r^@@^@^@^@^^ 
 
 Mr. Hooper'^ 
 SERMON 
 
 . ON 
 
 Coloffians iii. 4. 
 
 ^ 
 

CHRIST the Life of true Believers, 
 and their Appearance with him in 
 Glory. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 On Coloffians III. 4. 
 
 Preach'd at the Weft Church in 
 Bofton^ October 4th. 1741. 
 
 Publiflied at the earneft Defire of the Hearers. 
 
 By WILLIAM HOOPER,A.M 
 
 Paftor of the (aid Church. 
 
 BOSTON, Printed by D. Fowle, 
 for y. Edwards in Cornhill. 1741. 
 

****######*#*##**##*****#*###*** 
 
 " 
 
 CHRIST the LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 True Believers, 
 
 And their 
 
 Appearance with him in Glory. 
 
 COLOSSIANS III. 4. 
 
 When Chrifl who is our Life 
 Jhall appear ; then jhall ye alfo 
 appear with him in Glory. 
 
 MY Brethren^ Our LORD JESUS CHRIST 
 is a Pattern and Reprefentation of all his 
 faithful Followers. 'Tis impofiible for 
 us to be his Difciples and to partake of 
 :^_^_ the Happinefs of the Gofpel, unlcfs we 
 
 l>e conforpied to our LORD and MASTER, and are as 
 it were fo ^ny Copies of this divine Original. Whild 
 he lived in tt*is World among Mankind, he was 
 ftri&ly pious, niy, righteous and good ; 
 Thoughts, Wifhe^sand Defigns tended to 
 from whence he cam\ At the fame Time, 
 in a poor and low Condition, he fuffered Pain and 
 Affli&ion, and was at laft put to a cruel and igno- 
 minious Death. But very foon he arofe again from 
 
 the 
 
 all his 
 Heaven 
 he lived 
 
6 Appearance of Believers 
 
 the Dead, afcended to Heaven, and was exalted to 
 the higheft Degree of Glory and Happinefs at the 
 right Hand of the Father. 
 
 Suqh is thy Life in this World, fmcere Cbriftian, 
 and fuch are thy Hopes with refpe& to a future State. 
 Here it is thy great Bufmefs to fhun every wicked and 
 evil Inclination and Practice, to ftudy a divine Temper 
 andDifpofition of Mind,and to endeavour a perfe&Obe- 
 dience to the Commands of GOD, according to the 
 Pattern and Example of thy blelFed Saviour. Thou art 
 always engaged in fighting with Flefh and Blood, thou 
 art furrounded with fpiritual Enemies, often involved 
 in Calamities and Afflictions, and at laft thou fhalt fuffer 
 Death, and thy Body {hall be laid in the Grave. But 
 when the Son of Man (hall come in his Glory to judge 
 the World, thy Body fhall be raifed from Corruption, 
 and united to thySoul again, and then thou (halt beGlo- 
 rious as thy Saviour is Glorious. This is the great and 
 important Truth taught us by the Apoftle in the 
 Words of our Text, When CHRIST who is cur Lip 
 Jball appear y thenjhallye alfo appear with him in Glory, 
 
 In the Management of (his Subject, we fhall obferve 
 this Method, 
 
 I. We {hall confider this Phrafe, CHRIST who ;; 
 
 II. The Appearance of JESUS CHRIST; JVhtn b& 
 who is our Lift Jhall appear. 
 
 III. The Glory in which he fhall appear : /' *-'-' 
 appear in Glory. 
 
 IV. The Appearance of all true Chriftians with him 
 in Glory. 
 
 Thefe are the principal Parts of. what I propofe to 
 deliver upon this Subject. May GOD make our Dif- 
 courfe promote his Glory, and your fpiritual and eter- 
 nal Happincf?, To begin with the 
 
 I. Thing 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 7 
 
 I. Thing propofed, namely, To confider this Phrafe, 
 CHRIST who is our Life. That we may the better 
 underftand the Meaning of the Apoftle, it will be ne- 
 ceflary to reflect on the preceeding Verfes. In the 
 fecond Verfe of this Chapter, the Apoftle exhorts us to 
 fet our Afftttions on Things above, not on Things on the 
 Earth ; that is, to be chiefly follicitous for the excel- 
 lent and glorious Things that are in Heaven, and the 
 Means which GOD hath appointed for the obtaining 
 of them, and not to mind fuch poor Matters, as infig- 
 nificant Rites and Obfervanccs, and fenfual and world- 
 ly Enjoyments. But becaufe he knew that it is difficult 
 for us to raife our Affc&ions to Heaven, befide the Ar- 
 gument he made ufe of in the firft Verfe to this Purpofe, 
 taken from the Refurretion of CHRIST, and his 
 glorious Dominion in thofe Places to which he calls us, 
 he fays in the third Verfe, You are dead, and your Life 
 is bid with CHRIST in GOD : You are dead to all 
 linful Thoughts, Defires and Actions ; you have for- 
 merly renounced every Thing contrary to the Laws of 
 Religion and Virtue, and you are refolved to mind the 
 fenfual Enjoyments of this World no more than if you 
 were dead. But though you be dead to Sin, you are 
 alive to GOD ; you have devoted your Lives, all the 
 Affe&ions and Powers of your Souls, all the Abilities 
 of your Bodies, and all your outward Advantages to the 
 Caufe of JESUS CHRIST and of his Gofpel. 'Tis true, 
 this Life is in a great Meafure hid from the World, the 
 true/I and beft Religion being mojl private, fo that 
 thoughtlefs Men cannot perceive any Thing beautiful 
 and excellent in you : On the contrary, they look upon 
 iras tile moft contemptiblePeople uponEarth,and your 
 ives as Folly and Extravagance. But your Life is hid 
 in GOD ; by this the Apoftle means, that the Life of 
 true Believers isff*r<? and Certain. It does not depend 
 upon, nor is depoflted with Men, weak and changeable 
 Creatures ; but it is in the Keeping of GOD, who is 
 infinite in Power, and with whom there is no Vari- 
 ablenefs nor Shadow of turning ; therefore you have 
 no Reafon to doubt of enjoying and having it carried 
 to Perfe&ion. He fays likewife, That it is hid with 
 
 CHRIST ; 
 
8 Appearance of Believers 
 
 CHRIST ; that is, no Wonder it docs not appear what 
 good Men are now, nor what they fhall be hereafter^ 
 for even JESUS CHRIST is hid from the World, his 
 glorious Perfon being in the higheft Heavens quite out 
 of our Sight, and his Kingdom being fupported and 
 governed here below by the fecret Influences of his 
 Spirit. But our Life's being hid with CHRIST efpeci- 
 ally fignifies, that JESUS CHRIST is the Fountain and 
 Author of our Life, that he merited it by what he did 
 and fuffered, and that it is by his Holy Spirit that it is 
 produced in us. Hence the Evangelift John fays, Chap. 
 I. 4. In him was Life, and that Life was the Light of 
 Men. And A&s 3.15. He is called the Prince of Life. 
 Since then our Life is purchafed by JESUS CHRIST, 
 and depofited with GOD, we may be aflured that when 
 CHRIST whs is our Life Jhall appear y then Jhall we alf? 
 appear with him in Glory. 
 
