salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth observe it Sanctification and Salvation have an inseparable Connexion Saints in the Old Testament and in the New have the same spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 This animates all the Members of Christ running through the Veins of his mystical Body 2 Cor. 1.22 and this is the seal and earnest of our future inheritance Eph. 1.13 14. To be sure God will not lose his Earnest or throw it to Hell 4. Saints shall be gathered together to Christ because they are all wrapt in the same Bond of the Everlasting Covenant it s called the bond of the covenant Ezek. 20.37 And by this Covenant all the Saints become one stick in the Lords hand Ezek. 37.17 Suppose abundance of Twigs be bound up together yet they all make up but one Rod many Stones make but one building many Inhabitants make but one City or Kingdom All Saints are fellow citizens Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. God will not part them either in this or in the other World Sincere and persevering Souls shall all meet before the Throne to sing Hallelujahs with harmonious Melody All the Saints through the World are Children of the same Father God yea they that are of faith are children of Abraham Gal. 3.7 In a Spiritual Sense one houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 fellow heirs of the same body Eph. 3.6 fellow servants Col. 1.7 brethren in Christ faithful brethren Col. 1.2 fellow citizens with the Saints Eph. 2.19 and of the houshold of God Such special Relation calls for this Congregating No doubt they must be gathered together at last CHAP. VII Inferences from this Doctrine of Saints being gathered together THE Improvement I shall make of this Point shall be 1st for Doctrine or information of our Minds and Judgments in these Ten Inferences and Consectaries 1. That God is Omniscent and Omnipotent known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Acts 15.18 He is infinite in Knowledge and Wisdom that takes account of the meanest Creatures and he is of infinite Power to gather them up these are the Lord's People and his Inheritance which he hath brought out by his mighty power and stretched out arm Deut 9.29 As God brought his Israel out of Egypt so he laid out the same Power in bringing them into Canaan so the same Power that converted Sinners will also save them for they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 2. That Jesus Christ is a compleat Saviour He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every way to all intents and purposes Soul and Body in all cases difficulties conditions in all Dispensations Yet it hath a further meaning He is able to save totally finally perfectly and perpetually so as none shall need to come after him to finish what he hath begun yet further He saves so as he shall never cease to be a Saviour to all Eternity For though he finished his suffering Work on Earth and his crowning Work at the great Day of Judgment yet the God-injoying Work shall be by him through the Ages of Eternity as he shall be lookt on as the Authour so he will be the Object of their Happiness and embrace them in the Arms of his Love for evermore 3. That Death is not terrible to a gracious Person It s true to Nature it may well be called the king of terrours Job 18.14 it is a dissolving of this compound Man but it is the shell and cloathing of the Soul that 's laid by an Elementary composition that 's dissolved the Soul is thereby set at liberty and takes its flight into another World a World of Spirits A better State then here Death is but a bridge a portal that opens the Door to Heaven Christ hath unstung Death perfumed the Grave and made it a means of Manumission into the blessed Society of God Angels and Saints thousands better then we are gone who are we to be exempted It s no untrodden Path our best Friends are above let us not be afraid to follow them 4. That Heaven is a capacious place all the Saints in the Old Testament are gone thither and Millions in New-Testament days are mounted to Glory an hundred forty four thousand of all the Tribes of Israel and a great multitude which no man could number Rev. 7.49 Moses and Elias came from Heaven at Christ's Transfiguration Abraham in glory and all his spiritual Off-spring which makes a vast number yet there 's room enough left in those extracted Mansions above How small a point is this habitable World compared with Heaven where there is innumerable company of Angels and spirits of just Men made perfect Heb. 12.22 Yet none refused or kept out that are written in the lambs book of life Heaven is capable of entertaining all the Son 's of God it is a this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 universal Receptacle for all Pilgrims and Strangers here on the Earth Heb. 11.13 5. No unclean thing shall enter Heaven Nothing that defileth no Dogs shall tread on that golden Pavement Rev. 21.27 Chap. 22.15 without are dogs as large as it is wicked graceless Sinners shall not creep or croud into it our Lord keeps the Keys of Paradice in his own Hands he cannot be guilty of an over sight for his Eyes are like a flame of fire Rev. 2.18 none can give him the slip undiscrepâ—bly he knows them that