The Principles of Christian Practice, Tract · Point of doctrine 6

The Principles of Christian Practice · Tract · Point of doctrine 6

p. 226Verse 27. For the Sonne of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his Angells, and then shall hee give to every man according to his deeds.

OUr Saviour having enforced 3. Argu…nt: from … last judgment.his doctrine of selfe-deniall by two strong arguments already, the inevitable danger of fayling herein, and the unprofitablenesse of that unhappie match of winning the world with the losse of the soule; in these words addeth another, of no lesse force than the former, drawne from the consideration of the last judgment, wherein all those his sayings shal be fully accomplished: for, howsoever he was now abased, and rejected, as not worth the following and owning, yet the time commeth that hee will come in the glory of his Father, attended p. 227with his most glorious Angells, and then shall hee give to every man according to his workes, that is to say, to the wicked, who for avoyding the crosse & perill have rejected him, and the profession of his Gospell, eternall perdition; but to the godly, who have persisted in the constant confession of his Name (according to their workes) life eternall.

This application of these words to the former matter, is the true connexion of them: wherein consider five things,

1. The person that must come, the Sonne of man.5. things to bee expounded.

2. The action of comming, shall come.

3. The manner of comming, in the glory of his Father.

4. His attendants, with his Angells.

5. The end of comming, to give to every man according to his deeds.

p. 228For the first. The person that 1.must come, is the Sonne of man: which title is used in the Scripture, either commonly, or singularly.

In the former sense, for any common man borne of another Christ called the son of man, how.Job 25. 6. How much more the Son of man, which is but a worme? In the latter it is taken for the eternall Sonne of God, being made man: Matt. 8. 20. the Sonne of man hath not where to lay his head. For by the sonne of man is meant here whole Christ, by an ordinary figure, whereby that which belongeth to one nature, is ascribed to the whole person: so in Mat. 9. 6. the sonne of man hath power to remit sinnes: which power agrees not to Christ as the son of man, or in respect of his humane nature, but in respect of the eternall Person, as hee is God: for, … sup…ti. …ohn. 3. 13.who can forgive sinnes but God onelyonly? Beside, Christ while hee p. 229was in the world, said, that the sonne of man came downe from heaven, & is in heaven; which then could not be in regard of his humane nature, but of his divine.

Nay, by this title our Text must needes understand whole Christ, God and man, the Sonne of God, and the Sonne of man: for though his speech expresse him the Sonne of man, yet the action here refeired unto him (to be the just Judge of all the world) proclaims him to be the Son of God: and, hee is indeed the Sonne of man, but comming in the glory of his Father.

Quest. But why doth Christ ordinarily, speaking of himselfe, call himselfe the sonne of man? he might have said, the Sonne of God shall come in the glory of his Father: which might seeme to have added more weight to his words.

Answ. Yet he useth the other title,

p. 2301. In respect of himselfe. To Why called ordina…ily the Sonne of man.note that hee was a true man: being not onelyonly a man, but the sonne of man: that borne man, having flesh and blood no where else but from man. And herein this second Adam was opposed to the first, who was a man, but not the sonne of man: for hee was the Sonne of God by creation, Luke 3. 38. The first Adam was framed of the earth, and so was made a man, but not the Sonne of man: the second Adam tooke flesh of the Virgin, and so was not onelyonly man, but the Sonne of man also.

Againe, it implies that he was a weake and fraile man, as the Hebrew phrase soundeth: Psal. 8. 5. Lord what is man or the sonne of man, that thou shouldest respect him? being so base and vile. Esay 51. 12. Who art thou that fearest a mortall man? or the sonne of man, that is, a weake and fraile creature. And hereto serves that distinction p. 231among the Hebrewes, of filii viri, and filii hominis: Beni…sh, noteth men in excellencie, eminencie, dignitie, and authoritie: Beni-adam, obscure persons, and men of common and low condition. In the same sense Ezekiel, because he was astonied and throwne downe by a glorious vision (Chap. 1.) was so often afterward called sonne of man, and bid to stand up on his feet. As if the Lord had said, Ezeki cl, I know thou art a sonne of man, a weake man, not able to behold the brightnesse of such Majestie; but gather thy selfe, bee of good cheare, and stand on thy feet.

And thus Christ the sonne of man, takes on him our frailties and weaknesses; undertook an abject, low and base condition, and appeared in the forme of a servant, in his nativitie, life, and death; in all our basenesse like unto p. 232us, sinne onelyonly excepted. Yea and more, in this very phrase hee impropriateth our miserie to himself, that as all sons of men are base and miserable, yet of all sons of men none was ever so abased as hee was; no sorrow was ever like his, no not all the misery of all sonnes of men was comparable to his: and therefore hee doth after a sort appropriate this title to himselfe.

2. In respect of his hearers, and mens judgement, who commonly 2.esteemed him no other, and rose no higher in their judgement of him, than of a meere man, though perhaps a great and holy man. He would tender the weaknesse of his hearers: for scarce the Disciples themselves after a great while could come to acknowledge the Majesty of the Sonne of God, in this sonne of man: and therefore he speakes of himselfe, as they are able to conceive him, p. 233more intending their instruction, than his owne reputation.

3. In respect of the argument. 3.For the manner of Scripture in speaking of the last judgement, is, to use this phrase above other: 1. because this was appropriated to Messiah by Daniel, chap. 7. 13. to which Christ undoubtedly had reference: I beheld, and there came as a sonne of man in the clouds of heaven. 2. To shew, that as he shewed himselfe in the nature of man to be judged on earth, so hee would shew himselfe in a visible manner a Judge from heaven: for it is meete, that the Judge of all should be seene of all: In regard of which manner of judging the Sonne onelyonly shall judge, although the Father and the holy Ghost judge also, but after another manner.

Ob. Christ was as a sonne of man, Dan. 7. and Revel. 14. 14. I saw upon the cloulds one sitting p. 234as the sonne of man: therefore Christ is not, but onelyonly like the sonne of man. So Phil. 2. 7. He tooke upon him the forme of a servant, and was made like a man.

Answ. For the two former places, Christ was seene figuratively in vision. When Daniel saw his vision, he was not yet the son of man, but was to be born & be in time the son of man. And after he was incarnate & ascended, being by S. John seene in vision, hee is said to bee … the sonne of man, for that he was not seene of either in substance, but in figure onelyonly.

For the place in the Philippians, well answers M. Calvin, Saint Non loquitur de essentia humane naturae, sed des….Paul speakes not of the essence of his humane nature, but of his state; hee came a true man, but in a lowly state and condition, even the base condition of a servant.

Note here, how our Lord doth Observ.willingly acknowledge the humilitie p. 235and basenesse of his humanitie, Christ contented with mean titles.& speaketh lowly of himself in such an argument as wherein hee shall shew his greatest glory. He might have stiled himselfe the Sonne of God, as hee was, not onelyonly as God by eternall generation, but also as man; though not by creation as Adam, nor by adoption, as the beleeving sonnes of Adam, yet by personall union of the Deitie with the humane nature. Or if he would by his forme of speech make us know, that hee is in his humanitie visibly to come, and bee seene the sonne of man, yet hee might have used a more royall title, as that hee was the sonne of David, or the sonne of Kings. But this base title for the time of his abasement best pleased him:

1. Because he was to be a patterne And why? 1.of humilitie and low linesse of minde. His example was to bee our rule, his action our instruction.

p. 2362. His office and calling was 2.not to be served, but to serve; nor to seeke to raise himselfe in the world, but to raise our estate. He must abase himselfe, and make himselfe of no reputation, to take our nature and sinnes upon him. Hee hid for a time the glory and divine Majestie of his person. He avoided often the applause and fame of men, for that hee sought not the honour of men. Hee refused preferments offered upon bad termes, both by Satan who promised him all the glory of all Mat. 4. 8.Matt 4:8the Kingdomes of the world: and by men who would have made him a king. Hee suppressed Joh. 6. 15.John 6:15his owne praises, Joh. 5. 34. 41. In a word, his whole life was devoted to profit and helpe others, with neglect of himselfe.

Now let the same minde bee in Use. Phil. 2. 5.Phil 2:5you that was in Christ Jesus. Get humilitie into the minde, the seat most proper for it, and then p. 237it will outwardly appeare in speeches and behaviours. Get the same minde; not the same measure or degree of humilitie: for no creature can fall from such height as our Lord did. But, whosoever will bee chiefe of all, let him be servant of all: for so was Christ. The primacie of a servant and Disciple of Christ is, to bee servant to all Gods Saints. Not that Christianitie brings in disorder or confusion, or doth not observe this distinction of place, gifts, and condition, in Church or commonwealth: for Saints, as Starres, differ in glory: But to shew, that the highest place and advancement in the kingdome of Christ must expresse humilitie of minde, and a willingnesse to lay hands under the feete of the least and lowest of the Saints, for their good.

Now let us trie our selves a little.

p. 2381. Christs humble mind makes A triall whether wee bee humble of minde as Christ. 1.him speake lowly of himselfe, and call himselfe ordinarily the sonne of man, being the Sonne of God. But how doe wee boast our selves, that every man shall know what wee are, if wee bee borne of a little higher stocke than ordinary, if wee have a little more knowledge, or wealth, or honour, or friends, than other men? Alas, what would wee doe if wee had Deitie and heavenly glory to stand upon? Christ might have stood on his royall descent, on his high birth, on his wealth, being Lord of heaven and earth, and heire of all things. But he emptied himselfe, and brought himselfe almost to nothing: that his example might plucke downe our top-sailes, and wee learne to decke our selves with lowlinesse of minde.

2. Christs humilitie made him p. 239beare the infirmities of others, and seeke the things of others more than his owne life: Yea though, when hee became man, he ceased not to bee God, yet hee comes to his enemies, seekes reconciliation with them, stoupes to helpe them, and save them with losse of his life. Now if hee bee our root, why draw wee not vertue from him? if wee bee implanted into him, why grow wee not up in all things in him? Where is our charitie and compassion to our brethren? yet he was compassionate to his enemies. When doe wee emptie our selves, to goe to our enemies, and to seeke reconciliation? nay wee can reject it, and live in rancour, hatred, malice, and contentions, yeares and ages almost, more like Scythians and Barbarians, than Christians.

3. Christ cast himselfe under 3.all men, to doe good unto all. p. 240But where is our submitting one to another, and that better esteeming of every one, than of our selves? no: wee stand on our turret, and full height, and what should I yeeld to him? &c. Oh how many good lessons are lost, and abuses unreformed, and godly motions or duties stopt and crossed! why? because such and such move it, and like of it: and, rather than please their humours, let all things runne to ruine and wracke. Did Christ so? no: had hee stood on his height and reputation, and beene so stout against thee, as thou art to his Ministers and members, thou hadst ere this beene in the bottomlesse pit of hell.

