Captives Bound in Chains Made Free by Christ, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Shewing what freedom Captives ſet free by Chriſt, enjoy and hope for.
Doct. 2. THe ſecond general Head containing the glad tydings to theſe miſerable Captives, is that there is Liberty to be had by Chriſt; or, that it is by Chriſt, and Chriſt alone that poor captive ſinners are delivered and ſet at liberty. Had it not been for Chriſt, we muſt have periſhed in our Bonds, and remained in perpetual ſlavery while we had lived, and been for ever bound in chains of darkneſs, when we die. Iſa. 59. 20. applied to Chriſt, Rom. 11. 26. Acts 4 12. John 8. 36.
Man might be conſidered in a four-ſold State.
1. In his firſt condition as created by God: then man was a free-man, bondage came in by ſin: when man ſinned he loſt his freedom. And in this eſtate there was a three fold Liberty that man had.
1. Man was free from ſin; not the leaſt ſpot or ſtain by creation in this pure nature of man; he was then free from pride, and free from the inordinate love of the world, and from every thing offenſive and diſpleaſing to God. Eccleſ. 7. 29.—God made man upright. The uprightneſs of a man renewed by ſanctifying grace denotes the ſincerity of his heart, though there be ſin inherent in him. So Job was an upright man, Job 1. 1. But the uprightneſs of man at firſt created by God denoteth the perfect Image of God in the preſence of that which was good, and abſence of all ſin. Gen. 1. 26, 27.
2. Man had a freedom or liberty of will, to will and to do what God did require from him.
3. A freedom from all miſery, calamity and puniſhment. Man had then a freedom from ſickneſs, from ſorrow and from affliction and death; for all theſe are the fruits of ſin: Man had never been in bondage to theſe, if he had not become a bond ſlave to Satan and to ſin. And in this ſtate man had no need of a Redeemer, becauſe he was not then a captive.
2. Man might be conſidered in a ſtate of Corruption, and ſo his condition is quite contrary to what it was in his firſt eſtate; as before he was free, ſo now he is a ſlave, before at liberty, but now in bondage: and this bondage is oppoſite to the former three-fold Liberty.
1. In man there is now a bondage to ſin, in ſlavery to his own luſts and to his own vile affections, that there is no part in him free from ſin; his underſtanding is not free from ignorance, darkneſs and errour, his will is not free from obſtinacy and rebellion, his affections are not free from diſorder and confuſion, hating what he ſhould love, and loving what he ſhould hate, ſhunning what he ſhould deſire, and deſiring what he ſhould ſhun, rejoycing in that which ſhould be the matter, cauſe and reaſon of his ſorrow, and grief, and grieving and being weary of that which ſhould be matter of his delight and joy. This is mans ſinful bondage.
2. The very will of man is inthralled▪ That though man hath a liberty of will as to natural actions and to civil actions, and to outward ſpiritual actions, he can come and hear if he will, he can ſet upon the outward duty of prayer if he will; he can read the Word of God, if he will, yet he hath no liberty of will to ſupernatural actions without the grace of God, as to believe on Chriſt, to love God above all; man muſt have a will as well as a power from God to do theſe things. Phil. 2. 13. It is God that giveth us to will and to do of his own good pleaſure. And this is a ſore bondage, though a natural man feel it not, and is not ſenſible of it.
3. In bondage by reaſon of puniſhment, being liable to all the curſes, plagues and puniſhments threatned for ſin in the Word of God, both in this life and that which is to come, to ſickneſs, and ſorrows, to pain and griefs, to death at laſt, and to hell and damnation after death. And in this eſtate man doth need a Redeemer, and a Ranſome, and is utterly and eternally undone if he be not delivered from this bondage.
3. Man might be conſidered in a ſtate of grace as recovered by Chriſt, as renewed and reſtored by the Spirit of God; for God doth not ſuffer all men to remain in their bondage, and thoſe that are redeemed and recovered muſt not aſcribe this to their own free-will but to the free grace of God. And in this eſtate man is made partaker in part of the fruits of Redemption by Chriſt.
4. Man might be conſidered in a ſtate of glory. And there the Saints are all free, and altogether free, they have perfect liberty from ſin, from ſorrow, from temptations to ſin, from all inclication to ſin, from a poſſibility of ſinning: and in this eſtate the Saints of God do fully and eternally enjoy the fruits of Chriſts Redemption, and of his giving of himſelf a ranſom for them.
Qu. 1. What it is that we have not a liberty from by Chriſt the Redeemer. There are many things that Chriſt did not come to purchaſe or proclaim liberty from while we are in this life.
1. None of Gods Elect are freed by Chriſt from being born in original ſin; we are not born free, but are made free; even thoſe that are deſcended from free-men in Chriſt, are by birth in ſpiritual bondage: for grace doth not come by blood, but by the will of God, John 1. 13. No man ſince the Fall, except Chriſt the Redeemer hath been free from this ſinful contagion that hath infected all mankind, Rom. 5. 12. 17, 18.
2. Chriſt doth free us in this World from the indwelling of ſin; Chriſt doth free all Believers from the reigning power of ſin, Rom. 6. 14, but not from the conflicting power of ſin, no, nor altogether from the captivating power of ſin: the Lords free-men might ſometimes be overpowred with a temptation, and with a corruption, and in a particular combate be carried captive, Rom. 7. 23. nor doth Chriſt free us at all from the indwelling of ſin. As God did not preſently free the people of Iſrael from the Nations that did vex them, nor drive them out at once, but by degrees, he left ſome of them to prove them and to humble them, Exod. 23. 28, 29. ſo all Gods redeemed and free ſervants do ſtill experience the remainders of ſin and corruption, and do complain thereof and cry out becauſe of it, Rom. 7. 24. there are ſtill reliques of pride, and unbelief, and hardneſs o… … Thus we are not free from diſtracti… …ghts in holy duties, nor from all dulneſs of …ction, and deadneſs of heart in the ſervice of God. This is reſerved for the ſtate of glorious freedom in the life to come, when we ſhall be and live in the immediate preſence of the bleſſed God above, and ſhall … in the beholding of him immediately that hath redeem… us from our Captivity and Bondage.
3. Chriſt hath not freed us from the ſervice of God, but rather doth engage us to it. Wicked men judg this to be liberty to live as they liſt, and to walk and act as they pleaſe, in gratifying their luſts and pleaſing of the fleſh. This is not liberty but licentiouſneſs; this indeed is the bondage that Chriſt came to deliver us from. Oh how is the blind world miſtaken, when they take their very bondage for their liberty! The ſtricteſt Service of God is the greateſt Liberty, Pſal. 119. 45. It is not a liberty from duty, but from ſin and miſery, that Chriſt came to purchaſe and proclaim, Luke 1. 74, 75. 1 Pet. 2. 16. Rom. 6. 18. The moſt under the very Goſpel do live in the conſtant omiſſion of duty, and commiſſion of ſin, as if Chriſt came to give them liberty ſo to do: which yet they might have done if Chriſt had never come.
4. This ſpiritual freedom by Chriſt doth not exempt us nor excuſe us from the ſervice we owe to men in the places and relations wh… God hath ſet us. Indeed the Lords … muſt not be the ſervants of men, ſo as …o …e men in that in which they will diſpleaſe God, 1 Cor. 7. 23. but yet one that is the Lords free man, might be in the place of a ſervant to man, and ought to follow his calling and mind his Maſters buſineſs, and that with greater care and conſcience than others do, even to ſuch Maſters as be the ſervants of ſin, Epheſ. 6. 5, 6. 1 Pet. 2. 18. Gal. 5. 13. And to ſuch Maſters that are the Lords free-men, 1 Tim. 6. 1, 2.
