A Supplement to Knowledge and Practice, Part 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 9
SECT. IX. Of our Saviours coming to judge the World.
THe words of the Creed are theſe. From thence He ſhall come to Judge the Quick and the Dead. From thence he ſhal come to judge the quick and the dead.Concerning this Article we ſhall make theſe inquiries.
1. How may we be aſſured there will be a day of Judgment.
2. Who is to be the Judge at that great day?
3. What will be the nature and manner of that Judgment?
4. What will be the Conſequents of it?
1. How may we be aſſured there will be a day of Judgment?
The Scripture holds forth to us a twofold Judgment to come.
1. Particular judgment which follows immediately upon every ones death, Eccleſ. 12.7. Then ſhall the duſt return to the earth, and the Spirit ſhall return unto God who gave it. This is alſo held forth by that Hiſtorical Parable of Dives and Lazarus, Luke 16.22, 23. and Heb. 9.27. The Apoſtle tells us It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this to Judgment.*Unum ſci…icet. Nam ultimum judicium nihil aliud erit quam promulgatio ſolennis, & totalis executio ſententiae ſemel in ſingulos cum moriuntur latae, Jac. Capellus. in loc.
2. A General, Judgement at the end of the World, the certainty of which may appear to us from theſe Arguments.
1. From the ſence that even natural conſcience ſeems to have of it. Acts 24.25. and as he reaſoned of Righteouſneſs, Temperance and Judgment to come, Foelix trembled.
2. From the Juſtice of God which requires it. Here Barabbas a murderer is releaſed and Chriſt is Crucified; here Judgment is often perverted, and the Righteous oppreſſed. But there is a Judgment to come that will ſet all things ſtreight.
3. From the clear and manifeſt declaration of the will of God that it ſhall be ſo, Eccleſ. 12.14. God ſhall bring every work into Judgment with every ſecret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil, And Acts 17.31. He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteouſneſs by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given aſſurance unto all men, in that he hath raiſed him up from the dead.
4. From the repreſentation made of it to ſome of Gods ſervants in Divine viſions, as 1. to Daniel. Dan. 7.9, 10. I beheld till the Antient of dayes did ſit, whoſe Garment was white as Snow; thouſand thouſands miniſtred unto him, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtood before him. The Judgment was ſet and the books were opened, and 2. to St. John Rev. 20.12. 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.
2. Let us inquire who is to be the Judge? The Apoſtle aſſures us that this Jeſus Chriſt will be the Judge, Acts 10.42. He hath commanded us to preach unto the people and to teſtifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead, John 5.22, 27. For the Father Judgeth no man (that is immediately by himſelf) but hath committed all Judgement unto the Son, and hath given him authority to execute Judgment alſo, becauſe he is the Son of man. Now Chriſt is appointed the Judge.
1. Becauſe he is the Son of man, *The authority of Judging is common to all the three Perſons; but the execution of this power is proper only to the Son. The Father and the Holy-Ghoſt will Judge the World by Him.who ſuffered ſo much for the ſins of men, and this as a reward of his humiliation.
2. Becauſe God intending to make a general and viſible Judgement, will have a viſible Judge, Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye ſhall ſee him, that the Judicial proceedings may be in an outward and viſible manner. Chriſt indeed came not at firſt as a Judge but as a Redeemer, John 3.17. but his ſecond coming will be to Judge the World, 2 Tim. 4.1.
3. Let us inquire what will be the nature and manner of this Judgment? And here 1. Let us conſider the Preparations to it, Scripture ſets forth this by the Arch-Angels Trumpet, by which all the World ſhall be (as it were) ſummoned to appear at Gods Tribunal, 1 Theſ. 4.16. 2. For the manner of it, the Scripture repreſents it to us under the form of a judiciary proceſs, wherein,
1. The Judge himſelf will appear exceeding glorious. He will come with power and great glory even the glory of the Father, Mat. 16.27. And when this his Glory ſhall be revealed, then the Saints ſhall be glad with exceeding joy, 1 Pet. 4.13.
2. His attendance will be very glorious, Mat. 25.31. The Son o… man ſhall come in his …lory, and all the holy Angels with him.
3. A Throne will be ſet, a Tribunal, a ſeat of Judgment erected, Mat. 19.28. The Son of man ſhall ſit in the Throne of his glory, &c. Rom. 14.10. For we ſhall all ſtand before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt.
