Looking Unto Jesus, Book 10 · Chapter 1 · Section 6

Looking Unto Jesus · Book 10 · Chapter 1 · Section 6

p. 589SECT. VI. Of Chriſt and the Saints judging the reſt of the World.

6. FOR Chriſt and his Saints judging the world: no ſooner ſhall the Saints be ſentenced, Juſtified, Acquitted, Anointed, Crowned; but preſently they muſt be enthronized, and ſit with Jeſus Chriſt to judge the world. In the unfolding of this we may obſerve theſe particulars.—

1. As Chriſt is on a Throne, ſo now muſt the Elect be ſet on Thrones;Rev. 3.21.Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne. Thrones are for Kings and Judges; and in that Chriſt hath now lifted up his Saints to this condition, he will have them ſit with him as ſo many Judges, and as ſo many Kings; or if it be more honour to have Thrones by themſelves, than to ſit with Chriſt in his Throne; John in his viſion ſaw many Thrones; And I ſaw Thrones, and they ſat upon them, Rev. 20.4.Rev 20:4and judgment was given unto them. And Chriſt himſelf told his Apoſtles, Verily I ſay unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of Man ſhall ſit in the throne of his glory, ye alſo ſhall ſit upon twelve Thrones, Mat. 19.28.Matt 19:28judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael. Hence ſome argue that amongſt all the Saints, the Apoſtles ſhall have their Thrones ſeated next to Chriſt; howſoever the reſt ſhall not be deprived of their Thrones; for not onelyonly twelve Thrones, but twelve and twelve are ſet about the Throne of Chriſt; And round about the Throne were four and twenty Thrones (or ſeats) and upon the Throne I ſaw four and twenty Elders ſitting cloathed with white rayment, Rev. 4.4.Rev 4:4and they had on their heads crowns of Gold. OnelyOnly four and twenty Thrones, and four and twenty Elders are numbred, but thereby is repreſented the whole Church of Chriſt; It is plain enough, that all the Saints ſhall appear plainly in the glory of Chriſt's Kingdom, having Thrones with him in the Air, during the time of his judgment.

2. The goats on the left hand ſhall then be called to receive their doom. No ſooner the Saints enthronized, but then ſhall Chriſt ſay, Ye bleſſed Angels bring hither all thoſe mine enemies, who have ſaid I ſhall not rule over them, that I may bruiſe them with my Iron mace, and break them in pieces like a Potters veſſel. O the fear and trembling that will now ſeize on reprobates! do but ſee the caſe of priſoners, when the Judge ſpeaks that word, Come Jaylors, bring hither thoſe priſoners to the bar. But alas! what compariſon can we make to ſuite with the condition of theſe reprobates? now ſhall their hearts fail them for fear; now ſhall they ſeek death (oh how gladly would they die again!) but ſhall not find it; now ſhall they cry to rocks and mountains; Fall on us, Rev. 6.16.Rev 6:16and hide us from the face of him that ſitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. As a priſoner in a deſperate caſe had rather remain in his fordid ſtinking dungeon, than coming into the open air for execution; ſo the reprobates newly raiſed from the earth, would fain return again into the earth, glad to remain, though not on the face of it with pleaſure, yet in the bowels of it with rottenneſs and ſolitude; like malefactors preſſing to death, they cry out for more weight, Hills cover us, mountains fall upon us, yet more weight, more rocks, more mountains; hide us, preſs us, cover us, diſpatch us. But all in vain; the command is out, Angels and Devils will force them to the bar, for the Lord hath ſpoken it; Thoſe mine enemies which would not that I ſhould reign over them, Luke 19.27.Luke 19:27bring them hither.

p. 5903. They ſhall look on Chriſt, and his Saints, now ſitting on their Thrones. As priſoners that ſtand at the bar in the face of the Judge, ſo muſt theſe reprobates look the Judge and all his Aſſeſſors in the very face.

1. For the judge, they ſhall look on him; Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye ſhall ſee him, and they alſo which pierced him. We heard before, that no ſooner Chriſt in the clouds but they ſaw him then; as the priſoners that ſee the Judge riding to his Judgment-ſeat; Oh but now they ſhall ſee him in the Judgment-ſeat ready with ſparkling eyes, and thundring voice to ſpeak their ſentence. Priſoners at the bar muſt not turn their backs on the Judge, when he begins their ſentence; no more muſt reprobates;In Majeſtate viſuri ſunt, in humilitate videre noluerunt; ut tanto distrinctius virtutem ſentiant quanto contemptius infirmitatem deriſerunt. They muſt ſee him in Majeſty whom they would not deigne to look upon in humility; that by ſo much more they may feel his power, by how much more they derided his weakneſs. Oh the difference betwixt Chriſt's firſt coming in the fleſh, and in his ſecond coming in the clouds; then he came in poverty, now in Majeſty; then in humility, now in Glory; then with poor-Shepherds, now with mighty Angels; then the contempt of Nations, now the terror of the World; then crowned with Thorns, now with Majeſty; then judged by one man, now judging all men; then as a Lamb, now as a Lyon; oh horror to conceive! how will the ſight of this Judge amaze the wicked? and the rather becauſe they ſhall ſee him whom they have pierced. Is not this the aggravation of their terror? conceive the guilty man-ſlayer coming to his tryal, will not the red robes of his Judge make his heart bleed for his blood-ſhed? doth not that crimſon cloath preſent a monſtrous hew before his eyes? O then what ſight is this, when the man ſlain ſits in the Judgment-ſeat? the roſy wounds of our Saviour ſtill bleeding (at it were) in the priſoners preſence? well my they hang their heads, but they ſhall not ſhut their eyes; They ſhall ſee him, ſaith the Text; yea, they alſo which pierced him ſhall ſee him. This very ſight will be as convincing, as if they heard Chriſt ſay, Thou art the man that didſt murther me, thou art the man haſt pierced me, this wound, this skar, and this print of the nails in my hands and feet were thy very doings in thy ſinning againſt me. And who can tell but Chriſt may ſpeak in ſome ſuch manner as this! Come all you on the left hand, prepare you for the ſentence; I am them an whom you did crucifie afreſh; I am he whoſe perſon you deſpiſed, whoſe Commands you diſobeyed, whoſe Miniſters you abuſed; whoſe Servants you hated, whoſe Offers you rejected; and of whom you ſaid, There is no beauty in him that we ſhould deſire him. Whatſoever he ſhall ſay, this I believe, that Chriſt's ſweet face will be moſt terrible to the wicked at that day. Oh it will cut them to ſee him in the judgment-ſeat whom they baſely ſhut out of doors, preferring a luſt before his preſence; then will they begin with extreameſt grief and bitterneſs of ſpirit to ſigh and ſay, Oh, he that I look upon, and muſt look upon, and cannot chooſe but look upon: he whom I now ſee ſitting on yonder flaming, white, and glorious Throne, is Jeſus Chriſt, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, that true Meſſiah, whoſe precious blood was poured out as water upon the earth, to ſave his people from their ſins: it is he, yea, the ſelf ſame he that many a time whiles I lived on earth, invited and wooed me by his faithful Miniſters, that beſought and entreated me with tears of deareſt love, to leave my luſts, and to bid the Devil adieu; that knocked again and again at the door of my heart for entrance, offering himſelf to be my al-ſufficient, and everlaſting husband, telling me that if I would but have embraced him, at this time ſhould have been the ſolemnity of the marriage, and now he would have ſet an immortal crown of bliſs and glory upon my head with his own Almighty hand; but I alas! like a wilful deſperate wretch forſook my own mercy, judged my ſelf unworthy of everlaſting life, and wretchedly and cruelly againſt my own ſoul, perſecuted all the means which ſhould have ſanctified me, and all the Miniſters which ſhould have ſaved me, as inſtruments in the hands of Chriſt; and now happy I, if I were an hundred thouſand millions of miles diſtant from this ſight of Jeſus Chriſt: oh that theſe eyes in my head were holes again, as they were but even now when I was rotting, or rotten in the grave! oh that I could turn any way aſide from this glorious ſight! oh that I were a Stone, or Tree, or Air, or any other thing that wanted eyes! oh that I had no eye within, nor underſtanding faculty to conceive of Chriſt, or to know Chriſt Jeſus as my Judge, now ready to bid me go to Hell! certainly theſe will be the woful wiſhes of the wicked, when they ſhall look on Chriſt as ſitting on his Throne of Judgement.

