because Christ is risen from the dead Christ is the head of the Just and they are the members of his Body and because of this union therefore the Just must arise This is the Apostles own Argument If Christ saith he be preached that he rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no Resurrection of the dead but if there be no Resurrection of the dead then is not Christ risen 1 Cor. 15. 12 13. Now I say the Reason why the Apostle thus argueth the Resurrection from the dead by the Resurrection of Christ. It is because the Saints of whose Resurrection he here chiefly discourseth are in their Bodies as well as in their Soul the members of Christ know you not saith he that your Bodies are the members of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 15. A very weighty Argument for if a good man be a member of Christ then he must either be raised out of his Grave or else sin and death must have power over a member of Christ. I say again if if this Body be not raised then also Christ is not a compleat Conquerour over his enemies for as much as death and the Grave hath still power over his members The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death Now though Christ in his own person hath a compleat Conquest over Death c. yet Death hath still power over the Bodies of all that are in their Graves now I say Christ being considered with relation to his members then he hath not yet a compleat Conquest over death neither will he until they every one be brought forth of their Graves for then and not till then shall that saying be every way fulfilled Death is swallowed up of Victory 1 Cor. 15. 26. and 53 54. Secondly As there must be a Resurrection of the Just because Christ is their Head and they his members so also because the Body of the Saints as well as their Soul is the purchase of Christs blood Ye are bought with a price saith Paul wherefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit which are Gods 1 Cor. 6. 20. Christ will not lose the purchase of his blood O Death saith Christ I will have them O Grave I will make thee let them go I will ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from death I have bought them and they shall be mine O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy destruction Hos. 13 14. Job 18. 13 14. Revel 1. 18. I say though the power of the Grave be invincible and death be the King of terrours yet he who hath the Keys of Hell and of Death at his Girdle to him belongeth the issues from death He that is our God is the God of Salvation and to God the Lord belongeth the issues from death Psal. 68. 20. and we the price of his blood shall be delivered Thirdly As the Body is the member of Christ and the price of his blood so it is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in us What know you not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you and you are not your own The Body is no such rediculous thing in the account of Christ as it was in the account of the Saduces The Body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the Body and that no onely in this World but that which is to come wherefore he saith God hath both raised up the Lord Jesus and will raise us up also by his power 1 Cor. 6. 13 14. 19. that is as he hath raised up the Body of Christ so will he raise up ours also by Christ. Fourthly The Bodies of the Just must arise again because of that Similitude that must be betwixt the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bodies of the Saints When he shall appear we shall be like him 1 John 3. 2. Now we have it abundantly manifest in Scripture that the Body of the Lord Jesus was raised out of the Grave caught up into Heaven and that it ever remaineth in the holiest of all a glorified Body Luk 24. 3 4 5 6 7 8. 35. 36 37 38 39 40 41 42. John 20. 24 25 26 27. Acts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Acts 2. 31. Acts 17. 30 31 32. Mar. 16. 6 7 19. Heb. 7. 24 25 26. eb 8. 2 3. Heb. 10. 12. Now I say it would be very strange to me if Christ should be raised ascended and glorified in that Body and yet that his People should be with him no otherwise then in their Spirits especially seeing that he in his Resurrection is said to be but the first begotten from the dead and the first fruits of them that sleep Col. 1. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 23. for we know that a first begotten doth imply more Sons and that first-fruits do foreshew an after Crop wherefore we conclude that as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order Christ the first fruits and afterwards them that are his at â—is coming 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. And hence it is that the Scripture saith He shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious Body And hence it is again that the day of Christ is said to be the day of the manifestation of the Sons of God and of the redemption of our body for then shall the Saints of God not onely be but appear as their Saviour being delivered from their Graves as he is from his and glorified in their Bodies as he is in his Phil. 3. 20 21. Rom. 8. 21 22 23. Fifthly There must be a Resurrection of the Body of the Saints because the Body as well as the mind hath been a deep sharer in the afflictions that we meet with for the Gospel sake Yea the body is oft-times the greater sufferer in all the Calamities that for Christs sake we here undergo it is the body that feels the stocks the whip hunger and cold the fire and rack and a thousand calamities it is the body in which we have the dying marks of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus also might be made manifest in our mortall slesh Gal. 6. 17. 2 Cor. 4. 9 10 11 12 13 14. God is so just a God and so merciful to his People that though the bodies of his Saints should through the malice of the enemy be never so dishonourably tortured killed and sown in the Grave yet he will as further will be shewed anon raise it again in incorruption glory and honour as he saith also in another place that we who have continued with Christ in his temptations that have for his sake underwent the reproach and malice of the World to you saith Christ I appoint a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me Luk. 22. 28 29. If we suffer with him we shall reign with him he that hateth his life
in this World shall keep it to life eternall 2 Tim. 2. 12. John 12. 29. all this is to be injoyed especially at the Resurrection of the Just. But sixthly There must be a Resurrection of the Just otherwise there will be the greatest disappointment on all sides that ever was since man had a being on the Earth A disappointment I say First Of the Will of God for this is the will of the Father that sent me saith Christ that of all that he hath given me I should lose nothing not a dust but should raise it up again at the last day John 6. 39. Secondly A disappointment of the Power of God for he that hath raised up the Lord Jesus doth also intend to raise us up by his Power even our Bodies as Paul saith the body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the body and God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his Power 1 Cor. 6. 13 14. Thirdly If there should be no Resurrection of the Just Christ also would be wonderfully disappointed of the fruits of all his sufferings As I told you before his People are the price of his Blood and the members of his Body and he is now at the right hand of God far above all Principalities and Powers and every name that is named expecting till his enemies be made his Footstool and brought under Heb. 1. 13. the foot of the weakest Saint which will not be untill the last enemy Death is destroyed We know that he said when he went away that he would come again and fetch all his People to himself even up into Heaven that where he is there we may be also Joh. 12. 26. Joh. 14. 1 2 3. Joh. 17. 24. But I say how will he be disappointed if when he comes the Grave and Death should prevent and hinder him and with its bars keep down those whom he hath ransomed with his blood from the power thereof Fourthly If the Bodies of the Just arise from the dead then they also will be disappointed 'T is true the Saints departed have far more fellowship and Communion with God and the Lord Jesus then we have or are not yet capable of having Luke 23. 43. They being in Paradise and we in this World but yet I say for all that they are though there very much longing for the day of the Lords vengeance which will be the day in which they will and must arise from the dead This I say is the time that they long for when they cry under the Altar How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth When they died they Heb. 11. 35. died in hope to obtain a better Resurrection and now they are gone they long till that day be come Rev. 6. 10 11. Till the day come I say when the dead even all the enemies of Christ shall be judged for then will he give reward to his Servants the Prophets and to his Saints and to 〈◊〉 that fear his name small and great Revel 11. 1. 8. Fifthly If the Just arise not great disappointment also will be to the Saints yet alive in this World for notwithstanding they have already received the first-fruits of the Spirit yet the wait not onely for more of that but also for the Resurrection Redemption and changing of this vile body Rom. 8. 20 21 22 23. Phil. 3. 20 21. For our Conversation is in Heaven saith Paul from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body But now I say if the body riseth not then how can it be made like to the glorious Body of Christ Jesus yea what a sad disappointment infatuation and delusion are those poor Creatures under that look and that by Scripture warrant for such a thing They look for good but behold evill they expect to be delivered in their whole man from every enemy but lo both death and the Grave their great enemies do swallow them up for ever But Beloved be not deceived Psal. 9. 10. Tâ—e needy shall not always be forgotten the expectâ—tion of the poor shall not perish for ever saith Christ he that seeth the Son and believeth on him that sent him hath everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day John 6. 40. Sixthly If the Just arise not out of their Graves then also is every Grace of God in our Souls defeated for though the spirit of devotion can put forth a feigned shew of holiness with the denyal of the Resurrection yet every Grace of God in the Elect doth prompt them forward to live as becomes the Gospel by pointing at this day as First 'T is this that faith looks at according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we believed and therefore speak knowing that he that hath raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus and shall present us with you 2 Cor. 4 13 14. Secondly Hope looks at this We saith Pâ—ul which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adâ—ption to wit the redemption of our Body that is we expect this by hope but hope which is seen is not hope for what a man seeth or hath in present possession why doth he yet hope for it Rom. 8. 23 24 25. Thirdly The Grace of self-denyal also woâ—keth by this Doctrine If after the manner of men I have fought with Beasts at Ephesus what advantageth it me if the Dead rise not As who should say wherefore do I deny my self of those mercies and priviledges that the men of this World injoy why do not I also as well as they shun persecution for the Cross of Christ If the dead rise not what shall I be the better for all my trouble that here I met with for the Gospel of Christ 1 Cor. 15. 32. Fourthly Both Zeal and patience with all other the Graces of the Spirit of God in our hearts are much yea chiefly incouraged animated and supported by this Doctrine as James saith Be patient therefore my Brethren unto the coming of the Lord for then shall the dead be raised 1 Thes. 4. 16 17. Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the Earth and hath long patience till he receive both the early and latter Rayn be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draws nigh Jam. 5. 7 8. Seventhly The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Just must needs be a certain truth of God if we consider the devilish and satanical errours and absurdities that must unavoidably follow the denyal thereof as First He that holdeth no Resurrection of our Body he denyeth the Resurrection of the Body of Christ this is the Spirits own Doctrine For if the Dead rise not then is not Christ risen
