A Body of Practical Divinity, Sermon 48
Of the Day of Iudgment.
Quest. WHat Benefits do Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection?
Resp. 1. Their Bodies shall be raised up to Glory, and shall be openly acquitted at the day of Judgment, and crown'd with the full and perfect Enjoyment of God to all Eternity.
2. They shall be openly acquitted at the day of Iudgment.] This is to be laid down for a Position, that there shall be a Day of Judgment, 2 Cor. 5.10. For we must all appear before the Iudgment-Seat of Christ. This is the Grand Assizes; the greatest Appearance that ever was: Now Adam shall see all his Posterity at once: We must all appear; the greatness of Mens Persons doth not exempt them from Christ's Tribunal; Kings and Captains are brought in trembling before the Lambs Throne, Rev. 6.15. We must all appear, and appear in our own Persons, not by a Proxy.
Quest. 1. How doth it appear that there shall be a Day a Iudgment?
Resp. Two ways. 1. By the Suffrage of Scripture, Eccles. 11.9.12.14 For God shall bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, Psal. 96.13. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the Earth. The Reduplication denotes the certainty, Dan. 7.9. I beheld till the Thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow. The Judgment was set, and the Books were opened.
2. It appears from the petty Sessions kept in a Mans own Conscience; when a Man doth Virtuously, Conscience doth excuse him, when evil Conscience doth arraign and condemn him. Now, what is this private Session kept in the Court of Conscience, but a certain fore-runner of that General Day of Judgment, when all the World shall be summoned to Gods Tribunal?
Quest. 2. Why must there be a Day of Iudgment?
Resp. That there may be a Day of Retribution, when God may render to every one according to his work. Things seem to be carried very unequally in the World: The Wicked do so prosper, as if they were rewarded for being Evil: And the Godly do so suffer, as if they were punished for being good. Therefore for the vindicating Gods Justice, there must be a day, wherein there shall be a righteous Distribution of Punishments and Rewards to Men, according to their Actions.
Quest. 3. Who shall be Iudge?
Resp. The Lord Jesus Christ, Iohn 5.22. The Father hath committed all Iudgment to the Son. It is an Article in our Creed, That Christ shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead. It is a great Honour put upon Christ: He who was himself judged, shall now be Judge: He who once hung upon the Cross, shall sit upon the Bench. Christ is fit to be Judge, as he partakes both of the Manhood and Godhead.
1. Of the Manhood: Being cloathed with the Humane Nature, he may be visibly seen of all: It is requisite the Judge should be seen, Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye shall see him.
2. As he partakes of the Godhead: He is of infinite Prudence to understand all Causes brought before him: And of infinite Power to execute Offenders. He is described with seven Eyes, Zach. 3.9. to denote his Prudence; and a Rod of Iron, Psal. 2.9. to denote his Power. He is so Wise that he cannot be deluded; and so Strong that he cannot be resisted.
Quest. 4. When will the Court fit, when will the time of Iudgment be?
Resp. For the Quando, or the time of the General Judgment, it is a Secret kept from the Angels, Matt. 24.36. Of that day and hour knows no Man, no not the Angels of Heaven. But this is sure, it cannot be far off: One great sign of the approach of the Day of Judgment, is, That Iniquity shall abound, Matt. 24. Sure then this day is near at hand, for Iniquity did never more abound than in this Age: Lust grows hot and Love grows cold. This is certain, when the Elect are all converted, then Christ will come to Judgment: As he that owes a Ferry-boat, stays till all the Passengers are taken into his Boat, and then he rows away. So Christ stays till all the Elect are gathered in, and then he will hasten away to …dgment.
Quest. 5. What shall be the modus or manner of Trial?
