The Last Judgment, Tract · Doctrine 40
Ver. 45. Inaſmuch as ye did it not to one of the leaſt of theſe, &c.
Doct. XL. is this, That Chriſt will in the Day of Judgement aſſure all ſuch as have not ſhewn mercy to his Members in their Neceſsities, that they have neglected and diſregarded Him.
For opening of which, let me ſhew, 1. How it does appear that they have Neglected him, in not ſhewing mercy to them. 2. Why he accounts it ſo, and will aſſure them that ſo it is. 3. The Uſes.
For the firſt, It does appear from hence; 1. In that they are one with Chriſt, both by a Conjugal Union, 1 Cor. 6.17. Rom. 7.4. and by a Memberly Union, Epheſ 5.30. 1 Cor. 12.27. Coloſſ. 1.18. and by ſuch an Union as the Branches have with the Vine. John 15.4, 5. 2. In that they are Fellows to him, Pſal. 45.7. 3. In that they are his Friends, Luke 12.4. John 15. 4. In that they are his Brethren: ſo the Text; John 20.17. Heb. 2.11, 12. 5. In that they are his Children, Heb. 2.13. 6. In that they are his Delight, Cant. 2.14. and his Deſire, Cant. 7.10. 7 In that they are his peculiar Treaſure, Pſal. 135.4. and Titus 2.14. and Malac. 3.17. 8. In that they are his Fulneſs, Epheſ. 1.23. He does not count himſelf full without them. 9. In that they are his Glory, 2 Cor. 8.23. 10. In that they are his Firſt-fruits, Jam. 1.18. which of all Fruits are moſt grateful. 11. In that they are his Inheritance, Deut. 32.9. Micah 7.18. Now theſe being neglected, that are ſo near, and dear, and precious to him, it evidently appears that the Lord Jeſus is neglected in them.
Reaſons, why it muſt needs be that he accounts himſelf neglected in the neglect of them.
1. From himſelf. 2. From them.
From himſelf. 1. He is full of Compaſſion towards them, having the Bowels of many Relations in him, being Felow, Friend, Brother, Husband, Father; and the Compaſſions of theſe are full and large: much more are his. 2. He beholds them in their Afflictons; and the eye affects the heart in men, Lam. 3.51. Oh how does Chriſts eye then affect his heart! Matth. 14.14. & 15.32. 3. He is the Comforter of his People, John 14.18. and cannot leave them Orphans, and Comfortleſs: and therefore when men do not Relieve and Comfort them, it muſt needs be that they do it not to him. 4. He is their Lord and Maſter, and therefore cannot but take the neglect of them as to himſelf.
2. From them. 1. They are of his Counſel, John 15.15. 2. They are his Loyal Subjects, Revelat. 1….3. 3. They are Kings and Princes of his …aking, Rev 1.5, 6. 4. They are his Fathers Bleſſed ones: ſo the T…xt. 5. They are joynt-Heirs with him, Rom. 8.17. 6. They are to be with him for ever, 1 Theſſ 4.17. and therefore to neglect theſe, muſt needs be taken as a neglect of him.
Ʋſe 1. for Information: 1. We ſee then that the neglect of Chriſts Members is not ſo ſlight a matter as men make account of; for it will appear otherwiſe at the laſt day, when Chriſt ſhall tell them that himſelf was neglected in them. 2. We ſee that O…iſſions of Duties are ſins that reach Chriſt himſelf; and, He that ſinneth againſt him, wrongeth his own ſoul, Prov. 8.36. 3. We ſee that wicked men at the laſt day muſt not conſtrue and expound their own miſdoings; but Chriſt well make Conſtruction, and give his Expolition and Interpretation of them. 4. VVe ſee how dangerous it is to forget to ſhew mercy to the Saints in their Neceſſity: ſuch men forget Chriſt himſelf. 5. VVe ſee that mercileſs men never make …ccount to finde mercy from Chriſt, for they will ſlew him none in his Members, Janes 2.13. 6. VVe ſee how deeply they ſtrike at Chriſt, that are deſtroyers of the Bodies of his Saints, for, if they that relieve them not, do it not to Chriſt himſelf; what do thoſe to Chriſt, that Murther them by hundred, and thouſands? Pſal. 44.22. 7. VVe ſee that if Chriſt make ſuch an interpretation of thoſe that are not merciful to their Bodies; Oh how much more will he put ſuch a Conſtruction upon mens actions, that are cruel to their Souls! Ezek. 34. 8. VVe ſee the wonderful Patience and Long-ſu…ering of Chriſt to wicked men, that ſo neglect and diſregard him, Rom 9.22. 9. VVe ſee the miſery of wicked men, in that their Offences are againſt him that they moſt ſtand in need of to be their Friend. 10. VVe ſee that we had better to give to twenty that are naught, then to deny one of Chriſts Members: for in ſo doing, we deny to give to Chriſt himſelf. 11. VVe ſee how formidable and dreadful it will be to hear this, Ye did it not to me. 12. VVe ſee that Jeſus Chriſt is ill requited by evil men for all his mercy, for he cannot have mercy ſhewed in his Members to him.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour: 1. To thoſe that Relieve not the Saints; thou thinkeſt that thou onelyonly relieveſt not a man, but Chriſt will tell thee another thing at the great day, 2. To thoſe that ſake what they have from them by Oppreſſion, by Defrauding, &c. Oh what an Interpretatio… will Chriſt put upon this at that day!
Ʋſe 3. for Exhortation: 1. To wicked men. 2. To the Saints.
To wicked men. 1. To tremble to think of the miſery that is coming upon them. 2. To be wiſe before hand, to know what they ſhall hear at that day. 3. To Repent of their Unmercifulneſs to Chriſt in his Members, to prevent this evil. 4. To deny none that need, leſt they deny Chriſt himſelf.
2. To the Saints 1. To bear quietly and patiently mens Unki…dneſſes, for Chriſt takes them as done to himſelf. 2. To Pity and Pray for ſuch men, that they may become more Merciful. 3. To be farre from envying of them. 4. To be farre from wiſhing any evil to them, for there's evil enough coming upon them. 5. To deny none that are poor our ſelves, leſt we be unkinde to Chriſt alſo. 6. To mourn if we have been formerly unkinde to Chriſt in them.
Ʋſe 4. for Conſclation: 1. Againſt mens Unkindneſſes, they are not ſo much to us, as to Chri… himſelf. 2. Againſt the Wickeds Proſperity here. 3. Againſt the Ravening of Oppreſſors, that devour and ſwallow up the poor. 4. Againſt outward Perſecutions.