The Saints Everlasting Rest, Treatise 1 · Chapter 5

The Saints Everlasting Rest · Treatise 1 · Chapter 5

p. 44CHAP. V. The four great Preparatives to our Rest.

SECT. I.

HAving thus opened you a window toward the Temple, and shewed you a small Glimpse of the Back-parts of that Resemblance of the Saints Rest, which I had seen in the Gospel Glass; It follows that we proceed to view a little the Adjuncts and blessed properties of this Rest. But, alass, this little which I have seen, makes me cry out with the Prophet, Isa. 6.5, 6, 7. Wo is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean Lips, and dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hoasts. Yet if he will send and touch my lips with a coal from the Altar of his Son, and say, thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged, I shall then speak boldly: and if he ask, Whom shall I send? I shall gladly answer, Here am I, Send me, Vers. 8. And why doth my trembling heart draw back? Surely the Lord is not now so terrible and inaccessible, nor the passage of Paradise so blocked up, as when the Law and Curse reigned? Wherefore finding, Beloved Christians, that a new and Living way is consecrated for us, through the vail, the flesh of Christ, Heb. 10 20 19 22.Heb 10:20by which we may with boldness enter into the Holiest, by the blood of Jesus; I shall draw ne…r with the fuller Assurance: and finding the flaming Sword removed, shall look again into the Paradise of our God: and because I know that this is no forbidden fruit; and withal that it is good for food, and pleasant to the Spiritual Eyes,Gen. 3.6.Gen 3:6 and a tree to be desired to make one truly wise and happy; I shall take (through the assistance of the Spirit) and p. 45eat thereof my self, and give to you (according to my power) that you may eat. For you, Christians, is this food prepared, this wine broached, this fountain opened; And the message my Master sends you, is this Hearty Welcom, which you shall have in his own words,Cant. 5 1.Song 5:1 Eat, O Friends, Drink, yea, Drink abundantly, O Beloved! And surely it's neither manners, nor wisdom, for you, or me, to draw back, or to demur, upon such an Invitation.

And first let us consider of the eminent Antecedents,The Antecedents of our Rest. the great Preparations; that notable Introduction to this Rest: For the Porch of this Temple is exceeding Glorious, and the gate of it is called Beautiful. And here offer themselves to our distinct observation, these four things, as the four Corners of this Porch.

1. The most Glorious Coming and Appearing of the Son of God.

2. His powerful and wonderful raising of our Bodies from the Dust, and uniting them again with the Soul.

3. His publick and solemn Proceedings in their Judgment, where they shall be justified and acquit before all the world.

4. His solemn Celebration of their Coronation, and his Inthronizing of them in their Glory. Follow but this four-fold Stream unto the Head, and it will bring you just to the Garden of Eden.

SECT. I.

