Paradise Opened, Text (5 of 5)
Secondly, Jeſus Chriſt promiſeth to God the Father, that he will freely, readily and chearfully accept, undertake and faithfully diſcharge his Mediatory office, to which he was deſigned by him, in order to the Redemption and Salvation of all his choſen ones: Conſult the ScripturesCompare Pſal. 40. 6. to the 11. with Heb. 10. 5. to the 11. and Iſa. …1. 1, 2, 3. Lu… ▪ 4. 18, 19. 20. A…. 13. 23. cap. 7. 22. Heb. 10. 1…, 14. in the Margin, they having been formerly opened; and in them you will find, that Chriſt did not take the office of Mediatorſhip upon himſelf; but firſt the Father calls him to it, and then the Son accepts it: Chriſt glorified not himſelf, to be made an High Prieſt; but he that ſaid unto him, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee: He called him, and then the Son anſwered him, Lo, I come. God the Father promiſeth, that upon the payment of ſuch a price by his Son, ſuch and ſuch ſouls ſhould be ranſomed and ſet free from the curſe, from wrath, from hell, &c. Jeſus Chriſt readily conſents to the price, and pays it down upon the nail at once, and ſo makes good his Mediatory office. It pleaſed the glorious Son of God, in obedience to the Father, to humble himſelf, and obſcure the glory of his Godhead, that he might be like his brethren, and a fit Mediator for ſympathy and ſuffering, and that he might engage his life and glory for the redeeming of the Elect, and lay by his Robes of Majeſty, and not be re-aſſumed till he gave a good account of that work, till he was able to ſay, I have finiſhed the work that thou gaveſt me to do. Chriſt very freely and chearfully undertakes to do and ſuffer whatever was the will of his Father, that he ſhould do or ſuffer for the bringing about the Redemption of Mankind. Chriſt willingly undertakes to be his Father's Servant in this great work, and accordingly he looks upon his Father as his Lord, Thou art my Lord; thatIſa. 50. 5, 6, 7. Pſal. 16. 2. is, thou art he, to whom I have engaged my ſelf, that I will ſatisfie all thy demands, I will fulfil thy Royal Law, I will bear the Curſe, I will ſatisfie thy Juſtice, I will humble my ſelf to the death of the Croſs, I will tread the Pſal. …. 8. Iſa. 6…. ….Wine▪ preſs of my Father's Wrath, I will fully diſcharge all the Bonds, Bills and Obligations, that lie in open Court, againſt any of thoſe whom, by compact, thou haſt givenColoſ. 2. 13, 14, 15 me; let their debts be never ſo many, or never ſo great, or of never ſo long continuance, I will pay them all▪ there is no work ſo high, nor no work ſo hard, nor no work ſo hot, nor no work ſo bloody, nor no work ſo low, in which I am not ready to engage, upon the account of my choſen: Loe, I come, I delight to do thy will; yea, thy law is in my heart…: Chriſt freely ſubmits, not only to the duty of the Law, but alſo to the penalty of the Law; not only to do what the Law enjoyns, but alſo to ſuffer what the Law threatens; the former heGal. 4. 4. 5. makes good by his active obedience, and the l…ter by his paſſive obedience. This was the way wherein the Father, by an eternal agreement with his Son, would… 1. 2. have the ſalvation of loſt ſinners brought about; and accordingly Jeſus Chriſt very readily complies with his Father's will and way. Chriſt, as Mediator, had a commandJoh. 10. 18. from his Father to die, which Command▪ …he readily cloſes with; Joh. 10. 11. I am the good ſhepherd, the good ſhepherd layeth down his life for the ſheep: verſ. 15. I lay down my life for the ſheep: verſ. 17. I lay down my life, that I might take it again: verſ. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf; this commandment have I received of my father. Chriſt was content to be a ſervant by paction, that ſo his ſufferings might be accepted for his people; and certainly, whatever God the … ther put Jeſus Chriſt upon in his whole Mediatory work, that Jeſus Chriſt did freely, fully and heartily comply with. Loe, I come, And I have finiſhed the work that thou gaveſt J…. 17. 4.me to do: And had not Chriſt been free and voluntary in his active and paſſive obedience, his active and paſſive obedience would never have been acceptable, ſatisfactory or meritorious. To go further to prove it, would be to light a candle to ſee the ſun at noon. But,
Thirdly, Jeſus Chriſt promiſes and engages himſelf, that he will conſide, depend, rely and truſt upon his Father for help and for aſſiſtance to go through his work, with a notwithſtanding all the wrath and rage, all the malice and oppoſitions that he ſhould meet with from men and Devils; Heb. 2. 13. And again, I will put my truſt in him: Chriſt's confidence in his Father, was one great encouragement to him, to hold out in the execution of his office; and his confidence in God ſpeaks him out to be a true man, in that, as other men, he ſtood in need of God's aid and aſſiſtance; and thereupon, as others of the ſons men (his brethren) he puts his truſt in God. The Greek Phraſe uſed by the Apoſtle, carryeth Emphaſis; it impliethforeign. Pſal. 18. 2. Iſa. 8. 18. truſt on a good perſwaſion, that he ſhall not be diſappointed; it is tranſlated Confidence, Phil. 1. 6. word for word it may here be thus tranſlated, I will be confident in him: The Relative Him hath apparent reference to God, ſo as Chriſt himſelf, being man, reſted on God to be ſupported in his works, and to to be carried thorough all his undertakings, till the Top-ſtone was laid, and the work of Redemption accompliſhed. Chriſt had many great and potent enemies, and was brought to very great ſtraits,Pſal. 18. 3, 4, 5. Iſa 8. 18. Mat. 27. 43. yea, he and his were for ſ…gns and wonders in Iſrael; yet he fainted not, but put his truſt in the Lord; yea, his greateſt enemies gave him this Teſtimony, that he truſted in God; and though they ſpoke it in ſcorn and deriſion, yet it was a real truth. Chriſt's confidence in his Father was further manifeſted by the many Prayers, whichHeb. 5. 7. time after time, he made to his Father. Another proof of Chriſt's confidence in God's aſſiſtance, even in his greateſt plunges, and his ſharpeſt ſufferings, the Prophet Iſaiah will furniſh us with, The Lord God hath opened mine Iſa. 5…. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.ear (ſaith the Prophet) and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the ſmiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting. For the Lord God will help me, therefore ſhall I not he confounded, therefore have I ſet my face like a flint, and I know that I ſhall not be aſhamed. He is near that juſtifieth me, who will contend with me? let us ſtand together: Who is mine adverſary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me, who is he that ſhall condemn me? loe, they all ſhall wax old as a garment: The moth ſhall eat them up. Chriſt as Mediator, truſted God the Father, to carry him through all difficulties and oppoſitions, till he had compleated the great work of his Mediation: Chriſt ſtrengthens and encourages himſelf in the execution of his Office, againſt all hardſhips and oppoſitions, from his confidence and aſſurance of God's aid and aſſiſtance; and by the ſame eye of Faith, he looks upon all his oppoſites, as worn out and weathered by him. Chriſt's Faith, Patience and Conſtancy gave him victory over all wrongs and injuries. So Iſa. 49. 5. My God ſhall be my ſtrength: Chriſt is very confident of his Father's aſſiſtance, to carry him thorough that work that he had aſſigned him to: Chriſt, in the want of comfort, never wanted faith to hang upon God, and to call him his God; My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Mat. 27. 46. As man he …r…e… out, My God, my God, &c. when a… God, he promiſeth Paradiſe to the penitent thief Hilary.Chriſt was never forſaken, in regard of the Hypoſtatical Ʋnion; the Union was not diſſolved, but the Beams, the Influence was reſtrained: Nor in regard of his Faith; for though now he was ſweltering under the wrath of God, as our Surety, and left in the hands of his enemies, and deſerted by his Diſciples and deareſt friends, and under the loſs of the comforting and ſolacing preſence of his Father; yet, in the midſt of all, ſuch was the ſtrength and power of his faith, that he could ſay, My God, my God. Chriſt, before the world began, having promiſed and engaged to theTit. 1. 2. Gal. 4. 4. Iſa. 63. 3. Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 3, 4. Father; that in the fulneſs of time he would come into the world, aſſume our nature, be made under the Law, tread the Wine-preſs of the Father's wrath, bear the Curſe, and give ſatisfaction to his Juſtice. Now upon the credit of this promiſe, upon this undertaking of Chriſt, God the Father takes up the Patriarchs, and all the Old Teſtament-believers to Glory. God the Father reſting upon the promiſe and engagement of his Son, admits many thouſands into thoſe …ons above, beforeJoh. 14. 2, 3. Chriſt took Fleſh upon him. Now as t… Father, of old, hath reſted and relyed on the promiſe and engagement of Chriſt; ſo Jeſus Chriſt doth, to this very day, …ſt and ſtay himſelf upon the promiſe of his Father, that he ſhall, inIſa. …3. 10. due time, ſee all his ſeed, and reap the full benefit of that full Ranſom that he has paid down upon the nail, for all that have believed on him, that do believe on him, and that ſhall believe on him. Chriſt knew God's infinite Love, his tender Compaſſions, and his matchleſs Bowels to all thoſe for whom he died: And he knew very well the Covenant, the Compact, the Agreement, that paſt between the Father and himſelf; and ſo truſted the Father fully, in the great buſineſs of their everlaſting happineſs and bleſſedneſs, relying upon the love and faithfulneſs of God, his love to the Elect, and his faithfulneſs to keep Covenant with him. As the Elect are committed to Chriſt's charge, to give an account of them; ſo alſo is the Father engaged for their converſion, and for their preſervation being converted: As being not only his own,Joh. 6. 37. Iſa. 53. 11. given to Chriſt out of his love to them; but as being engaged to Chriſt, that he ſhall not be fruſtrate of the reward of his Sufferings, but have a Seed to glorifie him for ever. Therefore doth Chriſt, not only conſtantly preſerve them by his Spirit, but doth leave, alſo, that burden on the Father; Father, keep thoſe whom thou haſt given me: Joh. 17. 11. But
