to judge the heathen round about.' Which never was yet accomplished, though it shall certainly be, in God's time: To the astonishment, and everlasting damnation of all those that shall continue mocking, or sinning against God and his Christ.

3. He shall come in a flaming fire, (when he doth come again: he will come in such a manner, as will make all that shall be found in their sins rather seek to creep under a mountain, than to meet the Lord of glory. Rev. vi. 15. As Isaiah saith, 'For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.' Is. lxvi. 15. 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,' Jude 15. as I shall shew farther by and by.

Third, And therefore in the next place, I shall shew you, what shall be done when he is come.

1. When Christ is come the second time, they that are in their graves shall arise, and come forth of their graves (as I said before) in which they have lain according to that in Jn. v. 28, 29. Where Christ saith, Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of lamnation.' You will say, Are these graves spoken of here, the graves that are made in the earth? Yea, that they are, and for a further proof of the same, look into Da. xii. 2. Daniel there speaking of the same thing saith, And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, (or arise) some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt' (or damnation.)

I shall not stand here to dispute any distinctions of the resurrections, only prove that the dead shall arise; and that is a clear truth from the scriptures. Ac. x. 42. Re. xx. 11-14; and 1 Th. iv. 16. 1 Co. xv. 52. The dead shall be raised.'

2. He shall call all men and women to an account for all their close sinful thoughts, words and actions; then will the secrets of all hearts be made manifest. Then shall all thy adulterous, and thievish, and covetous, idolatrous, and blasphemous thoughts be laid open, according to that saying, Their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean (time, or) while accusing or else excusing one another. Ro. ii. 15. But when? Why, In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.' ver. 16. See also 1 Co. iv. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time.' What time is that? Why, when the Lord comes; what

* 'Close,' secret, not disclosed.-Ed.

will he do? He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness,' that is, all those cunning, close, hidden wickednesses that thou in thy life-time hast committed; yea, he will make manifest the counsels of the hearts;' that is, the most hidden and secret things that are contrived and plotted by the sons of men. Then shall all the midnight whoremongers be laid open with all their sins; Then thou (it may be) who has committed such sins as thou wouldest not have thy neighbour, thy father, thy wife, thy husband, or any one else know of for thousands, then thou shalt have them all laid open, even upon the house tops. Lu. xii. 3. Then thou that hatest God's children; his ways, his word, his Spirit; then thou that makest a mock at Jesus of Nazareth's second coming, then thou that livest in open prophaneness, or secret hypocrisy, then I say, will be such a time of reckoning for you, as never was since the world began, then you that shall die in your sins, will cry to the mountains, Fall on us, and cover us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (which Lamb is the Man Christ Jesus. Jn. i. 29.) And ah, my friends! If the very looks of God be so terrible; what will his blows be, think you? Then if all thy idle words shall be accounted for, as it is written, But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment, Mat. xii. 36. and also all thy filthy actions shall be then regarded in such sort, as thou shalt receive a just recompense for them. And know, saith the scripture, that for all these things, God will bring thee into judgment.' Ec. xi. 9. Then

6

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Though sinners will be

unwilling to come to judgment, yet this will be their misery, God will bring them. Mal. iv. 1.

Thou that art an unbeliever, shalt be sure to fall under the judgment for all thy sins. (1.) Thou must give an account. (2.) Thou must fall in the judgment. Oh my friends, there are hot days a-coming for all those that are found out of the Lord Jesus: Behold, saith Malachi, The day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.' iv. 1. The day of judgment will burn like an oven, and all that have not the righteousness of Christ upon them shall be as stubble. Ah friends, put a red hot oven and stubble together, and what work will there be! Even the one will burn and destroy the other.

3. When Christ doth come the second time, another end of his coming will be to purge out all things that offended in this kingdom. Mat. xiii. 41, 42. The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast

(1.) The lukewarm professor, he doth offend, (a.) the Lord, (b.) his people. But then thou lukewarm offending professor shalt offend the church of God

no more.

(2.) The loose professors do also offend God, Christ and his church. (a.) He scandals the gospel by his loose walking, and naughty carriages. (b.) He doth make the world blaspheme the name of God by the same. (c.) He grieves the hearts of God's people. Phi. iii. 18. But know that thou also shalt be taken away from offending any more, God, Christ, and his saints, and thou shalt have weeping and gnashing of teeth, for thy thus offending. Mat. xviii. 6, 7.

