A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 145 (Question 38 cont.)
SERMON CXLV.
II. THAT the Happineſs of Believers then will be, That they ſhall be Openly Acknowledged and Acquitted. Under theſe two is comprized the whole of that Felicity which derives to them from and by the Tranſaction of that Day, during the management of it. The Acknowledgment ſhall be full, the Acquittance perfect. And all this ſhall be done Openly, in the preſence of Angels, Men and Devils, and that by Chriſt Himſelf the Great Judge. But I ſhall not …eat of theſe two diſtinctly, but give a brief account of the Management of that whole Affair, as it reſpects Chriſt's Redeemed; in which their glorious F…l…city will be diſcovered. And this may be reduced unto Three Heads, viz. The Manner of their being brought into the Judgment. The Proceſs with them in the Judgment; The Honour that ſhall be put upon them during the Proceſs of the Judgment upon the Wicked. Of theſe in order.
1. THE Manner of their being brought into the Judgment. There will be ſomething prepa…tory, in the Morning of that Day, in which their Happineſs will be made wonderfully to appear. Their very coming to their Judgment will be with ſuch Circumſtances, as will give them the greateſt Satisfaction. For,
1. THEY ſhall not come wither in the Quality of Perſons Accuſed and Arraigned: As ſuch who have Crimes laid to their Charge, and are for the preſent under Suſpicion, and ſo ſtand as Priſo…ers at the Ba…, till their innocence be vi…dica…ed, and they be openly diſcharged. Among Men Perſons are not wont to be brought upon their Trial, but upon ſome Accuſation, or preſumption of great Suſpicion; who, tho' Innocent, do yet …or that reaſon count it a Priviledge to clear their Names before Court and Country: And having made their Integrity to appear, do come off with Honour; 'till when there is reproach or infamy lying upon them: And they are brought either from Preſon or Bail, ſtand forth as Criminals, are …d…cted as ſuch, and put upon making their Plea. There will be no ſuch thing with regard to the Godly then; …or will there any token of diſgrace or diſreſpect be put upon them. But,
2. THEY ſhall be brought to the Tribunal with all the Badges of Honour and Favour put upon them. They ſhall ſo appear there, as to know themſelves, and be known by all the World, to be the Redeemed of Chriſt, and Heirs of Eternal Glory. Indeed, they were under a Vail when in this Life, and Men did not know them to be ſuch Perſons; yea, and often they Doubted about themſelves: But now all will be put beyond Doubt. We are therefore told, That they ſhall appear with joy, Jud. 24. And w…h Conſidence, 1 Joh. 2.28. They ſhall come before the Judgment Seat after a Triumphant manner. And here there are more eſpecially theſe Things to be taken notice of,
(1.) THE Glorious Change which poſſeth on their B…d…es at the Reſurrection, belongs to this Preparation. What this is, both with reſpect to thoſe who ſhall then be raiſed, and them that ſhall then be found alive, we have already taken notice of. Theſe are not Priſon-Garments, that are then put upon them, but Robes of Glory. The very Dreſs that Chriſt's Spouſe ſhall then be put into, will ſufficiently demonſtrate the good and joyful Day they are then like to have of it. And will be Caeleſtial; and that will be a witneſs that they are bound for Heaven.
(2.) THE perſected Soul that is re-united to its Body in order to this Judgment si already ſecure of its own Glory. It hath had a particular Judgment already, and been in poſſeſſion of perfect Happineſs, ever ſince it left its Body. It comes from Heaven, where it hath been entertained by Chriſt, and filled with his Preſence, and made to drink of the Rivers of his Pleaſures. It well knows the Sentence it once …ceived, can never be reverſed, and that it comes now, only to have it openly declared: That its Appearance is only to add State to the Majeſty of that Sentence, and cauſe all the World to underſtand what was before done, without their privity. And what an Happineſs is this?
