An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 105
SERM, CV.
A further Diſcovery of the great Changes that will be wrought at the Day of Chriſt's ſecond coming.
2 COR. 1. 14.
In the day of the Lord Jeſus.
AT this great day (you heard) there would be a wonderfull change upon the thoughts and perſwaſions of men, to what they are now. It is not ſo much, what thy affections and apprehenſions are for the preſent, There will be a great change in wicked mens thoughtsbut what they be at that day. Eſpecially in three things this Change will be ſeen,
1. About Godlineſſe, which hath been diſpatched.
2. About Good men.
3. About Chriſt.
We come therefore to the ſecond, and that is the wonderfull change 2. Of good men, asthat wicked men ſhall then have in reference to thoſe who live godly, and dare not conforme themſelves to the courſe of this world. As
Firſt, Such who ſeparate themſelves from the evil wayes of the world, 1. That they are fools.They are matter of reproach and ſcorne; They are judged the fooles, and the ſimple ones, by all that live near them; But at that day, you will have other thoughts, you will then admire their happineſſe, call your ſelves the fools and deluded ones, wiſhing that it might fare ſo with you, as it doth with them. It is ſaid of thoſe noble Worthies, Heb. 11. 38. That they had tryal of cruel mockings. Yea David, though a King, Pſal. 69. 12. complaineth, He was the ſong of the drunkards. Thus you ſee what thoughts men of the world have of ſuch who fear God; as Michal did David, They deſpiſe them in their heart. But oh the wonderfull alteration that day will cauſe, when thou ſhalt ſee thoſe who were deſpiſed by thee, honoured by God: Thoſe whom thou didſt reproach, to be bleſſed by God: What a confuſion will this be to thee? Then you will cry out, We fools and mad men, judged their wayes folly and matter of ſcorn; but with what unſpeakable glory doth God honour them?
Secondly, Another falſe perſwaſion they have about godly men, is, That 2. Hypocrites.they are Hypocrites, that all they do is not out of love to God, but for oſtentation ſake. That it is not the glory of God, but their own glory and advantage, that they ſeek after. Paul was ſo often charged with corrupt ends in his Miniſtry, that he is compelled to make his Apologetical Defence to clear himſelf. Yea Chriſt himſelf was judged by the Phariſees to be an Impoſtor, and that he came of himſelf, doing his own will, and ſeeking his own glory, which made him ſo earneſtly deny it, Iohn 6. 38. Iohn 8. 50. This is a ſore evil upon the ſonnes of men, that becauſe they have an enmity and hatred againſt the godly, yet they cannot put this forth upon godlineſſe, as godlineſſe, therefore they repreſent the godly in ſuch colours, and lay ſuch things to their charge, that they may ſeeme to have juſt cauſe to vent their malice againſt them. But at that day their ſincerity and integrity will appear; then all the world ſhall ſee, that their hearts were upright, their aimes and intentions ſincere; that what reproofe, what holy endeavours they uſed for the recovering of men out from their ſinnes, was not out of hatred, or any other ill principle, as wicked men are now apt to judge, but out of pure love and deſire for their ſoules good. Let not then evil and ungodly men, take upon them to judge the hearts of others, that is the prerogative of God alone; neither doe thou judge before the great day of judgement. Take heed of calling ſuch Hypocrites and diſſemblers; of calling ſuch Phariſaical and conceited, whom it may be God will own at that day, for his jewels, for his faithfull ones. If there be any Judas, who followeth Chriſt becauſe of the Bagge; If there be any who believe in Chriſt, yet love the glory of men more than of God, they ſhall beare their burden. The portion of Hypocrites in Hell, is a double portion: But let not all the Apoſtles be cenſured for a Judas; Let not all be judged Hypocrites, becauſe he was ſo. Remember that this day is a revelation of all things: all the hidden purpoſes and counſels of mens hearts ſhall then be made manifeſt. The Apoſtle giveth this exhortation to ſuch as judged him, 1 Corinth. 4. 5. he ſheweth them, how little he regarded mans judgement, for it is the Lord that judgeth. Therefore they are not to judge any thing before the time, untill the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſſe, and will make manifeſt the counſels of mens hearts, and then ſhall every man have praiſe of God. Is not this a full place, to make thee afraid of all cenſures and hard ſpeeches againſt ſuch who profeſſe godlineſſe, Let them alone to the Lord; there is a day, when all the thoughts of their hearts, all the purpoſes and intentions of the ſoule in holy duties ſhall be made manifeſt; it ſhall then be diſcovered, who was faithfull, and who was inſincere, and wilt thou anticipate this day? Little doeſt thou thinke how much ſuch as feare God in truth, doe bewaile that partial hypocriſie and inſincerity which is within them; how greatly they feare, leſt they ſhould deceive themſelves, and doe holy duties for falſe ends, and not out of pure reſpect to God himſelfe; Such then ſhall have praiſe of God, and their integrity manifeſted before Angels and men.
