Sermons preach'd on several occasions by John March ..., the last of which was preach'd the twenty seventh of November, 1692, being the Sunday before he died ; with a preface by Dr. John Scot ; to which is added, A sermon preach'd at the assizes, in New-Castle upon Tine, in the reign of the late King James.

SERMON X. (Book 10)

Matt. xxiv. 3••

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven: and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven, with Power and great Glory.

THE Office of our Blessed Saviours Mediatorship consists chiefly in three Parts, his Satisfaction, In∣tercession, and Judging the World at the Last Day. The First of these he performed here on Earth; the Se∣cond

he is still performing in Heaven; and the Third he will perform in the Air, When he shall come in the Clouds of Heaven, with Power and great Glory. We know he satisfied infinite Justice, when he offered up himself a propitiatory Sacri∣fice on the Cross; and he is still inter∣ceeding in Heaven at the Right Hand of God. As he purchased Salvation for sinners by dying for them, so he inter∣ceeds that this Salvation may be applied unto such as repent sincerely of their sins and believe on his Name. The third part of his Mediatorship is still to be performed; for he is not, as Mediator, to judge the World, till the time appointed by his Father; and then he will for certain Judge both the Quick and the Dead. Indeed the Father himself Iudgeth no Man, but hath committed all Iudgment unto the Son, as our Saviour speaks, Iohn 5. 22. and he gives the reason of it vers. 27. because he is the Son of Man As he became the Son of Man, that he might be in a capacity to save the Penitent: So God has appoint∣ed the same Son of Man to judge the World, that he may be able to punish the Impenitent: Such as before would

not accept him for a Saviour, will now be forced to admit him as a Judge. Hence we are told, Act. 17. 31. That God has appointed a Day, in which he will Iudge the World in Righteousness, by that Man whom he hath Ordained; and whereof he hath given us assurance, in that he hath raised him from the Dead. Tho' we are not certain when the day of Judgment will come, that we may be alwayes preparing for it; yet you see it is certain that there will be such a day, and that Christ, our Mediator, is ordained Judge: A happy day for all that are truly pious; they need not fear this Judge, who is no other than their Merciful Saviour. But it will be a day of darkness and gloominess unto the Wicked; these will then mourn, when they shall see this Son of Man coming with great Power and Glory; so much we are told in the Text, Then shall ap∣pear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven, and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth Mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Hea∣ven with Power and great Glory. For the better understanding of these words, we will enquire.

First, Why Christ is called the Son of Man.

Secondly, What is here meant by the Sign of the Son of Man.

Thirdly, That this Son of Man will come to Judge the World.

Fourthly, That he will come with great Power and Glory.

Fifthly, That all the wicked of the Earth will then have just cause to Mourn.

First, Let us briefly enquire why Christ is called the Son of Man. Some learned Men observe, that he is called so in the Scriptures more than forty times; and there are two reasons of the Name.

1st. He is called the Son of Man, in token of his Humanity. Christ our Bles∣sed Mediator, was both God and Man; and therefore as he is often called the Son of God, to denote his Divinity; so he is as often called the Son of Man, to denote his Humanity.

2ly. He is called the Son of Man, to denote that state of Humiliation, to which he condescended for our sakes. It was usual for the Jews to style Princes and Potentates 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sons of

strong Men; but such as were poor they styl'd Beni-Adam, Sons of Men. Christ therefore aspired to no higher title than that of Son of Man: He was pleased to humble himself for us. He, as the Apostle speaks, became poor, that we might become rich. Born he was of the poorest Parents, such as neither had an House of their own to lay him in when he was born, nor able to procure any place besides a Stable for his reception into this World. And as he was born in this poor condition; so tho' the Birds of the Air have Nests, as he speaks, yet whilst he lived, he had not, of his own, where to lay his Head. Nay, further yet, when he came to die, we know he was beholding to the Charity of Ioseph of Arimathea for a room in his Sepul∣chre. No wonder then if Christ be am∣bitious of no more Honourable Title than this of Son of Man, since he made himself so vile, so mean, so contempti∣ble for our sakes. Thus I have briefly shewn why Christ is called so often the Son of Man; it denotes the truth of his Humanity, as also that state of Hu∣miliation, to which he condescended for our sakes.

