A Believers Privilege after Death. to Of the Day of Iudgment. (1)

A Believers Privilege after Death.

Phil. 1.21.

And to dye is Gain.

3. AT Death the Souls of Believers pass into Glory: Death brings Malorum omnium ademptionem: Omnium ademptionem; Death's the day-break of Eternal Brightness. And here I shall lead you to the top of Mount Pisgah, and give you a glimpse of the Holy Land.

Quest. 1. What is comprehended in Glory?

Resp. Glory is Status omnium Bonorum aggregatione perfectus, Boetius. It is a perfect State of Bliss, which consists in the Accumulation and heaping together all those good things which immortal Souls are capable of. And truly here I am at a loss; all that I can say falls short of the Celestial Glory: Appelles Pencil cannot delineate it; Angels Tongues cannot express it: We shall never understand Glory fully, till we are in Heaven: Only let me give you the [gap], or some dark views and some imperfect Lineaments of that State of Glory the Saints shall arrive at after Death.

1. The first and most sublime part of the Glory of Heaven is the full and sweet Fruition of God: Ipse Deus sufficit ad praemium, Aug. We are apt to think the Happiness of Heaven is in being free from Pain and Misery, but the very [gap] and Quintessence of Happiness, is the Enjoyment and Fruition of God; this is the Diamond Ring of Glory God is an infinite inexhaustible Fountain of Joy; and to have him is to have all. Now the enjoying of God implies three things.

• 1. It implies our seeing of God.

• 2. Our loving of God.

• 3. Gods loving of us.

1. The enjoying of God implies our seeing of God, 1 Iohn 3.2. We shall see him as he is: Here we see him as he is not; not mutable, mortal; there as he is.

Quest. 2. How shall we see God?

Resp. 1. We shall see him intellectually, with the Eyes of our mind. This Divines call the Beatifical Vision. We shall have a full knowledge of God, though not know him fully. If there were not such an intellectual sight of God, then how do the Spirits of just Men made perfect see him? This sight of God will be very glorious: As when a King on his Coronation-day, shews himself in all his Royalty and Magnificence.

2. We shall corporeally behold the glorified Body of Jesus Christ: And if it be a pleasant thing to behold the Sun, Eccles. 11.7. then how blessed a sight will it be to behold the Sun of Righteousness; to see Christ clothed in our humane Nature, sitting in Glory above the Angels! Solomon saith, The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Eccles. 1.8. But sure the Eyes of the Saints will be satisfied with seeing that Orient Brightness which shall shine from the beautiful Body of Christ. It must needs be satisfying, because, through Christs Flesh some Rays and Beams of the God-head shall gloriously display themselves. Gods excellent Majesty would overwhelm us, but through the Vail of Christs Flesh, we shall behold the Divine Glory.

3. Our seeing of God will be transforming. We shall so see him as to be in some measure assimilated and changed into his image, 1 Iohn 3.2. We shall be like him. If when Moses was with God on the Mount, and had but some imperfect sight of his Glory, Moses face shined, Exod. 34.33. How shall the Saints glorified shine, being always in God's Presence, and having some beams of his Glory put upon them! We shall be like him. One that is deformed may look on Beauty, and not be made Beautiful. But the Saints that so see God, as that sight shall transform them into his Likeness, Psal. 17.15. When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness. Not that the Saints shall partake of God's Essence; for as the Iron in the Fire is made Fiery, yet remains Iron still; so the Saints by beholding God's Majesty shall be made Glorious Creatures, but yet Creatures still.

4. Our seeing of God in Heaven will be unweariable. Let a Man see the rarest Sight that is, he will be soon cloyed; when he comes into a Garden, and sees delicious Walks, fair Arbours, Pleasant Flowers, within a little while he grows weary. But it is not so in Heaven; there is no Surfeit, Ibi nec Fames nec Fastidium, Bern. The Saints will never be weary of their Prospect, viz. of seeing God; for God being infinite, there shall be every Moment new and fresh Delights springing from God into the Souls of the Glorified.

II. The Second thing implied in our enjoying God, is our Loving of God, [gap]; it is a Saints grief that his Heart is like the Frozen Ocean, that he can melt no more in Love to God; but in Heaven the Saints shall be like Seraphims burning in Divine Love. Love is a pleasing Affection. Fear hath Torment in it, 1 Iohn 4.18. Love hath Joy in it. To love Beauty is delightful: God's amazing Beauty will attract the Saints Love, and it will be their Heaven to Love him.

III. The Third thing implyed in enjoying God, is Gods Loving us. Were there Glory in God, yet if there were not Love, it would much eclipse the Joys of Heaven; but God is Love, 1 Iohn 4.16. The Saints glorified, cannot love so much as they are loved. What is their Love to God's? What is their Star to this Sun? God doth love his People on Earth, when they are black as well as comely; they have their [gap] Imperfections. O how intirely will he Love them, when they are without Spot or Wrinkle, Eph. 5.27.

