Exposition of Jude, Exegesis of Jude · Verse 6 · Part 12
OBSERVATIONS.
1 No ſecrecy can ſhelter ſin from Gods obſervation. Obſerv. 1.He who will make ſins known to conſcience and all ſpectators, muſt needs know them himſelf: Sins are undoubtedly written in, if they be read out of the book: God need not wrack, no nor ask the offender, to know whether he hath ſinn'd or no; he ſearcheth the heart, Jer. 17.10. Pſal. 11.4.he tryeth the reins, his eyes behold, his eye-lids try the children of men: He compaſſeth (he winnoweth) our paths, and is acquainted with all our wayes. Pſal. 139.Whither ſhall we flie from his preſence? He underſtands our thoughts afar off; knows them long before they come into us, and long after they are gone away from us. All the ſecrets of our hearts are diſſected, anatomized, and bare-fac'd in his eyes. He who knew what we would do before we did it, muſt needs know what we have done afterwards. There's nothing exiſting in the world, but was before in Gods knowledg; as the houſe is firſt in the head, before erected by the hand of the Artificer: He made us, and therefore knows every nook and corner, and turning in us; and we are ſuſtained and moved by him in our moſt retired motions. How plainly diſcerned by him is the cloſeſt hypocrite, and every Divel, though in a Samuel's mantle? We can onelyonly hear, but God ſees hollowneſſe. We do but obſerve the ſurface, but Gods eye pierceth into the entrails of every action: He ſees not as man ſees; Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart. How exact ſhould we be even in ſecret walkings, we being conſtantly in the view of ſo accurate an obſerver! We ſhould ſet the Lord always before us. The eye of God ſhould ever be in our eys; the preſence of God is the counterpoyſon of ſin: Whenſoever thou art ſinning, remember that all thou doſt is book'd in Gods omniſcience. Latimer being examined by his Popiſh Adverſaries, heard a pen walking behind the hangings, to take all his words; this made him wary how he expreſſ'd himſelf: but more cauſe have we to fear ſin, ſince God writes down every offence, and will one day ſo read over his book to Conſcience, that it ſhall be compell'd to copie it out with infinite horror: God did but read one page, one line of this book, one ſin to the conſcience of Judas, and the terror thereof made him his own executioner.
2 How fooliſh are ſinners, Obſerv. 2.who are ſo deſpairing at, and yet ſo fearleſſe before the pronouncing of the laſt ſentence! Moſt irrationall is that reſolution, Becauſe ſentence againſt an evill work is not executed ſpeedily, therefore to be fully ſet to do evill. Eccleſ. 8.11.How wiſe were it to argue contrarily! Becauſe the ſentence is deferr'd, therefore let us labour to have it prevented; and to ſay with the Apoſtle, 2 Pet. 3.11. What manner of perſons ought we to be! The deferring of judgment is no ſigne of its prevention; the ſpeedy repentance of ſinners would be a much more comfortable prediction. Wrath when it is to come, may be fled from; when once it is come, it is unavoidable. Chriſtians! be as wiſe for your ſouls, as the Egyptians were for their cattel; who, fearing the threatning of bail, took them into houſes: Faith in threatnings of judgment, may prevent the feeling of judgments threatned. For your ſouls ſake, be warned to get your pardon in the blood, if ever you would avoid the ſentence of the mouth of Chriſt. If the Judg give you not a pardon here, he will give you a ſentence hereafter. It's onelyonly the blood of Chriſt which can blot the book of Judgment. Judg your ſelves, and paſſe an irrevocable ſentence upon your ſins, if you would not be ſentenc'd for your ſins. Repent at the hearing of Miniſters in this your day; for if you put off that work till God ſpeaks in his day, Repentance it ſelf will be unprofitable. If you harden your hearts here in ſin, the heart of Chriſt will be hardened hereafter in his ſentencing, and your ſuffering. The great work of poor Miniſters is the prevention of the dreadfull ſound of the laſt Sentence: Knowing the terror of the Lord, they warn you. All the hatred we meet with in the world, is for our loving plainneſs herein: but we will not ceaſe to warn you with tears, as well as with ſweat: we can better bear your hatred here, then either you or we bear Gods hereafter; and we had rather your luſts ſhould curſe us here, then your ſouls to all eternity. If our voyce cannot make you bend, Gods will make you break; If you will not hearken, is it not becauſe the Lord will ſlay you?
3 Great is the ſinfulneſs of raſh judgment: Obſervat. 3It's a ſin that robs Chriſt of his honour, whereby a man advanceth himſelf into Chriſts Tribunal, and which takes the work of judgment out of Chriſts hand; and therefore the Apoſtle, Rom. 14.10. 1 Cor. 4 5. ſtrongly argues aagainſt it from the laſt judgment: Chriſtians commit this ſin, both by a curious inquiſition into the wayes of others, for this end, that they may finde out matter of defamation; and principally, by paſſing of ſentence, or giving of cenſure againſt the perſons and practices of others without a calling, and not according to the law of charity, which binds us to judg the beſt of others, ſo far forth as may ſtand with a good conſcience and the word of God. Judgment may either be of perſons, or their practices: In perſons, their future, or their preſent eſtate is to be conſidered: All judgment of mens future eſtate is to be forborn; God may call the worſt as well as thee. Three things (ſaith Auguſtiae) are exempted from mans judgment; the Scriptures, the Counſell of God, the Condemnation of any mans perſon. For mens preſent eſtate; if we ſee men live in whoredom, drunkenneſs, ſwearing, we may judg them wicked, while continuing in this eſtate, and that they ſhall be damned if they repent not: We may judg the tree by the fruit, and this is not raſh judgment, becauſe it is not ours, but the judgment of the word of God. Practices are either good, bad, indifferent, or doubtfull: Good actions are to be commended: if actions be evil, judg the facts, not the perſons; yet ſtudy withall to excuſe the intention, if thou canſt not the fact: Indifferent, or doubtfull actions are to be free from cenſure; Chriſtian liberty exempts our neighbour from cenſure for the former; charity allows us not to be cenſurers of the later: If it be doubtful, whether a thing were ſpoken or done, or no; or being certain to be done, whether well or ill, in charity judg the beſt; If a man lay with a betrothed damoſel in the fields, Deu. 22.26, 27the man was only to die, becauſe it was in charity ſuppoſed that the damoſel cryed; the beſt being ſuppoſed in a thing doubtfull. In matter of opinion, if it be uncertain whether an error or no, ſuſpend thy judgment, till thou know more certainly; thy brother may ſee as much, and (if he be more learned) more than thy ſelf, into that which is doubtfull. Our ignorance as men (though never ſo knowing) ſhould be a ſtrong bar from raſh judgment. Beſides, who are we that judg another mans ſervant? this is to reproach God himſelf for receiving him: We are fellow ſervants with our brethren, not fellow Judges with God; we muſt love, not judge one another; Our Maſters houſe is to be ordered by our Maſters will. He who by raſh judgement deſtroyes the good name of another, is, by ſome, termed the worſt of theeves, in ſtealing away that which is better then riches, and can never be reſtor'd; and the worſt of murderers, in killing three at once; his own Soul in thus ſinning, his Neighbour, whoſe name he ruines, and the Hearer, who receiveth his ſlanders. And yet, take away this ſinfull cenſuring from many Profeſſors, there will nothing remaine to ſhew them Religious; whereas a Juſt man is a ſevere Judg only to himſelf.
