The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Husbandry, Discourse 1 · Doctrine 2
Doct. 2. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be Revealed from Heaven. 1. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be Revealed. 2. He ſhall be Revealed from Heaven.
1. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be Revealed: This is neceſſary on a double Account.
1. Jeſus Chriſt was veiled and clouded in the World; the Sun of Righteouſneſs was in a continual Eclipſe for about 33 Years. Tho' he was Rich, yet for our ſakes he became Poor, 2 Cor. 8, 9. Tho' he was full, yet he emptied himſelf, Phil. 2.7, 8. Tho' he was Lord over all, God over all, Rom. 9.5. yet he took on him the form of a Servant; and this was as a thick Veil caſt over all his Glory, Phil. 2.9. The World ſaw no beauty in him, Iſ. 53.2. He was a Man of ſorrows, and acquainted with grief, Pſal. 22.6. He was trod on as a Worm, Pſ. 10.9.23. and toſſed up and down as a Locuſt by the Wind of his Adverſaries fury. From the Garden he was offe…d to Annas, from Annas to Caiaphas, from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, from Herod to Pilate again, then to Golgotha. Thus the Scripture was fulfilled, That he was toſſed up and down as a Locuſt: So mean was his Condition, and ſo low his Circumſtances, that the World did not know him, John 3.1. and therefore a glorious Appearing of his is neceſſary, Tit. 2.13. to let all the World know who, and what he is, and how they have been miſtaken.
2. Jeſus removed, and withdrew himſelf from the World; he is Travelled into a far Country, Luke 13.12. He is gone within the Veil, Heb. 6.19, 20. He is hid with God, Col. 3.3. Thouſands do love him tho' they have not ſeen him; and believe on him, tho' they do not yet ſee him, 1 Pet. 1.8. The Object of our Faith is become inviſible, and far removed from the Eye of Senſe; and Chriſt doth ſtay ſo long, that Wiſe and Fooliſh Virgins do fall aſleep, Matt. 25.5. And his Rebellious Citizens ſend a Meſſage after him, ſaying, We will not have this Man to reign over us, Luke 19.14. All thoſe they cruelly perſecuted, and wickedly ſlew, for Proclaiming Chriſt as King, and calling them to bow down to his Royal Scepter, were ſent in this Embaſſy, or with this Meſſage, after Chriſt, to tell him his Citizens, the Jews, would not admit him as their King to Reign over them; and the Prophane and Atheiſtical World do ridicule, mock and ſcorn, at the Promiſe of his coming, 2 Pet. 3.3. They that walk after their own Luſts, and place their Happineſs in ſatisfying of them, would not have Chriſt come to interrupt their Life of Senſuality, or to puniſh them for it. They would never have Chriſt come, and hope he will not appear; and therefore, with inſulting Belief, ſay, Where is the Promiſe of his coming?
In the Proſecution of this Subject, I ſhall inſiſt on theſe three Things. 1. I ſhall demonſtrate that the Lord Jeſus will be Revealed. 2. What the Scripture aſſerts about his coming. 3. When the Lord Jeſus will be Revealed. Tho' we cannot point out the particular Time, yet there are ſome general Intimations given us in Scripture when he will come.
1. That the Lord Jeſus will come, 1. God the Father will ſend him, Acts 3.20. Peter ſaith, That God would ſend Jeſus, who before was preached to them. And Paul ſpeaking of the appearing of Chriſt, he affirms, that in his Times, he ſhall ſhew this Appearance, who is the bleſſed and only Potentate. The Father will exhibit Chriſt again to the World; this will be the moſt wonderful glorious ſhew that ever was preſented to Mankind: He that did ſtand as a Criminal before the Tribunal of Pilate, Matt. 27.11. he that did hang on a Croſs of Ignominy, ſhall now ſit on a Throne of Glory, Matt. 25.31. He will Arraign Men for all the Acts of Time, and adjudge them to the Penalties and Rewards of Eternity. All Nations ſhall be gathered before him, ſhall receive their Sentence from him, and be diſpoſed of either to a Bleſſed or Miſerable Eternity by him.
