Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. VI. Of the final Estate of Angels both Good and Bad.

After the Wise Creator of all things is pleased to permit wonderful Enormities and Revolutions in the World, through the malicious Enter∣prizes of the Devils or fallen Angels, yet he will certainly put a period to all these Impieties, (for Sin is not Eternal, only Righteousness en∣dureth for ever): In order whereunto, he hath ordained an eternal Judg∣ment to pass upon these wicked Spirits; And in that respect they are said to be cast down to Hell, and to be delivered in Chains under darkness, to be reserved unto Judgment, 2 Pet. 2. 4. Yea, so certain is this determina∣tion, that the Devils themselves do fear and tremble in expection of it, Jam. 2. 19. because they shall not only have a privation of the liberty they now enjoy, but shall suffer the Terrors of the Almighty: a taste whereof they seem to have had, when they cryed out, Mat. 8. 19. Art thou come to torment us before the time? For here they both acknowledg their present wretched Estate, and the certainty of their future Misery. And that which makes this Cup the more dreadful, is the eternal duration of it, denounced already by their Judg, Mat. 25. 41. Go ye Cursed into ever∣lasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And again, Rev. 20. 9, 10. where, as a just recompence of the rage of wicked Men, it is said, Fire came down from Heaven and devoured them: So also, the Devil that deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the Beast and the false Prophet are said to be tormented day and night, for ever and ever. * 1.1 Thus shall the Omnipotent God subdue all the Powers of Wickedness, for he alone is God that made Heaven and Earth, the Seas and Fountains of Water; doing therefore in all places whatsoever he pleaseth; and shall now make his Saints to judg those Infernal Spirits, 1 Cor. 6. 3. by whose instigation they had been so often judged in this

World. And that which must needs aggravate their misery, shall be the sence of their first Estate which they fell from: together with this, That they shall sustain this confusion in the presence of the Holy Angels, and of the Lamb, Rev. 14. 10, 11. who now shall have them in derision, by filling their Cup of the Wine of the Wrath of God, by the eternity of their Misery; for the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever. Lo here is the final state of Apostate Angels.

But on the other hand, The Glory of the Holy Angels shall be so great, as it is not easie to conceive it: Howbeit this we know, That as they have desired to look into the great Mysteries of the Gospel, 1 Pet. 1. 12. and have held with the Saints in those things which are written in the Scrip∣tures of Truth, Dan. 10. 21. so they shall not partake of the fruition or fulness of their Joy, till they gather in the great Harvest of the Saints, whom they have ministred to in this World: for seeing they so greatly rejoyce in the conversion of one Sinner now, what will their rejoycing be when they meet all these Converted Ones in the heavenly Dwelling-pla∣ces? Seeing now they shall no more be provoked by the sins, either of Sodomites, Gen. 19. 9, to 15. nor with the weaknesses of those who were put under their Guardian-ship, to be Heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1. ult. Nor need we be curious in searching out what this Glory shall be, so much as how to get a clear Interest therein; being abundantly ascertained, that then we shall find, Fulness of Joy and Pleasures for ever more, Psal. 16. 11. And though it do not appear what we shall be, yet we are assured we shall be like Christ, for we shall see him as he is: And in that glorious Estate 'tis also said, We shall be as the Angels of God in Heaven. And thence it follows, that the Glory of the Holy Saints and Angels shall be won∣derful. Let us wait and pray for the manifestation of this Glory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rev. 20. 10.