our selves or others at any of those great and deep things of God contained in the testimony of Christ according to that Pro. 26. 4 5. Answer not a Fool according to his folly least thou also become like unto him Answer a Fool according to his folly least he be wise in his own conceite 1 Not to seek to answer them in their own way or so as we become like unto them in the use of such carnall weapons for confirming the truth as they use against it for that grants the way good that indeed is evill of measuring the truth of God by mans Imagination or endeavouring to bring it down to the comprehension of his blind and corrupted reason nor hath that any promise of Gods presence with it for reproving and convincing yea whatever faith is that way produced rests but in the wisdome and strength of man therefore the Apostles avoyded it 1 Cor. 1. 17 18 c. 2. tot 2 Cor. 10. 3 4. But 2. So to answer them with his words and in his way as the folly and vanity of their way of reasoning in which they desire by their carnall wisdome to finde out comprehend and be satisfied about the things of God in Christ may appear by opposing to them the greatnesse of God and the unsearchablenesse of his works and ways past finding out as well in that which he hath already done in the person of Christ as also in that which he doth in his dayly dispensations and providences And in that which he will doe and bring forth by him of which he hath given assurance in what he hath already done in all which his judgments are unsearchable He raiseth the dead why then should it be thought incredible that he should doe whatever he saith he doth or promiseth he will do though we cannot comprehend how such a thing should be If when God saith that he so teacheth man knowledge that that which may be known of God is manifest in them even in them that had not the records of the Scriptures among them yea in their hearts that liked not to retain it there And that his goodnesse doth lead those men to repentance that yet harden their hearts and are not led by it If then any reply against God and say how can this thing be this seemes absurd or will not stand with such traditions or apprehensions of God which we have taken up from our Fathers or with our reason seek not then to satisfie his reason in that way it desires satisfaction or to bring the great things of God down to it but to the Law to the Testimony what is written how readest thou and if God say it its meet for us to believe it for with him no word or work is unpossible no not to raise the dead and let that stop the mouth of further inquiry how such a thing can be as the Apostle when he would demonstrate that that which may be known of God is manifest in them he useth this onely as a sufficient demonstration that God hath showed it unto them Rom. 1. 19 20. For who teacheth like him or who hath enjoyned him his way c. Job 36. 22. 23-26 who then art thou oh vain man that replyest against God that raiseth the Dead We come now to the Doctrine mainly contained and spoken too in the text to wit the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead and of eternall judgment by Christ In this Declaration of it by our Saviour we have set before us 1 What the Resurrection and Judgment spoken of is As to the subject of it that is to be raised and judged 2 The time of it 3 Some intimation of the order of it 4 The meanes or power by which it shall be effected 5 The different state of Persons in the Resurrection or ends to which they shall be raised 1 What the Resurrection and Judgment spoken of is As to the subject of it This is clearly intimated and fully expressed to be the quickening or raising up of the dead Bodies of men after death hath fully ceized on them a raising them up in a sensible being and capable of partaking off and possessing everlasting glory or everlasting shame and horror And so the making alive the dead Bodies of men by Christ in an answerable sence to that dying or death that passeth on them all by the one man Adam as 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. A totall redeeming them from the first death and the grave And bringing them forth in soul and body reunited to their eternall judgment 1 This is clearly intimated in his saying marvell not at this namely at his former declaration of the present power and efficacy of his voyce or word on the spirits of men while in this body making those dead in sins and trespasses to hear and spiritually quickening and making alive such as in hearing hear and then adding as a reason why they should not marvell at that this further Declaration of the mighty power of his voyce as it shall be after manifested in raising and bringing forth all that are in the Graves which being added as a farther declaration of the mighty power of and in it to take them off from their sinfull marvelling at the former signifies that the Resurrection and bringing forth of the Graves here spoken of as the efficacy of his voyce is not the same efficacy of it with that forementioned But another thing distinct from it yea a greater and more wonderfull efficacy of the same voyce of the son of man And is as much as to say Marvell not that I said unto you that those dead in sins and trespasses shall hear the voyce of the Son of God And they that hear in that hearing given them shall have their spirits quickened and made alive for righteousnesse sake while yet the body is dead because of sin