Twelve Single Sermons, Sermon 10
Sermon, X. CHRIST Coming in GLORY, TO Reward every one according to HIS WORKS.
MAT. XVI. 27.
For the Son of Man ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels; and then he ſhall Reward every Man according to his Works.
THough in this World, the Godly often meet with great Adverſity, and the Ungodly with great Proſperity; yet hereafter it will evidently appear, that the former, viz. the Godly, took a wiſe and ſafe Courſe; and the latter, viz. the Ungodly, took a very fooliſh and dangerous one. For however it fares with Perſons in this preſent Life, yet in the Judgment Day, every one ſhall be dealt with according to his Works: This our Text plainly intimates to us. In the three Verſes immediately preceeding our Text, we are Inſtructed, that thoſe who would approve themſelves the ſincere Diſciples of Chriſt, muſt cleave cloſe to him, whatever Difficulties they meet with in the Way; yea, though it be the loſing of Life for his ſake; and if they do ſo, they ſhall find their Lives, that is, they ſhall be happy for ever. But on the other hand, if any from Fear of worldly Troubles, or from Love to worldly Proſperity, ſhould neglect to be the ſincere Diſciples and Followers of Chriſt, they, though they ſhould be ſuppos'd to gain the whole World, would yet be miſerable Loſers at the laſt, for they would loſe their own Souls; that is, be M…ſerable for ever.
Now the Truth of theſe things, is further declar'd and ſumm'd up in our Text, which tells us, there ſhall be a Day of Judgment, in which every Man ſhall be dealt with according to his Works. And it is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is here called the Son of Man, that ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, accompanied with his Angels, to Judge the World, and to render to every one according to his Deeds.
There are two Doctrines that may be ſpoken briefly to from the Words, viz.
I. The Son of Man, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels to Judge the World.
II. He will then Reward every Man according to his Works.
DOCTRINE, I. The Son of Man, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with His Angels, to Judge the World.
For the clearing of this Truth, we may conſider the following Heads, viz.
1. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is both God and Man in One Perſon. He is the Only begotten Son of God, Joh. 3.16. His Eternal Son, of the ſame Eſſence and Subſtance with God the Father and God the Holy Ghoſt; for theſe Three are One, 1 Joh. 5.7. They are but One Divine Being, Subſtance or Eſſence. Chriſt therefore is a Divine Perſon, really and truly God by Nature, from Everlaſting to Everlaſting. He is God over all, bleſſed forever, Rom. 9.5. Chriſt alſo has an Humane Nature, united to His Divine Nature; ſo that he has T… diſtinct Natures (Divine and Humane) in One Divine Perſon. This Humane. Nature, the Son of God did in time (not from Eternity) take into Perſonal Union with himſelf. The Word was made Fleſh, and dwelt among us, Joh. 1.14. Jeſus Christ our Lord, which was made of the ſeed of David according to the Fleſh, Rom. 1.3. God ſent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law, Gal. 4.4. So that Chriſt is both God and Man, he has a Divine Nature which he had from all Eternity; and an Humane Nature which he took to himſelf in time; now it is with reſpect to his Humane Nature, that in our Text (as well as in many other places) he is called the Son of Man.
2. This Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall Judge the World. All the World of Mankind, all Humane Perſons that ever were in the World, or ever ſhall be in it, ſhall be called into Judgment, and Doom'd to a ſtate of endleſs Miſery or Glory, according to what their behaviour was while they liv'd here upon Earth. And the Perſon that ſhall be the Supream, Univerſal Judge of all, that ſhall hear all Cauſes, and determine whether they're good or bad, and pronounce Sentence on each Perſon accordingly; I ſay, the Perſon that ſhall thus Judge the World, is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. God— hath appointed a day, in which he will Judge the World in righteouſneſs, by the Man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given aſſurance to all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the Dead, Act 17.30, 31. It was Chriſt whom God raiſed from the Dead; and the Apoſtles were commanded to teſtify, That it is he which was Ordained of God, to be the Judge of quick and dead, Act. 10.39, —42. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing and his kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.1. By the Quick, we are to underſtand thoſe that ſhall be found Living on Earth, when Chriſt comes to Judgment (we ſhall not all Sleep, 1 Cor. 15.51. We which are alive and remain, 1 Theſ. 4.17.) and by the Dead, ſuch as ſhall be rais'd from the Dead at Chriſts Coming; all ſhall be Judged by Chriſt. Rom. 2.16. God ſhall judge the ſecrets of Men by Jeſus Chriſt. It's evident therefore, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt who is both God and Man, ſhall Judge the World.