5. Chriſt doth not free us from afflictions, nor from troubles from men. Chriſt hath nowhere told us, he came to free us from ſcorns, and from reproaches; from priſons, and from tribulations; but the contrary, Joh. 16, laſt. All Gods Free-men will be hated by the Devils Slaves; and we ſhall not be freed from them, till we be out of their reach, and that will not be till we get to Heaven. Thoſe that have ſpiritual liberty, might loſe their civil liberty; as a man might have a civil liberty, but not ſpiritual; a man might be free of a City, free of a Company, and yet not free by Chriſt: ſo a man might be in priſon, bound in chains there, and yet be ſpiritually free; Joſeph in the priſon, Daniel in the den, Jeremiah in the dungeon, and yet all the Lords Free-men. When Chriſt calls to many in their bondage to come to him to be made free, they would indent with Chriſt that they ſhould enjoy freedom from croſſes, and troubles, and ſufferings; which becauſe Chriſt doth not free his followers from, they had rather have their freedom from ſufferings in their bondage, than ſufferings with ſpiritual freedom.
6. Chriſt doth not give us freedom from temptations of the Devil, that we ſhould be no more buffeted by that wicked one. Chriſt himſelf was not free from temptations from Satan, nor from perſecutions from men. Reſiſt the Devil, watch and pray againſt his temptations, for you are not like to be freed from them, till you get nto Heaven.
7. Chriſt doth not free us from the ſtroke of death; the Lords Free-men muſt be bound with deaths bonds as well as others. Our ſouls and bodies are not free from diſſolution, your bodies not free from putrefaction; but yet we are freed from the ſting of death; and death is not the ſame to the Lords Free-men, as it is to the Devils Bond-men.
Q. 2. What is the liberty that we have by Chriſt? This ſhall be managed in ſpeaking to theſe two particulars. Firſt, As this liberty and freedom is privative. Secondly, As it is poſitive; or, what we are freed from; and what it is that we are freed to.
1. What it is that believers are freed from by Chriſt; and theſe are great and ſore evils, and ſuch as would have made us unſpeakably and eternally miſerable, if Chriſt had not freed us from them.
1. Chriſt hath delivered us, and ſet us free from the power of Satan, that he hath no more rule in us as formerly he had; he did rule in our hearts, Epheſ. 2. 2; and we did yeild voluntary ſubjection and obedience to him; but Chriſt hath bound this ſtrong man, and ſpoiled him of his goods, and hath diſpoſſeſſed him, and turned him out of our hearts, from dwelling, reigning, ruling there, as in a Throne; this Chriſt came to do, Heb. 2. 14, 15; he hath delivered us from the Juſtice of God, by price and purchaſe; from Satan, by power and by a mighty hand.
2. Chriſt hath ſet us free from ſin; not for the preſent, or in this life from the in-dwelling of ſin, as you heard before; but in theſe two reſpects:
1. By Chriſt believers have a freedom from the guilt of ſin. We are free from the obligation that lay upon us to eternal torments; ſo that now we ſhall never come into condemnation for our ſins; our many ſins are all pardoned, our great and heinous ſins are all forgiven, Rom. 8. 1, 33, 34. Many might accuſe; the Devil might accuſe, and Men might accuſe, and Conſcience might accuſe, and the Law might accuſe us; but Chriſt hath ſo freed us, that none can condemn. Oh what a bleſſed piece of our freedom lieth in this! What wouldſt thou have done, to have anſwered for thy ſins? What wouldſt thou have done to bear the puniſhment of thy ſins? Indeed thou couldſt neither anſwer for thy ſelf, nor yet have born the wrath of God due to thee for thy ſin. Oh then ſee the everlaſting obligation laid upon thee to love this bleſſed Chriſt, to prize, and value, and eſteem this once crucified, and now glorious Chriſt, that hath taken off this obligation from thee; he hath freed thee from one obligation, and thereby laid upon thee another; he hath freed thee from an obligation to eternal condemnation, and hath laid upon thee a ſtrong and laſting obligation to love him, and to praiſe and admire his love and grace to thee for ever.
