A Form of Catechizing, Part 5
Now to the ſixt Principle. Touching the eſtate of man after hee hath led a ſhort life heere in this world.
Q. After a man hath liued heere in this world for a time what followeth?
A. Death.
Q. What is death?
A. It is the enemie of nature, or the end of naturall life,1 Cor. 15.26. euen a ſeparation of the ſoule from the body.
Q. Muſt all men die?
A. Yes verily, all, both good and bad, both the godly and true beléeuers,Pſal. 49.19. Pſal. 89.48. Eccieſ. 2.16. Heb. 9.27. 1 Cor. 15.51. and the wicked and vnbeléeuers muſt dy, ſaue onelyonly ſuch, as ſhall bee found aliue at Chriſt his comming to iudgement, to them a change ſhall be in ſtéed of death.
Q Death being a puniſhment of ſinne, how is it that the godly and true beleeuers die, to whom all ſinnes are forgiuen?
A. Death to the godly and true beleeuers is not a puniſhment of ſinne, but through the death of Chriſt, a good thing and a bleſſing of God, and that in thrée reſpects.
Firſt, it giues reſt to them, and deliuers them from all the painefull labours and miſeries of this world;Act. 7.60. 1 Cor. 15.18. 1 Theſſ. 4.13.14. Reuel. 14.13. and hence it is called a ſleepe.
Secondly, it is an vtter aboliſhing of ſinne,Rom. 6.7. and the accompliſhment of their mortification.
Thirdly, it is a paſſage and entrance, by which their ſoules enter immediately into heauenly glory.Eccleſ. 12.7. Luk. 16.22. & cap. 23.43. Philip. 1.23. 2. Cor. 5.1.
Q. What followeth immediately on the death of eueryevery man?
A. Two things.
Firſt, particular iudgement, namely,Heb. 9.27. the ſentence of particular abſolution, or of particular condemnation.
Secondly, the conueyance of the ſoule immediately by the power of God and the miniſterie of Angels,Luk. 16 22.23 into a ſtate either of happineſſe or miſery.
Q. What ſhall follow after particular iudgement?
A. A day of generall iudgment, at the ſecond comming of Chriſt, wherein all men that euer hauehave béene,Eccleſ. 12.14. Mat: 12.36. Act: 17.31. 2 Cor: 5.10. are now, or ſhall be hereafter, ſhall be iudged, and eueryevery one ſhall receiue according to his works.
Q. When ſhall the day of generall iudgment be?
A. The time of it is vncertaine, no man can know or ſet downe the day,Mat: 24.36. Mar: 13.32. Act. 1.7. wéeke, monethmonth, yéere or age wherein it ſhall be: Chriſt himſelfe as man in the daies of his fleſh had no expreſſe notice of it.
Q. Why is the time of that day of generall iudgment vncertaine?
1 Theſſ. 5. to the end of the 6. verſe.A. That from the vncertaintie and ſuddenneſſe of it, we might learne to bée alwaies prepared and ready for it.
Signes foreſhewing the laſt iudgment.
Q. What ſignes be there foreſhewing the laſt and generall iudgment?
A. The ſignes foreſhewing it are of two ſorts.
Some going before and further off from the comming of Chriſt to iudgement, and ſome néerer to his comming and ioyned with it.
Q. What are the ſignes foregoing and further off from Chriſt his comming to iudgment?
A. They are theſe.
Firſt,Mat: 24.14. the publiſhing of the Goſpell throughout the whole world.
Secondly,2 Theſſ. 2.3. 1 Tim: 4.1. an apoſtacie and departure of moſt men from the faith and from the truth of Religion.
Thirdly,2 Theſſ. 2.…, 4, 8. 1. Ioh. 2.18. the reuealing of Antichriſt the man of ſin and child of perdition.
Fourthly,Mat: 24.12, 37, 38, 39. Luk. 17.26, to the 30. &c 2 Tim. 3.1. 1. Theſſ. 5.3. common corruption in the manners of men, with ſecuritie and excéeding deadnes of heart.
Fiftly, great and gréeuous calamities in the world and in the Church. Matth: 24.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24.
Sixtly,Rom: 11.25. the calling of the Iewes to the faith of the Goſpell.
Q. What are the ſignes neerer to the comming of Chriſt to iudgment and ioyned with it?
A. The ſhaking of the powers of heauen, the darkning of the Sunne and Moone,Mat: 24.29, 30. the falling of the ſtarres from heauen,2 Pet: 3 7, 10, 11. the firing of the whole frame of heauen and earth, and the diſſolution of the whole world, which is called the ſigne of the Sonne of man.