I come now in the second place to enquire.

Secondly, What is here meant by the sign of the Son of Man. It would spend too much of our time to mention all those conjectures, which learned Men have made concerning this Sign, since it is a matter we may be safely ignorant of. I shall only set down two of the best interpretaions I have met with.

1st. Very many learned Men, both Antient and Modern, do by the Sign of the Son of Man, understand the Cross. St. Ierom, St. Chrysostom, and Venerable Bede, upon this place, affirm this Sign to be no other than that of the Cross. The Ethiopian Church is so peremptory in this matter, that it is put into the Ar∣ticles of their Creed, as the Learned Gre∣gory informs us. There is hardly any thing the Antient Fathers are more una∣nimous in than this: And to say the truth, there is some tolerable Reason for this Antient Opinion. For what can be more Honourable to our Lord and Savi∣our, or more full of Terror to his Ene∣mies, than that the Cross of Christ, which they counted foolishness; and more than so, esteemed the greatest re∣proach

of the Christian Faith, should at that day be made the Herald to Pro∣claim his Coming, and call all Nations of the World to appear before him? But tho' this interpretation be backt both with Reason and great Authorities; Yet,

2ly. There is another interpretation that seems as plausible, if not more plausible than it: For the learned Vossius, Mede, Twisse, Millet, and several others, do understand by the Sign of the Son of Man, who is a Sign. This kind of Di∣alect, this manner of Speaking is fre∣quent in the Scripture; thus the Law of Faith is all one with Faith that is a Law, the Law of Sin, that is, Sin it self, which dwelling in unregenerate Persons, reigns as it were by Law. So the Sign of the Son of Man, that is, the Son of Man, who is a Sign. And that which gives the greatest Authority to this Opi∣nion, is that St. Luke, in the parallel place, interprets it so, Chap. 21. 27. where the word Sign is left out, and the Verse runs thus, Then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud, with Power and great Glory. And St. Mark renders the words the same way, Chap.

13. 26. If therefore St. Mark and St. Luke may be allowed to be as good interpre∣ters of St. Matthew as any other, by the Sign of the Son of Man, we may un∣derstand the Son of Man himself, whose Glorious appearance in the Clouds will be a certain infallible sign that the day of Judgment is come. Thus I have shewn you what Conjectures learned Men have made concerning this Sign of the Son of Man: Some understand the Cross, others Christ himself, whose Glo∣rious appearance will be a certain sign of the approaching Judgment. I come now in the third place to shew you,

Thirdly, That this Son of Man will come to judge the World. None but that God who made us, has any right to judge us. As we have received all things from him; so as Stewards, must we render an account of all things to him. Indeed this Judgment belongs originally to the whole Trinity; but the outward administration of it shall be committed to the Son of Man. So we are told expresly in the Text, Then shall ye see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven. Thus you see the Judg∣ment of the last Day is committed to the

Son of Man; and indeed it is committed to him, because he is the Son of Man; our Saviour tells us so expresly, John 5. 20, 27. As the Father has life in him∣self, so hath he given unto the Son to have life in himself, and has given him Authority to execute Iudgment also, be∣cause he is the Son of Man. Ye see the Son of Man will come as Judge at the last Day, and he comes, because he is the Son of Man. It will not be amiss to enquire briefly into the Reasons of it.