2. Jeſus Chriſt himſelf hath told us of his Return; he compares himſelf to a Noble Man Travelling into a far Country to receive a Kingdom, and return. As the Spirits of Men do return to God to be judged, Eccl. 12.7.3. ſo Chriſt will return again to judge the World.
3. The Saints live in expectation of Chriſts return; they wait for Jeſus Chriſt from Heaven, 1 Theſ. 1.10. They look for him from Heaven, Phil. 3.20. They look for the bleſſed Hope, and the glorious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, Tit. 2.14. Tho' the moſt of Men live, as if they had no Concern in Chriſt's Appearing, as if it would be no Marriage-Day, Feaſt-Day, or Harveſt-Day to them; as if they did not think, or expect to reap any Harveſt of Bleſſedneſs, or to receive any Reward of Happineſs at Chriſt's coming, yet it would be a great diſappointment to the People of God if he ſhould not return. They look for him as a Bridegroom, as a Saviour, as a Redeemer; and he will appear a ſecond time unto Salvation, to thoſe that look for him, Heb. 9.28.
4. The Angels have teſtified to this Truth, that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould come from Heaven, as the Apoſtles ſaw him go to Heaven, Acts 1.11. And the Angels cannot be falſe Witneſſes and Deceivers.
5. Jeſus Chriſt hath work to do at his ſecond coming: He hath a Harveſt to reap, Matt. 13.30. A Floor to Purge, Matt. 3.12. A Wife to Marry, Rev. 7.25. Servants to reckon with, Matt. 19.21, 30. The Diligent and Faithful he will commend, and call to enter into his own joy; and the Idle and Slothful he will adjudge to be caſt into outer Darkneſs. The great Shepherd will gather his Flock to him, and lead them to ſweet and delicious Paſtures in the Heavenly Paradiſe.
2. Let us obſerve what the Scripture aſſerts concerning his coming.
1. Jeſus Chriſt teſtifies, that he comes quickly, Rev. 22.20. Behold I come quickly. Yet a little while, and he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry, Heb. 10.37. It is but a little time to the day of Chriſt's Appearing; compared with the time that is run out, ſince the beginning of the World, it will be quickly, conſidering how near our end is, and that Death is at hand. Death is the end of the World to us; we paſs into a fixed, unchangeable, Eternal Eſtate, as thoſe do who live to the end of the World. Time is folded up to us, and the Door of Eternity is opened to us. Chriſt's coming to call us out of the World, and to Summon us to his Judgment Seat, may quickly be; it may be within a few Years, yea, within a few Months, yea, within a few Days. That which is future will come, and be preſent; and our Souls ſhould be affected now, as if we ſaw the Judge appearing, the Throne ſet, the Books opened, and our ſelves Preſented before the Judgment-Seat of Chriſt.
2. This Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt will be ſudden, ſurprizing, and very amazing to the greateſt part of the World, as the Old World was, drowned in Senſual Pleaſures, Earthly Buſineſs, Carnal Security. They were poyſoned with, and hardened in unbelief; they did not look for the Flood, they knew not till it came and took them all away, Matt. 24.39. They did not believe God's threatning, or regard Noah's preaching and warnings, or conſider what the building of the Ark did mean; they would not know things by Believing, but only by Seeing and Feeling. They did not know till the Rain did fall, the Fountains of the great Deep were broken up, and the Waters did riſe to ſwallow them up; ſo ſhall the coming of the Son of Man be, Rev. 16.15. The World will not believe, or prepare for it, till they ſee Chriſt coming in the Clouds; he will as to moſt, come as a Thief in the Night, that is not thought of, or looked for, Rev. 3.3. The World is as looſe, as careleſs, as ſecure, as if they had heard nothing of Chriſt's coming, as if they had not been informed of his appearing, or been exhorted to look and wait for it, and been warned to prepare for it; the evil Servant faith no more, but my Lord delayeth his coming, Matt. 24.48. Tho' yet he acts, and carries it, as if he would never come at all, Chriſt's Appearing will come as a Snare on them that dwell on the Earth, Luke 21.35. Tho' they have often been taught, and told, that Jeſus Chriſt will come, yet they will be as ſtupid, and ſenſeleſs, and fooliſh, as the Birds and Beaſts; they will take no warning, but will fall into the Snare, as a Bird doth, and be utterly ruined and deſtroyed by Chriſt's ſecond coming. Tho' Chriſt doth bring Grace, and Glory to others, yet he will totally take away all Good, all that is ſweet and comfortable, from impenitent Sinners. Men are wofully degenerate, that they will not know things by Faith, or the Teſtimony of the Word of God, but only by Senſe, and ſo will not diſcern dreadful Evils till they fall upon them.
