The Sinners Last Sentence, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Preface and Introduction to the Text.
THough the Wiſe God is pleaſed now and then to keep a Peti-Seſſions at this day, and to execute Vengeance on ſome Sinners, leſt men ſhould queſtion his Providence, and but on ſome, leſt they ſhould queſtion his Patience; Yet the Great Aſſize, when Juſtice ſhall have a ſolemn, publick and general Triumph, will be the laſt Day. This World is the Theatre whereon Mercy is acting its part every moment; if Juſtice peep out a little, as the Sun out of a Cloud, it is quickly recall'd and hidden again, it will not appear in its full beauty, and glory, and brightneſs, till all Nations appear in the other World. Here all things come alike to all, there is one event to the Righteous and to the Wicked, to the Clean and to the Ʋnclean, to him that ſweareth, and to him that feareth an Oath, Eccleſ. 9.2. The Sun of Proſperity ſhineth, and the Showers of Adverſity fall on both promiſcuouſly. If there be any difference for the better, it is commonly on the worſer ſide, Pſal. 73.3. to the 8. verſ. But there when the laſt Trump ſhall ſound, the living be changed, the dead raiſed, and all ſhall appear before the Judgment-Seat of Chriſt, when the Saints ſhall be called, honoured, acquitted, and rewarded; when the Sinner ſhall be arraigned, accuſed, condemned, and executed, when the Judge ſhall ſay to the Saints on his right hand, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World: And to the Sinners on his left hand, Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Then men will ſee and ſay, Verily there is a reward for the Righteous, Surely there is a God that judgeth in the World. Then men ſhall return and diſcern a difference between the Righteous and the Wicked, between him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not.
In relation to this great and general Judgment, we may conſider:
1. The Efficient or Judge, verſ. 31. The Son of man ſhall come in his glory, with all his holy Angels, and ſhall ſit on the Throne of his Glory. He that was judged by man, ſhall be Judge of men.
2. The Subject or Perſons to be judged, all the World; verſ. 32. And before him ſhall be gathered all Nations. The Congregation of the whole World together ſhall follow upon the ſound of the Trumpet. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trumpet, (for the Trumpet ſhall ſound) the dead (indefinitely) ſhall be raiſed, 1 Cor. 15.52. Some underſtand the ſound of the Trumpet Metaphorically, for the Virtue and Power of Chriſt, whereby he ſhall cite and cauſe all the World to appear before him. Others take it literally and properly, as God appeared on Mount Sinai, when he gave the Law with the long and loud ſound of a Trumpet, Exod. 19.19. So he will appear at the great Day with the ſound of a Trump, when he comes to reckon with men for the breach of the Law, Matth. 24.31. And he ſhall ſend his Angels with a great ſound of a Trumpet. The Jews gathered their ſolemn Aſſemblies together with the ſound of a Trumpet.
And God will gather the greateſt aſſembly of men that ever was with the ſound of a Trumpet. Adam ſhall then ſee all his Children to the hundredth, and thouſandth, and hundred thouſand Generation.
3. The Form or Proceeding at that day, from verſ. 32. to the end.
4. The Event or Execution of the Sentence, verſ. 1. And theſe ſhall go into everlasting puniſhment, (as Hamans face was covered when the Sentence was given, and preſently led forth to Execution) and the Righteous into life eternal.
About the Form or Proceſs of this Day, wherein the Text lieth, theſe four particulars are obſervable:
1. The ſeparation of Perſons.
2. The ſetting them in their places.
3. The manifeſtation of perſons and things.
4. The pronunciation of the Sentence.
1. The ſeparation of Perſons. Now the Tares and Wheat grow together, but then they ſhall be parted aſunder, verſ. 32. And before him ſhall be gathered all Nations, and he ſhall ſeparate them one from another, as a Shepheard ſeparateth his ſheep from the goats. Here they mingle together in the ſame Houſe and Family, and Society, but there the Devils Herd of Goats ſhall be by themſelves, and Chriſts Flock by themſelves. The Wicked ſhall be gathered together, and he ſhall bind them in bundles, Matth. 13.41. and the Godly gathered together. The Sinner ſhall have his deſire, not to be troubled with Admonitions or Singularity of the Preciſe; and the Saint ſhall have his Prayer, not to be vexed with the filthy Converſation of the Prophane, Pſal. 26.4, 5, 6, 7. I have not ſate with vain perſons, neither will I go in with Diſſemblers: I have hated the Congregation of evil doers, and will not ſit with the Wicked, &c.