1st. God has committed the Judg∣ment of the last Day to the Son of Man, because he has appointed it should be Visible. This is fairly hinted in the Text, where it is said, they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven. God himself is a Spirit, and consequently invisible; but the Son of Man is Visible, and therefore he is ap∣pointed to Ride the Circuit, that he may be seen of all his Enemies: And that we might take the more notice of this Reason, it is repeated again, Chap. 26. 64. where Christ tells his Enemies, that hereafter they shall see the Son of Man sitting on the Right hand of Power, and

coming in the Clouds of Heaven. It seems the Son of Man shall come, and his Enemies shall see him, and be confound∣ed at the sight of him. This may be farther confirm'd from Act. 1. 11. where you'l find the Angels preaching this Doctrin; This same Iesus who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven. The Comparison is here made between our Saviour's Ascending into Heaven, and his returning again to Judg∣ment: Ascendit visibiliter, & descendit visibiliter: He Ascended, saith Gerhard, in a visible manner, and he shall de∣scend to Iudgment in a visible manner too.

2ly. God has committed the Judg∣ment of the last Day to the Son of Man, for the reward of his Obedience, and greater exaltation of his Human Nature. It is but Justice in God to make this Son of Man Judge the World, seeing he came into the World, and was judged by it. It is but equal to invest Christ with a power of Absolution and Con∣demnation; seeing he was Condemned by us to dye, and dyed that he might be in a capacity to Absolve us. It is but

reasonable that all the Sons of Men should bow before his Throne, and sub∣mit to his Judgment, who disdain'd not for our sakes, to stand before the Tribunal of wicked Men, and receive the Sentence of Condemnation. To this purpose are those Expressions of St. Paul, Phil. 2. 8, 9. Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto the Death, even the death of the Cross: Wherefore God also has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that at the Name of Iesus every knee should bow. He that came at first to save us, must it seems come at last Judge us: And, it is but just, that he who before carried a Reed in his hand, and was derided by his Enemies, should hereafter sway a Scepter of Righteousness, and break his Ene∣mies in peices with a Rod of Iron. But,

3ly, God has committed the Judg∣ment of the last Day to the Son of Man for the greater Comfort and Consolation of the Godly. What a joyful sight will it be unto all sincere Penitents, when they shall see the Advocate become their Judge, and none but their Saviour sit∣ing

on the Throne of Glory? For he knows all the Frailties and Infirmities of our Natures: He knoweth our frame, and remembreth that we are but Dust: Yea, he will be yet more ready to pity us, seeing he was pleased to assume our Natures, bear our Infirmities, and to be tempted in all things like as we are. Well then may the Godly be said in Scripture, to long for this glorious ap∣pearance of the Lord Iesus. Well may the Bride in the Revelations cry, Come Lord Iesus, come quickly; seeing this Day of Judgment will be to her, no other than the Day of Nuptuals: A Day in which Christ will be married to his People, and admit them unto the nearest Union and Communion with himself, and that unto all Eternity.

4thly, God has committed the Judg∣ment of the last Day to the Son of Man, for the greater Terror and Confusion of the Wicked. The Angels, who were present at our Saviours Ascention, tell his Disciples, Act. 1. 11. that the same Iesus who then ascended into Heaven, should descend in like manner as he then ascended up into Haeven. Now, we know our Saviour, when he ascended

into Heaven, carried along with him the print of the Spear, and all those Scars that were made by the Nails and Thorns: And these it seems he will bring along with him, when he returns to Judgment. How then will the wicked mourn, as we are told in the Text, when they look upon him whom they had for∣merly pierced! Those Wounds which were at first opened to heal their Souls, will now open their Mouths and call for Vengeance on them. Christ's Eyes, saith St. Iohn, will now become flames of Fire, and such as will certainly consume them; his Feet like fine Brass burning in a Fur∣nance, and cannot but destroy them. Well may the wicked call then upon the Rocks to cover, and the Mountains to hide them; since the presence of the Lamb will be infinitely more dreadful, than the presence of the fiercest Lion. For unto such as have trampled this Son of God and Man under foot; unto such as have counted the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing; unto such, I say, there will now remain nothing, but a certain fearful looking for of Iudgment and fiery Indignation, which shall devour these Adversaries. Thus I have dispatch'd

the Third General, and shewn you, that this Son of Man must come at the last Day to judge the World, and the Rea∣son of it. I come now,

Fourthly, In the Fourth place to shew you, that He will come with great Power and Glory. This is plainly deliver'd in the Text, Then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory. And,

1st, He will come with great Glory. And,

2dly, He shall come with Power.

