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
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
natural abilities as appeares not only by the history but also by the stile of their writings which hath not that politeness as is to be found in many humane Authors which doth not run in such a golden stream of eloquence neither is dressed with such neatnesses of wit nor garnished with such flowers of Rhetorick which is not methodized by the rules of Logick nor enterlarded with any peepings of humane wisdome which doth not savour of high parts and great natural ingenuity or give the least suspicion of cunning and subtilty which these Men had above others But some of the highest mysteries of divinity are set forth by these Pen men in a passsing-mean and home-spun dress yea they are left even naked and bare of such apparel as the ingenuous Men of the World have cloathed their matter withall which hath given the light of the most glorious truths and mysteries more evident discovery not but that some parts of the Scriptures have such a strain of divine eloquence as doth exceed humane writings but the plainness of the stile especially of the Apostle Iohn in his Gospel and Matthew c. Doth evince that what they delivered was not their own invention but that they were acted by another spirit in the writing of them even by the spirit of God who did reveal all the mysteries which they speak of in whole unto them 3. A third Character of Divinity in the Scriptures is the wisdome which there doth appear especially the wonderful contrivement of God's wisdome in Mans redemption and salvation by Iesus Christ which is there made known No Book in the World doth shine with such beames of wisdome as the Word doth it doth teach Men wisdome spiritual and divine wisdome in comparison with which all the wisdome of the World is but foolishness It doth irradiate the minde with the most glorious light and proposeth to the understanding the most noble objects it discovers the greatest truths of the greatest concernment it sheweth the way to avoid the most dreadful effects which sin will produce and to obtain the highest happiness which humane nature is capable of which is one part of its divine stamp Moreover the Scriptures do set forth the infinite wisdome of God in the wonderful contrivement of the salvation of fallen Man by his only Son the Lord Jesus Christ the only Saviour of Man-kind which wisdome being so transcendent doth evidence both the Contrivement thereof in Mans salvation and the discovery thereof in the Scriptures to be from himself so that as by the light of the Word we may know what this wisdome was even so by this wisdome we may know the Word to be the Word of God To clear this Argument I shall show 1. That the way of Mans salvation by Iesus Christ which the Scriptures reveal must needs be the contrivement of Gods wisdome 2. That the revelation of this contrivement must needs be from God which I suppose will be an evident demonstration of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures 1. That the way of Mans Salvation by Iesus Christ was the contrivement of Gods wisdome will appear because it was impossible for any Man of the most searching brain and most notable invention to have imagined it Man being guilty of sin against the Law of God inscribed upon the hearts of all Men which natural Conscience will accuse of if sinners listen thereunto and Gods Justice being engaged to inflict a punishment proportionable unto the crime without a satisfaction which right reason will say is but reasonable and this justice of God being infinite must in reason require an infinite satisfaction Now what created understanding could of it self have contrived or conceived a way how this should be done Every thing that hath a being is either God or a Creature all the Creatures are finite in their Beeings and actions and therefore could not make an infinite satisfaction It is God only who is infinite and he being the party offended could not make satisfaction to his own justice especially since his justice requires punishment for satisfaction which God as God being impassible is uncapable of not to say any thing that the same nature which did commit sin should in justice suffer the punishment would not reason now conclude that it were impossible for this satisfaction to be made Surely it was none but the wisdome of God that could contrive the way of satisfaction to his justice by the incarnation of his Son by the union of the divine nature in the second Person of the Trinity unto the humane nature in the Person of Christ that so by vertue of the hypostatical union the humane nature might not only be strengthned to undergo the wrath of God which was due for the sins of Men in the sufferings which he endured before and upon the Cross but also that through the communication of attributes the sufferings of Christ might be of infinite value because the sufferings of such a Person as was God as well as Man that so they might be a full satisfaction