30 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XIX.
know there is a time cominpj when they shall be tormented more than they are yet. And besides, God's justice was never publicly manifested, and by any solemn act glorified, as to the punishment of the evil angels for their rebellion against him, but was reserved for this time. Besides, as God would now receive into glory the good and holy among men, and therefore would first begin with their head, which is Christ, sending him in power and great glory, so, on the other side, when God w^ould punish the disobedient, he would begin with condemning their head, who is the devil, and is first cast into hell as a pledge of what should light upon all those that follow him, and are seduced by him. I could say more, but I forbear.
Thirdly, There remaineth one circumstance in the text, and that is, Christ's throne of glory ; which, because it is wholly to come, and not elsewhere explained in scripture, we must rest in the general expres- sion. The cloud in which he cometh possibly shall be his throne ; or, if you will have it further explained, you may take that of the prophecy of Daniel, chap. vii. 9, 10, ' I beheld all the thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit ; whose raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool : his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued, and came forth from him : thousands ministered unto him, and ten thou- sand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened.' I cannot say this prophecy is intended of the day of judgment ; but as they said of the blind man, John ix, 9^ ' Either it is he, or it is very like him,' so this is it, or very like it. And in the general you see it describeth that which is very glorious. Or you may conceive of it by the description of Solomon's throne : 1 Kings X. 18-20, ' Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold : the throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind ; and there were stays on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood behind the stays : and twelve lions stood on the one side, and on the other, upon the six steps : there was not the like made in any kingdom.' It was high and dreadful, but not worthy to be a footstool to this tribunal.
The Use of all is exhortation. To press you to propound this truth — (1.) To your faith ; (2.) To your fear and caution ; (3.) To your love ; (4.) To your patience ; (5.) To your hope. That all these graces may be the more exercised upon this occasion, that you may believe it, and consider it —
1. Propound it to your faith ; be persuaded of it. We are so occupied in present things, that we forget or do not mind the future ; and men that are in love with their lusts and errors love to be ignorant of those truths, the knowledge whereof might disquiet them in follow- ing those lusts : 2 Peter iii. 5, ' This they are willingly ignorant of.' But we had need to call upon you again and again to believe these things, that the Lord Jesus shall come in his glory with his angels. They that are slaves to their lusts strongly desire an eternal enjoyment of the present world, and labour to ])anish out of their hearts the thoughts of the day of judgment. The sound belief of it is not so much encountered with doubts of the understanding, as the lusts and inclinations of their carnal and perverse hearts. But, beloved, I hope
TeR. 31.] SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV, 31
it will not be tedious to you to tell you again and again of these things, and to press you to rest your hearts upon them ; to you that have set your hearts to love Christ, and to wait for his coining ; to you that know there is no such powerful help to the mortification of your lusts as to consider the day of judgment, no such special encourage- ment in your difficulties as the comfort, glory, and sweetness of it. Oh ! therefore, press your hearts with this truth : Hath not the mouth of truth averred it ? Would Jesus Christ assure us of that which shall never be ? He that hath been so punctual on his word in lesser truths, would he deceive us in this main article ? Sure it should be no hard thing to persuade you that are assured of his fidelity and love that what he hath spoken will come to pass. If it were not so, he would never have told you so. You will find no less than he hath promised. If we did deceive you with sugared and golden words, it were another matter. Expect not that I should bring arguments from nature to prove it to you : God's word is sufficient. Faith is built upon God's testimony, and nothing else. Though other arguments have their use, and at other times I have produced them, now I shall forbear : only, because there are godless mockers, who suspect all, and do not so much reason against this article of our christian faith, as scoff at it, and you may meet with some of those, I think it not amiss to answer their cavils. A carnal and devilish wit will find out so many reasons, plausible to themselves and others like themselves ; otherwise it were enough to reject them as blasphemies with detesta- tion. But, because they please themselves in their atheistical conceits,, you shall see they make rather against them than for them.