are his and he disowns others For without holiness no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Grace and Glory go hand in hand unconverted Sinners can no sooner enter Heaven continuing so then Devils or damned Souls Persons must be gathered by Conversion or not gathered by Salvation 6. Saints glorified shall retain their Intellection and some kind of Sensation as they shall intuitively see God know as they are known Mat. 5.8 1 Cor. 13 12. discern spiritual Mysteries more clearly then ever So they shall have some kind of sense and feeling from whence come Love Joy Delight for the Soul wants not the exercise of its essential Faculties for want of bodily Organs These opperations of the Soul in Flesh are but imperfect shadows of that Intellection and volition above and so of that excellent Sense and Affections of Love and Joy which we now cannot clearly conceive of here below See this fully in Mr. Baxter's Dying Thoughts page 201. 7. The Saints in Heaven will know one another as the Disciples knew Moses and Elias and those that never saw one anothers Faces in this World shall meet together with great content and this shall be no small part of their Happiness when they shall say there stands holy Enoch righteous Noah grieving Lot believing Abraham upright David patient Job penitent Peter zealous Paul the beloved lovely Disciple John victorious Champions and my glorious Companions for ever And we together are perfected and glorified Oh happy day
change though thy be not mentioned there but of such as shall bear the name of the heavenly or of Christ verse 49.50 this is equivalent to Death when there shall be an abolishing of the former Nature and introducing a new one This is a species or kind of death but as it is not a separation of Soul from the Body so 't is not a sleep but it is a sudden transition from corruptible Nature into a blessed immortality Here is the difference betwixt those that die and such as are changed that the former put off the substance of the body but they that are changed put off nothing but the qualities of the body the dead shall rise before the living are rapt up He sends the Clouds for Chariots as Joseph his Wagons for Jacob and his Family O what vast numbers will then mount up like a Cloud and darken the Heavens This is in order to their congregating above 5. The Angeles of God are sent to gather up the scattered Saints Mat. 24.31 And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet Mark 13.27 and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other It s true some take this to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem but the most solid interpreters apply it to this last Day 1 Cor. 15.52 Paul saith the trumpet shall sound as of old they called the Congregation of Israel together by the sound of a Trumpet So now the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God 1 Thes 4.16 I confess here are hard Points which no mortal can resolve as 1st Concerning this Trumpet what it is Calvin saith Relinquo aliis subtilius disserrendum leave to others to discourse subtilty of it 2dly What kind of shout this is which is a kind of magnificent Acclamation to the Judge and summoning all to appear for the word in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth also signify a Command Alluding to Marriners or Souldiers summoned to be ready 3dly Who this Archangel is and what Degrees there are among the Angels which School-men voluminously dispute or whether it be not Christ himself because it s said the dead that are in their graves shall hear his voice John 5.28 and 4thly Whether this shall be an oral shout or voice from the mouth of Christ or only an expression of his Divine Power I am not able to determine But such a Summons there shall be and all the Sons and Daughters of Adam shall appear not one Person gentle or simple can skulk or hide themselves the meanest shall not be lookt on as inconsiderable and the most potent Princes are not at that day invincible In vain shall the Kings of the earth great Men rich Men the chief Captains and mighty Men bond and free hide themselves or call to the mountains and rocks to fall on them Rev. 6.15 16. No no the Summons shall reach all and all must obey and appear whether they will or no the mighty Almighty God can fetch them out his all-seeing Eve can spy them out See the Summons Psalm 50. 1 2 3 4 5 6. He shall call to the heavens from above and to the earth that he may judge his people These be words gather my Saints together unto to me those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice O what a vast multitude will then appear Thousand thousands Minister to him Dan. 7.10 and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him Yea a great multitude which no Man can number Rev. 7.9 of all nations kindred and people and tongues stand before the throne and the lamb cloathed with white robes and palms in their hands O what a glorious celebrious shining company of beautiful Persons will there be 6. Yet further these multitudes gathered together will have their Spirits perfectly united they shall all speak one Language as the whole earth did before the confusion at Babel There will be an harmony of Minds Wills Affections Consciences