Sermons Volume 2, 2 Corinthians 5 · Sermon 13
SERMON XIII.
2 Cor. 5.10.
For we must all appear before the Iudgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done, whether good or bad.
PAuls Motives to Faithfulness in his Ministry were three; Hope, Fear and Love. Hope of a Blessed Immortality: Fear, or an holy reverence wrought in him by the Consideration of the last Judgement: Love to Christ▪ verse 14. We just now come to the Second Consideration; it fitly falleth in with the close of the former branch, as a reason why it must be our chiefest care to approve heart and life to God: Not only the hope of the Resurrection breedeth this care to please God, but also the Consideration of the general Judgment. We are so cold, careless and backward, because we seldom think of these things; but if we did oftner think of them, it would make us more aweful and serious, we would soon see that though we can approve ourselves to the World, yet it will not profit us unless we approve our selves to God, for all dependeth upon his doom and sentence. For we must all appear, &c.
In the words observe a description of the day of Judgment. Wherein,
1. The necessity of this Judgment; foreign [We must] Judged we must be, willing, or unwilling.
2. The Vniversality of this Judgment; Who must be Judged; in the word foreign, All.
3. The person by whom we shall be judged. The text speaketh of the Judgment seat of Christ. He is our Rightful Lord to whom this Judgment belongeth. And he hath his Judgment seat and Throne of Glory, as 'tis called, Mat. 25.31. Then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory. What that is, because it is wholly to come, and not elsewhere explained in Scripture, we know not; we must rest in the general expression. The Cloud in which he cometh shall possibly be his throne, or, if you will have it farther Explained, you may take that description of the Prophet Daniel, Chap. 7.9, 10. Of This see more in Sermon on Matth. 25. verse 31.
4thly. The manner; we must appear before the Judgment seat of Christ foreign, The word signifieth two things.
1. To stand forth and make our appearance, Rom. 14.10. There 'tis foreign, we shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ.
Or else 2dly. To be made manifest. And so rendred verse the 11th. But we are made manifest before God, and I trust are made manifest in your Consciences. So here our hearts and ways shall be laid open, as well as we. Every action of our lives shall be taken into consideration: Well then, we must appear so as to be made manifest in our thoughts, words and deeds, we must not only appear in Person, but be laid open, have our whole life rip'd up, and have all our thoughts, words and works disclosed before Men and Angels.
5. The matter about which we shall be Judged; the things done in the Body. That is, during the bodily life. The Body is the Shop of action, wherein or whereby every thing is done. Mechedius telleth us 'tis foreign The Yoakfellow or Colleague of the Soul▪ Now whatever is done by it, good or evil, is the cause to be tryed.
6. The end. That every man may be punished or rewarded according to his deserts; the end is, that there may be sentence given, and after sentence execution; both as to reward and punishment.
1. Mark the emphasis of the Phrase, the things done in the Body; we are said to receive them when we receive the fruits of them. So, Eph. 6.8. Whatsoever good thing a man doth, the same shall he receive, whether bond or free. So here things done in the Body is the just reward of those things.
2. Observe the several kinds of retribution. Good or bad, both the godly and the wicked, receive a full recompense at that time.
3. The proportion; According to their several ways; only the reward of good is of grace, of evil of desert, Rom. 6.23. The Wages of sin is death.
Doct. There will certainly come a day when every person that ever lived shall be judged by Christ according to his works.
I shall examine this point by the circumstances of the Text.
1. The necessity; he might have said, we shall appear; No, but he saith, we must appear; God hath so appointed.
Here I shall speak,
1. Of the certainty of the thing. There must be a Judgment.
2. The infallible certainty of the event. There shall be a Judgment.
1. It must be so. For God hath decreed it, and Reason enforceth it. But why is it necessary? I answer, not to discover any thing to God.