3. Jeſus Chriſt will be Revealed in great Glory, and ſit upon the Throne of his Glory, Matt. 25.31. He will alſo cauſe his Redeemed to appear in glory, Col. 3.4. Our Saviour comes not only to be glorified himſelf, but to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, 2 Theſ. 1.10. therefore it is ſtiled, The glorius Appearing of the great God, even of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, Titus 2.13. Chriſt at his coming will be clothed with ſuch glory, that will put it out of doubt that he is the Son of God, that he is the Son of Man, the true Meſſiah that was promiſed and exhibited to the World: It is ſaid, Then ſhall appear the Sign of the Son of Man, Matt. 24.30. Ferus takes this Sign of the Son of Man to be the Sign of the Croſs, but the Note of Calvin on the Text is more ſolid and judicious. He takes that eminent and tranſcendent Glory, that Chriſt will appear in, to be the Sign of the Son of Man. Thoſe that were not convinced, and perſwaded, by all the Signs and Miracles that Chriſt wrought, that he was the Meſſiah, ſhall, by his glorious Appearing, by his Illuſtrious Majeſty, as a demonſtrative, and convincing Sign, be aſſured fully, that he is the Son of Man, the Promiſed Meſſiah: None ſhall doubt, none ſhall be left at uncertainties about it, no Unbeliever ſhall remain. Tho' the Scribes and Phariſees would not regard Chriſt's Miracles, or be induced by them to believe, yet he tells them of an invincible convincing evidence, that ſhould one day be afforded to them, but too late. He inſiſts on, and minds them of this very ſign of the Son of Man, Matt. 6.64. Hereafter you ſhall ſee the Son of man ſitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven. You that now condemn me, for ſaying that I am the Meſſiah, and the Son of God, ſhall one day ſee me as a Judge, coming to Arraign, Sentence, and Condemn you.
4. The coming of Chriſt will be very open, and evident to the whole World. When he firſt appeared, he ſhewed himſelf to few but to the Jewiſh Nation. After his Reſurrection, we read of none of the unbelieving World that beheld him. He appeared only to, and was ſeen by none, but by his Diſciples, who were to inform the World of this truth, that he was raiſed. The unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, were not to ſee Chriſt's raiſed, and glorified Body, but to believe his Reſurrection; but Chriſt will ſo openly at laſt appear, that every eye ſhall ſee him, Rev. 1.7. They alſo that pierced him ſhall behold him; Jews and Gentiles, Heathens and Mahumetans, Looſe and Prophane Chriſtians, ſhall ſee him. Believers and Saints ſhall then point him out with joy, Lo this is our God, we have waited for him, Iſ. 25.9. And he hath not deceived our Faith, or frustrated our Hope and Expectation. They that would not believe what they did not ſee, ſhall now ſee, but to their terror. They that were averſe from the Life of Faith, and wholly devoted to the Life of Senſe, ſhall now have Seeing enough; they ſhall behold what will affright, diſmay, and overwhelm them. God doth now require, and call for a high and noble Exerciſe of Faith, in relation to inviſible things (at which the Heathen of Old ſcoffed); yet he doth, and will condeſcend, to give evidence and ſatisfaction, as at Chriſt's firſt appearing, he was viſible to the eye of the Body, Iſ. 40.9. O Zion, that bringeſt glad tidings, lift up thy voice, and be not afraid; ſay unto the Cities of Judah, Behold your God. This was a ſtrange and wonderful truth, and Zion might be afraid to publiſh it; yet ſhe is twice bid to lift up her voice, and that with ſtrength, not to be afraid aloud to ſound out, and proclaim this amazing, and aſtoniſhing truth: Say to the Cities of Judah, Behold your God, behold God is come down to you in a Humane Nature, God is walking among you in a Body of Fleſh, preaching, working Miracles, familiarly converſing with you. The Word was made fleſh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his