Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of the general Judgment Day.
BUT then particular Judgment foregoing, this is but the foundation and introduction of the following.
The private and partial execution on the Soul ſeparate from the Body, ſhall have a publick and moſt ſolemn both manifeſtation and conſummation with it.
1. This day, among other ends, is reſerved for the ſo great and glorious manifeſtation of the infinite holineſs and righteouſneſs, grace and mercy, wrath and ſeverity, and other Attributes of God; never in this world having their ſo full diſcovery, as now by the intendment and moſt wiſe contrivance of a God they ſhall have, before Angels and Saints, Devils and wicked men.
The Judgment-day, Rom. 2.5. is called the day of the Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God; of that righteouſneſs, that ſo great and glorious Attribute ſo little underſtood, leſs conſidered, ſo much queſtioned and cavil'd at, the higheſt declaration and fulleſt Revelation that ever was, ſhall be then made and ſeen by all.
So the reſt of Gods Attributes ſhall obtain their meridian height, and ſhine forth in their moſt perfect reſplendencies.
Therefore it needs muſt be a very great day when it is ſo intended, purpoſely to be the greateſt day that ever was or can be.
2. It is alſo purpoſely conſtituted for the higheſt glory of Jeſus Chriſt, that he may both be admired of Saints and Angels, and magnified in the ſight of all wicked men and Devils.
Therefore he now is to appear in the higheſt glory, ſplendour, and power: And he being made now the viſible Judge, this muſt be moſt glorious, in that it is the conſummating work of his Mediatory Kingdom, preceding immediately his delivering up his Kingdom to God the Father, as the Apoſtle tells us, 1 Cor. 15.24. For the method and moſt fruitful way of this ſo very neceſſary Meditation, I conceive it may be,
1. To begin with thoſe Scriptures that moſt clearly and diſtinctly preſent us with the infallible certainty of this grand point.
2. To then gather up the Remarkable particulars of it in Scripture, as to the Nature, Manner, and the things that both accompany and follow it.
3. How to manage it, to our being beſt moved and ſtirred up by it.
1. For the infallible certainty of this Judgment day, let me look out thoſe Scriptures in the Old and New Teſtament, that ſpeak perſpicuouſly of it, and then labour by Meditation and Prayer to ſink deep into my heart, to lay them ſo ſtrongly to infuſe, as to leave a deep abiding tincture upon it.
To be put into a full poſſeſſion and aſſurance of Faith, in this ſo high ſoul-concernment.
In Jude 14. Enoch the ſeventh from Adam, that ſo walked with God, and that was firſt tranſlated, propheſied of the Lords coming to Judgment.
Job, who is ſuppoſed by the Learned to have lived when the Iſraelites were in Egypt, and before Moſes time, in his 19. Chapter, 25, 26, 27. verſes, hath a moſt clear and full aſſertion of his Redeemers being the laſt day on the Earth, and ſeeing him then, &c.
Solomon, Eccl. 12.16. God ſhall bring every thing to Judgment, every ſecret thing, good or evil: Dan. 12.2. They that ſleep in the duſt ſhall ariſe, ſome to ſhame, others to life.
In the New Teſtament, out of Chriſts the Judges own mouth, Math 25.31. to the end. This Doctrine is moſt fully, with the particulars and manner of it, deſcribed, and in the other Goſpels often.
So the Apoſtle of the Gentiles, Acts 17.19. At Athens, the great Ʋniverſity of the World, he tells them God had appointed a day to Judge the World in righteouſneſs, and by the man Jeſus, &c. Rom. 2.16. In that day that God ſhall Judge the ſecrets of mens hearts.
So we muſt all appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, &c. 2 Cor. 5.10.
2 Theſ. 1.7, 8, 9, 10. Chriſt ſhall come in flaming fire, to render vengeance to all that know not God, and obey not the Goſpel.
And Revel. 20.12, 13. to the end, I ſaw the dead ſtand before God, and judged according to their works, &c.
The varieties of places in Scripture, are like many Candles lighted in one place, like multitudes of Lights in the Heavens, all to give light to us below, that we might have cleareſt diſcoveries, firmeſt Faith, ſtrongeſt inſtigations to yield full compliance and obedience, with greateſt readineſs, pleaſure and ſweetneſs.
O I muſt anſwer for having the Scriptures, the varieties, perſpicuities, convincing Reaſons, and perſwading endeavours of the Spirit of God towards me in them and by them.
The more in the Scripture is done for me, the more will be required of me: This for the firſt.
2. The particulars remarkable to be gathered together, of this day, as the nature, manner, &c.
1. I muſt meditate of the Perſon, the ſo great and glorious Perſon that ſhall be Judge, which is God himſelf, as the Scripture often tells us; as Eccl. 12.16. Rom. 2.16. as was mentioned before, God ſhall judge, &c. Though this be greatly conſiderable, under which our Faith muſt be concluded; and this alone well pondered may greatly awaken, awe, and provoke us to all fulneſs of regard and care: yet the Word tells us farther, it is God, by Jeſus Chriſt, ſo in Acts 17.19. God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World, by that man he hath appointed. Hath committed all judgment to the Son.
It is not committed to the holieſt man that ever lived, nor to any mighty Angel, it is too high an Honour, too great a Work, for any created Nature, only fit for him that is God and man. For, by being God, there's both an Omniſcient, and Omnipotent, an infinitely Holy, Righteous, Good, and Merciful Judge; And by being Man, there's to all mens eyes a viſible Judge, that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. And this for the Saints ſurpaſſing joy, but the wickeds greater daunting and terrour, let in by the eyes both of the one and other: All muſt be judged by a Judge their eyes ſhall behold.
