The Sinners Last Sentence, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Concerning the privative part of the Sinners Puniſhment.
THis part of the Verſe will afford this Doctrine.
Doct. That a great part of wicked mens puniſhment in the other World, will conſiſt in their departure from the preſence of Chriſt; Then ſhall he ſay to them on his left hand, Depart from me. They now bid God depart from them, They ſay unto God, Depart from us, Job 21.14. But that which is their wiſh here, ſhall be their woe for ever. And he ſhall ſay unto them, depart from me ye workers of Inquity, I know you not, Matth. 7.23. The preſence of Chriſt is now their Trouble, but his abſence will then be their Torment. Hence the ſtate of the wicked in the other World is called utter-darkneſs, Calvin in Matth. 8.12.Matth. 8.12. And blackneſs of darkneſs for ever, Jude, verſ. 13. Becauſe of its ſeparation from Chriſt, who is the Light of the World, and the Sun of Righteouſneſs, Joh. 1.9. Mal. 4.2. It ſeems an alluſion to them that are fetter'd in dark doleful dungeons, or to thoſe that in the night-time ſtand without in the dark, being excluded ſuch Rooms as are full of Lights, wherein are rare and coſtly Feaſts.
In the explication of this Doctrine, I ſhall deſcribe the puniſhment of the wicked: 1. In the perfection of the Object, from which they muſt depart. 2. In the properties of their departure, and then give the Reaſons of the Doctrine.
Firſt, As for the Object of their loſs.
1. They loſe the Lord Jeſus Christ, the Prince of Life, the Lord of Glory, the fairest of ten thouſand, the only begotten of the Father, and the Heir of all things. The better the Object is, the greater their loſs who are deprived of it. The more excellent the Perſon of Chriſt is, the more exquiſite their puniſhment will be who muſt depart from him. Chriſt is the higheſt, the greateſt, the chiefeſt good. In loſing him,
1. They depart from an univerſal good, one that is Bread, Water, Light, Life, Reſt, Health, Eaſe, Wine, Marrow, a Feaſt, a Friend, a Father, Pardon, Peace, Love, Grace, Glory, any thing, every thing, all things that the Soul wanteth, and requireth to its perfect Felicity.
2. They depart from a ſuitable good, that very ſavoury meat which the Soul loveth and needeth. They loſe that good which the Soul ſhould have, and would have, and muſt have, if ever it be happy. The Soul is guilty, and Chriſt is pardon, pardon is ſuitable to a guilty Soul, 1 Joh. 1.7. The blood of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all ſin. The Soul is poor, and Chriſt is riches; Riches are ſuitable to a poor Creature, Eph. 3.8. The unſearchable Riches of Chriſt: Prov. 8.18. Riches and Honour are with me, yea durable Riches and Righteouſneſs. The Soul is miſerable, naked, filthy, obnoxious to Death and Wrath, but Chriſt is Mercy, Raiment, cleanſing, freedom from Hell, and the Heaven of Heaven, Rev. 3.17, 18. 1 Theſſ. 1. ult. Rom. 8.1. He is a good that doth exactly, directly ſuit the condition of the Soul, the miſeries of the Soul, and the neceſſities of the Soul. He is the Plaiſter that fits the Sores, and the Balm that hits the wounds of the Soul; when Creatures are Phyſicians and Phyſick of no value.
3. They depart from an eternal Good, they loſe that Good which doth not only ſuit the Souls diſpoſition, but alſo its duration, that will laſt and abide, and continue for ever. Jeſus Chriſt is the ſame yeſterday, to day, and for ever, Heb. 13.8. He is everlaſting Righteouſneſs, Dan. 9.24. Everlaſting meat, Joh. 6.27. Eternal life, 1 Joh. 5. ult.
2. They depart from, with Chriſt, the Society of all Chriſtians: When they depart from the Head, they depart from the Members. When they depart from the Root, they depart from the Branches. For Head and Members, Root and Branches, muſt be together for ever, Joh. 14.2, 3. Where I am, there ye may be alſo. Now the Sheep and Goats flock together, but then they ſhall be parted aſunder, Matth. 8.11, 12. And I ſay unto you, that many ſhall come from the Eaſt and from the Weſt, and ſhall ſet down with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven: But the Children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out into utter darkneſs, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. They who are now the Objects of their Contempt, will then be the Objects of their envy. When once they loſe the ſight, they ſhall loſe the ſight of thoſe glorious Stars for ever. Every Saint may then ſay to the Sinner (who now frets and fumes at the Saints preſence, becauſe of his preciſeneſs) as Moſes to Pharoah, I will ſee thy face no more, Matth. 25. ult.
3. They ſhall depart, when from Chriſt, from all the means of Grace, or Communion with God. They ſhall hear no more Sermons, and joyn in no more Prayers, and receive no more tenders of Grace, or intreaties of the Goſpel, Iſa. 38.11. I ſaid, I ſhall not ſee the Lord, even the Lord in the Land of the living: I ſhall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world. Where the King is, there he hath his Secretaries, and Seals, and Miniſters of State; and they who are baniſhed the Court, are baniſhed from theſe.
4. They ſhall depart from all the good things of this Life. Each Country hath its proper peculiar Commodities, and ſo hath each World. This World hath its peculiar good things, ſuch as are proper to this, and not to be found in the other World; therefore the Apoſtle calls them this worlds goods: He that hath this worlds goods, 1 Joh. 3.17. So the other World hath its proper peculiar Commodities, ſuch as are to be found no where elſe. The bleſſings of this are not to be look'd for in the other Life, There is neither marrying, nor giving in marriage, but all are as Angels. Good men, as good Angels, above all bodily and temporal Bleſſings; and evil Men, as evil Angels, without them, and fixed in a ſtate of endleſs miſery. The wicked man poſſibly was honourable, but his glory doth not follow after him, Pſal. 49.17. He was rich, but that was only in this world, 1 Tim. 6.17. He was one that abounded in Pleaſures, but now they are gone and exchanged for pains, James 5.5. Luk. 16.25. But Abraham ſaid, Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, and likewiſe Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. The Sinner ſhall bid adieu to Temporal good, Spiritual good, Eternal good, all good, that he may ſpeak indefinitely, what Job ſuppoſing himſelf dying, ſpake reſtrictively, Mine eye ſhall no more ſee good, Job 7.7.