Thirdly, There will be a change of mens thoughts as to the godly, In 3. In reſpect to their outward eſtate.respect of their external eſtate and condition. They have for the moſt part the evil things of the world, when the wicked enjoy the glorious things thereof. Are not afflictions, troubles and miſeries, as inſeparably following the people of God, as the ſhadow doth the body? Doth not our Saviour fore-warn his Diſciples of the great trouble that they ſhall meet with in the world? Doth not Paul himſelf ſay, 1 Corinth. 15. 19. If we have hope in this life onelyonly, we are of all men moſt miſerable? Of all men] Becauſe other men will follow the pleaſures and profits of the world: Other men will ſuck out the honey that is to be had in the creatures; They will eſcape all miſery and perſecution, by becoming any thing in Religion, and thereby ſave themſelves out of danger; but as for the godly they are as ſheep appointed for the ſlaughter all the day long: Their tender conſcience, and feare to ſinne againſt God, putteth them into many loſſes and diſadvantages, which the men of the world can imbrace. Now it being thus with them, this doth exceedingly prejudice men againſt godly men. Their outward condition is many times dangerous; they ſeeme to be caſt off even by God himſelfe, as if he did not love them, or owne them for his; and this keepeth off many from walking in the pathes of holineſſe. If the applauſe, honour, and great things of the world did accompany the power of godlineſſe, then all would ſtrive to enter in at ſuch a broad gate; but becauſe it is with them, as with Chriſt, they appeare with no external glory and lovelineſſe upon them. Hence it is that of all men they will not owne ſuch, or joyne to ſuch. But this great day will make you have other thoughts of their condition; when you ſhall ſee their ſackcloth taken off, and robes of honour put upon them; when you ſhall ſee theſe Lazaruſſes with no more ſores on them, or deſiring crummes from the Table, but placed in Abraham's boſome. This will make you then to wiſh, Oh that we had endured the ſame hardſhip, gone through the ſame wilderneſſe, ſeeing they have now arrived at ſuch a bleſſed Land, as they are!
In the third and laſt place, The thoughts and apprehenſions of men about Chriſt, 3. Their thoughts will be changed as to Chriſt. 1. They will then behold him the chiefeſt good.will be greatly changed at that day, from what they have at preſent; in two particulars eſpecially,
Firſt, When Chriſt is offered now to us, and we may be made partakers of him, yet we refuſe him, we will not receive him, we had rather have our luſts than Chriſt; we love father, mother, and life it ſelfe, more than Chriſt. Such low thoughts have we of him now: But oh the time is coming, when Chriſt, and onelyonly Chriſt will be in requeſt! At that day he is happy who ſhall have an intereſt in Chriſt. Thoſe Gadarens that intreated Chriſt to depart out of their coaſts, regarding their hoggs more than he; with what confuſion will they behold him at that day? We ſhall then ſee there is good reaſon for that Doctrine, He that loveth father, more than me: or he that loveth life it ſelf more than me, is not worthy of me, Matth. 10. 37. For happily fleſh and blood may for the preſent ſay, This is an hard ſaying, who can beare it? To love Chriſt more than father that begat me, and maintaineth me; from whom happily I may expect great and large gifts: Or better than life, which is above all earthly mercies. Will Chriſt be as good as theſe to me? Shall I not loſe by loving him more than theſe? But if a man conſider what Chriſt is? How he will appeare at that day? How happy are they who can claime an intereſt in him? Then they will ſee reaſon, why Chriſt ſhould be preferred above all. Now we are for Barabbas rather than Chriſt: Now Chriſt knocketh at the door to come in, and we will not open to him: But who is there then that would not cry out, Oh let Chriſt juſtifie me, let him ſanctifie me, let him ſave me! Thus the ſtone that is now refuſed, will be the head corner-ſtone.