Matthew at the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus gives us a notable fore-word of the Resurrection of the Just Saith the Text And the graves were opened and many BODIES of Saints which slept arose and came out of their graves after his Resurrection and went into the holy City and appeared unto many Matth. 27. 50 51 52 53. When the Authour to the Hebrews had given us a Catalogue of the Worthies of the Old Testament he saith at last These all died in Faith In the faith of what That they should lie and rot in their graves eternally No verily this is the Faith of Ranters not of Christians They all died in faith that they should rise again and therefore counted this World not worth the living in upon unworthy terms that after death they might obtain a better Resurrection Heb. 11. 13 35. 'T is also worth the Considering that of Paul to the Philippians where he saith That he was Confident that that God that had begun a good work in them would perform it untill the day of Christ Phil. 1. 6. Which day of Christ was not the day of their Conversion for that was past with them already they were now the Children of God but this Day of Christ it is the same which in other places is called the Day when he shall come with the sound of the last Trump to raise the Dead For you must know That the Work of Salvation is not at an end with them that are now in Heaven no nor ever will untill as I shewed you before their Bodies be raised again God as I have told you hath made our Bodies the Members of Christ and God doth not count us thoroughly saved untill our Bodies be as well redeemed and ransomed out of the grave and death as our Soul from the Curse of the Law and dominion of Sin Though Gods Saints have felt the power of much of his grace and have had many a sweet word fulfilled on them yet one word will be unfulfilled on their particular person so long as the grave can shut her mouth upon them But as I said before when the gates of death do open before them and the barrs of the grave do fall asunder then shall be brought to pass that saying that is written Death is swallowed up of Victory and then will they hear that most pleasant voyce Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the Earth shall cast forth her dead Isa. 26. 19. Thus much touching the truth of the Resurrection of the Just with the manner of their rising Now you must know That the time of the rising of these Just will be at the Coming of the Lord For when they arise nay just before they are raised the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the Clouds in flaming fire with all his mighty Angels the effect of which appearing will be the rising of the dead c. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout saith Paul and with the voice of the Arch-Angell and with the Trump of God and the dead shall rise 1 Thess. 7 8. 2 Thess. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. Now at the time of the Lords Coming there will be found in the World alive both Saints and Sinners As for the Saints that then shall be found alive they shall so soon as all the Saints are raised out of their graves not die but be changed and swallowed up of incorruption immortality and glory and have the Soul-spiritual Translation as the raised Saints shall have as he saith We shall not all die or sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye For the Trump shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed And again For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Ayr and so shall we ever be with the Lord. As he saith also in another place He shall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome 1 Cor. 15. 52. 1 Thess. 4. 15 16 17. and 2 Tim. 4. 1. Now when the Saints that sleep shall be raised thus incorruptible powerful glorious and spiritual and also those that then shall be found alive made like them Then forthwith before the unjust are raised the Saints shall appear before the Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ there to give an account to their Lord the Judge of all things they have done and to receive a reward for their good according to their labour They shall rise I say before the Wicked they being themselves the proper Children of the Resurrection that is Those that must have all the glory of it both as to preheminencie and sweetness and therefore they are said when they rise to rise from the dead that is in their rising they leave the reprobate World behind them Luke 20. 35 36. Acts 3. 15. Acts 4. 10. Acts 13. 30. Joh. 12. 1 9 17. And it must be so because also the Saints will have done their Account and be set upon the Throne with Christ as Kings and Princes with him to Judge the World when the wicked world are raised The Saints shall Judg the World they shall judge Angels yea they shall sit upon the Thrones of Judgment to do it But to pass that 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. Psal. 122. 5. Now when the Saints are raised as ye have heard they must give an account of all things in general that they have done while they were in the World Of all things I say whether they be good or bad First of all their bad but mark not under the Consideration of Vagabonds Slaves and Sinners but as Sons Stewards and Servants of the Lord Jesus That this shall be it is evident from divers places of the Holy Scriptures First Paul saith We must all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ We Saints For it is written As I live saith the Lord every Knee shall bowe to me and every tongue shall confess to God So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God Again Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him for we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one of us may receive the things done in his body according to what he hath done whether it be good or whether it be evil Rom. 14. 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 5. 10. 'T is true God loveth his People but yet he loveth not their sins nor any thing they do though with the greatest zeal for him if it be contrary to his Word Wherefore as truly as God will give a reward to his Saints and Children for all that they
doth tell Sardis that those among them that stood it out to the last gasp in the Faith and Love of the Gospel should not be blotted out of the Book of Life but they with the work of God on their Soul and their labour for God in this World should be confessed before his Father and before his Angels Rev. 3. 5. This part of this Book is in another place called The Book of the Word of the Lord because in it I say is Recorded those famous acts of the Saints against the World flesh and the Devil Numb 21. 14. You find also how exact the Holy Ghost is in Recording the travels pains labour and goodness of any of the Children of Israel in their Journey from Egypt to Canaan which was a Representation of the Travels of the Saints from nature to Grace and from Grace to Glory King Ahasuerus kept in his Library a Book of Records wherein was wâ—it the good Service that his Subjects did for him at any time which was a Type also of the manner and order of Heaven And as sure as ever Mordecai when search was made in the Rolls was found there to have done such and such service for the King and his Kingdom Esth. 6. 1. 2. so surely will it be found what every Saint hath done for God at the day of inquiry You find in the Old Testament also still as any of the Kings of Judah dyed there was surely a Record in the Book of Chronicles of their memorable acts and doings for their God the Church and the Common-wealth of Israel which still doth further hold forth unto the Children of men this very thing That all the Kings of the New Testament which are the Saints of God have all their acts and what they have done for their God c. Recorded in the Book of Chronicles in the Heavenly Jerusalem Now I say when this part of the Book of Life shall be opened what can be found in it of the good deeds and Heaven-born actions of wicked men Just nothing for as it is not to be expected that Thorns should bring forth Grapes or that Thistles should bear as Figs so it cannot be imagined that ungodly men should have any thing to their Commendations Recorded in this part of the Book of Life What hast thou done man for God in this World Art thou one of them that hast set thy self against those strong struglings of pride lust covetousness and secret wickedness that remain in thy heart like Job and Paul Job 1. 8 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. 2. And do these struglings against these things arise from pure love to the Lord Jesus or from some legall terrours and conviction for sin Gal. 5 6. 3. Doest thou I say struggle against thy lusts because thou doest in truth love the sweet holy and blessed leadings of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus its leadings of thee I say into his blood and death for thy Justification and deliverance from wrath to comâ— Phil. 3. 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 4. What acts of self-denyal hast thou done for the name of the Lord Jesus among the Sons of men I say what house what friend what Wife what Children and the like hast thou lost or left for the Word of God and the Testimony of his truth in the World Matth. 19. 27 28. Revel 12. 10 11. 5. Wast thou one of them that didst sigh and afflict thy self for the abominations of the times and that Christ hath marked and Recorded for such a one Ezek. 9. 3 4. Zeph. 3. 18. 6. In a word Art thou one of them that wouldest not be won by neither fear frowns nor flatteries to forsake the wayes of God or wrong thy Conscience or art thou one of them that slightest those opportunities that Satan and this World did often give thee to return to sin in secret Heb. 11. 14 15. These be the men whose prayse is in the Gospel and whose commendable and worthy acts are Recorded before the Judge of all the World Alas alas these things are strange things to a carnal and wicked man Nothing of this hath bin done by him in this life and therefore how can any such be Recorded for him in the Book of Life wherefore he must needs be shut out of this part also As David saith Let them be blotted out of the Book of the living and not be written with the Righteous Psal. 69. 28. Thus I say the wicked will find nothing for their comfort either in the first part of this book where all the names of the Elect are neither will they find any thing in the second part thereof where is recorded the true nature and operation of effectual Conversion of Faith or Love or the like and I say neither can any thing be found in this third part wherein is recorded the worthy acts and memorable deeds of the Saints of the Lord Jesus Thus when Christ therefore hath opened before them this book of life and convinced the ungodly at this day out of it he will then shut it up again saying I find nothing herein that will do you good you are none of my Elect you are the sons of perdition For as these things will be found clear and full in the book of life so they will be found effectually wrought in the hearts of the Elect all whose conversion and perseverance shall now be opened before â—hy eyes as a witness I say of the truth of what thou here seest opened before thee and also of thy unregenerate estate Now thou wilt see what a turn what a change and what a clinging to God to Christ and his Word and wayes there was found in the Souls of the saved ones here shall be seen also how resolvedly unfeignedly and heartily the true child of God did oppose resist and war against his most dearest and darling lusts and corruptions now the Saints are hidden ones but then they shall be manifest this is the morrow in which the Lord will shew who are his and who they are that fear the Lord and who that fear him not Psal. 83. 3. Sam. 8. 19. Numb 16. 5. Mal. 3. 18. Now you shall see how Abraham left his Country how close good Lot did stick to God in prophane and wicked Sodom Heb. 11. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. Mat. 19. 29. how the Apostles left all to foâ—low Jesus Christ and how patiently they took all crosses afflictions persecutions and necessities for the Kingdome of Heavens sâ—ke how they indured burning starving stoning hanging and a thousand calamities how they manifested their love to their Lord his Cause and people in the worst of times and in the dayes when they were most rejected slighted abused and abased then shall the King say to them on his right hand and that when all the Devils and damned sinners stand by Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the World you are indeed the truly converted
