A Sermon of Judgment, Sermon · Part 1
A SERMON Of Judgement, Preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Maior and Aldermen of the City London, Dec. 17. 1654
2 Cor. 5.10, 11.
For we muſt all Appear before the Judgement Seat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body; according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terrors of the Lord we perſwade men.
IT is not unlikely, that some of thoſe wits that are taken more with things New then with things Neceſſary, will marvel that I chooſe ſo common a ſubject, and tell me that they all know this already▪ But I do it purpoſely upon theſe following Conſiderations. 1. Becauſe I well know, that it is theſe common Truths that are the great and neceſſary things which mens everlaſting happineſs or miſery doth moſt Depend upon. You may be ignorant of many Controverſies and Inferiour points, without the danger of your ſouls, but ſo you cannot of theſe Fundamentals. 2. Becauſe its apparent by the lives of men, that few know theſe Common Truths ſavingly, that think they know them. 3. Becauſe there are ſeveral degrees of knowing the ſame Truths, and the beſt are imperfect in degree. The principal growth in knowledge that we ſhould look af…er, is not to know more matters then we kne… before, but to know that better, and with a clearer light and firmer apprehenſion, which we darkly and ſleightly knew before. You may more ſafely be without any knowledge at all of many lower Truths, then without ſome further degree of the knowledge of thoſe which you already know. 4. Beſides it is known by ſad experience, that many periſh who know the Truth, for want of the Conſideration of it, and making uſe of what they know, and ſo their knowledge doth but condemn them. We have as much need therefore, to teach and help you to get theſe Truths which you know into your hearts and lives, as to tell you more. 5. And indeed, it is the impreſſion of theſe great and maſter-Truths, wherein the vitals and eſſentials of Gods Image upon the ſoul of man doth conſiſt: And it is theſe Truths that are the very Instruments of the great works that are to be done upon the heart, by the ſpirit and our ſelves. In the right uſe of theſe it is, that the Principal part of the skill and holy wiſdom of a Chriſtian doth conſiſt: and in the diligent and conſtant uſe of theſe lyeth the life and trade of Chriſtianity. There is nothing amiſs in mens hearts or lives, but it is for want of ſound knowing and believing, or well uſing theſe fundamentals. 6. And moreover, me thinks, in this choice of my ſubject, I may expect this advantage with the hearers, that I may ſpare that labour that elſe would be neceſſary for the proof of my doctrine: and that I may alſo have eaſier acceſs to your hearts, and have a fuller ſtroak at them, and with leſs reſiſtance. If I came to tell you of any thing not Common, I know not how far I might expect belief from you. You might ſay, theſe things are uncertain to us, or all men are not of this mind: But when every hearer confeſſeth the Truth of my Doctrine, & no man can deny it, without denying Chriſtianity it ſelf, I hope I may expect that your hearts ſhould the ſooner receive …he Impreſſion of this Doctrine, and the ſooner yield to the duties which it directs you to; and the eaſier let go the ſins which from ſo certain a truth ſhall be diſcovered.
The words of my text, are the reaſon which the Apoſtle giveth both of his perſwading other men to the fear of God, and his care to approve to God his own heart and life. They contain the Aſſertion and Deſcription of the great Judgement, and one uſe which he makes of it. It aſſureth us, that Judged we muſt be; and who muſt be ſo Judged, and by whom, and about what, and on what terms, and to what end.