1. ANd well may the Coming of Christ be reckoned in to his peoples Glory,§. 1. 1. The Coming of Christ. and annumerated with those ingredients that compound this precious Antidote of Rest: For to this end is it intended; and to this end is it of apparent Necessity. For his peoples sakes he sanctified himself to his office: For their sakes he came into the world, suffered, dyed, rose, ascended: And for their sakes it is that he will Return. Whether his own exaltation, or theirs, were his **Viz. Of the man Christ, next the Glory of the Godhead. Rom. 14.9. 2 Thess. 1.10. Tit. 2.14.Rom 14:92 Thess 1:10Titus 2:14primary Intention, is a Question (though of seeming usefulness, yet) so unresolved (for ought I have found) in Scripture, that I dare not scan it, for fear of pressing into the Divine Secrets, and approaching too near the inaccessible Light. I find Scripture mentioning both ends distinctly and conjunctly, but not comparatively. This is most clear, that to this end will Christ come again, to receive his p. 46people to himself, that where he is, there they may be also, John 14.3. The Bridegrooms departure was not upon divorce: He did not leave us with a purpose to return no more; He hath left pledges enough to assure us: We have his Word in pawn, his many Promises, his Sacraments, which shew forth his death till he Come; and his Spirit, to direct, sanctifie, and comfort, till he Return. We have frequent tokens of Love from him, to shew us, he forgets not his Promise, nor us. We behold the forerunners of his coming, foretold by himself, dayly come to pass. We see the figtree put forth her branches,Mat. 24.3… 48.Matt 24:3 and therefore know the Summer is nigh. We see the fields white unto Harvest: And though the Riotous World say, Our Lord will be long a coming; Yet let the Saints lift up their heads, for their Redemption draweth nigh. Alas, fellow Christians, what should we do, if our Lord should not Return? What a case are we here left in?Mat. 10 16. Psalm 57.4. Mat. 3 7.Matt 10:16Ps 57:4Matt 3:7 What? Leave us among Wolves, and in the Lyons den, among a generation of Serpents, and here forget us? Did he buy us so dear, and then cast us off so? To leave us sinning, suffering, groaning, dying dayly, and come no more at us? It cannot be; Never fear it: It cannot be. This is like our unkind dealing with Christ, who when we feel our selves warm in the world, care not for coming at him: But this is not like Christ dealing with us. He that would come to suffer, will surely come to Triumph: And he that would come to purchase, will surely come to possess. Alas, where else were all our hopes? What were become of our faith, our prayers, our tears, and our waiting? What were all the patience of the Saints worth to them? Were we not left of all men most miserable? Christians, hath Christ made us forsake all the world, and be forsaken of all the world? to hate all, and be hated of all? and all this for him, that we might have him in stead of all? and wil he, think you, after all this, forget us, & forsake us himself? Far be such a thought from our hearts! But why stayed he not with his people while he was here? Why? must not the Comforter be sent?John 16.7. John 17.4 Heb. 12 2 Luke 24 2…. John 14.3. Heb 7.25.26. Gal. 3.14. Ephe. 4 8, 9.John 16:7John 17:4Heb 12:2Luke 24:2John 14:3Heb 7:25Heb 7:26Gal 3:14Eph 4:8Eph 4:9 Was not the work on earth done? Must he not receive the Recompence of Reward? and enter into his Glory? Must he not take possession in our behalf? Must he not go to prepare a place for us? Must he not intercede with the Father? and plead his sufferings? and be filled with the Spirit to send forth? and receive authority? and subdue his enemies? Our abode here is short; If he had stayed on earth, what would it have been to enjoy him for a few days, and p. 47then dye? But he hath more in Heaven to dwell among; even the spirits of the Just of many Generations, there made perfect. Beside, he will have us live by faith, and not by sight. Oh, fellow Christians, what a day will that be? when we who have been kept prisoners by sin, by sinners, by the grave, shall be fetcht out by the Lord himself? When Christ shall come from heaven to plead with his enemies, and set his Captives free? It will not be such a Coming as his first was, in meanness, and poverty, and contempt; He will not come to be spit upon, and buffeted, and scorned, and crucified again: He will not come (oh careless world) to be slighted and neglected by you any more. And yet that coming, which was necessarily in Infirmity and Reproach, for our sakes, wanted not its Glory. If the Angels of heaven must be the messengers of that Coming, as being tydings of Joy to all people;Luke 2.20.Luke 2:20 And the Heavenly Hoast must go before, or accompany for the Celebration of his Nativity, and must praise God with that solemnity, Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good will towards men: Oh then with what shoutings will Angels and Saints at that day proclaim, Glory to God, and Peace and Good will toward men? If the stars of heaven must lead men from Remote parts of the world to come to worship a child in a manger, how will the Glory of his next appearing constrain all the world to acknowledg his Soveraignty? If the King of Israel riding on an Ass,Luke 19.38.Luke 19:38 be entertained into Jerusalem with Hossana's, Blessed be the King that comes in the Name of the Lord; Peace in Heaven, and Glory in the Highest. Oh with what Proclamations of blessings, Peace and Glory, will he come toward the New Jerusalem? Mat 8.27. Mark 4 41.Matt 8:27Mark 4:41If when he was in the form of a Servant they cry out, What manner of man is this, that both wind and sea obey him? What will they say, when they shall see him Coming in his Glory, and the Heavens and the Earth obey him? Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven, and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourn, Mat 24.30.Matt 24:30and they shall see the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven, with Power and great Glory. Oh Christians, it was comfortable to you to hear from him, to believe in him, and hope for him; What will it be thus to see him? The promise of his coming and our deliverance was comfortable: What will it be to see him, with all the Glorious attendance of his Angels, come in person to deliver us? The mighty God, the Lord hath spoken, and called the Earth from the Rising of the Sun, to the p. 48going down thereof: Out of Sion the perfection of Beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: A fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the Heavens from above, and to the Earth, that he may judg his people. Gather my Saints together to me, those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice, and the Heavens shall declare his Righteousness, for God is Judg himself. Sclah. Psal. 50. from vers. 1. to 6. This Coming of Christ is frequently mentioned in the Promises, as the great Support of his peoples spirits till then. And