Q. What ſhall follow after theſe things?
Math: 24.30. Act 10.42.A. The comming of Ieſus Chriſt, who ſhall be Iudge of the whole world.
Q. In what manner ſhall Chriſt come to iudgment?
A. He ſhall in his humane viſible body ſuddenly like lightning breake forth through the heauens,Act: 1.11. Mat. 24.27.30 2 Theſſ. 1 7. 1 Theſſ: 4.16. Iude verſ: 14 Mat: 25.31. and come in the clouds, with great maieſtie and glory, with an infinite hoaſt of elect Angells, and with the voice and ſhout of an Archangell, and the trumpet of God, and ſhall ſit downe on the glorious throne of iudgment.
Q. What ſhall follow after that Chriſt is ſet in his throne of iudgment?
A. The citing and preſenting of all men both quicke and dead,Mat. 25.32. Iude verſ. 6. and the deuils alſo before his glorious throne to iudgement.
Q. How ſhall all men be cited to iudgment?
A. By the voice of Chriſt vttered by the miniſterie of Angells,Ioh: 5.25, 28, 29. Mat. 24.31. 1 Cor: 15.52. Iob 19.16.27 euen by that ſhout and trumpet of the Archangell, which ſhall be ſo powerfull, as that it ſhall change the liuing in the twinkling of an eye, and cauſe all the dead to riſe againe, eueryevery one with his owne body and eueryevery part and parcell thereof.
Q. Shall the elect and reprobate bee raiſed from the dead without any difference?
A. No: though they ſhall both be raiſed by the ſame almighty voice & power of Chriſt,Ioh: 6.54. 1 Cor. 15.20, 22, 45. yet it ſhall be with this difference: The elect ſhall be raiſed as members of Chriſt his body, by vertue of his reſurrection.
But the reprobate ſhall be raiſed by the power of Chriſt, as he is a Iudge, and by vertue of Gods curſe ſet downe Gen: 2.17. that that ſentence may be verified on them.
Q. Shall the dead riſe againe in the ſame bodies wherein they liued on the earth?
A. Yes verily, in the ſame bodies for ſubſtance, but altered in qualitie,2 Cor: 5.10. 1 Cor: 15.52, 53. and made immortall and incorruptible, and able to abide for euer in that ſtate, wherto they ſhall be adiudged.
Q. What difference ſhall there be betweene the bodies of the elect and of the reprobate being raiſed from the dead?
A. This difference.
The bodies of the Elect ſhall be glorious,1. Cor. 15.43, … 44, 49. Philip: 5.21. powerfull, frée from all paſſion and ſuffering, and like vntounto the glorious body of Chriſt.
But the bodies of the reprobate, ſhall be on the contrary, full of vncomelineſſe and vgly to looke on,Dan: 12.2. Ioh. 5.29. agreable to the guiltineſſe of their conſciences, and lyable to ſuffer extreame torments.
Q. How ſhall all men be preſented before Chriſt his throne of iudgment?
Luk. 21.28. 1. Theſſ. 4.17.A. The elect ſhall with great ioy be caught vp into the ayre to méet the Lord.
And the reprobate, with the deuill and his Angels,Luk: 21.26. Reuel: 6.15, 16, 17. ſhall with extreame horror and confuſion, be forced to come before him.
Q. What neede is there, that the dead ſhould be brought to iudgement, ſeeing particular iudgement was giuen of them before, whether they be good or euill?
A. It is néedfull for two cauſes.
Firſt, becauſe that firſt iudgment pertaines only to the ſoule,2. Cor. 5.10. but the latter to the whole man, both to body and ſoule.
Secondly, that that particular iudgement may be made manifeſt before all men, and that there may be a more manifeſt declaration of Gods iuſt iudgement.Rom. 2.5.
Q. What ſhall follow after that all men and euill Angels are cited and ſet before the throne of Chriſt?
A. A ſeparation of the elect from the reprobate.Mat. 25.32.33 Chriſt ſhall then ſet the elect as ſhéepe on his right hand, and the reprobate as goates on his left hand.
Q. What ſhall follow, after that ſeparation?
A. The act of iudgement wherein the elect ſhall be firſt acquitted,Matth. 25.54. Luk. 22.30. 1. Cor. 6.2.3. and then by way of approbation ſhall ioyne with Chriſt in iudging of the reprobate both men and Angells.
Q. How ſhall Chriſt proceede in the act of iudgement?
A. Thus: He ſhall firſt examine and try eueryevery mans particular cauſe, and after tryall and examination made, giuegive ſentence.