1. This is the Felicity of Heaven, to be in the sweet Embraces of God's Love. To be the Hephsibah, the delight of the King of Glory. To be Sunning our selves in the Light of Gods Countenance. Then the Saints shall know that Love of Christ which passeth Knowledge, Eph. 3.19. From this glorious manifestation of God's Love, will flow infinite Joy into the Souls of the Blessed. Therefore Heaven is call'd entring into the joy of our Lord, Mat. 25.21. The Seeing of God, the Loving of God, and being Beloved of God, will cause a Jubilation of Spirit, and create such Holy Raptures of Joy in the Saints, as is unspeakable and full of Glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. In Deo quadam dulcedine delectatur anima, imo rapitur, Aug. Now the Saints spend their Years with Sighing, they weep over their Sins and Afflictions; then their Water shall be turned into Wine; then the Vessels of Mercy shall be fill'd and run over with Joy; they shall have their Palm-Branches and Harps in their Hand, Rev. 14.2. in token of their Triumphs and Rejoycing.

2. The Second thing comprehended in Glory, is the good Society there. There are the Angels; every Star adds to the Light. Those Blessed Cherubims will welcome us into Paradise. If the Angels rejoyced so at the Conversion of the Elect, First, How will they rejoyce at their Coronation! Secondly, There is the Company of the Saints, Heb. 12.23. The Spirits of Iust Men made Perfect.

Quest. Whether shall the Saints in Glory know each other?

Resp. Certainly they shall; for our Knowledge in Heaven shall not be diminished, but increased. We shall not only know our Friends and Godly Relations, but those glorified Saints which we never saw before. It must be so; for Society without Acquaintance is not comfortable. And of this Opinion were St. Austin, Anselm, Luther. And indeed the Scripture seems to hint so much to us. For, if Peter in the Transfiguration knew Moses and Elias, whom he never saw before, Mat. 17.4. then surely in Heaven, the Saints shall know one another, and be infinitely delighted in each others Company.

3. The Third thing comprehended in Glory, is Perfection in Holiness. Holiness is the Beauty of God and Angels, it makes Heaven. What is Happiness but the quintessence of Holiness? Here a Christians Grace is imperfect, he cannot write a Copy of Holiness without blotting. He is said to receive but Primitas Spiritus,

the first Fruits of the Spirit, Grace in Fieri, Rom. 8.23. But at Death Believers shall arrive at Perfection of Grace. Then this Sun shall be in its Meridian Splendour; then they shall not need to pray for Encrease of Grace, for they shall be as the Angels, [gap] their Light shall be clear, as well as their Joy full.

4. The Fourth thing in Glory is Dignity and Honour, they shall reign as Kings. Therefore the Saints glorified are said to have their insignia Regalia, their Ensigns of Royalty, their white Robes and their Crown, 2 Tim. 4.7. Caesar after his Victories, in token of Honour had a Chair of Ivory set for him in the Senate, and a Throne in the Theatre; the Saints having obtained their Victories over Sin and Satan, shall be inthroned with Christ in the Empirean Heaven. To sit with Christ, denotes Safety, to set on the Throne, Dignity, Rev. 3.21. This Honour have all the Saints.

5. The Fifth thing in Glory is the Harmony and Union among the Heavenly Inhabitants. The Devil cannot get his Cloven Foot into Heaven: He cannot conjure up any Storms of Contention there; there shall be perfect Union. There Calvin and Luther are agreed; there's no jarring String in the Heavenly Musick▪ there is nothing to make any difference, no Pride or Envy there. Though one Star may differ from another, one may have a greater degree of Glory, yet every Vessel shall be full. There shall the Saints and Angels fit as Olive-Plants round about their Fathers Table in Love and Unity. Then shall they joyn together in consort, then shall the loud Anthems of Praise be sung in the Heavenly Quire.

6. The Sixth thing in Glory is a blessed Rest, Heb. 4.9. There remains a Rest, Foelix transitus à labore ad requiem, here we can have no rest, tossed and turn'd as a Ball on Racket, 2 Cor. 4.8. We are [gap] troubled on every side. How can a Ship rest in a Storm? But after Death the Saints get into their Haven. Every thing is quiet in the Center. God is centrum quietativum animae, as the Schoolmen, The Center where the Soul doth sweetly acquiesce. A Christian after his weary Marches and Battels shall put off his Bloody Armour, and rest himself upon the Bosom of Jesus, that Bed of Perfume. When Death hath given the Saints the Wings of a Dove, then they shall fly away to Paradise and be at rest.

7. The Seventh thing in Glory is Eternity, 2 Cor. 4.17. An Eternal weight of Glory. First, Glory is a Weight; The Hebrew Word for Glory, (quod significat Pondus,) is a Weight: God must make us able to bear it. Secondly, An Eternal Weight. [gap]. Glory is such a Manna as doth not breed Worms. If the Saints glory in Heaven were but for a time, and they were in fear of losing it, it would eclipse and imbitter the Joys of Heaven, but Eternity is written upon their Joys. The Garland made of Flowers of Paradise fades not, 1 Pet. 5.4. I have read of a River which they call the Day-River, in which time it runs with a full Torrent, but at Night it is dried up; such are all Earthly Comforts, they run with a full Stream all the Day-time of Life, but at the Night of Death they are dried up; but the Saints glorified shall drink of the Rivers of Pleasure for evermore, Psal. 16.11. Eternity is the Heaven of Heavens; in fine Gaudium erit sine fine, Bern. The Joys of Heaven as overflowing, so ever-flowing.

Quest. 2. When do Believers enter upon Possession of Glory?