2. The ſetting them in their places. Now the vileſt men are exalted, and the moſt virtuous debaſed, but then it ſhall be otherwiſe. And then he ſhall ſet the Sheep on his right hand, and the Goats on his left, verſ. 33. Here the Godly are ſet in low places on foot-ſtools, the Wicked in high places, on Thrones: But there the Godly ſhall be honoured, and the Wicked diſgraced. The right hand is a place of the greateſt honour. To ſit at a Kings right hand, is the higheſt Seat next him. To ſit on King Solomon's right hand, was the honour he gave his Mother, 1 King. 2.19. To ſit at the right hand of God, is peculiar to Chriſt, whom he hath honoured and exalted above Principalities and Powers. To which of the Angels ſaid he at any time, ſit thou on my right hand, Epheſ. 20.21. Heb. 1.13. And to ſit on the right hand of Chriſt will be the honour of his Spouſe, his Queen. At thy right hand was the Queen in Gold of Ophir, Pſal. 45.9. They who are now placed at the left hand of earthly Princes, will then be placed at the right hand of the King of Kings, of the bleſſed and glorious Potentate; and they who are now placed at Kings right hands, will be placed at Chriſts left hand.
3. The manifeſtation of Perſons and things:
1. Of Perſons.
1. Of Men. All men ſhall then be pellucid and tranſparent as Chriſtal. We muſt all appear, foreign, 2 Cor. 5.10. For we muſt all appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, foreign The word ſignifieth a clear and a permanent manifeſtation. Such a clear manifeſtation of men, that every one may ſee into them, what they are, and what they have been; and ſuch a permanent manifeſtation as will laſt for ever, according to the Greek Scholiast, on 1 Tim. 3.18. Good men ſhall then be manifeſted, their Principles, their Practices, their Deſigns and Purpoſes, and their uprightneſs in all to their glory and praiſe. They who are now accuſed of Hypocriſie, and Obſtinacy, and Pride, and Peeviſhneſs; becauſe they could not ſwim with the ſtream, nor run with others to the ſame exceſs of riot, will then be manifeſted to be men of Integrity and Humility, and to have declined the prophane courſes of others, not out of fooliſh preciſeneſs, or needleſs ſcrupuloſity, or humourſomeneſs, but out of Conſcience to the Commands of God. Their Faith, and Love, and Sincerity, will be found to their praiſe, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jeſus; When Chriſt who is our Life ſhall appear, then ſhall ye appear with him in Glory, 1 Pet. 1.7. They who are now deſpiſed, and reproached, and trampled on as the dirt and dung, and filth of the Earth, will then be manifeſted to be Gods Jewels, Chriſts Glory, and the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt. When Chriſt who is our Life ſhall appear, we ſhall appear with him in Glory, Col. 3.4. Then there will be a manifeſtation of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.19.
Bad men will then be manifeſted to be the Servants of Unrighteouſneſs, the Children of the Devil, the Slaves and Vaſſals of Corruption, and notwithſtanding all their glorious Profeſſion, and ſpecious Pretences, to have been but as a painted Sepulchre, gaudy without, and rottenneſs within; or as a curious Chimney-piece, without white and ſhining, but within full of ſoot and blackneſs: He will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs, and make manifeſt the thoughts of the heart.
2. Of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. We read of the appearing of Chriſt at that day, 1 Pet. 1.7. Col. 3.4. He was vail'd, and hid, and obſcured, when on Earth, but then he ſhall be reveal'd and diſcover'd to the whole World. When the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from Heaven, 2 Theſſ. 1.7. And it will be a glorious Revelation. Looking for the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Christ, Tit. 2.13.
In this World he appeared as the Son of man, as one born of a Woman, and in the form of a Servant; but then he ſhall appear as the Son of God, as the only begotten of the Father, and as the Head of Principalities and Powers, and as the Heir of all things, Matth. 16.27. For the Son of Man ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels: and then he ſhall reward every man according to his works. He ſhall come in the Glory of his Father; i. e. in that Glory and Honour which is proper and peculiar to the Divine Nature.