What had become of thee, that wilt beare no infirmitie in thy brethren, if he had not stouped to beare all thine? what had beene thy lot, who wilt shew no merciemercy nor bowells of love in p. 241the distresses of the Saints? thou passest by, as the Priest and Levite: thou cloathest not, feedest not, visitest not the afflicted members of Christ: if he had so shut up his bowels against thee, where hadst thou beene?

4. As Christ by his speeches 4.declared himselfe the sonne of man, but by his workes the Son of God: so must wee bee lowly in our speeches, but let our works testifie wee are the sonnes and daughters of God, expressing his vertues, and shining as lights in the midst of a crooked generation.

So of the first thing in these words.

The second is the action of II. Christ comes in spirit and person. 1.comming, shall come.

Christ commeth to us

either in spirit,

or in person.

In spirit hee comes, 1. in the Ministry, to win and perswade us to come to him: thus hee went p. 242and preached in Noahs time, to the spirits now in prison, 1 Pet. 3. 19. 2. In some speciall manifestation of his presence, in merciemercy or judgement. The former when hee meets us with comfort, strength, and increase of any grace: Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortlesse, but will come unto you: & vers. 23. My father will love him, and wee will come unto him, and make our abode with him. The latter in judgement, and testification of displeasure: Rev. 2. 16. repent, or I will come against thee shortly: so in Joh. 16. 8.

In person, he comes two waies, 2.in carnem, and in carne, first into flesh, afterward in flesh; first in humilitie, then in glory; first in his incarnation, at his first appearing, the other in his glorious return at the last day; the former to be judged, the latter to judge all flesh, and all things done in the p. 243flesh, good and evill. Of this latter he speakes here:

Where consider

1. Whence hee commeth.

2. Whither.

3. When.

For the first, He commeth from 1. He comes from heaven, and why.heaven: 1 Thess. 4. 16. The Lord himselfe shall descend from heaven, that is, the third and highest heaven.

And why?

1. Because it was (according to Gods decree) foretold, not only 1.by the Prophets, as Jude 14. in the ancient prophesie of Enoch: but also by Christ himselfe, Mat. 26. 64. Hereafter yee shall see the sonne of man come in the clouds of heaven.

2. That was the place whither 2.he ascended, and from thence he must descend: as Act. 1. 11. Yee men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven? this Jesus which is taken from you into heaven, shall so p. 244come as yee have seene him goe into heaven.

3. It is meet that Christ should 3.come from heaven to judge, because it is not meet that wicked men and Angels should come thither to him, although to receive their sentence; for that holy Citie can admit no uncleane thing, Rev. 21. 27.

4. As it is in earthly judgements, 4.so must it be in this great Assise, which must be held, and the judgement set up in the same country, or about the place where the facts and crimes to bee judged were committed.

But whither shall he come?

Some thinke into the valley of 2 Whither CHRIST comes to judgment.Jehosaphat, which lyeth situate between mount Sion, and mount Olivet, neare Jerusalem: so called from the noble victory, which God gave Jehosaphat over the enemies of the Church: for which they alledge, Joel 3. 12. p. 245Let the Heathen be wakened, and come to the valley of Jehosaphat: for there I will sit to judge all the Heathen round about. But allegoricall and typicall prophecies are not to be expounded according to the letter, but according to the type and similitude; which seemes to be this: As that valley of Engeddi (called the valley of Jehosaphat from the noble victory of Jehosaphat against the Moabites, Ammonites, and other enemies gathered against the Church) was situate in the sight of the city Jerusalem, and mount, a type of the Church: so the Lord will revenge and judge all his enemies, before or in the last judgement day, in the sight of all his holy people, and Saints, who in their manner shall judge the world. And hence some godly and judicious Divines have probably conceived, that the judgement-seat shall bee set up in some p. 246place neare Jerusalem, both to increase the terror of the judgement, and the glory of Christ, to sit there as Judge where himselfe was judged. But to conclude it as a resolved opinion, is rash and ungrounded.

Others thinke it shall be upon the earth, that the sentence may bee given where the facts have beene committed, that Christ may shew himselfe a Conqueror where the combate was, and justly condemne others where himselfe was unjustly condemned. And sundry things of the Fathers sound hereunto. But in vaine should wee seeke a reason of that, which whether it selfe shall be, is altogether unknown. If the Scriptures had said it should bee on earth, then the reasons were good. But, wherever it is, the wicked shall looke on him whom they have pierced.Zech. 12. 10. Rev. 1. 7.Zech 12:10Rev 1:7

The Apostle seemes to settle p. 247the place of judgement in the aire, 1 Thess. 4. 17. the elect shall be caught up to meete the Lord in the aire. And as hee was carried up in a cloud, so the Scripture saith hee shall come in the clouds of heaven. So as it is most probable, where wee shall meet him, the judgement shall bee, namely, in the clouds of the aire neare the earth: where the divells shall be conquered and sentenced in the very place, where they have ruled all this while as Princes. But whether over mount Olivet whence hee ascended, or above the valley of Jehosaphat, or the City of Jerusalem, were folly to define, seeing Gods wisedome hath not clearely determined.

The conclusion is, that the Judge is of power and wisdome to set up the throne of his glory, wheresoever himselfe thinketh most fit.3. When he will come thereto.

But when shall he come?

p. 248In the end of the world. But the 3. When he will come thereto.particular age, yeare, or day is not knowne to man or Angell: Mark. 13. 32. Of that day and houre knoweth no man, nor the Angels of The time unknowne for sixe reasons.heaven, no nor the Son himselfe, but the Father onelyonly: because, 1. the end of the world is fit to bee knowne to him onelyonly, who onelyonly 1.knew a fit time for the beginning of it: 2. this secret is none 2.of them which Christ had heard from his Father; for then had he revealed it to the Apostles, and so to the Church. Neither, 3. was 3.it among them which the Spirit (promised and sent) revealed or taught the Apostles, who yet were led by him into all necessary truth, Joh. 16. 13. 4. Christ 4.must come as a theefe in the night, and as in the dayes of Noah, when men knew nothing: which could not bee, if the time were knowne. 5. Of what validitie 5.were all those exhortations, p. 249to watch and be warie, because wee know not the houre, unlesse the time were concealed? Mat. 24. 42. 44. 6. Many are the 6.reasons, why God would not have us to know it: as, not knowing the set houre wee may Ideò la…et unus dies, ut observentur omnes.bee prepared every houre: our faith and patience may bee exercised, and our hope upheld, not limiting the Lord to times and seasons which are in his owne power.

The greater hath beene the sin and folly of many learned men, Opinions of the timeof old and of late, who have set their wits so childishly to play in so serious a businesse. Augustine De Civ. Dei l. 10. cap. 35.relates, that many about his time defined the day of the Lords comming; some to an hundred, some five hundred, some to a thousand yeares after his ascension. Since that time, Joachimus Abbas, who set the yeare 1258. Arnoldus de villa, nova, the p. 250yeare 1345. Michael Stiphelius, Saint Lukes day in the yeare 1533. Cyprian…s Leovitius Italus, the yeare 1583. Johannes Regiomontanus, the yeare 1588. Adelbertus Thermopedius, the yeare 1599. and third of Aprill: Nicolaus Cusanus, the yeare 1700. Cardanus, 1800. Ostander out of Cabala, 1689. Picus Mirandula, 1904.

I will not name some worthy Writers on the Revelation, but wish they had forborne that curiositie in this computation, wherein I thinke they ungroundedly troubled themselves, and many others. The most I have named, carrie alreadie the chastisement of their temeritie, and have reaped onelyonly the scorne of their errour: that wee by them might learn to be wise to sobrietie, Rom. 12. 3. and not seeke to know or make knowne that which the Angels, and Christ himselfe was content to be ignorant of.

p. 251But though Christ knew it not Ob.then as man, being for our sakes ignorant of many things which hee was not bound to know, as of this day, and the time of figs, &c. yet now he knoweth it, and so it may now be communicated to the Angels and blessed spirits: and why then may it not bee revealed to the Church?

True it is, that Christ now Ans.glorified hath laid downe all infirmities, and knowes both the day and houre, and in this his exalted estate is ignorant of none of the workes of God, which have beene, are, or shall bee, his Deitie enlightning his humane soule. But therefore to conclude, that every such thing is revealed to the Angels and blessed spirits, is frivolous. For if every thing which belongs to the exalted head, were necessary to bee communicated to the principall members, they should bee in the p. 252same degree of glory with the head; which they are not capable of. The King revealeth not every thing to the privle Councell, but holds distance from them. And to say they must needs see every thing in him, as in a glasse, because they see him that seeth every thing, it is vaine, and failes even in a corruptible creature: for hee that sees the Sunne, doth not see by that sight all that the Sunne by his beames beholdeth.

Others thinke the day uncertaine, but the houre of an uncertaine day certaine: namely, that Christ will come the same houre to judge, that hee rose againe in: as Rabanus and Lactantius. But with as little reason: if I should say, he may come the same houre that he ascended, or shall come to judge at the same houre that hee was judged of men, I shall speake as probably: yet I know not: no more do they.1 Thes. 5. 2.1 Thess 5:2

p. 253Of the same strength is their conceit, who say hee must come in the night, because he shall come as a theefe in the night, and because the Egyptians were destroyed at midnight. Yet know they not, whether the Master will come at midnight, or in the Mark. 13. 35.Mark 13:35morning watch: and forget it is called the day of the Lord.

The conclusion is: Secret things belong to the Lord, but things revealed to us and our children for ever, Deut. 29. 29.

Now if Christ must come Use 1. Against Consubstantiation & Transubstantiationfrom heaven, then hee is now in heaven, and his body not every where, as Ubiquitaries teach; nor yet substantiall under the formes of bread and wine, as Papists. That which is every where, cannot come from one place to another. And Christ comes not in bodily presence from heaven, but visibly, whether we consider his first comming, or his second. As p. 254for any other invisible presence of his body, such as they say is in the Sacrament, the Scripture knowes none. And whereas they flie to a miracle, let them give us instance of a miracle in the Scripture, which was not visible, and whereof the senses might not be judges.

This also serves to terrifie wicked men from sin. Christ comes 2.from heaven to revenge sin and sinners: and comming from heaven to doe it, it shall be done to purpose. If a man were to come out of some corner of the earth with an hand of revenge, the danger were the lesse, and the feare not so great: But the mighty God comes from heaven to doe it, &c. Great men may stand upon their power and priviledges, and often by wealth and friends make their partie good against earthly revenge: but when Christ shall shew himselfe from heaven, the p. 255great worke of Gods justice shall be done to purpose.

