Isai 45. 17. We may not imagine then that this Salvation of theirs shall ever have an end This Proposition thus cleared may be useful diâ—ers Vse ways First It makes for the confutation of such as â—hink though not all yet at least some of Gods Eâ—ect may and shall perish in the world to come Vorstius his c. Which impious conceit may in no wise be assented unto 1. Because it is most certain that all Gods Elect shall be saved in the world to come as hath been â—rove 2. Because God was of the minde to save them â—ll when he decreed their Salvation And it is blasphemy to think that he hath changed his mind since concerning them seeing he is still of one minde Job â—3 13. still the same Psal 102. 27. and changeth not Mal. 3. 6. 3. Because Christ hath promised That none of Gods Elect shall be lost Joh. 6. 37. And if none of â—hem shall be lost then none of them shall perish in the world to come 4. Because God in Christ is able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 5. 25. And they are kept by the â—ower of God unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. And if â—o then none of them shall perish in the world to come But whereas such Opinionists tell us of Solomon Object That though he wâ—re one of Gods Elect yet he shall perish in the world to come because as they say he never truly repented in this world I answer It is very uncharitable to think or say That Solomon Ans never truly repented because we have very probable evidences of his Repentance in the fifth sixth and seventh Chapters of the book of Proverbs even as touching that particular sin which they lie to his charge and throughout that book and the book of Ecclesiastes both written by him we have more general evidences of his Repentance And seeing all the evidence we can have of anothers Repentance can be but probable having the like concerning Solomons we should be satisfied therewith And whereas they tell us of the Apostacy of the Object Saints as if some of Gods Elect Saints might be guilty of total and final Apostacy and so â—â—â—ght perish in the world to come It is not onely against the duty â—â— Charity but Ans also against many plain places of Scripture to impute this sin of total and final Apostacy to any of Gods Elect Saints though some of Satans Saints may be guilty thereof as I have shewed often upon other occasions seeing God hath promised to preserve and keep them from this sin Psa 119. 165. Jerem. 32. 40. And our Saviour hath shewed That the Elect cannot possibly be seduced so far as to be guilty of it Mat. 24 24. Secondly It makes for the confutation of such as think That our good works in this life are meritorious and shall merit Salvation in the World to come Which Popish conceit is in no wise to be granted neither 1. Because Christ our Mediator is the onely meritorious cause of Salvation as was said before out of Act. 4. 12 2. Because our best works are very imperfect being mixt with much evil Rom. 7. 21. By reason whereof our best performances are but half good performances if they be so much How then can they merit at Gods hands Can a servant merit at our hands by half performances 3. Because our best works are but debts seeing we are debtors to the whole Moral Law to do the works therein prescribed How then can they merit Can we merit any thing by paying our debts or by half payment of them No we must pay our debts to avoyd the danger of imprisonment But we must do more then this if we will merit at the hands of God 4. Because our best works are but duty Luk. 17. 10. And can our servant merit any thing at our hands by doing his duty No neither can we at Gods hands but we must do more then our duty if we will merit from him whereas we cannot do half our duty 5. Because we are but meer men and never did any meer man merit at the hands of God The man Christ Jesus did because he was God and man in one person But we are not like unto him as touching his person therefore we cannot merit as he did Indeed God will reward the good actions of men performed in this life according to the measure and degrees of good that he finds in them But this reward shall be caused by Gods free grace not by our works it shall be occasioned by Gods bounty not by mans merit And though God may make himself a debtor to us by his promise yet we cannot make him a Debtor to us by our doings Thirdly It may inform us That Gods Elect should not despair of Salvation seeing it is most certain that they shall all be saved in the World to come Yea suppose some of them are not yet sure of their Election yet they should not despair of their Salvavation for these Reasons 1. Because that particular Assurance which is wanting for the present may be had hereafter and we know not what a day a week a moneth or a year may bring forth 2. Because this particular Assurance is not so essential to Salvation as other gifts of God are but a Christian may be saved without it as doubtless many have been 3. Because our Salvation doth not depend upon our Assurance but upon our Election If a man be Elected there is nothing that shall deprive him of Salvation Indeed I grant this Assurance to be a very comfortable blessing such as we should desire seek and pray for yea we should be diligent to make our Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. Yet in case a Christian want this Assurance and after long seeking cannot obtain it he should not be so far discouraged as to despair of his Salvation but in this case he should still beleeve in the Lord Christ and depend upon him for Salvation which if he do he shall be saved though he want this Assurance What think you then of Reprobates may not such Obj. despair of Salvation I answer If a man in this life could certainly know himself Sol. to be a Reprobate and to be none of Gods Elect he might have some excuse for this sin But it is not possible for any in this life to know himself to be such an one for certain because our final and ultimate condition doth not yet appear unto us Therefore no man living in this world may despair of his future Salvation be he never so wicked and vile a sinner for the present but he should still think in charity towards himself that he may be one of Gods Elect though he be not certain of it and that he may possibly be saved by his future Faith and Repentance as well as others though it be ill with him for the present For we must know that God doth never by his Word or Spirit perswade any to despair of
29 30. as I shall have occasion hereafter in this Treatise to shew more fully Now what other matters will be objected against my former Assertion I cannot imagine but the former Objections are thus answered and I suppose that other such like may as easily be answered And all that hath been said in this Section tends to the confutation not only of such as think the third Heaven to be a created Heaven but also of such as think the World to come to be all one with the third Heaven whereas it may plainly appear by what hath been said That the World to come considered as a Continent is to be distinguished from the third Heaven SECT III. Shewing That the World to come considered as a Continent shall have no Being before this present evil World shall be dissolved but shall begin immediately thereupon FOr evidencing whereof these four Positions are to be proved viz. 1. This present World is evil 2. This present World shall be dissolved 3. The World to come shall have no Being before this present World be dissolved 4. That it shall begin immediately thereupon That this present World is evil is plainly acknowledged 1 Position Gal. 1. 4. Christ gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World where this present world is called an evil world not in respect of the original first condition of it for that was very good And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good Gen. 1. 31. Nor in respect of the substance of any creature contained in it for every creature of God is good viz. for the substance of it 1 Tim. 4. 4. But it is called an evil world in respect of two accidents belonging to it viz. the evil of sin and the evil of pain or punishment The first thing that proves this present world to be evil is sin whereof there is much to be found and many are the corruptions and pollutions that are in this world through lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 16. For the reprobate Angels who sinned in the beginning do sin still and can do nothing else but sin and all men and women now living in this world are sinful by nature and sinful by practise and do sin dayly in thought word or deed by omission or commission some unto death and some not unto death 1 Joh. 5. 16. And if I should here reckon up in order all the particular sins mentioned or spoken against in the Word of God it would be no hard matter to nominate or find a subject person if not many subject persons for every sin Yea there is no man so just upon earth that doth good and sineth not Eccles 7. 20. Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Prov. 20. 9. If we should say our sins are but few the Prophet will tell us they are more then can be numbered by us for who can understand his errors Psal 19. 12. Or if we should justifie our selves and say We have no sin we should but act the part of Deceivers Lyars Hypocrites and Apostates for if any man say â—e hath no sin he deceiveth himself and there is no â—ruth in him he maketh God a lyar and his Word â—s not in him 1 John 1. 8 10. Now sin is evil Psal â—4 14. and the greatest of evils because it hath no â—eal good in it but is most opposite unto the greatest good and is the cause of all other evils And if sin be evil then the world that hath so much sin in it must needs be evil too because of sin and as it was never evil before sin came into it so it was never good since in this respect And how can it be good â—n this respect seeing sin is a transgression of the Law a work of the Devil the World and the Flesh seeing it is hateful to God and hurtful to men a dishonor to God and a reproach to men a grief to God and to all good men and the only Make-bate betwixt God and man Yea as long as we shall find any sin in the world whether it be original or actual against Law or Gospel against God our neighbor or our selves we may safely say It is an evil world by reason of sin Thus it was an evil world by reason of sin in Noahs time because then the wickedness of man was great upon the earth and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually the earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence Gen. 6. 5 11. It was an evil world when there was no King in Israel because then every man did that which was right in his own eyes Judg. 17. 6. It was an evil world by reason of sin in Zedekiahs time because then the King himself did that which was evil in the sight of his God and all the chief of the Priests the Prophets transgressed very much after all the abominations of the Heathen â—â—d polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem and they mocked the Messenger of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy 2 Chro. 36. 12 14 16. It was an evil world by reason of sin in the Prophet Hosea's time because then there was no truth noâ— Hos 4. 1 2. mercy c. It was an evil world by reason of sin in our Saviours time because then many loved darkness rather then light because their deeds were evil c. John 3. 19 20. And thus it is an evil world by reason of sin even at this day for we know that many Countries at this day are meerly Paganish and Atheistical with God and without Christ and many others have taken up a false Religion as Judaism Mahomatism Antichristianism and Sectarismâ— yea the most reformed Countries and Churches at this day are blemished with many deformities and this English Nation which was wont to be renowned for the form and power of godliness is now become a very sink of errors and abominable practises so that a stranger or forraigner may now nod the head at England and say There are many deceivers in England who have deceived many There are in it many false Prophets that walk about Mat. 24. 11 Mat. 7. 15. in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves There are many false teachers that privily 2 Pet. 2. 1. bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them There are many that creep into 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. houses and lead captive filly women laden with iniquity led away with divers lusts ever learning and never come unto the knowledg of the truth There are many that will not endure sound doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. but after their own lusts do heap to themselves teachers having itching
gold is in it it should only then purge and refine the world and the substance thereof should remain yet the Scripture sheweth plainly That by the fire of that great Day the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein whether works of the first Creation or works of nature or works of mans art and industry shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3. 10. Now when any substance is consumed and burnt up it is more then purged â—â—om its corruption but this present world shall â—e one day consumed and burnt up in respect of its â—â—esent substance and so it shall be more then purged â—â—d refined by fire Much more I might say against this opinion if 〈◊〉 had the Books of such as have asserted it â—ut I have them not yea I am a plundered man one â—â—at hath but few Books left therefore I will say â—o more now touching this opinion The fourth opinion is of those who think that the â—â—me of this worlds dissolution is yet one thousand â—ears off at least as some of the Millenaries of these â—imes think in favor of which opinion they bring â—hat of Saint Peter A thousand years with the Lord â—s as one day and one day as a thousand years â— Pet. 3. 