Living Truths in Dying Times, Tract (3 of 3)

Living Truths in Dying Times · Tract (3 of 3)

p. 1505. There is this Difference: Calamities in this world they mainly light upon the outward man; but when Jeſus Chriſt ſhall ſit in judgement, he will judge both inward and outward man together; he will reach the ſoul as well as the body, and have to do with that. Preſent calamity lights upon the outward man, it is the body at the utmoſt, is the ſeat of that. There be many ſore calamities that do not reach the body, as the firſt diſtreſſes that fell on Job, which were ſore diſtreſſes, yet at firſt they did not ſo much as reach his body, Job 1.14, 16. There came a meſſenger that told him his Cattle were taken, &c. theſe were ſore diſtreſſes, ſharp calamities; but yet all this while p. 151the body of Job was not ſo much as touched. And alſo ſometimes calamities do reach the body; the hand of God was upon Job himſelf in the concluſion: and ſometimes it reaches the life; the poor carcaſe is carryed to earth. Thus it was with the firſt-born of Egypt; in the days of David, when many ſouls fell by that judgement, by the Plague; and if it do ſo, yet the dread of this is not like that that ſhall attend the coming of Chriſt: He ſhall ſit in judgement upon inward and outward man at once: He ſhall reach the body as well as the ſoul at once. And therefore is that prayer of Paul, 1 Theſſ. 5.23. And I pray God ſanctifie you wholly, and the Lord keep you in ſoul, body and ſpirit, &c. as if he would have ſaid, The Lord look after the inward and outward man, and keep them to the day of Ch…iſt, for Chriſt in his day will have to do with both: It will not be as it is in outward calamity, in which the body falls onelyonly, but Chriſt will ſit in judgement upon the inward man alſo: And therefore it is ſaid in Mat. 23. Fear not him that can kill the body onelyonly, but him that can caſt both p. 152body and ſoul into hell: Chriſt is able to reach ſouls as well as …odies, and he will make it known that he is able to do it in the day of Chriſt.

6. Common calamity and the day of Chriſt differ upon this account: if in outward calamities upon the body, any ſin be brought to remembrance, it is not ſuch a bringing ſin to remembrance as ſhall be in the day of Chriſt; I confeſs in days of outward calamity, there is a bringing of ſin to remembrance, but not ſuch as ſhall be in the day of Chriſt: God did bring ſin to Jobs remembrance in the time of his calamity, Job 13.26. Thou writest bitter things againſt me, and makeſt me to poſſeſs the iniquities of my youth: This was the caſe of poor Job, he was under outward afflictions, and God alſo did ſet home ſome ſin upon his ſoul, and brought that to remembrance. And this was alſo the caſe of David, Look upon my pain, ſaies he, and forgive me my ſin; and therefore he prays in another verſe, Forgive me the ſins of my youth: In his affliction God made him remember the ſins of his youth: but in the day of Chriſt there will be another p. 153kind of bringing ſin to our remembrance, then there is in any calamity whatſoever: All the ſinners ſins ſhall then be preſented to him at once, with all their aggravations, with every circumſtance attending it; and what dread, what confuſion will it bring upon the heart, when it ſhall be at this paſs? Pſal. 50.21. Theſe things thou haſt done, and I kept ſilence, and thou thoughteſt I was altogether ſuch a one as thy ſelf: but I will ſet them in order before thee. Now the great day of ſetting them in order, it will be the day of Chriſt, that will be the ſpecial ſeaſon when the Lord will ſet them in order before the ſoul.

7. Farther, there is this difference: In outward calamities, God deals ſecretly with men, but in the day of Chriſt he will deal with them in the ſight of the whole world: In a calamity God deals ſecretly, and cuts off a ſinner now and then, and there is no great noiſe about it; but in the day of Chriſt he will deal with them in the ſight of all: now the publikeneſs or ſolemnity of an action makes it the more eminent and terrible: It puts a great deal more of dread and terror into p. 154the malefactor, to be tryed and executed in the face of the Country; the ſolemnity increaſeth the terror. Oh my friends, when you come to ſtand before the Son of man, you ſhall ſtand alſo before men and Angels; the work of that day ſhall not be done in a corner, but whole heaven and earth ſhall be ſpectators, and witneſſes of what is done, and what paſſes in that day; and therefore it is ſaid in that forementioned place, Rev. 20.12. I ſaw the dead both ſmall and great ſtanding before the Lord; they were all ſtanding before God, Mat. 25.31, 32. The Son of man ſhall come in his glory, and all his holy Angels with him: the whole hoſt of Angels ſhall be preſent: And what more? And before him ſhall be gathered all nations: This ſhall be a great appearance, and in the ſight of God, Angels and men, all ſhall be done at that day: and in that reſpect there is a great deal of difference.

8 There is a great deal of difference upon this account; as for common calamities it is poſſible they may be eſcaped, you may live in the midſt of Gods judgements and yet be preſerved; p. 155yea poſſibly a ſinner for the ſake of ſome that fear the Lord, may be preſerved in a common calamity, as was Noahs caſe, he and his wife, and his ſons and their wives, all eſcaped the flood; but it was Noah was the righteous perſon, the reſt were given in for his ſake: it may be a righteous ſoul beggs preſervation for ſome poor ſinners or other, and for their ſakes God gives them a preſervation; but none can be indulged in the day of Chriſt, every one muſt then fall under the ſentence that ſhall be pronounced by Chriſt, whatever it be: There is no way to prevail for indulgence for thy abſence at that day, Heb. 9.27. It is appointed for all men once to dye, and after that the judgement; good and bad, all muſt paſs through the gate of death, and muſt all appear before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt: and as the wiſe man ſpeaks of death, ſo may I ſpeak of ſucceeding judgement, Eccl. 8.8. No man hath power in the day of death, and there is no diſcharge in that war; ſo may I ſay, No man hath power in the day of Chriſt, and there is no diſcharge from that war: Thou muſt ride out that p. 156ſtorm, and ſee and bear the worſt of it, for thou muſt appear before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt.

9. There is yet this difference: ſome that fall under a common calamity, ſuppoſe this of the Plague, God takes away their reaſon, ſo that they do not feel the dread of it; it is no more to them, nor are they ſenſible of any more pain then thoſe that are in health and ſtrength; but in the day of Chriſt we ſhall all ſtand before him in our ſences, we ſhall then know, and underſtand and feel, what the weight, and dread, and majeſty of Chriſt is in that day, and at that time, Rev. 1.5. He comes in the clouds, and every eye ſhall ſee him, and they alſo that pierced him; they that would be moſt willing not to ſee and behold Chriſt, they muſt ſee, their ſences ſhall all be ſet at work, to underſtand what the dread, glory, and majeſty of that day is.

10. There is this difference alſo: in a common calamity, it may be if it lights upon thee, ſome friend, ſome indulgent relation will ſtand by thee, to help, ſupport thee, and bear thee up; but in the day of Chriſt thou muſt ſtand p. 157ſingle. My friends, though theſe be plain things, they may do our ſouls a great deal of good, if God will bleſs them; it is a great relief in a calamity, when the hand of God is upon you, when you are ſick, and weak, and full of pain, if ſome friend will ſtand by to help thee, to bear thee up, and indeavour to relieve the outward man; but in the day of Chriſt all will ſtand at a diſtance, the knots of all relations (except thoſe onelyonly that are ſpiritual) muſt be at an end when life ends; and when thou comeſt to ſtand before Chriſt, thou muſt ſtand ſingly, nakedly, and alone, none to ſtand by thee, thou wilt have none to befriend thee at that hour, unleſs Chriſt be thy friend; it is well for them that have a Chriſt to befriend them at that day.

I ſhall only make a little alluſion to that Text that you have, Matt. 22.30. When the queſtion was put to Chriſt concerning the woman that had ſeven Husbands, in the Reſurrection, whoſe wife ſhould ſhe be? Anſwer is made, In the Reſurrection they neither marry, nor give in marriage; all Relation then ceaſeth: the friend that was unto thee p. 158as thy own ſoul, and thou as dear unto him, in the day of Chriſt, (unleſs there be any ſpiritual tye, unleſs you and he have union with God in Chriſt) he will have no pitty, no tenderneſs for you, but you muſt ſtand alone to receive a ſentence from the Lord.

11. There is this farther difference: any outward calamity, though never ſo ſharp, may be of ſhort continuance; the hand of God may light upon thee in ſuch a diſpenſation as is now abroad, and in a few days it may ſend thee to another world, or the extremity of it may be paſſed over in a little time: but when thou comeſt to ſtand before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, the iſſue of that d…y will laſt to all eternity, Mat. 25.32. Before him ſhall be gathered all Nations, and he ſhall ſeparate them one from another, as the ſhepherd divideth the ſheep from the goats: and what ſhall the iſſue of this ſeparation be? In verſ. 46. Theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment, but the righteous into life eternal: eternity will be the reſult and product of thy ſtanding before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt: calamity, outward diſtreſs, may ſoon come to a p. 159period, but ſtanding before Chriſt will reach thy everlaſting condition.