And, if Christ come from heaven, we must look for him thence, 3.yea and long for him: Phil. 3. …0. Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we looke for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Rev. 22. 17. 2 Tim. 4. 8.Rev 22:172 Tim 4:8bride saith, Come: and the Saints are described to be such, as looke for his appearing. A loving wife cannot but looke for, and long for the returne of her husband from a farre countrie. A carefull servant will looke after his Master through the casements, and expecting his returne will make all things readie. If the bridegroome be comming, let the bride decke her selfe, as Rebecca espying Isaac Gen. 24. 65.Gen 24:65a farre off. As Joshua exhorted Israel, chap. 3. 5. be sanctified: for to morrow the Lord will worke wonderfull things, and lead you through Jordan into the land of Canaan: so our Joshua commands p. 256us to bee sanctified, because the Lord in that day from heaven will doe wonders in leading us to heavenly Canaan.

Lastly, if Christ be comming from heaven, meet him in the way.4. Meet Christ comming from heaven, how. 1.

1. Meet him in his Ordinances: as the ancient Beleevers, who waited for his comming in the flesh, were ever found in the Temple. A loving spouse will enjoy her husband as much as shee can, in his long absence: if she can heare of him, or receive a letter from him, or a token, she is glad she hath something of him: yea her love will make her meet him afarre off, as farre as she can see him, as the father of the prodigall, and as Jep…haes daughter did. And if thou longest for him indeed, thou wilt enjoy him on earth as much as thou canst, in his word which is his letters, in his graces which are his pawnes and pledges, &c.

p. 2572. Meet him with thy affections, 2.prayers, and wishes after him: send thy prayers and holy requests daily, as presents unto him.

3. Meet him in heavenly conversation. 3.He commeth from heaven the first and second time, to draw thee thither: and shall hee not by all this paines gaine thy heart, affection, and conversation, Rules of an heavenly life.from earthlinesse to heavenlymindednesse? Begin heavenly life here. First, spend thy life in cheerfull 1.praises: keepe a perpetuall Sabbath. Secondly, enjoy God above all means, and in all means: 2.hee is all now, as well as hereafter. Thirdly, walke by the 3.Charter of heaven: the law of righteousnesse must be the rule of all, and weights to weigh all, in and out. Fourthly, wait still for further perfection of glorie: stay 4.not in first fruits.

p. 258In the glory of his Father.III. Christs second comming shall be glorious.

Here is the manner of Christs second comming: wherein it is opposed to the first: there he covered and vailed his glory, but now he will reveale and display it, above the shining of a world of Sunnes. Where consider three things, and then the Uses:

1. Why he calleth it the glory 3. Things in that glory.of his Father.

2. Whether it be not his owne glory.

3. Wherein this glory confisteth.

For the first of these: Christ calleth it the glory of his Father,

1. Because it is a most divine glory, agreeing to none but the 1. Why called the glory of God the Father.Father and himselfe with the blessed Spirit. 2. Because the Father is the fountaine, as of the deitie, so also of this divine glory, wherewith he hath crowned his Sonne. Thence hee is called the Father of glory, Eph. 1. 17. and the God of glory, Act. 7. 2. & the King p. 259of glory, Psal. 24. 7. And Christ is said to bee taken up into glory, 1 Tim. 3. 16. namely, by his Father: for we must conceive God not onelyonly glorious by his nature, in himselfe, but the fountaine also of all that glorious life and motion which is communicated with any of his creatures. 3. Because, as all glory is from him, so all is due unto him: whom therefore his Sonne glorified, and wee ought also to glorifie.

But was not this glory Christs 2. Whether it be not Christs own glory.owne, in which he shall appeare?

Answ. Yes: for, consider him as the Sonne of God, he was of equall glory with his Father in all eternitie: Joh. 17. 5. Glorifie me with thine owne selfe, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was: And his incarnation abated nothing of that glory. And, consider him as the son of man, and mediator, 1. hee is worthy of all glory by the desert p. 260and merit of obedience, Rev. 4. 11. insomuch that hee pleadeth with his Father for his glorification, because hee had glorified him on earth, Joh. 17. 4. 5. 2. All glory is due unto him as the sonne of 2.man, by the donation of his Father. Mat. 28. 18. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth: So as it is Christs owne glory, as the sonne of man; as that is a mans owne, which is given him. Therefore in Mat. 25. 31. the phrase is changed: Christ challengeth it to bee his owne glory: when the sonne of man commeth in his glory. But yet in speaking of himselfe, as on the one hand he advanceth that great majestie hee shall appeare in, so on the other he forgetteth not to referre all that glory to his Father: which may bee a glasse held before All our glory must still be referred to the glory of God.our eyes, that when wee speake of our selves, or any endowment or gift belonging to our selves, p. 261wee so speake of it and so use it, as still our eye be fixed on Gods glory, from whom and for whom wee have received it.

When Christ shall appeare in such glory as never creature was capable of, nor can be, then shall …e most of all advance the glorie of his Father. But contrarily, when God most honours some men, they most forget his honour: so they may advance themselves, they litle care how his glory bee troden under foot. Happie is that man, who is so faithfull in these small things, as that the Lord shall be then occasioned to trust him with much.

But wherein shall this glorie appeare?

Partly in his person, partly in

…is office: both for

preparation,3. Wherein Christs glory at the last day consisteth. 1.

execution.

1. In his person he shall be advanced above all the glory of all …he Judges and Princes of the p. 262earth; whether wee consider his divine nature or humane.

For the former: hee shall bee manifest to be the mighty God: for howsoever hee shall exercise his judiciary power visibly, and appeare the sonne of man, yet shall hee be mightily declared to be the Sonne of God; in that the personall union of his two natures shall shine out as the Sunne in his strength, which before was vailed and obscured.

And for his humane nature, he shall be therein exalted in glorie as the head of his Church; that even his glorious body shall carrie such majestie with it, and be seene in such admirable brightnesse, as that the sunne which dazelleth our eyes, can scarce resemble it. For if the just shall shine in the glory which shall obscure Mat. 13. 43.Matt 13:43the Sunne in the Firmament, how shall their justifier shine in glory? And if his Attendants shall p. 263be so glorious, as no man is able to behold the glory of the least of —Velut inter ign…s Luna min… res.them, what and how glorious must he be, who shall so farre surpasse them all put together, as the Sunne doth the lesser starres in brightnesse?

2. If we consider his high office, 2.we shall behold him as the just Judge of all the world, clothed with all the robes of glory and majestie; such as shall well suit with the throne of his glory, and such as shall fit him to the great worke in hand.

How glorious and magnificent was the giving of the Law? and how solemne the preparation? the earth shooke, the mountaines trembled, the Lord came downe in fire, and out of thundrings, lightnings, and a thicke cloud sounded his trumpet so lowd, as all the people trembled and shooke, and afterward a terrible voice was heard of six p. 264hundred thousand men beside women and children; yea in such glory appeared the Lord on mount Sinai, that Moses himselfe said, I quake and feare.Heb. 12. 21.Heb 12:21

But when the Lord Jesus shall shew himselfe from heaven to judge the transgression of that law, his glory shall not onelyonly shake mount Sinai, but the whole frame of heaven and earth all to pieces: when fire shall not compasse one mountaine, but the whole world shall be set on a light fire: when the last trumpet shall sound, and not onelyonly the living shall heare it as then, but the dead and all that are in the graves: Joh. 5. 28.John 5:28when the Lord of glory with one shout shall not raise one man, as Lazarus, but all that ever have beene dead, from the first man to the last which hee shall finde standing on the earth.

But to behold more specially Glorious preparation of this Judge.the particular robes and rayes of p. 265glory, wherewith the Judge is prepared to the judgment:

1. He shall come armed with 1.an infinite power and dominion over all creatures, which shall be acknowledged by them all: the Angels shall all observe and attend it: the heavens, and earth, and all elements shall bee dissolved by it: the dead bodies of men shall be raised by it, and called out of the graves, the sea, the bellies of beasts in all corners of the world: the voice of the Son of God shall be heard of all in the graves, and obeyed, none shall be able to resist it.

2. Hee shall come furnished 2.with a glorious and unconceivable Omniscience, to which nothing shall be hid or covered: he shall reveale all counsels of hearts, and all secret contrivances never so long hid. All things are naked to Heb. 4. 13.Heb 4:13him, with whom we have to doe: for to him the day and darknesse p. 266Ps. 139. 12.Ps 139:12are alike: there can be no concealment of things from this allfeeing Judge.

3. Hee shall come covered 3.with divine justice as a robe, which shall confound all the enemies of his glory: Jer. 2. 16. as a theefe is ashamed when he is taken in the manner, so shall all wicked doers. And there is no avoiding, no deluding, or perverting the justice, neither the processe or finall sentence, unlesse any mans power or policie were above his.

4. Hee shall come prepared 4. Divers sorts of evidences.with glorious evidence and testimonie against all wicked men for their conviction; that they shall not be able to implead the justice of the Judge or judgment. For,

First, hee shall have evidence and witnesse in their owne consciences, 1.which shall then accuse them to the Judge, and their p. 267owne confessions shall be as a thousand witnesses. Therefore (saith Augustine) Doest thou feare Judicium times? corrige conscientim.the last judgment? rectifie thy conscience, and all shall be well.

Secondly, hee shall command 2.the creatures and elements abused by their sinnes, to give in evidence against them: Job 20. 27. The heavens shall reveale their wickednesse, and the earth shall rise up against them: all creatures shall serve their Lord.

Thirdly, the good Angels whom 3. Incentores in culpis: tortores in poenis Greg.they have in their kinde grieved and driven away from them by their sin, shall witnesse against them. And the wicked Angels who were first in tempting, shall then bee first in accusing, and first in tormenting.

Fourthly, the Scriptures of God against which they have 4.sinned, yea the word of mercy, the offer of mercies, their abuse of mercies, the resisting of means p. 268of grace and mercy, all shall witnesse against them; not so much to informe the Judge, as to convince themselves, and promote justice.

Fiftly, all their sinnes shall witnesse 5.against their authours and patrones. Every iniquitie hath his secret and still voice, saith Gregory: Omnis iniquitas secretas suas voces habet. Greg.but then it shall have a lowd voice. Blood shall crie, and the voice of it ring betweene heaven and earth. Oppression shall crie, usury shall crie, the wages of hirelings and labourers shall crie in the owne conscience. It cryes now, and thy conscience, if thou hast any, tells thee of thy wickednesse in defrauding Gods servants, his Ministers, and Christs members of their right: but the voice will not bee now heard: but then it will be heard, and thou shalt heare it; and thy gold and silver, and the rust of them shall crie against thee, and p. 269never be still till they have cryed thee downe into the pit, as Jam. 5. 3. 4.

Sixtly, if all other conviction 6.and witnesse should faile, there is one more that will bee a sure and infallible witnesse, and that is God himselfe: Mal. 3. 5. who can abide the day of his comming? for behold, I will be a swift witnesse against sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, and all that feare not the Lord.