unto Gods justice for sin and through Gods Covenant with him and gracious acceptation of this satisfaction from the surety instead of the offenders themselves the sins of Men might be pardoned and their souls saved O the depth of the Wisdome of God! here is the wisdome of God in a mystery surely they are blinded and hoodwinked by the Devil who do not acknowledge that this was the contrivement of Gods wisdome 2. That the Revelation of this contrivement of wisdome was from God will appear in that none could know the minde of the Lord herein unless he himselâ— had discovered it What Man saith the Apostle knâ—â—eth the things of Man but the spirit 〈…〉 which is in him even so the things of God â—noweth no Man but the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 11. And the spirit of God searcheth all things even the deep things of God and unless the spirit had revealed these things we must have remained in our ignorance of them since it could not have entered into our hearts to have conceived them seeing then none could have discovered the deep contrivements of Gods wisdome unless God by his spirit had revealed them and seeing these contrivements are revealed in no other Book but the Book of the Scriptures it is evident that the Scriptures must needs be the Word of God which also will further appear if we consider the manner of the Revelation of the mystery of Mans redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ that it was revealed by pieces and more obscurely at first and that divers Men were made use of in the discovery thereof in divers ages who spake hereof mostly in dark sayings and where they spake most clearly yet themselves had not a clear understanding of what they were moved to speak by the Holy Ghost but searched what and what manner of time the Holy Ghost which was in them did signify when it testified of the sufferings of Christ and
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.
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
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
all yee Back-sliders and Apostates from me and my wayes You that turned back to wayes of prophaneness and open wickedness after some time of profession and joyning your selves with my people was my service so burdensome that you could endure it no longer was the way to Heaven so unpleasant that you would walk no longer therein after some tryal in show of me did you prefer and make choice of the Devil before me after some washing your selves would you wallow in the mire again after heaving some vomit off of your stomack would you again lick it up after some sweepings and dressings would you open the door and let in seven worse spirits to defile your hearts after you seemed to be escapèd were you again entangled would you needs put your foot again into the snare and binde your selves in fresh bonds of sin did you prefer the company of the wicked which were going Hell-ward before the company of my people which were going Heaven-ward could not you now wish that you had held on and held out with them unto the end would not you have rejoyced if you had now been found in their society did you repent of your repenting and do you not now repent of your back-slidings were not you told if you drew back my Soul would have no pleasure in you And you that have turned aside from me and my wayes into wayes of errour that suckt in damnable Heresies from faise Teachers Did you not know that there were damnable Heresies as well as other damnable sins were you not warned that Sathan sometimes appeared as an Angel of light would you so quickly turn aside after some workings and strivings of my spirit with you and some hopes which you gave of your conversion and reformation did not you perceive how Sathan lay upon the catch so soon as you began to be awakened to prejudice you against the truth and draw you aside in another way to serve him did you not understand the mysteries of his delusions if you had heartily loved the truth as it was in me would you have been so deluded was not deep humiliation and mortification of every last too hard a Doctrine and therefore you chose such as would give you more scope and liberty and shroud your lusts under some other name and terme your hatred and anger against my people by the name of zeale for my glory did you think if you gave Sathan one hold that it would not be sufficient to undo you had you stuck close to my Ministry and Ordinances would you have been so deluded did you think your selves wiser than my Ministers so soon as you got a little glimmering of light could you so readily open your eare to slanders and receive prejudices against them through Sathans and his Instruments perswasions to the shipwracking of your own Souls did you not finde how wavering and unsteady you were how like Children tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine when once you forsook my Ministry which I appointed for your establishment did you conceit that you might live above Ordinances in the World