Fourthly, Jeſus Chriſt promiſes and engages himſelf to his Father, that he would bear all, and ſuffer all that ſhould be laid upon him; and that he would ranſom poor ſinners, and fully ſatisfie Divine Juſtice by his blood and death; as you may ſee by comparing the Scriptures in theIſa. 5…. 5, 6. Joh. 10. 17. 18. cap. 15. 10. Luk. 24. 46. Heb. 10. 5, 6, 7, 10. I have opened theſe Scriptures already. Margin together. The work of Redemption could never have been effected by ſilver or gold, or by prayers or tears, or by the blood of Bulls or Goats; but by the ſecond Adam's obedience, even to the death of the Croſs. Remiſſion of ſin, the favour of God, the heavenly Inheritance could never have been obtained, but by the procious blood of the Son of God. The innocent Lamb of God was ſlain, in typical prefigurations, from the beginning of the world; and ſlain in real performance, in the fulneſs of time, or elſe fallen man had layen under guilt and wrath for ever: The heart of Jeſus Chriſt was ſtrongly ſet upon all thoſe that his Father had given him, and he was fully reſolved to ſecure them from Hell and the Curſe, whatever it coſt him; and ſeeing no price would ſatisfie his Father's Juſtice below his Blood, he lays down his life at his Father's feet, according to the Covenant and Agreement of old, that had paſt between his Father and himſelf. But
Fifthly, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt was very free, ready, willing and careful to make good all the Articles of the Covenant on his ſide, and to diſcharge all the works agreedJoh. 12. 49, 50. cap. 17. 6. on for the Redemption and Salvation of the Elect: Joh. 17. 4. I have finiſhed the work that thou gaveſt me to do. There was nothing committed to Chriſt by the Father, to be done on earth, for the purchaſing of our Redemption, but he did finiſh it; ſo that the Debt is paid,Coloſ. 2. 14, 15. Heb. 2. 14. Juſtice ſatisfied, and ſin, Satan and death ſpoiled of all their hurting and deſtroying power. By the Covenant of Redemption, Chriſt was under an obligation to die, toDan. 9. 24. ſatisfie to Divine Juſtice, to pay our debts, to bring in an everlaſting Righteouſneſs, to purchaſe our Pardon, andHeb. 9. 12. to obtain eternal Redemption for us; all which, he compleated and finiſhed, before he aſcended up to glory: AndAct. 1. 9, 10, 11. without a peradventure, had not Jeſus Chriſt kept touch with his Father, had not he made good the Covenant, the Compact, the Agreement on his part, his Father would never have given him ſuch a welcome to heaven as he did, nor he would never have admitted him to have ſat down Heb. 1. 3. Rom. 8 34. Col…ſ. …. 1. H…b. 8. 1. cap. 10. 12. 1 …et. 3. 22.on the right hand of the Majeſty on high, as he did. The right hand is a place of the greateſt honour, dignity and ſafety, that any can be advanced to: But had not Jeſus Chriſt firſt purged away our ſins, he had never ſat down on the right hand of his Father. Chriſt's advancement is properlyMat. 26. 64. Act. 7. 56. of his Humane Nature; That Nature, wherein Chriſt was crucified, was exalted; for God being the Moſt High, needs not be exalted; yet the Humane Nature, in this exaltation, is not ſingly and ſimply conſidered in it ſelf, but as united to the Deity; ſo that it is the Perſon conſiſting of two Natures, even God-man, which is thus dignified: For as the Humane Nature of Chriſt is inferiour to God, and is capable of advancement; ſo alſo is the perſon conſiſting of a Divine and Humane Nature. Chriſt, as the Son of God, the ſecond Perſon of the ſacred Trinity, is, in regard of his Deity, no whit inferiour to his Father, but every way equal; yet he aſſumed our nature, and became a Mediator betwixt God & man; he humbled himſelf, and made himſelf inferiour to his Father; his Father therefore hath highly exalted him,Phil. 2. 8, 9. and ſet him down on his right hand. If Chriſt had notEph. 1. 20. expiated our ſins, and compleated the work of our Redemption, he could never have ſat down on the right hand of God; Heb. 10. 12. But this man, after he had offered one ſacrifice for ſins, for ever ſat down on the right hand of God. This verſe is added in oppoſition to the former, as is evident by the firſt Particle (foreign) But in the former verſe it was proved, that the Sacrifices which were offered under the Law, could not take away ſins: This verſe proveth, that there is a Sacrifice, which hath done that that they could not do. The Argument is taken from that Prieſt's ceaſing to offer any more Sacrifices, after he had offered one; whereby is implyed, that there needed no other, becauſe that one had done it to the full; ſin was taken away by Chriſt's Sacrifice, for thereby a Ranſom was paid, and ſatisfaction made to the Juſtice of God for man's ſin, and thereupon ſin taken aaway: Now, ſin being taken away, Chriſt ſits down on the right hand of his Father. Look, as the humiliation of Chriſt was manifeſted in offering a Sacrifice, ſo his exaltation, in ſitting at God's right hand, was manifeſted, after that he had offered that ſacrifice. This phraſe, Set down, is a note of dignity and authority; and this dignity and Authority is amplified by the place where he is ſaid to ſit down, viz. on the right hand of God; and this honour and dignity is much illuſtrated by the continuance thereof, which is without date; For ever ſat down on the right hand of God. It is an Eclipſe of the luſtre of any glory, to have a date and a period: The very thought that ſuch a glory ſhall one day ceaſe, will caſt a damp upon the Spirit of him that enjoys that Glory: Chriſt's conſtant ſitting at the right hand of his Father, is a clear evidence, that he has finiſhed and compleated the work of our Redemption. Chriſt could never have gone to his Father, nor never have ſet down at the right hand of his Father, if he had not firſt fulfilled all Righteouſneſs, and fully acquitted us of all our iniquities; Joh. 16. 10. Of righteouſneſs, becauſe I go to my Father. The ſtrength of the Argument lies in this, Chriſt took upon him to be our Surety, and he muſt acquit us of all our ſins, and ſatisfie his Father's Juſtice, before he can go to his Father, and be accepted of his Father, and ſit down on the right hand of his Father: If God had not been fully ſatisfied, or if any part of Righteouſneſs had been to be fulfilled, Chriſt ſhould have been ſtill in the grave, and not gone to heaven; his very going to his Father, argues all is done, all is finiſhed and compleated. But
Sixthly, Chriſt having performed all the conditions of the Covenant on his part▪ he now peremptorily inſiſts upon it, that his Father ſhould make good to him and his, the conditions of the Covenant on his part; Chriſt having finiſhed his work, looks for his reward; Father, Joh. 17. 4, 5.ſays he, I have glorified thee on earth, I have finiſhed the work which thow gaveſt me to do. And now, O Father, glorifie thou me with thine own ſelf, with the glory which I had with thee, before the world was: There was a moſtThis tranſaction between the father and the ſon, is worthy of our moſt d…ep, ſerious and frequent meditation. bleſſed tranſaction between God the Father and God the Son, before the world began, for the everlaſting good of the Elect; and upon that Tranſaction depends all the good, and all the happineſs, and all the ſalvation of God's choſen; and upon this ground, pleads with his Father, that all his members may behold his glory; Joh. 17. 24. Father, I wil… that they alſo which thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory: Father, I will; not only I pray, I beſeech, but I will; I ask this as my right, by vertue of the Covenant betwixt us; I have done thus and thus, and I have ſuffered thus and thus, and therefore I cannot but peremptorily inſiſt upon it; that thoſe that I have undertaken for, be where I am, that they may behold my glory: (For though Glory be a gift to us, yet it is a debt that is due to Chriſt.) It is a part of Chriſt's joy, that we ſhould be where he is; Chriſt will not be happy alone, as a tender father, he can enjoy nothing, if his children may not have part with him. The greateſt part of our happineſs that we ſhall have in heaven, lies in this, that then we ſhall be with Chriſt, and have immediate communion with him. Oh ſirs! the great end of our being in heaven, is to behold and enjoy the glory of Chriſt: Chriſt is very deſirous, and much taken up with his peoples fellowſhip and company; ſo that before he removes his bodily preſence from them, his heart is upon meeting and fellowſhip again, as here we ſee in his prayer before his departure; and this he makes evident from day to day, in that, until that time of meeting come, two or three are not gathered in his name, but he is in the midſt of them; to eye their behaviour, toMat. 