Q. How ſhall eueryevery mans particular cauſe be tryed?
A. By his workes. 1 Cor. 3.13. 2 Cor. 5.10.
Q. Why ſhall men be tryed at the day of iudgement by their workes?
A. Becauſe workes are open and manifeſt ſignes & teſtimonies either of faith,Matth. 12.36.37. Iam. 2.18. or of vnbeléefe.
Q. How ſhall mens workes bee then made manifeſt?
A. Thus: the Lord who certainly knoweth all the thoughts, words, and works of men, ſhall then by his mighty power ſo enlighten the conſcience of eueryevery one,Reuel. 20.12. Rom. 2.16. as it ſhall perfectly remember whatſoeuer good or euill he or ſhee hath done in the time of this life,1 Cor 4 5. the ſecrets of all hearts being then reuealed, and this is called the opening of the booke of conſcience.
Q. How ſhall mens works being made manifeſt, be tryed whether they be good or euill?
A. Two waies.
Q. What is the firſt of thoſe waies?
A. The firſt is this, they ſhall be tryed by the law of God, which hath béene reuealed to men, whether it be the law of nature only,Rom. 2.12. which ſerues to leaue them without excuſe,Rom. 2 16. Ioh. 12.41. who neuer heard of Chriſt; Or the written word of GOD vouchſafed to his Church as the rule of faith and life.
Q. What is the ſecond of thoſe wayes?Rom. 2, 15.
A. The euidence of eueryevery mans conſcience bearing witnes with him or againſt him.
Q. After tryall and examination of eueryevery mans cauſe how ſhall Chriſt giuegive ſentence?
A. He ſhall according to the euidence of conſcience touching works giuegive ſentence of ſaluation to the elect, and ſentence of damnation to the reprobate,Matth. 25.34.41. adiudging them with the deuill and his angells to the curſe of euerlaſting fire.
Q. Shall men bee adiudged to ſaluation or damnation for the merit of their workes?
A. Sentence of damnation ſhall bée giuen on the reprobate, they being out of Chriſt for the merit of their workes.
Rom. 6.23.Becauſe their workes are perfectly euill and deſerue damnation.
But on the elect ſentence of ſaluation ſhall be giuen for the merit of Chriſt, apprehended and applied to themſelues by faith.Iob. 5.24. Iam. 2.18. Gal 5.6. Ioh. 3.26. And they ſhall be pronounced iuſt.
Becauſe their good workes though imperfect doe approue their faith to bee a true faith working by louelove.
Q After Chriſt hath giuen iudgement on the elect and reprobate, what ſhall follow?
A. The execution of iudgement.
Q. How ſhall iudgement be executed on the elect and on the reprobate?
A. Thus: Chriſt by his Almighty power and commanding voice, ſhall ſend the reprobate with the Diuell and his Angels into hell, and bring Gods Elect into the poſſeſſion of life & glory in heauen.Matth. 10.28. Matth. 25.46. After Chriſt hath ſaid, Come yee bleſſed children of my Father, inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world: and depart from me yee curſed into euerlaſting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels: Then it followeth, and theſe ſhall goe away into euerlaſting puniſhment; but the righteous into life eternall.
Q. In what ſtate ſhall Gods Elect be in heauen?
A. They ſhall enioy vnſpeakable; vnconceiueable and euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe in the kingdome of heauen.1. Cor. 2.9.
Q. How are wee to conceiue of that bleſſednes, as the word of God hath made it knowen vntounto vsus?
A. Thus: that it ſhall be a moſt happy and a moſt bleſſed ſtate,Matth. 5.8. Ioh. 3.2. 1. Cor. 15.28. Reuel. 21.3.23.24. and cap. 22.1.2.3.4 5. wherein the elect being moſt fully ioyned to Chriſt their head ſhall enioy the preſence of God, and ſhall ſée and behold the face and glory of God, and hauehave ſpeciall fellowſhip with God, and God himſelfe ſhall bee to them thorow Chriſt all in all.
Q. What bee the parts of that beſſedneſſe?
A. Theſe two: eternall life, and perfect glory.
Q. How are we to conceiue of that life eternall?
A. Thus: It ſhall be ſuch a fellowſhip with God, as that God himſelfe ſhal be thorow Chriſt,Ioh. 14.19.20 23. Coloſſ. 3.3.4. 1 Ioh. 4.15. life to all the Elect immediately quickning them by his ſpirit, and that for euer.
Q. What ſhall be the condition of that life eternall?
A. The condition of it ſhall be in two things.
Q. What is the firſt of thoſe?
Iſa. 25.8. 1. Cor. 5.54. Reu. 7.16.17. and cap. 21.4.A. This: it ſhall be frée from all manner of miſeries, and all manner of infirmities.
