Christ All and in All, Sermon 4
COL. 3. 4.
When Chriſt our life ſhall appear, then IV. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth. Lon. June 8. 1651.ſhall we alſo appeare with him in glory.
I Have handled the firſt Propoſition, that Jeſus Chriſt is a beleevers life, both in regard of the life of grace, and of the life of glory. I proceed to the ſecond, viz.
Doct. Jeſus Chriſt who is a beleevers life, ſhall certainly appear. There will be a manifeſt appearance of Jeſus Chriſt. The Scripture makes mention of a threefold appearance of Chriſt.
1. A bodily appearance in the fleſh. Thus Ieſus Chriſt appeared in his Nativity, when in the fulneſſe of time he took our nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Tim. 3. 16. God manifeſted in the fleſh. Old Simeon in his ſong rejoyceth for this, Luk. 2. 30. Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have ſeen thy Venit ad homines.ſalvation. Venit ad homines.
2. A ſpiritual appearance of Chriſt in the preaching of the Goſpel. Thus Ieſus Chriſt was manifeſted to all that received the Goſpel, and is ſtill manifeſted. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of this manifeſtation, Gal. 3. 1, O fooliſh Galatians, &c. before whoſe eyes Ieſus Chriſt hath been evidently foreign.ſet forth crucifyed among you. And of this the Apoſtle makes mention, 1 Iohn 1. 2. The life Venit in homines.was manifeſted, & we have ſeen it, & 2 Tim. 1. 10. Neither of theſe appearances are to be underſtood in this Text, for it ſpeaks of an appearance that is yet to be made. Therefore
3. A glorious manifeſtation of Chriſt, yet to be made at his ſecond coming to judgement. And this is that appearance of which the Apoſtle here Venict contra homines Auguſt.ſpeaks: for then it ſhall be, and not till then, that the Saints ſhall appear with Chriſt in glory. So the Apoſtle tells us, 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth it laid up for me a Crown of righteouſneſſe, which the Lord the righteous Iudge ſhall give me in that day; and not to me only, but to all them alſo that love his appearing. 'Tis at this day of Chriſts appearing, that the Saints ſhall be perfectly glorious. Having found out what is meant by Chriſts appearing, I ſhall in the proſecution of the Point handle theſe five particulars.
1. That there ſhall be ſuch an appearance of Chriſt.
2. Why Chriſt ſhall thus appear, the ends of this appearance.
3. After what manner Chriſt ſhall appear.
4. When ſhall be the time of this appearance of Chriſt.
5. Why it is deferred.
I. That Ieſus Christ ſhall appear. I ſhall evince this, 1. By many expreſſe teſtimonies of Scripture. There is not any Article of our Faith more clearly ſet down in the Book of God then this, Mat. 24. 30. Then ſhall appear the ſigne of the Sonne of man in heaven, and they ſhall ſee the Sonne of man coming in the clouds of heaven. Act. 1. 11. This ſame Ieſus which was taken up from you into heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner as ye have ſeen him go into heaven. The Apoſtle Paul aſſerts this truth in expreſſe termes, Heb. 9. 28. Ʋnto them that look for him, he ſhall appeare the ſecond time without ſinne unto ſalvation. 1 Iohn 3. 2. When he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. And as the Scripture doth expreſſely affirme it; So 2. God hath taught his people to wait for it, and to pray for it, Cant. 8. 8. Come away my beloved, &c. Rev. 22. 20. the laſt prayer of the Church is for this very thing, Even ſo come Lord Ieſus. And, Luk. 12. 35, 36. they are commanded to wait for this appearance. Let your loynes be girded, and your lamps burning; And you your ſelves like unto men, that wait for their Lord, &c. God never commanded his people to pray and wait for a fiction or dream which ſhal never come to paſſe. 3. From the abſurdities which would follow upon the denial of it. We may ſay of this, as the Apoſtle ſaith of the denial of the reſurrection of the body, 1 Cor. 15. 17, 18 19. If Chriſt ſhould not appear, our faith would be in vaine; The dead in Chriſt were periſhed, and we ſhould onelyonly have hope in Chriſt in this life, and of all men ſhould be moſt miſerable. The whole comfort of a Chriſtian turnes upon the hinge of this Doctrine of Chriſts appearing, Ioh. 14. 18.
