wrestlings of God," i. e. with great wrestlings; Ps. 36:6. "Mountains of God," i. e. great mountains; Ps.80:10. "Cedars of God," i. e. very high cedars; so here "the trump of God," i. e. A very great sound, like the sound of a trumpet. It is said in the law, There were "thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud, so that all the people that were in the camp trembled," Exod. 19:16. And if there was trembling at the giving of the law, oh! what trembling will be at the general assize when sinners shall be condemned for breaking of it?

3. No sooner the shout made, but the saints arise: it is true, the saints that are alive need no resurrection, but upon them will this trumpet have its effect. Something like death shall seize upon them, and they shall be changed. The order of this is given in by the apostle from the Lord, "This we say unto you, by the word of our Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep, for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them into the clouds," 1 Thess. 4:15,16,17. The first that shall be called, are the saints that sleep, and then the saints which are alive shall be immediately changed. Oh! What a day will this be? What a strange sight, to see all the dead ever since the beginning of the world rise out of their graves? for the wicked, I believe, they shall rise like toads from their holes,in a black, swarthy, ugly color. A question is amongst the schools whether reprobates shall rise again with all their deformities which they had in this life? As some of them being blind, halt, lame, inaimed, deaf, dumb, &c. Whether now they shall rise in the self same condition? For my part, I conceive, that whereas God the Author of nature, will at that day restore human nature, that therefore there shall be no defects of natural parts. Certainly nothing shall be wanting in the damned which may impede the sense of torment in any part; now, a defect of any member would hinder these universal torments, that must seize on every part of the bodies of the damned in hell; their bodies therefore shall be whole, only the bodies of such shall be foul, ugly, heavy, lumpish bodies, as opposed to the glorious qualities of the bodies of saints. Why, what bodies (you will say) have they? I answer, glorious bodies; no sooner shall the bodies of the saints arise, but they shall exceed with singular qualities, "They were sown in corruption, but they are raised in incorruption; they were sown in dishonor, but raised in glory; they were sown in weakness, but raised in power; they were sown natural bodies, but raised spiritual bodies," 1 Cor. 15:42,43,44. The sun in its shining, doth but shadow forth the glory of their bodies and this will in some measure torment reprobates to see the difference of their bodies, and the bodies of the saints. O! (will they say) yonder are they whom we despised, and now are they honored. See a world of suns rising at once out of all parts of the earth; sometimes we lived on earth, and we never saw but one sun rising in the east, but, lo! millions of suns on east, and west, and north, and south; O! those are the glorious saints in heaven; see with what swift and agile bodies they are preparing to fly into the air to meet their Lord and Saviour there, whilst, in the mean time, we rise with such heavy, dull, and deforined bodies, that we cannot mount. O! what will become of us? Why, this is the day of resurrection. The angels have been here to unseal our graves, to roll away the stones, and at their shout, and sound of the trumpet, our scattered dusts have met together; and, lo! now we stand upon the earth.

4. No sooner the saints raised, and their souls and bodies re-united with excellent majesty, but then shall all the elect of God, from first to last, be gathered together. If you ask, Whence? And whither? I answer,

1. To the question, Whence? "From the four winds, from one end of heaven to another," i. e. From all parts of the world, from east, and west, and north, and south, "from one end of heaven to another." A vulgar terin in regard of our sight; for in itself heaven is round, and hath no end: the meaning is, that not one saint in all the world, from Adam to the last man, shall be concealed or lie hid; from the most hidden, inward, secret bosom of the earth, all shall be gathered. Howsoever their dust may be scattered into a thousand thousand parts, yet the power of Christ shall restore all these dusts, and bring them together into their several compact. ed bodies.

2. To the question, Whither they shall be gathered? Some say to the valley of Jehoshaphat, from that text, "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge the heathen round about," Joel'3:12. But I believe, this text hath reference to a particular judgment of God upon Israel's enemies which dwell round about Jerusalem, and not the general day of judgment. Others say to mount Olivet, from that text, "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven; then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet," Acts 1:11,12. But I believe this text speaks only of the manner how Christ shall come, and not of the place to which he shall come. Indeed, it is not probable that either the valley of Jehoshaphat, or mount of Olivet, can be sufficient places to contain all the men that ever were, are, and shall be; and therefore if such a thing can be determined, I should rather appeal to that text, "Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them (that are raised) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air," 1 Thess. 4:17. When Christ was asked this very question, "Where, Lord?" Whither shall the saints be gathered? Where shall the general judgment be? He answers, "Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together," Luke 17:37. By the body, Christ means himself; and by the eagles, Christ meant his elect; because their youth is renewed as the eagles. Now the elect must resort to Christ wheresoever he is, and the apostle is express, that Christ is in the air, and in the clouds: and therefore thither must the elect be gathered; they shall be caught up by the holy angels into the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. Use. O my brethren! what sights are these? What changes, wonders, strange face of things will be this day? How is it that we are not as frequent in the meditation of this summons, as Jerome was, who, as he thought, heard daily that sound, "Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment!" Methinks a sad and serious consideration of these passages might keep us close to Christ: come, try a little, if in the hurryings of the day we are so distracted, that we cannot reach the spiritual part of a meditation, yet in the evening, or morning, when all is still; or in the night season, when all is quiet, then labor to prevent the day of doom; so realize it as if then we saw Christ in the clouds, sending his angels on this errand, Away, and bring hither all the men and wonen in the world; and, in the first place, gather my saints together unto me, Adam, and Abraham, those fathers of the world, and of the faithful, let them see all their children, and let all their children see them, and bring them all to my throne: awaken the world, let them who have slept in their graves some thousands of years, be now roused and raised. Imagine then, as if we hear the trumpet of God