and say even the very dust of your City which cleaveth to us we do wipe off against you c. But I say unto you saith he to his Ministers It shall be more tolerable for Sodom at the Judgement then for that City Luk. 10. 10 11 12 13 14. It may be that when thou hearest that the dust of the street that cleaveth to a Minister of the Gospel while thou rejectest his word of Salvation shall be a witness against thee at the day of Judgment though wilt be apt to laugh and say the dust a Witness Witnesses will be scarce where dust is forced to come in to plead against a man Well sinner mock not God doth use to confound the great and mighty by things that are not and that are despised And how sayst thou if God had said by a Prophet to Pharaoh but two years before the Plague that he would shortly come against him with one Army of Lice and a second Army of Frogs and with a third Army of Locusts c. and would destroy his Land dost thou think it had bin wisdom in Pharaoh now to have laughed such tydings to scorn Is any thing to hard for the Lord hath he said it and shall he not bring it to passe You shall see in the day of Judgment of what force all these things will be as witnesses against the ungodly Many more witnesses might I here reckon up but these at this time shall suffice to be nominated for out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established And at the mouth of two or three Witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death 2 Cor. 13. 1. Deut. 17. 6. Joh. 8. 17. Thus then the Books being opened the Laws read the witnesses heard and the ungodly convicted forthwith the Lord and Judge proceeds to execution And to that end doth passe the sentence of eternall death upon them saying Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels You are now by the Book of the Creatures by the Book of Gods Remembrance by the Book of the Law and by the Book of Life adjudged guilty of High Treason against God and me and as murderers of your own Souls As these faithful and true witnesses here have testified every one of them appearing in their most upright testimony against you Also you never had a saving work of Conversion and faith past upon you you died in your sins neither can I find any thing in the last part of this Book that will serve your turn no worthy act is here Recorded of you When I was an hungred you gave me no meat When I was a thirsty you gave me no drink When I was a stranger you took me not in I was naked but ye cloathed me not I was sick and in prison but ye visited me not I have made a thorow search among the Records of the Living and find nothing of you or of your deeds therein Depart from me ye cursed c. Mat. 25. 41 42 43. Thus will these poor ungodly Creatures be stript of all hope and comfort and therefore must needs fall into great sadness and wailing before the Judge yea crying out as being loath to let go all for lost and even as the man that is fallen into the River will catch hold of any thing when he is struggling for life though it tend to hold him faster under the water to drownd him So I say while these poor Creatures as they lie strugling and twining under the ireful countenance of the Judge they will bring out yet one more faint and weak groan and there goes life and all their last sigh is this Lord when saw we thee an hungred and gave thee no meat or when saw we thee thirsty and gave thee no drink When saw we thee a stranger and took thee not in or naked and cloathed thee not or when wast thou sick or in prison and we did not minister unto thee Mat. 25. 44. Thus you see how loath the sinner is now to take a Nay of life everlasting He that once would not be perswaded to close with the Lord Jesus though one should have perswaded him with tears of blood behold how fast he now hangs about the Lord what Arguments he frames with mournful groans how with shifts and words he seeks to gain the time and to defer the execution Matth. 25. 10 11. Lord open unto us Lord Lord open unto us Lord thou hast taught in our streets and we have both taught in thy name and in thy name have we cast out Devils Mat. 7. 21 22 23. VVe have eat and drank in thy presence And when did we see thee an hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to thee Luk. 13. 25 26 27 28. O poor hearts how loath how unwillingly do they turn away from Christ how loath are they to partake of the fruit of their ungodly doings Christ must say depart once and depart twice before they will depart When he hath shut the door upon them yet they knock and cry Lord open unto us when he hath given them their answer that he knowes them not yet they plead and mourn Wherefore he is fain to answer again I tell you I know you not whence you are depart Luk. 13. 25 26 27. Depart O this word depart how dreadful is it with what weight will it fall on the head of every condemned sinner for you must note that while the ungodly stand thus before the Judge they cannot chuse but have a most famous view both of the Kingdom of Heaven and of the damned wights in Hell Now they see the God of Glory the King of Glory the Saints of Glory and the Angels of Glory and the Kingdom in which they have their eternal aboad Now they also begin to see the worth of Christ and what it is to be miled upon by him from all which they must depart and as I say they shall have the view of this so they will most famously behold â—he pit the bottomless pit the fire the Brimstone and the flaming beds that Justice hath prepâ—red for them of old Jud. 4. Their Associates also will be very coâ—spicuous and clear before their watery eyes They will see now what and which are Devils and who are damned Souls now their great Grandfather Cain and all his brood with Judas and his Companions must be their fellow-sighers in the flames and pangs for ever O heavy day O heavy Word This word depart therefore it looketh two wayes and commands the damned to do so too Depart from Heaven depart to Hell depart from life depart to death depart from me now the Ladder doth turn from under them in deed The Saviour turns them off the Saviour throwes them down He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of man Joh. 5. 27. Depart from me I
as David whom Peter tells us is both dead and buried and his Sepulchre remaineth with us to this day Acts 2. 29. 2. There is a People that are reckoned dead in trespasses and sins as those are who never yet were translated from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Such I say who yet never felt the power of the Word and Spirit of God to raise them from that state to walk with him in the Regeneration making a life out of Christ and his present benefits Ephes. 2. 1 2. John 5. 25. 3. There is a death seizeth men often after some measure of light received from God and some profession of the Gospel of Christ. These for the certainty of their damnation are said to be dead dead twise dead and plucked up by the roots Jude 12. 4. There is in Scripture mention made of a death to sin and the lusts of the flesh this death is the beginning of true life and happiness and is a certain fore-runner of a share in Christ and with him in another World Rom. 6. 6 7 8. 2 Tim. 2. 11. 5. Lastly there is also in the Word a relation of eternal death This is the death that those are in and swallowed up of that go out of this World Godless Christless and Graceless dying in sin and so under the curse of the dreadful God who I say because they have missed of the Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour in this day of Grace are fallen into the gulf and jaws of eternal death and misery in the fire that never shall be quenched Mark 9. 43 44. Luk 16. 23 24 25 26. Now then seeing there is death or to be dead taken under so many Considerations in the Scripture it is evident that to be dead in Christ the Text is not meant of them all I then must distinguish and inquire which of these deaths it is that here the Apostle did look for a Resurrection from First then it cannot be meant a Resurrection from eternal death for from that there is no Redemption Psal. 49. 38. Secondly Neither is it a Resurrection from that double death for they that are in that are past recovery also Thirdly And so for those that are dead to sin it is non-sence to say there shall or can be a Resurrection from that for that it self is a Resurrection Colos. 2. 12 13. 20. which Resurrection also the Apostle had then passed through And also all the Brethren as he saith You hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins and again if ye then be risen with Christ and again wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who raised him from the dead Col. 3. 1. Lastly The dead therefore in this Scripture must be understood of those that have departed this life that have Body and Soul seperated each from the other and so the Resurrection a Resurrection of the Body out of the Grave as Daniel saith many that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall arise and again the hour is coming when all that are in their Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth c. Dan. 12. 2. John 5. 28. The Resurrection of the Just then is the rising of the Bodies of the Just and the Resurrection of the unjust the rising of their Bodies at the last Judgement This also is the meaning of that saying of Paul to Agrippa I stand saith he and am Judged for the hope of the promise made unto our Fathers which promise at first began to be fulfilled in the Resurrection of the Body of Christ Acts 13. 32 33. and hat its accomplishment when the dead small and great are raised out of their Graves wherefore though Paul saith in the 13th of the Acts it is already fulfilled yet here he saith he hopes it shall come Which promise saith he our twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and might hope to come as God told Daniel saying go thy Way for thou shalt stand in thy lot at the end of the dayes Dan. 12 13. Christ is already risen and therefore so far the promise is fulfilled but his Saints are yet in their Graves and therefore that part of the fulfilling of it is yet to come as he saith Why should it be an incredible thing with you that God should raise the dead Acts 26. 6 7 8. Again That it is the Resurrection of the dead Bodies of both Saints and sinners that is here inserted it is further evident because the Apostle saith it is the Resurrection that the very Pharises themselves allowed I have hope towards God saith he which themselves also allow then what that hope is he in the next words sheweth namely That there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead c. Now we know that the Pharises did not allow of a Resurrection from a state of Nature to a state of Grace which is the same with the new birth but did confidently allow and teach that they were the Children of Abraham according to the flesh Yea when any of them began to adhere or incline to Christ's Doctrine in some things yet the Doctrine of the new Birth or of being raised from a state of Nature to a state of Grace they would very much stick at though in the mean time they utterly were against the Doctrine of the Sadduces which denyed the Resurrection of the Body John 31. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. John 8. 31 32 33 34 35. Acts 23. 6 7 8. Further the Resurrection here spoken of must needs be the Resurrection of the Body because it is called a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust that is of both Saints and sinners according to the saying of Christ The hour is coming when all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voyce 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 Joh. 5. 28 29. Again the Resurrection here mentioned is a Resurrection to come not already injoyed either by Saints or sinners there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Now I say the Resurrection here being yet deferred by the just and counted also the Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust It must needs be the same Resurrection that is spoken of by Jobe who saith So man lyeth down and riseth not again till the Heavens be no more they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep Job 14. 12. Having thus in few words opened this Scripture unto you I shall in the next place for the further satisfaction of those that are yet wavering and for the refreshment of those that are strong and stedfast lay down before you several undeniable Scripture demonstrations of the Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust I shall first begin with the Resurrection of the Just. The Just must arise
1 Cor. 15 16. He that denyeth the Resurrection of the members denyeth the Resurrection of the Head for seeing the Resurrection of the Saints is proved by the Resurrection of Christ he that doth deny the Resurrection of the Saints must needs deny the Resurrection of Christ that proves it Now this errour as it is in it self destructive to all Christian Religion so it like an Adder carrieth within its bowels many other alike devilish and filthy as 1. He that denyeth the Resurrection of the Saints he concludeth that to preach deliverance from sin and death it is vain preaching for how can he be freed of sin that is swallowed up for ever of Death the Grave as he most certainly is that is always contained therin as Paul saith if Christ be not risen whose Resurrection is the ground of ours then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain then we preach fables and you receive them for truth 1 Cor. 15. 14. 2. This errour casteth the Lie in the face of God of Christ and the Scriptures ye and we also saith Paul are found false Witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised Christ up if so be that the dead rise not 1 Cor. 15. 15. Mark before he said Christ in his Resurrection doth prove our Resurrection but now he saith that our Resurrection will prove the truth of his and indeed both are true for as by Christs rising ours is affirmed so by ours his is demonstrated oâ— 3. The denyal of the Resurrection it also damneth all those that have departed this World in the faith of this Doctrine If Christ be not raised as if he is not we rise not then is not onely your faith vain and ye are yet in your sins that are alive but then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 1 Cor. 15. 17 18. 