2. Chriſt hath ſet us free from the dominion of ſin. The Sinner was the Captive, and Sin the Lord and Conqueror; but he that is made free by Chriſt, is become the Conqueror, and Sin the Captive; the Victory indeed is not yet compleated, yet ſin is dethroned; the ſinner when a captive was in chains; but now made free, ſin is become bound. Sin was delighted in, but now it is abhorred; ſin was voluntarily yeilded unto, but now reſiſted and oppoſed; ſin was welcomly entertained, but now lamented and bewailed; it was looked upon with pleaſure and content, but now it is beheld with a ſorrowful heart, and with a weeping eye; it is become the burden and the grief, that before had the love and complacency of the ſinners heart; it is now prayed againſt, and watched againſt, and endeavoured againſt, that before was indulged, and allowed, and provided for, and willingly ſubmitted to. Now ſaith the Redeemed ſinner, my hard heart is a burden to me; my proud and unbelieving heart is a burden and a grief unto me; my vain and worldly heart is a burden, and a trouble, and a ſorrow to me; he is freed from the reigning power of ſin, Rom. 6. 14.
7. Chriſt hath ſet believers free from the curſe of the Law. The Law hath its uſe under the Goſpel; by it we come to the knowledg of ſin, Rom. 3. 20, and 5. 20; by it we are convinced of our miſery, that by ſin we have deſerved death and damnation, Rom. 7. 10. that we might ſee the neceſſity of Chriſt, and haſten the more to him, Gal. 3. 24. It ſerveth for a rule to direct us in our walking, and for a glaſs in which we ſee the imperfection of our duty and obedience, that we might not reſt in them, nor truſt unto them for life and ſalvation. But from the condemning-ſentence and curſe of the Law, Chriſt hath made believers free, by being made himſelf a curſe for them, Gal. 3. 10, 13.
4. Chriſt hath ſet believers free from the hurt of death. The Lords Free-men muſt dye as well as the Devils Bond-men; but Death will be another thing to a Free-man, than it is unto a Captive: ſo that which is formidable to a ſinner, is deſirable to a Saint. Chriſt hath taken away the ſting of Death, 1 Cor. 15. 55: of an Enemy is become a Friend; and Death, that is one of the plagues that befall the Devils Captives, is become part of the Charter of the Lords Free-men, 1 Cor. 3. 22.
1. De…h to Free-men of the Lord is the utter abolition of their ſin; it ſhall free them from the very being and in-dwelling of ſin: when the ſoul ſhall be ſeparated from the body, all ſin, and all corruption ſhall be ſeparated from the ſoul: whereas the Devils bond-men dye in their ſin, and after death do ſtill retain their hatred unto God, their enmity to Chriſt, and are more confirmed and hardned in it than before.
2. Death to the Lords Freemen puts an end to all their ſorrow and affliction, to all their troubles and their ſufferings. It is Gods Handkerchief, whereby he wipes away all tears from the eyes of his redeemed people, Rev. 14. 13. but at death the ſorrow of the Devils Captives doth begin, or is encreaſed; if they were at eaſe while they lived, they ſhall be in pain when they dye: if they did roar and ſing while they lived, they ſhall roar and lament after death: Death takes them from their riches, from their friends, and from their pleaſure, and whatſoever was dear unto them in this worlds enjoyments, and puts them into a place of pain and torment, a place of utter darkneſs, where they ſhall for ever weep and howl, and fruitleſly lament their woful ſtate, and their irrecoverably-loſt-happineſs.
3. Death to the Lords Free-men is the gate to glory, and their paſſage and entrance into eternal life: It is the opening of the door to let them into their Fathers houſe; a Meſſenger ſent by God to fetch them into the preſence of their God and Redeemer, to live, and reign, and dwell with him for ever; that their freedom here begun might be conſummated and perfected in heaven. In that very day they dye, they are admitted as free Citizens of the glorious Kingdom of God, Luk. 16. 22.
