The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 24
Z Of the execution of the sentence of saluation.
Q. Rehearse the Letter Z?
A. ZEalous godly men, the iudgement being ended shal immediatly goe with Christ into heauen, hauing in him immediate communion with God, who shall be all in all vntounto them: and so shall be freed from all euills, and possessed of all good things, as perfection of grace, brightnesse of glory, and fulnesse of ioy, in their seuerall degrees, and that vnspeakable and euerlasting.
For it stands with the certainty of Gods election; with the truth of his promise; and with his iustice for the merit of Christ, thus to reward the faithfull: that so all their sorrowes may bee turned into ioy.
Q. Proue that the godly shall immediatly go with Christ into heauen?
The godly goe immediately to heauen.A. It is the first part of the execution of the sentence of saluation: as we may see Matth. 25. if wee conferre verse 34. with 46. For when Christ had said, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you, it is added accordingly, that the righteous shall goe into life eternall: as vponupon the contrary sentence of damnation, the wicked are to goe into euerlasting paine; and that immediately.
Q. Proue that they hauehave immediate communion with God?
A. In this life the faythfull behold God, They hauehave immediate communion with God.and after a sort, enioy his presence, by certaine meanes, as the word, Sacraments and the like: but in the life to come they shall hauehave immediate communion with him. Therefore it is said, 1 Cor. 13.12. Now wee see through a glasse dark…ly: but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know euen as also I am knowne. And 1 Thes. 4.17. that the faithfull shall bee caught vp together in the clouds, to meete the Lord in the ayre, and so shall euer be with the Lord. According to the prayer of Christ, for the vnion and communion of the faithfull with God in him, axd through his mediation; Ioh. 17.21. That they may be all one, as thou O Father art in me, and I in thee: that they also may bee one in vsus.
Q. Proue that God shall be all in all vntounto them?
He shall be all in all vntounto themA. The blessed estate of the godly shall bee such in the Kingdome of heauen, that they shall need no such meanes or helps as here in this world they cannot be without: but hauing communion with God, and enioying his presence, they shall in him hauehave supply of all: for he shall bee all in all, that is, in stead of all vntounto them. They are the expresse words of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15.28. that all things shall bee subdued vntounto him, that God may be all in all. And therefore in spirituall helpes there shall be no want. Reu. 21.22. There is no temple: for the Lord God almighty, and the Lambe are the temple of it. Againe, there shall be no want of temporall meanes,Reu. 22.5. Reu. 21.23. no need of candle, Sunne, or Moone, for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lambe is the light of it. There is the riuer of water of life: there is the tree of life. Reu. 22.1.2.
Q. Proue that the godly shall be there freed from all euills?
A. Here in this world, They shall be freed from all euills.the euills and afflictions that the faithfull endure, are great and many: but in the life to come, Psal. 34.19they shall be deliuered out of them all: as it is said, Reu. 21.4. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes: and there shall bee no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more paine: for the former things are passed away.
Q. Proue that they shall be possessed of all good things?
A. The godly shall there enioy whatsoeuer good thing may tend to their happinesse. Possessed of all good things.So that whereas in this life the graces of God are imperfect in them, there they shall hauehave perfection of grace. Whereas here they are obscured, in so much, that it doth not appeare what they are: in the life to come, they shall hauehave brightnesse of glory: and whereas in this world they are filled with sorrowes; there they shall possesse all fulnesse of ioy.
Q. How shall they hauehave perfection of grace?
As, … perfection of grace.A. First they shall hauehave perfection of knowledge, see 1 Cor. 3.12. Now wee see as through a glasse darkely; but then face to …ace, now I know in part; but then shall I know, euen as I am knowne. Secondly they shall hauehave perfection of sanctity or holinesse, see Ephes. 5.26.27. where it is said, that Christ gaue himselfe for his Church, that hee might sanctifie and clense it, that he might present it to him…selfe a glorious Church, not hauing spot or wrinckle, or a…y such thing: but that it should be holy and without blem…sh. Which …erf…ctio… w…e kno… can…ot be …th… life. Thirdly they shall hauehave … slo…e: in which respect louelove is for the continuance of it, preferred before faith and hope, 1 Cor. 13.13. Now abideth faith, hope, and louelove, euen these three, but the chiefe of these is louelove.
Q. Shew that the godly shall hauehave brightnesse of glory?
A. Secondly they shall hauehave brightnesse of glory. 2Brightnesse of glory.The Apostle telleth the faithfull, Col. 3.4. Your life is hid with Christ in God, when Christ which is our life shall appeare, then shall yee also appeare with him in glory. Dan. 12.3. it is said, that they shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament, and as the Starres for euer and euer. And Matth. 13.43. Then shall the iust men shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their father.
Q. In what part of man shall this glory be?
A. The whole man, Both in soule and body.both soule and body shall bee thus glorious in the life to come. The soule, for it is said, Matth. 22.30. that they shall be as the Angels of God in heauen. In body, for the Apostle saith, that Christ shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like vntounto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things vntounto himselfe.
