here much more then when we are with our Saviour our Jesus being passed from death to life John 5. 24. 1 John 4. 18. Secondly The Saints at this day shall have their hearts and Souls so wrapped up in the pleasure of God their Saviour that it shall be their delight to see all things though once never so near and dear unto them yet now to perish if not according to his word and will Thy will be done is to be always our Language here but to delight to see it done in all things though it tend never so much to the distruction of what we love to delight I say to see it done in the height and perfection of delight it will be when we come to Heaven or when the Lord shall come to judge the World Mat. 6. 10. But thirdly The sole end of the counting of the Saints at the day of God it will be not onely for the vindication of the righteousness holiness and purity of the Word neither will it center onely in the manifestation of the knowledg and heart-discerning nature of Christ though both these will be in it Revel 2. 22 23. But their very remembrances and sight of the sin and vanity that they have done while here it shall both set off and heighten the tender affections of their God unto them and also increase their joy and sweetness of Soul and clinging of heart to their God Saints while here are sweeâ—ly sensible that the sense of sin and the assurance of pardon will make famous work in their poor hearts Ah what meltings without guilt what humility without casting down and what a sight of the creatures nothingness yet without fear will this sense of sin work in the Soul The sweetest frame the most heart-indearing frame that possibly a Christian can get into while in this World is to have a warm sight of sin and of a Saviour upon the heart at one time Now it weeps not for fear and through torment but by vertue of constraining grace and mercy and is at this very time so far off of disquietness of heart by reason of the fight of its wickedness that it is driven into an extasie by reason of the love and mercy that is mingled with the sense of sin in the Soul The heart never sees so much of the power of mercy as now nor of the vertue value and excellency of Christ in all his Offices as now and the Tongue so sweetly inlarged to proclaim and cry up grace as now now will Christ come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that believe 2 Thes. 1. 10 11. Wherefore though the Saints receive by Faith the forgiveness of sins in this life and so are passed from death to life yet again Christ Jesus and God his Father will have every one of these sins reckoned up again and brought fresh upon the stage in the day of Judgment that they may see and be sensible for ever what grace and mercy hath laid hold upon them And this I take to be the Reason of that remarkable saying of the Apostle Peter Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ who before was preached unto you whom the Heaven must receive till the restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy Prophets since the World began Acts 3. 19 20 21. If a sense of some sin for who sees all Psa. 19. 12. and a sight of the love of God will here so work upon the spirit of the godly What will a sight of all sin do when together with it they are personally present with their Lord and Saviour Yea if a sight of some sins with a possibility of pardon will make the heart love reverence and fear with guiltless and heart-affecting fears what will a general sight of all sin and together with them an eternall acquittance from them work on the heart of the Saint for ever Yea I say again if a sight of sin and the love of God will make such work in that Soul where yet there is unbelief blindness mistrust and forgetfulness what will a sight of sin do in that Soul who is swallowed up of love who is sinless and temptationless who hath all the faculties of Soul and Body strained by love and grace to the highest pin of perfection that is possible to be in glory injoyed and possessed O the wisdom and goodness of God that he at this day should so cast about the worst of our things even those that naturally tend to sink us and damnus for our great advantage All things that shall work together for good indeed to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. Those sins that brought a curse upon the whole World that spilt the heart-blood of our dearest Saviour and that laid his tender Soul under the flaming wrath of God shall by his wisdom and love tend to the exaltation of his Grace and the inflaming of our affections to him for ever and ever Revel 5. 9 10 11 12 13 14. 