The Last Judgment, Tract · Doctrine 42
Ver. 46. And theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment: but the Righteous into life Eternal.
Doct. XLII. is this, That the Sentence of Chriſt in Condemning the wicked to Puniſhment, and in Rewarding his Elect Saints with Happineſs, ſhall be duely put in execution at the laſt Day. The Text is full for it.
We will begin firſt with the Sentence againſt the Wicked, and afterward handle the other.
Reaſons. 1. From the Sentence it ſelf. 2. From the Perſons Sentenced.
From the Sentence it ſelf. 1. It is Irrevocable, and cannot be called back, and therefore muſt be put in execution. Judges Sentences on earth are put in execution: how much more his Sentence, that is Judge of all the earth? Gen. 18.25. 2. It is a deliberate Sentence, and well-grounded? ſo the Text; it is not raſhly and inconſiderately pronounced, and therefore muſt ſtand. 3. It is a Sentence of Righteouſneſs, pronounced by a righteous Judge, and therefore muſt be put in execution, Act. 17.31. 4. It is a determinate Sentence, ibid. Heb. 9.27. and therefore cannot but be put in execution. 5. It is a Sentence that is paſſed before the whole World, and therefore muſt ſtand. 6. It is a Sentence paſſed by Him who is Unchangeable, & that will not alter the thing that is gone out of his lips, Heb. 13.8. 7. It is a Sentence from Him that is God as well as Man, and therefore muſt be put in execution, for he cannot deny himſelf. 8. It is an Unerring Sentence, and therefore ſhall be put in execution. Other Judges may erre in their Sentence, but he cannot. 9. It is an Impartial Sentence, for all of what ranks and conditions ſoever are ſentenced.
2. From the Perſons Sentenced. 1. They are guilty, Rom. 3.19. and the Sentence pronounced upon guilty ones is put in execution. They have deſerved this puniſhment, Rom. 6.23. and therefore muſt be ſure to have it. 2. They cannot be then pardoned, the date is out; they muſt have their Pardon here, that get Pardon. 3. They have no liberty to plead for themſelves granted to them, Mat. 7.22, 23. Luke 13.26. having nothing juſtly to ſay why they ſhould not be Condemned, and the Sentence executed. 4. They have ſome of them looked for it. Heb. 10.26, 27. 5. They are all Condemned already by the Law. Gal. 3.10. by the Goſpel, John 3.18, 19. in their own Conſciences, 1 John 3.20. Tit. 3.11. 6. They are Ordained of old to Condemnation, Jude ver. 4. appointed to Wrath, 1 Theſſ. 5.9. and therefore Wrath muſt be executed upon them, Rom. 9.22. 7. They have paſſed raſh Judgement againſt the Saints in th…i Cenſures, as Mat. 11.18, 19. Jam. 3.1. 8. They have ſome of them put their unjuſt Sentences againſt the Saints in execution: and what wonder then if Chriſts Sentence againſt them be put in execution?
Ʋſe 1. for Information: 1. We ſee what a dreadful thing it is to be und…r the Sentence of Condemnation, for it ſhall ſurely be put in execution, there's no way to eſcape, 1 Theſ. 5.2. all Pleas will be vain, all Excuſes vain, none of them will take at that day. 2. We ſee how ſure Chriſts words will be that he will pronounce upon the wicked at the great day, they muſt be accompliſhed and put in execution; Theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment. 3. We ſee that the Threatnings of Condemnation that the Miniſters of the G…ſpel denounce, ſhall be all made good and fulfilled, for they ſhall be judged by thoſe words, John 12.48. and that Judgement muſt be put in execution. 4 We ſee the miſchief that ſin brings upon men, it does not onelyonly cauſe them to be Sentenced, but to have the Sentence put in execution againſt them: Oh how ſhould we then abhorre that which is evil! Rom 12.9. 5. We ſee that as God fulfils with his hand what he ſpeaks with his mouth, in a promiſſory way, 1 Kings 8 24. So he does the like in a Condemning way, 6. We ſee that wicked men are out of all hope in the day of Judgement, when the Sentence is once paſſed, for it ſhall be put in execution. 7. We ſee what a pitiful thing it is to come too late in a way of ſuing for Grace and Mercy, for there's no place then left to finde any favour. 8. We ſee what a dreadful thing it is to ſin againſt the Lord; for he is able to do all that he pronounceth againſt evil men, and will ſurely do it: and therefore great cauſe there is to fear him, Luk. 12.5. 9. We ſee how vile and abominable they be that ſcoff at Chriſts coming 2 Pet 3.3, 4. 10. We ſee how deteſtable they be, that in a Blaſphemous way wiſh God to damn them; they ſhall be ſure to be Damned, & when the Sentence is paſſed, to have it executed.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour: 1. To all impenitent wicked perſons, they cannot eſcape the damnation of Hell; for how ſhould they, when Chriſts Sentence muſt be put in execution againſt them. 2. To them that think to excuſe themſelves at the laſt day … there's no place left for any excuſe then: for, Theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment. 3. To thoſe that deferre their Repentance, and think their time is before them: Death may come ſuddenly; and as Death leaves men, ſo ſhall Judgement find them, Prov. 27.1. Heb. 9.27.