 And now from the preceeding Verfes,as well as from 
 our Text it felf, it is plain, that by JESUS CHRIST his 
 being our Life, we are to underftand, that he is the 
 Caufe and Author of our fpiritual and heavenly Life, 
 that it depends upon him intirely, and that out of him 
 we have not the leaft Degree, nor the leaft Spark of 
 Life. As the Son of GOD at firft created the World 
 and all Things that are therein, and as he preferves and 
 governs them all,according to thefe Words of the Apoftle, 
 Col. 1. 1 6. By hijnall Things were created ^that are inHea- 
 vcn^and that are cnEarth^vifible and invifible^ whether they 
 leThroncs or Dominions , or Principalities , or Powers ; All 
 'Things were created by him: And Heb.- I. 6. He up- 
 holds all Things by the Word of his Poiver ; Sc it,>*^ 
 thit gives Being to the ele& World, that fuftains, nou- 
 riOies and perfects them all. But more particularly, 
 JESUS CHRIST is our Life, 
 
 Firft, As it is through him that we are juftified. 
 
 This, no doubt, is partly the Meaning of the Apoflle 
 
 in thefe Words ; and this great Blefiing is in other 
 
 Phces of Scripture called Life, as in Rom. 5.18. By the 
 
 ewfnej} cf One, the free Gift wmf upw all Men 
 
 to 
 
with CHRIST//? Glory. 9 
 
 to J unification of Life. As we are dead in Law, while 
 we are under the Sentence of Condemnation ; fo being 
 juftified, being pardoned and accepted of GOD, we are 
 reftored to Life. By Nature we are under the Con- 
 demnation of the Law, and liable to the Wrath of 
 GOD ; but by Virtue of the Obedience of JESUS 
 CHRIST, embraced by a lively Faith, we are freed 
 from the Curfe of the Law, and made righteous in the 
 Sight of GOD. This I take to be the Meaning of 
 that PafTage, Phil. 3. 9. That I may be fand in CHRIST, 
 not having mine own Righteoufnefs which is of ttie Law^ 
 but that winch is through the Faith ^CHRIST, the Righ- 
 ieoufnefs which is of GOD by Faith. 
 
 Secondly, JESUS CHRIST is our Life , as it is through 
 him that we are fan&ified. This efpecially is the Mean- 
 ing of the ApoPcle when he fays, JESUS CHRIST is our 
 Life-, he purifies our Hearts and Manners from all 
 Wickednefs and Vice, and forms us into the divine 
 Image, in Righteoufnefs arid true Holinefs. He not 
 only purchafed this for us, but he works it in us ; he 
 reveals to us in the Gofpel " the Nature of Religion and 
 Virtue ; he hath given us a perfect and moving Pattern 
 cf it in his own Perfon ; he hath recommended it with 
 the moft powerful Arguments and Motives ; he im- 
 prints it upon our Minds and Hearts by his Holy Spirit ; 
 he cherifhes and caufes it to grow up to Perfection. To 
 this Purpofe we may apply the Words of the Apoflle, 
 Gal. 2. 20. I live, yet not /, but JESUS CHRIST Iheth 
 in me : and the Life "which / now live in the F/f/h, I 
 live ly the Faith of the Son of GOD 9 who loved me^ and 
 gave himfclf for me. JESUS CHRIST begins, carries on, 
 and accomplishes the Work of San<lincation in our 
 Hearts and Lives, by Virtue of his Communion with 
 Us, as he is the Head and Root, which give Sup and , 
 Nourishment to the Members and Branches, 
 
 Thirdly, JESUS CHRIST is our Life, as he bellows 
 iternal Happinefs upon us. This is often called Lite, and 
 eternal Life. JESUS CHRIST merited this mighty 
 Bkifingfor all thofe that believe in him ; and having 
 
 13 receive^ 
 
i o Appearance of Believers 
 
 received it as the Recompence of his Obedience he will 
 certainly bellow it upon them. My Sheep hear my Voice ^ 
 fays our Saviour, John 10. 28. and 1 know them , and 
 they follow me. And I give unto them eternal Life^ and 
 they foall never perifo^ neitlwr foall any pluck them out of 
 my Hand. JESUS CHRIST then is our Life, as he jufti- 
 fies, fan&ifies, and glorifies us. Thefeare-the principal 
 Benefits he hath purchsfed, and which thofe that believe 
 in h : m are faid to be Partakers of ; and they are fct 
 - forth to us in the Name cf Lift, becaufe they are the 
 molt rxckllent and deftrable Bleffings. 
 
 Before we conclude this Head, -Let us reflect a little 
 upon the Excellency of this Life we receive from JESUS 
 CHRIST. It is the Perfection, the Happinefs and Glo- 
 ry, of human Nature. It constitutes us Objects of the 
 Love of the greatefl and the beft of Beings, and intitles 
 us to his peculiar Care. A Life of Sin makes us hated 
 by a juft and holy GOD, and liable to all the Curfes of 
 the Law. This proceeds from foolifh, ferffual, bafe and 
 wicked Defires and Inclinations ; the other from a di- 
 vine Faith, a reafonable Love, and a juft and lively 
 Gratitude. The one confiils in Error and Ignorance, 
 in Profanity and Unrightecwfnefs, in Hatred and I 
 lice ; the other in the Exercife of Reafon and Under- 
 flanding, of Devotion and Goodnefs, of Gratitude and 
 Love. The one is attended with continual Pain and 
 Uneailneis in this World, and with eternal Mifery in 
 the next ; the other with Peace and Tranquillity of 
 * Soul here, and with Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory 
 hereafter. In a Word, by the one we degenerate into 
 Brutes, and become fit Company for curfed Spirits or. 
 by the other we become Partakers of the divine Naturc ? 
 and fit for the HeiTcd Society in Heaven. The one is 
 Death rather than Life ; accordingly, wicked Men arr 
 fa'id to be dead in Trcfpaffe.* in Sjxs ; and foe that livftb 
 in.Pltafure is dead while foe liveih ; the other only is: 
 worthy the Name of Life, and hence the Scripture v< 
 often abfolutely calls it Life : He that hath the t.n 
 v Lift ' 9 and he that hath net the Son hath not Life ; 
 ana he thai belisvefh in the 5V T ; lath .pa fifth from Death 
 
 ti 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. IT 
 
 to Life. O glorious Life ! One Day paflcd according 
 to thy Precepts, is worth an Eternity in Sin. 
 
