Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 3 · Verse 4
VER. 4. When Christ which is our life ſhall appeare, then ſhall yee alſo appeare with him in glory.
In this Verſe our Apoſtle makes knowne to the Coloſſians beleeuing in Chriſt, the time when their happy life, now hid in God, ſhall be fully reuealed (namely) At the appearance of the Lord Ieſus when Chriſt ſhall appeare; then ſaith the Apoſtle, Shall yee alſo appeare with him in glory. Then ſhall your happy life appeare, and ſo hee doth preuent a ſecret demand the Coloſſians might hauehave made; for they might hauehave ſaid, you tell vsus our happy life is hidde with Chriſt in God, but when ſhall we hauehave that life, and when ſhall it bee manifeſted, our Apoſtle anſwers, when Chriſt ſhall appeare, then it ſhall be manifeſted. Now this is not barely expounded, that at the appearance of Chriſt, their happy life ſhall appeare, but it is further amplified.
1 Firſt, by a deſcription of Chriſt.
That he is the life of true beleeuers, When Chriſt which is our life ſhall appeare.
2 And then by a deſcription of their ſtate and condition, in reſpect of that happineſſe and glory, that then ſhal be giuen them.
That they ſhall then be inueſted with it, and appeare whith Chriſt moſt glorious: Then ſhall yee alſo appeare with him in glorie.
Wee ſee then, the Apoſtle heere makes knowne the time when the happineſſe and glory of true beleeuers, ſhall bee manifeſted (namely) When Chriſt ſhall appeare.
And hee deſcribes Chriſt to bee the life of true beleeuers.
And he ſets downe the ſtate of true beleeuers, in reſpect of that glory that then ſhall be giuen them, that they then ſhall bee poſſeſſed of it, and appeare with Chriſt in glorie.
Come we now to the words of this verſe, and firſt of theſe words (When Chriſt which is our life ſhall appeare.Interpretation.
(When) the originall word heere tranſlated (When) hath an indefinite ſignification, it properly ſignifies, whenſoeuer, at what time ſoeuer, ſooner, or latter: (our life) the Apoſtle ſaid before, yee are dead, and your life &c. and it might ſeeme hee ſhould hauehave ſo continued his ſpeech in the ſecond perſon (Yee) but heere he changeth his tearme and ſaith (our life) meaning the life of vsus Iewes, and of you Gentiles, when Chriſt the life of all beleeuers both Iewes and Gentiles (life) the word (life) is put by a Metonimy, by an vſuall manner of ſpeach in Scripture, for the Author and matter of ſpirituall and heauenly life, for it is Chriſt that is the efficient cauſe of our ſpirituall life, and in him it conſiſteth, and thus himſelfe ſaith, Iohn 11.25. I am the reſurrrection, and the life. That is, I am the author both of this life, and the life to come, I raiſe vp the body from death to life, I quicken in this life by the life of grace, and I giuegive eternall life in the world to come. (Shall appeare) that is, ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen in his glory, as it is, Math. 25.31. ſhall come the ſecond time in glorie to iudge the world, and thus doth the Apoſtle plainlie expound himſelfe, 2. Tim. 4.8. where he ſaith, Hencefoorth is laid vp for me the Crowne of righteouſneſſe, which the Lord the righteous iudge ſhall giuegive me at that day: that is at the day of iudgement, and then he addes further, and not vntounto me onelyonly, but vntounto all them alſo that louelove his appearing: where we ſee he makes Chriſt his comming to iudgement and his appearing all one, thus then we are to vnderſtand theſe words, as if the Apoſtle had ſaid:
Whenſoeuer Chriſt who is the author, and matter of the ſpirituall life of all true beleeuers, both of Iewes and Gentiles, ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen in his glory to iudge the world, thcn ſhall yee alſo appeare with him in glory.
