shall be raised up with the self-fame bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their fouls for everf. III. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious bodys. dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. f Job 19. 26, 27. And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I fee God: Whom I shall fee for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be confumed within me. I Cor. 15. 42, 43, 44. So alfo is the refurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raifed in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour, it israifed in glory: It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power: It is fown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. III. g Acts 24. 15. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a refurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. John 5. 28, 29. 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 refurrec. tion of life; and they that have done evil, unto the refurrection of damnation. Phil. 3. 21. 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 fubdue all things unto himself. 03 G CHAP. XXXIII. Of the last Judgment. OD hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jefus Chrift, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father. In which day, not only the apoftate angels shall be judged; but likewise all perfons, that have lived upon earth, shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evild. I. a Acts 17. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given affurance unto all men, in that be hath raised him from the 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath referved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judg. ment of the great day. 2 Pet. 2. 4. For if God spared not the angels that finned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be referved unto judgment. dead. b John 5. 22, 27. For the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:- And hath given him authority to execute judg ment also, because he is the Son of man. c 1 Cor. 6. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? Jude verse d 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment feat of Chrift, that every one may receive the things done in bis body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or had. Eccles. 12. 14. For God shall bring every II. The end of God's appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord : But the work into judgment with every fecret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God shall judge the fecrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Rom. 14.10, 12. But why doft thou judge thy brother ? or why doft thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment feat of Chrift. So then every one of us shall give account of himfelf to God. Mat. 12. 36, 37. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be juftified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. II. e Rom. 9. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. Mat. 25. 21. His Lord faid unto him, Well done thou 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. f Rom. 2. 5, 6. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds. 2 Theff. 1. 7. 8. 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 Chrift. Rom. 9. 22. g Mat. 25. 31, 32, 33. 34When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him fhall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from the other, as a shepherd divideth bis sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King fay unto them on his right hand. Come ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Acts 3. 19. Times of wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power". III. As Christ would have us to be certainly perfuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from fin, and for the greater confolation of the godly in their adversity': So will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quicklyk. Amen. refreshing shall come from the prefence of the Lord. 2 Theff. 1. 7. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. h Mat. 25. 41, 46. Then shall he fay also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment. 2 Theff. 1. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Ifa. 66. 24. For their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched. III. i 2 Pet. 3.11, 14. Seeing then that all these things shall be diffolved, what manner of perfons ought ye to be in all holy converfation and godliness? Wherefore, belov ed, feeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without, spot and blameless. 2 Cor. 5. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we perfuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also, are made manifest in your confciences. 2 Theff. 1. 5, 6, 7. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing 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. Luke 21. 27. 28. And then shall they fee the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to país, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. |