 Now, My Brethren^ fmce JESUS CHRIST is our Life, 
 fi nee through him we are beloved of GOD,fancl fied ar.d 
 made meet for Heaven, and entitled to it by Virtue of 
 his Purchafe, the Confequence of the Apoftle is plain 
 and ftrcng, That when he jhall appear , we foall appear 
 with him in Glory ; which brings me to the 
 
 II. General Head, which was to fpeak of the dp- 
 pearance of JESUS CHRIST. When he who is cur Life 
 jball appear. In the Fulnefs of Time he appeared in 
 Fiem, cloathed with human Nature, as the Apoftle 
 fays, GOD manifested in the Flrjb. He will appear 
 again at the End of the World to judge all Mankinc, 
 and to render to every one according to his Deeds. He, 
 is now above the higneir. Heavens, far hid from mortal 
 Eyes. 'Tis by Faith only that we know of hi.; Ex- 
 iftence. But one Day, he will defcend from his Seat at 
 the right^Hand of GOD, and appear vifible to all the- 
 WorlfJ^ the Son of GOD and the Author of our 
 Salvation. 
 
 The Proof of this is evident from numberlefs PafTagcs 
 of Scripture ; Matth. 16/47. ^* ^on of Man Jball 
 cime in the Glory of his Father^ with his holy Angels^ 
 and then Jhall he reward every one according to his Work : 
 And Ads I. u. This fame JESUS, faid the Men in 
 white, to the Difciples, as they were gazing up to 
 Heaven, when our Saviour afcended, This fume Jtsus 
 taken from you to Heavsn^ Jhall c?me in like Man- 
 
 ~ ye have Jcen him ro to Heaven : ' 
 
 When the LORD JESUS Jhall be r 
 with hisjnighty Anvtls, in faming Fire., 
 geance on all them than know riot GOD, and obey not /,(.? 
 Voice of his Sen. ' But we need r.otipcnd Time I;-i 
 quoting Texts to prove this important r .i ri ,, fso 
 Man that believe the Scriptures can dcn\ u. 
 
 B?, 
 
1 2 Appearance of Believers 
 
 Indeeft Tome ancient Hereticks from a miftaken No- 
 tion of Things, and a falfe Explanation of certain 
 PafTages of Scripture, maintained that the Refurre&on 
 was already paft, and confequently that JESUS CHRIST 
 would not appear again at the End of the World, as we 
 fay he will. But their Opinion is To contrary to Scrip- 
 ture, that we need only to mention it, in order to fhew 
 its Abiusdity. 
 
 The Objection of the Infidels againft this Doctrine is 
 more dangerous than that of the ancient Hereticks. 
 Thefe allowed of a future State of Rewards and Pun- 
 ifhments, though they denied the Appearance of J<ESUS 
 CHRIST : But the Infidels deny both. Our Souls, fay 
 they, are made of the Tame Matter with our Bodies, and 
 with them they die and perilh for ever ; therefore there 
 is no Day of Judgment, no Appearance of JESUS 
 CHRIST. AsFear firft made the Gods of theHeathens ; 
 fo it was Politicians and defigning Wen that invented 
 a general Judgment, and Rewards and Puniftiments in 
 another World. The Notions of a future State, and of 
 the terrible Appearance of a crucified Man, are vain 
 Chimeras and Scare-Crows, to beget and cherifh a fupei- 
 flitious Refpecl:, and a bafe Servitude among the People. 
 
 But befide the Arguments that ferve to prove thp 
 Truth of the facred Oracles, and confequently the 
 Truth of a Day of Judgment, there are fome drawn 
 immediately from the Principles of natural Light, 
 which are fufficient to flop the Mouths cf Unbelievers, 
 at leaft to make them very modeft in their Oppofition 
 to our I^&rine, and to confider well before they ^JOr 
 ture much upon their own Scheme. If our Souls pejjfe 
 with our Bodies, if there is no future State ', why ha( 
 M^ikind in ail Places and Ages of the World univer- 
 faJly believed the contrary, and that they (hall be happy 
 or miferable in another World according to their De- 
 ferfS ? Can we imagine that an infinitely wife and good 
 GOD would thus cheat and delude the Apprehenfions 
 and Under/landings of Mankind ? If our Souls perifh 
 with our Bogies, if there is no future. State ; feov/ can 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 1 3 
 
 you vindicate the divine Perfections, his Wifdom/Power 
 and Goodnefs which are all concerned in this Point ? 
 Ought you not to think that the Wifdom of GOD 
 having made Man a reafonable Soul, and capable of fpi- 
 ritual Refrefhments and the Joys of another World, is 
 concerned to carry us into a future State, where all our 
 reafonable Faulties (hall be exercifed and our fpiritual 
 Tafte fhall be fatisfied ? Ought you not to think that 
 Things being promifcuoufly adminiflred in this Life, 
 there muft be another, wherein all Things (hall appear 
 regular and orderly, and the Juftice of GOD {hall 
 be clearly manifefted ? Ought you not to think that the 
 divine Goodnefs will continue the Life of Man longer 
 t'lan that of the Brutes fo far beneath him in Perfection ? 
 Muft we die like the Beads ? If our Soals die with our 
 Bodies, if there is no future State ; whence is it that 
 .Mankind' are fo defirous to purchafe a lafting Fame to 
 themfelves ? Whence this inbred Propenfity, tin's na- 
 tural Tendency to Immortality ? Why do we fhrink 
 back into our Lives and ftartle at Annihilation ? Why 
 have we Peace and Quiet in our Minds, when we do a 
 good Action, and a fecret Hope that we fhall one Day 
 be rewarded for it ? Why are we feized with Horror 
 when we do a bad Action, and apprehenfjve that we 
 fhall ons Day be punifhed for it ? 'Tis 'GOD that 
 caufes thefe Thoughts, and Defires, and Hopes and 
 Feirs incur Breafts. 'Tis thefupream Difpofer of all 
 Things that points out another World, and perfwades 
 Mankind of an eternal Duration beyond the Grave. 
 
 What is it that allures thee, thou Infidel, that there "is 
 noJDay of Judgment, no future State ? 'Tis not 
 Kt-afon ; for Reafon tells us, that there is in Man a 
 Principle fuperior to Matter, and which in all Probabi- 
 lity will never die ; that the Nature of GOD, the 
 Nature of Man, the Nature of Virtue and Vice declare 
 loud for another World wherein every one fhall be 
 happy or miferable according as he hath behaved in this 
 Life. Perhaps thou believed that there is no Day of 
 Judgment, no future State, becaufe thou doubteil of it. 
 Tiiis is the Cafe of the Generality pf Jnftdefc. They 
 
 change 
 
14 Appearance of Believers 
 
 change their Doubts and their Uncertainties into Arti- 
 cles of Faith. But a Faith founded upon Doubts and 
 Uncertainties ; is it a reafonable Faith ? Thy Faith 
 ought to be proportioned to the Principle from which 
 it flows. And as this Principle is Doubt and Uncer- 
 tainty, thou canft not build any Thing firm and flablc 
 upon it. Leave thyDoubts and thineUncertainties ; ceafe 
 to flatter thy felf with the falfe Idea of Liberty. Thou 
 believeft ailuredly that there is no Day of Judgment, 
 becaufe thou doubteft of it : Is this reafonable ? Where 
 is theMan of the leaftDegree of Confideration, that will 
 hazard a greatGood upon aPrinciple like this ? If there is 
 noDay of Judgment, no future State, the goodMan loofes 
 the Pieafure of being wicked, and of following his crimi- 
 nal,bafe, & brutifa Paffions, which afford but a poorPlea- 
 fure at befr. But if there is a Day of Judgment, pro- 
 fyne and vicious Man, what doll thou loofe ! We dare 
 not defcribe thy Mifery : We are not able to defcribe 
 it; for the Torments of the Damned, as well as the 
 Joys of the Blefled are now inexpreffible. Thou loofeft 
 an eternal Happinefs, thou expofeft thy felf to the moft 
 cruel Torments, to intolerable Remorfe, that will never 
 end, that will never have the leaft Intermiffion. 
 