conversations no clashing no discord they shall be fully united cemented and perfectly joined together and all to one Rule and Canon They all conspire together in one celestial Song the heavenly quire of Angels stand round about the Throne ecchoing to that innumerable company of believing glorified Jews and Gentiles saying Amen blessing honour and glory and wisdom and thanksgiveing be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7.10 11 12. It s worth observing that upon Antichrists ruine a great voice of much people in heaven saying Alleluja Rev. 19.1 And again they said Alleluja v. 3. then again the four and twenty Elders and four Beasts still eccho out the same tune Alleluja The former were more private this publick of the whole Congregation But still upon a new Summons they add ever Alleluja this was the Hosanna Rabba as the Jews call it or an Hallelujatica victoria as old Britans called their Victory over the Saxons All but faint Emblems of that great Solemnity in which the multitudes of glorified Souls are of one heart and lip unanimously adoring their Redeemer acquiessing in his righteous Sentence nemine contradicente they neither contradict one another nor the will of God There is not a jarring String in this Musick Whatever apprehensions or languages may be here they all speak the same there Yea though they did not understand one anothers Dialect in this World yet they shall all speak the Language of Canaan whether it shall be Hebrew as some conceive who knows but it will be intelligible by all that then meet together The Text saith they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion Isa 52.8 Now if ever that Text shall be fulfilled even as two Eyes look both on one Object so the Eyes of all Saints shall be towards the Lord There will be a sweet agreement in Principles Practices Professions Affections as the Primitive Christians that were of one heart and of one soul Acts 4.32 Then shall we all come to the unity of the faith Eph. 4.13 7. These congregated Saints shall be admitted into one place and state of Glory They are before the throne of God and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them Rev. 7.15 These bright Stars shall make a glorious Constellation in the heavenly orb Though posibly one Star may differ from another Star in Glory yet they shall all be irradiated with the Sun of Righteousness according to their Capacities though these vessels of grace be of various quantity yet they shall all be full in that vast ocean not the weakest feeblest shall be lost or left behind the feeble among them shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them Zech. 12.8 Not a grace duty not a mite given in charity shall be lost Psal 56.8 Mat. 12.42 Tears shall be
here botled and a cup of cold Water shall be rewarded there is room enough in Heaven for all the Saints in my fathers house saith he are many mansions John 14.2 Many for number large for extension Rev. 21.10 12 25. That City is four square having twelve Gates filled from all quarters of the World The gates of it continually open never shut O the stupendious vastness of that upper Region Earth is but a point a small Pin-head compared to it though the Text in Revelations speak but of twelve thousand Furlongs which according to some make but fifteen hundred Miles But what is that to Heaven if the City of the great King be meant there by the New Jerusalem as some think But doubtless it is exceeding spacious if indeed it be a place circumscriptively taken but where the King is there is the Court as the Angels do always behold the Face of God and therefore are still in Heaven Mat. 18.10 Heb. 1.14 though imployed about Saints on Earth so it may possibly be with the Saints after the Resurrection Who knows whether the purified Earth may be one Place of their Coelestial Happiness yet some think it will be wicked Men's Hell and place of Torments But be that as it may we are sure there is room enough for all the Saints in Heaven and our Lord will have them all with him not an hoof left behind as slighted for he purchased all at a dear rate prayed for them when he was leaving the World An idea and sum of his present Intercession we have in John 17. particularly verse 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am This will be a blessed Congregation indeed a spacious Temple a large Paradice not in corners houses chappels where they are crowded and often persecuted fined imprisoned here they have liberty yea possibly every Saint shall have his proper Mansion yet in full communion with God and the rest of glorified Spirits But more of this hereafter Thus I have shewed how they are gathered CHAP III. What is implied in this gathering together what is included in it and consequences of it 3. THE next Head to be opened is to give a more particular account of this work of the Saints gathering together and this I shall do in these Seven particulars 1. That all the Saints in the several ages places conditions wherein they have lived shall be gathered into one general Assembly this may seem strange but its true all the Children of God that ever have lived this five thousand Years and upwards since Man was placed on this earthly Globe all that ever have