3. When Chriſt comes to do this, it will be in the Glory of his Father with his Angels. Come, from whence will Chriſt come to Judge the World? Anſ. He will come from Heaven to do it. About Forty Days after our Saviour was rais'd from the Dead, in a Cloud he was taken up, and he aſcended into Heaven, Act. 1.3, 9, 10. Chriſt is now in Heaven at Gods Right Hand, Rom. 8.34. And the Heavens muſt receive (retain) him till the times of the reſtitution of all things, Act. 3.21. Therefore when Chriſt ſets himſelf to Judge the World, he will come, and 'twill be from Heaven (where he now is) that he will come. 2 Theſ. 1.7. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from Heaven. This is called his Appearing, 2 Tim. 4.1. His appearing the ſecond time without ſin unto Salvation, Heb. 9.28. He has already appear'd once in this World, in a mean humbled ſtate, in the form of a Servant, to Die a Sacrifice for the Sins of his People to procure the Pardon of them; but his Second appearing when he comes to Judge the World, and compleat and perfect the Salvation of his People, will be very bright and ſplendid, full of Majeſty and Glory. For he ſhall come,
1. In the Glory of his Father. Tho' Chriſt will deſcend from Heaven in his Humane Nature, when he comes to Judgment; yet he'll come incircled with Divine Glory. It will then be inconteſtibly evident to all Angels and all Men, that Chriſt's Perſon is Divine, and that he's clothed with the Majeſty and Glory proper and peculiar to ſuch an One. Chriſt as a Divine Perſon, had Divine Glory before Creatures ever had a being. Our Saviour a little before his Death, made that Prayer to God, Joh. 17.5. And now, O Father, glorifie thou me with thine own ſelf, with the glory which I had with thee before the World was. Whether the Glory in which Chriſt will come to Judge the World, is in our Text call'd the Glory of the Father, becauſe the Father by an Eternal and Ineffable Generation communicates the Divine Nature and Glory to the Son; or whether, becauſe Chriſt as Mediator is commiſſioned by the Father to Judge the World; I ſay, whether it be in the one or other, of theſe reſpects, we need not diſpute, tho' I ſee no cauſe to reject either of them. The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all Judgment to the Son, Joh. 5.22. God has exalted the Mediator, given him Dignity and Glory in appointing him to Judge the World, Phil. 1.9,— 11. The Glory in which Chriſt comes to Judge the World, is in our Text call'd the Glory of his Father. 'Tis call'd Chriſt's own Glory. Mat. 25.31. When the ſon of Man ſhall come in his Glory. So we read, Luk. 9.26: He ſhall come in his own Glory, and in his Fathers and of his holy Angels. He ſhall come in a Glory becoming his own Divine Perſon, and becoming the Son of his Eternal Glorious Father. This Glory in which Chriſt ſhall appear at laſt, will be more Bright, Splendid, Majeſtick and Magnificent than ever was ſeen before. Chriſt's Glory ſhall be revealed, 1 Pet. 4.13. 'Tis called great Glory, Mat. 24.30. The glorious appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, Tit. 2.13. Indeed Chriſt will then come with a ſhout, with the voice of the Archangel, and the Trump of God, 1 Theſ. 4.16. He ſhall come in Flaming Fire, 2 Theſ. 1.8. He ſhall come,
2. With his Angels. Chriſt as God, is the Creator of all things. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made, Joh. 1.3. Chriſt alſo as Mediator, has all things put under his Feet; he is Head over all things, Eph. 1.22. So that Chriſt both as Creator, and as an exalted Mediator, is Lord of Angels; they are His Angels: They are the Good and not the Fallen Angels, that are eſpecially intended in our Text. All the good Angels ſhall be of Chriſt's Retinue, and help to ſet forth the Splendor of his Appearance, when he deſcends from Heaven to Judge the World. He ſhall be Reveal'd from Heaven with his mighty Angels, 2 Theſ. 1.7. All the holy Angels ſhall come with him, Mat. 25.31. All the Angels, the whole Number of the Heavenly Hoſt, thoſe bright Attendants in the Supream Court, ſhall accompany the Glorious JESUS at the Laſt Day. The