The meaning of the words, ſo far as is neceſſary, I ſhall give you briefly. We all, both we Apoſtles that Preach the Goſpel, and you that hear it, muſt, willing or unwilling, there is no avoiding it, Appear, ſtand forth or make our appearance, and there have our hearts and wayes laid open, and appear as well as we. Before the Iudgement ſeat of Chriſt; i.e. before the redeemer of the world, to be Judged by him as our Rightful Lord. That every one, even of all mankind which are, were, or ſhall be, without exception; May receive, that is, may receive his ſentence adjudging him to his due; and then may receive the execution of the ſentence; and may go away from the barr with that Reward or Puniſhment that is his due according to the Law by which he is Judged. The things done in his body, that is, the due Reward of the works done in his body: or as ſome copies read it, The things proper to the body, i.e. due to the man, even body as well as ſoul. According to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad: i▪e. This is the cauſe to be tried and Judged, whether men have done well or ill whiles they were in the fleſh, and what is due to them according to their deeds. Knowing therefore, &c. i.e. Being certain therefore that theſe things are ſo, and that ſuch a Terrible Judgement of Chriſt will come, we perſwade men to become Chriſtians and live as ſuch, that they may then ſpeed well when others ſhall ſhall be deſtroyed: or as others, Knowing the fear of the Lord, that is, the true Religion, we perſwade men.
Doct. 1. There will be a Judgement. Doct. 2. Christ will be the Judge. Doct. 3. All men ſhall there appear. Doct. 4. Men ſhall be then Judged according to the works that they did in the fleſh, whether good or evil. Doct. 5. The end of Judgement is, that men may receive their final due by Sentence and Execution. Doct. 6. The knowledge and conſideration of the terrible Judgement of God, ſhould move us to perſwade, and men to be perſwaded to careful preparation.
The ordinary method for the handling of this ſubject of Judgement ſhould be this. 1. To ſhew you what Judgement is in the General, and what it doth contain: and that is, 1. The perſons. 2. The cauſe. 3. The Actions. 1. The parties are, 1. the Accuſer. 2. the Defendant. 3. Somtime Aſſiſtants. 4. The Judge. 2. The cauſe contains, 1. the Accuſation. 2. the Defence. 3. With the Evidence of both. 4. and the Merit. The Merit of the cauſe is, as it agreeth with the Law and Equity. 3. The Judicial Actions are, I. Introductory. 1. Citation. 2. Compulſion if need be. 3.Appearance of the Accuſed. II. Of the Eſſence of Judgement, 1. Debate by … the Accuſer, 2. Defendant, called the Diſceptation of the cauſe. 2. By the Judge. …. Ex:ploration. 2. Sentence. 3. To ſee to the Execution: But becauſe the Method is leſs ſuitable to your capacities; and hath ſomething humane, I will reduce all to theſe following heads.
1. I will ſhew what Judgement is.
2. Who is the Judge; and why.
3. Who muſt be Judged.
4. Who is the Accuſer.
5. How the citation, conſtraint and appearance will be.
6. What is the Law by which men ſhall be Judged.
7. What will be the cauſe of the day: what the Accuſation, and what muſt be the juſt Defence.
8. What will be the Evidence.
9. What are thoſe frivolous inſufficient excuſes by which the unrighteous may think to eſcape.
10. What will be the ſentence: who ſhall dye and ſhall live; and what the Reward and Puniſhment is.
11. What are the Properties of the Sentence.
12. What and by whom the execution will be. In theſe particular heads we contain the whole doctrine of this Judgement, and in thi… more familiar method ſhall handle it.
1. FOR the firſt, Judgement as taken largely, comprehendeth all the forementioned particulars; As taken more ſtrictly for the Act of the Judge, it is the Tryal of a Controverted caſe. In our caſe not theſe things following.
1. Gods Judgement is not intended for any Diſcovery to himſelf of what he knows not already: he knoweth already what all men are; and what they have done; and what is their due. But it is to diſcover to others and to men themſelves the ground of his ſentence, that ſo his Judgement may attain its end; for the glorifying his grace on the Righteous, and for the convincing the wicked of their ſin and de…ert, and to ſhew to all the world the Righteouſneſs of the Judge, and of his Sentence and Execution, Rom. 3.4.26. and Rom. 2.2.
2. It is not a Controverſie therefore undecided in the mind of God that is there to be decided; but onelyonly one that is undecided, as to the knowledge and mind of creatures.
3. Yet is not this Judgement a bare Declaration, but a Deciſion, and ſo a Declaration thereupon: the cauſe will be then put out of controverſie, and all further expectation of Deciſion be at an end; and with the juſtified there will be no more Accuſation, and with the condemned no more hope for ever.