4. How happy are they who ſhall be able to ſtand in the Judgement! I know it's doubted by ſome, Obſerv. 4. Rev. 20.12. Mat. 10.26. Vid. Aquin. q 87. ſuppl. Eſt. in l. 4. ſendiſt. 47. Rom. 8.1.33.whether at the laſt judgement the ſins of the Saints ſhall come into the judgement of Diſcuſſion and Diſcovery; Scripture ſeems to many, moſt to favour the affirmative: but that they ſhall eſcape the judgement of condemnation, 'tis not doubted. That ſun which diſcovers the ſins of the wicked, ſhall ſcatter thoſe of the godly. There's no condemnation to thoſe that are in Chriſt Jeſus; Who ſhall lay any thing to their charge? The greater their ſins are, the greater will their deliverance appear. The more puniſhment they deſerv'd, the more they eſcape. The ſins of the Saints will prove, as the matter of their ſongs, ſo the trophees of victorious mercy. The wicked ſhall have judgement with out mercy; and the godly ſhall have mercy in a day of judgement. 1 Cor. 11.32.How contentedly may they here undergo that chaſtiſement whereby they eſcape judgement! It's better to hear the reproofs of a Father, then the ſentence of a Judge; and the correction of a Son is much lighter then the condemnation of a Malefactor. It matters not what ſhall ever be ſaid or done againſt them, to whom Chriſt ſhall never ſay, Depart from me. Do with me what thou wilt (ſaid Luther) ſince thou haſt pardoned my ſins.
5. The greateſt enemies of God will be but contemptible creatures at the laſt judgement. What underlings then ſhall thoſe appear, and be, who now are principalities and powers? Satan, who hath had ſo many followers, adorers, who now is the Prince of the Aire, yea the God of this world, ſhall then openly appear to be a trembling malefactor at the bar of Chriſt. As once Joſuahs ſouldiers ſet their feet upon the necks of the Canaanitiſh Kings; ſo the pooreſt Saint ſhall at the laſt judgement trample upon theſe faln Angels. Death ſpeaks the impotency of men, but Judgement even that of Angels. Legions of Angels ſhall no more oppoſe Chriſt, then can a worme all the Angels of heaven. Me thinks, even all the crowned, ſceptered, adorned, adored Monarchs of the world, if enermes to Chriſt, ſhould tremble at the approaching of Judgement. The greateſt ſafety and honour even of a King, will then be, to be a ſubject to Chriſt, and what the Emperor Juſtinian was wont to call himſelf, the me… neſt ſervant of Chriſt. Ʋltimus Dei ſervus.Robes will then fall off: The dimmer light of humane glory will be obſcured when the ſun of righteouſneſs ſhal appear. Let us neither fear nor admire the greatneſſe of any, but of Chriſt; much leſſe that which is ſet againſt Chriſt. How great is the folly of Satans ſubjects! they ſerve a maſter who is ſo far from defending them, that he cannot defend himſelf from Judgement.
6.Obſerv. 6. The reaſon why Satan rageth; he knows that his time is but ſhort; and after this laſt judgement his furious and ſpiteful tentatious ſhall be ended; and he labours to ſupply the ſhortneſſe of his time, with the ſharpneſſe of his aſſaults; like the beſiegers who having often ſtorm'd a Town or a Caſtle make their laſt onſet the moſt reſolute and terrible. A Traveller who deſires to go far, will go faſt if the Sun be neer ſetting; The ſhortneſſe of Satans ſeaſon occaſions his ſwiftneſſe in wickedneſſe: Beſides, he is in an eſtate of deſperation, he knows there's no poſſibility of his recovery; and as faith is the furtherer of holineſſe, ſo is deſpair of all impiety. It was the Logick of deſpair which argued thus, Let us eat and drink for to morrow we ſhall die. I wonder not that theſe laſt, are the worſt, and the moſt perillous times. Satan now ſtrives to add to his number, to ſeduce and pervert ſouls, becauſe after his judgement, he ſhall never be ſuffered to do ſo any more. At all times holy vigilancy over our hearts and wayes is needfull; but in theſe times, wherein Satans judgement draws ſo neer, it ſhould be our care more then ever, to keep our hearts with all diligence, to beware of ſeduction, and Atheiſme, and of being led away with the error of the wicked, leſt we fall from our own ſtedfaſtneſs. If Satan double his rage, let us double our guard. Doctor Taylor reports of a noble Lord, who was wont to ſay, That he would never go without a ſword, ſo long as there was a Papiſt about the Court; Never let us lay off our ſpirituall weapons, till Satan be taken from us by judgement, or we out of his reach by death. Let us (even taught thus much by our adverſary) make the ſhortneſſe of our time a motive to lay out our ſelves the more for God; ſhort ſeaſons require ſpeedy ſervices. The nearer we come to judgement, the fitter let us labour to be for it. Let the ſweeteſt part of our lives be at the bottom, and (as Samſons) let our laſt prove our greateſt goodneſſe. To conclude this, Let thoſe poor ſoules who are daily buffetted by Satan, conſider that his judgement is approaching; that all conflicts with him ſhall then be at an end, and that the fury of his aſſaults, prove not their ſucceſs, but the ſhortneſſe of continuance.