Thus the Judge is gloriously The execution likewise glorious.prepared.

And he shall be as glorious in execution, as in preparation. For in passing a righteous sentence, and irrevocable, hee shall shine in surpassing glory,

both in respect of the

wicked,

godly.

1. Upon all the ungodly he shall 1.get himselfe a greater name, than ever he did upon Pharaoh; when all the wicked Princes and people p. 270that ever lived, shall be cited and assembled in the twinkling of an eye, before his Tribunall, and in terrour of his presence shall flie Rev. 6. 16.Rev 6:16to the hils and mountaines to hide themselves; yea when all the powers and gates of hell, all wicked angels and men, shall be by one word of his cast out, and commanded out of presence, and confined to their prison, never to molest him or his Church any more.

2. In respect of the godly, hee2.

shall be marvellous at that day,

1. to the Saints

2. in the Saints.

To the Saints: when they shall behold him that was betrayed, spitted upon, crucified, pierced, dead, buried, now advanced above all men and Angels, and crowned with honour above all that created nature is capable of.

But in the Saints also hee shall be marvellous: 2. Thess. 1. 10. for when Christ who is our life, shall p. 271appeare, we also shall appeare with him in glory, Col. 3. 4. First, the members shall partake of the glory of the Head, that the Head may bee exalted in the glory of the members. Secondly, the Saints shall admire, not only his glory in himselfe, but in themselves. How admirable will it be to see themselves, who were in the world accounted the outsweepings, and driven out of the world with obloquie, contempt, fire and sword, yea who were but even now dust and ashes, newly crept out of the grave and rottennesse, so suddainly to attaine that fulnes of the glory of Christ, in their soules and bodies! In their soules, such a wonderfull perfection of Gods image, such deepe knowledge of the secrets of heaven and earth, such conformitie in their wils unto God, clothed with such righteousnesse as God in his presence-chamber p. 272is delighted to behold. And their whole bodies changed, and arayed with immortalitie, incorruption, and made spirituall bodies like the glorious body of Jesus Christ. And the whole man filled Phil. 3. 21.Phil 3:21with rivers of pleasures at Gods right hand, and swallowed up with that happinesse which eye hath not seene, nor ever entred into the earth of man. This glory have all the Saints, in whom the glory of Christ in his appearing is complete.

Note hence the long-suffering and patience of our Lord Jesus Use 1. Christs patience to be noted, who suffers his glory to be so long hid.Christ, who for his Elects sake is contented so long to be hid, and not shew himselfe in his glory till the end of the world; nay, not only suffers his glory to bee vailed, but trampled on by the wicked. For,

1. Now the heavens are as a curtaine betweene him and us, 1.which then shall bee undrawne, p. 273that all eyes may behold him in a glorious bodily presence, as the head of his glorious body.

2. He is now out of sight, and 2.out of minde; not knowne, nor beleeved among the wicked, who despise his patience because he sheweth not himselfe in terrour.

3. Neither is he so beloved or 3.admired of his Saints, as hee should, while he seemes to shut up and hide himselfe from their miseries and sufferings, as one not wel knowing or weighing them: And if he did not preserve a grain of faith in their hearts, to make things absent to bee present, his delayes would quite dishearten them.

But yet Christ will not alwayes One day it sh…l be su… revealed.neglect his owne glory, nor will ever bee robbed of it: a day comes, wherein he shall appeare in surpassing glory. 1. In himselfe: not onelyonly by that externall p. 2741.and accidentall glory of his attendance, and most powerfull manner of appearing, but by that internall and personall glory whereby hee shall obscure and darken the glory of all creatures: A shadow of which, Peter and John saw in the mount, when his face did shine as the Sunne, and his garments were as the light, Mat. 17. 3. not as Moses, when he came from the mount, very glorious, so as Israel could not behold his face: for that glory was not his owne, but his Lords: but Christ shall appeare in his owne glory. 2. His glory shall shine out unto 2.and in his Saints, in manifesting the power of his mercy as never he did before: v. c. Raising them from the dead by a word, as Lazarus. Gathering them to himselfe, as the Eagles to a dead body. Loosing them eternally from all bands of sin and corruption. Investing them in soule and p. 275body with his owne glory. And glorifying himselfe (as never before) not as head of the Church, but in his whole body: for some of his owne glory was wanting, till his spouse be perfectly glorified. 3. His glory shall shine out 3.to the wicked, but not in mercy, but majesty; not in grace, but in the power of his justice: He will be glorified on them as on Pharaoh, putting forth his power in their finall destruction.

Againe, let this bee a ground of patience and contentednesse, if Use 2. In obscutitie bee yet patient.we also be despised, if our glory and worth bee hid, and appeare not in the world till that day. Shall Christ our Lord bee content to be abused and despised now in his glory, till that day, and shall the servants bee above their Master?

1. Looke upon the Lords condition: 1.if wee suffer together, wee shell raigne together: and if p. 276Christ cannot expect the crowne before the Crosse, no more may wee.

2. Looke on thy condition: 2.thou art a stranger here, among strangers who know not thy birth from heaven, nor thy parents: they know not God thy father, nor his image on thee, nor thy mother the Church, and spouse of Christ; nor thy worth through Christs worthinesse, nor thy inheritance and expectation. Bee content therefore as a stranger, in this strange countrie, with strange and course usage: onelyonly let it make thee love thy owne countrie so much the better, and hye thee home where thou mayest expect better.

3. It is great reason, that Christs glory should appeare before 3.ours: the members shall shew their glory, when their head doth: for their glory depends upon his: Col. 3. 4. Wee p. 277know that when Christ our life doth appeare, wee shall also appeare with him in glory: but now his glory is hid, and must ours appeare? In the winter all the sap, life and fruit is hid in the roote, and then the tree appeares not what it is: but the summer comes, and all that was within, appeareth: so in this our winter, though now wee bee the sonnes of God, yet it appeares not what wee are; but when Christ shall appeare, wee shall be like him, 1 Joh. 3. 1. 2.

Ob▪ But are we not now like him?

Ans. Yes, there is now a likenesse betweene the head and members: the branches must have the same life, sap, and greennesse in some proportion to the roote: the spouse is now sutable to her husband. But, first, this is a likenesse in grace, that is a likenesse in glory: secondly, this is in p. 278part and imperfection, that in perfection and fulnesse: thirdly, this is obscure and vailed, but that manifest, and revealed to men and Angels.

Waite then, and wish for this Use 3. Vaite and …ish for …he appea…nce of …is glory. … 1. 2.day of the revelation of Christs glory, and of thine in his: for,

1. Christ shall come the second time to the salvation of those that waite for him, Heb. 9. 21.

2. Love to Christ thy head now in a farre country will make thee long after him: Come saith the spouse, Oh that I might come to a sight of him whom my soule loveth. This must whet thy desire, that Christs glory may shine in that day, yea and enlarged in thy owne glory.

3. Hast thou received the first 3.fruits of glory? then thou canst not but long for the full harvest: Rom. 8. 23. Wee that have received the first fruits, sigh in our selves, waiting for the adoption, even the p. 279redemption of our bodies.

4. Never was there so happie 4.and joyfull a day; wherein, in their head, all the heads of the Saints shall bee lifted up into unconceivable happinesse; who shall stand amazed to see their nature so exalted in their head, and be swallowed with unspeakable joy to see themselves, who have beene by his first appearing in humilitie justified, now by his second appearing in glory to bee glorified. When the Disciples saw but a small glimpse of this glory in the Transfiguration, they were so ravished and transported out of themselves, that they wist not what they said, Luks 9. 33. How then shall the whole brightnesse of it so swallow up the Saints, as that they shall ever thinke it good to be where Hee is, to see his glory? Hereby should wee excite our selves, to wish for the longed day of our glorious p. 280deliverance: And as the Jewes, the nearer the day of Jubile came, the more the joy of prisoners and debtors was increased; so should wee lift up our head when the day of our redemption approacheth: & as the bird about to flie stretcheth out the wings, so should wee our affections and desires to heaven where our Lord his dwelling is.

Againe, prepare for this day: to stand before the sonne of man in Use 4. Prepare also for it: and how.this glory: Luke 21. 36. Watch and pray that yee may bee counted worthy to escape all these things, and may stand before the sonne of man.

Quest. How should I prepare duely?

Ans. 1. Acquaint thy selfe with 1.thy Judge afore-hand: which is done by faith and love: Rom. 5. 2. By faith we have accesse, both here and hereafter. And if love bee perfect in us, wee shall have p. 281boldnesse in the day of Judgement, 1 Joh. 4. 17. Hee that can stand before his presence of grace, shall stand boldly before his presence of glory. Stand therefore humbly before him in his Ordinances: enjoy as much of him now as thou canst.

2. Part from sinne: watch against 2.it: let the fire of grace consume it. A malefactor cannot stand before the Judge. Psal. 1. 5. The wicked shall not stand in judgement. See Esa. 33. 14. 15.

3. Get sinceritie and uprightnesse of heart: for no hypocrite 3.shall stand before those everlasting burnings. A sincere heart hath this propertie, to set it selfe before God continually, as a witnesse and Judge: Gen. 17. 1. Walke before mee, and bee upright. And that soule that can walke with God here, shall stand before the glory of his power at that day.

4. Get love of the Saints on p. 282earth: for the terrour of that day 4.shall devour the Adversarie, 2 Thess. 1. 6. And Christ shall clothe himselfe with the robes of glory, to destroy the destroyer out of the earth. Only the Saints shall stand before him. Stand with them here, if thou wouldest stand with them hereafter: but if here thou wilt shake hands with sinners, hereafter thou shalt scarce part company.

Lastly, this glory of the Judge is the greatest terrour and torment Use I. Terror to the wicked by the glory of Christ.to the wicked. Oh the wofull estate of such persons, when the presence of God and of Christ is the greatest torment… yet how can it be other?

For first, the true and proper cause of perdition is in themselves, 1.not in this glory: the wicked must bee cast out for his malice. They have despised his humilitie, and were ashamed of him: & now must be ashamed of p. 283themselves, when hee shall bee ashamed of them. They have contemned his soft voice in the Ministry of the Gospell, and must hear that dreadfull voice to drive them to their wits ends: they have pierced him with horrible sins, and shall now see him whom they have Rev. 1. 7.Rev 1:7pierced, and pierce themselves with shame and utter confusion. Yea their owne accusing consciences shall make them shrinke and melt as ware at the fire, and as chaffe driven before the tempest of his wrath. Thus shall all wicked men and Angells perish at the presence of God, Psal. 68. 2.

