The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment, Part · Section

The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment · Part · Section

p. 103And the Books were opened.

First, The Book of the Creatures shall be opened, and that first it concerns mans nature,The first Book opened in its first part. and next, as it relates to all other Creatures. First, he will shew in what the principles if nature were, as they were Gods Creation; and how contrary to these principles, the World have walked, acted, and done. The principles of nature are concluded under these three generall heads.

First, That man by his own natural Reason and Judgement, may gather, that there is a God, a Deity, a chief, or first, or principal Being, who is over all, and supreme above all. This instinct, I say, man meerly as he is rational Creature, findeth in himself; and hence it is, that all Heathens that mind their own natural Reason, do conclude, that we are his offspring; that is, his Creation and Wormanship. That he made Heaven and Earth, and p. 104hath made of one blood, all Nations of men; That in him we live, and move, and have our Being, &c. Acts 17. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.

It appears further, that man by his own nature, doth know that there is such a God.

1. By his being able to judge by nature, that there is such a thing as sin, as Christ saith, Why do ye not even of your selves, judge that which is right, as if he had said, you are degenerated even from the principles of nature, and right reason; as Paul saith in another place, Doth not even nature it self teach you, Luke 12. 57. 1 Cor. 11. 14. Now he that can judge, that there is such a thing as sin, it must of necessity be, that he understandeth that there is a God, to whom sin is opposite; for if there be no God, there is no sin against him, and he that knowes not the one, knowes not the other.

2. It is evident further, that man by nature, knowes that there is a God, by those fits of fear, and dread that is often begotten in themselves, even in every man that breatheth in this World; for they are by their own Consciences, and thoughts, convicted and reproved, judged and condemned,Mans nature is a Book, or law to it self. though they know neither Moses, nor Christ. For the Gentiles which have not the Law, these are a Law to themselves, and shew the works of the Law, p. 105written in their hearts. Rom. 2. 14, 15. that is, by this very thing, they hold forth to all men, that God created them in that state and quality, that they might, in, and by their own nature, judge, and know, that there is a God. And it further sheweth it self, saith he, by those workings of heart, convictions of Conscience, and accusations, that every thought maketh within them, together with the fear that is begotten in them, when they transgress, or do those things that are irrational, or contrary to what they see they shall do. I might add further, that the natural proneness that is in all men, to Devotion and Religion, that is, of one kind or another, doth clearly tell us, that they by the Book of nature, which Book is themselves, do read, that there is one great and eternall God.

Secondly, The second principle of nature is, that this God should by man be sought after, that they might injoy Communion with him for ever. As I said before, the light of nature sheweth man, that there is a great God, even God that made the World; and the end of its shewing him this is, that they might seek the Lord, if happily they may feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of them, &c. Acts 17. 26, 27.

p. 106Thirdly, This light of nature teache…, that men between themselves, should do that which is just and equall. As Moses said, and that long before the Law was given, Acts 7. 26. Exod. 2. 13. Sirs, ye are Brethren, why do ye wrong one another? as who should say, you are of equall Creation, you are the same flesh; you both judge, that it is not equally done of any, to do you wrong, and therefore ought to judge by the same Reason, that ye ought not to wrong one another.

Now against every one of these three principles, hath every man in the whole World transgressed, as Paul saith; For both Jews and Gentiles, are all under sin. Rom. 3. 9. For as touching the first, who is he that hath honoured, reverenced, worshipped, and adored the living God, to the heighth, both of what they saw in him, and also according to the goodness and mercy they have as men, received from him. Rom. 1. 25. All have served, and worshipped the Creature, more then the Creator, who is blessed for ever and so have walkt contrary to, and have sinned against this bond of nature, in this first principle of it.

Secondly, Men instead of minding their own future happiness, as nature teacheth, they have, through their giving way to sin and Satan, minded nothing less; for though Reason teacheth p. 107all men to love that which is good and profitable, yet they contrary to this, have loved that which is hurtfull, and destructive. Yea, though sense teacheth, to avoid the danger that is manifest: yet man, contrary to Reason and sense both, even all men, have both against light and feeling, rejected their own happiness, as Paul saith, Though they kn…w the Judgements of God, that they which do such things, are worthy of death: not onelyonly do the same, but take pleasure in them that do them. Rom. 1. 33.

Thirdly, Man instead of doing equity, and as he would be done by, which nature it self teacheth: he hath given up himself to vile affections, being filled, by refusing the dictates of nature, with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whispering, backbiting: to hate God, to be dispiteful, proud, bosters, inventors of evill things, disobedient to Parents, without understanding, Covenant-breakers, without naturall affections, implacable, unmerciful. Rom. 1. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.

And observe it, he doth not say, that all these things are by every man, put into practice; but every man hath all these in his heart, which there defile the Soul, and make it abominable p. 108in the sight of God. They are filled with all unrighteousness, which also appears, as occasion serveth, sometimes one of them, sometimes more. Now man having sinned against that natural Light, Judgement, Reason, and Conscience, that God hath given him: therefore, though as I said before, he neither knew Moses nor Christ, yet he shall perish; As many, saith Paul, as have sinned without Law, they shall perish without Law. Rom. 2. 12.

Yea, here will man be found, not onelyonly a sinner against God, but an (2 Tim. 12. 25.) opposer of himself, a contradictor of his own nature, and one that will not do that which he judgeth even of himself to be right. Their sin is written upon the Tables of their own heart, and their own wickedness and back-sliding, shall both correct, and reprove them. Jer. 17. 1. Jer. 2. 19.

It is marvellous, (if we consider) how curious a Creature man was made of God: to behold how much below, besides and against that state and place, man acts and does in this state of sin and degeneracy. Man in his Creation, was made in the Image of God, Gen. 1. 26. but man, by reason of his yielding to the tempter, hath made himself the very figure and Image of the Devil. Man by Creation was made upright, and sinless; but man by sin, hath made p. 109himself crooked and sinful. Eccless. 7. 29. Man by Creation, had all the faculties of his Soul at liberty to study God, his Creator, and his glorious Attributes and Being; but man by sin, hath so bound up his own senses and reason, and hath given way for blindness and ignorance of God, so to reign in his Soul, that now he is Captivated, and held bound in alienation and estrangedness, both from God, and all things truly spiritually good; Because, saith he, That when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish he arts were darkened. And again, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, through the blindness of their hearts. Rom. 1. 21. Ephef. 4. 18.

