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2. THe second thing is to speak concerning the Judgment it self, of the righteous. An•• there are two things the Scripture speaks of, which Christ will do at his second appearance, in the judgment of the righteous.
1. Christ will take an account of the righteous
Rom. 4. 10, 12. We shall all stand before the judg∣ment-seat of Christ, and every one of us shall give an account of himself unto God; though the righteous shall not be brought to condemnation, yet they shall be brought into judgment, which will be for their masters honour and their own; especially of those who can give a good account of the Ta∣lents their Lord hath intrusted them withall.
I know it is a question amongst Divines, whe∣ther the sins of Gods people will be mentioned, and made manifest at the last day of judgment; I shall not determine the question, since the Scripture is not so plain; Possibly the Lord having pardoned them, covered them, blotted them out of the book of his remembrance, he will not mention them on that day; but sure I am if they should be mentioned, it will not be to their disgrace and grief, but to their more abun∣dant jo•• in the Lord, who hath forgiven them: If they should read their sins in the book of Gods remembrance, they will finde them, like so many debts crossed out with the red lines of Christs blood: If the Devil should be permitted to ac∣cuse them at that time, who is now the accuse•• of the Brethren, and rip up their secret faults; the Lord himself will stand up and plead for them; he will make known the sufficient value of his merits for their ransome, and publiquely acquit them from all guilt and condemnation; who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect, it is God that justifieth? who is he that shall condemn? it is Christ that died for them. Rom. 8. 33, 34.
But these four things Christ will take an ac∣count of, in the judgement of the righteous.
1. He will take an account of their graces. The
vessels of the Virgins will be lookt into, what Oile they have go••; the hearts of the Saints will be lookt into, what graces they have obtained. Christ will then take notice what godly sorrow they have had for sin, their secret weeping and mourning will then be made manifest; he will take notice what humility and meekness, what self-denial and patience they have had; especially what faith, and love; and hope, and spiritual joy, they have had, and all their raised affections to∣wards himself, and heavenly things, in his ordi∣nances; and his judgment of grace will not be according to the appearance and show which hath been, but according to truth; and then the Saints shall be ranked, not according to their esteem and dignity in the world, but according to the measure of the graces they have attained.
2. Christ will take an account of the improvement of the talents of graces and gifts, and opportunities of service which he hath entrusted them withall. Mat. 25. 19. and Christ will then take chief notice of those which have been most industrious and faithful, and instrumental for doing most good, and bringing most glory to his name; and though all shall have a full reward, that are found truly faithful, and shall enter into their masters joy; yet they shall have a more full reward, and be capable of more joy and glory than the other.
3. And especially, he will take an account of their works of mercy, Matth. 25. 35, 36. I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye cloathed me; I was sick, and ye visited me;
I was in prison, and ye came unto me, &c.
It will even astonish and confound the righte∣ous, to hear such language as this from the Lord Jesus Christ, when he appears in such glory, they will be ready to question, when he was in any want, and received relief at their hands: When saw we thee a hungry, or a thirst, or naked, and ministred any help? we received all from thee, but we could give nothing to thee: thou didst relieve us, and redeem us out of the deepest poverty and misery in which we were sunk, and should have perished without thy help; but what relief hadst thou from us? Then the King will answer and say unto them, v. 40. Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. At such a time, and such a time, the poor came to you for relief, making use of my name, whose backs for my sake you cloathed, and whose bellies you refreshed, and whose ne∣cessities you supplied; that was done unto me; though they were poor, they were my brethren; some of my servants were brought into straights for conscience sake, and you received them, or sent help to them; you received me then, and gave help to me; that money was not thrown away, it was given to me, and I am come to give you a thousandfold reward. Were this truth more effectu∣ally believed, what a forwardness would there be in Christians to works of mercy? Surely they would look upon that part of their estate as best impro∣ved, which in such works is bestowed. Christ doth not mention any other use which they put their money unto, which if worthy to be compa∣red▪ would be made mention of; he doth not speak of so much laid out in building, so much laid out in
cloathing, so much laid out for food; so much laid up in portions for children; all this the wicked can do; but so much laid out to the poor, and me in them, which is the only part you have laid up for your selves; and which I am now come to re∣turn unto you with usury.
4. Christ will take an account of the afflictions which the righteous have endured; especially, of their sufferings for his sake; such reproaches, such losses, imprisonments, banishments, buffetings; but if they have suffered death, with what honour will this be made mention of? with what great esteem will he receive and speak unto them, which have come out of great tribulation? and O the joy in this morning, after the tears of the night! then they will finde that their light afflicti∣on which they have endured for a moment, hath wrought for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4. 17.
2. The second thing in Christs judegment of the Saints, is the Sentence which he will pro∣nounce upon them; which will be a most graci∣ous invitation of them to take possession of the Kingdom of Heaven, which he hath prepared for them, Matth. 25. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared from you, from the foun∣dation of the world.
All Christs invitations in Scripture are very sweet. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest, Matth, 11. 28. How sweet is this to a troubled conscience, and an oppressed spirit, ready to sinke under the burden
of sin? Ho every one that thirsteth, come to the wa∣ters; and he that hath no money, come buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Isa. 55. 1. O what sweet words are these to those which are parched, and pained, and ready to die with spi∣ritual thirst, and can finde nothing in the crea∣tures which can give them any satisfaction or ease? But of all the words that ever Christ did speak, of all the invitations that ever Christ did make, this will be the sweetest, which he will give to his Dis∣ciples at the last day, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, from the foun∣dation of the World. Come ye blessed and happy ones, however accounted miserable ones by men, yet blessed of my Father, Come inherit the Kingdom pre∣pared for you•• fr••m the foundation of the World: Take possession of your eternal inheritance; Come enter into the Kingdom of glory, which the father hath chosen you unto, and called you unto, and which I have purchased, and now fitted and made ready for you: Come along with me, and I will shew you my glory; and where I am, there ye shall be also. Come along with me into Heaven, and ye shall live and reign with me for ever and ever. Come along, and enter now into your Masters joy; come and I will shew you the Father, and bring you into his house and presence, where there is ful∣ness of joy, and pleasures for evermore. And now Beloved, think with your selves, what joyes! what exultations! what clapping of hands! what shou••ings! what Hallelujahs! what Hosannahs! what triumphing acclamations the Saints will make upon the hearing of these words. But here words fail▪ conceptions fall short, who can utter what the affections, and behaviour of the righteous
will be, when they have their sentence, and hear such sweet, and gracious words from the mouth of their Judge and Redeemer?
Thus concerning the Judgment of the righte∣ous.