Firſt obſerue we heere that the Apoſtle ſpeaking of the appearance of Chriſt to iudgement, he ſpeakes indefinitly he doth not define the time, he ſets not downe any certaine day, monethmonth, yeare, or age, when Chriſt ſhall appeare to iudgement, but he ſaith whenſoeuer Chriſt ſhall appeare.
Hence we are plainely taught thus much.
Doct. 1 That the time of Chriſt his comming to iudgement is to vsus vncertaine,The time of Chriſts comming to iudgement is to vsus vncertaine. no man can ſet downe the certane time of his appearance, no man knowes certanly when it ſhall bee, and for this we hauehave Chriſt his owne warrant. Matth. 24.36. Of that day and houre knoweth no man. Yea, hee adds further, Mark 13.32. Of that day and houre knoweth no man… no, not the Angels which are in heauen, neither the Sonne himſelfe, ſaue the Father. Which may be vnderſtood, either as Chriſt is man, or as he was then in the ſtate of humiliation in the forme of a ſeruant, howſoeuer wee vnderſtand it, hence it is cleare, that the day and time of Chriſt his appearance to iudgement is vncertaine, both to men and Ʋſe 1 Angels, neither men, nor Angels, can define the certaine time of his comming to Iudgement.
Firſt therefore, we are not curiouſly to ſearch into the time of Chriſt his comming to iudgement,Wee are not curiouſly to ſearch into the time of Chriſt his comming to iudgement. howſoeuer by the foregoing ſignes of it beeing fulfilled, and come to paſſe, we may know it not to be farre off: yet we are not to take on vsus to know the certaine day, and houre, no, not the monethmonth, yeere, or age when Chriſt will come to iudgement, that is not reuealed in the Scripture, and it is curioſitie to ſearch into it.
Againe it is ſo that the ſigne of Chriſt his comming to Vſe. 2 iudgem…nt is to vsus vncertaine; then we are to liue in continuall expectance of it,Wee are to liue in continuall expectance of Chriſt his comming to iudgement. Note. and to follow the counſell of Chriſt, Luke 2….34. Euen to take heede to ourſelues, leſt that day come vponupon vsus at vnawares. Where by the way obſerue, that the day of iudgement is like to ſurpriſe and come vnawares on them, that are giuen ouer to ſenſuall pleaſures, or drowned in the cares of this life, but in regard of the vncertaine time of Chriſt his comming to iudgement, it concernes vsus eueryevery day to looke for it, and to make account of eueryevery preſent day, as of the day of his comming. For as one ſaith well, the laſt day is therefore vnknowne, that wee might bee ready eueryevery day, and howſoeuer wee cannot exactly make account of Chriſt his comming to the generall iudgement, yet wee may well reckon on the Lord commings vntounto vsus by death, and of the day of our particular iudgement, we may well reckon of that not to be farre of, we ſee the yongeſt and ſtrongeſt come as ſoone to the graue as the weakeſt, and moſt aged, and let vsus know that as death leaues vsus, ſo ſhall iudgement finde vsus. Saul, Note.Iudas, and Kain, died long ſince deſperatly, and the Lord at his comming, ſhall finde them in the ſame ſtate; and ſo it will be with thee, in what ſtate ſoeuer thou dieſt, ſo ſhall the Lord finde thee at his comming to Iudgement, therefore make ready for death, make account of it eueryevery houre.
How is that will ſome ſay? Quest.