18. 20. hear their ſuits, to guide their way, to to protect their perſons, to chear their ſpirits, and to delight in their preſence: He delights to walk in the midſt of the ſeven golden Rev. 2. 1. Mat. 5. 14, 16. Pſal. 68, 16.candleſticks; the Golden Candleſticks are the Churches, which are the light of the world; and excel all other ſocieties, as much as Gold doth other Metals: And he deſires to dwell in the low and little hill of Zion; Zion is his reſting place, his choſen place, his dwelling place; Pſal. 132. 13. For the Lord hath choſen Zion, he hath deſired it for his habitation: Verſ. 14. This is my reſt for ever: Here will I dwell, for I have deſired it: Chriſt choſe Zion for his love, and loves it for his choice; and accordingly, he he delights to dwell there. The Lamb ſtands on MountRev. 14. 1. Zion: Chriſt is ready preſt for action; and in the midſt of all Antichriſt's Perſecutions, he hath always a watchful eye over Mount Zion, and will be a ſure life-guard to MountIſa. 4. 5, 6. Zion; he ſtands readily prepared to aſſiſt Mount Zion, to fight for Mount Zion, to communicate to Mount Zion, Iſa. 8. 18.and to be a refuge to Mount Zion; and no wonder, for he dwells in mount Zion. Now, if Chriſt take ſo much delight to have ſpiritual communion with his people in this2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them. The words are very ſignificant …n the Original, foreign, In ill in-dwell in them; ſo the words are; there are two ins in the Original, as if God could never ha…e enoughe▪ … munion with them. 2 Tr…, 1. 10. world, no wonder that he can never reſt ſatisfied, till their gracious communion with him here, iſſue in their perfect and glorious communion with him in heaven: And certainly the glory and happineſs of heaven to the Elect, will conſiſt much in being in Chriſt's company, in whom they delight ſo much on earth; to follow the Lamb whither ſoever he goes, to enjoy him fully, and to be always in his preſence, is the heaven of heaven, the glory of glory; 'tis the ſparkling Diamond in the Ring of Glory. The day is coming, wherein Believers ſhall be compleatly happy, in a ſight of Chriſt's glory, when he ſhall be conſpicuouſly glorified and admired in all his Saints, and glorified by them; and when, all veils being laid aſide, and they fitted for a more full fruition, ſhall viſibly and immediately behold and enjoy him; therefore is their condition in heaven deſcribed, as conſiſting in this, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me. …hus I have glanced at Chriſt's ſolemn demand on earth, for the full accompliſhment of that bleſſed Compact, Covenant, Agreement and Promiſes that were made to him, when he undertook the office of a Mediator; and now is in heaven, he appears in the preſence of God for us, as a…. 9. …4. Lawyer appears in open Court for his Client; opens the caſe, pleads the cauſe, and carries the day. The Verb, foreign, tranſlated to appear, ſignifieth conſpicuouſly to manifeſt: It is ſometimes taken in a good ſenſe, viz. to appear for one as a Favourite before a Prince, or as an Advocate or an Attourney before a Judge, or as the High Prieſts appeared once a year in the Holy of Holieſt, toExod. 30. 10. make atonement for the people: Chriſt is the great Favourite in the Court of glory, and is always at God'sRom. 8. 34. right hand, ready on all occaſions, to preſent our petitions to his Father, to pacifie his anger, and to obtain all1 Jo…. 2. 1. noble and needful favours for us: And Chriſt is our great Advocate, to plead our cauſe effectually for us. Look, as in Humane Courts, there is the Guilty, the Accuſer, the Court, the Judge, and the Advocate, ſo it is here; Heaven is the Court, Man is the guilty Perſon, Satan is the Accuſer, God is the Judge, and Chriſt is the Advovocate: Now, look as the Advocate appeareth in the Court before the Judge, to plead for the guilty, againſt the accuſer; ſo doth Chriſt appear before God in heaven, to anſwer▪ all Satan's objections and accuſations, that he may make in the Court of heaven againſt us; He ever lives to make interceſſion for us: Heb. 7. 25. The verb foreign, tranſlated interceſſion, is a compound, and ſigni…ies to call upon one; it is a judicial word, and importeth a calling upon a Judge, to be heard in this or that, againſtA…. 25. …. R…m. 11. 2. c…p. 8. 34. another or for another; ſo here Chriſt maketh interceſſion for them. The Metaphor is taken from Attorneys or Advocates, who appear for men in Courts of Juſtice; from Counſellers, who plead their Clients cauſe, anſwer the Adverſary, ſupplicate the Judge, and procure ſentence to paſs on their Clients ſide. This Act of making Interceſſion, may alſo be taken from Kings Favourites, who are much in the King's preſence, and ever ready to make requeſt for their friends: But remember, though this be thus attributed to Chriſt, yet we may not think, that in heaven Chriſt proſtrateth himſelf before him, or maketh actual prayers; that was a part of his humiliation, which he did in the days of his fleſh; but it implyeth…eb. 5 7. a preſenting of himſelf a Sacrifice, a Surety, and one that hath made ſatisfaction for all our ſins, together with manifeſting of his will and deſires, that ſuch and ſuch ſhould partake of the vertue and benefit of his Sacrifice; ſo as Chriſt's interceſſion conſiſteth rather in the perpetual vigour of his Sacrifice, and continual application thereof, than in any actual ſupplication. The intendment of this Phraſe applyed to Chriſt, to make interceſſion, is to ſhew, that Chriſt being God's Favourite, and our Advocate, continually appeareth before God, to make application of that Sacrifice, which once he offered up for our ſins. Chriſt appears in the preſence of God for us; 1. To preſent unto his Father himſelf, who is the price of our Redemption: 2▪ To make application of his Sacrifice to his Church time after time, according to the need of the ſeveral members thereof: 3. To make our perſons, prayers, ſervices and all good things acceptable to God. But
Seventhly and laſtly, The whole Compact and Agreement between God the Father and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt about the Redemption of poor ſinner's ſouls, was really and ſolemnly tranſacted in open Court; or, as I may ſay, in the High Court of Juſtice above, in the preſence of the great publick Notary of heaven, viz. the Holy Ghoſt; who being a third Perſon of the glorious Trinity of the ſame Divine Eſſence, and of equal power and glory makes up a third Legal Witneſs with the Father and the Son. They being (a…ter the manner of Kings) their own WitneſſesSo the King write…, … me…. This 1 Joh. 5. 7. is a very clea… Proof and Teſtimony of the Trinity of Perſons, in the Unity of the Divine …ſſence, they are …ll one in …ſſence and Will. As if three lamps were lighted in o… chamber, albeit the lamps be di…ers, yet the lights …annot be ſ… … ▪ ſo in the … there is a diſtruction of Perſo…s … … … phei…y of nature. alſo, 1 Joh. 5. 7. For there be three that …ear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one: Three, 1. In the true and real diſtinction of their Perſons; 2. In their inward Properties, as to beget, to be begotten, and to proceed; 3. In their ſeveral offices one to another, as to ſend and to be ſent: And theſe three are one, one in Nature and Eſſence, one in Power and Will, one in the act of producing all ſuch actions as, without themſelves, any of them is ſaid to act; and one in their Teſtimony, concerning the Covenant of Redemption, that was agreed on between the Father and the Son. Conſent of all parties, the Allowance of the Judge, and publick Record, is as much as can be deſi…ed to make all publick Contracts authentick in Courts of Juſtice; and what can we deſire more, to ſettle, ſatisfie and aſſure our own ſouls, that all the Article, of the Covenant of Redemption ſhall, on all hands, be …inly made good, than this, that theſe three heave…ly Witneſſe…, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy G…ſt, do all agree to the Articles of the Covenant, and … Witneſſes to the ſame Covenant? Thus you ſee▪ that there was a Covenant of Redemption made with Chriſt▪ upon the terms whereof he is conſtituted to be a …; to ſay to the priſoners, go forth, to bring delivera…e to the captives, and to proclaim the year of releaſe (or Jubile) the acceptable year of the Lord; as it is, Iſa. 61. 1, 2. I have been the longer in opening the …ovenant of Redemption, partly becauſe of its grand importance to all our ſouls, and partly becauſe others have ſpoken ſo little to it, to the beſt of my obſervation▪ and partly becauſe I have never before handled this Subject, either in the Pulpit, or the Preſs, &c.
