The properties of this Judge are worthy here of our observation 1. Christ will be a most glorious Judge Never was there such a Judge seen on the earth It will be the greatest Judgment there will be a general Assize of the whole world and Christ will be the greatest Judge the greatest for dignity and glory that ever eye did behold Christ will be most glorious in regard of his person he will appear to be the Prince and Lord of glory and be admired not only by the Saints but also by the wicked amongst whom before they saw him he was despised The despisers shall behold the lustre of their Judge and wonder and perish as it is said in another case Act. 13. 41. Christ will be most glorious in regard of his retinue all the holy Angels those glorious Spirits who are about the Throne of God shall attend upon him Matth. 25. 31. When the Son of Man cometh in his glory and all his holy Angels with him yea all the holy Saints also shall attend upon him in the judgment of the wicked Iude 14. 15. Behold the Lord will come with ten thousand of his Saints to execure judgment upon all the ungodly c. Yea he will come with all his Saints 1 Thes. 3. 13. The whole innumerable company of Saints shall attend upon Christ in white shining garments with bodies like unto Christ more beautiful and glorious than the most splendid attire can make them and Christ then will be admired in all the Saints and believers by the wicked which shall behold them And Christ will sit upon the Throne of his glory Matth. 25. 31. I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the Earth and the Heaven fled away Rev. 20. 11. We read of a glorious Throne which Solomon made 1 King 10. 18 19 20. But the Throne and Tribunal seat of Christ will be far more glorious than Solomons or any Monarchs that ever lived upon the face of the earth 2. Christ will be a most powerful Judge He will have power to raise all the wicked out of their graves unto life again which requires as much power to effect as the giving them their being and life at the first he will have power to bring all the wicked to his foot to keep them in awe that they shall not stir nor lift up the hand in the least in a way of rebellion which is more than the most potent Prince that ever lived could do He will have power to execute vengeance upon all the wicked together and inflict an infinite punishment upon them and he will put forth no less power in the destruction of the wicked at the last day than was put forth in the first creation of the world herein he will make his power known Rom. 9. 22. When the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes. 1. 9. 3. Christ will be a most knowing Judge He will know all the persons of the wicked not one shall scape his eye he will not know them in any way of nearness and familiar acquainting himself with them but he will know them in a way of perfect cognizance of their persons he knew them when they lived and rebelled against his Law and he will know them again when they are raised he will not only have a general knowledge of them but he will know them particularly none of the ancient rebels shall be able to hide themselves either under rocks and mountains or in the crowd and throng of the wicked which shall be gathered together before him on that day Christ will finde out all his enemies and he will know all their crimes he will read them all written in the book of Gods remembrance and the book of their own consciences being then opened will present all their sins to his view the eye of the Judge will be a piercing all-seeing eye which cannot be blinded and therefore there will be no mistake and errour in the judgment through ignorance or false information as there may be in the Courts of judicature upon the earth 4. Christ will be a most holy Judge He will be without any the least stain of sin he was so when he lived amongst sinners on earth and surely he will be so when he descendeth from the Holy of Holies in Heaven some earthly Judges are guilty in the same kind with the malefactors which are brought before them so that whilst they judge others they condemn themselves but there will not be the least more of sin in the eye of Christ nor any tincture of defilement and therefore as it will be impossible to blind him because of his knowledge so it will be impossible to bribe and corrupt him in judgment because of his holiness and by consequence 5 Christ will be a most impartial and strict Judge he will be most impartial in regard of the persons whom he will judge the high degree and quality of men upon the earth will be of no account with him the rich will be no more regarded than the poor nor the highest Princes more than the meanest of their subjects Death levels all men and puts a conclusion unto all earthly dignities and in the resurrection all will stand upon even ground now some Lords and great men may murder and oppress and break Laws and through favour escape punishment which crimes if meaner persons had been found guilty of would have cost them their lives but Christ will have no more favour for a Lord or a Knight or a Gentleman no nor for a King or a Queen or the greatest Lady than for the most contemptible beggar he will not accept of the persons of any