I anſwer, Anſw. looke what thou wouldeſt do at the houre of thy death, if now thou wert gaſping for breth on thy death bed, or diddeſt ſee the Lord Ieſus comming in the clouds, doe that very ſame thing eueryevery day; lift vp thine heart, and labour to bee aſſured of thine owne ſaluation, and whatſoeuer thou doſt doe it with ſuch zeale and feruency, with ſuch feare, with ſuch ſincerity of inward affection, as if foorthwith thou wert to yeeld vp the Ghoſt, and preſume not thou on length of daies, doe not thou indent and make a couenant with death, as the Prophet ſaith of the wicked, Iſai. 28.15. putting death farre from thee, and ſo grow to a deadneſſe and ſenſeleſſe ſecurity in ſinne, Matth. 24.39. Our Sauiour makes deadneſſe of heart one ſigne of the laſt iudgement, and doubtleſſe it is a ſigne of particular iudgement, iminent and hanging ouer thine head, when thou art careleſſe, and doſt put that far from thee, which may ſuddenly come vponupon thee, Gen. 19.14. Wee read that when Lots friends fleered and laughed at Lot, and thought with themſelues Lot told them but ſome idle dreame of his owne head, then was iudgement hard at hand, and the Scripture doth much runne on this point that the day of the Lord ſhall come euen as a the…f… in the night, 1. Theſ. 5.2.3. Therefore take thou heede o… this deadneſſe of heart, put not that farre from thee which may ſhortly fall vponupon thee, remember that the Lords comming, either to generall or particular iudgement is to thee vncertaine, thou knoweſt not when it ſhall bee: liue then in continuall expectation of it; waite thou and bee eueryevery day ready for the appearing of the Lord Ieſus.
In the next place wee are to obſerue that which the Apoſtle heere addes by way of deſcription of Chriſt, he ſaith not ſimply when Chriſt ſhall appeare, but when Chriſt our life ſhall appeare: hence we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much:
Doct. 2 That Chriſt is the life of all true beleeuers, euen of all that looke for his appearance to their comfort,Chriſt is the life of all that looke for his appearance to their c…mfort. hee is the author, and matter, of their ſpirituall life. Now for the right conceiuing of this point, and the further ſetling of it in our vnderſtanding… … are to conſider, how Chriſt is the author, and matter, of the ſpirituall life of true beleeuers; and to this purpoſe know that Chriſt is the author of ſpiriuall life, as the roote of it, hauing it himſelfe, and conueying it to all that beleeue in him; hence is he ſaid to be the true vine, and they the branches, Iohn 15.1. Againe, he is not onelyonly the author of ſpirituall life, as is God the Father, and the holy Ghoſt, but he is the matter of it, and in him it conſiſteth, becauſe he only is the propitiation for ſinne, 1. Iohn 2.2. He only is the expiatory ſacrifice for ſin the cauſe of death, and in him is perfect righteouſneſſe to life eternall, euen to the Iuſtification of life as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, Rom. 5.18.
Now if it be asked how this ſpirituall life is conueied from Chriſt to them that beleeue. Queſt.
I anſwer, Anſw. by vertue of that true and neere vnion that is betweene Chriſt and his members, they being truely vnited to him by the bond of his Spirit, and by faith, euen fleſh of his fleſh, and bone of his bone, (for ſo muſt wee be one with Chriſt) we muſt as himſefe ſaith, Iohn 6.53. Eat his fleſh, and drinke his bloud, before we can hauehave life abiding in vsus; true beleeuers beeing thus truely vnited to Chriſt, Chriſt by his Spirit doth communicate firſt himſelfe to them, and then both the merit of his death for remiſſion of their ſinnes, and of his actiue obedience for their right to life and ſaluation, and withall the power of his Spirit to quicken them to the life of grace in this world, and to raiſe vppe their bodies to the life of glory in the day of iudgement.
Thus then are we to conceiue this point, true beleeuers being truely and neerely vnited to Chriſt, by the bond of his ſpirit, and by faith, Chriſt liues in them as a root in the branches, and by his Spirit doth communicate to them, both himſelfe and all his merits, for remiſſion of their ſins; and perfect iuſtification, and alſo the power of his ſpirit to quicken them to the life of grace heere, and to raiſe vp their dead bodies to life euerlaſting, happineſſe, and glorie in the life to come. And this Saint Iohn teacheth plainlie, 1 Iohn 5.11.12. God (ſaith he) hath giuen to vsus eternal life & this life is in his ſon: hee that hath the ſon hath life, and he that hath not the ſon of God hath not life: Where he ſheweth plainely that in Chriſt is life eternall, and as many as are one with him, hauehave Chriſt himſelfe, and hauing him they hauehave that life that is in him, Chriſt is the author, and matter of their ſpirituall life.