At his firſt appearing a weak mortal man was his Harbinger,Mat. 3.3, 4. to prepare his way before him; But at his ſecond appearing, a mighty immortal Arch-Angel ſhall be his fore-runner, and go before him. For the Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend with a ſhout, with the voice of the Arch-Angel, and with the Trump of God, 1 Theſſ. 4.16. At his firſt appearing he was accompanied with a few poor mean Fiſhermen, but at his ſecond appearing he ſhall be attended with his mighty Angels, 2 Theſſ. 1.7. With all his holy Angels, Matth. 6.27. With the thouſand thouſand that are before him, and the ten thouſand times ten thouſand that miniſter to him.
At his firſt appearing he came as a Servant to miniſter unto others, and to be abaſed; He came riding upon an Aſſe, Matth. 20.5. & 28. But at his ſecond appearing he ſhall come in the Clouds of Heaven as his Chariot, Matth. 26.61. To be glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that believe. And then he ſhall appear as a Lord; ſome think it's therefore called the Lords-day, 2 Pet. 3.10.
At his firſt appearing he appeared wholly as a Saviour and Redeemer. When he appeared to the World, the Philanthropy, or kindneſs of God to man appeared, Titus 3.4. And the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation appeared, Titus 2.11. But then he ſhall appear as a Judge, full of Fire, and Fury, and Wrath againſt his Enemies. The Kings, and Captains, and Nobles will call to the Rocks to fall on them, and to the Mountains to cover them from the wrath of the Lamb, when that great day of his Wrath is come, Rev. 6.16, 17.
At firſt he appeared as a Sinner; In the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh, Rom. 8.3. He was numbred among the Tranſgreſſors: The Lord laid on him the inquity of us all, Iſa. 53.12. He was called a Samaritan, and one that had a Devil, Joh. 10. A Winebibber, and a Glutton, a Friend of Publicans and Sinners, Joh. 8.48. Matth. 11.19. A Traytour againſt Caeſar, Joh. 19.12. One guilty of Blaſphemy againſt God, Matth. 26.65. A Conjurer, and one in Compact and Covenant with the Devil, Matth. 12.24. But his ſecond appearing will be without any ſuch likeneſs of ſinful Fleſh, or imputation of ſin by God, or reputation of a Sinner among men. But unto them that look for him, ſhall he appear the ſecond time without ſin unto Salvation, Heb. 9. ult.
2. There will be at that day a manifeſtation of things. The Books that are now ſealed up, will then be opened, Rev. 20.12.
The Book of the Divine Decrees will then be unclaſped, and the Names written in the Lambs Book of Life will then be viſible and legible to all. 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, Rev. 20.12. All the Divine Providences in time will be manifeſt, then will the Divine Purpoſe from eternity, as now the Divine Purpoſe is manifeſt by the Divine Providence.
The Book of Divine Providences will then be opened, and all the rare curious Contrivances thereof unfolded; the agreement of Providence with the Promiſes (as well as with the eternal Purpoſe) will then be apparent. The Hiſtory of the whole World will then be read by the Saints in one entire Volume. Now we ſee a little of Gods Wiſdom, and Power, and Faithfulneſs in one Providence, and a little in another, and a little in a third; yea, we are ſo blind, and Providences often ſo dark, that through our ignorance and unbelief, God loſeth much of the Glory due to him for them, and we much of the comfort we might receive by them; but then we ſhall with ſtrengthened and enlarged Underſtandings diſcern the whole Series, Method, and Contexture of Divine Providences together, and how by a powerful, wiſe, gracious Government, all things conſpired, and combin'd, and wrought together for our everlaſting good, Rom. 8. 28. It's one thing to ſee a rich piece of Arras, with a curious ſtory wrought in it, by parcels and pieces, and another thing to ſee it all together, hung up, and to be ſeen all at once with one view.
The Book of Conſcience will then be opened. Though now wicked men blot and blur this Book by their wilful Preſumptuous ſins, that they cannot read it; though they darken their Eyes, and ſtiffen their Wills, and harden their Hearts, and will not read it, yet then they ſhall have the Book of Conſcience repreſenting to them in large, though black, yea bloody Characters, all their atheiſtical Impieties, Enormities, Drunkenneſs, Revellings, Debaucheries, Hypocriſies, Blaſphemies, and they ſhall be forced to read them with ſorrow and terror, whether they will or no.