutation of them yet I forbear because I desire to furnish the Reader with more profitable matter and do think that by the light of the former Informations the judicious Reader may discern the darkness of these conceits Again That which hath been said touching the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh should exhort and perswade all men to whom these tydings shall come to these following duties 1. To be watchful against sin and Satan that we may keep a good Conscience in all things Sleep not as do others but watch and be sober 1 Thes 5. 6. Behold I come as a thief blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he be found naked and they see his shame Rev. 16. 15. 2. To beleeve his second Coming in the Flesh assuredly seeing we have no reason to doubt thereof and seeing they that beleeve not this are no better then Atheists and Christ shall come to be admired in them that beleeve 3. To look for that is to hope for this second Coming of his as we are taught to do both by precept 2 Pet. 3. 12. and by example Philip. 3. 20. 4. To love this second Coming of his seeing there shall be a Crown of Righteousness for such as love his Appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. 5. To pray for this second Coming of his that it may be hastened Rev. 22. 20. and that we may be accounted worthy to stand before him at that day Luk. 21. 36. 6. To be diligent whiles we live both in our general and particular Callings For blessed is that man whom the Lord when he cometh shall find sâ— doing Luk. 12. 43. SECT VI. Touching the last Resurrection AS the second Coming of Christ in the Flesh is one of the first things which shall be made visible in the World to come So the last Resurrection is another of them which shall be made visible too upon the same day with his second Coming if not at the same instant And touching this Subject also the Scripture informeth us of divers things As First It informeth us That the last Resurrection 1 Informat is to be distinguished from a spiritual Resurrection 1. Because all that have now a lively faith are partakers of a spiritual Resurrection in that they are quickened together with Christ and are risen together with him Ephes 2. 5 6. Col. 3. 1. according to his promise The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voyce of the Son of man and they that hear shall live Joh. 5. 25. whereas none of them are yet partakers of the last Resurrection 2. Because a spiritual Resurrection is all one with Regeneration being that Grace of God whereby men are quickened spiritually and so raised from the death of sin unto the life of Righteousness and translated from death unto life in a spiritual sense 1 Joh. 3. 14. but the last Resurrection shall not be all one with Regeneration 3. Because a spiritual Resurrection is called the first Resurrection and that properly Rev. 20. 5. 6. but the last Resurrection shall not be the first 4. Because this spiritual Resurrection is proper only unto such as are or shall be blessed and holy as it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection for upon such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ
because after the general Resurrection they shall both live for ever both in their Souls and bodies united and conjoyned and so shall both have everlasting life in a natural sence But here everlasting life is to be taken in a spiritual and mystical sence and so it shall be nothing else but an everlasting Conjunction with God and with Christ And so when I say That Gods Elect shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come my meaning is That they shall enjoy an everlasting Conjunction with God and with Christ or an everlasting Union and Communion with God and with Christ in the World to come By reason whereof it is said That they shall ever be with the Lord Christ 1 Thes 4. 17. They shall be with him Joh. 14. 13. They shall be with him where he is and shall see his glory Joh. 17. 24. and shall be perfect in one with the Father and the Son Joh. 17. 22. 23. And by vertue of this everlasting Conjunction with God and with Christ they shall still have experience of Gods goodness towards them in Christ and shall know that his goodness endureth for ever Psal 52. 1. By vertue of it they shall still have experience of Gods mercy towards them in Christ and shall know that his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136. and that his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him Psal 103. 17. By vertue of it they shall still have experience of Gods Love towards them in Christ shall perceive that neither things present nor things to come shall separate them from it Rom. 8. 38 39. And by vertue of it they shall still have experience of Gods favour and fellowship with them in Christ and shall know that Gods Tabernacle shall be with them and that he shall dwell with them and be their God for ever Rev. 21. 3. Which everlasting Conjunction of theirs with God and with Christ shall be unto them everlasting Life and that everlasting Life which is promised in the Scriptures And so we may understand the Nature of it Secondly Touching the Certainty of it I say That Gods Elect shall most certainly enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come As may be made good by these Arguments 1. They whose names are in the Book of Life shall have everlasting Life in the World to come But Gods Elect have and shall have all their names found in the Book of Life Phil. 4. 