'T will not be thus with Devils 't will not be thus with Reprobates the saved onely have this priviledge peculiar to themselves wherefore to vary a little from the matter in hand will God make that use of sin even in our counting for it that shall in this manner work for our advantage why then let Saints also make that advantage of their sin as to glorifie God thereby which is to be done not by saying Let us do evill that good may come or let us sin that Grace may abound but by taking occasion by the sin that is past to set the Crown upon the Head of the Christ for our justification Continually looking upon it so as to press us to cleave close to the Lord Jesus to grace and mercy through him and to the keeping of us humble for ever under all his dispensations and cariages to us Now having counted for all their evil and confessed to Gods glory how they fell short and did not the truth in this or that or other particulars and having received their eternall acquittance from the Lord and Judg in the sight of both Angels and Saints forthwith the Lord Jesus will make inquiry into all the good and holy actions and deeds they did do in the World Now there shall all things be reckoned up from the very first good thing that was done by Adam or Abel to the last that will fall out to be done in the World The good of all the holy Prophets of all Apostles Pastors Teachers and helps in the Church here also will be brought forth and to light all the good Cariages of Masters of Families of Parents of Children of Servants of Neighbours or what ever good thing any man doth but to be general and short first here will be a recompence for all that have sincerely laboured in
doth tell Sardis that those among them that stood it out to the last gasp in the Faith and Love of the Gospel should not be blotted out of the Book of Life but they with the work of God on their Soul and their labour for God in this World should be confessed before his Father and before his Angels Rev. 3. 5. This part of this Book is in another place called The Book of the Word of the Lord because in it I say is Recorded those famous acts of the Saints against the World flesh and the Devil Numb 21. 14. You find also how exact the Holy Ghost is in Recording the travels pains labour and goodness of any of the Children of Israel in their Journey from Egypt to Canaan which was a Representation of the Travels of the Saints from nature to Grace and from Grace to Glory King Ahasuerus kept in his Library a Book of Records wherein was wâ—it the good Service that his Subjects did for him at any time which was a Type also of the manner and order of Heaven And as sure as ever Mordecai when search was made in the Rolls was found there to have done such and such service for the King and his Kingdom Esth. 6. 1. 2. so surely will it be found what every Saint hath done for God at the day of inquiry You find in the Old Testament also still as any of the Kings of Judah dyed there was surely a Record in the Book of Chronicles of their memorable acts and doings for their God the Church and the Common-wealth of Israel which still doth further hold forth unto the Children of men this very thing That all the Kings of the New Testament which are the Saints of God have all their acts and what they have done for their God c. Recorded in the Book of Chronicles in the Heavenly Jerusalem Now I say when this part of the Book of Life shall be opened what can be found in it of the good deeds and Heaven-born actions of wicked men Just nothing for as it is not to be expected that Thorns should bring forth Grapes or that Thistles should bear as Figs so it cannot be imagined that ungodly men should have any thing to their Commendations Recorded in this part of the Book of Life What hast thou done man for God in this World Art thou one of them that hast set thy self against those strong struglings of pride lust covetousness and secret wickedness that remain in thy heart like Job and Paul Job 1. 8 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. 2. And do these struglings against these things arise from pure love to the Lord Jesus or from some legall terrours and conviction for sin Gal. 5 6. 3. Doest thou I say struggle against thy lusts because thou doest in truth love the sweet holy and blessed leadings of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus its leadings of thee I say into his blood and death for thy Justification and deliverance from wrath to comâ— Phil. 3. 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 4. What acts of self-denyal hast thou done for the name of the Lord Jesus among the Sons of men I say what house what friend what Wife what Children and the like hast thou lost or left for the Word of God and the Testimony of his truth in the World Matth. 19. 27 28. Revel 12. 10 11. 5. Wast thou one of them that didst sigh and afflict thy self for the abominations of the times and that Christ hath marked and Recorded for such a one Ezek. 9. 3 4. Zeph. 3. 18. 6. In a word Art thou one of them that wouldest not be won by neither fear frowns nor flatteries to forsake the wayes of God or wrong thy Conscience or art thou one of them that slightest those opportunities that Satan and this World did often give thee to return to sin in secret Heb. 11. 14 15. These be the men whose prayse is in the Gospel and whose commendable and worthy acts are Recorded before the Judge of all the World Alas alas these things are strange things to a carnal and wicked man Nothing of this hath bin done by him in this life and therefore how can any such be Recorded for him in the Book of Life wherefore he must needs be shut out of this part also As David saith Let them be blotted out of the Book of the living and not be written with the Righteous Psal. 69. 