2. For the time of his coming, Mat. 24.42. it cannot, will not be known: At what hour your Lord will come, you know not.
3. For the ſuddenneſs and ſecreſie of his coming, 2 Pet. 3.10. The Lord will come as a Thief in the night. Math. 24.44. At an hour you think not your Lord comes.
4. For the place whence he ſets out and comes, 1 Theſ. 1.16. The Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven.
5. It will be in power and great glory, ſuch as never was, and never the like again ſhall be; never did the Sun of Righteouſneſs aſcend to and ſhine in ſuch a Meridian, ſuch a tranſcendent height of glory, Tit. 2.3. Looking for the glorious appearing.
6. For the company and retinue, it's all the whole Court of Heaven, come to wait on their King of Glory. All the glorified Saints and Angels leave Heaven empty, to make up his Train, thouſand of thouſands giving their attendance, Jude 8. With thouſands of his Saints. 2 Theſ. 1.7. Comes with his mighty Angels. Math. 25.31. Cometh, and all his holy Angels with him. O what an unſpeakably glorious attendance this is!
7. For the dreadfulneſs of his coming, 2 Theſ. 1.7. Chriſt is revealed coming in flaming fire. 2 Pet. 3, 10. The Heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, the Elements melt with fervent heat, the Earth with the works in it burnt up.
8. As a preparative to the Judgment, Chriſt deſcends from Heaven, 1. with a ſhout (never was there ſuch a ſhout made, in all the time the world ſtood) 2. with the voice of the Arch-Angel, and the Trump of God; the Voice and Trump at Mount Sinai, where ſix hundred thouſand might hear, that was a glorious and moſt dreadful voice and ſound, but nothing like this. Never ſuch a voice, that which will make the whole world ring, and the dead riſe out of their Graves, and with the ſame bodies, the ſame numerical bodies, that lived here.
3. Thoſe that are alive, ſhall be changed in a moment, in the twinckling of an Eye, on the ſound of the Trump, 1 Cor. 15.
4. The dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, 1 Theſ. 4.16, 17. O bleſſed and moſt joyful meeting of the Saints that were on Earth, now raiſed, changed, and caught up to meet and ſee the Lord Jeſus their Saviour, and now the glorious Judge, coming to conſummate their happineſs in ſoul and body together, to die no more, and to meet with all the Saints and Angels come from Heaven, and to be for ever with the Lord, never to be from him again.
5. But others that were wicked and now raiſed, with the other black Troop that were in Hell, and now have their Souls united to their bodies: All ſhall be brought before Chriſt the Judge (according to the opinion of ſome) ſitting on a high Throne in the Air, the Saints and Angels all attending about him.
9. For the manner of theſe proceedings, alluding to the manner of mens Judicatures, as Revelations, Chapter 20.
1. All perſons ſmall and great are brought, and ſtand before God, that is Chriſt, God and man.
2. The Books are opened, the Book of Gods Omniſcience, and the Books of mens hearts and conſciences, not in an imperfect ſtate of ignorance and forgetfulneſs, but fully prepared for their work of anſwering at the Tribunal and Bar of Chriſt.
3. It is a judging men, according to their works, for that hath been done in the body, good or evil, Eccl. 12.16. And a judging every ſecret thing of mens hearts, Rom. 2.16.
Some conceive, that ſeeing there will be the Revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Rom. 2. therefore it will have a long time, to judge the cauſe of every perſon, in all particulars, that ſo the righteouſneſs of the judgment and ſentence of Chriſt, with the Execution of it, may fully appear, and none to have any leaſt objection againſt it. But others think there will not be ſo particular a diſcovery, and tryal of all things, relating to the Saints, but a more general one.
However Chriſtians muſt be diligent to be found of Chriſt, without ſpot and blameleſs, as 2 Pet. 3.14.
10. When the caſes of all have been tryed and made to appear, the Sheep having been ſeparate from the Goats, and ſet at Chriſts right hand, the Goats on the left; the ſentence then paſſes, that moſt comfortable ſentence for the Sheep, the Righteous (now ſo judged by the heart-knowing and moſt juſt Judge) Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you. And that terrible ſentence on the Goats, now openly convicted, Go ye curſed into everlaſting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. To which the Saints and Angels all give their full approbation, as alſo to the doom upon the Devils.
11. Upon which the moſt righteous execution follows, of both the ſentences; for the righteous, and againſt the wicked ones.
To make all this obtain a more efficacious impreſſion daily on my ſpirit, let me ſtrive to repreſent this Day as now come, that I hear the Trump ſound, ſee the dead riſe, the living all changed in a moment; looking up I ſee Chriſt coming in the Clouds, with great glory, Angels and Saints all attending him, Chriſt placed on the Throne of Judgment; all perſons convented before him, and my ſelf among the reſt; my caſe tryed, my works, words, thoughts, and all my ſecrets judged, and my ſtate for all Etemity determined, and now when the World is all on Fire, the wicked ſent into that everlaſting deſtruction, the righteous going with Chriſt into Heaven and everlaſting happineſs; what my own particular condition is like to be.
If I can come before Chriſt, the all-knowing Judge, with confidence and exceeding joy, ſhall be abſolved, and hear that joyful ſentence, Come thou bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee.