The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII. Of the last Iudgement.
2. Cor. 5.10.
For wee must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ, that eueryevery man may receiue the things which are done in his bodie, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or euill.
HItherto of the Resurrection; the last Iudgment followes.
The Principles concerning the last iudgement are these:
First, that there shall bee a generall iudgement, Iude, 14.15. And Enoch also, the seuenth from Adam, prophesied of such, saying: Behold, the Lord commeth with thousand of Saints:
To giuegive iudgement against all men, and to rebuke all the vngodly among them of all their wicked deedes, which they hauehave vngodlily committed, and of all their cruell speakings, which wicked sinners hauehave spoken against him.
Psalm. 9.8. For he shall iudge the world in righteousnesse, and shall iudge the people with equitie.
Psalm. 50.1. The God of Gods, euen the Lord hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising vp of the Sunne, vntounto the going downe thereof, &c.
Heb. 9.27. And as it is appointed vntounto men, that they shal once die, and after that commeth the iudgement.
Dan. 7.9.10. I beheld till the thrones were set vp, and the Ancient of daies did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the haire of his head like the pure wooll: his throne was like the fierie flame, and his wheeles as burning fier:
A fierie streame issued, and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministred vntounto him, and ten thousand thousands stood before him: the Iudgement was set, and the bookes opened.
Secondly, that Christ shall be the Iudge, and that in the humane nature, Act. 10.42. And hee commanded vsus to preach vntounto the people, and to testifie that it is he, that is ordained of God a Iudge of quicke and dead.
Acts 17.13. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which hee will iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man, whom he hath appointed, whereof he hath giuen an assurance to al men, in that he raised him from the dead.
2. Tim. 4.1. I charge thee therfore before God, and before the Lord Iesus Christ, which shall iudge the quicke and dead at his appearing, and in his Kingdome.
Iohn 5.22. For the Father iudgeth no man, but hath committed all iudgement vntounto the Sonne.
Ob. The Apostles shall iudge the twelue Tribes, Matth. 19.28.
Sol. 1. The Apostles iudge the twelue Tribes by their faith and doctrine, the example whereof shall take away all excuse from the Israelites.
2. They shall be as Iustices of Peace on the Bench, and consent to Christs iudgement.
Ob. The Saints shall iudge the world, 1. Cor. 6.2.
Sol. As assessors with Christ, bearing witnesse to it, approouing it, and assenting to it, as the Apostles before.
2. As they are members of Christ the Iudge.
3. As their example shall bee alleaged to condemne the wicked.
Ob. But the Father and holy Ghost iudge too.
Sol. The Father doth iudge by the Sonne, as by his representatiue Wisdome, Iohn 5.22. For the Father iudgeth no man, but hath committed all iudgement vntounto the Sonne.
Dan. 7.13.14. As I beheld in visions by night, behold, one like the Sonne of Man came in the clouds of heauen, and approched vntounto the Ancient of daies, and they brought him before him;
14. And he gaue him dominion, and honour, and a Kingdome, that all people, nations, &c. Or thus: the authority of iudging is common to the three persons, but the execution onelyonly proper to the Sonne.
Thirdly, all men shall be iudged at that day: iust and vniust; quicke and dead; small & great, Iude 15. To giuegive iudgement against all men, and to rebuke all the vngodly among them.
Rom. 14.9. For Christ therefore died, and rose againe, and reuiued, that he might bee Lord both of the dead, and the quicke, &c.
2. Cor. 5.10. For we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Iesus Christ, &c.
Ro. 14.10. We shall all appeare before the iudgmēt seat of Iesus Christ.
Psalm. 9.8. For hee shall iudge the world.
Obiect. All men are beleeuers, or vnbeleeuers; now the beleeuers shall not come vntounto iudgement: as appeares, Ioh. 5.24. Verily verily I say vntounto you, he that heareth my word, and beleeueth in him that sent me, hath euerlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death vntounto life. And the vnbeleeuer is condemned already, Ioh. 3.18. He that beleeueth not is condemned already.
Solution. The beleeuer shall not come into the iudgement of condemnation, and the vnbeleeuer is condemned already in effect and substance: 1. In the counsell of God: 2. In the word of God: 3. In his owne conscience, but yet the manifestation and finishing of this iudgement remaines vntounto the last day.
