The great preparatives to the Saint's Rest.
§ 1. The happiness of Christians in having a way open into paradise.
There are four things which principally prepare the way to enter into
it; § 2, 3. particularly, (1.) The glorious appearing of Christ; § 4.
(2.) The general resurrection: § 5-8. (3.) The last judgment; § 9, 10.
and, (4.) The saint's coronation; § 11. Transition to the subject of
the next chapter.
§ 1. The passage of paradise is not now so blocked up, as when the law
and curse reigned. Wherefore finding, _beloved Christians, a new and
living way consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, the
flesh of Christ, by which_ we may with _boldness, enter into the
holiest_, I shall _draw near with fuller assurance_:[65] And finding the
_flaming sword_ removed, shall look again into the paradise of our God:
And because I know that this is no _forbidden fruit_, and withal that
_it is good for food, and pleasant to the_ spiritual _eyes, and a tree
to be desired to make one_ truly _wise_ and happy; I shall through the
assistance of the Spirit, _take and eat thereof_ myself, _and give_ to
you, according to my power, that you may _eat_. The _porch_ of this
_temple_ is exceeding glorious, and _the gate of it is called
Beautiful_. Here are four things, as the four corners of this porch.
Here is the most glorious coming and appearance of the Son of God;—that
great work of Jesus Christ in raising our bodies from the dust, and
uniting them again to the soul;—the public and solemn process at their
judgment, where they shall first themselves be acquitted and justified,
and then with Christ judge the world;—together with their solemn
coronation, and receiving the kingdom.
[Footnote 65] Hebrews x, 19, 20, 22.
§ 2. (1.) The most glorious coming and appearance of the Son of God may
well be reckoned into his people's glory. For their sake he came into
the world, suffered, died, rose, ascended, and for their sake it is that
he will return. To this end _will Christ come again to receive his
people unto himself, that where he is, there they may be also_.[66] The
bridegroom's departure was not upon divorce. He did not leave us with a
purpose to return no more. He hath left pledges enough to assure us of
the contrary. We have his word, his many promises, his sacraments, which
_shew forth his death till he come_;[67] and his Spirit, to direct,
sanctify, and comfort, till he return. We have frequent tokens of love
from him, to shew us, he forgets not his promise, nor us. We daily
behold the forerunners of his coming, foretold by himself. We see _the
fig-tree putting forth leaves_, and therefore _know that summer is
nigh_.[68] Though the riotous world _say, my Lord delayeth his
coming_;[69] yet let the saints _lift up their heads, for their
redemption draweth nigh_.[70] Alas, Fellow Christians, what should we do
if our Lord should not return? What a case are we here left in? What,
leave us _in the midst of wolves_,[71] and _among lions_,[72] _a
generation of vipers_,[73] and here forget us? Did he buy us so dear,
and then leave us sinning, suffering, groaning, dying daily, and will he
come no more to us? It cannot be.—This is like our unkind dealing with
Christ, who when we feel ourselves warm in the world, care not for
coming to him: But this is not like Christ's dealing with us. He that
would come to suffer, will surely come to triumph. He that would come to
purchase, will surely come to possess. Where else were all our hopes?
What were become of our faith, our prayers, our tears, and our waiting?
What were all the patience of the saints worth to them? Were we not left
_of all men most miserable_?[74] Christians, hath Christ made us forsake
all the world, and be forsaken of all the world? to hate all, and be
hated of all? and all this for _him_, that we might have _him_, instead
of all? And will he, think you, after all this, forget us, and forsake
us himself? Far be such a thought from our hearts!—But why staid he not
with his people while he was here? Why? Was not the work on earth done?
Must he not take possession of glory in our behalf? Must he not
intercede with the Father, plead his sufferings, be filled with the
Spirit to send forth, receive authority, and subdue his enemies? Our
abode here is short. If he had staid on earth, what would it have been
to enjoy him for a few days, and then die? He hath more in heaven to
dwell among; even the spirits of many generations. He will have us live
by faith, and not by sight.
[Footnote 66] John xiv, 3.
[Footnote 67] 1 Corinthians xi, 26.
[Footnote 68] Matthew xxiv, 32.
[Footnote 69] Matthew xxiv, 48.
[Footnote 70] Luke xxi, 28.
[Footnote 71] Matthew x, 16.
[Footnote 72] Psalm lvii, 4.
[Footnote 73] Matthew iii, 7.
[Footnote 74] 1 Corinthians xv, 19.