4 He that denyeth the Resurrection of the Just he concludeth that the Christian is of all men the most miserable Mark the words If in this life onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men the most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. First of all men the most miserable because we let go present injoyments of those that will never come if the deaâ— rise not of all men most miserable because our faith our hope our joy and peace are all but a lie if the dead rise not But you will say he that giveth up himself to God shall have comfort in this life Ah but if the dead rise not all our comfort that now we think we have from God will then be found presumption and madness because we believe that God hath so loved us as to have us in his day in Body and Soul to Heaven which will be nothing so if the dead rise not If in this 〈◊〉 onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable Poor Christian thou that lookest for the blessed hope of the Resurrection of the Body at the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ how wilt thou be deceived if the Dead rise not but now is Christ risen and become he first fruits of them that sleep for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 20 21. 5. But again he that 〈◊〉 the Resurrection of the dead he setteth open a â—â—â—udgate to all manner of impiety he cutteth â—he throat of a truly holy life and layeth the Reins upon the neck of the most outragiâ—us â—ustâ— For if the dead rise not let us eat and drink that is do anything though never so diabolical and hellish let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die and there is an end of us we shall not arise again to receive either evill or good 1 Cor. 15. 32. 6. To deny this Resurrection nay if a man do but say it is past either with him or any Christian his so saying tendeth directly to the destâ—uction and overthrow of the faith of them that hear him and is so far from being according to the Doctrine of God that it eateth out good and wholsome Doctrine even as Cankers eat the face and flesh of a man how ill favouredly do they look that have their nose and lips eat off with the Canker even so badly doth the Doctrine of no Resurrection of the dead look in the eyes of God Christ Saints and Scripture 2 Tim. 2. 18. Lastly I conclude then that to deny the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Just it argueth First Great ignorance of God ignorant of his power to raise ignorant of his promise to raise ignorant of his faithfulness to raise and that both to himself Son and Saints as I shewed before therefore saith Paul to those that were thus deluded Awake to Righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame 1 Cor. 18. 32 33 34. as if he had said Do you profess Christianity and do you question the Resurrection of the Body Do you not know that the Resurrection of the Body and glory to follow is the very quintessence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Are you ignorant of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and do you question the power and faithfulness of God both to his Son and his Saints because you say there shall be no Resurrection of the Dead you are ignorant of God of what he can do of what he will do and of what he will by doing glorifie himself Secondly As it argueth very great ignorance of Gods power faithfulness c. so it argueth gross ignorance of the Tenor and curâ—ant of the Scriptures for as touching the Dead that they are raised have ye not read in the Book of Moses saith Christ how that God said unto him in the Bush I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the Dead but of the Living ye do therefore greatly erre Mark 12. 26 27. To be the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob it is to be understood of his being their God under a new Covenant-Consideration as he saith I will be their God and they shall be my People Heb. 8. 10 11. John 8. 44. 1 John 38. 9 10. Hos. 6. 2. Col. 3. 4. Ephes. 1. 4. Now thus he is not the God of the Dead that is of those that perish whether they be Angels or men Now I say they that are the Children of God as Abraham Isaac and Jacob they are counted the Living under a threefold Consideration 1. In their Lord and Head and thus all the Elect may be said to live for they are from Eternity chosen in him who also is their life though possibly many of them yet unconverted I say yet Christ is their life by the eternal purpose of God 2. The Children of the new Covenant do live both in their spirits in glory by open vision and here by Faith Gal. 2. 20. and the
here much more then when we are with our Saviour our Jesus being passed from death to life John 5. 24. 1 John 4. 18. Secondly The Saints at this day shall have their hearts and Souls so wrapped up in the pleasure of God their Saviour that it shall be their delight to see all things though once never so near and dear unto them yet now to perish if not according to his word and will Thy will be done is to be always our Language here but to delight to see it done in all things though it tend never so much to the distruction of what we love to delight I say to see it done in the height and perfection of delight it will be when we come to Heaven or when the Lord shall come to judge the World Mat. 6. 10. But thirdly The sole end of the counting of the Saints at the day of God it will be not onely for the vindication of the righteousness holiness and purity of the Word neither will it center onely in the manifestation of the knowledg and heart-discerning nature of Christ though both these will be in it Revel 2. 22 23. But their very remembrances and sight of the sin and vanity that they have done while here it shall both set off and heighten the tender affections of their God unto them and also increase their joy and sweetness of Soul and clinging of heart to their God Saints while here are sweeâ—ly sensible that the sense of sin and the assurance of pardon will make famous work in their poor hearts Ah what meltings without guilt what humility without casting down and what a sight of the creatures nothingness yet without fear will this sense of sin work in the Soul The sweetest frame the most heart-indearing frame that possibly a Christian can get into while in this World is to have a warm sight of sin and of a Saviour upon the heart at one time Now it weeps not for fear and through torment but by vertue of constraining grace and mercy and is at this very time so far off of disquietness of heart by reason of the fight of its wickedness that it is driven into an extasie by reason of the love and mercy that is mingled with the sense of sin in the Soul The heart never sees so much of the power of mercy as now nor of the vertue value and excellency of Christ in all his Offices as now and the Tongue so sweetly inlarged to proclaim and cry up grace as now now will Christ come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that believe 2 Thes. 1. 10 11. Wherefore though the Saints receive by Faith the forgiveness of sins in this life and so are passed from death to life yet again Christ Jesus and God his Father will have every one of these sins reckoned up again and brought fresh upon the stage in the day of Judgment that they may see and be sensible for ever what grace and mercy hath laid hold upon them And this I take to be the Reason of that remarkable saying of the Apostle Peter Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ who before was preached unto you whom the Heaven must receive till the restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy Prophets since the World began Acts 3. 19 20 21. If a sense of some sin for who sees all Psa. 19. 12. and a sight of the love of God will here so work upon the spirit of the godly What will a sight of all sin do when together with it they are personally present with their Lord and Saviour Yea if a sight of some sins with a possibility of pardon will make the heart love reverence and fear with guiltless and heart-affecting fears what will a general sight of all sin and together with them an eternall acquittance from them work on the heart of the Saint for ever Yea I say again if a sight of sin and the love of God will make such work in that Soul where yet there is unbelief blindness mistrust and forgetfulness what will a sight of sin do in that Soul who is swallowed up of love who is sinless and temptationless who hath all the faculties of Soul and Body strained by love and grace to the highest pin of perfection that is possible to be in glory injoyed and possessed O the wisdom and goodness of God that he at this day should so cast about the worst of our things even those that naturally tend to sink us and damnus for our great advantage All things that shall work together for good indeed to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. Those sins that brought a curse upon the whole World that spilt the heart-blood of our dearest Saviour and that laid his tender Soul under the flaming wrath of God shall by his wisdom and love tend to the exaltation of his Grace and the inflaming of our affections to him for ever and ever Revel 5. 9 10 11 12 13 14. 'T will not be thus with Devils 't will not be thus with Reprobates the saved onely have this priviledge peculiar to themselves wherefore to vary a little from the matter in hand will God make that use of sin even in our counting for it that shall in this manner work for our advantage why then let Saints also make that advantage of their sin as to glorifie God thereby which is to be done not by saying Let us do evill that good may come or let us sin that Grace may abound but by taking occasion by the sin that is past to set the Crown upon the Head of the Christ for our justification Continually looking upon it so as to press us to cleave close to the Lord Jesus to grace and mercy through him and to the keeping of us humble for ever under all his dispensations and cariages to us Now having counted for all their evil and confessed to Gods glory how they fell short and did not the truth in this or that or other particulars and having received their eternall acquittance from the Lord and Judg in the sight of both Angels and Saints forthwith the Lord Jesus will make inquiry into all the good and holy actions and deeds they did do in the World Now there shall all things be reckoned up from the very first good thing that was done by Adam or Abel to the last that will fall out to be done in the World The good of all the holy Prophets of all Apostles Pastors Teachers and helps in the Church here also will be brought forth and to light all the good Cariages of Masters of Families of Parents of Children of Servants of Neighbours or what ever good thing any man doth but to be general and short first here will be a recompence for all that have sincerely laboured in
the Word and Doctrine I say a recompence for all the Souls they have saved by their Word and watered by the same Now shall Paul the Planter and Apollo the Waterer with every one of their Companions receive the reward that is according to their works 1 Cor. 3. 6 7 8. Now all the Preaching praying watching and labour thou hast been at in thy endeavouring to catch men from Satan to God shall be rewarded with spangling glory Not a Soul thou hast converted to the Lord Jesus nor a Soul thou hast comforted strengthned or helped by thy wholsom Counsel admonition and comfortable speech but it shall stick as a Pearl in that Crown which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give thee at that day 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. That is if thou dost it willingly delighting to lift up the name of God among men if thou doest it with love and longing after the Salvation of sinners otherwise thou wilt have onely thy labour for thy pains and no more if I do this willingly I have a reward but if against my will a dispensation of the Gospel is committed to my charge 1 Cor. 9. 17. Phil. 1. 15. But I say if thou do it graciously then a reward followeth for what is our hope or joy or Crown of rejoycing are not even ye saith Paul in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming for ye are our glory and joy 1 Thes. 2. 19 20. Let him therefore that Christ hath put into this Harvest take comfort in the midst of all his sorrow and know that God acknowledgeth that he that converteth a sinner from the errour of his way doth even save that Soul from death and covereth a multitude of sins Wherefore labour to convert labour to water labour to build up and to feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind and when the chief Shepheard shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Jam. 5. 20. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3 4. Secondly And as the Ministers of Christs Gospel shall at this day be recompensed so shall also those more private Saints be with tender affections and love looked on and rewarded for all their work and labour of love which they have shewed to the name of Christ in ministring to his Saints and suffering for his sake Whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free Heb. 6. 10. Ephes. 6. 8. Ah! little do the People of God think how largely and thorowly God will at that day own and recompence all the good and holy acts of his People Every bit every drop every rag and every nights harbour though but in a wisp of straw shall be rewarded in that day before men and Angels Whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a Cup of cold water onely in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you saith Christ He shall in no wise loose a Disciples reward Mat. 10. 40 41 42. Therefore when thou makest a Feast saith he Call the poor the maimed the lame and the blind and thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompence thee for thou shalt be recompenced at the Resurrection of the Just. Luk. 14. 