Now for this abuse of the Workmanship of God, shall man be brought forth to the Judgement, shall be convicted, cast, and condemned as a Rebel, against both God, and his own Soul, as Paul affirmeth, and that when he reasoned but as a man. Rom. 3. 5, 6.

When this part of the Book touching mans nature, is opened, and man convicted and caft p. 110by it, by reason of his sinning against the three general principles thereof: then forthwith is the second part of the Book opened, which is the mystery of the Creatures; for the whole Creation, that is before thee, are not onelyonly made to shew the power of God in themselves; but also to teach thee, and to preach unto thee, both much of God and thy self; as also the Righteousness, and Justice of God against sin; For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God, is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them; for the invisible things of him, from the Creation of the World, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his Eternall Power, and God-head: so that they are left without excuse. Rom. 1. 18. 19, 20.

The Creation then of the World, namely, of the Heavens, Earth, Sun, Moon, Stars, with all other the Creatures of God: they preach aloud to all men, the Eternal Power and Godhead of their Creator. Psal. 8. 3. In Wisdom he hath made them all: to be teachable, and carrying p. 111instruction in them: and he that is wise. and will understand these things, even he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord; for the Works of the Lord are great, and sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Psal. 104. 24. Psal. 107. Psal. 111. 2.

Secondly, As the Creation in generall, preacheth to every man something of God: so they do hold forth, how man should behave himself both to God, and one to another; and will assuredly come in, in the Judgement, against all those that shall be found crossers, and to thwarters of what God by the Creatures doth hold fo…th to us.

As first, The obedience of the Creatures, both to God and thee; first to God, they are all in subjection (set Devils and men aside) even the very Dragons, and all Deeps, Fire, Hail, Snow, and Vapours, fulfilling his Word. Yea, the Winds and Seas obey him. Psal. 148. 7, 8. Psal. 147. 15, 16, 17, 18. Mark 4. 41. Thus I say, by their obedience to God, they teach the obedience, and by their obedience, shall thy disobedience be condemned, in the Judgement.

2. Their obedience to thee also, teacheth thee obedience to all Superiours; For every kind of Beasts, and of Birds, and Serpents, and things p. 112in the Sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, and brought into obedience by mankind. Man onelyonly remains untamed, and untruly, and therefore by these are condemned. Jam. 3. 7, 8.

Secondly, The fruitfulness of all the Creatures, in their kind, doth teach and admonish thee to a fruitful life to Godward, and in the things of his holy Word. God did but say in the beginning, Let the Earth bring forth fruit, Grass, Herbs, Trees, Beasts, creeping things, and Cattell after their kind; and it was so. Gen. 115. 24. But to man, he hath sent his Prophets, rising early, and sending them, saying, O do not this abominable thing that I hate; but they will not obey. Jer. 44. 4, 5. For if the Gentiles which have not the Law, do by some acts of obedience, condemn the wickedness of those who do by the Letter and Circumcision, break the Law: how much more shall the fruitfulness of all the Creatures come in, in the Judgement, against the whole World. As Job saith, By the obedience and fruitfulness of the Creatures he judgeth, (and so will judge) the people. Job 36. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.

Thirdly, The knowledge and wisdom of the Creatures, do with a check, command thee to be wise, and do teach thee wisdom.

p. 1131. The Stork in the Heaven, the Swallow and the Crane, by observing the time and season of their coming, do admonish thee to learn the time of grace, and of the mercy of God. Jer. 8, 7.

2. The Ox and the Ass, by the knowledge they have of their Masters Crib, do admonish thee to know the Bread and Table of God, and both do and shall condemn thy ignorance of the food of Heaven. Isa. 1. 3.

Fourthly, The labour and coyl of the Creatures, doth convict thee of sloath and idleness. Go to the Ant thou sluggard, consider her wayes, and be wise; for she provideth her food in the Summer, and layeth up against the day of tryall. Prov. 6. 6, 7. But thou spendest the whole Summer of thy life, in wasting both time and Soul. All things are full of labour, saith Solomon, onelyonly man spendeth all the day idle, and his years like a tale that is told. Eccles. 1. 8. Mat. 20. 6. Psal. 90. 9. Rom. 10. 21. The Cony is but a feeble folk, yet laboureth for a House in the Rock, to be safe from the rage of the Hunter. The Spider also, taketh hold with her hands, and is in Kings Palaces. 'Tis man onelyonly, that turneth himself upon the bed of sloath, as the door doth it self upon the hinges: 'tis man I say, that will neither lay hold on the Rock Christ, as the p. 114Coney doth teach, nor lay hold on the Kingdom of Heaven, as the Spider doth bid him. Prov. 30. 26. 28. Joh. 5. 40.

Fifthly, The fear that is in all Creatures, when they perceive that danger is near, it teacheth men to fly from the wrath to come, in vain is the snare laid in the sight of any Bird; Prov. 1. 17 18. but man, man onelyonly is the foolhardy Creature, that layeth wait for his own blood, and that lurketh privily for his own life. How I say, will every Creature flie, run, strive, and struggle, to escape the danger it is sensible of? 'tis man onelyonly, that delighteth to dance about the mouth of Hell, and to be knowingly smitted with Satans snare. Rom. 1. 33.

Sixthly, The dependence that all the Creatures have upon God: they teach thee to depend on him that made thee; yea, and will in the Judgement condemn thee for thy unlawful practices, and dealings for thy preservation. The young Ravens seek their food from God, and will condemn thy lying, cheating overreaching, defrauding, and the like: they provide neither Store-house, nor Barn; but th… art so greedy of these things, that thou for them shuttest thy self out of the Kingdom of Heaven. p. 115Psal. 147. 9. Job 38. 41. Luk. 12. 24. Prov. 17. 16.

Seventhly, The love and pitty that is in their hearts to their young, and one another: will judge and condemn the hard-heartedness that is in thee to thy own Soul. What shall I say, The Heavens shall reveal thy iniquity, and the Earth shall rise up against thee. Job 20. 27. That is, all the Creatures of God, they will by their fruitfulness and subjection to the will of their Creator, judge and condemn thee for thy disobedience, and rebellion against him.