lived do live or shall live till the end of time shall be assembled such as have lived in far distant places many thousand Miles asunder by vast tracts of ground mountains seas in Europe Asia Africa and America such as have died many thousand Years ago and have been long singing praises and enjoying God in the Church triumphant Old Testament Saints and New Testament Saints The Children of God in the Church militant yet fighting under the banner of Christ shall meet with Victors that have been long crowned Persons of all Conditions Ages Sexes Qualities Rich and Poor Old and Young such as never saw each others Faces in this World no nor ever heard of each other yet then they shall meet together Luke 13.29 And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God It s said Acts 2.5 There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews devout Men out of every Nation under Heaven But what are those to these out of all Countries of the World O what a vast number of Souls shall be congregated Such as never appeared together in this lower Region When there shall be a general Collection of Mortals beyond the Theaters or Amphitheaters of the Ancient Romans or Armies of Mahometans Multitudes Joel 3.14 multitudes in this Mount as Joel speaks in the valley of decision 2. That all this Congregation shall then be perfectly holy So it may be truly said of this Assembly as the murmuring Princes said of Israel Num. 16.3 All the Congregation are Holy every one of them and the Lord is among them there is not one feeble Person among them no infant of day's but they are grown up to be strong turn Gyants in Grace They stand in no need of Ordinances ministerial Gifts and the exercise thereof are only for perfecting of the Saints Eph. 4.12 But now they are above them being perfected That City hath no need of the Sun Rev. 21.23 or of the Moon to shine in it As soon as ever the breath departs out of the body of a Child of God it shakes off all Sin and puts on a new Garment of perfect Holiness They take their leave of the Body of Death and Earth together Not one speck of dirt to be seen upon all this great Multitude Souls take their leave of Sin as they are taking their leave of this World O what a glorious sight will that be of milk-white Saints Surely a lovely sight there will be no Pride Passion Impatience nor any thing to vex themselves or others The dregs are left behind and pure quintescence floats upwards Consecrated Souls are now elevated to the highest pitch and defecated from filthy and defiling dregs Oh what a blessed day will that be 3. That all Troubles and Temptations in this lower World shall then cease Neither the Devil nor wicked Men can follow them off this Dung-hill although the Devil be called the Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 yet he cannot stop or hurt the Saints as they pass through his Dominions nor shall he shoot a Dart at them or after them All Troubles are at a Period Death it self the King of Terrours is strangled it had no Sting to wound the Saints before 1 Cor. 15.56 Heb. 2.15 now it hath no being The fear of it was gone in some degrees in their lives now the very feeling of it is gone They are delivered not only from the Second but from the First Death They shall never receive a mortal wound no nor any wound The accuser and abuser of the Brethren is cast out Rev. 12.10 Not only cast down but quite cast out and all his Artillery and his Instruments 4. When Saints are thus gathered together they shall know one another It s true some kind of imperfect knowledge shall cease that knowledge which is only acquired in the use of Means shall vanish away 1 Cor. 13.8 Or that which sees through a glass darkly then shall we see face to face verse 12. I must needs confess those two words are beyond my comprehension of knowing even as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 1 John 3.2 and of seeing God as he is And I suspect that no Mortal can understand what they mean But I
be divulged in this World will then be laid open to the glory of God and their own and others joy and abundant content as those two Disciples said Luke 24.32 did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way Oh what sweet Intercourse with God had my Soul in such a Chamber Cant. 7.12 Close◠there did he give me his Loves and I gave him mine It was a little corner of Heaven Such an Ordinance Presence was as one of the Days of Heaven I could have been content to have died there 12. Lastly They shall discourse of the Felicity they are now advanced to and the Perpetuity of it This State is beyond what eye hath seen ear heard or could enter into the heart of Man little 1 Cor. 2.9 ah little did I then know what I now enjoy One hour in this blisful State compensates all my days of Service or Suffering O that I had done more for God! I am saith Luther ashamed that God should so abundantly reward so little Work But God acts like himself I did but little for God but God doth much for me Who would not serve such a Master My Sufferings were but light and momentary but this is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory O What a beautiful Master have we served 2 Cor. 4.17 Nor is this for a short Season to have an End but it is