13 14. If there be any repentance among the godly at this day it will be because the Lord Jesus in his person members and word was no more owned honoured entertained and provided for by them when they were in this World For it will be ravishing to all to see what notice the Lord Jesus will then take of every Widows mite He I say will call to mind even all those acts of meâ—cy and kindness which thou hast shewed to him when thou wast among men I say he will remember cry up and proclaim before Angels and Saints those very acts of thine which thou hast either forgotten or through bashfulness wilt not at that day count worth the owning He will reckon them up so fast and so fully that thou wilt cry Lord When did I do this and when did I do the other When saw we thee a hungry and fed thee or a thirst and gave thee drink When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and cloathed thee or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came unto thee and the King shall answer and say unto them verily I say unto you in as much as ye did it unto one of the least of these my Brethren ye did it unto me Mat. 25. 37 38 39 40. The good works of some are manifest before hand and they that are otherwise cannot be hid 1 Tim. 5. 25. Whatever thou hast done to one of the least of these my Brethren thou hast done it unto me I felt the nourishment of thy food and the warmth of thy fleece I remember thy loving and holy visits when my poor members were sick and in prison and the like When they were strangers and wanderers in the World thou tookest them in Well thou good and faithful Servant enter Thou into the Joy of thy Lord. Matth. 25. 21 22 23 34 35 36. Thirdly Here also will be a reward for all that hardness and Christian induring of affliction that thou hast met with for thy Lord while thou wast in the World Here now will Christ begin from the greatest suffering even to the least and bestow a reward on them all from the blood of the suffering Saint to the loss of an hair nothing shall go unrewarded Heb. 11. 36 37 38 39 40. 2 Cor. 4. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. For these light afflictions which are but for a moment they work out for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. Behold by the Scriptures how God hath recorded the sufferings of his People and also how he hath promised to reward them Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce Luk. 6. 22 23. leap for joy and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Mat. 5. 16 17 18. And every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Laws for my names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life Matth. 19. 29. Fourthly There is also a reward at this day for all the more secret and more retired works of Christianity there is not now one act of faith in thy Soul either upon Christ or against the Devil and Antichrist but it shall in this day be found out and praysed honoured and glorified in the face of Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 7. 2. There is not one groan to God in secret against thy own lusts and for more grace light spirit
for me this is the man that overcame the flatteries and threats allurements and inticings of a whole World for me behold â—iâ— he is an Israelite indeed the top man in his Generation none like him in all the Earth It is said that when King Ahasuerus had understanding of how good service Mordeeai the Jew had done to and for him he commanded that the royall Apparel and the Crown with the Horse that the King did ride on should be given to him and that he should with that Crown Apparel and Horse be had through the City in the presence of all his Nobles and that Proclamation should be made before him thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour Esth. 6. 9 10 11. Ahasuerus in this was a Type to hold forth to the Children of God how kindly he will take all their labour and service of love and how he will honour and dignifie the same as Christ saith Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning and you your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh ye may open to him immediately blessed are those servants whom their Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and shall make them sit down to meat and shall come forth and serve them Luke 12. 35 36 37. The meaning is that those souls that shall make it their business to honour the Lord Jesus Christ in the day of their temptation he will make it his business to honour and glotifie them in the day of his glorification Verily I say unto you that he will make them sit down to meat and shall come forth and serve them if any man will serve me saith he him will my Father honour Joh. 12. 26. Job 1. 8. Joh. 1. 47. Mark 14. 9. Rev. 3 4. Rev. 14. 12. 3 4 5. It hath bin Gods way in this World to proclaim the acts and doing of his Saints in his Word before all in this World and he will do it in that which is to come Thirdly Another thing that shall be yet added to the glory of the Saints in the Kingdom of their Saviour at his coming is they shall every one of them then have his Throne and place of degree on Christs right hand and on his left in his glorious Kingdom according to the relation they stand in to Christ as the members of his Body for as Christ will have a special eye on us and a tender and affectionate heart to recompence to the full every good thing that any man doth for his name in this World so also he will have as great regard that there be to every member of his body the place and state that is comely for every such member When the Mother of Zebedees Children petitioned our Saviour that he would grant to her that her two Sons might fit the one on his right hand and the other on his left in his Kingdom though he did not grant to her the request for her Children yet he affirmed that there would be places of degrees and honour in Heaven saying To sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father See Mat. 20. 20 21 22 23. In the Temple there were Chambers bigger and lesser higher and lower more inward and more outward which Chambers were types of the Mansions that our Lord when he went away told us he went to prepare for us In my Fathers House are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you c. Joh 14. 1 2 3. The foot here shall not have the place prepared for the eye nor yet the hand that which is prepared for the ear but every one shall have his own place in the Body of Christ and the glory also prepared for such a relation order as it is comely in Earth so much more in the Kingdom of the God of Order in Heaven where all things shall be done in their utmost perfections Here shall Euoch Noah Abraham Moses Joshuah David with the Prophets have every one his place according to the degree of old Testament Saints As God said to Daniel Go thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in the lot at the end of the days Dan. 12. 13. And here also shall Peter Paul Timothy and all other the Church-Officers have their place and Heavenly state according as God hath set them in the Church in the New Testament As Paul saith of the Deacons They that use the Office of a Deacon well they purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ. 1 Tim. 3. 13. And so of all other Saints be they here of what Ranck Quality or place in the Church soever they shall have every one his state his Heavenly State according as he standeth in the Body As he saith seeing those members that are most feeble are necessary to them shall be given more abundant honour 1 Cor. 12. 22 23. Of this Heavenly Order in the Kingdom of Christ when his Saints are risen from the dead was Solomon a notable Type in his Family and among his Servants and Officers who kept such exactness in the famous order in which he had placed all about him that it did amaze and confound beholders For when the Queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon and the House which he built and the meat of his Table the sitting of his Servants and the attendance of his Ministers and their Apparel his Cup-bearers also and their Apparel and the ascent by which he went up into the House of the Lord there was no more spirit in her 2 Chron. 9. 3 4. Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God Having gone thus far I shall now come to the second part of the Text to wit that there shall be a Resurrection of the wicked There shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the Just and unjust For as the Just go before the unjust in Name and Dignity and Honour so they shall in the last day go before them in the Resurrection Now then when the Saints have thus risen out of their Graves given up their accounts received their glory and are set upon the Thrones for there are set Thrones of Judgement the Thrones of the House of David Psal. 122. 5. When I say they are all of them in their royall Apparel with Crowns of glory every one presenting the Person of a King then come the unjust out of their Graves to receive their Judgment for what they have done in the body As Paul saith We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one both Saints and sinner may receive the things done in the body whether it be
to be punished 2 Pet. 2. 9. And Jude saith for them is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude 13. The punishment of the ungodly it is reserved till the day of Judgement which will be the time of their Resurrection Observe first The wicked must be punished Secondly The time of their punishment is not now but at the day of Judgement Thirdly This day of Judgement must be the same with the Resurrection of the Dead at the end of this World As therefore the Tares are gathered and burned in the fire so shall it be in the end of this World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a Furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 13. 40 41. There shall then be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Fourthly The Soveraignty of the Lord Jesus over all Creatures doth plainly foreshew a Resurrection of the bad as well as of the good Indeed the unjust shall not arise by vertue of any relation they stand in to the Lord Jesus as the Saints shall but yet because all are delivered into his hand and he made Soveraign Lord over them therefore by an Act of his Soveraign Power they that are ungodly shall arise this is Christs own Argument The Father judgeth no man saith he but hath committed all Judgment unto the Son that is Count him and fall before him as their Soveraign Lord even as they honour the Father and he hath given him authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of Man And then he adds Marvel not at this for the hower is coming that all that are in their graves shall hear his Voyce 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 Joh. 5. 22 23 27 28 29. From hence also Paul argueth saying For this cause he both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living And then adds We must all stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ. Rom. 14. 9. 10. Pray mind these words Jesus Christ by his Death and Resurrection did not onely purchase Grace and Remission of sins for his Elect with their Eternal Glory but did thereby also obtain of the Father to be Lord and Head over all things whether they be things in Heaven or things on Earth or things under the Earth All Power saith he in Heaven and in Earth is given unto me and I have the Keys of Hell and of Death Mat. 28. 18. Rev 1. 18. So that all things I say whether they be visible or invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Col. 1. 16. This being thus at the Name of Jesus every knee must bow and every Tongue confess that he is Soveraign Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9 10 11. Now that this may be done He hath his Resolutions upon a Judgement-day in which he to shew himself his People his Way and Word in their Glory will have all his Enemies raised out of their Graves and brought before him where he will sit upon them in the Throne of his Gloâ—y and will shew them then who is the onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Mat. 25. 31 32. 1 Tim. 6. 14 15. Beloved He comes with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed and of all their wicked speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 14 15. Fifthly The great preparation that God hath made for the Judgement of the wicked doth clearly demonstrate their rising forth out of their Graves First He hath appointed the day of their rising Secondly He hath appointed their Judge to judge them Thirdly He hath Recorded all their acts and doings against that day Fourthly He hath also already appointed the Witnesses to come in against them Fifthly The Instruments of death and misery are already prepared for them For the first he hath appointed the day of their rising which day John calleth the time of the dead that they should be judged Which time Paul saith is a time fixed he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World c. This time and day Christ brings down to an houre saying The hour is coming when all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voyce and shall come forth c. Revel 11. 18. Acts 17. 30 31. Joh. 5. 28 29. Secondly As he hath appointed the day so he hath appointed the Judge He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained of which he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the Dead This Man is Jesus Christ for it is He that is ordained of God to be the Judge of the Quick and the Dead Acts 17. 30 31. Acts 10. 40 41 42. Thirdly All their deeds and works to a word and thought and every one already Recorded and Inrolled in the Books of the Laws of Heaven against that day The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond upon the Tables of their heart And again saith God Write it in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for the time to come even for ever and ever that this is a rebellious House c. Jer. 17. 1. Isa. 30. 8 9. Fourthly God hath prepared his Witnesses against this day James 5. 1. Job 20. 27. Mat. 24. 14. Rom. 2. 14 15. Malac. 3. 5. Fifthly The Instruments of Death and Eternal misery are all already prepared He hath prepared for them the Instruments of Death he hath ordained his Arrows against the face of persecutors Psal. 7. 11 12 13. Psal. 21. 12. Hell is of old prepared he hath made it deep and large the fire the everlasting fire is also now of a long time prepared the heavy weights of Gods Curse are also ready and their damnation now of a long time slumbereth not Isa. 30 33. Mat. 25. 41. Deut. 29. 19 30. 2 Pet. 2 3. But now I say how rediculous a business would all this be if these things should be all prepared of the onely wise God and there should be none to be judged or if he that is ordained Judge should not either through want of power or will Command these Rebels and force them before his Judgement-Seat Glad indeed would the sinners be if these things might be true Glad I say at very heart if they might be in their secret places of darkness and the Grave for ever but it must not be the day of their rising is set
