§ 9. (4) The last preparative to the saint's rest, is their solemn coronation, and receiving the kingdom. For, as Christ their head, is anointed both King and Priest, so under him are his people made unto God both kings and priests, to reign, and to offer praises forever.* The crown of righteousness which was laid up for them, shall by the Lord the righteous Judge be given them at that day. They have been faithful unto death, and therefore he will give them a crown of life. And according to the improvement of their talents here, so shall their rule and dignity be enlarged. They are not dignified with empty titles, but real dominion. Christ 'will grant them to sit with him in his throne ;|| and will give them power over the nations, even as he received of his Father; and he will give them the morning star.' The Lord himself will give them possession with these applauding expressions: Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'** 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.++ 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 enmity is utterly abolished.‡‡ This is not such a Come as we were wont to hear, Come take up your cross, and follow me. Though that was sweet, *Rev. v. 10. Rev. iii. 21. Eph. ii. 15. + 2 Tim. iv. 8. Rev. ii. 10. Matt. xxv. 21, 23. ++ Matt. xxv. 34 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.*-Of my Father; Blessed in the Father's love, as well as the Son's, for they are one.† 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. But now we are heirs of the kingdom, and joint heirs with Christ.-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, ¶ 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 ise after Adam's fall, but from eternity. prom 11. Thus we have seen the Christian safely landed in paradise, and conveyed honourably to Numb. xxij. 6. xxiii. 20. § James ii. 5. + John x. 30. Rom. viii. 17.. Gal. iv. 1-7 his rest. Now let us a little further, in the next chapter, view those mansions, consider their priv. ileges, and see whether there be any glory like unto this glory. CHAPTER III. THE EXCELLENCIES OF THE SAINT'S REST. 1. The excellencies of the saint's rest are enumerated. § 2. (1) It is the purchased possession. § 3, 4. (2) A free gift. § 5. (3) Peculiar to saints. 6. (4) An association with saints and angels. 7. (5) It derives its joys immediately from God himself. 8. (6) It will be seasonable. 9. (7) Suitable. 10-12. (8) Perfect, without sin and suffering. 13. (9) And everlasting 14. The chapter concludes with a serious address to the reader. § 1. LET us draw a little nearer, and see what further excellencies this rest affordeth. The Lord hide us in the clefts of the rock, and cover us with the hands of indulgent grace, while we approach to take this view! This rest is excellent for being, a purchased possession; a free gift; peculiar to saints; an association with saints and angels; yet deriving its joys immediately from God; and because it will be a seasonable, suitable, perfect, and eternal rest. § 2. (1) It is a most singular honour of the saint's rest, to be called the purchased possession.* That is, the fruit of the blood of the Son of God; yea, the chief fruit, the end and perfection of all the fruits and efficacy of that blood. Greater love than this there is not, to lay down the life of the lover. And to have this our Redeemer ever before our eyes, and the liveliest sense and freshest remembrance of that dying, bleeding love still upon our * Eph. i. 14. souls: How will it fill our souls with perpetual joy, to think that in the streams of this blood we have swam through the violence of the world, the snares of Satan, the seducements of flesh, the curse of the law, the wrath of an offended God, the accusations of a guilty conscience, and the vexing doubts and fears of an unbelieving heart, and are arrived safe at the presence of God! Now, he cries to us, is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow!* and we scarce regard the mournful voice, nor scarce turn aside to view the wounds. But then our perfected souls will feel, and flame in love for love. With what astonishing apprehensions will redeemed saints everlastingly behold their blessed Redeemer! the purchaser, and the price, together with the possession! Neither will the view of his wounds of love, renew our wounds of sorrow. He, whose first words after his resurrection were to a great sinner, Woman, why weepest thou?† knows how to raise love and joy, without any cloud of sorrow, or storm of tears. If any thing we enjoy was purchased with the life of our dearest friend, how highly should we value it! If a dying friend deliver us but a token of his love, how carefully do we preserve it! And still remember him when we behold it, as if his own name were written on it! And will not then the death and blood of our Lord everlastingly sweeten our possessed glory? As we write down the price our goods cost us; so on our righteousness and glory, write down the price, the precious blood of Christ. His sufferings were to satisfy the justice that required blood, and to bear what was due to sinners, + John xx. 15. * Lam. i. 12. and so to restore them to the life they lost, and the happiness they fell from. The work of Christ's redemption so well pleased the Father, that he gave him power to advance his chosen, and give them the glory which was given to himself, and all this according to his good pleasure, and the counsel of his own will.* § 3. (2) Another pearl in the saint's diadem is, that it is a free gift. These two, purchased and free, are the chains of gold which make up the wreaths for the tops of the pillars in the temple of God. † It was dear to Christ, but free to us. When Christ was to buy, silver and gold were nothing worth; prayers and tears could not suffice, nor any thing below his blood; but our buying is receiving; we have it freely, without money and without price.‡ A thankful acceptance of a free acquittance, is no paying of the debt. Here is all free; if the Father freely give the Son, and the Son freely pay the debt; and if God freely accepts that way of payment, when he might have required it of the principal; and if both Father and Son freely offer us the purchased life on our cordial acceptance, and if they freely send the Spirit to enable us to accept; what is here then that is not free? O the everlasting admiration that must needs surprise the saints to think of this freeness! "What did the Lord see in me, that he should judge me meet for such a state? That I, who was but a poor, diseased, despised wretch, should be clad in the brightness of this glory! That I, a creeping worm, should be advanced to this high dignity! That I, who was but lately groaning, weeping, dying, should now be as full of joy as my heart can hold! yea, should * Eph. i. 9, 11. +1 Kings vii. 16; Isa. lv. 1. |