8. And that of Saint John The Souls of â—hem which were beheaded for the witness of Jesus â—ived and raigned with him a thousand years Rev. â—0 4. From which places they infer That the time of this worlds dissolution must needs be yet one â—housand years off at least but these places rightly weighed will never prove their opinion For suppose that those passages as they lie have reference to the end of this world and suppose that those two Apostles Peter and John by vertue of those passages in their time thought the end of the world to be a thousand years off yet we should consider that a thousand years and more are by gone and past since those words were spoken by them and consequently though they in their times might conceive the end of the world to be then a thousand years off yet we in these times have no reason to think it so far off Nay I have shewed before That we have good reason to think that the time of this world dissolution is near at hand Again That which hath been said touching thâ— worlds dissolution should admonish us to moderatâ— our minds and affections in the use of all worldlâ— things though never so lawful in themselves according to that of Saint Paul The time is short It remaineth that both they that have wives be â—â— though they had none and they that weep as thougâ— they wept not and they that rejoyce as though theâ— rejoyced not and they that buy as though theâ— possessed not and they that use this world as not â— busing it For the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. Lastly It should exhort us to all holiness of liâ— and conversation according to that of Saint Peterâ— Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolveâ— what manner of persons ought ye to be in all hoâ—â— conversation and godliness 2 Pet. 3. 11. where wâ— may not think that the Apostle teacheth us to distinguish between an holy conversation and godlinesâ— because these two agree in one an holy conversatioâ— is a godly conversation and a godly conversation as holy conversation But in that place he teachetâ— two things First That the certainty of this worlds dissolution should perswade us to be universal in our obedience that is in the practise of holy and godly duties which universal obedience is that which Goâ— commandeth at our hands Let not the Book of thâ— Law depart out of thy mouth but meditate thereiâ— day and night that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein Josh 1. 8. It is thaâ— which God wisheth for on our behalf Oh thaâ— there were such an heart in them that they would â—ear me and keep all my Commandments always Deut. 5. 29. It is that which he hath promised to â—eward with many blessings Psal 19. 11. Josh 1. 8 c. It is that which is and will be dangerous for us â—o neglect For he that breaketh the least of Gods Commandments and teacheth men so without reâ—entance shall be the least in the Kingdom of God Mat. 5. 19. Yea it is that which all men will either wish for or rejoyce in at the time of the worlds â—issolution Therefore I say That the certainty of â—his worlds dissolution should perswade all men to be universal in their obedience in the practise of holy â—nd godly duties Let us not then my Brethren content our selves with the bare and naked professiâ—â—â—f godliness nor with some good words in prayer â—nd conference nor with the doing of many things commanded with Herod while we allow our selves in the omission and neglect of many other But let us strive to practise every known duty prescribed in Gods Word after the example of Zachariâ—as Elizabeth his wife who walked in all the Commandments of God blameless Luk. 1. 6. remembering what David saith Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments Psal 119. 6. Secondly In that next fore-quoted place of Saint Peter he teacheth That all Christians should be eximious and exemplary before others in their obedience and that in all holy conversation and godliness which exemplary obedience also is that which God commands at our hands thus Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works Mat. 5. 16. It is that which will cause the observers of it to glorifie God * Mat. 5. 16 It is that which is commended in the converted Corinthians for their zeal provoked many 2 Cor. 9. 2. and in the converted Thessalonians for they were ensamples to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia 1 Thes 1. 7. And it is that which shall not be forgotten another day for they that exceed others here in the practise of holiness and vertue shall exceed them also hereafter in glory 1 Cor. 15. Yea it is that which many wil wish for and many will rejoyce in at the time of this worlds dissolution Therefore the certainty and nearness of this worlds dissolution should perswade all Christians to be exemplary before their brethren in all holy conversation and godliness Let us not then be altogether careless of a good conversation with Gallio and many others neither let us be of a loose and dissolute conversation with the Gentiles Rom. 1. Neither let us be of a scandalous conversation with those Jews through whom the Name of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles Rom. 2. Neither let us be exemplary for wickedness as Cain Balaam and Jeroboam were Neither let us be lukewarm in the practise of godliness as the Laodiceans were But let us strive to excel in vertue and to
come which shall be created instead of this that is into the new Heavens and the new Earth And so first he shall come into the new Heavens there to be made visible to the Inhabitants of this Earth that some of them viz. his friends may be caught up together in the Clouds to meet him in the ayr of the new Heaven 1 Thes 4. 17. and that others viz. his enemies may be afflicted and astonished to behold him Rev. 1. 7. And from thence he shall descend unto the new Earth there to reside and dwell for ever and all his Saints with him as it is written We look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein shall dwell Righteousness viz. the Lord our Righteousness with all his righteous Ones and nothing else but Righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. And as it is written again Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them Rev. 21. 3. Yea this dwelling of Christ and his Saints upon the new Earth was lively represented unto us at the time of his Transfiguration upon the Mount for then and there Christ himself with Moses and Elias appeared Mat. 17. in a humane shape and Peter said Master it is good for us to be here that is to reside or dwell here let us build three Tabernacles one for thee one for Moses and one for Elias By which Transfiguration we are plainly taught what shall be hereafter But here perhaps some will be ready to object and Object say It will be a dishonour to Christ and his Saints if they shall leave the third Heaven for to reside and dwell in the World to come or upon the new Earth This will be no dishonour at all unto them because Christ and his Saints shall be in some respects Answ more glorious in the World to come and upon the new Earth then now they are in the third Heaven as we may well conceive for these Reasons 1. Because the World to come will be more suitable and proportionable unto humane bodies and natures then the third Heaven now is 2. Because in the World to come Christ shall raign in his own personal Kingdom with all his Saints with him whereas now in the third Heaven he raigns as Mediator only in his Fathers personal Kingdom and with only some of his Saints with him 3. Because in the World to come all Christs Enemies shall be manifestly subdued unto him whereas now while he remains in the third Heaven we cannot see all things put under him Heb. 2 8. 