Christ's certain and sudden appearance to judgment. By Thomas Vincent, sometime Minister of Maudlins…

3. The righteous shall go away, from that place and state of misery which the wicked shall go into; they shall be delivered from the damnation, and punishment of Hell, and all fears of it for ever: and herein their joys will be unconceivable, in that,

3. The righteous shall go away, from that place and state of misery which the wicked shall go into; they shall be delivered from the d•mnation, and punishment of Hell, and all fears of it for ever: and herein their joyes will be unconceivable, in that,

1. They shall have deeper apprehensions of the punishment of Hell, than ever did here enter into their hearts to imagine; they were told by the Word and Ministers what a dreadful punishment was prepared for the damned; and they did believe it, and fear it, and flee from it; but the one half ⟨p. 118⟩was not told them; the Fire which they conceived, was but as it were a painted Fire in comparison with that which they will see the wicked cast into; the pains they fancied were but fleabitings, in comparison with those which they will see the wicked undergo: they guessed something at the wrath of God▪ by the little scortchings thereof in their first conviction of, and contrition for sin; by the sweetness of Gods smiles of love afterwards, they judged that his displeasure and fury would be unsupportable; but their thoughts were mean, and sh•r• of that fiery vengeance and dreadful wrath which then will break forth into a flame to consume the ungodly: as the wicked will have high apprehensions of the glory and happiness of the righteous beyond whatever entered into their hearts to conceive here in this world, and it will be their unutterable grief; to be deprived thereof, and shut our for ever from the Kingdom of Heaven, which the righteous with joy and triumph shall go into: so the righteous shall have deep apprehensions of the sufferings and misery of the wicked, beyond whatever they did imagine here; and it will be no small part of their joy that they are delivered from this misery, and saved from the torments of Hell, into which they shall see the wicked go into, with such dread and horror. •a•arns will then see Dives tormented; the other Apostles will see Judas thrust into Hell, and all the righteous will be Spectators of the vengeance which the Lord Jesus will execute upon the ungodly world, and O how will they then adore Gods electing love? how will they value the blood of Christ, which was shed for the redemption of them? how will they bless God for pardoning mercy? how will they hug the feet of their Saviour, who hath delivered them from this so dreadful wrath, and fearful torments which they will see inflicted then upon the damned? especially,

1. They shall have deeper apprehensions of the punishment of Hell, than ever did here enter into their hearts to imdgine; they were told by the Word and Ministers what a dreadful punishment was prepared for the damned; and they did believe it, and fear it, and flee from it; but the one half ⟨p. 118⟩was not told them; the Fire which they conceived, was but as it were a painted Fire in comparison with that which they will see the wicked cast into; the pains they fancied were but fleabitings, in comparison with those which they will see the wicked undergo: they guessed something at the wrath of God▪ by the little scortchings thereof in their first conviction of, and contrition for sin; by the sweetness of Gods smiles of love afterwards, they judged that his displeasure and fury would be unsupportable; but their thoughts were mean, and sh•r• of that fiery vengeance and dreadful wrath which then will break forth into a flame to consume the ungodly: as the wicked will have high apprehensions of the glory and happiness of the righteous beyond whatever entred into their hearts to conceive here in this world, and it will be their unutterable grief; to be deprived thereof, and shut our for ever from the Kingdome of Heaven, which the righteous with joy and triumph shall go into: so the righteous shall have deep apprehensions of the sufferings and misery of the wicked, beyond whatever they did imagine here; and it will be no small part of their joy that they are delivered from this misery, and saved from the torments of Hell, into which they shall see the wicked go into, with such dread and horrour. •a•arns will then see Dives tormented; the other Apostles will see Jadas thrust into Hell, and all the righteous will be Spectators of the vengeance which the Lord Jesus will execute upon the ungodly world, and O how will they then adore Gods electing love? how will they vallue the blood of Christ, which was shed for the redemption of them? how will they bless God for pardoning mercy? how will they hugg the feet of their Saviour, who hath delivered them from this so dreadfull wrath, and fearfull torments which they will see inflicted then upon the damned? especially,