Fourthly, all the secret things of mens natures, or workes shall be brought to light, Luk. 8.17. For nothing is secret, that shall not be euident: neither any thing hid, that shall not be knowne, and come to light.
1. Cor. 4.5. Therefore iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lord come, who will lighten things that are hid in darknesse, and make the counsels of the heart manifest.
Rom. 2.16. At that day God shall iudge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ. And therefore called a day of reuelation or declaration, Rom. 2.5.
Fifthly, it shall bee at the last day, but the precise day and houre is not knowne to any men or Angels; the proofe for the like principle concerning the resurrection, serues for this place, Mat. 24.36.
Sixthly, the iudgement shall be most iust and righteous, and all shall confesse it, Rom. 14.10. But why dost thou iudge thy brother? or why dost thou despise thy brother? for we shall all appeare bofore the iudgement seat of Christ.
2. Tim. 4.8. For henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous iudge shall giuegive me at that day: and not to me onelyonly, but vntounto all them also which louelove his appearing, &c.
Rom. 2.5. But thou, after thine hardnesse, & hart that canot repent, heapest vntounto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God.
Psalm. 9.8. For he shall iudge the world with righteousnesse, and shall iudge the people with equitie.
Seuenthly, the iudgement shall bee according to mens workes, 2. Cor. 5.10. EueryEvery man shall receiue the things which are done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or euill, &c.
Rom. 2.6. Who will reward eueryevery man according to his workes.
Obiect. Wee are iustified by faith alone without workes.
Solution. 1. Workes are inquired after in the last iudgement, as the signes of faith, and vnbeleefe.
Sol. 2. We are iustified by faith onelyonly, but shall bee iudged by faith and workes both together. For that, iudgement doth not serue to make men iust, that are vniust, but only to manifest them to be so indeed, which were so in this life being truly iustified.
The consideration whereof should serue for diuers vses, and first for instruction, and so it should teach vsus,
First in generall, speedily to repent vsus of our sinnes, and it should stirre vsus to all possible care of holy life, and to the louelove of all well doing, by which our reckoning might then bee furthered, Act. 17.31.
2. Pet. 3.11. Seeing therfore that all these things must bee dissolued, what manner persons ought ye to be in holy conuersation and godlinesse?
14. Wherfore beloued, seeing you look for such things, be diligent, that yee may bee found of him in peace, without spot and blamelesse.
Philip. 1.10. That ye may discerne things that differ one from another, that yee may bee pure and without offence, vntill the day of Christ.
Tit. 2.12.13. And teacheth vsus that wee should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should liue s…berly, and …ighteously, and godly in this present world.
Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God, and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ.
Secondly, in particular it should teach vsus,
1. Not to doate vponupon earthly things, seeing they must all bee consumed in that day in the fier.
2. To bee patient vnderunder all wrongs, seeing wee are assured there shal be vengeance rendred at that day, 2. Thes. 1.5.6.7. Iam. 5.6.7. Phil. 4.5.
Thirdly, to take heed of rashnesse in iudging other men: and men offend in censuring;
1. When they inflict censures, and meddle ouer busily, or curiously with them that bee without, 1. Cor. 5.12. For what hauehave I to do, to iudge them which are without?
2. When men speake euill of that which is good, and call good euill, Esa. 5.20. Woe vntounto them that speake good of euill, and euill of good; which put darknes for light, and light for darknes; that put bitter for sweet, & sweet for sowre.
3. Whē men iudge of things doubtfull, as the hiddē things of the heart, & the secret things of darknes, 1. Cor. 4.5. Therefore iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lord come, who wil lightē things that are hid in darknes, and make the coūsels of the hart manifest. And censure things in the worst sense.
4. When men vncharitably censure others about things indifferent, Rom. 14.3.4. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, iudge him that eateth, for God hath receiued him.
4. Who art thou that condemnest another mans seruant? he standeth or falleth to his owne master: yea he shall be established; for God is able to make him stand, &c.
13. Let vsus not therefore iudge one another any more, but vse your iudgement rather in this, that no man put an occasion to fall, or a stumbling blocke before his brother.
5. When men commit, what they condemne, Rom. 2.1.2. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoeuer thou art that iudgest? for in that thou iudgest another, thou condemnest thy selfe; for thou that iudgest, dost the same things.