28. Thus I say the wicked will find nothing for their comfort either in the first part of this book where all the names of the Elect are neither will they find any thing in the second part thereof where is recorded the true nature and operation of effectual Conversion of Faith or Love or the like and I say neither can any thing be found in this third part wherein is recorded the worthy acts and memorable deeds of the Saints of the Lord Jesus Thus when Christ therefore hath opened before them this book of life and convinced the ungodly at this day out of it he will then shut it up again saying I find nothing herein that will do you good you are none of my Elect you are the sons of perdition For as these things will be found clear and full in the book of life so they will be found effectually wrought in the hearts of the Elect all whose conversion and perseverance shall now be opened before â—hy eyes as a witness I say of the truth of what thou here seest opened before thee and also of thy unregenerate estate Now thou wilt see what a turn what a change and what a clinging to God to Christ and his Word and wayes there was found in the Souls of the saved ones here shall be seen also how resolvedly unfeignedly and heartily the true child of God did oppose resist and war against his most dearest and darling lusts and corruptions now the Saints are hidden ones but then they shall be manifest this is the morrow in which the Lord will shew who are his and who they are that fear the Lord and who that fear him not Psal. 83. 3. Sam. 8. 19. Numb 16. 5. Mal. 3. 18. Now you shall see how Abraham left his Country how close good Lot did stick to God in prophane and wicked Sodom Heb. 11. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. Mat. 19. 29. how the Apostles left all to foâ—low Jesus Christ and how patiently they took all crosses afflictions persecutions and necessities for the Kingdome of Heavens sâ—ke how they indured burning starving stoning hanging and a thousand calamities how they manifested their love to their Lord his Cause and people in the worst of times and in the dayes when they were most rejected slighted abused and abased then shall the King say to them on his right hand and that when all the Devils and damned sinners stand by Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the World you are indeed the truly converted
THE Resurrection of the Dead AND Eternall Judgement OR The truth of the Resurrection of the Bodies both of Good and Bad at the last day Asserted and proved by Gods Word Also the manner and order of their coming forth of their Graves as also with what Bodies they do arise Together with a Discourse of the last Judgement and the finall Conclusion of the whole World By John Bunyan a Servant of the Lord's Christ. 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. Behold I shew you a Mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye at the last Trump for the Trump shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed John 5. 28 29. Marvel not at this for the houre is coming in which all that are â—n their Graves shall hear his Voyce and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the Resurrection of damnation London Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Barre Courteous Reader THough this be a small Treatise yet it doth present thee with things of the greatest and most weighty concernment even with a Discourse of Life and Death to Eternity opening and clearing by the Scriptures of God that the time is at hand when there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust even of the Bodies of both from the Graves where they are or shall be at the approach of that day Thou hast also in these few lines the order and manner of the rising of these two sorts of People wherein is shewed thee with what Body they shall then rise as also their states and condition at this day with great clearness For here thou shalt see the truth and manner of the terrible Judgement the opening of the Books the examining of Witnesses with a finall conclusion upon good and bad Which I hope will be profitable to thy Soul that shall read it For if thou art godly then here is that which will through Gods blessing incourage thee to go on in the faith of the truth of the Gospel but if thou art ungodly then here thou mayst meet with conviction yea and that of what will be without fail thy end at the end of the World whether thou continue in thy sins or repent If thou continue in them blackness and darkness and everlasting destruction but if thou repent and believe the Gospel then light and life and joy and comfort and glory and happiness and that to Eternity Wherefore let me here beg these things at thy hand First That thou take heed of that spirit of mockery that saith 2 Pet. 3. 4 5. Where is the promise of his coming Secondly Take heed that thy heart be not overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon thee unawares Luke 21. 34 35. Thirdly But be diligent in making thy Calling and Election sure that thou in the day of which thou shalt read more in this Book be not found without that glorious Righteousness that will then stand thee instead and present thee before his glorious presence with exceeding joy to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus World without end Amen John Bunyan OF THE Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgement But this I confess unto thee that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Father believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Acts 24. 