And 12. This difference there is alſo between common calamity, and ſtanding before Chriſt; in that the utmoſt dread and worſt part of outward calamity is this, that it lets thee in unto the dreadful tribunal of Chriſt; wherefore do you fear, or any that are in fear of a judgement, but onelyonly becauſe poſſibly you conſider that that may let the ſoul in to the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt? but now the dread of the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, is this, in that it determines thy eſtate for ever: I ſay, the dread of any calamity lyeth in this, that poſſibly it may bring thee to death, and ſo let thee in to judgement; but this is the dread of ſtanding before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, it lets thee into an everlaſting ſtate, to the paſſing of a ſentence not to be revoked for ever: God many times threatens in outward calamities, and afterwards repeals it, Hoſ. 11.8. How ſhall I give thee up, Oh Ephraim, &c. God was determining to make Ephraim as Admah, and to ſet him as Zeboim, that is, to cut him off in a judgement, p. 160and by deſtruction; But how ſhall I do it, ſaies God? His bowells were turned in him, he repented him of the evil, and he was troubled for what he had done: ſo in Jonah 9. the people repented, and the Lord repented of the evil, and was pleaſed to revoke the ſentence he had paſſed upon that City of Niniveh: So in Amos 4. you have mention made of the Lords repenting, that is, ſome judgement or other he was thinking to ſend upon a people, and yet he revokes the ſentence, and reſolves it ſhould not come upon them: but when you come to ſtand before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, you ſhall receive a ſentence there that ſhall ſtand for ever, it ſhall ſtand without any recalling.

And thus I have briefly diſpatched the firſt thing propounded, to ſhew you, that to ſtand before the Son of Man, is a much more weighty and ſerious thing, then ſtanding under any temporal calamity. I do not ſpeak thus to make you ſlight any temporal or common ſtroke, but onelyonly to raiſe up your hearts to a much more ſerious thoughtfulneſs about the ſtanding before p. 161the Son of man, and to ſhew you that that is a thing much more weighty; which leads me to the ſecond thing propounded for the proſecution of this Point; namely, that ſecure ſinners that are ſo confident that they can laugh the moſt dreadful calamity in the face, they ſhall be made ſerious, and brought to tremble in the day of Chriſt: They ſhall finde it to be no laughing matter. Indeed the Servants of God ſometimes are ſaid to laugh at calamity, but it is in a good ſenſe, Job 5.20, 21, 22. In famine he ſhall redeem thee, &c. At deſtruction and famine thou ſhalt laugh: but you muſt know, the ſenſe of that expreſſion here is this, they ſhall not make light of a calamity, they ſhall conſider the dread and Majeſty of God that ſhines forth in it; but when they conſider their ſecurity, through the goodneſs of God, they ſhall look upon calamity as that that is not able to touch them: Such may be the ſafety and ſecurity of the Saints and Servants of God, through his kindneſs, that they may laugh at a calamity, as a thing that ſhall not be able to come nigh them. Such is the wretchedneſs and the hardneſs p. 162of the hearts of ſinners, that the moſt ſtartling judgements do not awaken them; let God threaten, they are not moved: And therefore you ſhall finde what the Lord by the Prophet complains of as a great evil; Wo unto them that draw iniquity with the cords of vanity, and ſin as it were with a cart-rope, Iſaiah 5.19, 20. Mark what it is, They ſay, Let him make ſpeed and haſten his work, that we may ſee it: It was a taunting and deriding ſpeech, wherewith this people mocked the Prophet: he tells them that judgement would come; Come, ſay they, let us ſee what he will do; It was a daring and inſulting ſpeech. And by the way, let me tell you what the reaſon is of the deſperate ſinfulneſs of ſinners, in time of Gods judgement; They draw, ſaith he, iniquity with the cords of vanity, and ſin as it were with a cart-rope; that is, they ſin as faſt as they can, they do not minde the judgements of God, if they did, they would put a check upon them; they fear not, come what will, they think it will be well enough with them. That this is the guiſe of ſinners, you ſhall ſee, 2 Chron. 36.16. But they p. 163mocked the Meſſengers of God, &c. Let the Lord threaten what he will, they for their parts were not concerned with it; they mocked the Meſſengers, deſpiſed the Prophets, and all the judgements of God were light in their accounts. And it is no wonder that ſinners fear not judgement, for they fear not ſin, which is a thing that is much more dreadful then judgement, if rightly conſidered, Prov. 14.9. Fools make a mock at ſin: And the very appearance of Chriſt himſelf, (the moſt dreadful of all diſpenſations) before it comes, ſinners will but mock and ſcoff at it, as you have it, 2 Pet. 3. ſaies he, They will ſcoff at the coming of Chriſt, at the great Day of the Lord; they will but make a mock of it, and ſay, Where is the Chriſt you talk of? we ſee no preparation to it: For ſince the fathers fell aſleep, all things continue as they were: When Chriſt comes in earneſt, he will make them fear in earneſt; and then the moſt daring & confident of ſinners ſhall tremble: it is evident from five or ſix things I would go over very briefly.

1. From hence, in the day of Chriſt, the conſcience of every ſinner ſhall be p. 164effectually awakened: There ſhall be no ſecure conſcience in the day of Chriſ…s appearing. Now, though a ſinner with a ſleepy conſcience may not conſider, may not be affected with and moved by the preſent judgements of God; yet when Chriſt ſhall apear, and conſcience ſhall be awakened with it, it will ſet him into a fit of trembling: For preſent, under word and works, it is poſſible hardneſs of heart may remain upon ſinners. Scripture makes mention of a very deſperate hardneſs of heart upon ſome: it was ſaid of ſome, they were paſt feeling, conſcience was ſo ſtupified, that they had no kind of ſenſe, no kind of tenderneſs at all, 1 Tim. 4.2. Speaking lies in hypocriſie, having their conſciences ſeared as with a hot Iron: You know, that that which is ſeared with a hot Iron, if it be the fleſh, it becomes ſenſeleſs, and be nummed; ſo it is with the conſcience, there are conſciences ſeared as with hot Irons; the ſenſe, and vigor, and activity of it is taken away: but in the day of Chriſt this ſl…epy dead conſcience ſhall be quickned: that Scripture in the 9th. chap. of Mark, is uſually applyed to p. 165this purpoſe, v. 44, 45. You read of a Worm that never dyeth, which is granted on all hands to be the conſcience; and this receives a quickning when it comes to ſtand before the Seat of Chriſt, and ſhall remain ſo for ever, with a quickned conſcience ſhall they be caſt into Hell: So the Acts 3.20. The time of Chriſts coming, is called, The time of the reſtitution of all things; There ſhall be a reſtitution of all things, with reſpect to the comfort of the S…ints; Therefore it is called, A time of refreſhing to them, 19. verſ. When Chriſt ſhall come, there will be a reſtitution of all things, to the refreſhing of the Saints: but mark, It will tend to the miſery of ſinners; and among other things, upon this account, becauſe then the conſcience of ſinners ſhall be returned unto them. Man at firſt Creation had a lively active conſcience, that could quickly feel the leaſt ſtirring from God; but that man by ſin hath loſt in a g…eat meaſure: and at that day I am ſpeaking of, conſcience ſhall be reſtored to its activity, life and ſtrength: and what a dread will an awakened guilty conſcience put the ſinner p. 166into? A wakened guilty conſcience, of all things, dreads the preſence of God moſt; it cannot away with that, above any thing. Methinks that expreſſion ſhould help a little this way, that you have concerning Cain, Gen. 4.16. And Cain went out from the preſence of God: He was full of guilt, the blood of Abel was upon him; he had guilt upon him, and he gat him out of the preſence of God: and ſo Adam before him, and his Wife; what did they? Gen. 3.10. I heard thy voice in the gard…n, and I was afraid: He had a guilty awakened conſcience, and therefore he could not bear the preſence of the Lord. A poor ſinner! What will he do in the day of Chriſt, when his conſcience ſhall be awakened, and it ſhall be guilty enough, and yet he muſt indure the preſence of Chriſt; there ſhall be no refuge for him to run to, nor place where he ſhall be able to hide himſelf. Now upon this account that ſinners will be awakened, they will be filled with trembling.