4. Death to the Lords Free-men ſhall come in the beſt time. All men dye in Gods time, whenever he appointeth; but the redeemed by Chriſt ſhall dye in the beſt time, when their work is done, and when God ſeeth it is better for them to dye than to live; God takes the beſt time and fitteſt ſeaſon for the removing of his by death out of the world: But the wicked ſlaves of ſin and Satan are cut off in a bad time, when-ever they dye; it is a bad time to them, becauſe whenever it is, they go that day to hell, and to eternal torments; the day of their diſſolution is the day of their damnation; and will not that be the ſaddeſt day they ever had? they dye before their work is done; before they have believed, and before they have repented, and that muſt be a ſad day when-ever it comes. Men cut down Weeds at any time, but the Corn in the beſt time, in the fitteſt ſeaſon, when it is ripe to be carried into the barn.
5. Death to the Lords freemen hath loſt its terribleneſs. And though all Gods redeemed are not actually and totally freed from the fears of death, but ſometimes kept in bondage through the fears of death; yet they have grounds and reaſons why they might not fear it: But the Devils Captives have always cauſe and reaſon to be terribly afraid of death; and if they be not, it ariſeth from the blindneſs of their minds, and the hardneſs of their hearts. It is a wonder, that men ſhould be as near to hell as to the grave, and yet not be afraid to dye; It is a wonder, that men ſhould be as near to an endleſs miſerable life, as they are to the end of this ſhort uncertain life, and yet their fears ſhould not prevent their ſleeping in the night, and their jovial merriments in the day-time. The Devil hath blinded them as well as bound them, and that is one reaſon of it. But theſe cannot upon any ſolid, rational, and religious grounds be freed from the fears of death. But ſo may the Lords freemen, and this they have from and through Jeſus Chriſt, Heb. 2. 14, 15.
5. Chriſt will ſet believers free from the grave by a joyful reſurrection; that though they come under the ſtroke and power of death, and are lodged in the grave for a while, yet it ſhall be but for a while. Death and the grave ſhall not always have dominion over their body. Death doth bind them, but Chriſt will looſe theſe bonds, and will ſet them free; as Chriſt did break the bonds of death, for death was not able to hold him in his grave, Act. 2. 24. So he will knock off the fetters of death from all his, and bring them forth, and make them happy; and this as ſurely as he himſelf is riſen, 1 Cor. 15. 13, &c. And not only free them out of the grave, but alſo from thoſe evils and imperfections that in this life their bodies are ſubject to; that though they ſhall have the ſame bodies for ſubſtance that now they have, yet they ſhall be better bodies as to the qualities that they then ſhall have.
1. Then Chriſt will free them from that mortality that now they are ſubject to; now liable to death every day and hour, but then they ſhall dye no more for ever.
2. Then Chriſt ſhall free them from all pain and ſickneſs, from cold, and hunger, and thirſt they are now often ſenſible of; their head ſhall never ake, their hearts ſhall never be ſick, no part in the leaſt pained to all eternity.
3. Then Chriſt ſhall free them from a neceſſity of food to ſuſtain them, and of nouriſhment from the uſe of creatures, by which they are repaired and ſupported daily on this ſide the grave, but on the other ſide of the grave they ſhall need this no more than the Angels do in heaven.
4. Then Chriſt ſhall free them from that wearineſs that now our bodies often feel, and do groan under; for he will make them ſtrong and powerful bodies. Now-a-days work in the ſervice of God doth weary our bodies; but hereafter though they ſhall be imployed through an endleſs eternity, in praiſing and glorifying of God, they ſhall neither be weary of it through wickedneſs, nor weary in it through weakneſs, for as much as Chriſt will free them from both, 1 Cor. 15. 42, 43.
5. Chriſt will then ſo free them from all imperfections that they ſhall be made like to Chriſts glorious body. And can we deſire greater freedom for our bodies, than to be made like to Chriſts glorious body, Phil. 3. 21.