for loe a greater and more marveilous work then this shall be effected by it even all that are in the Graves shall hear it and shall come forth some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of damnation so that in this our Saviour signifies the resurrection of the dead or bringing them forth of their Graves to Judgment to be another work and distinct from the work of spirituall vivification yea a greater and more wonderfull work then any work that is now working or wrought by his voyce on the spirits of men while yet the body is dead in the first death or that reignes on it as the fruit of sin which distinct and greater work can be no other but the quickening or raising up of the mortall body yea the totall redemption from the first death for those spirituall quickening efficacies of his word on mens spirits now are expresly mentioned in the foregoing verses as greater works then those of healing any bodily Infirmities verses 20 21 25. yea those are the greater works that our Saviour promises they that believe on him should do
because he went to his Father Joh. 14. 12. with Act. 26. 18. Greater works then those visible and sencible demonstrations of his power which they saw made by him on mens bodies amongst which also was his raising Lâzarus though that more singular and as a discovery of his mighty power for raising the dead as it should be more gloriously manifested in due time yet that was not a totall Redemption from death and the power of the grave and therefore might be rockoned among those works that are inferiour to the making alive the spirit for righteousnesse sake while yet the body is dead because of sin if then the quickening and saving operations of his word on the spirits of men now be greater then any of these works forementioned and yet the efficacy of the same voyce spoken of in the text as to come be another and distinct work and greater then that as t is clearly signified to be It s evident from thence it can be no Iesse nor other then that resurrection of the dead bodies of men in which they shall be wholly redeemed from the first death and from the power of the Grave And so the Apostle Paul speaking of the first Resurrection which is more properly then the other called a quickening of the mortall body or raising it unto life mentions it as another distinct and following work And such only as is greater then the making the spirit alive now while yet the body is dead Rom. 8. 10 11. And if Christ be in you the body is dead that is it is yet so because of sin though Christ be in you but the spirit is made alive for righteousnesse sake But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall body or raise up that also in a state of life and unto life by the same spirit that now dwels in you quickening your spirit Yea our Saviour also otherwhere speakes of the generall resurrection at the last day as another distinct work and greater then any spirituall efficacy of his voyce or word now in drawing men or strengthening and quickening the commers which yet also are there signified to be so great and of such a nature that nothing short of that his raising them up at the last day is greater see Joh. 6. 40 44. The Father hath sent him now in the light and power of his word or doctrine to draw men to him that otherwise could not come And to give eternall life through his name to all comers even in the knowledge and faith of it in him and in some first fruits of spirituall enjoyment and in the hope of the harvest To each of these he addes and I will raise him up at the last day signifying nothing short of that is greater then these and clearly mentioning that as another work and greater then any of these which yet also he saith he will do both unto those that come in his drawings to see and believe on him and to those also that break his bands asunder and will not come to him for life And then shall be fulfilled that which is written all that the Father hath given him shall come to him even those that now will not come in his drawings see verse 37 39. with Isa 45. 23 24. Psal 2. 7 8 9. And so in this place The resurrection of the dead is distinguished from and mentioned as a far greater work then any spirituall efficacy of his word or voyce on Mens spirits now And therein signified to be a mighty and wonderfull efficacy of the same voyce on their dead bodies that sleep in the dust of the Earth even such as in which they shall be wholly redâ—emed from the first death and from the power of the Grave Yea 2 So much is plain and full in the expressions 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them 2 It s said to be such as in which all that are in the Graves shall come forth 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them both some to life and others to damnation now there is no work in Scripture called the resurrection of the dead But that in which the whole man is wholly redeemed ouâ— and brought forth of the first death that came in and passed on all men at first by sin nor can be properly so called no not that quickening of the spirit that is now effected in hearing the voyce of the Son of God by what meanes soever preached though that as we have shewed already in respect of the nature and greatnesse of it is the neerest to this yet that is but such a quickening or making alive of the spirit in part or in a first fruites as may and doth stand together with their body being still dead as the fruit of sin Rom. 8. 