Resp. They pass immediately after Death into Glory. Some hold with the Platonists and; Lucianists that the Soul dies. But many of the Sober Heathens believed the Souls immortality. The Romans when their Great Men died, caus'd an Eagle to be let loose, and fly about in the Air, signifying hereby that the Soul was immortal, and did not dye with the Body. Christ tells us the Soul is not capable of Killing, Luke 12.4. Therefore not of Dying. And as the Soul doth not Dye, so neither doth it Sleep in the Body for a time. If the Soul be at Death absent from the Body, 2 Cor. 5.8. then it cannot Sleep in the Body. There is an immediate passage from Death to Glory: It is but winking and we shall see God, Luke 23.43. This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise; by Paradise is meant Heaven, the Third Heaven into which Paul was wrap'd, (which all hold to be the Heaven of the blessed) was called Paradise, 2 Cor 12.4. Now saith Christ to the Thief on the Cross, [gap] This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, his Body could not be there, for it was laid in the Grave: But it was spoke of his Soul, that it should be immediately after Death in Heaven. Let none be so vain as to talk of Purgatory. A Soul purg'd by Christs Blood, needs no fire of Purgatory, but goes immediately from a Death-bed into a glorified State.

Use 1. See what little cause Believers have to fear Death, when it brings such glorious Benefits, To me to Dye is Gain. Why should the Saints fear their Preferment?

Is it not a blessed thing to see God, to love God, and to lye for ever in the Bosom of Divine Love? Is it not a blessed thing to meet our Godly Relations in Heaven? Why should the Saints be afraid of their Blessings? Is a Virgin afraid to be matched into the Crown? Now is but the Contract, at Death is the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, Rev. 19.9. What hurt doth Death but take us from among Fiery Serpents, and place us among Angels? What hurt doth it do, but to cloath us with a Robe of Immortality? Hath he any wrong done, that hath his Sack-Cloath pull'd off, and hath Cloath of Gold put upon him? Fear not Dying, who cannot live but by Dying.

Use 2. You who are Real Saints, whose Hearts are purified by Faith, spend much time in musing upon these glorious Benefits which you shall have by Christ at Death. Thus might you by a Contemplative Life, begin the Life of Angels here, and be in Heaven before your time. Eudoxus was so affected with the Glory of the Sun, that he thought he was born only to behold it. What should we contemplate but Caelestial Glory, when we shall see God Face to Face? David was got above the ordinary sort of Men, he was in the Altitudes, [gap]sal. 139.18. I am ever with thee. A true Saint every Day takes a turn in Heaven, his Thoughts and Desires are like Cherubims flying up to Paradise. Can Men of the World so delight in looking upon their Bags of Gold, and Fields of Corn, and shall not the Heirs of Heaven take more delight in Contemplating their Glory in Reversion? Could we send forth Faith as a Spy, and every Day view the Glory of the Ierusalem above, how would it rejoyce us, as it doth the Heir, to think of the Inheritance which is to come into his Hand shortly?

Use 3. Consolation. This is that which may comfort the Saints in Two Cases.

1. Under their Wants; they abound only in Wants. The Meal is almost spent in the Barrel, but be patient till Death, and you shall have a Supply of all your Wants▪ You shall have a Kingdom, and be as Rich as Heaven can make you. He who hath the promise of an Estate, after the expiring of a few Years, though at present he hath nothing to help himself, yet comforts himself with this, that shortly he shall have an Estate come into his Hands, 1 Iohn 2.3. It doth not yet appear what we shall be; we shall be enamel'd with Glory, and be as rich as the Angels under their Sufferings.

2. A true Saint is (as Luther,) Haeres Crucis; but this may make us go chearfully through our Sufferings; there are great things laid up in store, there is Glory coming which Eye hath not seen; we shall drink of the Fruit of the Vine in the Kingdom of Heaven; though now we drink in a Wormwood Cup, yet here is Sugar to sweeten it; we shall taste of those Joys of Paradise which exceed our Faith, and may be better felt than they can be expressed.

Of the RESVRRECTION.

John 5.28.

Marvel not at this, for the Hour is coming in 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 Damnation.

Quest. WHat Benefits shall Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection?

Resp. 1. Their Bodies shall be raised up to Glory.

2. They shall be openly acquitted at the Day of Judgment.

3. They shall be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for ever.

1. The Bodies of Believers shall be raised up to Glory. The Doctrin of the Resurrection is a Fundamental Article of our Faith; the Apostle puts it among the Principles of the Doctrin of Christ, Heb. 6.2. The Body shall rise again; we

are not so sure to rise out of our Beds, as we are to rise out of our Graves. The saved Body shall arise again. Some hold that the Soul shall be cloathed with a new Body; but then it were improper to call it a Resurrection, it should be rather a Creation, Iob 19.26. Though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Not in another flesh, but my flesh. 1 Cor. 15.53. This corruptible shall put on incorruption.

Quest. 2. By what Arguments may the Resurrection be proved?

Resp. Argument 1. By Scripture, Iohn 6.44. I will raise him up at the last day. Isa. 25.8. He will swallow up Death in Victory. That is, by delivering our Bodies from the Captivity of the Grave, wherein Death for a time had power over them, 1 Thess. 4.14. Them which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him.