sounded by the angels of God, and as the sound of it waxed louder and louder, that we saw the mountains skip like rams, and the little hills like young sheep: that we saw all the graves in churches, or church-yards; in fields, or plains, or seas, fly open; that we saw all the bodies of the dead beginning to stir, and to stand upon their feet, and presently the angels coming, and taking all the saints upon their wings, and so flying with them through the air, till they came to the throne and judgment-seat of Christ: is it possible that such a meditation should pass, without some tincture of it on our spirits? If my ears shall hear that sound, and if my eyes shall see these sights, is it not time for me to lay these things to heart, that I may be found faithful and well-doing? As sure as I have this book in my hand, I must be one of those that shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and away I must, from the mouth of my grave, wherever I shall be buried, to the cloud where Christ doth sit. Come then, How would I rise? As foul as a toad? Or, As an angel of God? O my God! set this home on my soul. O! where is my lamp? And where is my oil? Are all ready? And am I ready furnished, and prepared to meet the Lord in the air? Christians! if we have any life in us, let us act and realize this to the life. O! this would keep us close to Christ, and to the banner of Christ; who would not march under this banner, and adhere to him, that but reads over these summons of souls at the last dreadful day?

SECT. IV. Of Christ and the saints meeting at the judgment day. 4. FOR Christ and the saints meeting at the judgment-day; no sooner are the saints lifted up, and set before the Judge, but these things follow: 1. They look, and gaze, and dart their beams, and reflect their glories on each other. Oh the communications! oh the dartings of beams betwixt Christ and his saints! look as when two admirable persons, two lovers meet together, their eyes sparkle, they look on, as if they would look through one another: so Christ and his saints at first meeting, they look on, as if they would look through one another: and such is the effect of these looks, that they give a lustre to each other by their looks. Did not Moses' face shine when he had been with God? And shall not the faces of the elect glitter and shine when Christ also looks on them? Nor stays it there; but as they shine by Christ, so shall their shine reflect on Christ, and give all glory to Christ; and this I take to be the meaning of the apostle, "That when Christ shall come, he shall be glorified in his saints," 2 Thess. 1:10. Not only in himself, but in his saints also; whose glory, as it comes from him, so it redounds also to him, For of him, and through him, and to him are all things," Rom. 11:36.

2. They admire at the infinite glory, and beauty, and dignity, and exćellency that is in Christ. The glory they reflect on him, is nothing to the glory that is in him. Oh! when these stars, the saints shall but look upon Christ the Sun of righteousness, they exceedingly admire. So the apostle, "When he shall come, he shall be glorified in his saints, and he shall be admired in all them that believe," 2 Thess. 1:10. All that believe shall break out into admiration of Jesus Christ; they shall at the first sight observe such an excellency in Jesus Christ, as that they shall be infinitely taken with it. Here we speak of Christ, and in speaking we admire; but how will they admire, when they shall not only speak or hear, but see and behold him, who is the "express image of God, and the brightness of his Father's glory?" Heb. 1:3. O the lustres that he casts forth each way! is not his very body more sparkling than the diamond before the sun? Yea, more than the sun itself now shining at noon-day? How

should the saints but wonder at this sight? Oh! there is more beauty and glory in Jesus Christ, than ever their thoughts or imaginations could possibly reach; there is more weight of sweetness, joy, and delight in Jesus Christ, than either the seeing eye, or hearing ear, or the vast understanding heart (which can multiply and add still to any former thoughts) can possibly conceive, 1 Cor. 2:9. Every soul will cry out then, I believed to see much glory in Jesus Christ, whenever I saw him; I had some twilight, or moonlight glances of Christ on earth: but, O blind I! O narrow I! that could never have faith, opinion, thought, or imagination, to fathom the thousand thousandth part of the worth, and incomparable excellency that I now see in him. Why, this causeth admiration, when we see more than ever we could expect. The saints shall then cry out, and say, I see more, ten thousand times more than ever I expected; I see all the beauty of God put forth in Christ, I see the substantial reflection of the Father's light and glory in Jesus Christ, I see thousands of excellencies in Jesus Christ that never were revealed to me before. This is the very nature of admiration, it is ever wondering or admiring at some new and strange thing: the glory of Christ will then exceed all former apprehension. O they admire to see the King in such a beauty! they admire to see the Judge in such a glittering and glorious robe of majesty; they admire, and they cannot but admire.

