Chapter II: Part 2

§ 8. (4.) The principal part of this rest, is our nearest enjoyment of God the chief good. And here, reader, wonder not if I be at a loss; and if my apprehensions receive but little of that which is in my expressions. If _it did not appear_, to the beloved disciple, _what we shall be_, but only in general, that _when Christ shall appear, we shall be like him_,[15] no wonder if I know little. When I know so little of God, I cannot much know what it is to enjoy him. If I know so little of spirits, how little of the Father of spirits, or the state of my own soul, when advanced to the enjoyment of him? I stand and look upon an heap of ants, and see them all with one view; they know not me, my being, nature, or thoughts, though I am their fellow-creature; how little then must we know of the great Creator, though he with one view clearly beholds us all? A glimpse the saints _behold as in a glass_;[16] which makes us capable of some poor, dark apprehensions of what we shall behold in glory. If I should tell a worldling what the holiness and spiritual joys of the saints on earth are, he cannot know; for grace cannot be clearly known without grace; how much less could he conceive it, should I tell him of this glory? But to the saints I may be somewhat more encouraged to speak; for grace gives them a dark knowledge and slight taste of glory. If men and angels should study to speak the blessedness of that state in one word, what could they say beyond this, that it is the nearest enjoyment of God? O the full joys offered to a believer in that one sentence of Christ, _Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me_.[17] Every word full of life and joy. If the queen of Sheba had cause to say of Solomon's glory, _Happy are thy men, happy are thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom_;[18] then sure they that stand continually before God, and see his glory, and the glory of the Lamb, are more than happy. To them will Christ _give to eat of the tree of life_; and _to eat of the hidden manna_: yea, he will _make them pillars in the temple of God, and they shall go no more out; and he will write upon them the name of his God, and the name of the city of his God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from his God, and he will write upon them his new name_; yea, more, if more may be, he _will grant them to sit with him in his throne. These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them: The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes._[19] O blind, deceived world! Can you shew us such a glory? This is the city of our God, where _the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. The glory of God shall lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. These sayings are faithful and true, and the things which must shortly be done._[20] And now we say, as Mephibosheth, _let_ the world _take all, forasmuch as our Lord will come in peace_.[21] _Rejoice_ therefore _in the Lord, O ye righteous_, and say with his servant David, _the Lord is the portion of mine inheritance: The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore._[22] What presumption would it have been, once to have thought or spoke of such a thing, if God had not spoken it before us? I durst not have thought of the saint's preferment in this life, as scripture sets it forth, had it not been the express truth of God. How indecent to talk of being _Sons of God—speaking to him—having fellowship with him—dwelling in him and he in us_;[23] if this had not been God's own language? How much less durst we have once thought of _shining forth as the sun_—of being _joint heirs with Christ_—of _judging the world_—of _sitting on Christ's throne_—of being _one in him and the Father_;[24] if we had not all this from the mouth, and under the hand, of God? _But hath he said, and shall he not do it? Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?_[25] Yes, as the Lord God is true, _thus shall it be done to the man whom_ Christ _delighteth to honor_.[26] Be of good cheer, Christian, the time is near, when God and thou shalt be near, and as near as thou canst well desire. Thou shalt dwell in his family. Is that enough? It is better to _be a door-keeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness_.[27] Thou shalt ever stand before him, about his throne, in the room with him, in his presence-chamber. Wouldst thou yet be nearer? Thou shalt be his child, and he thy Father; thou shalt be an heir of his kingdom; yea more, the spouse of his Son. And what more canst thou desire? Thou shalt be a member of the body of his Son; he shall be thy head; thou shalt be one with him, who is one with the Father, as he himself hath desired for thee of his Father, _that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me_.[28]

[Footnote 15] 1 John iii, 2.

[Footnote 16] 2 Corinthians iii, 18.

[Footnote 17] John xvii, 24.

[Footnote 18] Kings x, 8.

[Footnote 19] Revelation ii, 7, 17. iii, 12, 21. vii, 14, 15, 17.

[Footnote 20] Revelation xxi, 24. xxii, 3, 4, 6.

[Footnote 21] 2 Samuel xix, 30.

[Footnote 22] Psalm xxxi, 1. xvi, 5, 6, 8, 11.