did you imagine to get into a higher forme when you went forth of my School and when you expected perfection most were not you more imperfect than before when you fancied a clearer light were not you most full of darkness when you thought your selves so holy as none like you and none must be holy but those of your way were not you most unholy and like a smoke in my nostrils could I accept of your worship out of the way of my Ordinances and Institutions when you thought your selves must guided and acted by the spirit was it not a spirit of delusion did my spirit lead you and act you in a way which my word did not allow of were not you the renders and â—â—â—rers of my Church was it not by reason of you that the wayes of truth were evil spoken of by evil Men were not those without prejudiced against my very wayes because of your delusions which made so forward a profession suppose I permitted some of mine to mistake in circumstantials was this a just excuse for your errours in fundamentals when the word was open for you to inform your selves in the truth did not you wrest the Scriptures to your own destruction suppose you denied your selves some things were they those things that I commanded suppose you suffered some things in your way do you hope for a reward for sufferings which I never called you unto and which did but so much the more harden your party and promote your delusion did you know what a snare you were hampered in so soon as you put your foot into the way of errour and turned aside from that old strait narrow way of my Word and Ordinances which have brought so many to Heaven were not you in a greater unlikelihood of being called effectually than Drunkards and Adulterers and the most vicious who lay more naked to the blow of the Word and were more ready to receive instruction you were more forward to reprove my Ministers than to receive my Ministers and conviction from them you could call them Antichristian and false Prophets though they adheared to and maintained nothing but the truths of my word and when I gave them so many seals of their Ministry in the conversion of many Souls you could call them self-seekers and hirelings though they gave such evidences of self-denial and many of them forsook all that they had rather than they would make a breach upon their consciences you could some of you emrench upon their office though you had no call nor commission from me you had the Scripture to discover to you the right way but you shut your eyes against the light and châ—se wayes of darkness and is it not sit that you should go to the place of darkness Take them Devils binde them hand and foot 20. Come forth all yee Impenitent Persons and Unbelievers all yee that have not yielded obedience to the Gospel were you not called to repentance by Ministers and the spirit in Ordinances and when a stiller voice was not heard were you not called louder by God in his Iudgments did you not know that except you repented you would certainly perish that iniquity would be your ruine unless your heart were broken for it and from it and yet were you though you lay under the guilâ— of so much sin could you be so impenitent and hard-hearted were not you called to me by the voice of the Gospel did not I call you and stretch out my hand all the day long to you did not I stand at the door of your heart and woâ— hard for entertainment and yet could you shut the door against me though you had so much need of me had you not commands and encouragements to believe could you rationally desire firmer ground and footing for your faith did not you give God the lie by your unbelief have you not hereby
yea to lay down their life for Christ as many of necessity must and did do that would be Christians indeed in those daies and when the Doctrine of the Gospel was such surely it was not likely of it self to receive entertainment unless the power of God had accompanied it 5. The power of the Gospel in the first preaching appears in that it met with so much opposition the Devil stirred up instruments against it the powers of the Earth were against it as well as the powers of Hell great men did oppose it Philosophers were against it Learned men did oppose it the Iews were against it and raised up persecution against the Apostles and the hearts of all men naturally were against it and when there was such an opposition against it surely it was none but the power of God which could cause it to prevaile and conquer and cause so many Nations to bow and yield obedience hereunto 2. The wonderful power and efficacy of the word where it is preached unto this day is a strong argument that it is the Word of God 1. The power of the Word to search the heart and convince of sin Heb. 4. 12. The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart there is a light in the Word which discovereth the dark filthy corners of the heart and convinceth of secret sins and there is a sharp edge in the word to cut and wound no word in the world searcheth and pierceth like the word in the Scriptures 2. And especially the power of the Word doth appear in the work of conversion and regeneration which it effecteth it is called the incorruptible seed by which men are born again 1 Pet. 1. 23. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth Iam. 1. 18. there is a great power goeth along with it â—o break rockie hearts to bow stubborn wils to spiritualize carnal affections to subdue strong lusts to work a gracious and thorow change in the heart of man which exceedeth the power of nature or moral suasion and in so much as all are not wrought upon by it which read or hear it yea sometimes the more disposed subject receiveth no impression thereby and the less disposed subject is effectually changed which shows that the â—ower doth proceed from God and that the work is effected by his Spirit and proves the diâ—ine Authority of this Word 3. The Word is powerful not only for the first working of grace but also for the encrease thereof for the building up believers Act. 20. 32. for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying the body of Christ there is Milk in the Word for babes and strong meat for strong men wholsome words which have much spiritual nourishing vertue in them the Word is powerful for the â—uenching Sathans fiery darts for the repelling and driving back the tempter for the comforting and rejoycing of distressed and disconsolate souls â—hen they are brought even to the brink of deâ—air there are no such joyes in the world as â—â—ose joyes which Christians sometimes finde in â—eading and applying the Word when they mingâ—e it with faith and have the breathings of the Spirit therewith and there is no book in the world that can produce such powerful effects aâ— the Scriptures do wherefore it must needs follow that these Scriptures are indeed the Word oâ— God 3. The Scriptures appear to be the Word of God from the Historical relation in them of Prophecies fulâ—filled of miracles whereby they were confirmed aâ—â— the rationally unquestionable certainty of this History as it is handed down to pâ—sterity 1. In the Scriptures we have relation of Prâ—â—phecies and the fulfilling of them which doâ—â— prove these writings to be from God alone because he alone can certainly foretell futuâ—â— things indeed wise men may guess and througâ— prudence foresee the effects of some thingâ— in their causes and foretell some things thâ— are not very far off yet not certainly and wiâ—â— all their circumstances But it is Gods prerogâ—â—tive to foresee and foretell such things certainlâ— and with their circumstances and long before 〈◊〉 time for which no cause in nature can be aâ—signed sucâ— as many of the Prophesies of 〈◊〉 Scriptures were By this argument God doth 〈◊〉 the Prophet Isaiah prove the Heathenish gods 〈◊〉 be no gods because they could not foretell fuâ—ture events Isa. 41. 21 22 23. Produce your cauâ—â— saith the Lord bring forth your strong reasons 〈◊〉 them shew us what shall happen and declare to 〈◊〉 things to come shew the things which are to 〈◊〉 hereafter that we may know that ye are Gods 〈◊〉 v. 26. There is none that sheweth there is none thâ—â— declareth c. Therefore he concludeth v. 29 Behold they are all vanity their works are nothing their molten Images are winde and confusion 〈◊〉 The Prophesies of Scripture as they prove the Lord who spake them by the Prophets to be God so they prove the Scriptures in which they are spoken to be of Divine authority It would take up too much room in this small Treatise to enumerate all the Prophesies of Scripture take two or three instances See Gen. 15. 13 14. God foreâ—elling to Abraham that his seed should be strangers in a Land which was not theirs and serve them and be afflicted by them four hundred years and that afterward they should come forth with great substance This Prophesie is fulfilled Exod. 12. So also the return of the children of Israel â—rom the Babylonish captivity after seventy years was foretold Ier. 25. 12. and the name of Cyrus who should deliver them before he was born â—sa 45. 1 2. So also the name of Iosiah who â—hould destroy the Altar which Ieroboam had reaâ—ed and burn the bones of the Priests upon it was foretold three hundred thirty and three years before he was born the Prophesie is in 1 King â—3 2. the fulfilling of it 2 King 23. 17. But â—specially the Prophesies in the Scripture concerâ—ing the Messiah are remarkable of his birth lâ—fe death and the fulfilling of them in the History of the Evangelists the Prophesie of the destruction of the Temple and Ierusalem by Daâ—iel and especially by our Saviour and the â—ulfilling thereof before that generation wherein our Saviour lived were all in their graves 2. In the Scripture we have relation of Miâ—â—cles whereby they were confirmed such as the â—lague of Egypt the dividing of the Sea for the â—â—raelites to pass â—horow the raining of Manna from Heaven the standing still and going back of the Sun the preservation of the three Children in the fiery Furnace and the like in the old Testament especially the Miracles wrought by our Saviour and his Disciples which the new Testament do record such as healing the sick the lame blinde deaf leprous by a word the feedinâ— many
