The Last things, Sermon 3

The Last things · Sermon 3

p. 89Doomeſ-day

MATTH. 16.27.

Then ſhall he reward every man according to his works.

THe dependance of this Text is limited in few lines, and that your eyes wander no further then this verſe, therein is kept a generall Aſſize; the Judge, Officers, Priſoners ſtand in array, the Judge is God, and the Son of man; the Officers Angels, and they are his Angels; the Priſoners men, and becauſe of the Gaol-delivery, every man. If you will have all together, you have a Iudge his circuit, his habit, his attendants, his judgments: a Iudge, the Son of man; his circuit, he ſhall come; his habit, in the glory of his Father; his attendants, with his Angels: what now remains, but the execution of juſtice? then without more adoe ſee the Text, and you ſee all; the ſcales in his hande, our works in the ſcales, the reward for our works, of juſt weight each to other; Then hee ſhall reward every man according to his works.

This Text gives us the proceeding of Doomeſ-day, which is the laſt day, the laſt Seſſions, the laſt Aſsize that muſt be kept on earth, or is decreed in heaven; if you exſpect Sheriffs, or p. 90Judges, Plaintiffs or Priſoners, all are in this verſe, ſome in each word. Then] is times Trumpet that proclaims their coming. Hee] is the Judge that examins all our lives. Reward] is the doom, that proceeds from him in his Throne. Man] is the malefactour, every man] ſtands before him as a priſoner, Works are the inditements, and according to our works] muſt go the triall howſoever we have done, good or evill.

Give me yet leave, this Judge ſits on trials as well as priſoners; it is an high Court of appeal, where Plaintiffs, Counſellors, Judges all muſt appear and anſwer: would you learn the proceedings? there is the Term, Then] the Judge, hee] the ſentence, ſhall reward] the parties, very man] the triall it ſelf, which you may finde in all to be juſt and legall, every man his rewards according to his works.]

We have opened the Text, and now you ſhall have the hearing.

Then.]

THen: when? the anſwer is

Negative,

Poſitive.

Firſt, Negative, Then] not on a ſudden, or (at leaſt) not at this preſent. This life is no time to receive rewards, the rain and Sun pleaſure both the good and bad, nay, oftentimes the bad fare beſt, and Gods own children are moſt fiercely fined in the furnace of affliction,Job 9.24. Matth. 16.24.Job 9:24Matt 16:24 The earth is given into the hands of the wicked, ſaith Iob: but, if any man will follow mee, he muſt take up his croſs, ſaith our Saviour. Ioy, and pleaſure, and happineſs attend the ungodly, while Gods poor ſervants run thorow the thicket of briers and brambles to the kingdome of heaven: but ſhall not the Iudge of all the world do right? Gen. 18.25.Gen 18:25a time ſhall come when both theſe muſt have their change; Mark the upright and behold the juſt, for the end of that man is peace, but the tranſgreſſours ſhall be deſtroyed together, and the end of the wicked ſhall be cut off: Pſal. 37.38.Pſal. 37.37, 38.Ps 37:37Ps 37:38 The effect of things is beſt known to us in ſome iſſue of time, and then ſhall we have our rewards, when the Son of man ſhall come in the glory of his Father. Let this admoniſh us to have patience in all our exſpectations: what is it to ſuffer a while, an inch of time, conſidering the reward is p. 91great indeed, everlaſting in durance? Reſt in the Lord (ſaith David) and wait patiently for him, fret not thy ſelf for him which proſpereth in his way: and will you know the reaſon? for yet a little while, and the wicked ſhall not be, but the meek ſhall inherit the earth, and ſhall delight themſelves in the abundance of peace: Pſal. 37.10, 11.Pſal. 37.7, 10, 11.Ps 37:7Ps 37:10Ps 37:11 So they ſhall indeed, if onelyonly they will exſpect a little time; not now, but Then] ſtay yet a while, and be ſure anon the reward ſhall be given.

2. But to anſwer poſitively, this Then is no other then Doomeſ-day, and when that ſhall be, will be known beſt by

Conjectures,

Signes.

We will begin with the former.

1Some would have it in the year 6000. from the beginning of the world: this was the ſentence of Elias (ſay the Jewes) whoſe propheſie thus runs, two thouſand years before the Law, two thouſand under the Law, and two thouſand under the Goſpell: how untrue this ſounds, any one may gueſſe that conſiders: in the firſt number he fails becauſe it was too little; in the ſecond number he erres, becauſe it was too much: and if Elias ſay amiſs for the time now paſt, how ſhould we believe him for that yet to come? Others, beſides teſtimony produce reaſon, that as God was creating the world ſix days, ſo he muſt be a governing it ſix thouſand years, heres a ſeeming proportion, but upon what reaſon? Every day, (ſay they) muſt be a thouſand years with man, becauſe a thouſand years, are but as one day with God. Pſal. 90.4.Ps 90:4It were too frivolous a pains to repeat any more, or to anſwer theſe: Is not this ſacriledge, Salviarus de guber. Dei, l. 3.to break into Gods place and pry into his Sanctuary? Why ſhould we preſume to know more then God would have us? Look at the Apoſtles, were they not Gods Secretaries? Look at the Angels, are they not Gods Heralds? Look at Chriſt himſelf, is he not the Son of God? and yet as he is the Son of man, he ſpeaks of all, Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no Angell, neither the Son, but the Father onelyonly: Mark 13.32.Mar. 13.32. Ne nos addamus inquirere, quod ille non addidit dicere. Aug. epiſt. 146. Acts 1.7.Mark 13:32Acts 1:7 It is not for us to ſeek where the Lord hath not a tongue to ſpeak Why ſhould we know more then other men, then all men, then Angels, then Chriſt himſelf, who (as man) was either ignorant of it, or (at leaſt) had no commiſsion to reveal it. It is not for you to know the times and ſeaſons, p. 92which the Father hath put in his own power, Act. 1.7. It is a better uſe which our Saviour makes, Take heed, watch, and pray, for yee know not when the time is, Mark 13.33.Mar. 13.33. 1 Theſſ. 5.2.Mark 13:331 Thess 5:2 As a thiefe in the night, ſo is Doomeſ-day, it come ſuddainly, it will come ſhortly: would you needs know when? why then when you leaſt imagine ſuch a matter, then when worldly honours profit nothing, then when kindred & acquaintance fail, then when the world ſhal be ſet on fire, then] then] he ſhall reward every man according to his works.

2But ſecondly, if conjectures fail, the ſignes are certain: Ierome reports of fifteen miracles for fifteen days,Teſte Tho. Aquin. Supplem. ad 3. part. q. 73. ar. t. 1. which he writes to have found in the Hebrews Annals, and immediately muſt precede the Judges coming. The firſt day (ſaith he) the ſea ſhall ſwell, and lift up her waves at leaſt fifteen cubits, above the height of the higheſt hills. The ſecond day unlike to the former, the ſea ſhall ebbe again, and the waves be fallen till they ſcarce be ſeen. The third day the ſea muſt return to its ancient courſe, and ſo abide that day as it was before. The fourth day, ſea monſters ſhall appear above the ſea, whoſe bellowing rores ſhall fill the air with cries, which God alone underſtands, and men ſhall tremble at. The fifth day, all the fowles of the air ſhall flock together, and meeting in the fields ſhall there chatter, and ſtarve for fear of the approaching times. The ſixth day, flouds of fire ſhall riſe up againſt the firmament, which kindling at the falling Sun, ſhall run like a lightning to the riſing morn. The ſeventh day, all ſtars and planets ſhall ſhoot out fiery comets. The eighth day, there ſhall be a generall earth-quake, and the motion ſo violent, that the ground ſhall hop, and the living creatures not ſtand on their feet, that walk on the tottering floores. The ninth day trees ſhall ſweat bloud. The tenth day, all the ſtones of the earth ſhall war together, and with a thundring noiſe break one upon another. The eleventh day all buildings ſhall be ruined, and all the hils and mountains melt into duſt and powder. The twelfth day, all beaſts of the field ſhall come from their woods and dens, and ſo abſtaining from their food, ſhall rore and bellow up and down the plains. The thirteenth day, all graves ſhall be open, from the riſing up of the Sun, unto the going down of the ſame. The fourteenth day, all men ſhall come abroad, and ſuch a diſtraction ſeize on their heavy hearts, that they ſhall loſe the ſpeech and volubility of their tongues. And the fifteenth (which is the laſt day) the living men ſhall die, and the p. 93dead ſhall live again, all above earth be changed, and thoſe in their graves be raiſed and recovered.

I will not ſay theſe things are certain, (I leave you to the author that recites them) but if any whit true, why (bleſſed Lord!) what a day of appearance ſhall this be? I know not (ſaith one) what others may think of it, but for my ſelf, it makes me tremble to conſider it. It is a day of anger and wrath, a day of trouble and heavineſs, a day of obſcurity and darkneſs, a day of clouds and blackneſs, a day of the trumpet and alarm againſt the ſtrong cities, and againſt the high towers: Zeph. 1.15.Chryſoſt. Hom. 77. in Matth. Zeph. 1.15.Zeph 1:15 I will but run thorow the ſignes, as we find them in Gods writ, and then ſee if your hearts will not fail for fear.

Then] ſhall the Sun be darkned: Matth. 24.29Matt 24:29can Nature ſtand and ſuffer a generall Eclipſe? when God died, the Sun could diſcolour its beauty, and ſuit it ſelf in black to its makers condition; and now man dies, the Sun is clad again in mourning robes. Alas! what can it do but mourn? God lives, but man-kinde dies: though he was the Creator, yet we are the Creatures for whom it was created: when the houſholder dies, the family grieves: Patrefamilias moriente turbatur domus. Chryſoſt. in Matth. 44.were all eyes dry, here is the eye of the world weeps it ſelf blind to ſee this diſſolution: Is man bereft of compaſſion, for whom the Sun it ſelf undergoes this paſſion? think on thoſe times, when darkneſs that may be felt, ſhall ſpread over all the earth; how ſhould plants but whither? or beaſts of the field but waſte? how ſhould men but die, when they ſtumble at noon-day? their eyes ſhall fail them, the light forſake them: miſerable men! the Sun ſhill not ſhine on them, becauſe God will judg them. But this not all.