1st, Let us consider the greatness of that Glory with which this Son of Man shall come to Judge the World. Tho' his first coming into the World was mean and contemptible, clouded with Poverty and Grief, and such other humble Circumstances as were proper for his state of Humiliation; yet his second Coming will be splendid and glorious, as will appear from these fol∣lowing Particulars:

1st, Let us consider the immediate Fore-runners and Harbingers of our Sa∣viour's Second coming. Kings and Princes have their Harbingers, and so has this King of Kings too. St Ierome tells us

of an Antient Tradition of the Iewish Doctors, namely, that for fifteen Days together, before the great Day of Judg∣ment, there shall be transacted upon the Stage of Nature, a continued scene of fearful Signs and Wonders. The Sea shall lift up his mountainous billows, and make a fearful noise with its rouling Waves: The Heaven shall crack night and day with loud and roaring Thunders: The Earth shall groan under hidious Con∣vulsions, and quotidian Earthquakes: The Air shall blaze with portentous Comets: The Moon shall shed forth purple streams of discolour'd Light: The Sun shall shroud himself in perpetual Darkness; and the rest of the Stars shall suffer themselves to be hid in dismal Obscurity. Thus the whole frame of Nature shall be hung with Mourning, a little before the approach of the Day of Iudgment. Nor is this only a Tradition of the Iews; but it is also the Prediction of our Saviour, who tells us in the Verse foregoing the Text, that in those days the Sun shall be darkened, and the Moon shall not give her light; and the Stars shall fall from Heaven, &c. and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man. Such Harbingers, such Fore-runners

as these, do abundantly declare the glorious coming of our Saviour to Judgment. But,

2dly His glorious coming to Judg∣ment will yet farther appear, if we consider the transcendant lustre of his own Person. How beautiful, how glorious is our blessed Saviour, whilst he now sits at the right Hand of God? He is now cloathed with Light, as with a Garment; and his Human Nature does far surpass the globe of the Sun for lustre. What an astonishing description of his Glory is given, Rev. 1. 13, &c. In the midst of the seven Candlesticks was one like the Son of Man: His Head was white as Wool, and his locks were white as the Snow: His Eyes were as a flame of Fire, and his Countenance was as the Sun shi∣ning in his strength. Thus glorious is Christ in his own Person: Wherever he goes he carries Day along with him, and therefore when at the Last Day he shall descend from the right Hand of his Father, to that part of the Air where he will fix his Throne, he will appear like a large walking Star, sparkling with beams of Majesty, and dazling Glory. And this is called in Scripture Christ's

own glory, Luke 9. 26. When the Son of Man shall come in his own Glory. But,

3dly, This glory of Christs own Per∣son will receive additional lustre from the glory of his Attendants. This Son of Man, when he comes to judge the World, he will not come alone, but he will come attended with Myriads of Saints and Angels. St. Iude has Re∣corded an antient Prophecy of Enoch's to this purpose, ver. 14, 15. Behold, saith he, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints, to execute Iudgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly, of all their ungodly deeds. Now how will the attendance of so many glorious Saints add to the lustre of this great Day? We are told in Scripture, that the Iust shall shine with the brightness of the Sun. What an amazing spectacle then will it be, to see this Son of Man descend from his Imperial Seat, far above all Heavens, and coming in the Clouds with a glo∣rious Train of shining Saints, all fol∣lowing him with Crowns of Glory on their Heads, and the most ravishing Hal∣lelujahs in their Mouths. But he will not be attended only with innumerable

