Q. 86. What is the communion in glory with Chrift, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death? A. The communion in glory with Chrift, which the members of the invifible church enjoy immediately after death, is, in that their fouls are then made perfect is holinefs, and received into the higheft heavens m, where they behold the face of God in light and glory n, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies o, which even in death continue united to Chrift p, and rest in their graves as in their beds q, till at the last day they be again united to their fouls r. Whereas the fouls of the wicked are at their death caft into hell, where they remain in To-day fhalt thou be with me in paradife. Phil. i. 23. For I am in a ftrait betwixt two, having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift; which is far better. 86. / Heb. xii. 23. To the general affembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the fpirits of just men made perfect. m 2 Cor. v. I. For we know, that if our earthly houfe of this tabernacle were diffolved, we have a building of God, an houfe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. v. 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are abfent from the Lord. v. 8. We are confident, I fay, and willing rather to be abfent from the body, and to be prefent with the Lord. Phil. i. 23. For I am in a ftrait betwixt two, having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift; which is far better. Compared with Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven muft receive, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath fpoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, fince the world began. And with Eph. iv. 10. He that defcended, is torments the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. # 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the fons of God, and it doth pot yet appear what we fhall be: but we know, that when he shall appear, we fhall be like him; for we fhall fee him as he is. I Cor. xiii. 12. For now we fee through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: Now I know in part; but then fhall I know even as alfo I am known. o Rom. viii. 23. And not only they, but ourselves alfo which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Pfal. xvi. 9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh alfo fhall reft in hope. 1 Theff. iv. 14. For if we believe that Jefus died,and rofe again, even fo them alfo which fleep in Jefus, will God bring with him. 9 If. lvii. 2. He fhall enter into peace, they fhall reft in their beds, each one walking in his uprightnefs. r Job xix. 26. And though after my fkin, worms deftroy this body yet torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the refurrection and judgment of the great days. Q. 87. What are we to believe concerning the refurrection? A. We are to believe, that, at the last day there fhall be a general refurrection of the dead, both of the juft and unjust t, when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the felf-fame bodies of the dead which were laid in the grave, being then again united to their fouls for ever, fhall be raised up by the power of Christ v. The bodies of the juft, by the Spirit of Chrift, and by virtue of his refurrection as their head, fhall be raised in power, fpiritual, incorruptible, V. yet in my flesh fhall I fee God. Luke xvi. 23. And in hell he 87. t Acts xxiv. 15. And have hope towards God, which they themfelves alfo allow, that there and fhall be a refurrection of the dead, both of the juft and unjust. VI Cor. xv. 51. Behold, I fhew you a mystery. We fhall not all fleep, but we shall all be changed, v. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, (for the trumpet fhall found) and the dead fhall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. v. 53. For this corruptible muft put on incorruption, and this mortal mast put on immortality. 1 Theff.iv. 15. For this we fay unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, fhall not prevent them which are asleep. v. 16. For the Lord himfelf shall defcend from heaven with a fhout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Chrift fhall rife firft: V. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, fhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and fo shall we ever be with the Lord. John v. 28. Marvel not at this for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves fhall hear his voice, v. 29. And fhall come forth, they that have done good, unto the refurrection and made like to his glorious body w: and the bodies of the wicked fhall be raised up in difhonour by him, as an offended judge x. Q. 88. What hall immediately follow after the refurrection? A. Immediately after the refurrection fhall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men y; the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord z. refurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the refurrection of damnation. w I Cor. xv. 21. For fince by man came death, by man came alfo the refurrection of the dead. v. 22. For as in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift fhall all be made alive. v. 23. But every man in his own order: Chrift the firft-fruits, afterward they that are Chrift's, at his coming. v. 42. So alfo is the refurrection of the dead. It is fown in corruption, it is raifed in incorruption: v. 43. It is fown in difhonour, it is raised in glory: it is fown in weakness, it is raised in power: v. 44. It is fown a natural body, it is raifed a fpiritual body. Phil. iii. 21. Who fhall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is a ble even to fubdue all things unto himself. x John v. 27. And hath given him authority to execute judgment alfo, because he is the Son of man. v. 28. Marvel not at this for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves fhall hear his voice, v. 29. And shall come forth, they that have done good, unto the refurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the refurrection of damnation. Matth. xxv. 33. And he shall fet the fheep on Q. 89. his right hand, but the goats on the left. 88. y 2 Pet. ii. 4. For if God spared not the angels that finned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darknefs, to be referved unto judgment. Jude 6. And the angels which kept not their first eftate, but left their own habitation, he hath referved in everlafting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. v. 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after ftrange flesh, are fet forth for an example, fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire. v. 14. And Enoch alfo, the feventh from Adam, prophefied of thefe, faying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his faints, v. 15. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard fpeeches, which un godly finners have spoken against him. Matth. xxv. 46. And these fhall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. z Matth. xxiv. 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. v. 42. Watch there fore, Q. 89. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judg ment? A. At the day of judgment, the wicked fhall be fet on Christ's left hand a, and upon clear evidence, and full conviction of their own confciences b, fhall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them c, and thereupon fhall be caft out from the favourable presence of God, and the glorious fellowship with Chrift, his faints, and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with unfpeakable torments, both of body and foul, with the devil and his angels for ever d. Q.90. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment? A. At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Chrift in the clouds e, fhall be fet on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted f, thall 89. a Matth. xxv. 33. And he fhall fet the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. b Rom. ii. 15. Which fhew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience also bear ing witnefs, and their thoughts the mean while accufing, or else excufing one another. v. 16. In the day when God fhall judge the fecrets of men by Jefus Chrift, according to my gospel. c Matth. xxv. 41. Then fhall he fay alfo unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the join devil and his angels. d Luke xvi. 26. And befides all this, between us and you there is a great gulph fixed: fo that they which would pafs from hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 2 Theff. i. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jefus Chrift: v. 9. Who fhall be punished with everlafting deftruction from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. 90. e 1 Theff. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, fhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and fo fhall we ever be with the Lord. f Matth. xxv. 33. And he fhall fet join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and meng, and fhall be received into heaven b, where they fhall be fully and for ever freed from all fin and misery i; filled with inconceivable joys k, máde perfectly holy and happy both in body and foul,in the company of innumerable faints and holy angels /, but especially in the immediate vifion and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity m. And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church fhall enjoy with Chrift in glory, at the refurrection and day of judgment. Having feen what the fcriptures principally teach us to believe concerning God, it follows to confider what they require as the duty of Man. fet the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Matth. x. 32. Whofoever therefore fhall confefs me before men, him will I confefs also before my Father which is in heaven. g1 Cor. vi, 2. Do ye not know that the faints fhall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the the fmalleft matters ? v. 3. Know ye not that we fhall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? Matth. xxv. 34. Then fhall the King fay unto them on his right hand, Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. v. 46. And these fhall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal. i Eph. v. 27. That he might prefent it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; but that it fhould be holy and without blemish. Rev. xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, faying unto me, Write, Bleffed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea, faith Q 91. the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. k Pfal. xvi. 11. Thou wilt fhew me the path of life: in thy prefence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. / Heb. xii. 22. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerufalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, v. 23. To the general affembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the fpirits of jult men made perfect. m 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the fons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we fhall fee him as he is. I Cor. xiii. 12. For now we fee through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Theff. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, fhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and fo fhall we |