2. VVhen Chriſt ſhall come, all the Atheiſm in their hearts will be effectually confuted: You cannot conceive p. 167what a deal of Atheiſm there is in the heart of man by Nature, unleſs you have obſerved it in your own hearts, and that will tell you there is this Atheiſm in the heart of man by Nature, they think there is no God, or at leaſt, wiſh there were none; and they are ready to ſay, All this preaching is but to keep us in awe, and to hinder us from living merrily; and with ſuch kind of Atheiſm as this is, the heart of man is fraught by nature, Pſal. 14.1. The fool hath ſaid in his heart, There is no God: and Pſal. 10.4. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not ſeek after God: God is not in all his thoughts; or as it may be rendred, All his thoughts are, There is no God: it may be he will not ſay ſo openly, but he doth it in his heart, and he thinks ſo: Few will ſpeak it openly, though they have ſecret thoughts that there is no God, nor Chriſt, nor judgement to come. But now, how will they tremble when they ſhall come to ſee all their Atheiſm confuted, when they ſhall ſee Chriſt in his Glory, and ſitting upon his Throne, and there ſitting to execute judgement according to a Scripture-Rule, p. 168according to what they have often heard? Oh, what a plunge will they be in at ſuch a ſeaſon? what a damp will this ſtrike upon their ſpirits, when all their Atheiſm ſhall be confuted? 2 Theſ. 1.7. it is ſaid, Chriſt ſhall be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire. Revealed from Heaven! Wh… is he not reve…led in the Scripture? Do we not know there is a God, and Chriſt, and judgement, by the Scripture? Yes, but that will not convince ſome ſtupid ſinners: There be many will not believe there is a God, a Chriſt, and a Judgement, for all this; but he muſt be Revealed from Heaven, before the ſ…nners Atheiſm will be wholly confuted. C…riſt in the Goſpel is Revealed from Heaven: this word it is not of mens making, it is of Divine Authority; but yet this will not diſpel the Ath…iſm, he muſt Be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire, …efo…e this work will …e done. That is the ſecond thing, to ſhew that ſome will tremble at Chriſts judgement, that would not tremble at any previous judgement.

3. They will then be filled with trembling, becauſe they will then be p. 169convinced of the ſinfulneſs of ſin: There is not a ſinner upon the face of the earth, that doth ſee ſin to be as ſinful as it is; VVhy, what do they think of ſin? Fools they make a mock of ſin; or as the VViſe man ſaith, It is a ſport to a wicked man to do miſchief; that is, to commit ſin: this is but to the ſinner a pretty kind of diverſion, that helps him to paſs away his time m…rrily. Some ſinners the…e are that have renderneſs enough to tremble at the thoughts of judgement, thoug… not to tremble …t ſin, Job 36.21. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this haſt thou choſen rather then affl ction. This is the ſinne…s choice, they do ſee a dread in judgement, but none in ſin; therefore they …ather chuſe to ſin then ſuffer, or fall under outward tro…bles. Sinners have mighty ſlight thoughs of ſin, as appears by that, Malach. 2.17. VVhy, ſay they, what great matter have we done to weary God? VVhy, ſaies God, you have ſinned, and thereby you have wearied me; and yet ye cry, VVherein have we wearied thee? we can tell no great hurt we have done thee: This is the guiſe of ſinners; but p. 170the time will come when Chriſt ſhall appear, and then ſinners ſhall be convinced of ſins, in the 15 verſ. of Jude, To execute judgement, &c. VVhat will Chriſt do, when he comes? he will come to convince them of their ſins, of all their ungodly deeds, and to ſhew them what ſinfulneſs there is in their ſin. And now, I ſay, when ſinners ſhall ſee and be convinced of the ſinfulneſs of ſin, that will make them tremble, that will awaken them, and that will be done when Chriſt comes.

4. Becauſe then they ſhall have all their miſconceivings and falſe apprehenſions of God removed. It is true, it may be ſinners think there is a God, but yet ſuch a God as an Idol would make; they have ſuch miſconceptions of him, which will then be effectually removed: if they think that he is a God, yet a God that doth not ſee and obſerve all that they do. Pſal. 94.6, 7. They ſlay, &c. Yet they ſay, He ſhall not ſee: he is a God, but ſuch an one as an Idol might make; a God, but a God at a diſtance, that doth not trouble himſelf with our concernment: So p. 171Pſal. 10.10, 11. He croucheth and humbleth himſelf, that the poor may fall by his ſtrong ones: This is that that ſinners ſay, Suppoſe we grant he be God, and doth ſee what we do, yet he will not trouble himſelf to call us to an account for every thing that we do: ſo you have it in the 13. verſ. He hath ſaid in his heart, Thou wilt not require it: Theſe are the miſconceptions that ſinners have of God, either he will not ſee, or if he do, he will not regard, he will not call to account: but now how will ſinners be ſtartled when they ſhall fi… there is a God, and all their miſapprehenſions of him are confuted? Revel. 6. the later end, They ſhall call unt… …h… Rocks to fall on them, and to the Mountai… … cover them from the preſence of the L…m… …o ſhall appear as a Lyon, and … that ſits upon the Throne; and Pſal. 58. laſt verſ. So that a man ſhall ſay, Verily th…e is a reward for the righ…eous▪ verily … is a God that judgeth in the earth: Once it may be they ſaid, There is …o God; or if there be a God, he ſeeth not, and will not judge: but now they ſhall ſay, Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth. This p. 172is that that will make them tremble exceedingly.

5. This ſhall fill them with trembling, that they ſhall find they are not able to bear up againſt the glory and majeſty of that day: ſo Rev. 6. latter end, Hide us from the wrath of the Lamb, and him that ſitteth upon the throne; they ſhall ſee that infinite dread in the wrath of the Lamb, that they ſhall not be able to ſtand up under: ſo Iſa. 3.14. Who ſhall ſtand before a devouring fire? who ſhall dwell with everlaſting burning?

6. And ſixt…ly and laſtly, Sinners that did not dread judgement, ſhall dread the appearance and coming of Chriſt, for then they will be overcome and ſtricken down with deſperate deſpairing thoughts, they will find their condition then incurable for ever; they make light of their eſtate for preſent, but they will then find it paſt remedy for ever: now I would ſay this, If there be any ſinners ſo ſtupid that preſent judgements do not affect them, I would ſay, let them alone untill Chriſt comes.

p. 173The third thing propounded, to ſhew who they are that ſhall never be able to ſtand before the Son of man.

Doubtleſs my friends it is a very great honor to be accounted worthy to ſtand before Jeſus Chriſt: If the Queen of Sheba could ſay, and that upon ſome ground, to Solomon, Happy are thy men, and happy are theſe thy ſervants which ſtand continually before thee to hear thy wiſdom: How much more may we ſay, Happy are thy men, and happy are thy ſervants, O Lord Jeſus, who ſha…l ſtand before thee to hear thy wiſdom, to ſh…re with thee in thy glory, and to behold thy face to all eternity! ſurely that is a far greater honour: therefore in Pſal. 15.1. David puts the queſtion, Who ſhall abide in thy tabernacle? who ſhall dwell in thy holy hill? the tabe…nacle of God, and the holy hill of God, is both th… place where his worſhip was of old, and it is alſo put for heaven ſometimes in Scripture; and in both there is the preſence of God and of his Chriſt, he is met withall in his worſhip, and moſt of all and moſt eminently in glory; p. 174but now, ſays the Pſalmiſt, Who ſhall ſtand in thy holy place? who ſhall ſtand in thy preſence? Where ſhal… …h…e be any found that ſhall be dignified with this honor? What ſo…t of people muſt they be that thou wilt thus promote? Doubtleſs there are very many that ſhall never be able to ſtand before Chriſt, Luk. 13.23. the queſtion was put, Are there few that ſhall be ſaved? Chriſt anſwers, Strive to enter in at the ſtreight gate, for many I ſay unto you ſhall ſeek and ſhall not be able to enter: and hence it is that it is ſaid, Mat. 7.22, 23. Many will ſay unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, &c.

Now in treating on the fourth, who they are that ſhall not ſtand, I ſhall ſhew you that there are ten ſorts of perſons that will never be able to ſtand before the Son of man: The Lord grant we may not be of that number.

1. Ungodly ſinners, openly prophane, who ſpend their days without any awe of God upon them, they are perſons never like to be honored by Chriſt in his day, and at his appearance and coming, Pſal. 1.5. The ungodly p. 175ſhall not ſtand not ſtand in the judgement, &c. the ungodly, ſuch as live in a neg…ect of Duty; the ſinners, ſuch as live …n the acting of all impiety, ſaith he, theſe ſhall not ſtand in the judgement, 1 Pet. 4.18. If the righteous ſcarcely be ſaved, where ſhall the ſinner and ungodly appear? If they find ſome difficulty in aſcending the mount of glory, what then ſhall ſinners do? doubtleſs they will never be able to ſtand in the preſence of Chriſt.

2. Such as promote and incourage ſin in others, they are not like to be owned, and honored, and promoted by Chriſt in his day: ſome there are that are ſuch and ſo good factors for the Devil, that they wonderfully promote his trade in the world, and as a recompence of all their trouble they ſhall receive the ſalary of eternal miſery; whatever ſouls they are that are ſo in love with ſin, and the ways and works thereof, that they help it on, and further it by what means they can, muſt never expect to be owned and honored by Chriſt when they ſhall ſtand before him at his judgement-ſeat: there are ſuch in the world as the Prophet complains of, Ezek. p. 17613.22. Who ſtrengthen the hands of the wicked; many ways there are to do it, but it is miſerable work, whoever is found in it: we promote and incourage ſin, either when we provoke and intice unto it, as Solomon warns his ſon, Prov. 1.10. When ſinners intice thee, conſent not to them; there are ſuch ſinners that in…ice unto ſin, as the whoriſh woman, Prov. 7.21. With many fair ſpeeches ſhe cauſed him to yeild, that is a promoting of ſin; and much more do they promote it, that by what means they can do conſtrain others to it.