Argument 2. Christ is risen: Therefore the Bodies of the Saints must rise. Christ did not rise from the Dead as a private Person, but as the publick Head of the Church; and the Head being raised, the rest of the Body shall not always lye in the Grave. Christs rising is a Pledge of our Resurrection, 2 Cor. 4.14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Iesus, shall raise up us also by Iesus. Christ is called the first Fruits of them that slept, 1 Cor. 15.20. As the first Fruits is a sure Evidence that the Harvest is coming on; so the Resurrection of Christ is a sure Evidence of the rising of our Bodies out of the Grave. Christ cannot be perfect as he is Christ Mystical, unless his Members be raised with him.

Argument 3. In respect of Gods Justice. If God be a just God, then he will reward the Bodies of the Saints as well as the Souls. It cannot be imagined that the Souls of Believers should be glorified, and not their Bodies: They have served God with their Bodies: Their Bodies have been Members of Holiness: Their Eyes have drop'd Tears for Sin: Their Hands have relieved the Poor: Their Tongues have set forth Gods Praise; therefore Justice and Equity require that their Bodies should be crown'd as well as their Souls: And how can that be, unless they are raised from the Dead?

Argument 4. If the Body did not rise again, then a Believer should not be compleatly happy; for though the Soul can subsist without the Body, yet it hath Appetitum Unionis, a desire of re-union with the Body; and it is not fully happy till it be clothed with the Body: Therefore undoubtedly the Body shall rise again: If the Soul should go to Heaven, and not the Body, then a Believer should be only half saved.

Object▪ 1. But some may say, as the Virgin Mary to the Angel, How can this be? So how can it be, that the Body which is consum'd to Ashes, should arise again?

Resp. It doth not oppose Reason, but transcend it. There are some Resemblances of the Resurrection in Nature. The Corn which is sown in the ground dies before it springs up, 1 Cor. 15.36. That which thou sowest is not quickned except it dye. In Winter the Fruits of the Earth dye, in Spring there is a Resurrection of them. Noah's Olive-tree springing after the Flood, was a lively Emblem of the Resurrection. After the Passion of our Lord, many of the Saints which slept in the Grave, arose, Matt. 27.52. God can more easily raise the Body out of the Grave, than we can wake a Man out of sleep.

Object. 2. But when the Dust of many are mingled together, How is it possible that a Separation should be made, and the same numerical Body arise?

Resp. If we believe God can Create, then he can distinguish the dust of one Body from another. Do we not see the Chymist can, out of several Metals mingled together, as Gold, Silver, Alchimy, extract the one from the other, the Silver from the Gold, the Alchimy from the Silver, and can reduce every Metal to its own kind? And shall we not much more believe, that when our Bodies are mingled and confounded with other Substances, the wise God is able to make an Extraction, and re-invest every Soul with its own Body?

Quest. 3. Shall none but the Bodies of the Righteous be raised?

Resp. Yes, all that are in the Graves shall hear Christs Voice, and shall come forth, Acts 24.15. There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead, both of the just and unjust, Rev. 20.12. I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. But though all shall be raised out of their Graves, yet all shall not be raised alike.

1. The Bodies of the Wicked shall be raised with Ignominy; those Bodies which on the Earth did tempt and allure others with their Beauty, shall be at the Resurrection loathsom to behold; they shall be ghastly Spectacles, as the Phrase is, Isa. 66.24. They shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. But the Bodies of the Saints shall be raised with Honour, 1 Cor. 15.43. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in Glory. The Saints Bodies then shall shine as sparkling Diamonds, Matt. 13.43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun.

2. The Bodies of the Saints shall arise out of their Graves with Triumph: The Bodies of the Wicked shall come out of the Grave with Trembling, as being to receive their fatal Doom: But the Godly, when they awake out of the Dust, shall sing for Joy, Isa. 26.19. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust. When the Arch-angels Trumpet sounds, then the Saints shall sing: The Bodies of Believers shall come out of the Grave to be made happy: As the chief Butler came out of Prison, and was restored to all his Dignity at the Court: But the Bodies of the Wicked shall come out of the Grave, as the chief Baker out of Prison to be executed, Gen. 40.22.

Use 1. Believe this Doctrin of the Resurrection; and that the same Body that dies, shall arise again, and with the Soul be crown'd. Without the belief of this, tota corruit Religio, all Religion falls to the ground, 1 Cor. 15.4. If the Dead rise not, then Christ is not risen, and then our Faith is vain.

Use 2. Comfort. The Body shall rise again. This was Iob's Comfort, Iob 19.26. Though Worms destroy this Body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. The Body is sensible of Joy as well as the Soul: And indeed we shall not be in all our Glory, till our Bodies are re-united to our Souls. O consider what Joy there will be at the re-uniting of the Body and Soul at the Resurrection: Look what sweet Imbraces of Joy were between Old Iacob and Ioseph, when they first saw one another, Gen. 46.29. Such, and infinitely more, will there be when the Body and Soul of a Saint shall meet together at the Resurrection. How will the Body and Soul greet one another? What a welcome will the Soul give to the Body? O blessed Body! When I prayed thou didst attend my Prayers with hands lifted up, and Knees bowed down: Thou wert willing to suffer with me, and now thou shalt reign with me: Thou wert sown in dishonour, but now art raised in Glory. O my dear Body! I will enter into thee again, and be eternally married to thee.