§ 3. O, Fellow Christians, what a day will that be, when we, who have
been kept prisoners by sin, by sinners, by the grave, shall be fetched
out by the Lord himself? It will not be such a coming as his first was,
in poverty and contempt, to be spit upon, and buffeted, and crucified
again. He will not come, O careless world! to be slighted and neglected
by you any more. Yet that coming wanted not its glory. If _the heavenly
host_, for the celebration of his nativity, must _praise God_;[75] with
what shoutings will angels and saints _at that day_ proclaim _glory to
God, peace and good will towards men_? If a star must lead men from
remote parts of the world _to come to worship_ a child in a manger;[76]
how will the glory of his next appearing constrain all the world to
acknowledge his sovereignty? If, _riding on an ass_, he enter Jerusalem
with hosannas,[77] with what peace and glory will he come toward the New
Jerusalem? If, when he was in _the form of a servant_,[78] they cry out,
_What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey
him?_[79] What will they say, when _they shall see him coming in his
glory_, and the heavens and the earth obey him? _Then shall all the
tribes of the earth mourn._[80] To think and speak of that day with
horror, doth well beseem the impenitent sinner, but ill the believing
saint. Shall the wicked behold him and cry, "Yonder is he whose blood we
neglected, whose grace we resisted, whose counsels we refused, whose
government we cast off!" And shall not the saints, with inconceivable
gladness, cry, "Yonder is he whose blood redeemed us, whose Spirit
cleansed us, whose law did govern us, in whom we trusted, and he hath
not deceived our trust; for whom we long waited, and now we see we have
not waited in vain! O cursed corruption! that would have had us turn to
the world, and present things, and say, _Why should we wait for the Lord
any longer?_[81] Now we see, _Blessed are all they that wait for
him_."[82] And now, Christians, should we not put up that petition
heartily, _Thy kingdom come? The Spirit and the bride say come: And let
him that heareth_, and readeth, _say, Come_. Our Lord himself says,
_Surely I come quickly. Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus._[83]
[Footnote 75] Luke ii, 13, 14.
[Footnote 76] Matthew ii, 2.
[Footnote 77] Matthew xxi, 5-9.
[Footnote 78] Philippians ii, 7.
[Footnote 79] Matthew viii, 27.
[Footnote 80] Matthew xxiv, 30.
[Footnote 81] 2 Kings vi, 33.
[Footnote 82] Isaiah xxx, 18.
[Footnote 83] Revelation xxii, 17, 20.
§ 4. (2.) Another thing that leads to paradise is, that great work of
Jesus Christ, in raising our bodies from the dust, and uniting them
again unto the soul. A wonderful effect of infinite power and love! Yea,
wonderful indeed, says unbelief, if it be true. What, shall all these
scattered bones and dust become a man?—Let me with reverence plead for
God, for that power whereby I hope to arise. What beareth the massy body
of the earth? What limits the vast ocean of the waters? Whence is that
constant ebbing and flowing of the tides? How many times bigger than all
the earth is the sun, that glorious body of light? Is it not as easy to
raise the dead, as to make heaven, and earth, and all of nothing?—Look
not on the dead bones, and dust, and difficulty, but at the promise.
Contentedly commit these carcasses to a prison, that shall not long
contain them. Let us _lie down in peace_, and take our rest; it will not
be an everlasting night, nor endless sleep. If _unclothing_ be the thing
thou fearest; it is that thou mayest have better _clothing_.[84] If to
be turned out of doors be the thing thou fearest; remember, that when
the _earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved_, thou hast _a
building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens_.[85] Lay down cheerfully this lump of _corruption_; thou shalt
undoubtedly receive it again in _incorruption_. Lay down freely this
_terrestrial_, this _natural body_; thou shalt receive it again a
_celestial_, a _spiritual body_. Though thou lay it down with great
_dishonor_; thou shalt receive it in _glory_. Though thou art separated
from it through _weakness_; it shall be raised again in mighty _power.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed._[86] _The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then they
which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air._[87] Triumph now, O Christian, in
these promises; thou shalt shortly triumph in their performance. _This
is the day which the Lord will make, we shall rejoice and be glad in
it._[88] The grave, that could not keep our Lord, cannot keep us. He
arose for us, and by the same power will cause us to arise. _For if we
believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him._[89] Let us never look at the grave,
but let us see the resurrection beyond it. Yea, let us _be steadfast,
immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we
know our labor is not in vain in the Lord_.[90]
[Footnote 84] 2 Corinthians v, 4.
[Footnote 85] 2 Corinthians v, 1.
[Footnote 86] 1 Corinthians xv, 42-44, 52.
[Footnote 87] 1 Thessalonians iv, 16, 17.
[Footnote 88] Psalm cxviii, 24.
[Footnote 89] 1 Thessalonians iv, 14.
[Footnote 90] 1 Corinthians xv, 58.