Resp. 1. The Citing of Men to the Court. The Dead are cited as well as the Living. Men when they Dye, avoid the Censure of our Law-Courts, but at the last Day, the Dead are cited to God's Tribunal, Rev. 20.12. I saw the Dead Small and Great stand before God. This citing of Men will be by the Sound of a Trumpet, 1 Thes. 4.16. and this Trumpet will sound so loud, that it will raise Men out of their Graves, Mat. 24.31. Such as will not hear the Trumpet of the Gospel sound in their Ears, Repent and Believe, shall hear the Trumpet of the Arch-Angel sounding, Arise and be Iudged.
2. The approach of the Judge to the Bench.
First, This will be terrible to the Wicked. How can a guilty Prisoner endure the sight of the Judge? If Foelix trembled when Paul Preached of Judgment, Acts 24.25. How will Sinners Tremble when they shall see Christ come to Judgment? Christ is described (sitting in Judgment) with a Fiery Stream issuing from him, Dan. 7.10. Now the Lamb of God will be turned into a Lion. The sight of Christ will strike Terrour into Sinners. As when Ioseph said to his Brethren, I am Ioseph whom ye sold into Egypt; they were troubled at his Presence, Gen. 45.6. Now, how did their Hearts smite them for their Sin! So when Christ shall come to judge Men, and say, I am Jesus whom ye sinned against, I am Jesus whose Laws ye have broken, whose Blood ye despised, I am now come to Judge you. O what horror and amazement will take hold of Sinners! they will be troubled at the Presence of their Judge.
Secondly, The appro…ch of Christ to the Bench of Judicature, will be Comfortable to the Righteous.
1. Christ will come in Splendor and Great Glory. His first coming in the Flesh was obscure, Isa. 53.2. He was like a Prince in Disguise; but his Second coming will be illustrious, he shall come in the Glory of his Father, with the Holy Angels, Mark 8 38. O what a bright Day will that be, when such a number of Angels, those Morning Stars shall appear in the Air, and Christ the Sun of Righteousness shall shine in Splendour above the brightest Cherub!
2. Christ will come as a Friend. Indeed if the Saints Judge were their Enemy, they might fear Condemning: But he who Loves them, and Pray'd for them is their Judge; he who is their Husband is their Judge, therefore they need not fear but all things shall go well on their side.
Thirdly, The Trial it self, which hath a Dark and a Light Side.
1. A Dark Side. It will fall heavy on the Wicked: The Judge being set, the Books are opened, Rev. 20.12. The Book of Conscience, and the Book of God's Remembrance; and now the Sinners Charge being Read, and all their Sins laid open, their Murder Drunkenness, Uncleanness, Christ will say, Sinner, what can you plead for your selves, that the Sentence of Death should not pass? The Wicked being Convicted will be Speechless. Then follows that Dismal Sentence, Mat. 25.41. Ite Maledicti, Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting-Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. He that said to God Depart from me, Job 21.14. and to Religion Depart from me, must now hear that Word pronounced from his Judge, Depart from me; a dreadful Sentence, but Righteous, Psal. 51.4. The Sinner himself shall cry Guilty. Though the Wicked have a Sea of Wrath, yet not one Drop of Injustice. And when once the Sentence is past, it is irreversible, there is no appealing to an Higher Court.
2. The Trial hath a Light side. It will be for the encreasing the Joy and Happiness of the Righteous: The Day of Judgment will be a Day of Iubile to them.
I. At that Day Christ their Judge will own them by Name. Those whom the World scorn'd and look'd upon as Precisians and Fools, Christ will take by the Hand, and openly acknowledge them to be his Favourites. What is Christ's Confessing of Men, Luke 12.8. but his open acknowledging them to be precious in his Eyes?
II. Christ as Judge will plead for them. It is not usual to be both Judge and Advocate, to sit on the Bench and to Plead; but it shall be so at the Day of Judgment.
First, Christ will plead his own Blood for the Saints. These Persons I have paid a Price for, they are the Travail of my Soul; they have sinned, but my Soul was made an Offering for their Sin.