Secondly, as a King sitting in 2.judgement chaseth away evill with his eies, Prov. 20. 8. so shall they see the face of this Judge, set against all evill doers, 1 Pet. 3. 12. they shall read revenge in his very eye and visage: his looke shall drive them to the hils, to hide them: they shall know the p. 284wrath of this King as the roaring of a Lyon, to whom Kings are lesse than wormes to men: and if the wicked flye when none pursueth, Prov. 28. 1. much more when pursued with such wrath and power as this Judge shall bee cloathed with.

Thirdly, as all the power of the country attends the Judge to execute 3.malefactors, so Christ hath obtained great might and kingdome to destroy the wicked, Rev. 11. 17, 18. so as his revenge must be proportionall to his power, and his power shall make his processe short, and his dispatch speedie. A resemblance hereof is in Joh. 18. 6. the very word of Christ (I am the man) in his state of humiliation cast the stoutest of his enemies to the ground: How much more in his glorie, when he shall be armed with power and glory to this purpose? GOD shall no sooner arise, but his enemies shall p. 285be scattered, they also that hate him, shall fly before him, Ps. 68. 2.

O therefore, considering these terrours of the Lord, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation! 2 Pet. 3. 11. If Daniel (chap. 7. 15.) was so troubled in his spirit, and perplexed to see but in a vision the manner of Christs glorious comming to judgement, how much more dreadfull shall the judgement it self be! when all secrets shall be revealed, as packes and fardels are opened in the market…: Oh? how carefull should wee bee of the wares we lay up in our hearts and consciences, seeing that day shall disclose them to a Judge of such … power and glory▪

With his Angels.

The fourth thing considerable IV. Attendants of Christ in comming to judgement.… the comming of Christ to judgment, is, his Attendants, that is, …e Angels, in whom the glory …d magnificence of his second p. 286appearing shall manifest it selfe. For as formerly we have shewed, that hee is not sent as a Legate with commission from the side of any earthly Monarch, but must shew himselfe from heaven; so now wee shall see, that the glory and state wherein hee shall appeare, is not from earth, but hee shall bee wonderfull in the glory of heaven: (Luke 2. 13.) for his guard shall not bee a troope of men, but of Angels; nor an army of earthly warriours, but of heavenly souldiers; nor weake and feeble, soone overcome, but mightie Angels, or Angels excelling in power, Psal. 103. 20. This glorious appearing of Christ is shadowed by the comming in of earthly Judges, to hold Assises, attendeded with the honourable, the Nobles, Justices, and Gentry of the countrie, yea with the High Sheriffes power, besides all their own followers and retinue; p. 287by which great state and attendance, they are both honoured and aided in their service, and made formidable to adaunt and quell malefactors, as becommeth such publike ministers of justice.

Here consider.

1 Their number, Angels, in the plurall number.

2 Their relation, his Angels.4. things about the Angels.

3 Their office and ministrie in the judgement.

4 How they can come with him.

For the number: he saith Angels 1. the number of them.indefinitely, not one, or two, or a few, but a number finite in it selfe, because created, but to our apprehension infinite and numberlesse. Heb. 12. 12. the innumerable company of Angels. And the Scriptures expresse their number by the greatest and roundest numbers in use among men: Jude 14. The Lord commeth with thousands p. 288of his Saints, that is, holy Angels and men attending him. Dan. 7. 10. Thousand thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand thousands stand before him, when the judgement was set up. But our Lord speakes of many more, Mat. 24. when the sonne of man shall come and all his holy Angels with him: not an Angell shall bee left in heaven, which shall not come with him. What a great glory is it, to see a great Prince in the midst of his whole trained band, & armed with all the power of his Kingdome? yet all this is but weaknesse to this of Christ, who brings the whole hoast of heaven with him, to make his throne surpassing glorious.

Next, of the relation, his Angells: 2. Their relation to Christ. How his Angels:how are they his?

Answ. 1. By creation; 2. by confirmation in grace: other fell from him, and became not his; but these by his grace cleave p. 289for ever unto him in the holinesse of their nature. Thirdly, His by speciall attendance and ministrie; hee being Lord of the holy Angels, they are his subjects and ministers, readie to execute his will.

Ob. They are our Angels, and therefore not Christs; Mat. 18. 10. their Angels behold the face And yet ours.of the Father in heaven.

Answ. They are called our Angels, so farre as appointed our keepers or guardians against Satan and impure spirits: but in all this ministery to the Church, they are his Angels; for they attend us for our heads sake, and attend his body which is himselfe.

Next of their office, and why Christ shall bring all his Angels 3. Their office and ministrie in the last judgment. 1.with him.

Ans. 1. Their ministrie serveth to set forth the glory of Christ the head. The most potent Monarchs that ever were in earth, in p. 290their most stately and most magnificent showes were but seely creatures and wormes to this, and attended with weak men and flyes in comparison of this presence.

2. That by their ministery the great worke of the great day 2.may bee powerfull, and speedily dispatched. For,

First, being the Angels of his power, they shall performe it The judgment by them executed powerfully:mightily and powerfully. No sooner shall the sentence of absolution or condemnation bee pronounced, but it shall bee fully executed. For besides that every of them is mighty in his owne nature, and thence denominated principalities and powers, and said to excell in strength, Psal. 103. 20. so shall now for the time the power of Christ bee added to their owne, which shall bee of such invincible strength in every one, as Satan and all the gates of p. 291hell cannot, much lesse the wicked of the world shall be able to resist any one of them.

Secondly, they shall doe it willingly, because their wills are Willingly:wholly conformable to the will of Christ, whom they love with all their strength. Their readinesse appeareth, Mat. 13. 28. the servants said, shall wee gather up the tares? Those that desire commission afore-hand, will be ready enough when they have it.

Thirdly, they shall performe Justly:it justly, purely, …aithfully, Rev. 15. 6. the seven Angels that had the seven plagues, are said to bee cloathed in pure and bright linnen; noting their righteousnesse, not mingling corrupt passions in their executions, nor corruptly respecting any persons. And they are girded on their breasts with golden girdles: gold is the purest of all metals, noting their purity and faithfulnesse in performing p. 292the will of God, in whole and in every part.

Fourthly, they shall doe it diligently Diligently:and perfectly, in most strict and exact manner. For they could not continue in their glorious estate, if they should not bee every way answerable to the law of God, both in the puritie of their nature, and in the perfection of their worke: for how soever the Angels compared with God are imperfect (Job, chap. 4. vers. 18.) yet in comparison of Gods Law they have perfection, and no spot of sinne cleaveth to them.

Fiftly, it shall bee done speedily, Speedily. Rev. 4. 8.Rev 4:8and in the twinkling of an eye, with unconceiveable quicknesse and celeritie; which is noted by their wings and girded breasts, readie and prest to the businesse of their Lord.

So of the second thing.

3. Their ministry & office shall p. 2933.be of use against all wicked persons. First, to force them, and present them before the Judge, be they never so rebellious: for they shall blow the trumpet, that all 1 Thess. 4. 16. Mat. 13. 41.1 Thess 4:16Matt 13:41shall heare: they shall runne through earth and sea in an instant, to gather out all that offend: they shall compell mightie and rebellious Potentates to present themselves. Secondly, to be (perhaps) witnesses, and give evidence against the ungodly, of many secret sinnes: sure wee are, they attend our Congregations (1 Cor. 11. 10.) and why not in our private chambers? Thirdly, to be instruments of Gods vengeance on the wicked, Mat. 13. 41, 42. the reapers shall gather the tares, and cast them into unquenchable fire.

So of the third.

4. Their service and Ministry 4.shall notably serve for the comfort and salvation of the Saints in p. 294that day, for first they shall with admirable expedition gather the Saints out of their graves from all the foure windes, and bring them into the presence of Christ: secondly, as they attended them in their humilitie, so now shall their service be exceeding comfortable in that day: never was Hagar so comforted by an Angell in her distresse, when hee refreshed her with water, as they shall be by the Angels in this day of refreshing: for,

1. These Angels which had Good offices which Angels then doe for the godly.carried their soules into heaven, as Lazarus (Luke 16.) shall now bring their bodies out of the earth. As the Angell loosed Peters chaines, and brought him 1.out of prison, Act. 12. so now shall not one living body as his, but all the dead bodies of the Saints bee brought out of their prisons, and set into perfect freedome: All stones shall bee rolled away, and p. 295all chaines of corruption broken asunder.

2. When all elements shall bee 2.dissolved, and set on …ire, the Angels shall helpe and hide them, that the fire shall not hurt them; that looke as the three servants of GOD walked in the midst of the fire, and had no hurt, onelyonly their chaines were loosed, because God sent his Angell among them, Dan. 3. 25. so here all the godly shall bee safe in that fire, which shall drive the wicked to desperation, not able to stand before those terrible burnings. And that fire shall resemble the waters of the red sea, which was a wall to Israel, but a well and pit to drowne Egypt. Yea and as that fire of Nebuchadnezzar, that sheltred Gods servants from the Tyrant, but licked up and devoured the enemie.

3. Whereas Satan at that day, being at his last & most desperate p. 296assault, shall bee most raging against the Saints, they shall stop the mouth of this raging Lion, as once they did for Daniel, and by their power quell the forces of the divell. And their very multitude shall afford this comfort, that there shall appeare infinite more with us than against us, 2. King. 6. 16.

4. As they shall bind the tares, to cast them into the fire, so shall 4.they carry the wheat into the garner; and so appeare glorious ministring spirits for the good of the heires of salvation, Hebr. 1. 14.

Thus the office and ministrie of the Angels shall marvellously set out the glory of Christ, promote the worke of the great day, bee serviceable for the finall ruine of all enemies, and happily advance the comfort and salvation of the Saints, in these particulars. But I read not in the p. 297Scripture a word of those childish and ridiculous conceits of Petrus Thyreus a Jesuite, who in Jesuites feigned offices for Angels at that day.the description of Christs glorious appearing appoints some Angels to beare up the cloud, and hold up the seat of the Judge, and some to beare the crosse before him, others the crown of thornes, others the nailes, others the speare and other instruments of his passion: Which he hath gravely confirmed, because hee hath seene these things finely & artificially painted upon tables: Sound proofes of Jesuites: when they want grounds from Prophets and Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas. Hor.Apostles, they can supply them out of Poets and Painters, to both whom was ever granted equall leave to devise what they listed.

But how can the Angels come IV. How the Angels c…n come with Christ.with Christ, seeing they are no bodily substances, in their nature being without magnitude, figure, or sense; and seeing they occupie p. 298no place, how can they move locally from heaven into the a…re, and into the earth?