Now, from the ſerious conſideration of this Compact, Covenant and Agreement, that was ſolemnly made between God and Chriſt, touching the whole buſineſs of man's Salvation or Redemption, I may form up this tenth Plea, as to the ten Scriptures that are in the Margin, thatEccleſ. 11. 9. cap. 12. 14. Mat. 12. 14. cap. 18. 23. Luk. 16. 2. Rom. …4. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Heb. 9. 27. cap. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 4. 5. Iſa. 53. 6. R…m. 5. 6▪ 8. Gal. 2. 20. refer to the great day of account, or to a man's particular day of account. Oh bleſſed God! I have read over the Articles of the Covenant of Redemption, that were agreed on between thy ſelf and thy deareſt Son; and I find by thoſe Articles, that dear Jeſus has died, and ſatisfied thy Juſtice, and pacified thy Wrath, and bore the Curſe, and purchaſed my pardon, and procured thy everlaſting favour: And I find by the ſame Articles, that whatever Jeſus Chriſt acted or ſuffered, he did act or ſuffer as my Surety, and in my ſtead and room. Oh Lord! when I look upon my manifold weakneſſes and imperfections, though under a Covenant of Grace, yet I am many times, not only grieved, but alſo ſtumbled and ſtaggered; but when I look up to the Covenant of Redemption, I am cheared, raiſed and quieted; for I am abundantly ſatisfied, that both thy ſelf and thy dear Son, are infinitely ready, able, willing and faithful to perform whatever in that Covenant is comprized; by theſe things men live,Iſa. 38. 16, 17. and in theſe is the life of my ſpirit: men may fail, and Friends may fail, and Relations may fail, and Trade may fail, and natural ſtrength may fail, and my heart may fail, but the Covenant of Redemption can never fail, nor thePſal. 73. 24, 25. Federates, who are mutually engaged in that Covenant, can never fail, and therefore I am ſafe and happy for ever; what though my ſins have been great and h…ynous, yet they are not greater than Chriſt's ſatisfaction, he did bear the Curſe for great ſins as well as ſmall, for ſins againſt the Goſpel as well as for ſins againſt the Law, for omiſſions as well as for commiſſions; aſſuredly, the Covenant of Redemption is a mighty thing, and there are no mighty ſins that can ſtand before that Covenant: If we look upon Manaſſeh, in thoſe black and ugly colours that the1 King. 21. 1, to 16 Holy Ghoſt paints him out in, we muſt needs conclude that he was a mighty ſinner, a monſtrous ſinner; and yet his mighty ſins, his monſtrous ſins could not ſtand before the Covenant of Redemption; the greateſt ſins are finite, but the merit of Chriſt's Redemption is infinite: All the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, there remained not ſo much as one of them, there was not one of themExod. 14. 28. Pſal. 106. 11. left alive to carry the news; the high and the low, the great and the ſmall, the rich and the poor, the honourable and the baſe, were all drowned: The Red Sea of Chriſt's blood drowns all our ſins, whether they are great or ſmall, high or low, &c. though my ſins be as ſcarlet, Iſa. 1. 18.my Redeemer will make them as white as ſnow; though they be as read as crimſon, they ſhall be as wool: There is not one of my ſins, for which Jeſus Chriſt hath not ſufferedEph. 1. 7. Coloſ. 1. 14. and ſatisfied; nor there is not one of my ſins, for which Jeſus Chriſt hath not purchaſed a pardon, and for which he hath not made my peace; though my ſins are innumerable, though they are more than the hairs of my head,Pſal. 4…. 12. or the ſands on the ſea-ſhore, yet they are not to be named in the day wherein the merits of Chriſt, the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, and the Covenant of Redemption is mentioned and pleaded: Be my ſins never ſo many; yea, though they might fill a Roll that might reach from Eaſt to Weſt, from North to South, from earth … heaven, yet they could but bring me under the Curſe, now Chriſt my Surety, that he might redeem me from the Curſe, hathGal. 3. 13. taken upon him the whole Curſe: I know there is no ſumming up of my debts, but Chriſt has paid them all; woe had been to me for ever▪ …ad Chriſt left but on… …nny upon the ſcore, for me to pay. As I have multiplied my ſins, ſo he has multiplied his pardons; Chriſt has cancelledIſa. 55. 7. all bonds, and therefore it is but juſtice in God, toCol…ſ. 2. 13, 14, 15, Jo…. 3…. 24. give me a full Acquittance, and to throw down all bonds as cancelled, ſaying, Deliver him, I have found a ranſom. Oh God, though my ſins are very many, and very great, yet if thou doſt not pardon them, the innocent blood of thy deareſt Son will lie upon thee, and cry out againſt thee; for he therefore died, that my ſins might be pardoned, ſo that now, in honour and juſtice, thou art obliged to pardon all my tranſgreſſions, and remember mine iniquities no Iſa. 43. 25 Dan. 9. 24.more. Now this is my Plea, Oh holy God, which I make to all thoſe Scriptures that reſpect my laſt account, and by this Plea I ſhall ſtand, well, ſaith God the Father, I accept of this Plea, I am pleaſed with this Plea, thyE…k. 18. 22. ſins ſhall not be mentioned, Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
I▪ ſhall now make a little improvement of what has been ſaid as to the Covenant of Redemption, and ſo draw to a concluſion.
Firſt, This Covenant of Redemption, as we have opened it, looks ſadly and ſowrly upon thoſe that make ſo great a noiſe about the Doctrine of Univerſal Redemption. The Covenant of Redemption extends it ſelf, not to everyMat. 24. 16. Luk 12. 32. Rom. 9. 11, 12. cap …. 5. 6. 7, …. Rom. 8. 39, 40. man in the world, but only to thoſe that are given by God the Father to Jeſus Chriſt. 2. It looks ſadly and ſowrly upon thoſe that make ſo great a noiſe about Gods chuſing or electing of men, upon the account of God's foreſeeing their faith, good works, obedience, holineſs when our election is merely of grace and ſavour, and flows onlyD…. 7. 6, 7. 8. …ap▪ 33. 1…. Rom. 9 11. … 1. 9. Eph. 1. 4. Rom. 8. 29 30. … … …. 1…. 1 P…. 1. 2. from the good will of h… that dwelt in the buſh, and faith, good works, holineſs, ſanctification, are the fruits and effects of Election, as the Scripture every where tells us; and as has been made evident in my opening the gracious terms of the Covenant of Redemption, but becauſe I have, in another place, treated of th…ſe things more largely, a touch here may ſuffice. But
Secondly. How ſhould this Covenant of Redemption ſpirit, animate and encourage all the Redeemed of God, to do any thing for Chriſt, to ſuffer any thing for Chriſt, to venture any thing for Chriſt, to part with any thingMark. 8. 34. 35, 38 Heb. 10. 34. cap. 11. for Chriſt, to give up any thing to Chriſt, who, according to the Covenant of Redemption, hath done and ſufferred ſuch great and grievous things, that he might bring us to glory, that are above all apprehenſions, and beyondHeb. 2. 1…, 1…. all expreſſions, who can tell me what is fully wrapped up in that one expreſſion, viz. That he poured out his ſoul unto death: Let us not ſhrink, nor ſaint, nor grow weary under our greateſt ſufferings for Chriſt, when ſufferings multiply, when they are ſharp, when they are more bitter than Gall or Wormwood, yea, more bitter than death it ſelf, then Remember the Covenant of Redemption, and how punctually Chriſt made good all the Articles of it on his ſide, and then ſaint and give out if you can: Well may I be afraid, but I do not therefore deſpair, for I thinkAuſtin. upon, and remember the wounds of the Lord, ſaith one: Nolo vivere ſine vulnere, cum te video vulneratum; Ob my …God, as long as I ſee thy wounds, I will never live without wound, ſaith another: Crux Chriſti clavis Paradiſi; The Damaſ…n.Croſs of Chriſt is the Golden Key that opens Paradiſe to us, ſaith one: I had rather, with the Martyrs and Conſeſſors,… have my Saviour's Croſs, than, with their Perſecutors, the worlds Crown; the harder we are put to it, the greater ſhall be our reward in heaven, ſaith another: Gardius the Martyr hit the nail, when he ſaid, it is to my loſs if youChryſoſt…m. ab…e me any thing in my ſufferings: If you ſuffer not for Religion, you will ſuffer for a worſe thing, ſaith one:V…n…mi…s. Never did any man ſerve me better than you ſerve me, ſaid another to his Perſecutors: Adverſus gentes, gratias agimus quod à moleſtis dominis liberemur, We thank you for delivering us from hard Task-maſters, that we may enjoy more ſweetly the boſom of our Lord Jeſus, ſaid the Martyrs: 'Twas a notable ſaying of …her, Eccleſia totum mundum convertit ſanguine & oratione; the Church converteth the whole world by blood and prayers: They may kill me, ſaid Socrates of his enemies, but they cannot hurt me; ſo may the redeemed of the Lord ſay; they may take away my head, but they cannot take away my Crown of life, of righteouſneſs, of glory, of immortality. The LacedemoniansRev. 2. 10. 2 lim. 4. 8. 1 Pe…. 5. 4. 5. were wont to ſay, it is a ſhame for any man to fly in time of danger; but for a Lacedemonian, it is a ſhame for him to deliberate: Oh, what a ſhame is it for Chriſtians, when they look upon the Covenant of Redemption, ſo much as to deliberate whether they were beſt ſuffer for Chriſt or no. Petrus Bleſenſis has long ſince obſerved, that the Courtiers of his time ſuffered as great trouble, and as many vexations, for vanity, as good Chriſtians did for the truth; the Courtiers ſuffered wearineſs and painfulneſs, hunger and thirſt, with all the Catalogue of Paul's afflictions; and what can the beſt Saints ſuffer more? Now, ſhall men that are ſtrangers to the Covenant of Redemption, ſuffer ſuch hard and great things for their luſts, for very vanity? and will not you, who are acquainted with the Covenant of Redemption, and who are intereſted in the Covenant of Redemption, be ready and willing to ſuffer any thing for that Jeſus, who, according to the Covenant of Redemption, has ſuffered ſuch dreadful things for you, and merited ſuch glorious things for you? But