thousands with a few Loaves of bread the calming of the Sea the raising of the dead afteâ— burial and the like all which did exceed the power of nature and however wonderful things might be wrought by Men in a praestigiatory way which God may permit some to be deluded withâ—all yet all true Miracles as these were could bâ— wrought by none without his immediate power which he would never put forth for the confirmâ—â—tion of lies and deceits therefore we may strongâ—ly argue from hence that the Scriptures whicâ— have been confirmed by these Miracles are indeeâ— the Word of God I know the great questioâ— then will be whether there were ever such Miraâ—cles wrought which the Scriptures makes mentioâ— of whether the historical relation both of Propheâ—sies and Miracles be not a forgery for the introdâ—â—ction of the worship which the Scriptures cals foâ— therefore 3. I might show at large the rationally unquestiâ—â—nable certainty of Scripture-History as handâ— to posterity But in brief when these things weâ— so notable and remarked in their times when theâ— were not done in corners when they were the oâ—â—ject of sense when they were so many wheâ— they had so many spectators and witnesses whâ—â— there are divers records of the same things anâ— all in the main agreeing when the way they 〈◊〉 declared in speaketh so much simplicity in the relators when there were so many Copies of the Records dispersed into so many divers places when Enemies could not deny the truth of things recorded only imputed them to other causes when mention is made of these things in profane Histories when we have the Writings of the ancient Fathers by us who lived in all the Centuries between us and the time of Christ and with one consent acknowledge these things who might easily have found out the deceit had there been any when they lived some of them so neer to the days wherein the chief of these things were done when we cannot rationally assign an end which should move Christians to deceive themselves and posterity since they exposed themselves to such losses persecutions reproaches and afflictions by their profession of Christianity neither can we rationally imagine how all the Christians in the World could meet together from so many Counâ—ries for the forging of things which were never done much less how they should agree together â—bout it and least of all how they should keep his secret but their adversaries would have found â—t out and made it known some hint of it would â—ave been given in History all these things being â—aid together we may rationally conclude that â—he History of the Scripture is as certain yea more â—ertain than any profane History which we â—ave the least doubt of and if the Histories of â—rophesies fulfilled and Miracles wrought be â—â—ue it is a strong Argument that the Scriptures which hereby are confirmed are indeed the word â—f God These Arguments for the Divine Authoâ—â—ty of the Scriptures may be sufficient to stop the mouths of gain-sayers but without the testimony of the spirit in and by them none will be sufficient to effect a saving faith Thus it is evident from the truth and divine Authority of the Scriptures which do so clearly reveal and foretel it that the Lord Jesus Christ will certainly appear to Judgment The second Argument to prove the certainty of Christs appearance may be drawn from the certainty of the Resurrection 2. Arg. If all the dead shall certainly le raised at the last day and the Lord Iesus Christ shall raise them then the appearance of the Lord Iesus Christ to do it is certain but all the dead shall certainly be raised at the last day and the Lord Iesus Christ shall raise them therefore the appearance of the Lord Iesus Christ is certain 1. That all the dead which are or shall be brought into that state shall be raised at the last day is a truth so clear in the Scripture that nothing is more clear The general Resurrection of the dead is one great Article of our Christian Faith one Principle of the Doctrine of Christ made mention of by the Apostle Heb. 6. 1 2. The dead smâ—â—l and great shall be raised and stand before God Rev. 20. 12. We read of the Resurrection of the Iâ—st Luke 14. 14. Of the Resurrection of the Iust and Vnjust Acts 24. 15. I might multiply many Scriptures to prove this Doctrine of the Resurrection but I shall further speak but of two places which purposely treat thereof and being so full of Arguments I shall make use of no other than there I finde for the evidencing of this truth 1. The former Scripture is in Matth. 