Glory, John 1.14. So at his ſecond coming, Chriſt will be evident to the eye, and, as it were, pointed out by the Finger of Men: Behold he cometh in the clouds, and every eye ſhall ſee him, Rev. 1.7. Saints ſhall ſay to thoſe that have upbraided them with the inviſible object of their Faith, Lo this is our God, we have waited for him, Iſ. 25.9. Tho' the unbelieving World did Reproach Chriſtians, and ſay, Where is your God, yet Saints one day conſute all their Calumnies, and ſilence all their Inſultings and Upbraidings; they ſhall point out Chriſt coming in all his Majeſty and Glory, and ſay, Lo this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us, and we will be glad and rejoyce in his ſalvation, Iſ. 25.9.
5. This Revelation of Chriſt will cauſe Mourning to the greateſt part of the World; it will be a black, bitter, terrible day to moſt, Matt. 24.30. All the Tribes of the Earth ſhall mourn, all the Kindreds of the Earth ſhall wail becauſe of him, Rev. 1.7. when they ſhall ſee the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory. They ſhall mourn when it is too late to repent; they ſhall wail when their ſorrow will not prevent, but begin their Puniſhment and Hell. Now they ſhall, to their coſt, know how great a Perſon they have refuſed, and how high an Happineſs they have rejected; that they have turned from a Saviour, and ſo forfeited true Bleſſedneſs; and rebelled againſt the great God, and ſo have incurred the worſt and ſevereſt penalties. Theſe three things ſhall be reviewed and reflected on, 1. What they have done. 2. What they have loſt. 3. What they muſt ſuffer and endure to Eternity, when they ſhall bleed by the edge of God's Sword, and ſmart under the Chaſtiſement of the Scorpions of Revenging Juſtice, 1. Sinners that conſider what they have done, that they have turned away from him that ſpake out of the boſom of his Fathers love, and from the Throne of his own glory, Pſ. 81.11. That they would have none of him who is the true God, and eternal Life; that they ſtopped their Ears, and hardned their Hearts againſt the wooings of the beſt Bridegroom, againſt the call of the great Shepherd, and of the Captain of Salvation, againſt the intreaties of a Saviour and Redeemer. They will now reflect on the frequent denials they gave to, and the many affronts they put upon the Lord of Glory; how they hated and abhorred his Yoke, deſpiſed and loathed his Feaſt; did not ſubmit to, and come into his Righteouſneſs, but rebelled, reſiſted, vexed, and quenched the holy Spirit of God. 2. They ſhall know now what they have loſt; that the Treaſury of Grace will now be locked, the Fountain of Life ſealed, the bowels of Chriſt will be for ever ſhut againſt them, notwithſtanding their extream poverty and miſery. The door of God's Houſe will be ſhut, never to be opened again: How woful will this be, to be excluded out of God's Palace, and to be thruſt out of his Kingdom? They that ſhould have uſed violence to preſs into God's Kingdom, but now Chriſt will uſe force to thruſt them out of his Kingdom. They wiſh now to ſee the excellency and glory of the Kingdom of God, that they would even, with violence, force into it, but they ſhall be violently thruſt out of it, they ſhall never taſt of Chriſt's Supper. They would not come into Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and this was their great ſin; and they ſhall not come into Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and this will be their grievous puniſhment. They ſhall not enter into God's reſt, Heb. 3.18. They ſhall not partake of Chriſt's joy or glory: They would not open their Hearts to Chriſt, and Chriſt will not open his Heaven to them. They would not know Chriſt's voice, when he knocked and called, ſaying, Open to me: And Chriſt will not hear their voice, when they cry, Lord, open to us. They would not give entertainment and reſt to Chriſt in their Souls, and Chriſt will not give them entertainment and reſt in his Kingdom.
