The general assembly: or, A discourse of the gathering of all saints to Christ Wherein it appears that all saints in all places and ages, shall be at last gathered together to Christ their head. Together with the time, manner, ends and reasons of this last great congregating of all saints, and what use may be made thereof. Being some meditations upon 2 Thess. II. 1. By O. H. minister of the Gospel.

CHAP VI. How the Saints shall be gathered together unto Christ, and Reasons why thy must be gathered together.

5. THE next general Head is what is to be meant by the Saints gathering to∣gether unto Christ, so saith the Text.

I must confess, Interpreters greatly differ about the meaning of these Words, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] which some Interpret of meetings of Christians together in Assem∣blies, Heb. 10.25. And so render [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] propter ipsum, as Jam. 2.7. that worthy name [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] which is called upon you, super vos: So they will have this to refer to the free Liberty of Christians, in uninterrup∣ted meetings in Countries, Cities, after the Scattering of the Jewish Nation that censured Christians as a wicked Sect; but in the days of Vespasian, Titus, but especially in Constantines Time, injoyed liberty of meeting together for celebrating God's publick Worship: So indeed [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] convenire, congrega∣re, in publick Edict signify: But most take it for that general universal Meeting at Christ's second coming in the Air at the last Day,

1 Thes. 4.14, 17. when all the Elect shall be gathered to Christ: Now this gathering of Saints to Christ doth comprehend these Four things;

• 1. The State and Qualification of the Object.
• 2. The Reason or Relation betwixt them.
• 3. The Frame and Disposition of the Subject.
• 4. The Sight, Vision or Fruition of him.

I shall very briefly open all these.

1. The State and Qualification of the Ob∣ject, that is Christ, under a double Notion, 1st. As God, Man; 2dly. As advanced to the right Hand of God.

1. They shall be gathered to him as God and Man, which is a State of the highest Per∣fection: Compleat Man as glorious a Creature as Adam in Innocency, and yet much more en∣deared to his Saints, by that reflecting on what he hath done and suffered for them and the Fruits thereof; this is he of whom 'tis said, when he bringeth in his first begotten into the world, he saith and let all the Angels of God wor∣ship him, Heb. 1.6. This is the admirable Per∣son, consisting of his two Natures, Divine and Humane; never did created or uncreated Na∣ture afford the like: In whom all Perfections meet, in whom all Excellencies are united.

2. As exalted to the right Hand of God: They are not now to be gathered to Christ, as he was in his State of Humiliation, when Mul∣titudes flockt to his Preaching, working Mira∣cles,

when he was but in the form of a Ser∣vant, or going to suffer on the Cross, no, nor yet in his State of Transfiguration, which was Glorious but Temporary; but now he is set down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, Heb.* 1.1 1.3. God hath now given him a name above every name far a∣bove all principalities and powers and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, Eph. 1.20, 21, 22. It is this State of Glory in which Christ is inthroned, and now receiving Ho∣mage from all ranks of Creatures (Devils be∣ing confined to their Prisons,) attended with innumerable Angels; 'tis Christ in this glori∣ous State, that the Saints are to be gathered to.

2. The Reason thereof, which consists in the Relation betwixt Christ and his Saints, all which carry abundance of delight and sweet∣ness in them: For, it is not as Strangers or E∣nemies that love him not, nor yet as Malefa∣ctors brought to the Bar, that dread him as Judge: But they are gathered to Christ under these sweet Relations.

1. As Sheep to their Shepheard, whose Voice they know here, and follow him, John 10.3, 4. yea they own him with a more then ordinary endearedness, because he laid down his Life for the Sheep, verse 15. and carried those poor lambs in his arms,* 1.2 and leades them to quiet resting-pla∣ces,

where they shall dwell safely,* 1.3 and none shall make them afraid.

2. As Souldiers to their Captain, not to Fight, but to take the Spoil, the Captain of our Sal∣vation is made perfect through sufferings: He is now crowned with glory and honour and brings ma∣ny Sons unto glory, Heb. 2.9, 10. He pitcheth out a Crown to every Souldier, and sets the victorious Champion with him on his own Throne, Rev. 3.21.