4. Because in the World to come the Saints shall raign with Christ both in soul and body and that for ever whereas now in the third Heaven they raign with him onely in respect of Souls and that but for a time These things considered I am so far from thinking that it will be a dishonour to Christ and his Saints when they shall leave the third Heaven for to reside upon the new Earth that I rather think it will be an encrease or augmentation of honour and glory unto them Seventhly It informeth us touching the manner 7 Informat of his second Coming in the Flesh and sheweth that he shall come again in like manner as he went into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 1. 11. that is to say 1. As he ascended in a visible manner in the sight of many so he shall come again in a visible manner for they shall see the Son of man come in the Clouds Mat. 24. 30. And every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him Revel 1. 7. 2. As he ascended in a bodily manner and in his humane nature so he shall come again in a bodily manner and in his humane nature Mat. 24. 30. 3. As he ascended in a triumphant manner triumphing over Death Hell and the Grave so he shall come again in a triumphant manner triumphing over all his Enemies 4. As he ascended gloriously so he shall come again in the glory of his Father with power and great glory 5. As he ascended in a kingly manner with some good Angels attending on him so he shall come again in like manner with all his holy and mighty Angels attending on him 2 Thes 1. 7. Mat. 25. 31. 6. As his Ascention gave his Enemies great cause to lament and bewail their condition so his Coming again shall give them great cause so to do for then the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn Mat. 24. 30. And all the kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him Rev. 1. 7. 7. As his Ascention into Heaven gave his friends great cause to rejoyce because he went thither to prepare a place for them so his Coming again from thence shall give them great cause to rejoyce too because unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 9. 28. Eightly It informeth us touching the ends of 8 Informat his second Coming in the Flesh which ends may be thus expâ—essed 1. He shall come again from Heaven for to judg and raign in the World to come for it is said He shall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing and in his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. From whence I gather That Christ shall have a Kingdom in the World to come wherein he shall judg and raign So much also may be gathered from 1 Chron. 16. 31 33. And if so then he shall come again from Heaven for to judg and raign in the World to come Luk. 1. 33. Jude 15. 2 He shall come again from Heaven for to render unto every one according to his works as it is written Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Rev. 22. 12. From whence I gather That as Christ in the World to come shall render unto the good according to the good works which shall be found upon them not remembering their evil works and unto the wicked according to the evil works which shall be found upon them not regarding their seeming good works So he shall come again from Heaven for this end 3. He shall come again in flaming fire for to take vengeance on them which know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 8. viz. in case they shall not repent of these sins before their death 4. He shall come again from Heaven for to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. 5. He shall come again from Heaven for to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that beleeve 2 Thes 1. 10. viz. in the World to come All these Informations put together and all that Vse hath been here said touching the
together Gods Elect from the four winds of the Earth viz. unto Judgment Matth. 24. 31. They shall sever or separate the good from the bad before the sentence of Judgment shall be given Mat. 13. 49. And I grant that this Judgment shall be attested and approved of by all the Saints of God In which sence it is said That the Saints shall judg the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. And the Apostles shall sit upon Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19. 28. Yet we must know that this Judgment shall be visibly administred onely by Christ as Mediator and as God and Man in one person and by no other person In which sence it is said The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son Joh. 5. 22. God will judg the world by the man whom he hath ordained that is by Christ Act. 17. 31. He will judg the secrets of men by Iesus Christ Rom. 2. 16. And Christ is ordained of God to be Iudg of quick and dead Act. 10. 42. 2 Tim. 4. vers 1. And this without doubt will be a great comfort to Gods Elect at the day of Judgment when they shall consider that they shall have none to pronounce Judgment upon them at that day but Christ their Saviour who dyed for their sins and rose again for their Justification As on the other side it will be a great terror to reprobate sinners when they shall consider that they shall have none pronounce Judgment upon them but Christ whom they have always contemned and despised if not in his person yet in his Ordinances and in his Members and whom they would not have to reign over them in this world by his Word and Spirit Fourthly I affirm That the last judgment shall 4 Inform. extend unto all reasonable Creatures both Angels and men It shall extend to the Angels both good and evil For Christ is the Lord of the good Angels and their office is to worship him as their Lord and therefore he shall judg them at the latter day not for any evil they have done because they have done none but according to the good they have done because they have been always ready to worship him to obey his voyce and to do his Will And he shall judg the evil Angels or Devils for their first fall and for all the evils they have acted since For they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day Jude 6. And hâ—â— Judgment upon them shall be approved of by the Saints Know ye not that we shall judg the Angels that is the evil Angels 1 Cor. 6. 3. This Judgment also shall extend unto all men women and children For this cause it is said That Christ shall judg the righteous and the wicked that iâ— such as shall be found righteous or wicked at that day Eccles 3. 17. And he shall judg the quick and the dead Act. 10. 42. that is such as shall be found alive at his second Coming and such as shall be found dead at that day shall be raised and brought to Judgment And he shall judg the small and the great Revel 20. 13. all the ungodly Jude 15 yea all shall stand before him Rom. 14. 