they will finde them like so many debts crossed out with the red lines of Christs blood If the Devil should be permitted to accuse them at that time who is now the accuseâ— of the Brethren and rip up their secret faults the Lord himself will stand up and plead for them he will make known the sufficient value of his merits for their ransome and publiquely acquit them from all guilt and condemnation who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that shall condemn it is Christ that died for them Rom. 8. 33 34. But these four things Christ will take an account of in the judgement of the righteous 1. He will take an account of their graces The vessels of the Virgins will be lookt into what Oile they have goâ— the hearts of the Saints will be lookt into what graces they have obtained Christ will then take notice what godly sorrow they have had for sin their secret weeping and mourning will then be made manifest he will take notice what humility and meekness what self-denial and patience they have had especially what faith and love and hope and spiritual joy they have had and all their raised affections towards himself and heavenly things in his ordinances and his judgment of grace will not be according to the appearance and show which hath been but according to truth and then the Saints shall be ranked not according to their esteem and dignity in the world but according to the measure of the graces they have attained 2. Christ will take an account of the improvement of the talents of graces and gifts and opportunities of service which he hath entrusted them withall Mat. 25. 19. and Christ will then take chief notice of those which have been most industrious and faithful and instrumental for doing most good and bringing most glory to his name and though all shall have a full reward that are found truly faithful and shall enter into their masters joy yet they shall have a more full reward and be capable of more joy and glory than the other 3. And especially he will take an account of their works of mercy Matth. 25. 35 36. I was hungry and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came unto me c. It will even astonish and confound the righteous to hear such language as this from the Lord Jesus Christ when he appears in such glory they will be ready to question when he was in any want and received relief at their hands When saw we thee a hungry or a thirst or naked and ministred any help we received all from thee but we could give nothing to thee thou didst relieve us and redeem us out of the deepest poverty and misery in which we were sunk and should have perished without thy help but what relief hadst thou from us Then the King will answer and say unto them v. 40. Verily I say unto you in as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me At such a time and such a time the poor came to you for relief making use of my name whose backs for my sake you cloathed and whose bellies you refreshed and whose necessities you supplied that was done unto me though they were poor they were my brethren some of my servants were brought into straights for conscience sake and you received them or sent help to them you received me then and gave help to me that money was not thrown away it was given to me and I am come to give you a thousandfold reward Were this truth more effectually believed what a forwardness would there be in Christians to works of mercy Surely they would look upon that part of their estate as best improved which in such works is bestowed Christ doth not mention any other use which they put their money unto which if worthy to be compared would be made mention of he doth not speak of so much laid out in building so much laid out in cloathing so much laid out for food so much laid up in portions for children all this the wicked can do but so much laid out to the poor and me in them which is the only part you have laid up for your selves and which I am now come to return unto you with usury 4. Christ will take an account of the afflictions which the righteous have endured especially of their sufferings for his sake such reproaches such losses imprisonments banishments buffetings but if they have suffered death with what honour will this be made mention of with what great esteem will he receive and speak unto them which have come out of great tribulation and O the joy in this morning after the tears of the night then they will finde that their light affliction which they have endured for a moment hath wrought for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 2. The second thing in Christs judegment of the Saints is the Sentence which he will pronounce upon them which will be a most gracious invitation of them to take possession of the Kingdom of Heaven which he hath prepared for them Matth. 25. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared from you from the foundation of the world All Christs invitations in Scripture are very sweet Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest Matth 11. 28. How sweet is this to a troubled conscience and an oppressed spirit ready to sinke under the burden of sin Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters and he that hath no money come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa. 55. 1. O what sweet words are these to those which are parched and pained and ready to die with spiritual thirst and can finde nothing in the creatures which can give them any satisfaction or ease But of all the words that ever Christ did speak of all the invitations that ever Christ did make this will be the sweetest which he will give to his Disciples at the last day Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World Come ye blessed and happy ones however accounted miserable ones by men yet blessed of my Father Come inherit the Kingdom prepared for youâ— frâ—m the foundation of the World Take possession of your eternal inheritance Come enter into the Kingdom of glory which the father hath chosen you unto and called you unto and which I have purchased and now fitted and made ready for you Come along with me and I will shew you my glory and where I am there ye shall be also Come along