p. 5912. For the Saints, they ſhall look on them. Indeed they ſit ſo near their Saviour, that they cannot look on him, but they muſt look on them; the Saints are on their Thrones, either in the Throne or about the Throne of Jeſus Chriſt, and the reprobates ſtand in a direct oppoſite line to the Saints, ſo that their eyes cannot be off them; It is ſaid in the parable, that the rich man being in Hell, He lift up his eyes, Luke 16.23.Luke 16:23and ſaw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his boſom; but the diſtance being ſo great as Heaven and Hell, that cannot be litterally underſtood, but onelyonly parabolically; it is otherwiſe here, for howſoever the ſeparation be already made, yet neither is the ſentence, nor execution paſt upon the reprobates; and indeed as yet, both the Saints and reprobates are in the Air; the one on the right hand, and the other on the left hand of Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore they cannot but have a full view of each other. In the Apocriphal book there is a plain deſcription of this view,Wiſd. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.Wis 5:1Wis 5:2Wis 5:3Wis 5:4Wis 5:5 Then ſhall the righteous man ſtand in great boldneſs before the face of ſuch as have afflicted him, and made no account of his Labours; and when they ſee it they ſhall be troubled with terrible fear, and ſhall be amazed at the ſtrangeneſs of his ſalvation, ſo far beyond all that they looked for; and they repenting and groaning for anguiſh of Spirit, ſhall ſay within themſelves, this is he whom we had ſomtimes in a deriſion, and a proverb of reproach; we fools accounted his life madneſs, and his end to be without honour; how is he numbred among the children of God, and his lot is amongſt the Saints? Here is a ſight that will trouble and amaze the wicked, that thoſe who ſometimes were their footſtools ſhould now be on Thrones; that poor Lazarus who lay at the gates of that certain rich man, ſhould now ſhine like a Star near the Sun of Righteouſneſs; that they who were reproached, reviled, maſſacred, murthered by them, ſhould now be their Judges, joyning with Jeſus Chriſt to ſentence them to Hell. Oh who can conceive the terrible thoughts of theſe men's hearts! now the world cannot help them, their old companions cannot help them, the Saints neither can, nor will; onelyonly the Lord Jeſus can; but Oh! there is the ſoul-killing miſery, he will not; Ye Men, and Devils (ſaith Chriſt) joint-heirs of Hell, fit fuel for eternal fire, look on us in our Thrones, time was we could not have a look from you; Chriſt and Chriſtians were an abhorrency of ſpirit unto you, you troad us under foot, but now we are got above you; oh ſee the vaſt difference betwixt us and you; look on us, look on me and my Saints! ſee us on our Thrones, ſee us glittering in glory; and be confounded and amazed for ever.

4. A particular ſtrict account ſhall be then required, and given. Of what you will ſay? I Anſwer—

1. Of ſins: Come (will Chriſt ſay) Now confeſs all your ſins before all the world; time was that you conſealed your ſins, but now every ſin ſhall be laid open before God, Angels, and Men; and now is the black Book of their conſciences opened, wherein appears all their ſins original and actual; of Omiſſion and Commiſſion. For omiſſions of duties all thoſe ſhall be diſcovered. Chriſt hungry, and I gave him no meat; Chriſt thirſty, and I gave him no drink; Chriſt a ſtranger, and I lodged him not; Chriſt naked, and I cloathed him not; Chriſt ſick, and in priſon, and I viſited him not. And for commiſſions of evils, all thoſe ſhall be diſcovered. Theſe and theſe ſins I committed in my child-hood, youth, ripe age, old age: theſe were my groſs ſins, Blaſphemy, perjury, Idolatry, robbery, drunkenneſs, uncleaneſs, prophaneneſs, &c. and theſe were my leſs ſins, anger, hatred, envy, diſtruſt, impatience, pride, preſumption, contention, deriſion, inconſtancy, hypocriſie, &c. Oh the numberleſs number of evil thoughts, words and deeds that now are laid open. In the black book is not only written all ſins done, but all ſuch ſins as were intended and purpoſed to be done; All the projects of the heart, though never acted, muſt now be diſcovered. Men little think of this; if I ſhould tell you of ſuch deſigns that died in your hearts, and never came out to light; you would be now ready to ſay, Tuſh, I never did ſuch a thing, I onelyonly intended it, or had ſome thoughts about it, and what then? why then thoſe very thoughts, ſecrets, purpoſes, projects ſhall come to light; or if there be any thing more hidden or ſecret, as the very bent, and frame of your hearts, the very inclinations of your ſouls to this or that evil, ſhall then be manifeſt to all the World. Nay, yet more, ſuch ſins, as by the ſinners themſelves were never took notice of, either before, or at, or after the commiſſion of them, ſhall this day come out. Conſcience is ſuch a kind of private Notary or Secretary, that it keeps notes or records of all acts and deeds, whether you obſerve them or no; conſcience hath the Pen of a ready Writer, and takes in ſhort-hand, and in an illegible character, p. 592from your mouths as faſt as you ſpeak, and from your hearts as faſt as you contrive. Conſciences writing (ſaith one) is not now legible; as that which is written with the juice of a Lemmon is not to be read by day-light, but againſt the ſire by night you may read it; ſo conſciences writing cannot now be read, but in that day when Heaven and Earth are ſet on fire, this book ſhall be opened, and the cypher be diſcovered. Oh what a day will this be, when not a ſin committed by any reprobate from the beginning of the world, but now it ſhall be rehearſed.