and connive at the sins of some which those that should reprove them now can wink at as if they were no faults because the faults of such persons as are high whose favour they desire and from whom they might receive damage and dis-esteem should they be plain and faithful but Christ he will neither need the favour nor fear the anger of anyl he will not court and flatter any because of their Nobility and greatness but impartially judge the highest and greatest by the same rule as he will do the lowest and meanest and Christ will be a most strict Judge in regard of crimes he will bring forth all the sins of the wicked to light not one sin which they have committed from the day of their birth to the hour of their dissolution but shall be had in remembrance and be brought unto publick view when the Lord shall enter into judgement with the ungodly world some of the wicked do now sin more secretly they have sweet morsels rolling under their tongues which are not perceived they have their Dalilahs in corners who are not known they shroud themselves under the shadow of the wings of the night that they might conceal some of their
upon the account you shall give and the sentence which shall be pronounced upon you by the great Judge therefore let me beseech you all to examine your selves whither you are prepared for this day of Judgment it will be a woful day to such sinners whom the Lord Jesus will condemn unto everlasting torments and are there no such Persons amongst you are there no ungodly ones gathered together into this place are all of you Saints and Children of God if you are not such you will wish you had been such at that time but are you all such now the worst of you may be such if you seriously diligently and timely seek such a priviledge but are you such yet are there not many here whom the Lord Jesus Christ will come in flaming Fire to take vengeance upon It would take up too much room to speak of all those sinners whom Christ will condemn especially having already spoken particularly of them under the conviction from pag. 87. to 115. But briefly and more summarily for the discovery of such Persons that you may examine your selves whether you are in their number The sinners which Christ will condemn at his appearance may be known by these Characters They are 1. Carnal 2. Sensual 3. Earthly 4. Devilish 1. Christ will condemn such as are carnal I mean such as are in the flesh such as are in the state of nature such as never were regenerated or born again by the Word and Spirit as never have had experience of a work of grace upon their hearts such as are blind and never had their eyes opened to see their sin and their Saviour who are muffled up in the darkness and hoodwinked with the vail of ignorance and unbelief and upon whose eyes there are such thick scales that the glorious light of the Gospel hath never been discerned by them in a spiritual and saving way such who are asleep and never had their consciences awakened out of their carnal security whose consciences are seared as with a hoâ— Iron and permit them to sin with little check or controll such who are dead in sin and never were quickned by the Spirit of life such as are slaves to their lusts and under the reigning power of sin and never were delivered from this worse than Turkish bondage that never were converted and savingly changed never were humbled and emptied of themselves never truly repented and mourned for sin never were powerfully drawn unto and savingly closed with Jesus Christ that never were renewed in their minds and hearts transformed after the Image of God transplanted into the garden of the Lord and engrafted into the new stock such in whom all old things remain and are wholly carnal in the same state in which they were first born their persons will all be condemned by the Judge Iohn 3. 3. Matth. 13. 3. Rom. 8. 13. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Eph. 4. 22 23 24. 1 Cor. 15. 50. Matth. 5. 8. Heb. 12. 14. Luke 13. 3. Revel 21. 27. 2. Christ will condemn the sensual I mean such who are so far from denying themselves crucifying the flesh mortifying the deeds of the body taking up the cross walking in the narrow way of â—trict obedience striving to enter in at the strait gate which alone can bring unto eternal life and happiness and subjugating their thoughts wil affections unto the government of Christ and so living as if they were his servants indeed whose name they bear that they labour either to imprison or banish or hide themselves from the light of those truths which would reach them these things to bribe or muzzle conscience which would urge them yea to shake off the government of reason it self which would put a curb upon them and so give up themselves to licentiousness making provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof with all greediness such who are so far degenerated and fallen from that primitive holiness which nature was endued with at the first creation that they have lost the relicts of Gods Image and blotted out the characters of his law engraven upon the hearts of all men and have made themselves like beasts yea more vile than the beasts that perish such are they that are sensual and luxurious and seek for their chiefest happiness in pleasing their sensual appetites such are drunkards and gluttons and adulterers who wallow in the mire of such sins who spend their daies in such pleasures and gather as much of them as they can finde without any regard to Gods Law which doth forbid them or to those higher sweeter pleasures which they are capable of and might obtain if they did seek after them in the way which God hath appointed All these which fulfil the desires of the flesh are children of wrath Ephes. 