4. Another end of Christ's second coming, is to cut off all the ignorant persons that are in the world. There is a generation of poor souls that do think to be excused for their ignorance: Alas! saith one, I am a poor ignorant man, or woman; and therefore I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me: we cannot, say others, do as such and such, and will the Lord condemn us? And thus poor souls, as they are in the broad way to destruction, lest they should miss of the way to hell; do swallow down Men seeking to get encouragement from their ignorance, by clusters, that which will in sin, and so are in greater poison them, body and soul danger of eternal damnation. for ever and ever.

do more harden themselves

Quest. But you will say, What, will not the Lord have mercy on ignorant souls?

Answ. Not on those who live and die in their ignorance. He himself hath said, Is. xxvi. 11. For it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.' Again, Paul also in that 2 Th. 1. 8. saith, that when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world, he doth come to take vengeance on all them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

shall utterly perish in their own corruption;' who because they understand not the scripture, nor the power of God in them, speak evil of the truths therein contained, and think the Lord like unto themselves. Ps. l.

(2.) The formal professor, who hath only a notion of the gospel, and some seeming holiness, but wants gospel faith: such are called foolish virgins, Mat. xxv. 2, 3. to whom Christ will say in that day, Verily, I know you not.' Add hereto, those that think it enough to confess Christ with their mouths, and profess that they know God, but deny him in their works; such notwithstanding all their profession, shall, if they so continue, perish eternally, being abominable, disobedient, and to every good work reprobate, or void of judgment, that is, ignorant. Tit. i. 16.

(3.) The legal righteous man or woman, though they walk blameless, as touching the righteousness that is in the law: For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, go about to establish their own righteousness, as reading, hearing sermons, prayers, public or private, peaceableness with their neighbours, fasting, alms, good works as they count them, just dealings, abstinence from the grosser pollutions of the world, stricter obedience to the commandments of the first and second table; all which with many other things may be comprehended in their own righteousness, and it is grounded on their ignorance, and goes on in rebellion; and such ignorant persons shall in that day perish, not submitting through ignorance to the righteousness of God, Ro. x. 3. compared with Lu. xix. 27. where Christ saith, that when he shall come the second time, he will command those his enemies, who submitted not themselves to him, [who is called the righteousness of God, Is. xlvi. 13.] or would not have him to reign over them, to be slain before his face.

(4.) Those whose hearts are set upon the world, and follow the alluring persuasions of it; the Lord calls such fools, [Lu. xii. 20. and Pr.vii. 7.] who go after it (viz. the world, held forth by a similitude of a woman with the attire of an harlot) as an ox to the slaughter, or a fool to the correction of the stocks, till a dart strike through his liver, as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life: and knows not, mark, it is through ignorance. ver. 23.

5. A fit end of Christ's coming, is, that his righteous ones might shine as the sun in the glory, or kingdom of their father. Mat. xiii. 43. There are many things that do hinder the people of God from shining forth as the sun now.

As, They have a body of death, which makes them fetch many a groan in their journey to Canaan. Ro. vii. 24; 2 Co. v. 2. They meet with many a sad temptation, which also makes them in heaviness

many a time. 1 Pe. i. 6. They have also many other things that do hinder their shining now; but then the body of death shall be left off. My meaning is, that sin shall be no more in the natures of God's people then: Their bodies that are now so vile, shall then be made like unto the glorious body of the Son of God, 'Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.'

Ph. iii. 21.

6. Another end of Christ's coming shall be to take an account of his children, how they have laid out their talents, that he hath committed to their trust. Mat. xxv. 19; Ro. xiv. 12; 2 Co. v. 10.

7. Another end of his coming is, to set up his kingdom, which will be glorious indeed at his appearing. 2 Ti. iv. 1; Ro. viii. 19—21. I do but touch these things, because I would hasten towards a conclusion; many other things might have been spoken to, but at this time I shall forbear. But you will say, Who shall stand when he appears? Why, I told you before, that the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.' Ps. i. 5. Let him be close or profane, as I told you even now, all shall be laid open, all shall be made manifest, all shall come into judgment.