3. As Scholars to their Master, who sets them not in a low Form, as under Graduates, but they commence the highest degree of Per∣fection in the University of Glory, to know as much as Creatures are capable, they shall know as they are known, 1 Cor. 13.12. Now he is a vessel unto Honour, meet for his Masters use,* 1.4 set on the shelf of Glory.

4. As Subjects to their Prince, to pe pre∣ferred into the King's Presence-chamber: Not any longer to be banisht into a foreign Coun∣try; no, nor yet to be Retainers, hanging a∣bout the Court at a distance, but approaching into his Presence: Jesus Christ is in the immediate Presence of God, Saints shall be with him:* 1.5 In whose presence is fulness of joy at his right hand are pleasures for ever more, Psal. 10.11.

5. As Friends to a Feast: Our Lord called and accounted all his Saints, Friends in this

World, John 15.14, 15. and he deales famili∣arly with them, providing for them a Feast of fat things: But there will come a day when he will drink this wine new with them in his fathers kingdom, Mat. 26.29. O blessed Feast! O sweet Society! When he will say, eat oh friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved, Cant. 5.2.

6. As Children are gathered to their Father, not only to receive a Blessing, but to take full possession of their Inheritance, Col. 3.24. know∣ing that of the Lord, ye shall revive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ: All God's Son's are Heirs, and then it will be manifest who are Son's,* 1.6 that's a blessed Word, Rev. 21.7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son.

7. As Members are gathered to their Heart, Eph. 5.30. for we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones: Now alass the Members are oft disjointed from each other, and too much distant from the Head, but there will come a day when they shall be joined all in one: There's then no discrepancy betwixt Head and Members, but they are grown up into him in all things, which is the head even Christ, Eph. 4.15, 16.

Thus much for the Relation they have to Christ, which is the Reason of this gathering together to him.

3. The Frame and Disposition of the Sub∣ject: There is in every Child of God, a kind of natural Propensity, which inclines them in a peculiar Manner towards Christ as the Nee∣dle towards the Loadstone, by which they move and bend Heaven wards: Return unto thy rest, O my Soul saith David, Psal. 116.7. As all Creatures move to their center, so doth the sin∣cere Soul God-wards; and can never be quiet till it be closely joined and cemented to him, and that God that hath fixed these innate Prin∣ciples in the Soul, will promote and perfect them: Now this Frame and Disposition of a Child of God, proceeds 1st. From the Con∣viction of Conscience, and Deficiency he finds in other things: 2dly. From a sensible Experi∣ence that the Soul hath of Satisfaction in Christ.

1. The Consciences of God's Children are fully satisfyed, that all the World cannot give the least ease to their Souls: This made Solomon cry out,* 1.7 vanity of vanitie•…•…, all is vanity: The Chri∣stian cries out, away with these Toys: World∣ly Enjoyments are not commensurate to an im∣mortal Soul, Mat. 16.26. The Judgment is convinced that the world passeth away, and the lust ••hereof, 1 John 2.17. All the Splendor of the 〈…〉〈…〉ld fades, there's a varity and emptiness in all Sublimaries [non est mortale quod opto] that's the Christians Motto: I wish not, for, I am not content with mundane or worldly

things: I must look beyond the Moon to Hea∣ven for a Felicity: I have suck'd the juice of every Flower in this Garden of the World, yet my Soul is empty.

2. The Christian hath tasted that the Lord is Gracious, and this sets him a longing and hungring for more Grace and Incomes from a∣bove, 1 Pet. 2.23. The Gauls having tasted the sweet Wine of the Grapes that grew in Ita∣ly, were never at rest till they had conquered the Country: So it is with the godly Soul [op∣tima demonstratio est à sensibus] Sense brings the clearest Evidence, especially Spiritual Senses, for some Natural Sences may be deceived, this I pray, saith the Apostle, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment, Phil. 1.9. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,] in all Sense, for the Soul hath its Senses as well as the Body, and being sanctifyed and duly exercised,* 1.8 they discern be∣twixt Good and Evil: And in∣deed this is the proper Genius of the new Creature, to press forwards and aspire upwards, Rom. 8.23. we which have the first fruits of the spirit groan within our selves, waiting for the a∣doption; the redemption of our body: There are Heaven born Principles laid up in godly Souls, that make them sore aloft to injoy God.