 How fweer, how trarifporting the Hope of a bkflcd 
 Immortality, of a Perfection and liappinefs without 
 Bounds and without End, in the Society of Saints and 
 Angels, and in the immediate Prefence of GOD ! In- 
 deed this Hope obliges us to be ftriclly pious and g 
 to be holy in all Manner of Converfation, and to deny 
 our felves the Enjoyment of vain, fenfual and worldly 
 Delights. But are the Pleafures of Sin, that are of- 
 ten attended with Pain and Difgrace, even here ufV^ 
 World, are they to be preferred to the infinite and eter- 
 nal Happinefs we hope for ? Muft we forego an ever- 
 ]afting and ravifhing Joy, for a fhort and unfatisfying 
 Felicity ? Enter into thy felf, profane Man, hearken 
 to thy Reafon, confider the Suggeflions of Futurity that 
 arife in thy Soul, even in Spite of all thy Endeavours 
 to the contrary, and which prompt thee to efcape eter- 
 nal Mifery and to fave thy Tcif. Having confidcred the' 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 1 5 
 
 Appearance of JESUS CHRIST, let us proceed to con- 
 fider the Manner of it, he Jhall appear in Glory, which 
 was the 
 
 IIT. General Head we propofed. It is impoflible for 
 us to exprefs or conceive the Glory of our LORD JESUS 
 CHRIST at hisAppearance : we have neither Words nor 
 Comparifons to make it known by. He fays himfelf, 
 Matth. 1 6. 17. He Jhall come in the Glory of his Father ; 
 that is, in all the Majefty, Power and Authority of 
 GOD, in Comparifon with which, the greateft Pomp 
 and Magnificence of the World, is but as Nothing and 
 Vanity. We mall mention a few general Things. 
 
 Firft, JESUS CHRIST at his fecond coming, will ap- 
 pear glorious in his Perfon. When he was here upon 
 Earth, he had no Beauty nor Comelinefs that Men Jhould 
 defire him ; his Vifage was more marred than any Man y 
 and his Form than the Sons of Men. But he will appear 
 at that Day in another Form, in a Body beautiful and 
 glorious. What fort of a Body, the glorified Body of 
 our Saviour will be, may in fome Meafure be gathered 
 from the Hiftory of his Transfiguration, where his Face 
 is defcribed to have Jhined like the Sun 9 and his Raiment 
 to have become fl/ining^ exceeding white as Snow^ Matth. 
 17 ; and from the Defcription of his Appearance to 
 John the Divine, Rev. I. 14. His Head and his Hairs 
 were white like Wool^ as white as Snsw, and his Eyes 
 were as a Flame of Fire > and his Feet like unto fine Brafs, 
 cis if they burned in a Furnace. Mofis's converting a 
 few Days with GOD upon the Mount, made his Face 
 ae, fo that the Children of Ifrael were not able to 
 look upon it, for the Brightnefs and Glory of it. How 
 glorious then muft the Body of JESUS CHRIST be, when 
 he ihall defcend from converfing with the Father, and 
 from fitting at his right Hand in the higheft Heavens ? 
 It will outmine the Sun in its greateft Radiancy ; all 
 the heavenly Bodies fhall receive new Light frorn the 
 Glory of his Prefence. The Sun fhall appear dark, and 
 the Moon as Blood, when Compared to his Light and 
 Glory, 
 
 Secondly, 
 
1 6 Appearance of Believers 
 
 * Secondly, The Glory of JESUS CHRIST will confift 
 
 in the Number of his Attendants and Adorers. He 
 will defcend from Heaven fitting upon aCloud of Glory 
 with a vaft and numberlefs Army of Angels, whom he 
 will fummon from all the Provinces of the Univerfe, to 
 wait upon his Perfon. And whilft all that are alive 
 upon the Earth are gazing at the Son of GOD and his 
 heavenly Haft, as they defcend, one of the Angels will 
 found a dreadful Trumpet, which will roll the wide 
 Circuit of the Creation, make the Earth to tremble and 
 fhake, and piercing into the deepeft Tombs, will awake 
 all the Dead, and call them to the Prefence of the great 
 Judge. Around our Saviour likewife will be the Saints 
 of all Kindreds, and of all Nations come out of Tri- 
 bulation, the Martyrs with Palms in their Hands, the 
 Virgins with white Robes, the Church in pure Linnen 
 with all her Children, calling down their Crowns be- 
 fore the Throne of the Lamb, and fmging this Song, 
 7o him that fits upon the Throne, to the Lamb thai was 
 fain, and redeemed us by bis Blood, be the Honour and 
 Glory ,, the Dominion and Power. Wicked Men and 
 Devils fhall. then likewife bow the Knee to the Son of 
 GOD. Here they oppofed his Intercft, they contem- 
 ned him, they afronted him ; but then they {hall fee 
 their Folly and fall down and adore him. 
 
 Thirdly, The Glory of JESUS CHRIST at his fecond 
 Appearance will confift in his great and extenfive Power. 
 He will call all the World to appear before him, and to 
 receiveSentence from his Mouth. None (hall be able to 
 refifthisPower. The Judges of^theEarthjthegreatPnnces^ 
 the mighty Ernperors,(hall not be exempted any more than 
 the poorelt,the meaneft, & weakeft of Mankind. Tribes,. 
 Provinces, Armies, Nations, Worlds, (hall be gathered 
 together, and pour along towards the Judgment Seat of 
 CHRIST, and Adam with all his Sons fhall appear upon 
 even Ground and upon equalTerms. He .will lay open 
 the Secrets of all Mens Hearts ; his Condemnation of 
 the Wicked will be fo evident and juft, that they them- 
 fdves fhajl acknowledge it, Yes, unhappy Wretches, 
 
 vou 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 17 
 
 you fhall have the Confufion to condemn your felves, 
 your Punifliment (hall be everlafting, your Torments 
 unfupportable. Death the King of Terrors, and the 
 moft cruel of Enemies, fhall be fwallowed up in Victory 
 at the Appearance of JESUS CHRIST. The Devils fhall 
 be fpoiled of all their Power, and loaded with Chains of 
 Darknefs, the Foundations of the Earth /hail be Jhaken^ 
 the Heavens Jhall pafs away with a great Noife^ and the 
 Elements Jhall melt with fervent Heat, Jor we look for a 
 new Heaven and a new Earth. 
 