Use 3. The Resurrection of the Body is a Cordial when a Christian lyes a dying. Thy Body, though it drop into the Sepulchre, it shall revive and flourish as an Herb in the Resurrection: The Grave is a Bed of dust, where the Bodies of the Saints sleep; but they shall be awakened by the Trump of the Arch-angel. The Grave is your long home, but not your last home: Though Death strip you of your beauty, yet at the Resurrection you shall have it restored again. As David when he found Saul asleep, took away his Spear and Cruse of Water, but when he awoke he restored them again, 1 Sam. 26.22. So though at death all our strength and beauty be taken away, yet at the Resurrection God will restore all again in a more glorious manner.

Quest. 4. But how shall we know that our Bodies shall be raised to a glorious Resurrection?

Resp. If we have a part in the first Resurrection, Rev. 20.6. Blessed is he that hath a part in the first Resurrection. Quest. What is meant by this? Answ. It is a rising by Repentance out of the Grave of Sin: He who lies buried in sin, can have little hope of a joyful Resurrection: His Body shall be raised, but not in Glory. O then ask Conscience, Have you a part in the first Resurrection? Hath the Spirit entred into you, and lifted you up? Hath it raised you out of your Unbelief? Hath it raised your Hearts above the Earth? This is the first Resurrection; and if your Souls are thus Spiritually raised, then your Bodies shall be gloriously raised; and shall shine as Stars in the Kingdom of Heaven. Regeneration makes way for a glorious Resurrection.

Use Seeing you expect your Bodies should arise to Glory, keep your Bodies unspotted from sin. Shall a drunken Body rise to Glory? Shall an unclean Body rise to Glory? Shall a thievish Body steal into Heaven? O keep your Bodies pure: Keep your Eyes from unchast Glances; your Hands from Bribes; your Tongues from Slander: Defile not your Bodies which you hope shall rise one day to Glory. Your Bodies are the Members of Christ; and hear what the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 6.15. Shall I take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an Harlot? God forbid. O keep your Bodies unspotted, let them be Instruments of Righteousness, 1 Cor. 6.20. Glorifie God in your Body. If your Bodies glorifie God, God will glorifie your Bodies.

Quest. 5. But seeing our Bodies must be laid in the Grave, and they may lye many years rotting there before the Resurrection; What may support and comfort us in this case?

Resp. 1. That God will not leave his People in the Grave. Our Friends bring us to the Grave and leave us there, but God will not: God will go to the Grave

with us, and watch over our dead Bodies; and take care of our Ashes. Rizpah watched over the dead Bodies of the Sons of Saul, and guarded them against the ravenous Fouls of the Air, 2 Sam. 21.10. Thus the Lord watcheth over the dead Bodies of the Saints, and looks to it, that none of their dust be missing. Christian, thou hast a God to watch over thy Body when thou art dead.

2. The Bodies of the Saints in the Grave, though separated from their Souls, are united to Christ. The dust of a Believer is part of Christs Mystical Body.

3. When the Bodies of the Saints are in the Sepulchre, their Souls are in Paradise▪ The Soul doth not sleep in the Body, but returns to God that gave it, Eccles. 12.7. The Soul immediately partakes of those Joys the blessed Angels do: When the Body returns to dust, the Soul returns to rest: When the Body is sleeping, the Soul is triumphing: When the Body is buried, the Soul is crowned: As the Spies were sent before to taste of the Fruits of the Land, Numb. 13. so at Death the Soul is sent before into Heaven, to taste of the Fruit of the Holy Land.

4. When Gods time is come, the Graves shall deliver up their Dead, Rev. 20.13. When the Judge sends, the Goaler must deliver up his Prisoners. As God said to Iacob, Gen. 46.4. I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will surely bring thee up again. So the Lord will go down with us into the Grave, and will surely bring us up again.

5. Though the Bodies of the Saints shall rot and be loathsom in the Grave, yet afterwards they shall be made Illustrious and Glorious. Concerning this consider,

1. The Bodies of the Saints, when they arise, shall be comely and beautiful. The Body of a Saint in this Life may be deformed: Those whose minds are adorned with Virtue, yet may have mis-shapen Bodies; as the finest Cloth may have the coarsest List: But this deformed Body shall be aimable and beautiful. This beauty consists in two things. 1. Perfection of parts: There shall be a full Proportion of all the Members: In this Life there is oft a defect of Members: The Eye is lost, the Arm is cut off; but in the Resurrection all parts of the Body shall be restored again: Therefore the Resurrection is called the time of restoring of all things, Acts 3.19. Malcha's Ear cut, restituit. 2. Clarity and Splendor: The Bodies of the Saints shall have a graceful Majesty in them; they shall be like Stephen, whose Face shined as if it had been the Face of an Angel, Acts 6.15. Nay they shall be made like Christs glorious Body, Phil. 3.21.

2. The Bodies of the Saints, when they arise, shall be free from the Necessities of Nature, as Hunger and Thirst, Rev. 7.16. They shall hunger no more. Moses on the Mount was so fill'd with the Glory of God, that he needed not the Recruits of Nature: Much more in Heaven shall the Bodies of the Saints, so fill'd with Gods Glory, be upheld without Food.

3. The Bodies of Saints, when they arise, shall be swift and nimble; our Bodies on Earth are dull and heavy in their Motion; then they shall be swift and made fit to ascend, as the Body of Elias in the Air. Now the Body is a Clog; in Heaven it shall be a Wing: We shall be as the Angels, Matt. 22.30. And how nimble are they? The Angel Gabriel in a short time came from Heaven to the Earth, Dan. 9.21. As the Helm turns the Ship instantly whether the Steersman will; so the Body in an instant will move which way the Soul will.