Now as these Creatures do every day call unto thee, and lay before thee these things: so he hath for thy awakening, in case thou be asleep, and senseless, Creatures of another nature, as

1. Thy Bed when thou lyest down in it, preacheth to thee thy Grave; thy sleep, thy death, and thy rising in the morning, thy Resurrection to Judgement. Job 14. 12. Job 17. 13. Isa. 26. 19.

2. The Goal that thou seest with thy eyes, and the Felons that look out at the Grate, they put thee in mind of the Prison of Hell, and of the dreadful state of those that are there. Luke 12. 58, 59.

p. 1163. The fire that burns in thy Chimney, it holds forth the fire to Hell unto thee. Isa. 10. 16. Rev. 20. 14.

4. The ugly smell, stench, and steam, of the burning Brimstone, it shews thee the loathsom, odious, and dreadful torments of Hell. Rev. 19, 20.

5. The darkness of the night in solitary places, and the fears that do commonly haunt those that walk therein: it preacheth to thee the fears and frights, the scares and amazements, that will for ever attend all damned Souls. Matth. 8. 12. Deut. 28. 65, 66, 6. 7.

6. By thy delighting, when thou art cold, to lay sticks on the fire to warm thy self, not caring how fiercely they flame therein, so thou canst be warm, and be refreshed thereby: by this I say, God preacheth to thee, with what delight he will burn sinners in the flames of Hell, for the easing of his mind, and the satisfaction of his Justice. Ah! saith he, I will ease me of my adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies. Isa. 1. 24.

7. Yea, by thy blowing the fire, that it may fasten upon the wood the better: thou preachest p. 117to thy self, how God will blow the fire of Hell by the rigour of his Law, to the end, it may be its flames, to purpose, kindle upon damned sinners. Isa. 3. 33.

All these things, as inconsiderable and unlikely as they may appear to you now, yet in the Judgement will be found the Items, and warning words of God to your Souls. And know, that he who could overthrow the Land of Egypt, with frogs, lice, flies, Locusts, &c. will overthrow the World, at the last day, by the Book of the Creatures; and that by the least, and most inconsiderable of them, as well as by the rest. This Book of the Creatures, it is so excellent, and so full, so easie, and so suiting the capacity of all, that there is not one man in the World, but is catched, convicted, and cast by it. This is the Book, that he who knows no letters, may read in: yea, and that he who neither saw New Testament, nor Old, may know both much of God, and himself, by. 'Tis this Book, out of which generally, both Job and his friends did so profoundly discourse of the Judgements of God, and that out of which God himself did so convincingly answer Job. Job was as perfect in this Book, as we are, many of us in the Scriptures, yea, and could see further by it, then many now a dayes do see by the new Testament and old. p. 118This is the Book out of which, both Christ, the Prophets, and Apostles, do so frequently discourse by their Similitudes, Proverbs, and Parables: as being the most easie way to convince the World, though by reason of their ignorance, nothing will work with them, but what is set on their heart by the holy Ghost.

One word further, and I have done with this, and that is, God hath sealed the Judgement of the World by the Book of the Creatures, even by mans own carriage unto such of them, which, through any impediment, have disappointed his expectations. As thus, if thou hast but a Tree in thy Orchard, that neither beareth fruit, nor ought else that is good: why thou art for hewing it down, and for appointing it, as fewel for the fire: now thou little thinkest, that by thy thus judging, thou shouldest passe sentence upon thy own fruitless Soul; but it is so, For now is the Ax laid to the Roots of the Trees, and every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen down, and cast into the fire. For as truly as thou sayest of thy fruitless Tree, cut it down, why doth it cumbet the ground? so truly doth thy Voyce cause Heaven to Eccho again upon thy head: Cut him down, why doth he cumber the ground? Mat. p. 1193. 10. Luk. 13. 6, 7, 8. Ezek. 15. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Further, The inclination of thy heart towards fruitless and unprofitable Creatures, doth fore-preach to thee, the inclination of the heart of God towards thee in the Judgement: If thou hast either Cow, or any other Beast, that is now unprofitable to thee, though thou mayst suffer them for some time, to be with thee, as God suffereth sinners in the World, yet all this while, thy heart is not with them; but thou wilt take thy time to clear thy hands of them. Why, just so shall thy Judgement be, as God saith, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, that is, to pray me to spare this People, yet my heart could not be towards them, therefore cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. Jer. 15. 1. Ezek. 14. 13, 14.

Thus I say, will God judge the World at the last day; he will open before them, how they have degenerated and gone back from the Principles of nature, in which he created them. Also how they have slighted all the instructions that he hath given them, even by the obedience, fruitfulness, wisdom, labour, fear, and love of the Creatures; and he will tell them, that as to their Judgement, they themselves have decided it, both by their cutting down that which was fruitless, and by the withdrawing p. 120of their hearts from those things, which to them were unprofitable, As therefore the Tar…s are gathered, and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this World. As men deal with weeds, and rotten Wood: so will God deal with sinners in the day of Judgement: and will bring in, I say, all the Counsels and warnings he hath given men by these things, both to clear up, and to agravate their Judgement to them.

The second Book that will be opened at this day, it will be the Book of Gods Remembrance. Mal. 3. 16. For as God hath in his Remembrance, Recorded all and every particular good thing that his own People hath done to, and for his Name, while they were in this World: so he hath in his Remembrance, Recorded all the evill and sin of his adversaries;The Book of Gods Remembrance opened. even every thing. Eccles. 12. 14. Now Gods Remembrance is so perfect every way, that it is impossible, that any thing should be lost, that is committed to it to be kept, and brought forth to the Judgement at the time appointed; for as a thousand years are but as yesterday, with his Eternity: so the sins that have been committed thousands of years since, they are all so firmly fixed in the Remembrance of the Eternal God, that they are always as fresh and clear in his sight, as if they were but just now in committing. He calleth p. 121again the things that are past, Eccles. 3. 15. and hath set our most securest things in the light of his Countenance, Psal. 90. 8. As he also saith in another place, Hell it self is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. Job 26. 6. That is the most secret, cunning, and hidden contrivances of the most subtle of the infernal spirits, which yet are far more slethy, then men, to hide their wickedness; yet, I say, all their wayes, hearts, and most secret doings, are clear, to the very bottom of them, in the Eyes of the great God. All things are open and bare, before the Eyes of him with whom we have to do: who will bring to light, the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the Counsels of the heart. Heb. 4. 13. 1 Cor. 4, 5.