Thus do the wicked great men of the earth, that compell others unto their idolatry, and to ſhare in their abominations, as Jeroboam did in 2 King. 17.21, &c. They alſo promote ſin …n others, who do labour to extenuate and leſſen ſin, and make people believe it is not what it is, to the end they may leſs fear and dread it, and go on in it with the more confidence; ſuch a kind of people as the Lord by the Prophet meets with in Mal. 2.17. Ye have wearied me, &c. when you tell people ſin is not ſuch a thing as ſome p. 177would have you believe, and he will love you for all that, this is an inticing unto evil: I but what will become of them? that will you ſee in Rom. 1.32. Who knowing the judgement, &c, in which words you have both the ſin and puniſment that ſhall follow upon the ſinner: the ſin is expreſſed, that they ſin, and love to have others do ſo; the puniſhment is implyed, they that ſo ſin are worthy of death, and that they ſhall have, they ſhall have their demerit, not life from Chriſt, nor ſhall they live with Chriſt, but everlaſting death is their demerit, and that they ſhall have, that ſhall be their portion; and ſo that Mat. 5.19. Whoſoever ſhall break any of theſe little commandments, and teach men ſo to do, &c. whoever ſhall ſin, and incourage others in it, what ſhall become of him? he ſhall be leaſt in the Kingdom of Heaven: the words are a figurative ſpeech, where leſs is ſpoken then intended: leaſt, that is, he ſhalbe ſo little, that he ſhall not be at all in the Kingdom of heaven: That is the ſecond ſort that ſhall not ſtand before the Son of man. OnelyOnly I would put in a caution, That it is poſſible p. 178good ſouls, even the Lords own people, may ſometimes prove a means of incouraging ſin in others, and that either by ſome ill example, as ſuch a caſe is intimated, 1 Cor. 8.10. If any man, &c. The example of a ſtronger Chriſtian may incourage a weak one to do things againſt his conſcience, things he is not ſatisfied in, and ſo it may be a ſin unto that weak one, he may ſin being led to it by the example of another; or we may further ſin in others, when we do not reſtrain it according as we may and ought: Thus did Eli, who was a very good man, but yet he did further the ſin of his ſons, in that he did not reſtrain them, he did onelyonly give them a gentle and mild reproof, when he ſhould have put a reſtraint upon them, as you may read, 1 Sam. 2.22. and forward, Now Eli was very old, &c. in a mild way he reproves them, when as he was a Magiſtrate he ſhould have put a reſtraint upon them: and ſee how God puniſhes this upon him in Chap. 3.13. It is not enough to reprove a ſin, but where we can we ought to reſtrain it, as Maſters, Parents, Magiſtrates, and the like, that is their duty, and p. 179they that are not faithful in the diſcharge of it, may be thereby an incourager of ſin in others: only this note, that though ſinners may encourage ſin, and Saints may incourage ſin too, yet it is greatly different; Saints may incourage ſin eventually and accidentally, but not inten…ionally; it is not their deſign: ſinners do it deſignedly, and Saints accidentally, and that is a wide difference.

To proceed, thirdly, They may not expect to ſtand in the day of Chriſt, that ruſh on upon ways of ſin, contrary to light and convictions received, Rom. 1.21. Becauſe that when they knew God, &c. in a due proportion to the light we have received, ſuch ſhould our walkings and acting be, and he that ſins againſt his light, ſins greatly: Many make dreadful havock of their light, and great inrodes upon their conſcience: You read in Prov. 20.27. The ſpirit of a man is the candle of the Lord; the conſcience of a man it is the candle of the Lord, and we often ſin againſt it, untill we ſin it out, although this cannot be done at a cheap rate, and yet how often do we do it! Pſal. 125.5. As for ſuch as turn aſide, the Lord ſhall p. 180lead them forth with the workers of iniquity; in which is implyed, not only that God will leave them to ſin as the wicked do, but to the ſame puniſhment that doth attend and betide the workers of iniquity; and alſo to this purpoſe take that text again, Rom. 1.32. Who knowing the juſt judgements of God; there is a great emphaſis, in that they that know that he that ſinneth ſo and ſo what he doth deſerve, they are like to fall under his juſt judgement, Luk. 12.47. The ſervant that knows his Lords will, &c. What, ſhall he be rewarded? No, But he ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes.

A fourth ſort of perſons that ſhall never ſtand before Chriſt, are they that turn the grace of God and Chriſt into wantonneſs; they that from the kindneſs of God in the Goſpel, take occaſion to ſtrengthen their hands in ways of rebellion againſt God and Chriſt: I tell you ſuch ſouls will have a ſad account to make in the day of Chriſt, and will ſtand with much paleneſs of face, and dejection of ſpirit; in verſ. 4. of Judes Epiſtle, we are pointed to ſuch a people, who turned the grace of p. 181God into laſciviouſneſs; that is, Make uſe of the grace of God in the Goſpel, as an occaſion to laſciviouſneſs: Oh it is ſad indeed to make the greateſt mercy a prop and fartherer of the greateſt iniquity! Paul tells us in Rom. 7.11. That ſin took occaſion by the Commandment; that is, there is ſuch an enmity and contrariety in the heart of man naturally againſt God, and the minde of God, that the very command to holineſs is a ſpur and furtherance unto wickedneſs; ſuch is the enmity that is in the heart unto God. Now it is a very great ſin, that the Law that is intended to keep from ſin, ſhould be an occaſion of ſin; it is a great aggravation: but it is much more a great ſin, when the Mercy and Grace of God that ſhould be the greateſt hindrance, and let, in the way of ſin, if that ſhould become an occaſion of ſin, and a means to further it: The Rule is, 1 John 2.1. My little Children, theſe things I write, that you ſin not. And if any man ſin, we have an Advocate, &c. We have an Advocate; we have a Chriſt, to the end that it ſhould keep us in from ſin, and not that it ſhould p. 182be an occaſion to ſin; and in Rom. 6.1. ſaies Paul, What ſhall we ſay then? ſhall we ſin that grace may abound? God forbid, God forbid that the kindneſs of God in the Goſpel ſhould be a means to further us in any provocation, that were a dreadful evil. And yet this is the guiſe of ſome poor Creatures; becauſe God hath found out a way for Pardon and Reconciliation, therefore ſome poor ſouls venture upon ſin the more boldly: And what will be the iſſue of this? Oh ſuch ſhall ſmart and ſuffer dearly for it: they ſhall be puniſhed after the Example of Sodom, in the ſeventh verſe of Judes Epiſtle.

5. Such as neglect and ſlight the Goſpel of Chriſt, and the Grace of Chriſt in the Goſpel: They do not much minde it, God he offers us fairly, he offers us a great deal of kindneſs and mercy in the Goſpel; but we do not minde it, and what will the reſult of it be? Rom. 2.4, 5. Or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs? &c. It hath been the Lot of the Goſpel to meet with very courſe and rough uſage, Mat. 22.4, 5. And Again, he ſent forth other p. 183ſervants, &c. They ſlighted the offer as a thing not worth the conſidering, not worth the giving heed to; let thy preparation and dinner go as it will, they made light of it: But what will the iſſue of this be? what will this come to? This is not the way to ſtand before Chriſt; look to the Heb. 2.3. How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation?

6. Secret Hypocrites and Apoſtates will never be able to ſtand in the day of Chriſt. Secret Hypocrites that profeſs to be for Chriſt, but are inwardly againſt him, their hearts are not with him; ſuch ſouls will come off with ſhame in the day of Chriſt: Therefore you finde what is ſaid, Job 36.13. The hypocrite in heart heaps up wrath, &c. and Mat. 24.51. intimates to us that the portion of hypocrites ſhall be of all the moſt ſad and diſmal portion. And alſo for Apoſtates that have begun in the ſpirit, but do end in the fleſh; that have profeſſed a love to Chriſt, but really have their hearts at a diſtance from Chriſt; ſuch as Paul wiſhes the Galathians might never prove, Gal. 3.3. Are ye ſo fooliſh? having p. 184begun in the ſpirit, are ye now made perfect by the fleſh? Such ſouls as ſhall do thus, they will finde their caſe ſad at laſt; ſuch as Paul ſpeaks of, 1 Tim. 1.19. that make Shipwrack of faith and a good conſcience: That have profeſſed the Faith, and have had ſome light and tenderneſs of Conſcience, but have thrown off all: how will it be with ſuch? Heb. 10.23. Hold faſt the profeſſion of your Faith without wavering, &c. and 25. verſ. Forſake not the aſſembling your ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is: For if you ſin after the receiving the knowledge of the Truth, it will be ſad: For, ſaies he, it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

7. Carnal and Formal profeſſors that ſet out and keep up in a Profeſſion, but are without ſpirit and life, that have nothing but a form and outſide of godlineſs, without the power: Such ſouls there are in the world: But alas, ſuch ſouls will ſit down ſhort of a comfortable enjoyment of Chriſt. How many are there in days in which profeſſion is crowned, that attend diligently upon opportunity? But how little is p. 185that conſidered, in John 1.24. God is a Spirit, and will be worſhipped in ſpirit and in truth? How many poor creatures are there that onelyonly minde a little lifeleſs, heartleſs worſhpiping of God? Though the number of the Children of Iſrael be as the ſand of the Sea, a Remnant ſhall be ſaved. Though Profeſſors be as the ſand of the Sea, a great many; yet but a remnant ſhall be ſaved: And why but a remnant? it is becauſe though they were Iſrael, yet they were but formal, they are ſpiritually Sapleſs profeſſors: And therefore becauſe they are but ſo, but a remnant ſhall eſcape.