Ʋſe. 3. for Eubertation: 1. To be ſpeedy and ſerious in a way of Repentance, not to deferre it, nor to be Idle and Negligent in a buſineſs of ſo great importance; for if the Sentence be once paſſed, there's no calling of it in again, Ezek. 33.11. 2. To tremble to ſin againſt Chriſt, that will put his Sentence of Condemnation in Execution, Prov. 8.36. 3. To come out of wicked mens company, and forſake their wayes, leſt we be wrapt up in the Sentence of Condemnation with them, and in the execution of it, Prov. 13.20. & 9.18. 4. To hear the voiceof Chriſt now in the Goſpel, who calls us to Repentance, and Faith, and Fruits of new Obedience: for if we will not, we muſt be Sentenced, and that Sentence muſt be put into execution, there's no avoiding it, Hebr. 12.25. & 2.1, 2, 3. 5. To mourn that any of us have made ſuch deſperate adventures in refuſing to return for ſo long a time, Chriſt bewails this, and therefore we may well do it, Mat. 23.37. Luk. 19.41-44. ſee alſo Jer. 13.27. 6. To be thankful if any of us eſcape the Sentence, and the execution of it; for there's Millions of men that ſhall not eſcape it. 7. To wicked men that continue ſuch, to look for no favour at that day; for they ſhall be ſure to find none, for, Theſe ſhall go away, &c. 8. To Judges, to ſee to the execution of their righteous Sentences: for Chriſt will to his. 9. To us all, to plead hard now while the day of Grace laſts, and to make improvement of the precious ſeaſons of Grace; for if we ſtay till the Sentence be paſſed, there's no good to be done, 2 Cor. 6.2. Heb. 3.7. 10. To pitty thoſe that go on in their ſins; for if they live and die in them, they leave themſelves without all hope, Luk. 19.41, 42. Jer. 9.1. 11. To ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, for many ſhall ſeek to enter in when it is too late, and ſhall not be able; becauſe the Sentence muſt be put into execution, Luke 13.24, 25, 26. Mat. 25.11, 12. 12. To take heed of ſleeping in ſecurity, and dreaming of peace, and ſafety, 1 Theſ. 5.2. for after the Sentence there's no hope but it will be put in execution. 13. To Watch and Pray alwayes, that we may be counted worthy to eſcape all thoſe things that ſhall come to paſs at the end of the World, and to ſtand before the Son of Man, Luk. 21.36. it much concerns us, ſeeing the Sentence once paſſed, muſt be put in execution. 14. To fear to fall into the hands of the Lord that will ſurely put his Sentence into execution, Heb. 10.31.
Ver. 46. But the Righteous into Life Eternal.
The Second Branch of the laſt Note, is this, That Chriſts righteous Sentence in rewarding the Righte us ſhall be put in execution, for the Righteous ſhall go into life Eternal.
Reaſons. 1. From the Lord that gives the Sentence. 2. From the Sentence it ſelf. 3. From the Saints themſelves.