3. 3. and they which please themselves and live deliciously here will have torment and sorrow given them by Christ at his appearance Rev. 18. 7. Luke 6. 25. 3. Christ will condemn the earthly such who lay up for themselves treasures on earth and neglect the heavenly treasure Matth. 6. 19 20. who love the world and things in the world and have no true love to the Father who is the God of love and the chief good of mankind 1 Ioh. 2. 15. All covetous worldlings will be condemned by Jesus Christ for their heart Idolatry Eph. 5. 5 6. especially unjust and unrighteous persons oppressors and extortioners earth will be all the portion of such who make choice of it no room will be found for them in the Kingdom of heaven 1 Cor. 6. 10. 4. Christ will condemn the Devilish all such as are children of the devil as bear his Image and do his work that yield themselves to be his slaves and servants and endeavour the promotion of the interest of his Kingdom all such as are under the power of Devilish pride and Devilish envy and Devilish malice all Devilish lyars and Devilish slanderers and Devilish persecutors of Gods people In a word all such persons as live in a course of sin and never brake off the trade thereof by repentance and obtained a pardon of sin through faith and yielded up themselves unto the obedience of the Gospel will be condemned by Christ at his appearance Beloved examine your selves seriously hereby and what hath been before said whether you are not in the number of these persons whether none of you are carnal in a state of nature whether none of you are sensual or earthly whether none of you are children of the Devil whether none of you are Drunkards Adulterers Liars slanderers unjust unrighteous and withall impenient persons unbelievers and children of disobedience against whom the wrath of God will be revealed when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from Heaven to Judgment 2. For the awakening of sinners Will the Lord Jesus Christ certainly and quickly appear to judgment methinks this doctrine should awaken sleepy sinners and arouze them out of their carnal â—ecurity Doth conscience accuse you
them and we may â—ationally imagine that they will salute them at their rising and welcome them out of their graves we read of the Angel Gabriel's salutation of Mary Luke 1. 28. Hail thou that arâ— highly favoured the Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst Women and the same Angels words to Daniel chap. 9. 23. Thou art greatly beloved Such salutations possibly the Angels may give to the Saints at their resurrection Arise you that are highly favoured of God come forth yee that are greatly beloved welcome welcome yee happy ones ye that are blessed amongst the children of men your Lord is come down and stayethâ— for you he hath sent us to call you and convey you into his presence bring you where he is that you may see and share in his glory O how will such words make their hearts to glow within them how joyfull will such a message be unto them O happy they that ever they were born or rather that ever they were new born O happy they that they should live that they should be raised to see such a day as this will be O what looks what speeches what joyes will they have when they are entertained by the Angels 3. The third Antecedent to the Righteous Iudgment will be their meeting one with another Matth. 24. 31. The Angels will be sent to gather the Elect together 2 Thes. 2. 1. I beseech you â—rethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and our gathering together unto him the Saints will be all gathered together and we shall be gathered with them if we be found in that number there we shall meet with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the holy Kings and Prophets and Apostles and Martyrs and holy Men who have lived in all Generations and all these in another hue than when they lived upon the Earth they will arise like so many shining Suns ouâ— of the Earth O how shall we be delighted with the â—ight of such a glorious train and company when we see the Image and picture of the Lord upon them drawn so to the life what sweet greetings shall we have and mutual congratulations of our old acquaintance in the flesh who were with us acquainted with the Lord and is this the end of our hearing and fasting and praying and self-denial and mortification and the poor services we have done for the Lord Is this the issue of our pains and labour O happy we that ever we repented and believed and closed with Jesus Christ O happy we that laid up our Treasure and waited for our glory and happiness till this time 4. The fourth Antecedent is that the righteous shall be caught up together in the aire all the righteous shall be caught up they that are raised from the dead and they that remain alive upon the Earth on that day 1 Thess. 