The Guide Unto True Blessedness, Section 50 – Section 52
SECT. L. Of the Generall and finall Iudgement: and firſt of the preparation thereto.
Q. TO come to the full and finall Iudgement, what are wee to vnderstand thereby.
A. The great day of Aſsiſe for the whole world, whereinaEccl. 12.14 all mens liues, that euer hauehave beene, are, or ſhall bee, beeing duely examined, b2. Cor. 5.10eueryevery one ſhall receiue according to his workes. In which Iudgement we are to conſider three things: and firſt the preparation thereto.
Q. Wherein doth the preparation vntounto the laſt Iudgement conſiſt?
A. In fiue things, whereof the
Firſt is the foretokening of the time thereof; which though it be ſocAct 1.7 ſealed vp in the treaſurie of Gods counſell, that neither men, nor Angels, no nor yet ourdMat. 13.32 Sauior himſelfe, the Prophet of the Church, as man, in the daies of his fleſh had expreſſe notice thereof, (thate1. Theſ. 5.2, 3, 6 from the vncertaintie, and ſuddenneſſe of it, we might bee taught to bee alwaies in readineſſe for it) yet it hath pleaſed God, and our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to acquaint vsus with ſomefMat. 24.33 ſignes, whereby wee may diſcerne of his approch:gVer. 32 as men in ſpring time may deſcry Summer approching, by the ſhooting forth of the fig-tree.
Q. What are the ſignes fore-tokening the laſt Iudgement?
A. They are certaine notableaMat. 24.6, &c. changes, in the world, and Church, ſome farther off, ſome nearer vntounto the comming of Chriſt: as
ThebMat. 24.14. publiſhing and receiuing of the Goſpell throughout the world:
Thec1. Tim. 4.1 2. Theſ. 2.3 Apoſtaſie of the moſt part of profeſſors, not louing the truth:
Thed1. Ioh. 2.18 2. Theſ. 2 3, 4, 8, &c. reueiling of Antichriſt, the man of ſinne, and child of perdition; who vnderunder the title of Chriſts vicegerent, oppoſeth himſelf vntounto Chriſt, in all his offices, and ordinances, both in Church, and Common-wealth:
Commone2. Tim. 3.1, &c. Mat. 24.12, 37. 1. Theſ. 5.3 corruption in manners, ioined with ſecuritie, as in the daies of Noah, and Lot:
Warres and troubles, in thefMat. 24.6. world, andgVer. 9. Church:
hMat. 24.24Falſe Chriſts, attended with falſe Prophets, and armed with falſe miracles:
TheiRom. 11.25 calling of the Iewes vntounto the faith of the Goſpell.
FinallyaMat. 24.29 Luk. 21.25 ſignes in heauen, earth, and all elements, as the trembling of the earth, the roaring of the ſea, the darkning of the Sunne, and Moone, &c. yea, theb2. Pet. 3.7, 10, 12. firing of the whole frame of heauen, and earth, with thecMat. 24.30 ſigne of the Sonne of Man, whereby his comming ſhall then bee cleerely apprehended of all men.
Q. What is the ſecond thing in the preparation vntounto the laſt Iudgement?
A. The comming of Ieſus Chriſt, thedAct. 10.42. Iudge of the world; who in hiseAct. 1.11 humane, fReu. 1.7.viſible, body (but yet with vnſpeakeable glorie) ſhall ſuddenlygMat. 24.27. breake forth like lightening through the heauens, riding on thehReu. 1.7 Iud. ver. 14 clouds, enuironed withi2. Theſ. 1.8. flaming fire, attended with all thekVer. 7. Mat. 25.31 hoſt of the Elect Angels, and eſpecially with thel2. Theſ. 4.16 voice & ſhoute of an Archangell, and the trumpet of God, and ſo ſhallmMat 25.31 Reu. 20.21 ſit downe on the royall throne of Iudgement.
Q. What is the third thing?
A. The ſummoning, and preſenting ofnMat. 25.32. Luk. 17.37 all both dead and liuing men, together with Diuels, before the glorious throne of Chriſt the Iudge.
Q. How ſhall all men both dead and liuing be ſummoned?
A. By theaIoh. 5 28 voice of Chriſt, vttered by the miniſterie ofbMat. 24.31. Angels, & namely by that ſhout, andc1. Cor. 15.52. trumpet of the Arch-angell; whereto the Lord ioyning his diuine power (asdJoh 5.25 vntounto the word preached, for the worke of the firſt reſurrection) ſhall in a moment both raiſe the dead, with their owne bodies, and eueryevery part therof, though neuer ſo diſperſed, ande1. Cor. 15.52. change the liuing, ſo that it ſhall bee with them as if they had beene a long time dead, and were now raiſed to life againe.