But we know, that the iudgement of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things. Or being guilty of greater faults, condemne others for lesser, Mat. 7.1.2.3. Iudge not, that ye bee not iudged.
And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye, and perceiuest not the beame, that is in thine owne eye, &c.
6. When men make a fault worse then it is.
Fourthly, it should strike a feare into our hearts concerning God, and his dreadfull Maiesty, and Iustice; and make vsus afraid to offend him, and seeke by all meanes to glorifie him, whatsoeuer become of vsus and the world, Reuel. 14.7. Saying with a loud voice; feare God, and giuegive glory to him; for the houre of his iudgement is come; and worship him that made heauen and earth, and the sea, and the fountaine of waters, &c.
Fifthly, wee should bee sober, in not enquiring into things not reuealed, and looke to the maine businesse: as for the precise time, or place of the iudgement, or from whence the fier shall come that shall burne all, or what kind kind of throne it shal be, or what the signe of the Sonne of man shall be, or such like; we beleeue that they shall be, but ought not to enquire when, where, or how they shall be.
Sixthly, chiefly this doctrine of the last iudgement should compell in all of vsus a care so to liue, that we may be sure to hauehave comfort in that day: and that we shall be sure to finde;
1. If wee beleeue in Iesus Christ, Ioh. 5.24. Verily verily I say vntounto you, hee that heareth my word, and beleeueth in him that sent me, hath euerlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death vntounto life.
2. If we be sure to iudge our selues here, God will not condemne vsus with the world, 1. Cor. 11.31. For if wee would iudge our selues, we should not be iudged, &c.
3. If continually we consult with the word of God, to see that our deeds bee wrought in God, Ioh. 3.19.20.21. Hee that doth truth, commeth to the light, that his deeds might be made manifest, that they are wrought according to God.
4. If we watch and pray alwaies, they that pray much on earth, shall stand before Christ with comfort at that day, Luke 21.36. Watch therefore and pray continually, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe, and that ye may stand before the Sonne of man.
5. If wee be mercifull and louing, and bountifull to the godly in their distresses, Matth. 25. 31 &c.
6. If wee be sheepe; sheepe I say: 1. For tractablenesse, so as we know, heare, and be ruled by the voice of Christ. 2. For sociablenesse: a sheepe will not bee alone, nor sort with swine. 3. For profitablenesse ▪ that we be not idle, nor vnfruitfull, Mat. 25. Ioh. 10.
7. If wee can get the seale of the spirit, as our earnest of our finall redemption at that day; the witnesse of the spirit in this life will make all sure against that day, Ephes. 1.14. The spirit of promise is the earnest of our inheritance, vntill the redemption of the possession purchased vntounto the praise of his glory.
Rom. 8.15. For ye hauehave not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe, but ye hauehave receiued the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father.
8. If wee hold fast what wee hauehave, and loose not what wee hauehave wrought, Reuel. 3.11. Behold I come shortly; hold that which thou hast, that no man take thy crowne.
2. Ioh. 8. Looke to your selues, that wee loose not the things which wee hauehave done, but that we may receiue a full reward.
9. If wee often receiue the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with due preparation: for therin
1. Christ doth familiarly conuerse with vsus, and is giuen to our nourishment to eternall life.
2. The outward elements are vnfained pledges of the remission of all our sinnes.
3. We therein remember the death of Christ for vsus, and how hee was iudged for our sakes, and thereby hauehave our hearts setled against the feare of any seuerity from him.
4. In the right preparation for the Sacrament, we prepare for the last iudgement too; one worke serues to both purposes.
5. The Sacraments are Gods broad seales, to assure vsus that we shall speed wel at that day.
Thus of the vses for instruction.
Secondly, this doctrine of the last iudgement hath singular terrour in it to all impenitent sinners, which may be considered either more generally, or more particularly.
First, in generall, it is terrible for them to heare, and know, that God hath set them a day, and hath giuen them finall warning to repent; or else vndoubtedly he will iudge them with all seuerity, Act. 17.31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will iudge the world in righteousnesse, by that man whom hee hath appointed, whereof he hath giuen an assurance vntounto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Iude 15. To giuegive iudgement against all men, and to rebuke all the vngodlily among them of all their wicked deeds, which they hauehave vngodly committed, and of all their cruell speaking, which wicked sinners hauehave spoken against him.