Then] ſhall the moon not give her light: Matth. 24.29.Matt 24:29as the day and night are both alike with God, ſo the day and night ſhall be alike with man: the Sun will not lend his luſtre, nor can the Moon borrow any more light: but what ſtrange warr makes this confuſion of nature? the Sun ſhall look black,Ioel 2.31.Joel 2:31 and the Moon be turned into bloud. Here is a new Moon, and ſuch a change as before was never ſeen: there is no encreaſe, no full, no wane,Gen. 1.14.Gen 1:14 but all the light is at once exſtinguiſhed: unhappy creatures that depend upon her influence! how ſhould they live, when ſhe her ſelf wades in bloud? God made theſe Lights for ſignes, and for ſeaſons, for daies, and for years: but now ſigns are out, ſeaſons paſt p. 94daies are done, years aboliſhed: The Angels hath ſworn by him that lives for ever, that time ſhall be no longer, Rev. 10.6. Who will not believe that hears this ſacred oath? was it a man? no, an Angel:] did he ſay it? no, he ſwore it:] how? by himſelf? no, it was by him that lives for ever:] and what? that time muſt be little? nay it muſt be no longer, time ſhall be no more] How ſhall it be any more? the Sun is disfigured, the Moon disrobed, both eclipſed. But this not all.

Then] ſhall the ſtars be ſhaken; the powers of Heaven ſhall move, and the Lamps of Heaven ſhall tremble: theſe were Gods threats againſt the Babylonians, Eſay 13.10.Eſay 13.10.Isa 13:10 For the ſtars of Heaven, and the Planets thereof ſhall not give their light. Againſt the Egyptians, Ezek. 32.7.Ezek. 32.7.Ezek 32:7 I will cover the heaven, and make the ſtars dark over thee: Againſt all his enemies, Ioel 3.15.Joel 3.15.Joel 3:15 The Sun and Moon ſhall be darkned, (but not they alone, for) and the ſtarrs themſelves ſhall withdraw their ſhining: But what ſpeak we of darkneſs, or the ſtarrs not ſhining? they ſhall not onelyonly dimme,Mark 13.15.Mark 13:15 but down. In thoſe days (ſaith our Saviour) after that tribulation, the Sun and Moon ſhall darken, and the ſtars of heaven ſhall fall: Tymne, &c.how fall? ſo thick (ſay Expoſitors) that the Firmament ſhall ſeem to be without all light. I cannot ſay theſe ſigns ſhall be reall; whether it is by ſubſtraction of their light, or the conceit of brain-troubled ſinners or the fall of ſome inflamed vapours, or the Apoſtacy of ſome enlightned perſons: for certain (to ſpeak literally) there ſhall be ſome change in the whole order of Nature: Sun and Moon, Starrs and Planets, all muſt loſe their lights, and by all likely-hood, it is the glory of the Judge that will dazel thoſe Candles. Neither is this all.

Then] ſhall the Elements melt, the fire ſhall fall down from heaven, the air turn it ſelf into vapours, the Sea ſwell above all Clouds, the earth be full of yawning Cliffes, and violent tremblings.2 Pet. 3.18. Elementaris ſubtiliando, terreſtris conſumendo, infernalis puniendo. Ioh. de Combis.2 Pet 3:18 A fire ſhall firſt uſher the Judge, and ſuch a fire as ſhall have the property of all fires; that fire in its ſphear, this fire on earth, the fearfull fire which torments in hell, all ſhall meet in one, and according to their ſeverall qualities, produce their ſeverall effects: the juſt ſhall be refined by one, the wicked ſhall be tormented by another, the earth be conſumed by a third: There is no creature but it muſt be fuell for this fire; as the firſt world p. 95was deſtroyed with water, to quench the heate of their luſt, ſo muſt this be deſtroyed with fire to warm the cold of our charity. But not the fire alone.

Then] ſhall the aire breed wonders: what ſhall be ſeen but lightnings, whirle-winds, coruſcations, blazing ſtarrs, flaſhing thunders? here a Comet runns round in a circuit, there a Crown compaſeth that Comet; near them a fiery Dragon fums in flames every where appears a ſhooting fire, as if all above us were nothing but inflamed ayr. Yet not the air alone.

Then] ſhall the waters roare, Rivers ſhall wax dry,Luke 21.25.Luke 21:25 the Sea froth, and foame, and fume: thoſe that dwell near ſhall wonder at the ſwelling tides, others a far off ſhall tremble at the roaring noiſe: what threats are thoſe which the Surges murmur? war is proclaimed by noiſe, ſet on by blaſts, continued by ſtorms, the floods and tides ſhall run over all the plaines, the the Sea and waves ſhall mount up to the very skyes; now would they warr with Heaven, then overwhelme the earth, anone will they ſinke to hell: and thus ſhall they rove and rage, as if they would threat all the world with a ſecond inundation. Nay yet again.

Then] ſhall the earth be ſhaken in divers places (ſaith Matthew) in all places (ſaith Joel) for all the earth ſhall tremble before him: here is an Earth-quake indeed;Matth. 24.7. Joel. 1.10.Matt 24:7Joel 1:10 not ſome part of the land, by reaſon of ſome cloyſtered wind, but the Rocks, Mountains, Caſtles, Cities, Countreys, ſome ſhall remove, others be ruined; thus all the earth ſhall be as a ſwallowing gulf, that all things here ſituated, may be then devoured. What can I more?

Then] ſhall Plants ceaſe their growth, Beaſts want their ſence, men looſe their reaſon: were this but little? you may wonder more. The Sibylls could affirm, that Nature ſhould both ceaſe, and change her being, the Trees in ſtead of growth ſhould ſweat out blood, the Beaſts ſhould bellow up & down the fields, then want their ſence. Men ſhould have disfigured faces, aſtoniſhed hearts, affrighted looks, then loſe their reaſon: nay, what marvail then, if at the worlds end, they be at their wits end? O fearful ſignes, enough to move flintie ſtones! if this be the Term, what is the Suit, the Bill, the Doom, the Execution? a Trump ſhall ſummon, Death will arreſt, God muſt have p. 96appearance, and Then] is the day: Then] he ſhall reward every man according to his works.

What a Chaos is here, when the world muſt be thus turned topſie torvie? the Sun the Moon, the Starrs; come yet lower, the Fire, the Air, the Sea, the Earth; nay Trees, and Beaſts, and Men, all muſt be out of order in the whole courſe of Nature.

Ʋſe. 1 Who can read or hear this Prognoſtication of Doomſ-day, and not wonder at the ſignes which ſhall hang over our heads? we ſee by experience when any out-ragious ſtorm happens on Sea or Land, how wonderfully men are diſmayed, how ſtrangely aſtoniſhed: now then, when the Heavens, the Earth, the Sea, the Ayr ſhall be wholly diſtempered and diſordered; when the Sun ſhall threaten with mourning, the Moon with blood, the Stars with their falling: yea when all the heavens ſhall ſhrink and paſs away as a paper ſcroule, who then dares eat or drink, or ſleep, or take a minutes reſt? Be ſure theſe dayes ſhall come, and the ſignes ſhall paſs:Ioel 1.5, 13 15.Joel 1:5Joel 1:13 Awake yee Drunkards, and weep all ye drinkers of Wine, becauſe of the new wine; for it ſhall be pulled from your mouthes. Gird your ſelves, and lament ye Prieſts, howle ye Miniſters of the Altar: alas! for the day, for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a deſtruction from the Almighty ſhall it come. What are ye inſenſible of theſe ſignes? the impriſoned thiefe fears at the news of the aſſize: and is the ſinner ſo impudent that he fears nothing? The day ſhall come when the men of earth ſhall fear, and be full of fear; every ſign ſhall breed a wonder, and ever ſight ſhall breed a wondrous terrour, men ſhall hide themſelves in the caves of beaſts, and the beaſts ſeek ſhall to ſave themſelves in the houſes of men: where then ſhal the wicked ſtand, when all the world ſhal be thus in uprore.

Ʋſe. 2 Yet a word for us all, we have all warning, and we had beſt to provide; yet the weather is fair, we may frame an Ark to ſave us from the flood; yet are the Angels at the gates of Sodom; yet is Jonas in the ſtreets of Nineveh: yet the Prophet wooes,Hoſ. 6.4.Hos 6:4 O Iudah, how ſhould I entreat thee? yet the Apoſtle prayes, nay, we pray you in Chriſts ſtead that yee will be reconciled unto God: 2 Cor. 5.20.2 Cor 5:20to conclude, yet the Bride-groom ſtayes the Virgins leiſure; Lord that they would make ſpeed, ſeeing the joyes of heaven tarry for them. This Tearm is at hand, and is p. 97it not time to petition to the Judg of heaven? what a dangerous courſe is it, never to call to minde that Time of Times, until we ſee the Earth flaming, the Heavens melting, the Iudgment haſtning, the Iudg with all his Angels comming in the Clouds, to denounce the laſt doom upon all fleſh, which ſhall be unto ſome Woe, woe, when they ſhall call to the mountains to cover them, and for ſhame of their ſins, hide themſelves (if it were poſſible) in hell fire: if we have any fear this ſhould move fear, if we have any care this ſhould move us all to be carefull indeed. We have not two ſouls that we may hazard one, neither have we two lives, that we may truſt to another, but as thy laſt day leaves thee, ſo will this Doomeſ-day finde thee. Who would not but axcept the fatherly fore-warning of Chriſt our Saviour? See you not how many ſignes, as the Heralds and fore runners of his glorious comming?Matth. 24.7, 12.Matt 24:7Matt 24:12 The abounding of iniquity the waxing cold of charity, the riſing up of Nation againſt Nation. Was there ever leſſe love? was there ever more hatred? Where is that Jonathan that loves David as his own ſoul? nay, where is not that Joab, that can imbrace friendly, but carryes a malicious heart towards Abner? ſure we are near the end indeed, when charity is grown thus cold. You then that would have the comfort of the day, take theſe ſigns for warnings, provide for him who hath thus long waited for you;2 Pet. 3.14.2 Pet 3:14 and ſeeing you look for ſuch things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blamleſs. Who would indanger their ſouls for a little ſin? buſie Clients heed nothing but their cauſe, and if you would recover heaven, be ſure that ye mark this Tearm. The time draws on, now the Writs are out, anon comes the Iudge, and Then is the day. Then] he ſhall reward every man according to his work.

You ſee the Tearm, and now you may exſpect to view the Judge: the Tearm is Then] the Judge is He.] Stay a while and the next time you ſhall ſee him in his judgment ſeat.

p. 98He.]

HE? who? if you look at the fore-going words you may ſee who he is: The ſon of man ſhall come in the glory of his father, and it is he that ſhall reward us according to our works.

hoc facit ut ad infimam ſe ſortem hominum abjiciat. Muſculus in Matth. cap. 8. Pſal. 8.4.Matt 8Ps 8:4This title of the Son of man, denotes unto us the humility of the Son of God; what is the Son of man, but man? and this tels us how humble he was for us, that being God▪ was made man, or the Son of Man, which is as all one, according to that, Pſal. 8.4. What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of man that viſiteſt him?