Ans. The Angels being creatures, though they fill & occupie no place, yet must needs be definitively in some place, now in one, and then in another, and sometime locally ascend, and locally descend, after a manner unknown to us. Hence in Jacobs ladder Gen. 28. 12.Gen 28:12the Angels are said to ascend and descend: and not onelyonly in vision, but actually, Luk. 1. 26. Gabriel was sent from GOD to a Citie in Galilee. So our soules are spirituall substances, and yet they locally ascend to heaven, and at the resurrection descend from heaven to be united to their bodies. In like sort the Angels are described to be of most quicke motion, and for their celeritie and swiftnesse are compared to the windes, and have wings ascribed to them, as flying with most swift motion about p. 299their Lords commands. And so must it needs bee: for,

1. Their motion is without all The nature of their motion.resistance of bodily substances: no body can resist an unbodily substance, and all resistance is betweene 1.bodies.

2. Being without resistance, 2.their motions are without all labour or wearinesse: they are restlesse in their motion.

3. It must be most speedy, because by no meanes hindred: so as 3. foreign.in a short time, above that wee can perceive, they can move betweene heaven and earth. I say not, in a moment; for Angels cannot locally move betweene extremes, as from heaven to earth, but by passing the meane, which is to be done in time, though very short.

Thus wee conclude, that the spiritual nature of Angels, though it occupie and fill no place as bodies doe, nor hath any circumscriptive p. 300place assigned them as they, and though by their motion in place they neither expell nor move any body out of place; yet are they moved locally, and shall descend with Christ to judgement, and quickly expedite all things belonging to it by their Ministrie.

Observe hence a difference betweene Use 1. Difference betweene Christs first and second comming.Christs first and second comming.

For first, hee comes now with another manner of traine, than hee had following him upon earth: Then he had twelve poore fishermen, 1. Joh. 18. 36.despised persons, following him (for his Kingdome was not of this world) but now his traine are all the Angels of heaven. Secondly, 2.hee was then to shew himself the son of man, and in the form of a servant: but now hee will shew himselfe the Sonne of God, and the Lord of glory. Thirdly, he was then to preach righteousnesse, p. 3013.and to suffer for sin: but now he is to judge righteously, and to revenge sin. Fourthly, he was ever 4.the Lord of the holy Angels, and therefore in his temptations and agonie, they were readie to Mat. 4. 11. Luk. 22. 43.Matt 4:11Luke 22:43comfort him: and when hee was at the weakest, hee was of power to command many legions of Mat. 26. 53.Matt 26:53them: but that was not the time to shew forth his Majestie by their attendance, as this appearing is. Fiftly, those Angels 5.which ministred unto him in his incarnation and birth, in his life and death, were Angels of grace, Preachers to shepheards, Disciples, women and others, appearing sometimes by one or two, to one or two persons. But these are Angels of power, appearing in millions to all the world, who in their wonderfull glorie shall behold the glory of their Lord.

Again, the Lord Jesus is hence p. 302Use 2.proved the Lord of glory, in that the holy Angels serve him as Advancement of Christ by the Angels ministrie.their head & King of the Church: so the Apostle (Phil. 2. 9.) proveth him to have a Name above all names, because all things in heaven and earth, and under the 1.earth shall confesse him: and Christ himselfe, to prove his headship, useth the same argument, Joh. 1. 52. Hereafter shall yee see the Angels ascending and descending on the Sonne of man, that is, ministring to him as the head of the Church, as was figured in Jacobs ladder, Gen. 28. 1…. for Christ is the ladder, by which onelyonly wee ascend to heaven: this ladder reached from heaven to earth, noting his two natures, divine from his Father in heaven, and humane from Jacobs loynes on earth: Angels ascend and descend on it, noting their emission and admission, descending to their office, and ascending to give account.

p. 303Besides, he must be greatest of 2.all, who is honoured of all: and so Christs eminencie above all creatures is proved, because all the Angels of heaven must honour him, Heb. 1. 6. And the more, and more honourable the Attendants and Ministers be, the greater is the personage so attended: but the Angels are every where spoken of, as the excellencie of the Creation; and in the glory of these servants behold the glory of their Lord.

Againe, their incessant service 3.to Jesus Christ advanceth his glory: Exod. 26. 31. the vaile of the Tabernacle which covered the most holy (expresly signifying the flesh of Christ which hid and covered his Deity) must bee made of broydered worke with Cherubims: not without Cherubims, which noted the multitude of Angels serving Christ. Exod. 25. 20. The Cherubims, p. 304signifying the Angels, must lift their wings on high, as attending Christ, and their faces must bee to the Mercy-seat; which lively resembled Christ, on whom their eyes must still be cast, as the eye of the handmaide to the hand of her Mistresse.

Thus wee shall see how they served Christ as man, even in his lowest estate, as well as in his highest. In his birth they sang glory to God, and were preachers of him to shepheards. After his temptations they ministred to him, spreading a table for him in the wildernesse, and waiting at his table, Mat. 4. 11. In his agonie in the garden they comforted him, Luk. 22. 43. In the grave they roll away the stone for his resurrection, Mat. 28. 2. In his ascension they waite upon him, and lead him to the Ancient of dayes, of whom he received a kingdome over all creatures, Dan. 7. 13. p. 305But much more now they attend him, and assist him in the judgement of the great day, wherein hee is to put forth his greatest power and glory, in the most glorious worke that ever was or can be.

3. Here is matter of terror to Use 3. Terror to the enemies of Christ.the enemies of Christ, even all wicked and impenitent persons: in that Jesus Christ commeth armed with such power and glory against them: for now he rideth in his chariot of triumph against all his enemies, and now all the mountaines in the world cannot hide them from the Judge, but the power of the Angels shall present them. Neither can the sentence bee avoyded, nor the execution reprived: for if heaven and earth bee mingled together, whatsoever sentence of death is pronounced on them, the Angels shall speedily execute. How comes it then to p. 306passe, that men are so carelesse, and passe over these great woes as a tale that is told? shall this Judge pronounce the sentence, and the Angels undertake the execution, and yet the thing falle of execution? Wo worth the deadnesse and securitie of wilfull sinners, that dare contemne so dreadfull a sentence as shall eternally torment them!

4. Here is assured comfort for the Saints: that all this glorious Use 4. Great comfort to the godly.attendance of the Head shall bee the glory of the members. What a great comfort shall it be, to see the Angels mustered together, to become our servants also, and performe the greatest service to us as ever was performed by them? While the Saints lived here, the good Angels attended them, and kept them in their hands: when they dyed, the Angels carryed their soules to heaven, Psa 91. 11.Ps 91:11which was no meane service. p. 307But now in this great day they shall reunite the soules and bodies of the Elect, they shall separate the whole man from all corruption, and communication with sin and sinners, and gather out all that offend, and shall not leave them till they be set quite free from all danger, as the Angell did Peter, Act. 12. no nor till they have placed them in the glory of God. Now what an honour is it, that these glorious spirits who dwell in heaven, should serve them that dwell on earth, yea dwelt lately in the grave? that meere spirits should serve flesh and blood? and creatures so elevated in their nature, above all sin and mortalitie, should stand charged with them who immediatly before were clothed with miserie and corruption?

Quest. How comes this to passe, seeing they are his, that p. 308is, Christs Angels?

Answ. This must neither impeach Christs glory, nor lift us up to glorie in any thing in our selves: For they serve Christ and us, but not after the same manner, Difference in their ministery to Christ and us.nor upon the same grounds: 1. Their service to him is immediate, as to the head of the Church, to us mediate, as members 1.of this head. 2. Their service 2.is due to him as to their Creator and Lord, of dutie, to us as creatures, of charge from him. 3. Their service is proper to him, 3.and invested in him as in his own right, to us communicated onelyonly by vertue of our communion with him. 4. They are his Angels 4.by speciall proprietie, and they doe him all homage and service by speciall prerogative, as the authour and preserver of all their excellent gifts, and condition: but our Angels by speciall commission, and direction from p. 309him, entrusted to employ their gifts for our good. In one word, never did they minister to a member, but for the honour of their head.

5. It teacheth us to admire the surpassing love of our Lord, in Use 5. Honour Christ for these attendants given us.that hee tooke our nature, and bound us straiter to him than hee did the Angels of heaven; and hath vouchsafed us his owne speciall servants to attend us, and charged them with our safetie in all our wayes, in life, in death, in Psal. 91. 11.Ps 91:11judgement, till we be set out of the reach of all danger. Well knew our Lord, what weake creatures wee are in our selves, what dangerous combats wee were to stand in, with how many spirituall and invisible enemies we were to be beset: and therefore out of his love and wisedom hath appointed us so many spirituall, invisible, and more powerfull ayders and assisters.

p. 3106. If wee expect this happie Use 6. Grieve not the holy Angels.ministery from the Angels, let us beware that in the meane time wee grieve not by our sin these holy Angels, nor drive them from about us, whose protection under God is safer than if wee lay under shield and speare, Psal. 91. 4. 11. While wee desire they Si vis habere ministerium Angelorum, fuge consolationes seculi, & tentationibus resiste diaboli. …ern.should stand for us at that day, beware of ministring matter to them to witnesse against us. Yea let us furnish them with matter of our defence, as those that have beene both witnesses and defenders of our pure conversation. 1. Cor. 11. 10. Women must bee seemely in the Congregation, because of the Angels. And because of the Angels, both in Gods house, and our owne houses, and all meetings, the Saints must walke holily and reverently, a… those that have not onelyonly Gods eye, and the eye of Christ upon us, as Judges, but the Angels as p. 311witnesses. Let no sinner that shall stand in need of so much comfortable service from them, goe on to grieve or offend them, but rather afford them matter of rejoycing, in their sound conversion, and daily renewing of their repentance, Luk. 15. 7.

7. Learne to imitate the Angels in their service and ministerie, Use 7. Imitate them, and doe service as they.as it hath beene described. First, they honour Christ in all their ministerie: so all the scope and aime of our lives and labours 1.must bee the glory of our head. Secondly, they are expedite and readie: they have besides the agilitie 2.and swiftnesse of their nature, wings to flie withall: let their wings speed us in his service, who are nearer than they: should the members be heavie and uncheerefull in the service of the Head? Thirdly, they are in all things ruled and moved by his 3.mouth and spirit: they doe none p. 312of their owne, but his will: Ezek. 1. 20. Whither the spirit led them, they went. Let us in all things give up our selves much more, to the leading of his Spirit, not running in any businesse unsent, or without our warrant: doth the member any thing, or move any way without the heads direction? Fourthly, they rejoyce 4.in all good things, in the glory of Christ, in the victory of Christ, in the conversion of sinners, in the eversion of all wicked enemies, in the finall salvation and glory of all Saints, and doe promote all these. But why doe not wee more rejoyce in these things, the benefit of which more redoundeth to us, than to them? How unlike is it to the Angels, to rejoyce in evill, in sinfull courses and companie? why hate wee and scorne such, as most partake in Christs victory, and are set out of the divels power? p. 313Fiftly, they are unweariable in 5. Patienter & fortiter perseverandum: ut qui ad coronam la…de …am proxima nititur, durante patientia coronetur. Cyp. de Bon… Patientiae.performing their service to Christ: and much lesse should a member be wearie of being officious to the head. When did any good Angell shrinke and recoyle from the commandement of Christ, or account any thing too much he could doe for Christ, or his members, as many Christians be? Therefore my Beloved (1 Cor. 15. 58.) Be stedfast, unmoveable, unweariable, and abundant in the worke of the Lord. The time comes when we shall be in our condition foreign, like or equall to the Angels, Luk. 20. 36. and when we shall be children of the resurrection. Let us frame our selves to the good Angels beforehand in this first resurrection, that we may have comfort and glory Rev. 20. 6.Rev 20:6in that second.

p. 314And then hee shall give to every man according to his workes.