Rom. 2.5. But thou after thine hardnesse, and heart that cannot repent, heapest vntounto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God.
Who will reward eueryevery man according to his workes, &c.
Secondly, in particular, this terrour is the more grieuous, if they consider either the distinct miseries shall then fall vponupon thē, or the seuerall sins God hath reserued to triall and punishment at that day.
What hart cā stand before the serious thoughts of ye particulars?
1. They shall heare the thunder of Christs fearefull voice summoning them.
2. They shall be chased in by the Angels before Christ, from al the foure winds of heauen.
3. They shall be set at Christs lefthand, as a signe of miserable disgrace, Matth. 25.33.
4. A fier shall deuoure before Christ, and it shall be tempestuous round about him, Psal. 50.3. Our God shall come, and shall not keepe silence; a fier shall deuoure before him, and a mightie tempest shall be moued round about him, &c.
2. Thes. 1.8. In flaming fier rendring vengeance vntounto them, that do not know God, and which obey not vntounto the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ.
5. They shall be euerlastingly shamed, and before al the world, Dan. 12.2. And many of them, that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to euerlasting life, and some to shame and perpetuall contempt; when all their sinnes shall bee discouered, and set in order before them, Psalm. 50.21. These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue; therefore thou thoughtst, that I was like thee: but I will reprooue thee, and set them in order before thee, &c.
6. They shall be sentenced to eternall condemnation, containing in it,
1. Separation from God, Christ, and all the godly, Go ye cursed, &c. Matth. 25.41. &c.
2. Paine and anguish vnutterable, Rom. 2.9. Tribulation and anguish shall bee vponupon the soule of eueryevery man that doth euil: of the Iew first, and also of the Grecian.
3. Fellowship with the Diuell and his Angels, Matth. 25. 41. as a little before.
Ob. Some one might say, We hope it is not certaine, that there shall be such a day.
Sol. It is most certaine, It is appointed, as certaine, as that men shal die, Heb. 9.27. And as it is appointed vntounto men, that they shall once die, and after that commeth the iudgement.
Acts 17.31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will iudge the world in righteousnesse, &c.
Besides, the terrible plagues, which hauehave been and are in the world, shewes, that God is extremely wrath with sinne, and will call to iudgement; such as the drowning of the old world, burning of Sodome, swallowing vp of Corath, Dathan, and Abiram; the neglect of the Gentiles, the reiection of the Iewes, the punishing of Christ, the afflictions of the godly, the warres, pestilences, famins, &c. that are in the world.
And they themselues may gesse somewhat at it, by the sharpenes of the word, the accusing of the conscience, the checkes of the spirit, and the fearefull terrors of conscience which fall vponupon some men.
Ob. But God we hope will be mercifull.
Sol. It is a day of wrath, not of mercy; the date of mercy will bee then out, Rom. 2.5. But thou after thine hardnesse and heart, which cannot repent, heapest vntounto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God, &c.
Ob. But God saies nothing to me all this while: I escape, and am not troubled; I discerne no way that God is displeased with me.
Sol. 1. Seaes of wrath hang ouer thy head daily, though thou discerne them not, Iohn 3. vlt. He that beleeueth in the Sonne hath euerlasting life, and he that obeyeth not the Sonne, shall not see the life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Sol. 2. Many signes of Gods displeasure are vponupon thy soule, though thou feele them not. It is one extreame curse to be left off vntounto such a spirit of slumber.
3. Though God doth not yet discouer to thee his displeasure, yet will hee awake to thy iudgement, Psalm. 50.31. These things hast thou done, & I held my tongue; therefore thou thoughtst, that I was like thee: but I will reprooue thee, and set them in order before thee.
Ob. But I may finde some meanes to helpe my selfe at that day.
Sol. Riches will not auaile in the day of wrath, Iob, 36.18. For Gods wrath is, lest he should take thee away in thine abundance: for no multitude of gifts can deliuer thee.
Vers. 19. Will he regard thy riches? he regardeth not gold, nor all them that excell in strength. And there shall bee none to deliuer, Psalm. 50.22. O consider this, yee that forget God; lest I teare you in pieces, and there be none that can deliuer you, &c.