14 15. MY Discourse upon this Text will chiefly concern the Resurrection of the Dead wherefore to that I shall immediately apply my self not medling with what else is couched in the words You see here that Paul being upon his Arraignment accused of many things by some that were violent for his blood and being licenced to speak for himself by the then Heathen Magistrate he doth in few words tell them that as touching the Crimes wherewith they charged him he was utterly faultless onely this he confessed that after that way which they call Heresie so he worshipped the God of his Fathers believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and that he had the same hope towards God which they themselves did allow that there should be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Whence note by the way That an hypocritical people will persecute the power of those truths in others which themselves in words profess I have hopes towards God and that such a hope which themselves do allow and yet I am this day and that for this very thing persecuted by them But to come to my purpose there shall be a Resurrection of the dead c. By these words the Apostle sheweth us what was the substance of his Doctrine to wit that there should be a Resurrection of the dead and by these words also what was the great argument with his Soul to carry him through these temptations afflictions reproaches and necessities he met with in this World even the Doctrine of a Resurrection I have hope towards God saith he and there is my mind fixed for there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust The reason why I cannot do what these Jews would have me also why I cannot live as do the Gentiles it is because I have in my Soul the faith of the Resurrection This is the Doctrine I say which maketh me fear to offend and that is as an undergirder to my Soul whereby I am kept from destruction and confusion under all the storms and tempests I here go through In a word this is it that hath more awe upon my Conscience then all the Laws of men with all the penalties they inflict Vers. 17. And herein do I exercise my self to have alwayes a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men Now here seeing this Doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead hath that power both to bear up and to awe both to incourage and to keep within compass the Spirit and Body of the People of God It will be requisite and profitable for us to inquire into the true meâ—ning and nature of this word the Resurrection of the dead And for the better compassing of this matter I shall briefly inquire First what this place is meant by the dead Secondly What is meant by the Resurrection Thirdly Why the Apostle doth here speak of the Resurrection of the dead as of a thing yet to come there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust For the first The dead in Scripture go under a five-fold Consideration as 1. Such as die a natural death or as when a man ceaseth to be any more in this World
Nay further we do not onely see what operation the Spirit will have in our Body by the carriage of Christ after his Resurrection but even by many a Saint before their Death The Spirit used to catch Elijah away no man could tell whether It carryed Ezekiel hither and thither It carryed Christ from the Top of the Pinacle of the Temple into Galilee through it he walked on the Sea the Spirit caught away Philip from the Eunuch and carryed him as far as Azotus 1 King 17. 11 12. 2 King 2. 11. Ezek 3. 14. Luke 4. 14. Matth. 14. 25. Act. 8. 39. 40. Thus the great God hath given us a Tast of the power and glory that is in himself and how easily it will help us by its possessing of us at the Resurrection to act and do like Angels as Christ sâ—ith They that shall be counted worthy of that World and of the Resurrection from the Dead they shall not die but be equal to the Angels Luk. 23. 36. Further as the Body by being thus spiritualized shall be as I have said so again it must needs be that hereby all the Service of the Body and Faculties of the Soul must be infinitely inlarged also Now we shall see him as he is and now we shall know even as we are known 1 Joh. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 13. 12. First now we shall see him to wit Christ in his Glory Not by Revelation onely as we do now but then Face to Face and he will have us with him to this very end Joh. 17. 24. Though John was in the Spirit when he had the Vision of Christ Rev. 1. 17. yet it made him fall at his Feet as dead and also turned Daniel's Beauty into Corruption Dan. 10. 8. It was so glorious and so over-weighing a Glory that he appeared in but we shall at the Day of our Resurrection be so furnished that we shall with the Eagle be able to look upon the Sun in his strength We shall then I say see Him as he is who now is in the Light that no Eye hath seen nor any man can see till that Day 1 Tim. 6. 