It is true, God is the Judg of all: Heb. 12.23.Heb. 12.23.Heb 12:23 and yet it is as true, this God is man, Acts 17.31.Acts 17.31.Acts 17:31 God (ſaith Paul) will judge the world, but it is by that man whom he hath ordained. God hath the power, but God as man hath onelyonly the Commiſſion. He (who is God) hath given him Authority to execute judgment. And would you know the reaſon? it is onelyonly becauſe he is the Son of man, Joh, 5.27.Iohn 5.27.John 5:27 In a word, God ſhall judg, the whole Trinity by preſcription, Chriſt onelyonly in execution: the Father judgeth but by the Son; or as the Evangeliſt John, the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son: Iohn 5.22.Iohn 5.22.John 5:22

But becauſe as man, there appears in him a double form, as humbled, as glorified; wee'l diſcuſſe theſe queſtions, which reſolve all doubts.

1. Whether Chriſt, as man ſhall appear unto us, when he will reward us.

2. Whether man, as glorified ſhall appear unto us, when he will reward us.

To the firſt we ſay, that onelyonly as man he will appear our judge, who as man appeared when himſelf was judged; what better reaſon to expreſs the benefit of our redemption then ſo to judg us as he did redeem us?Tunc manifeſtus veniet inter juſtos judicaturus, qui occultè venerat judicandus ab injuſtis. Auguſt de civit. dei. was he not man that ſuffered, died, and was buried? and is he not man that one day ſhall come to judg both the quick and dead? he that came obſcurely to be judged by the unjuſt, ſhall then appear openly to judg all the juſt: the ſame man, who is God and man, ſhall be our judge in his humane nature, by his divine power. Thus we ſay, God, (who is the ancient of daies) hath the power originall; but man (who is the Son of God) hath the power traduced, and therefore ſaith Daniel, One p. 99like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days, and they brought him here before him, Dan. 7.13, 14.Dan 7:13Dan 7:14and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdome.

Ʋſe. Conſider this, yee that are going to the Bar; what a ſight will this be to the faithleſs Iewes, ſtuborn Gentiles, wicked Chriſtians, when every eye ſhall ſee him, and they alſo which pierced him: This is the man (ſhall they ſay) that was crucified for us, Apoc. 1.7.Rev 1:7and again crucified by us: why alas! every ſin is a Croſs, every oath is a Spear, and when that day is come, you muſt behold the man, whom thus you do crucifie by your daily ſins: Sure this will be a fearfull fight; where is the bloudy ſwearer, that can tear his wounds, and heart, and bloud and all? at this day of Doom **Sic Aug. habet ſuum (fortaſſe) de Chriſt; & martyrum vulneribus, et quod non ſit deformitas iis, ſed dignitas. novi quod quaeritur an cicatrices remaneant in corpore perfecto et glorificato? attamen Chriſtus apparuit Thomae cum cicatricibus ad fidem ejus confirmandam. Ioh. 20.27. Matth. 26.24.John 20:27Matt 26:24thoſe wounds ſhall appear, that heart be viſible, that body and bloud be ſeen both of good and bad, and then ſhall that fearfull voice proceed from his Throne, this was the heart thou piercedſt, theſe are the wounds thou racedſt, and this is the bloud thou ſpilledſt: Here is the fearfull judgment, when thou that art the murtherer ſhall ſee the ſlain man ſit thy Judge, what favour canſt thou exſpect at his hands, whom thou haſt ſo vilely abuſed by thy daily ſins? be ſure the Son of man will come, as it is written of him, but woe be unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed, it had been good for that man if he had not been born, Matth. 26.24.

To the ſecond queſtion we anſwer; that as Chriſt ſhall appear in the form of man, ſo this man ſhall appear in a glorious form: he that is a Mediatour betwixt God and man, muſt both intercede for man to God, and communicate thoſe things which are of God to man, to this purpoſe both theſe offices are agreeable to him, in that he participates of both extreams; he is man to abide the judgments due from God, hee is God to convey all his benefits unto man: as then, in his firſt coming, he pleaſed God by taking the infirmities of man upon him, ſo in his ſecond coming will he judg us men, by appearing in that glory which he derives from God. But look about you! who is this Iudg arrayed in ſuch a majeſty?Ioel. 2.3, 6.Joel 2:3Joel 2:6 A fire devoures before him, and behind him a flame burns up, on every ſide the people tremble, and all faces ſhall gather blackneſs: here is a change indeed, he that was in a cratch, now ſits on a Throne; then Chriſt ſtood like a Lamb before Pilate, now Pilate ſtands p. 100like a malefactour before Chriſt, he that was once made the foot-ſtool of his enemies,Pſal. 110.1.Ps 110:1 muſt now judge, till he hath made all his enemies his foot-ſtool. Where ſhall they run? and how ſhall they ſeek the clifts of the rocks, and hollow places? the glory of his Majeſty kindles a flame, while the heaven and earth ſhall fly from the preſence of this Iudge. Revel. 21.17.Rev 21:17O yee heavens! why do ye fly away? what have ye done? why are ye afraid? it is the Majeſty of the Iudge that will amaze the innocent, the greatneſs of whoſe indignation, will be able to ſtrike all the heavens with terror and admiration; when the Sea is out-ragious, and tempeſtuous he that ſtands on the ſhoar will be ſtruck into a kinde of fear: or when the Father goes like a Lyon about his houſe, in puniſhing his bond-ſlave, the innocent ſon ſtands in great fear and trouble: and how then ſhall the wicked tremble, when the very heavens ſhall be affraid?Greg. in Mor. If the goodly Cedars of Lebanon be ſhaken, what ſhall become of the tender twiggs in the Deſart? if the ſturdy Rams ſtoop and tremble, how will the bleating Lambes cry and run away? 1 Pet. 4.18.1 Pet 4:18and if the juſt and righteous ſcarcely be ſaved, where ſhall the ungodly and the ſinner appear? The mountains and heavens ſhall melt before the Lord; and what ſtony hearts have we, that (for all this) are nothing at all yet moved?

But (may be) I prevent you exſpectation, if here be a Judge where is the guard? behold him coming from above with great power and glory: would you know this habit? he is cloathed with Majeſty: ſeek you the colour; 'tis the brightneſs of his Father: would you view his attendants? they are an hoaſt of Angels: look you for the guard? they are a troope of ſhining Cherubims: nay, yet ſee a longer train, a further company, the ſouls of Saints deſcend from their imperiall ſeats, and attend the Lambe with great glory, and glorious majeſty: never was any Iudge Lord of ſuch a circuit: his footſtool are the Clouds, his ſeat the Rain-bow, his juſtices Saints, his officers Angels, and the Arch-Angels Trump proclaims a ſilence, whileſt a juſt ſentence comes from his mouth on all the world. Thus are the Aſſizes begun to be ſolemnized the thrones (as Daniel ſaw in in his viſion) were ſet up, and the ancient of days ſate down, his garments white as ſnow, Dan. 7.9.Dan 7:9and the hair of his head like pure wooll his Throne like the fiery flame, and his wheeles as burning p. 101fire, Dan. 7.9.Dan. 7.9.Dan 7:9 This is the Iudge whoſe coming is ſo fearfull, uſhered by a fiery flood, apparelled in ſnowy white, carried in his circuit on burning wheeles, and attended with the number of thouſand thouſands. O yee Iewes, behold the man, whom before you crucified like a Malefactor, behold him in his Throne, whom you ſaid, his Diſciples had ſtollen by night out of his grave: behold him in his Majeſty,Matth. 28.13. Greg. ſup. ill. Matth. 24. in nubibus coeli.Matt 28:13Matt 24 whom you would not deigne to look upon in his humility; the baſer you eſteemed his weakneſs, the heavier muſt you find and feel his mightineſs. The Son of man appears, and the kindred of the earth muſt mourn; ſuch a ſhout of fury followes the ſight of his Majeſty, that the vaults ſhall eccho, the hills reſound, the earth ſhake, the heavens change their ſituation, and all be turned to a confuſion; then ſhall the wicked weep and wail, and yet their tears not ſerve their turn, their ſins paſt betray them, their ſhame preſent condemns them, and their torment to come confounds them; thus ſhall they bewail their miſerable hap, their unfortunate birth, and their curſed end: O fearfull Iudge, Cant. 6.4, 5.Song 6:4Song 6:5terrible as an Army with Banners; turn away thine eyes from us, which overcome the proudeſt Potentates: the Kings of the earth ſhall be aſtoniſhed, and the Nations of the Iſles ſhall fear from farr: Every eye ſhall ſee him whom they have pierced, and tremble at the preſence of his ſight. Conceive the guilty priſoner coming to his tryall, will not the red robes of his Judge, make his heart bleed for his blood-ſhed? doth not that ſcarlet Cloath preſent a monſtrous hew before his eyes? O then! what ſight is this, when the man ſlain, ſits in the judgment ſeat, the roſie wounds of our Saviour ſtill bleeding (as it were) in the priſoners preſence? Theſe are the wounds, not as tokens of infirmity, but victory, Aquin. ſupplem. Q. 90. A. 2. ad ſecundum.and theſe now ſhall appear, not as if he muſt ſuffer, but to ſhew us he hath ſuffered. See here an object full of glory, ſplendor, majeſty, excellency, and this is He] the man, the judg the rewarder of every man according to his works.

The Judge we have ſet in his Throne, and before we appear, let us practice our repentance, that we anſwer the better.

Ʋſe. 1 Think but (O ſinner) what ſhall be thy reward, when thou ſhalt meet this Iudge; The adultery for a while may flatter beauty, the Swearer grace his words with oathes, the Drunkard p. 102kiſs his cups, and drink his bodies-health, till he bring his ſoul to ruine: but remember for all theſe things God will bring thee to judgment. Eccleſ. 11.9.Eccl 11:9Cold comfort in the end: the Adulterer ſhall fatisfie his luſt, when he lies on a bed of fire, all hugged and embraced with thoſe flames; the ſwearer ſhall have enough of wounds and blood, when Devils torture his body, and rack his ſoul in hell, the Drunkard ſhall have plenty of his Cups, when ſcalding lead ſhall be poured down his throat, and his breath draw flames of fire in ſtead of air: as is thy ſin, ſo is the nature of thy puniſhment, the juſt Iudge ſhall give juſt meaſure, and the ballance of his wrath poize in a juſt porportion.