[Footnote 23] 1 John iii, 1. Genesis xviii, 27. 1 John i, 3. iv, 16.

[Footnote 24] Matthew xiii, 43. Romans viii, 17. 1 Corinthians vi, 2. Revelation iii, 21. John xvii, 21.

[Footnote 25] Numbers xxiii, 19.

[Footnote 26] Esther vi, 11.

[Footnote 27] Psalm lxxxvi, 10.

[Footnote 28] John xvii, 21-23.

§ 9. (5.) We must add that this rest contains a sweet and constant action of all the powers of the soul and body in this enjoyment of God. It is not the rest of a stone, which ceaseth from all motion when it attains the centre.—This body shall be so changed, that it shall no more be flesh and blood, which _cannot inherit the kingdom of God; but a spiritual body. We sow not that body that shall be, but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body._[29] If grace makes a Christian differ so much from what he was, as to say, _I am not the man I was_; how much more will glory make us differ? As much as a body spiritual, above the sun in glory, exceeds these frail, noisome, diseased lumps of flesh, so far shall our senses exceed those we now possess. Doubtless as God advanceth our senses, and enlargeth our capacity, so will he advance the happiness of those senses, and fill up with himself all that capacity. Certainly the body should not be raised up and continued, if it should not share in the glory. As it hath shared in the obedience and sufferings, so shall it also in the blessedness. As Christ bought the whole man, so shall the whole partake of the everlasting benefits of the purchase. O blessed employment of a glorified body! To stand before the throne of God and the Lamb, and to sound forth for ever, _Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing; for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God kings and priests. Alleluia; salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God. Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth._ O Christians! this is the blessed rest; a rest, as it were, without rest; for _they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come_.[30]—And if the body shall be thus employed, oh, how shall the soul be taken up! As its powers and capacities are greatest, so its actions are strongest, and its enjoyments sweetest. As the bodily senses have their proper action, whereby they receive and enjoy their objects, so does the soul in its own action enjoy its own object, by knowing, remembering, loving, and delightful joying. This is the soul's employment. By these eyes it sees, and by these arms it embraces.

[Footnote 29] 1 Corinthians xv, 50, 44, 37, 38.

[Footnote 30] Revelation iv, 11. v, 12, 9, 10. xix, 1, 6. iv, 8.

§ 10. Knowledge of itself is very desirable. As far as the rational soul exceeds the sensitive, so far the delights of a philosopher, in discovering the secrets of nature, and knowing the mystery of sciences, exceed the delights of the glutton, the drunkard, the unclean, and of all the voluptuous sensualists whatsoever. So excellent is all truth. What then is their delight who know the God of truth? How noble a faculty of the soul is the understanding? It can compass the earth; it can measure the sun, moon, stars, and heaven; it can foreknow each eclipse to a minute, many years before. But this is the top of all its excellency, that it can know God, who is infinite, who made all these; a little here, and more, much more hereafter. O the wisdom and goodness of our blessed Lord! He hath created the understanding with a natural bias and inclination to truth; as its object; and to the prime truth, as its prime object. Christian, when, after long gazing heaven-ward, thou hast got a glimpse of Christ, dost thou not sometimes seem to have been with Paul in _the third heaven, whether in the body, or out_, and to have seen what is _unutterable_?[31] Art thou not, with Peter, ready to say, "_Master, it is good to be here_"?[32] Oh that I might dwell in this mount! O that I might ever see what I now see! Didst thou never look so long upon the Sun of Righteousness, till thine eyes were dazzled with his astonishing glory? And did not the splendor of it make all things below seem black and dark to thee? Especially in thy day of suffering for Christ, when he usually appears most manifestly to his people, didst thou never _see_ one _walking in the midst of the fiery furnace_ with thee _like the Son of God_?[33] Believe me, Christians, yea, believe God; you that have known most of God in Christ here, it is as nothing to what you shall know; it scarce, in comparison of that, deserves to be called knowledge. For as these bodies, so that knowledge must cease, that a more perfect may succeed. _Knowledge shall vanish away. For we know in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known._[34] Marvel not therefore, Christians, how it can be _life eternal, to know God and Jesus Christ_.[35] To enjoy God and Christ, is eternal life; and the soul's enjoying is in knowing. They that savor only of earth, and consult only with flesh, think it a poor happiness to know God. But _we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness; and we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life._[36]

[Footnote 31] 2 Corinthians xii, 2-4.