Angels on particular Occaſions, have ſometimes appeared ſo Bright, Dazling and Glorious, as to affright mortal Spectators. The Roman Souldiers that were ſet to keep and watch the Sepulchre of our Saviour, were greatly Amaz'd and Terrify'd at the Sight of an Angel. His countenance was like Lightening, and his raiment white as Snow. And for fear of him, the Keepers did ſhake, and became as dead Men, Mat. 28.3, 4. And if the Angels appeared thus Glorious on particular Occaſions, doubtleſs when they ſhall all accompany our Lord (and theirs) on the Judgment Day, they'l appear cloath'd with their brighteſt Robes of Light and Splendor, and therein help to ſet forth the unparallel Glory of that moſt Auguſt and Grand Solemnity. The holy and mighty Angels, who ſhall then attend our Glorious Judge, ſhall gather together his Elect from the four Winds, from one end of Heaven to another, Mat. 24.31. And they ſhall gather the Tares, the Wicked, all things that offend, and them which do Iniquity, and ſhall caſt them into a Furnace of Fire, there ſhall be wailing and gnaſhing of teeth, Mat. 13.40, — 42. Thus I have prov'd, that the Son of Man, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angers, to Judge the World.
DOCTRINE, II. He will then Reward every Man according to his Works.
Our Text expreſly declares this to us; and for the illuſtrating and further clearing of it, we may conſider the following Particulars, viz.
1. All the Dead ſhall be raiſed. When Perſons die, their Rational Souls parting from their Bodies (which Separation is Death) their Bodies then are uſually buried in the Earth, where they Rot and return to Duſt. Gen. 3.19. Duſt thou art, and unto duſt ſhall thou return. When a Perſon dies, then ſhall the duſt return to the Earth as it was, and the ſpirit return unto God who gave it, Eccl. 12.7. But though the dead Bodies of Men ſhall Rot, return to their Duſt; or though being drowned in the Sea, ſhall be eaten by Fiſhes; yet all theſe dead Bodies, both of the Godly and Ungodly, ſhall be raiſed again, they ſhall live again, ſhall be re-united to thoſe Souls which formerly dwelt in them, and ſhall abide united to them for ever. This Doctrine of the Reſurrection of the Dead, is known only by Divine Revelation; therefore our Saviour refers us to the Scriptures as the only proper Proof of it: For he ſaid to the Sadduces, who denyed the Reſurrection, Mat. 22.29. Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the Power of God. God who is infinitely Wiſe, Powerful and Faithful, has declared in the Scriptures, that the Dead ſhall be raiſed; therefore we have the higheſt Ground and Reaſon firmly to believe that it ſhall be ſo. Tho' if Men would give way to their ſhort-ſighted, carnal Reaſon, they might make Objections againſt the Reſurrection, or fruitleſs Queries about the Way, Manner and Circumſtances of it; yet 'twould be fooliſh ſo to do. Acts 26.8. Why ſhould it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God ſhould raiſe the dead? It's incredible indeed that Men (by any meer Power of their own) ſhould raiſe the Dead; but not incredible that GOD ſhould do ſo. 1 Cor. 15.35, 36. But ſome Man will ſay, how are the dead raiſed up, and with what Body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou ſoweſt is not quickened, except it die. According to Scripture Language, that Man is a Fool who denies the Reſurrection, or makes any doubting, needleſs Queries about the Way, Manner, Circumſtances of it. What God has plainly declar'd, we ſhould firmly believe. Now he has plainly declar'd, Joh. 5.28, 29. The hour is coming, in the which all that are in their Graves ſhall hear his voice; and ſhall come forth, they that have done good to the Reſurrection of Life, and they that have done evil to the Reſurrection of Damnation. Acts 24.15. — There ſhall be a Reſurrection of the dead, both of the Juſt and unjuſt. Rev. 20.13. And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it; and Death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them: And they were judged every one according to their Works. Thus 'tis evident! that all the Dead ſhall be raiſed.