Thus far of the firſt particular conſiderable in the puniſhment of theſe Angels at the Bar, viz, that to which they are reſerved, to Judgement. The ſecond follows, the time when they ſhal be brought to judgement, viz. at the Great day.
Two things for the Explication hereof.
1.Explication How the word Day is here to be taken.
2. In what reſpect its called a Great day.
For the firſt: There are three opinions. 1. Some take the day here ſpoken of, preciſely, and properly, as if the day of the laſt judgement ſhould not exceed that ſpace and proportion of time. 2. Some conceive that by the Day is meant a 1000 years; becauſe ſome are ſaid to ſit on thrones, and have judgement given unto them (that is, power of judging) and to live and raigne with Chriſt a thouſand years. Rev. 20.4. But I conceive that this judgment and raign of a thouſand years, cannot be underſtood of the laſt Judgement, becauſe death (the laſt enemy) ſhall, in the Reſurrection, be deſtroyed: now after the end of the thouſand years mentioned by Saint John, Satan ſhall be looſed out of priſon, and the nations deceived by him ſhall compaſſe the camp of the Saints about, Iſai. 27.1.2. 14.3. 12.1. 4.1.2. 2.11.17. Per quot dies hoc judicium extendatur, incertum eſt: ſcripturarum more diem poni ſolere pro tempore nemo neſcit, Aug. l. 20. de Civ. Dei cap. 1. Mat. 7.22. Luk. 21.34. 2 Tim. 1 12.18 4.8. Joh. 6.39, 40. 44.46, 54. 2 Pet. 3.7.12 Rom. 2.5.16. Act. 17.31. Apoc 6.17.and the beloved City, and fire ſhall come down from God out of heaven and devour them. 3. Others ſeem more ſafely to apprehend that the day here mentioned is to be taken improperly, for time indefinitely, it being in Scripture very ordinary to put a day for time: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, in a day of ſalvation have I helped thee, Iſai. 49.8. If thou hadſt known in this thy day. Luk. 19.42 Your father Abraham rejoyced to ſee my day. Joh. 8.56. &c. There muſt be a day wherein that great work of judgement ſhall begin, but the duration thereof is to be meaſured by the nature of the thing, and the counſell of God. With Auguſtine, I determine nothing peremptorily concerning the continuance of the laſt judgment day.
For the ſecond, the greatneſſe of this day. The titles given it in the Scripture, ſpeak it great; it being called that day, the laſt day; the day of judgment, and perdition of all ungodly men; The day of God the Lord: The day when God ſhal judge the ſecrets of men: a day wherein he will judge the world in righteouſneſs; the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God; the day of the Lambs wrath; the day of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 1.6.10. &c. More particularly, this day of Judgement is called great in reſpect of the
Judge.
Judged.
Properties of the Judgment.
1. The Judge, who is Jeſus Chriſt. And herein two particulars are conſiderable.
1. That Chriſt ſhall be Judge.
2 Wherein his being Judge ſhall make the day great.
The firſt is evident: 1. From the frequent and expreſſe mentioning him as Judge in Scripture, which aſſures us that God ſhall judge the ſecrets of men by Jeſus Chriſt, Heb. 10.27. Tit. 2.13. Act. 10.42. Phil. 3.20.4.5. 1 Tim. 6.14.15.Rom. 2.16. that Jeſus Chriſt ſhall judge the quick and the dead, 2 Tim. 4.1. that the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealled from heaven, 2 Theſ. 1.7. that the Son of man ſhall come in the glory of his Father, Mat. 16.27. that they ſhall ſee the ſon of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, Mat. 24.30. that the ſon of man ſhall come in his glory, Mat. 25.31. that hereafter we ſhall ſee the ſon of man coming in the clouds of heaven, Mat. 26.64 that the ſame Jeſus who is taken into heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner as he was ſeen to go into heaven, Act. 1.11. that he cometh with cloudes, and every eye ſhall ſee him, Rev. 1.7. In which reſpect the day of Judgement is call'd, The day of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 1.8. ſo 1 Cor. 5.5. 2 Cor. 1.14. Phil. 1.6.10. and Phil. 2.16. And the ſeat of judgment is call'd, The judgment ſeat of Chriſt, Rom. 24 10. 2 Cor. 5.10. And ſome underſtand that place Heb. 4.12. The word of God is foreign, a diſcerner of the thoughts, concerning the Hypoſtatical word, &c. Nor is the old Teſtament deſtitute of teſtimonies of this kind, though ſomewhat more obſcurely expreſt. Abraham ſpeaks to the ſon of God, when he ſaid, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Gen. 18.25. And the Father ſpake to the Son when he ſaid, Thou ſhalt break them with a rod of iron, thou ſhalt daſh them in peices like a Potters veſſel, Pſal. 2.9 And that of Iſaiah chap. 45.23. By my ſelfe have I ſworn, unto me every knee ſhall bow, the Apoſtle Rom. 14.11. applies to Chriſt, and thence proves, that we ſhall all ſtand before his judgement ſeat. 2. By Gods appointment of him, and giving him authority to judge; He is ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead, Act. 10.42. He will judge the world by that man whom he hath ordained, &c Act. 17.31. Humilitas carnis no ſtrae throno judicator is honorata eſt. Cypr. in ſer. deaf. Sedebit judex qui ſtetit ſub judice, damna bit veros reos, qui factus eſt falſus reus. Aug. Homil. 150. Pater dedit ei poteſtatem facere, quia filius hominis eſt, cum magis quaſi hoc expectaretur ut diceret quo niam filius Dei eſt, ſed quia filium Dei ſecundum id, quod in forma Dei aequalis eſt patri, videre iniqui non poſſunt, oportet judicem vivorum & mortuorum coram quo judicabuntur, & juſti videant & iniqui. Aug. lib. 1. de trin. c. 13. Patrem nemo videbit in judicio, quia filius hominis eſt ut poſſit & ab impiis videri; Auguſt. lib. 1. de trin. cap. 13. Talis apparebit judex, qualis poſſit videri ab iis quos coronaturus, & ab iis quos damnaturus eſt. Proſp.The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to the Son, he hath given him authority to execute judgment, Joh. 5.22.27. And all power is given him in heaven and in earth. 3. By his former eſtate of humiliation. As he emptyed and humbled himſelf according to his humane nature, ſo in that hee is to be exalted. He humbled himſelfe and became obedient to death, &c, wherefore God hath highly exalted him, Phil. 2.9. And as Chriſt in his humane nature was unjuſtly judged, ſo in that nature, ſhall he juſtly judge. Chriſt was once offered to bear the ſins of many, and he ſhall appear the ſecond time without ſin, Heb. 9.28. 4. By reaſon of the neceſſity of the viſibility of the Judge and judiciall proceedings at the laſt day. He executes judgement becauſe he is the Son of man, Joh 5.27. and every eye ſhall ſee him. The Judge is to be beheld and heard by the Judged. God will judge the world by that man, &c. In reſpect of the judiciall proceſs, a man muſt be our Judge; for God is inviſible, and the Judge ſhall ſo appear, as to be ſeen both of thoſe whom he ſhall crown, and of thoſe whom he ſhall condemn. Nor can it be but that God will be the more juſtified, and men without all excuſe, having one who is bone of their bone, and fleſh of their fleſh, to be judge between God and them. Notwithſtanding all which immediate, audible, viſible adminiſtration of the laſt judgement by the ſecond Perſon, this judgement belongs to the other Perſons in Trinity; foreign, in reſpect of Authority, Dominion, and judiciary power, though to the Son only foreign, in reſpect of diſpenſation and office, and externall exerciſe.