2. When they consider in their going away, that they were by nature Children of wrath, even as others; Ephes. 2. 3. That they had as soul natures as the vilest; that the• had as leprous, poisonous, odious hearts, until they we•• ⟨p. 119⟩renewed and sanctified, as those which they shall see condemned and tormented; that they were sometimes foolish and disobedient, ••erving divers lusts, and pleasures, hateful and hating one another, until the kindness and free love of God was manifested in the regeneration and renovation of them by the holy Ghost. Tit. 3 3,4 5. That they were dead in sin with others, and walked according to the course of the World, according to the Prince of the power of the Air, who wrought in them, as in other Children of disobedience, so that they were as forward as others to fulfil the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and •n with others to the same excess of riot; until God who is rich in mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved them, had quickened them and saved them by his grace, and hereby put a difference between them and the wicked, who went on to the end of the sinful course in which sometimes they were running with them in company. Eph. 2. 1,2,3,4, &c. yea some of them will remember, how they out-stripped others in sin, and were guilty of more gross breaches of the Law than many Millions of the wicked, whom they will see condemned; & that they should escape, and be awakened to repent, and enabled to believe and reform; and that they should obtain pardon and salvation through Christ, when others were passed by, and let alone to perish under smaller sins; this will fill them with astonishing admiration, and wondering joy: when they see some of their near Relations going to Hell, their Fathers, their Mothers, their Children, their Husbands, their Wives, their Brethren, their Sisters, their intimate Friends, and Companions; however they are grieved now to see them take such courses, and walk in the way to Hell, and they labour to Pull them out of that way, and would •ain persuade them to walk with them in Heavens way; and are troubled to forethink of the torment which they must endure, if they go on, yet hereafter relative ties, and those affections which now they have to relations out of Christ, will cease; and they will not have the least trouble to see them sentenced to Hell, and thrust into the fiery furnace;

2. When they consider in their going away, that they were by nature Children of wrath, even as others; Ephes. 2. 3. That they had as soul natures as the vilest; that the• had as leprous, poysonous, odious hearts, until they we•• ⟨p. 119⟩renewed and sanctified, as those which they shall see condemned and tormented; that they were sometimes foolish and disobedient, ••erving divers lusts, and pleasures, hateful and hating one another, until the kindness and free love of God was manifested in the regeneration and re••vation of them by the holy Ghost. Tit. 3 3,4 5. That they were dead in sin with others, and walked according to the course of the World, according to the Prince of the power of the Aire, who wrought in them, as in other Children of disobedience, so that they were as forward as others to fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and •n with others to the same excess of riot; until God who is rich in mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved them, had quickned them and saved them by his grace, and hereby put a difference between them and the wicked, who went on to the end of the sinful course in which sometimes they were running with them in company. Eph. 2. 1,2,3,4, &c. yea some of them will remember, how they out-stripped others in sin, and were guilty of more gross breaches of the Law than many Millions of the wicked, whom they will see condemned; & that they should escape, and be awakened to repent, and enabled to believe and reform; and that they should obtain pardon and salvation thorow Christ, when others were passed by, and let alone to perish under smaller sins; this will fill them with astonishing admiration, and wondering joy: when they see some of their neer Relations going to Hell, their Fathers, their Mothers, their Children, their Husbands, their Wives, their Brethren, their Sisters, their intimate Friends, and Companions; however they are grieved now to see them take such courses, and walk in the way to Hell, and they labour to Pull them out of that way, and would •ain perswade them to walk with them in Heavens way; and are troubled to forethink of the torment which they must endure, if they go on, yet hereafter relative tyes, and those affections which now they have to relations out of Christ, will cease; and they will not have the least trouble to see them sentenced to Hell, and thrust into the fiery furnace;