2. As an account of all ſins, ſo an account of all temporal gifts which God hath imparted to reprobates, muſt now be given. Some have the gifts of the world; as riches, honours, places of authority; others have the gifts of the body, as health, ſtrength, beauty, life; others have the gifts of the mind, as underſtanding, wiſdom, policy, learning; now of all theſe gifts they muſt give an account. Come you that are rich (ſaith Chriſt) render you an account of your ſtewardſhip; how have you ſpent your riches? The like will he ſay to the honourable, and to thoſe in places of authority; Oh remember you were in authority, and office, and place, but what ſervice did you to me, or my members? you had wiſdom, and learning, and knowledg, and underſtanding conferred upon you, but what good had the Church or Common-Wealth by it? the like will he ſay to others according to the talents beſtowed on them, You excelled in ſtrength, beauty, health of body, length of days; and now tell me, and publiſh it to all the world, how were theſe improved? I believe many a ſad anſwer will be given to Chriſt of theſe things, riches miſ-ſpent, and health miſ-ſpent, and wiſdom, policy, learning, gifts, and parts miſ-ſpent; O conſider it! if the Factor after many years ſpent in forreign Countries, at laſt returns home without his reckonings, who will not blame him for his negligence? but when his Maſter calls him to account, and he finds nothing but a bill of expences, this in courting, that in ſeaſting: who laughs not at ſo fond a reckoning? Thus many paſs the time of their life as a time of mirth, then when they return to their Lord again, behold all their accounts are ſins, their profits vanities.

3. I ſhall add one thing more; not onelyonly of gifts Temporal, but of all bleſſings ſpiritual, though but tendred, and offered, muſt all give an account. Oh the ſad accounts that many a ſoul will make of theſe things! methinks I hear ſome wicked wretch confeſſing thus to Chriſt; True Lord, I lived at ſuch a time when the Sun of the Goſpel ſhone bright in my face; and in ſuch a place where all was Goſhen; I lived under ſuch a miniſtery, who ſet before me life, and death; many and many a powerful, and ſearching Sermon have I heard; any one paſſage whereof (if I had not wickedly and wilfully forſaken my own mercy) might have been unto me the beginning of the new Birth, and everlaſting bliſs. Sometimes in the uſe of the means I felt ſtirrings or ſtrong workings in my heart, and then I was fully purpoſed to have been another man, to have cleaved to Chriſt, and to have forſook the World; I was almoſt reſolved to have been wholly for God, I was almoſt perſwaded to be a real Chriſtian; Oh what thoughts were in my heart when ſuch a faithful Miniſter preſſed the truth home? methinks every Sermon I heard then, is now a preaching again; methinks I hear ſtill the voice of the Minister, methinks I ſee ſtill his tears dropping down his cheeks; Oh how freſh is the reproof, admonition, exhortation of ſuch, and ſuch a Preacher now in my mind? oh how earneſtly did he intreat me! with what love and tender compaſſion did he beſeech me: how did his bowels yearn over me! how ſtrongly did he convince me, that all was not well with my ſin-ſick ſoul! how plainly did he rip up all my ſores! and open to me all my ſecrets, and my whole heart! but alas within a while I made a jeſt of all, I hardened my heart againſt all, I ſtifled all his convictions, I ſhut my eyes againſt his diſcoveries; I cared neither for the Miniſter, nor any thing he ſaid, or did. And yet here is not all, not onelyonly the Miniſters of Chriſt, but the Spirit of Chriſt ſometimes ſpeak to my heart; I remember at ſuch a time Chriſt himſelf (as it were) condeſcended, and bowed the Heavens, and came down to intreat me for my ſouls health; oh the ſtrivings of the Spirit of Chriſt, as if he had been loath to have took a denial! Rev. 3.20.Rev 3:20O Chriſt, I remember thy words, when thou cryedſt to me, open ſinner, open thy heart to thy Saviour, and I will come in, and ſup with thee, and thou with me. Why ſinner, are thy luſt's better than I? thy carnal pleaſures better than I? thy worldly commodities better than I? why ſinner, what doſt thou mean? how long ſhall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? O take pity on thy Jeſus! for here I ſtand, and wait at the door of thy heart, and my head is filled with the dew, and my looks with the drops of the night. But Alas! I reſiſted Chriſt and his Spirit; O thou Judge p. 593and Saviour of all thine Elect, I dealt churliſhly with thee, I tyred out thy patience, I gave thee a repulſe, I told thee I had entertained other lovers, and I would have none of thee; I troad on councel, I trampled thy precious blood under my feet; and now I am expecting no other but to eat the fruit of my own way. Now mayſt thou accompliſh thy Word, becauſe I ſet at naught all thy counſels, and would none of thy reproof, therefore thou mayſt laugh at my calamity, and mock now my fear cometh. Lo, here the confeſſions of ſins. Every thing now comes out, for Chriſt will have it ſo, as a preparative to his doom upon them.

5. Chriſt and his Saints proceed to ſentence. Firſt,Mat. 25.41.Matt 25:41 Chriſt the chief Judge ſhall pronounce it, depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, every word breathes out nothing but fire and brimſtone, vengeance and wo; to depart from that glorious preſence of Chriſt were Hell enough, but they muſt go with a curſe; nor only ſo, but into fire; and that muſt be everlaſting; and therein they ſhall have no other company or comforters but wicked devils, and they inſulting over them with helliſh ſpight and ſtinging exprobations.