Thirdly, From this Covenant of Redemption, as we have opened it, you may ſee what infinite cauſe we have to be ſwallowed up in the admiration of the Father's love in entring into this Covenant, and in making good all the Articles of this Covenant on his ſide: When man was fallen from his primitive purity and glory, from his holineſsGod ſo loved his Son, that he gave him all the world for his poſſeſſion, Pſal. 2. 8. But he ſo loved the world, that he gave Son and all for its Redemption. Bernard and happineſs, from his freedom and liberty, into a moſt woful gulf of ſin and miſery; when Angels and men were all at a loſs, and knew no way or means, whereby fallen man might be raiſed, reſtored and ſaved; that then God ſhould firſtly and freely propoſe this Covenant, and enter into this Covenant, that miſerable man might be ſaved from wrath to come; and raiſed and ſettled in a more ſafe, high and happy eſtate than that was, from which he was fallen in Adam: Oh, what wonderful, what amazing love is this! Abraham manifeſted a great deal of love to God, in offering up of his only Iſaac; but GodGen. 22. 12. has ſhewed far greater love to poor ſinners, in making his only Son an offering for their ſins; for 1. God loved Chriſt with a more tranſcendent love, than Abraham couldJoh. 10. 18. Heb. 10. 10, 12. love Iſaac: 2. God was not bound by the commandment of a ſuperiour to do it, as Abraham was: 3. God freely and voluntarily did it, which Abraham would never have done without a commandment: 4. Iſaac was to be offered after the manner of holy Sacrifices, but Chriſt ſuffered an ignominious death, after the manner of Thieves: 5. Iſaac was all along in the hands of a tender Father, but Chriſt was all along in the hands of barbarous enemies: 6. Iſaac was offered but in ſhew, but Chriſt was offered indeed and in very good earneſt: Is not this an exceſs, yea, a miracle of love? 'Tis good to be always a muſing upon this love, and delighting our ſelves in this love. But
Fourthly, From this Covenant of Redemption, as we have opened it, you may ſee what ſignal cauſe we have to be deeply affected with the love of Jeſus Chriſt, who roundly and readily falls in with this Covenant, and who has faithfully performed all the Articles of this Covenant; had not Jeſus Chriſt kept touch with his Father as to every Article of the Covenant of Redemption he could never have ſaved us, nor have ſatisfied Divine Juſtice, nor have been admitted into heaven. That Jeſus Chriſt might make full ſatisfaction for all our ſins, He was made a curſe Gal. 3 13.for us, whereby he hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law: All his ſufferings were for us. All that can be deſired of God by man, is mercy and truth; mercy in regard of our miſery, truth in reference to God's promiſes: That which moved Chriſt to engage himſelf as a Surety for us, was his reſpect to God and man: To God, for the honour of his Name; neither the mercy, nor the truth, nor the juſtice of God had been ſo conſpicuouſly manifeſted, if Jeſus Chriſt had not been our Surety: To man, and that to help us in our ſuccourleſs and deſperate eſtate. No creature either would or could diſcharge that debt, wherein man ſtood obliged to the juſtice of God. This is a mighty evidence of the endleſs love of Chriſt, this is an evidence of the endleſs and matchleſs love of Chriſt: We count it a great evidence of love, for a friend to be ſurety for us, when we intend no damage to him thereupon; but if a man be ſurety for that, which he knoweth the principal debtor is not able to pay, and thereupon purpoſeth to pay it himſelf; this we look upon as an extraordinary evidence of love: But what amazing love, what matchleſs love is this, for a man to engage his perſon and life for his friend, when as skin for skin, and all that a man hath, will he give for his life; and yet, according to the Covenant of Redemption, Jeſus Chriſt has done all this and much more for us, as is evident, if you will but caſt your eye back upon the Articles of the Covenant, or conſult the Scriptures in the Margin. If a friend, to free aJ…. 2. 4. Jo…. 1…. 11, 15▪ 17 18, 28▪ R…m. 5. 6, … Eph. 1. 5, 6, 7, … 2. 13, 14, 15 Heb. 2. 13, 1…, 15. captive, or one condemned to death, ſhould put himſelf into the ſtate and condition of him whom he freeth; that would be an evidence of love beyond all compariſon. But now, if the dignity of Chriſt's perſon and our unworthineſs, if the greatneſs of the debt and kind of payment, and if the benefit which we reap thereby be duly weighed, we ſhall find theſe evidences of love to come as much behind the love of Chriſt, as the light of a candle cometh ſhort of the light of the Sun. Chriſt's Suretiſhip, according to the Covenant of Redemption is and ought to be a prop of props to our faith: It is as ſure a ground of confidence that all is well, and ſhall be for ever well between God and us, as any the Scriptures does afford; by vertue hereof, we have a right to appeal to God's Juſtice, for this Surety hath made ful ſatisfaction; and to exact a debt which is fully ſatisfied, is a point of injuſtice. Chriſt knew very well what the Redemption of fallen man would coſt him, he knew that his life and blood muſt go for it, he knew that he muſt lay by his Robes of Majeſty, and be cloathed with fleſh, he knew that he muſt encounterS…lus Amo… neſ…it difficultates. men and Devils, he knew that he muſt tread the Winepreſs of his Father's wrath, bear the Curſe, and make himſelf an offering for our ſins, for our ſakes, for our ſalvation; yet, for all this, he is very ready and willing to bind himſelf by Covenant, that he will redeem us, whatever it coſt him. Oh, what tongue can expreſs, what heartEph. 3. 18, 19. Look where thou wilt, thou art ſurrounded with flames of his love; and it were ſtrange if thou ſhouldeſt not be ſet on fire, if not, ſure thou muſt needs be a Diabolical Salamander, ſay… Cu…anus. can conceive, what ſoul can comprehend, the heights, depths, bredths and lengths of this love! Oh bleſſed Jeſus, what manner of love is this! that thou ſhouldeſt waſh away my ſcarlet ſins, in thine own blood! that thou ſhouldeſt die, that I may live! that thou ſhouldeſt be curſed, that I might be bleſſed! that thou ſhouldeſt undergo the pains of hell, that I might enjoy the joys of heaven! that the face of God ſhould be clouded from thee, that his everlaſting favour might reſt upon me! that thou ſhouldeſt be an everlaſting Skreen, betwixt the wrath of God and my immortal ſoul! that thou ſhouldeſt do for me beyond all expreſſion, and ſuffer for me beyond all conception, and gloriouſly provide for me beyond all expectation! and all this according to the Covenant of Redemption! what ſhall I ſay? what can I ſay to all this? but fall down before thy grace, and ſpend my days in wondering at that matchleſs, bottomleſs love that can never be fathomed by Angels or men. Oh Lord Jeſus (ſaith one) pluſquam B…rnard.mea, pluſquam meas, pluſquam me; I love thee more than all my goods, and I love thee more than all my friends, yea, I love thee more than my very ſelf: 'Tis good to write after this copy. But
The Eleventh and laſt Plea that a Believer may form up, as to the ten Scriptures that are in the Margin, thatEccleſ. 11. 9. cap. 12. 14. …at. 12. 14. cap. 18. 23. Luk. 16. 2. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. H…b. 9. 27. cap. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 4. 5. refer to the great day of account, or to a man's particular account, may be drawn up from the conſideration of the Book of Life; out of which all the Saints ſhall be judged in the great day of our Lord; Rev. 20. 11. And I ſaw a great white throne, and him that ſat on it, from whoſe face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. Verſ. 12. And I ſaw the dead ſmall and great, ſtand before God: And the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of thoſe things which were written in the books, according to their works. Verſ. 13. And the ſea gave up the dead which were in it: And death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: And they were judged every man according to their works. Verſ. 14. And death and hell were caſt into the lake of fire: this is the ſecond death. And whoſoever was not found written in the book of life, was caſt into the lake of fire. In the 11. verſe, John deſcribes the Judge with his preparation, in the 12. verſe, he deſcribes the perſons that ſhould be judged, and then he deſcribes the proceſs and ſentence, and laſtly he deſcribes the execution of the ſentence; viz. the caſting of the reprobates into the Lake of fire, and the placing and fixing of the Elect in the heavenly Jeruſalem; verſ. 13, 14, 15.
In the five laſt verſes cited, you have a clear and full deſcription of the laſt General Judgment, as is evident by the native Context and Series of this Chapter: For havingRev. 2…. 1, 2, 3. Jude verſ. 6. ſpoken of the Devil's laſt Judgment, which by Jude is called The judgment of the great day: It is conſentaneous therefore, to underſtand this of ſuch a Judgment, whereby he is judged. And indeed, the expreſſions are ſo full, and the matter and circumſtances ſo ſatisfying and convincing, that they leave no place for fears, doubts or diſputes. This Scripture that is under our preſent conſideration, runs parallel with that, Dan. 12. 1, 2, 3. and ſeveral other places of Scripture, where the day of Judgment is ſpoken of; and let him that can, ſhew me at what other Judgment, all the dead are raiſed and judged; and all Reprobates ſent to hell, and all the Elect brought to heaven, and death and hell caſt into the Lake; all which are plainly expreſſed here: He ſhall be an Apollo to me, that can make theſe things that are hero ſpoken of, to agree with any other Judgment than the laſt Judgment. Let me give a little light into this Scripture, before I improve it, to that purpoſe for which I have cited it.
And I ſaw a great white throne, and him that ſat on it. a lively deſcription of the laſt Judgment, A Great Throne: Great, becauſe it is ſet up for the General Judgment of all, for the univerſal judgment of the whole world: Before this Throne all the Great ones of the world muſt ſtand, Popes, Emperours, Kings, Princes, Nobles, Judges, Prelates, without their Mitres, Crowns, Sceptres, Royal Robes, Gold chains, &c. And before this Throne, all other ſorts and ranks of men muſt ſtand. And he that ſits upon this Throne, is a great King, and a greatRev. 1. 5. cap. 17. 14. Rev. 19. 16. All the thrones of the Kings of the earth, with Solomon's Golden Throne, are but petty Thrones to this Throne; yea, they are but footſtools to this Throne; and therefore upon this ſingle ground it may well be called a great Throne. God above all Gods; he is Prince of the Kings of the earth, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Upon all which accounts, this Throne may well be called a great Throne. And 'tis called A White Throne, becauſe of its Celeſtial Splendor and Majeſty, and to ſhew the uprightneſs and Glory of the Judge: The white colour in Scripture, is uſed to repreſent purity and glory; here it ſignifies, that Chriſt the Judge ſhall give moſt juſt and righteous Judgment, free from all ſpot of partiality.