[Footnote 32] Mark ix, 5.

[Footnote 33] Daniel iii, 25.

[Footnote 34] Corinthians xiii, 8-12.

[Footnote 35] John xvii, 3.

[Footnote 36] 1 John v, 19, 20.

§ 11. The memory will not be idle, or useless in this blessed work. From that height the saint can look behind him, and before him. And to compare past with present things, must needs raise in the blessed soul an inconceivable esteem and sense of its condition. To stand on that mount, whence we can see the Wilderness and Canaan, both at once; to stand in heaven, and look back on earth, and weigh them together in the balance of a comparing sense and judgment, how must it needs transport the soul, and make it cry out, "Is this the purchase that cost so dear as the blood of Christ? No wonder. O blessed price! and thrice blessed love, that invented, and condescended! Is this the end of believing? Is this the end of the Spirit's workings? Have the gales of grace blown me into such an harbor? Is it hither that Christ hath allured my soul? O blessed way, and thrice blessed end! Is this the glory which the scriptures spoke of, and ministers preached of so much? I see the gospel is indeed good tidings, even tidings of peace and good things, tidings of great joy to all nations! Is my mourning, my fasting, my sad humblings, my heavy walking, come to this? Is my praying, watching, fearing to offend, come to this? Are all my afflictions, Satan's temptations, the world's scorns, and jeers, come to this?—O vile nature, that resisted so much, and so long, such a blessing? Unworthy soul, is this the place thou camest so unwillingly to? Was duty wearisome? Was the world too good to lose? Didst thou stick at leaving all, denying all, and suffering any thing, for this? Wast thou loth to die, to come to this? O false heart, thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory! Art thou not now ashamed, my soul, that ever thou didst question that love which brought thee hither? That thou wast jealous of the faithfulness of thy Lord? That thou suspectedst his love, when thou shouldst only have suspected thyself? That ever thou didst quench a motion of his Spirit? And that thou shouldst misinterpret those providences, and repine at those ways, which have such an end? Now thou art sufficiently convinced, that thy Redeemer was saving thee, as well when he crossed thy desires, as when he granted them; when he broke thy heart, as when he bound it up. No thanks to thee, unworthy self, for this received crown; but to Jehovah, and the Lamb, be glory for ever."

§ 12. But oh! the full, the near, the sweet enjoyment, is that of love. _God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him._[37] Now the poor soul complains, "Oh that I could love Christ more!" then, thou canst not choose but love him. Now thou knowest little of his amiableness, and therefore lovest little: Then, thine eye will affect thy heart, and the continual viewing of that perfect beauty will keep thee in continual transports of love. Christians, doth it not now stir up your love to remember all the experiences of his love! Doth not kindness melt you, and the sunshine of Divine goodness warm your frozen hearts? What will it do then, when you shall live in love, and have all in him, who is all? Surely love is both work and wages. What a high favor, that God will give us leave to love him? That he will be embraced by those, who have embraced lust and sin before him! But more than this, he returneth love for love; nay, a thousand times more. Christian, thou wilt be then brimfull of love; yet, love as much as thou canst, thou shalt be ten thousand times more beloved. Were the arms of the Son of God open upon the cross, and an open passage made to his heart by the spear, and will not arms and heart be open to thee in glory? Did he begin to love before thou lovedst, and will not he continue now? Did he love thee, an enemy? thee, a sinner? thee, who even loathedst thyself; and own thee, when thou didst disclaim thyself? And will he not now immeasurably love thee, a son? thee, a perfect saint? thee, who returnest some love for love? He that in love wept over the old Jerusalem when near its ruin, with what love will he rejoice over the new Jerusalem in her glory? Christian, believe this, and think on it; thou shalt be eternally embraced in the arms of that love, which was from everlasting, and will extend to everlasting;—of that love which brought the Son of God's love from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to glory; that love, which was weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, scourged, buffeted, spit upon, crucified, pierced; which did fast, pray, teach, heal, weep, sweat, bleed, die;—that love will eternally embrace thee. When perfect created love, and most perfect uncreated love, meet together, it will not be like Joseph and his brethren, who lay upon one another's necks weeping; it will be loving and rejoicing, not loving and sorrowing: Yet it will make Satan's court ring with the news, that Joseph's brethren are come, that the saints are arrived safe at the bosom of Christ, out of the reach of hell for ever: nor is there any such love as David's and Jonathan's, breathing out its last into sad lamentations for a forced separation. Know this, believer, to thy everlasting comfort, if those arms have once embraced thee, neither sin, nor hell, can get thee thence for ever. Thou hast not to deal with an inconstant creature but with him _with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning_.[38] His love to thee will not be as thine was on earth to him; seldom, and cold, up and down. He that would not cease nor abate his love, for all thine enmity, unkind neglects, and churlish resistances, can he cease to love thee, when he hath made thee truly lovely? He that keepeth thee so constant in thy love to him, that thou canst challenge _tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword, to separate thy love from Christ_, how much more will himself be constant?[39] Indeed thou mayest be _persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord_.[40] And now are we not left in the apostle's admiration. _What shall we say to these things?_[41] Infinite love must needs be a mystery to a finite capacity. No wonder _angels desire to look into_ this mystery.[42] And if it be the study of saints here, _to know the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge_;[43] the saint's everlasting rest must consist in the enjoyment of God by love.

