A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 16
Verſe 16. At the day when God ſhall iudge the ſecrets of men by Ieſus Christ, according to my Goſpell.
IN the day when God ſhall iudge the ſecrets of men, &c. The 13. 14. 15. I iudge with M. Beza to be included in a parentheſis: and theſe words to be referred to the twelfe verſe; expreſſing the time, when the Gentiles ſhall periſh for their breach of the law of Nature; and the Iewes be iudged by the law, that is in that day, when God ſhall iudge the ſecrets of men, &c.
Now the particulars of this verſe are theſe: firſt, the time, when we ſhall be iudged, at that day: ſecondly, who ſhall iudge, God: thirdly, what he ſhall iudge, the ſecrets of men: fourthly, by whom hee ſhall iudge, by Ieſus Chriſt: fiftly, the proofe hereof, or reference of the people to the euidence hereof, according to my Goſpell.
Obſer. In that day.] So though the Lord for a time delay to puniſh the rebellion of wicked men, yet will a day come when eueryevery tranſgreſſion ſhall receiue its recompencedEccleſ. 12.14.: ſome ſinnes are here puniſhed, that wee may know there is a prouidence, taking notice of all: not all here puniſhed that we might know there is a iudgement to come; other reaſons of the delay; firſt, to proue the patience of Gods children: ſecondly, to aggrauate the torments of the wicked that hauehave deſpiſed his patience.
Vſe 1 For the vſe, ſee Annotations on the ſecond chapter, the third verſe.
Vſe 2 Let vngodly men hence conceiue terror for ſinnes, and ſpeedily turne from their iniquities: Acts 17.30.31.
Let vsus all learne conſcience and fidelitie in our callings, Vſe 3 2 Cor. 5.10.
Let it patient our hearts in al afflictions, Iam. 5.7. & 11. Vſe 4
God:] that is, the Father: although it matters not much whether we take it here eſſentially, or perſonally; this act, for the ſubſtance of it, belonging to all the three perſons; though with ſome difference in the manner of adminiſtration.
This aggrauates the terrour of this iudgement to the wicked, conſidering they hauehave to deale vvith God, Ʋſe. vntounto whoſe eyes all things are naked, and vncoueredeHeb. 4.13., whoſe iuſtice is infinite, whoſe pure eyes can indure no vncleanneſſefHab. 1.13., whoſe power is vnreſiſtable, and that in his wrath is a conſuming firegHeb. 12.29.: and let this terrour of the iudge perſwade vsus, 2 Cor. 5.11.
The ſecrets of men.] Obſer. So that our ſecreteſt ſinnes ſhall not eſcape his notice and ſtrict cenſure, Eccleſ. 12.14. 1 Cor. 4.5.
Vaine therefore that digging deepe of hypocrites to Ʋſe 1 hide their counſels from the LordhIſay. 20.15.: in vaine doth the Adulterer waight for the twilightiIob. 24.15., and the ſtrumpet couer her with darkneſſe, as vvith a mantle; GOD ſeeth in ſecretkMat. 6.4., and ſhall one day reward them openly.
And let it teach vsus to auoide, as vvell ſecret as open Ʋſe 2 ſinnes; conſidering wee deale vvith ſuch a God, as to whom darkneſſe and light are both alikelPſal. 139.12.: and learne, as the Lord ſpeakes to Abraham, to walke before God, and to be vpright. Gen. 17 1.
Hence learne to refraine iudgement of mens ſecrets, Ʋſe 3 leaſt thou encroch vponupon Gods Royall prerogatiue: and preuent not the time which the Lord hath appointed for diſcouerie of ſecrets, leaſt by ouer haſtie cenſure, thou condemne the innocent, 1 Cor. 4.5.
Obſer. By Ieſus Chriſt.] As the immediate executioner of that iudgement: Compare Acts 17.31. And all the proceedings therein; to which alſo may be applyed that place, Ioh. 5.22.23. this being a part of the adminiſtration of the world committed vntounto Chriſt the mediatour, compare alſo Act 10.42. partly as a recompence of his humiliationmPhil. 2.9.10.: partly becauſe the proceedings of the iudgement being viſible, it ſeemed conuenient that the iudge himſelfe ſhould be conſpicuous.
Vſe 1 Now brethren, how vnſpeakeable is the comfort of this one meditation to the Children of God? that Chriſt their brothernHeb. 2.11., their redeemer, their mediator, ſhall be alſo their iudge; and how ſhould we not rather louelove and deſire his appearingo2 Tim. 4.8.? then ſlauiſhly feare the mention of it; compare Rom. 8.33.34.
Vſe 2 And how ſhould this aſtoniſh with feare and trembling, all thoſe that hauehave pierced him throughpApoc 1.7., deſpiſed his grace, and trampled vnderunder their feet the bloud of the Teſtament? Heb. 12.18. to the end.
See wee now the euidence to which wee are referred for the proofe hereof.
According to my Goſpell.] Paules goſpell not in reſpect of reuelationqRom. 1.2.: but in regard of diſpenſation. 1 Cor. 4.1. 1 Cor. 9.17. Rom. 16.25. for the fiction of an Euangelical ſtory written by S. Paul, as by Mathew, Marke, &c. Papiſts themſelues beginne to be aſhamed of.
Senſe. According to my Goſpell.] That is to ſay, according as I hauehave taught in preaching of the Goſpell.
Obſer. Hence then may be collected, that the doctrine of the laſt iudgement is a part of the Goſpell, and that not onelyonly as a preparatiue to grace, by breaking the heartr1 Cor. 5.11., but firſt, becauſe it ſerues to explane the office of Chriſt, and is a part of his kingly function; and ſecondly becauſe it is alſo matter of great ioy and reioycing to the people of GodsLuke 21.24.: and thirdly, a meanes to keepe vsus in continuall awe of Gods maieſtie, and a ſpur to all faithfulnes in his ſeruice, 2 Cor. 5.10.11.
So that they are fooliſh exceptions of graceleſſe people againſt the preſſing and explaning of this Article of our faith; Vſe. we are miniſters of the Goſpell (they ſay) and therefore may not ſo terribly thunder out the iudgements of GOD, nor meddle ſo much vvith the doctrine of the laſt iudgement: Anſ. as who ſay the doctrine of this laſt iudgement, belonged not to the goſpell; but thus bewray they their guiltie conſcience, and giuegive euidence of their little or none aſſurance, or hope, of remiſſion of ſinnes, Acts 24.15.
And thus hauehave we abſolued the firſt part of the Apoſtles aſſumption; wherein hath beene proued, that the Gentiles are tranſgreſſors of the law of God written in nature; and therefore ſubiect to condemnation: ſo far is it, that they ſhould be iuſtified by the workes of the law.