clog to the spirit I conceive that hereafter they shall be like Angels for quick and nimble motion they may be so qualified as in a moment to move many thousand miles why may not they move so quick then as well as the Sun and other Stars in the Firmament do so now which are bodies of many thousand times greater magnitude 6. The bodies of the righteous will be incorruptible and immortal 1 Cor. 15. 43. It is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption And v. 52 53. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump the dead shall be raised incorruptible for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortall must put on immortality And v. 54. Then shall come to pass the saying which is written Death is swallowed up in victory Now death is unavoidable and unto some is very terrible death hath all the children of men in the chase and shoceâ— his arrows at the righteous as well as the wicked and though they be delivered from the sting of death which is sin yet they are not delivered from the stroke of death but however death play the tyrant here on the earth and spare none yet he will have no footing in Heaven the bodies of the righteous when raised up again will be impassible and immortal immortality will be swallowed up of life and the life of the body as well as of the soul will be everlasting 2. The souls of the righteous will be the subjects and the chief subjects of the glory and happiness of Heaven if their bodies shall be glorious their souls shall be much more glorious as being their more excellent part and capable of more glory than their bodies will be we read Rom. 8. 18. Of the glory which shall be revealed in us that is in the soul and the Apostle tells us that The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with this glory the greatest sufferings and calamities in this World have not that evil and misery in the least shaddow of comparison with the happiness of the glory which shall be put into the souls of the Saints indeed the Apostle doth compare them and see how he makes this future glory to out-ballance 2 Cor. 4. 17. These light offlictions which are but for a moment do work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory The afflictions are light but the glory will be weighty the afflictions are but for a moment but the glory will be eternal the weight of glory will be exceeding more exceeding far more exceeding here the Apostle layes one high expression upon the back of another and another upon that like so many great Mountains upon the back one of another and when he hath got upon the top of the highest of them yet he is too low to look into the glory of Heaven and his expressions and apprehensions fall short of the glory which shall be revealed in the soul when it shall be received into the new Ierusalem for it is yet to be revealed and therefore as the Apostle Iohn saith I Ioh. 3 2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be but when Christ shall appear we shall be made like him not only the body shall be made like his glorious body but also the soul shall be made like his glorious soul for we shall see him as he is as the eye doth receive the image of the object which it looks upon so the soul in its vision of Christ shall receive the Image of Christ and have a perfect similitude and likeness unto him the soul will be made most beautiful the perfect lineaments of Christ will be drawn upon it if grace makes the soul to shine here how much more will glory which is grace in the perfection of it make the soul to shine in Heaven and therefore grace is called glory it is glory begun 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord. The Vail which was under the Law is now taken away and with open face we behold the glory of the Lord that is I conceive the Lord Jesus Christ who is the glory of the Father the brightness of the Fathers glory which glory was more dark to our view under the Law represented by the cloud which filled the Temple but now there is more clear revelation of Christ without the Vail and clouds of types and figures whom we now see in the Glass of the Word and Ordinances and hereby are changed into his Image and receive froâ— him impressions of grace which is glory begun through the operation of his spirit in his Ordinances upon us yet stil we see him in a Glass and therefore there is a darkness through this interposition and the eye of our faith which looks thorow this Glass upon Christ is weak and therefore our Graces are imperfect and our similitude to him is imperfect but when the Glasse shall be removed and instead of the sight of faith we shall have an immediate Vision then our souls will be changed into a perfect conformity unto his Image and it will not be from glory to glory from one degree unto another but glory will be arrived unto its heighth and the souls of the righteous will be made perfectly glorious their souls will then have perfection of holiness without the least remainders of sin which in this World the most holy Persons are not wholly free from 1. Their thoughts shall be holy no blaâ—phemous thoughts shall then arise in their minde no filthy thoughts no eâ—vious and malicious thoughts yea they shall not have the least vanity or impertinency in their thoughts all their thoughts shall then be brought into pâ—rfect obedience unto Jesus Christ. 2. Their understandings shall be holy there shall not be the least Cloud or mist of ignorance or errour to darken and â—ully them when they appear before the glorious Sun of righteousness the brightness which will issue forth from his face will dispel all clouds and they will have a clear understanding of all things which will be needful foâ— them to know to make them happy God will then unlock his treasures open his Books which â—â—w are sealed and open their understandings too that they may conceive those mysteries of his word and that manifold wisdome of God which now do exceed their comprehensions 3. Their memories shall be holy they shall be strengthnâ—d to retain and bring forth continually out of their treasures whatever things new or old shall tend to feed them with love and joy and elevate their souls in the praiâ—es of God 4. Their wills shall be perfectly holy there shall be a sweet harmony between their wills and â—he will of God a perfect compliance with the sweet Law which they shall be under without the least contranitency or contradiction they shall not