[Footnote 37] 1 John iv, 16.

[Footnote 38] James i, 17.

[Footnote 39] Romans viii, 35.

[Footnote 40] Romans viii, 38, 39.

[Footnote 41] Romans viii, 31.

[Footnote 42] 1 Peter i, 12.

[Footnote 43] Ephesians iii, 18, 19.

§ 13. Nor hath joy the least share in this fruition. 'Tis that, which all the former lead to, and conclude in; even the inconceivable complacency which the blessed feel in their seeing, knowing, loving, and being beloved of God. This is the _white stone which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it_.[44] Surely this is the joy which a _stranger doth not intermeddle with_.[45] All Christ's ways of mercy tend to, and end in, the saint's joys. He wept, sorrowed, suffered, that they might rejoice; he sendeth the Spirit to be their Comforter; he multiplies promises; he discovers their future happiness, _that their joy may be full_.[46] He opens to them the fountain of _living waters_, that they may _thirst no more_, and that it may _spring up in them to everlasting life_.[47] _He chastens them, that he may give them rest._[48] He makes it their duty to _rejoice in him alway, and again_ commands them to _rejoice_.[49] He never brings them into so low a condition, wherein he does not leave them more cause of joy than sorrow. And hath the Lord such a care of our comfort here? O what will that joy be, where the soul being perfectly prepared for joy, and joy prepared by Christ for the soul, it shall be our work, our business, eternally to rejoice! It seems the saint's joy shall be greater than the damned's torment; for their torment is the torment of creatures, _prepared for the devil and his angels_;[50] but our joy is _the joy of our Lord_.[51] _The_ same _glory which the Father gave the Son, the Son hath given them_,[52] _to sit with him in his throne, even as he is set down with his Father in his throne_.[53] Thou, poor soul, who prayest for joy, waitest for joy, complainest for want of joy, longest for joy; thou then shalt have full joy, as much as thou canst hold, and more than ever thou thoughtest on, or thy heart desired. In the mean time walk carefully, watch constantly, and then let God measure out to thee thy times and degrees of joy. It may be he keeps them till thou hast more need. Thou hadst better lose thy comfort than thy safety. If thou shouldst die full of fears and sorrows, it will be but a moment, and they are all gone, and concluded in joy inconceivable. As _the joy of the hypocrite_, so the fears of the upright are _but for a moment. God's anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning._[54] O blessed morning! Poor, humble drooping soul, how would it fill thee with joy now, if a voice from heaven should tell thee of the love of God, the pardon of thy sins, and assure thee of thy part in these joys? What then will thy joy be, when thy actual possession shall convince thee of thy title, and thou shalt be in heaven before thou art well aware?

[Footnote 44] Revelation ii, 17.

[Footnote 45] Proverbs xiv, 10.

[Footnote 46] John xvi, 24.

[Footnote 47] John iv, 10, 14.

[Footnote 48] Psalm xciv, 2, 13.

[Footnote 49] Philippians iv, 4.

[Footnote 50] Matthew xxv, 41.