Vſe. Let this be thought on to this purpoſe; Is it ſo that Chriſt is the life of all true beleeuers, euen of all that looke for his comming, and appearance to their comfort?They deceiue themſelues who looke that Chriſt ſhall appeare to their comforts and yet finde h…m not their life. then thinke on it and deceiue not thy ſelfe, if thou finde not Chriſt thy life, neuer looke that hee ſhall appeare to thy comfort, the Apoſtle ſaith not, when Chriſt ſhall appeare then ſhall wee alſo appeare with him in glory, but when Chriſt our life ſhall appeare, &c. and wee are to conſider it, and hence to take knowledge of it, that they ſpeake fooliſhly, who ſay, if I be appointed to life and ſaluation, I ſhall come to it howſoeuer I liue, that is a meere deluſion of Satan; as God hath appointed the end, ſo hath hee appointed the meanes and way to come to that end, Chriſt himſelfe fled from Herod Math. 2.14. and yet was he appointed of God to liue his time, which neither Herod nor any other could preuent, therefore they reaſon fooliſhly that ſo ſpeake, and know it for a truth that Chriſt muſt be thy life, Chriſt muſt be the matter of thy ſpirituall life, and muſt liue in thee, Gal. 2.20. or elſe neuer looke thou for life and glory by him.
Queſt. Happily ſome will ſay, how ſhall I know that Chriſt liues in me.
Anſwer. Thou ſhalt know it by the working of his ſpirit in thee, where the ſpirit of Chriſt is, he workes a purpoſe, and an inclination of heart to obey God in all his commandements, euen a delight in the Law of God, Rom. 7.22. and a minde and diſpoſition like to Chriſt Phil. 2.5. cheerefully to doe the will of God, and as willingly to ſeeke Gods glory, and the good of our brethren, as to eate when wee are hungry, and to drinke when wee are thirſty, and hee workes a louelove to Chriſt for himſelfe, and of the members of Chriſt, euen becauſe they are his members: 1. Iohn. 3.14. We know that we are tranſlated from death vntounto life, becauſe we louelove the brethren. If theſe things be in thee in ſome meaſure, then indeede Chriſt is thy life, and ſhall one day appeare to thy comfort; yea, Chriſt beeing thy life, that life can neuer bee aboliſhed, Chriſt died once, and now liues foreuer. Therefore hauing Chriſt thy life take this for thy comfort, thou canſt not but liue eternally: but on the contrary, if the things before ſpoken of be wanting in thee, then certainly thou muſt looke for no comfort by Chriſt at his comming, thou art in death, and ſhalt abide in death, and die eternally, and be damned in hell.
One thing more is offered vntounto vsus from theſe words, in that the Apoſtle ſaith, (When Chriſt which is our life ſhall appeare:) We are taught.
That Chriſt in time ſhall certainely appeare to iudge the world in power and great glorie,Doctr. 3. Chriſt ſhall in time certainelie appeare to iudge the world in power & great glory. hee ſhall appeare both God and …an of infinite glory, attended with his mighty Angels, 2 Theſ. 1.7. His glory ſhall bee ſuch that the powers of heauen ſhall be ſhaken, Math. 24.29. Yea, the heauens ſhall paſſe paſſe away with a noiſe, and the elements ſhall melt with heate, &c. 2 Peter 3.10 Seeing therefore ſuch ſhall be the glorious appearance of Chriſt at his comming to iudgement, what manner of perſons ought we to be in holy conuerſation and godlineſſe.