1. But Partly, That grace may be glorifyed in and by the righteous. 1 Epistle of Pet. Chap. 1. v. 13. Hope unto the end for the grace which is to be brought unto you, at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Then is the largest and fullest manifestation of Gods love to his people. We see his grace now in the pardon of sins, and that measure of Sanctification which now we attain unto, that he is pleased to pass by our offences, and take us into his family, and give us a tast of his love, and a right to his Heavenly kingdom, and imploy us in his Service; but then it will be another manner of grace, and favour indeed, when pardon and approbation shall be pronounced and ratifyed by the Judges own mouth, Acts 3.19. When he shall not only take us into his family, but into his Immediate presence, and Palace, John 12.26. Where I am there shall my servant be. When he giveth us not only right, but the possession, Matth. 25.34. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you. When we shall not only have some remote Service and ministration, but be everlastingly imployed in loving, delighting in, and praising of God, with all those Heavenly creatures who are our eternal companions in the work. The grace of God, or his favour to his people, is never seen in all its glorious graciousness, till we be glorifyed.
2. That the wicked may be convinced of their sin and defect, they come upon a tryal, and the fault of all their miscarriage is charged on themselves. 'Tis hard to determine which is the greater torment to them, the righteousness or terribleness of the sentence. God leaveth them without excuse, Rom. 1.20. Psa. 50.21. I will set all thy sins in order before thee. Sins forgotten, lost in the crowd by a secure sinner, in the day of Gods reckoning shall be brought to remembrance, with time, place and other circumstances, and so presented to conscience as if newly done.
3. That Gods Justice may be cleared, Psa. 51.4. That thou mayest be clear when thou Judgest. When he giveth to men according to their choice, and according to the merit of their own works, there lyeth no just exception against Gods proceeding. The justice of God requireth that there should be differing proceeding with them that differ among themselves, that it should be well with them that do well, and evil with them that do evil. That every man should reap according to what he hath sown. Therefore those whom Christ will receive into Everlasting life must appear faithful and obedient, for then God will judge the world in righteousness, Acts 17.31. Now in patience towards the wicked, now by way of exercise and tryal of his people.
2. The certainty of the Event. The hour is coming, John 5.28. That there is such a time coming he ill deserveth the name of a Christian who maketh any Question of it. But, because many live, as if they shall never be called to an account, I shall evidence that certainly we shall appear, both by natural Light and Scripture.
1. Let the evidence of Reason be heard so far as it will go; Reason sheweth that it may be, and argueth,
1. From the nature of God. There is a God; That God is just; and 'tis agreeable to his justice that it should be well with them that do well, and ill with them that do evil. These are principles out of dispute, and foundations in the structure and building of the Christian Faith. Here the best suffer most, and are exercised with poverty, disgrace, scorn, and all manner of persecutions, and the wicked live a life of pomp and ease; how shall we reconcile these things with the notions which we have of God and his Providence? No satisfactory account can be given but this: The wicked are reserved to future punishment, and the Godly to future reward. Here the goodness of God towards the good, and the justice of God towards the wicked, is not enough manifested, therefore there is a day when his Judgment shall be brought to light, and his different respect to good and bad made more Conspicuous.
2. From the providence of God. There are many Judgments which are pledges of the general Judgment, that at length God will Judge the whole world for sin: As the drowning of the Old World, the burning of Sodom, the destruction of Jerusalem; these are as a warning to all, for 'tis said, Jude 7. these are set forth as a warning to all that should live ungodly. God is the same still, Gal. 3.20. God is one; that is, in one mind of punishing the wicked, without variation and change; he hateth the sins of one, as well as of another: If he would not put up the iniquities of the Old World, he will not put up the iniquities of the New; if he punished the iniquities of Sodom, he will punish the iniquities of others who sinned in like manner. God is not grown more indulgent to sin than he was before; though it be not now, there will be a time when he will call them to a reckoning. In every Age he keepeth a petty Sessions, but then will be the general Assizes. When man first sinned, God did not immediately execute the Sentence of his Law upon him, but giveth him time of Repentance till he dieth: As he giveth every man time and space, so he giveth all the World; for he would not have all the World to be born at once, and die at once, but to live in several successions of Ages, from Father to Son throughout divers generations, till we come to that Period which his Providence hath fixed. Now, as he reckoned with every man particularly at his death, so with all the World at the end of time. Particular Judgments shew that God is not asleep, or unmindful of humane Affairs, but the general Judgment is deferred till then.
