Looking Unto Jesus, Book 10 · Chapter 1 · Section 5
SECT. V. Of Chriſt's ſentencing his Saints.
5. FOR Chriſt ſentencing of his Saints; no ſooner are they ſet on his right hand, but he prepares for ſentence; in the opening of which we muſt conſider, 1. The preparative. 2. The ſentence it ſelf.
1. The preparative before ſentence will be ſome exploration or trial of the parties to be ſentenced, as—
Rev. 20.12.1. The Book muſt be opened. And I ſaw the dead, ſmall and great, ſtand before God, and the Books were opened, and another Book was opened which is the Book of life. It is ſpoken after the manner of men, in whoſe publick Judgments are produced all the writings of the proceſs, informations, depoſitions of witneſſes, to ſhew that all actions,Aug. l. 20. de civitate Dei, cap. 14. even the moſt ſecret ones, ſhall then be rehearſed and made manifeſt; Auguſtine thinks theſe Books to be the Books of the Old and New Teſtament, wherein all things either to be done, or omitted, are preſcribed by God: and then ſhall theſe Books be opened,Rom. 2.16. Orig. Com. ad Rom. 14. becauſe according to them ſhall ſentence be given; In that day God ſhall Judge the ſecrets of men by Jeſus Chriſt according to my Goſpel. Origen, and all moſt all with him, think theſe Books to be the Books of our conſciences, which now are ſhut up, and concealed from men; but then ſhall be made manifeſt to all the world: whatever theſe Books are, we find here one Book opened which is proper to the Saints, called the Book of Life; This Book contains in it the names of all that are elected from firſt to laſt; Thou John, and thou Joſeph, and thou Judeth, and thou Mary, and thou Elizabeth, &c. you are all Book'd down; there is the particularity, and there is the certainty; Your names are written in Heaven, rejoyce in it; Oh what is the joy of Saints when once they ſee this book opened, and their names inrolled, engraven there in letters of glory. This very Book clears it to me, that God from all eternity made choice of a particular and determinate number of Perſons, to ſave them; and that none other can be ſaved, but thoſe who were ſo elected; and whoſoever are ſo elected,Rev. 13.8. — 17.8. they ſhall not fall away. All that worſhip the Beaſt, their names are not written in the Book of life of the Lamb, from the foundation of the world. On the other ſide,Rev. 3.5. He that overcometh, the ſame ſhall be written in the Book of life, and I will not blot out his name, but I will confeſs his name before my Father and before his Angels. This is the day when that book of life ſhall be opened, and Chriſt ſhall read the names of every elect perſon before God and Angels; not that Chriſt needs a book, or indeed reads a name, but that his Election ſtands ſo firm, that he knows every predeſtinated Saint as well, as we know their names, whom for our memories we commit unto our books: and then he will ſo honour his Saints, that he will publiſh their names to all the world.
2. All the actions, demeanours, graces, duties, and (it may be) ſins of Saints ſhall be produced and laid open: the holy Ghoſt tells us, that the dead were judged out of thoſe things which were written in the Books. It appears hence, that not onelyonly names, but things were written, and theſe things were produced, and accordingly they were judged.
1. As to evil things, unfruitful works of darkneſs. It is a queſtion, and I dare not be too poſitive in it, viz. Whether the ſins of God's People ſhall be manifeſt at the day of Judgment? Some are for the negative, becauſe God in his promiſes ſpeaks ſo expreſly,Iſa. 43.25. —44.22.38.17. John 5.24. Of forgiving iniquities, of remembring them no more, of blotting them out, of throwing them into the bottom of the Sea, of caſting them behind his back: in which reſpect ſay they, the Godly are ſaid not to come into Judgement. I ſuppoſe this laſt Text is ill urged, for by Judgment is not meant diſcuſſion, but condemnation; and in our beſt Tranſlations ſo it is rendred; others are for the affirmative, upon theſe grounds. 1. Becauſe many of the Godly and wicked men's ſins are mingled together, and there cannot be a Judgment of diſcuſſion, preceding that of condemnation, unleſs Godly men's ſins are alſo produced. 2. Becauſe it is ſpoken generally in reſpect of all ſorts, that the Books were opened; By which Books moſt underſtand the conſciences of men, and by the opening of thoſe Books, they underſtand the manifeſting, clearing, and diſcovering of conſciences at that general day.
