The Last Judgment, Tract · Doctrine 3
Matth. 25.31. Then ſhall be ſit upon the Throne of his Glory.
Doct. III. That Chriſt ſhall have a glorious Throne erected for him to ſit upon, when he comes to judge the World, 2 Cor. 5.10. Rom. 14.10. Dan. 7.9.
For opening of which, let me ſhew 1. Where this Throne will be ſet. 2. How it does appear he ſhall ſit upon ſuch a Throne. 3. Why he will ſit upon ſuch a glorious Throne. 4. The Uſes.
For the firſt: The Place of this glorious Throne is by ſome thought to be in the Clouds, Mat. 24.30. 1 Theſſ. 4.17. and it is very like it ſhall be there, or in ſome vaſt and ſp…cious place in the Air, which ſhall be able to contain thoſe i…umerable Companies of perſons that ſhall appear before him.
For the ſecond: How it does appear that he ſhall ſit upon ſuch a Throne. It appears 1. By the multitude of his Attendants. Dan. 7.10. for Princes fit upon their Thrones, when they have ſuch a Train about them. 2. By the Judgement that he is then to give; and then do Princes and Judges ſit upon their Thrones and Seats, when they are to give Judgement, and to paſs Sentence, 2 Cor. 5.10. 3. By the Conventing of all Nations before him, Matth. 25.32. 4. By the ſummoning of them to appear by the ſound of a Trumpet, and by the Voice of the Archangel, Mat. 24.31. 1 Theſſ. ….16. 5. By the opening of all graves, Joh. 5.28, 29. and thoſe that were dead coming forth: The priſoners are brought forth, when the Judge is to ſit upon his Throne.
For the third; viz. the Reaſons. 1. He is a glorious King, Pſal. 24.7, 8, 9, 10. & 47.2. Apoc. 1.5. 1 Tim. 6.1…. & 1.17. Apoc. 15.3. and therefore meet he ſhould heep the ſtate of a King, and ſit upon his glorious Throne.
2. He is the onelyonly Law giver, which is able to ſ…ve and deſtroy, Jam. 4.12. and therefore meet that a Throne of Glory ſhould be erected for him to give rewards to the obedient, and puniſh the diſobedient.
3. He is the Judge of all the Earth, Gen 18.25. and they uſe to ſit upon their Seats of Juſtice that are Judges on earth; much more he.
4. He will be ſo much the more terrible to his enemies, as a King upon his Throne is, 2 Cor 5.10, 11.
5. He will be marvellous Comfortable to the Saints, when they ſhall ſee their Saviour which died for them, to be ſuch a King upon his glorious Throne. Luke 21.28.
6. He will then ſhew exact Juſtice: if other Kings upon the Throne deal impartially, much more he, 1 Pet. 1.17. 2 Theſſ. 1.6, 7, 8, 9. Rom 2.6, 7, 8, 9.
Ʋſe 1 for Information: 1. We ſee in what ſenſe the Day of Judgement is called The great Day, Jude ver. 6. It muſt needs be ſo, when Chriſt ſhall ſit upon ſuch a glorious Throne, about ſuch great things as Life and Death are, having ſuch Attendance upon him by ſuch great Pri… ces and Courtiers as the bleſſed Angels are. 2. We ſee how deſireable a day it ſhould be to Believers that are Members of Chriſt, for then they ſhall ſee their Head exalted, their King upon his glorious Throne: ſee for illuſtration Iſa. 33.17. 3. We ſee how deſpicable all worldly glory ſhould be to believing Saints, while they …ix their eyes upon this glorious Throne of Chriſt. Take Solomons glory, or that of the greateſt Princes on Earth, and it is not ſo much as a ſhadow of this Glory, ſee Eſth 1.4. We ſee that Afflictions are nothing, while wee look a… this Glory. Rom 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17. 5. We ſee what a rare ſight it is to ſee Chriſt upon the Throne, and therefore what diligence we ſhould uſe that we may have a ſight of it with comfort. What ſtriving and crowding is there to ſee an Earthly King upon his Throne? Oh what ſtriving ſhould there then be to ſee this rare ſight, and to have the comfort of it! 6. We ſee the love of the Lord Jeſus, in willing and deſiring this of his Father for us, Joh. 17.24. that we may partake of it. 7. We ſee what a glorious Throne he will have in the higheſt Heavens, if ſuch a Throne be erected in the Clouds for him, Apoc. 3.21. 8. We ſee what diligence we ſhould uſe in the ſervice of Chriſt, for he is a King upon the Throne. 9. We ſee how terrible the day of Judgement will be to Devils and damned ones, for they …hall ſee the judge upon his Throne. 10. We ſee that Tribunals on Earth are an image of this. 11. We ſee what need there is o… that, 2 Pet. 3.14. 12. We ſee how good it is to ſtand for Chriſt now.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour: 1. To all diſſembling Hypocrites, C…riſt upon his Throne will diſc…v…r them. 2. To thoſe that have been prof…ne all their lives, how will they be able to ſtand before this glorious Throne? 3. To thoſe that have been fearful to ſtick to Chriſt; Oh that Throne will daunt them! Apoc. 21.8.
Ʋſe 3. for Humiliation: 1. To thoſe that have too few Meditations on Chriſt upo… his Throne. 2. To thoſe that are taken with any erroneous Opinion; Chriſt when he ſits upon his Throne will ſhew what price he ſets upon his Truth, Mark 8 ult. 3. To thoſe that faint in the day of trouble, Apoc. 2 10.
Ʋſe 4. for Exhortation: 1. To get a ſure portion in him, and then we ſhall rejoyce to ſee him on his Throne, 1 Joh. 2.28. 2. To deſpiſe all worldly pomp and glory: what's that to this? 3. To fear to come before him in our ſins and in our rags, for he will not own us in ſuch a ſtate upon his Throne. 4. To long after that day wherein we ſhall ſee this glorious ſight. 5. To ſuffer with him and for him cheerfully; for when he ſits upon his glorious Throne, he will reward us to the full. 6. To beg grace and mercy at the Throne of Grace, that his glorious Throne may not diſmay us, Heb. 4. ult. 7. To ſet up a Throne in our Hearts to judge and condemn our ſelves; and then 1 Cor. 11.31, 32. 8. To confeſs Chriſt here, Apoc. 3.5. Mat. 10.32. 9. To follow Chriſt here, Mat. 19.28. 10. To be of a Royal Kingly ſpirit, and to minde the great things that are above, for we have a glorious One that will one day ſit, &c. Coloſſ. 3.1, 2.
Ʋſe 5 for Conſolation: 1. Againſt the Afflictions that we ſ…ffer for Chriſt, 1 Pet. 4.12.13. 2. Againſt the ſhame and diſhonour in particular that we ſuffer for him. Act. 5.4… 3. Againſt want of great friends, which is a kind of glory. 4 Againſt Wealth and Riches, which is worldly glory, Gen. 31.1.