loathsom condition The ungodly at their death are like the Thistle-seed but at their rising they will be like the Thistle grown more noysom offensive and provoking to rejection abundance Then such dishonour shame and contempt will appear in them that neither God nor Christ Saints nor Angels will so much as once regard them or vouchsafe one to come near them He beholdeth the wicked a far off because in the day of Grace they would not come to hand and be saved therefore now they shall all as thorns be thrust away as with fences of Iron 2. Sam. 23. 6 7. Their rising is called the Resurrection of the unjust and so they at that day will appear and will more stink in the nostrils of God and all the Heavenly Hosts then if they had the most irksome Plague-soars in the World running on them If a man at his Birth be counted as one cast forth to the loathing of his person how loathsom and irksom dishonourable and contemptible will those be that shall arise Godless Christless Spiritless and Graceless when the Trumpet sounds to their Judgement they coming out of their Graves far more loathsom and filthy then if they should ascend out of the most filthy hole on Earth Thirdly As the Just shall arise in power so the wicked and unjust in weakness and astonishment Sin and guilt bringeth weakness and faintness in this life how much more when both with all their power and force like a Gyant fasten on them as God saith Can thy hands be strong and can thy heart indure in the day that I shall deal with thee Eccless 22. 14. Now will the gastly Jaws of despair gape upon thee and now will condemnings of Conscience like Thunder-claps continually batter against thy weary Spirit It is the Godly that have boldness in the day of Judgement but the wicked will be like the Chaffe which the Wind driveth away 1 John 4. 17. Psal. 1. 4. O the fear and the heart-aking that will seiz them in their rising the frightful thoughts that then will fill their throbbing hearts Now must that Soul that hath been in Hell-fire among the Devils possess the body again Possess it I say with the hot scalding stink of Hell upon it They shall not be able to lift up the head for ever pangs shall take hold on them all their hands shall faint and every mans heart shall melt They shall be amazed one at another their faces shall be as flames Isa. 13. 6 7 8. Every thing they see hear or think of shall tend to their discomfort They must needs be weak whom God hath left whom guilt hath seized and whom death is swallowing up for ever Fourthly As the Just shall arise spiritual Bodies so the unjust shall arise onely as meer and naked lumps of sinful nature not having the least help from God to bear them up under this condition Wherefore so soon as ever they are risen out of their Graves they will feel a continual sinking under every remembrance of every sin and thoughts of Judgement in their rising they fall fall I say from thenceforth and for ever And for this Reason the Dungeon into which they fall is called bottomless Rev. 20. 1. Because as there will be no end of their misery so there will be no stay or prop to bare them up in it Onely as I said before they shall not now as afore be separate Body from Soul but both together be bound in the cords of sin and iniquity in which they shall now tremble as Theeves and Murderers c. as they go before the Judge to hear what he will say unto them Now when the wicked are thus raised out of their Graves they shall together with all the Angels of darkness their fellow Prisoners be brought up being shackled in their sins to the place of Judgement where there shall fit upon them Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Lord chief Judge of things in Heaven and things in Earth and things under the Earth On whose right hand and left shall fit all the Princes and Heavenly Nobles the Saints and Prophets the Apostles and Witnesses of Jesus every one in his Kingly Attire upon the Throne of his Glory Joel 3. 11 12 13 14. Then shall be fulfilled that which is written As for these my enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them before me to slay them Luk. 19. 27. When every one is thus set in his proper place the Judge on his Throne with his Attendants and the prisoners coming up to Judgement forthwith there shall issue forth a mighty fire and tempest from before the Throne which shall compass it round about Which fire shall be as Bars and bounds to the wicked to keep them at a certain distance from the Heavenly Majesty As David saith Psal. 50. 3. Our God will come and not keep silence a fire shall devour before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him And again Dan. 7. 9. His Throne was like the fiery flame and his Wheels like burning fire A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him c. This Preparation being made to wit the Judge with his Attendance on the Throne the Bar for the Prisoners and the Rebels all standing with gastly Jaws to look for what comes after Presently the Books are brought forth to wit the Books both of Death and Life And every one of them opened before the sinners now to be judged and condemned For after that he had said before Dan. 7. 10. A fiery stream issued and came â—orth from before him he adds thousands thousands ministred to him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the Judgement was set and the Books was opened And again I saw a great white Throne and him that sate upon it from whose face the Earth and the Heaven fled away and there was found no more place for them and I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book were opened which is the Book of Life And the Dead were Judged out of the things that were written in the Books according to their works Rev. 20. 11 12. He doth not say the Book was opened as of one but the Books as of many And indeed they are more than one two or three out of which the Dead shall in the Judgement be proceeded against First then there is the Book of the Creatures to be opened Secondly The Book of Gods Remembrance Thirdly The Book of the Law And fourthly The Book of Life For by every one of these that is out of what is written in them shall the World of the ungodly be judged And the Books were opened First The Book of the Creatures shall be opened and that first it concerns mans nature and next as it relates to all other Creatures First he will shew in what the principles if nature were as they were Gods Creation
appeared such flames such Thunderings and Tempests as there were at the giving of the Law what flames and blackness will there appear at the execution thereof and if at the giving of the Law there appeared so much Holiness and Justice that it made all Israel flie yea holy Moses exceedingly fear and quake what will become of these that God shall judge by the rigour of this Law in the day of Judgement Exod. 19. 16. Heb. 11. 21. O what Thunderings and Lightnings what Earthquakes and Tempests will there be in every damned Soul at the opening of this Book then indeed will God visit them with Thunder and Earthquake and great noyse with Storm and Tempest and the flame of a devouring fire For behold saith the Prophet the Lord will come with fire and with his Chariots like a Whirl-wind to render his anger with fury and his rebukes with flames of fire Isa. 29. 6. Isa. 66. 15. The Lord will come with fire that is in the flaming heat of his Justice and Holiness against sin and sinners to execute the rigour of his threatnings upon their perishing Souls Secondly The second general Head that is contained in this Law to be opened at this day is its exactness and purity and strictness as to all acts of good that any poor Creature hath done in this life whereby he in the Judgement will think to shelter or secure himself from the wrath of God This is the Rule and Line and Plummet whereby every act of every man shall be measured and he whose righteousness is not found every way answerable to this Law which all will fall short of but they that have the Righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ he must perish as he saith Rom. 3. 21. 22. Judgement also will I lay to the line and Righteousness will I lay to the Plummet and the Haâ—l shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the water shall overflow the hiding places Isa. 28. 17 18. That is though men may now shelter themselves under legall Repentance cold profession good meaning thinkings and doings yet all these things must be measured and weighed in the ballance of Gods most righteous Law and as I said whatever in that day is not found the Righteousness of God it will be found a reâ—uge of lies and will be drowned by the over-flowing of the wrath of God as the waters of Noah over-flowed the World Mal. 4. 1. And hence it is that all the ungodly will at this day be found as stubble and the Law as fire As it saith From his Right hand went a fiery Law And again his lips are full of indignation and his tongue as a devouring fire Deut. 33 2 Isa. 30. 27. For as fire where it seâ—zeth doth burn eat destroy devoure and consume so will the Law all those that at this day shall be found under the transgressioâ— of the least tittle of it It will be with theâ—â— Souls at the day of Judgement as it is witâ— those Countries that are over-run with moâ—â— merciless Conquerours who leave not any thing behind them but swallow up all with fire and sword For by fire and by his Sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many Isa. 66. 16. There are two things at the day of Judgement will meet in their height and utmost strength and they are sin and the Law for the Judgement will not be till the iniquity of the World be full ripe Joel 3. 13. Rev. 14. 15 16 17 18 19 20. Now then when sin is come to its full having plaid all its pranks and done all the mischief it can against the Lord of Glory then God brings forth the Law his holy and righteous Law one of which will now reign for ever that is either the Law or sin Wherefore sin and sinners they must tremble with all that help and hold them up for God will magnifie the Law and make it honourable Isa. 42. 21. That is will give it the Victory over the World for ever for that is holy just and good they are unholy unjust and bad Therefore by this Law will the Lord rain snares fire and Brimstone and a horrible Tempest this shall be the potion of their Cup. Psal. 11. 5 6. Let no man say then that because God is so famous in his mercy and patience in this day of his Grace that therefore he will not be fierce and dreadful in his Justice in the day of Judgement for Judgement and Justice is the last thing that God intends to bring upon the stage which will then be to the full as terrible as now his goodness and patience and long sufferance is admirable Lord who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath Psal. 90. 11. You may see if you will a few of the sparks of the Justice of God against sin and sinners by his casting off Angels for sin from Heaven to Hell by his drowning the old World by his burning of Sodom and Gomorah to ashes condemning them with an overthrow making them an example to those that after should live ungodly 2 Pet. 2. 4 5 6. Jude 6. 7. For whatsoever the Law saith it saith it to them that are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the World become guilty before God Rom. 3. 19. Moses seems to wonder that the Children of Israel could continue to live when they did but hear the Law delivered on the Mountain Did ever People saith he hear the Lord speak out of the midst of the fire as thou hast done and live Deut. 4. 73. O that ye did but know the Law and the wonderous things that are written therein before the Lord cause that fearful Voyce to be heard Cursed is every one that continueth not in every thing that is written in the Book of the Law to do them which curse must fall on all that walk not in all the Commandements of God without iniquity which none do I say but they that walk in Christ who hath alone fulfilled them all Gal. 3. 10. Ezek. 33. 15. Col. 2. 10. The Law is that which standeth at the entrance of the Paradice of God as a flaming Sword turning every way to keep out those that are not righteous with the righteousness of God that have not skill to come to the throne of Grace by that new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh Gen. 3. 24. Heb. 1. 19 20. for though this Law I say be taken away by Christ Jesus for all that truly and savingly believe yet it remains in full force and power in every tittle of it against every Soul of man that now shall be found in his Tabernacle that is in himself and out of the Lord Jesus Col. 2. 14. Rom. 3. 19. Job 18. 14. it lyeth I say like a Lyon rampant at the gates of Heaven and will roar