(3.) ALL theſe ſhall be caught up into the Air to meet the Great Judge at his Coming. There will be before hand a Separation made between the Godly and the Wicked, Mat. 25.32. And therein there will be a manifeſtation, to which Company each one belongs. And one thing attending of this Separation, is, that the Godly ſhall go up to meet Jeſus Chriſt, in his Deſcent, and return with him in his toy al Retinue, whiles the Wicked ſhall be left below tremblingly expecting his coming. This we are acquainted with, 1 Theſ. 4.15, 16. For this we ſay unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, ſhall not prevent them which are aſleep. For the Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from heaven with a ſhout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt. And this will be a glorious Meeting, where all of them, arrayed with Garments of Light, ſhall fill up the Train of Heavenly Angels, and give their Attendance upon their Saviour. Oh! the happy Interviews, that there will be, when thoſe bleſſed ones ſhall come into his Presſence on the Way, and be accoſted with his Smiles and E… ces? How full of Heavenly Comfort will … make them? And then to come along … him, as his Friends, Favourites, and A… dants, will be a wonderful Conſolation, and infallible Preſage of their good ſpeed. He is therefore ſaid to come with them, Jud. 14
(4) WHEN the Judge is ſeated upon his Th…, theſe will be placed as his right Hand. Ma…. 29.33. This is another obſervable Separt… which ſhall then be made between theſe … the Wicked, who are to ſtand on his left H…. The one whereof is for a note of Honour, … other, of Diſgrace; the one a ſignal of … good Eſtate, and the other a progno…ick … their miſerable Exit. Our Saviour uſeth … Expreſſions, after the manner of Men, … what Notice will be taken of theſe, before … Proceſs of the Judgment be made; fig…i…g how full of Joy and Delight they ſhall …, from the very Place they ſhall occupy, and what a comfortable Omen it will be of … moſt happy Concluſion.
THE Proceſs with them in the Judgement. Herein alſo they ſhall be very happy: and … wonderful Honour will be done them in it. This is ſet forth by our Saviour Chriſt in … Setence which will then be pronounced upon them, Mat. 25.34. Come ye bleſſed of … Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Every ſp… ble whereof is full of Glory. What ſhall be done in the making way to this Sentence, … Scripture doth not diſtinctly inform us, … therefore we can but conjecture. Wh… … the Sins of God's Children ſhall then be laid upon, is not for us to tell? It is indeed called a … ment, and we are told of the Books being … ed, &c. But theſe things are but Awalog… to the like things among Men, and not to be li… by the meaſures of our Reaſon. Only …is certain, that …s there will be no diſgrace … put upon any of God's ſaved ones, ſo all … be managed to the moſt aſtoniſhing M… tation of the Riches of that Grace, by which they were brought to partake in this … on. Now in this Sentence there is both a … Acknowledgement and Acquittance of …. And there are ſeveral particulars … their Happineſs in this appears.
THE Sentence itſelf; or the th… … he will adjudge them unto: Come, … the Kingdom. Here is all comprehended in this, which can go in to make the enjoy… of it as happy as his Nature is capable of … it there is comprized, a perfect Acq…i… … from all Guilt, and diſcharge from all … and an entire allotment of all Felicity in everlaſting Life. The Kingdom, is that of Glory, and the Security thereof Chriſt … clares to be the Satisfaction of his … here againſt Fear, Luk. 12.32. And … … judgeth them to inherit it. They had … made Heirs of it before, J…m. 2.5. But … they are called to Poſſeſſion, which muſt … compleat all their Hopes, and fill all … Deſires.
2. THE Author of this Sentence; the Mouth …, which it proceeds, and the Authority by which it is pronounced. It is not an Option, …, expreſſion of good Will, but in comes from the Mouth of the Judge, it is the King that faith it; Jeſus Chriſt, who is veſted with … Power in Heaven and Earth; whom his Father hath conſtituted the Judge of that great …, hath given him the Keys of Heaven and …, and the Juriſdiction of Life and Death; it is therefore a Sentence, that will …inly take place and never fail.
3. THE Ground of this Sentence, of that on which it is built; which was prepared for you … the Foundation of the World. And this alſo confirms their Happineſs, & ſhews there how ſurely it derives to them, in that the … Grace of God, laid it in for them. So … whatſoever forfeiture, there was made of it by Man's Apoſtacy, how unworthy ſo…er the Man hath diſcovered himſelf of it, … his men Sins and Follies, he may ſtill be the more ſatisfied, in that it comes in the and ſecure way that can be. It is an Inheri…e, an therefore he is an Heir to it. …not the Purchaſe of his own doings, but … which he was born to, in the new Birth; … was invended for him from the Beginning; … his by eternal Deſignation; and in time … was provided: it was forfeited by Sin, but … Chriſt was ſent by his Father on this …, & be came into the World to procure … them, and then left the World, & went to … ſtill to make it ready; & hath ſent his … Spirit to apply this Title to them, by making them the Children of God through Faith in … Chriſt. In all of which will be declared … & everlaſting Love of God to them. … ho… happy will they appear to be?