2. For the ſecond, viz. Wherein the Judge makes the day of Judgement great.
1. He makes it a great day: 1. As he is conſidered in himſelfe. 2. As he is attended and accompanied by others.
1. As we conſider him in himſelfe, and that either, 1. as God, or 2. man.
1. As God: He who ſhall be the Judge, is the mighty God; It is Jehovah, to whom every knee ſhall …, Iſai. 45. Hence the Apoſtle cals the appearance of this Judg who is God, glorious, in thoſe words, Tit. 2.13. The glorious appearing of the great God. If the great God be Judge, the day of Judgement muſt needs be a great day. How great is the day of an earthly Judges appearance, a man, a worme, duſt and aſhes! one who though hee can give, yet cannot avoid the ſentence of death; and one who hath ſcarce a faint reflection of that majeſty with which this King of glory is adorned; think then (and yet thoughts can never reach it) what it is for God, before whom the whole world, though full of Judges, is as nothing and leſs then nothing and vanity, to come to judge the word, God is a judge Omnipotent, and therefore one whoſe voice, as the living who are diſtanced ſo many thouſands of miles ſhall hear and obey, ſo even the dead ſhall hear, being quickned, and ſhall at his beck come and ſtand before his judgment ſeat. He ſhall come with great power; 2 Theſ. 7.9.and the wicked ſhall be puniſh'd with everlaſting deſtruction from the glory of his power. Nor ſhall he uſe the miniſtry of Angels for neceſſity, but Majeſty. God is an omniſcient Judg, infinitely, onelyonly wiſe; his eyes are clearer then ten thouſand ſuns; one who will, in the day wherein the brightneſſe of his omniſcience ſhall ſhine in its full luſtre, bring every hidden work to light, and tell to all (as the woman of Samaria ſaid,) all that ever they did; one who doth not (as earthly Judges) onelyonly know what to ask, but what every one will anſwer; who wants no witneſſes, nor needs he that any ſhould teſtifie of man, for he knows what is in man. God is a true and a juſt Judge. The Apoſtle 2 Tim 4.8. cals him, The Lord, the righteous Judge: hee will render to every one according to his works. The Apoſtle proves the righteouſneſſe of God, from his judging the world, Rom. 3.6. and Abrahams queſtion aſſerts it ſtrongly, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Other Judges may do righteouſly, but God cannot do otherwiſe. The wils of other Judges muſt be regulated by righteouſneſſe; but ſo righteous is God, that righteouſneſſe it ſelfe is regulated by his will, which is the root and rule of all righteouſneſſe.
2. This Judge ſhall make the day great as he is Man; greatly amazing and diſmaying muſt his appearance, as Judge in mans nature, needs be, to ſinners who have denyed him, perſecuted, crucifyed, and put him to an open ſhame: all whoſe deſignes have been to cruſh and keep him under. With what horror ſhall the Jews then ſee their deluſion, who would not heretofore beleive him to be the Meſſiah? Needs muſt they and others, who would not have this man to reign over them, to whom he was a ſtumbling ſtone, when low and ſmall, contemptible in his former diſcoveries upon earth, now find and feel him a rock to fall upon them from heaven, and cruſh them to powder. Greatly comforting and refreſhing muſt the appearance of this man be to beleevers; who ſhall not onelyonly behold him to be the great Judge of the whole world, who hath taken upon him their nature; but who hath alſo given to them his ſpirit, whereby, through faith, they are myſtically united unto him as their head, their husband; and upon whom they have fixed all their hopes and expectations of happineſſe, for and with whom they have ſo long ſuffered from the world; whom they look upon, as their treaſure, their portion, and for whoſe coming they have ſo long'd, and ſigh'd, and groan'd. In a word, How greatly glorious ſhall his appearance in our nature be both to good and bad, when in it he ſhall be deck'd and adorn'd with Majeſty, and clothed with unſpeakeable glory, above all the Angels, he being to come in the glory of his father, Mat. 16.27. with power and great glory! Mat. 24.30. The glory of a thouſand Suns made into one, will be but as ſack cloth to that wherein Chriſt ſhall appear in mans nature that great day. The glory of the Sun ſcatters the clouds, but from the glory of Chriſts face the very earth and heaven ſhall flie away, Rev. 20.11. The beames of his glory ſhall dazzel the eyes of ſinners, and delight the eyes of Saints; The wicked ſhall be puniſh'd with everlaſting deſtruction from his preſence, and the glory of his power, 2 Theſ 1.9. and when his glory ſhall he revealed, the Saints ſhall be glad with exceeding joy, 1 Pet. 4.13.