22. from vers 23. to the 34. The same day came the Sadduces to him which say there is no Resurrection and asked him saying Master Moses said If a Man die having no Children his Brother shall marry his Wife and raise up Seed to his Brother Now there were with us seven brethren and the first when he had married a Wife deceased and having no issue left his Wife unto his Brother Likewise the second also and the third unto the seventh And last of all the Woman died also Therefore in the Resurrection whose Wife shall she be of the seven for they all had her Iesus answered and said unto them Yee do erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God For in the Resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the Angels of God in Heaven But as touching the Resurrection of the dead have yee not read that which was spoken unto you by God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob God is not the God of the dead but of the living And when the multitude heard this they were astonished at his Doctrine And vers 34. it is said He put the Sadduces to silence Here we have a Disputation concerning the Doctrine of the Resurrection wherein we may take notice of 1. The opponents and they were the Sadduces who denied the Resurrection they denyed the immortality of the Soul for they said there was no Angel nor Spirit Acts 23. 8. And they denyed the Resurrection of the body 2. The Respondent and that was the Lord Iesus Christ the wisdome of the Father he that when he was but twelve years old did dispute with the Doctors in the Temple and filled all that heard him with astonishment at his understanding and answers Luke 2. 46 47. And much more now when he was so much encreased in wisdome was he able to deal with the Sadduces and answer them about this truth of which he coming out of the bosome of the Father and being acquainted with his secrets he had so perfect knowledge he had answered the Herodians before most wisely to their ensnaring question whether it were lawful to pay tribute to Caesar and he was able to give answer to the Sadduces about the Resurrection 3. The Objection
righteous Lot dwelt amongst them it is likely â—here was not one righteous person besides what was in Lots family and though they were so wicked and the cry of their sins was gone up â—o Heaven and the Lord was provoked unto so great displeasure by them yet they are jovial and secure they did not think in the midst of â—heir peace that sudden destruction was so near Abraham with his servants had not long before delivered them out of the hand of Chedorlaomer against whom they had rebelled and Amraphel and the other Kings which had conquered them and sackt the place they did not think of a more â—urious enemy who was arming himself against them even the King of Heaven against whom they had worse rebelled and out of whose hands none could deliver them They ate and they â—rank they did not think that their flesh and all â—he provisions thereof should so soon be devoured by flames they bought and they sold they did little expect that both money and merchandize should be consumed so suddenly they planted and they builded they did not in the least imagine that instead of showers of Rain from Heaven to water their Plants to make them grow they should have showers of Fire and Brimstone to burn up their plants and burn down their houses to the ground The Sodomites did not in the least look for such a Judgment as this it is said Gen. 19. 14. That Lot went out and spake to his sons in law which had married his daughters and said Up get you out â—f this place for the Lord will destroy this City but â—e seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law His words were unto them like idle tales which they did not believe otherwaies they would not have remained in the place until they had been consumed and if Lot's sons in Law who in likelihood were some of the best of the place did not believe nor expect the judgment though they were forewarned by their Father much less did the rest of the Sodomites expect it that had not before heard of it This Fire from Heaven was altogether unexpected in Sodom But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained Fire and Brimstone upon them and destroyed them all The morning was clear when Lot went forth and the Sun did shine with a glorious brightness when he got into Zoar but then we may imagine that a strange darkness did quickly fill the Heavens when the Lord came down clothed with vengeance as with a garment and wrapped in thick clouds of the sky when the Lord thundered in the Heavens and the highest gave hiâ— voice Hail-stones and coals of fire when the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon the place Whâ— can utter the horrible perpexity of the Sodomiteâ— on that day under this unthought of unexpected sudden and so dreadful un-heard-of Judgment when they opened their windows and doors of their houses in the morning and perceived the fashion of the heavens to be altered and the tempest of Fire and Brimstone to beat 〈◊〉 upon them so sorely and suddenly when the 〈◊〉 was strangely converted into fire and such scalding sulphurious matter enkindled by the breaâ—â— of God did fall upon them when the wholâ— place was put into flames together and ever house was set on