lasting everlasting it would damp our Joy if we were in danger to lose this Felicity but let us take Courage we shall never be expelled out of this our Paradice as Adam was out of his This Happiness shall run Paralel with the Life of God and live of Eternity You 'l say how do you know that this shall be their Discourses have you been there to hear it or who told you I Answer no but we may rationally guess at it partly from some general Hints in Scripture partly from their profitable and comfortable Discourse on Earth which will then be heightened and indeed because they shall speak and act such things as most tend to the Glory of God and their own greater Joy and Comfort CHAP VI. How the Saints shall be gathered together unto Christ and Reasons why thy must be gathered together 5. THE next general Head is what is to be meant by the Saints gathering together unto Christ so saith the Text. I must confess Interpreters greatly differ about the meaning of these Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some Interpret of meetings of Christians together in Assemblies Heb. 10.25 And so render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propter ipsum as Jam. 2.7 that worthy name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is called upon you super vos So they will have this to refer to the free Liberty of Christians in uninterrupted meetings in Countries Cities after the Scattering of the Jewish Nation that censured Christians as a wicked Sect but in the days of Vespasian Titus but especially in Constantines Time injoyed liberty of meeting together for celebrating God's publick Worship So indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 convenire congregare in publick Edict signify But most take it for that general universal Meeting at Christ's second coming in the Air at the last Day 1 Thes 4.14 17. when all the Elect shall be gathered to Christ Now this gathering of Saints to Christ doth comprehend these Four things 1. The State and Qualification of the Object 2. The Reason or Relation betwixt them 3. The Frame and Disposition of the Subject 4. The Sight Vision or Fruition of him I shall very briefly open all these 1. The State and Qualification of the Object that is Christ under a double Notion 1st As God Man 2dly As advanced to the right Hand of God 1. They shall be gathered to him as God and Man which is a State of the highest Perfection Compleat Man as glorious a Creature as Adam in Innocency and yet much more endeared to his Saints by that reflecting on what he hath done and suffered for them and the Fruits thereof this is he of whom 't is said when he bringeth in his first begotten into the world he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 This is the admirable Person consisting of his two Natures Divine and Humane never did created or uncreated Nature afford the like In whom all Perfections meet in whom all Excellencies are united 2. As exalted to the right Hand of God They are not now to be gathered to Christ as he was in his State of Humiliation when Multitudes flockt to his Preaching working Miracles when he was but in the form of a Servant or going to suffer on the Cross no nor yet in his State of Transfiguration which was Glorious but Temporary but now he is set down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. Phil. 2.9 10. 1.3 God hath now given him a name above every name far above all principalities and powers and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.20 21 22. It is this State of Glory in which Christ is inthroned and now receiving Homage from all ranks of Creatures Devils being confined to their Prisons attended with innumerable Angels 't is Christ in this glorious State that the Saints are to be gathered to 2. The Reason thereof which consists in the Relation betwixt Christ and his Saints all which carry abundance of delight and sweetness in them For it is not as Strangers or Enemies that love him not nor yet as Malefactors brought to the Bar that dread him as Judge But they are gathered to Christ under these sweet Relations 1. As Sheep to their Shepheard whose Voice they know here and follow him John 10.3 4. yea they own him with a more then ordinary endearedness because he laid down his Life for the Sheep verse 15. and carried those poor lambs in his arms Isa 40.11 and leades them to quiet resting-places where they shall dwell safely Ezek. 34.28 and none shall make them afraid 2. As Souldiers to their Captain not to Fight but to take the Spoil the Captain of our Salvation is made perfect through sufferings He is now crowned with glory and honour and brings many Sons unto glory Heb. 2.9 10. He pitcheth out a Crown to every Souldier and sets the victorious Champion with him on his own Throne Rev. 3.21 3. As Scholars to their Master who sets them not in a low Form as under Graduates but they commence the highest degree of Perfection in the University of Glory to know as much as Creatures are capable they shall know as they are known 1 Cor. 13.12 Now he is a vessel unto Honour meet for his Masters use 2 Tim. 2.21 set on the shelf of Glory 4. As Subjects to their Prince to pe preferred into the King's Presence-chamber Not any longer to be banisht into a foreign