Secondly, Christ will vindicate them from all unjust Censures. Here they were strangely mis-represented to the World as Proud, Hypocritical, Factious. Paul was called a Seditious Man, the Head of a Faction, Acts 24.5. But at the Day of Judgment Christ will clear the Saints Innocency; then he will bring forth their Righteousness as the Light, Psal. 37.6. As he will wipe off Tears from their Eyes, so Dust from their Name. Moses when he was charg'd with Ambition, that he took too much upon him, comforted himself with this, To Morrow will the Lord shew who are his, Numb. 16.5. So may the Saints when reproached, comfort themselves with the Day of Judgment; then will Christ say who are his. Then the Saints shall come forth as the Wings of a Dove, covered with Silver.
Thirdly, Christ as Judge will Absolve them before Men and Angels. As Pilate said of Christ, I find no Fault in this Man, John 18.38. So will Christ say of the Elect, I find no Fault in them, I pronounce them Righteous. Then follows, Come ye Blessed of my Father, Inherit the Kingdom, Mat. 25.34. As if Christ should say, O ye happy ones, the delight of my Soul, the Fruit of my Sufferings, stand no longer at the Bar, ye are Heirs apparent of the Crown of Heaven, enter and take possession. At the Hearing of this Sentence, with what ravishing Joy will the Saints be fill'd? This Word, Come ye Blessed, will be Musick to their Ear, and a Cordial to their Heart.
Fourthly, Christ will mention before Men and Angels all the Good Deeds the Saints have done, Mat. 25.35. I was an Hungred and ye gave me Meat, I was Thirsty and you gave me Drink; you that have wept in Secret for Sin, that have shewn any Love to Christ's Name, that have been rich in Good Works, Christ will take notice of it at the last Day, and say, Well done Good and Faithful Servants. He himself will be the Herauld to proclaim your Praises. Thus shall it be done to the Man whom Christ delights to Honour.
Fifthly, Christ will call his Saints from the Bar, to sit upon the Bench with him to Judge the World. Iude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with Ten Thousands of his Saints to execute Iudgment upon all. 1 Cor. 6.2. Know ye not that the Saints shall Iudge the World? The Saints shall sit with Christ in Judicature, as Justices of Peace with the Judge; they shall applaud Christs Righteous Sentence on the Wicked, and as it were Vote with Christ. This as it is a great Honour to the Saints, so it must needs add to the Sorrows of the Wicked, to see those whom they once hated and derided, to sit as Judges upon them.
Sixthly, The Saints shall be fully Crowned with the Enjoyment of God for ever. They shall be in his sweet Presence, in whose Presence is fullness of Ioy, Psal. 16.11. And this shall be for ever. The Banner of God's Love shall be eternally Display'd; the Joys of Heaven are without intermission and expiration, 1 Thes. 4.17. And so shall we be ever with the Lord.
Use. As it is sad News to the Wicked, they shall not stand in Iudgment, Psal. 1.5. They shall come to Judgment, but they shall not stand in Judgment, viz. they shall not stand acquitted, they shall not stand with Boldness, but sneak and hang down their Head, and not be able to look their Judge in the Face; so it is great Consolation to the Godly. When the Apostle had said, The Lord shall descend from Heaven with a Shout, with the Voice of the Arch-Angel, and the Trump of God; he presently adds, Wherefore comfort one another with these Words, 1 Thes. 4.16.18.
1. The Day of Judgment is comfort, in respect of Weakness of Grace. A Christian is ready to be troubled, to see his Grace so minute and imperfect, but at the last Day if Christ find but a Dram of True Grace, it shall be accepted. If thine be true Gold, though it be many Grains too light, Christ will put his Merits into the Scales, and make it pass current.
2. It is a comfort to such of the Saints, who have met with Unrighteous Iudgment in the World, who have been wrong'd of their Estates in Law-Suits, or had their Lives taken away by an Unrighteous Sentence, Christ will judge over things again, and will give a Righteous Sentence; if your Estates have been taken away wrongfully, you shall be restored a Thousand fold at the Day of Judgment. If you have lost your Lives for Christ, yet you shall not lose your Crown. You shall wear a Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise which fadeth not away.