2. The Judge ſhall make this day of judgement great, conſidering him, not only in himſelfe, but as he is attended by others; and ſo he will make the day great, if we conſider 1. by whom. 2. by how many he ſhall thus be attended.
1. By whom; They ſhall be creatures of great glory and excellency. The glorious Angels ſhall be Chriſts attendants at the great day; in which reſpect Chriſt is ſaid to come (Luk. 9.26.) in the glory of the holy Angels: and Mat. 25.31. it's ſaid, that the Son of man ſhall come, and the holy Angels with him; and Luk. 12.9. that Chriſt will deny ſome before the Angels of God; and 2 Theſ. 1.7. the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. Theſe angels that excell in ſtrength, are his heavenly hoſts, his Miniſters to do the pleaſure of Chriſt their great Lord and Commander. If at the time of his Nativity, Tentation, Paſſion, Reſurrection, Luk. 2.13.Aſcenſion, they readily gave Chriſt their attendance; how much more ſhall they do it at the great day, when all the glory of Chriſt ſhall be revealed! Luk. 7.53. Gal. 3.19. Deut. 33.2. Illi in obſequio, hic in gloriâ; Illi in comitatu, hic in ſuggeſtu: illi ſtant, hic ſedet; hic judicut, illi miniſtrant, Ambroſ. lib. 3. de fid. Mat. 24.31. Pſal. 103.20. 2 Theſ. 1.7. foreign. Col. 3.4. 1 Theſ. 4.17.If at the promulgation of the Law upon Mount Sinai Angels waited upon him, how readily ſhall they ſerve him when he ſhall come to Judgment, for the execution of that Law! What glory ſhall be in that day, when the very ſervants of the Judge, who ſhall wait upon him, run at every turne, and upon every errand; who ſhall blow the Trumpet, ſummon to appear, bring the priſoners before the Bar, and take them away again; when even theſe waiters (I ſay) ſhall be Angels of power, the heavenly hoſt, every one being ſtronger then an earthly army; holy Angels; creatures of unſpeakeable agility and ſwiftneſſe; glorious Angels, who as much exceed in glory the greateſt Emperour in the world, as the Sun in the Firmament doth a clod of earth. Nor can it be, but the day muſt be very illuſtrious, if we conſider that the Saints ſhall appear alſo with Chriſt in glory, that they ſhall meet the Lord in the air, and be witneſſes for, nay aſſeſſors with Chriſt in judgement, and partakers of that victory, which in the laſt day he ſhall have over all his enemies. That all the enemies of Chriſt and his Church ſhall ſtand before the Saints to be juſtly judged, whom they in this world have judged unjuſtly; and in a word, that every one of theſe Saints ſhall in their ſpiritual bodies ſhine as the Sun, Mat. 13.43.when it appears in its perfect luſtre.
But 2 Chriſt as attended, will make the day great, if we conſider by How many he ſhall bee attended. At that great day there ſhall be a generall aſſembly, a great number, even all his ſervants waiting upon him, both Saints and Angels; hence 1 Theſ. 1.13. is mentioned the Coming of the Lord Jeſus with all his Saints: and Eph. 4.13. the meeting of all. In this glorious concourſe, there ſhall not be one wanting. If Chriſt will raiſe up every Saint from the grave, then doubtleſſe, ſhall every Saint appear in glory at the laſt day. Joh. 6.39.He will not loſe his coſt laid out upon them. But if he beſtowes new liveries upon his ſervants, they ſhall all, when adorned with them, wait upon him. Nor ſhall there be one Angel but ſhall glorifie him in that day. Pſal. 148.2. Heb. 1.6.If all the angels of God are commanded to praiſe and worſhip him, then undoubtedly will they performe this duty at that day wherein the glory of Chriſt ſhall be ſo eminently manifeſted; all the holy angels (Mat. 25.3.) ſhall come with the ſon of man. And if all the Angels and Saints muſt wait on Chriſt, the number muſt needs be vaſt, Heb. 12.and the multitude exceeding great: of angels there muſt be an innumerable company; Myriads, ten thouſands of Saints, or holy ones, Dan. 7.10.Jude 14. (a definite number being put for an indefinite.) And about the throne (Rev. 5.11.) are ſaid to be ten thouſand times ten thouſand, and thouſands of thouſands, ten thouſands of Saints. An innumerable company of Angels attended the ſolemn delivery of the Law at Mount Sinai, Deut. 33.2. Vid. Rivet. in loc.in alluſion to which, the triumphant Aſcenſion of Chriſt into heaven is deſcribed, Pſal. 68. to be with twenty thouſand Chariots, even thouſands of angels; and of thoſe who ſtood before the throne, clothed with white robes, and having palmes in their hands, there was (Rev 7.9) a great multitude, which no man could number, &c. Now if the glory of one angel was ſo great, Judg. 6.22.13.22.that thoſe who of old time beheld it, expected death thereby; and if for fear of an Angel, whoſe countenance was like lightning, the keepers (Mat. 28.4.) did ſhake, and became as dead men; how great ſhall be the glory of all the millions of Angels and Saints at the great day, when God ſhall let out his glory unto them, and fill them as full of it as they can hold, that he may be admired in them! Who can imagine the greatneſſe of that day, wherein the Judge ſhall be attended with ſo many millions of ſervants, every one of whom ſhall have a livery more bright and glorious then the Sun? The ſplendor of this appearance at the great day will ten thouſand times more ſurpaſs that of the attendance of the greateſt Judges and Kings in the world, than doth theirs excell the ſporting and ridiculous acting of their more ſerious ſolemnities, by children in their playes.