Give me leave a little to enlarge upon theſe words. No ſooner Chriſt begins the ſentence, Depart from me] but methinks I imagine the reprobates to reply; how? depart from thee? why O Chriſt, thou art all things, and therefore the loſs of thee is the loſs of all things; thou art the greateſt good; and therefore to be deprived of thee is the greateſt evil; thou art the very Centre, and perfect reſt of the Soul, and therefore to be pulled from thee is the moſt cruel ſeparation: we were made by thee, and for thee, O let us never be divided from thee; we were made according to thy Image, O never drive us from our glorious pattern; Away, away (ſaith Chriſt) ye have no part in me, or in my merits, never ſpeak, or intreat me any more, but depart from me. But ſecondly, they may reply again, if we muſt depart, and depart from thee, at leaſt give us thy bleſſing before we go, thou haſt great ſtore of bleſſings to give, and we hope thou haſt one yet in ſtore for us, we crave but a ſmall thing, but a bleſſing. O it is a little one; thou art our Father (witneſs our Creation) and it is a chief property of a Father to bleſs his children. No, depart from me ye Curſed, in place of a bleſſing take the full curſe of your Father, you have been moſt prodigal and diſobedient children: you have followed him who had my firſt curſe; and now ſhare ye curſes with him, curſed be you in your ſouls, and in your bodies; and in your thoughts, and in your words, and in the hainouſneſs of your ſins, and in the grievouſneſs of your puniſhment. But thirdly, if we muſt depart from thee, and depart accurſed, yet appoint us ſome meet and convenient place to go into; Create a fruitful piece of ground, and let a goodly Sun daily ſhine upon it; let it have ſweet and wholſome air, and be ſtored with fruits, and flowers, of all formes and colours; give us the variety of Creatures for our uſes; O if we muſt go from thee, the ſource and fountain of heavenly ſweetneſs, and afford us ſome plenty of earthly pleaſures, which may in ſome ſort recompence our pain of loſs, ſpeak but the word, and ſuch a place will preſently ſtart up, and ſhew it ſelf. No, depart from me ye curſed into fire; though fire naturally burns not Spirits, yet I will lift and elevate this fire above its nature; you have ſinned againſt nature, and I will puniſh you above nature; Fire? alas that ever we were born! who is able to reſt in fire? the very thought of it already burns us. Of all the creatures appointed by God to be the Inſtruments of revenge, fire and water have the leaſt mercy. But Fourthly, if we muſt into fire, let the ſentence ſtand but for a very ſhort time; quench the fire quickly, half an hour will ſeem a great while there; No, depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire; it was kindle by my breath, and it hath this property among other ſtrange qualities, that it is an unquenchable Fire; as long as I am God it ſhall endure, and ye broyl in it; and when I ceaſe to be happy, then ſhall ye ceaſe to be miſerable. O wo is us! what? to live in a fire perpetually without all end, or hope of end?—Yea Fifthly, allot us then ſome comforters, whoſe ſmooth and gentle words may ſweeten our torments, or ſomewhat dull the moſt keen edge of our extremity: O let the Angels recreate us with Songs and hymns of thee, and of thy bleſſedneſs, that we may hear that ſweetly delivered which others fully enjoy: No, no; depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels: they ſhall be your comforters, they that will triumph in your miſeries, they that are your deadly, deſperate enemies; they that will tell you by what deceits and by-ways they led you from me, and that will give you every hour new names of ſcorn and horrible reproach. O ſentence not to be endured, and yet never, p. 594never muſt it be reverſed. O my brethren, I tremble at the very mentioning of this ſentence, and O what will they do on whom it muſt paſs? I beſeech you before we paſs from it, will you ask but your ſouls this one queſtion! what, can you dwell with everlaſting fire? if you can, you may go on in ſin; but if you cannot, why then ſtop here, and repent of ſin: O now ſay, if this be the effect of ſin, Lord pardon what is paſt, and O give me grace that I may ſin no more, as ſometimes I have done. Methinks if a temptation ſhould come again for ordinary entertainment, you ſhould fright it away with the remembrance of theſe powerful words, depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.

1 Cor. 6.2.1 Cor 6:22. The Saints ſhall judge the very ſelf ſame judgment, do ye not know that the Saints ſhall judge the World? that they as well as Chriſt ſhall judge the World, is without controverſie;Dan. 7.22.Dan 7:22 And judgment was given to the Saints of the moſt high. Ye alſo ſhall ſit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael. Behold, the Lord cometh with twelve thouſand of his Saints, Mat. 19.28. Jude 14.15. 1 Cor. 6.5.Matt 19:281 Cor 6:5to execute judgment upon all. Know ye not that we ſhall judge the Angels? not only ſhall we judge the World, but the God of the World; the Principalities and Powers that captive wicked men at their pleaſure; even they muſt be judged by thoſe whom they formerly ſoyled; ſo then there is no queſtion but they ſhall judge.

Only how the Saints ſhall judge together with Chriſt, is a very deep queſtion. For my part I am apt to think, that it ſhall not be directly known, ere it be ſeen or done. I ſhall only relate what others ſay to this point, and ſo leave you to your liberty of judging what is right.

1. Some ſay that the Saints ſhall judge the World by preſenting their perſons and actions, by comparing their good examples with the evil examples of all the Reprobates;Jude 15.Jude 1:15 and ſo, they ſhall convince and condemn the World. Behold the Lord cometh with Ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them; This I conceive to be a truth, yet ſurely this is not all truth.

2. Others ſay, that the Saints ſhall judge the World by way of indicting, impleading, accuſing witneſſing, &c. And I conceive it may be thus too; the Saints of the Law more eſpecially accuſing the breakers of the Law, by the Law. Do not think that I will accuſe you to the Father, John 5.45.John 5:45there is one that accuſeth you to the Father, there is one that accuſeth you, even Moſes, in whom ye truſt. And the Saints of the Goſpel more eſpecially judging the prophaners of the Goſpel,Rom. 2.16.Rom 2:16 by the Goſpel: in that day when God ſhall judge the ſecrets of men by Jeſus Chriſt, according to my Goſpel. This likewiſe is truth, but I believe as yet we have not the whole truth.

Pſal. 58.10.Ps 58:103. Others ſay, that the Saints ſhall judge the World after the manner of exaltation, glorying, and rejoycing to ſee the vengeance. The Righteous ſhall rejoyce when he ſeeth the vengeance, he ſhall waſh his feet in the blood of the wicked. But this their exulting being a conſtant and perpetual act, not for a time, but for eternity, methinks this preſent act ſhould be yet ſomewhat more.

Rev. 16.17. Rev. 19.1, 2.Rev 16:17Rev 19:1Rev 19:24. Others ſay, that the Saints ſhall judge the World by way of aſſeſſion, aſſent, vote, ſuffrage, comprobation, and the like ſubordinate, and conformable acts. And I heard another out of the Altar ſay, even ſo Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. —And after theſe things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, ſaying, Allelujah, ſalvation, and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments; this certainly is truth, and commonly ſo received, yet neither is this all truth.