when ever the Apostles would quicken …o duty, or comfort and encourage to patient waiting, they usually do it by mentioning Christs Coming. Why then do we not us… more this cordial consideration, when ever we want support and comfort? To think and speak of that Day with Horror, doth well beseem the impenitent Sinner, but ill the beleeving Saint. Such may be the voyce of a Beleever, but it's not the voyce of Faith. Christians, what do we beleeve, and hope, and wait for, but to see that Day? This is Pauls encouragement to moderation, to Rejoycing in the Lord alway; The Lord is at hand, Phil. 4.4, 5. It is to all them that Love his Appearing, that the Lord, the Righteous Judg, shall give the Crown of Righteousness at that Day, 2 Tim. 4.8. Dost thou so long to have him come into thy Soul with comfort, and life, and takest thy self but for a forlorn Orphan while he seemeth absent? And dost thou not much more long for that Coming which shall perfect thy Life, and Joy, and Glory? Dost thou so rejoyce after some short and slender enjoyment of him in thy heart? Oh how wilt thou then Rejoyce? How full of Joy was that Blessed Martyr Mr Glover with the Discovery of Christ to his Soul, after long doubting and waiting in sorrows? so that he cryes out, He is come, He is come? If thou have but a dear friend returned, that hath been far and long absent; how do all run out to meet him with Joy? Oh saith the Childe,That the sight of Christ in glory will be no blessedness to the damned Vide Scotum in 4 … di…t. 48. Q 1. p. 256. Contra …. My Father is come! saith the Wife, My Husband is come! And shall not we, when we behold our Lord in his majesty returning, cry out, He is come, He is come? Shall the wicked, with unconceiveable horror, behold him, and cry out, Oh yonder is he whose blood we neglected, whose Grace we resisted, whose counsels we refused, whose Government we cast off? And shall not then the Saints, with unconceiveable gladness, cry out, Oh p. 49yonder is he whose Blood redeemed us, whose Spirit cleansed us, whose Law did Govern us? Yonder comes he in whom we trusted, and now we see he hath not deceived our Trust: He for whom we long waited, and now we see we have not waited in vain. Oh cursed Corruption, that would have had us turn to the world, and present things, and give up our hopes, and say, Why should we wait for the Lord any Longer? Now we see, that Blessed are all they that wait for him. Beleeve it, fellow Christians, this Day is not far off. For yet a little while, and he that comes, will come, and will not tarry. And though the unbeleeving world, and the unbelief of thy heart, may say, as those Atheistical Scoffers, Where is the Promise of his Coming? Do not all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation? Yet let us know, The Lord is not slack of his Promise, 2 Pet. 3 3, 4, 8, 9.2 Pet 3:32 Pet 3:42 Pet 3:82 Pet 3:9as some men count slackness: One day is with him as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. I have thought on it many a time▪ as a small Emblem of that day, when I have seen our prevailing Army drawing towards the Towns and Castles of the Enemy: Oh with what glad hearts do all the poor prisoners within hear the news, and behold our approach? How do they run up to their prison windows, and thence behold us with Joy? How glad are they, at the roa…ing report of that Cannon, which is the Enemies terror? How do they clap each other on the back, and cry, Deliverance, Deliverance! While in the mean time the late insulting, scorning, cruel Enemies begin to speak them fair, and beg their favor, But all in vain; for they are not at the dispose of Prisoners, but of the General. Their fair usage may make their conditions somewhat the more easie: but yet they are used as Enemies still. Oh, when the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah shall appear with all the Hoasts of Heaven; when he shall surprize the careless world as a thief in the Night:Mat. 24.27.Matt 24:27 When as the Lightening which appeareth in the East, and shineth even to the West, so they shall behold him coming! What a change will the sight of this Appearance work, both with the World, and with the Saints? Now, poor deluded World, where is your Mirth and your Jollity? Now, where is your Wealth, and your Glory? Where is that prophane and careless heart, that slighted Christ and his Spirit, and out-sate all the offers of Grace? Now where is that tongue that mocked the Saints, and jeered the holy ways of God, and made merry with his peoples Imperfections, and the… own p. 50Slanders? What? was it not you? Deny it if you can? your heart condemns you,1 Joh. 3.20, 211 John 3:201 John 3:21 and God is greater then your heart, and will condemn you much more. Even when you say, Peace and Safety, then Destruction cometh upon you, as Travel upon a woman with childe; and you shall not escape, 1 Thess. 5.3. Perhaps if you had known just the day and hour when the Son of God would have come, then you would have been found praying, or the like: But you should have watched, and been ready, because you know not the hour. But for that faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord, when he comes,Math. 24.43, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47.Matt 24:43Matt 24:42Matt 24:44Matt 24:45Matt 24:46Matt 24:47 shall finde so doing; Oh blessed is that servant: Verily I say unto you (for Christ hath said it) he shall make him ruler over all his Goods. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, he shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 5.4. Oh how should it then be the character of a Christian, to wait for the Son of God from Heaven, whom he raised from the Dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come? 1 Thess. 1.10. And with all faithful diligence, to prepare to meet our Lord with joy. And seeing his Coming is of purpose to be glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that beleeve, 2 Thes. 1.10. Oh what thought should Glad our hearts more, then the thought of that day? A little while indeed we have not seen him, but yet a little while, and we shall see him. For he hath said, I will not leave you comfortless, John 14 18.John 14:18but will come unto you. We were comfortless, should he not come. And while we dayly gaze and look up to Heaven after him, let us remember what the Angels said, This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come, in like manner, as ye have seen him go into Heaven. While he is now out of sight,Acts 1.11.Acts 1:11 It is as a sword to our Souls, while they dayly ask us, Where is your God? But then we shall be able to answer our enemies,Psalm 42:Ps 42 See, O proud sinners, yonder is our Lord. And now, Christians, should we not put up that Petition heartily, Let thy Kingdom come? for the Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and let every Christian, that heareth and readeth, say, Come; And our Lord himself saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Revel. 22.17, 20.

p. 51SECT. II.