2. This day of Judgement ſhall be great, in reſpect as of the Judge, ſo likewiſe of the Judged; and the judged ſhall make the day great, as they fall under a fourfold conſideration, or in four reſpects:
1. In reſpect of the greatneſſe of their company and number.
2. The greatneſſe of their ranks and degrees.
3. The greatneſſe of their faults and offences.
4. The greatneſſe of their rewards and recompences.
1. In reſpect of the greatneſſe of their numbers. When many perſons are tryed and judged, many priſoners caſt and condemned, we ordinarily ſay, that the Aſſizes or Seſſions are great, though the number of the perſons judg'd be not ſo great by an hundred parts, as the number of thoſe who ſtand by to hear the Tryall. How great then ſhall the day of Judgement be, wherein all ſhall be tryed and judged? It was of old propheſied by Enoch, that the Lord would execute judgement upon all: Before the Throne of the Son of man all nations ſhall be gathered, Mat. 25.32. Rom. 14.10. foreign. 2 Cor. 5.10 Act. 17.31.And 2 Theſ. 2.1. the day of judgement is call'd the time of our gathering together unto Chriſt. We muſt all appear before the judgement ſeat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in the body, &c. He cometh with cloudes, and every eye ſhall ſee him. Rev. 1.7. He is call'd The judge of the whole earth, Gen. 18.25. All men are divided into two ſorts or ranks, 2 Tim. 4.1. 1 Pet. 4.5. Apoc. 20.12.living, and dead; and both theſe ſhall Chriſt judge, Act. 19.42. Who hath power over all fleſh, Joh. 17.2. Who ſhall reward every one according to his works, Mat. 16.27. And to whom God hath ſworn, every knee ſhall bow, Iſai. 45.23. Rom. 14.11. So that if there ſhould but one be exempted from appearing before Chriſt at the laſt day, the oath of God ſhould be broken, which is impoſſible. If God number all the hairs of our head, how much more all the perſons whoſe thoſe hairs are! Mat. 10.30. Pſal. 56.10. Joh. 5.24.If he number all our ſteps, how much more all thoſe who take thoſe ſteps! And whereas it's ſaid, that the Beleevers ſhall not come into judgement, Pſal. 1.5.and that the wicked ſhall not ſtand in the judgment; the former is to be underſtood of the judgement of condemnation (and Joh. 5.24. condemnation it is tranſlated; or rather expounded (ſaith one) in our ordinary Bibles.) The later of prevailing in judgement, Cauſâ cadent.by receiving a judgement of abſolution: men may hide themſelves and flie from mens Courts and Tribunals, but the judgement ſeat of Chriſt cannot bee avoided. It will be in vaine to call for the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them and hide them, for the mountains ſhall melt like wax at the preſence of the Lord. There's no flying from this Judge, but by flying to him: and death it ſelf which prevents judgment, among men, ſhall give up its dead to this great judgement.
2. The day ſhall be great in reſpect of the judged, as they are conſidered in the greatneſſe of their ranks and degrees. Among men, not the judging of every meane, contemptible perſon, but of Noble men, Princes of the blood, or great Monarchs, makes the day of their judgment great. How ſolemn in this world is the judiciary tryall of a King! But how glorious and magnificent ſhal be the arraignment of great and ſmall perſons, Rev. 20.12.of all ranks and degrees at that great day! Angels and Principalities (as at large hath been ſhewed before) as well as men: Luk. 21.36.good as well as bad. Watch and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy—to ſtand before the Son of man. He that judgeth me is the Lord, 1 Cor. 4.4. and Every one of us muſt give account of himſelfe to God, Rom. 14.12 They who have been high and mighty, Emperors, as well as the pooreſt outcaſts. The talleſt Cedar, the ſtouteſt Oak, muſt bend, yea break, at that great day. Pſal. 110.5.Chriſt he ſhall ſtrike through Kings in the day of his wrath. The grave and the Judgement-ſeat put no difference between Monarchs and vaſſals. The grave-duſt of a Queen ſmels no ſweeter then that of a beggar; none can difference between the aſhes of an Oak, and thoſe of an humble ſhrub. There will be no other crowns worn at that day, but the Crownes of righteouſneſſe; no other robes but thoſe waſh'd in the blood of Chriſt; and theſe will better fit the head and back of a Lazarus, than a rich Glutton. True greatneſſe, (goodneſſe I meane) will be the onelyonly greatneſſe at that truly great day. The glorious ſunſhine of this day will extinguiſh the Candle of worldly glory. Oh great day! wherein majeſty ſhall lye and lick the duſt of the feet of Chriſt; the ſtiffeſt knee bend before his majeſty, and the ſtrongeſt back of ſinners break under his wrath; when the great ſwordmen and Emperors, the Alexanders, the Caeſars, who once made the earth to tremble, ſhall now tamely tremble before him!
3. The day of judgement ſhall be great in reſpect of the judged, if we conſider them as great offenders. When men are tryed before humane Judicatories for common crimes, as for pilfering, or ſtealing ſome ſmall or inconſiderable ſumme, the day of their tryall is ſoon forgotten, and not greatly regarded; but when they are arraigned for ſuch horrid and heinous offences, as the ears of the hearer tingles to hear, and his heart trembles to think of, ſome Sodomiticall villany, wilfull murder of ſome good King, the blowing up of a Parliament, &c. the day of their judgement is great, and greatly obſerv'd; there is great admiration at their boldneſſe in ſin, great indignation againſt them for it, great joy when they are ſentenced, and greater when they are executed. How great then ſhall this judgement day be! for how great at that day ſhall every ſin appear to be! Sin can never bee ſeen to be what it is, or in its due dimenſions, but by the light of the fire of Gods wrath. In the dim and falſe light of this world, it's nothing, it's nothing, a trick of youth, a toy, a trifle; but at the appearing of the light of divine diſquiſition, when conſcience ſhall be ſearch'd with candles, and all paint, pretexts, and other refuges ſwept away, the leaſt ſin will appear infinite. The cloud (a while ſince) no bigger then a mans hand, will overſpread the face of the heavens. The leaſt breach of a law infinitely holy, and the ſmalleſt offence (unpardoned) againſt a God infinitely both juſt and powerfull, will then appear unconceivably more heinous then any breaches of the peace, or offences againſt the greateſt of men; there's nothing little which (as ſin doth) kils and damnes the ſoul; yea, Omne peccatum eſt deicidium; the leaſt ſin will then be look'd upon as ſtriking even at God himſelfe. But how great ſhall that day be made by the judging of thoſe prodigious abominations, the commiſſions whereof the earth groaned to bear! Scarlet, Crimſon tranſgreſſions, at which even naturall conſcience is affrighted, as blaſphemies, murders, open oppreſſions, unnaturall uncleanneſſe! &c. How greatly ſhall the juſtice of God be magnified in the puniſhing of them! How great the joy of the Saints, when the enemies of that God, whom they ſo dearly love, and highly admire, ſhall be ſentenced! againſt whom the ſoules under the Altar have ſo long prayed; when every Divel, Rev. 6.9.who hath here ſo often tempted them; and every adverſary, who for their profeſſion of Chriſt, have ſo cruelly perſecuted them, ſhall be condemned?