5. Others ſay, that the Saints ſhall judge the World (i.e.) Chriſt in the Saints, and the Saints in Chriſt. He in them by thoſe Infallible principles of Divine Juſtice which are impreſt in them; and they in him, by thoſe inſeparable bounds of union, whereby they wholly relate to him: or he and they together as head and members, the act of the head imputed to the members, and the act of the members acknowledged by the head; his Judiciary Act (eſpecially as from his Mediatorſhip and Manhood) having a peculiar influence upon them; and their Judiciary act (in a perfect conformity, though not any abſolute proportion) having a peculiar reference to him. And methinks thoſe Texts of Mat. 19.28. Jude 14.15. ſpeak there of Chriſts, and of the Saints judgment, as of one joynt act.

Oh what terror will be to all wicked men? when not only Chriſt, but all the Saints ſhall ſay of them, away with them, away with them, let them be damned. You p. 595that are Fathers, it may be that your Children will thus ſentance you, I remember when the Jews told Chriſt, that he caſt out Devils through Belzebub the Prince of Devils, Mat. 12.7.Matt 12:7he anſwered, If I through Belzebub caſt out Devils, by whom do your Children caſt them out? therefore they ſhall be your judges. They liked well enough of the Miracles of their Children who were the Diſciples of Chriſt, but they could not endure them in Chriſt; and therefore he tells them, that their Children, whom God hath converted, and to whom he had given power to do the ſame works as he did, even they ſhould be their judges to Condemn them. And ſo it may be with you, if any of your Children be converted to the Lord, and you remain ſtill in a natural eſtate, your very Children ſhall be your judges, and condemn you to Hell. But of that anon.

6. In this doom which Chriſt and his Saints ſhall paſs on Reprobates, our Saviour tells us of ſome reaſonings betwixt him and them; I was an hungred (ſaith Chriſt) and ye gave me no meat; I was thirſty, and ye gave me no drink, &c.Mat. 25.42.44.45.Matt 25:42Matt 25:44Matt 25:45—Then ſhall they anſwer, Lord, when ſaw we thee hungry, or a thirſt, or a ſtranger, or naked, or ſick, or in priſon, and did not miniſter unto thee? and then ſhall he anſwer them, verily I ſay unto you, inaſmuch as ye did it not to one of the leaſt of theſe, ye did it not to me. As if Chriſt ſhould have ſaid, time was that I was under reproach, miſery, calamity, neceſſity; I lay at your doors like Lazarus full of ſores, and as I thought nothing too, much for you, ſo I expected alſo ſomething from you; but oh cruelty to ſee thy Chriſt an hungred and not to feed him? to ſee thy Chriſt a thirſt, and not to cool, or quench his thirſt? to ſee thy Chriſt a ſtranger, and not to give him a nights lodging? to ſee thy Chriſt naked, and not to cover him with a garment, who would gladly have covered thee with the robe of righteouſneſs, the garment of Salvation? O monſtrous inhumane heart? O prodigious wretch! who among the Heathens ever dealt thus with their Idols? have any of the Nations ſtarved their Gods, turned them out of doors? and muſt I only be ſlighted? away Reprobates! you had no mercy on me, and now I laugh at your calamity: ſurely he ſhall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; They ſtand wondering at this, and cannot remember that ever they ſaw Chriſt in ſuch a condition; Why Lord, (ſay they) when ſaw we thee an hungred, or thirſty, or naked? art thou not he that roſe again from the dead, and aſcended on high, and ever ſince haſt been exalted above the higheſt Cherubims, a name being given thee above every name, at which name to this day, but eſpecially now on this day, every knee doth bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, Phil. 2.9, 10.Phil 2:9Phil 2:10and things under the earth; how then could we ſee thee in ſuch a condition? is not this thy ſecond coming in glory? and were we alive at thy firſt coming in humility? how can this be? oh how ſhouldſt thou charge us with unkindneſs to thy ſelf? ſurely if we had known thee in need, we would have given thee of thy own, thou ſhouldſt never have wanted what things we enjoyed, but thou ſhouldſt have commanded both us and them. To which our Saviour replyes, O deceitfull, ignorant, and ſtupid ſouls! have you no better learned Chriſt than ſo? am not I Head of the Church, and can the Head be without Members? Verily, if you had loved, relieved, or done good to them, you had done ſo to me; but in being uncharitable to them, you were no leſs unto me. Never ſay you would have been thus, and thus kind to Chriſt, whiles you were unkind to Chriſtians: herein lies the deceitfulneſs of your hearts; O they are deceitfull above all things and deſperately wicked, who can know them? but I the Lord ſearch the heart, I try the reins, Jer. 17.9, 10.Jer 17:9Jer 17:10even to give to every man according to his wayes, and according to the fruit of his doings; In as much as ye did it not to one of the leaſt of my members, ye did it not to me, and therefore get you down into Hell, and get you out of my preſence; take them Devils, away with them Angels to the Devil and his Angels for ever.

Theſe are the reaſonings betwixt Chriſt and Reprobates; and if ſo, may we not imagine the like between Saints and Reprobates? is there not the ſame reaſon of reaſoning betwixt them and the inferior Judges, as betwixt them and the ſupreme Judg? for my part I cannot conceive, but if we admit of ſuch diſputes betwixt Chriſt and them, well may there be the like diſputes, arguings, and reaſonings betwixt Saints and them: for they had on earth more familiarity, converſe, and communion together; ſome of them it may be, were in near and dear relations to each other; and now that one ſhall judge the other to eternal flames, oh what paſſages will be betwixt them? I ſhall inſtance in our neareſt relations upon earth, as of Maſters and p. 596Servants, Parents, and Children, Husbands, and Wives, Miniſters and People; no queſtion but in theſe very relations ſome ſhall judge, and others be judged; our Saviour tells us, There ſhall be two men in one bed, the one ſhall be taken, the other ſhall be left; Luke 17.34, 35, 36.Luke 17:34Luke 17:35Luke 17:36two women ſhall be grinding at one Mill, the one ſhall be taken, and the other left; two men ſhall be together in the Field, the one ſhall be taken, aad the other left; wherein the Lord ſeems to ſhew that God's Election doth extend it ſelf to all ſorts of perſons, and ſeparates the moſt. They ſhall not be ſaved by Families, as in Noah's time, but one frie… ſhall be taken by Chriſt into Heaven, and another left for the Devil to carry into Hell. Give me leave but to enlarge on thoſe reaſonings, or diſcourſes that we may imagine will be now betwixt theſe ſeveral relations. As—

