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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Nay further we do not onely see what operation the Spirit will have in our Body by the carriage of Christ after his Resurrection but even by many a Saint before their Death The Spirit used to catch Elijah away no man could tell whether It carryed Ezekiel hither and thither It carryed Christ from the Top of the Pinacle of the Temple into Galilee through it he walked on the Sea the Spirit caught away Philip from the Eunuch and carryed him as far as Azotus 1 King 17. 11 12. 2 King 2. 11. Ezek 3. 14. Luke 4. 14. Matth. 14. 25. Act. 8. 39. 40. Thus the great God hath given us a Tast of the power and glory that is in himself and how easily it will help us by its possessing of us at the Resurrection to act and do like Angels as Christ sâ—ith They that shall be counted worthy of that World and of the Resurrection from the Dead they shall not die but be equal to the Angels Luk. 23. 36. Further as the Body by being thus spiritualized shall be as I have said so again it must needs be that hereby all the Service of the Body and Faculties of the Soul must be infinitely inlarged also Now we shall see him as he is and now we shall know even as we are known 1 Joh. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 13. 12. First now we shall see him to wit Christ in his Glory Not by Revelation onely as we do now but then Face to Face and he will have us with him to this very end Joh. 17. 24. Though John was in the Spirit when he had the Vision of Christ Rev. 1. 17. yet it made him fall at his Feet as dead and also turned Daniel's Beauty into Corruption Dan. 10. 8. It was so glorious and so over-weighing a Glory that he appeared in but we shall at the Day of our Resurrection be so furnished that we shall with the Eagle be able to look upon the Sun in his strength We shall then I say see Him as he is who now is in the Light that no Eye hath seen nor any man can see till that Day 1 Tim. 6. 16. Now we shall see into all Things There shall not be any thing hid from us there shall not be a Saint a Prophet or saved Soul small or great but we shall then perfectly know them Also all the Works of Creation Election and Redemption and shall see and know as throughly all the Things of Heaven and Earth and Hell even as perfectly as now we know our A B C. For the Spirit with which we shall in every Crany of Soul and Body be filled I say that searcheâ—h all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. We see that strange Things have been known by the Prophets and Saints of God and that when they knew but in part Abraham could by it tell to a day how long his Seed should be under Persecution in Egypt Gen. 15. 13. Elisha by it could tell what was done in the King of Assyria's Bed-Chamber 2 King 6. 12. Ahijah could know by this Jeroboam's Wife so soon yea before her Feet entred within his Door though he saw her not 1 King 14. 1 2 3 4 5. The Prophet of Judah could tell by this what God would do to Bethel for the Idolatry there committed and could also point out the man by name that should do the Execution long before he was born 1 Kin. 13. 2. What shall I say Enoch by it could tell what should be done at the end of the World Jud. 14 15. How did the Prophets to a circumstance prophecie of Christ's Birth his Death his Burial of their giving him Call and Vinegar Of their parting his Raiment and piercing his Hands and Feet Isa. 53. Of his riding on an Ass Also all this they saw when they spake of him Joh. 12. 41. Peter also though half asleep could at the very first word call Moses and Elias by their Names when they appeared to Christ in the Holy Mount Luk. 9. 33. He is very ignorant of the operation of the Spirit of God that scrupleth these Things But now I say if these Things have been done seen and known by Spiritual men while their knowledge hath been but in part how shall we know see and discern when that which is perfect is come Which will be at the Resurrection It is raised a Spiritual Body Thus in few words have I shewed you the truth of the Resurrection of the Just and also the manner of their Rising Had I judged it convenient I might have much inlarged on each particular and have added many more For the Doctrine of the Resurrection however question'd by Hereticks and Erroneous Persons yet is such a Truth that almost all the Holy Scriptures of God point at and center in it God hath from the beginning of the World shewed to us that our Body must be with him as well as our Soul in the Kingdom of Heaven I say he hath shew'd first he hath shewed us how he will deal with those that are alive at Christs coming by his translating of Enoch Gen. 5. 24. Heb. 1. 5. and taking him Body and Soul to himself As also by his catching of Elias 1 King 2. 10 11. up Body and Soul into Heaven in a Fiery Chariot Secondly He hath often put us in remembrance of the Rising of those that are Dead at that Day First By the Faith he gave Abraham concerning the Offering of his Son For when he offered him he accounted that God was able to raise him up even from the Dead From whence also he received him in a Figure In a Figure of the Resurrection of Christ for Abraham's Justification and of Abraham's Resurrection by Christ at the last Day for his Glorification Heb. 11. 19. Secondly By the Faith he gave Joseph consuming his Bones which Charge the Godly in Egypt did diligently observe and to that end did keep them four hundred years and at length carryed them I say from Egypt to Canaan Heb. 11. 22. which was a Tipe of our being carryed in our Body from this World to Heaven Besides How oft did God give power to his Prophets Servants and Christ Jesus to raise some that was now dead and some that had been long so and all no doubt to put the present Generations as also the Generations yet unborn in mind of the Resurrection of the Dead To this end I say how was the Shunamites Son raised from the dead 2 King 4. The man also at the touching of the bones of Elisha 2 King 13. 20 21. Together with the body of Lazarus with Jairus Daughter and Tabitha and many others Luke 8. 53 54 55. Joh. 11. 43 44 45. Acts 9. 40 41. who after their Soul was departed from them Lazarus lying in his grave four dayes were all raised to life again and lived with that very Body out of which the Soul at their death had departed But above all that notable place in
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