infinitely perfect is his essential property That God doth know whether Christ shall appear to Judgment I suppose none will deny who acknowledge the Deity and by consequence his omniscience and prescience especially when the futurity of things doth depend upon his predetermination and that his revelations of future things are true I suppose none wil deny who acknowledge his beeing and perfection whence follows an impossibility of Gods speaking untruths and falshood besides that he need not do it But then the question wil be concerning the Divine Authority of the Scriptures whether they are indeed the Word of God which if proved wil evidence the certainty of Christ's coming to Judgment which is there revealed and foretold That the Scriptures are the Word of God will appear 1. From the Superscription and Image of God upon them 2. From the marvellous power and efficacy of them 3. From the Historical Relation in them of Prophesies fulfilled and Miracles whereby they were confirmed and the rationally unquestionable certainty of this History as it is handed down to pâ—sterity 1. From the superscription and Image of God upon them I mean in that 1 They bear the name of the Word of God 2 In that they bear such evident marks and characters of Divinity 1. The Scriptures bear the name of the Word of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by divine inspiration We cannot rationally imagine that the all-seeing and jealous God should permit such an impious forgery and deceit to receive credit for so many generations amongst the most zealous worshipers of him in the World and by such wonderful providences preserve and maintain the Scriptures against the rage and fury of an ungodly World who have opposed the truths therein contained and endeavoured the suppressing of the Light which therein hath shined if so be that they had been a forgery and deceit indeed and the fancies and inventions of Men fathered upon him as his Word and will and proceeding from the inspirations of his spirit but that he would have made known their falshood unto some at least who had the greatest love and respect to his name and honour and have been the most diligent enquirers after truth and unwilling to be imposed upon with deceits especially in such things as are of the highest concernment which the Lord having given no testimony against but all along owned and when none in the World either worshippers of him or others of highest pretensions to reason have any evident and swaying reason to believe that the Scriptures are a deceit whatever some black mouths mutter in corners it is not irrational for us to believe that the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God which they bear the Title of 2. Moreover and especially the Scriptures appear to be from divine inspiration insomuch as they bear such evident marks and characters of divinity beyond all other Books 1. The first character of Divinity in the Scriptures is the clear discoveries and high praises which they give of God and the chief design of the whole Book which is Gods glory No Heathen Philosopher or Writer could think or speak so highly of God as the Scriptures do speak However God hath put characters of himself in the Book of the Creatures to be read of all making known by his Works his eternal Beeing his infinite Power Wisdome and Goodness yet most of the wisest Men who have lived in the Heathen World and have been the greatest Students of the Book of the Creatures and have had no view of the Book of the Scriptures have been so gross in their conceptions of God that as the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 22 23. When they professed themselves to be wise they became fools and changed the Glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man and to Birds and four-footed Beasts and creeping things They have figured to themselves and worshipped many Gods unto the dishonour of the true God And if some of them have arrived by the light of nature unto the notion of one God yet their conceptions of him have been low mean and unworthy of him and in no Book in the World is God set forth so fully and highly in his glorious attributes and superlative excellencies as he hath set forth himself in the Book of the Scriptures We may finde in heathen Writers high Elogium's and Panegyricks of some men and Women famous in their time for their valour and some moral vertues whom they have deified in after ages and given room amongst their feigned Gods and Goddesses dedicating Temples and giving worship unto them but in no Heathen writings shall we finde the praises of the true God and rules given for the service and worship of him alone as we shall finde in the Scriptures Large Volumes some Heathens have left behinde them the design of which hath been their own glory and as much as in them lay the eternizing their Fame which is an evidence that themselves were Authors of them because we cannot rationally think that any motive should induce others to make and put forth Books in their names that they might obtain glory for them unto whom it did not belong so this little volume of the Scriptures designing the glory of God and the promoting of his Interest in the hearts of Men and the Pen-men employed in the writing thereof not in the least pretending that what they wrote was the invention of their own brain doth evidence God himself to be the Author of this Book Wherefore the Scriptures being so clear in their discoveries of the one true God and setting him forth more gloriously than any other Book and ascribing all praise and honour to him and appointing all religious worship to be given to him only and designing his glory throughout the whole doth evince that the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God 2. The second Character of Divinity in the Scripture is the sublime mysteries therein revealed namely concerning the Trinity of Persons in one nature and essence of God the hypostatical union of the two natures of God and Man in one person of Christ the mystical union of Christ and his members and the like which mysteries are so sublime so high that no mortal Man of the highest reason and most elevated understanding could possibly invent in as much as noâ— they are revealed they exceed the capacity of the most enlightned to understand especially if we further consider by whom these mysteries were revealed not by the great Schollars and subtle Philosophers of the World not by them who were brought up in Schools and had conversed with Books and learned Men not by Men of high parts who had polished their reason and heightned their understandings by all possible humane helps but the most of the Pen-men of the Scripture especially those by whom the greatest mysteries are revealed were Fisher-men Publicans and the like Men of mean education illiterate Men Men of no reading and of but mean
CHRIST'S Certain and sudden Appearance TO JUDGMENT By Thomas Vincent sometime Minister of Maudlins Milstreet London Heb. 10. 37. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry LONDON Printed for George Calvert and are to be sold at the Bible in Iewen-street 1667. TO THE Citizens of London YOu have heard God's Terrible Voice in the City expressing it self in the late dreadful desolating Judgments of Plague and Fire the sound of which hath gone forth not only into every corner of the Land but I believe also by this time unto the farthest end of the World Give me leave to sound another Trumpet in your ears and to forewarn you of a ten thousand times more dreadful Judgment I mean the last and general Judgment of the whole World at the second appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ who will most certainly and very quickly be revealed from Heaven in flaming Fire to take vengeance upon all them which shall be found ungodly on that Day Could I have certainly foretold the many thousands that sell by the Plague in the year 1665 of their so neer approaching death surely they would have endeavoured to prepare that the sting and fear of death might have been removed could I have foretold the Citizens of London of the many thousand Houses which should fall by the Fire in the year 1666 surely they would have endeavoured to prevent the Fire or at least have removed all their goods before-hand but these things could not be foreseen and therefore as the Judgments were unexpected so they took the most unprovided But I can certainly foretell you from God who cannot lie of the future 〈◊〉 Judgment by the Lord Jesus Christ at the last day which is the subject of this ensuing Treatise And when you have warnings hereof out of the Word of Truth and awakening motives to prepare by dreadful temporal Judgments you should neglect to do it and after all be found unprovided at the appearance of Christ as your sin will be the greater and more inexcusable so your dread will be the greater at the sight of your Judge whom those very eyes which read these lines will behold ere long coming in the Clouds and your punishment will be the more intollerable But if the Lord encline your hearts to follow the directions and counsels of his Word to prepare for this great and notable day you shall lift up your heads with joy when the greatest part of the World shall be filled with terrour and confusion and when the Lord Jesus doth appear you also shall appear with him in glory The design of these sheets is to set forth the glorious appearance of Christ with the certainty and suddenness thereof that sinners might be awakened to repent and believers might be comforted with the hopes of it and all might be in a readiness for the day which is so sure and near which that you may be and that my endeavours may be blessed for your help herein is the prayer of an earnest well-wisher to your souls Thomas Vincent The Contents chapter 1 Introduction 2. Doctrines Doct. 1. That the Lord Iesus Christ will certainly and quickly appear Doct. 2. That there is an earnest desire and longing in the Church after Christs appearance pag. 1 2. 1. Concerning Christs appearance 1. In the Flesh. p. 2 3 4. chapter 2 2. In glory where concerning 1. The manner of his appearance p. 5. 1. With great Power 1. Over Death p. 6. 2. Over Men and Devils p. 7 8. 2. With great glory p. 8 9. 1. He will be attended with a glorious retinue of Angels p. 10. 11. chapter 3 2. He will come with a glorious brightness and great noise 9. 12 13 14. 2. The end of Christs appearance and transactions of that day p. 15. 1 He will raise the dead p 16 to 19 2 He will gather all Nations before his judgment Seat p 19 3 He will separate the righteous from the wicked p 20 21 4. He will open the Books 1. Of Gods remembrance p. 22. to 27. 2. Of Mens consciences p 27 3 Of the Law p 28 4 Of the Gospel p 28 29 5 Of life p 30 5. He will judge both the righteous and wicked p. 30 Where 1. Concerning their particular Iudgment 2. Concerning the execution of their sentence pronounced p. 30. chapter 5 1 Concerning the Iudgment of the righteous 1 The immediate Antecedents are 1 Their Resurrection p 31 32 2 Their meeting with the Angels p 33 3 Their meeting one with another p 34 4 Their being caught up together into the air p 35 5 Their meeting with the Lord p 36 to 40 chapter 6 2 The Iudgment it self p 40 1 He wil take an account of them p 41 1 Of their graces p 42 2 Of the improvement of their talents ibid. 3 Of their works of mercy p 43 4 Of their afflictions p 44 2 He will pronounce the Sentence upon them p 44 45 chapter 7 2 Concerning the Iudgment of the wicked 1 The immediate antecedents are 1 Their resurrection and meeting of body and soul p 46 to 50 2 Their meeting with Devils p 50 51 3 Their meeting one with another p 52 4 Their seeing the righteous caught up to meet the Lord p 53 to 61 5 Their seeing the Lord Iesus Christ coming to judge them p 59 to 64 6 Their seeing the Iudgment of the righteous p 64 chapter 8 2 The Iudgment it self here concerning 1 The Iudge in 8 properties p 64 to 72 2 The Assessors p 73 3 The Malefactors p 74 75 4 The crimes p 76 77 5 The accusers 1 God p 78 79 2 Men good Minist p 80 to 83 godly friends p 83 to 87 bad 3 Devils ibid. 4 Their own consciences p 87 6 The conviction where twenty sorts of sinners are called forth and convicted by the Iudge from p. 87 to 115 7 The sentence p 116 117 chapter 9 2 Concerning the execution of the sentence pronounced upon both righteous and wicked in judgment 118 1. The execution of the sentence on the wicked 1. Of the wicked going away 1. From whom viz. 1. Christ ibid. 2. Saints 119 2. From what ibid. 3. Six vexing considerations in their going away from p. 120 to p. 130 2. Of the wickeds going into punishment 1. Of the punishment they shall go into p 131 1. The Inflicter p. 132 133 2. The Subject Soul p 134 Body p. 135 3. The properties 1. Universal 2. Extream 3. Continual 4. Remediless 5. Eternal p. 136. to 142 chapter 10 2. Of their entrance into this punishment p. 143 144 2. The execution of the sentence on the righteous p. 145 1. Of the righteous going away 1. From whom viz. Devils p. 146 Wicked p. 147 2. From what ibid. 3. Three sweet considerations in their going away from p. 147. to 152 2. Of the righteous going into eternal life 1. Of the eternal life they shall go into or their happiness 1.