1. Betwixt Maſter and Servant; if the Maſter be the Saint, and his Servant the Reprobate, then ſhall the Maſter ſay, O thou wicked Servant, how many a time did I call on thee to duty? how often have I told thee that I would have thee to be God's Servant as well as mine?Coloſ. 3.22, 23, 24, 25.Col 3:22Col 3:23Col 3:24Col 3:25 how often came that word to thy ears; Servants obey your Maſters in all things according to the fleſh, not with eye-ſervice, as men-pleaſers, but in ſingleneſs of heart, fearing God? how often was that precious Word laid cloſe to thy conſcience, He that doth wrong, ſhall receive for the wrong which he doth; but in doing ſervice to me as to the Lord, thou ſhouldſt of the Lord receive the reward of the Inheritance, for in ſuch ſervice thou didſt ſerve the Lord Chriſt? but thou wouldſt not be warned, and now thou art juſtly condemned; I ſay Amen to Chriſt's Sentence; get thee down to Hell, and there ſerve Satan, and receive his wages in fire and Brimſtone for ever.—Or if the Servant be the Saint, and his Maſter the Reprobate, then ſhall the Servant ſay, O my quondam Maſter, how many a time haſt thou tyrannized it over me? how didſt thou uſe me, or abuſe me to ſerve thy own luſts and corruptions? many a time I had ſtrong deſires to waite upon God in the uſe of publick and private Ordinances; this morning, and that evening, I would have ſerved my Maſter the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but thou wouldſt not ſpare me one hours time for prayer, reading, meditation, &c. I was ever faithful in thy ſervice, going to bed late and riſing early;Gen. 31.40, 42.Gen 31:40Gen 31:42 The drought conſumed me by day, and the froſt by night, and my ſleep many a time departed from mine eyes; ſurely God hath ſeen my affliction, and the labour of my hands, and now he hath rebuked thee: doſt thou not obſerve the admirable juſtice and righteouſneſs of Chriſt in the ſentences paſt on us both? remember that thou in thy life-time received thy good things, and I received evil things; but now I am comforted, and thou muſt be tormented. I now ſerve a better Maſter; after my weeks work with thee, I ſhall keep a perpetual Sabbath with God; but go thou with thy old companions from thy glorious Manſion to a loathſome dungeon; from thy table of ſurfeit, to a table of vengeance; from thy faithfull Servants, to afflicting Spirits; from thy bed of doun, to a bed of fire; from ſoft linnen and ſilken coverings, to wiſh a rock for thy pillow, and a mountain for thy coverlet.

2. Betwixt Parent and Child; if the Parent be the Saint, and the Child the Reprobate; then ſhall the Parent ſay, O thou wicked, rebellious Son! or O thou wicked, rebellious, and diſobedient daughter! it is I that begot thee, or that brought thee forth; that during thy Infancy, laid thee in my boſom, and dandled thee on my knee, and carried thee in my arms, and ſet thee as a ſeal upon my heart; that during thy minority fed thee, and apparelled thee and trained thee up in manners, learning a particular calling, and eſpecially in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and then when I ſaw thy untowardneſs of ſpirit, and thy breakings out into things forbidden by God and man, O the admonitions, reprehenſions, corrections! O the many thouſands of warnings that I gave thee of this day, and of the wrath to come! and yet thou wenteſt on in thy ſtubbornneſs, till thou becameſt many and many a time a grief of mind, a bitterneſs of ſpirit unto me: and then how often did I mind thee of thy duty. Children obey your Parents in all things. Honour thy Father and Mother, Coloſ. 3.20. Epheſ. 2.6. Prov. 30.27.Col 3:20Eph 2:6Prov 30:27which is the firſt Commandment with promiſe. The eye that mockketh his Father, and deſpiſeth to obey his Mother, the Ravens of the Vally ſhall pick it out, and the young Eagles ſhall eat it. But alas, all theſe expreſſions made no ſaving impreſſion on thy hardned heart, thy brow was Braſs, and thy ſinew of Iron, thou waſt ever ſtiff-necked, and now thou art juſtly damned; I cannot but approve of Chriſt's judgment upon thee; though thou cameſt out of my bowels, yet now I have no pity, no bowels of compaſſion towards thee; the glory of God hath ſo p. 597ſwallowed up all my natural affections, that I cannot but laugh at thy calamity, and joy in thy damnation; I gave thee a body, and God himſelf gave thee a Soul; but now let the Devils have both, and torment them in Hell; be gone! I ſhall never ſee thee again—Or if the Child be the Saint, and the Parent the Reprobate, then ſhall the Child ſay, O unworthy Parent; unworthy of everlaſting life! I had my natural being from thee, but my Spiritual being was from the Lord; if I had followed thy ſteps, I had been everlaſtingly damned; did I not know thy ignorance, thy unbelief, thy worldlineſs, thy covetouſneſs, thy pride, thy malice, thy luſt, thy lukewarmneſs, thy impatiency, thy diſcontentment, thy vain-glory, thy ſelf-love; didſt not thou often check me for my forwardneſs, and zeal, and holineſs in Religion? didſt not thou ask me, what, art thou wiſer than the reſt of the neighbour-hood? are there not many gray hairs amongſt us, whoſe wiſdom and experience thou haſt not yet attained? and canſt not thou walk on ſoberly towards heaven, and either do as the moſt, or keep pace with the wiſeſt? what, have any of the Rulers, or of the Phariſees believed on Chriſt? oh I ſhall ever remember to the praiſe and glory of Chriſt, what diſcouragements I had, and yet how the Lord pluckt me as a fire-brand out of the fire; and now hath the Lord ſet me on the Throne to judge thee according to thy demerits; and therefore I joyn with him, who is the Father of Spirits, againſt the Father of my fleſh; depart, go to the Gods whom thou haſt ſerved, and ſee if they will help thee in the day of thy calamity.