Q. What is the ſecond?
A. It ſhall hauehave a full and perpetuall ſufficiency in it ſelfe of all good things,Pſal. 36.9. Reuel. 21.23. Reuel. 22.5. ſeruing to make a moſt bleſſed life néeding none of the meanes of this life.
Q. How are we to conceiue of that perfect glory in heauen?
A. Thus: It ſhall bee a wonderfull and vnſpeakable excellency of the Elect, whereby they ſhall bee euen as Chriſt himſelfe,Luk. 20.36. Philip. 3.21. Coloſſ. 3.4 1. Ioh 3.2. Reuel. 21.11. although vnequally & in a lower degrée, yet aboue meaſure glorious, and in their ſoules and bodies in a farre more excellent eſtate, then any heart can wiſh.
Q. What ſhall bee the glory of the ſoules of Gods Elect in heauen?
A. This:1. Cor. 13.12. Epheſ. 5.27. Reuel. 3.45. Reuel. 19.8. they ſhall be endued with a perfection of knowledge, wiſedome and holineſſe.
Q. What ſhall be the glory of the bodies of Gods elect in heauen?
A. This:Matth. 13.43. Luk. 20.36. Philip. 3.21. they ſhall bee endued with perfection of beauty, brightneſſe, maieſty and ſtrength.
Q. What ſhall bee the glory of Gods Elect in heauen belonging both to their bodies and ſoules?
A, This: they ſhall bee as Princes crowned with crownes of glory,2. Tim. 4.8. Reuel 22.5. Matth. 35.34. Rom. 16.20. 1. Pet. 1.4. 2. Pet. 3.13. and raigning with Chriſt for euer, and triumphing ouer Sathan, death and hell, and hauehave poſſeſſion of that new heauen and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe.
Q. Shall all Gods Elect hauehave the ſame degree of glory in heauen?
A. No:Dan. 12.3. 1. Cor. 15.21.22. though eueryevery one of Gods choſen ſhall receiue the full meaſure of glory, whereof they ſhall be capable, yet one ſhall hauehave a greater degree of glorie then another.
Q. How ſhall a greater degree of glory be giuen in heauen, to one of Gods Elect then to another?
A. According to the greater meaſure of graces giuen and the more faithfull employment of thoſe graces,Mat. 19.28.29 …. Cor. 9.6. and cap. 4.17. Reu. 7.14.15. either in doing good, or in ſuffering for the truth of Chriſt, in the time of this life.
Q What ſhall be the fruits of both the parts of bleſſedneſſe, namely, of the eternall life and perfect glory?
A. The fruit ſhall be twofold.
Q. What is the firſt?
Pſal. 16.11. and 36.8. Ioh. 16.20.22A. Fulneſſe of vnſpeakable and euerlaſting ioy.
Q. What is the ſecond?
Reu. 7.15.A. The perfect and perpetuall ſeruice of God.
Q. Wherein ſhall that perfect and perpetuall ſeruice of God conſiſt?
A. In a continuall acknowledging of Gods vnſpeakable mercy towards them in Chriſt,Reu. 4.10.11. Reu. 5.12.13. Reu. 11.16.17 and in a continuall lauding and praiſing of his great and holy name.
Q. After what manner ſhall Gods elect ſerue and worſhip God in heauen?
A. By God himſelfe immediately, néeding neither Temple, Ceremony, Sacrament,Reu. 21.22. nor any outward thing.
Of the miſery of the Reprobate in hell.
Q. What ſhall be the ſtate of the Reprobate in hell?
A They ſhall hauehave vnſpeakable,Mat. 23 41 46 vnconceiueable, and euerlaſting miſery in the fire of hell.
For as neither eye hath ſéen, eare hath heard, heart hath conceiued, or tongue is able to expreſſe the ioyes of the Elect in heauen:
So certainely, neither eye hath ſéene, eare hath heard, or tongue is able to expreſſe the miſery of the damned in hell fire.
Q. How doth the Scripture ſet foorth that miſery to vsus?
A. By things terrible and fearefull and to bee abhorred,Dan. 12:2. Mar. 9.43.44. Matth 25.41. Reu. 19.20. & cap. 20.15. Mat. 8.12. & Mat. 13.42. as by ſhame and euerlaſting contempt, by the worme that neuer dieth, by the lake burning with fire and brimſtone, by fire that neuer goes out, by vtter darkneſſe, by wéeping and wailing and gnaſhing of téeth and the like.