4. Laſtly, This day ſhall be great, in reſpect of the judged, if we conſider the greatneſſe of their rewards and recompences. The ſetencing to a ſlight puniſhment, as that of a ſmall fine, a few ſtripes, burning in the hand, &c. is not regarded greatly, even by the ſufferers or ſpectators: but the ſentencing to a loſſe of all; even of life it ſelf, a terrible death, as burning, preſſing, rending limb from limb, ſtarving, hanging in chaines, makes the judgment great. The ſentence whereby a man for a while is reprieved, recovers a little loſſe, or hath ſmall damages given, is little regarded, and ſoon forgotten; but that whereby a man hath his life, and with that, his eſtate and liberty, and all that is dear and deſirable granted unto him; this his ſentence and judgment (I ſay) is great, and makes the day wherein it paſſeth deſervedly to bee accounted ſuch. What are all the loſſes ſuſteined by, or fines impoſed on any, in compariſon of the loſs of Gods preſence? He who loſeth God, hath nothing beſides to loſe. He who is doom'd to the pains of thoſe fires prepared for the divell and his angels, hath nothing left him more to feel; The torments of the body are no more comparable to thoſe of the ſoul, then is the ſcratch of a pin to a ſtab at the heart; nor can there poſſibly be an addition made to the bleſſedneſſe of thoſe, who ſhall be ſentenced to enter into the joy of their Lord, whoſe preſence not only is in, but is even heaven it ſelfe; in a word, there's nothing ſmall in the recompences of that great day; great woe or great happineſſe; and therefore 'tis a great day in either reſpect. But of this at large before.
3. This day of judgement is great in reſpect of the properties of it. As,
1. Its a certaine day; were it doubtfull, it would not be dreadfull; were it fabulous, it would be contemptible. 1. Naturall conſcience is affrighted at the hearing of a judgement day. Act. 24.25. foreign. Nazian. Sua quemque fraus, ſua audacia, ſuum facinus, ſuum ſcelus, de ſanitate, ac mente deturbat, hae ſunt impiorum furiae, haeflammae, hae faces. Cicer. in Piſon. Eccl. 1.2. Hab. 1.13.F…lix tren…bled when Paul preached of it; and though the Athenians mocked when they heard of a Reſurrection of the dead, yet not at the hearing of the day of judgement. The reaſon why men ſo much fear at death, is becauſe they are terrifyed with the thoughts of judgement after death; were it not for that ſupreme and publick, the inward Tribunall of conſcience ſhould be in vaine erected. 2. The juſtice of God requires that every one ſhall receive according to his works. In this life the beſt men are of all men moſt miſerable, and ſinners oft moſt happy. All things fall alike to all. The wicked (ſaith Habbakuk) devoureth the man that is more righteous then himſelfe. There muſt come a time therefore, when the righteous Judge will (like Jacob) lay his right hand upon the younger, the more deſpiſed Saint, and his left hand upon the elder, the now proſperous ſinner. There is now much righteouſneſſe and oppreſſion among Magiſtrates, Gen. 18.25. Job 34.10, 11, 12. Iſai. 3.16, 11.but it would be blaſphemy to ſay, that injuſtice ſhall take place to eternity. Every unrighteous Decree in humane Judicatories muſt be judged over againe, and from the higheſt Tribunall upon earth, the Saints of God may joyfully, and ſucceſsfully appeal to a higher Bar. Jud. 14. Rom. 2.15. Eccl. 11.9. 2 Theſ. 1 6, 7. Mat. 7.22.25.41.10.15. 2 Cor. 5.10. Rom. 14.10. Luk. 21.34. Luk. 9.26. 2 Pet. 3.9. Tit. 2.13. 1 Pet. 4.5. Omnia alia quae futura praedixerat Spiritus Sanctus. in Scripturis, ev… nerunt, ut de primo Chriſti adventu, &c. Cum ergo idem Spiritus Sanctus praedixerit ſecundum Chriſti adventum, utique certo eveniet. Aug. Ep. 42. Luk. 21.35. Mat. 25.The day of judgement ſhall ſet all things ſtrait and in right order; It is a righteous thing with God (ſaith Paul) to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you that are troubled, reſt with us, when the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed, &c. To conclude this, The Scripture is in no one point more full and plentifull, then in aſſuring us that this day ſhall certainly come; and if the other predictions in Scripture, particularly thoſe concerning the firſt coming of Chriſt, have truly come to paſſe, why ſhould we doubt of the truth of Chriſts ſecond appearance? and if the mercy of God were ſo great that he ſhould repent of the evill intended againſt the wicked; yet even that mercy of his, would make the judgment ſo much the more neceſſary for the good of the Elect.
2. The judgement of this great day ſhall be Sudden. Chriſt will come as a thief in the night, who enters the houſe without knocking at the door. The judgement will come upon the ſecure world, as the ſnare doth upon the bird. The greater ſecurity is at that day, the greater will the day and the terror thereof be to ſinners; the noiſe of fire is neither ſo uſuall, nor ſo dreadfull as in the night. The approach of the Bridegroom at midnight increaſed the cry of the fooliſh and ſleeping Virgins. Sudden deſtruction, or that which befals them who cry peace, is deſtruction doubled.
3. The judgement of this great day ſhall be Searching, exact, and accurate. There ſhall be no cauſes that ſhall eſcape without diſcuſſion, notwithſtanding either their multiplicity, or ſecrecy, their numerouſneſſe or cloſeneſſe. The infinite ſwarmes of vain thoughts, idle words, Pſal. 50.21. Mat. 12.36. Eccl. 12.14. 2 Cor. 5.10.and unprofitable actions ſhall clearly and diſtinctly be ſet in order, before thoſe who are to be tryed for them. God ſhall bring every work to judgement, and every ſecret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evill. 1 Cor. 4.5.He will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſſe, and make manifeſt the counſels of the heart. But of this before.