Ye that say, the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, O ye bruitish among the People, and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the Ear, shall not he hear? He that formed the Eye, shall not he see? He that chasteneth the Heathen, shall not he correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? Psal. 94. 7, 8, 9, 10. See also, Hos. 7. 2. & 8. 13. Can any hide himself p. 122in secret places, that I should not see him? that is, when he is committing wickedness, saith the Lord, Do not I fill Heaven and Earth, saith the Lord? Jer. 23. 24.

Now to know and see things, it is the cause among men, of their remembrance. Wherefore, God to shew us, that he will remember all our sins, if we die out of Christ, he tells us, that he knoweth, and seeth them all, and therefore must needs remember them; for as is his sight and knowledge, so is his Remembrance of all things.

When this Book of his Remembrance therefore is opened, as it shall be, in the Judgement: then shall be brought forth of their hidden holes, all things, whatsoever hath been done since the World began, whether by Kingdoms in general, or persons in particular. Now also shall be brought forth to open view, all the transactions of God and his Son, among the Sons of men, and every thing shall be applyed to every particular person, in equity and Justice, to whom they belong: the sins that thou hast committed shall be thy own, and thou thy self shall bear them. The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

p. 123It will be marvellous to behold, how by thousands, and ten thousands, God will call from their secret places, those sins, that one would have thought, had been dead, and buried, and forgotten; yea, how he will shew before the Sun, such things, so base, and so horrid, that one would think, it was not in the hearts of any to commit; for all is Recorded in the Book of Gods Remembrance. While men are here, they have a thousand tricks to present themselves one to another, far more fair, and honest then they are, or ever were. As Christ said to the Pharisees, Ye are they, who justifie your selves before men, but God knoweth your hearts, Luk. 16. 15. I, God knoweth indeed, what a nest, what a heap, what swarms; yea, what Legions of hellish wickednesses, there is with power lurking, like Cockatrices, in those men, that one would swear a thousand times, are good and honest men. The way of men in their sins, it is like an Eagle in the Air, a Serpent upon the Rock, a Ship in the midst of the Sea, and of a young Man with a Maid: saith Solomon, Prov. 30. 19, 20. That is, hiddenly, closely, covertly, burying all under fair pretences, wipeth their mouths in the close of their evill, saying, I have done wickedness.

But this, though it may serve for the time present, and no longer, God will not be deluded, p. 124nor blinded, nor mocked, nor put off. Gal. 6. 7. They consider not that I remember all their wickedness, saith he, but I will reprove thee, and will set them in order before thine eyes. Hos. 7. 2. Psal. 50. 21. Here will be laid open, the very heart of Cain the murderer, of Judas the Traytor, of Saul the adversary of David, and of those that under pretences of holiness, have persecuted Christ, his Word and People. Now shall every Drunkard, Whoremaster, Thief, and other wicked person, be turned, their inside outward; their hearts right open, and every sin, with every circumstance of place, time, person with whom, with the causes also that drew them to the commission of every evill, be discovered to all. Here will be no hiding your selves behind Curtains, nor no covering your selves with the black and dark night. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me; yea, (O God) darkness hideth not from thee, but the night shineth as the day, the darkness and light are both alike unto thee. Psal. 139. 11, 12.

The piercing Eye of God, beholds all places, persons, and things; the holy hand of his Justice writeth them down in the Book of his Remembrance; and by his Power, and Wisdom, will he open and read to all men exactly, distinctly, p. 125and convincingly, whatever hath passed from them, or bin done by them in their whole life; For, for all these things, God will bring thee into Judgement. Eccles. 11. 9. Again, as God will bring out of the Book of his Remembrance, what ever hath passed from thee, against him: so also will he then bring forth by the same Book, all things and carriages of his towards thee.

Here will he bring to thy mind, every Sermon thou hast heard, every Chapter thou hast read; every conviction thou hast had on thy Conscience: and every admonition that hath been given thee in all thy life, when thou wast in the Land of the Living.

Now will God lay open before thee, what patience he extended to thee, how he let thee l…ve one year, two years, ten, yea twenty and twenty years, and all to try thee. Yea, now also will he bring to thy view, how many times he warned, rebuked, threatned, and chastised thee for thy wickedness; how many awakening Providences and Judgements he continually laid before thy face; yea, how many a time, thou didst like Balaam, run upon the point of the Sword of Justice, and how he gave back, as being loath to kill thee. Numb. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33.

p. 127Now also again, shall be brought before thee and all men, how many struglings God had with thy heart, on thy sick Bed, to do thee good; yea, and at such times, how many Vowes, Promises, Ingagements, and Resolutions, thou madest before God, to turn, if he would release thee from thy affliction, and take off his Rod from thy back: Mar. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4▪ 5. and yet how thou didst like the man possessed, break, and snap in twain all these Chains of Iron, with which thou hadst bound thy Soul; and that for a very lust and sin. Here also, will be opened before thee, how often thou hast sinned against thy light and knowledge; how often thou hast laid violent hands on thy own Conscience; how often thou hast laboured to put out that light that hath stood in thy way, to hinder thee from sinning against thy Soul. Ah Lord, what a condition will the Christless Soul be in at this day? How will every one of these things afflict the damned Soul? they will pierce like Arrows, and bite like Serpents, and sting like an Adder. With what shame, will that man stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ, who must have all things he hath done against God, to provoke the Eyes of his Glory to jealousie: laid open before the whole Host of the Heavenly train! It would make a man blush, to have his Pockets p. 126searched, for things that are stolen, in the midst of a Market, especially, if he stand upon his Reputation and Honour. But thou must have thy heart searched, the bottom of thy heart searched; and that, I say, before thy Neighbour, whom thou hast wronged, and before the Devills, whom thou hast served; yea, before God, whom thou hast despised, and before the Angels, those holy and delicate Creatures, whose holy and chast Faces, will scarce forbear blushing, while God is making thee Vomit up, all thou hast swallowed; for God shall bring it out of thy belly. Job. 20. 12, 13, 14, 15.

