2. Let us consider the day itself, and the great things done therein. It is a day of congregation of all mankind ; there Adam may see all his posterity at once ; but especially is it a day of congregation in respect of the saints, who are now scattered in divers countries, towns, houses, where God hath any work and service for them, but then sliall meet together in one assembly and rendezvous, called, Ps. i. 6, the great ' congregation of the just,' as the wicked shall be herded together like straws and sticks bound in a bundle to set one another on fire, drunkards together, and adulterers together : ' They shall be bound in bundles,' &c., Mat. xiii. 41, and so increase one another's torment. So shall the godly meet in a congregation, and never separate more. Here the godly are dispersed as the stars are scattered throughout the firma- ment ; here they live intermingled with wicked men — Jacob's cattle and Laban's cattle together ; but then the sheep shall be separated from the goats, and be all drawn into a body by themselves. Again, it is a day of manifestation ; the Lord's decrees and counsels are mani- fested. Creation and providence are but subservient means in order to the triumphs of this day, that the glory of his grace may be advanced in the salvation of the elect, and the glory of his justice in the punish- ment of the wicked, who, upon this account, are said to be ' made for the day of evil,' Prov. xvi. 4, where the Holy Ghost pitcheth upon that part of the decree which is hardest to be digested, the making of the wicked for the glory of the Lord's justice in that day. The wisdom of
214 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 6.
God in the courses of his providence is then manifested, for the story of the world is brought before the saints. We see providence now by pieces, but then the whole contexture of it ; the secrets of men are then manifested, and upon what principles and ends they have acted, 1 Cor. iv. 5. The truth of the promises and threaten ings is then mani- fested ; in the day of God's patience there is a darkness and veil upon the scriptures, we cannot see how they are made good ; but in the day of God's recompense we shall, what promises, threatenings, prophecies mean ; but chiefly is it a day of ' manifestation ' in regard of 'the sons of God,' Rom. viii. 19. All is now hidden, Christ is hidden, andthe saints are hidden ; their life is hidden, Gal. iii. 3 ; their glory is hidden, 1 John iii. 2 ; but then ' Christ shall appear, and we shall appear with him in glory.' As Moses told the rebels. Num. xvi., * To-morrow the Lord will show who are his.' The first-born and only- begotten Son of God then is manifested, Christ will appear in all his royalty and glory, as the great God and Saviour and judge of the world, as the great God ; therefore it is said he will appear ' in the glory of the Father,' Mat. xxiv. 13 ; xvi. 27. The mystery of his per- son will now be discovered to the uttermost, and therefore he will appear in such a glory as never creature was capable of, nor can he guess at it. We may by the glory discovered at the giving of tho law, when Moses shook for fear, Heb. xii. 19 ; by the light that shone at his incarnation, Luke ii. ; at his transfiguration. Mat. xvii. ; by those beams of majesty which broke out from him when the soldiers came to take him, John x\dii. 6 ; by his appearance to Paul — it struck him blind for three days. Acts ix ; by Isaiah's terror when he saw God in a vision, Isa. vL And as he will manifest himself to be the great God, so the true Saviour of the world. The manner of his appearance shall make a full recompense for his abasement. At his first coming, John was his forerunner, as we have said, now an arch- angel; then he came with a few fishermen, now with a multitude of angels; then riding on the colt of an ass, now upon the clouds ; then as the Son of man, now as the Son of God ; then in the form of a servant, now in the glory of the Father ; then crowned with thorns, now glory and honour ; then to teach righteousness, now to reward righteous- ness ; then ' in the similitude of sinful flesh,' Rom. viii. 3, now, the second time, ' without sin,' Heb. ix. 28. At his first coming he was not a sinner, but he came in the garb of a sinner, afflicted, miserable — ' we judged him as one forsaken of God ; ' but now he cometh as one discharged of that debt and burden, and as one highly honoured by God the Father. Once more, he cometh in all things befitting the world's judge, accompanied with angels as his attendants, sitting upon a visible throne that he may be seen of all, heard of all. In earthly judicatories, when great malefactors are to be tried, the whole majesty and glory of a nation is brought forth ; the judge in gorgeous apparel, accompanied with the flower of the country, nobles and gentry, and a great conflux of people. So here, Christ cometh forth as the judge, accompanied with angels and saints, powerfully executing the work of that day. And the only-begotten Son of God is manifested ; but this is a day of manifestation, not only of ' the Son,' but of ' the sons of God,' namely, the saints, who are then set forth in their best robes. In win-