10. Therefore all men shall be judged by him Yet we must understand That he shall judg men in a different way at that day For he shall judg the Elect as righteous persons with the Judgment of Absolution but he shall judg the Reprobates as wicked persons with the Judgment of Condemnation And he shall judg the Elect and Righteous according to the good they have done forgetting their evil works but he shall judg the Reprobates and wicked according to the evil they have done not regarding their seeing good works Fifthly I affirm That the last Judgment shall be just and righteous altogether For which cause 5 Inform. it is said That God shall judg the world in righteousness in uprightness in truth Psal 9. 8. Acts 17. 31. Rom. 2. 2. And if he shall thus judg the world at the last then the last Judgment shall be just and righteous altogether Yea all the proceedings of this Judgment shall be just as may be seen in these particulars 1. There shall be a Throne or seat prepared for Judgment For God hath prepared his Throne for judgment Psal 9. 7. And will not this be just That a Throne shall be prepared before Judgment shall be pronounced on any 2. There shall be a summons to Judgment to this effect Arise ye dead and come to judgment And will not this be just That there shall be a general summons before the Judgment shall be pronounced upon any 3. There shall be a personal appearance of all men made before the Iudgment seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 10. And will not this be just That there shall be a personal appearance of all before Judgment shall be pronounced upon any 4. There shall be a cause produced for this Judgment viz. the righteousness of the Just and the wickedness of the unjust For God shall bring every work to judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Eccles 12. 14. And will not this be just That there shall be a cause produced before the Judgment shall be pronounced upon any 5. There shall be evidence brought in on both â—â—es viz. for the acquitting and absolving of the Just and for the condemning of the unjust Which evidence shall be found written in the books which shall then be opened for the books shall be opened Dan. 7. 10. Revel 20. 12. What Books These 1. The book of Gods Omniscience 2. The book of every mans Conscience 3. The book of the Law Iames 2. 12. 4. The book of the Gospel Rom 2. 16. 5. The book of Life Rev. 20. 13. These books shall be opened and in them shall be found written whatsoever shall make for acquitting of the Just and the condemning of the unjust And they shall be judged according to that which shall be found written in these books And will not this be just That evidence shall be brought in on both sides before the Judgment shall be pronounced upon either party Yes 6. There shall be after all this a Sentence of Judgment given and pronounced both upon the Just and unjust The Sentence that shall be given and pronounced upon the Elect under the name and notion of just persons shall be to this effect Come ye blessed Children of my Father receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world And the reason of this Sentence shall be added thus For I was hungry and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was naked and ye clothed me I was sick and in prison and ye came unto me And in as much as ye have done it to one of these little ones which beleeve in me ye have done it unto me Mat. 25. 34. 40. The Sentence
eye shall see Christ in his Humane Nature sitting upon the Throne of his Glory Rev. 1. 7. Mat. 25. 31. And some shall say unto the Mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the Throne Rev. 6. 16. And where shall this be but in the World to come Wherefore from these premises I infer That the Personal-Humane Kingdom of Christ shall be very visible and apparent unto men in the World to come And this Ground should be firmly held against such as think that Christ shall have no Personal-Humane Kingdom in the World to come because it 's said That at or upon the end of this world he shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father 1 Cor. 15. 24. But as I have intimated before upon an other occasion so now I say more fully That Christ shal never deliver up his own Kingdom to God even the Father either his own Essential Kingdom or his own Personal Kingdom For if he should deliver and resign his own Essential Kingdom then he should cease to be an Essential King which would be absurd to acknowledg And if he shall resign his Personal Divine or Humane Kingdom to God even the Father then he shall cease to be a Personal King or else the Personal Kingdom of Christ shall become the Personal Kingdom of the Father both which would be also absurd to affirm Therefore the true meaning of this place is That when Christ shall come again from the third Heaven his Fathers Personal Kingdom in his Humane Nature he shall then resign and deliver up this Kingdom viz. his Fathers Personal Kingdom not his own Personal Kingdom to God even the Father that his Father may be all in all in it as he was before Christ came thither in his Humane Nature And so this place rightly understood makes nothing at all against this third Ground Fourthly I affirm That this Personal-Humane 4 Ground Kingdom of his belonging to the World to come is much spoken of in the Scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments It is much spoken of in the Old Testament for therein the Father hath said unto Christ I shall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy possession Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in peeces like a Potters vessel Psal 2. 8 9. And where shall this promise be fully made good unto him not in this world but in the World to come and in his Humane Kingdom Therein it is said concerning Christ That he shall raign over the Nations and shall judg the Earth 1 Chron. 16. 31 33. And where shall this promise be fully made good unto him not in this world but in the World to come and in his Humane Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. Therein it is said concerning him That he shall have Dominion over the works of Gods hands and all things shall be put under his feet all Sheep and Oxen yea and the beasts of the field the fowl of the ayr and the fish of the sea and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas Psal 8. 6 7 8. And where shall we see all this fully performed unto him not in this world Heb. 2. 8. but in the World to come and in his Humane Kingdom Therein we find him described as a Humane King Psal 45. throughout Psal 72. and in many other places But where shall he appear as a humane King not in this world but in the World to come where he shall have such a Kingdom Therein it is said concerning him That of the increase of his Government there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Judgment and Iustice Isai 9. 7. And where shall this promise be fully made good unto him not in this world but in the World to come and in his Humane Kingdom Therein it is said concerning him That a King shall raign and prosper and shall execute Iudgment and Iustice in the Earth In whose days Iudah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely Ier. 23. â— 6. And where shall this be fully made good unto him not in this world but in the World to come Therein it is said concerning him David my Servant shall be King over them and they shall all have one Shepherd they shall also walk in my Iudgments and observe my Statutes and do them And David shall be their Prince for ever Ezek. 37. 