THe second stream that leadeth to Paradise,§. 2. 2. Ou… R…surrection. is that Great work of Jesus Christ, in raising our Bodies from the dust, and uniting them again unto the Soul. A wonderful effect of infinite Power and Love.Many Heathens beleeved a Resu…rection; as Z…roastres, and Theopompus, & Plato. And the Stoicks opinion was, that the WORLD would be dissolved by fire or water, & all things brought to a better state; or to the first Golden age again. Read Seneca Natural quest. lib. 3. cap. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. U…rumque si (d…luvium & constagratio) cam D…o visam est o…diri meli ora, vet…ra siniri; cap. 27. Omne ex integro animal generabitur; dabiturque terris ho no inscius scelerum et melioribus auspiciis na…us. c. 30 Optima & noxa carentia … na…, si ex ha… …quando fae…e i… illad eva…imus sublime & excelsum; Tranquilitas animi & expulsis erreribus abs…lu…a …. Senec. Epistol. lib. 1. ep. 75. Yea, wonderful indeed, saith Unbelief, if it be True. What, saith the Atheist and Sadducee, shall all these scattered bones and dust become a man? A man drowned in the Sea is eaten by fishes, and they by men again, and these men by worms, what is become of the body of that first man? shall it rise again? Thou fool! (for so Paul calls thee,) dost thou dispute against the power of the Almighty? Wilt thou pose him with thy Sophistry? Dost thou object difficulties to the Infinite Strength? Thou blinde Mole! Thou silly Worm! Thou little piece of creeping, breathing clay! Thou dust! Thou nothing! Knowest thou who it is, whose Power thou dost Question? If thou shouldst see him, thou wouldst presently dye. If he should come and dispute his cause with thee, couldst thou bear it? Or if thou shouldst hear his voyce, couldst thou endure? But come thy way; let me take thee by the hand, and do thou a little follow me: and let me with Reverence (as Elihu) plead for God; and for that power whereby I hope to arise. Seest thou this great massie body of the earth? What beareth it? and upon what foundation doth it stand? Seest thou this vast Ocean of waters. What Limits them? and why do they not overflow and drown the Earth? Whence is that constant Ebbing and Flowing of her Tides? Wilt thou say from the Moon, or other Planets? and whence have they that power of effective influence? Must thou not come to a Cause of Causes, that can do all things? and doth not Reason require thee, to conceive of that cause as a perfect Intelligence and voluntary Agent, and not such a blinde worker and empty notion as that Nothing is which thou callest Nature? Look upward: Seest thou that Glorious body of Light, the Sun▪ How many times bigger is it then all the Earth? and yet how many thousand miles doth it run in one minute of an hour? and that without weariness, or failing a moment? What thinkest thou? Is not that power able to effect thy Resurrection, which doth p. 52all this? Dost thou not see as great works as a Resurrection every day before thine eyes? but that the Commonness makes thee not admire them. Read but the 37, 38, 39, 40, 41. Chapters of Job, and take heed of disputing against God again for ever.Dic mihi Philosophe, quid plene cognoscis? puto non audere te dicere quod parvulam vel minimam crea turam. Scio quod non perfecte cognos…is minimum atomum in Sole; nec minimum pulveremterrae, nec minimam guttam aquae. In omni nam que corpusculo, infiaitae figurae lineares, superficiales, & corporales, dive…sae numero, quan tilate, & qualitate & speci… continentur. Quare etiam correspandenter conclusiones Geometricae infinitae, etiam sese ordinabiliter consequentes, ita quod poste rior sciri non potest nisi per priorem. In omni quoque …orpu…culo infinitae species numerorum, et infinitae conclusi…nes Arithmeticae continentur, &c. Harum autem conclusionum infinitarum demonstrative scibilium quot scis? &c. Bradwardine de Causa Dei, l. 1. cap. 1. corol. 32. Know'st thou not that with him all things are possible? Can he make a Camel go through the eye of a needle? Can he make such a blinde Sinner, as thou, to see? and such a proud heart, as thine, to stoop? and such an Earthly minde, as thine, Heavenly? And subdue all that, thy fleshly foolish wisdom? And is not this as great a work, as to Raise thee from the Dust? Wast thou any unlikelier to Be, when thou wast Nothing, then thou shalt be when thou art Dust? Is it not as easie to raise the Dead, as to make Heaven, and Earth, and all, of Nothing? But if thou be unperswadeable, all I say to thee more is, as the Prophet to the Prince of Samaria, (2 King. 7.20.) Thou shalt see that day with thine Eyes, but little to thy Comfort; for that which is the day of relief to the Saints, shall be a day of Revenge on thee: There is a Rest prepared, but thou canst not enter in, because of unbelief, Heb. 3.19. But for thee, O Beleeving Soul, never think to comprehend in the narrow capacity of thy shallow brain, the Counsels, and ways of thy Maker: No more then thou canst contain in thy fist the vast Ocean. He never intended thee such a Capacity, when he made thee, and gave thee that measure thou hast; no more then he intended to enable that worm, or this post, or stone, fully to know thee. Therefore when he speaks, dispute not, but beleeve. As Abraham, who considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, nor yet the deadness of Sarahs womb; He staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving Glory to God: And being fully perswaded, that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. And so against Hope, beleeved in Hope, Rom. 4.18, 19, 20, 21. So look not thou on the dead bones, and dust, and difficulties, but at the Promise: Martha knew her Brother should rise again at the Resurrection; But if Christ say, he shall rise before, it must be beleeved. Come then, fellow Christians let us contentedly commit these Carcasses to the dust: That prison shall not long contain them. Let us lie down in peace and take our Rest: It will not be an Everlasting Night, p. 53nor endless sleep. What if we go out of the troubles and stirs of the world, and enter into those Chambers of Dust, and the doors be shut upon us, and we hide our selves, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be over-past? Isa. 26.20, 21.Isa 26:20Isa 26:21Yet, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place, to punish the Inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity: Some lately come neer the Jews belief in this; Judaei enim dicunt futurum esse ut Israelitae soli ex morte in vitam vevo…ntur; Christiani vero populique alii omnes non resurgant. Bux…o…f. Synagog. Judaic. cap. 1 pag. 25. Ita hi Christianos solos resurrecturos asserunt.and then the Earth shall disclose us, and the Dust shal hide us no more. As sure as we awake in the Morning, when we have slept out the Night; so sure shall we then awake. And what if in the