This vſe the Apoſtle Peter makes of it, 2 Pet. 3.11. Vſe. Wee liue now in thoſe daies the Apoſtle ſpeaks of in that Chapter Verſe 3.4. Wherein wicked men walke after their own luſts,We are to ſtand in continuall awe of Chriſt his glorious comming to iudgement. and ſay, where is the promiſe of his comming &c. and make euen a mocke at the day of iudgement, and feare not the glorious appearance of Chriſt, and heerein they are worſe then the Deuill, who trembles at the remembrance of that day: well one day they ſhall tremble and quake, and bee ouerwhelmed with horror, and when Chriſt ſhall appeare in glorie not bee able to endure the fire of his wrath, let as many as louelove the Lord Ieſus ſhake off ſecurity, and ſtand in continuall awe of his glorious comming, let our hearts be now ſmitten with a reuerent feare of it, and let vsus prepare to meet the Lord at his comming, that wee may bee able to ſtand before him with ioy, and there lift vppe our head becauſe our redemption ſhall be at hand.
Come we now to the deſcription of the ſtate of true beleeuers in reſpect of that happineſſe and glory which they ſhall hauehave at the appearance of Chriſt in theſe words (then ſhall ye alſo appeare with him in glory) where the Apoſtle doth ſhew that true beleeuers ſhall then bee poſſeſſed of that glory, and ſhall appeare with Chriſt moſt glorious, (then) this word hath relation to the words immediately going before (yee) that is,Interpretation. yee beleeuers who hauehave Chriſt your life, and we are to vnderſtand that word as ſpoken of the perſons of true beleeuers, not of their ſoules alone ſeparate from their bodies, nor of their bodies alone, then ſhall ye in your bodies and ſoules (appeare) that is, be manifeſtly ſeene of men and Angels (with him) namely with Chriſt (in glory) that is, moſt glorious inueſted with eternall and vnſpeakable glory, thus then conceiue wee theſe worde, as if the Apoſtle had ſayd.
Then at the appearance of Chriſt, ſhall ye bee manifeſtly ſeene with Chriſt, inueſted in your bodies and ſoules with eternall and vnſpeakable glory.
Now firſt in that the Apoſtle ſayth, that at the appearance of Chriſt, true beleeuers ſhall appeare with him in glory, we may eaſily conclude.
Doct. 4. The happines and glory of true beleeuers ſhall one day appeare and and be ſeene of men and Angels.That the happineſſe and glory of true beleeuers ſhall not alwaies bee hid, but it ſhall one day appeare euen to the whole world, yea both men and Angels ſhall one day, namely, at the day of iudgement, ſee the happineſſe and glory of true beleeuers, and be eye-witneſſes of the ſame, for why? the Lord Ieſus at that day ſhall ſhew himſelfe to the ſight of men and Angels, in endleſſe Maieſty and glory in his owne perſon, and he ſhall at that day come to bee glorified in his Saints, and to bee made maruellous in all them that beleeue, ſo ſpeakes the Apoſtle in plaine termes, 2. Theſſ. 1.10. at his comming he ſhall not onelyonly bee infinitely glorious in his owne perſon, but he ſhall alſo be glorified in his Saints, he glorifying them, and they appearing with him in glory, therein they ſhall ſhew foorth his grace, his power and his goodneſſe, and that to the aſtoniſhment & admiration of all that ſhall looke vponupon them, euen to the amazement of men and Angels, Rom. 8.19. the Apoſtle in ſaying, that the creature, that is, the whole frame of the world, waiteth when the ſonnes of God ſhall be reuealed: teacheth alſo this poynt, that there ſhall be a time of reuelation, there ſhall come a day, when the glory of Gods children ſhall be reuealed to all the world, the reaſon of this is plaine, namely this.