emulations wraths strifes seditions envyings divisions clamours evil-speakings back-bitings whisperings swellings tumults and follow after those things which make for peace as love joy humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering patience and the like that you may be found of the Lord in peace 2. Give diligence that yee may be found of the Lord without spot and blameless as the Apostle doth advise in the same 14. vers And read ver 11 Seeing all these things shall be dissolved what manneâ— of Persons ought yee to be in all holy conversatioâ— and godliness Get the spots of sin washed ofâ— not only the guilt of sin removed but also the deâ—filement labour to be holy in all manner of conâ—versation to be blameless and harmless the Chilâ—dren of God without rebuke in the midst of crooked and perverse Generation Take heed 〈◊〉 the sins of the times and places wherein you live joyn not with them in their sins least you share 〈◊〉 their Plagues at the last day Let your conversaâ—tion be as becometh the Gospel let your action be â—quâ—â—ed by the Word as those which must givâ— an account and receive a reward according 〈◊〉 your works 3. Sit loose from the World let not your hearâ— be over-charged with the cares of this life nâ— filled with the love of the World and that daâ— overtake you at unawares Luke 21. 34. Rememâ—ber that riches will not profit you in the day 〈◊〉 wrath that the fashion of this World passeth â— way and you are passing away and therefoâ— live here as strangers and soâ—journers 4. Lay up your treasure in Heaven Matth. â— 20. And get your affections set upon things abovâ— Col. 3. 2. And then the appearance of Jesus Chrâ—â— will be joyful to you because he will give 〈◊〉 poffession of Heaven 5. Be ready to do and suffer whatever the Loâ— calls you unto patiently continue in well-doinâ— for in due time yee shall reap be stedfast and 〈◊〉 movable alwaies abounding in the work of 〈◊〉 Lord because your labour shall not be in vain 〈◊〉 the Lord Gal. 6 9. I Cor. 15. 58. And what ever afflictions yee suffer for Christ they are light and momentany but the glory which Christ will give is weighty and eternal 2 Cor. 4. 17. 6. Give Christ your hearts let him have the highest room give him your whole heart let him have the choicest and chiefest of your affections and then he will give you his Kingdome and such expressions of his love will he make unto you at his appearance as now you have not thoughts to conceive 7. Maintain communion with Christ in his Ordinances prize Ordinances upon this account because Christ doth walk there and improve Ordinances for this end that you may meet with Christ â—est not in the out-side and carnal part of Ordinances but seek after Christ in them until you finde â—im and labour to grow into acquaintance with Christ and to keep fellowship with him and â—hen when he doth appear he will know you again â—nd own you and receive you to live with him â—or ever 8. Stand up for the honour of Christ in the World â—onfess him before Men and he will confess you â—efore his Father in Heaven Matth. 10. 32. Be â—ot ashamed to profess your selves his Disciples â—nd to own his waies and truths when they are â—ost contemned and despised by the ungodly â—orld because if you be he will be ashamed of â—ou when he cometh in his Glory Mark 8. 38. 9. Improve your Talents for the use of the Lord â—ho hath entrusted you with them All of you have â—alents lay them not up in a Napkin but lay â—em out in the service of the Lord whatever â—ifts or graces you have put them forth to usury â—at you may give an account with joy to your Lord when he shall come to call you to an account 10. Stand upon your Watch when our Saviour had foretold his Disciples of his coming he exhorts them and all to watch Mark 13. 37. What I say unto you I say unto all watch Watch against sin watch your senses which are the inlets of sin watch your hearts from whence are the issues of sin watch take heed of sleeping in sin least you lose your Garmâ—nts and be found naked 11. Be frequent and fervent in Prayer our Saviour joyns these duties together in his exhoâ—tation of his Disciples Luke 21. 36. Watch yee therefore and pray alwayes that yee may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man Pray without ceasing pray without fainting be often upon your knees and be earnest with the Lord that he would prepare you for this day that he would deliver you from that dreadful wrath which shall be revealed when Christ doth appear and which you have deserved for your sins and pray that he would give you those qualifications as may embolden you at the last day to hold up your heads with confidence that he would keep you without spot and blameless until the coming of the Lord. 12. And lastly Look for the appearance of the Lord look with an eye of hope labour to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost and let this hope be an Anchor fastned within the Vail to stay your sinking hearts in the midst of those fierce stormes which do or may beat upon you in the World and look with an eye of desire look and long for Christs appearance dart up your wishes often to Heaven O when shall we see the Heavens opened and behold our Lord in his Glory When shall we hear the Trumpet sound and be gathered by the Angels from all the quarters of the Earth When shall we put off this dust and corruption and be cloathed with robes of immortality When will the Lord Jesus come down and show us his glory and receive us to himself that where he is there we may be also Christ hath spoken from Heaven to Earth Surely I come quickly let there be an eccho back from Earth to Heaven in your desires to this voice Amen even so come Lord Iesus come quickly I shall conclude all with the words of the Apostâ—e Iude vers 24 25. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceedâ—ng joy To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and Majesty dominion and power now and ever Amen FINIS