 And as the Power of JESUS Cr-tRisT will be mani- 
 fefted in punifhing wicked Men and Devils, fo in faving 
 the Wife and Good. You that renounce the Follies 
 and Corruptions of the World, that make the Laws of 
 JESUS CHRIST the Rule of your Conducl, that take 
 Care to fecurc an Interefl in his Favour by loving aud 
 obeying him, you have nothing to be afraid of from the 
 glorious Power of the Son of Man. Towards you, he 
 will exercife Goodnefs and Mercy, in delivering you 
 from all the Remainders of Sin, and crowning you with 
 Perfection and Happinefs. 
 
 What Glory to the Son of GOD to defcend from 
 Heaven in the Glory of his Father, and with all the 
 Angels his Father's Minifters ! What a Glory to the 
 great Shepherd and Bimop of Souls, to fee his Followers 
 who were fcattered like Sheep, gathered together in the 
 Regions of Immortality, and triumphing over their 
 Enemies ! What Glory to the Author and Teacher 
 of Truth, to fee Ignorance and Error dcftroyed, and 
 -vxwledge and Truth eftablifhed ! What a Glory to 
 / the Lover of Mankind, to fee Sin and Mifery banifhed 
 / from among them, and Pvighteoufnefs and Hnppinefs 
 prevailing and flourishing f)r ever ! ThenflwllyQu beheld 
 the l*/ord that was made Flefh y and dwelt among us, //,// 
 of Grace and Truth ; then Jhall you behold his Glory , the 
 Glory as of the only begotten of the Father. He was 
 brought forth in a Stable and laid in a Manger inflead 
 of a Cradle ; He fhall appear in all the Majefty of Hea- 
 ven : He lived in a mean and obfcure Condition ; he 
 ihail sons again in the higheit Degree of Power and 
 C Grandeur : 
 
1 8 Appearance of Believers 
 
 Grandeur : He had not where to lay hisHead ; He fhaSl 
 appear PofTeflbr of theUniverfe, and the fovereign LORD 
 of Heaven and of Earth : he was defpifed and rejected 
 of Men 5 He fhall be attended on by Angels,and all the 
 World (hall bow the Knee to him : He was arraigned 
 and condemned and crucified by earthly Powers ; He 
 (hall fummon all both fmall and great, the Kings and 
 great Men, and Judges of the Earth, to appear at his 
 JBar, and to receive Sentence from his Mouth. The 
 two different States of this Perfon are the Wonder of 
 Mankind, and not of Mankind only, but likewife of 
 the Angels above, that deftre to look into them. Let 
 us in the 
 
 IV. Place, Confider the Appearance of all true 
 Chriftians with their Saviour in Glory: You flwll appear 
 with him in Glory, Here in this World the true 
 Chriftian is often jiid from the Obfcrvation of Mankind, 
 his Graces are weak and imperfect 5 fometimes he 
 conceals himfelf under a Vail of Humility ; at other 
 Times h^ is covered with aCloud of Affliction ; fo that 
 it does not appear either what he is, or what he fhall be ; 
 iand. Death feizes him as well as the wicked Man, and 
 Jays him low in the Duft. But when JESUS CHRIST 
 lhall appear in Glory, the Body of the true Believer 
 fhall be raifed again out ojf the Grave and united to his 
 Soul, he fhall be .made perfect in Holinefs, openly ac- 
 knowledged and acquitted before ail the World, and 
 rewarded with eternal Felicity and Glory in Heaven. 
 
 Firft, At the Appearance of JESUS CHRIST our 
 Bodies fhall be raifed out of the Grave glorious Boditj 
 What Horror will fill the Souls of wicked Men, wherf 
 they fhall fee them felves obliged tore-enter their Bodies, 
 not to enjoy fmful Pleafures as formerly, but in order to 
 apn'ear before the Tribunal of GOD and to be judged 
 and condemned by him ! What muft be their Shame at 
 the Sight of thofe Bodies, thofe wretched Bodies, which 
 wtre the Inftruments of their Rebellion and Ingratitude, 
 and which are about to be the Inftruments of their eter- 
 nal Mifery ! Qn the other Hand, what wiU be joy of 
 
 upright 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 19 
 
 upright and virtuous Souls, to re-unite to themfelves 
 Bodies, that peihaps carried the Marks of the LORD 
 JESUS, and that will not only be cloathed with Glory 
 to all Eternity, but even be aiMing to the Souls in their 
 Operations ! 
 
 The Apoftle Paul fpeaking of the Refur re&ion of 
 the Body, fays, i Cor. 15. 42, 43, 44 ; It is fown in 
 Corruption^ it is raifed in Interruption ; // is fown in 
 Difoonour^ it is raifed in Glory ; // is fown in IVeaknefs^ 
 it is raifed in Power ; It is fown a natural Body^ it is 
 raifed a fpiritual Body. The fame Bodies that died 
 /hall be raifed again, but they (hall be raifed with very 
 great Alterations, It is fown in Corruption^ it flail be 
 raifed in Incorruption. Our Bodies here in this World 
 are made up of fuch Particles, and they are framed after 
 fuch a Manner, that they are continually tending to 
 Corruption and Diflblution j but at the Appearance of 
 JESUS CHRIST, they fiiall be freed from all Seeds of 
 Mortality and Corruption, and he made incorruptible 
 and immortal Subflances, like the Heavens in which 
 they (hall dwell for ever ; for fo our Saviour fays of thofe 
 that fliall be accounted worthy to attain to this blefied 
 Returrection, that they cannot die any more. It is 
 fewn in Diflonour y it is raifed in Glory ; our Bodies 
 when they are buried, are bafe and vile, not to be en- 
 cured above Ground for their ghaflly Looks and naufe- 
 ous Putrefaction. At the Appearance of JESUS CHRIST, 
 they ihall be transformed into bright, beautiful and 
 glorious Bodies ; for fo our Saviour allures us, that after 
 the Refurrection, the Righteous Jball Jhine as the Stars 
 Firmament. It is fown in Weaknefs^ it flail be' 
 rciijed in Power ; our Bodies now are weak and feeble, 
 liable to many Indifpofitions and Difeafes, capable of 
 doing very little, but of foffering much. At the Re- 
 furreclion they (hall be freed from all Weaknefs, Dif- 
 eafes, and Infirmities, and be made ftrong, active and 
 vigorous, fo as even to be helpful to the Soul in its fpi- 
 ritual Operations ; for GOD flail wipe away all Tears 
 from their Eyes^ and there (nail be no more Death, neither 
 Sorrow ) nor cry ing , neither foall there be any more Pain \ 
 