Ʋſe. 2 Yet I will not diſcomfort you, who are theſe Iudges deareſt favorites; Now is the day (if you are Gods ſervants) that Sathan ſhall be trod under your feet, and you with your Lord and Maſter Chriſt, ſhall be carried into the holieſt of holies. You may remember how all the men of God in their greateſt anguiſhes here below, have fetcht comfort by the eye of faith at this mountain: Iob rejoyced being caſt on the Dung-hill, that his Redeemer lived, and that he ſhould ſee him at the laſt day ſtand on the earth: Iohn longed and cried; Come Lord Ieſus, come quickly; and had we the ſame precious faith, we have the ſame precious promiſes: why then are we not raviſhed at the remembrance of theſe things? certainly there is an happy faith (whereſoever it ſhall be found) that ſhall not be aſhamed at that day▪ Now therefore little children abide in him, 1 Joh. 2.28.1 John 2:28that when he ſhall appear, we may have confidence▪ Confidence; what elſe? I will ſee you again (ſaith our Saviour-Iudge) and your heart ſhall rejoyce, Joh. 16.22.John 16:22and your joy no man taketh from you. O bleſſed mercy, that ſo triumphes againſt judgment; our hearts muſt joy, our joyes endure and all this occaſioned by the ſight of our Saviour; for Hee] ſhall reward every man according to his works.

We have prepared the Iudge for ſentence: he hath rid his circuit in the Clouds, and made the Rain-bow his chair of ſtate, for his judgment ſeat; his Sheriffes are the Saints, that now riſe from the Duſt to meet their Iudge, whom long they have exſpected: the ſummons is ſent out by a ſhout from heaven; the cry no ſooner made, but the graves flie open, and the dead ariſe: ſtay a while till I ready them; you have ſeen the Iudge, and now we prepare p. 103the judged. He] is the Iudge; every man] the judged: and He ſhall reward every man according to his works.

Every man.]

THe perſons to be judged are a world of men, all men of the world, good, and bad, elect and reprobates, but in a different manner: To give you a full view of them, I muſt lead your attentions orderly through theſe paſſages, there muſt be a Citation, Reſurrection, Collection, Separation: follow me in theſe pathes, and you may ſee both the men and their difference, before they come to their judgments.

Firſt, there is a ſummons and Every man muſt hear it; it is performed by a ſhout from heaven, and the voice of the laſt Trump;Surgite mortui, venite ad judicium. Jeronymus ſuper Mathaeum. Verc vox tubae terribilis, cui omnia obediunt elementa, petras ſcindit, inferos, &c. Chryſoſt. 1. ad Corin. 15. the clangor of this Trump could ever ſound in Ieroms eares, Ariſr yee dead, and come to judgment: the clangor of this Trump will ſound in all mens eares, it ſhall wake the dead out of their drouzy ſleep, and change the living from their mortall ſtate, make devils tremble, and the whole world ſhake with terrour: A terrible voice, a Trumpet ſhall ſound, that ſhall ſhake the world, rend the rocks, break the mountains, diſſolve the bonds of death, burſt down the gates of hell, and unite all ſpirits to their own bodies. What ſay you to this Trump, that can make the whole Univerſe to tremble? no ſooner ſhall it ſound, but the the earth ſhall ſhake, the mountains skip like Ramms, and the little hills like young ſheep: it ſhall pierce the waters, and fetch from the bottome of the Sea the duſt of Adams ſeed, it ſhall tear the rocky Tombes of earthly Princes, and make their haughty minds to ſtoop before the King of heaven; it ſhall remove the center, and tear the bowels of the earth, open the graves of all the dead, and fetch their ſouls from heaven or hell, to reunite them to their bodies. A dreadfull ſummons of the wicked, whom this ſuddain noiſe will no leſs aſtoniſh, then confound; the dark pitchy walls of that infernall pit of hell, ſhall be ſhaken with the ſhout, when the dreadfull ſoul ſhall leave its place of terrour, and once more re-enter into her ſtinking Carrion, to receive a greater condemnation: what terrour will this be to the wicked wretch? what wofull ſalutations will there be between that body and ſoul, which living together p. 104in the height of iniquity, muſt now be re-united to enjoy the fulneſs of their miſery?Joh. 5.28, 29.John 5:28John 5:29 The voice of Chriſt is powerfull, the dead ſhall hear his voice, and they ſhall come forth, they that have done good unto the reſurrection of life, and they that have done evill, unto the reſurrection of condemnation.

You hear the ſummons, and the next is your appearance; death the Goaler brings all his priſoners from the grave, and they muſt ſtand and appear before the Judge of heaven.

The ſummons is given, and every man muſt appear: Death muſt now give back all their ſpoils, and reſtore again all that ſhe hath took from the world. What a gaſtly ſight will this be, to ſee all the Sepulchers open, to ſee dead men riſe out of their graves, and the ſcattered duſt to flie on the wings of the wind, till it meet together in one compacted body? Ezekiels dry bones ſhall live: thus ſaith the Lord, I will lay ſinewes upon you, and make fleſh grow upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you ſhall know that I am the Lord, Ezek. 37.6.Ezek. 37.6.Ezek 37:6 This duſt of ours ſhall be devoured of worms, conſumed by Serpents, which craul and ſpring from the marrow of our bones: look in a dead mans grave, and ſee what you find; but duſt, and worms, and bones, and skuls, putrified fleſh, an houſe full of ſtench and vermine; Behold then the power of God Almighty, out of this grave and duſt of the earth; from theſe chambers of death and darkneſs, ſhall ariſe the bodies of the buried, the graves will flie open, and the dead go out; not an hair, not a duſt, not a bone ſhall be denied, but whatſoever holds their duſt ſhall yield their bodies: I ſaw the dead (ſaith Iohn) ſmall and great ſtand before God; Revel. 20.12, 13.Rev 20:12Rev 20:13and the Sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works, Revel. 20.13. what a wonderfull ſight will this be, to ſee the ſea and earth bring forth in al parts ſuch variety of bodies: to ſee ſo many ſorts of people & nations to come together? huge armies, innumerable, as the Caterpillars of Egypt, all ſhall ariſe, and every one appear before the Lords Tribunall: worms, and corruption, cannot hinder the reſurrection, he that ſaid to Corruption, Iob 17.14. Iob 19.25.Job 17:14Job 19:25thou art my father, and to the worm thou art my ſiſter and mother, ſaid alſo, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and mine p. 105eyes ſhall behold him. O good God! how wonderfull is thy power? this fleſh of ours ſhall turn to duſt▪ be eate of worms, conſume to nothing, if there be any reliques of our aſhes, the wind may ſcatter them, the blaſts divide them, our feet trample them, the beaſts digeſt them, the vermine devour them; if nothing, yet time will conſume them. But for all this, God is as able to raiſe us from the duſt, as to create us of the duſt, not one duſt of this clay ſhall periſh, though ſcattered, divided trampled, devoured, conſumed, it ſhall be gathered, recovered, revived, refined and raiſed; and as one duſt ſhall not be loſt of one man, ſo neither ſhall one man be loſt of all the world: this is that generall day that ſhall congregate all, they ſhall come from the four winds and corners of the world, to make an univerſall appearance; all the children of Adam ſhall then meet together; yea, all the kindreds of the earth ſhall meet together, and mourn; Aſſemble your ſelves, and come all ye heathen to the valley of Jehoſhaphat, for there will I ſit to judg all the heathen, Joel 3.12.Joel 3.11, 12.Joel 3:11Joel 3:12

The ſummons are ſounded, the dead raiſed, and yet to give you a fuller view of the parties, ſee how God the Iudg now ſends his meſſengers, to fetch the living bodies to his Court.

Ʋſe. 3 He ſhall ſend his Angels (ſaith our Saviour) and they ſhall gather together his Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another, Matth. 24.31.Matth. 24.31.Matt 24:31 True it is, all ſhall be gathered, yet with a difference, ſome with a ſwift pace flie to the Throne, where is the hope of their diliverance; others draw and pull back, whiles the Angels hale them to the Iudgment ſeat; the righteous have nimble ſwift bodies, that flie to the Iudg, as a Bird to her neſt and young ones; but the wicked have their bodies black and heavy, they cannot flie, but flagge in the air, and the Angels do not bear, but dragge them to the judgment ſeat: how can this chuſe but fear the wicked, when like malefactours, they are brought before the wrathfull judg? as they were born or buried, ſo muſt they riſe again naked and miſerable; what a ſhame is this? and yet the more horrible, in that their nakedneſs ſhall be covered with a filthy blackneſs; needs muſt deſperate fears ſieze one the ſoul, when it is again united to her body, transformed to ſuch an ugly form: is this the body fed with delights and delicates? is this the fleſh pampered p. 106with eaſe and luſt? is this the face masked from the winde and Sun? are theſe the hands decked with Rings and Diamonds? how become theſe ſo ſwarthy horrible, which before were ſo fair and amiable? this the change of the wicked, when through ſorrow and confuſion they ſhall cry to the Rocks, cover our nakedneſſe, and to the hills hide our uglineſs; nay, rather than appear, let the infernal Furies tear and totter us into a thouſand pieces. Look your beauties (Beloved) in this glaſſe: ſuch is the end of this worlds glory, ſo vain the pleaſure of this body. Now is the end of all things come and what remains, but a ſea of fears and miſeries ruſhing on them: before ſhall the Angels drag them, behinde ſhall the black Crew follow them, within ſhal their conſciences torture them, and without ſhall hot flames of fire fume, and fry and furiouſly torment them; fear within, & fire without: but worſe then all, a Iudg above all, thither muſt they go, Angels uſher them, Devils attend them, the Cryer hath called them, the Angels trump hath ſummoned them, and now they muſt appear.

We have brought all together, now we muſt part them aſunder, the ſheep ſhall be put on the right hand, and the goates on the left, as every man hath deſerved.

Two travellers go together, feed together, lye together, ſleep together, but in the morn their wayes part aſunder: thus the ſheep and goates eat together, drink together, ſleep together, rot together but at this day there ſhall be a ſeparation, let them grow together, corn and tares untill the harvest: this world is the flloor,Matth. 13.30.Matt 13:30 fan while you will, there will be ſome chaff; love peace like lambs their will be ſome goats to trouble; the ſheep and goats live both together in one fold, the world; lye both together in one cote, the grave: the world is a common Inne, which entertains all manner of paſſengers: the rode-way to death, is the Kings high-way free for all travellers: after the paſſage of this weary day, death hath provided a large bed to lay all in, the grave: all live together, and all lye together, all reſt together, and all rot together: but when this night is paſt, and the laſt day is ſprung, then is the wofull ſeparation; ſome turn on the right, and thoſe are the bleſſed; others on the left hand, and thoſe are the curſed. Here is the beginning of woes, when the wicked ſhall curſe, and houl, like the fiendes of hell. O Lord, puniſh me here (ſaith one devoutly) rack me in pieces, p. 107cut me in ſhreds, burn me in fire, ſo that I may be there placed at thy right hand: Domine híc ure, hîc ſeca, modo in aeternum parcas. Aug.Bleſſed are they that have a place amongſt thoſe elect ſheep; what now remains but their doom, which is a lot that muſt befall every man? for he ſhall reward (not one, or ſome, but every one) every man according to his works.