II. The ends of Chriſts appearing are ſuch as theſe. 1. To declare that ſin is aboliſhed. This is the meaning of that, Heb 9. 28. 2. That he may be admired in his Saints, &c. This end of his coming the Apoſtle ſets down, 2 Theſ. 1. 10. he ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in all them that beleev. One end of the ſecond coming of Ieſus Chriſt, is to communicate his glory to his Saints that have beleeved in him. He ſhall put his glory upon them, and ſo ſhall be glorified in them. Ieſus Chriſt is glorified in his Saints now, That holineſſe and grace which he hath communicated to them already doth render them very glorious: but at his ſecond coming his glory will ſhine in them with greater ſplendor then now it doth. He will then communicate unto them all his glory, and make them glorious as he is glorious. Our Saviour mentions this, Iohn 14. 3. I will come again, and receive you unto my ſelf. He comes to fetch all his Elect to heaven, and to reveale his glory both to their ſoules and bodies. He ſhall then actually put ſoule and body into the full poſſeſſion of that glorious redemption which he hath purchaſed for them. 'Tis called the day of redemption, Luke 21. 28.
3. To execute the ſentence of his wrath upon all his enemies, and the enemies of his people. Ieſus Chriſt hath ſeverely threatned all wicked men, that he will viſibly take vengeance on them for the diſhonours they have done to him, and the wrongs they have done to his people; And in this ſecond manifeſtation of himſelf, he will put all thoſe threatnings into execution. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 2 Theſ. 1. 7, 8, 9. The Lord Ieſus ſhall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, &c. And of this, Enoch prophecyed long ago, Iude 15. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſands of his Saints, to execute judgement on all, &c. Wicked men are now ſecure, they reproach God and wrong his people; but Ieſus Chriſt will one day viſibly come from heaven to puniſh theſe contempts and injuries. The evil Angels, and ſinful men ſhall then be publickly adjudged to ſuffer that torment which they have deſerved.
4. To put an end to his Churches ſufferings. Rev. 20. 10. Then ſhall the devil that deceived the world be caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone, where the beaſt and the falſe Prophet are, and ſhall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
5. To gather together his Elect. This the Evangeliſt ſets down, Mat. 24. 30. 31. They ſhall ſee the Sonne of man coming in the clouds. And he ſhall ſend his Angels, and they ſhall gather together his Elect from the four winds, &c. The Elect of God are ſcattered up and down in the ſeveral quarters of the world, ſcarce two or three of them are now together in one family at the ſame time; but then they ſhall be collected, never to part aſunder to all eternity.
III. What manner of appearing this ſhall be. Conſider for that theſe four things.
1. It ſhall be a real and corporal appearance. Chriſt ſhall not appear imaginarily, as ſome have thought, nor ſhall he only appear according to his Divine nature, but he ſhall appeare bodily and truly: the ſame humane nature which was in the grave, and afterwards aſcended into heaven, ſhall deſcend from heaven. Mat. 24. 30. Then ſhall appeare the ſigne of the Sonne of man. The humanity ſhall appear; ſo the Angels tell the Diſciples at his Aſcenſion, Act. 1. 11. This ſame Jeſus which is taken into heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner as ye have ſeen him go into heaven. As he did really and bodily aſcend, ſo ſhall he really and corporally deſcend. God will honour the humane nature of Chriſt in the world. They ſhall look upon him whom they have pierced. The ſame fleſh of Chriſt which was pierced, ſhall be manifeſted in his ſecond coming.
2. It ſhall be a ſudden appearing. His coming is compared to a ſudden flaſh of lightning, Mat. 24. 27. The appearance of Chriſt is compared to the lightning, in two reſpects. 1. For the evidence of it. It ſhall be as clear to the eyes of men as the lightning is. 2. For the ſuddenneſſe of it. A flaſh of lightning doth ſuddenly break forth, and in an inſtant ſhines from one end of the heaven to another; ſo ſhall the appearance of Chriſt be. And for this very cauſe is it compared to the coming of a thiefe in the night, Luk. 12. 39, 40. As it was in the dayes of Noah, ſo ſhall it be when the Son of man cometh, They ate, they drank, &c. Mat. 24. 37. when men ſay, peace, &c.