3. Revel 3. 5. Ergo. 2. They that are ordained unto eternal Life shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come But Gods Elect are all ordained unto eternal Life Act. 13. 48. Ergo. 3. They that shall have the gift of eternal Life shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come But Gods Elect shall have the gift of eternal Life as it is written The Father hath given Christ power over all flesh that he should give eternal Life to as many as the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 2. Ergo. 4. They that are Heirs of eternal Life shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come But Gods Elect are or shall be all Heirs of eternal Life Tit. 3. 7. Ergo. 5. They that are or shall be justified and accounted righteous before God through Christ shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come according to that of our Saviour The righteous shall go into everlasting Life Mat. 25. 46. But Gods Elect are or shall be all justified and accounted righteous before God through Christ Ergo. 6. They that are or shall be sanctified or made Partakers of renewed Holiness shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come as it is said Rom. 6. 22. But Gods Elect are or shall be all sanctified and made Partakers of renewed Holiness Ergo. 7. They that do or shall beleeve effectually in Gop and in Christ shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come as may appear John 3. 16. and 6. 40 47. 1 Tim. 1 16. But Gods Elect do or shall all beleeve effectually in God and in Christ Ergo. 8. They that do or shall repent unfeignedly shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come because unfeigned Repentance is called Repentance unto life Acts 11. 18. But Gods Elect do or shall all repent unfeignedly Ergo. 9. They that are or shall be constant in well-doing shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come as appears Rom. 2. 7. But Gods Elect are or shall be constant in well-doing Ergo. 10. They that are or shall be constant in graces received shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come as it is promised Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. But Gods Elect are or shall be thus constant or thus faithful Ergo. 11. They that do or shall in obedience to Gods Will suffer more or less for Christs sake or the Gospels sake shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come according to that of our Saviour There is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or â—ands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time and in the World to come eternal Life Mark 10. 30 But Gods Elect do or shall in obedience to Gods Will suffâ—r more or less for Christs sake and the Gospels Eâ—go 12. They that shall rise again at the latter day to everlasting Life shall enjoy everlasting Life in the World to come But Gods Elect shall rise again at the latter day to everlasting Life Dan. 12. 2. Ergo. Thirdly Touching the Causes of this everlasting Life I say 1. That the Efficient Cause of it shall be the whole Trinity God Father Son and Holy Ghost And to assure us hereof eternal Life is called the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. And S. John saith That God hath given unto us eternal Life 1 Joh. 5. 11. where the Name of God devotes not any particular person in the Godhead but the whole Trinity and so the whole Trinity is the Efficient Cause of everlasting Life 2. That the Impulsive or Moving Cause of it shall be the grace of God or his gracious Will For as sin hath raigned unto death so shall grave raign through righteousness unto eternal Life Rom. 5. 21. 3. The Meritorious Cause of it is and shall be only Christ For in him was life Joh. 1. 4. He that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 Ioh. 5. 12. They that shall raign in life shall raign by one Iesus Christ Rom. 5 17 21. And the Father hath given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given him Ioh. 17. 2. 4. The Final Cause of it shall be the glory of Gods mercy that he may glorifie his mercy upon his Elect He will give unto them eternal Life in the World to come Which Proposition thus cleared may be
cast-awayes cursed children children of the devill children of wrath and heirs of perdition They shall be lightly esteemed of on Christs part for he shall have the same esteem of them which his Father shall have in the world to come They shall be lightly esteemed of amongst the good Angells who have no good esteem of impenitent sinners in this world such as think they need no repentance Luk. 15. and if so we may wel think that they shall have a very light esteem of reprobates in the world to come They shall have a light esteem amongst evill Angells who have no great esteem of impenitent sinners in this world as may appear by that speech of Satan to those Conjurers Iesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye Acts 19. 15. and if so then we may vvell think that they shall have a very light esteem of Reprobates in the world to come They shall be lightly esteemed of amongst the Saints for the Saints in this world contemn a vile person Psal 15. 