The Last Judgment, Tract · Doctrine 14
Verſe 34. Inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Doct. XIV. That the Kingdome that the Saints ſhall inherit, hath been prepared for them from all Eternity. For ſo this phraſe here uſed ſignifieth; as we may ſee it in other places, Epheſ. 1.4. 2 Tim. 1.9.
For opening of which, let me ſhew, 1. Wherein it was prepared for them. 2. How. 3. The Uſes.
1. It was prepared in the Counſel of God, the three Glorious Perſons conſulted together from Eternity, to make men happy, and thought of this Kingdome that they ſhould inherit, Epheſ. 1.11. 2. It was prepared in the Eternal Purpoſe of God, Epheſ 1.9. & 3.11. Rom. 8.28. 2 Tim. 1.9. 3. It was prepared in the Appointment of God, 1 Theſ 5.9. 4. It was prepared in the eternal good pleaſure of God, Luke 12.32. Epheſ. 1.5. 5. It was prepared in the wiſe Concluſion that the three Glorious Perſons made in their conſultation about them, the reſult of which was this. 6. It was prepared in the liberal and free donation of it, Epheſ. 2.8. Rom. 6. ult.
Queſt. 2. How hath it been prepared thus of old for them?
Anſw. 1. He promiſed it to Chriſt of old, Titus 1.2. 2. He ordained Chriſt to be the procurer and purchaſer of this inheritance of old, 1 Pet. 1.20. Rev: 13.8. 3. He hath given it to us in Chriſt of old, 2 Tim. 1.9. 4. He hath loved us of old, Ier. 31.3. and from that love hath prepared this inheritance for us, Epheſ. 1.3, 4. 5. He hath foreknown us of old, Rom. 8.29. 6. He hath ordained us of old to this bleſſed condition, Acts 13.48.
Ʋſe 1. for Information: 1. We ſee that this inheritance is not made over to us by any merit of ours, for it was before we were, yea before the World was, and what could we deſerve when we were not in being? 2 Tim. 1.9. 2. We ſee the unſpeakable love of God towards us, that prepared ſuch a bleſſed condition for us before we had any being, Oh, the height, depth, …and breadth, and length of this love of his! it paſſeth all our knowledg, Epheſ. 3.18, 19. well we may admire it and adore it, but we cannot ſearch it out, that which is ſaid of God himſelfe, is moſt true of his love, Job. 11.7, 8, 9. 3. We ſee that God …a's been before hand with us in a preventing way of grace, 1 Joh. 4.10, 19. we did not begin with him in a way of love, but he began with us, elſe we had never known what love had meant… he gave us the firſt ſmile, and the firſt kiſs. 4. We ſee what a bountifull, and royall giver the Lord is, that prepared ſuch a royall inheritance for us, as a Kingdome is, no royalty like his, as no unworthyneſs like ours, ſo no bounty like his, Epheſ. 2.4, 5, 6. 5. We ſee that all the Lords Saints ſhall certainly come to the poſſeſſion of their inheritance, and ſhall not be hindred, or deprived of it, for it was of old, even from everlaſting prepared for them, Joh. 10.27, 28, 29. 6. We ſee how ever mindful we ſhould be of ſuch an old friend, and that we ſhould never forget or forſake him, Thine own friend, and thy fathers friend, forget not, Prov. 27.10. and if ſuch an old friend may not be forſaken, much leſs ſuch an old friend as God is. 7. We ſee what preparation we ſhould make for him in our hearts that hath prepared ſuch an inheritance for us, Pſal. 24.7, 8, 9, 10. Rev. 3.20. 8. We ſee what great cauſe we have to be thankfull to him that hath made us meet for ſuch an inheritance Col. 1.12. 9. We ſee what reaſon we have to prepare for our Lords coming, and to get all things ready, all the graces of the Spirit, all thoſe Brace lets, and Jewels, and Ear-rings, and golden Abilliments that may fit us for this Kingdome that is prepared for us, Mat. 24.44. Luk. 12.35, 36, 37. 10. We ſee what preparation we ſhould make to meet him at his houſe, and eſpecially at his Table, 1 Cor. 11.28. if he prepare a Kingdom for us, we may well prepare for his coming now. 11. We ſee that Election is the foundation of our Salvation. 12. We ſee the trueth of that in 2 Tim. 2.19.
Ʋſe 2. for Humiliation: 1. That our deſires are no more ſtirring after this prepared inheritance. 2. That we have ſo few thoughts of Gods old love, in preparing a Kingdom for us.
Ʋſe 3. for Exhortation: 1. To enjoy our earthly inheritances weanedly, for we have another manner of inheritance prepared for us of old. This concernes rich men. 2. To do as much good as we can with what God gives us to inherit here, that we may make ſure of this prepared inheritance, 1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. Luk. 16.9. 3. To poor ones that have little to inherit here, they have a Kingdome prepared for them of old to be their inheritance, Jam. 2.5. 4. To all Godly ones not to envy the Wicked their great matters here, for they have a better inheritance prepared for them and coming in to them, Pſal. 73.3.24. 5. To aſcribe all to Gods grace herein, Eph. 2.5, 8. 6. To prepare our hearts in every duty, in Prayer, Pſal. 10.17. in Preaching 2 Tim. 2.15. in hearing, Act. 10.33. in conference, Mal. ….16. in meditation, Gen. 24.63. in drawing neer to the Lords Table, 2 Chro. 30.18, 19. 7. To love the Lord, that of old made ſuch preparation for us. 8. To prepare for ſuch a ſtate, (1) A royall ſpirit, 1 Pet. 2.9. (2.) An humble Spirit, Luk. 18.14. (3.) A believing ſpirit Epheſ. 2.8, (4) An holy Spirit, Heb. 12.14. 1 John 3.3. 9. To rejoice to think of meeting with ſuch an old friend. 10. To walk worthy of the Lord, 1 Theſ. 2.11, 12.
Ʋſe 4. for Conſolation: 1. Againſt being brought to nothing here, Saints have nothing (in compariſon) prepared for them in this world. 2. Againſt troubles of yeſterday that have come to us. 3. Againſt our poor ſervices, we have it not for them.
Poſitive Comforts. 1. That it is ſure to them, being of old prepared. 2. That it is moſt freely given to them, becauſe prepared before they were. 3. That it is a great inheritance. 4. That it comes to us from greateſt love.