4. 16 17. The dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the aire we read of the two witnesses which were slain after three dayes and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon theâ—r feet and they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them come up hither and they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud c. Rev. 11. 11 12. In the morning of the resurrection the spirit of life from God will enter into the bodies of all the Saints and they will stand up and possibly they may hear a voice from Christ in the aire Come up hither and then they will be caught up and ascend into the aire to meet with their Lord O what unexpressible pleasure and delight will they finde when they Feel themselves begin to move upwards when they are leaving the Earth and wicked men and so many glorious persons of them together ascending to meet their most glorious Lord 5. The fifth antecedent to the judgment is their meeting with the Lord in the aire 1 Thess. 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the aire We have spoken of the meeting of the soul and the body of the meeting of the Saints with the Angels of the meeting of the Saints with the Saints all which meetings will be very delightful but the meeting of the Saints with the Lord himself will be beyond all O how sweet will the sound of Christ's coming be unto them before they see him When they hear the long expected shouâ— and the sound of the last Trump This this will be musick indeed in their eares Then then they will lift up their heads with joy and do but think how transporting the first glance of their eye will be upon the Lord Jesus Christ when they see him yet afar off cloathed with such brightness and beauty never did their eye behold such an object before they admired to see the Saints and to see themselves so transformed but how will they admire to see the Lord in such glory if so be that some of his Disciples did gaze after him with wonder when he was taken from them and ascended into Heaven Acts 1. 11. With what wonder will all his Disciples most of which never saw him in the flesh none of which saw him in such glory then gaze upon him when he shall come down from Heaven Yee Men of Galilee why stand yee gazing up into Heaven Say the Angels this same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as yee have seen him go into Heaven if you look and wonder now at his going how will you look and wonder at his coming which will be as surely but far more gloriously But when they are come neerer unto Christ and have a fuller view of him O vvhat thoughts What affections What joyes vvill there then fill their souls O what workings what beatings of heart what transports and ravishment of spirit will they have O how would they be overwhelmed with this sight and utterly unable to bear it if they were not strengthened beyond their present capacity And is this the Saviour and Redeemer of the world O glorious Son of righteousness Did this most excellent Person who thus appears in the brightness of his Fathers glory and is now come down from his glorious habitation with such a glorious train of Angels once vouchsafe to dwell with men and vaile his glory in the flesh Did this eternal Son of God stoop so low as to take upon him our nature yea to take upon him the forme of a Servant Did he live in such meanness and obscurity and indure such hardship contradiction reproach and injury when he was upon the earth O infinite condescention Did this Lord of life and glory in the dayes of his flesh so weep and pray and cry sweat and bleed and die though with such pain anguish and disgrace yet with such willingness and
pouring forth tears for him at the Throne of grace in my Closet when he hath been pouring in Wine and strong drink in Taverns and Aie-houses I have been troubled for him when he hath staied our so late and troubled more with him when he hath come in so full of drink and pâ—ssion and with much patience have endured his foul speeches and behaviour which he hath used I have watched the most fit opportunity I could take to put him in mind of his sin and danger and I have done it with the greatest humility and meeknes and tender affection as I could but either he hath not regarded my words or slew out into a rage against me O how fain would I have perswaded him to draw in the same yoke of Christ with me but he would draw another way do what I could none of my prayers nor tears nor arguments no not the lâ—ve of Christ nor the love of his own soul could prevaile with him to change his course he would 〈◊〉 leave his drunkenness and adultery his worldliness and iâ—justice his lying and over-reaching his swearing and bitterness against thy people by no means would he be perswaded 3. Believing Parents will then accuse and witness against their ungodly children and servants Lord we endeavoured to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of thee we laboured to put good principles betimes into them we drâ—pped many wholsome instructions upon them we prayed frequently for them and with them and spake plainly aâ—d earnestly