having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them b. The fouls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies and the fouls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, referved to the judgment of the great day d. Besides these two places for fouls teparated from their bodies, the fcripture acknowledgeth none. face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return. Acts xiii. 36, For David, after he had ferved his own generation by the will. of God, fell on fleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption, b Luke xxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I fay unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradife. Eccl. xii. 7. Then shall the duft return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. c Heb, xii, 23. To the general afsembly, and church of the first-born which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were diffolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. v. 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whift we are at home in the body, we are abfent from the Lord. v. 8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be abfent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Phil. i. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift; which is far better. With Acts iii, 21. II. At Whom the heavens must receive, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, fince the world began. And Eph. iv. 10. He that defcended, is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. d Luke xvi. 23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and feeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. v. 24. And he cried, and faid, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. Acts i. 25. That he may take part of this mini. stry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgreffion fell, that he might go to his own place. Jude 6. And the angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath referved in everlast. ing chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. v. 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 1 Pet. iii, 19. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prifon. II. 1 II. At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed e, and all the dead shall be raised up with the self fame bodies, and none other, altho' with different qualities, which shall be united again to their fouls for ever f. III. The bodies of the unjust shall by the power of Chrift be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just by his Spirit unto honour, and be made conformable unto his own glorious body g. G CHAP. XXXIII. Of the last Judgment. OD hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ a, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father b. In which day, not only the apoapostate angels shall be judged c; but likewise all persons, that have lived upon earth, shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil d. II. Theff. iv. 17. Then we who are alive and remain, thall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord, 1 Cor. xv. 51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall 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 should found, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. f Job xix. 26. And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my fresh shall I fee God. v. 27. Whom I shall fee for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be con*fumed within me: 1 Cor. xv. 42. So also is the refurrection of the dead. It is fown in corruption, it is raisfed in incorruption: v. 43. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is fown in weakness, it is raised in power: v. 44. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. III. & Acts xxiv. 15. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. John v. 28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, v. 29. And thall come forth, they that have done good, unto the refurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the refurrection of damnation. 1 Cor. xv. 43. (See in letter f.) Phil. iii. 21. Who shall charge our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to fubdue all things unto himself. 1. a Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given afsurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. b John, 22. For the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: v. 27. And hath given him authority to execute judg II. The end of God's appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal falvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fuiness of j and refreshing which shall come from the prefence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power e. III. As Christ would have us to be certainly perfuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from fin, judgment also, because he is the Son of man. and we shall all stand before the judgment-feat of Chrift. v. 12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God, Mat. xii. 36. But I say unto you, that every idle word c1 Cor. vi. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? Jude 6. (See letter d chapter forego-that men fhall fpeak, they shall give ing.) 2 Pet. ü. 4. For if God spared not the angels that finned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be referved unto judgment. d 2 Cor. v. 10. Far we must all appear before the judgment feat of Chrift, that every one may receive the things done in his body, accord ing to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Eccl. xii. 14. For God thall bring every work unto judgment, with every fecret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Rom. ii. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Chrift, according to my gospel. Rom. xiv. 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why delt thou fet at nought thy brother? account thereof in the day of judgment. v. 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. II. e (Mat. xxv. 31. to the end.) Rom. ii. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righ. teous judgment of God; v. 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds. Rom. ix. 22. What if God, willing to thew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted to destruction: v. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veffels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory? Mat. XXV. 21. His lord faid L2 and for the greater confolation of the godly in their adversity f. So will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jefus, come quickly. Amen g. faid unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful fervant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Acts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your fins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the prefence of the Lord. 2 Theff. i. 7, 8, 9, 10. (See in the Bible.) III. 2 Pet. iii. 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be diffolv. ed, what manner of perfons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? v. 14. Wherefore, be loved, feeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without fpot and blemish. 2 Cor v. 10. (See let ter d.) V. II. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifelt in your confciences. 2 Theff. i.5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer. v. 9. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompenfe tribulation to them that trouble you; v. 7. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. Luke xxi. 27. And then shell they fee the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. v. 28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Rom. viii. 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourlelves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. v. 24. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is feen, is not hope: for what a man feeth, why doth he yet hope for? v. 25. But if we hope for that we fee not, then do we with patience wait for it. g Mat. xxiv. 36, 42, 43, 44. (See in the Bible.) Mark xiii. 35. Watch ye therefore, (for ye know not when. the master of the house cometh; at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.) v. 36. Left coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. v. 27. And what I say unto you, I say unto you all, Watch. Luke xii. 35. Let your loins be girded a. bout, and your lights burning: v. 36. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Rev. xxii. 20. He who teftifieth these things, faith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. FINI. S. A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of CHRIST in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland. AND Approved Anno 1648, by the General Affembly of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND, to be a Directory for Catechising such as have made some Proficiency in the Knowledge of the Grounds of Religion. With the Proofs from the Scripture. Printed in the Year, MDCCLXVIII. |