The Socinians do so divide these things, that one of them, mibeely death, they would have to be natural; and the other, or judgmen from the constitution of God: which is not to interpret, but toc tradict the words.) Yea, death is that which in the first place directly is affirmed to-be the effect of this divine constitution, 1 spoken of as it is penal, by the curse of the law for sin; and j ment falls under the same constitution, as consequential
a. aoe Pg
*Avéxusa:
VER. 27, 28.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 409
But if death, as they plead, be merely and only natural, they cannot refer it unto the same divine constitution with the future judgment, which is natural in no sense at all.
Death was so far natural from the beginning, as that the frame and constitution of our nature were in themselves liable and subject thereunto; but that it should actually have invaded our nature unto its dissolution, without the intervention of its meritorious cause in sin, is contrary unto the original state of our relation unto God, the nature of the covenant whereby we were obliged unto obedience,—the reward promised therein, with the threatening of death in case of disobedience. Wherefore the law, statute, or con- stitution here related unto, is no other but that of Gen. ii. 17, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die;” with that addition, “ Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” chap. ii, 19. God enacted it, as an everlasting law concerning Adam and all his posterity, that they should die, and that once, as they were once taken out of the dust. But in the words of God before mentioned there are two things: 1. A penal law enacted, Gen. 1.17; 2. A judicial sentence denounced, chap. iii, 19 ;—not only death, but future judgment also was appointed thereby.
Thus “it is appointed to men;” that is, to all men, or men inde-
_ finitely, without exception,—it is their lot and portion. It is appointed unto men, not merely as men, but as sinners, as sinful men; for it is of sin and the effects of it, with their removal by Christ, that the apostle discourseth. _ It is appointed unto them “to die,;”—that is, penally for sin, as death was threatened in that penal-statute mentioned in the curse of the law; and death under that consi- deration alone is taken away by the death of Christ. The sentence of dying naturally sis continued towards all; but the moral nature of dying, with the consequents of it, is removed from some by ‘Christ. The law is not absolutely reversed; but what was formally penal in it is taken away. Observe,—
Obs. II. Death in the first constitution of it was penal.—And the entrance of it as a penalty keeps the fear of it in all living. Yea, ~ it was by the law eternally penal. Nothing was to come after death but hell. And,—
Obs. III. It is still penal, eternally penal, unto all unbelievers.— _ But there are false notions of it amongst men, as there are of all other things. Some are afraid of it when the penalty is separated from it. Some, on the other hand, regardless of the penalty, look on it as a relief, and so either seek it or desire it ;—unto whom it will prove only an entrance into judgment. It is the interest of all living to inquire diligently what death will be unto them.
_ Obs. LV. The death of all is equally determined and certain in
*Ayd, Ors.
*Awobuyeiy.
410 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [orap. rx.
God’s constitution. It hath various ways of approach unto all indi--
viduals,—hence is»it generally looked on as an accident befalling this or that man,—but the law concerning it is general and equal. The second part of the assertion is, that “after this is the judg- ment.” This, by the same divine, unalterable constitution, is ap- pointed unto all. “God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness.” Death makes not an end of men, as some think, others hope, and many desire it should; “ Ipsa mors nihil, et post mortem nihil.” But there is something yet remaining, which death is subservient unto. Hence it is said to be “after this.” As surely as men die, it is sure that somewhat else follows after death. This is the force of the par- ticle 8, “ but,”’—“but after it.” Now this “after” doth not denote the immediate succession of one thing unto an-
Mera 8 rodro,
other;—if one go before, and the other certainly follow after, what-
ever length of time be interposed between them, the assertion is true and proper. Many have been long dead, probably the most that shall die, and yet judgment is not come after. But it shall come in its appointed season; and so as that nothing shall interpose between death and judgment to make any alteration in the state or condition of the persons concerned in them. The souls of them
that are dead are yet alive, but are utterly incapable of any change.
in their condition between death and judgment. “ As death leaves men, so shall judgment find them.”
The second part of this penal constitution is judgment, “ After death the judgment.” It is not a particular judgment on every individual person immediately on his death, although such a judgment there be, for in and by death there is a declaration made concerning the eternal condition of the deceased; but “judgment” here is opposed unto the second appearance of