3. It ſhall be a very glorious appearance. He ſhall come with power and great glory, Mat. 24. 30. He was not ſo mean and deſpicable in his firſt coming, as he ſhall be majeſtical, and renowned in this his ſecond coming. His firſt appearance was in the form of a ſervant. He came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter. A low kinde of appearance was moſt fit for ſuch work; but when he appeares again, he ſhall come as a Judge, as King of kings, and Lord of lords; therefore Majeſty is fit for him. The Scripture doth ſet out the glory of his coming ſundry wayes. 1. He ſhall come in the clouds of heaven. The bright cloud ſhall be his chariot, Mat. 24. 30. 2. He ſhall come attended with an innumerable company of glorious Angels. Thoſe glorious ſpirits ſhall come in full regiments attending upon his perſon to do him ſervice, and to execute his will, Mat. 25. 31. He had the beaſts to attend on him at his firſt coming; but he ſhall have Angels to wait upon him at this coming. 3. He ſhall come with the voice of the Archangel, with a mighty ſhout, and with the trumpet of God, 1 Theſ. 4. 16. All theſe expreſſions are uſed to ſet out the glory of it. All outward glory which ever man beheld, is but darkneſſe in this reſpect.
4. It ſhall be a very dreadful and terrible appearance. Full of Majeſty, and therefore full of terror. His firſt coming was dreadful, Mat. 4. 5. The Scripture ſets out the dreadfulneſſe of it by the Antecedents, Concomitants, Conſequents of it. The Antecedents are in Matthew 24. 29. ſuch an alteration ſhall be made upon the creatures being, that Sunne, Moon and Starres being obſcured by the glory of Chriſt, ſhall ceaſe from their ſervice, and not be able to ſhew their glory as before. The Concomitants, the firing of the world. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of this, 2 Pet. 3. 10. what a dreadful ſight will this be to the wicked. The conſequents of it are, the raiſing of the dead, the ſetting up of the Thrones, the ſummoning of all the world to judgement. Well doth the Scripture call it the terrible day of the Lord.
IV. When ſhall this appearing be? you cannot imagine that I ſhould be ſo bold as to ſay any thing of the particular day, monethmonth, or yeare of Chriſts coming. Our Saviour hath for ever ſilenced all curious enquirers about it, Mar. 13. 32. The Scripture tells us thus much about the time of it, that it ſhall be when the time of the Churches tribulation is ended. Matth. 24. 29. When the number of Gods elect is converted. In the end oft dayes, Dan. 12. 13. It is one of thoſe Noviſſima, or laſt things, which is to be expected in the world.
V. Why is it deferred? 1. Becauſe the Elect of God are not yet called. All the Veſſels of glory are not borne into the world. Chriſt ſtayes till theſe flowers be ſprung up. The fetching of theſe to heaven is one end of his coming; And he will not come till theſe are brought forth. As the world was made at firſt, ſo doth it ſtand and continue for their ſakes. 2. That ſpace and time for repentance may be afforded unto ſinful men. This reaſon the Apoſtle renders of it, 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not ſlack, &c. but is long ſuffering to us-ward, not willing that any ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould come to repentance. He defers his coming, that ſinners may have more tenders of ſalvation made to them; that ſo they may be inexcuſable, if they do not returne. 3. That the faith, hope, patience of his own children may be exerciſed. The delaying of Chriſts coming is a very great help both to exerciſe faith, watchfulneſſe and patience. We may ſay of this, as the Prophet doth of the delaying of another day of the Lord, Hab. 2. 4. Though it tarry, wait for it, becauſe it will ſurely come, it will not tarry, And the juſt ſhall live by his faith. 4. That all other of Gods decrees for, and about the things which muſt come to paſſe before this day, may be accompliſhed. Many things God hath decreed ſhall be done before his appearance, which are not yet done in the world. The preaching of the Goſpel to all Nations, Mat. 24. 14. The overthrowing of Antichriſt, 2 Theſ. 2. 3, 8. The making of the Jewes and Gentiles into one Church, &c. Chriſt ſtayes, becauſe theſe decrees muſt be accompliſhed.