10 23. yea of those of whom the Apostle supposes they were risen with Christ yet he affirmes of them that they were still dead and their life hid with Christ in God And when he who is our life shall appear then not before shall they also appear with him in glory Coll. 3. 1-5 And of himselfe the same Apostle plainly affirmes that he had not yet attained the resurrection of the dead but was pressing on to it ayming at it even at the first resurrection in which is such blessednesse yet so as looking for it both after the changing this vile body and at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven when he shall bring with him all that sleep in Jesus and not before see Phill. 3. 11-14 20 21. True it is In that gracious or spirituall work in which the spirit is quickened or made alive for righteousnesse sake now through the beliefe of the truth as it is in Jesus Therein also the Believer is said to be risen with Christ Coll. 3. 1. with ch 2. 12. But that is explicated to be not in or by a like act wrought upon our Persons as was wrought upon his when he was raised from the dead But through faith of the operation of God and so effected in the doctrinall and spirituall baptisme as also they are said in the same baptisme in a like sence to be buried with him He is the Person that was dead and buried and was raised again for us and with reference to that his personall buryall and resurrection the Apostle speakes there as also in Rom. 6. 3 4 8 11. shewing that in the spirituall washing of that doctrine of his death and resurrection we are through faith washed from the errors and polutions of the World into the acknowledgment grace and consolation of that his death and resurrection And so in that Baptisme or washing of the spirit which is in the beliefe of the truth we are taught and strengthened to reckon our selves dead and buried in his death and buriall there dead indeed unto sin and so risen with him through
his righteousnesse for the remission of sins that are past And that he might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus where is boasting then it is excluded By what Law of works Nay but by the Law of faith And hence the Apostle concludes the forementioned Doctrine of Justification and so being made the righteousnesse of God in Christ by faith without the deeds of the Law suitable also to that Rom. 5. 17 18 19. Gall. 3. 13 14. As also 3 Concerning that wonderfull manifestation of Gods graciousnesse to manward and having no pleasure at all in the death of any sinner no not in the death of wicked and rebellious Backsliders while yet it is to day and of the plenteousnesse of redemption even the forgivenesse of sins with him in Christ that he may yet be feared and hoped in by such And of the everlasting goodnesse excellency and certainty of this ground and way of believing in Christ for all and so of seeking righteousnesse and strength in the Lord so as by faith in him I say concerning that wonderfull manifestation of all this that is in Gods riches of compassion shewed in for bearing and suffering long with such froward and rebellious Backsliders and in his using such manifold and various meanes for the seeking up the lost and Wanderers by Christ And in his infinite readinesse as with great desire and joy to receive such on their turning to him in the light and power of his reproofes which are alwayes still with discoveries of his goodnesse melting and turning the soul to him His not upbraiding such with their weaknesse dullnesse brokennesse and imperfection in their turning or looking again to him not breaking the bruised reed nor quenching the smoaking flax nor remembring their former unprofitablenesse backslidings and iniquities against them But graciously healing them loving them freely and casting all their sins into the depth of the Sea not of works but of the grace of him that calleth even of his grace to man-ward and for that love wherewith he loved them while dead in sins and trespasses and walking after the course of this World That in them he might shew a pattern of the exceeding riches of his grace in Christ to others even in Ages to come according to those Scriptures Math. 18. 11. 14. Luk. 15. tot Isa 42. 1-6 18-21 chap. 50. tot Jer. 3. 1. 12 14. 4. 1 2. Hose 14. Mich. 7. 18 19 20. Eph. 2. 1 4. 5-7 c. And that this rightly known believed with the heart and believingly minded would make us willing to confesse our sins and acknowledge our aptnesse to wander our readinesse to halt our manifold iniquities and backslidings from him that hath called us into the grace of Christ yea particularly to take shame to our selves in confessing wherein soever any of us have exceeded and perverted that which was right and acknowledging how unprofitable shamefull and destructive such wayes are and have been to us and further might have been even to the losse of our soules for ever had not his tender mercies and compassions in Christ to sinners been infinite as Psal 38. 15 16 17 18. Jer. 3. 12 13. Job 33. 