4. The Bodies of the Saints, at the Resurrection, shall be very firm and strong, 1 Cor. 15.43. It is raised in power. Through frequent Labour and Sickness, the strongest Body begins to Languish: But at the Resurrection we shall be of a strong Constitution: Then there will be no Weariness in the Body, nor Faintness in the Spirits. This may comfort you who now conflict with many bodily Weaknesses. This weak Body shall be raised in Power: The Body which is now a weak Reed, shall be like a Rock.

5. The Bodies of the Saints at the Resurrection shall be Immortal, 1 Cor. 15.53. This Mortal shall put on Immortality, our Bodies shall run parallel with Eternity, Luke 20.36. Neither can they dye any more. Heaven is an healthful Climate, there is no Bill of Mortality there. If a Physician could give you a Receipt to keep you from Dying, what Sums of Mony would you give? At the Resurrection Christ will give the Saints such a Receipt, Rev. 21.4. There shall be no more death.

2. The second Privilege Believers shall have at the Resurrection, is, They shall be openly acquitted at the day of Judgment.

Of the Day of Iudgment. (1)

Quest. WHat Benefits do Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection?

Resp. 1. Their Bodies shall be raised up to Glory, and shall be openly acquitted at the day of Judgment, and crown'd with the full and perfect Enjoyment of God to all Eternity.

2. They shall be openly acquitted at the day of Iudgment.] This is to be laid down for a Position, that there shall be a Day of Judgment, 2 Cor. 5.10. For we must all appear before the Iudgment-Seat of Christ. This is the Grand Assizes; the greatest Appearance that ever was: Now Adam shall see all his Posterity at once: We must all appear; the greatness of Mens Persons doth not exempt them from Christ's Tribunal; Kings and Captains are brought in trembling before the Lambs Throne, Rev. 6.15. We must all appear, and appear in our own Persons, not by a Proxy.

Quest. 1. How doth it appear that there shall be a Day a Iudgment?

Resp. Two ways. 1. By the Suffrage of Scripture, Eccles. 11.9.12.14 For God shall bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, Psal. 96.13. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the Earth. The Reduplication denotes the certainty, Dan. 7.9. I beheld till the Thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow. The Judgment was set, and the Books were opened.

2. It appears from the petty Sessions kept in a Mans own Conscience; when a Man doth Virtuously, Conscience doth excuse him, when evil Conscience doth arraign and condemn him. Now, what is this private Session kept in the Court of Conscience, but a certain fore-runner of that General Day of Judgment, when all the World shall be summoned to Gods Tribunal?

Quest. 2. Why must there be a Day of Iudgment?

Resp. That there may be a Day of Retribution, when God may render to every one according to his work. Things seem to be carried very unequally in the World: The Wicked do so prosper, as if they were rewarded for being Evil: And the Godly do so suffer, as if they were punished for being good. Therefore for the vindicating Gods Justice, there must be a day, wherein there shall be a righteous Distribution of Punishments and Rewards to Men, according to their Actions.

Quest. 3. Who shall be Iudge?

Resp. The Lord Jesus Christ, Iohn 5.22. The Father hath committed all Iudgment to the Son. It is an Article in our Creed, That Christ shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead. It is a great Honour put upon Christ: He who was himself judged, shall now be Judge: He who once hung upon the Cross, shall sit upon the Bench. Christ is fit to be Judge, as he partakes both of the Manhood and Godhead.

1. Of the Manhood: Being cloathed with the Humane Nature, he may be visibly seen of all: It is requisite the Judge should be seen, Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye shall see him.

2. As he partakes of the Godhead: He is of infinite Prudence to understand all Causes brought before him: And of infinite Power to execute Offenders. He is described with seven Eyes, Zach. 3.9. to denote his Prudence; and a Rod of Iron, Psal. 2.9. to denote his Power. He is so Wise that he cannot be deluded; and so Strong that he cannot be resisted.

Quest. 4. When will the Court fit, when will the time of Iudgment be?

Resp. For the Quando, or the time of the General Judgment, it is a Secret kept from the Angels, Matt. 24.36. Of that day and hour knows no Man, no not the Angels of Heaven. But this is sure, it cannot be far off: One great sign of the approach of the Day of Judgment, is, That Iniquity shall abound, Matt. 24. Sure then this day is near at hand, for Iniquity did never more abound than in this Age: Lust grows hot and Love grows cold. This is certain, when the Elect are all converted, then Christ will come to Judgment: As he that owes a Ferry-boat, stays till all the Passengers are taken into his Boat, and then he rows away. So Christ stays till all the Elect are gathered in, and then he will hasten away to [gap]dgment.

Quest. 5. What shall be the modus or manner of Trial?

Resp. 1. The Citing of Men to the Court. The Dead are cited as well as the Living. Men when they Dye, avoid the Censure of our Law-Courts, but at the last Day, the Dead are cited to God's Tribunal, Rev. 20.12. I saw the Dead Small and Great stand before God. This citing of Men will be by the Sound of a Trumpet, 1 Thes. 4.16. and this Trumpet will sound so loud, that it will raise Men out of their Graves, Mat. 24.31. Such as will not hear the Trumpet of the Gospel sound in their Ears, Repent and Believe, shall hear the Trumpet of the Arch-Angel sounding, Arise and be Iudged.