[Footnote 51] Matthew xxv, 21.

[Footnote 52] John xvii, 22.

[Footnote 53] Revelation iii, 21.

[Footnote 54] Job xx, 5. Psalm xxx, 5.

§ 14. And it is not the joy only; it is a mutual joy as well as mutual love. Is there joy in heaven at thy conversion, and will there be none at thy glorification? Will not the angels welcome thee thither, and congratulate thy safe arrival?—Yea, it is the joy of Jesus Christ, for now he hath the end of his undertaking, labor, suffering, dying, when we have our joys; _when he is glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe_;[55] when _he sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied_.[56] This is Christ's harvest, when he shall reap the fruit of his labors, and it will not repent him concerning his sufferings, but he will rejoice over his purchased inheritance, and his people will rejoice in him.—Yea, the Father himself puts on joy too, in our joy. As _we grieve his Spirit_,[57] and _weary him with our iniquities_:[58] so is he rejoiced in our good. O how quickly does he now spy a returning prodigal, even _afar off_? How does he _run and meet him_? And with what _compassion_ does he _fall on his neck, and kiss him, and put on him the best robe, and a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and kills the fatted calf to eat and be merry_.[59] This is indeed a happy meeting; but nothing to the embracing and joy of that last and great meeting.——Yea more; as God doth mutually love and joy, so He makes this _His_ rest, as it is our rest. What an eternal Sabbatism, when the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification, is all finished, and perfected for ever! _The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy, He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing._[60] Well may we then rejoice in our God with joy, and rest in our love, and joy in him with singing.

[Footnote 55] 2 Thessalonians i, 10.

[Footnote 56] Isaiah liii, 11.

[Footnote 57] Ephesians iv, 30.

[Footnote 58] Isaiah xliii, 24.

[Footnote 59] Luke xv, 20-23.

[Footnote 60] Zephaniah iii, 17.

§ 15. Alas! my fearful heart scarce dares proceed. Methinks I hear the Almighty's voice saying to me, _Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge_?[61] But pardon thy Servant, O Lord. I have not pried into unrevealed things. I bewail that my apprehensions are so dull, my thoughts so mean, my affections so stupid, and my expressions so low, and unbeseeming such a glory. _I have_ only _heard by the hearing of the ear_: oh, let thy servant _see thee_ and possess these joys; and then shall I have more suitable conceptions, and shall give thee fuller glory; I shall _abhor my_ present self, and disclaim and renounce all these imperfections, _I have uttered that I understood not, things too wonderful for me, which I knew not_.[62] Yet _I believed, and therefore have I spoken_.[63] What, Lord, canst thou expect from dust but levity? or from corruption, but defilement? Though the weakness and irreverence be the fruit of my own corruption, yet the fire is from thine altar, and the work of thy commanding. I looked not into thy ark, nor put forth my hand unto it, without thee. _Wash_ away these stains also _in the blood of the Lamb_. Imperfect, or none, must be thy service here. O take thy Son's excuse, _the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak_.[64]

[Footnote 61] Job xxxviii, 2.

[Footnote 62] Job xlii, 3, 5, 6.

[Footnote 63] 2 Corinthians iv, 13.

[Footnote 64] Matthew xxvi, 41.

CHAP. II.

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.

CHAP. III.

The Excellencies of the Saint's Rest.

§ 1. The excellencies of the Saint's Rest are enumerated. § 2. (1.) It is the purchased possession. § 3, 4. (2.) A free gift. § 5. (3.) Peculiar to saints. § 6. (4.) An association with saints and angels. § 7. (5.) It derives its joys immediately from God himself. § 8. (6.) It will be seasonable. § 9. (7.) Suitable. § 10-12. (8.) Perfect, without sin and suffering. § 13. (9.) And everlasting. § 14. The chapter concludes with a serious address to the reader.

§ 1. Let us draw a little nearer, and see what further excellencies this rest affordeth. The Lord hide us _in the clefts of the rock, and cover us with the hands_ of indulgent grace, while we approach to take this view! This rest is excellent for being—a purchased possession;—a free gift;—peculiar to saints;—an association with saints and angels; yet deriving its joys immediately from God;—and because it will be a seasonable,—suitable,—perfect,—and eternal rest.