4. There will be a perſonal apearance of all men before this Tribunal. He ſhall judge both the quick, that is, thoſe found alive at his coming (upon whom a change different from death ſhall paſs,) and the dead, viz. that died before,*It was a ſingular & extraordinary priviledge v…uchſafed to Enoch and Elias that they ſhould not di…. But according to Gods ordinary and uſual diſpenſation It is appointed to all men once to die, Heb. 9.27. Acts 10.42.
5. The Actions and Works of thoſe that ſhall be judged ſhall then be manifeſted, 1 Cor. 4.5. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs and will make manifeſt the counſells of the heart, Eccleſ. 12.24. God will bring every work into Judgment with every ſecret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. The Books will then be opened, viz. 1. The Book of Gods Omniſcience and Remembrance, Mal. 3.16. and the book of Conſcience, Jer. 17.1.
6. The Statutes ſhall be produced, upon which they ſhall be tryed, and found guilty or not-guilty. And they are two. 1. The Law of Nature, written on Mans heart at his creation, which requires perfect obedience, and which God gave man power at firſt to perform. 2. The Law or Covenant of Grace. Now we ſhall all be found guilty upon the firſt Statute. Woe to us if we be caſt by the ſecond alſo. To prevent this, let us ſet our ſelves ſeriouſly to repent of all our ſins, and by a lively faith lay hold on Chriſt, and take him for our Lord and Saviour, and faithfully endeavour to conform our ſelves unto his precepts.
7. The evidence or witneſſes that will be ready to prove the indictment againſt all impenitent ſinners, eſpecially ſuch as lived under the Goſpel, are,
1. God the Father whoſe mercy was by them ſo wretchedly ſlighted.
2. God the Son, whoſe blood they trampled under their feet.
3. God the Holy Ghoſt, whoſe bleſſed motions they ſo often reſiſted.
4. All faithful Miniſters who ſtrove with all affectionateneſs to draw them to Chriſt.
5. All good Parents, Governors, Maſters or faithful Chriſtia… friends among whom they lived, who gave them faithful counſel for the welfare of their Souls, and a good example.
6. All their ſinful companions, who were partakers with them in their ſins.
7. Their own Conſciences, which are a thouſand witneſſes.
8. The Judge will pronounce ſentence upon every one according to his works. And this will be twofold.
1. Of Abſolution.
2 Of Condemnation.
1. Of Abſolution to the Righteous, in theſe words, come ye bleſſed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, Matth. 25.34. The Saints of God ſhall firſt be acquitted before the wicked be condemned, that they may afterwards joyn with Chriſt in Judging the World, 1 Cor. 6.2. There the Apoſtle tells us that the Saints ſhall Judge the World, that is, not Authoritatively, but by way of Approbation, approving and magnifying Chriſts Righteous Sentence on Devils and wicked men, and giving ſome ſuch approbation (probably) as that of the Angel Rev. 16.5. Thou art Righteous O Lord, which art, and waſt, and ſhalt be, becauſe thou haſt thus Judged. Thus all the Saints ſhall be Judges, but ſome of them more eminently as Aſſeſſors with Chriſt, as is intimated concerning the Apoſtles, Matth. 19.28. ye ſhall ſit upon twelve Thrones, Judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael.
2. Of Condemnation upon the wicked, Matth. 25.41. Then ſhall he ſay to them on his left hand, depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.
9. The execution of the Sentence, and diſpoſing of the perſons Judged to their everlaſting ſtate according to that ſentence, Matth. 25.46. And theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment, but the righteous into life eternal. The ſentence is irrevocable; no reprieve to be expected. Then there will be an everlaſting ſeparation between the Righteous and the Wicked.
4. What will be the conſequents of this Judgment?
1. Chriſts reſigning up his Kingdom, (not his eſſential Kingdom, but that which he adminiſtred as mediator) to the Father, 1 Cor. 15.24.
2. The burning of the World; of which we read 2 Pet. 3.12. By which fire ſome think the World ſhall not be utterly conſumed, but renewed, clarified and refined.
I come now to the Application, which I ſhall reduce to three heads.
This Doctrine of the day of Judgment may be uſeful.
1. By way of exhortation to all.
2. By way of conſolation to the Righteous.
3. By way of terror to the Wicked.
1. By way of exhortation to all.
1. Let us all labour to ſtrengthen and confirm in our ſelves a belief of this great Article. There is no Doctrine more certain in the word of God, nor more clear and fundamental than this of the day of Judgment. Heb. 6.2.