16. Now we shall see into all Things There shall not be any thing hid from us there shall not be a Saint a Prophet or saved Soul small or great but we shall then perfectly know them Also all the Works of Creation Election and Redemption and shall see and know as throughly all the Things of Heaven and Earth and Hell even as perfectly as now we know our A B C. For the Spirit with which we shall in every Crany of Soul and Body be filled I say that searcheâ—h all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. We see that strange Things have been known by the Prophets and Saints of God and that when they knew but in part Abraham could by it tell to a day how long his Seed should be under Persecution in Egypt Gen. 15. 13. Elisha by it could tell what was done in the King of Assyria's Bed-Chamber 2 King 6. 12. Ahijah could know by this Jeroboam's Wife so soon yea before her Feet entred within his Door though he saw her not 1 King 14. 1 2 3 4 5. The Prophet of Judah could tell by this what God would do to Bethel for the Idolatry there committed and could also point out the man by name that should do the Execution long before he was born 1 Kin. 13. 2. What shall I say Enoch by it could tell what should be done at the end of the World Jud. 14 15. How did the Prophets to a circumstance prophecie of Christ's Birth his Death his Burial of their giving him Call and Vinegar Of their parting his Raiment and piercing his Hands and Feet Isa. 53. Of his riding on an Ass Also all this they saw when they spake of him Joh. 12. 41. Peter also though half asleep could at the very first word call Moses and Elias by their Names when they appeared to Christ in the Holy Mount Luk. 9. 33. He is very ignorant of the operation of the Spirit of God that scrupleth these Things But now I say if these Things have been done seen and known by Spiritual men while their knowledge hath been but in part how shall we know see and discern when that which is perfect is come Which will be at the Resurrection It is raised a Spiritual Body Thus in few words have I shewed you the truth of the Resurrection of the Just and also the manner of their Rising Had I judged it convenient I might have much inlarged on each particular and have added many more For the Doctrine of the Resurrection however question'd by Hereticks and Erroneous Persons yet is such a Truth that almost all the Holy Scriptures of God point at and center in it God hath from the beginning of the World shewed to us that our Body must be with him as well as our Soul in the Kingdom of Heaven I say he hath shew'd first he hath shewed us how he will deal with those that are alive at Christs coming by his translating of Enoch Gen. 5. 24. Heb. 1. 5. and taking him Body and Soul to himself As also by his catching of Elias 1 King 2. 10 11. up Body and Soul into Heaven in a Fiery Chariot Secondly He hath often put us in remembrance of the Rising of those that are Dead at that Day First By the Faith he gave Abraham concerning the Offering of his Son For when he offered him he accounted that God was able to raise him up even from the Dead From whence also he received him in a Figure In a Figure of the Resurrection of Christ for Abraham's Justification and of Abraham's Resurrection by Christ at the last Day for his Glorification Heb. 11. 19. Secondly By the Faith he gave Joseph consuming his Bones which Charge the Godly in Egypt did diligently observe and to that end did keep them four hundred years and at length carryed them I say from Egypt to Canaan Heb. 11. 22. which was a Tipe of our being carryed in our Body from this World to Heaven Besides How oft did God give power to his Prophets Servants and Christ Jesus to raise some that was now dead and some that had been long so and all no doubt to put the present Generations as also the Generations yet unborn in mind of the Resurrection of the Dead To this end I say how was the Shunamites Son raised from the dead 2 King 4. The man also at the touching of the bones of Elisha 2 King 13. 20 21. Together with the body of Lazarus with Jairus Daughter and Tabitha and many others Luke 8. 53 54 55. Joh. 11. 43 44 45. Acts 9. 40 41. who after their Soul was departed from them Lazarus lying in his grave four dayes were all raised to life again and lived with that very Body out of which the Soul at their death had departed But above all that notable place in
namely under the black Rod in the Kings black Book where he hath Recorded all his Enemies and Traytors It shall be said of this man of this ungodly man that he was born there Psal. 87. 4. That he lived and dyed in the state of nature and so under the curse of God even as others for as he said of wicked Coniah Jer. 22. 30. Write this man childless so he saith of every ungodly man that so departeth out of this World Write this man Graceless Wherefore I say among the Babylonians and Phylistians among the unbelieving Moors and Pagans his name will be found in the day when it will be inquired where every man was born for God at this day will divide the whole World into these two Ranks the Children of the World and the Children of Zion Wherefore here is the honour the priviledge and advantage that the Godly above the wicked will have at the day of their counting When the Lord maketh mention of Zion it shall be then acknowledged that this and that good man was born in her the Lord shall count saith the Prophet when he wrighteth up the People that this man was born there Psal. 87. 