Q. Proue that the godly shall hauehave fulnesse of ioy?
3Fulnesse of ioy.A. So much the Pasmist noteth, speaking prophetically of Christ, and of himselfe as the type, and so proportionally of all the faithfull, Psal. 16.11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulnesse of ioy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for euer more.
Q. Proue there are degrees of glory?
Degrees of glory.A. We may gather so much by the words of the Prophet, Dan. 12.3. They that are wise, saith he, shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament: and they that turne many to righteousne…e as the Sta…res. And 1 Cor. 15.41. A… on… Starre differeth from another in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead. Againe wee read, Luk. 19.16. &c. that the seruant, who with his Masters piece of mony, had gained ten pe…ces, was made rul…r ouer ten cities: and hee th…t had gained fiue, had authority giuen him ouer fiue. Thus the Lord doth proportion the reward according to the m…as…re and imployment of his graces giuen vntounto vsus. Therefore the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. 9.6. Hee that soweth sparingly, shall reape sparingly: and he that soweth bountifully shall reape bountifully.
Q. Proue that this happinesse of the godly is vnspeakable?
A. It is said, Vnspeakable happinesse.1 Pet. 1.8. that the faithfull reioyce with ioy vnspeakable, and full of glory. And 1 Cor. 2.9. Eye hath not seene, nor eare heard, neither hauehave entred into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that louelove him.
Q. Proue that this happinesse is eternall?
Happinesse eternall.A. The Apostle affirmeth so much, 2 Cor. 4.17. in that hee saith, That our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for vsus, a …arre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory, and 1 Pet. 1.4. it is called an inheritance incorruptible, and vndefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserued in heauen for vsus, and therefore it is said, 2 Tim. 1.10. That our Sauiour Iesus Christ hath abolished death, and not onelyonly brought life, but immortalitie to light.
Q. Proue that it stands with the certainty of Gods elect…on?It stands with the certainty of election
A. The godly ca…not faile of this their happinesse, because it is grounded vponupon Gods election, see 2 Tim. 2.19. The foundation of God standeth sure, hauing this seale, The Lord knoweth them that are his, and Rom. 8.30. S. Paul groundeth mans glorification vponupon Gods predestination and election: Whom God did predestinate, them he also called; whom hee called, them hee also iustified: and whom he iustified, them hee also glorified.
Q. Proue that it stands with the truth of Gods promise?
A. Christ saith of his sheepe, With the truth of his promise.Ioh. 10.28. I giuegive vntounto them eternall life, and they shall neuer perish,1. Io. 2.25. 2 Cor. 1.13.20. neither shall any plucke them out of my hand, and Ioh. 3.16. That whoseuer beleeueth in him, shall not perish, but hauehave euerlasting life, and R…u. 2.10. Be thou faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life.
Q. P…oue that it stands with the iustice of God?
With the iustice of God, for Christ.A. It is manifest, that it stands with the iustice of God for the merit of Christ, in regard that he hath purchased mans saluation by his death, 1 Cor. 6.20. and 7.23. Yee are bought with a price, and 1 Pet. 1.18.19. the price is said to be, not siluer and gold, but the precious bloud of Christ; therefore it is said, 1 Tim. 2.6. That Christ gaue himselfe a ransome for all men.
Q. Proue that thus eternall life becomes the reward of the faithfull?
It is the reward of the godly.A. Eternall life becomes a reward to the faithfull, and that of due debt in respect of the merit of Christ, which is meerely in him, and not in vsus: For God hath made him to be sinne for vsus, who knew no sinne, that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. But in respect of vsus, who can merit nothing, because our worke… …re imperfect, it is a reward of fauour, and not of debt, as the Apostle reasoneth. Rom. 4.4.5. To him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt: but to him that worketh not, but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the v…godly, his faith is counted for righteousnesse. Thus of the free grace and mercy of God, and for the merit of Christ, eueryevery good worke shall hauehave a reward. Math. 5.12. and 6.4▪6. and 10.41.42.
Q. Proue that then all the sorrowes of the godly, shall be turned into ioy?
A. So did Christ foretell his Disciples, So all sorrow is turned into ioy.and in them all goo… Christians, Ioh. 16.20. Ye shall weep and lament, and the world shall reioyce: and ye shall sorrow, but your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy. And in that regard he pronounceth the godly happy, Luk. 6.21. Blessed are yee that weepe now, for yee shall laugh.
Q. To conclude, what doe we owe vntounto God for so great a blessing?
The praise …e giuen to God.A We doe owe, and are bound with the Apostle, Col. 1.12.13. To giuegive thankes vntounto the Father, who hath made vsus meete to bee partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light: who hath deliuered vsus from the power of darkenesse, and hath translated vsus into the kingdom of his deare Sonne.
And therefore we all with one heart say, as it is in Iud. 24.25. Now vntounto him▪ that is able to keepe vsus, that we fall not, and to present vsus faultlesse before the presence of his glory with ioy, that is, To God onelyonly wise, our Sauiour, be glory and Maiestie, and Dominion and Power, both now and for euer, Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Phillips, The Christians Alphabet (1629)