God will enlighten it and the Lamb will be the light of it and Chap. 22. 5. There shall be no night there and they shall need no Candle nor the light of the Sun but the Lord God giveth them light and they shall raign for ever and ever In Hell it will be all night and no day there will be blackness of darkness for ever and not the least beam of light shall shine into that place and if the Sun and other Stars be given for the measure and distinction of times and seasons when the last day is come Time will be no longer and all must launch forth from the confines of Time into the vast Ocean of Eternity which cannot be bounded nor measured It is said Rev. 20. 11. When the great white Throne shall be set and Christ is placed thereon that the Heavens and the Earth shall flee away from before his face and no more place be found for them and 2 Pet. 3. 10. When the day of the Lord cometh that the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and the Earth with all its works shall be burnt up Christ will come with a glorious light and with a roaring dreadful noise which will further set forth the glory of this appearance see this expressed 1 Thes. 4. 16. The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and the Trump of God and Matth. 24. 31. He shall send forth his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet who shall gather in his Elect from the four mindes Never was there such a noise heard in the World as then will be heard when Christ shall appear the heavens will roar the Earth will be in flames of Fire there will be a great shout and the sound of the last Trump in the Aire this shout will be given by Jesus Christ himself as is likely for it is said Iohn 5. 28 The hour is coming in which all that are in their Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth we read Iohn 11. 43. When Christ came to raise Lazarus that he cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth surely then when he comes to raise the World he will cry and shout with a much louder voice Such a voice likely will come down from him in a roaring shout Awake yee dead and come to Iudgement or arise yee Children of Men and come forth of your Graves Never was there such a shout given as then will be given which will be accompanied with the sound of the Trumpet the Angels shall sound the Trumpet we read Exod. 19. 16. When the Lord gave the Law from Mount Sinai that there were thunderings and lightnings and the voice of a Trumpet exceeding loud which made all the People which were in the Camp to tremble O what thunderings will there be in the aire at Christs second appearance and how exceeding loud will the sound of this last Trumpet be when Christ comes to judge them which have broken this Law That Trumpet was heard only by the Nation of the Jewes which were together about the Mount this Trumpet will be heard by all Nations throughout the World that Trumpet was heard only by those which were alive at that time this Trumpet will be heard not only by them that shall remain alive upon the Earth at the last day but also by all those which have dyed throughout all Generations from the beginning of the Creation such a noise there will be as will awaken all that shall be asleep in their graves Such a noise as will make all the corners of the earth to ring and the pillars of the world to tremble but O how will it startle the wicked when they hear it and fill them with terrour and amazement Thus you have something of the manner of Christ's second appearance set forth unto you he shall come with power and great glory CHAP. IV. 2. THe second thing is to speak of the end of Christs second appearance and the transactions of that day The end of Christs second appearance will be to judge the world the end of his first coming was not to judge but to redeem and save as he tells his disciples when they desired him to execute some judgment from Heaven upon those Samaritans which would not receive him Luke 9. 55 56. Ye know not what spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them And Iohn 7. 47. If any man hear my words and believe not I judge him not for I came not to judge but to save but when Christ doth appear the second time he will come to judge the world Iude 14. 15. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgment upon all c. Matth. 26. 31 32. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit on the Throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and so he goeth on in description of the last judgment In speaking of Christs judging the world and the transactions at that day I shall show 1. That Christ will raise up all the dead one of their graves 2. That he will gather all Nations before his judgment Seat 3. That he will separate the righteous from the wicked 4. That he will open the Boâ—ks out of which all must be judged 5. I shall speak more particularly of the judgment of the Righteous and the Wicked 1. Christ at his second appearance will raise up all the dead out of their graves there shall be a general resurrection Iohn 5. 28 29. The hour cometh in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation Something hath been spoken already concerning Christs victory over death and loosning all his prisoners but give me leave to illustrate the resurrection a little further and here I shall endeavour to set it forth by an allusion to that notable place Ezek. 37. and the ten first verses The hand of the Lord was upon me and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones And caused me to pass by them round about there were very many in the open valley and so they were very dry And he said unto me Son of man Can these bones live and I answered O Lord thou knowest Again he said unto me Prophesie upon these bones and say unto them O ye dry bones hear the Word of the Lord Thus saith the Lord unto these bones Behold I will cause breath to enter into you and ye shall live And I will lay sinews upon you and bring up flesh upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and you
make such an impression as to raise their hearts to an unconceivable heighth of love 3. The righteous will have a higher capacity for love in Heaven than here they have and they shall be filled with love unto the heighth of their capacity they will be able to love a thousand times more than now they can do and they shall love unto their utmost ability they will see perfection of loveliness in God and all that are about him and they shall have perfection of love here their love is sincere and growing but it is weak and imperfect hereafter it will be grown up to the full heighth of it and perfect love will cast out all tormenâ— here their love is mixed the stream is divided â—t runs and wasts it self in many small rivulets which empty themselves upon the creatures but then the whole stream will run forth unto God individedly not a drop of their love shall be â—pâ—lt on the ground God will be the sole object â—f their love here their love is uneven and incoâ—stant to God sometimes it ebbs and someâ—imes it slows sometimes they have a high and â—pring-tiâ—e of love to God but at other times it 〈◊〉 low water hereafter their love to God will be â—ven and constant and alwaies at the greatest â—eighth 3. And O what joy will there be in their hearts through the union which the righteous shall have unto God the chief good when their minds shall be joyned to him in immediate vision and their hearts in perfect love O how sweet a fruition of God will this be what delights will spring from hence if the Saints can now rejoyce exceedingly in God when they see him so little and their love is so imperfect what will they do when they see and love him perfectly and fully if they are now exceeding glad sometimes with the light of his countenance though they have but a glimpse thereof what will they be when they shall have a constant view thereof and live eternally under the beams of that light their love to God is sweet now though it be weak but what will it be in Heaven when the conjunction of their hearts to God by love shall be so neeâ— and close if the Saints can now rejoyce in hope of the glory of God what will they do in the possession thereof when faith shall be changed for vision and hope turned into fruition O how will the Saints rejoyce and triumph when they are sailed quite thorow the tempestuous Sea oâ— this world and are landed safely in Heaven where there is rest and peace without any windy stormâ— when they have got the victory over the devil and sin and are now placed out of the gun-shoâ— of temptation and have conquered througâ— Christ the grave and death and are out of feâ—â— of his arrows when they see that they have escaped the terrible wrath of God and finde them selves in the arms of his love when theâ— perceive that they are in Heaven now inâ—deed notwithstanding all their sins and doubts and fears and now they have that blessed vision of God which they so much desired and the full fruition of God in love which they hoped for when they shall look about them and see so much glory about them and shall look within them and see so much glory there revealed beyond whatever they could imagine O how will they be transported with joy then they will have fulness of joy in the presence of God and their pleasure and happiness wil be perfect without interruption or possibility of a conclusion And the eternity of their happiness will be the Heaven of Heaven as eternity of misery will be the Hell of Hell Thus concerning the happiness of the Saints or the eternal life of glory which they shall enter into 2. Concerning the righteous going or entring into eternal life The righteous after the pronouncing of their sentence and their seeing the execution of the sentence of the wicked shall pass away from them and go with Christ into eternal life they shall go with singing to the Zion which is above and everlasting joy on their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Isa. 51. 11. It wil be a most glorious train such as eye never hath seen which will go together unto Heaven The Lord Jesus Christ will be in the head in shining glory all the holy Angels will be with him and the whole company of the righteous will be together that ever lived in all generations and O with what mirth and gladness will they move towards Heaven together with what shoutings and Hosannah's will they attend upon the glorious triumph of our Saviour unto the new Ierusalem but when they are come to the gates of Heaven and the everlasting doors shall be lifted up to them and they look into the place prepared for their eternal abode when the Lord Iesus shall bring them into the glorious presence of the Father and they shall have the beatifical vision of his face and see the smiles of his countenance and are received into the imbracements of his love Then Then they will finde themselves to be happy indeed then their heart will be filled with joy and their tongues with singing then they will sing the new Song the Song of the Lamb which now cannot be learned then they will sound forth the prayses of God and cry with a loud voice as Rev. 7. 10 11. Salvatiâ—n to our God 〈…〉 upâ—n the Throne and to the Lâ—mb And worshipping God they will say Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanâ—sgiving and Honour and Power and Might be untâ— our God for ever and ever Amen And there shall they live and reign for evermore Thus concerning the execution of the sentenceâ— on the righteous and concerning the second appearance of Christ and end thereof CHAP. XI 2. COneâ—rning the Certainty of Christs second appearance I'shall prove this by several Arguments 1. Aâ—g If the Scriptures have clearly revealed an◠〈◊〉 Christ's second appearance to judgment an◠〈◊〉 the Scriptures are certainly true then this second appearance of Christ is certain But the Scriptures have clearly revealed and foretold this second appearance of Christ to judgement and the Scriptures are certainly true Therefore the second appearance of Christ is certain 1. The Scriptures have clearly revealed and foretold Christ's second appearance to judgment It is not a truth written in the book of nature it is not to be found in the writings of the Philosophers and those who have had the highest speculations of natural causes and effects and products this is a mysterie which the world by wisdom could never finde out it is a secret which hath been hid in God and is revealed by his Spirit in his Word this coming of Christ was foretold by Enoch Iude 14. 15. And Enoch also the seventh from Adam prâ—phesied Behold the Lord â—â—meth with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all
hath raised him from the dead And Rom. 14. 10. We shall all stand before the Iudgment Seat of Christ. And 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the Iudgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad And Christs judicial proceedings is set forth at large Matth. 25. Hence then it follows that the Lord Jesus Christ shall certainly appear to Judgment I might add other Arguments drawn from the faith and hope and expectation of the righteous and Christs faithfulness love and the engagement of his honour to appear again but so much concerning the certainty of Christs second appearance CHAP. XII 3. THe third thing proved is to shew that the Lord Iesus Christ will quickly appear that is 1. He will come within a short time 2. He will come suddenly and unexpectedly when he doth appear 1. Christ will come quickly that is within a short time Heb. 10. 37. Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He that shall come will come there is the certainty of his coming and yet a little while he will come and will not tarry there is the speediness of his coming The Lord is at hand Philip. 4. 5. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh Iames 5. 8. The Iudge standeth at the door vers 9. The end of all things is at hand 1 Pet. 4. 7. Therefore out dayes are called the last dayes 2 Tim. 3. 1. And upon us the ends of the world are come 1 Cor. 10. 11. We live in the end of the World in the last dayes in the old age thereof The World hath as it were three ages the youth the middle age and the old age the Youth of the World was from the creation to the Flood the middle age from the Flood to the first coming of Christ the old Age from the first coming of Christ to the second coming the old age and last dayes of the World began in the Apostles time now many of them are spent and we are come not only to the declining years but also to the decrepit age of the World and if the Lord Jesus Christ were to come shortly in the dayes of the Apostle much more shortly will he come now when so many years are past since the Scripture was writ and these things foretold If any should doubt of the certainty of Christs appearance because the Scripture speaks of the speediness thereof as if Christ had been in those dayes presently to come and yet above sixteen hundred yeares are past since the promise was made I answer that the Apostle Paul who in his first Epistle to the Thessalenians spake of Christs coming as if it might be in his time 1 Thess. 4. 16 17. The Lord himself will descend from Heaven with a shoâ—t c. And the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up in the Clouds c. The same Apostle tells the Thessalonians in his second Epistle Chap. 2. 