2. Let us frequently meditate on it, let us often think on thoſe awakening places, 2 Theſ. 1.7.8. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, 1 Theſ. 4.16. The Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven with a ſhout, with the voice of the Arch-Angel, with the trump of God, and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, Jude verſe 14.15. And Enoch alſo, the ſeventh from Adam, propheſied of theſe, ſaying, behold, the Lord cometh with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute Judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard ſpeeches, which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him. To think often of this great day may prevent many a ſin, Pſal. 58.11. Verily there is a reward for the Righteous, and doubtleſs there is a God that Judgeth the earth.
3. Let us all ſolemnly prepare our ſelves for this great tryal by ſetting up a Judgment Seat in our own Souls beforehand.
1. Let us ſeriouſly examine our ſtate towards God. Every one is either a Child of Wrath and Perdition, or a Child of God and an heir of Heaven. Let us examine whether we are the one or the other. We keep a great ſtir about Sects, but the truth is, there are but two great Sects or Parties in the World; And thoſe are either ſuch as are for the preſent in the ſtate of Nature, or ſuch as are in the ſtate of Grace. Let us therefore ſeriouſly conſider to which of theſe two we do belong. Let us conſider what our preſent ſtate is. Have we the marks of a converted perſon upon us or no? Has the work of ſound converſion ever paſſed upon us or no? Let us remember, that except we be converted we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, John 3.3.
2. Let us examine our hearts. Let us conſider what Principles we act from; what projects we are driving on, and what ends we aim at, let us examine whether Grace rule in our hearts or Sin. Whether we labour to keep a good Conſcience toward God and Man?
3. Let us examine our lives. Have we performed duties of Piety towards God as we ought? Have we performed our relative duties towards men as we ought? Have we been ſo careful in the right governing our ſelves as we ought.
4. Let us conſider whether we have improved our Talents as we ought? 1. Our Spiritual Talents, viz. the means of Grace God hath afforded us. 2. Our Temporal Talents, ſuch as Power, Riches, Health, Strength, &c. Let us remember that of all theſe things we muſt give an account.
4. Let the conſideration of the day of Judgment quicken our Repentance. There is no way to live free from inward rebuke here, or to appear with comfort at the day of Judgment, without having our peace made with God upon Goſpel terms. O Sinner break off thy ſins by repentance now while there is time, before thou be brought to thy tryal at Gods Tribunal.
5. Seeing we muſt all come to Judgment, let us be wiſe beforehand to make the Judge our friend. But how ſhall we do that?
1. By repenting unfeignedly of all our paſt ſins, as I ſaid before.
2. By believing in him, and giving up our ſelves ſincerely to obey him.
3. By owning him before the World, and owning our ſelves for his Diſciples.
4. By being willing to deny our ſelves for his ſake and to take up his Croſs, Luke 9.23.
5. By duly regarding his Embaſſadors and their Meſſage, Matth. 10.40.
6. By prizing and and improving his Ordinances.
7. By doing good to others according to our abilities and opportunities. See Matth. 25. from 34. to 41.
6. Having prepared our ſelves for our tryal, let us watch for our Summons to appear before this great Judge. And ſo much of the firſt uſe.
2. This Doctrine may ſerve for conſolation to the Righteous. 'Tis a fountain of great comfort to all the people of God.
1. Chriſt the Judge is their Head, Husband, Advocate, their elder Brother, their Interceſſor, who hath loved them and waſhed them from their ſins in his own blood, Rev. 1.5. O let them think of it to their unſpeakable comfort.
2. Let them conſider that he will reward them for all the works and faithful ſervices they have done for him in this life. Here they have performed many ſecret duties that no eye hath ſeen; there is a time coming, when he that ſees in ſecret will reward them openly, ſuch or ſuch a ſervice they have done for God; the thing poſſibly in it ſelf but ſmall (as the Widows mite) but it was performed with much love and deſire to pleaſe God, and much ſingleneſs of heart; ſuch a ſervice ſhall not go unrewarded.
3. Let them conſider, that though here they they lie under many ſcandals and reproaches for the name of Chriſt and the …eſtimony of their Conſciences, yet there is a time coming when God will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and blots from their names.
4. Though here they ſuffer many afflictions and tribulations, yet let them comfort themſelves and have patience but a little, James 5.8. for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, whoſe coming will be to their unſpeakable comfort.
3. And laſtly, This Doctrine ſpeaks terror to the wicked, Acts 24.15. When Paul Preached of Righteouſneſs, Temperance and Judgment to come, Foelix trembled. People love a general way of Preaching, ſuch as will give fair quarter to their Luſts, but they ſhould be often told of that great day wherein God will judge them for all their proud Rebellions againſt him. Here they will do what they liſt (as far as they are ſuffered) but they ſhould be remembred, that for all theſe things God will bring them to Judgment.