to them about their soul-concernment we told them of the immnrâ—atity of their sâ—uls the preciousness of their time the evil of sin their need of thee the excellency of grace their danger of Hell the way to escape it the glory of Heaven the way to attain it but alas to the grief of our hearts they shut their ears against all our instructions and would take none of our reproofs or counsels they would go foolishly and stubbornly on in a course of sin and neither thy law nor our fear would restrain them Thus these and other godly relations will rise up in judgment and witness against the wicked 3. The ungodly friends and companions of the wicked will at that day be their accusers and witness against them especially those who have been drawn by them into sin however now they are very well pleased with them and delight in their company because sin pleaseth them and they do not feel nor believe the bitterness which will be consequent yet when they come to be judged and punished for those sins they will with rage and madness accuse curse those wicked persons which were their first tempters Drunkards will accuse those that drew them first into Taverns and Ale-houses and perswaded them by healths and other waies to drink beyond their measure Adulterers and Adulteresses will accuse those which first inticed them unto privy lewdness ungodly servants also will then accuse their wicked masters and ungodly children their wicked parents who have been drawn into sin by their example Thus men will be accusers and witnesses against the wicked 3. Devils will be the Accusers and Witnesses against the wicked they are now accusers of the brethren then they will be accusers of the wicked they accuse the brethren falsly they will accuse the wicked truly now they please and flatter the wicked and perswade them to sin then they will accuse them for those very sins which they have perswaded them unto they have done the devils drudgery all their daies and been his faithful slaves and this is his recompence he will be their accuser at the last day 4. The wicked will be accused by themselves their own thoughts shall accuse them in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ Rom. â— 15 16. their own consciences will accuse them and be as a thousand witnesses against them they will finde all their sins registred in that book and that book will then be opened and they will not be able to deny one word of what they shall finde there recorded Thus of the accusers and witnesses against the wicked 6. Concerning the Conviction And here I shall speak of the conviction of some particular sinners especially of such who have lived in the daies and places where the Gospel hath been preached whom the Lord Iesus Christ with upbraiding having of full evidence with convict of their sins To set this out the more lively Suppose that this very day were the day of Judgment and in this very Church were the Judgment-feat that here were a great white Throne and the Lord Jesus Christ himself sitting upon it in his glory with millions of holy Angels about him and all the Saints in white at his â—ight hand and on his left all the wicked gathered â—ogether into one body as it will be at the last â—ay And the Judge should cry with a loud voice â—ring the prisoners to the Bar Bring the sinners to judgment and so summon and convict particular sinners 1. Come forth all ye ignorant persons who have not known the father nor me nor the mysteries of salvation however clearly revealed in my Word who lived in darkness and loved darkness and bated the light least your deeds should thereby have been reproved What dark in a Goshen ignorant in London in a place of so much knowledge and instruction Did not Parents teach you when you were young how is it that you would not be taught If Parents neglected to instruct you had you not Ministers who were ready to do it How is it that you have not learnt If knowledge did not offer it self to you why did you not seek after it why did not you learn of your selves was there any thing in the world that did concern you more to know was not the knowledge of me and my waies worth the looking after had you a capacity for other knowledge and not for this have not others learnt who were naturally as dull and had as few helps 〈◊〉 you had you time to spend about other things iâ— sports and sins and not time to spend in getting knowledge had you an ear and yet not hear so as to learnâ— had you an eye and yet not see so as to understand And if you were naturally blind had not I eye-salve could not I have opened your eies was I not willing did I not stand in the gates to call upon you How long ye simple ones will you love simplicity and fools hate knowledge Turn unto me and I will pour out my Spirit upon you and make knowâ— my words unto you Prov. I. 22 23. Have 〈◊〉 neglected me through ignorance is not your fouâ— double because you have neglected knowledge too have you committed many sins through ignorance 〈◊〉 not this an aggravation of your sin did not you 〈◊〉 knowledge and therefore dis-regarded it did not yoâ— love sin and therefore shunned the light which would have discovered it and disturbed you in
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.