5 6. This man had the work of Conversion of Faith and Grace iâ— his Soul This man 〈◊〉 Child of Zion of the Heavenly Jerusalem which is also written in Heaven Blessed is the People that are in such a case Gal. 4 26 Heb 12. 22 23. Psal. 144. 1â—â— But poor Soul Counters will not go for Gold now for though so long as thou didst judge thy self by the crooked rule of thy own reason fancy and affection thou wast pure in thy own eyes yet â—ow thâ—u must be judged alone by the words and rule of the Lord Jesus Which word shall not now as in times past be wrested and wrung both this way and that to smooth thee up in thy Hypocrites hope and carnall confidence but be thou King or Keser be thou who thou wilt the Word of Christ and that with this interpretation onely It shall judge thee in the last day Joh. 12. 44. Now will sinners begin to cry with loud and bitter cryes Oh! ten thousand Worlds for a saving work of Grace Crowns and Kingdoms for the least measure of saving Faith and for the love that Christ will say is the love of his own Spirit Now they will begin also to see the work of a broken and a contrite spirit and of walking with God as living 〈◊〉 in this World But alas these things appear in their hearts to the damned too late as also do all things else This will be but like the repentance of the Thief about whose neck is the â—alter and he turning off the ladder for the unfortunate hap of the damned will be that the glory of Heavenly things will not appear to them till out of season Christ must now indeed be shewed to them as also the true nature of Faith and all Grace but it will be when the door is shut and mercy gone they will pray and repent most earnestly but it will be in the time of great Waters of the flouds of eternall wrath when they cannot come nigh him 1 Tim. 6. 15. Matth. 25. 10 11. Psal. 32. 6. Well then tell me sinner if Christ shouâ—d now come to judge the World canst thou abide the tryal of the Book of Life Art thou confident that thy Profession that thy Conversion thy Faith and all other Graces thou thinkest thou hast will prove Gold Silver and precious Stones in this day behold he comes as a Refiners fire and as Fullâ—rs Soap shalt thou indeed abide the melting and washing of this day Examine I say before hand and try thy self unfeignedly for every one that doth â—ruth cometh to the light that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Joh. 3. 21. Thou sayest thou art a Christian that also thou hast repented dost believe and love the Lord Jesus but the question is whether these things will be found of equall length heighth and bredth with the Book of Life Or whether when thou art weighed in the ballance thou wilt yet be found wanting Dan. 5. 27. How if when thou comest to speak for thy self before God thou shouldest say Siboleth instead of Shiboleth that is though almost yet not rightly and naturally the Language of the Christians Judg. 12. 4 5 6. If thou miss but one letter in thy evidence thou art gone for though thou mayst deceive thy own heart with Brass instead of Gold and with Tin instead of Silver Gal. 6. 7. yet God will not be so put off You know how confident the foolish Virgins were and yet how they were deceived They herded with the Saints they went forth from the gross pollutions of the World they every one had shining Lamps and all went forth to meet the Bridegroom and yet they mist the Kingdom They were not written among the living in Jerusalem they had not the true powerful saving work of Conversion of Faith and Grace in their Souls they that are foolish take their Lamps but take no Oyl no saving Grace with them Mat. 25. 1 2 3 4. Thus you see how sinners will be put to it before the Judgment-Seat from these two parts of this Book of Life But Thirdly There is yet another part of this Book to be opened and that is that part of it in which is Recorded those noble and Christian acts that they have done since the time of their Conversion and turning to Christ. Here I say is Recorded the Testimony of the Saints against sin and Antichrist their suffering for the sake of God their love to the members of Christ their patience under the Cross and their faithful frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints and their incouraging one another to bear up in his wayes in the worst of times even when the proud was called happy and when they that wrought wickedness were even set up As he there saith Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a Book of Rememrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name Mat. 3. 14 15 16. For indeed as truly as any person hath his name found in the first part of this Book of Life and his Conversion in the second so there is a third part in which there is his noble spiritual and holy actions Recorded and set down As it is said by the Spirit to John concerning those that suffered Martyrdom for the truth of Jesus Write blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them Rev. 14. 13. And hence it is that the labours of the Saints and the Book of Life are mentioned together signifying that the travels and labours and acts of the godly are Recorded therein Phil. 4. 3. And hence it is again that the Lord