 C 2 
 
2 o Appearance of Believers 
 
 for the former Things are poffed away. Rev. 21.4. It 
 is f own a natural Body> it is raifed afpiritual Body ; our 
 Bodies now muft be repaired with fuitableNourimment, 
 kept in Health with Labour and Exercife, and refrefhed 
 with fenfual Pleafures. At the Appearance of JESUS 
 CHRIST, they fhall be made fpiritual Bodies : not that 
 they (hall be converted into Spirits, for they will ftijl 
 remain Bodies, but they {hall be wrought into pure and 
 fine Subftances, fo as no more to want to eat or drink, 
 or to be refrefhed, or kept in Order, with grofs and 
 carnal Enjoyments ; for as pur Saviour fays, Luke 20, 
 35. They neither marry y nor are given in Marriage^ but 
 they are like to the Angels in Heaven. Such (hall be the 
 Glory of the Bodies of good Men at the Appearance of 
 JESUS CHRIST : And if their Bodies mall be To glo- 
 rious, what will be their Souls, that are capable of far 
 greater Perfection ? For 
 
 Secondly, As our Bodies,, fo fhall our Souls ?ppear 
 with JESUS CHRIST in Glory. Wherein the Glory of 
 _ our Souls will then confift, and how great it will be, we 
 cannot particularly delcribe to you. Only in general, 
 all our Sins {hall be perfectly done away, and we /hall 
 be cloathed with Robes wafoed and made luhite in the Blood 
 cf the Lamb. When the Marriage of the Lamb Jhali 
 come, and his Wife Jhall be ready , Jhe Jhall be arrayed in 
 fine Linnen, clean and white, ivhich is ihc righieonfnefs 
 cf the Saints. Then our Souls (hall be freed from all 
 Error, Ignorance and Prejudices, and endowed with 
 full and perfect Knowledge. Here cur Undcrftandings 
 are low and weak, futed to this State of Mortality 
 but at the Refurreition they fhall be highly elevated^' 
 and made capable of receiving the greateft ManifeftatP^ 
 ens of .Truth, the fublimeft Difcoveries of the divine 
 Perfections, and of every Thing that may any way 
 make us perfect, or happy. Here we fee through a 
 Glafs darkly ; but then wefiall fee Face to Face. Now 
 we have fome fmall and imperfect Difcoveries of Things, 
 as at a great Diftance ; but at that Day we lhall fee 
 Things diftinctly in their full and true Dimenfions. 
 Now luednov) in_part only ; but then W jhall know GOD 
 
 and 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 21 
 
 other Beings, as they know us. No Clouds, na 
 Darknefs fhall cover our Minds in that glorious State : 
 We fhall dwell in Circles of Light, in the Sunfhine of 
 the Almighty's Prefence. 
 
 And as our Souls {hall be perfect in Knowledge, fo 
 {hall they be free from all Corruption and Diforder, and 
 endowed with pure and regular Defires and Inclinati- 
 ons. Here, there are Spots and Blemifhes in the beft of 
 Men ; but then they jball be holy as GOD is holy ; 
 they {hall have all the Wifdom and San&ity their exalt- 
 ed Natures are capable of. And how glorious will our 
 Souls then appear, when they (hall be filled with true 
 and excellent Knowledge, and with the greateft De- 
 grees of Holinefs ! But Eye hath not feen^ nor Ear 
 heard ; neither hath it entered into the Heart of Max. 
 to conceive , the Glory which GOD hath prepared for thofi 
 
 that love him. 
 
 h 
 
 Thirdly, Our Souls and Bodies thus refined and ex- 
 alted, {hall be again 'united in one Perfon, and appear 
 before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST. What this 
 Judgment Seat will be, and where it will be placed, we 
 know not certainly. Only it is probable it will be 
 placed in the Air, and compofed of a radiant Cloud, 
 Jftreaming with Light and throwing forth a Flood of 
 Glory. Hence it is called, The Throne of his Glory ; 
 and out of it are faid to proceed Lightnings and Thun- 
 der ings. Before this glorious Tribunal fnall appear all 
 the Redeemed of the LORD, the Prophets, the Apo- 
 ftlc^ the Martyrs, the whole Church throughout all 
 the World, and they fhall all give an Account of them- 
 civeV.to GOD. Then their Innocence lhall be vindi- 
 cated, the Scandal that v/, t ; thrown upon them by the 
 World frail be wiped oft before Men and Angels, their 
 fecret A&s of Piety and .Virtue fhali be proclaimed, 
 their Faith, and Repentance for their Sins declared, the 
 divine Goodnefs and Mercy manifefted, and the power- 
 ful Virtue of the Blood of Jfsus CHRIST in the Sanc- 
 tification of Believers made evident to the vail Aflembly 
 of Spirits, After they have been tried and- acquitted, 
 
 the 
 
Appearance of Believers 
 
 the Judge fhall rife out of his flaming Throne, and fay 
 to them with an audible Voice and failing Majefty, Come 
 yeblejfed of my Father^ inherit the Kingdom , prepared for 
 you from the Foundation of the World j To which no 
 doubt their Voices will immediately refound, Hallelu- 
 jah, Salvation and Glory to him that fits upon the Throne^ 
 and to the Lamb for ever and ever. After which he will 
 fay to the Wicked on his left Hand, Depart from me 
 ye curfed into everlajling Fire prepared for the Devil and 
 bis Angels. What featful Shrieks and Lamentations 
 will then be heard from that miferable Company ? 
 LORD, who can dwell with devouring Fire ? Who 
 can inhabit everlafting Burnings ? 
 
 Fourthly, When the Sentence (hall be pronounced, 
 the Wicked fhall be carried to the Place of eternal 
 Torments ; and the Judge will arife from his Throne, 
 and afcend t^ Heaven in Triumph and Glory, attended 
 with all his Saints and Angels, who as they follow him 
 through the Air, will with loud Hofannas and trium- 
 phant Acclamations, celebrate the Praifes of their Re- 
 deemer ; To him that redeemed them and wajhed them in 
 his Blood, and made them Kings and Priejls to GOD 
 for ever and ever. Then the Ranfomed of the LORD 
 Jhall return to Zion with Songs and everlafting Joy upon 
 their Heads They ft/all ftand before him, and ferve him 
 Day and Night in his Temple , and he that fits upon the 
 Throne /hall dwell among them* 
 
 As to the particular Time when JESUS CHRIST fhall 
 thus appear in Glory, we are altogether ignorant of it. 
 This is one of thofe Secrets, which GOD for v;\C* 
 Reafons, hath referved in his own Power. Of that 
 Day and Hour knoweth no Man^ no not the Angels in 
 Heaven, neither the Son, lut the Father , Matth. 13. 
 32. The primitive Chriftians from a Miflake of fome 
 raflages in Scripture, and an impatient Defire to be 
 freed from their grievous Perfections, thought that the 
 Appearance of the Son of Man was then at Hand. And 
 fome in the laft Century were fo ram as to fix the par- 
 ticular Year gf his Appearance. But the Event hath 
 
 ftiewn 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 
 
 fhewn their Folly. How could they pretend to foretell 
 the particular Time of the Appearance of JESUS 
 CHRIST, when JESUS CHRIST himfelf as to his human 
 Nature, was ignorant of it ? It is a certain Truth, 
 that JESUS CHRIST {hall appear in Glory, and that we 
 fhall appear with him ; and this is fufficient. Let us 
 fix here, my Brethren^ and be afTured, that if our 
 Life is hid with CHRIST in GOD, when CHRIST whs 
 is our Life (hall appear ', we Jhall alfo appear with him in 
 Glory. 
 