Q. Shall there bee no difference betweene the reſurrection of the Elect, and of the Reprobate?
A. Yes: For howſoeuer they ſhallfAct 24.15. Joh. 5.28. both riſe by the ſame Almightie voice, and power of Chriſt, in theg2. Cor. 5.10. Reu 20.13 ſame bodies, wherein they liued vponupon earth, and thoſe ſo altered in qualitie, as that they ſhall bee able to abide for euer in that eſtate, whereto they ſhall bee adiudged: yet
1. The Elect ſhall be raiſed, asa1. Cor. 15. Ver. 20, 22. & 45. members of the bodie of Chriſt by vertue deriued from his reſurrection: the reprobate, as malefactors, ſhal be brought forth of the priſon of the graue, by vertue of thebReu. 1.7 Iudiciarie power of Chriſt and of the curſe of the Law.
2. The Elect ſhal come forth to euerlaſting life, which is called thecJoh. 5.29 reſurrection of life; the reprobate todDan. 12.2. ſhame & perpetuall contempt called the reſurrection of condemnation.
3. The bodies of the Elect ſhall bee1 Cor. 15.42, 4…, &c. ſpirituall, that is, glorious, powerful, nimble, and impatible, like the bodie of the firſt Adam in innocency; yea rather like thefVer. 49 Phil. 3.21. body of Chriſt, the ſecond Adam: but the bodies of the reprobate ſhal be full of vncomelines, and horror (agreeable to thegReu. 1.7. guiltineſſe, & terror of their conſciences) and liable to extreame torment.
Q. How ſhall all men be preſented before the throne of Chriſt?
A. The Elect, being gathered by the Angels, ſhall withaLuk. 21.28. great ioy, beb1. Theſ. 4.17. caught vp into the aire to meet the Lord.
The Reprobate, together with the the Diuell, and his Angels, ſhall withcReu. 6.15, 16. extreame horror and confuſion, bee drawne into his preſence.
Q. What is the fourth thing?
A. The ſeparation of the Elect from the Reprobate. FordMat. 25.33 Chriſt the great Shepheard, ſhall then place the Elect, as his ſheepe that hauehave heard his voice, and followed him, on his right hand, the reprobate, with the Diuels, as ſtraying goates, on his left hand.
Q. What is the fift and laſt thing?
A. The opening of theeReu. 20.12 book…s of record, by which the dead ſhall bee iudged. Viz.
1. The ſeuerall bookes of all mens conſciences, which then, by the glorious illumination of Chriſt, thefMal. 4.2 Sunne of righteouſnes, ſhining in his full ſtrength, ſhall be ſo enlightened, that men ſhall perfectly remember whatſoeuer good or euil they did in the time of life; thegRom. 2.16 1. Cor 4 5 ſecrets of all hearts being then reueiled.
2. TheaExo. 32.32, 33. Ezek. 13.9 Reu. 3.5 & 21.27 book of life, that is, the eternall decree of GOD, to ſaue his elect by Chriſt, which decree ſhall then at length bebMat. 25.34 made knowne to all.
SECT. LI. Of the Act of the laſt Iudgement.
Q. THus farre of the preparation to Iudgement; What are we to conſider in the ſecond place?
A. The Act of Iudgement, wherein the Elect ſhallcMat. …5.34. firſt be acquitted, that they may afterward, asdMat. 19.28 aſsiſtants, ioine with Chriſt, in the Iudgement of the reprobate, both men, ande1. Cor. 6.2, 3. Angels.
Q. How ſhall the Act of Iudgement be performed?
A. It hath two parts: Viz.
1. Examination.
2. Pronouncing of ſentence.
Q. How ſhall the examination bee framed?
1. According to that Law of God, which hath beene reuealed vntounto men: whether it be the law ofaRo. 2.12, &c nature only, which is the remainder of the morall law, written in the hearts of our firſt parents, and conueied by thebJoh. 1.9. power of God vntounto all mankind…, to leaue them without excuſe; or that written word of God, vouchſafed vntounto the Church in the ſcriptures, firſt of the old, and after alſo of the new Teſtament, as the rule of faith, and life.
2. By the euidence of eueryevery mans conſcience, bringing all his works, whether good or euill, to light,cRom. 2.15 bearing witneſſe with him or againſt him; together with thedMat. 12.27 & ver. 41, 42. Heb. 11.7. teſtimonie of ſuch, who either by doctrine, company, or example, hauehave, in the time of this life, approoued, or condemned him.
Q. Shall there bee no difference in the examination of the Elect, and of the Repr bate?
A. Yes. For
Firſt the Elect ſhall not hauehave theircEzek. 18 22 ſinnes (for which Chriſt hath ſatisfied) but onelyonly theirfReu. 14.13 good workes remembred.
Secondly, being in Chriſt, they, and their workes, ſhall not vndergoe theaJam. 2.12 ſtrict triall of the Law, ſimply in it ſelfe, but as theb2. Pet. 1.10, 11. obedience thereof proueth them to be true partakers of the grace of the Goſpell.