For as for God to forget iniquity, is one of the chief heads of the Covenant of Grace, and is an Argument of the highest nature, to beget, and to continue Consolation in the godly: so the remembrance of Iniquity, by the Lord, it is one of the heaviest loads, and Judgements that can befall any poor Creature. Lord, saith the Prophet, remember not against us, former iniquities. And again, if thou Lord, shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand? Psal. 130. 3. And the Reason is, because, that which the Lord forgetteth, is forgiven for ever; but that which he remembreth, it is charged for ever, and nothing can take it away. Heb. 8. 12. Rom. 4. 6, 7, 8. Though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much Soap, yet thine iniquity is p. 128marked before me, saith the Lord God. Jer. 2, 22.

The third Book that will at this day be opened, and out of which God will judge the World: it is the Book of the Law, or ten words given forth on the Mount Sinai, But this Book will more specially concern those that have received it, or that have had knowledge thereof. Every one shall not be judged by this Book, as there delivered, though they shall be judged by the works of it, which are written in their hearts. Rom. 2. 14. As many as have sinned without Law, shall perish without Law, and they that have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the Law. Rom. 2. 12. That is, the Heathens that never knew the Law, as delivered on Sinai, they shall be judged by the Law, as it was written in mans heart in his Creation, (which is comprised within the Book of the Creatures;) but those that have knowledge of the Law, as delivered on Sinai: they shall be judged by the Law as there given.

Now then, this Book when it is opened, at the day of Judgement, it will, to those to whom it especially relates, be a most terrible Law, far surpassing the two afore-mentioned. This Law, as I may so say, it is the chief, and most pure Resemblance of the Justice and holiness of the Heavenly Majesty, and doth hold forth to all p. 129men, the sharpness and keenness of his wrath' above the other two that I have before mentioned. I say, both because it hath been delivered more plain and open, both as to the duty injoyned, and the sin prohibited; and therefore must of necessity, fall with the more violence upon the head of all that shall be found within the compass of it. This Law, it hath in it to be opened at this day, these two general heads. First, A discovery of the evill of sin, that is so, against plain light and truth.

And Secondly, A discovery of the vanity of all things, that will at this day be brought by sinners, for their help and plea at the Judgement. Alas, who can but imagine, that the poor World, at the day of their Arraignment, should muster up all that ever they can think of, as Arguments to shelter them from the execution of that fierce wrath, that then with sinking Souls, they will see prepared for them.

As to the first of these, the Apostle tells us, that the Law was added, that the offence might aboun…, or be discovered what it is. As he saith again, I had not known sin but by the Law. Rom. 5. 20. Rom. 7. 7. Rom. 7. 13. Thus it is in this life, and thus it will be in the day of Judgement, that is, those that see sin, and that in its abounding nature, and in its exceeding sinfulness, they must see it by the Law, for that p. 130is indeed, the Glass by which God discovereth sin. Jam. 1. 22, 23, 24, 25. And the filthy spots of leprosie, that is in the Soul. Now those that have not the happiness to see their sin by the Law in this life, while there is a Fountain of Grace to wash in, and be clean: they must have the misery to see it at the Judgement, when nothing is left but misery, and pain, as the punishment for the same. At which day, those little Titles of this holy Law, that now men so easily look over, and sin against with ease, they will every one of them appear with such dread, and with such flaming Justice against every offence committed: that if Heaven and Earth it self, should step in to shelter the sinner from the Justice and wrath due to sin, it would turn them up by the Roots. It is easier for Heaven and Earth to passe away, then for one tittle of the Law to fail. Luke 16. 17. If there appeared such flames, such Thunderings, and Tempests, as there were at the giving of the Law: what flames and blackness will there appear at the execution thereof; and if at the giving of the Law, there appeared so much Holiness and Justice, that it made all Israel flie; yea, holy Moses exceedingly fear and quake: what will become of these that God shall judge by the rigour of this Law in p. 131the day of Judgement? Exod. 19. 16. Heb. 11. 21.

O what Thunderings and Lightnings, what Earthquakes and Tempests, will there be in every damned Soul, at the opening of this Book? then indeed, will God visit them with Thunder, and Earthquake, and great noyse: with Storm and Tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire. For behold, saith the Prophet, the Lord will come with fire, and with his Chariots, like a Whirl-wind, to render his anger with fury; and his rebukes with flames of fire. Isa. 29. 6. Isa. 66. 15.

The Lord will come with fire, that is, in the flaming heat of his Justice and Holiness against sin, and sinners, to execute the rigour of his threatnings upon their perishing Souls.

Secondly, The second general Head, that is contained in this Law, to be opened at this day, is its exactness, and purity, and strictness as to all acts of good that any poor Creature hath done in this life, whereby he in the Judgement will think to shelter, or secure himself from the wrath of God. This is the Rule, and Line, and Plummet, whereby every act of every man, shall be measured; and he whose righteousness is not found every way answerable p. 132to this Law, which all will fall short of, but they that have the Righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ: he must perish, as he saith, Rom. 3. 21. 22. Judgement also will I lay to the line, and Righteousness will I lay to the Plummet, and the Ha…l shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the water shall overflow the hiding places. Isa. 28. 17, 18. That is, though men may now shelter themselves under legall Repentance, cold profession, good meaning, thinkings, and doings: yet all these things must be measured, and weighed in the ballance of Gods most righteous Law: and as I said, whatever in that day, is not found the Righteousness of God, it will be found a re…uge of lies, and will be drowned by the over-flowing of the wrath of God, as the waters of Noah over-flowed the World. Mal. 4. 1. And hence it is, that all the ungodly will at this day, be found as stubble, and the Law as fire. As it saith, From his Right hand went a fiery Law. And again, his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire. Deut. 33, 2: Isa. 30. 27. For as fire, where it se…zeth, doth burn, eat, destroy, devoure and consume: so will the Law, all those that at this day, shall be found under the transgressio… of the least tittle of it. It will be with the… Souls at the day of Judgement, as it is wit… those Countries that are over-run with mo… p. 133merciless Conquerours, who leave not any thing behind them, but swallow up all with fire and sword. For by fire, and by his Sword, will the Lord plead with all flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many. Isa. 66. 16. There are two things at the day of Judgement, will meet in their height and utmost strength, and they are sin and the Law; for the Judgement will not be, till the iniquity of the World be full ripe. Joel. 3. 13. Rev. 14. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