2. The approach of the Judge to the Bench.

First, This will be terrible to the Wicked. How can a guilty Prisoner endure the sight of the Judge? If Foelix trembled when Paul Preached of Judgment, Acts 24.25. How will Sinners Tremble when they shall see Christ come to Judgment? Christ is described (sitting in Judgment) with a Fiery Stream issuing from him, Dan. 7.10. Now the Lamb of God will be turned into a Lion. The sight of Christ will strike Terrour into Sinners. As when Ioseph said to his Brethren, I am Ioseph whom ye sold into Egypt; they were troubled at his Presence, Gen. 45.6. Now, how did their Hearts smite them for their Sin! So when Christ shall come to judge Men, and say, I am Jesus whom ye sinned against, I am Jesus whose Laws ye have broken, whose Blood ye despised, I am now come to Judge you. O what horror and amazement will take hold of Sinners! they will be troubled at the Presence of their Judge.

Secondly, The appro[gap]ch of Christ to the Bench of Judicature, will be Comfortable to the Righteous.

1. Christ will come in Splendor and Great Glory. His first coming in the Flesh was obscure, Isa. 53.2. He was like a Prince in Disguise; but his Second coming will be illustrious, he shall come in the Glory of his Father, with the Holy Angels, Mark 8 38. O what a bright Day will that be, when such a number of Angels, those Morning Stars shall appear in the Air, and Christ the Sun of Righteousness shall shine in Splendour above the brightest Cherub!

2. Christ will come as a Friend. Indeed if the Saints Judge were their Enemy, they might fear Condemning: But he who Loves them, and Pray'd for them is their Judge; he who is their Husband is their Judge, therefore they need not fear but all things shall go well on their side.

Thirdly, The Trial it self, which hath a Dark and a Light Side.

1. A Dark Side. It will fall heavy on the Wicked: The Judge being set, the Books are opened, Rev. 20.12. The Book of Conscience, and the Book of God's Remembrance; and now the Sinners Charge being Read, and all their Sins laid open, their Murder Drunkenness, Uncleanness, Christ will say, Sinner, what can you plead for your selves, that the Sentence of Death should not pass? The Wicked being Convicted will be Speechless. Then follows that Dismal Sentence, Mat. 25.41. Ite Maledicti, Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting-Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. He that said to God Depart from me, Job 21.14. and to Religion Depart from me, must now hear that Word pronounced from his Judge, Depart from me; a dreadful Sentence, but Righteous, Psal. 51.4. The Sinner himself shall cry Guilty. Though the Wicked have a Sea of Wrath, yet not one Drop of Injustice. And when once the Sentence is past, it is irreversible, there is no appealing to an Higher Court.

2. The Trial hath a Light side. It will be for the encreasing the Joy and Happiness of the Righteous: The Day of Judgment will be a Day of Iubile to them.

I. At that Day Christ their Judge will own them by Name. Those whom the World scorn'd and look'd upon as Precisians and Fools, Christ will take by the Hand, and openly acknowledge them to be his Favourites. What is Christ's Confessing of Men, Luke 12.8. but his open acknowledging them to be precious in his Eyes?

II. Christ as Judge will plead for them. It is not usual to be both Judge and Advocate, to sit on the Bench and to Plead; but it shall be so at the Day of Judgment.

First, Christ will plead his own Blood for the Saints. These Persons I have paid a Price for, they are the Travail of my Soul; they have sinned, but my Soul was made an Offering for their Sin.

Secondly, Christ will vindicate them from all unjust Censures. Here they were strangely mis-represented to the World as Proud, Hypocritical, Factious.

Paul was called a Seditious Man, the Head of a Faction, Acts 24.5. But at the Day of Judgment Christ will clear the Saints Innocency; then he will bring forth their Righteousness as the Light, Psal. 37.6. As he will wipe off Tears from their Eyes, so Dust from their Name. Moses when he was charg'd with Ambition, that he took too much upon him, comforted himself with this, To Morrow will the Lord shew who are his, Numb. 16.5. So may the Saints when reproached, comfort themselves with the Day of Judgment; then will Christ say who are his. Then the Saints shall come forth as the Wings of a Dove, covered with Silver.

Thirdly, Christ as Judge will Absolve them before Men and Angels. As Pilate said of Christ, I find no Fault in this Man, John 18.38. So will Christ say of the Elect, I find no Fault in them, I pronounce them Righteous. Then follows, Come ye Blessed of my Father, Inherit the Kingdom, Mat. 25.34. As if Christ should say, O ye happy ones, the delight of my Soul, the Fruit of my Sufferings, stand no longer at the Bar, ye are Heirs apparent of the Crown of Heaven, enter and take possession. At the Hearing of this Sentence, with what ravishing Joy will the Saints be fill'd? This Word, Come ye Blessed, will be Musick to their Ear, and a Cordial to their Heart.

Fourthly, Christ will mention before Men and Angels all the Good Deeds the Saints have done, Mat. 25.35. I was an Hungred and ye gave me Meat, I was Thirsty and you gave me Drink; you that have wept in Secret for Sin, that have shewn any Love to Christ's Name, that have been rich in Good Works, Christ will take notice of it at the last Day, and say, Well done Good and Faithful Servants. He himself will be the Herauld to proclaim your Praises. Thus shall it be done to the Man whom Christ delights to Honour.