From whoſe Face the heaven and the earth fled away. The Splendor and Majeſty of the Judge is ſuch, as neither heaven or earth is able to behold or abide the ſame; how then ſhall the wicked be able to ſtand before him? Auguſtine underſtands it, for the future renovation of heaven and earth; and here he acknowledgeth an foreign, for the heaven and the earth fled not before, but after the Judgment; to wit, ſaith he, The Judgment being finiſhed then ſhall this heaven and earth ceaſe to be, when the Hyſteroſis is, when a thing is before put down, which ſhould come after; or contrariwiſe. Aug. lib. 20. de. C. D. c. 14. 1 …t. 3. 12.new heaven and earth ſhall begin; for this world ſhall paſs away by a change of things, not by an utter deſtruction: The heaven and the earth ſhall flee away; that is, this ſhape of heaven and earth ſhall paſs away; becauſe they ſhall be changed from vanity, through fire, that ſo they may be transformed into a much better and more beautiful eſtate; according to that which the Apoſtle Peter writeth, The heaven ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the elements melt with heat; but we expect new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs. How this paſſing away, …r periſhing of heaven and earth, ſhall come to paſs, there are divers opinions of learned men: Some think, that the ſubſtance or eſſence it ſelf of the world, ſhall wholly periſh and be annihilated: Others are of opinion, that only the corruptible▪ qualities thereof ſhall periſh and be changed, and the ſubſtance or eſſence remain: There ſhall be a renovation of all things, ſay moſt, and that only the faſhion of the world, that is, the outward form and corruptible qualities ſhall be deſtroyed; and ſo the earth ſhall be found no more as it was, but ſhall be made moſt beautiful and glorious, being to be delivered into the glorious liberty (as far as 'tis capable) of the ſons Rom. 8. 19, 20, 21, 22.of God; being to be freed from corruption and bondage: (And with theſe I cloſe.) The ſumm of the 21. verſe is, That the Creature ſhall not be always ſubject to vanity, but ſhall have a manumiſſion from bondage; of the which deliverance, three things are declared; Firſt, who, the Creature, that is, The World: Secondly, From what, from Corruption, which is a bondage: Thirdly, Into what eſtate, into the glorious liberty of the ſons of God. Some here note, the time of the deliverance of the Creature, namely, when the children of God ſhall be wholly ſet free; for though they have here a freedom unto righteouſneeſs, from the bondage of ſin, yet they have not a freedom of glory, which is from the bondage of miſery: But others take it for the ſtate it ſelf which ſhall be glorious, not the ſame with the children of God, but proportioned according to its kind with them; for it is moſt ſuitable to the liberty of the faithful, that as they are renewed, ſo alſo ſhould their habitation, And as, when a Noble man mourneth, his ſervants are all clad in black; ſo it is for the greater glory of man, that the Creatures, his ſervants, ſhould in their kind, partake of his glory. And whereas ſome ſay, that it is deliverance enough for the creature, if it ceaſe to ſerve man, and have an end of vanity, by annihilation: I affirm, it is not enough, becauſe this 21. verſe notes, not only ſuch deliverance, but alſo a further eſtate which it ſhall have after ſuch deliverance; namely, to communicate in ſome degree, with the children of God in glory. Certainly, the Creatures in their kind and manner, ſhall be made partakers of a far better eſtate, than they had while the world endured; becauſe that God ſhall fully and wholly reſtore the world, being fallen into corruption through the tranſgreſſion and ſin of Man-kind. And this doth more plainly appear by the Apoſtle's oppoſing ſubſequent liberty againſt former bondage; which, that he might more enlarge, he calleth it not ſimply, freedom or liberty, but liberty offoreign. If any ſhall enquire, what ſhall be the particular properties, works and uſes of all & every creature, after the laſt Judgment. I anſwer, 1. That as to theſe things, the word is ſilent, and 'tis not ſafe to be wiſe, above what is written: 2. Here is place for that which Tertu…ian calls, a learned Ignorance. Glory, as it is in the Greek Text; meaning thereby, according to the phraſe and propriety of the Hebrew tongue, glorious liberty, or liberty that bringeth glory with it; under which term of glory, he compriſeth the excellent eſtate that they ſhall be in after their delivery from their former baſeneſs and ſervitude. As for thoſe words of the ſons of God, to which we muſt refer the glorious liberty before mentioned; they muſt be underſtood by a certain proportion or ſimilitude, thus; that as in that great day, and not before, God's children ſhall be graciouſly freed from all dangers and diſtreſſes of this life whatſoever either in body or ſoul; and on the other ſide, made perfect partakers of Eternal Bleſſedneſs; ſo the Creatures then, and not before, ſhall be delivered from the vanity of man, and their own corruption, and reſtored to a far better eſtate, than at preſent they enjoy: which alſo, may further appear by the words the Apoſtle uſeth, ſetting glorious liberty, deliverance and freedome, againſt ſervile bondage and ſlavery. Chryſoſtome reads foreign, for the glorious liberty of the ſons of God; as if the end or final cauſe of their deliverance were pointed at, namely, that as God made the world for man, and for man's ſin ſubdued it to vanity: So he would deliver it and reſtore▪ it for men, even to illuſtrate and enlarge the glory of God's children. I could, by variety of Arguments, prove, that this deliverance of the Creature, that our Apoſtle ſpeaks of; ſhall not be by a reduction into nothing, but by an alteration into a better eſtate: But I muſt haſten to a cloſe.
Verſ. 12. And I ſaw the dead ſmall and great, ſtand before God. The Judge, before whom all do appear, is our dear Lord Jeſus, who hath the keys of hell and death in Rev. 1. 18. Act. 17. 30, 31.his hands; and who is deſigned and appointed by God the Father, to be the Judge of quick and dead; he hath Authority, and a Commiſſion under his Father's hand, to ſit and act as Judge. Here you ſee, that John calleth the Judge abſolutely God, but Chriſt is the Judge; therefore Chriſt is God abſolutely; and he will appear to be God in our nature, in that great day.
The Parties judged who ſtand before the Throne, are 1. Generally, the dead, all who had died from Adam, to the laſt day; he calls them the dead after the common Law of Nature (but then raiſed from death to life by theEph 2. 5. Coloſ. 2. 13. power of God) he ſpeaks not of men dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, but of ſuch as died corporally, and now were raiſed up to judgment. But ſhall not the living, then, be judged? Oh, yes! For we muſt all appear before the Judgment-ſeat 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rom. 149, 10.of Chriſt: That he may be Judge of the quick and the dead; and be Lord, both of the dead and the living: Under this phraſe, the dead, are comprehended all thoſe that then ſhall be found alive: By the dead, we are to underſtand the living alſo, by an Argument from the leſſer. If the dead ſhall appear before the Judgment-ſeat, how much more the living? But the dead alone are named, either becauſe the number of the dead, from Adam to the laſt day, ſhall be far greater than thoſe that ſhall be found alive on earth in that day; or becauſe thoſe that remain alive, ſhall be accounted as dead; becauſe they ſhall be 1 Cor. 15. 52.changed in the twinkling of an eye. Secondly, he deſcribes them from their age and condition, for the words may be underſtood of both, Great and ſmall; which takes in all ſorts of men, Tyrants, Emperours, Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lords, &c. as well as Subjects, Vaſſals; Slaves, Beggars; rich and poor, ſtrong and weak, bond and free, old and young, all and every one, without exception, are to be judged; for the Judgment ſhall be univerſal, no man ſhall be ſo great, as to eſcape the ſame; nor none ſo ſmall, as to be excluded; but every one ſhall have juſtice done him, without reſpect of perſons; as that great Apoſtle Paul tells us, We muſt all appear before the Judgment-ſeat 2 Cor. 5. 10.of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. I am no admirer of the School-men's notion, who ſuppoſe that all ſhall be raiſed about the age ofLum. lib diſt. 44 33. which was Chriſt's Age; but do judge that that perfection, which conſiſteth in the conforming them to Chriſt's glorious body, is of another kind, than to reſpect either age, ſtature, or the like.
Stand before God; that is, brought to Judgment; theJoh. 3. 18. guilty ſtanding ready to be condemned, and the Saints ſtanding ready, in Chriſt's preſence, to be abſolved and pronounced bleſſed.
And the books were opened. Chriſt the Judge being ſet on his Throne, and having all the world before him, the books are opened: 1. In the general, the books are ſaid to be open: 2. Here is a ſpecial book for the Elect, The book of life was opened: 3. Here you have ſentence paſſed and pronounced, according to what was written in theſe books, and according to their works: And the dead were judged out of thoſe things which were written in the books, according to their works. Here the Judicial Proceſs is noted by imitation of Humane Courts, in which the whole Proceſs is wont to be drawn up, and laid before the Judge; from whence the Judge determineth for or againſt the perſon, according to the Acts and Proofs that lie open before him. The Equity, Juſtice and Righteouſneſs of Chriſt the Judge, that ſits on his white Throne, is ſet forth by a Metaphor taken from Humane Courts; where the Judge pronounceth ſentence according to the written Law, and the Acts and Proofs agreeing thereunto: All things are Heb. 4. 13. Rev. 1. 14.naked and bare before him, whoſe eyes are as a flame of fire. But to ſhew that the Judgment ſhall be as accurate and particular in the trial, and juſt and righteous in the cloſe; as if all were regiſtred and put on Record, nothing ſhall eſcape or be miſtaken in its circumſtances, but all things ſhall be ſo cleared and iſſued beyond all doubts and diſputes, as if an exact Regiſtre of them had been kept and publiſhed; in all which, there is a plain alluſion unto the words of Daniel, ſpeaking thus of this Judgment, The Dan. 7. 10.Judgment was ſet, and the books were opened: We find ſix ſeveral books mentioned in the Scripture.