8. I might alſo add thoſe moral men, that carry things right between man and man; yet that is not enough to bear up the ſoul in the preſence of Chriſt.

9. Faint ſeekers, that have ſome faint deſires, and a h…lf-broken kind of willingneſs: what will that come to? Luke 13.24. Strive to enter, &c. He intimates that there ſhould be ſome ſhould put forth ſome few cold deſires and endeavours, but ſhould not ſet to the work in earneſt; they ſhould ſeek p. 186to enter, but the Iſſue of ſuch a ſeeking ſhould be this; They ſhould not be able: So, Mat. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth violence, &c. The preaching of John had put another ſpirit into the people, that they were even preſſing into the Kingdom of Heaven; The Kingdom of heaven ſuffereth violence: Many were preſſing into the Kingdom of God, and the violent they would take no denial; they would take the Kingdom of Heaven by force. Theſe hot-metled ſouls, they were hot upon the Kingdom of Heaven, and there was no ſatisfying them without it: but the Faint ſeekers will be denyed.

10. It may be they that have ſome raiſed confidence, though upon bad grounds, and think to challenge Heaven with as much boldneſs as any, among them there may be ſuch that ſhall fall ſhort, Mat. 7.22, 23. They ſhall come unto him, and ſay, Lord, Lord, &c. They ſhall come and challenge an entrance, with a great deal of boldneſs and confidence, as if they doubted not of their reception and entertainment; but yet he ſhall ſay unto p. 187them, Verily I know you not, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, Job 8.13.14. The hypocrites hope ſhall periſh: And thus, I ſay, theſe ſeveral ſorts of perſons are like to fall ſhort of ſtanding before the Son of man with comfort. But then if theſe ſhall not ſtand, who are they, and what muſt they be, that ſhall ſtand before him with joy? That is the fourth thing.

There are ſouls that ſhall ſtand. Chriſt hath not dyed in vain, he ſhall ſ…e of the travel of his ſoul; there are them that ſhall lift up their heads when the Son of man ſhall appear; and that ſhall be the time of their redemption, the time of their refreſhing: and who are they? I ſhall give you this deſcription of him that ſhall ſtand before the Son of man: He is ſuch a one, who having denied and renounced his own righteouſneſs, hath put on Chriſts Righteouſneſs; is renewed in the Inner man, and bound in ſpirit for God; deſirous to be found in the whole VVill of God, both in doing and in ſuffering: Of ſuch an one I ſhall ſay, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, in the Pſal. 24.5. He ſhall receive the bleſſing from the Lord, p. 188and righteouſneſs from the God of his ſalvation. I ſhall take this deſcription in parts, and clear up every part of it, and ſhall beg of you to put the queſtion unto your own hearts, How far you can experience ſuch a VVork of God upon your own ſpirits?

1. He that ſhall be accounted worthy to ſtand before the Son of man, is one that hath denyed and renounced his own righteouſneſs; he is one that is brought to ſee he hath no righteouſneſs of his own; and therefore deſires to give up all the thoughs of hanging upon any righteouſneſs of his own whatever: He is one, I ſay, that ſeeth he hath no righteouſneſs of his own; and that ſight ariſeth from the ſight of his Original pollution, and of his actual departure from the Lord: he ſees his Original pollution, and that makes him cry out as Job, Job 14.4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one: It makes him cry out as David, Pſal. 51.5. Behold, I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my mother conceive me. And the ſoul alſo ſeeth its own actual departure from the Lord, and that makes it cry out as they in Iſai. 64.6. p. 189We are all as an unclean thing, and alſo all our righteouſneſſes are as filthy rags. This you ſhall finde is the ſpirit that the people of God have been found in; they have put off their own righteouſneſs, turned their backs upon it. Paul once thought he had as much as others, and as we uſe to ſay, Thought his peny was as good ſilver as anothers: He thought he was in as good a condition as the beſt; but you have him crying out in Phil. 3.7. What things I counted gain, thoſe I count l…ſs for Chriſt. Outward priviledges, gifts, d…ties, whatever he thought would ſtand him in ſtead in times paſt, he laies it down, and calls it but dung and droſs. And ſouls, this frame we muſt be in, or we are not like elſe to ſtand before Chriſt with comfort. If any man will come after me, he muſt deny himſelf: That is it that Chriſt calls for, that is Chriſts Rule, He muſt deny himſelf, Mat. 16.24. If any man will come after Chriſt, and end where he did, that, is in Glory,

The firſt thing is, He muſt deny himſelf; and nothing can be more properly called our ſelves, then our p. 190own righteouſneſs; and this you muſt abjure, this you moſt reſolve not to own: And that Text is commonly quoted to this purpoſe, Mat. 25.22. &c.

Now my Friends, conſider what have been the dealings of God with your ſpirits, what have you experienced of ſuch workings upon your ſoul? Have you been brought to ſee your own natural pollution, the defilement of your ſouls with guilt and filth by nature? and have you been brought to ſee your turnings from God in your whole courſe? and hath it wrought this upon you, to ſee that you have nothing of your own to commend you to God? that all in you, and all without you, is but what may be a provocation to the Divine Majeſty, and that you do renounce it all as dung and droſs?

2. You muſt put on Chriſts R…ghteouſneſs, for the putting off your own will not do it; you muſt have a righteouſneſs, the putting off your own muſt be followed with the putting on of Chriſts; and with that you may be able to ſtand before the Lord in the p. 191great day: This you finde is our Duty, and that to which we are called, Mat. 11.28. Come unto me: Coming unto Chriſt, it is believing, taking hold of his Righteouſneſs: It is not enough that you know there is a Righteouſneſs held forth, a Righteouſneſs offered; but it muſt be taken, you muſt put on Chriſt, as the phraſe of Scripture is: Paul you finde did thus, in that Phil. 3.7. I count all dung for Chriſt; and in the 8. verſ. Yea doubtleſs I count all loſs, &c. All loſs for Chriſt! and in the 9. verſ. you have the reaſon, that I may be found in him, not having my own righteouſneſs, &c. Mark, he made it his buſineſs not only to put off his own, but to put on Chriſts Righteouſneſs; that was his care, And this, I ſay, will do the work: the ſoul ſtanding clad with the Robes of Chriſts Righteouſneſs, will ſtand with comfort in the day of Chriſt. I will recommend to your conſideration, that Revel. 7 9. you read of A great multitude, which no man could number, that ſtood before the Throne, and ſtood before the Lamb, clothed with white, and palms in their hands. And who are they that are p. 192thus before the Throne? In the 13, 14. verſes, he tells you, They were they that had waſhed their Robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; and in the next verſ. he adds, Therefore are they before the Throne; they had waſhed their Robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: That is, they had the Robes of Righteouſneſs, that were purchaſed by the Blood of Chriſt; and the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt was found upon them, and upon this account they ſtood before the Lamb: and hence in Mat. 22.11, 12. When the feaſt was made, and the King comes to view his gueſts, he ſaith unto one of them, How comeſt thou in hither, not having on a Wedding-garment? He wanted the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that was the Wedding-garment; that not being found upon him, he muſt be caſt out to be a companion of them that knew not God. Now this is the queſtion; Have you put off your own Righteouſneſs, and put on Chriſts, without which there is no ſtanding, with which you may and will ſtand before the Son of man? What is the anſwer of your hearts in this caſe? You will ſay, It is p. 193a hard matter to determine whether I have put on Chriſts Righteouſneſs or no. I anſwer, Whether it be hard or eaſie to determine whether you have done it or no, yet this is concluded on that it muſt be done, if we would ſtand before Chriſt: but a little to help you, before I leave it, conſider theſe two things.

1. Conſider that the putting on the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, it is but one act. The ſoul ſeeth a Beauty and Excellency in Chriſt, and likes him.

2. It is a conſenting act, a Marriage-act: when the ſoul as it likes Chriſt, ſo is willing to receive him according to the terms of the Goſpel, at that time it doth put on Chriſt, and his Righteouſneſs. Now this is the queſtion you are to ask your ſelves; Have you found ſuch a conſenting unto Chriſt, ſuch a giving up your ſelves unto Chriſt, upon the terms of the Goſpel? You like him, and approve him, and liking of him, you willingly take him upon the terms he hath offered himſelf unto you: If you can ſay, You have found ſuch an act paſs between p. 194Chriſt and your ſouls; it is well, and it may aſſure you, that you will ſtand among them that ſhall ſtand before Chriſt.