From the Lord Jeſus.. 1. He has purchaſed Eternal life for them, Eph. 1.14. 2. He gives it to them, John 10.27, 28. 3. He has willed, and Prayed for it, John 17.24. 4. He has Ordained them to it, Act. 13.48. 5. He has given them a pledge of it in their peace and joy here, Rom. 5.1, 2. 1 Pet. 1.8. 6. He has ſhewed them the way to it, John 14.6. 7. He has promiſed it, 1 Ioh. 2.28. 8. He has witneſſed to it among the other witneſſes. 1 Joh. 5.6, 7, 8, 11. 9. He has ſealed them to it, 2 Cor. 1.22. Eph. 4.30. 10. He keeps us by his power through Faith to it, 1 Pet. 1.5. 11. He cannot call back his word no more in a gracious way, then in a threatning way, Iſa. 31.2. 12. He has taken poſſeſſion of it for them, Heb. 6.20.
2. From the Sentence it ſelfe. 1. It is a true Sentence, and therefore muſt be put in execution, for he is true, Rev. 3.11 2. It is a gracious Sentence: what grace like his in this Sentence? 3. It is a Sentence from Counſel; and his Counſel ſhall ſtand, Iſa. 46.10. 4. It is a Sentence according to his good pleaſure, and he will do all his will, ibid. 5. It is a righteous Sentence, and he will put that into execution, 2 Tim. 4.8. 6. It is a definitive Sentence, and therefore muſt ſtand, he will never paſs other. 7. It is a Sentence that tends to the glory of his Name, and therefore will ſurely be put in execution.
3. From the Saints. 1. They are the Fathers bleſſed ones, and therefore the Sentence muſt be put in execution; they muſt go into Life Eternal. 2. They have brought forth the fruits of Faith: ſo the Text: and they ſhall receive the fruit of their Faith, 1 Pet. 1.9. 3. They are Chriſts ſheep, and therefore muſt be all folded up in glory: ſo the Text. 4. They love Chriſts appearing, 2 Tim. 4.8. 5. They ſhall never periſh, John 10.28. 6. They ſhall never be plucked out of his or his Fathers hand, John 10.28, 29. 7. They have gone in the way that leads to life, Mat. 7.13, 14 8. They have fought a good fight, finiſhed their courſe, and kept the Faith, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. 9. They are called and juſtified, and therefore ſhall be glorified, Rom. 8.30. 10. They have the earneſt of it, Epheſ. 1.14.
Ʋſe 1. for Information: 1. We ſee what a good Maſter we ſerve, who through his Grace and Mercy gives a great Reward for a little work: How little is it that we do for him! yet we ſee his Reward is great, for he gives Eternal life through his Grace to us. 2. We ſee that we need never repeat of what we have done for Chriſt in his Saints; for Eternal life will more then make amends for it, if we had done ten thouſand times more then we have done. 3. We ſee that when Chriſt once acquits us, and counts us Righteous, we need never doubt of partaking in life Eternal: if we make the former ſure, the latter will be ſure to us. 4. We ſee what a bleſſed thing it is to have the Sentence of Abſolution pronounced upon us, for ſuch as ſo have, ſhall go into life Eternal. 5. We ſee how deſireable the day of Judgement ſhould be to all the Saints, for after the ending of it, the Righteous ſhall go into life Eternal. How ſhould we long then for that day. Rev. 22.20. and love his appearing, 2 Tim. 4.8. 6. We ſee what a marvellous difference the Lord makes between the Righteous and the Wicked, in that theſe that are wicked go away into everlaſting puniſhment, but the Righteous into life Eternal. 7. We ſee what thanks the Saints ſhould give to the Lord here, for the hope they have of this great Reward of Eternal life, and what thanks they will give hereafter to him, when they come to the poſſeſſion of it: They may well give thanks to him for ever for life Eternal; what ſhould they he thankful to him for, if not for this? 8. We ſee how unwearied we ſhould be in ſerving him & how we ſhould think that we can never do enough for him, that puts us into the ſtate of eternal life, Gal. 6.9. 9. We ſee what ſure work we ſhould make for our Souls, 2 Pet. 1.10. Phil. 2.12. for life Eternal is worth the having, Heb. 4.1. 10. We ſee what a ſweet condition the Elect Saints ſhall enjoy in another world. We make account that this life is ſweet: what then is life Eternal? 11. We ſee how perpetual and durable the eſtate of the Saints ſhall be in Glory, it ſhall never have an end, for the Righteous ſhall go into life Eternal: there will be no period put to their Happineſs, but when they have enjoyed it never ſo long, many thouſands of years, their happy Condition ſhall ſo continue to all Eternity. It is ſuch a flouriſhing comfortable eſtate, that it never fades, 1 Pet. 1.4. Pſal. 16.11. 12. We ſee the miſerable condition of thoſe that look after other things in the world, and let go their hold of Eternal life: Oh what a pitiful bargain do ſuch make! Matth. 16.26.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour: 1. To thoſe that miſs of the Reward of Eternal life, they ſuſtain the greateſt loſs in the world. Had a man all things about him that his heart could deſire here, if he did not enjoy a healthful comfortable life withall, what would thoſe things do for him? Oh, but for men to loſe this Life we ſpeak of, what an unparallell'd loſs is it? 2. To thoſe that hate the People of God, they will with themſelves in their eſtate one day, when they ſhall ſee them poſſeſſed of life eternal. 3. To thoſe that thought they …ad hope of this Eternal life, but their hope has failed them; this will be the greateſt of their miſery, when they ſhall ſee others hare in it, and themſelves thruſt out, Luke 13.23.