Ah poor soul! It is not then thy brave words will save thee; it is not thine eloquent tongue that will then do thee any good: if thou be without the wedding garment, thou wilt be speechless, as in Mat. xxii. 12. But thou that art a converted person, shalt stand in the judgment; thou that art born again shalt enter into the kingdom, and none else. Jn. iii. 5; Re. xxi. 27.

But how shall I know that I am born again? (1.) Why, if thou art born again, then thou knowest that thou wast not born a Christian at first. Ep. ii. 1-3. You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.'

(2.) Thou knowest that once thou hadst no faith in the Lord Jesus; and wert convinced of sin because thou didst not believe in the Son of Mary.

Jn. xvi. 9.

(3.) Thou seest all true joy through the blood and righteousness of the Son of Mary. 1 Co. xv. 57;

Ko. vii. 25.

(4.) Art thou born again? Then thou canst not be quiet till thou seest God smile, and lift up the light of his countenance upon thee, 2 Co. iv. 6; Ps. iv. 6. and that through the face of the Son of Mary, the Son of God.

(7.) Then also thou lookest for the personal appearing of the Son of Mary from heaven in the clouds, the second time. He. ix. 28. Re. i. 7.

These things, though plain, yet if the Lord set them home upon thy conscience, may be profitable both to thee and me. Therefore let us examine the matter a little. And Examine 1. Thou thinkest that thou art a Christian; thou shouldest be sorry else: Well, But when did God shew thee that thou wert no Christian? When didst thou see that: And in the light of the Spirit of Christ, see that thou wert under the wrath of God because of original sin? Ro. v. 12. Nay, dost thou know what original sin means? Is it not the least in thy thoughts? And dost thou not rejoice in secret, that thou art the same that thou ever wert? If so, then know for certain that the wrath of God to this very day abideth on thee. Jn. iii. 36. And if so, then thou art one of those that will fall in the judgment, except thou art born again, and made a new creature. 2 Co. v. 17.

Exam. 2. Thou thinkest that thou hast been born again, ('tis well if thou hast) but least thou shouldest deceive thy poor soul, I pray thee consider, when did the Spirit of the Lord Jesus shew thee, that thou hadst no faith in thee by nature? And when did the Spirit of Christ convince thee of sin, because thou didst not believe in him? It may be thou hast been convinced of sins against the law, by the law, and thine own conscience, as the Pharisees were. Jn. viii. 9, and Ro. iii. 20. Ay, but when didst thou see thyself a lost creature for want of faith in the son of Mary? If not, thou hast not yet been savingly convinced by the Spirit of Christ; for that, when it convinceth effectually of sin, it convinceth of unbelief; though thou hast been never so much convinced of sins against the law, if thou hast not seen thyself under the power and dominion, guilt and punishment of sin, because thou didst not believe in Christ, thou hast not yet been savingly convinced; for that's one work of the Spirit to convince of sin, Because they believe not on me,' saith Jesus the Son of Mary, who was espoused to Joseph the carpenter: But on the contrary, dost thou not say in thy heart, thou never hadst thy faith to seek, but hast always believed with as good a faith as any one alive? If so, then know for certain that thou hast no faith of the operation of God in thee, according to God's ordinary working; and if so, then know, that if the Son of Man should come to judge the world at this moment of time, that thou with all thy faith (thou thinkest thou hast) wouldst fall in the judg

Exam. 3. Art thou born again? Then thou seest that thy great sin was want of faith in the Son of Mary. Then thou seest that it is he that was sent of God to die for the sins of the

world, Jn. i. £9, and iii. 16-19. Ac. xiii. 38, 39. and that thou art complete in him, without any works of the law, Ro. iv. 5. then thou rejoicest in Christ Jesus, and puttest no confidence in the flesh, Phi. iii. 3. yet thou rejoicest in the flesh and blood of the Son of Mary, knowing that his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed, Jn. vi. 55. out of which thou wouldest very willingly make thy life all thy days; out of his birth, obedience, death, resurrection, ascension, and glorious intercession, now at the right hand of his Father, Пe. vii. 24, 25. but if thou art wavering in these things, know that thou art but a babe at the best, and for ought thou knowest, God may cut thee off in thy unbelief, and cast thee into utter darkness, where there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Exam. 4. Art thou born again? Then thou seest all true peace and joy comes through the blood of the Son of Mary, and his righteousness, as in Ro. vii. 25, and 1Co. xv. 57. there are many poor souls that are taken with raptures of joy, and false conceited consolation, [Jn. xvi. 20.] which doth come from the devil, and their own deceitful hearts; but their joy shall be turned into mourning and sorrow of heart, Lu. vi. 24, 25. but thou that art a Christian in deed, and not in word only, rejoicest in Christ Jesus the Son of Mary; yea, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pe. i. 8. And these two things are the fruits of thy faith, and of thy joy. (1.) The Lord Jesus Christ is very precious unto thee. 1 Pe. ii. 7.

