The General Assembly, Doctrine · Chapter 6
CHAP VI. How the Saints ſhall be gathered together unto Christ, and Reaſons why thy must be gathered together.
5. THE next general Head is what is to be meant by the Saints gathering together unto Chriſt, ſo ſaith the Text.
I muſt confeſs, Interpreters greatly differ about the meaning of theſe Words, [foreign] which ſome Interpret of meetings of Chriſtians together in Aſſemblies, Heb. 10.25. And ſo render [foreign] propter ipſum, as Jam. 2.7. that worthy name [foreign] which is called upon you, ſuper vos: So they will have this to refer to the free Liberty of Chriſtians, in uninterrupted meetings in Countries, Cities, after the Scattering of the Jewiſh Nation that cenſured Chriſtians as a wicked Sect; but in the days of Veſpaſian, Titus, but eſpecially in Conſtantines Time, injoyed liberty of meeting together for celebrating God's publick Worſhip: So indeed [foreign] and [foreign] convenire, congregare, in publick Edict ſignify: But moſt take it for that general univerſal Meeting at Chriſt's ſecond coming in the Air at the laſt Day, 1 Theſ. 4.14, 17. when all the Elect ſhall be gathered to Chriſt: Now this gathering of Saints to Chriſt doth comprehend theſe Four things;
1. The State and Qualification of the Object.
2. The Reaſon or Relation betwixt them.
3. The Frame and Diſpoſition of the Subject.
4. The Sight, Viſion or Fruition of him.
I ſhall very briefly open all theſe.
1. The State and Qualification of the Object, that is Chriſt, under a double Notion, 1ſt. As God, Man; 2dly. As advanced to the right Hand of God.
1. They ſhall be gathered to him as God and Man, which is a State of the higheſt Perfection: Compleat Man as glorious a Creature as Adam in Innocency, and yet much more endeared to his Saints, by that reflecting on what he hath done and ſuffered for them and the Fruits thereof; this is he of whom 'tis ſaid, when he bringeth in his firſt begotten into the world, he ſaith and let all the Angels of God worſhip him, Heb. 1.6. This is the admirable Perſon, conſiſting of his two Natures, Divine and Humane; never did created or uncreated Nature afford the like: In whom all Perfections meet, in whom all Excellencies are united.
2. As exalted to the right Hand of God: They are not now to be gathered to Chriſt, as he was in his State of Humiliation, when Multitudes flockt to his Preaching, working Miracles, when he was but in the form of a Servant, or going to ſuffer on the Croſs, no, nor yet in his State of Transfiguration, which was Glorious but Temporary; but now he is ſet down on the right hand of the Majeſty on high, Heb.Phil. 2.9, 10. 1.3. God hath now given him a name above every name far above all principalities and powers and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, Eph. 1.20, 21, 22. It is this State of Glory in which Chriſt is inthroned, and now receiving Homage from all ranks of Creatures (Devils being confined to their Priſons,) attended with innumerable Angels; 'tis Chriſt in this glorious State, that the Saints are to be gathered to.
2. The Reaſon thereof, which conſiſts in the Relation betwixt Chriſt and his Saints, all which carry abundance of delight and ſweetneſs in them: For, it is not as Strangers or Enemies that love him not, nor yet as Malefactors brought to the Bar, that dread him as Judge: But they are gathered to Chriſt under theſe ſweet Relations.
1. As Sheep to their Shepheard, whoſe Voice they know here, and follow him, John 10.3, 4. yea they own him with a more then ordinary endearedneſs, becauſe he laid down his Life for the Sheep, verſe 15. and carried thoſe poor lambs in his arms, Iſa. 40.11.and leades them to quiet reſting-places, where they ſhall dwell ſafely, Ezek. 34.28.and none ſhall make them afraid.
2. As Souldiers to their Captain, not to Fight, but to take the Spoil, the Captain of our Salvation is made perfect through ſufferings: He is now crowned with glory and honour and brings many Sons unto glory, Heb. 2.9, 10. He pitcheth out a Crown to every Souldier, and ſets the victorious Champion with him on his own Throne, Rev. 3.21.