of his Saints; but Myriads of Angels will also augment his Train. Hence in Luke 9. 26 it is said, that he shall come in his own glory, and in his Fathers, and of his holy Angels. All the Angels of Heaven will deck themselves with all their Ornaments of Light, and wait upon our Saviour, when he comes to triumph over his Enemies. We know these glorious Beings attended on him at his Birth, and when he was but in a state of Humiliation; and therefore we need not question, but they will add to the pomps and triumphs of his glo∣rious Day. Well then may our Saviour be said in the Text to come with glory when he shall come attended with all the Host of Heaven, with an inume∣rable Retinue of glorious Saints and Angels. But this is not all: For,

4thly, The great Glory of Christ's coming to Judgment will yet farther apear, if we consider the glory of his Throne: According to the transcendant Majesty of his Person, so shall his Throne be, even a Throne of Glory: Hence is that of St. Matth. Chap. 25. 31. When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the Holy Angels with him,

then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory. Now what this Throne of Glory will be, is fairly hinted in the Text, where it is said, that the Son of Man will come at the last Day in the Clouds of Heaven. Christ will sit on a bright radiant Cloud, when he keeps the Ge∣neral Assizes of the last Day. This may farther be gathered from the Testi∣mony of the Angels, Act. 1. 11. where they tell his Disciples at his Ascention, that the same Iesus who was then taken up into Heaven, will so come in like man∣ner, as they saw him then go up into Heaven. Now if you will know how he ascended into Heaven, the 9th verse will inform you, where it is said, that He was taken up, and a Cloud received him out of their sight. Now as he rode up to Heaven on a radiant Cloud, so will he in like manner come riding down from thence. No wonder then if we read often in the Revelations, of Thun∣derings and Lightnings coming out of the Throne of Christ: For these roaring Me∣teors are ordinarily discharg'd from some terrible Cloud. Christ therefore will sit on a bright shining Cloud, when he shall judge the World: And indeed this is

the general Opinion of the Iews, as Learned Men observe: For this is a Common saying among them, as Rai∣mundus reports, If ever the Iews deserve that the Messias should come, he shall come gloriously, according to the Prophet Da∣niel, i. e. in the Clouds of Heaven. Now how will such a bright shining Throne, hanging in the Air, add to the lustre of of our Saviours appearing; For the Heathens, when they would describe the glorious Majesty of their Deities, were wont to bring them wrapt up in some bright and radiant Cloud. Thus Homer represents one of the Gods coming to Diomedes:—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 With his Shoulders wrapt up in a Cloud: And so Virgil represents Iupiter coming to assist Aeneas in a bright shining Cloud. Thus both Iews and Gentiles looked upon a bright Cloud, as a glorious sign and Character of a Divine Majesty. Thus I have shewn you with what Glo∣ry and Majesty the Son of Man will ap∣pear at the last Day: His appearing will be usher'd in with dreadful Harbingers and Fore-runners; he will descend with all the glory and lustre of his own person. He will come attended with a glorious

Retinue of shining Saints and Angels; and he will sit upon a Throne of Glory, namely, a bright and radiant Cloud. All this will be sufficient to shew you, that the Son of Man at the last Day will come in the Clouds with great Glory. before I proceed farther, I shall crave leave to draw one or two Inferences from what has been already delivered. And,

First, We may learn from hence, the place which is appointed for the Judg∣ment of the last Day. This place it seems will be the Air; for ye hear our Saviour is to have a bright shining Cloud for his Throne; and is said accordingly in the Text, to Come in the Clouds of Heaven. To the same purpose is what we read, 1 Thess. 4. 17. where we are told, that the Righteous shall be caught up in the Clouds, and meet the Lord in the Air: And indeed the Air is a most proper place for our Saviour to keep his great Assizes: For being here advanced some distance above the Earth, he will more easily be seen by all the Inhabi∣tants of it. Nay farther yet, this is now the Seat of the Devils Empire. Satan we know is called the Prince of

the Air; and the Infernal Fiends are styled Spiritual Wickednesses in high places. Here therefore will the Son of Man fix his Judgment Seat; here he will place his Throne: That all the World may know, that he has now spoiled Principalities and Powers, and got a compleat and perfect Victory over these his malicious Enemies. Then is the time when he will trample Satan under his Feet, and put a full Period to that Tyranny which he has exercised so long over the Sons of Men.