The Summons are given, the dead are raiſed, the priſoners conducted to the bar, and the ſheep and goats ſevered aſunder each from other.

Ʋſe. 1 And now ſee the parties thus ſummoned, raiſed, gathered, ſevered; is not here a world of men to be judged all in one day? Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of deciſion, Joel 3 14.Joel 3:14for the day of the Lord is neer in the valley of deciſion. Ioel 3.14. Bleſſed God! what a multitude ſhall ſtands before thee? all tongues, all nations, all people of the earth ſhall appear at once, all we ſhall then behold each ſon of Adam, and Adam our grand-father ſhall then ſee all his poſterity. Conſider this, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, God is no accepter of perſons. Heark, O beggar, petitions are out of date, and yet thou needeſt not fear thou ſhalt have juſtice, this day all cauſes ſhall be heard, and thou (though a poor one) muſt appear with others to receive thy ſentence. Heark, O Farmer, now are thy lives and leaſes together finiſhed, this day is the new harveſt of thy Iudge, who gathers his wheat into his garner, Matth. 3.12.Matt 3:12and burns up the chaffe in fire unquenchable, no boon, no bribe, no prayers, no tears can avail thy ſoul: but as thou haſt done, ſo art thou ſentenced at the firſt appearing. Heark, O Land-lord, where is thy purchaſe to thee and thy heires for ever? this day makes an end of all, and happy were thy ſoul, if thou hadſt no better land then a barren rock, to cover and ſhelter thee from the Iudges preſence. Heark, O Captain, vain now is the hope of man to be ſaved by the multitude of an hoſt: hadſt thou command of all the armies on earth and hell, yet couldeſt thou not reſiſt the power of Heaven: ſee, the trump ſounds, and the alarum ſummons thee, thou muſt appear. Heark, O Prince, what is the crown and ſcepter againſt thunder? the greatneſs of man, when it comes to encounter with God is weakneſs and vanity. Heark, all the world,Ecclus 40.3, 4.Sir 40:3Sir 40:4 From him that ſitteth upon the glorious throne, unto him that is beneath in earth and aſhes; from him that is cloathed in blue ſilk and weareth a crown, even to him that is cloathed in ſimple linnen: all muſt p. 108appear before him, the Beggar, Farmer, Land-lord, Captain, King, and Prince, and every man, (when that day is come) ſhall receive his rewards according to his works.

Ʋſe. 2 But O here is the miſery, Every man muſt appear, but Every man will not think on it: would you know the ſign of that man which this day ſhall be bleſſed? it is he, and onelyonly hee, that again and again thinks on this day, that Ierome-like meditates on this ſummons, and reſurrection, and collection, and ſeparation. Examine then your ſelves by this rule; is your mind often carried to theſe objects? ſoar you on high with the wings of faith; and a ſound eye to this hill? why then, you are right birds, truly bred, and not of the baſtard brood? I pray you mark it, every croſs and diſgrace, and ſlander, and diſcountenance, loſſe of goods, diſeaſe of body or whatſoever calamity if you are the children of God, and deſtined to ſit at the right hand of our Saviour) they will ever and anon, be carrying your minds to thoſe objects of Doomeſ-day. And if you can but ſay that experimentally you find this true in your ſelves, if ordinarily in your miſeries, or other times, you think on this time of refreſhing, then be of good comfort, for you are of the brides company, and ſhall enter into the marriage-chamber to abide there there for ever. But if you are deſtitute of theſe kinde of motions, O then ſtrive for theſe properties, that are the inſeparable breathings and movings of an holy heart, ſound mind, and bleſſed perſon: every day meditate that every man ſhall appear one day, and receive his reward according to his works.

You ſee how we have followed the cauſe, and wel-neer brought it to finall ſentence, the term is diſcovered, the Iudge revealed, the priſoners prepared, and the next time we ſhall bring them to the bar, to receive their rewards. This time depart in peace, and the God of peace keep your ſouls ſpotleſs without ſin, that you may be well prepared for this day of judgment.

According to his works.]

VVEe have brought the priſoners to their triall, and now to go on, how ſhould this triall be? I anſwer: not by faith, but works; by faith we are juſtified, by works we p. 109are judged: faith onelyonly cauſeth, but works onelyonly manifeſt that we are juſt indeed. Here then is the triall, that every ſoul of man muſt undergo that day. Works are the matter that muſt be firſt enquired of: and is there any wicked man to receive his ſentence? let him never hope to be ſaved by anothers ſuper-erogating, the matter of enquiring is not aliena, but ſua, not anothers, but his] works. Or is there any good man on whom the ſmiling Iudge is ready to pronounce a bleſſed doom? Let him never boaſt of meriting heaven by his juſt deſervings; ſee the reward given, not propter, but ſecundum, (as Gregory Greg. 1. in illa verba 7. Pſal. poenit. Auditam fac mihi mane miſericordiam.tells us) not for his works, as if they were the cauſe, but according to his works] as being the beſt witneſſes of his inward righteouſneſs.

But the better to acquaint you with this triall, there be two points, of which eſpecially we are to make inquiry.

Firſt, how all mens works ſhall be manifeſt to us?

Secondly, how all mens works ſhall be examined by God?

1. Of the manifeſtation of every mans work, Revel. 20.12.Rev 20:12Iohn ſpeaketh, And I ſaw the dead ſmall and great ſtand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of thoſe things which were written in the books according to their works, Revel. 20.12. God is ſaid to have books, not properly, but figuratively: all things are as certain and manifeſt to him, as if he had regiſters in heaven to keep records of them. Remember this, O forgetfull! you may commit, add multiply your ſins, and yet run on ſcore till they are grown ſo many, that they are out of memory; but God keeps them in a regiſter, and not one ſhall be forgotten, there is a book and books, and when all the dead ſhall ſtand before God to receive their ſentence, then muſt theſe books be opened.

That is, the book of

Gods memory,

Mans conſcience,

Eternall life.

There is a book of Gods memory, and herein are all the acts and monuments of all men whatſoever, enrolled and regiſtred; A book of remembrance was written before God, for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name, Malac. 3.16.Malach. 3.16.Mal 3:16 This is p. 110that which manifeſts all ſecrets, whether mentall or actuall; this is that which reveales all doings, whether good or evill. In theſe Records are found at large Abels ſacrifice, Cains murther, Abſolons rebellion, Davids devotion, the Iews cruelty, the Prophets innocency, good mens intentions, and the ſinners actions; nothing ſhall be hid when this book is opened, for all may run and read it, ſtand and hear it. How fond are we that imagine heavens eye (ſuch is this book) to be ſhut upon us? Do we not ſee many run to corners to commit their ſins? there can they ſay, Let us take our fill of love untill the morning, for darkneſs hath covered us, and who ſeeth us? who knoweth us? Eſai. 29.15.Prov. 7.18. Eſay 29.15.Prov 7:18Isa 29:15 But are not the Angels of God about you?1 Cor. 4.9.1 Cor 4:9 We are a ſpectacle to the Angels (ſaith the Apoſtle) I am ſure we muſt be to both, to Angels, and to men, and to all the world: O do not that before the Angels of God, yea before the God of Angels, which you would ſhame to do in the ſight and preſence of an earthly man! Alas, muſt our thoughts be known, and ſhall not dark-corner ſins be revealed? muſt every word and ſyllable we ſpeak be writ and recorded in Gods memorable book: and muſt not ill deeds, ill demeanours, ill works of darkneſs be diſcloſed at that day? yes; God ſhall bring every work unto judgment, with every ſecret thing, be it good or evill, Eccleſ. 12.14.Eccleſ. 12.14.Eccl 12:14 Wail yee wicked, and tremble in aſtoniſhment. Now your cloſet-ſins muſt be diſcloſed your private faults laid open, Gods keeps the account-book of every ſin, every tranſgreſsion: Imprimis, for adultery, Item for envie, blaſphemy, oaths, drunkenneſs, violence, murther, and every ſin, from the beginning to this time, from our birth to our buriall, the totall ſumme, eternall death and damnation: this is the note of accounts, wherein are all thy offences written, the debt is death, the pay perdition, which fury pays over to deſtruction.

But there is another book, that ſhall give (a more full, I cannot ſay, but) a more fearfull evidence then the former, which is the book of every mans conſcience: Some call it the book of teſtimony, which every man ſtill bears about him. There is within us a Book and Secretary, the Book is Conſcience, and the Secretary is our ſoul: whatſoever we do is known to the ſoul, and writ in our book of conſcience: there is no man can ſo much as commit one ſin, but his ſoul, that is privy to the fact, will write p. 111it in this book. In what a wofull caſe will thy heart then be? in what ſtrange terrour and trembling muſt it ſtand poſſeſt, when this muſt be opened, and thy ſinnes revealed? It is now perhaps a book ſhut up and ſealed, Liber ſignatue & clauſus, in die judicii aperiendus.but in the day of judgement ſhall be opened: and if once opened, what ſhall be the evidence that it will bring forth? there is a private Seſſions to be held in the breaſt of every condemned ſinner, the memorie is Recorder, grief an Accuſer, truth is the Law, damnation the Judgement, hell the Priſon, Devils the Jaylours, and Conſcience both Witneſſe and Judge to paſſe ſentence on thee. What hopes he at the generall Aſſize, whoſe conſcience hath condemned him before he appear? Look well to thy life, thou beareſt about thee a book of teſtimonie, which though for a time it be ſhut, till it be full fraught with accuſations, yet then (at the Day of Doom) it muſt be opened, when thou ſhalt read, and weep and read, every period ſtop with a ſigh, every word be enough to break thy heart, and every ſyllable reveal ſome ſecret, thy own conſcience (upon the matter) being both witneſſe, Judge accuſer and condemner.