3. Thaâ— the day of the Lord should not come till there was â— falling away and the Man of sin should be revealed c. And vers 7. That there was then a lett to the Revelation of the Man of sin which was thâ— Heathenish Romane Empire which lett was not likely in haste neither was removed till some hundred of years after and therefore it is evidenâ— from that place that the coming of the Lord was not to be until several ages after the writing of the Scriptures This may be sufficient to give satisfaction concerning the length of time since the Scripture tells us that the Lord Jesus would quickly appear If any profane Mockers shall scoff at this answer and say where is the Promise of his coming Do not all things remain as they were since the Creation Do not the Sun and Moon and Stars keep their constant course And what likelihood of the darkning of the Sun and falling of the Stars and the passing away of the Heavens with a great noise Is not the Earth established upon sure foundations and what likelihood of moving it and burning it with the works which are upon it and if Christ would have come so quickly would not he have been here before now I answer 1. That the Apostle Peter foretels that in the last days such scoffers should arise 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. 2. That all things are not as they were from the Creation for the World in the time of Noah was drowned with the Flood Noah only excepted and those which were with him in the Ark surely there was a great transformation of things in that age vers 5 6. 3. That by the same word of command whereby the old World was drowned with Water by the same Word the World that now is shall be burned with Fire at the day of Iudgment and perdition of the ungodly vers 7. 4. That though many hundred years be pâ—st since the promise that the Lord would come quickly yet there is not a failure in regard of God for though the time be long in regard of our account who are of so short continuance and time seems tedious to us because of the miseries of our short life yet in regard of the eternal God the time is but short for in his sight a thousand years is but as one day and by that account there are not yet two dayes past since the promise vers 8. 5. The reason of Gods protracting this appearance of Jesus Christ to Judgment is for our sakes it is from his long-suffering to us-ward that hereby he might lead us unto repentance vers 9. The Lord hath a number to be called some of which may be unborn others not yet new-born but scattered amongst the wicked but when the Elect are all called and perswaded to repent and believe and are gathered into Gods Family I doubt not but the Lord Jesus Christ will be here immediately The Lord Jesus surely now will come within a short time the certain time of his appearance is unknown Matth. 24. 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no Man no not the Angels but the Father only this is a secret which God hath locked up in his own breast it is written in the Book of this Decree and however other things are revealed and unfolded to Men yet the leaf where this is written is folded up and sealed so that none can read it yet surely it cannot be long before the mystery be finished and Christ be revealed from Heaven yet a little while and he will be here he stands at the Door and the Door will quickly be opened and then he will make his appearance 2. The Lord Jesus Christ will come quickly that is suddenly and unexpectedly especially in regard of the ungodly World The day of the Lord will come as a sâ—â—re upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole
you into Hell into the Ocean of Gods wrath and can you secure your selves a moment from the stroke of death when you are most secure may not death be most neer when you think you shall live many years to eat and drink and take your pleasure like the rich fool in the Gospel may not deatâ— knock at your door that night and break in upon you and fetch away your bodies to the grave and Devils drag your souls to Hell Awake then before you sleep the sleep of death awake out of the sleep of sin think with yoâ— selves this night we may be in Hell and free â— rather bound in Chains of Darkness and horroâ— amongst the damned or to morrow we may bâ— in torments with Cain and Iudas with the Devâ—â— and his Angels and therefore give not sleep 〈◊〉 your eyes nor slumber to your eye-lids until yoâ— have redeemed your selves out of the snare of thâ— Devil and sin as a Bird out of the snare of thâ— Fowler or a Roe out of the hand of the hunter 4. Sinners consider the everlastingness of yoâ— punishment in Hell when your Souls are onâ— in they shall never come forth until they 〈◊〉 brought forth unto the last Judgment at Christs aâ—pearance and when soul and body are joyneâ— and sentenced to this place of torment and thruâ— into it the Door will be shut upon you and yoâ— will be locked in so that it will be impossible sâ— you to get forth for ever your bodies as well 〈◊〉 souls will be immortal and the Fire of Hell wiâ— be everlasting those flames will never be quencâ—ed and your torments will never be ended whâ—â— you have been ten thousand times ten thousaâ—â— millions of years in Hell it will not bear the pâ—â—â—portion of a moment of time to the unmeasuâ—rable space of Eternity in which you must be tormented for sin your punishment will alwayes be in the beginning of it never never never will it come to a conclusion nor your to any hopes of it as long as God lives and Heaven continues which will be for evermore so long will Hell continue and you abide in extremity of torments without any possibility of release and deliverance Awake sinners awake think how horrible the thoughts of Eternity in Hell will be Extremity and Eternity will be the great aggravation of your misery methinks the danger of such torment should fill you with such fear and terrour that nothing should be able to remove until you had secured your selves by an interest in him who alone can deliver from the wrath to come and yet can you be secure when you are in the greatest danger Awake think whether the pleasures of sin for a season are to be compared with the eternal torâ—ments of Hell or the uncertain treasures of Earth with the eternal store of Gods wrath or the empty vanishing wordly honour with the exceeding and everlasting weight of misery which the damned shall sink under in Hell If any sleepy sinners begin to startle with such thunder-claps of Judgment and being unwilling to part with their sins feel their hearts to rise within them against the message and Messengers for thrusting such harsh things into their eares for molesting their spirits and disturbing the peace which they have hitherto had in their sinful way cannot Ministers let us alone will they be called to an account for us will they suffer for us and why do they thus affright us with Peales of Judgment Beloved we Ministers are set as Watchmen to sound the Trumpet and warn you of Judgment which if we should neglect to do your blood would be required at our hands Ezek. 33. from the 1. vers to theâ—â— 1. And we shall be called to an account for the Souls committed to our charge Heb. 13. 17. And therefore having notice given us by God in his Word of the coming of Christ to judge and punish the ungodly World at the last day and knowing the terrour of the Lord how terrible the day of Judgment will be unto you if you be found amongst the ungodly and how terrible the day will be unto us if we be sound unfaithful to your souls we warn you and perswade you to flee from the wrath to come and can you blame us then for using harsh language when we cannot omit it without danger to our selves and your souls when otherwise we cannot be faithful to you nor to our Master who hath sent us to declare these things we might indeed like some slaâ—ter you and sooth you up in a way of sin we might speak smooth things unto you and prophesie deceits but what advantage would it be unto you to be deceived if you were pleased with us and did commend us here I am sure you would curse us for our unfaithfulness hereafter Sinners it is not cruelty but pitty and mercy to shoot the sharp arrows of Gods threatnings into your consciences it is not out of hatred but tender love to your souls that we endeavour to thrust the sword of the spirit into your bosomes that if possible we might wound sin to the heart and fetch forth the blood thereof as it were which if it still live in you will be your ruine Christ will certainly and quickly be here and when he doth appear we shall appear to be judged and is it not good you should know it before hand that you might be prepared If any be so awakened by this Doctrine concerning Christs coming to Judgment that they begin to feel a sting and wound in their spirits and are so perplexed with fear of being condemned for their sins which their consciences do accuse them of that they know not what to do yet are willing to take any course to prevent their ruine and those dreadful miserics which they are in danger of at that day I shall speak unto such by way of Counsel and Exhortation 3. For the Exhortation of Sinners Will the Lord Jesus Christ certainly and quickly appear to Judgment there are two things I would exhort sinners unto that they may escape the wrath of God which on that day will be revealed and inflicted upon all the wicked of the Earth 1. Flee from Sin 2. Flee unto Christ If you would flee from wrath and Hell Or 1. Repent of Sin 2. Get an interest in Christ. And then you may be able to stand with confidence before the Son of Man at his appearance yea whatever your sins be now do these two things effectually and when Christ doth appear you also shall appear with him in glory 1. Sinners repent of sin Acts 17. 30 31. God commandeth all Men every where to repent this is a duty which God requires of all Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in righteousness c. This is the Argument to enforce the duty It is your duty to repent because you have sinned and God commandeth you to do it and it is your interest and
Subjectively body 153 to 157 soul 158 to 160 2. Objectively 161 3. Formally 162 to 166 2. Of their entring into eternal life p. 167 chapter 11 2. Concerning the certainty of Christs appearance proved by 3. Arguments where concerning the Divine Authority of the Scriptures and the Resurrection c. from p. 168. to 206 chapter 12 3. Concerning the speediness and suddenness of Christs coming where is a Description of the Old Worlds drowning and Sodom's burning applied c. from p. 207. to 224 chapter 13 4. The Application 1. More generall from 225 to 229 2. More particularly 1. To sinners 1. To discover them from p. 230 to 234 2. To awaken them from p. 235 to 246 3. To exhort them from p. 247 to 263 chapter 14 2. To believers 1 For the trial of them from p. 264 to 269 2. For the comforting of them from p. 270 to 28◠chapter 15 3. To both sinners and believers to perswade them 1. To believe 2. To consider 3. To prepare where twelv◠Duties requisite in order 〈◊〉 preparation From 283. 〈◊〉 the end Christ's certain and sudden Appearance to Judgment Revel 22. 20. Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Iesus CHAP. I. THe last words of a Dear friend are usually most remarked and best remembred especially when they speak great affection these are the last words of Jesus Christ the best friend that the children of men ever had which he sends his Angel from Heaven after he had been some yeers in glory with the Father to speak in his Name unto his Churches upon the earth v. 16. I Iesus have sent mine Angel to testifie these things in the Churches and of all the things which he testifieth by his Angel this is the last and the sweetest in the Text Surely I come quickly Which words of Promise comming down from Heaven and expressing so much Love to the Church are followed with 〈◊〉 Eccho and resound of the Churches earnest desire Amen Even so come Lord Iesus c. Hence observe Doct. 1. That the Lord Iesus Christ will certainly and quickly appear Doct. 2. That there is an earnest desire and longing in the Church after Christs appearance D. 1. That the Lord Iesus Christ will certainly and quickly appear Here I shall speak 1. Concerning Christ's appearance 2. Show that he will certainly appear 3. Show that he will quickly appear 4. And lastly Apply 1. Concerning Christs appearance There is a twofold appearance of Christ which the Scripture makes mention of 1. In the Flesh. 2. In Glory CHAP. II. 1. THe first appearance of Christ was in the flesh above sixteen hundred years ago in the Land of Iudea unto the people of the Jews the only-then-visible-Church upon the Earth There it was that the Word was made Flesh and amongst that people he dwelt for a while some of whom beheld his Glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth There it was that the eternal Son of God was made man being conceived miraculously by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary without the contamination of original sin which all ordinary conceptions do introduce His real Mother and supposed Father were both of the Tribe of Iudah and of the lineage of David and he was born in the Town of Bethlem according to the Scripture predictions who after he had lived thirty years in obscurity was baptized by Iohn Baptist his Fore-runner and Harbinger in whose Baptism when Iohn saw the Heavens opened and the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and heard the voice from the excellent Glory saying This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased He gave his testimony concerning him that he was the Son of God and the Lamb of God who taketh way the sins of the world Who after his own baptism and temptation and Iohns imprisonment made his appearance more openly unto Israel shewing forth his glory not in outward pomp and splendour but in a more high eminent and wonderful manner altogether Divine exceeding the imitation of any Earthly Monarch in the World He shewed forth the glory of his power in the Miracles which he did work namely in opening the eyes of the blind and ears of the deaf in loosning the tongue of the dumb and the bonds of other infirmities in cleansing the Lepers and healing other diseases with a word in casting out Devils after long profession in calming the Sea and Winds when boisterous and stormy in raising up the dead before and after burial for some daies and the like He shewed forth the glory of his Knowledge in looking into the hearts of those which came unto him being able to perceive their most secret thoughts and imaginations and needed not that any should restifie of man for he knew what was in man He shewed forth the glory of his Wisdom in his most wise answer to the ensnaring questions of the Pharisees and others in the most excellent and heavenly doctrine which he preached wherein he did not teach his Disciples subtile and empty speculations which the greatest wits in the world have busied themselves about but great soul-saving truths indeed he revealed some great and deep mysteries above the reach of the highest wit of the greatest Schollar without the teachings of his Spirit which were momentous and needful in order unto practice but the greatest part of his doctrine was plain and easie He shewed forth the glory of his Holiness in his exact walking and perfect obedience unto the Law of God without the least deviation or sin He shewed forth the glory of his Goodness and tenderness towards the children of men in going about to do them good and give succour to them which were in misery casting out none which came unto him Especially he shewed forth the glory of his Mercy and infinite Love to his own people in submitting to so low a condition as he liv'd in for their sakes in humbling himself and becomming obedient unto death even the cursed disgraceful painful death of the Cross besides the soul miseries which he endured through sense of Gods wrath due for their sins that he might satisfie Gods justice and deliver them from eternal death and wrath to come and purchase Life and Glory for them Thus Christ lived and thus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and being dead the bonds of death could not hold him neither did the holy one see corruption but the third day rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures and after his resurrection was seen of Mary Magdalen of Peter Iames all the Apostles of five hundred brethren at once according to the Scriptures After forty daies was taken up into Heaven and is there in his humane nature at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens making intercession for his people where he will abide untill the second appearance Thus concerning Christs appearance