3. Becauſe the Scriptures are expreſs for the affirmative; not but that thoſe Texts are truths, that ſins are forgiven, blotted out, thrown away, to be remembred no more, (i.e.) as to condemnation; but as for exploration or diſcuſſion the Lord ſpeaks univerſally, that of every idle word that men ſpeak, Mat. 12.36.they ſhall give an account thereof at the day of Judgment. If the ballance weigh down on this ſide (for my part I am not peremptory, but ſhall eaſily ſubmit to the ſpirits of the Prophets) yet this manifeſtation ſhall not be for the ſhame, grief, trouble, ignominy, or confuſion of the godly; but only for the ſetting up of God's juſtice, and that the goodneſs and free grace of God in Chriſt may be made more illuſtrious; how will Chriſt then be exalted, when all the world ſhall ſee his righteouſneſs and goodneſs, his truth and mercy, now again meeting together, and kiſſing each other? it was ſo at his firſt coming, and it will be ſo at his ſecond coming; then ſhall his juſtice and mercy, his righteouſneſs and goodneſs be manifeſted to all; in that by his own merits, notwithſtanding their ſins, he will bring all his Saints to his heavenly glory.
2. As for good things, whether good works, duties or graces, there is no queſtion but all theſe will be that day produced, and laid open. 1. We ſee Chriſt enumerating the good works of them on his right hand; for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirſty, and ye gave me drink; I was a ſtranger, and ye took me in; naked, Mat. 25.35, 26.and ye cloathed me; ſick, and ye viſited me; in priſon, and ye came unto me. It is true, in this catalogue we find nothing of faith, but all of works; but certainly faith is included, as the life of the Tree is included in the fruit; not only, nor principally are works here mentioned for the goodneſs of the work conſidered in it ſelf; but as theſe works did expreſs our faith and love to Jeſus Chriſt, in that by ſaith we could ſee Chriſt in a poor beggar, or priſoner, and could love Jeſus Chriſt in theſe poor, better than all our worldly goods, or liberties. I do not wonder that Paul adviſeth his Corinthians, See that ye abound in this grace of contribution to the Saints:2 Cor. 8.7. Phil. 1.9. 1 Theſ. 1.12. and that he prayeth his Philipians, And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more; And that he prayeth for his Theſſalonians, now the Lord make you to increaſe, and to abound in love one towards another, and towards all men; and that he praiſeth God in their behalf; We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet, 2 Theſ. 1.3.becauſe that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth. Chriſtians! if we did but conſider that every duty done to God or Man, that every penny given to a poor naked Saint, that every cup of cold water given to a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, ſhould not loſe his reward, but this day ſhould be reckoned up, or drawn (as it were) into a full Inventory; Imprimis, For this piece of ſilver given ſuch a day to ſuch a one; Item, For this piece of bread ſuch a day given to ſuch a one, &c. Oh who would not abound in faith and love? oh who would think any thing too much, too good, too dear to give to the needy members of Jeſus Chriſt? there is a charge laid upon Miniſters to preach this Doctrine, I beſeech you give me leave to diſcharge my duty, and to lay it, and leave it at your doors, where beggars uſually ſtand;1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. Charge them that are rich in this world—that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to deſtribute, willing to communicate; laying up in ſtore for themſelves a good foundation againſt the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. You to whom God hath given the riches of this world, as you would meet Chriſt with comfort, learn this leſſen; conſider whether of theſe too reckonings will be more comfortable at that day; Item, So much given to ſuch and ſuch a religious uſe? or ſo much given towards ſuch a Feaſt, and for the entertainment of ſuch brave gallants? ſo much to promote the Goſpel? or ſo much at Dice, Cards, Horſe-races? if one ſhould tell you, that either you muſt feed Chriſt in the poor, or you muſt ſtarve in Hell; you muſt either cloath naked Chriſt in the poor, or you muſt be laid naked to the fiery indignation of the Lord for ever, oh what ſtrictneſs would you call this? but I recollect my ſelf; if Chriſt ſet you at his right hand, he will then recount all your charities, and all your labours of love to the Saints: you that are poor, and had nothing to give, he will tell you of your good works, if it was no more, but at ſuch a time, you caſt a mite into his Treaſury, and at ſuch a time you carried a Letter for the Lord Jeſus; he will produce and commend theſe pittances of your poor charities to all the world.
2. Nor only good works to man; but all the Saints duties to God ſhall come in remembrance. Oh then it will be known who ſerved the Lord in ſpirit and truth, and who did not; then Men and Angels ſhall know, ſuch a day this poor Saints performed ſuch a ſpiritual ſervice; every prayer in publick or private, every, tear ſhed for ſin, every ſob, or ſigh, every ſpiritual meditation, or ſelf-examination every glance, ejaculation, or looking unto Jeſus, ſhall be recounted by Jeſus: It was ſaid of Cornelius, Act. 10.4.that as well his prayers to God, as his alms to men came up for a memorial before God; certainly every duty in reference to the firſt table is booked in Heaven, and at this day the book being opened, it will appear, that ſuch a prayer thou madeſt ſuch a morning and ſuch an evening in thy cloſet;Mat. 6.6. and now will Chriſt ſay, Did not I tell thee, that if thou wouldſt pray to thy Father in ſecret, then he that ſaw thee in ſecret, ſhould reward thee openly? why now ſhalt thou have thy reward in a full view, I will divulge here all thy ſecret duties, to Men and Angels; all the world ſhall know it, thy wandrings I told them, Pſal. 56.8.and thy tears I bottled them; lo here, are they not all written in my Book?