(2.) Thou dost purify thine heart by this faith, and the power of the Spirit of Christ, which thou hast received into thy soul. Ro. viii. 13. Ac. xv. 9,1and Jn. iii. 3. But if thy guilt of sin goes off, and convic

tions go off any other way than by the blood and righteousness of the Man Christ Jesus, thy guilt goes off not right, but wrong, and thy latter end will be a very bitter end without faith and repentance; for it is his blood through which all true peace comes, Col i 20. and there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we should be saved, but by the Lord Jesus of Nazareth, Ac. iv. ver. 10-12. compared together.

Exam. 5. Art thou born again? Then thou canst not be quiet till thou doest see God lift up the light of his countenance upon thee; yea, thou hast such a desire after the light of God's countenance, that, all the glory, riches, honour, pleasure, profits, &c. of this world will not satisfy, till thou doest see God to be a reconciled Father to thee in the Lord Jesus Christ, as it is Ps. iv. 6. Jn. xiv. 8. Ps. xxxv. 3. Then thou wilt not be quiet till thou dost hear from the Son of Mary, which is the Lord of glory, such a voice as this, Son be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee: And my grace is sufficient for thee.' 2 Co. xii. 9, 1 Co. ii. 8. But if thou canst content

thyself with anything below this, thou wilt, when all comes to all, be found but a rotten-hearted professor, who will have thy portion among the slothful ones, who will fall in the judgment of the Son of Man, when he comes in flaming fire with his mighty angels. 2 Th. i. 8.

Exam. 6. Art thou born again? Then thou knowest that God hath given thee thy faith that thou hast in his Son: Then thou art to say through grace, there was a time in which I had no faith; there was a time in which I could not believe in the Son of God for eternal life. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins (and unbelief; which is the greatest;) hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved,' Ep. ii. 4, 5. through faith.' ver. 8.

Then thou

Exam. 7. Art thou born again? knowest that the doctrine of the Son of God, the Son of Mary, is a right doctrine, which is this:

That the Son of God which was with his Father before the world was, (Jn. i. 1; xvii. 5.) came into the world in the fulness of time, and was made in the likeness of man. (Phi. ii. 7.) being made of a woman or virgin, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law. Ga. iv. 4. And that was done in this wise. What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh; that is, through our flesh; God sending his own Son in likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that is, condemned him in the flesh for the sins of poor sinners: For this, compare Ro. viii. 3. 2 Co. v. 21. with Ga. iii. 13. and it will appear clearly to be the truth of God: Also, that this Son of God, which is the true God, as well as the Son of Mary, did bear our sins in his own body on the tree, 1 Pe. ii. 24. and did spill his own blood, which is also the blood of God, Ac. xx. 23. that he died, and was laid in Joseph's sepulchre, Jn. xix. 38-42. and rose again the third day, Ac. x. 40. that very Man, Lu. xxiv. 39–45. and ascended up into heaven in a cloud, Ac. i. 9-11. and there ever lives to make intercession for us, that very man. He. vii. 24, 25; viii. 8; x. 12.

Exam. 8. And in the last place, If thou art a Christian, then thou lookest for that very Jesus again, whom the Jews did crucify, Jn. xix. whom God raised again, as it is 1 Th. i. 10. I say, thou lookest, thou waitest, thou hasteneth after the coming of this Lord Jesus, which doth deliver thee from the wrath to come. 2 Pe. iii. 10-12. He. ix. 26—28; 1 Th. i. 10. Yea, thou knowest, that this very man shall so come in like manner, as his disciples did see him go into heaven, which was a very man, Lu. xxiv. 39. compared with ver. 50, 51, of the same chapter. Yea, in a cloud he went away from his disciples, and in the clouds he shall come again, Re. i. 7. to judge all that are in their graves, Jn. v. 28, 29. Da. xii. 2. and shall receive all that look for, and