be no mistake not only the more openly profane and notoriously vile generation of the wicked who were even professed enemies of Gods people and shun their company and separate themselves now shall be separated from them by Jesus Christ at the last day but also all those who were more â—ober and had some kind of love to them but none unto Jesus Christ Yea all hypocrites who seemed to be of their company shall then be parted from them Christ will look upon all with a pierâ—ing distinguishing eye he will easily discern and discover all the hypocrites however they may plead that they have eat and drunk in his presence and some of them cast out devils in his â—ame he will not judge according to the outward appearance but according to the truth which hath been in the heart and they which â—ave so much deceived men shall not be able to â—eceive him None of them shall twine themselves â—â—perceivably and croud into Heaven amongst 〈◊〉 righteous Then the lamps of the foolish virâ—â—ns will be gone out then the vail and mask of 〈◊〉 outward show will be rent and torn to pieâ—â—s then the sheeps-skin will be pluckt off and â—â—ey will appear unto the whole world to have â—een but goats and amongst the goats they must 〈◊〉 Christ will not leave one of the goats â—mongst the sheep and he will not leave one of 〈◊〉 sheep amongst the goats all that belong to his fold shall be gathered into one society of their meeting more in their particular judgment 4 At the second appearance of Iesus Christ the Books will be opened out of which all must be judged Rev. 20. 12. I saw the dead small and greaâ— stand before God and the Books were opened and another Boâ—k was opened which is the Boâ—k of Life and the dead were judged out of thâ—se things which were written in those Books according to their works There are five Books which will then be opened 1. Thâ— Book of Gods remembrance 2. The Book of Menâ— own consciences 3. The Book of the Law 4. Thâ— Book of the Gospel 5. The Book of Life 1. The Book of God's Remembrance will be opened This we are to understand in a spiritual sense no as if there were a real Book which God did makâ— use of for his remembrance of things as men 〈◊〉 who have fraiâ—e and weak memories which woulâ— let slip many things of note without such a help but hereby we are to understand that God doâ— take an exact notice of things and remembers theâ— as if he had them written in a Book by him The Boâ—â— of Gods remembrance will be opened whereiâ— will be sound recorded 1. The names of all the Sons and Daughters 〈◊〉 Adam what ever Age and Generation they haâ—â— lived in from the beginning of the Creation 〈◊〉 the consummation of all things as also the relâ—â—tions they stood in and the charge was commiâ—ted to them Such and such were Magistratâ— and had such and such subjects under them 〈◊〉 had the sword of justice put into their hands 〈◊〉 their charge was to rule under Christ to encâ—â—â—rage and reward them that did well and to punish evil dâ—ers such and such were Ministers and they were entrusted with the care of souls they were set by the Lord for Watch-men to forewarn the people of judgments as Stewards to dispence the food of the Word and to give every one their portion such and such were Governours of Families whose work was to set up Religion and the worship of God in their houses and labour in their places after the salvation of the souls as well as to set those under them about their civil work and to provide for their bodies such and such were Children and Servants whose charge was to yield obedience to Parents and Governors in the Lord with meeknesse and fear with readinesse and diligence 2 There will be found recorded the places where such Persons lived such indeed lived in the dark places of Heathenisme and Idolatry but such and such lived in Israel in a Goshen in a Land of Light such and such lived in England in London in such a religious Family there will be recorded the means of grace which they have enjoyed in those places such lived under such a powerful Ministry heard such heart-awakening and heart-warming Sermons and had such sweet showers of the Word dropping upon them they were planted in a fertile soile and they had fat pastures to feed in 3 There will be found recorded the various dispensations of Gods providence towards them for their good such and such had not only Gods Word but also Gods Rod to teach them they lived under the sound of awakning Judgments they lived in London when the Plague raged so sorely and when the Fire brake forth and consumed the City and such were preserved when thousands fell into the Pit they were brought down to the Doores of the Grave and Eternity and they were brought up again they were preserved and provided for and every day tasted of the Cup of Gods goodness they were loaden with his mercies 4 And especially there will be found recorded all the actions of all the Children of men and their carriage towards God and towards one another in those places in those relations under those ordinances and providences 1 There will be found recorded all the good that hath been found in or done by any from the day of their Child-hood to their dying hour such and such they were obedient to Parents when they were young they were diligent in learning their Catechisme and ready to receive instructions in the Principles of Religion such were acquainted with the Scriptures when they were but Children such had tender hearts in their tender years such loved God and followed God when they were but youths such and such had their hearts opened in hearing of the Word and enlarged hearts in prayer such were awakned by such Sermons and convinced and humbled for sin and perswaded to repent and turn to the Lord such opened the door to Jesus Christ when he knocked and set up his Throne in their hearts and put their necks under his yoke Such and such were frequenters and lovers of the Ordinances and Ministers of Jesus Christ. Such made it their business to be religious such walked with God in their Families and were upâ—ight in their dealings in the World such used to deny themselves and took up their Cross and laboured to follow Jesus Christ where ever he led them such mourned for the sins they could not reform were thankful for the mercies they received were faithful in the relations they were placed were fruitful under the means they enjoyed were merciful to their brethren in misery were patient and chearful under the Rod which was laid upon them and all the good actions of men will be had in remembrance 2 There will be found recorded all the evil actions all the sins of the Children of men Such and such were
but they shut their eares and hearts against him and now Christ will shut his eares and the door of mercy and Heaven against them He will be inexorable Thus concerning the Judge of the wicked 2. The Assessors or those which shall sit with Christ in the judgment of the wicked will be the righteous This promise the Lord makes particularly and especially to the twelve Apostles Matth. 19. 28. Verily I say unto you that yee which have followed me that have denied your selves and parted with all and taken up your Cross and followed me in the Regeneration or restitution of all things when the Day of Resurrection doth come and the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory when I shall sit upon my judgment Seat and gather all Nations before my Bar to receive their doom Yee shall sit on twelve Thrones Iudging the twelve Tribes of Israel and though the Apostles of Christ will be especially honoured and exalted in the day of Judgment and have seates or degrees of dignity above others yet this honour also shall all the Saints have to sit with Christ in Judgment 1 Cor. 6. 2. Do yee not know that the Saints shall judge the World They judge and condemn the sins of the wicked World now by their holy conversation and they will judge and condemn the persons of the wicked at the last day by their approbation of Christs Judgment The crimes of the wicked will be scan'd before the righteous their secret sins will be ript up and made manifest unto them they will not only be brought in as accusers and witnesses against some of the wicked of which I shall speak by and by but also they will joyn with Christ in the examination of all the wicked and they will also approve of Christs justice and righteousness in the condemning of sinners for their sins and when Christ doth pronounce the sentence of condemnation upon them Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels they will joyn with him and approve of this sentence it may be they will with one voice say even so Amen or with a loud shout accompany Christs words saying Depart yee cursed into everlasting Fire A strange turn and change of things will there be at that day Felix who sate on the Judgment Seat when Paul was at the Bar will stand at the Bar when Paul shall sit amongst the Judges The Lord will bring down the mighty from their seats and all wicked Princes and Judges of the Earth shall be dis-throned when the righteous though of a low degree shall be exalted to sit as Judges upon them 3. The Malefactors which shall be judged will be 1. Devils 2 Pet. 2. 4. The Angels which fell are said to be delivered into Chains of darkness and to be reserved unto Iudgment they are punished in part now but their punishment is not yet compleat when Christ came the first time in the flesh and began to dis-lodge the Devils from their habitation in those Persons whom they had got the possession of they were afraid that he would have compleated their torment presently and therefore they cry out Art thou come hither to torment us before the time Matth. 8. 29. And let us alone art thou come to destroy us Mark 1. 24. But when Christ comes the second time in his glory then he will judge and condemn the wicked Angels and the Saints shall joyn with him herein I Cor. 6. 3. Know yee not that we shall judge Angels Then the measure of their sin will be compleated and the time of their torment will be come and their punishment shall be compleated too the way and manner of their Judgment is not spoken of in Scripture and therefore I shall not speak of it but that they shall be judged to everlasting Fire is evident from the sentence pronounced on wicked men in which it is said that everlasting Fire is prepared for the Devil and his Angels 2. All wicked Men and Women that ever lived or shall live on the Earth from the beginning of the Creation unto the dissolution of the World that have no Interest in Jesus Christ will be the malefactors which shall be judged by Christ at the last day this day is called the day of Iudgment and perdition of the ungodly 2 Pet. 3. 7. And the unjust are said to be reserved unto the day of judgment to be punished Chap. 2. Vers. 9. And the Apostle Paul tells us that the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven in flaming Fire taking vengeance on them which know not God and obey not the Gâ—spel 2 Thess. 1. 7 8. 1. By them which know not God we may understand the Heathen and Gentile Nations this being the Character given of them 1 Thess. 4. 5. Not in lusts of concupiscence as the Gentiles which know not God And the Ephesians whilst Heathens before the Gospel came amongst them were strangers to the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the World Eph. 2. 12. All the Heathen Nations shall be judged by Christ but I shall not speak of their judgment in which we are not so much concerned 2. By them which obey not the Gospel we are to understand all those Nations upon whom the light of the Gospel hath shin'd and unto whom the sound of the Gospel hath come but yet have not yielded obedience therunto so as heertily to accept of Christ for their Saviour upon his own tearmes all Christless graceless Persons who have heard of Christ and enjoyed the means of grace will be the chief Malefactors in the day of Judgment I might here give a Catalogue of the sinners which shall be judged take one in 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. The unrighteous fornicators Idolaters Adulterers effeminate abusers of themselves with Mankind Thieves Covetous Drunkards Revilers Extortioners and all other unjustified unsanctified sinners But more of this when I come to speak of the conviction of the wicked 4. The Crime for which the wicked shall be judged and condemned by Christ will be sin 1. Sin against the Law and that 1. for sins of omission Matth. 25. 42. I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink c. 2. for sins of commission and that 1. for sins of thought and heart 1 Cor. 4. 5. When the Lord comes he will make manifest the counsels of the heart he will condemn men for their wicked thoughts and contrivements for their sinful lusts and desires and delights 2. For sins of word Matth. 12. 36 37. But I say unto you that every idle word that Men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Iudgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned If for idle words men shall be judged much more for taking Gods name in vain for hideous Oaths and Blasphemies if for unprofitable speeches much more for