6. Chriſt doth free all his from the damnation of hell, that when the Devils Captives ſhall be pained and tormented by exquiſite and unſpeakable puniſhment, rowling and tumbling, ſhrieking and howling, and with bitter cries lamenting themſelves, the redeemed of Chriſt ſhall never be touched with the flames of that fire; the ſecond death ſhall have no power over them, Rev. 20. 6. Chriſt will take care, that thoſe that love him above all, and chuſe him before all, ſhall never come into condemnation, Joh. 3. 16, 18. Oh what mercy is this, to be freed from hell! Oh what grace and kindneſs is this, to thoſe that once were Captives, and had deſerved it, and were in danger of it, that by Chriſt they ſhould be freed and delivered from it! Oh what mercy would the damned, that have felt the pains and puniſhment of hell, think, ſay, and confeſs it to be, if they may be let out, and freed from it: But they are in it, and ſhall never be delivered from it; but the Lords free-men are out of it, and ſhall never be caſt into it; ſo great is the liberty we have by Chriſt the Redeemer of Captives, in reſpect of what we are freed from.
What are the poſitive bleſſings that by Chriſt we are made free unto. For Chriſt did come to poor ſinners, to redeem them when Captives, not only that they ſhould not be miſerable, but that they ſhould alſo be happy. Theſe things are many and great and glorious; let me give you a taſte in theſe few:
1. By Chriſt believers have freedom and liberty to come to the throne of Grace. A burden to wicked graceleſs hearts it is, to come and pray to God, are backward to it, weary of it, as if it were a part of their ſlavery and bondage, to come and beg for mercy for their ſouls, for pardon for their ſin, for converting and renewing grace now, and for eternal endleſs glory hereafter, Judg of this as you will, yet know it coſt Chriſt dear to purchaſe this liberty for us; it is not only a duty that we muſt, but it is a real priviledg that we may, have the freedom to come to God upon our knees, to beg for ſpecial, ſpiritual, temporal and eternal mercies. Would not a poor priſoner, that hath deſerved to dye, account it a priviledg to have liberty as oft as he will, and when he will to have liberty of acceſs unto the King, to prefer his petitions to him, and to beg for a pardon of his fact, and for the ſaving of his life; and all this with hopes of ſpeeding and obtaining what he doth petition for? When man had ſinned, he was driven out of Paradiſe, and was afraid becauſe of guilt, and there was no freedom for the rebellious ſinner without Chriſt, to come before a provoked angry God with hopes of mercy; but there is a new and living way now found out for you, Heb. 10. 19, 20, 21, 22. that you might come with freedom, and ask with freedom of ſpirit, and with freedom of ſpeech, what Chriſt hath purchaſed for you, and God hath promiſed to you, Eph. 3. 12. Heb. 4. 16. You may with freedom come to God, and tell him all your grievances, and all your burdens, and all your temptations, and all your wants, and open all your heart unto him.
2. By Chriſt believers have a freedom and a liberty to apply the promiſes of the Goſpel to themſelves. Theſe promiſes are many, great, and precious promiſes, of many, great, and precious things, and you are free to them all; not only free to read them, but free to apply them to your ſelves, and to live upon them, and to wait and hope for the fulfilling and performance of them. Here is a promiſe of pardon, and it is made to me; a promiſe of more grace and of perſeverance, and it is made to me, a promiſe of eternal life and glory, and the bleſſed glorious God hath made it unto me, and by Chriſt I may freely apply it, and build and reſt upon it.
3. By Chriſt we are made free to all the priviledges of redeemed people. Theſe are alſo many, great, and precious; very many, very great, and very precious priviledges.
1. Believers by Chriſt are free to a ſtate of friendſhip and favour with God. As there is a a freedom betwixt friends, ſo there is betwixt God and his redeemed by Chriſt, that are partakers of the benefits of his redemption; from a ſtate of enmity to a ſtate of friendſhip and reconciliation; God is no more your enemy, nor you any longer enemies to God, a peace is made by Chriſt betwixt God and your ſouls, and this is a firm, and laſting, an everlaſting peace, Col. 1. 20, 21. Now with comfort thou may'ſt conclude, though men do hate me, yet God doth love me; though men are my enemies, yet God is my friend, my ſureſt and my faſteſt friend.