But then thirdly, in the Deſcription I told you the ſoul is renewed: Old things muſt paſs away, Chriſt muſt be ſanctification, as well as Righteouſneſs, John 3.3. Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. There muſt be a new Birth, a new work of God muſt paſs upon the ſoul; that renewing work it is in all the powers and faculties of the ſoul: The old Nature it is in ſome meaſure weakened in all the faculties of the ſoul, though not wholly driven out of any of them: There is ſomething of God ſpread over the whole ſoul; but yet not ſo, but that there is room for the ſoul, to complain as Paul did, Rom. 7.3. Who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? The ſoul it is brought to thoughts of God that once it had not, and thoughts of ſin that once it had not; it is a real, though but an imperfect work; it is a work really begun upon the ſoul, really wrought upon the heart, though not preſently perfected: p. 195It is an earneſt and pledge of that that ſhall be wrought out and compleated in the ſeaſon thereof. Now here is the queſtion you are to put to your hearts: What beginnings of this Work have you upon your ſouls? H…ve you thoughts of God you had not, and thoughts of ſin you had not, and thoughts of holineſs that you were once utter ſtrangers unto?

4. This is in the deſcription, the ſoul is made to be for Chriſt, Titus 2.13, 14. Who gave himſelf for us, that he might purifie to himſelf a peculiar people, &c. Chriſt did purchaſe a people to himſelf: Time was thou wert all for ſin, and Sathan, but now thou art for Chriſt; thy Vote is on his ſide, though ſometimes ſin and Sathan may carry it againſt thee.

5. The bent of the heart is for God the ſhip that is bound for the Indies (a long voyage) it meets with many croſs winds, and is often driven back; but yet being bound for the ſame place, it ſtill ſets out with the firſt fair wind, and makes forward as much as it can: It is thus with the ſoul that ſhall ſtand with Chriſt, it is bound for God, for heaven; p. 196it meets with many croſs winds; the winds makes the waves of the ſea boiſterous, and the ſoul is brought back again to as bad, or it may be, to its own apprehenſion, a worſe condition then at firſt, when it ſet out for God, yet bound for God it is, and therefore it improves all its opportunities for God; that is the bent and frame of ſuch a ſoul, Iſa. 26.8. The deſires of our ſoul are toward thee, &c.

6. It is deſirous to be found in the whole will of God; not that it is always found in the will of God, but yet the deſires are after it, that is the inclination of the heart, & to be found in the whole will of God, in one part as well as another: Caleb was a type of them that ſhall ſtand before Chriſt, Num. 14.24. But my ſervant Caleb, becauſe he had another ſpirit, and had followed the Lord fully, &c. He was to go to Canaan, and he was a type of all that ſhall inhabit the heavenly Canaan, that ſhall ſit down in the land of reſt; they are perſons of ſuch ſpirits, that they are willing to follow the Lord fully, to be found in the whole will of God, in the duties of the firſt Table, in the worſhip p. 197of God with his people in their family, Pſal. 4.3. Therefore called the godly man: They are for the ſecond Table-duties, to do the duty of their places and relations towards God and all men, therefore Tit. 2.11. The grace of God teacheth to deny all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, &c. Now ſee, how is it with thee? thou haſt corruptions remaining, ſin dwelling in thee, and thou art found but little in the way and work of God; but which way is the bent of thy heart? which way do the ſtrongeſt deſires of thy heart run?

7. It is willing not onelyonly to do but to ſuffer for God, to be true to his name, his honor and glory, whatever it may coſt him; to ſubmit his life, liberty, eſtate, honor, or whatever he hath, to the will of Chriſt: if the Lord wills me to ſuffer, I will undergo it, if I may but any way further and promote his glory; that is the requirement of Chriſt in Mark. 8.38. Whoever ſhall be aſhamed of me, &c. he that will not own Chriſt, and his way and work in the face of the utmoſt hazard that he can run, he ſhall not be owned of p. 198Chriſt when he ſhall come: ſo Rev. 2. Fear none of thoſe things, be faithful to death, &c. So conſider and commune with your ſpirits in this matter; are you willing to do his will, and ſuffer his will? is it the deſign of your ſpirits, to ſtand perfect in the whole will of God? It is good if ſo, and ſuch as I have here deſcribed ſhall be ſure to ſtand before Chriſt, whoever be rejected in that day.

And this brings me to the fifth thing, to ſhew you what is the beſt frame that the ſoul ſhould be moſt ambitious of, and that will beſt fit it to ſtand before the Son of m…n: What is the beſt frame …o ſtand before Chriſt in the day of Chriſt? There are theſe five things neceſſary, if you would be able to meet Chriſt without any conſternation of ſpi…it, if you would be able to meet him with ſetled confidence & boldneſs, beſides what I have already laid down.

Five things are needful, 1. To have the love of God in Chriſt witneſſed and ſealed up to the ſoul: It is a great mercy to have an intereſt in Chriſt, to have taken hold on his righteouſneſs; but it is a further and greater mercy, to have the love of God in Chriſt witneſſed, p. 199and manifeſted, and ſealed up to the ſoul by the Spirit of Chriſt; ſouls, this is that mercy which the Saints have been breathing after, Pſal. 4.6. Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us; this is that mercy which the Saints have prized above the deareſt and beſt of all the mercies of this life, Pſal. 163.3. Becauſe thy loving kindneſs is better then life, &c. life is better then any other thing in this world, but the love of God manifeſted to the ſoul that is better then life; this is that that the Saints of God have travelled for, and for which they are travelling, for which they are waiting upon the Lord from time to time, and from duty to duty; this is that that their ſouls are ſet upon, Pſal. 77.4. One thing have I deſired of the Lord, and that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord to behold his face, &c. Pſal. 63.1. O God, thou art my God, early will I ſeek thee, &c. This is that the ſoul of the Pſalmiſt was ſeeking after; this is that that carries the ſoul couragiouſly and comfortably through the moſt rugged and unpleaſing paths and paſſages it meets with in this world, Rom. 5.3. We p. 200glory in tribulations; and what is it that makes the ſoul glory in tribulation? ſays he, Becauſe the Love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of God, that is the inſtrument to do that work upon the ſoul, that is it that makes the ſoul rejoyce in, and go chearfully through, whatever irkſome providence it may poſſibly meet with in the world: it hath the light of Gods countenance, a ſence of his love and favour; it hath the good will of God ſealed up to it by the Spirit of Chriſt, and this is that that will give the ſoul the greateſt boldneſs in the day of Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. Give all diligence that you may be found of him in peace, &c. by this means you ſhall be carryed with the greateſt chearfulneſs and comfort unto the day and coming of our Lord Jeſus.

2. This is needful, that the ſoul be weaned from this world, and diſ-ingaged to all the intanglements and incumbrances of it; that it ſit looſe from the cares and comforts of this world; this is requiſite to be the frame of thoſe that would meet with Chriſt with comfort and boldneſs: You ſhall p. 201find the things of this world are of a very hurtful tendency to the ſouls of …he Saints, they do a wonderful deal of harm; they are often a means to carry off the heart from God, if it be not exceedingly careful: therefore Chriſt gives this counſel, Mat. 6.25. Therefore I ſay unto you, Take no thought for your life, &c. be not much taken up with the things and concernments of this life: Why what is the hazard? why, ſaies he, in verſ. 4. No man can ſerve two maſters, &c. Let not the heart run out too much after the world, for fear the world take the heart away from God; a man cannot have his heart too much let out to this world, but it will draw the ſoul too much from Chriſt, 2 Tim. 2.3, 4. Thou therefore indure hardneſs: No man that warreth entangleth himſelf with the affairs of this life: If you are for Chriſt, and ever mean to do Chriſt any ſervice, make this your care, that the heart be not taken up with the concerns of this life: if you let it out to things below, Chriſt will have little of your love, and little of your ſervice by this means; ſo that I ſay is an excellent frame in order to p. 202the meeting with Chriſt with the greateſt comfort and boldneſs, Luk. 21.34. Take heed to your ſelves, leſt at any time, &c. take heed your hearts are not ſwallowed up with things below, and ſo that day come upon you unawares: whoſoever hath his heart too much ingaged in the things of this life, the day of Chriſt will take him at a diſadvantage, he will not be able to meet Chriſt with ſo much boldneſs as otherwiſe he might: Chriſt in Luk. 12. gives his diſciples this counſel, verſ. 35. Let your loyns be girded about, &c. What muſt we be if we would be found in the greateſt poſture of fitneſs for the Lord? Why, let your loyns be girded about: The loyns here, is that that is called elſewhere the loyns of the mind, 1 Pet. 1.13. Now theſe are the affections and workings of the heart, which muſt be girt up, and not ſuffered to hang looſe to the things of this world, not ſuffered to wander after the concernments of this world, that will not do well; but you mu t have them ſetled upon and kept cloſe to due and proper objects: Affections p. 203ſet on things above, is a ſpirit fit to mee… with Chriſt in.