3. From the Feelings of Conscience. After sin men are troubled, though there be none about them in the World to call them to an account, or though the fact be done so secretly, that it is not liable to an humane Tribunal. Nature is sensible that there is an higher Judgment, that Divine Justice must have a solemn Triumph; Conscience is afraid of it. Heathens are sensible of such a thing, Rom. 1.32. Who knowing the Judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death. Foelix trembled at the mention of it, which sheweth there is an easie reception of such a Truth, Acts 24.25. There is an hidden fear in the Consciences of all men, which is soon revived and awakened by the Thoughts of this Truth. Every guilty person is more or less held in the Chains of darkness, which sheweth how easily this Truth can insinuate it self into a rational mind.
2. Faith sheweth that it shall be. The light of Faith is more certain, and more distinct. 'Tis more certain; for it buildeth upon a Divine Testimony, which is more infallible than the ghesses of Reason. And 'tis more distinct; for Nature could never find out the circumstances of that day; as by whom this Judgment shall be managed, and in what manner, that God hath appointed one Man by whom he will judg the World in Righteousness, that he shall come in the glory of his Father, and all the holy Angels with him. Faith concludeth this certainty,
1. From that Revelation which God hath made in his Word, Matth. 13.49, 50. So shall it be at the end of the World, the Angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire, there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth. Joh. 5.28, 29. The hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that done evil unto the resurrection of damnation, Heb. 9.27. And it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the Judgment, Rom. 14.12. So then, every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. Matth. 12.36, 37. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Rev. 20.12. And 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. And in many other places; for this being a necessary Truth, is more plentifully revealed than others of lesser importance. This was the great Promise ever kept afoot in the Church. Scoffers took notice of it, saying, Where is the Promise of his coming? The Apostle Jude intimateth the Ancient Promise of it, Jude v. 14. And Enoch also the seventh Son from Adam prophesied of these things saying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints. And it hath been revived in all Ages; by Moses, and David, and Daniel, and Joel, Zechary and Malachi, and more clearly by Christ himself, and his Apostles every where. Now we may reason, that hath God been faithful in all things will not fail at last, he hath ever stood to his Word, when more unlikely things have been promised. Were the believers of the Old Testament deceived that expected his coming in the flesh? Surely Christ never meant to deceive us, when he said, John 14.2, 3. I will come again, if it were not so I would have told you. See Serm. on Matth. 25th. v. 6.
2. The types shew it. I shall instance in one, which is the High Priest's entring with Blood into the Holy place within the vail, and when he had finished his Service and Ministration there, he came forth to bless the people, which the Apostle explaineth and applyeth to Christ, Heb. 9. from 24. verse to the 28.
3. There are Ordinances appointed in the Church, to keep afoot the remembrance of his promise; the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 11.26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come. He hath left it as a monument of his faithfulness, that upon all occasions we may renew our hopes and expectations of it.
4. We have an inward pledge, his Spirit and the visits of his grace. He hath taken our flesh, and left with us his Spirit. He went not from us in anger, but in love, to set all things at rights, and to bring us there where he is.
5. Christs interest is concerned in it, that the Glory of his Person may be seen. His first coming was obscure and without observation. Then he came in the form of a Servant, but now he will come as the Lord and Heir, in Power and Glory. Then John Baptist was his forerunner, now an Archangel, Then he came with Twelve Disciples, men of mean Condition in the World, a few poor fisher men, now with Legions of Angels, Jade 14. Then as a Minister of Circumcision, now as the Judge of all the World. Then he invited men to repentance, now he cometh to render vengeance to the neglecters, and despisers of his grace. Then he offered himself as a Mediator between God and Man, as an high Priest to God▪ and an Apostle to men, Heb. 3.1. But vailed his Divinity under the infirmities of his flesh, now he cometh in Gods name to Judge men, and in all his Glory. Then he wrought some Miracles, which his enemies imputed to Diabolical Arts and Magical Impostures; at the day of Judgment, there will be no need of miracles to assert the Divinity of his person, because all will be obvious to sense. Then he prepared himself to suffer death now he shall tread death under his Feet. Then he stood before the Tribunals of men, and was condemned to the cursed death of the Cross, now he shall sit upon a Glorious Throne, all Kings and Potentates expecting their doom and sentence from his mouth. Then he came not to Judge, but to save, now to render unto every one, according to their works. Then he was scorned, buffeted, spit upon, Crowned with Thorns, but now Crowned with Glory and Honour. Then he came to bear the sins of many; now without sin, not bearing our burden, but our discharge, not as a Surety but as a pay Master, not as a Sufferer, but a Conqueror, triumphing over Death, Hell and the Devil. He cometh no more to go from us, but to take us from all misery to himself.