 And now let us apply what hath been faid in a few 
 Inferences. We might take Notice of a great many 
 important Leflbns from this glorious Subject, but we 
 fhall mention only the Following. 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 
 Firflr, Is JESUS CHRIST our Life? What Love and 
 Gratitude, Truft and Confidence, Subje&ion and Obe- 
 dience do we owe him ? Is it through him that GOD 
 is reconciled to us, and treats us with peculiar Love 
 and Complacency ? Is it he that fantifies and makes 
 us Partakers of the divine Nature ? And is he pre- 
 paring Manfions of Blifs for us in Heaven ? Let us 
 warm our Hearts with Love and Gratitude to our moft 
 merciful Redeemer, who loved us and gave himfelf for 
 us. Let us call upon our Souls and all that is within us 
 us to praife and magnify his Name, who delivered us 
 from Sin and Mifery, and who makes us perfect and 
 happy, who caufes us to pals our Lives comfortably in 
 fti^World, and who will carry us to unfpeakable 
 Felicity and Glory in another. We love and are grate- 
 ful to Men, who fave us from temporal Death, and 
 beftow upon us the Neceflaries and Comforts of 
 this prefent Life. How much more ought we to love 
 and to be thankful to him, who faves our Souls from 
 eternal Death, and freely beftows upon us all fpiritual 
 and heavenly Bleflings ? Let us likewife truft and con- 
 fide in him for all the good Things we ftand in need 
 of ; let us depend upon his Merits a.nd Mediatipn for 
 
24 Appearance of Believers 
 
 the Pardon of our Sins; let us pray to him for 
 his Holy Spirit for the Sanclification of our Natures, 
 and for Affiflance, Direction and Comfort, in all Cir- 
 cumfrances, Temptations and Difficulties. He is not 
 only able, but he is alfo willing to fave us. His Death 
 for us is a Demonitration of this. And let us devote 
 our felves and all our Advantages to his Glory, and to 
 the Caufe and Intereft of Religion and Virtue, As 
 we live by the Son of GOD, let us live for him; let 
 us in Imitation of his Example, and following his 
 Steps, make it our great Buiinefs and Delight, to ma- 
 fiifeft the Wifdom, Goodnefs and Mercy of GOD, ancj 
 to promote the Welfare and Happinefs of Men. Let 
 us look unto JESUS, the Author and Finifher of our 
 Faith, and follow him with Ardor and Eagernefs in the 
 Ways of Piety and Virtue. 
 
 Secondly, Is JESUS CHRIST to appear at the End 
 of the World, and to call all Mankind to his Judg- 
 ment Seat ? What manner of Perfons ought we to be in 
 all holy Conversation and Godlinefs, waiting for, and. 
 . hajlening to the coming of the LORD, when he foall 
 defcend from Heaven with a Shout, with the Voice of the 
 Arch- Angel \ and the Trump of GOD ? Did we feri- 
 oufly believe this great Principle of Religion, what a 
 mighty Influence would it have upon us ? Like the 
 Apoftle, we would labour , whether abfent or prefent, in 
 all Conditions, in all Places, and at all Times to be 
 accepted of him -, for we muft all appear before the 
 judgment Seat 0/* CHRIST. We intreat you, my Bre~ 
 thren^ to be firmly perfwaded of this awful Truth. 
 Even the Light of Nature teaches us, that a future Sr^ 
 of Rewards and Punishments is highly probable ; but 
 Scripture demonftrates this Point ; Life and Immortality 
 are clearly brought to Light by the Gvfpd. He hath ap- 
 pointed a Day, in which, he will judge the World in 
 Righteoufnefs by that Man whom he hath ordained. Our 
 blefTed. Saviour hath peremptorily declared this, and he 
 hath been true to his Word hitherto, whether in his 
 Promifes, or in his Threatnings. He promifed to fend 
 down the Holy Ghoft after his Afceftfion j and that 
 
 was 
 
with CHRIST in Glory. 25 
 
 was fully accomplished. He threatned to deftrcy Jeru- 
 J'alem, and he did fo. He hath told us, that be will 
 come in the Cliuds of Heaven in flaming Fire, to punijb 
 the Wicked and to reward the Righteous. How fliould 
 this Thought awaken us, that there is fuch a Prc mife 
 on Record, by one who never failed in his Word. 
 Let this Confideration always fill your Minds. Think 
 continually, you hear the Sound of the laft Trumpet, 
 Arife ye Dead, and come to Judgment. Let not the 
 Pleafures, nor the Bufinefs of this World put far from 
 you this important Confideration. Whether you think 
 of it or not, this Day will come. And if it fhould 
 come before you are prepared for it, your Buiinefs, 
 your Pleafurcs, your Riches, your Honours will be of 
 no Benefit to you. Think then of the Day of the 
 LORD, and think of it in fuch a Manner as to prepare 
 thy felf for it. Leave all thy wicked Thoughts and 
 Practices ; court the Favour of him that is to be thy 
 Judge, fubmit to his Scepter, pay a willing Obedience 
 to his Laws. Be wife therefore, O ye Kings, and be 
 znftrutted, ye Judges of the Earth. Serve the LORD 
 with Fear, and rejoice with Trembling. Kifs the Son, 
 leafl he be angry, and ye perijb from the Way, when hit 
 Wrath is kindled but a little. 
 
 Thirdly, Shall all true Chriftians appear with JESUS 
 CHRIST in Glory ? This teaches us that while we are 
 here in this World, we fhould endeavour to be like to 
 our Saviour. Thus reafons the Apoftle, I John 3. 2. 
 We Jhall be like him, for we Jhall fee him as he is j 
 and every Man that hath this Hope in him, purifies 
 bim/elfeyen as he is pure ; that is, he fets the Exam- 
 ^etS^Esus CHRIST before him, and imitates him in 
 all his imitable Perfections. N As it was by a patient 
 Continuance in well doing, and a perfect Submiffion to 
 the divine Will, that JESUS CHRIST merited the 
 Glory in which he will appear at the 'Day of Judgment, 
 fo your Bodies muft be cleanfed, and your Souls purifi- 
 ed from all fenfual, worldly, vain and wicked Inclina- 
 tions, and you muft be holy as GOD is holy, if you 
 would partake of his Happmefs and {hare of his Glory. 
 D There 
 