27. yea also that while yet through the riches of his compassion and the infinite and everlasting vertue and power of the sacrifice and mediation of Christ with the Father for us a Door is held open for our turning to him opportunity given and his goodnesse with it melting and moving to repentance if yet we resuse to return and go on still in our trespasses wickedly departing from him by an evill heart of unbeliefe hide our sins and will not be healed or after so many deliverances sin again we shall not prosper But so going on falling away till the opportunity be past shall make it impossible to our selves to be renewed again by repentance and make our drawings back in the finishing of them compleatly to our own perdition and so aggravate our everlasting condemnation by the manifold mercies bestowed and so oft renewed against which we have sinned and hardened our selves to the utmost Nor is there any harm in such apprehensions and acknowledgments of our own aptnesse to wander readinesse to halt And of the perniciousnesse and danger of willfullnesse in wandering and refusing to be healed to be ever with us While Gods love and faithfullnesse in Christ the plenteous redemption forgivenesse of sins and healing with him The riches of his compassion and tender mercy in Christ for recalling and on their turning receiving pardoning and healing greatest Back-sliders while it is yet to day is with it known and believingly minded by us But much profit is administred by these apprehensions together retained even gracious admonition with encouragement to turn to him from whom we have deeply revolted seeing yet there is such mercy with him and plenteous redemption that he may yet be feared and hoped in by such as Psal 130. These then being the Instructions which she desired should be opened to the people we shall speak some thing farther to them in the explication of the point under consideration And first to the first part of it who they are that have done good Here conder 1 What that is which by the wisedome of God is called mens doing good 2 When is the time or opportunity for doing it 3 When in a Scripture sence any are said to have done it 1 That which is by the wisedome of God accounted and here called Mens doing good is explicated in the former verses to be Mens honouring the Son and so there honouring the Father in him vers 23. with 1 Joh. 2. 23. And that in hearing the word or voyce of the Son the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ in that hearing given them in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power that is in the declarations of that his word or voyce vouchsafed them so as by it and according to it to believe on him that sent him see vers 24 25. with 1 Joh. 2. 24 25. 5. 9 10 11 12 13. Joh. 1. 12. And to this we have the generall consent of all Scripture For of all Adam's naturall posterity there is none righteous or that doth good in any light wisedome strength or works of their own By the deeds of the Law shall no man be justifyed in the sight of God for by the Law is the knowledge or discovery of sin in their best as well as in their worst works They therefore only are accounted doers or workers of good to whom God imputes righteousnesse without works And that is To him that worketh not That seekes not to attaine righteousnesse by the works of the Law or in his own wisedome and strength by which no man shall prevaile But ceasing from his own works believeth on him that justifyeth the ungodly he believes for righteousnesse or seeks righteousnesse by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law as Rom. 9. 30. 32. and
the fruit of his perfect righteousnesse compleated in his resurrection and giving himselfe to God in that his raised body an offering of a sweet smelling savour A ransome or price of redemption for all I say as the fruit of that and of Gods well-pleasednesse therein To be now appearing in the presence of God The Mediator between God and men That so he might be testified in due time The propitiation not only for the sins of Believers who have him also as their advocate with the Father even for those their sins that might have been prevented by the grace and power in the things written and testified of Christ to them But also for the sins of the World even for their sins of that nature that were against the light and power of the grace of God bringing salvation to them And so in this fruit of his resurrection To be the Saviour of all men in still holding open the dore of life and exercising forbearance and long-suffering to rebellious sinners and renewing streames of goodnesse leading to repentance and especially the Saviour of them that believe in justifying and saving from wrath even the wrath to come 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. Rom. 3. 24 25 26. 1 Tim. 4. 10. Rom. 5. 9 10. Joh. 5. 24. Yea the Apostle saith he had delivered them from the wrath to come that is from the sentence of it and state of condemnation to it under which they sometimes were by their sins of the second sort their seeing and hateing hearing and rejecting loving darknesse when light came which only make lyable to that condemnation as Joh. 3. 18. 19. 36. 12. 47 48. And mentions this as the fruit of Gods having raised him up from the dead 1 Thess 1. 10. God having raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences In him is plenteous redemption the forgivenesse of sins even deliverance from the wrath to come forgivenesse of all our sins healing of all our Diseases while it is to day And by him all that believe are delivered and saved from the wrath to come through his name This is the record that God hath given of his Son which also is contained in that expression of it 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. And so the revelation of the Fathers name that is in this testimony of Christ is that God is light and in him is no darknesse at all 1 Joh. 1. 