speaking for themselves behold how earnestly they groan how gastly they look and how now the brinish tears flow down like Rivers from their eyes ever re-doubling their Petition Lord Lord Lord Lord first thinking of this thing and then of that ever contending seeking and striving to enter in at this strait Gate As Christ saith When once the Masters of the House is risen up that is when Christ hath laid aside his mediation for sinners and hath taken upon him onely to judge and condemn then will the wicked begin to stand without and to knock and contend for a portion among them that are the blessed Ah how will their hearts twitter while they look upon the Kingdom of Glory and how will they ake and throb at every view of Hell their proper place still crying O that we might inherit life and O that we might escape eternal death But now to take away alâ— cavils and objections that of this nature will arise in the hearts of these men forthwith the Book of Life is brought ouâ— for a conclusion and a finall end of eternall Judgment As John saith The Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judgâ—â— out of those things that were written in the Books according to their works Rev. 20. 12. But this Book of Life it is not at this time opened because there are not any godly to be tryed for as I have shewed before their Judgment is past and over before the wicked rise The Book of Life then it is now opened for further conviction of damned Reprobates that their mouths may be stoped for ever as touching all their cavils contendings and Arguments against Gods proceeding in Judgement with them For believe it while God is judging them they will fall to judging him again but he will be justified in his sayings and will overcome when he is judged at this day Rom. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Yet not by a hasty and and angry casting them away but by a legall and convincing proceeding against them and overthrowing all their cavils by his manifest and invincible truth Wherefore to cut off all that they can say he will now open the Book of Life before them and will shew them what is written therein both as to Election Conversion and a truly Gospel-Conversation And will convince them that they neither are of the number of his Elect neither were they ever regenerate neither had they ever a truly Gospel-Conversation in 〈◊〉 World By these three things then out of this Book thou who art not saved must at last be judged and overcome First Here will be tryed whether thou art within that part of this Book wherein all the Elect are Recorded for all the Elect are written here as Christ saith Rejoyce that your names are written in Heaven And again in thy Book saith he to his Father are all my members written Luk. 10. 20. Psal. 139. 16. Heb 12. 22 23. Now then if thy name be not found either among the Prophets Apostles or the rest of Saints thou must be put by as one that is cast away as one polluted and as an abominable branch Isa. 14. 18 19. Thy name is wanting in the Genealogies and Rolls of Heaven Ezra 2. 62. Thou art not prickt for everlasting life therefore thou must not be delivered from that Soul-amazing misery for there are no Souls can though they would give a thousand Worlds be delivered at the day of God but such that are found written in this Book Every one of those that are written though never a one of those that are not written shall in that day be delivered from the wrath to câ—me Dan. 12. 1. But O methinks with what careful hearts will the damned now begin to look for their names in this Book Those that when once the long suffering of God waited on them made light of all admonition and slighted the Counsel of making their Calling and Election sure would now give thousands of Treasures that they could but spy their names though last and least among the Sons of God but I say how will they fail how will they faint how will they die and languish in their Souls when they shall still as they look see their names wanting What a pinch will it be to Cain to see his Brother there Recorded and he himself left out Absalon will now sound and be as one that giveth up the Ghost when he shall see David his Father and Solomon his Brother written here while he with all is written in the Earth among the damned Thus I say will sadness be added to sadness in the Soul of the perishing World when they fail of finding their names in this part of the Book of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. Secondly The second part of this Book is that in which is Recorded the nature of Conversion of Faith Love c. And those that have not had the effectual Word of God upon them and the true and saving operation of Grace in their hearts which is indeed the true life which is begun in every Christian they will be found still not written in this Book for the living the holy living Souls are they onely that are written therein as the Prophet saith And he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem Isa. 4. 3. Eternal life is already in this life begun in every Soul that shall be saved as Christ saith He that believeth in me hath everlasting life And again Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 54. And hence they aâ—e called the living that are written in this Book Here then the Lord will open before thee what Conversion is in the true and simple nature of it which wher thou beholdest thou wilt then be convinced that this thou hast mist of for it must needs be that when thou beholdest by the Records of Heaven what a change what a turn what an alteration the work of Regeneration maketh on every Soul and in every heart where the effectual Call or the Call according to his purpose is that thou who hast lived a stranger to this or that hast contented thy self with the notion onely or a formal and feigned profession thereef I say it cannot be but that thou must forthwith fall down and with grief conclude that thou hast no share in this part of the Book of Life neither the living onely are written herein There is not one dead carnall wicked man recorded here No but when the Lord shall at this day make mention of Rahâ—b of Babylon of Philistia and Ethiopia that is of all the cursed â—abble and crue of the damned then he will say that this man was born there that is amongst them and so hath his name where they have theirs
namely under the black Rod in the Kings black Book where he hath Recorded all his Enemies and Traytors It shall be said of this man of this ungodly man that he was born there Psal. 87. 4. That he lived and dyed in the state of nature and so under the curse of God even as others for as he said of wicked Coniah Jer. 22. 30. Write this man childless so he saith of every ungodly man that so departeth out of this World Write this man Graceless Wherefore I say among the Babylonians and Phylistians among the unbelieving Moors and Pagans his name will be found in the day when it will be inquired where every man was born for God at this day will divide the whole World into these two Ranks the Children of the World and the Children of Zion Wherefore here is the honour the priviledge and advantage that the Godly above the wicked will have at the day of their counting When the Lord maketh mention of Zion it shall be then acknowledged that this and that good man was born in her the Lord shall count saith the Prophet when he wrighteth up the People that this man was born there Psal. 87. 5 6. This man had the work of Conversion of Faith and Grace iâ— his Soul This man 〈◊〉 Child of Zion of the Heavenly Jerusalem which is also written in Heaven Blessed is the People that are in such a case Gal. 4 26 Heb 12. 22 23. Psal. 144. 1â—â— But poor Soul Counters will not go for Gold now for though so long as thou didst judge thy self by the crooked rule of thy own reason fancy and affection thou wast pure in thy own eyes yet â—ow thâ—u must be judged alone by the words and rule of the Lord Jesus Which word shall not now as in times past be wrested and wrung both this way and that to smooth thee up in thy Hypocrites hope and carnall confidence but be thou King or Keser be thou who thou wilt the Word of Christ and that with this interpretation onely It shall judge thee in the last day Joh. 12. 44. Now will sinners begin to cry with loud and bitter cryes Oh! ten thousand Worlds for a saving work of Grace Crowns and Kingdoms for the least measure of saving Faith and for the love that Christ will say is the love of his own Spirit Now they will begin also to see the work of a broken and a contrite spirit and of walking with God as living 〈◊〉 in this World But alas these things appear in their hearts to the damned too late as also do all things else This will be but like the repentance of the Thief about whose neck is the â—alter and he turning off the ladder for the unfortunate hap of the damned will be that the glory of Heavenly things will not appear to them till out of season Christ must now indeed be shewed to them as also the true nature of Faith and all Grace but it will be when the door is shut and mercy gone they will pray and repent most earnestly but it will be in the time of great Waters of the flouds of eternall wrath when they cannot come nigh him 1 Tim. 6. 15. Matth. 25. 10 11. Psal. 32. 6. Well then tell me sinner if Christ shouâ—d now come to judge the World canst thou abide the tryal of the Book of Life Art thou confident that thy Profession that thy Conversion thy Faith and all other Graces thou thinkest thou hast will prove Gold Silver and precious Stones in this day behold he comes as a Refiners fire and as Fullâ—rs Soap shalt thou indeed abide the melting and washing of this day Examine I say before hand and try thy self unfeignedly for every one that doth â—ruth cometh to the light that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Joh. 3. 21. Thou sayest thou art a Christian that also thou hast repented dost believe and love the Lord Jesus but the question is whether these things will be found of equall length heighth and bredth with the Book of Life Or whether when thou art weighed in the ballance thou wilt yet be found wanting Dan. 5. 27. How if when thou comest to speak for thy self before God thou shouldest say Siboleth instead of Shiboleth that is though almost yet not rightly and naturally the Language of the Christians Judg. 12. 4 5 6. If thou miss but one letter in thy evidence thou art gone for though thou mayst deceive thy own heart with Brass instead of Gold and with Tin instead of Silver Gal. 6. 7. yet God will not be so put off You know how confident the foolish Virgins were and yet how they were deceived They herded with the Saints they went forth from the gross pollutions of the World they every one had shining Lamps and all went forth to meet the Bridegroom and yet they mist the Kingdom They were not written among the living in Jerusalem they had not the true powerful saving work of Conversion of Faith and Grace in their Souls they that are foolish take their Lamps but take no Oyl no saving Grace with them Mat. 25. 1 2 3 4. Thus you see how sinners will be put to it before the Judgment-Seat from these two parts of this Book of Life But Thirdly There is yet another part of this Book to be opened and that is that part of it in which is Recorded those noble and Christian acts that they have done since the time of their Conversion and turning to Christ. Here I say is Recorded the Testimony of the Saints against sin and Antichrist their suffering for the sake of God their love to the members of Christ their patience under the Cross and their faithful frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints and their incouraging one another to bear up in his wayes in the worst of times even when the proud was called happy and when they that wrought wickedness were even set up As he there saith Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a Book of Rememrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name Mat. 3. 14 15 16. For indeed as truly as any person hath his name found in the first part of this Book of Life and his Conversion in the second so there is a third part in which there is his noble spiritual and holy actions Recorded and set down As it is said by the Spirit to John concerning those that suffered Martyrdom for the truth of Jesus Write blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them Rev. 14. 13. And hence it is that the labours of the Saints and the Book of Life are mentioned together signifying that the travels and labours and acts of the godly are Recorded therein Phil. 4. 3. And hence it is again that the Lord