24 25. And where shall this be fully made good unto him not in this world but in the World to come and in his Humane Kingdom Lastly Therein it is said concerning him That there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him Dan. 7. 14. And where shall this be fully made good unto him not in this world but in the World to come and in his Humane Kingdom It is also much spoken of in the New Testament For herein we find That the Lord God shall give unto Christ the Throne of his Father David Luk. 1. 32. And where shall he fully receive this gift not in this world but in the World to come for the Throne of David was not a Type of Christs Spiritual Kingdom but of his Humane Kingdom in the World to come Herein also we find That some shall sit at his right hand and some at his left in his Kingdom Mat. 20. 21. 23. And where shall this be fully verified of him not in this world but in the World to come and in his Humane Kingdom And when the penitent thief said Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom Luk. 23. 42. I do not think that he speak of Christs coming into his Spiritual Kingdom which was both then and before in Being but that he spake of his coming into his Humane Kingdom of Glory And the better to assure him that his request was granted our Saviour replyed To day shall thou be with me in Paradise Luk. 23. 43. viz. in respect of thy Soul And doubtless all that are or shall be with him in Paradise in respect of their Souls shall be remembred of him when he shall come into his Personal-Humane Kingdom And lustly Whereas upon the sounding of the seventh Trumpet this saying shall be ecchoed forth The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ c Rev. 11. 15. I do not think that this saying shall ever be fulfilled at the utmost in this world but in the World to come And doubless after the Kingdoms of this world shall be dissolved and broken in peeces as they shall be with the dissolution of this present world then immediately shall they be resolved into the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and shall be brought wholy in subjection to him and not before Wherefore I infer That the Personal-Humane
7. They that shall partake of glory in the world to come shall be rewarded with glory in that world But Gods Elect shall be partakers of glory in that world 1 Pet. 5. 1. Ergo. 8. They that are or shall be wise in Gods esteem shall inherit glory in the world to come Prov. 3. 35. But Gods elect are or shal be wise in his esteem Erg. 9. They that are or shall be righteous in Gods account shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come according to the burthen of that triumphant song Glory to the righteous Isa 24. 16. But Gods Elect are or shall be all righteous in Gods account Erg. 10. They that have or shall have their faith tryed as by fire shall have glory in the world to come 1 Pet. 1. 7. But Gods Elect have or shall have their faith tryed as with fire Ergo. 11. They that do or shall walk uprightly before God shall have glory in the world to come according to his promise Psal 84. 11. But Gods Elect do or shall thus walk Ergo. 12. They that are or shall be guided by the counsel of Gods Word here shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come according to that of the Prophet Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory Ps 73. 24. But Gods Elect are or shal be guided with Gods counsel here Erg. 13. They that do or shall glorifie God in this life shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come Joh. 13. 32. But Gods Elect do or shall glorifie him in this life Ergo. 3. Next as concerning the degrees of it I acknowledg That there shal be degrees of glory in the world to come according to the degrees of grace and virtue in this world and that those of the Elect which have been or shall be more gracious then others here shall be more glorious hereafter as on the contrary those of them that have been or shall be less gracious here shall be less glorious hereafter so much the Apostle illustrateth by a comparison taken from the natural glory of the Sun the Moon and the Stars There is one glory of the Sun and another glory of the Moon and another glory of the Stars for one Star differeth from another in glory So shall it be in the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 41 42. And if it shall be so in the Resurrection then it shall be so in the World to come amongst Gods Elect And it was shewed before That some of them shall shine as the Firmament some as the Stars and some as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Now for natural glory we know the Sun hath more then the Moon the Moon more then the Stars some Stars more then others And on the contrary the Firmament hath less natural glory then the Stars the Stars less then the Sun So by these places and similitudes we are taught what to think and judg of degrees of glory in the world to come 4. As concerning the causes of it I affirm 1. That the efficient cause of it shall be the whole Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost For the God of glory shall glorifie his Elect in the world to come and the whole Trinity is the God of glory Psa 29. 3. Act. 7. 2. And he shall give glory to the upright Psal 84. 11. 2. That the meritorious cause of it shall be onely Christ our Mediator who is called the hope of glory Col. 1. 27. and the Lord of glory Jam. 2. 1. because in a meritorious way he hath brought and is to bring many sons unto glory Hebr. 2. 10. 3. That the final cause of it is and shal be the glory of Gods mercy He wil glorifie his Elect in the world to come that he may glorifie his mercy upon them as he doth all things chiefly for his own glory Rom. 11. 36. 4. That the instrumental cause of it is and shall be the Word or Gospel of Christ which hath ever been instrumental unto some for the obtaining of glory 2 Thess 4. 14. and is so far instrumental for this purpose as it is accompanyed with the Ministry of Gods Spirit and therefore it is said in another place We are changed from glory to glory by the Spirit of God 2 Cor. 3. 18. 5. As concerning the continuance of it I say That this glory shall continue for ever upon Gods Elect in the world to come and that they shall never cease to be glorious for which cause it is called an eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. and it is often called eternal glory as â— Tim. 2. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 4 10. Now this doctrine touching the glory of Gods Elect Vse in the world to come is usually applied in Scripture by way of Exhortation to which purpose only I shall here also apply it And in this Exhortation I shall speak unto you all as unto Gods Elect For though I am not certain that all of you are of this sort and of this number yet you may be all or many of you of this sort for ought I know to the contrary Neither dare I say of any particular person now living amongst us that this man or this woman is none of Gods Elect. Wherefore supposing in my charity that you may be of this sort I now in this as in all other Exhortations speak unto you as unto such And so exhort you 1. To be patient in all your present tribulations and afflictions because it is most certain that Gods Elect shall be rewarded with glory in the world to come and therefore you should be patient in the mean time Especially considering 1. That the afflictions of this though grievous in themselves it may be are but light in comparison of the glory that shall be revedled hereafter and so not worthy to be compared with it Rom. 8. vers 18. 