The comfortable effect of Christ's coming is — (1.) Asserted ; (2.) Applied to the Thessalonians.
If we consider it as asserted, there we have —
1. The state itself.
2. The measure and degree of it, that Christ shall be glorified and admired upon that account.
3. The author, Christ.
VER. 10.] S1BMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 265
4. The subjects participant — (1.) Saints ; (2.) Believers ; a double character.
5. The time, ' In that day.'
Doct. That there is an estate of admirable glory reserved to be bestowed by Christ on the saints at the day of judgment.
This point will be discussed by going over the circumstances of the text.
First, The state itself is a state of glory. There is a twofold glory put upon the saints — (1.) Eelative and adherent; (2.) Intrinsic and inherent.
1. The relative glory of the saints standeth in three things —
[1.] In the free and full forgiveness of all our sins, and our absolution pronounced by the judge on the throne, Acts iii. 19. As pardon is of three sorts — (1.) Constitutive, by God's new covenant : Acts x. 43, 4 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whoso- ever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.' (2.) Declarative and sentential, when God as a judge doth determine our right. This is done here in part, when God doth speak peace to our souls, either in his word or by his Spirit : Isa. lvii. 19, ' I create the fruit of the lips, Peace, peace/ But more fully at the last day, and solemnly, when the judge pro tribunali, sitting upon the throne, shall pronounce and declare us pardoned and absolved, and accepted unto life before all the world.- (3.) Executively, when he doth not inflict the deserved penalty, but give us glory and happiness ; this is in part done here, as God taketh off the penalties and fruits of sin in his internal government, giving us the Holy Spirit ; for this he giveth as the God of peace, as pacified to us in Christ, Heb. xiii. 20, 21, by his external government taking off the punishment which lieth upon us for sin, therefore acquitted and pardoned. But more fully at the last day, when we are endued with glorious qualities both in soul and body, and all the fruits of sin, even those that lie upon the body, cease. Then is the sentence of absolution solemnly pronounced, then is the full execution, as we are perfectly freed from all misery, and brought into the possession of all happiness.
[2.] A participation of judicial power. The saints are not only judged, but judges : 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3, ' Do not ye know that the saints shall judge the world ? ' And again, 'Know ye not that we shall judge angels ? ' Per modum suffragii, as assessors on the bench with Christ. Though some of the wicked long ago had their punishment, and all the evil spirits were cast out of God's presence ; but then they shall have their solemn doom, the saints consenting in the judgment, and visibly associated with Christ in the judgment : Luke xxii. 30, ' Ye shall sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.' And therefore it is said, Ps. xlix. 14, ' The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning ; ' that is, in the morning of the resurrection, when we awake out of the sleep of death ; and they have dominion as they are appointed to assist Christ in judicature; they shall have power over them who slighted, reviled, persecuted them. Here some of the saints judge the world by doctrine, all by conversation : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saviDg of his house, by which he condemned the world.'
266 SERB10NS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SeR. VIII.
There by vote and suffrage, the more to convince wicked and ungodly men.
[3.] Christ's public owning them before God and his angels, by head and poll, man by man : Luke xii. 8, ' Him shall the Son of man confess before the angels of God,' that is, own them in the judgment. This is one for whom I died, who hath been faithful to me, and glorified me upon earth ; this presentation of the elect to God was a thing much upon the heart of Christ : Col. i. 22, ' To present you holy and unblamable,' <fec. ; Jude 24, ' To him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory ; ' and Eph. v. 27, ' That he might present it to himself a glorious church.' There is a threefold presentation spoken of in scripture. One made by believers themselves : Rom. i. 12, ' I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present yourselves a living sacrifice ; ' Rom. vi. 13, ' Yield yourselves unto God,' 7rapaar7]aare eavrovs t<£ Qew. When we solemnly give up ourselves to God's use and service. The second by Christ's messengers : 2 Cor. xi. 3, ' That I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.' When we can set such before the Lord, as the fruit of our labours, and pledges of our faithfulness in his work ; Lord, these and these have I gained to thee, or at least built them up in the knowledge of Christ. The last is by Christ himself, as an account of bis charge : Heb. ii. 13, ' Behold I and the children which thou hast given me.' That he hath justified, sanctified, and now brought them home to God. When all the elect are gathered into one company and society, he will thus present them to God, and go before them as the great shepherd of the sheep, to lead them into their everlasting fold, rejoicing in his own success, and settle them in their eternal and glorious estate. This is done privately at the time of death, but publicly and solemnly at the day of his coming, when he shall give up the kingdom to his Father, 1 Cor. xv. 24, tanquam prcedam liostibus erepiam, as a prey snatched from the enemy, as having made good his undertaking ; which is a great engagement on believers to holiness, that Christ may own us, and present us to God with honour.