A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

And then the Godly have a deeper sense of their own Condition. When Contraries are put together, they do mutually illustrate one another; so when we see the Misery of the Wicked, this matures our Apprehensions, and makes us have larger Thoughts of our Deliverance by Christ. And then this Sentence to it is upon the whole Person, and that for ever: Upon the whole Man, Go ye cursed, and Come ye blessed; both Body and Soul share in the Reward and Punishment. And then the Sentence is Eternal, it remains for ever: Why? for the Reward is built upon an infinite Merit; the Lord Christ his Blood is of an infinite value, the Virtue of it lasts to all Eternity to secure Heaven to us. And the Punishment is Eternal, because an Infinite Majesty is offended. In short, God is ⟨p. 144⟩never weary of blessing the Godly, and never weary of cursing the Wicked, and accomplishing his Judgment and Displeasure against them.

2. The next Consequent is the resigning and giving up of the Kingdom to the Father. You have it described, 1 Cor. 15.24, to 28. I suppose this giving up of the Kingdom, is not taken for a resigning of his Kingly Office; for Christ still holds the Government, and wears the Crown of Honour to be the Head of the Church. But Kingdom here is put for the Subjects of the Kingdom. He shall finish the present Manner of Dispensation, and present all the Elect to God, and give them up as a Prey snatched out of the Mouth of the Lion: and this is called presenting his Spouse to God, Ephes. 5.27. That he might present it to himself a glorious Church. Christ hath shed his Blood, and washed her clean, and decked her with all the Jewels of the Covenant; and then he shall present her to God: and the Form of Surrender you have, Heb. 2.13. Behold I, and the Children God hath given me. Behold, here I am, and all thou hast given me, there is not one wanting. O what a glorious Sight will this be to see the great Shepherd of the Sheep leading his Flock into their everlasting Folds, and all the Elect following Christ with their Crowns of Glory upon their Heads, singing to the Praise of the Lamb, O Death, where is thy Sting? O Grave, where is thy Victory? &c. To see them with Harps in their Hands, triumphing thus in the Salvation of God, all Enemies gone, and the Church lodged in everlasting Habitations! Besides, consider the Acclamation and Applause of the Angels. O how should we strive to be one of this Number!