Ʋſe 3. for Examination: Whether we are of the number of thoſe that mal go into life Eternal. It concerns us to examine this, becauſe if we be miſtaken here, we are undone for ever: it is the greateſt miſtake in the world; better to be deceived in any thing, then in this.
Queſt How ſhall we know that we are not miſtaken, but ſha… certainly go into Life Eternal?
Anſ. 1. If we be of the number of Chriſts Sheep, hear his voice, and follow him, John 10.27, 28 Heb. 5.9. 2. If we be unwearied in well doing, and he conſtant to him, Gal 6.9. Rev. 2.10. Rom. 2.7. 3. If we ſeek the things that are above, Coloſſ 3.1, 2, 4. 4. If we make ſure of our Adoption, Heb. 2.10. Rom 8.17. 1 John 3.2. 5. If we endeavour to puri…ie our ſelves according to the Pattern of Purity, 1 John 3.3. 6. If we be of a merciful Spirit to Chriſt in his Members: ſo the Text. 7. If we walk uprightly, Iſa. 57.2. Pſal 37.37. 8. If we look to our Union with Chriſt in Effectual Calling, 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. John 17.2. 9. If we Watch and Pray alwayes, Luke 21.36. 10. If we look to our Veſſel oyl, as well as to our Lamp-oyl, Mat. 25.11. 11. If we improve our Talents well, Mat. 25.21, 22. 12. If we labour hard about it, Heb. ….11 Phil 2.12. 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. 13. If we l…y up for our ſelves a good Foundation by the fruits of our Faith, 1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. 14. If we fight the good fight of Faith, 1 Tim. 6.12. againſt the Devil, the World, and the Fleſh, 1 Pet. 5.8, 9. 1 Joh. 5.4, 5. Gal. 2.20. Rom 7.23. 15. If we be ſo happy as to be inſtruments of the Converſion and Salvation of others, eſpecially if we make it our great buſineſs ſo to do, Dan. 12.3. Prov. 11.31. 16. If we attend upon the Ordinances, Prov. 8.34, 35. 17. If we be Righteous, and in a juſtified eſtate, which we may know (1) By our peace and joy, Rom. 5.1. 1 Pet. 5.8. (2) By our Communion with the Lord, Heb. 11.5, 6. with Ge… 5.22. 1 John 1.3. (3) By our good Works Jam 2. as in A…raham and Rahab. (4) B… our upright walking Iſa 57.1, 2. (5) By our Looks and Expectations, Heb. 11.…0. (6) By our living by Faith, Hab. 2.4. with Gal. 3.11, 12. (7) By our Sanctification, 1 Cor. 6.11. (8) By our Perſeverance Prov. 10.25. Job 17.9. (9) By our increaſe in ſtrength, Job 17.9. (10) By our flouriſhing condition, Pſal. 92.12, 13. (11) By our fruitfulneſs in old age, Pſal. 92.14. (12) By our Humility, Luke 18.13, 14.