The Uſes of this Point.
Uſe 1. Away with thoſe Atheiſts, and Epicures who deny this Doctrine. In the very dayes of the Apoſtles, there were ſome ſcoffers that did mock at this doctrine of Chriſts appearing, 2 Pet. 3. 3, 4. where is the promiſe of his coming? we have many ſuch ſcoffers in our dayes, that deride the Doctrine of the reſurrection of eternal life, of Chriſts ſecond coming. The Apoſtle tells us the reaſon of this ſcoffing in the ſame place. 1. The impurity of their hearts. They walk after their own luſts. That's one great ground of Atheiſtical and wicked opinions. Such Doctrines curb and check their luſts, and becauſe they cannot have their luſts by retaining ſuch doctrines, they therefore reject and ſcoffe at ſuch doctrines. 2. They walk more by ſenſe, then by the teſtimony of the Word of God. Since the fathers fell aſleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation; becauſe they cannot apprehend with their ſenſe any ſuch doctrine, or any ground of it, therefore they reject it. Such as theſe who will not be convinced by Scripture, we ſhall leave to feel the ſeverity of that coming, which they will not beleeve. They that now ſcoffe, will have time enough ſadly to bewaile their ſcoffing, they ſhall then feele what they will not now be perſwaded to beleeve.
Uſe 2. The deare love of Jeſus Chriſt to his people. As his departure was a rich teſtimony of his love; 'Tis expedient for you that I go away, ſo is his returning; I will not leave you comfortleſſe, I will come unto you, Joh. 14. 18. Never think of Chriſts returning, but meditate upon the greatneſſe of his love.
Uſe 3. That Christ is not now corporally in the world. The Scripture ſpeaks of his corporal appearance as of a future thing. The Papiſts they make him corporally preſent in the Sacrament. His body ſhall deſcend but once, and that ſhall never be till he come to take his people into glory with himſelf. The doctrine of the real corporal preſence of Chriſt is a doctrine of real falſhood.
Uſe 4. This is a very ſad doctrine to all ungodly ſinners. Chriſt ſhall appear. It were well for wicked men, if this Doctrine were an untruth. The very end of his appearing is to bring you to a publick tryal for all your acts of High-treaſon againſt his Crown and dignity. He will appeare, and then you ſhall appeare before him to render an account of, and to ſuffer puniſhment for all your hard words and cruel actings againſt him, and againſt his in the world; when he appeares you ſhall wiſh that the mountaines might fall upon you to hide you from his ſight. The appearance of Chriſt to you, will be as the appearance of a ſevere Judge to a convicted malefactor. Conſider of it before-hand, that by timely and thorough repentance, you may prevent that dreadful ſentence which will be denounced and executed upon the wicked in that day. Falix trembled when he heard this doctrine. Acts 24. 25. foreign. If the hearing of it work ſuch fear, how great fear will the ſight of it work? be humbled and converted, that ye may ſtand when the Sonne of Man appears. You cannot hide any wickedneſſe from him. You cannot bribe him to excuſe your wickedneſſe.
Uſe 5. Let the friends and favourites of Chriſt draw comfo…t from hence. Lift up your heads, ſaith our Saviour, when he is preaching of this very Doctrine, Luke 21. 28. foreign. 'Tis a day of lifting up the head to you. Think of it, and gather comfort from it. 1. Againſt all the ſhame you meet with here. That day ſhall wipe off all your ſhame, Iſa. 66. 5. 2. Againſt all falſe judgements and accuſations. In that day all ſhall be judged over again. Chriſt ſhall appear, and he will judge righteous judgement. 3. Againſt all ſlanders. 4. The appearing of Chriſt is a general antidote againſt all evils you ſuffer, 2 Pet. 2. 9. beleeve it, meditate much upon it, Mar. 13. 35. Luke 12. 42. 5. Prepare for it.