a 6 Appearance of Believers 
 
 There is no Agreement between Light and Darknefs, 
 no Concord "^between GOD and Belial, no Fellowftiip 
 between JESUS CHRIST and Sinners. 'Tis true, after 
 all your Endeavours to become holy here upon Earth, 
 you (hall ftill be far fhort of that Holinefs which be- 
 comes the Appearance of JESUS CHRIST. But you 
 muft ufe your beil Endeavours, and prefs towards the 
 Mark for the Prize of the high Calling of GOD in 
 JESUS CHRIST. Without Holinefs, no Man (hall fee 
 the LORD. Not that wicked Men fhall not like- 
 wife appear at the Day of Judgment, and do Homage 
 to the Son of GOD. But they (hall not appear in 
 Glory : They fhall appear cloathed in Shame and 
 Confufion, in dreadful Expectation of the terrible Sen- 
 tence to be pronounced upon them. So that you 
 rnuft either give over ail Thoughts of appearing with 
 JESUS CHRIST in Glory, or you muft prepare your- 
 felves for that Appearance by Faith and Love, by Puri- 
 ty and Holinefs. Chriftlan, thy Life is in Heaven ; 
 there is thy Happinefsand thyGlory. Do not debafe thy 
 felf by purfuing the mean and bafe Enjoyments of this 
 World, and which are but Shadows of Felicity, whilft 
 thou negle&eft the Body and the Subftance, JESUS 
 CHRIST. Imitate the Children of the World, in their 
 Ambition. Thofe among them that are nobly bprn, 
 and much more thofe that are Heirs to a Crown and 
 Kingdom, will not engage in any low Employment, 
 nor defcend to a mean A&ion. As for thee, thou 
 art of heavenly Extraction, a Brother to Angels, an 
 Heir to an immortal Diadem and never failing Kingdom. 
 Keep in Mind thine Honour and Dignity. Difdain to 
 mix with the Slaves of this Earth ; fcorn to-4L 
 their mean and grofs Delights ; raife thy Thov-Ms to 
 Heaven ; meditate on *the Glory in y.hich thou ihalt 
 appear at the great Day, do nothing unworthy the Son 
 of a King, of the King of Heaven. 
 
 Fourthly, Is JESUS CHRIST to appear to take Ven- 
 geance oa all them that know not GOD, nor obey 
 Xhe Gofpelof his Son ? This is Matter of great Ter- 
 ror to the wicked W^rld. . Now you put far away tDe 
 
 Thoughts 
 
I 
 
 with CHRIST in Glory, 27 
 
 Thoughts of the Appearance of JESUS CHRIST, you 
 infolently break his Laws, you abufe his Favours, you 
 trample under Foot the Son of GOD, you declare 
 by your wicked Lives, that you will not have him 
 to reign over you ; you fay, that the LORD delay eih 
 hi* coming^ you beat your fellow Servant. But "pro- 
 fane arid wicked Man, the LORD is not flack concern- 
 ing his Promife. There is a Day coming, and perhaps 
 is near at Hand, when thou {halt pay dear For thy 
 Folly and Madnefs ; when he whom thou now 
 reje&eft and defpifeft, and whofe Laws thou clfteft 
 behind thy back, {hall appear in the Glory of his Father y 
 with all his holy Angels, and punifli thee according to 
 thy Deferts. What Horror and Amazement will feize 
 thee, when raifed out of the Grave, thou {halt behold 
 the Son of GOD w'hom thou haft made thine Ene- 
 my, coming in Power and Majefty ? How wilt thou 
 fhrink back from the Light, and wifh to hide thy felf 
 again in the Grave. Yonder comes He whofe Laws 
 I have broken, whofe Love I have defpifed, whofe 
 Name I have blafphemed ; he comes in terrible Wrath ; 
 wretched and forlorn, how {hall I abide his Appearance, 
 or whither {hall I flee from his Prefence f Mountains, 
 Mountains, fall upon me, Hills cover me from his Sighf, 
 But the Hills and Mountains will me!: away, and 
 nothing {hall be left but thv felf for his fiery Indigna- 
 tion. Thou {halt be dragged to his Judgment Seat. 
 How wilt thou endure the Face of thy J udge ? Where 
 wilt thou hide thy felf from the Lightning of his 
 Eyes ? mell with all its Torments is not to be com- 
 pared toAhe Look of an angrv GOD. He th-.it made 
 ^^ have no Mercy upon thee^ and he that for- 
 faw thee no Favour, 
 
 Laftly, Shall we appear with jEsusCn R IST inGlory? 
 This is Matter of greatComfort and Jo y to <he' r r >d Man 
 under all the Afflictions of this Life. FaithSjlC Indian, 
 thou art while in this World, liable fo grear Affections 
 and Calamities ; thou art fubjecl: to Pain an .! Sickuefs, 
 to Poverty and Want, to Shame and Difs>tace 3 to 
 Croflcs and Difoppointments, to Perfecution and Dt-atb ; 
 
 thy 
 
X *ance of .Relievers 
 
 !hjG. c- c are weak, thy Temptations many and ftrong^ 
 t> out of Sight, beyond the higheft Heavens., 
 f good Courage ; *yet a little while and all 
 Jc Things fhall come to an End, and hr that [hall 
 ; v?f, ft 1 /// ow,?t', tf;j^ w.'// 720/ tarry* Yet a. little 
 v/hile and thy Uody (hall become like unto the glori- 
 ous Body of the Son of. GOD, and thy Soul fhail be 
 \afedto the higheft Degree of Perfection and Happi- 
 a iiitie while and thou fha^i be purified from 
 all in andCorruption, and confequcntly from all Mifery, 
 andWaken up mto the Air to meet thy Saviour. Thefc 
 light Afflictions fhall work for theea far more exceeding 
 and eternal Weight of Glory. Thy Saviour fufFered 
 much greater Afflictions than any thou art liable to, Sin 
 only cxceptevj. But the Glory he had before i-Iiu, 
 made him patiently endure the Crofs, and defpife thj 
 Shame. And jiow he is fet down at the right Hand of 
 GOD. ,-Bs thou likewife ftedfaft, and thou fn:;k 
 obtain the Crown 6f Life. Lift up thy Head witr\ 
 Joy and Rejoicing, for thy Redemption draweth nigh. 
 Thy* Deliverance may come fooner than thou thinkeft 
 of. The End of all Things, may be, is at Hand. 
 Perhaps the Order is already given in Heaven for th'j 
 general Judgment of the World ; perhaps the / 
 arc alreaoy fummoned to attend the Son of GOD ; 
 perhaps he is juft about to appear in Glory ; perhaps 
 the Sound of the laft Trumpet will this Moment fill 
 our Ears. Comc 9 even fu cwie, LORD JESU?. 
 
 Now t9 t-'im that Jilictb upon the Throne, and it tie 
 
 La ml) that was Jlain^ c.,-td hath redeemed us fron>\ our f S ins 
 
 is Blocd, end will give us io zpp*ar ibhh him\ 
 
 jj-y- tht Pmiinion and Power jar 
 and e f *i,t\ A^'l&L^., 
 
 P I N I S. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 J 2. line i . for Indeeft read Indeed. P. 13. 1.7 
 ties reutl Y acuities. Pj 18. 1. laft read thejoy, 
 J, read- re- unite themfdves to Bodies.