corrupt communication for lying slanderous bitter reviling speeches 3. Christ will judge the wicked for their sins of deed Rom. 2. 6. He will render to every one according to their deeds And vers 8 9. To them that obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of Man that doth evil of the Iew first and also of the Gentile 2. The sins against the Gospel will be the chief condemning crimes of the wicked No sins against the Law will be found so heinous but if sinners be found after the commission of them to have obeyed the Gospel to have repented and believed and yielded the fruits of new obedience they will have a pardon and absolution on that day but final disobedience to the Gospel will be unpardonable final impenitency and unbelief in those which have been called to repent and to close with Jesus Christ will certainly bring men under the sentence of condemnation I might here give a more particular Catalogue of the sins which the wicked shall be judged for by Christ but something more of them under their conviction by Christ. 5. The accusers of and witnesses against the wicked being the same I shall joyn them together and they will be 1. God 2. Men. 3. Devils 4. Themselves 1. God will be an accuser of and witness against the wicked at the day of judgment 1. Gods justice to speak after the manner of men seeing this judgment is set forth in such a manner for our better apprehending of it because we are not able to conceive in this state the way exactly of Gods proceeding against sinners in Judgment on that day will arraign the wicked before the judgment seat of Christ and draw up as it were a Bill of Indictment against them Whereas these Men and Women who lived in such and such places and times though they were my Creatures and subjects were made by me and for me and I gave them my holy and righteous and good Law to be the guide and rule of their life and actions yet having no fear of me before their eyes they did shake off my yoke and break my Laws they did cast my Commandements behind their back and lived in a course of rebellion and disobedience against me committing such and such sins And when I sent my Son into the World to die for sinners who gave me sufficient satisfaction and I made him known and the way of salvation by him and prâ—ffered him unto them and entreated them by my Embassadors to be reconciled but they shut their ear and hardened their heart and refused my Son trampled upon his blood grieved my spirit and neglected the salvation of their own souls therefore I now require satisfaction from themselves and that a condigne punishment be inflicted upon them for their disobedience 2. Gods goodness and bounty and patience will accuse them when they are thus arraigned and indicted by his justice which will aggravate their sins I nourished and brought up these creatures like children and yet they rebelled against me I spared them as a Man spareth his Son which serveth him and yet they had no regard of me I delivered them in six troubles and in seven recovered them often from a sick Bed and brought them back from the Grave when they were ready to go down into the Pit and yet they knew not that I healed them and were so much the more disobedient unto me I loaded them with mercies and yet they loaded me with iniquities I would have led them to repentance by my patience and goodness but they were the more impenitent and hard-hearted and resolved to do evil I stretched forth my hand all the day long to these disobedient and gain-saying Creatures and would have received them had they returned into the armes of my mercy but nothing would win and perswade them to leave their sins and come unto me and now my patience is spent and long-suffering is at an end and bowels shut up against them for ever and let them now smart for all their abuses affronts and contempts which they have offered unto me 3. God's omniscience will be a witness against the wicked at the day of Judgment their sins have been all committed under the view of God's all-seeing eye and they have been noted down upon the Book of his Remembrance and God will witness against them I saw these wretched sinners when they were bâ—rn and traced all their steps I compassed their path and their lying down and was acquainted with all their waies I did beset them behinde and before and mine eye was continually upon them I perceived the first sproutings and buddings of sin in their tender years I took notice of their disobedience to their Parents when they were young of their lies and pride and vanity of their idleness and sloath and mis-spending their precious time I was an eye-witness to all their sins from their youth to their dying hour I beheld them when no eye besides was upon them I saw their privy lewdness and all their deeds of darkness which they committed in dark corners when I kept silence and did not speak I was not blinde so as not to see and although I did not smite I did note and what one of them all have the confidence to deny any one of their sins which I have been a witness unto The first accuser and witness against the wicked will be God himself 2. Men will accuse and witness against the wicked at the day of Judgment and that both the Godly and â—ngodly 1. The Godly and that both Godly Ministers and Godly Friends 1. Godly Ministers will be the accusers and witnesses against the wicked Ministers must give an account then to their Lord of the souls which he committed to their charge Heb. 13. 17. And in some of their Flock they will rejoyce because their testimony concerning Jesus Christ was believed because the Gospel which they preached amongst them was obeyed because the Word was received as the Word of God they will rejoyce in them which have been effectually wrought upon by their Ministry in those which they have been instrumental to regenerate and espouse unto Jesus Christ to perswade to leave their sins and submit themselves unto the yoke and Scepter of the Lord such will be the joy and crown of rejoycing to their Ministers on that day of whom with unspeakable comfort they will say to their Lord Behold the Children which thou hust given us Thine they were and are and thou didst give them unto us and they have believed and kept thy word and now as they have shared in thy Grace let them and us share in and participate of thy Glory But alas what a sad account will they have to give of others of their Flock who have not believed and yielded obedience to the Gospel which they have preached it will be sad for them when they must bring in heavy accusations against them Lord thou didst send us
bitterness in it than your other Cups have had sweetness Come forth all yee Adulterers you that have neighed like full fed Horses after your neighbours Wives and assembled by troopes into Harlots houses or if not so have committed this sin in secret corners was there no shame in you to keep you from this nasty filthy sin could you delight so much to wallow in mire and dung was there no fear in you to restrain you did not conscience check and rebuke you when this lust first conceived in you did you never hear that Whoremâ—ngers and Adulterers God would judge and did you not think you should be called to an account for this sin Could you melt in filthy sinful pleasures of the flesh and not consider how you should consume in torments were your short pleasures comparable to an eternity of pain and misery were there not pleasures of a higher nature and sweeter relish attainable in life if you had forgone and denied your selves unlawful pleasures have you not lâ—st them and the unspeakable eternal joyes of Heaven by your intemperance Take them Devils binde them hand and foot 9. Come forth all ye covetous persons whose treâ—sure and heart and hope and confidence hath been in earthly things who have made the world your God desiring and loving and delighting and trusting in your wealth and riches as if they could yield the most contentment and be the best defence unto you whose greatest thoughts and care and labâ—ur have been spent about getting and keeping an estate and portion in the world with little heart to use it for your selves much less for the good of others and glory of God that gave it Did you not know that câ—vetousness was Idolatry and that no Idolater shall have any admittance into the new Jerusalem Did you not know that the love of the world was inconsistent with the love of the Father had you such mean thoughts of God that you chose the world before him were the riches of grace of so small esteem that you preferred earthly riches had the treasures in heaven no more worth in your account that you should neglect and disregard them and make choice rather of treasures on earth When you had tried the world and found it vain and empty would you still set your heart upon it when you felt such thorny cares and piercing sorrows in your eager prosecution of this world could not this damp and deaden your affection to it when your own and other riches sometimes suddenly took flight as upon an Eagles wing and left you could not you forbear but must fly upon the wing of desire after them did you not foresee how naked and bare death would strip you of all and yet would nothing wean your whorish heart from the love of the world were you never told that riches could not profit you in the day of wrath is not all your wealth consumed now treasures there are indeed prepared for you but they are treasures of wrath which your sins have deserved Take them Devils binde them hand and foot 10. Come forth all ye unmerciful persons whose bowels have been shut up against the poor and needy who have spoken churlishly to the poor and looked upon them a far off or if you have spoken to them fair and said to the naked and destitute of daily food Depart in peace be ye warmed and be ye filled yet have not given unto them things needful for the body whatever abundance you had by you who have had no pitty on my distressed members so as to contribute any relief to their necessities I was hungry and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was naked and ye cloathed me not I was a stranger and ye took me not in I was sick and you visited me not I was in prison and ye did not administer unto me ' Did you not understand it was your duty to relieve the poor had you not your rickes given to you for this end was not this the best use you could put them unto would not works of mercy have brought into you the best returns at last might you not hereby have laid up for your selves a good foundation against this day if you had laid out your estates according to my prescriptions might not you now have laid hold on eternal life were you never forewarned that such should have judgment without mercy that did not shew mercy And you that have had no mercy â— forgive that knew not how to pass by real or conjectural injuries which you have received thâ—â— were ready to take your brother by the throat for â—hundred pence when you might have been forgiven your ten thousand talents which you owed unto God were ye never told that the King of Heaven woulâ— deliver you to the tormentors if you were unmercifull Take them Devils bind them hand and foot 11. Come forth all ye unrighteous persons who have wronged Widdows and Orphans who howover-reached your Neighbours in your dealings who have heaped an estate together by unrighteous practices who have squeezed and oppressed the poor which have had no helper was not the Law of right written upon your heart did you not read it more plainly in the Word did not men condemn you did not your own consciences secretly condemn you for your unrighteousness and did not you think that the righteous God would condemn you much more did you not know that no unrighteous person should inherit the Kingdome of Heaven that the Lord would avenge himself upon you for this sin did you wrong others so much as you have hereby wronged your selves is the gain of the world comparable to the loss of your souls is a little Silver or Gold now taken away from you comparable to the loss of Heaven and eternal glory did you think such faults would be winked at did you not expect to hear of them again at the day of Iudgment is it an unrighteous thing to punish you for your unrighteousness Take them Devils binde them hand and foot 12. Come forth ye Liars you who have taught and accustomed your selves to this sin who have not only reported lies but also made them whose words have been feigned and deceitful Did you not know that God who made you and to whom you owed all subjection and obedience was a God of truth and that he required truth that every man should speak truth to his neighbour that he abbâ—rred lying lips that he threatned to punish liars with the second death and give them their portion in the lake of fire and had you no fear of God no fear of future judgment to restrain you might you not as easily have spoken truth as uttered falshood would not you hereby have gained more credit in the world would not you have been more fit for society would not you have had more peace in your consciences did you excuse faults by your lies but was it not a greater aggravation of
they were hid from their eyes they slept in the harvest they loitered away and sinned away their time and wasted their day in which they should have made provision for their souls O how will they be then ready to tear themselves in pieces that they should neglect so great salvation in the day when salvation was attainable yea that they should refuse the proffers of grace and pardon and peace and life and happiness which in that day were so frequently and earnestly made unto them then they will wish that they had opened their ear and heart that they had regarded and accepted such gracious proffers whatever they had neglected or parted withall then they will wish they had imbraced and improved the opportunities which once they had for prayer and hearing and attendance upon Gods Ordinances that they had been in the Church when they were in the Ale-house that they had associated themselves with Gods people when they frequented the company of the leud and ungodly that they had been upon their knees with grief confessing sin when they took so much delight in the commission of it that they had taken time from their sports to make their peace with God that they had worshipped God in their Closets and worshipped God in their Families and laid up for themselves treasures in Heaven and horrible will their vexation be that they did not so 4. In going away they will remember for what it was that they refused this happiness that it was only for the satisfaction of some foolish and unprofitable lust If two Kingdomes of equal worth and glory were proposed to a Mans choice it would not trouble him that he had refused the one to obtain the other but if a Man were to chuse whether he would be a King or a slave if he should refuse the former and chuse the later when he came to feel the misery of his bondage this would trouble him more than the bondage that he might have avoided it that he hath chose this thraldome and parted with a Kingdome for it they will then perceive that they have chosen to be slavesunto sin and Sathan rather than to be Heires unto the Kingdome of Glory I know that though now they are slaves and serve divers lusts and though their bondage is a thousand fold worse than if they were Vassals to the cruellest Tirant upon Earth yet they are not sensible neither are they weary of their bondage because their wills are in thraldome and their affections are captivated and though heirdome to the glory of Heaven be the choicest priviledge upon Earth and most desirable yet they do not desire it but prefer their slavery before it because they are blinde unbelieving besorted sinners and judge of things according to sense yet on the day of Christs appearance all things will appear with a new face and they will look upon things with a new eye they will then perceive that they were slaves all their dayes and that there was no such drudgery as that which they were employed in and that there was no such glory and happiness as that which they refused and foolishly cast away then it will sting them indeed to remember that they have chosen rather to do the work of the Devil and yield obedience to the basest lusts for which they must now be repayed with the wages of death and eternal misery than to do the work of the Lord who would have rewarded them with eternal life and a Crown of glory and immortality Then they will say What profit have we got by those things whereof we are now ashamed What fruit doth all our labour and toile in the World now yield unto us What are we the better for our riches and great estate on Earth for our honour and high esteem amongst men for our luscious pleasures and delights now vanished and gone which we bought at so dear a rate as the loss of our precious and immortal souls and the forfeiture of an Inheritance in the kingdome of Heaven Then they will cry out O bewitching World O deluding Devil O deceitfull hearts and lusts O what fools and mad-men have we been that we should trample Iewels under our feet like Swine and in stead of them put dross and dung into our Cabinet that we should so greedily drink the sweet poison of sin to the bane and ruine of our souls and refuse to taste of the Cup of salvation which all our dayes was held forth unto us Then they will cry out of their voluptuousness their covetousness their pride and haughtiness and the like lusts which have kept Christ out of their hearts and kept them out of the Kingdome of Heaven 5. In going away some of them shall remember how neerly they missed of this happiness that they were almost perswaded to be Christians in deed as well as in name and to accept of Christ upon his own termes that they were not far from the Kingdome of Heaven that they were come even within fight of the Heavenly Canaan and yet died in the Wilderness that they were come even to the Gate of the new Ierusalem but finding it too strait for them and the luggish of their sins together there they stuck and could not enter in that they climbed up a great way of the Hill to Zion but did not reach the top and tumbling down their fall was the greater they will remember the means of grace which they enjoyed the Ordinances which they sate under and the treaties which the Lord did make with them by his word and spirit about their life and salvation and the carriage of their hearts towards the Lord in those treaties some of them will remember what convictions the Lord wrought in them of sin and what tremblings of conscience for fear of Hell and wrath to come and if they had followed that preparative work they might have quickly been acquainted with Christ and escaped the misery which they feared but they â—tifled convictions and shook off their troubles they shut their eies against the light and stilled the noise of their consciences and calmed their spirits with the delights and pleasures of the World and so grew more hardned in sin than before and gave such repulses to the spirit that the spirit quite departed from them Others will remember that they were perswaded to ascend some steps higher under the Ministry of the Word when they were reproved for such and such gross sins which they lived in the practise of that they could have no ease in their consciences until they had broken off that wicked course that they left off their drunkenness and their swearing their uncleanness and unrighteous dealing and were in a great measure reformed in their lives but there were some lusts in their hearts which they hugged secretly and delighted in and could not be perswaded to leave which were their undoing pride revenge uncharitableness covetousness or the like remained in their reigning power which were inconsistent with