mean time we must be loathsom Lumps, cast out of the sight of men, as not fit to be endured among the Living? What if our Carcasses become as vile as those of the Beasts that perish? What if our bones be digged up, and scattered about the pit brink, and worms consume our flesh? Yet we know our Redeemer liveth, and shall stand the last on earth, and we shall see him with these eyes. And withal, it is but this flesh that suffers all this; which hath been a Clog to our Souls so long: And what is this comely piece of flesh, which thou art loath should come to so base a state? It is not an hundred years since it was either Nothing, or an invisible Something. And is not most of it for the present, if not an Appearing Nothing, seeming something to an imperfect sense; yet at best a Condensation of Invisibles, which that they may become sensible, are become more gross, and so more vile? Where is all that fair mass of flesh and blood which thou hadst, before sickness consumed thee? Annihilated it is not: onelyonly resolved into its Principles: shew it me if thou canst. Into how small a handful of dust, or ashes, will that whole mass, if buried or burnt, return? And into how much smaller can a Chymist reduce that little, and leave thee all the rest Invisible? What if God prick the Bladder, and let out the wind that puffs thee up to such a substance? and resolve thee into thy Principles? Doth not the seed thou sowest dye, before it spring? and what cause have we to be tender of this body? Oh, what care, what labor, what grief, and sorrow, hath it cost us? How many a weary, painful, tedious hour? Oh my Soul, Grudg not that God should disburden thee of all this! Fear not lest he should free thee from thy fetters! Be not so loath that he should break down thy prison, and let thee go! What though some terrible Earthquake go before! It is but that the foundations of the prison may be shaken, and so the doors fly open: The terror will be to thy Jaylor, but to thee Deliverance. Oh therefore at what p. 54hour of the night soever thy Lord come,Acts 16.25, 26, 27. 2 Cor. 5 2, 3, 4Acts 16:25Acts 16:26Acts 16:272 Cor 5:22 Cor 5:32 Cor 5:4 let him finde thee, though with thy feet in these stocks, yet singing praises to him, and not fearing the time of thy deliverance. If unclothing be the thing thou fearest; Why it is, that thou mayst have better clothing put on. If to be turned out of doors be the thing thou fearest; Why remember, that when this Earthly house of thy Tabernacle is dissolved, thou hast a building of God, 2 Cor. 5 1.2 Cor 5:1an house not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens. How willingly do our Souldiers burn their Huts, when the siege is ended? being glad that their work is done, that they may go home and dwell in houses? Lay down then cheerfully this bag of loathsom filth, this Lump of Corruption: thou shalt undoubtedly receive it again in Incorruption. Lay down freely this terrestrial, this natural body: beleeve it, thou shalt receive it again a celestial, a spiritual body. And though thou lay it down into the dirt with great dishonor; thou shalt recieve it into Glory with honor: And though thou art separated from it through weakness; it shall be raised again, and joyned to thee, in mighty power. When the Trumpet of God shall sound, the Call; Come away, 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44, 45.1 Cor 15:421 Cor 15:431 Cor 15:441 Cor 15:45arise ye Dead; Who shall then stay behinde? Who can resist the powerful Command of our Lord? When he shall call to the Earth and Sea; O Earth, give up thy Dead; O Sea, give up thy Dead: Then shall our Sampson break for us the bonds of Death. And as the Ungodly shall, like Toads from their holes, be drawn forth whether they will or no; so shall the Godly, as prisoners of hope, awake out of sleep, and come with Joy to meet their Lord. The first that shall be called, are the Saints that sleep; and then the Saints that are then alive shall be changed. For Paul hath told us by the Word of the Lord, That they which are alive, and remain to the Coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voyce of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God: and the Dead in Christ shall rise first. Then they which are alive, and remain, 1 Thes. 4.15, 16, 17, 18.1 Thess 4:151 Thess 4:161 Thess 4:171 Thess 4:18shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, O Christians, comfort one another with these words. This is one of the Gospel Mysteries: That we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, at the last Trump: for the Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this Corruptible must put on Incorruption; p. 55and this Mortal, Immortality. Then is Death swallowed up in victory. 1 Cor. 15 51. to 57.1 Cor 15:51–57O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Triumph, now, O Christian, in these Promises; thou shalt shortly Triumph in their Performance. For this is the Day that the Lord will make;Psal. 1 18Ps 1:18 we shall be glad, and rejoyce therein. The Grave that could not keep our Lord, cannot keep us: He arose for us, and by the same Power will cause us to arise. For if we beleeve that Jesus dyed, and rose again; even so them also which sleep in Jesus, 1 Thes. 4.14.1 Thess 4:14will God bring with him. Can the Head live, and the body or members remain Dead? Oh, write those sweet words upon thy heart,John 14 19.John 14:19 Christian; Because I Live, Ye shall Live also. As sure as Christ lives, we shall live: And as sure as he is risen, we shall rise. Else the Dead perish. Else what is our Hope?1 Cor. 15.13, 14, 17, 18 19, 30, 31, 32.1 Cor 15:131 Cor 15:141 Cor 15:171 Cor 15:18 what advantageth all our duty or suffering? Else the sensual Epicure were one of the wisest men: and what better are we then our beasts? Surely our knowledg more then theirs, would but encrease our sorrows: and our dominion over them is no great felicity: The Servant hath oft-times a better life then his Master, because he hath few of his Masters Cares. And our dead Carcasses are no more comely, nor yeeld a sweeter savour, then theirs. But we have a sure ground of Hope. And besides this Life, we have a Life that's hid with Christ in God: and when Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in Glory, Col. 3.3, 4.2 Pet. 1.9.2 Pet 1:9 Oh let not us be as the purblinde world, that cannot see afar off: Let us never look at the Grave, but let us see the Resurrection beyond it. Faith is quick-sighted, and can see as far as that is; yea, as far as Eternity. Therefore let our hearts be glad, and our Glory rejoyce,Psalm 16.Ps 16 and our flesh also shall rest in hope: for he will not leave us in the Grave, nor suffer us still to see Corruption. Yea, therefore, let us be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know our Labor is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58.