2. That he may possess what he hath purchased. He bought us at a dear rate, and would he be at all this loss and preparation for nothing? Surely he that came to suffer, will come to Triumph, and he that purchased will possess, Heb. 2.13.
3. With respect to the wicked. 'Tis a part of his office to Triumph over them, in their final overthrow. All things shall be put under his feet, Isa. 45.23. Rom. 14.10.11. Phil. 2.10.
4. To require an account of things during his absence, what his Servants have done with their Talents, Matth. 25. What his Church have done with his Ordinances, how things have been carryed, during his absence, in his house, 1 Tim. 6.14. Keep this Commandment without rebuke, unto the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whether men have carryed themselves well, or beaten their fellow Servants, and eaten and drunk with the Drunkard; whether they have strengthned the hands of the wicked, oppressed with censures the most serious of his Worshippers, what disorders in the World, what violation of the Law of Nature, 2 Thes. 1.8.
2. The Vniversality. Who must be judged; we must all. All mankind which ever were, are, and shall be. No Age, no Sex, no Nation; nor Dignity, nor Power, nor Wealth, nor Greatness can excuse us. In the World, some are too high to be questioned, others too low to be taken notice of: But there, all are taken notice off, by head and pole, not one of the Godly shall be lost, but will meet in that general assembly. Nor shall any of the wicked shift the day of his appearance; as we may obey in every state, and sin in every state, so in every state we must give an account. All that have lived from the beginning of the World, till that day, shall without exception appear, from the least to the greatest, before the Tribunal of Christ.
This will be illustrated, by considering the several distinctions of mankind.
1. The first and most obvious distinction is into grown Persons and Infants.
2. Distinction is those whom Christ shall find dead or alive at his coming.
3. Distinction is of good or bad.
4. The next distinction of men whom Christ shall Judge, are believers and unbelievers.
5. Men of all Conditions, high and low, rich and poor; of these see, Matth. 25. v. 33. Ser. 3.
6. Men of all callings in the Church, Apostles and private Christians, Ministers and People, for the Apostle here in the text joineth himself with others, and saith, We must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ. Besides the Law of Christianity, by which all shall be Judged, the Officers and Guides of the Church, must give an account of their faithfulness, in their ministration. There is much spoken in Scripture of their account, 1 Cor. 4, 4.5. I know nothing by my self, yet am I not thereby justified, but he that judgeth me is the Lord, therefore Judge nothing before the time until the Lord come; who both will bring to light, the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the Counsels of the heart, and then shall every man have praise of God. He speaketh there of the execution of his Apostolical Office, though he was Conscious to himself of no fault in it, yet this was not the clearing of him, only God that searcheth and seeth all must do this. 'Tis a great matter to clear a mans fidelity, first as a Minister, then as a private Christian. Paul would not venture it upon the single Testimony of his own Conscience. So again, Heb. 13.17. They watch for your Souls, as they that must give an account. Their work is to watch over Souls for their Eternal Salvation, if Souls miscarry through their negligence, they are answerable to God for it, but if they miscarry through their own willfulness, the loss is the peoples, they have the Crown of faithfulness, if not of fruitfulness. The Crown of fruitfulness is spoken of, 1 Thes. 3.19, 20. What is our hope, or joy, or Crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming? For ye are our Glory and joy. The Thessalonians were a good people, famous for their proficiency in the Faith, and endurance of Persecutions; and this was Pauls Crown (who had begotten them to Christ) in the day of doom. Now when they give up their account, not with joy but grief, that's not unprofitable to the Ministers; but to the people 'tis unprofitable. It may be good unto the Ministers, who have been faithful, but not to the people who have been disobedient.
7. Every individual person, all and every one must appear, See Matth. 25. v. 33. Serm. 3. Well then, since there is such a day, let it be our care to approve our hearts and lives to God.