c. So that it is of ancient revelation The first coming of Christ was foretold to Adam in the promise that the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head and the second coming of Christ was foretold to Enâ—ch It is foretold by the Angels Acts 1. 10 11. Whilst the Disciples looked stedfastly upon our Saviour in his Ascension two Angels say unto them Ye men of Gâ—lilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven this same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come down in like manner as â—e have seen him go into Heaven however Devils are Lyars and the Fathers of Lyes and Lyars yet the good Angels are true and Ministers of truth and this is a true restimony further this is foretold by the Apâ—stles who were employed to be the Pen-men of part of the holy Scripture and were guided by an infallible spirit the Apostle Paul speaks often of it especially see his testimony I Thes. 4. 15 16 17. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep 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 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord Thus he sets forth Christs coming in a comfortable manner unto his people therefore exhorteth Christians to comfort one another with those words and hopes of Christs glorious appearance when they should be caught up to meet with him and be with him for ever and he sets it forth in a dreadful manner in regard of the wicked 2 Thes. I 7 8 9. The Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his Mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them which know not God and obey not the Gospel who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Moreover this coming of Christ is spoken of by the Apostle in every Chapter of both of these Epistles I Epist Chap. 1. 10 And to wait for his Son from Heaven Chap. 2. 19. What is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing are not ye in the presence of the Lord Iesus at his coming Chap. 3. 13. To the end he may establish you unblameable in holiness at the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. Chap. 4. 16. The Lord himself will descend from Heaven with a shout Chap. 5. 23. I pray that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. 2. Epist. Chap. 1. 10. He shall come to â—e glorified in his Saints Chap. 2. 1 3. Now I beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that ye be not soon shaken in minde c. Chap. 3. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and patient waiting for Christ. I might turn you to further testimonies of his Tit. 2 13. Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Heb. 9. 28. Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time unto salvation We have also the testimony of the Apostle Iames Chap. 5. 7. Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Of the Apostle Peter 1 Epist Chap. 5. 4. When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away 2 Epist. Chap. 3. 10. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night Of the Apostle Iohn 1 Epist. Chap. 3. 2. When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is And in his Revelation frequently Rev. 1. 7. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him and all the kindreds of the earth shall waile because of him Even so Amen To conclude we have the testimony of our Saviour himself whilst on earth to his Disciples Mat. 16. 27. The Son of man shall come in the glory of the Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Matth. 24. 27. As lightning so shall the coming of the Son of Man be V. 30. They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven V. 31. And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet to gather the Elect from the four Winds Mat. 25. especially from the 31. to the end where his judicial proceedings are set forth and our Saviour doth testifie to his enemies that he would come again Matth. 26. 64. Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power coming in the clouds of Heaven And our Saviour testified by his Angel to Iohn his beloved Disciple after his ascension into Heaven that he would come again especially Rev. 22. where we have three promises of the same thing V. 7. Behold I come quickly Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of this Book V. 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be V. 20. Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Iesus If any one word in the whole Book of God may be believed this concerning Christ's second coming and appearance may be believed of which we have such frequent and evident testimonies in the Word as surely as he came the first time in the flesh according to the predictions hereof in the Old Testament so surely will he come the second time in glory according to the predictions in the New Testament God can as soon cease to be God as this Word concerning Christs second coming fail when the Sun goes down in the evening we believe it will return and arise at such a time in the morning accordingly it comes to pass So now Christ the Sun of righteousness is gone into Heaven whilst the night of this world doth last though we cannot know the certain time yet we may believe that he will certainly return and come down from Heaven in the morning of the resurrection it is more possible that the Sun when it is set should abide for ever in the other parts of the world and never arise any more in our Horison than that Christ should abide for ever in Heaven and not return to judge the World when the thing is evidently revealed and frequently promised in the Scripture 2. That the Scriptures are true is evident because they are the Word of God who is a God of truth and cannot lie who can as soon cease to be God as cease to be true untruth in God would argue weakness and imperfection in God which cannot be since to be
mindes O how did they look one upon another when such a judgment as this was come upon them which they never looked for how did they speak how did they weep how did they cry and shreek what distress was there then upon all Nations and how did their hearts fail them and sink within them through fear when they looked upon the flood that was come upon the earth when they heard the winds blowing and waves roaring and saw no way of escaping Then they which had heard Noah foretell and threaten them with this judgment too late believed the truth of his words which before they did not regard then they which had seen Noah build the Ark and had accounted him no better than mad were convinced of their own folly and madness that they did not with him take some course for the defence of themselves at this time then they were perswaded of Noah's wisdome above all others on the earth and could have wished that they had imitated his wisdom in building for themselves such another Ark or that they were with him in his and possibly some when the waters were come and Noah was shut in by God in his Ark might run to the place and endeavour to clamber into it and be washed off with the stream Thus will it be at the second comming of the Lord Jesus Christ to judgement his coming will be sudden and unexpected the wicked of the earth will be eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage they will be as sensual and sinful and as secure withal as they are at this day they are told frequently by the preaching of the word that the day of judgment is appointed and that it hastneth greatly that the Lord Jesus Christ will come and that he will come quickly but they want faith to believe it and therefore they do not expect it nor fear it noâ— prepare for it It is said Luke 18. â—8 When the Son of man cometh shall he finde faith on the earth Some interpret this place as spoken not of Christs second personal coming to judgement but of his comming in a way of eminent deliverance of his people from the cruelty and oppression of their enemies which will be so strange and unexpected because they shall be brought so low insomuch that there will hardly be faith in any to believe a desiverance Others interpret this place as speaking of Christs last appearance to judgment that the earth will then be generally secure and that wicked men and unbelievers and oppressours of Gods people will abound and that true believers will be rare and very hardly to be found I shall not determine which is the true sense of the place but sure I am the wicked will be many and very secure at the day of Christ's appearance though the wicked be forewarned of this day yet they do not believe this thing than which nothing is more certain the wicked which are mingled amongst Gods people think strange that they do not run with them unto the same excess of riot they looke upon them as no better than fools and people besides themselves when they see them deny themselves sleight the pleasures and profits and vanities of the world and are so iollicitous above all other things to prepare an Ark for the saving of their souls to get an interest in Jesus Christ typified by the Ark that under his shelter they may be defended from the storm of Gods wrath which shall beat upon the head of the wicked at the last day The wicked do expect Christ's comming no more than the old world did the Flood in the daies of Noah But when the time which the Lord hath appointed the world to continue is expired and the Angel hath lifted up his hand to Heaven and sworn by him that liveth for ever and ever that time shall be no longer when the mystery of God is finished and all the things to be done in the world are accomplished and the day of judgment of old ordained is now come and Christ hath received his commission from his Father to summon all to his judgment seat O the dread that will on that day fall upon the wicked tribes of the earth when they shall see the heavens opened above and such a glorious Majesty with such a glorious Train appear in the air and when the earth and the graves shall be open beneath and all the dead bodies of all generations shall be raised and come forth and some of them shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds and themselves with the most to be left behind and when they feel the wrath of God to begin to assaile them like a flood and to be poured into their souls like water when they see Christ coming in flaming fire to take vengeance upon them for their sins O this will be an unexpected and terrible appearance and so much the more retrible by how much the less expected Then they will not endeavour to climb up mountains but to creep under them to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb but all to no purpose no mountain will receive them for all the mountains and earth it self with the heavens will flee away from the face of the Lord Jesus Christ when his Throne is set for Judgment Rev. 20. 11. they will then looke about them and perceive all refuge to fail them and no way of escaping for them then they will with grief remember the warnings which they had of these things and be vexed at the very heart that they did not take warning then they will wish for an Ark and O that they had an interest in Jesus Christ and they will account believers whom once they esteemed as fools and mad men to have been the wisest people upon the earth and O that they were in their condition possibly some may endeavour to clamber up into the air with them when they are ascending to their Lord but they will have weights sufficient to keep them down The dread of sinners at the last day when Christ doth come so suddenly and unexpectedly will be far greater than the dread of the old world in the daies of the Flood 4. And lastly to name no more the suddenness and unexpectedness of Christs coming is set forth by the raining of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven upon Sodom and Lots going out of that wicked place Luke 17. 28 29 30. Likewise as it was in the daies of Loâ— they did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded But the same day that Lot went out of Sodome it rained Fire and Brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man shall be revealed The Sodomites were notoriously wicked they were worse than beasts they would have offered violence and buggered the very Angels which were sent to Lot they were generally wicked there were not so many as ten righteous persons in the place though