It's a Question much debated, Whether a Resurrection be onelyonly an effect of Christs Death and Resurrection? And whether there should have been any Resurrection, if Christ had not come? Some that maintain the Negative of the last Question, do also **I do also my self incline to the Negative; but I think the Soul should have suffered for ever, though the Body had not risen; and that upon the grounds explained in my Theses of Justification.maintain, p. 56That the Sin under the Covenant of Nature, or Works, did deserve onelyonly the separation of Soul and Body; and not Eternal Torments. Whence also follows, that the Soul is (or, at least, then was) Mortal; or that it hath no Being, or no Sense, when it's separated from the Body. As also, that Christ dyed to Redeem us onelyonly from the Grave, and not from Hell. And so their Doctrine of Universal Redemption, in this sence asserted, doth neither so much honor the merits of Christ, nor advance his mercy, as they pretend: For it maketh him to raise us onelyonly from the Grave, and bring all the world into a Capacity of Eternal Torment: He fore-knowing the same time, that most would certainly reject him, and so perish. But, as I confess these of weight and difficulty; so, having professed in this Discourse, to handle matters less controverted; I pretermit them.

This sufficeth to the Saints Comfort, That Resurrection to Glory, is onelyonly the fruit of Christs Death; and this fruit they shall certainly partake of. The Promise is sure: All that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce, and come forth, Joh. 5.28. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent Christ, that of all which he hath given him, he should lose nothing, but should Raise it up at the last Day, Joh. 6.39. And that every one that beleeveth on the Son may have Everlasting Life, and he will raise him up at the last Day, Vers. 40. If the prayers of the Prophet could raise the Shunamites Dead Childe: and if the dead Souldier revive at the touch of the Prophets bones:2 King 13.212 Kgs 13:21 How certainly shall the will of Christ, and the power of his death raise us? That voyce that said to Jairus Daughter, Arise, and to Lazarus, Arise, and come forth, can do the like for us. If his death immediately raised the dead bodies of many Saints in Jerusalem; If he gave power to his Apostles to raise the Dead: Then what doubt of our Resurrection? And thus, Christian, thou seest that (Christ having sanctified the Grave by his burial, and conquered Death, and broke the Ice, for us,) a dead Body, and a Grave, is not now so horrid a spectacle to a beleeving Eye: But as our Lord was neerest his Resurrection and Glory, when he was in the Grave, even so are we. And he that hath promised to make our bed in sickness, will make the dust as a bed of Roses: Death shall not dissolve the Union betwixt him and us; nor turn away his affections from us: But in the morning of Eternity, he will send his Angels, yea, come himself, and roll away p. 57the stone, and unseal our Graves, and reach us his hand, and deliver us alive to our Father! Why then doth the approach of Death, so cast thee down, O my Soul? and why art thou thus disquieted within me? Psalm 42.Ps 42The Grave is not Hell: if it were, yet there is thy Lord present; and thence should his Merit and Mercy fetch thee out.John 11.4.John 11:4 Thy sickness is not unto death (though I dye) but for the Glory of God; Psa. 102.10.Ps 102:10that the Son of God may be glorified thereby. Say not then, He lifteth me up to cast me down, and hath raised me high that my fall may be the Lower; But he casts me down that he may lift me up, and layeth me low that I may rise the higher. An hundred experiences have sealed this Truth unto thee, That the greatest dejections are intended but for advantages to thy greatest dignity, and thy Redeemers Glory.

SECT. III.

THe third part of this Prologue to the Saints Rest,§. 3. 3. Our Justification at Judgment. is the publick and solemn process at their Judgment where they shall first themselves be acquit and justified; and then with Christ judg the World. Publick I may well call it: for all the world must there appear. Young and old, of all estates, and Nations, that ever were from the Creation to that day,Rom. 2.16. and 14.10.Rom 2:16Rom 14:10 must here come and receive their doom. The judgment shal be set, and the books opened & the book of Life produced; and the Dead shall be judged out of those things which were written in the books, Rev. 20.12, 13, 14, 15.Rev 20:12Rev 20:13Rev 20:14Rev 20:15according to their works: and whosoever is not found written in the book of Life, is cast into the lake of fire. O Terrible! O Joyful Day! Terrible to those that have let their Lamps go out,Mat. 25.5, 6, 7Matt 25:5Matt 25:6Matt 25:7 and have not watched, but forgot the coming of their Lord! Joyful to the Saints, whose waiting and hope was to see this day! Then shall the world behold the goodness and severity of the Lord:Rom. 11.22. Matt. 25.Rom 11:22Matt 25 on them who perish, severity; but to his chosen, goodness. When every one must give account of his stewardship: And every Talent of Time, Health, Wit, Mercies, Afflictions, Means, Warnings, must be reckoned for: When the sins of youth, and those which they had forgotten, and their secret sins, shall all be layd open before Angels and men: When they shall see all their Friends, wealth, old delights, all their confidence and false hopes of Heaven to forsake them: When they shall see the Lord Jesus whom p. 58they neglected, whose Word they disobeyed, whose Ministers they abused, whose Servants they hated, now sitting to judg them: When their own Consciences shall cry out against them, and call to their Remembrance all their misdoings; Remember at such a time, such or such a sin: at such a time Christ sued hard for thy Conversion; the Minister pressed it home to thy heart; thou wast touched to the quick with the Word; thou didst purpose and promise returning, and yet thou casts off all. When an hundred Sermons, Sabbaths, Mercies, shall each step up and say, I am witness, against the Prisoner, Lord; I was abused, and I was neglected! Oh which way will the wretched sinner look? Oh who can conceive the terrible thoughts of his heart? Now the world cannot help him; his old companions cannot help him; the Saints neither can nor will: onelyonly the Lord Jesus can; but Oh there's the Soul-killing misery, he will not: Nay, without violating the truth of his Word, he cannot; though otherwise, in regard of his Absolute power, he might. The time was, Sinner, when Christ would, and you would not; and now, Oh how fain would you, and he will not. Then he followed thee in vain with entreaties, Oh poor Sinner, what dost thou? Wilt thou sell thy Soul and Saviour for a lust? Look to me, and be saved; Return, why wilt thou dye? But thy Ear and heart was shut up against all. Why now, thou shalt cry, Lord, Lord, open to us;Mat. 7.22, 23.Matt 7:22Matt 7:23 and he shall say, Depart, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity: Now, Mercy, Mercy, Lord: Oh but it was Mercy you so long set light by, and now your day of Mercy is over. What then remains but to cry out to the mountains, fall upon us, and to the hills, O cover us from the presence of him that sits upon the Throne; But all in vain: For thou hast the Lord of Mountains and hils for thine enemy, whose voyce they will obey, and not thine. Sinner, make not light of this: for as true as thou livest (except a through change and coming in to Christ prevent it) (which God grant) thou shalt shortly, to thy unconceiveable horror, see that day. Oh Wretch! Will thy cups then be wine, or gall? Will they be sweet, or bitter? Will it comfort thee to think of all thy merry days? and how pleasantly thy time slipt away? Will it do thee good to think how rich thou wast? and how honorable thou wast? or will it not rather wound thy very Soul to remember thy folly? and make thee, with anguish of heart, and rage against thy self, to cry out, Oh Wretch! where was thine understanding? Didst thou p. 59make so light of that sin, that now makes thee tremble? How couldst thou hear so lightly of the Redeeming Blood of the Son of God? How couldst thou quench so many motions of his Spirit? and stifle so many quickening thoughts, as were cast into thy Soul? What took up all that Life's time which thou hadst given thee to make sure work against this day? What took up all thy heart, thy love and delight, which should have been layd out on the Lord Jesus? Hadst thou room in thy heart for the wor…d, thy friend, thy flesh, thy lusts? and none for Christ? Oh Wretch! whom hadst thou to love but him? What hadst thou to do, but to seek to him, and cleave to him, and enjoy him? Oh, wast thou not told of this dreadful day a thousand times; till the Commonness of that doctrine made thee weary? How couldst thou slight such warnings? and rage against the Minister, and say, he preacheth Damnation? Had it not been better to have heard and prevented it, then now to endure it? Oh now for one offer of Christ, for one Sermon, for one day of Grace more! But too late, alass too late! Poor careless Sinner, I did not think here to have said so much to thee; for my business is, to refresh the Saints: But if these lines do fall into thy hands, and thou vouchsafe the reading of them; I here charge thee,2 Tim. 4.1.2 Tim 4:1 before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom; that thou make hast and get alone, and set thy self sadly to ponder on these things: Ask thy heart, Is this true, or is it not? Is there such a day? and must I see it? Oh what do I then? Why trifle I? Is it not time, full time, that I had made sure of Christ and comfort long ago? should I sit still another day, who have lost so many? Had I not at that day rather be found one of the Holy, faithful, watchful Christians, then a worldling, a good-fellow, or a man of honor? Why should I not then choose it now? Will it be best then, and is it not best now? Oh think of these things. A few sad hours spent in serious fore-thoughts, is a cheap prevention. It's worth this, or It's worth nothing. Friend, I profess to thee, from the Word of the Lord, That of all thy sweet sins, there will then be nothing left, but the sting in thy Conscience, which will never out through all eternity; except the blood of Christ beleeved in, and valued above all the world, do now, in this day of grace, get it out. Thy sin is like a Beautiful Harlot; while she is young and fresh, she hath many followers: but when old and withered, p. 60every one would shut their hands of her; she is onelyonly their shame; none would know her: So will it be with thee; now thou wilt venture on it, what ever it cost thee: but then, when mens rebellious ways are charged on their Souls to death; O that thou couldst rid thy hands of it! O that thou couldst say, Lord it was not I! Then Lord,Matt. 25.Matt 25 when saw we thee hungry naked, imprisoned? How fain would they put it off? Then sin will be sin indeed; and Grace will be Grace indeed. Then say the foolish Virgins, Give us of your Oyl, for our Lamps are ou…: Oh for some of your faith & holiness, which we were wont to mock at! But what's the answer, Go buy for your selves; Mat. 25.8, 9.Matt 25:8Matt 25:9we have little enough: would we had rather much more. Then they will be glad of any thing like Grace: and if they can but produce any external familiarity with Christ, or Common gifts, how glad are they? Lord, we have eat and drunk in thy presence, prophecyed in thy name, cast out devils, done many wonderful works; we have been baptized, heard Sermons, professed Christianity: But, alas, this will not serve the turn: He will profess to them, I never knew you: Mat. 7. 22, 23.Matt 7:22Matt 7:23Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. Oh dead hearted sinner! is all this nothing to thee? As sure as Christ is true, this is true. Take it in his own words: Math. 25.31. When the Son of man shall come in his Glory: and before him shall be gathered all Nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on the right hand, and the goats on the left: and so on, as you may read in the Text.