2. All Perſons ſhall be Cited and Convened, before the Throne or Judgment Seat of Chriſt. When Chriſt comes from Heaven at the Laſt Day, to be ſure he will deſcend into this World as low as the Air, for there the Saints ſhall meet him. We — ſhall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, 1 Theſ. 4.17. And when the Lord Jeſus thus comes to Judgment, he'll ſit on a Glorious Throne, Tribunal, or Judgment-Seat; and all Perſons that ever lived in the World, ſhall be gathered together before him. Mat. 25.31.—33. He ſhall ſit upon the Throne of his Glory, and before him ſhall be gathered all Nations; and he ſhall ſeparate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth his ſheep from the goats; and he ſhall ſet the ſheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 2 Cor. 5.10. We muſt all appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body, (that is, while he liv'd here in this World) according to what he hath done whether it be good or bad. Rev. 20.12. I ſaw the dead, ſmall and great ſtand before God, and the Books were opened, and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life: and the dead were Judged out of thoſe things which were written in the Books, according to their works. And not only the Dead, that is, ſuch as ſhall then be rais'd from the Dead; but thoſe alſo found Living when Chriſt comes, ſhall be Judged. For (as was hinted before) he ſhall Judge the Quick and the Dead, at his Appearing and his Kingdom, 2 Tim 4.1. Every one of us muſt give an account of himſelf to God, Rom. 14.12. All that ever liv'd in the World, muſt make their Perſonal Appearance before Chriſt's Judgment Seat; and muſt give an account of themſelves, of their own Carriage and Behaviour: none ſhall be allow'd to appear by Proxy, or to have an Attorney to appear in his room and anſwer in his ſtead; but every one muſt appear Perſonally.
3. The Lord Jeſus will then render the Godly, Inconceivably and Eternally happy and bleſſed. There are but two ſorts of Perſons in this World, the Godly and the Wicked; and there will be but theſe two ſorts in the Judgment Day. The Godly are call'd Sheep, and ſhall be at Chriſt's Right Hand, and he'll ſay to them, as Mat. 25.34. Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the Foundation of the World. Chriſt will then own them, call them Bleſſed, and make them Bleſſed, in poſſeſſing them of an Eternal Glorious Kingdom. Godly Perſons, Sincere Believers, are in general deſcribed from their doing Good, and ſhall at laſt come out of their Graves to the Reſurrection of Life, Joh. 5.28, 29. And in the Judgment Day, they ſhall receive a Reward of Grace for all the good they ever did. Indeed the endleſs future Glory and Happineſs they ſhall have, is no part of it really meritted, purchaſed, deſerved by themſelves; but it is the Gift of God, Rom. 6.23. It is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom, Luk. 12.32. It's a free Gift of God as it comes to them; yet it's call'd a Reward too, inaſmuch as God has freely promis'd it to thoſe who ſeek and ſerve him; having put a firm connexion between their preſent Duty and their future Welfare. It is the Recompence of Reward; God is a Rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him, Heb. 11.6, 25. The Lord Jeſus will graciouſly Reward all the ſincere Duties of the Saints performed in this World. He'll ſay, Well done thou good and faithful Servant; thou haſt been faithful over a few things, I will make thee Ruler over many things: enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord, Mat. 25.21. He'll then mention, commend, and graciouſly reward, their Alms-Deeds, their Charity and Kindneſs. He'll ſay, Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you,—for I was an hungred and ye gave me Meat: I was thirſty and ye gave me Drink: I was a ſtranger and ye took me in; naked and ye Clothed me, &c. Inaſmuch as ye have done it to one of the leaſt of theſe my Brethren, ye have done it unto me, Mat. 25.34,— 40. Their giving a Cup of Cold Water (which is but a ſmall and cheap token of kindneſs) to a Diſciple, ſhall not loſe its Reward, Mat. 10.42. Their ſincere Prayers alſo ſhall be Rewarded. Mat. 6.6. Enter into thy Cloſet, and when thou haſt ſhut thy door, Pray to thy Father which ſeeth in ſecret; and thy Father which ſeeth in ſecret, ſhall reward thee openly. So their Faith which they now exerciſe in this World, ſhall be found to Praiſe, Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.7. Indeed, none of their work and Labour in the Lord (and for the Lord) ſhall be in vaiu, 1 Cor. 15.58. For God is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love, which they have ſhewed towards his Name, Heb. 6.10. Yea, whatſoever good thing any man doth, the ſame ſhall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free, Eph. 6.8. All the good Actions of the Saints whether open or ſecret, ſhall then be graciouſly Rewarded. For God will bring every work into Judgment with every ſecret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil, Eccleſ. 