3 32 The `I ighteemjudge, or, ,Chrift will come with Lis deli' ngels, to cage' the quick and the dead. a.Geneeal cal- And fo for our general Calling .Ait..z4. L dote- to keep agood confcience before ing. Gedandmen upon this ground ;Thecaufe I believe the RcftuteEtion,and fo a judge- ment to come. So inx Pet. 3. ii. Seeing all thefe things fall be el:ffolved , what manner ofperfons ought we to be in all holy eonverfation andgodlinefs? Why e all thefe things(hall be-diffolved,thereforewe had needto beother mannerof perfons than we are,to be better kind ofperfons than we have been. Thus,lfay,the fervants of God quicken themfelves to more holinefs, upon confederationof the judgement to come. I. It confirms Thirdly, they have been confirmed, and ftrengthénedupón:this ground : for in obedience. when the heart ofman is brought to this plight, that 'he mull be everchearful, and lively, and aâi've inthe ferviceof God: yet there areMany difcouragements, and temptations to draw him but of the way again ; that it may be he may fall, ifhe have not fomewhat to fupport him, andhold himup : therefore the confideration of the judgement to come, it bath kept the hearts of Gods fervants in agoodframe, when theyhave been in it. Saida the Apofle, be con$ant, and immovable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord, for as muchat yeknow ebat your labour is not in vain in the Lord, r Cor. 15. As it he had faid, You know this, that there will a timecome when it will appear that you ferve not God in vain,therefarefor the pre- feat be confiant in the good you are in: Holdfall that thou baf till f come, faith Chrifi to the Church of Philadelphia; and let no man take thy Brown, Rev. 3. O. Chrifl will come, and it is but holding faf a- while, and then the Church (ball have a crown ; and the fervants ofGod Gall have a-crown:öf glory,. an abundant,reco'rn pence of all that theyhave done in the fervice of God, therefore holdfall.. Here- upon, fam.5. the Apoflle exhorts to patience,becaufe they. Should meet with many perfecutions, and oppofitions, be patient, for the ,coming of the Lorddraws neer. Bear the' injuries that you fuller for theprèfent, and.thcindignitres, and the unkind ufrge amen, for the comingof the Ilorddraws veer, whenyou (hall have a plen- tiful harveft fohegoes onilluftràting, this byaeomparifon taken from a Husband. ' man that waits foraharvift,and thenhe.iball:have,a plentiful ,crop,and:in.cveafe,fór' all his pains inWinter, and in feed time: fo faith he,the Lord will come, and then you Mall have a plentiful increafe. Vf. A word or two for the Ufe'ofthis; Shewing .he Since this is theUfc that the fervants ofGodhave made,and that wefhouldmake esule of the of the Judgement tocome; 'therefore to be more careful in tl(è:dutie.S ofobedience;, worlds pro- and holinefs, fotolfëaln' andfoto do, aethefe' that 'hall bejudged. 'Itfirht(tevvsthe phantnefs,and eaufe of thedifcouragenaents -ofGods fervants,.and the prephanenefs of the vvorld,, the Saints de icftednds, is, óetaufc they pE@féflly believe not the judgement to come. The hearts of Gods fervants vvouldnoridroop fo,they vvouldnotbe fofaint,fodcjefted,and difcouraged, if they beliivetl t at there vvere fuch a judgement to come, vvherein. Chrifl vvill abundantly reeóm'pence all their forrovvs, and labours, vvherein hevvill bringhis revvard'vvitli himplentifully. 'Again, thevvickcd vvvirldvvould hot be foprophancas theyare : drunkards, and fvvearers, and Sabbath- breakers, and all forts of vvicked perfons, they vvould not give thelnfelves -fo to finas they do, if in truth, they did perfeftly believe there vvere a judgement to come; when all their vvords,and a&ions,thcircompany,their time anti evehy'thing fhil; babbot+ght toaccóunt:I fay,thecaufeof.allprophanenefs isthis,here it begins.; Menbélieik notthe judgement to come. TheApoflles vvere troubled vvith tliefe kinn of feoffers ; rehere is thepromift.ofhis coming? So they, hardened themfclyes upon the obfervation ofthe continuance ofthe feafons upon thei a Pet. 3. -face of theearth in like manner, from thebeginnitg.. Well, faith the Apoftle ; God is not flack, at men countflackpefs, but it patient, and forbearing, that men may repent ; but at the laft he will come, and came with flowingfire. So, this is certain,( whatfoever you think, and/not/re evil dayfar offrom you yet there is a.judgetpenee -2Fi tGriWbehalf oae`zâtons, andfaftedion$ and fpecches, and yourwhole con -Véi äiiBitlYlí'adI beT6ahtied, a iii t'oueActo the rules ofthis law that you have de- 37ií4éäi t Therefore ,.. , to7R -'.í f I Cr sii on ihatD a II vmMI
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