Ob. But I may then repent.
Sol. No: As death leaues thee, so shall iudgement find thee; it is a day of the declaration of the righteous iudgement of God, Rom. 2.5. But thou after thine hardnesse, and heart, that cannot repent, heapest vntounto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God.
2. Cor. 5.10. For we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ, that eueryevery man receiue the things which are done in his bodie, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or euill.
Ob. But there is a world of people in the same case.
Sol. He will iudge all the vngodly, hee cares not for the multitude, Iude, 15. To giuegive iudgement against all men, and to rebuke all the vngodly amongst them of all their wicked deeds, which they hauehave vngodly committed, and of al their cruell speaking, which wicked sinners hauehave spoken against him.
Besides, he hath plagued multitudes, as the old World, &c. and he can easily doe execution: for hee comes with thousand thousands of his Angels, Iude, 14. And Enoch also, the seuenth from Adam, prophesied of such, saying, Behold, the Lord commeth with thousands of his Saints.
Ob. But who knowes my faults?
Sol. 'The hidden things of darkenes, and the secrets of mens hearts shall then be discouered, 1. Cor. 4.5. Therfore iudge nothing before the time vntill the Lord come, who will lighten things, that are hid in darkenesse, and make the counsels of the hearts manifest, and then shall eueryevery man hauehave praise of God.
Ob. But by what euidence can I be conuinced? God may forget my faults before then.
Sol. No: God hath them written in his book of remembrance with a pen of iron, and a point of a diamond, Ier. 17.1. The sinne of Iuda is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond, and grauen vponupon the table of your hearts, and vponupon the hornes of your altars. And euidence wil be easie to bee had vponupon the opening of these bookes, Reuel▪ 20.12. And I saw the dead both great and small stand before God, and the books were opened: and another booke was opened, which is the booke of life, and the dead were iudged of those things which are written in the bookes, according to their workes.
Besides, the Heauens will declare his righteousnes, Psal. 50.6. And the creatures abused by them, will giuegive in euidence against them, Ier. 17.1. And the word that men hauehave heard shall iudge them. And their own consciences shall be dilated, and bee in stead of a thousand witnesses: and the Spirit of God that hath so often reproued the world of sinne, can easily accuse them, Ioh. 16.8. And when he is come, he will reprooue the world of sinne, and of righteousnesse, and of iudgement, &c.
Ob. I know no great fault by my selfe.
Sol. Though thou forget thy sinnes; yet Christ will remember them, Matth. 25. It will not serue the turne to say, When did wee so?
Ob. But I neuer did Christ any great wrong.
Sol. Thou hast many waies sinned against Christ, though thy carelesse heart perceiue it not: but if thou hadst not, yet in as much as thou hast done wrong to Christians, thou hast done it to Christ, Matth. 25.
Ob. But I hauehave done much good in the world.
Sol. If thou hauehave not had true faith, and louelove, and repentance, it shall not auaile thee, as these places shew, 1. Cor. 13.3. And though I feede the poore with all my goods, and though I giuegive my body, that I be burned, and hauehave not louelove, it profiteth me nothing.
Ob. But wee neuer had such meanes of knowledge, as others hauehave had.
Sol. They that hauehave sinned without the Law, shal be iudged without the Law; and they that hauehave sinned vnderunder the Law, shall be iudged by the Law, Rom. 2. 12. For as many as hauehave sinned without the Law, shall perish also without the law; & as many as hauehave sinned in the Law, shall be iudged by the Law.
Ob. But it is a great while thither.
Sol. It is not: for the Lord is at hand, 1. Pet. 4.7. Now the end of all things is at hand; be you therefore sober, and watching in prayer.
Iam. 5.8. Be ye also patient therfore, and settle your hearts; for the comming of the Lord draweth neere.
Besides, the signes of the last iudgement are the most of them accomplished already; Antichrist is reuealed, and almost pulled downe, 2. Thessalon. 2. 1. Iohn 2.18. The World hath been full of spirits of deceiuers, 1. Tim. 4.1. The sinnes of the last age are eueryevery where at the full: Iniquity abounds, 2. Timoth. 3.1. Matth. 24.12. The powers of heauen are shaken, which appeares by the often Eclipses of Sunne and Moone; and by the vncertaintie of the Seasons both in Summer and Winter, Matth. 24.29. The sea roares and is outragious; men are secure now as in the daies of Noah, Matth. 24.37.