3. Betwixt Husband and Wife; now if the Husband be the Saint, and the Wife the Reprobate, then ſhall the Husband ſay; Thou art ſhe whom I knew in the fleſh, whom I dearly affected with my heart and ſoul; whom I nouriſhed and cheriſhed as my own body; thou art ſhe that was the Wife of my boſom, as near and dear to me as my heart in my boſom; thou waſt my companion, my yoke-fellow, and my very delight: but oh! I could never rule thee, lead thee, guide thee in the way of life, in the path that is called holy: many a time have I wooed, ſued, and ſought to gain thy ſoul to that bleſſed Bridegroom, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, many a time have I prayed with thee, and for thee; many a time have I ſtirred thee up to hear the Word, to waite upon God in the uſe of all means publick and private; and inſtead of imbraces, or yieldings to theſe bleſſed motions,Prov. 19.13.27.15.Prov 19:13Prov 19:27Prov 19:15 I have met with contentions and jars, as a continual dropping in a very rainy day; but death hath diſſolved that knot, ſo that now I am no more thy Husband; this is the day of ſeparation, and I ſhall no more conſort with thee; at the Reſurrection there is no uſe of Marriage, but now I am to live as an Angel in Heaven; and becauſe thou wouldſt not draw with me in Chriſt's yoke, now therefore adue for ever and ever; we ſhall never more lye in one bed,Mark. 12.29.Mark 12:29 or ſit at one board, or walk in one Field, or grind at one mill; thou haſt loſt me, and thou haſt loſt Jeſus Chriſt, two husbands in one day; go now and take thy choice in Hell! thou art free from us, but thou ſhalt be bound there with indiſſoluble bonds to the Devill and his Angels—Or if the Wife be the Saint, and the Husband the Reprobate, then ſhall the Wife ſay; Thou art he who I looked upon as my ſecond-ſelf, my head, my governour, my helper, my husband; for whom I was willing to forſake my native home, Fathers houſe, dear Relations, of Father, Mother, Brother, Siſter, and many comforts in that kind; and I expected to have found new matter, and a continued influence of comfort, and delight in a marriage-ſtate; but oh the vexations of Spirit! hadſt thou not almoſt drawn me away from Jeſus Chriſt? was I not forced through many provocations ſometimes to break out and ſay, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me? many a time I cryed out,Exod. 4.25.Exod 4:25 O my Husband when wilt thou ſet up the rich and royal trade of grace in thy Family? when wilt thou exerciſe prayer, reading, catechizing, conference, days of humiliation, and other houſhold holy duties? oh for doing ſomething to aſſure our ſouls of meeting together hereafter in heaven! But alas! it would not be; and now ſee the effect: here I ſtand like a Queen, deck't and adorn'd with cloth of Gold, with rayment of needle-work, with the white robe of Chriſt's righteouſneſs; ſo that the King of Heaven greatly deſires my beauty, and my ſoul is this day marryed to Chriſt; I acknowledge him, and no other Husband in the world; and for thee who refuſed to joyn with me in the worſhip of God, now God hath refuſed thee: fare well, or fare ill for ever.

4. Betwixt Miniſter and ſome of his people at leaſt: if the people be as ſo many Saints, and the Miniſter the Reprobate, then ſhall the people ſay: O thou art the p. 598man that undertookeſt that high and mighty calling of feeding ſouls with the Word of life; but now are thy ſins written in thy fore-head, for either thou run'ſt before thou waſt ſent, or being ſent, thou haſt been exceeding negligent in the gift that was in thee: Didſt not thou propheſie in Baal, and cauſe God's people to erre? didſt thou not ſtudiouſly and mainly ſeek for the Fleece, not regarding reſpectively the Flock? didſt not thou ſtrengthen the hands of evil-doers in Preaching peace, peace to wicked men? waſt thou not prophane, and wicked, and looſe in thy life, and by that means ledſt many thouſands to hell! O thou bloody Butcher of Souls; hadſt thou been faithful in thy Miniſtry, well might thoſe damned Companions about thee have eſcaped the flames! but they are doomed to death, and now thou mayeſt hear their cries, and grievous groans, and complaints againſt thee, this was the man ſet over us to give us the bread of Life, but oh Chriſt, did he not fail us? did he not feed us with unprofitable matter, fables, conceits, airy ſentences, rather than any thing tending to godly edifying, which is in faith? did not our tongues, and the tongues of our Children ſtick to the roof of our mouths in calling and crying for bread, for the bread of life, and he would not pity us? we gave him the tenths which thou appointed, but he gave not us thy truth, which thou didſt command him; why Lord Chriſt, thou Judge of all the world, didſt not thou bid him feed, feed, feed? didſt thou not bid him feed the flock committed to his charge? didſt not bid him preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-ſuffering? and notwithſtanding all thy commands, did he not miſerably ſtarve us? inſtead of feeding us unto ſalvation, hath he not ſtarved many thouſands of us to our deſtruction. O Chriſt, thou that art the judge of Nations, and the revenger of blood! reward thou this man, as he hath rewarded us; he led us in the ways of wickedneſs, and (if it muſt be ſo) let him be our ring-leader to Hell; and upon his ſoul once buryed in Hell, let this be the Epitaph, the price of blood, the price of blood; if thou didſt hear the blood of Abel, being but one man, forget not the blood of many, now thou art judging the earth. Why thus do the damned cry about thine ears; and as for us, (ſay the Saints) who were once thy people, but now thy Judges, we conſent to their cry, and to our Saviours doom, go ye curſed into everlaſting fire.

Men, Brethren, and Fathers, I begin thus with the Miniſters doom, that you may ſee I would deal impartially; and verily I believe it, if our caſe come to this, we of the Miniſtry ſhall be in a thouſand times worſe condition than any of you; for beſides the horrour due to the guilt of our own ſouls, all the blood of thoſe ſouls who have periſhed under our Miniſtry, through our default, will be laid to our charge; little do you know, or conſider the burthen that lies upon us, a burthen able to make the ſhoulders of the moſt mighty Angel in heaven to ſhrink under it. Chryſoſtome was a glorious Saint,Heb. 13.17. Hujus comminationis terror animum mihi concutit. Chryſ. dHeb 13:17 yet caſting his eye upon one only Text in the Bible, Obey them that have the rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſouls, as they that muſt give account, He profeſſeth that the terror of this Text made his heart tremble. Surely it is enough to make our hearts tremble, if we ſeriouſly weigh our terrible doom, in caſe that we ſhould miſcarry.

But now on the other ſide, if the Miniſter be the Elect, and ſentenc'd to ſalvation; and many of his people prove no better than Reprobates, then ſhall the Miniſter ſay, O miſerable ſouls, now you feel the truth of thoſe comminations, and curſes which we opened and unfolded, and diſcovered to you out of God's Word! We dealt plainly with you, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11.1 Cor 6:91 Cor 6:101 Cor 6:11that the unrighteous ſhould not inherit the Kingdom of God: we adviſed you again and again, be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolators, nor Adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abuſers of themſelves with mankind, nor Theeves, nor Covetuous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, ſhall inherit the Kingdome of God: and ſuch were you, and notwithſtanding all our threats, warnings, intreatings, beſeechings, thus ye lived, and thus ye dyed; and there is the iſſue, Chriſt now hath doomed you to hell, and here am I ſet on a throne to judge your ſouls; for the Saints ſhall judge the World as well as Chriſt himſelf; Oh what ſhall I do? Oh my bowels, my bowels! here's a caſe beyond all the former, each of them according to their relations judge another; but here's a multitude, not one, or two, or ten, or an hundred, but many hundreds, or thouſands, according to the number of ſuch and ſuch Congregations, where I have preached.