Becauſe there muſt be a time, Reaſon. when euen the moſt wicked ſhall iuſtifie the goodneſſe and mercy of God, in his dealing towards his children, and be conuinced of folly in themſelues, now that is not in this world heere they looke on the troubles of Gods children, but ſee not their comforts, they, behold their preſent condition in affliction, but diſcerne not their happineſſe, and ſo account their life folly and madneſſe, therefore there muſt be a time when the happineſſe and glory of Gods children ſhall be openly reuealed, and ſet before the eies of all the world, that euen the moſt wicked may looke on it, and (will they nill they) iuſtifie the goodneſſe of God towards his children, Vſe. and be conuinced of folly in themſelues,Comfort to true beleeuers that their beauty and glory ſhall one day bee made manifeſt to the view of the whole world. and bee forced to confeſſe and ſay, Oh we fooles, thought their life folly and madneſſe, but now we ſee they are deare in the ſight of the Lord, and hauehave their portion among his Saints.
Now then let this bee laid vp in the hearts of all true beleeuers, as a ground of great comfort to them, let them conſider, that howſoeuer their beauty and glory is in this world obſcured and ouerſhadowed, and it is not ſeene of the world, it lies hid from the world, either vnderunder affliction, or vnderunder that excellent grace of humilitie, which the world accounts baſeneſſe they walking humbly before the Lord, that humility of theirs is as a cloud to hide away their glory from the eye of the world, yet let them be patient for a time, and let them conſider that it ſhall not alwaies be hid, but the time ſhall come, when it ſhall euidently appeare, and bee open to the view of the whole world, yea, the time ſhall come that men and Angels ſhall ſee it with admiration, yea which is moſt ſweet and comfortable to bee thought on, euen they that heere hauehave turned their glory into ſhame, as Dauid ſaith: Pſal. 4.2. that is, hauehave reproached them for their holy and religious carriage, and caſt that in their teeth as a reproach, and loaded them with odious and fowle names euen in reſpect of that, the day ſhall come when they ſhall ſee that which now they account their ſhame crowned with glory, and ſhall be forced to chang their note and ſing, a new ſong, yea, confeſſing their owne folly ſhall crie out, and ſay, we fooles thought their life baſe and full of diſhonour, and now behold their vnſpeakable brightneſſe and glory, let this be remembred as a matter of ſweet comfort to all Gods children, yea, let this encourage them euen to be more vile, as Dauid ſayd, 2. Sam. 6.22. when Mich…l mocked him for dancing before the arke, I will yet be more vile then thus, ſo let all Gods children be more vile, that is, more low in their owne eies, and walke more humby before the Lord, and ſo bee more baſe (as the world eſteemes of them) and the time ſhall come, when they ſhall be had in honour of thoſe that now contemne them, yea, thoſe that now deſpiſe them (if they repent not of that ſinne) at the comming of the Lord Ieſus, ſhall ſee them in glory, and ſhall be forced to acknowledge their glory to their owne euerlaſting ſhame and confuſion.
Wee are in the next place to obſerue, that the Apoſtle ſaith not, then ſhall your ſoules, or then ſhall your bodies appeare with him in glory, but then ſhall yee, euen yee, in your bodies and ſoules appeere with Chriſt in glory, hence we are taught:
That there ſhall not be a perfect conſummation of the Doct. 5 glorie of true beleeuers before the day of iudgement, true beleeuers ſhall not hauehave full accompliſhment of glorie, before the ſecond comming of Chriſt,The glory of true beleeuers ſhall not hauehave full accompliſhment till the ſecond comming of Chriſt. then ſhall they in their bodies and ſoules appeare with Chriſt in glorie, though the Saints of God now in heauen be bleſſed, Reu. 14.13. yet they looke for the perfection of their glorie, when their bodies ſhall be glorified together, with their ſoules at the generall iudgement: much is giuen to true beleeuers when they are diſſolued, and goe to Chriſt, but moſt of all ſhall bee giuen them when they ſhall bee reſtored, and Chriſt come to them as Saint Iohn ſayth, 1.3.2. when hee ſhall appeare they ſhall be like him: not onelyonly in their ſoules, but in their bodies alſo, the text is plaine, Phil. 3.21. hee ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious body: and then their bodies and ſoules ioyned together, and glorified together muſt needes euen in reaſon make a full waight and meaſure of glorie: Reu. 6.…0. wee read that the foules vnderunder the altar: cry how long Lord: as indeede expecting, and earneſtly deſiring the laſt iudgement, when Chriſt ſhall glorifie himfelfe in executing vengeance on the enemies of his Church, and giuegive all his members glorie, both in their bodies and ſoules, and therfore the Saints in heauen are in expectation of greater glorie.
