xxi. 5. The ftate of this world is fitted for mens probation and trial, and is very variable; the ftate of the other world, of men, and affairs in it, will be quite new, fuited for reward of mens deeds done in the flesh; and it will be made unalterable for ever. It is begun already in the case of separate souls, godly and wicked; but then it will be brought to a pitch, the godly made happy, the wicked miferable, completely, and settled for ever there no more to change.

II. I proceed to confider Chrift's public owning the faints as his own. At that time when Chrift comes again for these great purposes, what will be the lot of believers? Why, he will own them as his faints. We may take up this in the following things.

1. Saintship will be the only mark of distinction among men then. The perfons of distinction now are those defcended of honourable families, the rich and wealthy, able to make a figure in a vain world, that appear in their gay clothing; they must gather by themselves now, others must know and keep their diftance. But then all that kind of diftinction is razed for ever, and there is an abfolute levelling. The only perfons of diftinction remaining are the faints, to be honourably gathered to the great King, while others are all to be caft away out of his prefence, as the vile trash of this world.

2. Saintfhip will then be declared Chrift's badge. In all ages of the world, while hypocrites have falfely pretended to it, it has been the object of the ridicule of the profane, and an eye fore to both, Ifa. lix. 15. Saints is a name of mockery with many; but they will fee it then a name of honour. The faith that is without works of a holy tender life, whereby people pretend to be believers in Chrift, but fhew not holinefs in their life, will leave them without the mark, Rev. xiv. 1. Only a faith that fanctifies the heart and life will avail.

3. Thofe

3. Those that have borne this badge, Chrift will not forget, nor mifken. Tho' they have been long buried and out of mind in the world, he will remember them; tho' they have lain among the pots, under various afflictions, reproaches, and ill names, he will not misken them. He was himself once in a very low condition, but then he will appear in glory; and fo fhall they with him, Luke xxii. 28, 29. All the filth caft on them will then be wiped off.

4. He will own them as his before his Father and the holy angels, Rev. iii. 5. "He that overcometh,— I will confefs his name before my Father, and before his angels." He is to bring them into his Father's house there to dwell for ever; and therefore he owns them before his Father, because they can come thither. only in his right. They are to be the companions of the angels for ever, and this is the recommendation of them to them, they are my faints.

Laftly, The grounds of his special propriety in them fhall then be opened and appear, Mal. iii. 17. "They shall be mine," i. e. appear to be mine, "faith the Lord of hofts, in that day when I make up my jewels." He will own them as his Father's gift to him, his own purchase, his own conqueft by his grace, his by his own confent, participation of his Spirit, and fpiritual marriage; his people, his brethren, his fpoufe, his own members myftical.

III. I SHALL next confider the gathering of them to him. This gathering,

1. Pre-fuppofes the refurrection of the dead faints, and the changing of those found alive. Of the miniitry of the angels in these we find no mention; the voice of Chrift himself raiseth the dead, John v. 28. whether the archangel that founds the alarm, 1 Theff. iv. 16. be a created angel or not. And the changing of those alive appears to be performed in the fame manner, 1 Cor. xv. 52. That they may be gathered to Chrift, they are

Bb

raifed

raised up out of their graves, and foul and body reunited, 2. It lies in these three things.

(1.) In fevering and feparating them from among the wicked. Thofe found alive will be found mixed with wicked ones, and those in the graves will be found lying among the wicked too. But the angels will make a feparation, a cleanly separation, that they fhall never mix more, Mat. xiii. 48, 49. Sometimes they fighed, and faid, "Wo is me, that I fojourn in Mefech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar. My foul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace," Pf. cxx. 5,6. But the beginning of that gathering will put a full end to that.

(2.) In bringing them together from all corners of the earth into one company, Mat. xxiv. 31. By the gofpel efficacy on them, they were feparated from the world in respect of their state and manner of life; and were gathered together in one fpiritual bond; but in respect of their bodily prefence they were ftill mixed with unbelievers, and at a distance from other faints. They were scattered far abroad over the face of the earth, and few places could fhew any confiderable number of them together; but then the caftern and western faints, the northern and fouthern, fhall all be gathered into one glorious company. The evening of the world is come, and Chrift's flock is brought together.

(3.) In bringing them altogether unto Jefus Christ, in the place where he will be in the air, 1 Theff.iv. 17. Thither the Judge will come, and there will he fet his throne; and where the carcafe is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Thither will the raised and changed faints afcend to him in one glorious company, and be fet on his right hand as his friends, while the wicked are left standing as criminals on his left hand on the earth. And thus the happy gathering is completed.

3. For the kind of it, this gathering will be, (1.) A great gathering, greater than any now to be feen in this world. It is true, the faints appear few now

in comparison of others; but when the faints of all generations, in all places of the world, fhall be gathered together, it must needs be a great gathering; they will be numerous like the ftars of heaven, which no man can number, Gen. xv. 5. Accordingly John faw "agreat multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ftand before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands," Rev. vii. 9.

(2.) A speedy gathering, being performed by the miniftry of angels which move like a flame of fire, Pfal. civ. 4. The bodies of the faints will then no more be heavy and lumpish, but spiritual bodies, light, nimble, and active like fpirits, being new fashioned after the likeness of the second Adam's body. So that it must needs be foon dispatched. Yet,

(3.) An exact and accurate gathering, fo as there shall neither be one goat brought away with the fheep, nor one sheep left among the goats. But all faints that ever lived from the beginning to the end of the world, fhall be gathered together to Chrift, and they only, without the least mixture of another fort.

(4.) A gathering never to part. The gatherings in this world, good as well as bad, continue only for a little; they foon break up and difperfe; but this gathering being once affembled, shall never break up nor be diffolved, but continue thro' all the ages of eternity.

IV. I SHALL drop a word to the other for gathering them to him.

1. It fpeaks them his favourites, whom he has a special regard for. Now he is coming in flaming fire to take vengeance on his enemies; but as the angels were dispatched to Sodom to bring away Lot, before the overthrow of that city; fo are they ordered to gather Chrift's faints to him before the final overthrow of the world, and the wicked therein. Others had common favours in life heaped on them, but now these

are at an end; and the faints appear the only fa vourites of Heaven.

2. A defign to honour them before the world, as when one is by a great man called to him in the fight of others. God's people have their time of trial, and living by faith on Heaven's promifes; the world therefore reckons them fools, and because their course and way is oppofite to theirs, they hate them and are hard on them. Now Chrift comes to end the dispute, and declare and decide at length, who were the wife, who the fools; and decides it by their gathering to him, while others ftand trembling before him awaiting their fearful fentence.

3. A defign to complete their defires and happiness. It was their defire to be with Christ, as best of all, and now fays he, "Gather them to me." They were wearied of Mefech and Kedar; they longed for the fociety of faints that would be comfortable; and to be at the highest pinnacle of their happiness. This gathering them to him answers all these ends.

I SHALL conclude this doctrine with an ufe of exhortation. I exhort you,

1. To be in greateft concern of all things, to be Chrift's faints now. Defpife it not; if fò, you will fee yourfelves fools at laft. Neglect it not, left ye be neglected and paffed by when this gathering comes. It is better to have your name enrolled by Jefus among his faints, than by men among the great and honourable of the earth.

2. Gather to Chrift now as your head, by faith. He has his Father's commiffion for this purpose to take out of the world lying in wickednefs, a people for himfelf, Gen. xlix. 10. "Unto him fhall the gathering of the people be." He has vifited our ends of the earth for that purpose, fet up his ftandard among us, and now we have, as we have often had, a folemn call to

come