4. THE Teſtimony, which with the Sentence he … of them; which is expreſt, Mat. 25.35, … for I was an h…ngred, and ye gave me meat: … …hi…ſly, and ye gave me drink: I was a …, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye … me: I was ſiek, and ye viſited me: I … …iſon, and ye came unto me. Not that …ll be the Matter of their Juſtification … …ir…ance at that Day; as ſome by miſ…. …dge. For the Title to the Inheritance … them before they did any of theſe …, and was given to them freely. But as … a reward of Grace promiſed in the … Covenant to the faith f…l Services of God's Children, ſo, not only will it be introductory … Recompenſe, but no little part of it, … then the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, will declare … approbation of, and ſignify, how particu… he regarded, and recorded, every act of … to him, which they had done; when e…ct of Faith, Holineſs, Integrity, ſhall … Remark; when the moſt ſecret Ser… …one to him, ſhall be openly rewarded; … the leaſt expreſſion of Love to him, in … …oreſt of his Members, ſhall be rewarded, … Cup of cold Water, given to a Diſciple un… … Title, ſhall not be loſt. And how ho…ble and comfortable will it be, to have thoſe things for which they were ce…plied, reviled, and counted Hypoc…e…, by a wicked World, teſtified unto, by the Judge himſelf, to have been upright, ſincere, and very acceptable to him, and that their Labour hath not been in vain.
5. THE manner of pronouncing this Sentence, will alſo further confirm their Happineſs: And that in with the ſweeteſt Compollation; Come ye ble… of my Father. Surely they ſhall feel the Happineſs of this Word in the Ex…aly it ſhall put their …ouls into: When together with the …rely …jeſty … Judge, the moſt winning Characters of Love will be written upon his C…eve, and Grace ſhall be poured forth … Lips: When with moſt alluring Con…dations he ſhall ſay, Come, Ariſe, and come away, you that have followed me in the Regeneration; you that have forſaken all for me, and not been aſhamed of me in the midſt of a ſinful and adulterous Generation; Come along with me to my Kingdom, and ſit down with me upon my Throne.
6. THEIR Happineſs will be enbounced by the Time and Place when and where this Sentence ſhall be pronounced. It ſhall be in the great and laſt Day, before the Supream Tribunal when a final Iſſue ſhall be put to all the Affairs of Time, and the Sentence of the Judge ſhall confirm their Eternal State irreverſibly. When this ſhall be pronounced in the Preſence and Audience of all the glorious Angels of Light, and all the Legions of Darkneſs, and the whole Progeny of Mankind that have ever been in the World, in that full Audience, this Proclamation ſhall be made concerning them. With this therefore our Saviour Chriſt encourageth us to ſerve him faithfully in this Life, Mat. 6.4. Thy Father which ſeeth in ſecret, himſelf ſhall reward thee openly. Luk. 12.8.
7. THEIR Happineſs in this, will be yet further ſet off, by the contrary Sentence that ſhall be pronounced, on them that are on his left Hand. Account whereof we have, in Mat. 25.41. Depart from me, ye curſed, into everlaſting fire prepered for the devil and his angels. It will be a wonderful foil to the Felicity of Believers, to hear themſelves ſo ſolemnly bleſſed by Chriſt, knowing that thoſe whom he bleſſeth, are bleſſed indeed, when they ſhall hear the other ſo dreadfully curſed. And the more glorious will it appear to them, and raviſhing, when the diſtinguiſhing Grace of God will ſhine forth in it, in making ſuch a difference between thoſe who were once in the ſame Condemnation. Thus ſhall the Godly ſtand upright in the Judgment: All the falſe Charges and Calumnies with which they have been aſperſed, be wiped off; their Names vindicated; their Accuſers ſilenc'd; thoſe that hated them be confounded; and they themſelves joyfully waiting, for the happy execution of this bleſſed Sentence upon them, in their being removed, to the Eternal Kingdom.