3. They adore, and magnify the grace and glory of Jesus Christ; as it is said of the twenty-four elders, that "they fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him, that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created," Rev. 5:10,11. So all the saints, now advanced to come up to Christ, and to stand before the throne, they fall down before Christ, and they worship him that lives forever, shouting and singing about Jesus Christ, and setting out his glory, grace, and goodness. "After this I beheld, (saith John) and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb; and all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen; blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, a 1 power, and might, be unto our God, for ever and ever," Amen. Rev. 7:9,10,11,12. Saints and angels will both give glory to Jesus Christ that day; every elect man will then acknowledge, here is Christ that shed his blood for me, here is the Saviour that laid down his life for me, here is the sacrifice that gave himself a propitiation for me; here is the person that mediated, and interceded, and made peace for me; here is the Redeemer that delivered, and redeemed me from the wrath to come: and then they begin those hallelujahs, that never never shall have an end, “Hallelujah; and again, Hallelujah: and Amen, Hallelujah, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready," Rev. 19:7.

4. Christ welcoines them into his glorious presence; if the Father could receive his prodigal but repenting son with hugs and kisses, how will Christ now receive his saints, when they come as a bride to the solemnization of the marriage? His very heart springs (as I may say) at the sight of his bride; no sooner he sees her, and salutes her, but he welcomes her with such words as these, "O my love, my dove, my fair one, come now and enjoy thy husband; many a thought I have had of thee; before I made the

world I spent my infinite eternal thoughts on thy salvation; when the world began, I gave thee a promise, that I would betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, in loving kindness, in mercy, and in faithfulness, Hos. 2:19,20. It was I that for thy sake was incarnate, and lived, and died, and rose again, and ascended: and since my ascension that have been interceding for thee, and making ready the bride-chamber, where thou and I must live for ever and ever. And now I come hither into the clouds to meet thee more than half the way; and my meaning is to take thee by the hand, and to bring thee to my Father. Now do I take thee for my own; O my sister, my spouse, thou art as dear to me as my own dear heart; come, see into iny bosom, see here love written in the golden letters of free grace; coine near, for I must have thee with me, and I will never more be so strange to thee as to this day; sometimes thy sins, bave made a wall of partition between me and thee; sometimes I withdrew and was gone, and I hid myself beyond the curtains, and for a time thou hast lain hid in the closet of the grave, but now we will never part more, anon I will bring thee to my Father, and I will say to him, Father, behold! here my sporse that I have married unto myself: in the meantime welcome to thy Jesus, I have purchased thee with my blood, I have paid dear for thee, and now I will wear thee as a crown and ornament for ever."

5. Christ sets them on his right hand, "Upon thy right hand, doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir," Psal. 45:9. This is the sign of Christ's love and respect to his saints; when he himself ascended up into heaven, then said the Father to him, "Son, sit thou down at my right hand;" and no sooner the saints are ascended up to Christ, but he speaks the same to them, "Sit thou down at my right hand." Christ entertains them, as God the Father entertained him; he at the right hand of God, and they at the right hand of Christ. And herein is set forth the great exaltation of the saints; as Christ being set at God's right hand, God highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every name, so now are the saints highly exalted by Jesus Christ, now are they filled with unmatchable perfec tion, now is the (pleroma,) the fulness of perfection, and fulness of honor and glory conferred upon them; "Upon his right hand is set the queen in gold of Ophit," i. e. in the best, richest, finest gold. The Lord now puts upon his saints heaven's glory, he adorns them with all his ornaments fit for the marriage-day, and indeed here is the beginning of the solemnity of the marriage of the Lamb, not but that the contract was before, but the solemnity was reserved for this day, and all the glory of this day is for nothing else but to set out the solemnity of the marriage. As the bridegroom on the day of nuptials comes forth in his glory, and as the bride on the marriage day comes forth in her best array; and as the servants, and parents, and friends, and all appear on the marriage-day in as much glory as they can, so Christ on this day comes forth in his glory, with all his angels in their glory; and the saints, the Lamb's wife, "The King's daugh ter is all glorious without and within," Psal. 45:13. Though stars may lose their shining when the sun ariseth, yet the glory of the saints shall be no less because of the Sun of righteousness, but rather more. This is the day that Christ shall honor his saints before all the world; come (will he say) and sit you down at my right hand; as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, so will I separate you from wicked reprobates; why, you are they for whom the eternal counsels of my Father did work, you are they in whom I am now to be glorified for ever; and therefore, now will I exalt, and advance, and honor you; sit here, or stand here on my light hand; O come! come hither to the right hand of your Saviour.