Fire by this Fire from Heaven when they saw if theâ— went forth of doors they should be burnt by the fire of Heaven if they stayed within they should be burnt by the fire of their houses when there was such a dreadful burning heat by the Fire accompanied with such a stinking noisome suffocating smoke by the brimstone when there was a little kinde of Hell in that place both for torment and sin O the Dread of the Sodomites at that time then those beasts which would have forced themselves into Lots doors to commit leudness and were strucken by the Angels with blindness when they began to feel the violence of this Fire and their pampered flesh began to be rosted by these flames how did they howle like Dogs how did they roar and yell with anguish and horrour Then all the sinners of the place whose sins before went up with such a loud cry into the ears of God what a loud cry did they send forth out of every house under the sense of their torments then the sons in law of Lot who were forewarned I believe were above others perplexed and filled with unspeakable vexation that they did not hearken to the voice of their Father and remove with him from that place before the Fire came then they knew he did not mock them but was in good earnest and that his words were not idle tales but the truth of Gods intention which he was sent to give them notice of Sodom is now made a fiery Furnace and all the wicked of the place are consumed together suddenly and unexpectedly Even thus will it be in the day when the Son of Man shall be revealed when the Lord Jesus Christ shall come to Judgment The world is very wicked and the longer it doth continue the worse it grows the sins of the wicked world like the sins of Sodom have gone up with a loud Cry to God and the Lord hath exercised his patience a long time to lead them unto repentance and if there had not been some righteous persons on the Earth the day of Judgment would have been long ago if there had not been some Lots in Sodom I mean some Elect Persons in their sins that are yet to be called and some as yet un-born that must be gathered the World would ere this have been consumed for the wickedness thereof there is a measure appointed for the Worlds sins which will be filled up and there is a number appointed of chosen Persons who ere long will be brought in and so soon as Lot is got into Zoar God rains Fire and Brimstone on Sodom and I conceive that so soon as all the Elect Persons are got into Christ that then Christ will appear to Judgment and as it was in the dayes of Lot so will it be on the day of Christs appearance the wicked of the World will be secure eating and drinking buying and selling planting and building The day before Christ cometh will be a merry day with some ungodly sinners they will be eating and drinking feasting and carouzing singing and rejoycing and putting the evil day far from them even when it is so very neer but how will their chear be changed the next morning how will their singing be turned into howling and their joy into heaviness and dreadful terrour The day before will be a gainfull day it may be with many in their buying and selling possibly they may have got a good bargain in their buying and got good profit in their selling and it may be a busie day with others in their planting and building which may fill their time and thoughts with Worldly care and contrivements for many years to
come little thinking that the World is not of a years nor two dayes standing longer but O what terrour will seize upon these Worldings the next morning when Christ doth appear to judge them and they finde that whilst they have gained something in the World which they cannot now keep and will yield no profit in this day of wrath that they have lost their souls and happiness for ever which they cannot regain that whilst they have been busie about trifles they have neglected the one thing necessary then they will wish that instead of planting Trees in their Ground they had spent their time in getting grace planted in their hearts that instead of building Houses for their bodies they had laid a good foundation for this time and got a title to the building of God the House not made with hands which is durable and eternal The day before Christs coming will be a sinning-day with all the wicked and a day of general security some will be swearing and cursing others will be oppressing and grinding the faces of the poor others will be reproaching and persecuting of Gods people and the very night before it may be many wicked Persons may be got together Carding and Dicing and Drinking all night unto Drunkenness and others may be got into the unclean Bed and there lie in their filthiness and all will be sleeping in sin and security but the sound of the last Trumpet will startle and awaken them all when sinners open their eyes on this morning and see the Heavens open before them and the Lord Jesus Christ descend in such glory as hath been described none can utter what their perplexity will be at that