3. THE Honour that ſhall be put upon them, during the proceſs of the Judgment upon the Wicked. As the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, ſo their honourable Judgment ſhall firſt paſs, which the Wicked ſhall look upon, and trembli…gly expect …heir own Doom; which will next be proceeded unto. Which how terrible it will be, is to be …ead in the Sentence which will proceed upon it. For, or in order to which there muſt be a Proceſs, and how long this will laſt, we are not cold, and may not determine; only it is certain, that till this be over, the Court will nor break up, nor the Judge return to his Kingdom; till when the Righteous muſt alſto …ry; during which, there is alſo a ſpecial note of Dignity and Glory, which he will confer upon them, viz. to be Aſſeſſ…rs with him in judging the Word. We have ſuch a ſtrange expreſſ on uſed, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3. Do ye not know that the ſaints ſhall judge the world? Know ye not that we ſhall judge angels? Where by Saints we are to underſtand ſuch as are ſo, not only by external Denomination, but a true inward Sanctification. Of whom it is ſaid, Pſal. 140 ult. This honour have all his ſaints. Which that we may rightly underſtand, let us obſerve theſe low Concluſions,
1. THAT there muſt be nothing of the perſonal Honour be…ging to Chriſt as Ju…ge, given to the Saints. It belongs to him alone, to Cite all to appear before him, to Arraign them at his Bar, to Examine them, and paſs the …al Sentence upon them. This Power belongs originally to God, and is a…mically derived to Chriſt, by Commi… from his Father, Joh. 5.22. For the Father judgeth no man: but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Nor is a meer Creature ſit for, or capable of it: To allow any thing of this to Saints, would derogate from the Glory of Chriſt.
2. THERE are Thrones provided for them, un which they ſhall now be made to ſit, together with Chriſt, while be judgeth …icked Men & Devils. We read in Luk. 22.29, 30. And I appoint un to you a kingdom, at my Father hath appointed unto me: That ye may eat & drink at my table, … ſit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of …el. And Mat. 19.28. I ſhall not meddle …th their Interpretation, who apply theſe … to the Millennium; and ſuppoſe they may … properly attributed to the great & general Judgment, and point us to the honourable E…ertainment of the Children of God in that …, who, during the Management of what … to be done, after their perſonal Acquittance, … advanced to the Dignity of thus ſitting with Chriſt after a magnificent manner.
3. THE Saints ſhall be interreſſed in the Judgment of the Ungodly Men and Devils. It would be too big a Catachteſis put upon the W…d, Judging, if we ſhould only interpret it of their honourable Treatment during this Tranfaction. There muſt therefore be ſomething put upon them, which may, in a ſober ſen…, bear the Notion of it in a …ſubordinate way. The Judge then will make ſome Improvement of them, in his Judging the Wicked; they ſhall not be meer Aſſeſſors and Spectators, but ſhall have a real Concern in the Judgment it ſelf. And I ſuppoſe that there are theſe Things, which may be ſafely, aſſerted … Account. viz.
(1.) THEY ſhall judge the World in and by Chriſt the great Judge. Chriſt and the …, do make but one myſtical Body, whereof … is the Head, and they are the Members: and what the Head doth, that the whole Man is ſaid to do. And certainly, it will be a … Honour reflected upon them, that their … and Saviour manageth this whole Affair; that the King doth it, the Queen ſitting … . But this is not all in this Matter. And therefore,
(2.) THEY ſhall judge the World by this …. The Lives which the Saints have led in this World, will convince and condemn the World, Thus we read of Neah, Heb. 11.7. By … Neah being warned of God of things … yet, moved with …r…r, prepa…ed an ark for … Javing of his houſe, by the which be co… the world, and became heir of the righ… which is by faith. When Men are brought … on their Trial, and Enquity made, what … they have to the Kingdom, and what … there is, why theſe ſhould be acq…ie…ed … glorified, while thoſe are condemned …-ſtroyed; and the Lives of the one ſort, … againſt the Lives of the other. The equity of the Proceeding, will thus be exemplified … manifeſted, and the Ungodly forever …. It will be made to appear, that theſe … ed in Chriſt, repeated from dead Works, accepted the Terms of the Goſpel, ſou…d ſind with an upright Heart, kept themſelves … the Sins of the Times and Places … lived in, endured Scorn and Perſecution, … the Name of Chriſt; but that the … not ſo, but deſpiſed offered Grace, reamph… on Salvation, hared to be reformed, lived … died in Impenitency, and ſcoffed at … that would not run the ſame Pace in … that they did. This the Judge will …, Me…. 25.35, 42.