12.14. All who in this World, ſincerely Repent of Sin, Believe in Chriſt and Obey him; ſhall by him in the Judgment Day be openly Owned, Commended, and graciouſly Rewarded. And this, ſo far as it concerns the Godly, is what our Text calls, a Rewarding every man according to his Works. When Chriſt comes to Judge the World (the Apoſtle tells us) he will render to every man according to his Deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well doing, do ſeek for Glory, Honour and Immortality, Eternal Life. — Glory, Honour and Peace to every Man that worketh good, to the Jew firſt, and alſo to the Gentile. Rom. 2.6, 7, 10. And this good, great and gracious Reward which ſhall be beſtow'd on the Godly; will be an Eternal one, an Happineſs that ſhall never ceaſe nor have an end. It is Everlaſting Life, Mat. 25.46. A Crown of Glory that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 5.4. And as a good and gracious Reward, ſhall in the Judgment Day be given to thoſe, who in this World were Doers of Good: So,
4. The Lord Jeſus will then render the Ungodly, Inconceivably and Eternally Miſerable. Iſai. 3.11. Wo unto the Wicked, it ſhall be ill with him; for the Reward of his hands ſhall be given him. The Sins of Omiſſion which the Ungodly were chargeable with, ſhall be mentioned and puniſhed in the Judgment Day. Mat. 25.41, 42. Depart from me ye Curſed, into Everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels; for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no Meat, I was thirſty and ye gave me no Drink. Many are apt to make light of Sins of Omiſſion. How common is it for many to omit and neglect Secret Prayer, Family Prayer, Reading Gods Word, hearing it Preached, attending on Gods Publick Worſhip, &c. Well, though the Ungodly make never ſo light of their Neglects of Duty, their Sins of Omiſſion; yet theſe their vile Omiſſions, ſhall be openly publiſhed and puniſhed in the Judgment Day. And ſo ſhall their Sins of Commiſſion too; for God will bring every work into Judgment, with every ſecret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil, Eccl. 12.14. All the ill Actions of the Wicked, whether open or ſecret, ſhall then be publiſhed and puniſhed. God will then bring to light the hidden things of Darkneſs, and make manifest the counſels of the Heart, 1 Cor. 4.5. He'll Judge the Secrets of Men by Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 2.16. Many Abominations are committed in Secret, ſecret Thiefts, ſecret Fornications and Adulteries, ſecret Drunkeneſs and Intemperance, ſecret Minders, &c. Well, but theſe hidden things of Darkneſs, theſe curſed, ſecret Crimes ſhall then be openly publiſhed before the World, and puniſhed alſo. In this World, the Wicked often make light of wicked Words? How do many of them abound in Lyes, Reproaches, filthy obſcene Speeches, profane Curſing, Swearing, &c. But ſhall theſe wicked Words go unpuniſhed? No truly. Of every idle word that Men ſpeak, they ſhall give an account in the day of Judgment; and by their Words the Wicked ſhall then be Condemned, Mat. 12.36, 37. Indeed all the ſinful Thoughts, Words, Actions of the Ungodly and Impenitent, ſhall be publiſhed and puniſhed in the Laſt Day; for that Day will be the Revelation of Gods righteous Judgment, Rom. 2.5. As very terrible puniſhments ſhall then be inflicted on the Wicked, even thoſe Treaſures of Wrath they have been purchaſing; ſo their Sins which have deſerv'd thoſe Puniſhments, ſhall be mentioned and publiſhed; and by publiſhing of their Sins, there will be revealed and manifeſted the Righteouſneſs of God, in inflicting their Puniſhments on them. He will then render to every Man according to his deeds; — to them that are contentious, and obey not the Truth, but obey Unrighteouſneſs, Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguiſh, on