3. This will cauſe wailing, when Sinners ſee what they muſt ſuffer and endure; they that in their whole time did drink iniquity like water, muſt, during God's eternity, drink the wrath of the Almighty, Job 21.20. They muſt be drunk with the Cup of God's fury, feel the edge of his glittering Sword, and the weight of his puniſhing hand. His face will be unveiled to frown and ſcorch, and his arm be made bare to ſmite and wound. Chriſt will come to expreſs his moſt fierce reſentments of Sinners ſlighting the Grace offered to 'em, and deſpiſing the mercy preſſed on them. Children of Diſobedience ſhall be broken with Chriſt's Iron rod, and Veſſels of wrath ſhall be filled up to the brim with the fury of God. This Mourning will be dreadful, becauſe there is no comfort to be adminiſtred; no peace to be ſpoken to theſe Mourners. There will be no baniſhing of their fears, removing of their burdens, no ſweetning of their cup, or healing of their wounds, for ever. God will ſet his face againſt them, and will never hide, or turn away his angry countenance from them. Thoſe that have been ſecure, ſtupid, hard-hearted, even till now, ſhall then begin to mourn, but the firſt fruits of their ſorrow will be the firſt fruits of their woe, and prove the earneſt, and preſages of their eternal miſery. They begin to ſorrow on the utmoſt confines and bounds of Time, and muſt continue ſorrowing to an endleſs and unbounded Eternity. Godly ſorrow for ſin may ſomewhat avail to remove the Tranſgreſſor's burden; but Worldly ſorrow, under the feeling of preſent anguiſh, or the fear of further, future, approaching miſery, will not advantage Sinners to roul away their guilt, to prevent or diminiſh their puniſhment, their mourning is a part of the puniſhment threatned, Prov. 5.11, 12. and thou mourn at laſt, and ſay, How have I hated inſtruction, and my heart deſpiſed reproof? Therefore this puniſhment ſhall never ceaſe, ſhall never be taken off. Saints have but days of mourning, and theſe ſhall have an end, Iſ. 60.20. but Sinners ſhall have an eternal mourning, which ſhall have no end. The day of Chriſt's Revelation will be a time of joy to his Loyal Spouſe, to his Living Members, to his Faithful and Sincere Servants; when he appeareth, they ſhall rejoyce with exceeding great joy, 1 Pet. 4.13. But this appearing will cauſe eternal ſorrow to Rebels and Enemies, when their ſins ſhall be remembred and revenged.
3. When will the Lord Jeſus be Revealed? Tho' the end of the Old World, and the punctual time of its deſtruction was foretold, that after a hundred and twenty Years the Flood ſhould come, yet the exact day or time of the end of the ſecond World none knows, no not the Angels of God, Matt. 24.36. yet the Scripture gives us ſome general hints, and intimations, when Chriſt will come. 1. When he hath received a Kingdom, Luke 19.12. He was to travel into a far Country to receive a Kingdom, and to return. Jeſus Chriſt hath not yet fully received his Kingdom, all the Elect are not yet born, they are not all gathered and converted, they have not all yet viſited the Son, Pſal. 2.12. performed their homage, and yielded obedience to him. It is a Work for a long time for Chriſt to ride forth proſperouſly, conquer a Kingdom, and ſubject Rebels to himſelf, and then to reign proſperouſly over them, Jer. 23.5. more to refine, ſanctify, and fit them for himſelf. All Chriſts Servants muſt have time to occupy, and trade with his Pounds and Talents, before he will come, call them to an account, and reckon with them, Matt. 25.16, 19. Chriſt muſt wound the hearts of his Enemies, and cauſe them, as foiled, to fall under him, and as worſhippers to fall before him. Chriſt muſt alſo ſhew his glorious power for ſome time, in ruling in the midſt of his enemies, Pſ. 110.2. 2. That notwithſtanding all their rage, they cannot hinder Chriſt's Kingdom to riſe, or cauſe it to fall, but Chriſt will go on more Levening the World with his Doctrine, more ſubduing the Nations by his Word, till this ſtone did fill the whole Earth, and the Name of this Shepherd was great to the ends of the Earth.