§ 5. (3.) Part of this prologue to the saint's rest, is the public and
solemn process at their judgment, where they shall first themselves be
acquitted and justified, and then with Christ judge the world. Young and
old, of all estates and nations, that ever were from the creation to
that day, must here come, and receive their doom. O terrible! O joyful
day! Terrible to those that have forgot the coming of their Lord! Joyful
to the saints, whose waiting and hope was to see this day! Then shall
the world _behold the goodness and severity of God; on them which
perish, severity; but_ to his chosen, _goodness_.[91] Every one must
_give an account of his stewardship_.[92] Every talent of time, health,
wit, mercies, afflictions, means, warnings, must be reckoned for. The
sins of youth, those which they had forgotten, and their secret sins,
shall all be laid open before angels and men. They shall see the Lord
Jesus, whom they neglected, whose word they disobeyed, whose ministers
they abused, whose servants they hated, now sitting to judge them. Their
own consciences shall cry out against them, and call to their
remembrance all their misdoings. Which way will the wretched sinner
look? Who can conceive the terrible thoughts of his heart? Now the world
cannot help him; his old companions cannot; the saints neither can, nor
will. Only the Lord Jesus can; but, there is the misery, he will not.
Time was, _sinner_, when Christ would, and you would not; now, fain
would you, and he will not. All in vain, to cry _to the mountains, and
rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth upon
the throne_;[93] for thou hast the Lord of mountains and rocks for thine
enemy, whose voice they will obey, and not thine. _I charge thee
therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead, at his appearing, and his kingdom_,[94] that thou
set thyself seriously to ponder on these things.
[Footnote 91] Romans xi, 21.
[Footnote 92] Luke xvi, 2.
[Footnote 93] Revelation vi, 16.
[Footnote 94] 2 Timothy iv, 1.
§ 6. But why tremblest thou, O humble gracious soul? He that would not
lose one Noah in a common deluge, nor overlook one Lot in Sodom; nay,
that could do nothing till he went forth; will he forget thee at that
day? _The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and
to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished._[95] He
knoweth how to make the same day the greatest terror to his foes, and
yet the greatest joy to his people. _There is no condemnation to them
that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
spirit. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?_ Shall the
law? _The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made them free
from the law of sin and death._ Or shall conscience? _The Spirit itself
beareth witness with their spirit, that they are the children of God. It
is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth?_[96] If our Judge
condemn us not, who shall? He that said to the adulterous woman, _Hath
no man condemned thee? Neither do I_;[97] will say to us, more
faithfully than Peter to him, _though all men deny thee_, or condemn
thee, _I will not_.[98] Having _confessed me before men, thee will I
confess also before my Father who is in heaven_.[99]
[Footnote 95] 2 Peter ii, 9.
[Footnote 96] Romans viii, 1, 2, 16, 33, 34.
[Footnote 97] John viii, 10, 11.
[Footnote 98] Matthew xxvi, 33, 35.
[Footnote 99] Matthew x, 32.
§ 7. What inexpressible joy, that our dear Lord, who loveth our souls,
and whom our souls love, shall be our judge! Will a man fear to be
judged by his dearest friend? Or a wife by her own husband? Christian,
did Christ come down and suffer, and weep, and bleed, and die for thee,
and will he now condemn thee? Was he judged, condemned, and executed in
thy stead, and now will he condemn thee himself? Hath he done most of
the work already, in redeeming, regenerating, sanctifying, and
preserving thee, and will he now undo all again? Well then, let the
terror of that day be never so great, surely our Lord can mean no ill to
us in all. Let it make the devils tremble, and the wicked tremble; but
it shall make us leap for joy. It must needs affect us deeply with the
sense of our mercy and happiness, to see most of the world tremble with
terror, while we triumph with joy; to hear them doomed to everlasting
flames, when we are proclaimed heirs to the kingdom; to see our
neighbors that lived in the same towns, came to the same congregation,
dwelt in the same houses, and were esteemed more honorable in the world
than ourselves, now by the Searcher of hearts eternally separated. This,
with the great magnificence and dreadfulness of the day, the Apostle
pathetically expresses: _It is a righteous thing with God, to recompense
tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled, rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his
mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his
saints, and to be admired in all them that believe in that day_.[100]
[Footnote 100] 2 Thessalonians i, 6-10.