But why tremblest thou, Oh humble gracious Soul? Cannot the enemies and slighters of Christ be foretold their doom, but Thou must quake?Ezek. 13.22. John 10.27. Gen. 7.1.23 Gen. 19.22Ezek 13:22John 10:27Gen 7:1Gen 7:23Gen 19:22 Do I make sad the Soul that God would not have sad? Doth not thy Lord know his own sheep, who have heard his voyce and followed him? He that would not lose the family of one Noah in a common deluge, when him onelyonly he had found faithful in all the earth: He that would not over-look one Lot in Sodom; nay, that could do nothing till he were forth: Will he forget thee at that day? Thy Lord knoweth now to deliver the godly out of temptations, 2 Pet. 2.9.2 Pet 2:9and to reserve the unjust to the day of Judgment to be punished: He knoweth how to make the same day the greatest for terror to his foes, and yet the greatest for joy to his people. He ever intended it for the great distinguishing and separating day: wherein both Love and Fury should be manifested to the highest.Matt. 13.Matt 13 p. 61Oh then let the Heavens rejoyce, Psa 96.11, 12 13. Psa 98.7 8 9. Psa. 97.8. Psal. 76.8, 9.Ps 96:11Ps 96:12Ps 98:7Ps 97:8Ps 76:8Ps 76:9the Sea, the Earth, the Floods, the Hills, for the Lord cometh to judg the Earth: With Righteousness shall he judg the World, and the People with Equity. But especially let Sion hear, and be glad, and her children rejoyce: For when God ariseth to judgment, it is to save the meek of the Earth. They have judged and condemned themselves many a day in heartbreaking confession, and therefore shall not be judged to condemnation by the Lord: For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 11 31. Rom. 8 1. Rom. 8.33. Rom. 3.19. Rom. 6.14. Rom. 8.2.1 Cor 11:31Rom 8:1Rom 8:33Rom 3:19Rom 6:14Rom 8:2who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. And who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? Shall the Law? Why, whatsoever the Law saith, it saith to them that are under the Law: but we are not under the Law, but under Grace: For the Law of the Spirit of life, which is in Christ Jesus, hath made us free from the Law of sin and death: Or shall Conscience?Rom. 5 1. Heb. 10.22Rom 5:1Heb 10:22 Why, we were long ago justified by faith, and so have peace with God; and have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and the Spirit bearing witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God. Rom. 8.16.Rom 8:16It is God that justifieth, who shall condemn? If our Judg condemn us not, who shall? He that said to the Adulterous woman,John 8.11.John 8:11 Hath no man condemned thee? neither do I condemn thee; He will say to us (more faithfully then Peter to him) Though all men deny thee, Mark 14.31.Mark 14:31or condemn thee, I will not. Thou hast confessed me before men, Matt. 10 32.Matt 10:32and I will confess thee before my Father, and the Angels of Heaven. He whose first coming was not to condemn the world, John 3, 17.John 3:17but that the world through him might be saved; I am sure intends not his second coming to condemn his people, but that they through him might be saved. He hath given us Eternal Life in Charter and Title already, yea, and partly in possession; and will he after that condemn us? When he gave us the knowledg of his Father and himself,John 17.3. John 5, 24.John 17 he gave us Eternal Life: And he hath verily told us, That he that heareth his word, and beleeveth on him that sent him, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life. Indeed if our Judg were our enemy, as he is to the world, then we might well fear. If the Devil were our Judg, or the Ungodly were our Judg, then we should be condemned as Hypocrites, as Heretiques, as Schisinatiques, as proud, or covetous, or what not?Rom. 8.34, 35 Mat. 28.18.Rom 8:34Rom 8:35Matt 28:18 But our Judg is Christ who dyed, yea rather who is risen again, and maketh request for us. For all power is given him in p. 62Heaven and in Earth; Joh. 13. 3. Joh. 5. 27. and Vers. 22, 23. That Christs judging power according to his humane nature is not the principal, primitive supream; but onelyonly the supream delegate derived power, is certain, sicut Scotus in l. 4. sent. dist. 48. Q. 1. p. 256.John 13and all things delivered into his hands: and the Father hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. For though God judg the world, yet the Father (immediately without his Vicegerent Christ) judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. Oh what inexpressible joy may this afford to a Beleever? That our Dear Lord, who loveth our Souls, and whom our Souls love, shall be our Judg? Will a man fear to be judged by his dearest friend? By a Brother? By a Father? Or a Wife by her own Husband? Christian, Did he come down, and suffer, and weep▪ and bleed, and dye for thee; and will he now condemn thee? Was he judged, and condemned, and executed in thy stead; and now will he condemn thee himself? Did he make a Bath of his blood for thy sins? and a garment of his own Righteousness, for thy nakedness? and will he now open them to thy shame? Is he the undertaker for thy Salvation? and will he be against thee? Hath it cost him so dear to save thee? and will he now himself destroy thee? Hath he done the most of the work already, in Redeeming, Regenerating, and Sanctifying, Justifying, preserving and perfecting thee? and will he now undo all again? Nay, hath he begun, and will he not finish? Hath he interceded so long for thee to the Father? and will he cast thee away himself? If all these be likely, then fear, and then rejoyce not. Oh what an unreasonable sin is unbelief, that will charge our Lord with such unmercifulness and absurdities? Well then, fellow Christians, let the terror of that day be never so great, surely our Lord can mean no ill to us in all. Let it make the Devils tremble, and the wicked tremble; but it shall make us to leap for Joy. Let Satan accuse us, we have our answer at hand, our surety hath discharged the debt. If he have not fulfilled the Law, then let us be charged as breakers of it: If he have not suffered, then let us suffer: but if he have, we are free. Nay, our Lord will make answer for us himself, These are mine, and shall be made up with my Jewels: for their transgressions was I stricken,Isa. 53.5, 8, 10 11.Isa 53:5Isa 53:8Isa 53:10 and cut off from the earth: for them was I bruised and put to grief, my Soul was made an offering for their sin, and I bore their transgressions: They are my seed, and the travel of my Soul: I have healed them by my stripes; I have justified them by my knowledg. They are my sheep; who shall take them out of my hands?Joh. 10.28John 10:28 Yea, though the humble Soul be p. 63ready to speak against it self (Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and feed thee, &c.) yet will not Christ do so. This is the day of the Beleevers full Justification. They were before made just: and esteemed Just: and by Faith justified in Law: and this evidenced to their consciences. But now they shall both by Apology be maintained Just, and by Sentence pronounced Just actually, by the lively voyce of the Judg himself; which is the most perfect Justification. Their Justification by Faith, is a giving them Title in Law, to that Apology, and Absolving Sentence, which at that Day they shall Actually receive from the mouth of Christ. By which Sentence, their sin,Some I have heard preach, that Christ justifieth, 1. our persons, and then our Actions; but in proper sence I take it for very unsound doctrine to say That God justifieth our works, and of dangerous consequence. Luk. 10 17, 18 19, 20.Luke 10:17Luke 10:18 which before was pardoned in the sence of the Law, is now perfectly pardoned, or blotted out, by this ultimate Judgment. Act. 3.19. Therefore well may it be called, the Time of Refreshing, as being to the Saints the perfecting of all their former Refreshments. He who was vexed with a quarrelling Conscience, an Accusing World, a Cursing Law, is solemnly pronounced Righteous by the Lord the Judg. Though he cannot plead, Not Guilty, in regard of fact; yet being pardoned, he shall be acquit by the proclamation of Christ. And that's not all: But he that was accused, as deserving Hell, is pronounced a member of Christ, a Son of God, and so adjudged to Eternal Glory. The Sentence of pardon, past by the spirit and conscience within us, was wont to be exceeding sweet: But this will fully and finally resolve the question; and leave no room for doubting again for ever. We shall more rejoyce that our names are found written in the Book of Life, then if men or Devils were subjected to us. And it must needs affect us deeply with the sense of our mercy and happiness, to behold the contrary condition of others: To see most of the world tremble with Terror, while we triumph with Joy: To hear them doomed to everlasting flames, and see them thrust into Hell; when we are proclaimed heirs of the Kingdom: To see our neighbors that lived in the same Towns, came to the same Congregation, sate in the same seats, dwelt in the same houses, and were esteemed more honorable in the world then our selves; to see them now so differenced from us, and by the Searcher of hearts eternally separated. This, with the great magnificence and dreadfulness of the day, doth the Apostle pathetically express in 2 Thess. 1.6, 7, 8, 9, 10. It is Righteous with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you: and to you who are troubled, Rest with us: when the Lord p. 64Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels; In flaming fire, taking vengeance on then that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his power, &c. And now is not here enough to make that day a welcom day, and the thoughts of it delightful to us? But yet there's more. We shall be so far from the dread of that Judgment, that our selves shall become the Judges. Christ will take his people, as it were, into Commission with him; and they shall sit and approve his Righteous Judgment: Oh fear not now the reproaches, scorns and censures of those that must then be judged by us: Did you think, Oh wretched worldlings, that those poor despised men, whom you made your dayly derision, should be your Judges? Did you beleeve this, when you made them stand as offenders before the Bar of your Judgment? No more then Pilate, when he was judging Christ, did beleeve that he was condemning his Judg; Or the Jews, when they were whipping, imprisoning, killing the Apostles, did think to see them sit on twelve Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel. Do you not know (saith Paul) that the Saints shall judg the world? 1 Cor. 6.2, 31 Cor 6:21 Cor 6:3Nay, Know you not that we shall judg Angels? Surely were it not the Word of Christ that speaks it, this advancement would seem incredible, and the language arrogant. Yet even Henoch the seventh from Adam prophecyed of this, saying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints, to execute Judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed; and of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoke against him, Jude 14. Thus shall the Saints be honored,Psal 49.14.Ps 49:14 and the Righteous have dominion in the morning. O that the careless world were but wise to consider this; and that they would remember this latter end! Deut. 32.29.Deut 32:29That they would be now of the same minde, as they will be, when they shall see the Heavens pass away with a noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein to be burnt up! 2 Pet. 3.10. When all shall be on fire about their ears, and all earthly Glory consumed. For the Heavens and the Earth which are now, are reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment, and perdition of ungodly men, 2 Pet. 3.7. But alas, when all is said, the wicked will do wickedly; Dan. 12.10.Dan 12:10and none of the wicked shall understand; But p. 65the wise shall understand. Rejoyce, therefore, O ye Saints; yet watch, and what you have, hold fast till your Lord come, Revel. 2.25. and study that use of this Doctrine which the Apostle propounds, 2 Pet. 3.11, 12. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness? Looking for, and hasting to the coming of the day of God; wherein the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the Elements melt with fervent heat. But go your way, keep close with God, and wait till your change come, and till this end be; for you shall Rest, and stand in the Lot at the end of the days, Dan. 12.13.