2. That the afflictions of this life are but short and momentary in comparison of the glory hereafter 3. That the afflictions of this life if patiently suffered in obedience to Gods will shall be recompenced with glory and so shall work for us a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 2. To be plentiful in good works and in doing Gods Will For to him that doth good shall be glory Rom. 2. 10. And look what good any man doth in obedience to Gods Will the same shall he receive whether he be bond or free Eph. 6. 8. Yea the more good we shall do in obedience to Gods Will the more glory shall we receive according to that of the Apostle He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly but he that soweth plentifully shall reap plentifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. 3. To hope for glory in the world to come For it is most certain that Gods Elect shall be rewarded with glory in that world and therefore they should constantly hope for it as Saint Paul and other Beleevers with him did not onely hope for this
glory but also rejoyce in hope thereof Rom. 5. 2. And this hope is that which will support the Soul in the hour of temptation and distress whereas without it the Soul is in danger of sinking into the gulf of despair Wherefore let Israel still hope in the Lord and that for this glory which is to be revealed in the world to come 4. To glorifie God in this world and to give as much glory to him as we can How else can we expect to be glorified of him in the world to come And we should here consider First That we are often commanded to glorifie God Glorifie him ye sons of Jacob Psal 22. 23. Ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie him both in your Souls and bodies which are his 1 Cor. 6. 20. Secondly That glory doth most rightly belong unto God because his glory is above Heaven and Earth Psal 148. 13. Thirdly That Gods glory is most dear unto him because he will not give his glory to another Isai 42. 8. Fourthly That God doth seek his own glory in all his actions for to teach us to do the like Fifthly That Herod was punished with sudden death because he gave not glory to God but to himself Acts 12. 23. Wherefore we should be careful to give all possible glory to God in this life How may we glorifie him in this life Quest. We may do it divers ways As Answ 1. By beleeving Gods statutes and promises effectually As Abraham being strong in the faith gave glory to God Rom. 4. 20. so may we if we be strong in the faith Yea hereby we shall give him the glory of his truth and faithfulness For as he that beleeveth not hath made him a lyar so he that beleeveth hath put to his seal That God is true 2. By being thankful unto God for favors and benefits received for he that offereth praise glorifieth him Psal 50. 23. 3. By being fruitful in grace For herein is my Father glorified saith Christ if ye bring forth much fruit Joh. 15. 8. 4. By being exemplary to others in a good way for hereby we shall not onely glorifie our selves but shall occasion others to do the like according to that of our Saviour Let your light so shine before men that they may see you good works and may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 16. 5. By being patient under the reproaches that are or shall be put upon us for Christs sake according to that of the Apostle If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye On their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified 1 Pet. 4. 14. 6. By intending Gods glory in all our lawful actions according to the Apostles rule Whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. The next Proposition is That Reprobates shall 2. Proposit be rewarded with Shame in the WORLD to come Touching which Shame of theirs we are to consider The Nature of it The Certainty of it The Degrees of it The Causes of it The Continuance of it First Touching the nature of it I conceive That their shame in the World to come shall be a total privation of glory because they shall have nothing to glory of in the World to come no Innocency no Righteousness no Holiness no Faith no Repentance no Love no Obedience c. but they shall have much to be ashamed of 1. Because their sins in this world shall all be remembred and set before them as the Lord saith by the Prophet Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes Psal 50. 21. and they that shall have all their sins remembred and set before them in the World to come shall have much to be ashamed of in that world 2. Because they shall have their consciences awakened to accuse and condemne them in the World to come Rom. 2. 15. and if so then they shall have much to be ashamed of in that world 3. Because they shall bear the guilt and punishment of all their sins in the VVorld to come as it is written God shall bring upon them their own iniquity Psal 94. 23. they shall bear their iniquity Ezek. 44. 12. and every man without a pardon shall bear his own burthen Gal 6. 5. and they that shall bear the guilt and punishment of all their sins in the World to come shall have much to be ashamed of in that world and so I understand the nature of their shame Secondly touching the certainty of it I say that reprobates shall most certainly be rewarded with shame in the World to come as may be good by these Arguments 1. They that will still be wicked in this world shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come according to the Prayer of David Let not me be ashamed but let the wicked be ashamed Psal 31. 17. but reprobates will still be wicked in this world Ergo. 2. They that will still forsake God in this world shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come according to that of the Prophet O Lord all that forsake thee shall be ashamed Jer. 17. 13. but reprobates will still forsake God and go on whoring from him in this world Ergo. 3. They that will finally be ashamed of Christ and his Gospell in this world shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come according to that of our Saviour Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinfull generation of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy Angells But reprobates will finally be ashamed of Christ and his Gospell in this world Ergo. 4. They that will still hate the righteous in this world shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come as it was said to Job They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame Job 8. 22. but Reprobates will still hate the righteous in this world Ergo. 5. They that will still be the servants of sin and Satan in this world shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come according as God saith by the Prophet My servants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed Esa 65. 13. but reprobates will still be the servants of sin and Satan in this world Ergo. 6. They that will still be foolish in this world in a spirituall sense shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come according to that of Solomon Shame shall be the promotion of fools Prov. 3. 35. but reprobates will still be foolish in a spirituall sense Ergo. 7. They that will still be proud in this world and live under the dominion of this sin shall be rewarded with shame in the world to come according to the Prayer of David Let the proud be ashamed Psal 119. 78. And as Solomon intimates