and secretly tell any of you that you are in the number of those persons whom the Lord will condemn at the last day and sentence unto Hell methinks it should make you startle and look about you methinks it should make your hair stand an end and every joynt to tremble methinks it should fill you with fear and imprint such trouble upon your spirits as would damp all your earthly comforts and delights to confider the danger which ye are in by reason of sinâ— the guilt of which doth still lie upon you Every word of this Doctrine is awakening 1 Awake sinners awake Christ will appear to judgment Christ will appear whom you have read of and heard of and have had frequent proffers of but could never be prevailed to accept of Christ will appear in his glory in whom you could see no beauty or desirableness Christ will appear as a Iudge whom you might have had for your Saviour Sinners the Judge of the whole world will appear and can you sleep under the guilt of sin He will be a most glorious powerful wise holy righteous strict furious inexorable Judge as hath been shown from p. 65. to p. 73. and yet are you secure and fearless you have heard God's terrible voice in the City and that hath not awakened you and will not Christ's appearance to Judgment awaken you neither You have been asleep under the sound of temporal judgments and can you sleep under the thoughts of the last judgment when the punishment which shall then be inflicted will be eternal 2. Awake sinners awake Christ will certainly appear to Judgment if there were only a peradventure of Christs coming to Judgment methinks it should awaken the guilty but when there is a certainty of it how should it awaken you as certainly as God is true as certainly as the Scriptures are his Word as certainly as you are creatures and sinners so certainly will the Lord Jesus Christ appear to judge the ungodly World for sin at the last day England hath of late been under the stroke of several temporal Judgments and England is in danger of further and greater calamities God may put a more bitter Cup into our hands to drink than yet we have tasted of the danger of which should awaken secure sinners because they cannot promise to themselves any shelter at such a time yet there is a possibility that the Lord may be entreated to spare and put up his Sword and prevent our ruine which we have deserved but the day of Judgment is most certain God who cannot change hath decreed it God who cannot lie hath revealed it the iniquities of the World which are great do call for it therefore it must be the day will certainly come and yet can you sleep in sin If a Thief knew after he had robbed his neighbour that he should certainly be taken and judged and condemned and punâ—shed it would affright him you may know that Christ will certainly come to judgment and that all guilty sinners shall be brought forth and condemned and should not this awaken you especially since if you sleep on your damnation and eternal punishment will be certain 3. Awake sinners awake Christ will quickly appear to Judgment The coming of the Lord draweth nigh the Judge standeth at the Door the Lord will suddenly come down when you least expect it the Lord may be here and can you sleep when the appearance of Christ is so sure and so neer too can you slumber when your judgment lingreth not and your damnation slumbreth not If the day of general Judgment should be protracted for some time longer until all the Elect be gathered and the things foretold in the â—ord be fulfilled yet your time for preparation may be almost spent you may suddenly go down into your Graves where there is no operation and can you sleep in sin when you are liable every day to the stroke of death which will cut you off from all opportunities of making your peace with God for ever and deliver you up at the last day into the hands of the Judge under the same guilt as it found you when it first laid its arrest upon you 4. Awake sinners awake when Christ doth appear yee also shall appear when Christ is descended from Heaven yee shall be raised from the Earth you shall be awakened out of the sleep of death and will not you be awakened out of the sleep of sin If there were any hopes that by getting into your Graves before this day you could hide your selves and lie buried there for ever you might be the more secure but when your death is not more certain than your resurrection will be when the appearing of Christ to judgment is not more certain than your appearance on that day to be judged you have reason to shake off sleep and bethink your selves how you are provided Death will be terrible to you if it come with the sting of sin in its mouth if it shoot its poisoned arrowes into you but your resurrection will be a thousand fold more dreadful if you awake at the last day with the guilt of sin in your consciences Sinners think what terrours will invade you when you are raised out of your Graves when you first lift up your heads and eyes to Heaven and see the Lord Jesus Christ the glorious Judge of the World come down with millions of mighty Angels cloathed with vengeance like flames of Fire and look down with a furious countenance upon you when in your rising you hear the sound of the Trumper and such a shout given in the aire as will make a louder noise than if twenty thousand great pieces of Ordnance were shot off together just before you when you have a summons given you and you are dragged with the rest of the damned crew which have lived in all ages of the World to the Tribunal Seat of Jesus Christ O how will you quiver and tremble and be filled with confusion then and yet can you sleep securely now as if you were not at all concerned 5. Awake sinners awake when Christ doth appear you shall be judged by him Then the Books will be opened where all your actions are recorded then your sins now it may be forgotten and slighted will be called to remembrance and your secret sins which now you are ashamed of will then be made manifest before the whole World your old sins will be reviewed your old uncleanness your old drunkenness your old unrighteousness and you will be made to hear of all your sins past and gone many years before in such a manner as shall make your eares to tingle your hearts to quake and tremble and when Gods justice shall arraign you and the Devil accuse you and your conscience shall bear witness against you and the Lord Jesus Christ shall pronounce the Sentence upon you Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and the Saints it may
endure Let them 1. Consider That Repentance is necessary it is necessary Virtue praecepti by vertue of Gods Precept it is a necessary Duty Acts. 17. 30. God commandeth not only some men but all men not only in some place but every where to repent and it is necessary virtute medij as it is a means to avoid misery and obtain happinesse you must sow in tears if you would reap in joy and you must go forth weeping bearing precious seed if you would return again rejoycing bringing your sheavs with you Psalm 126. 5. 6. The showers of tears make way for the Sun-shine of comfort here and the wet seed-time of Repentance is necessary to the harvest of everlasting glory and joy and if Repentance be difficult yet since it is absolutely necessarie this should be so far from discouraging you that it should quicken you unto more diligent endeavours after it 2. Consider that Repentance is attainable the vilest sinners may be enabled through Gods Grace to repent as well as the most holie Saints at their first turning unto God It is difficult unto you yea impossible for you to repent of your selves because there are no seeds of this Grace in Nature but it is easie with God to work you to it and he can carrie you thorow the difficultie pray to God for this grace endeavour to repent and in your endeavours God may assist God is easie to be entreated and is readie to give this Grace unto them that desire it But some are discouraged from Heb. 12. 17. where it is said that Esau was rejected and found no place for repentance though he sought it carefully with tears hence concluding that though they seek repentance carefully with tears they may be rejected and finde no place for repentance I answer 1. That this place which speaks of Esau's rejection hath not a reference to his rejection by God though that may be included in it but his rejection by his Father Isaac in reference to the Blessing which his younger brother Iacob had by a wile got before him 2. That Esau there did not seek to God for repentance but he sought to his Father for his blessing 3. That he did not seek repentance for himself but he sought with tears to his Father that he would repent his giving the blessing to Iacob and give it unto him Such as with tears seek repentance of God it is a signe they have some measure of this Grace 3. Consider the worth and excellency of this Grace though it be difficult yet it is excellent Pulchra sunt difficilia the best things are not obtained without difficultie had you this grace you would not be without it for a world you would not change your tears and sorrow for sin for all the sweetnesse and pleasure that others finde in the commission of it if you did but truly repent you would not think it so grievous a thing to be bourn but the more you had of it the more you would desire and be best pleased when you could act this grace most stronglie 4. Consider that the greatest dissiculty is at first Flesh may contradict and violently oppose the beginnings of Repentance which doth so manifestly seek its ruine and destruction but after you are accustomed to the yoke you will finde it more easie after you have got mastery over your flesh and have attained some degrees of mortification you will finde it suitable to the new man to live in the exercise of Repentance and reap much sweetnesse from it 5. Consider That you must repent and mourn for sin here or you will be damned and burn for sin for ever You cannot avoid grief for sin if you have it not in this world you will be sure to have it in the other world And is it not a thousand-fold more eligible to grieve for sin here especially considering 1. If you repent of sin now your grief will not be in extremity it will have some allay some alleviation some mixture of secret comfort at least something will be given in to support when you are even ready to be overwhelmed when the heart is most broken and contrite under the sense of sin and apprehensions of Gods wrath yet God will not suffer the Spirit to fail before him Isa. 57. 15 16. the Lord will keep up the soul from quite sinking and I am confident that such persons as are most heavie laden with grief for sin would not change their condition when at the lowest ebb with the most prosperous worldling But if you repent not till hereafter your grief will be extream without the least mixture of comfort or support In hell you will have nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth you will be there utterly consumed with terrours quite overwhelmed with sorrows be alwaies sinking in the bottomlesse-pit under the weight of grief which will be un-supportable 2. Your repentance of sin now will be pleasing unto God We read Luke 15. how well pleased the Father was when his Prodigal son returned home and with grief did acknowledge that he had sinned against Heaven and against him and was not worthy to be called his Son the Father meets him in the way and kisseth him and cloatheth him with the best Robe and kills the fatted Calf for him and maketh merry with him so though you have been prodigals hitherto have gone astray from God and wasted your time and talents in the service of the Devil and your own lusts yet if at length you come to your selves with repentance and humble confession of your sins you return unto the Lord he will pitty you his bowels will yern towards you whilst you are yet upon the way and he will meet you and embrace you and cloath you with the Robes of his sons righteousnesse and be pleased with you and rejoyce over you yea and the Angels also will rejoice in your conversion there will be joy in Heaven at your repentance amongst the Angels and joy on earth amongst the Saints Ministers will be pleased and rejoice they will pittie you and pray for you and Saints will be pleased and be ready to help and advise you but Gods pittie is beyond all See how God is taken with repenting Ephraim Ier. 31. 18 19 20. I have surely heard Ephraim â—emoaning himself c. Surely after I was turned I â—epented and after I was instructed I smote upon my â—high I was ashamed yea even confounded because I â—id bear the reproach of my youth there you have the description of Ephraim ' â— repentance and O the sweet words of most tender Love which the Lord doth express himself in towards Ephraim under his repentings Is Ephraim my dear son is he my pleasant childe for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him saith the Lord. But if you repent not till hereafter your grief will not only be
the tryal of Believers the Doctrine of Christs certain and sudden appearance to Judgement is a most dreadful Doctrine to sinners which are in sin and it is a most comfortable Doctrine to believers which are in Christ but because many sinners which are stil held fast in the bond of iniquity and are under the reigning power of some sins are apt to mistake and without good ground do perswade themselves that they are believers who at the last day will be found to be hypocrites and through their mistake of their state do ward off those strokes of Gods threatnings which are made at them and save themselves hereby from those terrible apprehensions of Christs appearance to Judge and condemn them which did they entertain might be a meanes to startle them and awaken them to take an effectual and speedy course for the salvation of themselves from future vengeance and because many true believers who are really united unto Christ by faith are apt also through the temptation of Sathan and their own ignorance and doubting misgiving-heart to mistake themselves and look upon themselves to be hypocrites and therefore fear that when Christ doth appear that they shall be condemned by him being so ready to condemn themselves and therefore gather matter for trouble from this Doctrine which indeed is matter of the greatest comfort therefore it will be needful for the undeceiving of the former that they may not falfly apply comfort and the rectifying the mistakes of the latter that they may not put off comfort to make some tryal of true believers It would be too large to present to you all the character which we may finde in the Word of God of true believers therefore I shall make mention but of one which the Text holds forth and is the second Doctrine observed from the Words in the begining of our Discourse Doct. 2. That there is an earnest desire in the Church or true Believers after the second appearance of the Lord Iesus Christ. You may try your selves whether you are true believers by your desires after Christs appearance this is the Character which the Apostle Paul giveth of Believers that they are such as love and by consequence desire the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of rightâ—â—sness which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day and not to me only but also to all them that love his appearance All such and none but such shall have a Crown of righteousness who love Christs appearing believers are said to look for Christs coming Heb. 9. 28. Vnto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation He will appear unto all but only to them that look for him will he appear unto salvation Believers look for Christs appearance with an eye of faith of hope and of desire 1. Believers look for Christs appearance with an eye of faith they expect it as sure as death yea as more sure because the death of some will be prevented by it it is not impossible that the Lord Jesus should come in our days they surely believe that the Lord will come 2. Believers look for the appearance of Christ with an eye of hope Tit. 2. 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour As they have hopes of the glory of Heaven so they have hopes of the coming of Christ who will receive them into glory who will put the Crown upon their Heads and bring them with Triumph unto the new Ierusalem 3. Believers look for the appearance of Christ with an eye of love and desire they love and long for his appearance they look with many a glance of love towards the Pallace above where their Lord is and they have many a longing wish that he would come forth and come down and receive them unto himself that where he is there they might be also The Bride saith come and the desire of the Spouse is Make haste my belived and be as Roe upon the Mountains of Spices Cant. 8. 