SECT. IV.

THe fourth Antecedent and highest step to the Saints Advancement,§. 4. 4 Our solemn Coronation. is, Their solemn Coronation, Inthronizing, and Receiving into the Kingdom.Rev. 1.5.Rev 1:5 For as Christ, their head, is anointed both King and Priest: so under him are his people made unto God both Kings and Priests, (for Prophecy, that ceaseth,) to Reign, and to offer praises for ever, Revel. 5.10. The Crown of Righteousness, which was layd up for them, shall by the Lord the Righteous Judg be given them at that day, 2 Tim. 4.8. They have been faithful to the death, Rev. 2.10.Rev 2:10and therefore shall receive the Crown of Life: And according to the improvement of their Talents here, so shall their rule and dignity be enlarged, Mat. 25.21, 23. So that they are not dignified with empty Titles, but real Dominions. For Christ will take them and set them down with himself in his own Throne; Rev. 3.21.Rev 3:21and will give them power over the Nations, even as he received of his Father, Revel. 2.26, 27, 28. And will give them the morning Star. The Lord himself will give them possession with these applauding expressions; Well done good and faithful Servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee Ruler over many things; Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord, Matt. 25.21, 23. And with this solemn and blessed Proclamation shall he Inthrone them; Come ye Blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Every word full of Life and Joy. [Come] This is the holding forth of the golden Scepter; to warrant our approach unto this Glory. p. 66Come now as neer as you will; fear not the Bethshemites Judgment: for the enmity is utterly taken away. This is not such a [Come] as we were wont to hear: Come take up your Cross, and follow me; though that was sweet, yet this much more. [Ye Blessed] Blessed indeed, when that mouth shall so pronounce us: for though the world hath accounted us accursed, and we have been ready to account our selves so; yet certainly those that he blesseth, are blessed, and those whom he curseth onelyonly are cursed; and his Blessing shall not be Revoked: But he hath Blessed us, and we shall be Blessed. [Of my Father] Blessed in the Fathers Love, as well as the Sons: for they are one. The Father hath testified his Love, in their Election, Donation to Christ, sending of Christ, accepting his Ransom, &c. as the Son hath also testified his. [inherit] No longer bond-men,Gal. 4.1, 5, 6, 7.Gal 4:1Gal 4:5Gal 4:6Gal 4:7 nor servants onelyonly, nor children under age, who differ not in possession, but onelyonly in title from servants: But now we are heirs of the Kingdom, Jam. 2.5. Coheirs with Christ. [The Kingdom] No less then the Kingdom? Indeed to be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, is our Lords own proper title: But to be Kings, and reign with him, is ours: The fruition of this Kingdom, is as the fruition of the light of the Sun, each have the whole, and the rest never the less. [Prepared for you] God is the Alpha, as well as the Omega of our Blessedness. Eternal Love hath layd the foundation. He prepared the Kingdom for us, and then prepared us for the Kingdom. This is the preparation of his Counsel and Decree; for the execution whereof Christ was yet to make a further preparation. [For you] Not for Beleevers onelyonly in general, who without individual persons are no body: Nor onelyonly for you upon condition of your beleeving: But for you personally and determinately; for all the Conditions were also prepared for you. [From the foundation of the world] Not onelyonly from the Promise after Adams fall, (as some) but (as the phrase usually signifieth, though not always) from Eternity. These were the eternal thoughts of Gods love towards us; and this is it he purposed for us.

But a great difficulty riseth in our way. In what sence is our Improvement of our Talent,Mat 25 20 21 Rev. 2 & 3. Mat. 25 34. 35Matt 25:20Rev 2Matt 25:34Matt 25:35 our well doing, our overcoming; our harboring, visiting, feeding, &c. Christ in his little ones; alledged as a Reason of our Coronation and Glory? Is not it the purchased p. 67possession, and meet fruit of Christs blood? If every man must be judged according to his works, and receive according to what they have done in the flesh, whether good or evil; and God will render to every man according to his Deeds;Rom. 2.6, 7Rom 2:6Rom 2:7 and give eternal life to men, if they patiently continue in well doing, and give right to the tree of Life,Rev. 22.14.Rev 22:14 and entrance into the City, to the doers of his Commandments; and if this last Absolving Sentence be the compleating of our Justification,Rom. 2.13.Rom 2:13 and so the doers of the Law be justified; Why then what's become of Free Grace? of Justification by Faith onelyonly? of the sole Righteousness of Christ to make us accepted? Then the Papists say rightly, That we are Righteous by our personal Righteousness, and Good Works concur to Justification.

I did not think to have said so much upon Controversie▪ But because the difficulty is very great, and the matter very weighty, as being neer the foundation **I did here Answer this Question, but finding it too large put it in the End; And since, having yet more enlarged it, have published it alone in a smal V…lume. Read Mr Ric. Hookers Discourse of Justification, how far Works concur.I shall, in another Book, add, to what is said before, certain brief Positions, containing my thoughts on this Subject; which may tend to the clearing of these and many other difficulties hereabouts.

But that the plain constant language of Scripture may not be perverted or disregarded, I onelyonly premise these Advertisements by way of caution, till thou come to read the full Answer:

1. Let not the names of men draw thee one way or other, nor make thee partial in Searching for Truth: Dislike the men for their unsound doctrine; but call not doctrine unsound, because it is theirs; nor sound, because of the repute of the Writer.

2. Know this, That as an unhumbled Soul is far apter to give too much to Duty and personal Righteousness, then to Christ: So a humble self-denying Christian is as likely to err on the other hand, in giving less to duty then Christ hath given, and laying all the work from himself on Christ, for fear of robbing Christ of the honor: and so much to look at Christ without him, and think he should look at nothing in himself; that he forgets Christ within him. As Luther said of Melancthons self-denying humility, Soli Deo omaia deberi tam obstinaté asserit, ut mihi plané vidcatur saltem in hoc errare quòd Christum ipse fingat longiùs abesse cordi suo, quam sit reverâ—Certé nimis nullus in hoc est Philippus. He so constantly ascribes all to God, that to me he seems directly to err at least in this, that he feigneth or imagineth Christ to be further p. 68off from his own heart, then indeed he is—Certainly he is too much Nothing in this.

3. Our giving to Christ more of the work then Scripture doth, or rather our ascribing it to him out of the Scripture way and sence; doth but dishonor, and not honor him; and depress, but not exalt his Free Grace: While we deny the inward sanctifying work of his Spirit, and extol his free Justification, which are equal fruits of his merit, we make him an imperfect Saviour.

And thus we have, by the line and plummet of Scripture, fathomed this four-fold stream, and seen the Christian safely landed in Paradise; and in this four-wheeled fiery Charet conveyed honorably to his Rest. Now let us a little further view those Mansions, consider his priviledges, and see whether there be any Glory like unto his Glory; Read, and judg, but not by outward appearance, but judg Righteous Judgment.