But yet there is another book we read of, and that is the book of life: Herein are written all the names of Gods elect, from the beginning of the world till the end thereof: theſe are the golden leaves; this is that precious book of heaven, wherein if we are regiſtred, not all the powers of hell, or death, or devils ſhall blot us out again. Here is the glory of each devout ſouldier of our Saviour, how many have ſpent their lives, ſpilt their blouds, runne upon ſudden deaths to gain a perpetuall name? and yet for all their doings, many of theſe are dead, and gone, and their memories periſhed with them; onelyonly Chriſts ſouldier hath immortall fame, he, and onelyonly he is writ in that book that muſt never periſh. Come hither ye ambitious! your names may be writ in Chronicles, yet loſt; writ in durable marble, yet periſh; writ in a monument equall to a Coloſſus, yet be ignominious. O were you but writ in this book of life, your names ſhould never die, never ſuffer any ignominy! It is an axiome moſt true, they that are written in the eternall leaves of heaven ſhall never be wrapped in the cloudy ſheets of darkneſſe. Here then is the joy of Saints, at that Day of Doom this book ſhall be opened, and all the elect whom God hath ordained to ſalvation, p. 112ſhall ſee it, read it, hear it, and greatly rejoyce at it. The Diſciples caſting out devils, return with miracles in their mouths, O Lord (ſay they) even devils are ſubject to us through thy name. True (ſaith Chriſt) I ſaw Sathan as lightning fall from heaven, notwithſtanding in this rejoyce not, that the ſpirits are ſubject unto you, but rather rejoyce becauſe your names are written in heaven, Luke 10.20.Luke 10.20.Luke 10:20 And well may the Saints rejoyce that have their names written in Gods book, they ſhall ſee them (to their comfort) writ in letters of gold, penned with the Almighties finger, ingraven with a pen of a diamond: thus will this book give in the evidence, and accordingly will the Judge proceed to ſentence.

Ʋſe 1 Conſider (thou that readeſt) what books one day muſt be ſet before thee: a time will come when every thought of thy heart, every word of thy mouth, every glance of thy eye, every moment of thy time, every office thou haſt born, every companie thou haſt uſed, every ſermon thou haſt heard, every action thou haſt done, and every omiſſion of any duty or good deed thou haſt left undone, ſhall be ſeen in theſe books at the firſt opening of them: thy conſcience ſhall then be ſuddenly, clearly, and univerſally inlarged with extraordinary light to look upon all thy life at once; Gods memory ſhall then ſhine forth, and ſhew it ſelf, when all men looking on it as a reflecting glaſſe, they ſhall behold all the paſſages of their misſpent lives from their births to their burials. Where is the wicked and deceitfull man? wilt thou yet commit thy villanies, treacheries, robberies, murthers, debates, and impieties? Let me tell thee (if ſo) to thy hearts-grief, all thy ſecret ſinnes, and cloſet villanies, that no eye ever lookt upon (but that which is a thouſand times brighter then the Sunne) ſhall then be diſcloſed and laid open before Angels, men, and devils, and thou ſhall then and there be horribly, univerſally, and everlaſtingly aſhamed: never therefore go about to commit any ſinne, becauſe it is midnight, or that the doors are lockt upon thee, ſuppoſe it be concealed, and lie hid (in as great darkneſſe as it was committed) till Doomſ-day again, yet then ſhall it out with a witneſſe, and be as legible in thy forehead, as if it were writ with the brighteſt ſtars, or the moſt gliſtring Sun beam upon a wall of chryſtall.

Ʋſe. 2 As you mean the good of your ſouls amend your lives, call p. 113your ſelves to account while it is called to day, ſearch and examine all your thoughts, words, and deeds, and proſtrating your ſelves before God, with broken and bleeding affections, pray and ſue that your names may be writ in heaven, in that Book of life.] This will be the joy of your hearts, the peace of your ſouls, the reſt of your minds: yea how glad will you then be to have**It is a queſtion, whether the ſinnes of Gods people ſhall be manifeſted at that day? ſome ſay, they ſhall be manifeſted, not for their ignominy or confuſion, but onelyonly that the goodneſſe and grace of God may be made the more illuſtrious; and for this they urge, Matth. 12.36. 2 Cor. 5.10. Revel. 20.12. Others ſay they ſhall not be manifeſted. 1. Becauſe Chriſt in his ſentence onelyonly enumerates the good works they had done, but takes no notice of their ſins. 2. Becauſe this agrees beſt with thoſe expreſſions, that God blotteth out our ſins, and that they are thrown into the bottome of the ſea. 3. Becauſe Chriſt is their bridegroom, friend, advocate, and how ill would it become one in ſuch relations to accuſe or lay open their ſins? which of theſe opinions is trueſt is hard to ſay. Heb. 6.10.Matt 12:362 Cor 5:10Rev 20:12Heb 6:10 all theſe books laid open? by this means (I ſpeak it to the comfort of all true hearted Chriſtians) ſhall your obedience, and repentance, and faith, and love, and zeal, and patience, &c. come to light and be known. God is not unrighteous to forget your works of labour and love. No, all muſt out, eſpecially at that day when the books ſhall be open, our works manifeſted, and as we have done, ſo muſt we be rewarded, for then he ſhall reward every man according to his works.]

The books are opened, and now are the matters to be examined: there is firſt a view, and then a tryall.

2The Law-book whereby we are tryed contains three leaves, Nature, the Law, and the Goſpel: the Gentiles muſt be tryed by the firſt the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles by the ſecond, and the faithfull Jews and Gentiles by the laſt. Thoſe that confeſſe no God but nature, muſt be judged by the law of nature: thoſe that confeſſe a God, no Chriſt, muſt be judged by the Law of God without the merits of Chriſt: thoſe that confeſſe God the Father, and believe in God the Sonne, ſhall be judged by the Goſpel, which reconcileth us to God the Father by the merits of Chriſt. Atheiſts by the law of nature, infidels by the law of God, Chriſtians by the Goſpel of our Saviour Chriſt. To the ſtatutes of the former who can anſwer? our hope is in the latter, we appeal to the Goſpel, and by the Goſpel we ſhall have our tryall: They that have ſinned without the law; Rom. 2.12.Rom 2:12ſhall periſh without the law; and they that have ſinned under the law, ſhall be judged by the law. Rom. 2.16.Rom 2:16But God ſhall judge the ſecrets of all p. 114hearts (of all our hearts) by Jeſus Chriſt according to my Goſpel, Rom. 2.12.16.

Ʋſe. Vel te totaliter abſolvit, vel te capitaliter damnat. John 16.9.John 16:9Let this then forewarn us what we have to do: It is the Goſpel that will either throughly juſtifie thee, or extremely condemn thee. The Spirit ſhall convince the world of ſinne, (ſaith Chriſt) and why ſo? but becauſe they believe not on me, John 16.9. There is no ſinne but infidelitie, no righteouſneſſe but faith: not that adulterie, intemperance, malice, are no ſinnes; but if unfaithfulneſſe remain not all, theſe ſinnes are pardoned, and ſo they are as if they were no ſins indeed. How quick a riddance true repenting faith makes with our ſinnes? they are too heavie for our ſhoulders, and we cannot bear them; faith onelyonly turns them over unto Chriſt, and we are disburthened of them: whereas there would go with us to judgement an huge kennell of luſts, an armie of vain words, a legion of evil deeds, faith inſtantly diſchargeth them all, and kneeling down to Jeſus Chriſt, beſeecheth him to anſwer for them all, howſoever committed. O then make we much of faith! but not of ſuch a faith neither, as goes alone without works: it is nothing at this judgement to ſay, I have believed, and not well lived: the Goſpel requires both, faith to believe, and obedience to work: not onelyonly to repent and believe the Goſpel, Mark 1.15.Mark 1.15.Mark 1:15 but to obey from the heart that form of doctrine, Rom. 6.17.Rom. 6.17.Rom 6:17 True indeed, thou ſhalt be ſaved for thy faith, not for thy works, but for ſuch a faith as is without works thou ſhalt never be ſaved; we ſay therefore,A juſtificando, non à juſtificato. works are disjoyned, from the act of juſtifying, not from the perſon juſtified: heaven is given to us for Chriſts merits, but we muſt ſhew him the fair copie of our lives. O then let this move us to abound in knowledge, and faith, and repentance, and love, and zeal, and clothing, and feeding, and lodging the poor members of Chriſt Jeſus, and howſoever all theſe can merit nothing at Gods hands, yet will he crown his own gifts, and reward them in his mercy. Say then, doſt thou relieve a poor member of Chriſt Jeſus? doſt thou give a cup of cold water to a Prophet in the name of Prophet? Matt. 10.42.Matt 10:42Chriſt doth promiſe thee of his truth he will not let thee loſe thy reward: certainly he will not, ſo thy works be done in faith: why this is the covenant, the glad tidings, the Goſpel, to live well and believe well. O let not that which is a word of comfort to p. 115us, be a bill of inditement againſt us! albeit in our juſtification we may ſay, Be it to us according to our faith; yet in our retribution it is ſaid (as you have it before you in this Text read unto you) Then he ſhall reward every man (for manifeſtation of his faith) according to his works.

A little to recall our ſelves, The Priſoners are tryed, the Verdict's brought in, the inditement is found and the Judge now ſits on life and death, even ready with ſparkling eyes to pronounce his ſentence. This we muſt deferre a while, and the next time you ſhall hear what you have long exſpected. The Lord grant us an happy iſſue, that when this day is come, the ſentence may be for us, and we may be ſaved to our endleſs comfort.

Shall reward.

VVHat Aſſize is this that affords each circumſtance of each priſoners triall? the time is Then,] the Judge is He,] the Priſoners Men,] the evidence Works, Non coronat Deus merita tua tanquam merita tua, ſed tanquam donaſua. Aug. lib. de grat. & lib. arbit. cap. 7.] which no ſooner given in, but the ſentence follows, which is, to reward] every man according to his works.

This reward is nothing in effect but a retaliation, if we live well here, God will then crown his own gifts; but if we ſinne without repentance, we may not eſcape without puniſhment. There is a God that ſits and ſees, and anon will reward us.

But to unfold this Reward,] there lies in it a

Doom, and

Execution.

God ſpeaks it in the firſt effects it in the ſecond: he gives it in our doom, and we receive it in the execution.

The doom is of two ſorts, according to the parties that receive it. One is an abſolution, which is the doom of Saints; the other is a condemnation, which is the doom of reprobates: there is a reward on the right hand beſtowed on the bleſſed, and an heavie judgement which falls on the left hand upon the heads of the wicked.

To begin with that in our meditation, which our Saviour begins with in action: Imagine what a bleſſed day will this be to the godly, when ſtanding on the right hand of the Judge, they ſhall hear the heavenly muſick of their happy ſentence, Come p. 116ye bleſſed of my Father, Matth. 25.34.Matt 25:34inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world.

In which gracious ſpeech we may obſerve four gradations. Firſt, a gentle invitation, Come. Secondly, a ſweet benediction, Ye bleſſed of my Father. Thirdly, heavens poſſeſſion, inherit the Kingdome. Fourthly, a glorious ordination to felicitie, prepared for you from the beginning of the world.

