^ Eccles. X. 9, and xii. 14 ; Mat. xii. 14, and xviii. 23 ; Luke ivi. 2 ; Rom. xiv. 10 ; 2 Cor. V. 10 ; Heb. ix. 27, and xiii. 17 ; 1 Pet. iv. 5. ^ ' Neighbouring.'— G.
404 OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, OUT OF WHICH
scripture that is under our present consideration runs parallel with that Dan, xii. 1-3, and several other places of Scripture where the day of judgment is spoken of ; and let him that can, shew me at what other judgment all the dead are raised and judged, and all reprobates sent to hell, and all the elect brought to heaven, and death and hell cast into the lake ; all which are plainly expressed here. ■ He shall be an Apollo to me that can make these things that are here spoken of to agree with any other judgment than the last judg- ment. Let me give a little light into this scripture, before I improve it to that purpose for which I have cited it.
' And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it : ' a lively description of the last judgment, ' a great throne.' ' Great,' because it is set up for the general judgment of all, for the universal judgment of the whole world. Before this throne all the great ones of the world must stand, — popes, emperors, kings, princes," nobles, judges, prelates, without their mitres, crowns, sceptres, royal robes, gold chains, &c., — and before this throne all other sorts and ranks of men must stand. And he that sits upon this throne is a great King, and a great God above all gods ; he is ' Prince of the kings of the earth, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords,' i Eev. i. 5, xvii. 14, and xix. 16. Upon all which accounts this throne may well be called a great throne ; and it is called ' a white throne,' because of its celestial splendour and majesty, and to shew the uprightness and glory of the judge. The white colour in Scripture is used to represent purity and glory. Here it signifies that Christ, the judge, shall give most just and righteous judgment, free from all spot of partiality.
' From whose face the heaven and the earth fled away.' The splendour and majesty of the judge is such, as neither heaven nor earth is able to behold or abide the same ; how then shall the wicked be able to stand before him ? Augustine understands it, for the future renovation of heaven and earth ; and here he acknowledgeth an varepo- o-t9,'^ for the heaven and the earth fled not before, but after the judg- ment ; to wit, saith he, the judgment being finished, then shall this heaven and earth cease to be, ' when the new heaven and earth shall begin ; ' for this world shall pass away by a change of things, not by an utter destruction. ' The heaven and the earth shall flee away ; ' that is, this shape of heaven and earth shall pass away ; because they shall be changed from vanity, through fire, that so they may be transformed into a much better and more beautiful estate ; according to that which the apostle Peter writeth, ' The heaven shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements melt with heat ; but we expect new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness,' 1 Pet. iii. 12. How this passing away, or perishing of heaven and earth, shall come to pass, there are divers opinions of learned men. Some think that the sub- stance or essence itself of the world shall wholly perish and be anni- hilated. Others are of opinion, that only the corruptible qualities thereof shall perish and be changed, and the substance or essence re-
^ All the thrones of the kings of the earth, with Solomon's golden throne, are but petty thrones to this throne ; yea, they are but footstools to this throne ; and therefore upon this single ground it may well be called a great throne.
' Hysterona is, when a thing is before put down, which should come after, or con- trariwiee. Aug. lib. xx., de C. D., c. 14 ; 1 Pet. iii. 12.
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