4. and if so then vve may vvell think that they shall have a very light esteem of Reprobates in the world to come They shall be lightly esteemed of amongst themselves for though wicked men may seem to honour one another in this vvorld very much in time of prosperity yet in time of distresse they seem to be regardlesse one of another as may appear by that speech of the chief Priests and Elders unto Judas vvhen he vvas distresse and said I have sinned in betraying the innocent blood for they said unto him what is that to us see thou to that Mat. 27. 4. and if vvicked men do no more regard one another here in time of distresse vve may vvell think that Reprobates shall have a very light esteem one of another in the world to come thus may we understand the nature of this their contempt Secondly touching the certainty of it I affirm that reprobates shall most certainly be contemned and despised in the world to come as may appear by these arguments 1. They that are vessells of dishonor shall be contemned and despised in the world to come but reprobates are vessells of dishonor for which cause they are compared unto such vessells of a potter as are made for dishonor Rom. 9. 21. and unto such vessels in a great house as are made for dishonor and contempt 2 Tim. 2. 20. Ergo. 2. They that will still despise and contemne God in this world shall be contemned and despised in the world to come as the Lord said Eli They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. but reprobates will still despise and contemn God in this world Ergo. They that shall have their names left for a curse in the world to come shall be contemned and despised in that world but reprobates shall have their names left for a curse to Gods chosen in that world Isai 65. 15. Ergo. 4. They that will still be wicked in this world shall be contemned and despised in the world to come according to that of Solomon When the wicked cometh then cometh contempt Prov. 18. 3. but reprobates will still be wicked in this world Ergo. 5. They that will still be proud and live under the dominion of this sin without repentance shall be contemned and despised in the world to come as the Prophet intimates when he saith God beholded the proud afar off Psal 138. 6. a sign of present future contempt but reprobates wil will still be proud and live under the dominion of this sin without repentance Ergo. 6. They that will still be of a perverse heart in this world shall be contemned and despised in the world to come according to that of Solomon He that is of a perverse heart shall be despised Pro. 12. 8. viz. not only in this world but also in the world to come if he continue such an one Now reprobates will still be of a perverse heart in this world Ergo. 7. They that shall rise again to contempt at the generall Resurrection shall be contemned and despised in the world to come but reprobates shall rise again to contempt at the generall Resurrection Ergo. 8. They that shall be put to everlasting reproach in the world to come shall be contemned and despised in that world but reprobates shall be put to everlasting reproach in that world Jer. 23. 40. Ergo. Now this latter Proposition doth not only Vse confirm what hath been formerly said viz. that it had been good for reprobates if they had never been born and that it will be worse with them in the world to come then it can be with them in this even in respect of contempt but also it makes for the reproof of all wicked impenitent sinners at this day who for the present are contemners and despisers of God Psal 10. 13. contemners and despisers of his counsell Psal 107. 11. contemners and despisers of his word Prov. 13. 13. contemners and despisers of his reproof Prov. 1. 30. contemners despisers of good men 2 Tim. 3. 3. contemners and despisers of Gods judgments Ezek. 20. 13. contemners and despisers of his Ministers and messengers sent unto them Luk. 10. 16. and in all this contemners and despisers of God himself as it is written he that despiseth despiseth not man but God 1 Thes 4. 8. and what think we shall be the reward of such persons in the world to come doubtlesse unlesse they repent effectually of this sinne before their death they shall be contemned and despised in the world to come as the Lord hath said They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. Wherefore it concerns such contemners to repent speedily of their sin and to live for the time to come as becometh good Christians and then they shall not be despised but honoured in the world to come that is to say 1. They should be of broken and contrite hearts then shall they not be despised but honoured in the world to come A broken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal 51. 17. 2. They should know God effectually then they shall not be despised but honoured in the World to come Psal 91. 14. 3. They should feare God effectually then they shall not be despised but honoured in that world Prov. 22. 4. 4. They should humble themselves effectually before God then they shall not be despised but honoured in that world Prov. 15. 33. 5. They should be willing to do Gods will then they shall not be despised but honoured in that world Rom. 2. 10. 6. They should be willing to suffer any earthly evill for Gods sake then they shall not be despised but honoured in that world for the Lord despiseth not his prisoners Psal 69. 33. SECT XV. Touching the liberty of Gods Elect and the bondage of Reprobates in the world to come HEre followeth a fifth speciall difference which shall be betwixt the parties before-named in the world to come