Firſt, The Book of Nature, that is mentioned by David▪ Pſal. 139. 16.Thine eyes did ſee my ſubſtance, yet being unperfect, and in thy book all my members were written; which in continuance were faſhioned, when as yet there was none of them. 'Tis a Metaphor from curious work men, that do all by theThe world ſaith Clemens Alexandrious is De… Scriptura, the firſt Bible that God made for the inſtruction of Man. Book, or by a Model ſet before them, that nothing may be deficient, or done amiſs. Had God left out an eye in his common place Book (ſaith one) thou hadſt wanted it: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament ſheweth his handy work: The Pſalmiſt looks upon that great Volume of heaven and earth, and there reads in Capital letters, the Prints and Characters of God's glory. This Book (ſaith one) was imprinted at the New Jeruſalem, by the finger of Jehovah; and is not to be ſold, but to be ſeen, at the ſign of Glory, of every one that lifts up his eyes to heaven. In this Book of nature which is made up of three great leaves, Heaven, Earth and Sea, God hath made himſelf viſible, yea, legible; even his eternal power and Godhead: So that all men are left withoutRom. 1. 20. excuſe. Out of this Book, the poor blind Gentiles might have learned many choice leſſons; as, Firſt, that they had a maker: Secondly, That this Maker being before the things made, is eternal, without beginning or ending. Thirdly, That he muſt needs be Almighty, which made all things out of nothing; and ſuſtained ſuch a Maſs of creatures: Fourthly, The order, variety and diſtinction of creatures, declare his marvellous Wiſdom: Fifthly, In this Book they might run and read the great goodneſs, and the admirable kindneſs of God, to the ſons of men; in making all the creatures for their good, for their ſervice and benefit: Sixthly and laſtly, In this Book they might run and read, what a moſt excellent, what a moſt admirable, what a moſt tranſcendent workman God was: What are the Heavens, the Earth, the Sea, but a ſheet of Royal Paper, written all over with the Wiſdom and Power of God? Now, in the great day of account, this Book ſhall be produced to witneſs againſt the Heathen World, becauſe they did not live up to the light that was held forth to them in this Book; but crucified that light and knowledge, by falſe ways of worſhip, and by their wicked manners; whereof the Apoſtle gives you a Bead-roll or Catalogue, from verſ. 21. to the end of that 1. of the Romans. But
Secondly, there is the Book of Providence, wherein…. all particulars are regiſtred, even ſuch as Atheiſts may count trivial and inconſiderable; Mat. 10. 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred: And where is their number ſummed up? even in the Book of Providence. The three Worthies were taken out of the fiery furnace,Dan. 3. 27 with their hairs in full number, not one of them ſinged: Paul encouraging the Paſſengers to eat, who were in fear and danger of death; tells them, that there ſhould not an Act. 27. 34.hair fall from the head of any of them: And when Saul 1 Sam. 14. 45.would have put Jonathan to death, the people told him, That there ſhould not a hair of his head fall to the ground. Chriſt doth not ſay, that the hairs of your eye lids are numbred, but the hairs of your head, where there is the greateſt plenty, and the leaſt uſe. Though hair is but an excrement, and the moſt contemptible part of man; yet every hair of an Elect perſon, is obſerved, and regiſtred down in God's Books, and not one of them ſhall be loſt. Nor the Holy Ghoſt doth not ſay, the hairs of your heads ſhall be numbred, but the hairs of your head are all numbred, God has already booked them all down; and all to ſhew us that ſpecial, that ſingular care that God takes of the ſmalleſt and leaſt concernments of his choſen ones. This Book of Providence God will produce in the great day, to confute and condemn the Atheiſts of the World; who have denied a Divine Providence, and whoſe hearts have ſwelled againſt his Government of the world, according to the counſels of his own heart. But
Thirdly, There is the Book of men's afflictions, this ſome account an entire Book of it ſelf; Pſal. 56. 8. Thou telleſt my wandrings; put thou my tears into thy bottle, are The Septuagint, for my wandrings or flit…ings, have foreign, my L…fe; to teach us, ſaith one, that our life is but a flitting.they not in thy book? God told all thoſe weary ſteps that David took, in paſſing over thoſe two great Forreſts, when he fled from Saul; or thou cyphereſt up my flittings, as the words may be read; whilſt David was hunted up and down like a Partridge, and huſhed out of every buſh, and had no certain dwelling place; but driven from poſt to pillar, from one Countrey to another: God was all this while a noting down, and a numbering of his flittings, and a bottleing up his tears, and a booking down his ſighs; Put thou my tears into thy bottle, Heb. my tear; that is every tear of mine; let not one of them be loſt, but kept ſafe with thee, as ſo much ſweet water. God is ſaid in Scripture, to have a Bag and a Bottle, a Bag for our ſins, and a Bottle for our tears; and Oh, that we would all labour to fill his bottle with our tears, as we have filled his bag with our ſins; and certainly, if the white tears of his ſervants be bottled up, the red tears of their blood ſhall not be caſt away; if God keep the tears of the Saints in ſtore, much more will he remember their blood to avenge it; and though Tyrants burn the bones of the Saints, yet they cannot blot out their tears and blood out of God's Regiſter; Are they not in thy book? are they not in thy Regiſter, or Book of Accounts (where they cannot be blotted out by any time or Tyrants?) i. e. yes, certainly they are; thou doſt aſſuredly book them down, and wilt never forget one of them, according to the uſual Interrogatory, that was uſed among the Hebrews, when they affirmed a thing paſt all doubt. Let the great Nimrods and oppreſſors of the Saints look to themſelves, for God books down all the afflictions, ſufferings and perſecutions of his ſervants; and in the great day, he will bring in this Book, this Regiſter, to witneſs againſt them. Ah ſinners, ſinners, look to your ſelves; in the great day of account, the Lord will reckon with you, for every rod that he hath ſpent upon you; he will reckon with you, not only for all your mercies, but alſo for all your croſſes; not only for all your ſweets, but alſo for all your bitters; not only for all your cordials, but alſo for all your corraſives: In this Book of Afflictions, there is not only Item for this mercy and that, but Item, alſo, for this affliction and that, this ſickneſs and that, this croſs and that, this loſs and that: And will not the opening of this Book of the Saints afflictions and ſufferings, and of ſinners afflictions and ſufferings, be as the hand-writing uponDan. 5. 5, 6. the wall, to all the wicked of the earth, in the great day of account? ſurely, yes; for as they cannot anſwer for one mercy of ten thouſand that they have enjoyed, ſo they cannot anſwer for one affliction of ten thouſand, that they have been exerciſed with. But
Fourthly, There is the Book of Conſcience. Conſcience, ſaith Philo, is the little Conſiſtory of the ſoul: ConſcienceR…m. 2. 14, 15. is Mille Teſtes, A thouſand Witneſſes, for or againſt a man: Conſcience is God's Preacher, in the boſom: Conſcience hath a good memory. (ſaith one.) The chiefGen. 41. 9. Butler forgot the promiſe that he had made to Joſeph, but Conſcience told him of it. Fama propter homines, conſcientia propter Deum, ſaith Auguſtine; A good name will carry it amongſt men; but it is a good conſcience only, that can acquit us before God. In this great day, the Book of every man's Conſcience ſhall be opened for their conviction,The Conſcience is a Domeſtick and true Tribunal, ſaith Nazianzen…. wherein they ſhall read their guilt in legible Characters; for that is a Book of Record, wherein men's actions are entred: and although now it be ſhut up cloſe, and ſinners will, by no means, be brought to look into it; …and though many things that are written in this Book, ſeem to be ſo greatly obliterated and blotted, that they can hardly be read: Yet, in that great day of Accounts, God will refreſh and recover the luſtre of thoſe Ancient Writings; and ſinners, in that day, ſhall find, that Conſcience… hath an Iron Memory. In the laſt day, God will bring the Book of Conſcience out of the Rubbiſh, as they did the Book of the Law, in Joſiah's time; and the very laying open of this Book before ſinners, will even put them beſides their w…ts, and fill them with unſpeakable horrour and terrour; and be a hell on this ſide hell unto them: In this Book they ſhall find an exact account of every vain thought they have had, and of every idle word they have ſpoke, and of every evil action they have done; and Oh, what amazement and aſtoniſhment will this fill them with! By the Books, in this, Rev. 20. 12. Origen doesComm. ad. Rom. 14. underſtand the Books of Conſcience, which now are hid, not from God, but from moſt men; for the hidden things of the heart are not now known; but then they ſhall be opened, and manifeſted to the Conſciences of every ſinner, ſo as there ſhall be no place, no room left for anyAmbr. in Pſ…l. 1. excuſe or Plea. Ambroſe ſaith, that the Books that are here ſaid to be opened, are the Books of men's Conſciences, and God's Omniſcience. Oh, what dreadful challenges and accuſations will every ſinner be forced to read out of this Book of Conſcience, in the great day: Oh, how, in that great day, will all wicked men wiſh, that they had followed the counſel of the Heathen Orator, when he ſaid, A recta conſcientia ne latum quidem unguem diſcedendum: Ci…. … Oſſic.A man may not depart an hairs breadth, all his life long, from the dictates of a good Conſcience. The Book of God's Omniſcience takes in all things paſt, preſent and to come, as if he had kept a Diary of every man's thoughts, words and actions. But