3. When they consider in their going away, that they were sometime so near to H•ll; that whilst they were in a state of nature, and under the guilt of sin, that some of them were near to death; that they were brought to the sides of the pit, to the doors of the grave, to the very brink of Hell, before they had repented, and accepted of Jesus Christ; some of them will remember how near they were to death when they were young; how near they were to death by some casualties; how near by some diseases; some of them will remember the great Plague in London, which swept away so many thousands, how ill they were provided for death at the beginning thereof; how nearly they escaped the disease; and some which had the disease, how nearly they escaped death by it; and if they had died then, that they should certainly have gone to Hell; O how will they admire the •••ovidence of God in keeping them alive notwithstanding […] many dangers they were in of death all the days of their unregeneracy; and when they more over consider how they tried Gods patience, and trampled upon it, by their heinous provocations; how they abused his goodness, and turned his grace into wantonness; how they did hasten in the ways of sin towards Hell, and were come even to the end of the line; that some of their ⟨p. 121⟩were Drunkards, and Sabbath-breakers, and profane persons, and swearers, and unclean persons, and persecutors of the people of God, and were arrived even to the height of wickedness, and wanted but a step or two of falling into Hell; and yet that the Lord should meet with them, with a flaming sword in the way of sin, they were driving on so fast and furiously in, and stop them, and turn them, and change them, and bring them home to himself; yea, when they had deafened their ears against many calls, and stifled many convictions, and often quenched the motions of his spirit, and were so unwilling to leave their sins, and to come out of the way of destruction, and were so desperately bent upon their ruin; that yet he should knock, and call again and again, and follow them still by his spirit; that he should lay hold on them as the Angels did on Lot and bring them out of Sodom even by force: and over power the contranitency of their stubborn wills. and break open the door of their hearts, and overturn the strong holds of sin and Satan and set up the throne of his Son within them;

3. When they consider in their going away, that they were sometime so neer to H•ll; that whilst they were in a state of nature, and under the guilt of sin, that some of them were neer to death; that they were brought to the sides of the pit, to the doors of the grave, to the very brink of Hell, before they had repented, and accepted of Jesus Christ; some of them will remember how neer they were to death when they were young; how neer they were to death by some casualties; how neer by some diseases; some of them will remember the great Plaugue in London, which swept away so many thousands, how ill they were provided for death at the beginning thereof; how neerly they escaped the disease; and some which had the disease, how neerly they escaped death by it; and if they had died then, that they should certainly have gone to Hell; O how will they admire the •••ovidence of God in keeping them alive notwithstanding 〈…〉 many dangers they were in of death all the dayes of their unregeneracy; and when they more over consider how they tried Gods patience, and trampled upon it, by their hainous provocations; how they abused his goodness, and turned his grace into wantonness; how they did hasten in the wayes of sin towards Hell, and were come even to the end of the line; that some of their ⟨p. 121⟩were Drunkards, and Sabbath-breakers, and profane persons, and swearers, and unclean persons, and persecutors of the people of God, and were arrived even to the heighth of wickedness, and wanted but a step or two of falling into Hell; and yet that the Lord should meet with them, with a flaming sword in the way of sin, they were driving on so fast and furiously in, and stop them, and turn them, and change them, and bring them home to himself; yea, when they had dea•fned their ears against many calls, and stifled many convictions, and often quenched the motions of his spirit, and were so unwilling to leave their sins, and to come out of the way of destruction, and were so desperately bent upon their ruine; that yet he should knock, and call again and again, and follow them still by his spirit; that he should lay hold on them as the Angels did on Lot and bring them out of Sodom even by force: and over power the contranitency of their stubborn wills. and break open the door of their hearts, and overturn the strong holds of sin and Satan• and set up the throne of his Son within them;