Now then, when sin is come to its full, having plaid all its pranks, and done all the mischief it can against the Lord of Glory: then God brings forth the Law, his holy and righteous Law, one of which will now reign for ever, that is, either the Law or sin: Wherefore sin and sinners, they must tremble with all that help, and hold them up; for God will magnifie the Law, and make it honourable. Isa. 42. 21. That is, will give it the Victory over the World for ever; for that is holy, just, and good: they are unholy, unjust, and bad. Therefore by this Law, will the Lord rain snares, fire and Brimstone, and a horrible Tempest, this shall be the potion of their Cup. Psal. 11. 5, 6. Let no man say then, that because God is so famous in his mercy and patience, in this day of his Grace, that therefore he will not be fierce, and p. 134dreadful in his Justice, in the day of Judgement; for Judgement and Justice, is the last thing that God intends to bring upon the stage, which will then be to the full, as terrible, as now his goodness and patience, and long sufferance, is admirable. Lord, who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. Psal. 90. 11.

You may see, if you will, a few of the sparks of the Justice of God▪ against sin and sinners: by his casting off Angels for sin, from Heaven to Hell; by his drowning the old World; by his burning of Sodom, and Gomorah, to ashes; condemning them with an overthrow, making them an example to those that after should live ungodly. 2 Pet. 2. 4, 5, 6. Jude 6. 7.

For whatsoever the Law saith, it saith it to them that are under the Law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the World become guilty before God. Rom. 3. 19.

Moses seems to wonder, that the Children of Israel could continue to live, when they did but hear the Law delivered on the Mountain, Did ever People, saith he, hear the Lord speak out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast done, and live. Deut. 4. 73. O that ye did but know the Law, and the wonderous things that are written therein, before the Lord cause that fearful Voyce to be heard, Cursed is every one, that p. 135continueth not in every thing that is written in the Book of the Law to do them: which curse must fall on all that walk not in all the Commandements of God, without iniquity, which none do, I say, but they that walk in Christ, who hath alone fulfilled them all. Gal. 3. 10. Ezek. 33. 15. Col. 2. 10.

The Law is that which standeth at the entrance of the Paradice of God, as a flaming Sword turning every way to keep out those that are not righteous with the righteousness of God; that have not skill to come to the throne of Grace by that new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil; that is to say, his flesh, Gen. 3. 24. Heb. 1. 19, 20. for though this Law, I say, be taken away by Christ Jesus, for all that truly and savingly believe; yet it remains in full force and power in every tittle of it, against every Soul of man, that now shall be found in his Tabernacle; that is, in himself, and out of the Lord Jesus, Col. 2. 14. Rom. 3. 19. Job 18. 14. it lyeth, I say, like a Lyon rampant at the gates of Heaven, and will roar upon every unconverted soul, fiercely accusing every one, that now would gladly enter in through the gates into this City, Joh. 5. 45. So then, he that can answer all its most perfect and legal commands, and that can live in the midst of devouring p. 136fire, and there injoy God and solace himself; he shall dwell on high and shall not be hurt by this Law, His place of defence shall be the munitions of Rocks; bread shall be given him, and his waters shall be sure; thine eyes shall behold the King in his Beauty, they shall see the Land that is very far off, Isa. 33. 14. 15▪ 16, 17. Blessed then is he whose Righteousness doth answer every point of the Law of God, according to 1 Cor. 1. 30. he shall be able to escape all those things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man; for in himself, ou… God is a consuming fire, and man out of Christ, is but as stubble, chaff, thorns, briers, and fuel for the wrath of this holy and sinner-consuming God to seize upon for ever. Nah. 1. 6. Heb. 12. 29. Mala. 4. 1. Mat. 3. 12. Heb. 6. 7, 8. Isa. 27. 4. 2 Sam. 23. 6, 7. Who can stand before his indignation? Who can abide the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured ou… like fire, and the Rocks are thrown down by him.

Now when these three Books are thus opened, there will without doubt, be sad throbbing and pricking, in every heart that now stands for his life, before the Judgement-Seat of Christ the Righteous Judge; and without all question, they will be studying a thousand wayes to evade and shift the stroak, that by p. 137the sin that these three Books do charge them with, will immediately fall upon them.

But now to cut off all these at a blow, forthwith appear the Witnesses, who are ready to evince, and make full, and Soul-killing proof of every particular charged against them.

And the first is, God himself. I, saith he, will be a swift witness against the Sorcerers,The Witnesses give in their Evidence. and against the Adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling of his wages; the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and that feareth not me, saith the Lord. Mal. 3. 5.

This must needs be of great sway with every Soul, that God should now come in. I will witness, saith God, that these things of which you are accused before the Judge, is true. I h…ve seen all▪ know all, and writ down all. There hath not been a thought in your heart, nor a wo…d in your Tongue, but I have known it altogether, all things have alwayes bin open, and naked to my Eye. Yea, my Eye-lids try the Children of men. I have known your down-sitting, and your up-rising; and have understood your th…ughts a far off▪ I have compassed p. 138your path, and am well acquainted with all your wayes. Heb. 4. 13. Psal. 11. 4. Psal. 139. 1, 2 3, 4.

1. You have not continued in that state of nature in which I did at first create you: Eccles. 7. 29. you have not liked to retain that knowledge and understanding of God, that you had, and might have had, by the very Book of the Creatures, Rom. 1. You gave way …o the suggestions of fallen Angels, and so your foolish …earts were darkned and alienated, and estranged from God.

2. All the Creatures that were in the World, have even condemned you, they have been fruitful, but you fruitless; they have been fearfull of danger, but you fool-hardy; they have taken the fittest opportunity for their own preservation, but th… … both blindly, and confidently gone on to thy punishment. Prov. 22. 3.