4. It ſhall be righteous. As every cauſe ſhall be judged, ſo rightly judged. Chriſt is a righteous Judge; 1 Tim▪ 4.8. Pſal. 72.2. Act. 17.31. Rom. 2.11. 2 Chron. 19.7 Pſal. 82.2. Job. 34.19.In righteouſneſſe doth he judge, Revel. 19.11. The ſcepter of his kingdome is a right ſcepter; he loves righteouſneſſe, Pſal. 45.6, 7 The day of judgement is a day of the revelation of the righteous judgement of God; Righteouſneſſe ſhall be the girdle of his loyns, it ſhall ſtick cloſe to him. This Judge cannot be byaſſ'd by favour; There is no reſpect of perſons with God. The enemies of Chriſt juſtified him in this particular, that he regarded not the perſons of men, Mat. 22.16. Kindred, Friend-ſhip, Greatneſſe, make him not at all to warp and deviate from righteouſneſſe. He is not miſtaken with error, he ſhall not judge after the ſight of his eyes, Iſai. 11.3. Joh. 7.24. 2 Cor. 10.7. Jer. 17.9, 10. Gal. 6.7.neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. This Judg ſhall never be deluded with fair ſhews, and out ſides, or miſled by colourable but falſe reports, as earthly Judges may be, becauſe they cannot pierce into mens hearts to diſcerne their ſecret intentions, as Chriſt can do, whom no ſpecious appearance can deceive; he ſhall never acquit any, who is in truth faulty, or inwardly unſound; nor upon any flying report, or forged ſuggeſtion proceed to the cenſure of any. He ſhall never be in danger of being miſ-informed, through untrue depoſitions, but he ſhall alwayes proceed upon certain knowledg, in paſſing of his own ſentence upon any.
5. This judgement ſhall be open and manifeſt. There is nothing hid but ſhall be revealed. Sinners ſhall be openly ſham'd, their ſecret ſins, their ſpeculative impurities, their cloſeſt midnight-impieties ſhall be publickly diſcovered, and their feined hypocriticall appearances ſhall then be unmasked. Then Saints ſhal be openly honour'd; the good which they have done in ſecret, ſhall be divulged; from their ſins, againſt which they have mourn'd, pray'd, beleev'd ſecretly, they ſhall be acquitted openly and honourably; from all the cenſures, ſuſpicions, aſperſions, and wrong judgements upon earth, before all the world of men and Angels, they ſhall be publickly cleared. In a word; As the Judge is righteous, he will bee known to be ſo; and therefore not onelyonly his ſentencing, but the equity therof, ſhal be manifeſtly known. Every tongue ſhall confeſs to God the juſt proceedings of that day; and Chriſt ſhall be clear when he judgeth, and juſtified when ſinners are condemned.
6. This judgement ſhall be immediate. Chriſt will not any more judge by man; They whom he hath intruſted with Judicature, have often miſcarryed in the work; acquitting where they ſhould condemne, and condemning where they ſhould acquit; now therefore he will truſt others with the work no more, but will take it into his own hands: Judgement here among men is the Lords mediately, but the great judgement ſhall be his immediately. Sinners might hope to eſcape, while ſinners were their Judges; Saints might fear cruelty while ſinners were their Judges. In a word; when frail, ſinfull man is Judge, he, like the unjuſt ſteward in the Goſpel, who cut off fifty in the hundred, puniſheth malefactors by the halfs, and with him wicked men can tell how to deal; Ezek. 22.14.but can their hearts endure, or can their hands be ſtrong in the day wherein the Lord ſhall deal with them? When Gideon commanding young Jether to ſlay Zebah and Zalmunna, and he feared to draw his ſword againſt them, Judg. 8.20.being but a youth, Gideon himſelfe ariſeth and fals upon them, and as was the man, ſo was his ſtrength, for hee inſtantly ſlew them; And God commands thoſe who ſhould reſemble him in righteouſneſſe, to cut down ſin, and cut off ſinners; but alas, they are oft either unwilling, or afraid to draw the ſword of Juſtice, and therefore the Lord himſelfe will come and take the ſword into his own hands, and as is he, ſo will his ſtrength be found and felt to be, infinite. The mountaines and hills will be but light burdens to fall upon ſinners, in compariſon of this mighty God.
7. This Judgement ſhall be the laſt Judgement. The ſentence that there ſhall be pronounced, is the finall concluſive and determinating ſentence. The day of Judgement is frequently call'd, The laſt day; The laſt day, Joh. 11.24.12.48.and the Great day are ſometimes put together, Joh. 7.37. Wicked men have had in this world many dayes of Judgement by the word, by temporall troubles, by the examples and warnings of the Saints; but now their laſt day, their laſt judgement is come, after which there ſhall be no more tryall. Former judgements might be reverſt upon repentance, but this laſt is irrevocable. Repentance will not move the Judge to repent of his ſentence; Jer. 11.7, 8, 9.repentance will be hid from his eyes. From his ſentence there can be no appeal, nor is there any Judicatory above or after it.
8. This judgement is call'd Eternall. How great are thoſe dayes wherein an earthly Judge ſentenceth to a temporal puniſhment of a few minutes: Heb. 6.2. Judicium humanum eſt vix alphabetum illius ultimi. Luth.But Chriſt ſentenceth to an eternall ſtate, the effect of his judgement ſhall laſt for ever. An earthly Judge allowes men to put the ſentenced to death out of their paine, at their execution; but this ſhall be the bitter ingredient into the ſentence of the great day; namely, that the ſentenced ſhall be executed, but never die. Depart from me yee curſed into everlaſting fire; Departure for loſſe, and Fire for ſenſe, are the greateſt puniſhments; but this Everlaſting is that which makes both inſupportable. Dreadfull ſentence! Without this everlaſting departure, hell would not be hell. This Everlaſting burnes hotter then the fire, or rather is the heat of the fire in hell; and oh the bottomeleſſe Ocean of ſweetneſſe in this word Ever, when joyned with Being with the Lord! this is that which (like the faggot-band) binds all the ſcattered parcells of heavens bleſſedneſſe together, and keeps them from dropping out; In a word, This ſtability of happineſſe is that which makes it happineſſe. Great day! wherein there is a ſentence to no eſtate ſhorter then Eternity.