Q. Shall there be any ſuch reaſoning at the laſt Iudgement, as ſeemeth to be foretold in the 7. & 25. of Mathew?
A. No, but the conſciences of men, being thenc1. Cor. 4.5. enlightened by Chriſt, ſhall cleare all thoſe doubts, and reiect thoſe exceptions and excuſes, which they ſeeme now to apprehend.
Q. How ſhall the ſentence bee pronounced?
A. By the Iudge himſelfe,Mat. 25. our Lord Ieſus Chriſt; who according to the euidence and verdict of conſcience, touthing workes, ſhall adiudge the Elect vntounto the bleſsing of thedVer. 34. kingdome of God his Father, & the reprobate, with the Diuell, and his Angels vntounto theeVer. 41 curſe of euerlaſting fire.
Q. Shall men then be adiudged to ſaluation, or damnation, for their workes ſake?
A. The caſe is different: for
1. Wicked men ſhall be condemned for the merit of their works, becauſe, being perfectly euill, they deſerue theaRom. 6.23. wages of damnation.
2. The Elect ſhall be pronounced iuſt, becauſe their good works, though imperfect, dobJam 2.18 approue their faith, whereby they lay hold on Chriſt, and his meritorious righteouſneſſe, to be a true faith, ascGal. 5.6. working by louelove, in all parts of obedience.
SECT. LII. Of the execution of the laſt Iudgement: and the euerlaſting eſtate of the Reprobate in torment, and the Elect in glory.
Q. HItherto of the Act of Iudgement: What are we to conſider in the third and laſt place?
A. The Execution of Iudgement: Chriſt by his Almighty power, and miniſtery of his Angels, caſting the diuels, and reprobate men, into hell; and bringing Gods elect into the poſſeſſion of his glorious Kingdome; wherein theaMat. 25.46 reprobate ſhall firſt bee diſpatched, that thebPſal. 58, 10. righteous may reioice to ſee the vengeance, and, as it were, waſh their feet in the bloud of the wicked.
Q. What ſhall be the eſtate of the reprobate in hell?
A. They ſhall remaine for euer in vnſpeakeable torment of body, and anguiſh of minde, beingc2. Theſſ. 1.9 caſt out from the fauourable preſence of God, and glorious fellowſhip of Chriſt, and his Saints (whoſe happineſſe they ſhalldLuk. 16.23 and 13.28. ſee and enuy) into that horrible dungeon, figured in Scripture bye2. Pet. 2.17 Matth. 8.12. vtter darkeneſſe, or blackeneſſe of darkeneſſe, weeping, and gnaſhing of teeth, thefMark. 9.44 worme that neuer dieth, the fire that neuer goeth out, thegReu. 20.15. lake of fire &c. Finally, where all things are, that can be abhorred, and nothing that may be deſired.
Q. What ſhall be the eſtate of the Elect in heauen?
A. They ſhall beea1. Cor. 2.9. vnſpeakeably, and euerlastingly bleſſed and glorified in ſoule and body, being freed from all paſsions, imperfections, infirmities, yea from ſuchb1. Cor. 13.10 graces as ſuppoſe imperfection, as faith, hope, repentance, & the like; in a word, frō all thecReu 21.4. firſt things: endued with perfectd1. Cor. 13.12 wiſdome and holineſſe: poſſeſſed of all theePſal. 16.11. pleaſures that are at the right hand of God: ſeated as Princes, infReu…l. 3 21. thrones of maieſtie, and crowned withg2. Tim. 4.8 crownes of glory: hauinghReu. 2.26 power ouer all creatures, andi2. Pet. 3.13 poſſeſſion of that new heauen, and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe: beholding, and beingkPſal. 17.15. filled with the fruition of the gloriousl…. Theſ. 4.17 Reu 21.3, 22, 23. preſence of God, and of the Lambe Ieſus Chriſt, in themHeb. 12.22, 23, 24. company of innumerable Angels, and of all the holy Saints that hauehave been from the beginning of the world, &c.
Q. Shall there not be inequalitie in the proportion of glory and of miſery?
A. Yes: for though eueryevery one ſhall receiue the full meaſure, whereof they are capeable: yet,
Firſt, the wicked ſhallaMatt. 11.22, 24. Luk 12.47, 48. Reu. 18 7. exceed one another in capacitie of torment, according to the greater merit of their ſinnes:
Secondly, the Elect ſhall exceed one another, being made capeable ofbDan 12.3. greater glory, according to the proportion, not of merit, but of fauour, whereby in their different callings, they werecLuke 12.4…, 43, 44. & 19, …7, 19. furniſhed with greater graces, and made more faithfull in the imploying of them, whether ind2. Cor. 9.6. doing, or ine2. Cor. 4.17 Reu. 7.14, 15 ſuffering for Chriſt his cauſe, in the time of this life.
DEVT. 32.29.
Oh that men were wiſe! then they would vnderſtand this: they would conſider their latter end,