Secondly, Many deceive themſelves in their thoughts about Chriſt, apprehending 2. As a Judge, as well as a Saviour.onelyonly love and willingneſſe in him to ſave. They never thinke of Chriſt, but as a Saviour: Though never ſo polluted by ſinne, yet they call him, their good Saviour, their bleſſed Saviour; but at this day, thou wilt then have other thoughts: Thou wilt then ſee, he can damne as well ſave; he can be a Lion as well as a Lambe. This mercifull Saviour will be a ſevere and juſt Judge. Thus (Revelat. 6. 16, 17.) you have the great men, and rich men of the earth, hiding themſelves in Dens, and calling to the Mountaines and Rockes to fall upon them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lambe, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who ſhall be able to ſtand? Thus you ſee, that your thoughts about Chriſt at that day, will be wholly changed: You that thinke onelyonly of mercy, that ſpeak onelyonly of mercy, that look onelyonly upon Chriſt as a Saviour: What trembling will this be to you, when you ſhall ſee him come as a Judge with ten thouſand of Angels, when you ſhall heare him pronounce his terrible ſentence upon ungodly men, then how will your hearts melt within you? Then you will beginne to ſay within your ſelves, Oh that we had not made an Idol-Chriſt, that we had not fancied a Chriſt to our ſelves! This is not ſuch a Chriſt as we looked for! This is not ſuch a Chriſt as we expected! Even as the Jewes looked for another Meſſiah, then was indeed to come, which proved their deſtruction: So alſo many doe fancy to themſelves ſuch a Saviour, made up onelyonly of mercy at that great day. And therefore whereas they promiſe to themſelves peace, they will meet with horrour and deſolation. And thus much for thoſe particulars. The next general Propoſition is,
That there will be a wonderfull change upon mens thoughts in reference to There will be at the great day a great change as to Gods providence.Gods dispenſations, and his providence in this world.
Gods proceedings here below have beene the ſubject of many Heathens diſputes. Yea David and Jeremiah were ready to ſtagger and fall with the conſideration of Gods various dealings in this world; eſpecially that particular went deep into them, why God ſhould let the wicked live in all proſperity, and at hearts eaſe, and in the meane while, the godly goe bowed downe, not able to lift up their heads? Now this Queſtion will never be fully anſwered, till that great day; and therefore it is called, The day of reſtoring of all things, Acts 3. 21. which word ſignifieth, that here in this world many things ſeeme to be out of order; it is ill with a godly man, well with a wicked man; but then God will put every one in his proper place: The wicked ſhall be, where he ought to be, and the godly where he is to be. Then we ſhall no longer cry out, How unſearchable are his wayes, and paſt finding out? For then God will cleare all his proceedings which have been in this world. Then we ſhall know, why this was ſo, and that ſo: Why God did help at ſuch a time, and not before. Then all the proceedings of God, whether in a way of judgement or mercy that doe aſtoniſh us, ſhall be opened; all the wiſdome, goodneſſe and righteouſneſſe of God ſhall then be manifeſted to the whole world. Thue we ſhall ſee a wonderfull alteration.
The next Propoſition, and laſt ſhall be this,
At that day there will be a vaſt and unspeakable change made upon ſome Laſtly, There will be a ſpecial change made upon ſome ſinners, as the jolly, ſecret and ſelf-righteous.ſinners especially.
Though we told you all ſinners would have other thoughts, and looke upon themſelves in another manner than they doe now; yet to ſome ſinners this day will bring a remarkable, but a terrible alteration As
Firſt, The rich and jolly ſinner, who liveth in all manner of pleaſures without any moleſtation at all: Here will be a dreadfull change to him, to goe from his down-bed to the flames in Hell: To be fetched from his merry companions, to be for ever tormented by the Devils. The Parable of Dives and Lazarus, Luke 16. 20. doth egregiouſly demonſtrate this; Dives is taken from his delicate fare, and great abundance, plunged in ſuch a want of all mercies, that he cannot have one drop of water, to aſſwage his torment. Abraham alſo telleth of his change, verſ. 25. Remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, but now thou art tormented What thunder and lightning ſhould this be to every ſuch jolly ſinner? Why doeſt thou not ſay to thy ſelf, now thou art jolly and merry; but will this hold alwayes, will there never be any change?
Secondly, The ſecret cloſe ſinner, he who carrieth himſelf in all plauſible wayes of piety, but then continueth in private ſecret ſinnes; Now this day will eſpecially be for the bringing to light all ſuch hidden wayes of diſhoneſty. Solomon concludeth his Booke with this, Eccleſ. 12. 14. God will bring every ſecret thing to light, whether good or evil. This day will be a terrible day for all ſuch as hide, and keep cloſe their ſinnes: There is nothing done in ſecret but will then be made manifeſt to the whole world. How terrible will this day be to the ſecret uncleane perſon, to the ſecret thieſ, to the ſecret unjuſt man? Know to thy terrour at that day, they will be no more ſecret. As they ſay of letters written with ſome juyce, they cannot be read till they be brought to the fire, and then what was hardly diſcernable, is very legible: Thus it will be at that day; The ſinnes no man knoweth by thee, thoſe evil wayes the world cannot charge upon thee, will then be made known to all.