Here is the fift and last point, V. The end of Christs comming to judgement.namely, the end of Christs comming to judgement: where are five things to be considered;

1. A just retribution, in the 1. foreign.word foreign, which signifies both a returne of justice, and a gift of favour: Matth. 20. 8. Call the worke-men, and give them their wages, returne both to those that came into the vineyard first, and seeme to have deserved it, as also those that came in last, to whom it was given of favour. For it is observable, that the compound is changed into the simple, vers. 14. I will give to this last, as unto thee: and therefore is most fitly foreign.used here, in respect of the two sorts of subjects to bee judged: The wicked, who must receive a just retribution according to p. 315their workes, and desert of them: And the godly, who are to receive life everlasting of the free favour of God in Jesus Christ. And this is the end of Christs comming; that secondary and subordinate end, in the felicitie of the Elect, and just damnation of reprobates; which promoteth that chiefe and primary end of all his great workes, even the praise of the glory of his grace, in the consummation of that his kingdome which hee set up in this world.

2. The person retributing: 2.Hee: the just Judge of all the world: hee that loveth righteousnesse, Psal. 45. 7.Ps 45:7and hateth iniquitie: hee that exercised and fulfilled all righteousnesse in his humilitie, shall now much more exact it in his glory. And here in is the difference between this Judge, and other judges: First, hee is appointed to bee judge of all the p. 316world, and now to come to destroy 2 Chron. 19. 11. Psal. 82. 1.2 Chr 19:11Ps 82:1and revenge all unrighteousnesse: they not so. Secondly, the Lord is with them in their passing of righteous sentence, but he is the Lord: God sits with them, hee sits as God. Thirdly, they may be mis-led: for they often passe sentence before due hearing and triall; but not so He, as in Adams case, first all were examined. Or they when they have heard the right, may be carryed away by affection, petition, money, importunitie, or the command of a superiour, as in Naboths case: this Judge not so, most righteous, and will deale righteously.

3. The persons to whom: To every man: he saith not, to all men 3.in generall, but the word noteth the particular judgement of every singular man: none shall avoid judgement; Kings nor subjects, rich nor poore: the greatest Monarch p. 317that ever was, must appeare, if his power be not superiour to Christs. The poore soule shall not bee neglected, nor forgotten. None shall answer by Proctours, but every man shall 2 Cor. 5. 10.2 Cor 5:10receive according to that he hath done in the body, be it good or evill. Hence the Scripture, that it may omit none, rangeth them into sundry rankes: namely, of just and unjust, Act. 24. 15. of quicke and dead, Act. 10. 42. of great and small, Rev. 20. 12. Christ now calls, and men will no… come, but then they must come in.

4. The time: then shall he give 4. 2 Pet. 3. 13.2 Pet 3:13to every one: now is not the time or place in which dwelleth righteousnesse: now it is well with the wicked, and not so well to the godly: now in mens tribunals many things are carried unjustly and partially, but we know that then the judgement of God shall p. 318be according to truth, Rom. …. 2. Now in this world a man may Eccle. 8. 14.Eccl 8:14see a just man, to whom it is according to the worke of the wicked: A poore wise man by his wisedome 9. 15. 3. 16.delivering the Citie, and none remembreth this poore man: The best worke receiving the worst wages, and iniquitie in the place of justice. But then is the time, when the godly shall have a full reward and honour, and the wicked everlasting shame and sorrow.

5. The rule of this recompence: according to his workes: 5.where,

First, what is meant by works. 1.Namely, not onelyonly actions good or bad: but we must include the foreign.originall and attendants of them, even the worke of our fall in Adam, which was our worke as well as his; originall sinne, and corruption of nature, of which workes are the fruits; and so p. 319comprehended in them. So out of workes of the Saints faith is not excluded, being the rise of them, and indeed the noblest of all workes, the chiefe obedience required in the Gospell. The attendants of good workes are also included under them, as namely, thoughts and speech…: for according to every idle word & thought Mat. 12. 36.Matt 12:36wee must bee judged; but the workes will manifest what they have beene.

Secondly, the appropriation: 2.his workes: His owne, not other mens: every man shall give accompt of himselfe unto God: every Rom. 14. 12.Rom 14:12vessell must stand on his owne bottome: the father shall not beare the sonnes burden, &c.

Ob. In the second commandement God will revenge the sins of Parents in their children to the third and fourth generation.

Ans. Not except the children be found in the same sins: none shall p. 320suffer for anothers worke, further than he is some way guiltie of it, as the childe often is by consent or imitation. And thus the Pharisees Mat. 23. 35.Matt 23:35shall goe to hell for Abels blood, and Za…haries, shed many thousand yeares before their age, because they were not warned by that example to avoid blood-shedding. But hee will visite the sinnes, that is, first enquire, and, if hee finde them not, hee will not revenge: see Ezek. 18. 14. and the examples of Hezekiah, Josiah, and other good children of wicked parents.

Thirdly, what is meant by 3.the phrase according to workes?

Ans. 1. The phrase noteth plainly, that as our workes are good or bad, so our doome shall bee: for so it is evidently expounded, Rev. 22. 12. My reward is with me, to give to every one as his foreign.worke shall be: so as the sentence shall run according to the evidence p. 321that workes shall bring in, as sure witnesses either of their faith or infidelitie. 2. The phrase implyeth the qualitie of the worke, but not the merit: which wee observe, because the Papists hence ignorantly build up their merit of workes, and thus argue, God will render to the wicked according to the merit of their workes, and therefore the godly must receive according to the Good works not meritorious, as evill ar…: why.merit of their workes. Answ. The argument followes not from the merit of evill workes to the merit of good workes: for first, good workes are Gods, not ours 1.properly, as our evill workes are: faith, and workes of faith are the gift of GOD: secondly, good 2.workes in us are imperfectly good, but our evill workes are perfectly evill: thirdly, good 3.workes are done upon dutie, but evill workes against dutie; merit and debt are opposed, and what p. 322meriteth he, who hath but done his dutie, and failed in doing too? fourthly, who can bring these merits? Not the unregenerate: for 4.the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the unrighteousnesse of men. Or can the sonnes of God, when Abraham himselfe hath not wherein to rejoyce before God? surely if hee could bee justified by no other means than faith, much lesse can we: Therefore by the workes of the law can no flesh bee justified, Rom. 3. 28.

Quest. Why then shall good Why workes are the rule of judgment, not faith.workes bee inquired into in that day, rather than faith? and why shall Christ judge according to workes, not faith?

Answ. 1. Workes shall bee inquired into, not as meritorious 1.causes of salvation, which is only merited by Christs workes which onelyonly had perfection; but as conditions of Gods promises concerning p. 323reward in heaven, given not for merit, but of Gods Nil Deus in nobis p…aeter sua dona coronat.frce grace: for hee crowneth his grace in us, not our merits, saith Augustine. Workes are requisite conditions to the person, but no causes of reward.

2. To shew that Jesus Christ 2.shall accept no persons, but looke to causes.

3. To shew that faith must 3.not bee idle, but put forth the life in good motions and actions.

4. Because the judgement and 4.equitie of it must be visible, and run into the eyes of all mankind: and therefore must be passed according to the fruits and workes which men may see; whereas faith, by which alone wee are justified before God, is an inward and spirituall grace in the heart, knowne onelyonly to God who seeth the heart, and it flieth the sense of man further than by the works of love, as fruits, it discovereth it selfe.

p. 324Object. But if the judgement Whether the Law or Gospell be the rule of judging.were according to workes, then the rule should be the Law: but God will judge the secrets of men according to the Gospell, Rom. 2. 16. which is the doctrine of faith, not of workes.

Answ. The word foreign, according, signifieth there not the ruls of judging, but the certitude of it: and the sense is, According as I have taught you in the Gospel: my Gospell, or my preaching it among you. Or if it be taken for the rule, it must be meant of the Elect only, who by the Gospell shall be absolved, as the wicked by the Law condemned.

But how shall they be judged, Ob.who have no works, as such who repent at last cast, whose workes have beene all against God, and poore men that want means?

For such as repent at last, as Ans. 1.the theefe on the crosse, they shall receive according to their works: p. 325for true faith is never without the witnesse of workes, but worketh Gal 5. 6.Gal 5:6by love, let their time be never so little. So the theefe on the suddaine confessed his sin, be wayled his life, professed Christ when his disciples left him, reproved his fellow, and prayed earnestly for salvation, and would further have expressed his faith, if hee had lived longer. So those that are called in the article of death, have a true purpose, if they live, to expresse their faith, and Gods mercy accepteth this will for the deed done. Let not thine eye be evill, because the Lords is good.

And for the godly poore, who 2.can give no almes, yet they doe workes of pietie, justice, diligence in the calling, and workes of truest mercy, in prayer, instruction of the familie, comfort, reproofe, and the like to these.

Object. But some are not judged Of double punishment for sin.according to their workes, p. 326but receive an unequall sentence, Rev 18. 16. Give her double according to her works, that is, twice as much punishment as her workes are.

Answ. By double is not meant double of punishment to her sin (for no punishment can be double to the least sin:) but double affliction, that is, a much more grievous punishment than shee hath afflicted the Church withall: and this, Babylon hath well deserved, and shall be sure of. So some wicked men are p…nished for one and the same sin, here and hereafter; as for murther, theft, or the like: this is not a double punishment, but a further degree of the same punishment; one begun here, and the other eternally continued hereafter: both due by that just sentence, In the day thou sinnest, thou shalt dye the death.

Doctr. The last judgement shall Doct. The last judgementbe not more glorious than righteous: p. 327for if Jesus Christ be the glorious and righteous.Judge, and if every person to bee judged shall receive according to his workes a righteous sentence, the judgement must bee most just. Rom. 2. 2. We know that the judgement of God is true, that is, equall and just. And the Apostle abhorreth with detestation the least thought of any unrighteousnesse in God, c. 3. 5. Is God unrighteous? God forbid: how should he then judge the world? this will not stand with the proper office of God, which is to be the Judge of all the world: shall not hee deale justly?

