The General Assembly, Doctrine · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Context cleared, the Text opened, Doctrine raiſed.
THAT Jeſus Chriſt will come down from Heaven to Judge the World, is an Article of our Faith, commonly believed among profeſſed Chriſtians: But there have been uſeleſs, endleſs Diſputes about the Time of his Coming; but one would think, what our Lord ſaith in Math. 24.36. ſhould ſilence Men's curious and preſumptuous Aſſertions concerning this Secret, for he ſaith, thereof that day and hour knoweth no Man, Mark. 13.32.no not the Angels of Heaven, but my Father only: No nor Chriſt himſelf as Man: No ſay they, the Day and Hour cannot be known but the Year may: But that's a poor Evaſion, for by day and hour is meant the Time; and if Chriſt know not, no wonder if he foretold it not to his Diſciples, for wiſe Reaſons, that we might be always ready: Grotius indeed ſaith, that Paul thought the coming of Chriſt would be in his days, yet you ſee here, that it would not be till certain Signs foretold ſhould come to paſs, and after that, they were ſtill to expect it as uncertain: Ignorance of it is needful, but errour about it is hurtful; let us ſtudy what tends to Practice.
In this Text the bleſſed Apoſtle doth vehemently beſeech them by all that is dear unto them, that no pretence either of Spirit, Word or Apoſtolical Letter, do perſwade them that Chriſts coming is near at hand, and ſo torment their Minds or ſtagger their Faith when they find it otherwiſe: What thoſe preceding Signs are, ſee Baxter's Paraphraſe on this Chapter, thoſe that can let them conſult it.
All that I ſhall do is, to take notice of this ſolemn obſecration or obteſtation in this Text, wherein he adjures them:
1. By the coming of our Lord.
2. By our gathering together unto him.
It is a ſacred and ſolemn Oath, like that in 1 Cor. 15.31. I protest by your rejoycing which I have in Christ Jeſus our Lord, I die daily: So here, it is as if he ſhould ſay, as you have an high and honourable Eſteem of Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and as you have a great eſteem of, and make due preparation for the coming of Chriſt, by which he will gather us all to himſelf, and really perfect the Unity of his Body, both which are repreſented as proper objects of Faith, which we admire and expect, and highly eſteem. I do again beſeech you by theſe, be not too credulous of Men's predictions, who ſtate that day to this or that time as they fancy; ſometimes prepoſterouſly haſtening it, other whiles procraſtinating it, to a vaſt dimention: I muſt tell you, ſaith Paul, theſe conceits are ſcattered by Satan's Artifice: And it becomes an [exitiale commentum] dangerous figment or invention of Men's Brains, for if it come not to paſs, ſome languiſh in their Faith, others grow preſumptuous in their Security: If the Devil prevail thus far, he will ſo work [ut nihil in Religione certum aut fixam reliqueret] that he will leave nothing ſure or fixed in Matters of Religion, as Calvin ſaith on this Text; yea, by this means Men looſen the cords, and break the bands that join together the Articles of our Faith, yea, ſtrike at the foundation Article of the Reſurrection.
Doct. I. Miniſters muſt be Beſeechers.
As they may command in their Maſters nam… ſo they muſt beſeech as Servants t… all the Faithful,1 Theſ. 5.12. 1 Theſ. 4.1. We beſeech you and exhort you: [foreign … we humbly and earneſtly deſire you, as if w… went down on our knees to you; hence 1 The… 2.7, 8. We were gentle among you even as a Nurſ… cheriſheth her Children: Our buſineſs is great ſinners inexorable, we have great need to uſe the moſt obliging Terms, as though God did beſeech Sinners by us, to pray them in Christ ſtead to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.20.
Doct. II. All God's Servants are Brethren.
Be they high or low, rich or poor, the moſt eminent Apoſtle and meaneſt, yea, weakeſt believe they are Brethren, they have all one Father, God, our elder Brother Chriſt, one holy Spirit that animates them all, one Covenant of Grace to wrap them up in, one heavenly Inheritance that they are Heirs of; hence Col. 1.2. To the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ: O what an endearing Relation is this! Let us live up to it.
Doct. III. Christ will certainly come to Judgment.
It is certain this noble Man is gone into a far country to receive for himſelf a kingdom, and to return, to reckon with his Servanrs, Luke 19. 12-27. Chriſt's coming to Judge the Jews, was [Imago & Arrabo Adceptus ultimi] the Image and earneſt of his laſt coming; deſcribed in 1 Theſ. 4.15, 16, 17.
Doct. IV. The coming of Christ is a most endearing Conſideration to believers.
This is to the Chriſtian as the Harveſt is to the Husband-man, James 5.7, 8. Be ye alſo patient ſaith he, ſtabliſh your Heart for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh: O what a glorious Morning will that day be, when the Sun of Righteouſneſs will ſhine once again with help and healing in his Wings! Then let the heirs of glory lift up their heads, for the day of their Redemption draws nigh: Luke 21.28.You cannot intreat them by more ſtrong and obliging Obteſtations or Arguments.
Doct. V. Though Chriſt's coming be ſtopt to the Saints and certain in it ſelf, yet the Time is uncertain to us.
Our Lord ſaith to his inquiſitive Diſciples, Acts. 1.6, 7. It is not for you to know the times and the ſeaſons, which the Father hath put in his own Power; hence he ſaith, Mat. 24.42, 44. Watch therefore, be ye alſo ready, for in ſuch an hour as you think not; the Son of Man cometh: This is a Key that the wiſe God locks under his Girdle; he keeps this Secret [inter arcana imperij] among the Myſteries of this glorious Empire;
In diſcourſing upon this pleaſant Subject, I ſhall open theſe Seven things,
1. What this gathering alludes to.
2. After what manner they are gathered.
3. What is imply'd in this gathering.
4. For what End they are gathered.
5. How they are gathered to Chriſt.
6. Why will God thus gather them.
7. What improvement may be made of it.