3. Nor onelyonly duties, but graces ſhall now be rehearſed; thy Knowledge, Faith, Hope, Love, ſpiritual Joy; thy Fear, Obedience, Repentance, Humility, Meekneſs, Patience, Zeal, Perſeverance ſhall be fully diſcovered; time was that in the incenſe of ſuch a Prayer many ſweet ſpices were burned together; therein was Faith working by Love; therein was Humility, therein was Patience in ſubmiting to God's will and pleaſure, therein was Hope of a gracious anſwer in God's due time, therein was Holineſs, brokenneſs of Heart,Cant. 5.1. and love to others, &c. Time was (ſaith Chriſt) that I gathered my myrr with my ſpices, that I eat my honey-comb with my honey that I both accepted and delighted my ſelf in thy heavenly graces; I ſhall never forget how thou didſt raviſh my heart, my ſiſter, my ſpouſe; how thou doſt raviſh my heart with one of thine eyes, and with one chain of thy neck. Why, thus ſhall the Lord ſet forth, and tell all the world what gracious children he had; then will appear indeed the Meekneſs of Moſes, the Faith of Abraham, the Patience of Job, the Zeal of Phineas, the Love of Magdalen; and according to the meaſure of grace conferred upon thee, Chriſt will ſet thee out; We commend the graces of ſuch and ſuch Saints at their death, but oh let Chriſt blazon me, and his graces in me at the reſurrection-day.
Thus far for the Exploration or trial before ſentence.
Mat. 25.24.2. For the ſentence it ſelf, then ſhall the King ſay to them on his right hand, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Every word here is full of life and joy; 1. Come] this is the King's invitation of his Saints to his Court; he had ſummoned them before to his preſence, and now they are about him, he will not part with them, they muſt come a little nearer yet, they muſt go with him into his preſence chamber; the manſions are ready, the Supper of the Lamb is ready, and now he begins the ſolemn invitation to his bride, Come. 2. Come ye bleſſed of my Father] Chriſt bleſſed them when he went up to Heaven,Luke 6.20, 21. and whiles yet on earth he pronounced them bleſſed many a time; Bleſſed be ye poor; Bleſſed are ye that hunger; Bleſſ…d are ye that weep; but now he calls them the bleſſed of his Father; not onelyonly Chriſt, but God the Father hath ever looked upon them as his children; it is the Father's will as well as Chriſt's that they ſhould be bleſſed, Ye bleſſed of my Father. Luke 12 32. Rom. 8.17.3. Inherit the Kingdom] Chriſt had told them before, It is your Father's pleaſure to give you the Kingdom; but then they were only as ſervants, or as children under age but now they are heirs,Eph. 4.13. Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Chriſt; and now they are come to full age, To the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt; and therefore they muſt have the inheritance in poſſeſſion, they muſt all be Kings; this very word ſpeaks them Kings, and makes them Kings; it is the ſolemn coronation of the Saints. It is the anointing, the ſetting of the Crown upon the heads of the Saints; Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteouſneſs, 1 Tim. 4.8.which the Lord the righteous Judge ſhall give me at that day, and not for me onelyonly, but unto them alſo that love his appearing. 4. Inherit the Kingdom, prepared for you] as Tophet was prepared of old, ſo was this Kingdom prepared of old; it was the firſt creature that ever God made, In the beginning God created heaven; Gen. 1.1.his firſt work was to make Heaven for himſelf and his Saints to dwell in; he prepared it for them, and then he prepared them for it: but why for them? were not the Angels the firſt creatures that poſſeſſed it? nay, were they not created in it, or together with it? yes, but yet the Angels are not, properly the heirs, ſons, members, ſpouſe of God and Chriſt, as the Saints are; the Angels are but miniſtring ſpirits, and the ſervants of the Bride-groom, but the Saints are the Bride her ſelf, heirs and co-heirs with Chriſt. 5. Prepared for you from the foundation of the world.] This was the great deſign of God and Chriſt from all eternity; before the foundations of the world, and at the firſt ſtone laid, and ever ſince, they have been carrying on this mighty work: it is not a buſineſs of yeſterday onelyonly; No, no; the eternal thoughts of God have been upon it,Epheſ. 1.4. He hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world.
Oh what thoughts are in Saints, when this ſentence is propounded! Oh what joy enters into them now they are to enter into their Maſters joy? methinks if it were poſſible that tears could be in a glorified eſtate, the Saints ſhould not ſee Chriſt reach out a Crown to ſet it on their heads, but they ſhould weep, and hold away their heads, but Chriſt will have it ſo; This honour have all the Saints; praiſe ye the Lord.