Q. How are we to conceiue of that miſery of the Reprobate in hell?
A. Thus, that it ſhall bee a moſt miſerable and a moſt wretched eſtate, wherin the Reprobate being for euer ſeuered from the comfortable preſence of God and glorious fellowſhip of Chriſt and his Saints,Matth. 7.23. Luk. 13.27.28 Matth. 25.41. 2. Theſſ 1.9. and hauing eternall fellowſhip with the Diuel and his Angels, ſhall féele the whole wrath of God vponupon them.
Q. What bee the parts of that miſerie of the Reprobate in hell?
A. Theſe two (namely) eternall death and euerlaſting ſhame.
Q. How are wee to conceiue of that death eternall?
A. Thus: that it ſhall be ſuch a ſeparation of the Reprobate from God,Reu. 2.11. Reu. 21.8. 2. Theſſ. 1.9. as that their miſery ſhall be as a continuall death: wherein they ſhall be alwayes dying, and neuer dead, and this is called the ſecond death and eternall perdition.
Q. What ſhall be the condition of that death eternall?
A. The condition of it ſhall bee two ſold.
Q. What is the firſt condition of it?
A. This: it ſhall bee voide of all good things, and of all manner of comfort,Matth. 22.13. 2. Pet. 2.17. Iud: verſ. 13. and this is ſhadowed out by vtter darkneſſe, and by blackneſſe of darkneſſe.
Q. What is the ſecond condition of it?
A. This:Iſa. 30.33. Matth. 13.42. Luk. 16.23.24 &c. it ſhall hauehave a perpetuall fulneſſe of all euils and all manner of miſeries without the leaſt meanes of eaſe or remedy.
Q. How are we to concciue of that euerlaſting ſhame in hell?
A. Thus: it ſhall be a wonderfull vnſpeakable vileneſſe of the Reprobate,Iſai. 66.24. Dan. 12.2. Reuel. 22 25. whereby they ſhall be euen as the Diuell himſelfe aboue meaſure odious & abhominable, and in their ſoules and bodies in a more baſe and vile condition then any mans heart can conceiue; they ſhall be as dogs.
Q. Shall all the Reprobate hauehave the ſame degree of wretchednes and miſerie in hell?
A. No: although every one of them, ſhall hauehave the full meaſure of miſery,Mat. 10.25. & 11.22.24. wherof they ſhall be capable, yet one ſhall hauehave a greater degrée of miſery then another.
Q. How ſhall ſome of the Reprobate hauehave a greater degree of miſerie then others in hell?
A. According to the greater merit of their ſinnes,Luk. 12.47.4… Matth. 23.14. either in reſpect of the number or quality of them.
Q. What ſhall be the fruit of both the parts of that miſery of the Reprobate in hell, namely, of eternall death and euerlaſting ſhame?
A. The fruit ſhall be twofold.
Q What is the firſt?
Matth. 25.46. Luk. 16.23.14 Rom 2.9. Mar. 9.43.44.A. Fulnes of vnſpeakable and euerlaſting torment both of their ſoules and bodies. Iud. verſ. 6. Reu. 20.10.
Q. What is the ſecond?
A. A continuall and a moſt horrible and deſperate wéeping, howling and crying out in conſideration of the happines of the Saints of God in heauen, which they ſhall ſée and enuy;Matth. 8.12. Matth. 13 42. Luk. 13.28. Luk. 16.23.24.26 and in reſpect of of their owne endleſſe miſery and torment, out of which they ſhall hauehave no hope to eſcape.
And thus in part wee hauehave heard what ſhall be the ſtate of Gods Elect in heauen, and of the Reprobate in hell.
Q. What is the principall end of the bleſſedneſſe of the Saints of God in heauen, and of the miſerie of she Reprobate in hell?
A. The glory of God,Prou. 16.4. Rom. 11.36. who in his eternall purpoſe and decrée, hath fore-ordained all things to his owne glory.
Q. How are we to conceiue of Gods eternall decree touching men and Angels?
A. Thus: that it is his free appointing and fore-ordaining them,Rom 9.22.23 1. Theſſ. 5.9. for a certaine and euerlaſting eſtate for his owne glory.
Q. What be the parts of that decree of God touching men and Angels?
A. Two: Election and Reprobation.
Q. What is election?
A. 1. Tim. 5.21. Epheſ. 1.5.6.It is the Lords frée ordaining of ſome both men and Angels to euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe for the declaration and glory of his goodneſſe.
Q. What is reprobation?
A. It is the Lords frée ordaining of ſome,Rom. 9.22. 2. Tim. 2.20. both men and Angels to eternall ſhame and diſhonour, for the manifeſtation and glory of his iuſtice.
FINIS.
End of the text · Edward Elton, A Form of Catechizing (1616)