5. Or as here expressed in this Rom. 4. 5. That he justifieth the ungodly That it is his good pleasure And the work of his delight to justifie the ungodly That he hath found out and made a way to declare his righteousnesse in justifying the ungodly That in and through that way he is the justifier of the ungodly according to the tenour of the Gospell in that which he hath done doth and will doe in and through the resurrection of Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification The ungodly as mentioned in Scripture are of two sorts 1. All such as are wholly without the true knowledge and fear of God And so all men were made ungodly by the first sin and in the losse and pollution thence overspreading the whole nature And were considered as such when Christ undertook to dye for them and are still such naturally even as a naturall Heritage and of themselves have no betternesse Rom. 3. 9-19 23. And so 't is said Christ in due time dyed for the ungodly Rom. 5. 6. 2. Such as not only are simple and wholly destitute of the knowledge and fear of God as all are naturally But when light comes do still love their simplicity and darknesse and in disobedience to the light and power of the grace of God bringing salvation do reject and hate his knowledge and will not chuse the fear of the Lord as Prov. 1. 22. 29. Such are principally and most frequently called the ungodly in the Scripture as Psal 1. Ungodly men are there mentioned as such as are stubbornly consulting and murmuring against the Law or Doctrine of the Lord as also Psal 2. 1-3 with Joh. 6. 41-44 yea scornfully despiseing and rejecting the reproofes of its instruction And therefore having no delight in it as ler. 6. 10. so Iude. 4. Ungodly men turning the grace of our God into laseiviousnesse and denying the only Lord c. Now it is the good perfect and acceptable will of God in Christ that through him all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth For God is one He is light and in Him is no darknesse at all and there is one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himselfe a ransome for all to be testified in due time yea in and through him God is the justifier and Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1. In him and in raiseing him from the dead he hath justified the whole nature from that judgment of the World under which it was fallen by that sin and sinfullnesse or ungodlinesse of the first sort in which we had already sinned and were fallen short of his glory Rom. 3. 23 24. That judgment he hath remitted unto Christ and given or released us all from under it unto him Joh. 12. 31 32. with ch 6. 37. 39. And so saved all mankind from perishing in that death or curse of the Law that through him they might be saved to the utmost from sin and wrath 2. Through the resurrection of Christ and as the fruit of that justification and redemption in him and by him obtained for us God doth in all his providences and proceedings with men in a sence justifie the ungodly from the guilt of that naturall ungodlinesse from which they are already justified in the person of Christ In that the judgeth no man immediatly or according to that rule of judgment under which they are cast by their naturall filthinesse but hath committed all judgment to the Son and by him executeth judgment because he is the Son of man in which execution of judgment by Christ though men still bear the Image of the earthly yet without that wrath poyson and destructivenesse that is the just wages of our sin and contained in the curse of the Law and with so much abatement of misery and mixture of mercy as tends to our salvation through him Now though God had already wholly remitted the judgment of this World unto Christ And in his person as standing in our stead acquit and justified the whole nature from that first guilt yet for as much as the fruit or streaming forth of this justification comes upon our particular persons in our severall Ages in the daily execution of his judgment by Christ And for as much also as Christ doth nothing but what he seeth the Father doe and in the name of the Father even therefore therein God is truly said to be doing that daily in
up in the blessing Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from hence forth yea saith the spirit c. He that endureth to the end shall be saved Be thou faithfull unto death saith Christ and I will give thee the crowne of life Math. 24. 13. Rev. 2. 10. So James affirming the blessedness of the man that endureth temptation saith That when he is tryed namely to the end when that work of trying purging and making white through manifold temptations is finished he shall receive the crown of life Jam. 1. 