3. Were it that it were further off: yet the day of death, which is the day of thy particular iudgement, is not farre off.
Ob. But yet sure there will be some kind of warning.
Sol. No: he will come suddenly, as the thiefe in the night, 1. Thes. 5.2.3. For ye your selues know perfectly, that the day of the Lord shal come, euē as a thiefe in the night.
For when they shall say, peace and safetie, then shall come vponupon them sudden destruction, as the trauaile vponupon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
Mat. 24.39. And knew nothing, till the flood came, and tooke them all away; so shall also the comming of the Sonne of Man be,
And the rather should men be affected with the terror of this day, and bee thereby perswaded to repentance:
1. Because God will be Iudge himselfe, Psalm. 50.6. and therefore there can be no appeale, hee being supreme Iudge.
2. Because it is a finall sentence, there will be no time of respit, or change, or reuocation.
3. Because they shall be iudged by him, whom they hauehave so much despised, and wronged, Reuel. 1.7.8. Behold, he commeth in the cloudes, and euerie eie shall see him; yea, euen they which pierced him through, and all kindreds of the earth shall waile before him.
4. Because Gods proceedings shall bee all cleared, and euerie tongue shall confesse, that God hath done nothing but Iustice, Rom. 2.5. It is a day of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God: and Rom. 14.11.
And this iustice will the more appeare
1. By the equitie of Gods dealing: they hauehave had their daies of sinne, and therefore reason hee should hauehave his day of wrath, Rom. 2.5.
2. By the consideration of his patiēce, what a wonderful while hath God deferred this last iudgment, 2. Pet. 3.9. The Lord is not slacke concerning his promise, as some men count slacknesse, but is patient toward vsus, and would hauehave no man to perish, but would all men to come to repentance.
Rom. 2.4. Or despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnesse, and patience, and long suffering, not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance, &c.
3. God will then discouer a world of offences in eueryevery wicked mā, that are not now knowne.
4. God will then vnfold the secrets of his Counsell, and bring forth exquisite reasons of his proceedings, which are now like a great deepe vntounto vsus, Rom. 11.33. O the deepenesse of the riches, both of the wisdome, and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements, and his waies past finding out! &c.
And as this doctrine is terrible, in respect of the parts of their miserie, and in respect of the taking off of all obiections: so is it, because the particular sinners are particularly mentioned in Scripture, that shall be sure to speede ill at that day: for Christ with terror will then iudge,
1. The man of sin, who shall be sure to be consumed with the breath of his mouth, though hee lord it for a time ouer all that is called God, 2. Thes. 2.4.
2. All that worship the beast, and receiue his marke, shall bee cast into the lake that burnes with fier and brimstone, Reuel. 19.20. and 14.9.10.
3. All Atheisticall mockers of religion, and the comming of Christ, 2. Pet. 3.3.
4. All false teachers, which bring in damnable heresies, 2. Pet. 2.1.
5. All Apostates, that sin willingly after they hauehave receiued the truth, Hebr. 10.26. For if wee sinne willingly after that wee hauehave receiued the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes.
27. But a fearfull looking for of iudgement, and violent fier, which shall deuoure the aduersaries, &c.
6. All goates, that is, vnruly Christians, that will not be kept within the moūds of Christs gouernment, Matth. 25.32.
7. All Hypocrites shall then be vnmasked, Luk. 12.1.2. Psal. 50.17. Take heede to your selues of the leuen of the Pharisies, which is hypocrisie.
2. For there is nothing couered, that shall not bee reuealed, neither hid, that shall not be knowne.
8. All railers shall receiue the punishment of their vngodly words, Psal. 50.19. Iude 15. To giuegive iudgement against all men, and to rebuke all the vngodly among thē of all their wicked deeds, which they hauehave vngodlily committed, and of all their cruell speaking, which wicked sinners hauehave spoken against him, &c.
9. All censorious and masterlike men, that iudge other men in what they are guilty themselues, Rom. 2.1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoeuer thou art, that iudgest: for in that that thou iudgest another, thou condemnest thy selfe, for thou that iudgest dost the same things.