Firſt, you have Come.] It is the ſweet voice of Chriſt inviting the Saints before, and now giving their welcome to his heavenly Canaan? he hath called often, Come all that labour, Come all that travell: Matth. 11.28. Rev. 22.17.Matt 11:28Rev 22:17The Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come, and let him that heareth, ſay, Come; and let him that is a thirſt Come. Thus he calls all men to his grace, but onelyonly the elect to his glory: now he deſires every man to Come, but the righteous alone ſhall have this Wel-come. O how leaps that ſoul with joy, that hears this voice of her ſweet Saviour! all the muſick of Angels cannot ſo raviſh the mind, as this voice of our Saviour glads the ſoul, now are the gates of heaven open, and the Judge, who is Maſter of the feaſt, bids the gueſts Come and Wel-come.

But who are they? Ye bleſſed of my Father,] a word able to make them bleſſed, when pronounced. Down on your knees rebellious ſonnes; and ſo long as you live on earth, beg, pray, ſue for the bleſſing of your Father in heaven. They that are Gods ſervants, are no leſſe his ſonns, therefore every morn, night, and noon, ask bleſſing boldly, and God will beſtow it liberally. The firſt Sermon that ever Chriſt preached, was full of bleſſings, Matth. 5.Matth. 5.Matt 5 Bleſſed are the poor in ſpirit. Bleſſed are they that mourn. Bleſſed are the meek. Bleſſed are the mercifull. And as he begun, ſo he concludes, Come ye bleſſed, ye bleſſed of my Father.

Muſt they come? for what? to inherit the kingdome.] Of all tenures inheritance is beſt, of all inheritances a kingdome is moſt excellent,Sic aeterna ſine ſucceſſione, diſtributa ſine diminutione. communis ſine invidia, beata ſine omni miſeria. but that all ſhall inherit, and that there is no ſcantling, this is heavens wonder, and the Angels bliſſe. An heavenly inheritance ſure, that is cintinued without ſucceſſion, divided without diminution, common without envie, for ever happy, and without all miſery. This is the inheritance of the juſt, the poſſeſſion whereof makes every Saint no leſſe glorious then a King. Kings are they indeed, whoſe dominions are not limited p. 117nor their borders bounded, nor their people numbred, nor the time of their reigne preſcribed. Such glorious things are ſpoken of thee, O thou City of God.

Is this your inheritance? but upon what right? it is prepared for you from the beginning of the world.] Had the Lord ſuch care to provide for his children before they were? how may his ſonnes triumph born to ſuch dignitie? God will ſo certain their ſalvation, that he hath prepared it for them from before the foundation of the world. O bleſſed ſouls, if you be Gods ſervants! though a while you ſuffer ſorrow and tribulation, yet here is the hope of Saints,Luke 12.32.Luke 12:32 it is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you the kingdome. Heaven is prepared of old, there is the place of Gods majeſtie, and there the Saints of God ſhall receive the crown, the reward of victory.

Ʋſe. I cannot expreſſe what this joy affords to the one half of it. Come bleſſed ſouls, bathed in repenting tears, here is a ſentence able to revive the dead much more the afflicted. Are you now ſorrowing for your ſinnes? leave it a while, and meditate with me on this enſuing melodie. Hear yonder a quire of Angels, a ſong of Sion, an heavenly conſort, ſounding to the Judge whileſt he is pronouncing of thy ſentence. Bleſſed ſouls! how pant you dances at the uttering of each ſyllable? Come] ſaith our Saviour, and if he but ſay Come, joy, happineſſe, glory, felicity, all come on heaps into the indeared ſoul. Ye bleſſed] ſaith our Saviour, and if he but ſay Bleſſed, the Angels, Archangels, Cherubims, Seraphims, all joy at the injoying of this bleſſed company. Inherit the kingdome] ſaith our Saviour, and if he but ſay inherit, crowns, ſcepters, garlands, diadems, all theſe are the inheritance of Gods adopted children. Prepared for you] ſaith our Saviour, and if he but ſay Prepared, the love, mercy, election, compaſſion of our Lord will ſhine forth to the ſoul to her everlaſting comfort. O raviſhing voice!Cantic. 5.8.Song 5:8 I charge you O daughters of Jeruſalem, if you find my welbeloved, th… you tell him I am ſick of love. What elſe? you that are Gods ſervants are no leſſe his ſpouſe, your ſoul is the bride, and when the day is come (this day of doom) God give you joy, the joy of heaven for ever and ever.

But I muſt turn to the left hand, and ſhew you another crew, prepared for another ſentence.

p. 118And what a terrible ſentence will that be, which at firſt hearing will make all ears glow and tingle? His lips (ſaith the Prophet) are full of indignation, and his tongue like a conſuming fire, Matt. 4.25, 41.Matt 4:25Matt 4:41Eſay 30.27.Eſa. 30.27.Isa 30:27 What fire ſo hot as that fierie ſentence, Depart ye curſed into everlaſting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Here is every particular full of horrour, gradually inhancing their judgement. Firſt, a grievous refuſall, Depart. Secondly, the loſſe of ſalvation, from me. Thirdly, that deſerved malediction, ye curſed. Fourthly, the horrour of pains, into everlaſting fire. Fifthly, the preordinance of their torments, prepared for the devil and his angels.

Firſt, they muſt depart.] This ſeems nothing to the wicked now: depart? why they are contented to be gone, much more delight have they in ſinne, then in Gods ſervice. But as when a gracious Prince opening his long locked up treaſury, bids in ſome to receive, but others to depart, this muſt needs be a diſgracefull vexation: ſo when the glory of heaven, and thoſe unvaluable treaſures ſhall be opened, and dealt about to the faithfull, what horrour will it be to the reprobates to be caſt off with a depart? no ſhare accrues to them, no not ſo much as one glimpſe of glory muſt chear their dejected countenances, but as ill-meriting followers they are thruſt from the gates with this watch-word to be gone, Depart.

But whence? there is the loſſe, from me,] and if from me, then from all that is mine, my mercy, my glory, my ſalvation. Here is an univerſall ſpoil of all things, of God in whom is all goodneſſe, of the Saints in whom is all ſolace, of the Angels in whom is all happineſſe, of heaven, wherein all pleaſures live ever and ever. Whither O Lord ſhall the curſed go that depart from thee? into what haven ſhall they arrive? what Maſter ſhall they ſerve? is it thought ſo great a puniſhment to be baniſhed from our native ſoils? what then is this to be baniſhed from Almighty God? and whither, but into a place of horrour; to whom? but to a curſed crew of howling reprobates. Depart from me.

Who are they? Ye curſed] Chriſt hath before invited you with bleſſings, but theſe refuſed, now take you the curſe to your deſpight:Pſal. 109.17.Ps 109:17 the wicked man (ſaith the Prophet) as he hath loved curſing ſo let it come unto him: hath he loved it? let him take p. 119his love: as he hath cloathed himſelf with curſing, as with a garment, ſo let it come into his bowels, like water, and like oyl into his bones, Pſal. 109.18.Pſal. 109.18.Ps 109:18 No ſooner our Saviour curſed the Fig-tree, but leaves and boughs, body and root, all wither away, and never any more fruit grows thereon; and thus ſhall the wicked have a curſe, like the Ax which put to the root of the tree, Matth. 3.10.Matt 3:10ſhall hew it down, and caſt it into the fire. Go ye curſed.

But whither muſt they go? into everlaſting fire:] O what a bed is this for delicate and daintie perſons? no feathers but fire, no friends but furies; no eaſe but fetters, no light but ſmoak, no Chimes nor Clock to paſſe away the night, but timeleſſe eternitie. A fire? intollerable, a fire burning, never dying? O immortall pains!Eſai. 33.14.Isa 33:14 which of you (ſaith the Prophet) is able to dwell in the burning fire? who can endure the everlaſting flames? it ſhall not be quenched night nor day, the ſmoak thereof ſhall go up evermore; the pile is fire, and much wood, Eſai. 30.33.Isa 30:33and the breath of the Lord like a river of brimſtone kindles it. What torment, what calamitie can be compared with the ſhadow of this? the wicked muſt be crowded together like brick in a fiery Furnace: there is no ſervant to fanne cold air on their tormented parts, not ſo much as a chink, where the leaſt puff of wind might enter in to cool them: it is a fire, an everlaſting fire.

For whom? prepared for the Devil and his Angels] heavy companie for diſtreſſed ſouls: the Serpents policie could not eſcape hell, nor can the craft of our age ſo deal with this Serpent, as thereby to prevent this fire: it was ſure prepared for ſome, as ſome have prepared themſelves for it; burning in luſt, in malice, in revenge, untill themſelves, their luſt, malice, revenge, and all burn together in hell. Tophet is prepared of old, Eſai. 30.33.Isa 30:33whither that day-ſtarre as fallen from heaven, and a black crew of Angels guard him round in that lake of hell: there muſt theſe howling reprobates keep their reſidence; the laſt ſentence that never is recalled, is now pronounced: what! Go; Who? ye curſed: Whither? into everlaſting fire: to what companie? to a crew of Devils and their Angels. O take heed that ye live in Gods fear! leaſt that leaving his ſervice he give you this reward; Depart ye curſed.