4. The gathering to Christ, includes the Sight, Vision and Fruition of Christ, the full Injoyment of him: Beholding God is proper∣ly Fruitive Vision of him: Blessed are the pure

in heart, for they shall see God, Mat. 5.8. This is not of meer Speculation, but Fruition; if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, Rom. 6.8. This is by sight of him and appearing with him in glory, Col. 3.4. This blisful sight of Christ, is that which makes Heaven, for where the King is, there is the Court; this Glory is in conformity to him, and communion with him: This is it to be gather¦ed to Christ, i. e. to have Christ fully revealed to us, the approach to him under dearest Rela∣tions, the Soul disposed and duly qualified to injoy him, and full Vision and Fruition of him: If any of these be wanting, we cannot in Scrip∣ture-Sense be gathered to Christ.

6. The next Head is the Reasons why our Lord will thus gather his Saints to Christ at the last day?

Though I have toucht at some things alrea∣dy, that might be improved as Reasons, yet I shall add.

1. Because this is the good Pleasure of God, John 6.39. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day, how tender is God of his Jewels, he will gather them and make them up carefully, Mat. 3.17.* 1.9 To be sure he will neither keep them out, nor cast them out: The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth [and will own] them that are his, 2 Tim. 2.19. the electi∣on

must obtain salvation: It runs invisibly much under ground,* 1.10 but will appear at last in Mansions a∣bove.

2. Because this is the Fruit of Christ's Pur∣chase, 1 Pet. 3.18. For Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God; He is the Ladder of Jacob, upon whom Elect Souls ascend to Glory: This was the End of his reconciling us by his Blood, to present us holy, unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight, Col. 1.20, 22. our Lord will not lose the Fruits of his dear Purchase: Yea he follows it with his Prayer, John 17.24. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, God always hears him.

3. Because of the sanctifying and sealing Work of the Spirit, 2 Thes. 2.13. God hath chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the spirit, and belief of the truth; observe it, San∣ctification and Salvation, have an inseparable Connexion: Saints in the Old Testament and in the New have the same spirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4.13. This animates all the Members of Christ, running through the Veins of his mystical Body;* 1.11 and this is the seal and earnest of our future inheri∣tance, Eph. 1.13, 14. To be sure God will not lose his Earnest, or throw it to Hell.

4. Saints shall be gathered together to Christ, because they are all wrapt in the same Bond of the Everlasting Covenant; its called the bond

of the covenant, Ezek. 20.37. And by this Co∣venant all the Saints become one stick in the Lords hand, Ezek. 37.17. Suppose abundance of Twigs be bound up together, yet they all make up but one Rod; many Stones make but one building; many Inhabitants make but one City or Kingdom: All Saints are fellow ci∣tizens, Eph. 2.19, 20, 21, 22. God will not part them either in this or in the other World: Sincere and persevering Souls, shall all meet be∣fore the Throne, to sing Hallelujahs with har∣monious Melody: All the Saints through the World are Children of the same Father, God; yea they that are of faith, are children of Abra∣ham, Gal. 3.7. In a Spiritual Sense, one hou∣shold of faith, Gal. 6.10. fellow heirs of the same body, Eph. 3.6. fellow servants, Col. 1.7. bre∣thren in Christ, faithful brethren, Col. 1.2. fellow citizens with the Saints, Eph. 2.19. and of the houshold of God: Such special Relation calls for this Congregating: No doubt, they must be gathered together at last.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phil. 2.9, 10.
• * 1.2

  Isa. 40.11.
• * 1.3

  Ezek. 34.28.
• * 1.4

  2 Tim. 2.21.
• * 1.5

  Heb. 9.24.
• * 1.6

  Rom. 8.17. 1 John 3.2.
• * 1.7

  Eccl. 1.2.
• * 1.8

  Heb. 5.14.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 6.27.
• * 1.10

  Rom. 11.7.
• * 1.11

  2 Cor. 1.22.