12. Many that have been going right on their way yea runing wel suffered many things yet afterward wickedly drawing back and departing from the living God by an evill heart of unbeliefe have not been found among the righteous nor shall be found among them when he appeareth they so persisting till sin be finished Therefore let us not be weary of well doing In due season we shall reap if we faint not Thus we have done with the first branch of the point under consideration namely who they are that have done good And what we have said in it leads into the understanding of the next branch namely who they are that in a like scripture-sence according to the rule of the Gospell have done evill To that therefore we shall ad but a few words The doing evill that is imputed to men and which brings under condemnation the wrath of God is clearly expressed according to what is also shewed before to be mens being contentious against and not obeying the truth when it is manifested to them in their minds by the evidencâ— demonstration of the spirit and powerfully leading to repentance They then like not to retain it in their knowledge or so to receive the love of the truth as to save them but are incensed against Christ and his gospell because he reprooves their deeds by the light and power of it Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. with ch 1. 18 19 21 28. 2. 1-4 5. 2 Thess 1. 8. 2. 10 11 12. Isa 45. 24. Their willfull refusing to come in his drawings to â—imselfe for he is drawing all in due time even to himselfe for life And this is the condemnation that when light comes men love and chuse darkness Hose 11. Job 6. 47 with ch 12 31. 32. Psal 2. Joh. 12. 47. 48. 25. 22. 24. nor is any man under a state of condemnation or wrath but for such seeing hateing hearing and rejecting for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son And so the time of their doing evill in this sence is in the very opportunity given them for doing good even when light comes when he is preaching peace and witnessing goodness to their spirits when his goodness is leading and drawing to repentance even when and as they are so called to the most high they goe back and willfully refuse to exalt or honour him in those discovery â—s and operations of his goodnesse and glory in and through him vouchsafed Hose 11. 1 Pet. 3. 19. Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 2 4 5. If light had not so come to them or he had not so spoken to them they had not known or been capable of sins of this nature as now charged upon them But yet mens evill or in quities of this nature though they are truly said to be Doers and workers of it while they continue in it yet are not in a full and proper sence said to be done or finished nor so reputed of God While yet the day of salvation lasteth to any man that is while God is yet calling his grace bringing salvation to them If yet they repent and seek him none of their former wickednesse shall be remembred to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope but when sin is finished it brings forth death In an utter separation of the person from Gods mercy and binding him over and sealing him up to the wrath to come They that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation 2. The next and last point to be considered in this last position propounded is where in the manifest difference that shall be made between them in the resurrection standeth or how it shall be made and made to appear in the coming forth of the one by the power of his voyce to the resurrection of life of the other by the power of the same voyce to the resurrection of damnation there is a reall difference between the doers of good and the doers of evill now in this day before either of them have finished their course And a very great one too see 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 20. The whole world lies in wickednesse even in the wicked one for while they willfully remaine in the state and condition or in the darknesse of this world in ignorance of God in Christ strangers to the life of God loveing and chusing their darknesse when light comes they consequently remaine under the Power Bondage and Dominion of Satan holding in captivity to sin the mind conscience and whole man So that they are in their uncleannesse and not washed from it in the flesh and under the wrath of God for not believing on him that came to save and deliver them is bringing that salvation to them through the power and in the grace of his truth But saith the Apostle speaking of themselves and other Believers or doers of truth God hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true namely as the fruit of the knowledge of him we are brought into him to have our hearts and mindes stayed there as a full object and foundation of rest and satisfaction to our soules a sure refuge and house of defence to save us from sin and Satan and hide us from the wrath of God we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ and so in God This is the true God this is eternall life Babes keep your selves from Idols They in whom the word of truth the things heard from the begining in the word of the truth of the Gospell remaines or abideth do continue in the Son and in the Father 1 Ioh. 2. 24 25. As the fruit of which knowledge of and union with God in Christ The righteous is more excellent or abundant then his neighbour But the way of the wicked seduceth them Prov. 12. 26. But this difference is not yet manifest or visible as to outward appearance or to be seen by the carnall mind nor otherwise then as faith is the evidence of things not seen while Christ doth not yet appear personally in his glory on the Earth and in his spirituall presence in through and according to the Gospell is hidden not discerned known or taken notice of by the World But under reproach his people also are in lâ—ke manner a hidden people and rendered as the filth and off-scouring of all things unto this day As he