that he should s•a•ch them like fire brands out of the fire; and pluck them out of the snare of the Devil, that had almost dragged them into Hell; O how will they be astonished to remember Gods infinite pi•ty and love, and the power of his rich grace that did work salvation for them? especially when they perceive how dreadful the misery is which they were hastening unto? I have heard of a man who, in the night galloped over a high bridge which was broken down all but a narrow plank, which Gods providence directed his horses ••at upon; which if they had slipped never so little on the one side on the other, horse and man had fallen into the deep stream, and been drowned; which the man did not known till the next morning; but then, viewing the place, and considering the danger he had so narrowly escaped, was struck with such astonishment at it, that he fell down dead in the place. When some of Gods people shall go away from Hell at the last day, and look behind them into the bottomless-pit, and take a view of the streams of fire and brimstone, which are running in the burning lake; and remember how they have galloped ⟨p. 122⟩over those streams, when they were in the career of their sin; and by how narrow a plank they passed over them; that if they had slipped but a little aside, they had fallen into the lake, from whence they could never have got out; when they shall remember how near they were to Hell, and how narrowly they have escaped such horrible torments; surely they will be struck with such admiration and joy which now they could not bear, but would over-whelm their spirits, and bring immediate death upon them; but then their nature will be strengthened to bear this joy, which might be enough to sweeten an eternity, if they had no other happiness than the consideration of the misery from which they have been so wonderfully delivered. Thus concerning the going away of the righteous from the wicked, and the miseries which they shall endure.

that he should s•a•ch them like fire brands out of the fire; and pluck them out of the snare of the Devil, that had almost drag•d them into Hell; O how will they be astonished to remember Gods infinite pi•ty and love, and the power of his rich grace that did work salvation for them? especially when they perceive how dreadful the misery is which they were hastning unto? I have heard of a man who, in the night galloped over a high bridge which was broken down all but a narrow plank, which Gods providence directed his horses ••at upon; which if they had flipt never so little on the one side on the other, horse and man had follen into the deep stream, and been drowned; which the man did not known till the next morning; but then, viewing the place, and considering the danger he had so narrowly escaped, was struck with such astonishment at it, that he fell down dead in the place. When some of Gods people shall go away from Hell at the last day, and look behind them into the bottomless-pit, and take a view of the streams of fire and brimstone, which are running in the burning lake; and remember how they have galloped ⟨p. 122⟩over those streams, when they were in the carreer of their sin; and by how narrow a plank they passed over them; that if they had slipped but a little aside, they had fallen into the lake, from whence they could never have got out; when they shall remember how neer they were to Hell, and how narrowly they have escaped such horrible torments; surely they will be struck with such admiration and joy which now they could not bear, but would over-whelm their spirits, and bring immediate death upon them; but then their nature will be strengthned to bear this joy, which might be enough to sweeten an eternity, if they had no other happiness than the consideration of the misery from which they have been so wonderfully delivered. Thus concerning the going away of the righteous from the wicked, and the miseries which they shall endure.

2. Concerning their going into eternal life: and here I shall speak, 1. Of the eternal life which they shall go into. 2. Of their going into eternal life

1. Concerning the eternal life which the righteous shall go into. Eternal life is taken in Scripture frequently for the life of grace; but chiefly, and so here, for the life of glory: by eternal life we are to understand the glory and happiness which the righteous shall have in Heaven, of which happiness in Heaven I shall speak, 1. Subjectively, 2. Objectively. 3. Formally.

1. Concerning the eternal life which the righteous shall go into. Eternal life is taken in Scripture frequently for the life of grace; but chiefly, and so here, for the life of glory: by eternal life we are to understand the glory and happiness which the righteous shall have in Heaven, of which happiniss in Heaven I shall speak, 1. Subjectively, 2. Objectively. 3. Formally.