Fifthly, There is the Book of Scripture; and of all Books, this Book is the moſt precious Book. The Book of the Creature, is but as the Inventory of the Goods; the Book of the Scripture, is the evidence, and conveyance, and aſſurance of all good to us. The Book of Scripture, is the Book of the Statutes and Ordinances of the King of Heaven, which muſt be opened and conſulted, and by which all muſt be judged in the great day; Jam. 2. 12. So ſpeak ye; and ſo do, as they that ſhall be judged Jam. 23, 25.by the law of liberty; i. e. by the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, by the whole Word of God, regiſtred in the bleſſed Scriptures. Now, the whole Word of God is called the Law of Liberty; becauſe thereby we are born again, to a new ſpiritual life, and ſo freed from the Bondage and Slavery of ſin and Satan. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in his proceedingsLet the Word be Preſident in all Aſſemblies and Judgments, ſaith Beza. In the Nicene Council Cenſt…n…e cauſed the Bible to be ſet upon a Desk▪ a… Judge of all controverſies: the Word ſhall be the Judge of all men's Eſtates at laſt▪ every man ſhall ſtand or fall according as he holds weight in the Ballance of the Sanctuary. in the great day of Account, will judge us by the Scriptures, and paſs everlaſting ſentence upon us, according to the tenour of the Scriptures. At the great and general Aſſizes, Chriſt will try all cauſes by the Word of God, and paſs Judgment upon all ſorts of perſons according to the Word; Joh. 12. 48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have ſpoken, the ſame ſhall judge him in the laſt day. The perſons that are to be judged in the great day, are not believers in Chriſt, they are not receivers of Chriſt; but ſuch as reject his perſon, and receive not his Doctrine. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; &c. However the rejecters of Chriſt may eſcape Judgment for a time; yet, they ſhall never be able to eſcape the Judgment of the laſt day; they ſhall aſſuredly, they ſhall unavoidably be judged in the laſt day: Though the rejecters of Chriſt had none to witneſs againſt them, yet the Word of the Lord ſhall be more than a thouſand witneſſes againſt them in the great day: The word that I have ſpoken, the ſame ſhall judge him in the laſt day. The Word of the Lord is ſo ſure and infallible a word, that Chriſt's Sentence in the great day (when heaven2 Pet. 3. 7, 10, 11, 12. and earth ſhall paſs away) ſhall proceed according to the Verdict and Teſtimony thereof; For the word that I have ſpoken, ſhall judge him in the laſt day: Chriſt will pronounce then, according to what it ſaith now; and that as well in favour of Believers, as againſt unbelievers.Ad. 17. 31. Look, as Chriſt himſelf is ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead; ſo the Word, the Doctrines which he hath delivered, will be the rule of all his Judicial proceedings, both in acquitting the righteous, and condemning the wicked. By the Books in this, Rev. 20. 12. Auguſtine Lib. 20. De C. Dei c. 14. and Beda ſaith the ſame with Auſtin.underſtands the Books of the Old and New Teſtament, which ſhall then be opened; becauſe, according to them the Judge will pronounce ſentence; Rom. 2. 16. When God ſhall judge the ſecrets of men by Jeſus Chriſt, according to my Goſpel, which promiſeth heaven and happineſs to all believers. The Sentence of the laſt day ſhall be but a more manifeſt declaration of that Judgment, that the Lord, in this life, moſt an end, hath paſſed upon men. Heathens ſhall be judged by the Law of Nature, profligate Profeſſors by the written Law, and the WordMar. 16. 16. preached: Believers by the Goſpel, which ſaith, He that believeth, ſhall be ſaved; He that believes, ſhall not Joh. 3. 15, 16. 36. cap. 5. 24. Pa…eus. 2 Cor. 8. 12.periſh, but have eternal, life; He that believeth on the Son, hath everlaſting life; He that believeth, ſhall not come into condemnation, but is paſſed from death to life. Chriſt ſhall, in the great day, give Sentence according to the Doctrine of the Goſpel, which ſaith, If there be firſt a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. The Jeſuits report of a Student at Paris, who coming to Confeſſion, and not being able, for tears and ſobbings, to ſpeak, was willed by his Confeſſor, to write down his ſins, which he did; and when the Confeſſor received it, the writing vaniſhed, and there remained nothing but the white and clean paper; this ſay they, was by a miracle, becauſe of his great contrition. Let the credit of this ſtory, be upon the reporter; but upon the credit of the Word of God, if we believe: really, ſavingly, and repent unfeignedly, all our ſins ſhall be blotted out; and a Book of clean paper (in reſpect of ſin) ſhall be preſented to theGod neither needeth nor uſeth Books to judge by, but this is ſpoken after the manner of men. Mordecai's name was Regiſtred in the Chronicles of Perſia, Ejih. 6. 1, 2 3. And Iamerlane had always, by him a Catalogue of his beſt Servants, and their good deſerts, which he daily peruſed. Judge. But
Sixthly, and laſtly, There is a Book of Life, Rev. 20. 12. And another book was opened, which is the book of life: the Book of Life, is the Book of all thoſe that were elected and redeemed to life, through Chriſt Jeſus. This Book of Life containeth a Regiſter of ſuch particular perſons, in whoſe Salvation, God from all Eternity, determined to have his mercy glorified; and for whom Chriſt merited Faith; Repentance, and perſeverance, that they ſhould repent, believe, and be finally ſaved. The book of life ſhall be opened; that is to ſay, the Decrees of God will be then publiſhed and made known, which now are ſealed up in his breaſt, and locked up in his Archives. Then it will be ſeen who are appointed to life, for the glorifying of God's free, rich and Soveraign Grace; and whom he purpoſed to leave in their ſins, and to periſh for ever, for the exaltation of his Juſtice. 'Tis called A Book of Life; not that God hath need of a Book, but to note the certainty of Predeſtination; viz. that God knows all and every of the Elect, even as men know a thing which, for memory's ſake, they ſet down in writing. This Book of Life ſhall be opened in the great day, becauſe then it ſhall appear, who were Elect, who Reprobates; who truly believed in Chriſt, who not; who worſhipped God in ſpirit and in truth, and who not; who walked with God as Noah, and who not, who ſet up God as the object of their fear; who not; who followed the Lamb whither ever he went, and who not; who were ſincere, and who not; who preferred Chriſt above ten thouſand worlds, and who preferred Barrabas before Jeſus; and their Farms, and their Oxen, and theirMat. 25. 32. Swine, yea, their very Luſts, before a Saviour, a Redeemer;Ezek. 9. 4, 6. who are Sheep, and who are Goats; who are Sons, and who are Slaves; who have mourned for their own ſins and the ſins of the time, and who they are that have made a ſport of ſin, &c. Of this Book of Life, you read often in Scripture; Phil. 4. 3. And I intreat thee alſo, true yoke-fellow, help thoſe women which laboured with me in the Goſpel, with Clement alſo, and with other my fellow-labourers, whoſe names are in the book of life. Vorſtius thinks it a ſpeech taken from the cuſtome of ſouldiers or Cities, in which the choſen Souldiers or Citizens, are by name written in a certain Book or Roll. This Book or Roll is called here The Book of Life, becauſe therein are written all the Elect, who are ordained to Eternal Life, Rev. 3. 5. He that overcometh, the ſame ſhall be cloathed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life: In this Book of Life, all the juſt that live by faith, are written. The Elect are certain ofJoh. 10. 28, 29, 30 31. eternal life, they ſhall never periſh, nor none can ever pluck them out of the Father's hand, nor out of Chriſt's hand. God is ſaid to have Books Metaphorically,The Holy God, by an Ambr…pepatheria ſpeaketh to our capacity, for he doth all things without the help of Books. he needs no Books to help his Memory, he does all things by his infinite Wiſdom, Eternal Foreknowledge, Counſel, Government and Judgment; but thus men cannot do; for whatſoever is done in their Councils, Cities, Families, Contracts, &c. for memory's ſake, is ſet down in writing; that ſo, as there is occaſion, they may look it over, and call to mind ſuch things as they deſire: Mark, not to have our names blotted out of the Book of Life, is to have them always remain therein; that is, to enjoy Eternal Glory; and what can the ſoul deſire more? The names of the Elect are written in the Book of Life; they do not obtain Salvation by chance, but were elected of God to life and happineſs, before the Foundation of the World. Now, their names being once written in the Book of Life, they ſhall never, never be blotted out of that Book. In the Book of Predeſtination, there is not one blot to be found; the Salvation of the Elect, is moſt ſure and certain; Rev. 13. 8. And all that dwell on the earth ſhall worſhip him, whoſe names are not written in the book of life, of the Lamb ſlain from the foundation of the world. The names of the Elect are ſaid to be written in the Book of Life, by an uſual Metaphor, for we commonly write down the names of ſuch as are dear unto us, that we may continually remember them: So God having, in his Eternal Council, elected ſome to Salvation, hath written their names in the Book of Life; as our Saviour tells us, Rejoyce, becauſe your Luk. 10. 20.names are written in heaven. Some underſtand the Metaphor of the Sonſhip of the Elect; ſo that to be written in the Book of Life, ſhews that they are heirs of Glory; for we know that ſuch are to inherit, whoſe names are written in the laſt Will and Teſtament of men. Of this Book of Life, you may further read, Rev. 17. 8. Rev. 20. 15. Rev. 21. 27. Rev. 22. 19.
Now, from this Book of Life, that ſhall be opened, in the great day, when the other Books ſhall be opened (as hath been ſhewed) every ſincere Chriſtian may form up this Eleventh Plea, as to the Ten Scriptures that are in the Margin, that refer to the greatEccleſ. 9. 11. cap. 12. 14. Mat. 12. 14. cap. 18 23. Luk. 16. 2. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. H…b. 9. 27. cap. 13. 17. 1 Pet. …. 5. Dan. 9. 24. Coleſ. 2. 14. day of account, or t… man's particular account. Moſt Holy and Bleſſed Lord! caſt thine eye upon the Book of Election, and there thou wilt find my name written: Now, my name being written in that Book, I am exempt from all condemnation, and intereſted in the great Salvation; my name being written in the Book of Life, I am ſecured from coming into the Judgment of Reprobation or Condemnation; Joh. 5. 14. Revel. 21. 27. Jeſus Chriſt, who hath written my name in the Book of Life, hath made up my acounts for me; he hath ſatisfied thy Juſtice, and pacified thy Wrath, and born the Curſe, and purchaſed my Pardon, and put upon me an everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and given me my Quietus eſt; he has croſt out the black lines of my ſins, with the red lines of his blood; he has cancelled all the Bonds, wherein I ſtood obliged to Divine Juſtice. I further plead, O Bleſſed Lord! That there is an immutable Connexion betwixt being written in this Book of Life, and the obtaining of Eternal Life; and if the Connexion betwixt being written in this Book of Life, and the obtaining of Eternal Life were not peremptory, what reaſon could there be of opening this Book, in the day of Judgment. The Book of Life is a Book of Sovereign Grace, upon which lies the weight of my Salvation, my happineſs, my all; and therefore, by that Book I deſire to ſtand or fall. Well, ſaith the Lord, I cannot but accept of this Plea, as holy, honourable, juſt and righteous; and therefore, enter thou into the ioy of thy Lord, inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee: Mat. 25. 21, 34. Thus, by Divine Aſliſtance, and by a ſpecial, and a gracious hand of Providence upon me, I have finiſhed thoſe ſelect and important Caſes of Conſcience, which I deſigned to ſpeak to.
Soli Deo Gloria in Aeternum.
End of the text · Thomas Brooks, Paradise Opened (1675)