3. Thi… i… needful, that grace be in its act and exerciſe. I tell you the ſoul may have grace in the heart, but yet if you would meet with Chriſt with that boldneſs and comfort that it is fit we ſhould aim at, it is neceſſary moreover that the habit be drawn forth into exerciſe. Grace in the heart of a Saint, it is not there to be uſeleſs, but it is there ſeated, that it may from thence ſhine forth, Mat. 5.16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men, &c. The exerciſe of Grace is a very grateful and pleaſing thing to our Lord Jeſus: he takes very much delight in it, Cant. 2.14. Come, ſaies he, let me ſee thy countenance, &c. The exerciſe of Grace, in a Saint, is pleaſing and delightful to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and then is it that Grace is in its excellency, then the ſweetneſs of it is manifeſted, when it is exerciſed, Cant. 1.12. ſaies the Spouſe, When the King ſits at his table, my ſpicknard ſends forth the ſmell thereof: That Spicknard and other precious Oyntments, repreſent the Graces of the Spirit of God in the heart of a Saint: and when ſhe p. 204did attend upon God in ways of Duty, ſaies ſhe, My Grace is at work, and then it ſends forth its ſmells. The ſweetneſs of Grace is not found but in its exerciſe; and it is then when Grace is in exerciſe, that a ſoul is fit to meet Chriſt. It w…s not the commendation, nor the mercy of the wiſe Virgins, that They ſlumbred and ſlept, Mat. 25.5. And they knew it was not: therefore it is ſaid, t…ey aroſe, and trimmed their Lamps, they ro…zed up themſelves, and ſtirred up the G…ace of God that was in them: This is that that Chriſt calls for, Luke 12.35. Let your loins be girt about, and your Lamps burning: The burning of the Lamps, is the exerciſe of Grace: it may be thou haſt thy Lamp; but Oh! labour that it may be a bu…ning …nd ſhining Lamp, to have thy Grace acting and diſplaying it ſelf, th… is your Duty, and you will meet with Chriſt with much the more comf…rt. If Go… ſhould come, how little of this would he finde in us! our pride is working, our covetouſneſs, our … …nd animoſity, and ſuch like? But who of us can ſay that Grace is in exerciſe? Well, that is the third p. 205thing requiſite in order to the meet…ng Chriſt with comfort and boldneſs.

4. Communion with God, and a holy converſation maintained and kept up, is very neceſſary, if we would meet with Chriſt with comfort and boldneſs. Communion with God, which are thoſe ſweet interchanges of love between God and the ſoul, the preſerving and maintaining as well as getting whereof, is much the duty, and much the excellency and glory of a Chriſtian, to carry it ſo, that you may not give Chriſt occaſion to ſtand as a ſtranger unto the ſoul; to preſerve the Unity and Amity between Chriſt and the ſoul, is much the Duty of a poor Creature: it was the miſery and unhappineſs of the Spouſe, that ſhe was wanting in that work, Cant. 5.2. When Chriſt invites her unto opportunities of Communion with himſelf, ſhe ſaies, I have put off my coat, &c. She trifles away that opportunity, and out of a ſlothful ſpirit neglects it; and this occaſioned a ſtrangeneſs between him and her for ſome time after: The avoiding of this is much our wiſdom, and will p. 206much advantage in the day of Chriſt; the preſerving alſo a very holy converſation, Phil. 3.20. ſaies the Apoſtle, Our converſation is in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour: And if thou art looking for a Saviour in earneſt, keep thy converſation in heaven: Now our converſations being in heaven, it implies both the maintaining communion, and friendſhip, and concord between God and us; and alſo a holy and upright converſation: He that lives in heaven, keeps his peace with God; and he that lives in heaven, walks cloſely with God: ſuch a frame as that, becomes one that looks for Chriſt, and waits for his appearance, that is moſt certain, Titus 2.14. The Apoſtle there is telling what is the Expectation of the Saints, 13. verſ. Looking for, ſaies he, that bleſſed hope, &c. How did they carry it in this time of their hope and expectation? Why? they were taught to Deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts; and in ſuch a poſture they did Look for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God. 1 Pet. 13.14. Gird up the loyns of your mindes, be ſober and p. 207hope unto the end, &c. He wiſhes them to look for the appearance and coming of Chriſt; but what poſture muſt they be in while they are thus looking? Why, as obedient Children, &c.

5. And longing of ſoul for his appearance and coming is alſo neceſſary; that is it, that is in Scripture called, A waiting for; it is a waiting with deſire and longing: laſt of Canticles and the laſt verſ. Make haſt, my Beloved, and be as a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices. The ſoul thinks the coming of Chriſt long, Revel. 22.21. He that ſaith theſe things teſtifieth, Behold, I come quickly: even ſo, come Lord Jeſus. That is the frame the ſoul ſhould be in, to be ſtill crying, Come Lord Jeſus.

And thus I have given you what I intended in anſwer to the fifth thing: What is the beſt frame the ſoul can be in, in order to its meeting with Chriſt, with the greateſt comfort and boldneſs?

As firſt… to have the love of Chriſt witneſſed and ſealed up unto the ſoul, by the Spirit of God.

2. To be diſingaged from this world p. 208and all the intanglements and incumbrances thereof.

3. To have Grace in its exerciſe.

4. Communion with God, and a holy converſation maintained and kept up.

5. Raiſed deſires, and longing of ſoul for his appearance.

The Application of the Point onelyonly remains: And I ſhall be brief in what I add more.

1. If it be a truth, as I have indeavoured to make it good, that ſtanding before Chriſt is ſo ſerious and weighty a thing: The Uſe of the Point will be in three or four things, ſome of which will concern us all.

The firſt Uſe would be, to put us a little upon inquiry; Where are you? what poſture are you in? what preparation have we made for that ſolemn day? what have we done that may fit us to ſtand before the Son of man? It will be a day of great ſolemn…ty; great will be the Majeſty of that Day; and how fares it with us? Can we ſay that Chriſt is become our Friend, that we have made peace with God through p. 209him, that all controverſies between God and our ſouls are taken up and …ompounded? The counſel that is gi…en, Mat. 25.25. Agree with thy adverſary quickly, while he is in the way …ith him, is very good. There is enmi…y between God and man by nature: …he counſel given, is to compound and …ake up the breach; and that is to be …one while we are in the way with him: …f we let it alone until the coming of Chriſt, we ſhall be delivered unto the Officer, and by him be hurried to priſon, from whence we ſhall not be delivered for ever: And therefore it is a very ſerious queſtion which you had all need to put to your ſouls, whether you have …eceived Chriſt and made ſure of him, that ſo all differences between God and you be compounded and made up, that you may be able to hold up your …eads in the great and notable day of t…e Lord; for ſuch it will be, and ſo it is called in the Word of Truth.

I have already ſhewed you what kind of perſons they muſt be that ſhall ſtand before Chriſt, that it muſt be one that hath renounced his own righteouſneſs, p. 210and put on Chriſts Righteouſneſs, and is renewed in the inner man, and bound in ſpirit for God, deſirous to be found in his Will both by doing and ſuffering: you may reflect upon what hath been ſaid, and conſult your ſpirits thereby. But here you will ſay, Whether have I received Chriſt or no, that is that that ſticks with me, and I cannot anſwer that to my own ſatisfaction. Why? conſider, Oh ſoul, thou mayſt know it, by the precious thoughts, and high eſteem thou haſt of Chriſt! 1 Pet. 2.7. To you therefore which believe he is precious: and you may turn it thus; You to whom Chriſt is precious, you believe in him: You ſay, He is precious and worth a world, but whether he be yours, that is the queſtion. Why ſouls, I tell you, if your hearts be in love with him, it is becauſe he firſt loved you; and thou canſt not have a true love unto Chriſt without the work of his Spirit.