3. As Scholars to their Maſter, who ſets them not in a low Form, as under Graduates, but they commence the higheſt degree of Perfection in the Univerſity of Glory, to know as much as Creatures are capable, they ſhall know as they are known, 1 Cor. 13.12. Now he is a veſſel unto Honour, meet for his Maſters uſe,2 Tim. 2.21. ſet on the ſhelf of Glory.
4. As Subjects to their Prince, to pe preferred into the King's Preſence-chamber: Not any longer to be baniſht into a foreign Country; no, nor yet to be Retainers, hanging about the Court at a diſtance, but approaching into his Preſence: Jeſus Chriſt is in the immediate Preſence of God, Saints ſhall be with him:Heb. 9.24. In whoſe preſence is fulneſs of joy at his right hand are pleaſures for ever more, Pſal. 10.11.
5. As Friends to a Feaſt: Our Lord called and accounted all his Saints, Friends in this World, John 15.14, 15. and he deales familiarly with them, providing for them a Feaſt of fat things: But there will come a day when he will drink this wine new with them in his fathers kingdom, Mat. 26.29. O bleſſed Feaſt! O ſweet Society! When he will ſay, eat oh friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved, Cant. 5.2.
6. As Children are gathered to their Father, not only to receive a Bleſſing, but to take full poſſeſſion of their Inheritance, Col. 3.24. knowing that of the Lord, ye ſhall revive the reward of the inheritance, for ye ſerve the Lord Chriſt: All God's Son's are Heirs, and then it will be manifeſt who are Son's,Rom. 8.17. 1 John 3.2. that's a bleſſed Word, Rev. 21.7. He that overcometh ſhall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he ſhall be my Son.
7. As Members are gathered to their Heart, Eph. 5.30. for we are members of his body of his fleſh and of his bones: Now alaſs the Members are oft disjointed from each other, and too much diſtant from the Head, but there will come a day when they ſhall be joined all in one: There's then no diſcrepancy betwixt Head and Members, but they are grown up into him in all things, which is the head even Chriſt, Eph. 4.15, 16.
Thus much for the Relation they have to Chriſt, which is the Reaſon of this gathering together to him.
3. The Frame and Diſpoſition of the Subject: There is in every Child of God, a kind of natural Propenſity, which inclines them in a peculiar Manner towards Chriſt as the Needle towards the Loadſtone, by which they move and bend Heaven wards: Return unto thy reſt, O my Soul ſaith David, Pſal. 116.7. As all Creatures move to their center, ſo doth the ſincere Soul God-wards; and can never be quiet till it be cloſely joined and cemented to him, and that God that hath fixed theſe innate Principles in the Soul, will promote and perfect them: Now this Frame and Diſpoſition of a Child of God, proceeds 1ſt. From the Conviction of Conſcience, and Deficiency he finds in other things: 2dly. From a ſenſible Experience that the Soul hath of Satisfaction in Chriſt.
1. The Conſciences of God's Children are fully ſatisfyed, that all the World cannot give the leaſt eaſe to their Souls: This made Solomon cry out,Eccl. 1.2. vanity of vanitie…, all is vanity: The Chriſtian cries out, away with theſe Toys: Worldly Enjoyments are not commenſurate to an immortal Soul, Mat. 16.26. The Judgment is convinced that the world paſſeth away, and the luſt …hereof, 1 John 2.17. All the Splendor of the …ld fades, there's a varity and emptineſs in all Sublimaries [non eſt mortale quod opto] that's the Chriſtians Motto: I wiſh not, for, I am not content with mundane or worldly things: I muſt look beyond the Moon to Heaven for a Felicity: I have ſuck'd the juice of every Flower in this Garden of the World, yet my Soul is empty.
2. The Chriſtian hath taſted that the Lord is Gracious, and this ſets him a longing and hungring for more Grace and Incomes from above, 1 Pet. 2.23. The Gauls having taſted the ſweet Wine of the Grapes that grew in Italy, were never at reſt till they had conquered the Country: So it is with the godly Soul [optima demonſtratio eſt à ſenſibus] Senſe brings the cleareſt Evidence, eſpecially Spiritual Senſes, for ſome Natural Sences may be deceived, this I pray, ſaith the Apoſtle, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment, Phil. 1.9. [foreign,] in all Senſe, for the Soul hath its Senſes as well as the Body, and being ſanctifyed and duly exerciſed,Heb. 5.14. they diſcern betwixt Good and Evil: And indeed this is the proper Genius of the new Creature, to preſs forwards and aſpire upwards, Rom. 8.23. we which have the firſt fruits of the ſpirit groan within our ſelves, waiting for the adoption; the redemption of our body: There are Heaven born Principles laid up in godly Souls, that make them ſore aloft to injoy God.
