§ 10. And with this solemn and blessed proclamation shall he enthrone them; _Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world_.[113] Every word full of life and joy.—_Come_—this is the holding forth of the golden sceptre, to warrant our approach unto this glory. Come now as near as you will; fear not the Bethshemite's judgment; for the enemy is utterly _abolished_.[114] This is not such a _Come_ as we were wont to hear, _Come, take up your cross, and follow me_.[115] Though that was sweet, yet this much more.—_Ye blessed_—Blessed indeed, when that mouth shall so pronounce us! For though the world hath accounted us accursed, and we have been ready to account ourselves so; yet certainly _those that he blesseth, are blessed; and those whom he curseth, only are cursed, and his blessing cannot be reversed_.[116]——_Of my Father_—Blessed in the Father's love, as well as the Son's, for they _are one_.[117] The Father hath testified his love in their election, donation to Christ, sending of Christ, and accepting his ransom, as the Son hath also testified his.—_Inherit_—No longer _bondmen_, nor _servants_ only, nor _children under age_, who _differ not_ in possession, but only in title, _from servants_.[118] But now we are _heirs of the kingdom_,[119] _and joint heirs with Christ_.[120]—_The kingdom_—No less than the kingdom? Indeed, to be _King of kings, and Lord of lords_, is our Lord's own proper title: But to be _kings, and reign with him_,[121] is ours. The enjoyment of this kingdom is, as the light of the sun, each have the whole, and the rest never the less.—_Prepared for you_—God is the _Alpha_, as well as the _Omega_, of our blessedness. Eternal love hath laid the foundation. He prepared the kingdom for us, and then prepared us for the kingdom. This is the preparation of his counsel and decree; for the execution whereof Christ was yet to make a further preparation—_For you_—Not for believers only in general, who, without individual persons, are nobody; but for you personally.—_From the foundation of the world._—Not only from the promise after Adam's fall, but from eternity.
[Footnote 113] Matthew xxv, 34.
[Footnote 114] Ephesians ii, 15.
[Footnote 115] Matthew xvi, 24.
[Footnote 116] Numbers xxii, 6, xxiii, 20.
[Footnote 117] John x, 30.
[Footnote 118] Galatians iv, 1-7.
[Footnote 119] James ii, 5.
[Footnote 120] Romans viii, 17.
[Footnote 121] Revelation xix, 16. xx, 6.
§ 11. Thus we have seen the Christian safely landed in paradise, and conveyed honorably to his rest. Now let us a little further, in the next chapter, view those mansions, consider their privileges, and see whether there be any glory like unto this glory.