3. Touching the Book of my Remembrance, who can contradict it? Do not I fill Heaven and Earth, saith the Lord? was not I in all places to behold, to see, and to observe thee in all thy ways? My eye s…w the Thief, and the Adulterer, and I heard every Lye and Oath of the wicked. I saw the hypocrisie of the dissembler. They have committed villany in Israel, and have committed Adultery with their Neighbours p. 139Wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them, even I know, and am a Witness, saith the Lord. Jer. 29. 23.

4. God will also come in against them for their transgressing his Law, even the Law which he delivered on Mount Sinai, he will, I say, open every tittle thereof in such order, and truth: and apply the breach of each particular person with such con…g Argument, that they will fall down silenced for ever. Every mouth shall be stopped, and all the World shall become guilty before God.

Secondly, There is yet another w…s, for the condemning the transgressors of these Laws, and that is, Conscience: their Consciences also beating witness, saith … Apostle, Rom. 2. 14, 15. Conscience is a … Witnesses. Conscience, it will cry, Amen, to every word that the Great God doth speak against thee. Conscience is a terrible accuser, it will hold pace with the Witness of God, as to the truth of Evidence, to a hairs bredth. The Witnesses of Conscience, it is of great Authority, it commands guilt, and fastneth it on every Soul which it accuseth. And hence it is said, if our hearts or Conscience condemn us. 1 Joh. 3. 20. Conscience will thunder and lighten at this day; even the Consciences of the most p. 140pagan sinners in the World, will have sufficiently wherewith to accuse, to condemn, and to make paleness appear in their faces, and breaking in their loins, by reason of the force of its conviction. O the mire and dirt, that a guilty Conscience, when it is forced to speak, will cast up, and throw out before the Judgment-Seat! it must out, none can speak peace, nor health, to that man upon whom God hath let loose his own Conscience, Cain will now cry, My punishment is greater then I can bear, Judas will hang himself; and both Belshazzer and Felix will feel the joynts of their loins to be loosened, and their knees to smite one against another, when Conscience stirreth. Gen. 4. 13. Mat. 27. 3. Dan. 5. 6. Acts 24. 23. When Conscience is once thorowly awakened, as it shall be before the Judgment-Seat: God need say no more to the sinner, then Solomon said to filthy Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness that thy heart is privy to. 1 King. 2. 44. As who should say, thy Conscience knoweth, and can well inform thee of all the evill, and sin that thou art guilty of. To all which it answereth, even as face answereth to face in a Glass; or as an Eccho answereth the man that speaketh, as fa… I say, as God chargeth Conscience will cry out, guilty, guilty; Lord, guilty of all, of every p. 141whit, I remember clearly all the Crimes thou layest before me. Thus I say, will Conscience be a witness against the Soul, in the day of God.

Thirdly, As God and Conscience, will at this day be most dreadful witnesses against the sinful man at this day: so also will those severall thoughts that have passed through mans heart, be a witness also against him. As he said before, their Conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or else excusing one another, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel. Rom. 2. 14, 15.

The thoughts come in as a witness for God against the sinner, upon the account of that unsteddiness and variety that was in them, both touching God, and their own selves. Sometimes the man thinks there is no God, but that every thing hath its rise of it self, or by chance, or fortune, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Psal. 14. 1.

Sometimes again, they think there is a God; but yet they think and imagine of him falsly, Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self, saith God, but I will reprove thee. Psal. 50. 21.

Men think, that because they can sin with delight: that therefore God can let them esscape p. 140duplicate page p. 141duplicate page p. 142without punishment. Nay, oftentimes they think, that God doth either quite forget their wickedness, or else that he will be pleased with such satisfaction as they are pleased to give him, even a few howling prayers, fained and hypocritical tears, and weepings, which passe from them. Hos. 7. 14. Mal. 2. 13. More for fear of the punishment of Hell-fire, then because they have offended so holy, so just, and so glorious a God; and so loving, and so condescending a Jesus.

Sometimes again, they have had right thoughts of something of God, but not of him together: either thinking so of his Justice, as to drive them from him, and also cause them to put him out of their mind: Job 21. 14. or else so thinking of his mercy, as that they quite forget his Holiness and Justice. Now both these are but base thoughts of God, and so erronious, and sinful thoughts.

Sometimes also, they have prety right thoughts of God, both as to Justice and Mercy, but then through the wretchedness of their unsatisfied nature, they, against this light and knowledge, do with shut eyes, and hardened hearts, rush fiercely, knowingly, and willingly again into their sins and wickedness. Heb. 6. 2, 3, 4. Heb. 10. 26. 2. Pet. 2. 20.

p. 143Secondly, As men have these various thoughts of God, so also their thoughts are not steddy about themselves.

1. Sometimes they think they are sinners, and therefore they have need of mercy.

2. Sometimes again, they think they are righteous, and so have not so much need; mark, and yet both alike rotten, and base: because, as the last is altogether senseless: so the first is not at all savingly senseable, Mark 10. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Luk. 18. 11, 12.

3. Sometime again, they think they are Gods; that they shall never die, or that if they do die, yet they shall never rise again; or if they do rise again, yet they shall be saved, though they have lived vilely, and in their sins all the dayes of their life. Ezek. 28. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. 15. 12. Deut. 29. 18. 12. 20. Now I say, every one of these thoughts, with ten thousand more of the like nature, will God bring in against the Rebels in the Judgmentday. Which thoughts, shall every one of them be brought forth in their distinct order. He sheweth to man what is his thought. And again, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be hid from thee. Amos 4. 13. Job. 42. 2. We read, that when the strangers at Jerusalem, did but hear the Apostle speak to every one of them in their own Language, p. 144how it amazed and confounded them. Acts 2. 6, 7, 8. But I say, how will they look, and be amazed, when God shall evidently, clearly, and fully speak out all their hearts, and every thought they have had, before them.

Now the reason and strength of this witness, will lie here, that God will by the variety and crossness that their thoughts had one to another, and by the contradiction that was in them, prove them sinners and ungodly; because that I say, sometimes they thought there was a God, sometimes again they thought, there was none. Sometimes they thought, that he was such a God, and sometimes again, they thought of him quite contrary; Sometimes they thought he was worth regarding, and sometimes they thought he was not: As also sometimes they thought he would be faithful, both to mercy and Justice, and sinners; and sometimes again, they thought he would not.

