(2.) And, therefore, to encourage thee while thou art here with comfort to hold on for all thy crosses in this thy journey, be much in considering the place that thou must go into so soon as dissolution comes. It must be into heaven, to G.o.d the judge of all, to an innumerable company of angels, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to the general a.s.sembly and church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, and to Jesus, to the redeemer, who is the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things for thee than Abel"s did for Cain (Heb 11:22-24).
(3.) Consider that when the time of the dead that they shall be raised is come, then shall thy body be raised out of the grave and be glorified, and be made like to Jesus Christ (Phil 3:21).
O excellent condition!
(4.) When Jesus Christ shall sit on the throne of his glory you also shall sit with him, even when he shall sit on the throne of his glory. O will not this be glorious, that when thousands, and thousands of thousands shall be arraigned before the judgment-seat of Christ, then for them to sit with him upon the throne, together with him to pa.s.s the sentence upon the unG.o.dly (1 Cor 6:2,3). Will it not be glorious to enjoy those things that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man to conceive?
Will it not be glorious to have this sentence, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world?" Will it not be glorious to enter then with the angels and saints into that glorious kingdom? Will it not be glorious for thee to be in glory with them, while others are in unutterable torments? O then, how will it comfort thee to see thou hast not lost that glory; to think that the devil hath not got thy soul, that thy soul should be saved, and that not from a little, but from an exceeding danger;[36] not with a little, but a great salvation. O, therefore, let the saints be joyful in glory, let them triumph over all their enemies. Let them begin to sing heaven upon earth, triumph before they come to glory, salvation, even when they are in the midst of their enemies, for "this honour have all his saints" (Psa 149:9).
Verse 29.--"Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
In the verses foregoing you see there is a discovery of the lamentable state of the poor soul that dies out of Christ, and the special favour of G.o.d. And also how little the glorious G.o.d of heaven doth regard and take notice of their most miserable condition.
Now in this verse he doth magnify the word which was spoken to the people by the prophets and apostles, "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them." As if he should say, thou askest me that I should send Lazarus back again into the world to preach to them that live there, that they might escape that doleful place that thou art in. What needs that? Have they not Moses and the prophets? Have they not had my ministers and servants sent unto them and coming as from me? I sent Enoch and Noah, Moses and Samuel. I sent David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, and the rest of the prophets, together with Peter, Paul, John, Matthew, James, Jude, with the rest; "Let them hear them." What they have spoken by divine inspiration I will own, whether it be for the d.a.m.nation of those that reject, or the saving of them that receive their doctrine. And, therefore, what need have they that one should be sent unto them in another way? "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them." Let them receive their word, close in with the doctrine declared by them. I shall not at this time speak anything to that word "Abraham," having touched upon it already; but shall tell you what is to be understood by these words, "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
The things that I shall observe from hence are these:--
[First.] That the scriptures spoken by the holy men of G.o.d are a sufficient rule to instruct to salvation them that do a.s.suredly believe and close in with what they hold forth. "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them." That is, if they would escape that doleful place, and be saved indeed from the intolerable pains of h.e.l.l-fire, as they desire, they have that which is sufficient to counsel them. "They have Moses and the prophets"; let them be instructed by them, "Let them hear them." For "all scripture is given by inspiration of G.o.d, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"; why?
"That the man of G.o.d may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim 3:16,17). Do but mark these words, "All scripture is profitable." ALL; take it where you will, and in what place you will, "All is profitable": For what? "That the man of G.o.d," or he that is bound for heaven, and would instruct others in their progress thither.
It is profitable to instruct him, in case he be ignorant; to reprove him, in case he transgress; to correct him, if he hath need of it; to confirm him, if he be wavering. It is profitable for doctrine, and all this in a very righteous way--that the poor soul may not only be helped, but thoroughly furnished, not only to some, but to all good works. And when Paul would counsel Timothy to stick close to the things that are sound and sure, presently he puts him upon the scripture, saying, "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." The scripture holds forth G.o.d"s mind and will, of his love and mercy towards man, and also the creature"s carriage towards him from first to last; so if thou wouldst know the love of G.o.d in Christ to sinners, then "search the scriptures, for they are they which testify of him."
Wouldst thou know what thou art, and what is in thine heart? Then search the Scriptures and see what is written in them (Rom 1:29-31, 3:9-18; Jer 17:9; Gen 6:5, 8:21; Eph 4:18, with many others). The Scriptures, I say, they are able to give a man perfect instruction into any of the things of G.o.d necessary to faith and G.o.dliness, if he hath but an honest heart seriously to weigh and ponder the several things contained in them. As to instance in things more particular for the further clearing up of this. And first, if we come to the creation of the world.
Wouldst thou know somewhat concerning that? Then read Genesis 1 and 2, and compare them with Psalm 33:6; also Isaiah 66:2; Proverbs 8 towards the end.
Wouldst thou know whether he made them of something or nothing?
Read Hebrews 11:3.
Wouldst thou know whether he put forth any labour in making them, as we do in making things? Read Psalm 33:9.