every ſoul of man that doth evil, of the Jew firſt, and alſo of the Gentile, Rom. 2.6, 8, 9. Thus Chriſt will deal in the Judgment Day with thoſe that obey Unrighteouſneſs, that live Unrighteouſly; yea, thus he'll deal with every Soul of them particularly, not ſo much as any one of them ſhall eſcape. Gods Hand will find out all his Enemies. Enoch Propheſied of the Judgment Day, ſaying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute Judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodlily committed; and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him, Jud. v. 14, 15. Not only ſome, but all the hard Speeches, and all the Ungodly Deeds of the Wicked, ſhall be brought into Judgment, openly publiſh'd before the whole World of Angels and Men, juſtly condemn'd and puniſhed. The Ungodly ſhall then be Sentenc'd, to Everlaſting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels: they ſhall go away into Everlaſting Puniſhment, Mat. 25.41, 46. They ſhall be with the Worm that never dies, be cut aſunder, be caſt into outer darkneſs; have weeping, wailing and gnaſhing of teeth: they ſhall be puniſhed with Everlaſting Deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord and the glory of his power, 2 Theſ. 1.9. This will be the Portion of the Wicked, this is what the Ungodly are haſtening unto. But, do Sinners conſider this? Can they dwell with devouring Fire, with the never dying Worm, with Everlaſting Burnings? When they neglect God, and Chriſt and their Souls, and live Wickedly, they are but treaſuring up Wrath againſt the day of Wrath; they are increaſing their Guilt and Miſery. But alas, ſtupid Sinners walking in the broad way; are little or nothing concerned about their end, and the Eternity they're going to. And as all Ungodly ſhall be rewarded according to their Works, and made Inconceivably and Eternally miſerable; ſo, the more wicked any have been on Earth, the more miſerable they ſhall be in Hell, in the Lake that burns with fire and brimſtone. It ſhall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sydon in the Day of Judgment, than for thoſe obſtinately Impenitent under the Preaching and Miracles of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, Mat. 11.22, 23. Some ſhall receive a greater Damnation, Mat 23.14. All the Impenitent ſhall have great Damnation, but ſome ſhall receive greater Damnation and Puniſhment than others. Tho' all the Saints ſhall be Inconceivably happy and glorious; yet doubtleſs there will be degrees of glory; One Star differing from another Star in glory, ſo alſo is the Reſurrection of the dead, 1 Cor. 15.41, 42. He that delivered Ten Pounds to his Ten Servants, granted greater Preferment to him that gain'd Ten Pounds by his One, than to him that gain'd but Five Pounds by his one, Luk. 19.13.—19. So, tho' all the wicked ſhall be eternally and inconceivably miſerable; yet he that rewards every one according to his works, will make thoſe moſt miſerable who have been moſt wicked.
We may now proceed to ſome brief USE or Application.
From what we have heard, we may Infer,
1. Miſerable will be the Condition of the wicked, notwithſtanding all their Proſperity in this preſent World. Sometimes thoſe who live and die ungodly and impenitent, yet in this World are outwardly very Proſperous, they Increaſe in Riches, their eyes ſtand out with fatneſs, they have more than heart can wiſh: they're ſometimes cloth'd in Purple and fare Sumptuouſly every day. Indeed the wicked are ſometimes ſo incircled with Outward Proſperity and Glory, that the Godly themſelves are apt to envy them; but there's no ground to envy them, for they are in a woful condition. They're under the guilt of Sin, the wrath and curſe of God: they are but treaſuring up of wrath againſt the day of wrath, and the Revelation of Gods righteous Judgment, Rom. 2.5. Now they ſerve Sin and Satan, neglect God, Indulge themſelves often in thoſe curſed Crimes, which they would by no means have known ſo much as to a few of their next Neighbours; but very quickly even in the Judgment day, all their Sins open and ſecret, of Omiſſion and Commiſſion, ſhall be publiſh'd and laid open before the World: and for ſuch their Sins, the wicked ſhall then be ſentenc'd to Eternal Puniſhments in Hell. So that their condition will be Inconceivable miſerable notwithſtanding all the preſent Proſperity they can poſſibly Injoy.
