The world to come. Or, The kingdom of Christ asserted. In two expository lectures…The vvorld to come. Or, The kingdome of Christ asserted. In two expository lectures…

Secondly, Consider him as he is head to the Church, made complete, and perfected in all parts & degrees, that I may explain my self: You may call to mind, that when I opened the third and fourth verses, compared with the seventh verse, I told you that in election there were two great designs or contrivements; the one was more principal, and chief, which I called Gods decree of the end, what Gods design was to make us, and there it was that God chose us in Christ as a head unto absolute glory, which with Christ and in Christ we shall have for ever in the highest heavens.

Secondly, Consider him as he is head to the Church, made compleat, and perfected in all parts & degrees, that I may explain my self: You may call to mind, that when I opened the third and fourth verses, compared with the seventh verse, I told you that in election there were two great designes or contrivements; the one was more principall, and cheif, which I called Gods decree of the end, what Gods designe was to make us, and there it was that God chose us in Christ as a head unto absolute glory, which with Christ and in Christ we shal have for ever in the highest heavens.

Secondly, God designed the way unto this end, and so God was pleased, that he might set off the glory of that perfect state the more; therefore he lets us fall into sin and misery, and suffers our bodies and souls, to be separated, before we shall come to that end which God hath designed us to; To enjoy this Canaan, we must go through a wilderness to it. Now answerable to this double design of God, Jesus Christ hath a double relation to his Church, the one as a head simply considered, and so were chosen in him, to that perfect state unto which God hath designed us; Secondly, Christ hath the relation of a Redeemer ⟨p. 7⟩and Mediator for us, that as we are fallen into sin, and misery, and distress, so he might redeem us and help us; now while the Church is in an imperfect state, and hath not all its members, nor they out of all danger neither; though they be in no real danger, yet they are to give an account of their actions, and there is a final sentence to be past upon them; and in that sense, there may be said to be forgiveness of sin in the world to come, and therefore Paul prays for one, that he may find mercy at that day; Now while there is any such thing as guilt, or the appearance of it, or any imperfection, and till that final sentence be past, so long is Jesus Christ a Mediator for us, and so God hath given him all power in heaven and earth, to give eternal life to them that believe: Now so long as Jesus Christ rules in a way of conflict, and as a Conqueror is destroying sin and death, and all emnity, also raising soul and body, and bringing them together; in this sense the Scripture speaks of his sitting at the right hand of God; but when once the final sentence is past, then this work of the Mediator, his reigning, as to destroy enemies and such like is over, and then Jesus Christ will present us to to his Father, Lo here I am, and the children which thou hast given me; we are now as thou didst look upon us in thy primitive thoughts in election; so he stands in relation to them as a head, there we are considered as perfect, and the Mediators office is laid down, and God becomes all in all both to Christ and us. I would add a third thing to this, & that is, how Christ is a King, and sits at the right hand of God for ever;