If thou wouldst know whether man was made by G.o.d corrupt or upright, read Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:10, 18, 25, 31.
Wouldst thou know where G.o.d did place man after he had made him?
Read Genesis 2:15.
Wouldst thou know whether that man did live there all his time or not? Then read Genesis 3:23, 24.
If thou wouldst know whether man be still in that state by nature that G.o.d did place him in? Then read Ecclesiastes 7:29, and compare it with Romans 5:16; Ephesians 2:1-3. "G.o.d made men upright, but they have sought out many inventions."
If thou wouldst know whether the man were first beguiled, or the woman that G.o.d made an help-mate for him? Read Genesis 3:6, and compare with 1 Timothy 2:14.
Wouldst thou know whether G.o.d looked upon Adam"s eating [the fruit of] the forbidden tree to be sin or no? Read Romans 5:12-15, and compare it with Genesis 3:17.
Wouldst thou know whether it were the devil who beguiled them, or whether it was a natural serpent, such as do haunt the desolate places? Read Genesis 3:13, with Revelation 20:1-3.
Wouldst thou know whether that sin be imputed to us? Read Romans 5:12-15, and compare it with Ephesians 2:2.
Wouldst thou know whether man was cursed for his sin? Read Galatians 3:10; Romans 5:15.
Wouldst thou know whether the curse did fall on man, or on the whole creation with him? Compare Genesis 3:17, with Romans 8:20-22.
Wouldst thou know whether man be defiled in every part of him by the sin he hath committed? Then read Isaiah 1:6.
Wouldst thou know man"s inclination so soon as he is born? Read Psalm 58:3. "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born."
Wouldst thou know whether man once fallen from G.o.d by transgression, can recover himself by all he can do? Then read Romans 3:20,23.
Wouldst thou know whether it be the desire of the heart of man by nature, to follow G.o.d in his own way or no? Compare Genesis 6:5, and Genesis 8:21, with Hosea 11:7.
Wouldst thou know how G.o.d"s heart stood affected toward man before the world began? Compare Ephesians 1:4, with 2 Timothy 1:9.
Wouldst thou know whether sin were sufficient to draw G.o.d"s love from his creatures? Compare Jeremiah 3:7, and Micah 7:18, with Romans 5:6-8.
Wouldst thou know whether G.o.d"s love did still abide towards his creatures for anything they could do to make him amends? Then read Deuteronomy 11:5-8.
Wouldst thou know how G.o.d could still love his creatures, and do his justice no wrong? Read Romans 3:24-26. "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom G.o.d hath set forth to be a propitiation" for sin, "through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of G.o.d. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
That is, G.o.d having his justice satisfied in the blood, and righteousness, and death of his own Son Jesus Christ for the sins of poor sinners, he can now save them that come to him, though never so great sinners, and do his justice no wrong, because it hath had a full and complete satisfaction given it by that blood (1 John 1:7,8).
Wouldst thou know who he was, and what he was, that did out of his love die for sinners, then compare John 3:16, 17,; Romans 5:8, with Isaiah 9:6.
Wouldst thou know whether this Saviour had a body of flesh and bones before the world was, or took it from the Virgin Mary? Then read Galatians 4:4.
Wouldst thou know whether he did in that body bear all our sins, and where? Then read 1 Peter 2:24. "Who bare our sins in his own body on the tree."
Wouldst thou know whether he did rise again after he was crucified, with the very same body? Then read Luke 24:38-41.
Wouldst thou know whether he did eat or drink with his disciples after he rose out of the grave? Then read Luke 24:42, and Acts 10:41.
If thou wouldst be persuaded of the truth of this, that that very body is now above the clouds and stars, read Acts 1:9-11, and Luke 24 toward the end.
If thou wouldst know that the Quakers hold an error that say the body of Christ is within them;[37] consider the same scripture.
Wouldst thou know what that Christ that died for sinners is doing in that place whither he is gone? Then read Hebrews 7:24.
Wouldst thou know who shall have life by him, read 1 Timothy 1:14, 15, and Romans 5:6-8, which say, "Christ died" for sinners, "for the unG.o.dly."
Wouldst thou know whether they that live and die in their sins shall go to heaven or not? Then read 1 Corinthians 6:10; Revelation 21:8, 27, which saith, "They shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."
Wouldst thou know whether man"s obedience will obtain that Christ should die for them, or save them? Then read Mark 2:17; Romans 5:6, 7.
Wouldst thou know whether righteousness, justification, and sanctification do come through the virtue of Christ"s blood?
Compare Romans 5:9 with Hebrews 12:12.
Wouldst thou know whether natural man can abstain from the outward act of sin against the law, merely by a principle of nature? Then compare well Romans 2:14, with Philippians 3:6.
Wouldst thou know whether a man by nature may know something of the invisible things of G.o.d? Compare seriously Romans 1:20, 21 with 2:14, 15.
Wouldst thou know how far a man may go on in a profession of the gospel, and yet fall away? Then read Hebrews 6:4-6. "They may taste the good Word of G.o.d, and the powers of the world to come." They may taste "the heavenly gift, and be partakers of the Holy Ghost,"