they will finde them like so many debts crossed out with the red lines of Christs blood If the Devil should be permitted to accuse them at that time who is now the accuseâ— of the Brethren and rip up their secret faults the Lord himself will stand up and plead for them he will make known the sufficient value of his merits for their ransome and publiquely acquit them from all guilt and condemnation who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that shall condemn it is Christ that died for them Rom. 8. 33 34. But these four things Christ will take an account of in the judgement of the righteous 1. He will take an account of their graces The vessels of the Virgins will be lookt into what Oile they have goâ— the hearts of the Saints will be lookt into what graces they have obtained Christ will then take notice what godly sorrow they have had for sin their secret weeping and mourning will then be made manifest he will take notice what humility and meekness what self-denial and patience they have had especially what faith and love and hope and spiritual joy they have had and all their raised affections towards himself and heavenly things in his ordinances and his judgment of grace will not be according to the appearance and show which hath been but according to truth and then the Saints shall be ranked not according to their esteem and dignity in the world but according to the measure of the graces they have attained 2. Christ will take an account of the improvement of the talents of graces and gifts and opportunities of service which he hath entrusted them withall Mat. 25. 19. and Christ will then take chief notice of those which have been most industrious and faithful and instrumental for doing most good and bringing most glory to his name and though all shall have a full reward that are found truly faithful and shall enter into their masters joy yet they shall have a more full reward and be capable of more joy and glory than the other 3. And especially he will take an account of their works of mercy Matth. 25. 35 36. I was hungry and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came unto me c. It will even astonish and confound the righteous to hear such language as this from the Lord Jesus Christ when he appears in such glory they will be ready to question when he was in any want and received relief at their hands When saw we thee a hungry or a thirst or naked and ministred any help we received all from thee but we could give nothing to thee thou didst relieve us and redeem us out of the deepest poverty and misery in which we were sunk and should have perished without thy help but what relief hadst thou from us Then the King will answer and say unto them v. 40. Verily I say unto you in as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me At such a time and such a time the poor came to you for relief making use of my name whose backs for my sake you cloathed and whose bellies you refreshed and whose necessities you supplied that was done unto me though they were poor they were my brethren some of my servants were brought into straights for conscience sake and you received them or sent help to them you received me then and gave help to me that money was not thrown away it was given to me and I am come to give you a thousandfold reward Were this truth more effectually believed what a forwardness would there be in Christians to works of mercy Surely they would look upon that part of their estate as best improved which in such works is bestowed Christ doth not mention any other use which they put their money unto which if worthy to be compared would be made mention of he doth not speak of so much laid out in building so much laid out in cloathing so much laid out for food so much laid up in portions for children all this the wicked can do but so much laid out to the poor and me in them which is the only part you have laid up for your selves and which I am now come to return unto you with usury 4. Christ will take an account of the afflictions which the righteous have endured especially of their sufferings for his sake such reproaches such losses imprisonments banishments buffetings but if they have suffered death with what honour will this be made mention of with what great esteem will he receive and speak unto them which have come out of great tribulation and O the joy in this morning after the tears of the night then they will finde that their light affliction which they have endured for a moment hath wrought for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 2. The second thing in Christs judegment of the Saints is the Sentence which he will pronounce upon them which will be a most gracious invitation of them to take possession of the Kingdom of Heaven which he hath prepared for them Matth. 25. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared from you from the foundation of the world All Christs invitations in Scripture are very sweet Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest Matth 11. 28. How sweet is this to a troubled conscience and an oppressed spirit ready to sinke under the burden of sin Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters and he that hath no money come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa. 55. 1. O what sweet words are these to those which are parched and pained and ready to die with spiritual thirst and can finde nothing in the creatures which can give them any satisfaction or ease But of all the words that ever Christ did speak of all the invitations that ever Christ did make this will be the sweetest which he will give to his Disciples at the last day Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World Come ye blessed and happy ones however accounted miserable ones by men yet blessed of my Father Come inherit the Kingdom prepared for youâ— frâ—m the foundation of the World Take possession of your eternal inheritance Come enter into the Kingdom of glory which the father hath chosen you unto and called you unto and which I have purchased and now fitted and made ready for you Come along with me and I will shew you my glory and where I am there ye shall be also Come along
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