Fifthly, Christ will call his Saints from the Bar, to sit upon the Bench with him to Judge the World. Iude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with Ten Thousands of his Saints to execute Iudgment upon all. 1 Cor. 6.2. Know ye not that the Saints shall Iudge the World? The Saints shall sit with Christ in Judicature, as Justices of Peace with the Judge; they shall applaud Christs Righteous Sentence on the Wicked, and as it were Vote with Christ. This as it is a great Honour to the Saints, so it must needs add to the Sorrows of the Wicked, to see those whom they once hated and derided, to sit as Judges upon them.

Sixthly, The Saints shall be fully Crowned with the Enjoyment of God for ever. They shall be in his sweet Presence, in whose Presence is fullness of Ioy, Psal. 16.11. And this shall be for ever. The Banner of God's Love shall be eternally Display'd; the Joys of Heaven are without intermission and expiration, 1 Thes. 4.17. And so shall we be ever with the Lord.

Use. As it is sad News to the Wicked, they shall not stand in Iudgment, Psal. 1.5. They shall come to Judgment, but they shall not stand in Judgment, viz. they shall not stand acquitted, they shall not stand with Boldness, but sneak and hang down their Head, and not be able to look their Judge in the Face; so it is great Consolation to the Godly. When the Apostle had said, The Lord shall descend from Heaven with a Shout, with the Voice of the Arch-Angel, and the Trump of God; he presently adds, Wherefore comfort one another with these Words, 1 Thes. 4.16.18.

1. The Day of Judgment is comfort, in respect of Weakness of Grace. A Christian is ready to be troubled, to see his Grace so minute and imperfect, but at the last Day if Christ find but a Dram of True Grace, it shall be accepted. If thine be true Gold, though it be many Grains too light, Christ will put his Merits into the Scales, and make it pass current.

2. It is a comfort to such of the Saints, who have met with Unrighteous Iudgment in the World, who have been wrong'd of their Estates in Law-Suits, or had their Lives taken away by an Unrighteous Sentence, Christ will judge over things again, and will give a Righteous Sentence; if your Estates have been taken away wrongfully, you shall be restored a Thousand fold at the Day of Judgment. If you have lost your Lives for Christ, yet you shall not lose your Crown. You shall wear a Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise which fadeth not away.

Bran. I. Meditate much upon the Day of Judgment. Feathers swim upon the Water, but Gold sinks into it. Light Feathery Christians flote in Vanity, they mind not the Day of Judgment, but Serious Spirits sink deep into the Thoughts of it.

1. The Meditation of this Last Day would make us very sincere. We would then labour to approve our Hearts to God the great Judge and Umpire of the World. 'Tis easie to carry it fair before Men, but there is no Dissembling

or Prevaricating with God, he sees what the Heart is, and will accordingly pass his Verdict.

2. The Meditation of Christ's coming to judge us, would keep us from Iudging our Brethren. We are apt to judge others as to their Final State, which is for Men to step into Christ's Place, and take his Work out of his Hand, Iam. 4.12. Who art thou that judgest another? Thou that passest a rash Sentence upon another, thou must come thy self shortly to be judged, and then perhaps he may be Acquitted, and thou Condemned.

Bran. So demean and carry your selves, that at the Day of Judgment, you may be sure to be acquitted, and have those glorious Privileges the Saints shall be Crowned with.

Quest. How is that?

Resp. 1. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment, then First, labour to get into Christ, Phil. 3.9. That I may be found in him. Faith implants us into Christ, it in garrisons us in him; and then there's no Condemnation, Rom. 8.1. There's no standing before Christ but by being in Christ. Secondly, Labour for Humility. 'Tis a kind of Self-Annihilation, 2 Cor. 12.11. [gap]. Though I be nothing. Christian, hast thou Parts and Abilities, and dost thou cover them with the Vail of Humility? As Moses when his Face shined, put a Vail over it. If thou art Humble, thou shalt be acquitted at the Day of Judgment, Iob 22.29. He shall save the Humble Person. An Humble Man judgeth himself for his Sins, and Christ will acquit them who judge themselves.

2. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day, then keep a clear Conscience. Do not load your selves with Guilt, and furnish your Judge with matter against you. The Lord (saith Paul,) hath appointed a Day in which he would judge the World, Acts 17.21. And how would Paul fit himself for that Day, Acts 24.16. Herein I exercise my Self, to have always a Conscience void of Offence, towards God and towards Man. Be careful of the First and Second Table; be Holy and Just. Have Hearts without false Aims, and Hands without false Weights; keep Conscience as clear as your Eye, that no Dust of Sin fall into it. They that sin against Conscience, will be shy of their Judge. Such as take in Prohibited Goods, cannot endure to see the Searchers that are appointed to open their Packs. Christian, thy Pack will be opened at the last Day, I mean thy Conscience, and Christ is Searcher to see what Sins, what Prohibited Goods thou hast taken in; and then he proceeds to Judgment. Oh be sure to keep a good Conscience; this is the best way to stand with boldness at the Day of Judgment. The Voice of Conscience is the Voice of God; if Conscience doth upon just Grounds acquit us, God will acquit us, 1 Iohn 3.21. If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.