Secondly, We may infer from hence, what deep Impressions such Doctrins as these ought to make upon us. The News of our Saviours coming to Judg∣ment with all this Glory, should cause us to take the greatest Care imaginable, to fit and prepare our selves to meet him at this great Day. We have a remark∣able Instance to this purpose in Eccle∣siastical History, which is attested by many and great Authors. It seems about Four hundred years after our Saviours Ascension, one Gregentius, a Bishop, endeavour'd the Conversion of those Iews which liv'd in Arabia Felix; after a tedious Disputation of three days con∣tinuance,

some of the Iews desired the Bishop to shew them Jesus alive, and it would convince them: Immediately up∣on this the Earth began to tremble, and the Sky to shine and eccho with Light∣nings and Thunder: After these ceased, the Gates of the Celestial Palace open'd, and a bright serene Cloud appear'd, darting forth Beams of an extraordi∣nary lustre: At last our Blessed Saviour shewed himself, walking on this bright Cloud; and a Voice was heard from this Excellent Glory, saying, I am he who was Crucified by your Fathers. This glorious Appearance cast all the Iews prostrate on the ground, and beating their Breasts, they cried with a loud Voice, Lord, have mercy on us; and afterwards were Baptized into the Faith of Christ. A like account we have of the Conversion of St. Paul, Act. 9. 3, &c. where we read, that as he journied to∣wards Damascus, breathing forth nothing but Rage and Malice against Christians, suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven; and he heard a Voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Upon which he trembling and astonished said, Lord,

what wilt thou have me to do? Such effects as these are the Natural Atten∣dants of such great and glorious Ap∣pearances as these: And ought they not to have the same influence upon us? What tho' they are not made to the Eye of our Sense, yet in Scripture they are made to the Eye of our Faith. If we are sincere Christians, and do heartily believe the Gospel, we have no more reason to doubt of this Coming of our Saviour with great power and glory, than if we were actual Spectators of it. Let us therefore bethink our selves, what manner of persons we ought to be in all holy and godly Conversation. If we were certain this great Day were near at hand, I am confident we would walk more circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise: We would then soon be perswaded to break off our League with Sin, and endeavour, by a sincere and speedy Re∣pentance, to make a firm Peace with our God and Saviour. I shall not pretend to tell you the precise time of this Day of Judgment; but this I can assure you, that several Learned and Pious Divines, who have lately enquired into the Scrip∣ture Prophesies with great accuracy and

diligence, do tell us, that this great Day is even at the door, and that we may expect this glorious Appearance of the Son of Man in a very short time. But tho' they should be mistaken in their Conjectures, yet this is most certain that it will come at last, and that the time of our Life, which is all the time we have to prepare for it, is exceeding short. Let us therefore beseech Al∣mighty God, that we all may be found such wise and faithful Servants, as are described, v. 46. then shall we with joy meet our Saviour in the Air, and make a part of his glorious Train, when he re∣turns to the highest Heaven; giving, as is most due, all Honour and Glory unto him that sitteth on the Throne, and unto the Lamb for evermore.

Let us therefore beseech Almighty God, to give us Grace so to redeem our time, that we may be found in the number of his wise and faithful Servants; then shall we at the Day of Iudgment meet our Sa∣viour in the Air, and return with him to the Highest Heavens, singing Praises and Hallelujahs unto him that sits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for evermore. Amen, Amen.