best Christians have in this world For I grant That the regenerate have some spiritual Light in this world for which cause they are called the children of Light Luk. 16. 8. That is to say They have some light of saving knowledg which is a spiritual kinde of Light and that which is mentioned Mat. 4. 16. The people which sate in darkness saw great light and to them which sate in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up viz. the light of saving knowledg They have some Light of Holiness which is a spiritual kinde of Light too and that which is mentioned Matt. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father in Heaven They have some Light of Christian Experience which is also a spiritual kinde of Light and that which is mentioned Psal 112. 4. Vnto the upright there ariseth light in darkness But all this spiritual light of theirs is but little in comparison of that which Gods Elect shall have in the World to come because therein they shall abound with spiritual Light that is they shall have as much light of saving knowledg as much light of holiness as much light of godly experience in that world as their hearts shall be able to wish and desire to have For proof whereof these following Arguments are to be considered 1. They that have spiritual Light sown already for them shall have abundance thereof and abound therewith in the world to come Now Gods Elect have this spiritual Light sown already for them as I gather from that of the Prophet Light is sown for the righteous Psal 97. 11. where by light we are to understand spiritual Light and by the righteous all and every one of Gods Elect who are or shall be all truly righteous before God in their generations And when he saith that this light is sown for them his meaning is that God hath certainly decreed and intended to give them a ful and plentiful measure of this Light in the next VVorld as men do certainly intend a ful crop for the poor when they sow plentifully for them Ergo. 2. They that doe or shall endeavour to follow Christ in this World and to imitate His good example so far as it is imitable shall abound with spirituall light in that VVorld which is to come as we may gather from those words of our Saviour he that followeth me shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of Life Ioh. 8. 12. viz. the Light of the Life of grace here and the Light of the Life of glory hereafter Now Gods Elect are such as do or shall endeavour to follow Christ and to imitate his good example in things imitable Ergo. 3. They that are or shall be the Children of spirituall Light shal abound with spirituall Light in that VVorld which is to come Now Gods Elect are or shall be the Children of spirituall Light Luk. 16. 8. 1 Thess 5. 5. Ergo. 4. They that shal have God Himself to be their everlasting Light shal abound with spirituall light in the VVorld to come Now Gods Elect shal have Him for their everlasting Light Esay 60. 19 20. Ergo. 5. They that shal have Christ the Lamb of God to be their Light in the VVorld to come shal abound with spirituall Light in that VVorld But Gods Elect shall have Christ the Lamb of God to be their Light in the VVorld to come Rev. 21. 23. Ergo. 6. They that are or shall be meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in Light shall abound with spirituall light in the VVorld to come Now Gods Elect are such as are or shal be meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. Ergo. 7. They that shall be immediately taught of God in the VVorld to come shall abound with spirituall light in that VVorld Now Gods Elect shall be immediately taught of God in the next VVorld As appears Esay 54. 13. Ioh. 6. 45. Ergo. 8. They that shall have no need to teach every one his Neighbour nor every one his Brother in the VVorld to come shall abound with spirituall light in that VVorld Now Gods Elect shal have no need to teach every one his Neighbour nor every one his Brother in the next VVorld as may be gathered from Heb. 8. 11. Ergo. 9. They that shal have perfect saving konwledg of God in the VVorld to come I mean so much knowledg of him as their new natures shal be capable of shal abound with spirituall light in that VVorld Now Gods Elect shal have such perfect knowledg of God in the next VVorld as may appear by these passages they shall see God Mat. 5. 8. They shall see face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. They shall know me from the least to the greatest Heb. 8. 11. the Earth that is the new Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the Waters cover the Sea Hab. 2. 14. Ergo 10. They that shal have the perfect saving knowledg of Christs Love to his in the VVorld to come shal abound with spirituall Light in that VVorld because saving knowledge is spirituall Light Now Gods Elect shal have in the next VVorld the perfect saving knowledge of Christs Love to his according to Saint Pauls Prayer they shall be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the length and breadth and depth and height and to know the Love of Christ passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 18. 19. that is though this Love of his passeth the knowledge of men in this Life yet it shal not passe the knowledge of the Saints in that which is to come Ergo. 11. They that in the VVorld to câ—â—e shal have the perfect saving knowledge of such Divine Mysteries as are in a great part hid from many in this Life shal abound with spiritual light in that world Now Gods Elect in the VVorld to come shal have the perfect knowledge of such Divine Mysteries as are in a great part hid from many in this Life there being nothing hid now which shal not therein be revealed and made known Lu. 12. 2. Ergo. 12. They that in the VVorld to come shal have perfect saving knowledge of the works and creatures of God shal abound with spirituall light in that VVorld Now Gods Elect in the VVorld to come shal have perfect knowledge of the works and creatures of God as we may gather from Adams wonderful knowledge in the state of innocency for he then knew the nature of all creatures and gave them significant and distinct Names according to their several natures and as he named every creature so was the name thereof Now if Adam in his innocency had such admirable knowledge of al creatures doubtless the saints in the state of glory shal have much more perfect knowledge of them and so much knowledge of them as their new natures shal be made capable of and so shal abound