according to the severall degrees of their indignities and evill works of this nature For we know him that hath said vengeance belongs to me and I will repay And againe the Lord shall judge his people in that judgement of eternall damnation he will remember and recompense on the heads of evill doers all the injuries reproaches hard speeches and unlawfull deeds which ungodly sinners have spoken and done against them for his name-sake as Math. 25. 43-46 Yea every idle word and rebellious practise with every secret thing as it hath been commited against the light and power of his grace bringing salvation and moving to repentance shall then be remembred and put on their account together with the many opportunities of mercy put into their hands with seasonable warnings and the manifold patience and long suffering of God towards them And how and for what lying vanities all have been willfully and wickedly rejected by them and their hearts more fully set in them to do evill And none of their former righteousnesse or good workes that they have done shall ever be remembred for them But in the sin which they have done and finished they shall be for ever separated into that fire of the wrath of God that shall never be quenched where their worme dyeth not and their fire is not quenched It will be a most fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the liveing God under that judgement for he that made them will have no mercy on them he that formed them will shew them no favour repentance shall be hid from his eyes yea who knoweth the power of his anger of that wrath to come it shall be according to his greatnesse and terriblenesse and answerable to the infinitenesse of his grace towards sinners now that he might be feared yea answerable to the exceeding riches and glory of the hope of his called Heb. 10. 26-31 Math. 12. 36 18. 34. Eccles 12. 14. Rom. 2. 16 14. 9-12 Ezek. 33. 13 Iude 14. 15. Yea that which will be a great felicity to the one and misery to the other in which also the righteous judgement of God shall wonderfull be manifest is this The righteous shall in all this see their desire on their enemies yea he shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance and the snfoake of their torment ascending up for ever and for ever and that they have no rest day nor night Psal 112. 8. 58. 10 11 Revel 14. 10. 11. with ch 19 2. 3. For they shall then have no more pitty or bowels of mercy and compassion towards these as sometimes they had while the compassions of God was towards them now to have pitty or compassion towards them would be a misery seeing there is no more in God towards them and so no hope for them but this shall be part of their glory and song Righteous art thou oh Lord that hast judged thus Likewise also the wicked shall see their horn exalted with honour and shall be greived and gnash his toeth in the perfect remembrance of the many fair oportunities he hath rejected once and many a time graciously put in his hand for escapeing that place of torment and for being made meete to partake of the inheritance with the Saints in light Psal 112. 10. Let all be of this use to us 1. To instruct us not to mourn immoderately as those that have no hope concerning them that are asleep for if we beleive that Jesus dyed and rose even so them also which sleepe in Jesus God shall bring with him 1 Thesse 4. 13. 14. c. 2. To encourage to patient continuance in well doing and to be stedfast and unmoveable therein allways abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that ouâ— labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. In due season we shall reap if we â—aint not Ro. 2. 6. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 9. 3. To exhort all to eschew evill depart from it in the light and power of Gods grace leading to repentance and doe good while they have oportunity and it is in power of their hand to doe Be not only hearers of the word of God but doers of it in what it is working in you both to will and to doe of good pleasure let us not deceive our own soules For what a man soweth that shall he also reap he that soweth to his flesh shall of it reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of it reap life everlasting for the son man shall come in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels and then shall reward every man according to his works then it will appear an unvalluable losse if a man shall gain the whole world and loose his soule Psal 34 14. 37. 27. Iam. 1. 19-25 Gall. 6. 7 8. 4. To admonish evill doers to awake to righteousnesse to stand in aw and not to sin against him who is yet waiting to be gracious for he is a God of judgement If sin be once finished it brings forth death in an utter separation to the wrath to come and to him belongs vengeance and he will repay Nor will there be any oportunity in the grave or after for escaping that righteous judgment on them that know not God nor obey his Gospell Wherefore the holy Ghost saith to day while it s called to day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts for behold the great day of the Lord is coming that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud and evill doers shall be as stubble They shall then be made to heare to their everlasting woe and horror The same voyce that now they rejected when it might have been to their everlasting comfort For the houre is comeing in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voyce of the son of man and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation FINIS