For what will God own his people at the last day ? Whom will God own for his children? For whose children will they be owned ? When will God own them for his children? What will God do at the last day? 2. NUMERICAL EXERCISE. How many things is it here said that God will do for his people? (Seven.-1. He will keep them from real evil. 2. He will guide them through life. 3. He will support them at death. 4. He will take their souls to heaven. 5. He will raise their bodies from the grave. 6. He will free them from punishment. 7. He will own them for his children at the last day.) What is the first? &c. How many of these blessings are conferred on God's people during their life? (Two.-1. God keeps them. 2. God guides them.) What is the first? &c. How many of these blessings are conferred on God's people at death? (Two.-1. They are supported at death. 2. Their souls are taken to heaven.) What is the first? &c. How many of these blessings will be conferred on God's people at the last day? (Three.-1. They will be raised in glory from the grave. 2. They will be freed from punishment. 3. They will be owned for God's children.) What is the first? &c. How many things are here stated with respect to the keeping of God's people? (Three.-1. They are kept by God. 2. They are kept from real evil. 3. They are kept all their days.) What is the first? &c. 3. DOCTRINES SEPARATED. How many doctrines are contained in this answer? (Seven.-). God keeps his people from all real evil. 2. God will guide his people through life. 3. God will support his people at death. 4. God will at death take the souls of his people to heaven. 5. God will raise the bodies of his people from the grave. 6. God will free his people from the punishment of sin. 7. God will own his people for his children at the last day.) What is the first? &c. 4. EXPLANATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Keep, protect and preserve. Real evil, every thing which will not really and at last do them good. All, during the whole of. Days, lifetime. Guide, direct and preserve. Through life, as long as they live upon earth. Support them, strengthen their faith, make them patient in their trouble, and keep them from fear or doubt. At death, when they come to die. Take, receive and convey. Heaven, the place of everlasting glory and joy. Raise, collect all the parts, and bring up. Bodies, present bodily frames of flesh and bones. Grave, place of burial, or from whatever spots the scat tered particles of their dust may be lying. Free, justify and deliver. Punishment, the pains of eternal death. Last day, day of final judgment. 5. DOCTRINES PROVED. 211 (1.) God keeps his people from all real evil.-Rom. viii. 28. All things work together for good to them that love God. 212. (2.) God will guide his people through life.-Psal. xlviii. 14. This God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. 213. (3.) God will support his people at death.—Psal, N2 xxiii. 4. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. 214. (4.) God will, at death, take the souls of his people to heaven.-Psal. lxxiii. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. 215. (5.) God will raise the bodies of his people from the grave. John vi. 54. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 216. (6.) God will free his people from the punishment of sin.-Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. 217. (7.) God will own his people as his own children, at the last day.-Luke xii. 8. Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. [For Doctrines in Khyme, &c. see Appendix.] 6. LESSONS FROM THE DOCTRINES. From these doctrines we learn, (1.) That we ought never to be discontented or impatient under afflictions. (2.) That we should always keep in the way of our duty, and then every circumstance in providence will tend to promote our good. (3.) That we should, in every affliction, and especially at death, pray for, and rely upon, the presence and support of God. (4.) That we should not be too much taken up with the things of the world. (5.) That we should not be over anxious about our bodies or our burials. (6.) That we should seek to be delivered from the power and pollution, as well as from the punishment of sin. (7.) That we should rise above the world, and conduct ourselves here as the children of an Almighty King, and as heirs of immortal glory. [For collateral Lessons, and Inferences, see Appendix.] 7. APPLICATION OF THE LESSONS. Under what should we never be discontented or impatient? (1.) What shall happen if we always keep in the way of our duty? (2.) When should we especially pray for the presence and support of God? (3.) About what should we not be too much taken up? (4.) About what should we not be over anxious? (5.) From what should we seek to be delivered? (6.) Above what should we rise? (7.) As what should we conduct ourselves in this world? (7.) 8. DEVOTIONAL EXERCISE FROM THE ANSWER. Thanksgiving. We thank thee for thy gracious intimations to thy people, and for thy promise, that thou wilt guide them through life, support them at death, take their souls to heaven, raise their bodies from the grave, free them from punishment, and own them for thy children at the last day. 9. DEVOTIONAL EXERCISE FROM THE LESSONS. Keep us, O Lord, (1.) from being discontented or impatient under afflictions; knowing, (2.) that if we keep in the way of our duty, thou wilt make every circumstance in providence tend to promote our good. Enable us, in every season of affliction, and especially at the hour of death, to pray for, and to rely upon thy presence and support; not (4.) being too much taken up with the things of the world, or (5.) over-anxious either about our bodies, or our burials. May we, as citizens of heaven, (6.) seek to be delivered from the power and pollution, as well as from the punishment of sin; and (7.) rising in our affections and desires above the world, may we be enabled to conduct ourselves as the children of an Almighty King, and as heirs of immortal glory. 10. PARAPHRASE FORMED. God will [protect and preserve] his people from [every thing which will not really and at last do them good,] [during the whole of] their [life-time.] He will [direct and preserve] them [as long as they live upon earth;] [strengthen their faith, make them patient in their trouble, and keep them from fear or doubt] [when they come to die ;] [receive and convey] their souls to [the place of everlasting glory and joy ;] [collect all the parts, and bring up] their [present bodily frames of flesh and bones] from the [place of burial, or from whatever spots the scattered particles of their dust may be lying ;] [justify and deliver] them from [the pains of eternal death;] and [acknowledge and claim] them for his children at the [day of final judgment.] 27. 27. Q. What shall be done at the last day? A. At the last day, Jesus Christ shall suddenly and unexpectedly come to judge the world. The trumpet shall be sounded by the arch-angel; the living shall be changed; the dead shall be raised; the saints shall ascend to meet Christ in the air; who, by the appointment of God, shall come from heaven in great glory, with his holy angels, to judge all mankind. 1. VERBAL AND GENERAL EXERCISE. Who will come at the last day ? When will Christ come ? At what day will Christ come? For what purpose shall Christ come at the last day? |