14. Believers pray Thy Kingdome come in the Lord's Prayer which he taught his Disciples they desire the coming not only of the Kingdome of grace but also of the Kingdome of glory and in the Text the Church breathes forth this desire after Christs appearance Amen even so come Lord Iesus Now examine your selves whether you are true believers by this Character Do you love and desire Christs appearance Obj. If any object against themselves and say alas we fear then we are no true believers because we cannot say that we love and desire Christs appearance we are so far from desiring it that we are afraid of it and it is matter of the greatest trouble unto us to think of it Ans. 1. See you to that many go under the name of believers which have only the name take heed that none of you be found in the number of such at the last day 2. Possibly some of you may condemn your selves without reason as Gods Children are more forward to do than hypocrites who have the most reason It may be you do not desire that Christ should come immediatly but do not you desire that Christ should come at all a Wife may sincerely and greatly desire the coming home of her Husband when he is gone a long journey and yet if her House be out of order and not fitted to her minde for the receiving of him if she be not dressed and got into such a garb as she knows would be pleasing to him she may be content that he would stay a little longer until she be better prepared yea she may be afraid of his coming whilst she is unprepared the Harlot or Adulteress could be content that her Husband should never return but the true wife doth desire the coming of her husband though sometimes not the present coming so true believers they do desire Christs coming who is gone a long journey to Heaven though they may not desire his present coming because they are not so fitted as they desire to befor the receiving of him they desire his coming they would not for all the World that he should stay away for ever in Heaven unbelievers could be content Christ should stay away for ever and that they might live for ever upon Earth but believers could not be so content they may fer Christs immediate coming because of their unpreparation but they desire his coming Quest. How should we know whether our desires after Christs coming be sincere Answ. 1. If you love Christs person it is â— sign your desires after his coming are sincere 〈◊〉 desire the coming of friends to us whom we love Do you love Christ in sincerity Do you love him for himself for his own excellencies his loveâ—liness his love and spiritual love-tokens do you love him upon a spiritual account 2. If you do sincerely desire the comming 〈◊〉
Christ into your hearts in regard of his Spirit and grace it is a sign you have sincere desires after his coming in glorie when grace will arrive to itâ— perfection Can you understandingly and heartily pray Thy Kingdome come I mean that Christ's Kingdome of grace should be erected in your hearts and are sincerely desirous to have all things within you brought into subjection and obedience thereunto Do you sincerely and earnestly desire the presence of Christ and the breathings of his Spirit upon your hearts in his Ordinances it is a sign that there are at least true radical desires in you after his second appearance though by reason of doubts and feares they may not be so expresse 3. If you have laid up your treasure in Heaven and placed your happinesse in things above if you have cast the Anchor of your hope upward into that which is within the Vail it is a sign you have true desires after Christ's appearance that he might give you possession of the happinesse which you have made choice of 4. If you are careful to please the Lord and whether present or absent to be accepted of him and are affraid of sin because it is grievous to him and are diligent in the use of means to fit and prepare your selves and make all things readie for the receiving of him it is a sign you do both look for his coming and do desire it 5. And lastly if you have lively hopes of his coming and can rejoice in those hopes if you can with earnestness pray Come Lord Iesus come quickly this is a sign indeed of your desires though all true Believer have not attained to so great a heighth Unbelievers they do not desire Christ's appearance because they do not believe in him because they do not love him because their hearts are set upon the world because they are under the guilt and power of sin and because when Christ doth appear he will judge them condemn them and punish them But though they do not desire Christ's coming nor think of it nor prepare for it yet Christ will come and his coming will be dreadful unto them Believers they desire Christ's coming they 〈◊〉 looking for it and waiting for it they are â—â—ping for it and preparing for it and he will certainly he will quickly appear and they shall appear with him in glorie and this appearance 〈◊〉 be a most comfortable and joyful appearance uâ—â— them which leads unto the second Word whiâ—â— I am to speak 2. For the comforting of Believer Will the Lord Jesus Christ certainly and quicâ—ly appear to Judgment here then is a full breaâ— of the sweetest consolation at which you may suâ— and be satisfied and exceedingly refreshed As 〈◊〉 very word in this Doctrine speaks terror to Siâ—ners so every word doth breathe forth comfort true Believers and therefore I shall endeavoâ—â— hence to help work up your hearts unto spâ—ritual Joy 1. Rejoice Believers rejoice Christ will appâ—â— to Iudgment Christ will appear in his Glorie tâ—â— great God and your Saviour will appear He thâ— is your Saviour and Advocate will then be thâ— Judge of the World your Lord and King wiâ—â— appear attended with a glorious Train of heâ—â— venlie Courtiers decked with glorious beaâ—â— of most excellent Majestie Your Captain 〈◊〉 appear the Captain of your Salvation with 〈◊〉 spoils of his and your enemies and he will riâ—â— triumphantly in the Clouds your dearly beloveâ— Friend and Husband will appear with such beautâ— and lovelinesse in his face and with such deâ—â— love towards you in his heart as hath not entreâ— into your hearts to conceive the Lord Jesus Chriâ—â— will be glorious in the eyes of the whole world on that day and should not this rejoice your heart to think of the glorie of your Lord which will be then so conspicuous and of your interest in such a Person 2. Rejoice Believers rejoice Christ will certainly appear if there were any grounds to doubt the truth of this thing you would have reason to grieve but when the thing is so certain when God hath revealed it in his Word so clearlie when the Lord hath promised it to his people so faithfully and given his People hopes and expectations of it he will not disappoint them You have reason to rejoice there is nothing more certain as hath been proved than the second appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ at the last day 3. Rejoice Believerâ—s rejoice Christ will quickly appear the coming of the Lord draweth nigh there is a time set though you cannot know it because God hath locked up this secret in his own bosome yet you may know that it cannot now be far off the Lord will not tarrie much longer in Heaven before he come down to Judgment Look up then and lift up your heads with joy for the day of your Redemption draweth nigh Luke 21. 28. You will not long groan under the bondage and burden of corruption You will not long mourn and complain under the persecutions of cruel Enemies You will not long be assaulted and bufferred with the temptations of Sathan You will not long live in the dark Prison of the world Christ will quickly be here and open the Prison-doors and deliver you into the glorious libertie of the Children of God 4. Rejoice Believers rejoice When Christ doth appear yee also shall appear Possibly some of you may remain alive until his appearance be sure all of you shall be made alive if you go down into your dust before you shall not be hid there for ever you shall not be buried there in eternal oblivion but the Lord Jesus will awaken you out of your long sleep of Death and raise you out of your beds of darkness He will send his Angels to gather you from the four Winds Think O think how joyful a day this day will be unto you when the Voice is proclaimed the Bridegroom is come Go yee forth to meet him when the Trumpet doth sound in the Air and you are called out of your graves by the Angels and gathered into the companie of all the Saints of God which lived in all generations from the beginning of the Creation and in a moment in the twinkle of an eye such of you as are alive shall finde your bodieâ— strangelie transformed and all that come forth of the ground made incorruptible and immortal and when you shall see the Lord Jesus Christ come down with such brightnesse and beautie and glorie and such royal Attendants and you are all caught up to meet with him in the Air when you shall finde your selves in the number of those blessed happy ones whom the Lord will send for and receive to himself when the greatest part of the World will be left behind crying to the Rock to cover them and the Mountains to fall upoâ— them to hide them from the wrath of this furioâ—â— Judge that is come to condemn them O how will your hearts then be filled and even
live with him all the powers of earth and hell cannot separate you from his love and therefore cannot keep you out of heaven Rom. 8. 35 36 37 38 39. 7. Ye are justified by faith Rom. 5. 1. and therefore absolved from the guilt of sin therefore freed from the condemnation of hell Rom. 8. 1. therefore shall not perish seeing the cause thereof is removed therfore you shall have eternal life Ioh. 3. 16. whom God justifieth them he also glorifieth Rom. 8. 30. 8. Yee are the adopted children of God Gal. 3. 26. For ye are all the Children of God by faith in Iesus Christ. And if children then heirs Rom. 8. 17. and if heirs you shall be sure to have the inheritance 9. Ye are called with a Holy calling and sanctified with the holy Spirit and thereby in some measure fitted and qualified for this happiness by the work of grace consormity to the Lord in holiness grace is glory begun and is called eternal life and God hath promised to perfect it Philip. 1. 6. grace hath relation to Heaven as sin hath relation to hell and as sin will certainly bring men to hell if it be not pardoned and subdued so grace will certainly bring men to heaven because it cannot be wholly eradicated 10. You have made choice of Heaven for your portion you have laid up there your treasure and God hath set your souls a longing after it and given you hopes of it and therefore you shall not miss it your desires shall be satisfied and your hopes shall not make you ashamed Rom. 5. 5. 11. And if besides all this you have the witness and seal and earnest of the spirit giving you some first fruits and foretastes of this happiness though all believers do not obtain it then you may know without question that this is a sure happiness both in its self and unto you Therefore believers exercise your faith that you may be filled with all joy and peace in believing 3. Believers consider the neerness of the happiness of Heaven Christs appearance is not far off but your happiness may be neerer I mean the happiness of your souls in Heaven which will begin so soon as your lives come to an end the wicked walk upon the brink of Hell every day when they die thither they are carried you walk upon the borders of the Heavenly Canaan the Paradise which is above when you die thither you shall be conveyed and you may die suddenlie and as sâ—ddenlie you will be in glory Rejoice then believers rejoice you may be in Heaven before you are aware it may be to morrow God will send for you within a few daies you may be out of the body and present with â—he Lord Jesus and amongst the spirits of just Men made perfect when you break Prison from the body you will be delivered into the marvelous light of Gods glory rejoice to think how neer your happiness is 4. Believers consider the everlastingness of the happiness of Heaven there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Psal. 18. 11. When you are come to Heaven there you shall abide your happiness will be constant and eternal without diminution intermixture of sin or sorrow without interruption or possibility that ever it should be brought to an end It would alleviate the torments of the damned if they had any hopes of ever being let out of Hell and it would weaken the joyes of the Saints yea fill them with unspeakable grief if there were any danger and fear of being ever thrust out of Heaven Rejoice then yee believers yee shall rejoice for evermore in the eternal vision and fruition of God labour to begin your Heavens joyes now let faith so realize and bring neer the things which you hope for and make evident the things which as yet you do not see but shall possess that you may have a sweet foretaste of this happiness and begin your Heavens work to praise the Lord for his great and undeserved love wherewith he hath loved you and for those things beyond conception which out of love he hath prepared for you CHAP. XV. LAstly to conclude I shall speak a word both to Sinners and Believers Will the Lord Jesus Christ certainly and quickly appear to judgment let me then in his name perswade you to three things 1. Believe that Christ will appear mingle the Doctrine you have heard or read with faith you have had evident proofs of it believe the thing Sinners believe that Christ will come to judge and condemn you if you be found in your sins did you believe it effectually you would quickly become Saints Believers labour for more faith in this truth did you believe it more strongly you would live at a higher rate 2. Consider that Christ will appear meditate on this thing let it dwell in your thoughts let it lie down with you at night and arise with you in the morning let it sit down with you at Table and walk with you abroad think often of the antecedents of Christs coming the judgment it self and the consequents thereof and get a deep impression of the last Judgment upon your spirits Sinners consider how the wicked will be judged think how they will be accused and condemned think of the dreadful sentence and the execution thereof in Hell and then think that you are in the number of those that are in such danger unless you speedily secure your selves by making your peace Believers consider how the Saints will be judged think how Christ will acquit them and invite them to take possession and then will give them possession of Heaven and then think that you are in the number of these blessed ones which shall be made thus happy 3. Prepare for the appearance of Christ to judgment and that you may be prepared as a conclusion to this Doctrine take these directions 1. Be diligent that yee may be found of him in peace it is the advice of the Apostle after his discourse of the coming of the Lord and the glorious things of that day Wherefore beloved seeing that yee look for such things be diligent that yee may be found of him in peace 2 Pet. 3. 14. 1. Make your peace with God sinners God is your enemy make your peace with him you have offended him by your sins and his justice must be satisfied O labour to geâ— an interest in the satisfaction of Christ that your sins may be pardoned and God may be reconciled lay hold on Christ by faith as yet you may be welcome to him hereafter it will be too late Believers make sure of a pardon you cannot be too sure in a thing of such concernment 2. Diligently endeavourâ—after peace in your consciences sinners get the wounds which fin hath made there healed with the blood of Christ Believers take heed of making any breaches there maintain peace within when you have obtained it 3. Diligently follow after peace one with another take heed of hatred variance