2. By Chriſt Believers are free to a ſtate of Juſtification, the righteouſneſs of Chriſt is freely imputed to them. That as the Devils Captives are under the imputation of Adam's diſobedience, ſo the Lords freemen are under the imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſs and obedience, Rom. 5. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 21; and you are free to truſt to, and to plead the righteouſneſs of Chriſt for your Juſtification in the ſight of God.
3. By Chriſt believers are made free to a ſtate of Sonſhip, and the priviledg of Adoption. Of Slaves you are become not only Servants out Sons; of the children of the Devil, are become the children of God; of the children of Gods wrath, the children of his love. Men may redeem Captives, but do not adopt them for their children; but all that Chriſt redeems, have the liberty to become the Sons of God, Joh. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 6. latter end.
4. By Chriſt believers are free to have communion with God in his Ordinances. God is no longer a ſtranger to them, nor they any longer ſtrangers unto God; but have ſweet converſe and fellowſhip with God, 1 Joh. 1. 3. They come to duty, and meet with God in duty; in praying, hearing, and receiving, they have experience of the gracious, powerful, and heart-quickening, and ſoul-comforting, chearing, ſoftning influences of the Spirit of God, and of the goings forth of their Souls in love unto deſires after, and delight in God. And when it is ſo, how ſweet is this unto their Souls!
5. By Chriſt believers are free to a right to heaven, and to the enjoyment of the bleſſed glorious God for ever in his Kingdom. They are made free to the happineſs of the life to come; they ſhall have free admiſſion into the heavenly Paradiſe; the gates of heaven ſhall be ſet wide open for their departing Souls, freely, without any ſtop or hinderance; they are free in part now, and they ſhall be perfectly free among the Saints in glory when they dye, Rom. 8. 21. This glory is prepared for them, Mat. 25. 34; and they are prepared for it, Rom. 9. 23. Col. 1. 12. And what ſhall be your happineſs then, is beyond the power and ability of any man upon earth fully to declare unto you, 1 Cor. 2. 8. It might be better done by a glorious Angel that is in poſſeſſion of it, than by a ſinful (though ſanctified) man, that lives, and waits, and hopes, and prayeth in expectation of it. Yet the very names by which it is called, might help you to ſome conceptions of the greatneſs of its excellency and glory: (1) It is called a Crown, and that which far ſurpaſſeth all earthly Crowns, 1 Pet. 1. 4, 5; a Crown of life, Jam. 1. 12; a Crown of righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 4. 8; a Crown of glory, 1 Pet. 5. 4. (2) It is called a Kingdom, Mat. 25. 34. (3) It is called our Maſters joy, Mat. 25. 21, 23. (4) It is called our Fathers houſe, and the houſe of the Father of our Lord Jeſus, Joh. 14. 2. (5) It is called the inheritance of the Saints in light, Col. 1. 12. (6) It is the purchaſe of Chriſt, Eph. 1. 14. (7) It is called eternal life, Rom. 6. 23. Beſides theſe names by which it is called, dwell in your thoughts upon one Text that ſets it forth, till you find your hearts to be affected with it, and long to be poſſeſſed of it, and that is 2 Cor. 4. 17, where you obſerve how the Apoſtle proceeds by ſteps to come to the top-expreſſion of this happineſs to which you are made free.
1. It is called glory. Now free in grace, then in glory. The thought of that glory would darken and diſgrace the greateſt glory of this world.
2. It is called a weight of glory; not a burdenſom weight, not a weight to weary you; are your afflictions weighty? ſo ſhall your glory be; but afflictions are but light, if compared to the weight of glory.
3. It is an exceeding weight of glory; it doth exceed all worldly glory.
4. It is a more exceeding weight of glory; more than can be conceived.
5. It is a far more exceeding weight of glory.
6. It is eternal too. All this is not for a little while only, or for ſome thouſands of years only, but for ever and for ever. The glory of the world, as it is but light, if weighed with this; ſo it is but fading and tranſitory, and but ſhort, if compared with this that is eternal. Thus you have a little view (and alas it is but little) of the poſitive freedom and liberty that you have by Chriſt.