SERMON II.
Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer. — 2 Thes. i. 5.
The apostle speaketh from the commendation to the consolation;
wherein the apostle declareth the use and fruit of these sufferings —
(1.) Generally; (2.) Particularly. A notable means of evidencing the
general judgment and their own particular glory.
Prom the general use, evSeiy/xa t?}? 8i/cdias KpLcrews tov 6eov — Doct. That the persecutions which the godly suffer from the wicked
are a plain demonstration that God shall one day judge the world, and
will give to every one according to his works.
I shall first state the point, and then show how it is a demonstration,
&c.
1. It concerneth us to be fully persuaded of the truth of a future judgment, wherein punishments and rewards shall be dispensed, for two reasons — (1.) It establisheth our true and proper comfort, for then our wrongs shall be righted, Phil. i. 28, and our labour of love recom- pensed, Heb. vi. 10. (2.) Our duty is bound upon us by the strictest tie, for this is the great awe-band upon us, Eccles. xii. 14.
2. This judgment is a righteous judgment : Acts xvii. 31, ' He hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteous- ness.' Now he trieth the world in patience, conniveth at many faults ; though none are punished now besides or beyond their deservings, yet all are not punished according to their deservings.
3. This judgment needeth to be evidenced to us, not only by the light of scripture, but reason. Though light of scripture be more strong and
208 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SeR. II.
clear, yet the light of nature hath its use. Nature saith, It may be, Eaith, It shall be ; yet the former testimony must not be rejected.
[1.] Because things seen by a double light work the more strongly upon us ; as upon our love and obedience : ' How much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord ? ' Philem. 16. So upon our faith ; when even nature teacheth us that it is reasonable to expect such a retribution, all vain cavils are refuted.
[2.] Because all have not received the light of scripture, at least not with such reverence and respect as they ought to do. To such the light of nature is a preparative inducement either to believe, or to believe more firmly.
[3.] Because in time of temptation (as the time of bitter and grie- vous persecution is) we need all the succour and relief which the nature of the thing will afford. Evil is present and pressing, and our great hopes are to come. Then besides the grounds of faith we must study the helps of faith. The grounds of faith are the promises of the gospel ; the helps of faith are such demonstrations and evidences as the light of nature will afford in the case. Reason is allowed to be a handmaid to faith.
[4.] Among other arguments to evidence a future day of recompense, the persecutions of the godly by the wicked are evSeiyfia, a plain document or demonstration that such a righteous judgment there will be. That is asserted in the text.
The argument may be conceived two ways —
(1.) If God so severely chastised the relics of sin in his children, how much sorer vengeance attendeth the wicked that live in all manner of profaneness ? If leviora delicta, the lighter offences of his children be thus chastised, what severity may the wicked expect for their enor- mous crimes ? The scripture is not a stranger to such an argument ; as 1 Peter iv. 17, ' For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God ; and if it first begin at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God ? ' If God will manifest his just displeasure against them of his own family, for their correction and trial, surely the end of the wicked will be unspeakably terrible. If they sip at the cup of trembling, the wicked must expect to drink up the dregs thereof. Their trials are certain forerunners of a woful end, abiding the instruments thereof, when the Lord has done his work by them ; for if those who are justified by Christ, and walk holily, get to heaven through so many fiery trials, those that cast off all religion and give up themselves to all wickedness, in the day of God's reckoning with them they cannot expect to be sheltered from his everlasting wrath, when their judge shall force them into his presence. The like arguing is in Luke xxiii. 31, ' If these things be done in a green tree, what shall be done in a dry ? ' Green wood is unapt to burn, but dry sere wood will easily take fire. So Prov. xi. 31, ' Behold the right- eous shall be recompensed upon earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner ? ' ' Recompensed,' that is, punished or chastised for their transgressions. The certainty of the punishment of the wicked is con- firmed from the chastisements of the godly ; for if God be so severe upon his children, what will become of enemies ? So Jer. xxv. 29, ' If I bring evil on the city that is called by my name, should ye be utterly