3. And thinkest thou this, O thou man, that iudgest them which doe such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the iudgement of God, &c?
Iam. 3.1. &c. My brethren, bee not many masters, knowing that we shall receiue the greater condemnation, &c.
10. All mercilesse and couetous rich men, Iam. 5.1. Goe to now ye rich men, weepe, and howle for your miseries, that shal come vponupon you.
2. Your riches are corrupt, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3. Your gold and siluer is cankred, and the rust of them shall bee a witnesse against you, and shall eate your flesh as it were fier, ye hauehave heaped vp treasures for the last dayes.
5. Ye hauehave liued in pleasure on the earth, and in wantonnesse; yee hauehave nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
Matth. 25.41. Then shall he say vntounto them on the left hand, depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fier, which is prepared for the diuell and his angels.
42. For I was an hungred, and you gaue me no meate; I thirsted, and ye gaue me no drinke, &c.
Iam. 2.13. For there shall bee iudgement mercilesse, to him that sheweth no mercy.
11. All whoremongers and adulterers, Heb. 13.4. Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed vndefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge, &c.
12. All drunkards and Epicures, Luk. 21.34. Take heede to your selues, lest at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennesse, and cares of this life, and lest that day come vponupon you at vnawares.
13. All deceitfull persons with their scant measures, and false waights, Mich. 6.10.11. Are yet the treasures of wickednesse in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
Shall I iustifie the wicked ballances, and the bagge of deceitfull waights?
14. All liars, and all that louelove lies, Reuel. 21.8. But the fearfull, and vnbeleeuing, and the abominable, and murtherers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall hauehave their part in the lake which burneth with fier and brimstone, which is the second death.
Reuel. 22.15. For without shall be dogs, and enchanters, and whoremongers and murtherers, and idolaters, & whosoeuer loueth, or maketh lies, &c.
15. Lastly, all that disobey the Gospell, 2. Thes. 1.8. In flaming fier, rendring vengeance vntounto them that doe not know God, and which obey not vntounto the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ.
And thus for terrour.
Lastly, the doctrine of the last iudgement should be exceeding comfortable to al the godly, and that in many respects:
First, if they shall consider who shall be their Iudge, euen he that is their brother, husband, aduocate, head, and redeemer: hee that was iudged for their sakes; and therefore they neede to feare no hard sentence from him.
Secondly, if they consider the present assurance of hope.
For first, hath not Christ giuen them many promises, that it shal goe well with them at that day?
2. Hath not Christ iustified them already, and absolued thē from all their sinnes? Rom. 3.24.25.
3. HaueHave they not receiued the earnest of the spirit, and the seale of the Sacraments? 2. Cor. 1.21.22. 2. Cor. 5.5.
4. HaueHave they not iudged themselues, and therefore are they not free from condemnation with the world? 1. Cor. 11.31.32.
5. They hauehave been iudged already, the afflictions of this life will be accounted sufficient vntounto them, 1. Pet. 4.17.
They may trust their soules to God: and that God, that hath begun his good worke in them, will performe it till the day of Christ, Philip. 1.5.6. 1. Cor. 1.8.
Thirdly, if they consider the benefits they shall attaine vntounto at that day: for Christ will bee made maruellous in all them that beleeue, 2. Thes. 1.10. They shall hauehave honour, and praise; their innocency shall be cleared, and their miseries and sinnes ended. And when Christ shall appeare, then shall we also appeare with him in glory, Colos. 3.4.
Fourthly, if they consider the circumstances of the Iudgment, as
1. The neernesse of the time should make them hold vp their heads, Matth. 24.22.33.
Philip. 4.5. Let your patient mind be knowne vntounto all men, the Lord is at hand.
Iam. 5.8. Be ye also patient therfore, and settle your hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth neere.
2. The greatnesse of the assembly, before whom they shall bee so much graced by Christ, they shall be honoured before all men, and Angels.
3. The condition of the sentence, it shall be a finall sentence neuer to bee reuoked, but acknowledged to all eternity.
4. And besides, they shall hauehave this fauour, that nothing shall bee remembred but goodnesse in good men: their sinnes shall not bee mentioned vntounto them, Matth. 25.