1. Subjectively. The subject of the happiness in Heaven, will be both the bodies and the souls of the righteous.

1. The bodies of the righteous will be subjects of the happiness of Heaven.

1. They shall be most glorious bodies, 1 Cor. 15. 42 They are sown in dishonour, when they die; they shall be raised in ⟨p. 123⟩glory at the resurrection; some glory and Majesty is put upon the bodies of men now, in comparison with the bodies of inferior creatures; but the bodies of the righteous shall then be made a thousand-fold more glorious; there is not so great a difference between celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; between the body of the glorious Sun, and the body of the meanest fly or worm, as then there will be between the bodies of the righteous on earth, and in heaven: they will be celestial bodies; they will shine like Stars, Dan 12. 3. Yea, like the Sun in the Kingdom of their father, Matth, 13. 43 their bodies will be transformed, whereby their dirty hue will be changed, more than if all the stones in the street were turned into Diamonds, Phil. •. 21. Their vile bodies will be fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ: Now their bodies are vile, being so frail, especially as they are the instruments of sin; they are earthy, as they bear the image of the earthy Adam: then they shall be glorious, because they shall bear the Image of the Heavenly Adam: the bodies of some do now shine with Gold and Pearls, and costly Apparel which are about them, and yet under all, their bodies remain vile bodies; but hereafter the bodies of the righteous shall shine with a marvellous brightness and glory through the qualities which shall be in them, beyond what the richest attire can give.

1. They shall be most glorious bodies, 1 Cor. 15. 42 They are sown in dishonour, when they die; they shall be raised in ⟨p. 123⟩glory at the resurrection; some glory and Majesty is put upon the bodies of men now, in comparison with the bodies of inferiour creatures; but the bodies of the righteous shall then be made a thousand-fold more glorious; there is not so great a difference between celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; between the body of the glorious Sun, and the body of the meanest fly or worm, as then there will be between the bodies of the righteous on earth, and in heaven: they will be celestial bodies; they will shine like Stars, Dan 12. 3. Yea, like the Sun in the Kingdom of their father, Matth, 13. 43 their bodies will be transformed, whereby their dirty hue will be changed, more than if all the stones in the street were turned into Diamonds, Phil. •. 21. Their vile bodies will be fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ: Now their bodies are vile, being so frail, especially as they are the instruments of sin; they are earthy, as they bear the image of the earthy Adam: then they shall be glorious, because they shall bear the Image of the Heavealy Adam: the bodies of some doe now shine with Gold and Pearls, and costly Apparrel which are about them, and yet under all, their bodies remain vile bodies; but hereafter the bodies of the righteous shall shine with a marvellous brightness and glory through the qualities which shall be in them, beyond what the richest attire can give.

2. And by consequence the bodies of the righteous shall be most Beautiful Bodies: they shall have a perfect beauty, beyond whatever eye did behold, in the fairest woman that ever lived upon the face of the earth.

Their bodies will have the most exact symmetry of parts; those which were misshapen here, shall then he healed of that imperfection in their bodies; the crooked back shall then be be made straight; the members which now are wanting, shall be supplied, and the parts which now are dissolved shall be put into the right place; and all joined so exactly together; especially the lineaments of the face shall have such a figure and composition as shall render their feature most lovely, and graceful, beyond what the greatest observers, and admirers of beauty, can conceive in their fancy.

Their bodies will have the most exact symetry of parts; those which were mis shapen here, shall then he healed of that imperfection in their bodies; the crooked back shall then be be made straight; the members which now are wanting, shall be supplied, and the parts which now are dissolved shall be put into the right place; and all joyned so exactly together; especially the lineaments of the face shall have such a figure and composition as shall render their feature most lovely, and graceful, beyond what the greatest observers, and admirers of beauty, can conceive in their fancy.

Moreover, the bodies of the righteous shall have a most sweet mixture of colours; there will be no black skin, no swarthy complexion, no pal• face, no wan look; their colour will be most lovely, without change or fading; there will be no wrinkles of old age but they will be always young fresh, and blooming; if the composition of these •l•ments, which are so dreggish, doth give forth in same such l•v•liness of colour, what will the more refined composition of the bodies, of the righteous do, and when the Lord will fashion their bodies after the pattern of his Sons body: and therefore I conceive further that the bodies of the righteous shall have a most comely stature, not dwarfish nor gigantic; but according to the measure of the stature of Christ: And lastly, to complete their beauty, I doubt not but they will have most graceful gestures and sparkling motions in their countenances; they will have no grief to deaden their beauty, to anger or envy, or the like, to change and transform their visage; But love and joy will continuall• look out at their eyes, which will marvellously add to the lustre and sweetness of their beauty; they shall have most beautiful bodies.