Laſtly, All Phariſaical and ſelf-righteous perſons, all thoſe who are ſtrongly perſwaded of their good condition, but upon falſe grounds: This will be very terrible to ſuch. Many men live ſo prophanely, and die ſo wickedly, that they cannot but expect damnation, they muſt looke for no other: but there is a generation of perſons (Oh how many of them!) that doe applaud themſelves in their own good hearts: They doubt not of Gods favour; they conclude, whenſoever they die, it ſhall be well with them. To ſuch as theſe there will be a dreadfull change. What thou that didſt not doubt, or feare thy condition, no not to the laſt gaſpe to fall from theſe great hopes into eternal deſpair, What a change is here made? Our Saviour did moſt fully repreſent ſuch perſons in the Parable of the fooliſh Virgins, Matth. 25. 11, 12. Did not they goe out confidently to meet the bridegroome? Did not they cry boldly, Lord, Lord, open to us? And yet when they came to the laſt, they wanted oile. Oh the multitude of thoſe perſons who want oil, yet live confidently, and die confidently, making no queſtion, but that the Lord will open to let them in! So in another Parable in the ſame Chapter, verſ. 44. Thoſe perſons whom the …udge ſhall bid Depart into everlaſting fire, for the omiſſion of ſuch duties, as were required of them; They ſtand and plead with the Judge, they will not believe themſelves ſuch ſinners; They will not grant they ever offended ſo, When ſaw we thee an hungry, and fed thee not, &c? Oh take heed of this ſelfe-fulneſſe, of living and dying in ſuch ſtrong preſumptions of Gods love, for hell and damnation will be ſo much the more terrible, by how much thou didſt make ſure of Heaven in thy owne expectation.
The Uſe from this Doctrine muſt needs be full of power and efficacy to move us. Imagine a wicked man ſentenced at that Tribunal, taking his leave of all comforts, wiſhing he had never been borne, crying out to the mountaines and hils to cover him, and then ſay, Did this man once believe it would be thus with him? Did this man ever thinke there would be ſuch a change? Now is it not Gods mercy to fore-warne thee of this day? Neither Devil, or the world, neither God or man can be accuſed, but thy owne wilfulneſſe in ſinning. When thou art commanded to depart into everlaſting fire, never to enjoy a drop of comfort more, How muſt thou juſtifie God, the Miniſters, and thy owne godly friends, taking confuſion to thy ſelf? Shall we not heare thee ſpeaking to God, O glorious and infinite God, thou haſt beene mercifull and patient to me! Thou gaveſt me time to repent! Thou didſt fore-warne of this torment! I muſt juſtifie thee! Then we ſhall heare him ſpeaking to Chriſt, Oh bleſſed and glorious Mediatour, though not ſo to me, How great was thy love in dying for ſinners? How much was I convinced, that it was my duty to depart from my ſinnes, but my luſts would not let me? Afterwards he ſhall juſtifie the Miniſters and godly friends, How often was I admoniſhed? I remember what you ſaid to me; I was convinced, I had no reaſon to doe as I did, it was my owne rebellious heart that hath undone me.
Laſtly, He ſpeaketh to the glorified Saints, Oh happy and thrice happy are ye! How unſpeakably glorious and comfortable is your condition? I remember the holy life, the godly examples you gave me, but my wretched luſts would not let me follow you, and now I muſt ſee your faces no more. Farewell all joy, all comfort; brimſtone, fire, torments, and hell flames are to be my portion for ever! Where is thy reaſon? Where is thy faith that doth not make thee watch and pray againſt this day? Why doeſt thou not with Hierome thinke that every moment thou heareſt that Trumpet ſounding in thy eares, Ariſe, and come to judgement? Oh be diligent in doing the Lord: For bleſſed is that ſarvant whom his Maſter ſhall finde him ſo doing! Whereas if thou art doing the Devils worke, he will at that day come and demand thee, he is mine, I challenge him for my owne; though I never died for him, though I was never crucified for him, yet he obeyed me rather than Chriſt; therefore I require my owne. Call then to any of the creatures, and thy friends, and ſee if they can helpe thee; when God ſhall ſay, Depart ye curſed: Will any ſay, Lord, he ſhall not goe, I will deliver him, I will reſcue him, I will make an atonement for him? No, but he muſt for ever periſh, and none can help him.