Ʋſe. And is not this worthy your meditation? Conſider, I pray p. 120you, what fearfull tremblings ſeiz on their ſouls that have their ſentence for eternall flames? If a Lord have Mercy on thee, Take him away Jaylour, will cauſe ſuch ſhedding of tears, folding of arms, and wringing of hands, what will this ſentence do, Go ye curſed? &c. O which way will they turn? or how will they eſcape the Almighties wrath? to go backward is impoſſible, to go forwards intolerable; whoſe help will they crave? God is their Judge, heaven their fo, the Saints deride them, Angels hate them, all creatures cry for vengeance on them. God Lord! what a world of miſery hath ſeized on theſe miſerable ſouls? their Executioners are Devils, the Dungeon Hell, the earth ſtands open, and the cruell Furnace ready-boyling to receive them: into what a ſhaking fit of diſtractions will theſe terrours drive them? every part ſhall bear a part in this dolefull ditie, eyes weep, hands wring, breaſts beat, hearts ake, voyces cry, horrour, dread, terrour, confuſion are lively equipages of this tragick Scene. Now (O man of earth) what will all thy wealth avail thee? what can all thy pleaſures profit thee? one drop of water to cool thy fiery tongue in hell, is more worth then a world of treaſures: all the gold and precious ſtones the world affords, will not buy one bottle of water: all thy golden gods, and ſilver plates cannot prevail one drammme of comfort; but rather as they were thy bane on Earth, ſo they will aggravate thy pain in Hel. Who pities not the vileſt creature, to ſee it ſuffer torments, and no way to releaſe it? who then will not pitie this end of the wicked, when they muſt ſuffer, and ſuffer, yet never feel eaſe of pain, nor end of torments? A ſentence not to be revoked, yet unſufferably to be endured; torment on torment, anguiſh on anguiſh, fire upon fire, and though a River (nay, a ſea) of tears drop from their eyes, yet cannot one ſpark be quenched, the worm never dies, Mark 9.44.Mark 9:44the fire never goes out. Go ye into everlaſting fire, not piled of conſuming wood, or the black moulds, turning to white aſhes, but kindled, by the Judges breath, of pitch and ſulphure; Rivers of boyling Brimſtone runne from everlaſting ſprings: in theſe hot Bathes was that Dives dived, when thoſe fierie words came flaming from his mouth as ſpitting fire:Luke 16.24.Luke 16:24 Let Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue: Alas! what ſhould a drop of water do on a finger, p. 121when rivers cannot quench the tip of his tongue? he lies on a bed of never-dying flames, where brimſtone is the fuel, devills the kindlers, the breath of an offended God the bellows, and hell the furnace, where bodie and ſoul muſt ever lie and frie in ſcorching torments. O let the heat of theſe flames quench the heat of our ſinne: if once the ſentence paſſe, there is no reprieve to be hoped for; this is the laſt Day of Doom, when our ſinns muſt be revealed, our Reward proportioned, and as we have done, ſo we muſt be ſentenced: for then he ſhall reward] every man according to his works.

Thus you have heard the ſentence of the juſt and wicked: and now is the Judge riſing from his glorious ſeat; the Saints that were invited guard him along, and the ſentenced priſoners are delivered to the Jaylers to be bound in burning Steel and Iron, the reward of Execution.

The ſentence being paſt in all preſcribed order, the Execution muſt needs follow: but as there is a double ſentence, ſo a double retribution: firſt, for the wicked, who immediately after the ſentence ſhall be chaſed into hell, the Execution being ſpeedily and fearfully done upon them, with all horrour and haſte by the Angels. O what a ſcriech of horrour will be heard? what woes and lamentations will be uttered, when Devils, and Reprobates and all the damned crew of hell, ſhall be driven into hell, whereunto they ſhall be thruſt with violence, never to return again? How deſperate is their caſe, when none will comfort them? the Saints deride them, Angels mock them, their own friends ſcoffe them, devils hate them, the earth groans under them, and hell will ſwallow them. Down they go howling, and ſhrieking, and gnaſhing their teeth, the effect of a moſt impatient fury. The world leavs them, the earth forſakes them, hell entertains them, there muſt they live and die, and yet not live nor die, but dying live, and living die; death in life, life in death, miſerable ever. If the drowning of the old world, ſwallowing up of Korah and his complices, burning up of Sodom with brimſtone, were attended with ſuch terrours and hideous out-cryes, how infinitely tranſcendent to all poſſibilitie of conceit, expreſſion, or belief, will the confuſions and tremblings of that red-dread-fiery day be? It is not a few but many; nor many onelyonly, but all the wicked of the earth, being p. 122many millions of men, ſhall be dragged down, with all the Devils of hell to torments without end, or eaſe, or paſt imagination; then to ſpeak it again, that I may the deeper imprint it in your minds and memories: ſure there was horrible ſhrieking, when thoſe five filthy Cities firſt felt fire and brimſtone drop down upon their heads; when thoſe Rebels ſaw the ground cleave aſunder, and themſelves and all theirs, Go down quick into the pit: Num. 16.33.Num 16:33when all the ſonnes and daughters of Adam found the floud riſing, and ready to over-flow them all at once. But the moſt horrid cry that ever was heard, or ever ſhall be heard in Heaven, or in Earth, in this world, or in the world to come, will be then when all the forlorn condemned reprobates upon ſentence given, ſhall be violently and unreſiſtably haled down to hel; neither ſhall any tears, or prayers, or promiſes, or ſuits, or cryes, or yellings, or calling upon Rocks and Mountains, or wiſhes never to have been, or now to be made nothing, be then heard, or prevail in their behalf: nay, (yet more to encreaſe their torments) there is not one in Earth or Heaven that will ſpeak one word in their behalf: but without mercy, without ſtay, without any farewell at all, they ſhall be immediately and irrecoverably caſt down into the bottomleſs pit of eaſeleſs, endleſs, and remedileſs torments. Oh! what then will be the gnawings of the never-dying worm? what rage of guilty conſciences? what furious deſpair? what horrour of mind? what diſtractions and fears? what tearing their hair, and gnaſhing of teeth? In a word, what wailing, weeping, roaring, yelling, filling heaven, and earth, and hell? O miſerable Caitiffs, catcht and wrapt in the ſnares of Sathan! What need we more? this is the Judges charge, the Sheriffs Commiſſion,Matth. 22.13.Matt 22:13 the ſinners execution, Take them away, caſt them into utter darkneſſe, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. A darkneſſe indeed, that muſt ever be debarred from the ſight of heaven: no ſunne-ſhine ever peeps within thoſe Walls, no light, no fire, no candle, alas! nothing is there but Clouds and darkneſſe, thick ſmoak, and fierie ſulphure: and ſuch is the portion of ſinners, the Reward of the wicked.

Ʋſe. What faith or fear have the wicked that go dancing and leaping to this fire, as it were to a Banquet? or like Solomons p. 123fool, that runneth, and ſwiftly runneth to the ſtocks? Prov. 7.22.Prov 7:22is this our pleaſure, to ſinne a while, and burn for ever? for one ſmall ſpark of ſilly joy, to ſuffer univerſall and perpetuall pains? Who buyes at ſo dear a rate? Fear, and the pit, and the ſnare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the Earth, and he that fleeth from the noyſe of the fear, ſhall fall into the pit, and he that cometh up out of the pit, ſhall be taken in the ſnare: for the windows from an high are open, and the foundations of the earth do ſhake: the earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean diſſolved, the earth is moved exceedingly, the earth ſhall reel to and fro, like a drunken man, and ſhall be removed like a Tent, and the iniquity thereof ſhall be heavy upon it, ſo that it ſhall fall, and riſe no more, Eſay 24.17.Eſay 24.17, 18, 19, 20, 22.Isa 24:17Isa 24:18Isa 24:19Isa 24:20Isa 24:22 O miſerable fear to the wicked! If the Earth fall, how ſhall the ſinners ſtand? Nay, They ſhall be gathered together as priſoners in the pit, and they ſhall be ſhut up in the priſon, never more to be viſited, releaſed, or comforted. Be forewarn'd then (beloved!) leaſt you alſo come into this place of torment. Luke 16.28.Luke 16:28It is a fearfull priſon, and God give us grace ſo to arraigne, judge, caſt, and condemne our ſelves here, that we may eſcape this execution of the damned hereafter.

I have no will to end with terrour: Then to ſweeten your thoughts with the joy of Saints, look upwards and you may ſee a bleſſed company.

After the wicked are caſt down into hell, Chriſt and the bleſſed Saints aſcend into heaven. From the Tribunall Seat of Judgement Chriſt ſhall ariſe, and with all the glorious companie of Heaven, march towards the Heaven of Heavens. O what comely march is this? what ſongs of triumph are here ſung and warbled? The voice of thy Watchmen ſhall be heard, they ſhall lift up their voice and ſhout together, for they ſhall ſee eie to eie, when the Lord ſhall bring again Zion, Eſay 52.8.Eſay 52.8.Isa 52:8 Here is a victorie indeed, the ſouldiers in arrayed order both Marching and Triumphing: Chriſt leads the way, the Cherubims attend, the Seraphims burn in love, Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Powers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Prieſts, Evangeliſts, Martyrs, Profeſſours, and Confeſſours of Gods Law and Goſpel, following, attend the Judge and King of glory; ſinging with melody, p. 124as never ear hath heard, ſhining with Majeſtie as never eye hath ſeen, rejoycing without meaſure, as never heart conceived. O bleſſed train of ſouldiers, goodly troop of Captains! each one doth bear a palm of victory in his hands, each one muſt wear a Crown of glory on his head; the Church Militant is now Triumphant, with a finall overthrow have they conquered Devills, and now muſt they enjoy God, life, and heaven: And thus as they march along, heaven opens unto them: O infinite joy! Tell mee, O my ſoul, what an happie hour will that be, when thou ſhalt first enter into the gates of heaven, when the Bleſſed Trinitie ſhall gladly entertain thee, and with a Well done good and faithfull ſervant,Matth. 25.21.Matt 25:21 bid thee, Come, and enter into thy Maſters joy: When all the Angels, and Archangels ſhall ſalute thee, when Cherubims and Seraphims ſhall come to meet thee, when all the powers of heaven ſhall congratulate thy coming, and joy for thy arrivall at the Port of peace? Here is the end of the Godly, the fruits of his end, the Reward it ſelf. What can I ſay? but live in GODS fear, and the LORD reward you; nay, he will ſo, if you live ſo, for Then he ſhall reward every Man according to his works.

And now this Sermon done, you ſee the Court is diſſolved: Stay but to receive A Writ of review, and you ſhall hear in a word all the news of this Aſſize, from the beginning to the ending.

What a ſtrange Aſſize was this, where every circumſtance was to the wicked ſo terribly fearfull? the Term full of horrour, the Judge full of Majeſtie, the Priſoners full of anguiſh, the Triall full of fear, the Doom full of grief to the wicked, as of comfort to the elect.2 Pet. 3.11.2 Pet 3:11 Seeing therefore that all theſe things are thus, what manner of Perſons ought ye to be in holy converſation and godlineſſe? A word of judgement could make Jeremiah weep, juſt Job be afraid, Felix to tremble, and cannot this uſuall ſound of the hammers a little mollifie our ſtony hearts?Eſay 1.22.Isa 1:22 how is the gold become droſſe, and the ſilver iron? we run over reaſon, and tread upon conſcience, and fling by counſel, and go by the word and poſte to death; but will you not remember, that for all theſe things you muſt come to judgement? Eccleſ. 11.9.Eccl 11:9Be ſure there is a Term for our appearance, p. 125Then] there is a Judge that will ſit upon us He.] There is a band of Priſoners Every man.] There is a Bill of Indictment framed, according to our works.] And laſt of all, there is a ſentence after which follows the Execution, the reward] due to us, which then he will give us: onelyonly now beſtow on us thoſe graces of thy Spirit, and then (O Lord) Reward us according to our works. AMEN.

FINIS.