Ʋſe 4. for Exhortation: 1. To be thankful to him that has Called us to this happy condition, 2 Theſſ. 2.13, 14. That we that are by Nature children of wrath, Epheſ. 2.3. and have deſerved eternal Death, Rom. 6.23. ſhould ever be made partakers of Eternal Life, t…e Lord is for ever to be admired, adored, and magnified for it. 2. To love the Lord Jeſus, that hath Purchaſed and Procured Eternal life for us: Who ſhould we love, if not him? 1 Cor 16.22. If any were inſtrumental to ſave our life which is temporal, we would love him, and think our ſelves bound ſo to do: Oh how then ſhould we love the Lord Jeſus, the Author of Eternal life to us! 3. To live to him, and not to our ſelves, 2 Cor. 5.15. Who ſhould we live to, if not to him who gives Eternal life to us? That little time we have to live, is all too little for him: if we could live a thouſand years twice told, it were all to be given to him. 4. To be willing to die for him, if he call us to ſuffer death for his ſake, Acts 20.24. & 21.13. If we had as many lives as hairs on our heads, he deſerves them all. Thoſe noble Spirits, the Martyrs in former and later times, judged thus, and loved not their lives to the death, Rev. 12.11. and ſo ſhould we. 5. To bring as many as we can to be partakers of Eternal life with us. It ſhould be a trouble to us to ſee any periſh. We would not willingly ſee a Beaſt periſh, but would help it wh…t we could, and lift it out of its periſhing condition: Oh how much more ſhould we do it to a Man, to any Man, eſpecially to one that profeſſeth to be a Chriſtian, as we do, John 1.41, 45. & 4.8, 29. Luk. 32.32. Cain churliſhly aſked if he wer his Brothers keeper? Gen. 4.9. but we muſt all labour to be keepers one of another, and to do what we can to bring them to Eternal life; and that we may ſo do, we are to bring them to Chriſt, for He that hath the Son, hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life, 1 John 5.12. 6. To be very chearful in all our ſufferings; for what are thoſe to Eternal life? Rom: 8.18. 2 Cor: 4.17. What's a little Perſecution to Eternal life? What's a ſlanderous and falſe Tongue, and the burthen of it, to Eternal life? What's a Scoff, a Scorn a Reproach, an hard Cenſure, a wound in the Name, a Loſs in the Eſtate, compared with Eternal Life? What's the Priſon, Stocks, Scourging, Buffetting, to Eternal Life, as the Reward ſet before us? Let theſe things therefore be chearfully gone away with, they are not worth the naming, when Eternal Life is mentioned. 7. To long for the time of our enjoyment of it, Cant. 8.14. Rev. 22.26. Oh who would not give wings to his deſires, and haſten after Eternal life? What haſte do ſome men make to get Riches? Prov. 23.4, 5. they will fly in their deſires after them, and ſometimes make more haſte then good ſpeed: for Prov. 28.20. He that maketh haſte to be rich, ſhall not be innocent. What haſte do men make in their deſires after Honour? How did Haman (when he had too much of it) ſtill purſue it more and more? Eſth. 6. and ſo do many now that are of his Spirit, as if they ſhould never overtake it, or have enough of it. What haſte do men make after the Luſts and Pleaſures of this Life, look out after them, and take care about them, and make proviſion for them? There are (2 Tim. 3.4) that will have their Pleaſures, though they loſe God, and Chriſt, and Soul and all, ſo eagerly are they ſet upon them: Oh how ſhould we then haſte in our deſires after Eternal Life! 2 Pet. 3.12. 8. To be weaned from the World, and have our eyes, and looks, and hearts upon Eternal Life, 2 Cor. 4.18. Heb. 11.9, 10, 13-16. So had the Patriarchs, Prophets and Apoſtles, and ſo ſhould we. Kites look downward, but Eagles look upward. Carrion Crows are much upon the Earth, but Doves fly high toward Heaven: So do Eagle and Dove-like Chriſtians, Col. 3.1. Phil. 3.20. 