If anie obiect Object. againſt this, the example of Enoch and Eliah, that they in their bodies are alreadie in heauen, and therefore hauehave a perfect conſummation of their glorie, and looke not for anie greater meaſure of glorie.
I anſwer, Anſw. it may be doubted whether their bodies be now in Heauen or no, ſome make queſtion of it, and hold that their bodies are not now in heauen, but either that the Lord who tooke them away hath laid them vp in ſuch meanes as are hid from vsus, as he hid the body of Moſes that the Diuell looking for it could not finde it, but to leaue that to be diſcuſſed by better iudgement, admit it to be true, that Enoch and Elias are now glorified in heauen in their bodies, yet we muſt know that theſe examples are extraordinary, the Lord tooke them vp into heauen, that they might bee types and figures of Chriſt his aſcention, and to nouriſh hope of life eternall in the Church, both before the Law, and vnderunder the Lawe, and therefore they make not againſt this, that the Saints in heauen, are yet in hope and expectation of full fruition of the promiſed glory, and this Vſe. 1 meetes with the opinion of the Papiſts, who are not content to ſay that the Saints in heauen are bleſſed, but they giuegive them a full poſſeſſion of bleſſednes,Confutation of the opinion of the Papiſts touching the bleſſednes of the Saints in Heauen. yea, they affirme that they are as highly exalted in heauen as the Angelles, grounding on that ſaying of Chriſt, Mat. 22.30. whereas indeed if wee looke vponupon that place, and conſider it well, wee ſhall finde it rather makes againſt them, for it is ſayd, That the Saints ſhall bee as the Angels of God in heauen, but when; in the reſurrection, at the generall reſurrection, and not before; and againe it is not ſayd, that after the reſurrection they ſhall be in eueryevery reſpect like to the Angels, for then they ſhall bee without bodies as the Angels bee, but they ſhall be as the Angels, in that then they hauehave no need nor vſe of marriage, that is the meaning of our Sauiour in that place, and ſo it makes nothing for the purpoſe of our aduerſaries, to prooue that the Saints now in heauen are as highly exalted in honour as the Angels, and we are not to ſuffer our ſelues by this to be driuen from the truth, that the Saints in heauen though they be bleſſed, yet hauehave not obtained perfect conſummation of glory, but doe expect it to be giuen at the day of iudgement, yea, the firſt member of Chriſt that died many hundred yeeres agoe, ſhall receiue fulneſſe of glorie in bodie and ſoule, till the laſt member be ready.
Vſe. 2 And vponupon this ground wee may lawfully praie that the Lord Ieſus would haſten his comming to Iudgement,We may lawfully pray that the ſecond comming of Chriſt may be haſtened. and make perfect the glory of his Saints in heauen, and earth; miſtake not my meaning, I ſay not, that wee may pray for the dead, but we may pray that the Lord would make an ende of the daies of ſinne, that hee would haſten the coming of Chriſt, that he would giuegive vsus deliuerance from all the miſeries of this life: Rom. 8.23. and in his good time (his kingdome of grace beeing finiſhed) giuegive fulneſſe of glorie to all his Saints both in their bodies and ſoules.
Obſerue wee further that the Apoſtle ſaith not, (then ſhall ye appeare in glory) (but then ſhall yee appeare with him (namely) with Chriſt in glory) Hereby we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much.