(3.) THEY ſhall judge thou by their. App… tion of the Sentence of the Judge. They … fully aſſent to the Righteouſneſs and … of it; applaud the Holineſs and … of Chriſt in it. They will neithes … them, not be grieved at the ſevere D… ſed upon them, but commend and … Judge on account of it. Thus are … in, Rev. 15.3. And they … ſome of … the ſervant of God, and the ſong of the … ſaying, Greet and …ve…s are … Lord God almighty, juſt and … one … thou King of ſaines. Which, though … Prophecy, it aims at ſomething … is borrowed from the great Judgment, … therefore are called to praiſe the … this account, Pſal. 46.11, &c. When the … ſhall paſs the terrible Sentence; they … Amen, and ſhout for Joy.
(4.) THEY ſhall judge them by their … ing …ver them. It is a Day wherein the Children of God ſhall have a perfect … all their Enemies. As theſe … … ed of wer… them, and rate their Judges, and … braggs how they had trodden them …, now their torn will come, and they … put their ſort upon the necks of their pr… … ſeries, and turn …l… their Ta…nts upon … Iſal. 58.10. Mi…. 7 …, &c. And though …ere are ſome beginning, of theſe things, …ich ſometimes fall out in this World, yet … great Accompliſhment of them will be in … Day.
(5.) ALL the Judgments which the Saints paſſed upon the World, when they were here, ſ…all th…n … …n and c…nt…med by the great Judgment … th…t Day. There are a great many … wherein they ſo do. G…dly Miniſters, … …re faithful in their Work, do often ſo…dy declare God's Threatnings againſt Sin… would not repent. Godly Parents … warn their ungodly Children … Wrath of God, which they expoſed … unto. Pious Neighbours would the … Sons to tell their loud Neighbours … was like to be the end of the Courſes they …llowed. And whatſoever they do on this …, it is, ex Off…cia…, …s they are the World's Judges. And all this will be comfirmed and … in the high Court, and the …d Jeſus … will paſs the ſame Beatence upon them, … …is remembrance. Hence that, Ezek. …. How thou ſon of men, …ais then …ge. …ly city? …en, thou ſhall ſeen her all her …. Thus will that Promiſe be ac…ed in, 2. Tim. 2.12. If we Ju…f…r, we … …foreign with him … we deny him, he alſo …word …s. And that Prediction take Place, … 14. Like ſteep they are laid in the … d…b ſhall feed on them; and the upright … dominion over them in the morning, … their beauty ſhall conſume in the grave from ….
…. WHAT Admirable Conſolation is …eve … to all Believers? And let the Fore … theſe things, ſweeten your Meditations …l-m…ke you to Love with Chriſt's Appear… The Conſideration of the great Judg… … very awful. 2 Cor. 5.10, 11. But the … of God have abundant Occaſion to … it with great Delight: To ſit down, … over the ſpot of Time before us, and … the caſt…ing Day, when the great … ſhall Sound, and the drowſy Duſt of … ſhall …. When the holy Angels … …her together all rational Beings: … …emendous Judge, ſhall come from …. Heavens, cloathed with awful …, and take his Throne, and Proclama… … be made to all to come and receive … …ting Doom. Now to think, I … be arrayed in Garments of Praiſe, … meet my Judge, who is alſo my Sa… … with him to the great Solemni… placed with Honour on his right Hand; … ſay with greateſt ſweetneſs, Come …, R…docm…d with …y Blood, Sanctified …, Loved and Choſen from E…er…ty by … Ariſe, and come away: Come and … of all the Glories of the Kingdom: Come and live with me, and lie in my Embraces for ever: Well done g…od …nd and faithful Servant, enter into the Joy of thy Lord: Come ſit down on a Throne with me now, and then go home to my Palace and live with me for ever. And is not this a Day to be wiſhed for? One would think it ſhould make you to cry out in Extaſy, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. In the mean while, whatſoever Calumnies, hard Cenſures, and unjuſt Condemnations you meet with in and from a ſinful Generation, let not your Hearts be troubled at it, but look over to this Day, and Contemplate the better Judgment you ſhall find upon it; and Comfort your ſelves with theſe Things.
[JUNE 4. 1700.]