1. Where all helpes of righteous Reason 1. Helpes of righteous judgement in Christ.judgementare, the judgement must needs bee righteous: but so are they here: for first, in the person of the Judge there is wisedome…, and piercing understanding farre above Salomans, to finde out the truth and equitie of things: He discernes persons and p. 328causes truly and infallibly, as they are: Hee can disclose and discover all secrets of hearts, intentions, and purposes, which no creature can discern. All other Judges may be deceived, who judge only of the worke running into the senses, and so mis-judge of men as David himselfe did of Mephibosheth. But this Judge seeth the heart and hidden counsels of it. This ground of righteous judgement is laid in Jeremy▪ 17. 10. I the Lord search the heart and reynes, to give to every man according to his workes. Herein is this Throne exalted above all tribunals, in that the most secret thoughts escape him not, which the highest seats of justice in earth can take no notice of. All things are naked to him, Heb. 4. 13. Another helpe of righteous judgement is the opening of the bookes, both in Gods custodie, and in the custodie of the parties.

p. 329God hath a booke of providence, in which all things and causes are written, Psal. 139. 16. and a booke of memorie, wherein all the good services of his Saints are recorded, Mal. 3. 16. and a booke of life, in which the names of the Elect are written, Phil. 4. 3. these bookes shall be opened and read, Rev. 20. 12. And I saw the dead both great and small stand before God, and the bookes were opened, and another book was opened which is the booke of life, and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the bookes, according to their workes.

The booke in the parties custodie is the book of every mans conscience either accusing or excusing, Rom. 2. 15. These bookes shall be opened, and if the, conscience accuse, God is greater than the conscience, 1 Joh. 3. 20.

2. Where all letts are removed, that judgement must bee p. 3302.most righteous: but so is it here: for this is a white throne, like Lets of righteous judgment, removed.Salomons white ivory throne, for the puritie of the Judge and judgement. First, here is no concealement of things, no dawbing 1.up of bad matters in corners, no pleading of Lawyers to varnish falshood, and cloud the truth; no Proctors, no Advocates, but every man must give account of himselfe to God. Secondly, here is no respect of persons, but causes: 2.no friends to gratifie: no mans cloth or service shall protect an offender. Thirdly, here shall be 3.no inducement by gifts: gold shall gild no bad causes. Fourthly, 4.here shall bee no sanctuaries, no priviledged places to disturbe the course of justice, no appeales, no protections to avoid the sentence which shall lye eternally upon sinners. From all which grounds we conclude the righteousnesse of this judgement.

p. 331Which serves first, according Use 1. Live well, and fare well in judgment.to the scope of our Saviour, to excite every one in the care of saving his soule, and worke in us selfe-deniall, taking up of our crosse, and following of Christ: for then shall every man receive according to his worke: As the seed hath been, so shall be the harvest: As the worke hath beene, so shall the wages bee. Hee that hath sown to the flesh, or to the world, shall reape corruption: but hee that hath sowne to the spirit, shall reape immortalitie and life. 1 Cor. 3. 8. Every one shall receive according to his owne labour.

Secondly, here is a ground of Use 2. Time to repent of sin before judgment.repentance, Act. 17. 31. He admonisheth all to repent, because hee hath appointed a day in which hee will judge the world in righteousnesse. The reason is strong: now the Lord after a sort hideth his righteousnesse, and useth patience p. 332and connivence with many sinners: but then he shall draw it out. Yea thou mayest now hide thine owne sinne with Adam, and carry it close from men, but that Rom. 2. 4. 5.Rom 2:4Rom 2:5is a day of revelation, then shall the bookes be opened, and all thy sins (except thou hast repented and got a cover in Christ) shall hee manifest, and openly read before God, men and Angels. Thinke not to avoid or …lude the justice of this throne: but stand in awe, and sinne not: get an awfull reverence of that God, whose pure Psal. 4. 4.Ps 4:4eyes behold all the wayes of man, whose soule perfectly hateth all iniquitie, whose hand will not spare, but without respect of persons judge every mans workes, and whose justice will reward every one according to that he hath done in the flesh, be it good or evill.

By what stronger argument would the Apostle affright the p. 333the hard-hearted sinner, who heapes up wrath against the day of wrath, and declaration of the just judgement of God, but this same, that God will reward every man according to his workes? Rom. 2. 5, 6. So, what more affectuall motive can wee use to terrifie wicked enemies out of their sinnes, than that of the spirit of God? Rev. 22. 11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still: and hee that is filthy let him be filthy still: let the enemies of grace, of the word of grace, of the preachers of grace, be unjust, malitious, and scornfull still, at their perill: let the swearer sweare still: so the drunkard, harlot, usurer. But take the next verse with it, vers. 12. Behold I come shortly, and my reward is with mee, to give to every one according as his worke shall bee.

Thirdly, here is a ground of Use 3.patience in the midst of the confusions p. 334of the world, and the many Be patient in all confusion, and injustice.contempts and opprobries cast against the godly: seeing every man shall receive a righteous sentence according to his works. Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation bee knowne unto all men, the Lord is at hand. Beware of revenge in the meane time: commit all to him that judgeth righteously. Storme not to receive unjust sentences against us, to see our righteous wayes depraved, our good repaid with evill, every Barrabas preferred before Christ. There is a day wherein God shall make our righteousnesse breake out as the Sunne in his strength. And even from hence the Scriptures conclude a providence and a future judgement: Eccles. 3. 16. When thou seest iniquitie in the place of judgement, then thinke in thy heart that God will judge the just and the wicked. and cap. 5. 7. If in a country thou seest the oppression p. 335of the poore, and defrauding of judgement, bee not astonied: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they. Now bee patient, and appeale to this day, from all unjust sentences, as John Hus, Jerome of Prague, &c. so did Zachariah, 2 Chron. 24. 22. The Lord looke on it and require it.

Fourthly, this must teach us Use 4. Be sincere in matter of religion.sinceritie and truth in all our wayes before God and men: seeing this judgement is not according to outward appearance, but according to the truth: then shall all showes and powerlesse forms of godlinesse bee blowne off, as leaves in Autumne by violent windes, and thou shalt bee layd open as thou art, and not as thou seemest: thou mayest now be as Ananias among beleevers, and as Judas among the twelve, and carry it smooth away; but this day will set thee among hypocrites, p. 336and thou shalt stand among thy fellowes. Then shall the hope of the hypocrite perish: and onelyonly soundnesse of heart shall abide this exact triall. It must bee gold that must abide the fire of this day, and not a gilded hypocrite.

Fiftly, this must teach us Use 5. Watch, and judge thy selfe beforehand.watchfulnesse in all our wayes, and see they bee righteous: Eccles. 12. 13. Feare God and keepe his Commandements: for God will bring every worke into judgement: feare God in his presence, power, and justice: do nothing in secret, which thou wouldest not have preached on the house-top: And keepe his Commandements; for, whatsoever is not answerable to some commandement, this judgment must condemne and disprove; whatsoever the word now alloweth, it will then justifie, and then will condemne whatsoever it now condemneth. p. 337Judge thy selfe afore-hand, and put thy selfe upon the tryall, 1. Of How: 1.the word: how will those words and actions abide that tryall, which now it passeth sentence against? 2. Of thine own conscience: 2.if now thy conscience have a voice against thee, but thou wilt choake and sti…le it, yet it shall bee heard at this day. 3. Of 3.thy experience: if any action now bring guiltinesse, feare, shame, or heavinesse, what else shall it bring then, when it shall set before the Judge thy oppressions, cruelties, usuries, wrongs, oathes, revenges, filthinesse, drunkennesse, contempt of the word of grace, the day and meanes of grace, and shall doe God good service in bringing backe all old reckonings, not reckoned for by Christ? 4. Of thine owne present 4.apprehension of that day: if now the mention of this day make thee out of guiltines to tremble, p. 338what shall the day it selfe doe?

Sixthly, out of this doctrine a Use 6. How to know what will become of us in the day of judgement.man may gather evidence of his future estate, & whether he shall speed well in the last judgement. For as the tree leaneth, so it is likely to fall; and as it falleth, so it lyeth.

But to helpe this inquisition, the Scriptures afford us some notes of triall.

1. That in Gal. 6. 7. What a man 1.sowes that shall hee reape. Sowest thou cockle, and wouldest thou reape corne? sowest thou to the flesh, and expectest to reape any thing but corruption? To sow to the flesh, is to live according to the lusts of the flesh, and command of lusts: as to sow to the Spirit, is to live aftet the motions of the Spirit. Thou art in GODS field, either wheat or chaffe: and the reapers of this great harvest shall gather the wheate into the garner, but the p. 339chaffe shall be cast into unquenchable fire.

2. Another note is in 2 Thess. 2.1. 8. in flaming fire, rendring vengeance to them that know not God, and obey not the Gospell. All ignorant and disobedient persons, that love not the knowledge of God, nor obedience to the Gospell, may now read their doome in that judgement: nothing but timely repentance preventeth it.

3. Another note is in 2 Thess. 3.1. 6. It is a righteous thing with God to trouble them that trouble you. It shall then goe hard with those evill servants that beate their fellow-servants, that revile Christ in his members, or disgrace the profession of godlinesse: whereas they shall finde it had beene their happinesse to have fed, clothed, comforted, and honoured Christ in his members, Mat. 25. 45.

4. Another note is in the parabl… p. 3404.of the talents, Mat. 25. 30. the faithfull servant, having received talents, used them, and gained as many more, was made ruler over much: but the evill and sloathfull servant, that hid his Masters talent, and employed it not for his Masters advantage, was taken and cast into everlasting darknesse. What shall be their hope, that are so farre from employing their talents, that they declaime against them that doe, and molest them for so doing? Woe to such Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, that neither enter themselves, nor suffer others, but shut up the Kingdome of heaven before men, Mat. 23. 13. What is the sound preaching of the Gospell, but the key of the Kingdome, given into the hand of Pastors to open the doore of heaven to beleevers? Where then shall such Pharisees stand, who not onelyonly hinder others by their wicked example, but wrest p. 341the key out of the Pastors hands, and so bolt up the Kingdome of heaven, that people should not enter? Who sees not halfe the sentence executed on many such already? even their talent already taken away: and the other halfe remaines, the taking away of the man himselfe, the binding of him, and casting him into the fire, as a bundle good for nothing but for fewell of the fire of hell.

5. The Apostle in Rom. 2. 7. 5.gives other two certaine notes of him that shall speed well in judgement: 1. Hee seekes glory, that is, by faith and repentance he seekes the kingdome. 2. Hee perseveres in good, and stands out to victory: for good fruits from a sound roote abide, and good works flowing from sound faith are not vanishing. When those that are contentious against the truth, and given up to unrighteousnesse, shall meete with tribulation, p. 342woe and anguish, then shall these attaine glory and immortalitie.