Moreover, the bodies of the righteous shall have a most sweet mixture of colours; there will be no black skin, no swarthy complexion, no pal• face, no wan look; their colour will be most lovely, without change or fading; there will be no wrinkles of old age but they will be alwayes young fresh, and blooming; if the composition of these •l•ments, which are so dreggish, doth give forth in same such l•v•liness of colour, what will the more refined composition of the bodies, of the righteous do, and when the Lord will fashion their bodies after the pattern of his Sons body: and therefore I conceive further that the bodies of the righteous shall have a most comely stature, not dwarfish nor •igantick; but according to the measure of the stature of Christ: And lastl•, to compleat their beauty, I doubt not but they will have most graceful gestures and sparkling motions in their countenances; they will have no grief to deaden their beauty, to anger or envy, or the like, to change and transform their visage; But love and joy will continuall• look out at their eyes, which will marvellously add to the lustre and sweetness of their beauty; they shall have most beautiful bodies.

3. The bodies of the righteous shall be most Strong, that they may be suitable to their great soul, and fit for such works as in heaven they must be employed in; were they weak as new they are they world never endure such works and motions, they would tire and faint, their spirits would quickly be spent; but in Heaven there will be no lassitude and weariness; no fa•• ting, or failure of spirits; all their motions, though never so great and continual, will be sweet and delightful; and therefore their bodies must be strong that they may be suitable h•re•• to: Moreover the glory of Heaven, which they shall have in their eye would sink a weak body, and the ravishing joys and love, the transports of their souls in the visions which they shall have, would crack a weak vessel to pieces; they must be strong to hear the glory of the place; and when besides they must endure unto all eternity; and all this without reparation, by meat, or drink, or sleep; I conceive that no bodies visible to us are made so strong, as the bodies of the righteous will be made at the last day.

3. The bodies of the righteous shall be most Strong, that they may be sutable to their great soul, and fit for such works as in heaven they must be employed in; were they weak as new they are they world never endure such works and motions, they would tire and faint, their spirits would quickly be spent; but in Heaven there will be no lassitude and weariness; no fa•• ting, or failure of spirits; all their motions, though never so great and conti•ual, will be sweet and delightful; and therefore their bodies must be strong that they may be sutable h•re•• to: Moreover the glory of Heaven, which they shall have in their eye would sink a weak body, and the ravishing joyes and love, the transports of their souls in the visions which they shall have, would crack a weak vessel to pieces; they must be strong to hear the glory of the place; and when besides they must endure unto all eternity; and all this without reparation, by meat, or drink, or sleep; I conceive that no bodies visible to us are made so strong, as the bodies of the righteous will be made at the last day.

[…] it follows, that their bodies will be most Healthful bodies, they will be free from all pain, and disease, which may in the least weaken them; the temperature of their bodies will be so exact, that there will be no fighting of contrary qualities within them, no flowing of ill humours: In Heaven there will be no plague nor•ague, nor fever, nor gout, nor stone, nor strang••y, nor any distemper, no need of food to preserve health, nor ph•sit• to recover it

〈…〉 it follows, that their bodies will be most Healthful bodies, they will be free from all pain, and disease, which may in the least weaken them; the temperature of their bodies will be so exact, that there will be no fighting of contrary qualities within them, no flowing of ill humours: In Heaven there will be no plague nor•ague, nor feav•r, nor gout, nor stone, nor strang••y, nor any distemper, no need of food to preserve health, nor ph•sit• to recover it