2. Jeſus Chriſt will come, when all his Members are compleat, and he hath the fulneſs of his Body, Epheſ. 1.23. When his Spouſe hath made her ſelf ready, Rev. 19.7. The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife hath made her ſelf ready. When ſhe is cloathed in fine Linnen, white and clean, and adorned with Clothing of wrought Gold, and Raiment of Needle-work.
3. Jeſus Chriſt will come, when he hath prepared a place to lead and bring his people to, John 14.3. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to my ſelf, that where I am you may be. But when may Chriſt be ſaid to have prepared a place for all his Members? Surely when Chriſt hath ſprinkled the Throne, and the Heavenly Sanctuary with his Blood, when he hath pleaded his Sufferings and Death for each of them, that they may be let into the glorious Preſence and Kingdom of God, then he may be ſaid to have prepared a place for them.
4. When Chriſt's Corn and Harveſt is fully ripe, then he will come to reap, Mark 4.28, 29. When the earth bringeth forth the blade, then the ear, then the full Corn in the ear; but when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the ſickle, becauſe the harveſt is come. Chriſt will not delay, or loſe time, when the Harveſt is ripe, when the Members are grown up to a perfect man, to the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Eph. 4.13.
2. Jeſus Chriſt will be Revealed from Heaven, 1. To juſtifie the Hiſtory and Doctrine of the Goſpel, that he was received up into Heaven, and ſat on the right hand of God, Mark 16.19. That he entred into Heaven, Angels, Principalities and Powers, being made ſubject to him, 1 Pet. 3.22. that he was received up into glory.
2. To anſwer the hopes and expectation of his People, they wait for a Saviour from Heaven, Pſal. 3.20. and look for God's Son Jeſus from Heaven, 1 Theſ. 1.10.
3. Chriſt will be Revealed from Heaven, to ſhew the Spiritual Nature of his Kingdom, that it is a heavenly Kingdom; That he hath had his Throne in Heaven, and from thence his Kingdom hath ruled over all. He hath obſerved all the rage and actings of his enemies, and all the love and obedience of his friends. He hath inſpected all the concerns of his Members, and tranſacted all the affairs of his Kingdom. This hath been honorable and glorious to Chriſt, that he hath had a reſt, Iſ. 1.10. in Heaven, and yet neglected none of his work in repreſſing the rage of his enemies, and in reviving the fainting ſpirits of his friends, and ſteering all the affairs of his Church to a ſafe and happy Port. He hath ſupplied his poor, and ſupported his weak Members.
4. Jeſus Chriſt will be Revealed from Heaven, for the greater confuſion and terror of his Enemies. How will this affright and amaze them, that he, who they thought ſlept under the clods of the Earth, ſhould appear riding on the clouds of Heaven, Rev. 1.7. that he, who the Jews thought was ſuffering in Hell, for deluding and deceiving the World, ſhould come to Judge the World, and to Condemn Men to Hell, for not believing on him, Mark 6.16. Joſeph was thought by his Brethren to be loſt, or dead, but how were they confounded and troubled, when they found him alive, Gen. 45.3. heard him ſpeaking to them, ſaw him under Pharaoh Ruling over all the Land of Egypt: So how will it diſmay, and overwhelm the unbelieving World, when Chriſt that was thought to remain dead ſhall be preſented to their eyes as alive? When he that was ill treated by Men in the form of a Servant, ſhall appear in the glory of a Lord, to judge both the Quick and the Dead, and ſhall be manifeſted as having all Power in Heaven and Earth committed to him, and can juſtifie and crown thoſe that have believed on him; and condemn and puniſh thoſe that have rebelled againſt him, who neither have believed his Doctrine, or obeyed his Commands.