4. The gathering to Chriſt, includes the Sight, Viſion and Fruition of Chriſt, the full Injoyment of him: Beholding God is properly Fruitive Viſion of him: Bleſſed are the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5.8. This is not of meer Speculation, but Fruition; if we be dead with Chriſt, we believe that we ſhall alſo live with him, Rom. 6.8. This is by ſight of him and appearing with him in glory, Col. 3.4. This blisful ſight of Chriſt, is that which makes Heaven, for where the King is, there is the Court; this Glory is in conformity to him, and communion with him: This is it to be gathered to Chriſt, i. e. to have Chriſt fully revealed to us, the approach to him under deareſt Relations, the Soul diſpoſed and duly qualified to injoy him, and full Viſion and Fruition of him: If any of theſe be wanting, we cannot in Scripture-Senſe be gathered to Chriſt.
6. The next Head is the Reaſons why our Lord will thus gather his Saints to Chriſt at the laſt day?
Though I have toucht at ſome things already, that might be improved as Reaſons, yet I ſhall add.
1. Becauſe this is the good Pleaſure of God, John 6.39. And this is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up at the laſt day, how tender is God of his Jewels, he will gather them and make them up carefully, Mat. 3.17.Rom. 6.27. To be ſure he will neither keep them out, nor caſt them out: The foundation of God ſtandeth ſure, having this ſeal, the Lord knoweth [and will own] them that are his, 2 Tim. 2.19. the election muſt obtain ſalvation: It runs inviſibly much under ground,Rom. 11.7. but will appear at laſt in Manſions above.
2. Becauſe this is the Fruit of Chriſt's Purchaſe, 1 Pet. 3.18. For Chriſt hath once ſuffered for ſins, the juſt for the unjuſt that he might bring us to God; He is the Ladder of Jacob, upon whom Elect Souls aſcend to Glory: This was the End of his reconciling us by his Blood, to preſent us holy, unblamable, and unreprovable in his ſight, Col. 1.20, 22. our Lord will not loſe the Fruits of his dear Purchaſe: Yea he follows it with his Prayer, John 17.24. Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, God always hears him.
3. Becauſe of the ſanctifying and ſealing Work of the Spirit, 2 Theſ. 2.13. God hath choſen you to ſalvation, through ſanctification of the ſpirit, and belief of the truth; obſerve it, Sanctification and Salvation, have an inſeparable Connexion: Saints in the Old Teſtament and in the New have the ſame ſpirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4.13. This animates all the Members of Chriſt, running through the Veins of his myſtical Body;2 Cor. 1.22. and this is the ſeal and earneſt of our future inheritance, Eph. 1.13, 14. To be ſure God will not loſe his Earneſt, or throw it to Hell.
4. Saints ſhall be gathered together to Chriſt, becauſe they are all wrapt in the ſame Bond of the Everlaſting Covenant; its called the bond of the covenant, Ezek. 20.37. And by this Covenant all the Saints become one ſtick in the Lords hand, Ezek. 37.17. Suppoſe abundance of Twigs be bound up together, yet they all make up but one Rod; many Stones make but one building; many Inhabitants make but one City or Kingdom: All Saints are fellow citizens, Eph. 2.19, 20, 21, 22. God will not part them either in this or in the other World: Sincere and perſevering Souls, ſhall all meet before the Throne, to ſing Hallelujahs with harmonious Melody: All the Saints through the World are Children of the ſame Father, God; yea they that are of faith, are children of Abraham, Gal. 3.7. In a Spiritual Senſe, one houſhold of faith, Gal. 6.10. fellow heirs of the ſame body, Eph. 3.6. fellow ſervants, Col. 1.7. brethren in Chriſt, faithful brethren, Col. 1.2. fellow citizens with the Saints, Eph. 2.19. and of the houſhold of God: Such ſpecial Relation calls for this Congregating: No doubt, they muſt be gathered together at laſt.