§ 8. Yet more, we shall be so far from the dread of that judgment, that
ourselves shall become the judges. Christ will take his people, as it
were, into commission with himself, and they shall sit and approve his
righteous judgment. _Do ye not know that the saints will judge the
world?_ Nay, _know ye not that we shall judge angels_?[101] Were it not
for the word of Christ that speaks it, this advancement would seem
incredible and the language arrogant. _Even Enoch, the seventh from
Adam, prophesied of this, 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 ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly
sinners have spoken against him._[102] Thus shall the saints be honored,
_and the upright shall have dominion in the morning_.[103] O that the
careless world _were wise, that they understood this, that they would
consider their latter end_![104] That they would be now of the same mind
as they will be, when they shall see _the heavens pass away with a great
noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the
works that are therein, burnt up_! When all shall be on fire about their
ears, and all earthly glory consumed. For _the heavens and the earth,
which are now, are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and
perdition of ungodly men. Seeing then that all these things shall be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of
the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?_[105]
[Footnote 101] 1 Corinthians vi, 2, 3.
[Footnote 102] Jude 14, 15.
[Footnote 103] Psalm xlix, 14.
[Footnote 104] Deuteronomy xxxii, 29.
[Footnote 105] 2 Peter iii, 7-12.
§ 9. (4.) The last preparative to the saint's rest, is their solemn
coronation, and receiving the kingdom. For, as Christ, their Head, is
anointed both King and Priest; so under him are his people _made unto
God_ both _kings and priests, to reign_, and to offer praises for
ever.[106] The _crown of righteousness, which was laid up for them,
shall by the Lord the righteous Judge be given them at that day_.[107]
They have been _faithful unto death, and therefore he will give them a
crown of life_.[108] And according to the improvement of _their talents_
here, so shall _their rule_ and dignity be enlarged.[109] They are not
dignified with empty titles, but real dominion. Christ _will grant them
to sit with him in his throne_;[110] _and will give them power over the
nations, even as he received of his Father; and he will give them the
morning star_.[111] The Lord himself will give them possession with
these applauding expressions: _Well done, 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_.[112]
[Footnote 106] Revelation v, 10.
[Footnote 107] 2 Timothy iv, 8.
[Footnote 108] Revelation ii, 10.
[Footnote 109] Matthew xxv, 21, 23.
[Footnote 110] Revelation iii, 21.
[Footnote 111] Revelation ii, 26-28.
[Footnote 112] Matthew xxv, 23.
§ 10. And with this solemn and blessed proclamation shall he enthrone
them; _Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world_.[113] Every word full of life and
joy.—_Come_—this is the holding forth of the golden sceptre, to warrant
our approach unto this glory. Come now as near as you will; fear not the
Bethshemite's judgment; for the enemy is utterly _abolished_.[114] This
is not such a _Come_ as we were wont to hear, _Come, take up your cross,
and follow me_.[115] Though that was sweet, yet this much more.—_Ye
blessed_—Blessed indeed, when that mouth shall so pronounce us! For
though the world hath accounted us accursed, and we have been ready to
account ourselves so; yet certainly _those that he blesseth, are
blessed; and those whom he curseth, only are cursed, and his blessing
cannot be reversed_.[116]——_Of my Father_—Blessed in the Father's love,
as well as the Son's, for they _are one_.[117] The Father hath testified
his love in their election, donation to Christ, sending of Christ, and
accepting his ransom, as the Son hath also testified his.—_Inherit_—No
longer _bondmen_, nor _servants_ only, nor _children under age_, who
_differ not_ in possession, but only in title, _from servants_.[118] But
now we are _heirs of the kingdom_,[119] _and joint heirs with
Christ_.[120]—_The kingdom_—No less than the kingdom? Indeed, to be
_King of kings, and Lord of lords_, is our Lord's own proper title: But
to be _kings, and reign with him_,[121] is ours. The enjoyment of this
kingdom is, as the light of the sun, each have the whole, and the rest
never the less.—_Prepared for you_—God is the _Alpha_, as well as the
_Omega_, of our blessedness. Eternal love hath laid the foundation. He
prepared the kingdom for us, and then prepared us for the kingdom. This
is the preparation of his counsel and decree; for the execution whereof
Christ was yet to make a further preparation—_For you_—Not for believers
only in general, who, without individual persons, are nobody; but for
you personally.—_From the foundation of the world._—Not only from the
promise after Adam's fall, but from eternity.
[Footnote 113] Matthew xxv, 34.
[Footnote 114] Ephesians ii, 15.
[Footnote 115] Matthew xvi, 24.
[Footnote 116] Numbers xxii, 6, xxiii, 20.
[Footnote 117] John x, 30.
[Footnote 118] Galatians iv, 1-7.
[Footnote 119] James ii, 5.
[Footnote 120] Romans viii, 17.
[Footnote 121] Revelation xix, 16. xx, 6.
§ 11. Thus we have seen the Christian safely landed in paradise, and
conveyed honorably to his rest. Now let us a little further, in the next
chapter, view those mansions, consider their privileges, and see whether
there be any glory like unto this glory.