In Chriſt's reaſonings with the wicked we have heard of his ſayings, and their anſwers, p. 599and of his replications to their anſwers, much ſaid on both ſides to and again; I may ſuppoſe the like here. O what ſhall I do (ſays the Miniſter) what doom ſhall I paſs on this Aſſembly of Reprobates? can I abſolve them whom the righteous God hath condemned? can I ſay, come along with me to heaven, now Chriſt hath ſaid, go ye curſed into hell? and oh now ſhall I turn my ſpeech from my wonted wooing, beſeeching, intreating, exhorting, to a direct dooming, damning, condemning theſe ſouls to the pit of hell? ſometimes indeed I opened to theſe ſouls the armoury of God's wrath. I thundred and lightned in their Congregations; but my deſign was to fright them out of hell-fire, and knowing the terrours of the Lord to have perſwaded them towards heaven, and heavenly things; but now if I ſpeak condemnation, no ſooner ſhall I ſpeak, but their ſouls will ſink down to hell; O miſerable ſouls, what ſhall I ſay? or what can you ſay for your ſelves? Then ſhall they anſwer; Oh Sir, do not you aggravate the torment by your condemnation; the weight of Chriſt's doom is already unſupportable, but will you adde more weight? Why remember, we are ſome of us (it may be) of your fleſh and blood; many a time you told us that you unfeignedly loved us; and that we were dearer to you then all worldly enjoyments; many a time you told us that you were willing to ſpend your ſelf for us, as the candle that burns it ſelf to give others light; you were pleaſed to beſtow your prayers, tears, ſighs, groans for our ſouls; your very Books and Writings were high expreſſions, and abiding monuments of your dear love to us; you weighed not your ſtrength and ſpirits in compariſon of our ſouls; and ſhall this fair comical ſcean end in a diſmal, doleful, bloody Tragedy? would you do or ſuffer any thing to ſave us, and will you now condemn us? Oh forbear!

Ah no, (ſaith the Miniſter) I cannot forbear; all is true that you ſay, I loved you dearly, and I was willing to ſpend, or to be ſpent for you; but this aggravates the more; ah my travail, pains, books, writings, words, fears, ſighs, groans are in one volume together, and this volume has been opened this day, and now is the queſtion put; what have you profited by all my words, prayers, tears, ſighs, and groans? is not all loſt? and are not your ſouls loſt? and now do you tell me of love? what, did I ever love you more then Chriſt loved you? were the drops of my tears to be compared with the ſhowers of his blood? were my pains for you equal with the pains of his Croſs? and hath he not condemned you to hell? and ſhall not I be like-minded to Jeſus Chriſt? Surely the Lord's will muſt be my will; he hath already judged you, and he will make me to judge you; ſo far am I from pitying you, that if he that formed you will ſhew you no mercy, if he that ſaves me, and all the Elect people of God, will not ſave you, can I pity you, or ſave you, or diſcent from Jeſus in his ſentence upon you? ſpeak no more of fleſh, and blood, of labours, of love, Chriſt's Sentence muſt ſtand, and as I am a member of Chriſt, and a Miniſter of Chriſt, I cannot but approve of it, and ſo judge you to hell.

Why then (ſay Reprobates) we will curſe thee, and blaſpheme Jeſus Chriſt in hell for ever; curſed be the time that ever we heard of Jeſus Chriſt, or that ever we knew thee, or thy Miniſtry; do not thy Sermons ſend us deeper into hell? had it not been eaſier for us at this day of judgment if we had lived in Tyre and Sydon, where the Goſpel never was Preached? didſt not thou harden our hearts in ſuch and ſuch Sermons, when the Word came home? didſt not thou deny us the ſeals which might have been for confirmation of our ſouls ſalvation? didſt thou not eſtrange thy ſelf from us in reſpect of any inward, intimate, and familiar ſociety, which thou affordeſt to others? doth not the event plainly ſhew, that all thy tears, prayers, words, and works, as in reference to us, were hypocriſie, flattery, deceit, diſſimulation? Oh curſed be the day that ever we lived under ſuch a Miniſtry, or that ever we heard of Jeſus Chriſt.

Nay then (ſaith the Miniſter) it is time for us to part; ſuch were your invectives on earth, and now they are, and will be your language in Hell; but have I not anſwer'd theſe cavils many a time? have I not told you that the Word would harden ſome, and ſoften others, the fault being in your ſelves? have I not cleared it that the ſeals are not to be ſet upon blanks, and that confirmation could not be without a work of converſion to lead it? and were we not commanded in the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt to withdraw our ſelves from every brother that walketh diſorderly? did not the wiſe man tell us? he that toucheth pitch ſhall be defiled therewith, 2 Theſ. 3.16.2 Thess 3:16and he that hath fellowſhip with a proud man ſhall be like unto him? can a man take fire in his boſome, and his cloaths not be burnt? can a man go upon hot coales, and his feet be not burnt? Prov. 26.27, 28.Prov 26:27Prov 26:28as p. 600for other cavils, the Lord be judge betwixt you and us; nay the Lord hath been Judge betwixt you and us; lo here we ſtand on the right hand of Chriſt, ſo, here we ſit on our Throne to judge you, and that world of wicked men and Angels; let Chriſt be glorious,Pſal. 109.17.18.Ps 109:17Ps 109:18 and let his ſentence ſtand, and let that word of Judgment never be reverſed; he that loveth curſing, let it come upon him; and he that cloatheth himſelf with curſing as with a garment, let it come into his bowels like water, and like oyl into his bones? no more, but adieu ſouls, adieu Reprobates, adieu for ever; you muſt deſcend, but we muſt aſcend. Go you to Hell, whiles we mount upwards to Heaven and Glory.

At this laſt word, down they go, the evil Angels falling like lightning, and evil men haled, and pulled down with them from the preſence of God, and Chriſt, and Angels, and all the bleſſed ones; even from their fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, children, miniſters, ſervants, lovers, friends, acquaintance; who ſhall then juſtly and deſervedly abandon them with all deteſtation and deriſion; and forgetting all nearneſs, and deareſt obligations of nature, neighbourhood, alliance, any thing, will rejoyce in the execution of divine juſtice. Oh the ſhrikes, and horrid crys that now they make, filling the air as they go! Oh the wailings and wringing of hands! Oh the deſperate roarings! Oh the hideous yellings, filling heaven, and earth, and hell! But I ſhall follow them no further, no ſooner do they fall into the bottomleſs pit, but preſently it ſhuts her mouth upon them, and there I muſt leave them.