2. You may know it by thoſe holy breathings you have after more o… likeneſs and conformity to him; this is certain, the ſoul of this Saint is no… p. 211what it ſhould be, but is longing to be what it is not; preſſing after more of Chriſt, and the Image of God. There was a time when Paul thought that he had enough, and was in an excellent …ood cond… but Go… …ught him to …e it wa… … …uch matter, R…m. 7.9. I …as (…ie… P…) …ve once without the law, but …e… the commandment came, &…. … the Law …me in its underſtan…g, …nd in … Applic…ion; when he wa… able to under…nd …he Law in its exte… and ſpiri…lity, and apply it to himſelf; then …e found he had a great deal of ſin, and little of God in him: then he come… to …ee his wretchedneſs, to gro…n under his burthen: and this cannot be but whe…e the ſoul hath received life from Chriſt. How is it with thee? doſt thou ſee thy filthineſs, and groan under thy burthen? It is a great ſign, …f ſo, …nd a token for good, that there is a principle of new Life, of new and ſpiritual life communicated to thee, and that thou haſt received life f…om Chriſt, who is the Fountain of Life, and of it thou mayſt aſſure thy ſelf.

p. 2123. From that holy awe and dread tha… is upon thy heart, leſt thou ſhouldeſt b… left to ſin againſt and diſhonour Go… Where there is a cloſing with Chriſt i… earneſt, there is an awe of God ariſin… from a ſenſe of duty, and from a ſence … goodneſs, Hoſea 3.5. where it is ſpoken concerning the Jewiſh people, a… the time of their Converſion, th… they Shall fear the Lord and his goodneſs in the latter day. VVhen the… ſhall in the latter days be brought ne… unto God, there ſhall be a holy aw… of God upon their hearts, that ſh… keep them and preſerve them, and l… a reſtraint upon them, that they ſh… not be left …o do the things that a… grievou… in his ſight. Now it is go… to inquire whether you finde ſuch … awe upon your ſ…ls, that you c… look upon what …e hath done, a… thereby find a k…nd of reſtra…t l…id u… on you, to keep cloſe to …im to a…e… his work, and …it… …he things th… are ple…ſing in his ſi….

A …econd … is thi…: Is ſ…andi… before Chriſt ſu… a ſerious thing? may help a little for the ſupport p. 213them that tremble at the thoughts of …tanding before him. There are ſome …ouls that do conclude, or at leaſt are very apt to conclude, they ſhall never ſtand before Chriſt with comfort, that they ſhall never be able to bear his preſence; that that day will be a day of ſuch dread and terrour to them, that they ſhall fall before his great and glorious Majeſty. I would ſay, Is there any that have ſuch workings of heart? Why, what is the ground of it? what is it that fills you with this fear? Why, ſaies the ſoul, I am full of fear, that his appearance and coming will have ſo much dread in it, that I ſhall not be able to bear it. Unto ſuch I would ſay, It is true, the appearance of Chriſt will be dreadful; but unto whom? 2 Theſ. 2.8. It is the wicked that the Lord will conſume with the brightneſs of his coming. The dread of the day will not light upon his people, but his enemies; it will be upon them that know not God: And therefore ſoul, thou needeſt not tremble; though it will be dreadful unto them that are his enemies, thou mayſt notwithſtanding hold up p. 214thy head. I but, ſaies the ſoul, this is my caſe, I have a rebellious heart, a hard heart, that will not ſtoop and ſubject it ſelf to Chriſt; and therefore his coming will be terribl… unto me. To th… I anſwer, Pa… …er he was converted …d …ebe… in his …ea…t, luſts in hi… he…t, ri…g u… …gain…t God, as well as thou ha…, Rom. 7.19. I finde a law in my members war…ng againſt the law of my mind. Chriſts coming into the ſoul, doth not diſpoſſeſs ſin all at once; it doth begin the work, but it doth not turn ſin wholly out of doors, no, that it doth not; but it doth give an earneſt of what ſh…ll be done, that he will at length ſubdue thy corruptions throughly: But conſider this, though thou haſt a rebellious heart, is it not that that thou mourneſt over? is it not that that is thy burthen, that that is grievous unto thy ſoul? if it be, fear not, Chriſt will come and refine thee, not deſtroy thee; he will take away thy droſs, he will deſtroy thy corruption, but not thee, Malach. 3.2, 3. But who may abide the day of his coming? He will ſit as a Refiner of ſilver, &c. So p. 215I may ſay unto ſuch a ſoul as I am now ſpeaking to; he will ſit as a refiners fire, he will purifie, but he will not deſtroy; he will take away thy droſs, he will conquer thy corruption, but thee he will ſave. I but, ſaies the ſoul, I dread the thoughts of his coming; and therefore ſure it will not be to be born by me. To that I anſwer, Thy preſent apprehenſion is no ground from whence thou mayſt make a certain concluſion; for wicked men (obſerve it) they do not dread the coming of Chriſt, they make a light matter of it, and yet it ſhall be dreadful unto them: So thou doſt dread his coming, and the thoughts of it are irkſome to thee, but it may be, it may not be dreadful when it doth come: we have other thoughts of God then we ſhould have, many times; and therefore the Prophet in Jer. 17.17. he prayes, Be not thou a terrour unto me: He did miſtake God; God he intended to deliver him, and not to be a terrour to him: and ſo we are apt to think that Chriſt will be a terrour unto us, when it is no ſuch matter, when he comes only p. 216to take us unto himſelf, to ſet us with himſelf in glory. And that is the ſecond.

3. Will the day of Chriſts appearing be ſo dreadful? How ſhould it quicken and ſtir up our hearts then, to get into ſome readineſs for that day? Motives I might give you many; but let this ſuffice, the coming of the Lord draweth nigh; not according to that expreſſion, A thouſand years is as one day, and ſo God may ſay it i… nigh; but really, and in truth, the Judge ſtands at the door; and ſurely there is but a little time between us, and that notable day of the Lord. Oh the ſigns that we have of the Son of man! Immediately before the tribulation of that day, The Sun ſhall be darkned, and the Moon ſhall not give her light, &c. Luke 21.25. Truely, this hath been abundantly of late, in a more then ordinary manner.

2. Diſtreſs of Nations, which is added: God ſeems to ſound an Alarum to the world, by that diſtreſs that he brings upon Nations: And (if the report at leaſt be true) a ſpirit ſtirring among the Ancient Jewiſh people, is p. 217as eminent a ſign of Chriſts coming, as any that w… have met with before. This I am ſatisfied about, that things do look as if the day of the Son of man did haſten gre…tly, as if it we…e even at the door; and I am ſure it doth call loudly unto us to p…ck up for Eternity, and make ready for that ſolemn day: There are preparations in heaven towards it; all things are ſetting in order againſt that great Aſſize, and let not us be behind-hand. Oh, ſaies the ſoul, what ſhall I do! I a rebel againſt Chriſt, is there any hope for me, that I may yet make peace? my heart is full of fear, what I ſhall do when Chriſt ſhall ſit upon the Throne. I will give thee anſwer, ſoul, in alluſion to that caſe between Adonijah and Solomon: Adonijah riſes up in rebellion, ſcrambles for the Crown, but Solomon was crown'd before him, and in the 1 King. 1.15, 52. It was told Solomon, ſaying, Adonijah ſaith, Let King Solomon ſwear I ſhall not dye, &c. I allude to it, and I think it doth point to what I am ſpeaking of. Thou haſt been a rebel againſt Chriſt; thou heareſt the p. 218Father will ſet the Crown upon his head, that he ſhall be inthroned: And now thy heart trembles, and …hou cryeſt, Oh that King Solomon would ſwear unto me, that I ſhall not dye: Oh that Chriſt would aſſure me that I ſhould finde Grace and Favour with him. It may be, that is thy language: take the anſwer of Chriſt the true Solomon, If thou ſhew thy ſelf a worthy man, there ſhall not a hair of thine head fall to the earth; that is, if thou wilt lay down thy arms, and come and ſubmit unto Chriſt heartily, and ſincerely; if thou wilt come and bow before him, and acknowledge him for thine Head, Lord and Law-giver, the Lord Jeſus gives his royal Word, Not a hair of thy head ſhall fall to the ground: But if thou wilt continue in thy rebellion, and iniquity be found in you, you ſhall dye. Now ſoul, what is the anſwer of thy heart? art thou purpoſed in the ſtrength of the Lord, to come and ſubmit to Jeſus? If ſo, thou ſheweſt thy ſelf a worthy man, and things ſhall then go well with thee, and thou mayſt p. 219meet him with comfort, and ſtand before …im with joy.

And one Uſe more: If ſtanding before Chriſt will be ſo ſerious a work, then to you that are able to ſay, Through Grace, things are at that paſs, that you have ground …o think you can and …all ſtand before him with comfort; What thankfulneſs doth this call you up unto? What a day will that be to you? a wonderful day, a day filled with Wonder; a day rich and glorious in a way of mercy to you; the wonders of that day unto you will be many: Theſe two or three among others.

1. A wonderful freedom from all your burthens, both of ſin and ſuffering.

2. Wonderful meeting with all your friends; the Saints of all ages ſhall be gathered together before the throne: if the ſight of one friend be ſo refreſhing, what will it be when all the Saints of all ages ſhall meet together?

3. A wonderful injoyment of Chriſt p. 220and God, and this to all eternity: never more complaining of …bſence, and diſtance, of hiding and withdrawing; but you ſhall be caught up to the Lord, to be for ever with …im: therefore do as is the exhortation of the Apoſtle, 1 Theſſ. 4.18. Comfort one another with theſe words: you may have your burthens of ſin and outward trouble for a while, there m…y be breakings and ſcatterings of Saints from one another for a time, and ſome hidings of Gods face; but in the end theſe things will end, and God and you, and the Saints and you, ſhall ſit down together to rejoyce in one another to all eternity.

Soli Deo gloria.

FINIS.

End of the text · Thomas Blake, Living Truths in Dying Times (1665)