9. To wait patiently for it, Rom. 8.23, 24, 25. If Eternal Life come at laſt, all will be well: If after much Work, and Labour, and Suffering; if after many Conflicts, Combates, Afflictions, Fears, Tremblings, Tears, Temptations, it come, happy they that come to it. If after To…ings with Tempeſt, Waves, breaking Billows, Water-ſpouts, Rocks, Shelves, Sands, we come at laſt to the Haven; Bleſſed men that ever we were bornd Wait we therefore for it, Heb. 10.36, 37. 10. To Meditate much upon this bleſſed Reward, and be much in holy Contemplation of it: as the Lord ſpake to Abraham, Gen. 13.17. that he ſhould walk in the length, and in the treadth of the Land of Canaan, that he might be comforted in the Faithfulneſs of God to him and his ſeed; ſo ſhould we by ſweet Meditation and Contemplation walk (as it were) in the length and breadth of the Heavenly Countrey typed out by Canaan, where we ſhall enjoy this Happineſs of Eternal Life. 11. To fear leſt we ſhould fall ſhort of it, Heb. 4.1. for who would not be very loth to miſs of Eternal Life? Now this holy fear will be a means to prevent our miſſing of it: They who never fear the loſing of it, ſhall never make ſure of it. 12. To ſtudy to enter into it, Heb. 4.11. it will be worth all our ſtudy. Men ſtudy how to get the World, and plot and fore-caſt devices how they may compaſs and bring about their ends that they aim at in other matters; but we can no way better improve our times and ſtudies, then in this thing, to make ſure that we ſhall inherit Eternal Life. 13. To fit our ſelves for this bleſſed condition. Q. How? Anſ. (1) Begin it here in Grace, which is of an Eternal Nature, John 4.13, 14. (2) Make ſure of Chriſt, that he is ours: for then we have Eternal Life, 1 John 5.11, 12, 20. (3) Be in a continual Expectation of Chriſts Coming, Heb. 9.28. (4) Rejoyce in hope of it, Rom. 5.2. & 12.12. (5) Keep our ſelves in the love of God, Jude ver. 20, 21. (6) Be lively Chriſtians, Rev. 3.4. (7) Beware of defiling our Garments, ibid. (8) Be Watchful, Mat. 24.42. Mark 13.37. (9) Be willing to Suffer, 1 Pet. 5.10. (10) Keep up holy Communion, Jude ver. 20, 21.
Ʋſe 5. for Conſolation: 1. In a Negative way. 2. In a Poſitive.
In a Negative way. 1. Againſt the ſhortneſs of our lives here: Some live but a little while, die very young; and others that live longer, live but a while; and they that live longeſt, enjoy but a ſpan, or hand breadth, Pſal. 39.5. 1 Chron. 29.15. But for this ſhort life here, we ſhall have Eternal Life in another world. 2. Againſt the various outward Afflictions that we meet with here: we may rejoyce in the midſt of them all, while we fix our eyes and hearts upon that great Reward of Eternal Life. Rom. 8.18. 3. Againſt the multitude of inward Temptations that we often conflict with, which ſometimes are intolerable; for, A wounded Spirit who can bear? Prov. 18.14. But even theſe alſo may be the better born, if we look at Eternal Life, which after all we ſhall be made partakers of. 4. Againſt the malicious Attempts of Satan, to deprive us of our part in Eternal Life; he ſhall never be able to do it: Though he may oppoſe our Faith, and plant his chief Batteries againſt that, Luke 22.31. yet he ſhall not prevail; for, the Righteous ſhall go away into Life Eternal.
In a Poſitive way it is Comfort likewiſe: 1. When life is taken away for Chriſts ſake, the Saints do not ſo much loſe their Life, as Change it for a better, for Eternal Life, and that's an happy Change. 2. That our eſtate in Glory will be a marvellous Comfortable eſtate; for it is an happy enjoyment of Eternal Life. Some Comfort there is in life here, but we know not how great that is, that is reſerved there in Heaven, when we ſhall ſhare in Life Eternal. 3. That we can never loſe our happy condition in another world, for it is ſuch a Life as is Eternal, John 16.22. 4. That all our Labour about this ſhall be well Recompenſed. Other men may loſe their labour, go away and get nothing; but the Righteous ſhall have a ſure Reward, for they ſhall go into Life Eternal.
The End.
End of the text · Samuel Whiting, The Last Judgment (1664)