Bran. I. Meditate much upon the Day of Judgment. Feathers swim upon the Water, but Gold sinks into it. Light Feathery Christians flote in Vanity, they mind not the Day of Judgment, but Serious Spirits sink deep into the Thoughts of it.
1. The Meditation of this Last Day would make us very sincere. We would then labour to approve our Hearts to God the great Judge and Umpire of the World. 'Tis easie to carry it fair before Men, but there is no Dissembling or Prevaricating with God, he sees what the Heart is, and will accordingly pass his Verdict.
2. The Meditation of Christ's coming to judge us, would keep us from Iudging our Brethren. We are apt to judge others as to their Final State, which is for Men to step into Christ's Place, and take his Work out of his Hand, Iam. 4.12. Who art thou that judgest another? Thou that passest a rash Sentence upon another, thou must come thy self shortly to be judged, and then perhaps he may be Acquitted, and thou Condemned.
Bran. So demean and carry your selves, that at the Day of Judgment, you may be sure to be acquitted, and have those glorious Privileges the Saints shall be Crowned with.
Quest. How is that?
Resp. 1. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment, then First, labour to get into Christ, Phil. 3.9. That I may be found in him. Faith implants us into Christ, it in garrisons us in him; and then there's no Condemnation, Rom. 8.1. There's no standing before Christ but by being in Christ. Secondly, Labour for Humility. 'Tis a kind of Self-Annihilation, 2 Cor. 12.11. foreign. Though I be nothing. Christian, hast thou Parts and Abilities, and dost thou cover them with the Vail of Humility? As Moses when his Face shined, put a Vail over it. If thou art Humble, thou shalt be acquitted at the Day of Judgment, Iob 22.29. He shall save the Humble Person. An Humble Man judgeth himself for his Sins, and Christ will acquit them who judge themselves.
2. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day, then keep a clear Conscience. Do not load your selves with Guilt, and furnish your Judge with matter against you. The Lord (saith Paul,) hath appointed a Day in which he would judge the World, Acts 17.21. And how would Paul fit himself for that Day, Acts 24.16. Herein I exercise my Self, to have always a Conscience void of Offence, towards God and towards Man. Be careful of the First and Second Table; be Holy and Just. Have Hearts without false Aims, and Hands without false Weights; keep Conscience as clear as your Eye, that no Dust of Sin fall into it. They that sin against Conscience, will be shy of their Judge. Such as take in Prohibited Goods, cannot endure to see the Searchers that are appointed to open their Packs. Christian, thy Pack will be opened at the last Day, I mean thy Conscience, and Christ is Searcher to see what Sins, what Prohibited Goods thou hast taken in; and then he proceeds to Judgment. Oh be sure to keep a good Conscience; this is the best way to stand with boldness at the Day of Judgment. The Voice of Conscience is the Voice of God; if Conscience doth upon just Grounds acquit us, God will acquit us, 1 Iohn 3.21. If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.
3. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day, then trade your Talents for God's Glory. Lay out your selves for God; Honour him with your Substance; Relieve Christ's Members: This is the way to be acquitted. He that had Five Talents Traded them, and made them Five Talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done Good and Faithful Servant, Matt. 25.21.
4. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment, get an intire Love to the Saints, 1 Iohn 3.14. We know we are passed from Death to Life, &c. Love is the truest Touch-stone of Sincerity. To love Grace for Grace, shews the Spirit of God to be in a Man. Doth Conscience witness for you? Are you perfum'd with this sweet Spice of Love? Do you delight most in those whom the Image of God shines? Do you reverence their Graces? Do you bear with their Infirmities? A Blessed Evidence that you shall be acquitted in the Day of Judgment. We know that we have passed from Death to Life, because we love the Brethren.