2. Happy will be the State of the Godly, notwithſtanding all their adverſity in this preſent World. In this World, the Godly ſhall have Tribulation, Joh. 16.33. And they often meet with great Tribulation, ſo that if in this world only they had hope, they would be of all Men moſt miſerable. Well, but notwithſtanding all their trouble and adverſity in this World, yet they'll be Inconceivably happy and glorious for ever. For very quickly, they ſhall have a glorious Reſurrection, their vile bodies ſhall be faſhioned like to the glorious body of Christ, Phil. 3.21. All their exerciſe of Grace, their Sincere Duties in this World whether open or ſecret; ſhall in the Judgment day be openly mentioned, commended, and graciouſly rewarded by Chriſt their gracious and glorious Redeemer, their Lord and Maſter, and their Judge. It will then plainly appear, that however they were deſpis'd and contemn'd in the World, yet they ſerv'd the moſt kind and gracious Lord; and that none of their labour for Him was in vain. Then alſo ſhall all their Sufferings for Righteouſneſs ſake, be acknowledged and graciouſly rewarded. Our Lord ſaid to His Diſciples: Matt. 5.11, 12. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evil againſt you falſely for my ſake. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your Reward in Heaven. Rom. 8.18. For I reckon, that the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared to the glory that ſhall be revealed in us.
3. We ſhould firmly believe the Reſurrection of the dead, the coming of Chriſt in Glory to Judge the World, and to reward every Man according to His Works. Theſe things, the Infallible Word of God plainly declares to us, and they are the ſtrongeſt Arguments & Motives to true Piety; therefore we ſhould moſt firmly believe them, and continually realize the truth of them to our own Souls.
4. We ſhould live under the governing Influence of this belief. When Chriſt comes in glory … judge the World, this bright Appearance of His, will work Inconceivable ſhame, horror, terror, confuſion to thoſe who neglect and diſobey him (whom he'll then try, condemn and puniſh before the World) and it will work Inconceivable Joy, Gladneſs, Triumph in thoſe, who in this World ſincerely believ'd in and obey'd Him. Surely, we ſhould live agreably to the firm unwavering belief of theſe things; therefore we ſhould not Indulge or allow our ſelves in any thing now, which we ſhould be aſham'd to have openly publiſh'd before the World in the laſt day: we ſhould do nothing now, which we ſhall be aſham'd to own and ſtand by in the Judgment day. Let us live, as realizing the coming Judgment. If Sinners ſaw Chriſt deſcending from Heaven in Glory, heard the laſt Trumpet Sounding, ſaw the Graves opening and the Dead riſing to be Judged; if Sinners realiz'd theſe things, would they dare to act as now they do? Would they neglect God, and Chriſt, and their own Souls? Would they neglect Prayer & other Duties? Would they cheat and lie, profanely Curſe, Swear and Blaſpheme? Would they haunt Taverns, frequent Evil Company, ſpend their Time in Idleneſs, in Wicked Gaming, Drunkeneſs, Uncleaneſs and other Curſed Practices? Would Sinners do ſuch things as theſe, if they realiz'd the coming Judgment? Doubtleſs they would not. And yet the coming of Chriſt, the raiſing the Dead▪ the rewarding of every Man according to his works; we ſhould account as real and certain, as if we now ſaw them with our eyes: for theſe things ſhall Infallibly come to paſs. Let us believe it, and live accordingly; and therefore never Indulge any Sin of Omiſſion or Commiſſion; but heartily repent of all our Sins, believe in Chriſt, ſubmit to and obey Him, glorifie Him with our Bodies & our Spirits, in all things approve our Hearts and Conſciences to Him. Let us live, as if the laſt Sentence were Sounding in our ears, to the Godly, Come ye Bleſſed; to the Wicked, Depart ye Curſed into everlaſting fire. I ſhall finiſh with, 2 Pet. 3.10, 11. The day of the Lord will come as a theif in the Night, in the which the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat; the Earth alſo and the works that are therein ſhall be burnt up. Seeing then that all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought ye to be in all holy Converſation and Godlineſs.