Souls as appears by the grace that was in your hearts For I was an hungred and you gave me meat was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and you visited me and in Prison and you came unto me Matth. 25. 34 35 36. you owned me stood by me and denyed your selves to nourish me and my poor members in our low and weak and most despised condition This I say the World shall see hear and be witnesses of against themselves and their Souls for ever for how can it be but these poor damned sinners should be forced to confess that they were both Christless and Graceless when they shall find both in the book of life and in the hearts of the holy and beloved Souls that which themselves are quite barren of and greatest strangers to The Saints by the fruits of Regeneration even in this World do testify to the World not only the truth of conversion in themselves but also that they are yet Christless and so heavenless and salvationless that are not converted 1 Tim. 6. 12. 1 Thess. 2. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 2. But alas while we are here they will evade this testimony both of our happiness by calling our Faith fantacy our communion with God delusion and the sincere profession of his Word before the World hypocrisy pride and arrogancy yet I say when they see us on the right hand of Christ commingled among the Angels of light and themselves on his left hand and commingled with the Angels of darkness and I say when they shall see our hearts and wayes opened before their eyes and owned by the Judg for honest hearts and good wayes and yet the same wayes that they hated slighted disowned and contemned what will they or what can they say but thus We fools counted their lives madness and their end to be without honour but how are they numbred with the Saints and owned by God and Christ. And truly was it not that the world might by seeing the turn that is wrought on the godly at their Conversion be convinced of the evil of their wayes or be left without excuse the more in the day of God with some other reasons they should not I am perswaded stay so long from Heaven as they do nor undergo so much abuse and hardship as frequently befalls them God by the lengthening out the life of his people that are scattered here and there among men in this world is making work for the day of Judgment and the overthrow of the implacable for ever and ever and as I have said will by the Conversion life patience self-denyal and heavenly mindedness of his dear children give them a heavy and most dreadful blow Now When God hath thus laid open the work of Grace both by the booâ— of life and the Christians heart then of 〈◊〉 self will fall to the ground their pleading what gifts and abilities they had in this world they will now see that gifts and grace are two things and also that whosoever is graceless let their gifts be never so excellent they must perish and be lost for ever wherefore for all their gifts they shall be found the workers of iniquity and shall so be judged and condemned Matth. 7. 22 23. That is a notable place in the Prophecy of Ezekiel Thus saith the Lord saith he If the Prince the Prince of life give a gift to any of his sons that is to any that are truly gracious the inheritance oâ— the profit that he gets thereby shall be his sons that is for the exercise of his gift he shall receive a reward but if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants that is not a son then it shall be his but to the year of liberty after it shall return to the Prince c. Ezek. 46. 16 17. This day of liberty it is now when the Judg is set upon the throne to Judgment even the glorious liberty of the children of God Rom. 8. 21. wherefore then will Christ say to them that stand by Take from him the pound and give it to him that hath ten pâ—unds this servant must not abide in the house for ever though with the son it shall be so Joh. 8. 35. Luke 19. 24. A man may be used as a servant in the Church of God and may receive many gifts and much knowledg of the things of heaven and yet at last himself be no more than a very bubble and nothing 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. But now I say at this day they shall clearly see the difference between gifts and grace even as clearly as now they that have eyes can see the difference between gifts and ignorance and very foolishness This our day doth indeed abound with gifts many sparkling wits are seen in every corner men have the Word and truths of Christ at their fingers ends but alas with many yea a great many there is naught but wits and gifts they are but words all their Religion lyeth in their tongues and heads the power of what they say and know it is seen in others not in themselves these are like the Lord on whom the King of Israel leaned they shall see the plenty the blessed plenty that God doth provide and will bestow upon his Church but they shall not tast thereof 2 Kings 7. 17 18 19 20. Before I conclude this matter observe that among all the objections and cavils that are made and will be made by the ungodly in the day of the Lord Jesus they have not one hump abouâ— election and reprobation they murmur not at all that they were not predestinated to eternal life and the reason is because then they shall see though now they are blind that God could in his Prerogative Royal without prejudice to them that are damned chuse and refuse at pleasure and besides they at that day shall be convinced that theâ—e was so much reality and downright willingness in God in every tender of Grace and mercy to the worst of men and also so much goodness justness and reasonableness in every command of the Gospel of grace which they were so often intreated and beseeched to imbrace that they will be drowned in the conviction of this that they did refuse love grace reason c. love I say for hatred grace for sin and things reasonable for things unreasonable and vain Now they shall see they left glory for shame God for the Devil heaven for hell light for darkness Now they shall see that though they made themselves beasts yet God made theâ— reasonable Creatures and that he did with reason expect that they should have adhered to and have delighted in things that are good and according to God yea now they shall see that though God did not determine to bring them to Heaven against their hearts and wills and the love that they had to their sins yet then they shall be convinced that
God was far from infusing any thing into their Souls that should in the least hinder weaken obstruct or let them in seeking the welfare of their Souls Now men will tattle and prattle at a mad raâ—e about election and reprobation and conclude that because all are not elected therefore God is to blame that any are damned but then they will see that they are not damned because they were not elected but because they sinned and also that they sinned not because God put any weakness into their Souls but because they gave way and that wilfully knowingly and desperately to Satan and his suggestions and so turned away from the holy Commandment delivered unto them yea then they will see that though God at sometimes did fasten his cords about your heads and heels and hands both by godly education and smarting convictions yet you rusht away with violence from all saying Let us break these bonds asunder and cast their cords from us Psal. 2. 1 2 3. God will be justified in his sayings and clear when he judgeth though thy proud ignorance thinks to have and to multiply cavills against him Psal. 51. 4. But secondly as the whole body of the Elect by the nature of conversion in their hearts shall witness a non-conversion in the hearts of the wicked and as the ungodly shall fall under the conviction of this cloud of Witnesses So to increase their conviction there will also be opened before them all the labours of the godly both Ministers and others and the pains that they have taken to save if it had been possible these damned wretches and now will it come burning hot upon their Souls how often they were forewarned of this day now they shall see that there was never any Quarter-Sessions nor general Goal-delivery more publickly foretold of then this day You know that the Judges before they begin their Assizes do give to the Countrey in Charge That they take heed to the Laws and Statutes of the King Why Râ—bel thou shalt be at this day convicted that every sermon thou hast heard and that every serious debate thou hast bin at about the things of God and Laws of eternity they were to thee as the Judges Charge before the Assizes and Judgment began Every exhortation of every Minister of God it is as that which Paul gave to Timothy and commanded hiâ— to give in charge to others I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angells saith he that thou observe these things and again I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Jesus Christ who before Ponâ—us Pâ—laâ—e witnessed a goâ—d confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukable untill the appearing of Jesus Christ these things give in charge saith he that they may be blameless 1 Tim. 3. 21. and c. 6. v. 13. This I say hast thou heard and seen and yet thou hast not held fast but hast cast away the things that thou hast heard and hast bin warned of alas God will multiply his Witnesses against thee 1. Thy own Vows and Promises shall be a Witness against thee that thou hast contrary to thy light and knowledg destroyed thy Soul as Joshuah said to the children of Israel when they said the Lord should be their God Well saith he Ye are Witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him that is if now you turn back again even this Covenant and resolution of yours will in the great day be a witness against you and they said we are witnesses Jos. 24. 20 21 22. 2. Every time you have with your mouth said well of godliness and yet gone on in wickedness or every time you have condemned sin in others and yet have not refrained it your selves I say every such word and conclusion that hath passed out of thy mouth sinner it shall be as a witness against thee in the day of God and the Lord Jesus Christ as Christ saith Matth. 12. 36 37. By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned I observe that talk with who you will they will with their mouth say serving of God and loving of Christ and walking in wayes of holiness is best and best will come of it I observe again that men that are grosly wicked themselves will yet with heavy censures and Judgments condemn drunkenness lying coveâ—ousness pride and whoring with all manner of abominations in others and yet in the mean time continue to be neglectors of God and imbracers of sin and the allurements of the flesh themselves Why such souls every time they speak well of godliness and continue in their sins they do pass Judgment upon themselves and provide a witness even their own mouth against their own Soul at the Judgment seat Out of thy own mouth saith Christ will I judg thee thou wicked servant thou knewest what I was and that I loved to see all my servants zealous and active for me that at my comming I might have received again what I gave thee with increase thou oughtest therefore to have bin busying thy self in my work for my glory and thy own good but seeing thou hast against thy own light and mouth gone contrary Angels take this unprofitable servant and cast ye him into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth he sinned against his light he shall go to hell against his will Matth. 25 26 27 28 29 30. The very same I say will befall all those that have used their mouth to condemn the sins of others while they themselves live in their sins Saith God O thou wicked wretch thou didst know that sin was bad thou didst condemn it in others thou didst also condemn and passe Judgment upon them for their sin Thou art therefore inexcusable a man whosoever thou art that hast thus Judged for thou that judgest dost the same thing Wherefore wherein thou hast judged another thou hast condemned thy self I must therefore saith Christ look upon thee to be no other but a sinner against thy own mouth and cannot but judge thee as a despiser of my goodness and the riches of my forbearance by which means thou hast treasured up wrath against this day of wrath and Revellation of the Righteous Judgment of God He that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Rom. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. Thus will God I say judge and condemn poor sinners even from and by themselves to the fire that Lake of Brimstone and fire Thirdly God hath said in his Word that rather then there shall want witness at the day of Judgment against the works of iniquity The very dust of their City that shall cleave to his Messengers that publish the Gospel shall it self be a witness against them and so Christ bid his Servants say into whatsoever City ye enter and they receive you not go your wayes out into the streets of the same