day and the suddenness of Christs coming will make their horrour the greater some of them were told of this day of Fire when the Heavens should pass away with a great noise and the Elements should melt with fervent heat and the Earth with the works therof should be burnt up and what course they should take to escape the vengeance of this day they were perswaded to leave their sins to flee from the wrath to come to hasten out of Sodom if they would not be consumed in its flames to get away and not look back to flee presently into Zoar where only they could be hid to get into the City of refuge if they would escape the vengeance which did pursue them which had them upon the chase they were invited into Gods Family and into the armes of his mercy they were invited unto Christ and to partake of his grace freely they were told again and again if they did go on in the way of sin that iniquity would be their ruine that so long as they did abide in a state of impenitency and unbelife that the wrath of God did abide on them they were told how sweet Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ was and how ready he would be to receive them if they applyed themselves by faith with repentance for sin unto him and they were told how furious and inexorable a Judge he would be and what vengeance he would take upon them at the last day if they did not take warning in the day of grace which they had allowed them they were told that Hell Fire was very hot and intollerable and that Heavens pleasures were very sweet and most desirable and they were earnestly entreated to fly from the former and accept of the latter upon the most reasonable termes on which they were proffered But they were like Lot's Sons in Law they did not believe Ministers which warned them seem'd in their eyes as if they had mocked them their words seemed like idle tales whatever haste the Lots made out of Sodom they would not stir they did not look after a Zoar to flie unto they hugged their sins and would not leave them they heard of Christ but they neglected slighted refused him they did not apprehend such need which they had of a Saviour they were fearless of future wrath and careless of the salvation and happiness of their souls But when Christ doth come down so suddenly and unexpectedly to judge and condemn them and shall cast them into the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone then they will remember these things with vexation far greater than that of Lot's Sons in Law when Fire and Brimstone was rained from Heaven upon them who would not hearken to the counsel of their Father to escape it CHAP. XIII The Application THe Lord Jesus Christ will certainly and quickly appear The day is appointed by the eternal and unalterable decree of God and he hath revealed the thing though not the time in his word of truth the day approacheth it cannot be far off time is flying away upon swift wings the day of the World is almost spent the shaddowes of its evening are stretched forth to a great length yet a little while and Christ will be here he will appear in his glory never did eye of Man behold such glory and majesty in the greatest earthly Potentate as will be seen in the Lord Jesus Christ on this day all the state and pomp and splendor and glittering glory which some Princes have been decked withall in their Triumphant showes is no more to be compared with the pomp and splendor of the Lord Jesus Christ in this appearance than the shining of a Candle or Glow-worm or rotten stick in the night is to be compared with the shining of the Sun in its noon-day glory Ere long the great Gates of Heaven will lift up their heads and those everlasting Doors within which Christ doth for the present remain will be opened and then this King of Glory will come forth and come down with marvellous splendour and brightness of Majesty It is said Psal. 47. 5. God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of the Trumpet then God will come down with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet 1 Thess. 4. 16. The Chariots of the Lord are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels Psal. 68. 17. All the holy Angels shall attend upon him and blow the Trumpet before him at this last Assizes to awaken and summon on the World to judgment then the Sun in the Firmament will be darkned when this more glorious Sun doth appear then the whole frame of Heaven will shake and the foundations of the Earth will be moved the everlasting Mountains will bow and the perpetual Hills will shrink yea the Heavens will pass away with a great noise and like a skroll be rolled together and the Elements will melt with fervent heat and the Earth wâ—â—l be on Fire and every Mountain and Island will flee away from before his face then the Sea will roar and all living Creatures likely will be in a strange consternation then the wicked Tribes of the Earth will mourn and the Saints will rejoyce at this glorious appearance of the great God and their Saviour But who will be alive on