That as Chriſt, and his members cannot bee deuided Doctrin. 6 one from another; ſo Chriſt his glory,Chriſt his glorie & the glory of his members goe together. and the glory of his members cannot be diſioined, nor put aſunder when Chriſt ſhall appeare in his glory, then ſhall alſo all true beleeuers bee ſeene with him ſhining in vnſpeakable glory, with the ful manifeſtation of the glory of Chriſt, ſhall goe a full manifeſtation of the glory of all his members. The reaſon of this is giuen in the place aforeſaid, 2 Theſſal. 1.10.
Becauſe the glorification of the Saints, Reaſons. euen of all true beleeuers pertaines to the glory of Chriſt, and the one cannot be without the other.
Now then, what an excellent comfort is this to as many Vſe. 1 as finde themſelues to hauehave part in Chriſt,Comfort to al that hauehave part in Chriſt they ſhall certainelie appeare moſt glorious at the day of iudgement. no ſooner ſhall Chriſt appeare in his but they alſo ſhall appeare with him moſt glorious, and indeed it cannot be otherwiſe, it is his will it ſhould bee ſo, Iohn 17.24. that all his members ſhould be with him where he is, and bee pertakers of his glory: can the head Chriſt Ieſus raigne in endleſſe glory, and his members be couered with ſhame and diſhonour? It is not poſſible, remember it to thy comfort, if thou bee a member of Chriſt, his glory, and thy glory cannot bee ſundred, and know thou that it is as poſſible that Chriſt ſhould not be glorious, as that thou ſhouldeſt not appeare in glory at the day of Iudgement.
Queſt. Now if any aske me what this glory ſhall be?
I muſt anſwer Anſwer. him, if I had the tong of men & Angels, I am not able to expreſſe it, the Apoſtle is faine to expreſſe it in generall tearmes, 2 Cor. 4.17. A moſt excellent, and an eternall weight of glory. Yet certainly it ſhall not be equall to the glory of Chriſt, but like it, the text is plaine: 1. Iohn 3.2. When he ſhal appeare we ſhalbe like him. Phil. 3.21. Who ſhall change our vile body, that it may bee like vntounto his moſt glorious body. The bodies of true beleeuers ſhal ſhine in glorie, like the glorious body of Chriſt, and they ſhall bee glorious in their meaſure according to his image, who is the God of glory, they ſhall then be decked and trimmed, as a Bride ſutable, and fit for a moſt pure and glorious bridegroome, Reuel. 19.8. euen in the bright ſhining roabe of righteouſneſſe, and in moſt pure and perfect holineſſe.
Vſe. 2 Oh then, how ought this to affect our harts with a longing deſire after the comming of the Lord Ieſus,Wee are earneſtly to long for Chriſt his comming to iudgement. that euen now we might ſee him comming in the cloudes; doe wee heare that no ſooner Chriſt ſhal appeare, but we beleeuing in Chriſt ſhall appeare in glory like to him, and doe wee beleeue this? (If we beleeue it not, why come we to heare it) doe we then beleeue this to be true, and ſhall wee not long to ſee the truth of it? Indeed if that great glory ſpoken of were vncertaine, or certaine glory but ſmal, it might be but ſmall inducement to long after it; but ſeeing it is as ſure that we ſhall hauehave glory as Chriſt himſelfe the God of glory, and that an vnſpeakeable weight of glory, ſhall not this quicken and ſtirre vp our ſpirits? Shall not this moue vsus to long for the time when it ſhall bee reuealed? Surely if wee looke for our part of that eternall weight of glory, wee cannot but as feruently deſire after it, and crie out with the Church, Reuel. 22.20. Come quickly Lord Ieſus. And if thou haſt not this longing in thee,Note. thine heart is not right in thee, and if thy deſire bee feeble, and weake, ſeeke to bee quickned, labour thou to hauehave a liuely hope to bee partaker of that glory that ſhall bee reuealed, and then thine heart ſhall be fild with aboundance of comfort, and thou ſhalt earneſtly long for the appearance of the Lord Ieſus.