What greater Argument now can there be, to prove men, vanity, froth, a lie, sinners, deluded by the Devil, and such as had false apprehensions of God, his waye…, his Word, his Justice, his Holiness, of themselves, their sins, and every action?

p. 145Now they will indeed appear, a very lump of confusion, a mass of sin, a bundle of ignorance, of Atheism, of unbelief, and of all things that should lay them obnoxious to the Judgments of God. This will God, I say, by mustering up the thoughts of man, and by shewing of them, that every imagination and thought of their heart was onelyonly evill, and that continually (by shewing of them what staggering, drunken, wild, and uncomely thoughts they have had, both of him, and of themselves) convince them, cast them, and condemn them for sinners, and transgressors against the Book of Creatures, the Book of his Remembrance, and the Book of the Law. By the variety of their thoughts, they shall be proved unstable, ignorant, wandring Stars, Clouds carryed with a Tempest, without order or guidance, and taken Captive of the Devil at his will.

Now while the wicked are thus standing upon their tryal, and lives before the Judgement-Seat, and that in the view of Heaven and Hell▪ they I say, hearing and seeing such dreadful things, both written and witnessed against every one of them; and that by such Books, and such Witnesses, as do not onelyonly talk, but testifie, and that with the whole strength of truth against them: they will then begin, p. 146though poorly, and without any advantage, to plead for themselves, which plea will be to this effect.

Lord, we did find in the Scriptures, that thou didst send a Saviour into the World, to deliver us from these sins and miseries.The sinners plea for himself at the Judgment-Seat. We heard this Saviour also published, and openly profered to such poor sinners as we are. Lord, Lord, we also made profession of this Saviour, and were many of us frequenters of his holy Ordinances. We have eat and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets, Lord, we have also some of us, bin Preachers our selves, we have prophecied in thy Name, and in thy Name have we cast out Devils, and done many wonderous works: Nay Lord, we did herd among thy People, we forsook the profain and wicked World; and carryed our shining Lamps before us in the face of all men: Lord, Lord, open to us. Mat. 7. 21, 22, 23. Luk. 13. 24, 25, 26, 27. Mat. 25. 1, 2. 10, 11.

p. 147And all the while they are thus pleading, and speaking for themselves: behold, how earnestly they groan, how gastly they look, and how now the brinish tears flow down like Rivers from their eyes, ever re-doubling their Petition, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord: first thinking of this thing, and then of that, ever contending, seeking, and striving to enter in at this strait Gate. As Christ saith, When once the Masters of the House is risen up, that is, when Christ hath laid aside his mediation for sinners, and hath taken upon him onelyonly to judge and condemn: then will the wicked begin to stand without, and to knock and contend, for a portion among them that are the blessed. Ah how will their hearts twitter, while they look upon the Kingdom of Glory! and how will they ake and throb at every view of Hell, their proper place! still crying, O that we might inherit life, and O that we might escape eternal death!

But now to take away al… cavils and objections, that of this nature will arise,The Book of Life opened. in the hearts of these men: forthwith the Book of Life is brought ou… for a conclusion, and a finall end of eternall Judgment. As John saith, The Books were opened, and another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life, and the Dead were judg… out of those things that were p. 148written in the Books, according to their works. Rev. 20. 12.

But this Book of Life, it is not at this time opened, because there are not any godly to be tryed; for as I have shewed before, their Judgment is past, and over, before the wicked rise. The Book of Life then, it is now opened for further conviction of damned Reprobates, that their mouths may be stoped for ever, as touching all their cavils, contendings and Arguments against Gods proceeding in Judgement with them. For believe it, while God is judging them, they will fall to judging him again, but he will be justified in his sayings, and will overcome when he is judged at this day. Rom. 3. 1, 2, 3▪ 4, 5, 6. Yet not by a hasty and and angry casting them away, but by a legall and convincing proceeding against them, and overthrowing all their cavils, by his manifest and invincible truth. Wherefore, to cut off all that they can say, he will now open the Book of Life before them, and will shew them what is written therein, both as to Election, Conversion, and a truly Gospel-Conversation. And will convince them, that they neither are of the number of his Elect, neither were they ever regenerate, neither had they ever a truly Gospel-Conversation in … World.

p. 149By these three things then, out of this Book, thou, who art not saved, must at last be judged, and overcome.

First, Here will be tryed, whether thou art within that part of this Book, wherein all the Elect are Recorded; for all the Elect are written here, as Christ saith, Rejoyce, that your names are written in Heaven; And again, in thy Book, saith he to his Father, are all my members written, Luk. 10. 20. Psal. 139. 16. Heb, 12. 22, 23.

Now then, if thy name be not found, either among the Prophets, Apostles, or the rest of Saints, thou must be put by, as one that is cast away, as one polluted, and as an abominable branch. Isa. 14. 18, 19. Thy name is wanting in the Genealogies, and Rolls of Heaven. Ezra 2. 62. Thou art not prickt for everlasting life, therefore thou must not be delivered from that Soul-amazing misery; for there are no Souls can, though they would give a thousand Worlds, be delivered at the day of God, but such that are found written in this Book. Every one of those that are written, though never a one of those that are not written shall in that day be delivered from the wrath to c…me. Dan. 12. 1.

But, O methinks, with what careful hearts will▪ the damned now begin to look for their names in this Book? Those that, when once p. 150the long suffering of God waited on them, made light of all admonition, and slighted the Counsel of making their Calling and Election sure: would now give thousands of Treasures, that they could but spy their names, though last and least among the Sons of God▪ but I say, how will they fail? how will they faint? how will they die and languish in their Souls? when they shall still as they look, see their names wanting. What a pinch will it be to Cain, to see his Brother there Recorded, and he himself left out. Absalon will now sound, and be as one that giveth up the Ghost, when he shall see David his Father, and Solomon his Brother written here, while he with all is written in the Earth, among the damned? Thus I say, will sadness be added to sadness, in the Soul of the perishing World, when they fail of finding their names in this part of the Book of the life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the World. Rev. 13. 8.

Secondly, The second part of this Book, is that in which is Recorded, the nature of Conversion, of Faith, Love, &c. And those that have not had the effectual Word of God upon them, and the true and saving operation of Grace in their hearts, which is indeed the true life which is begun in every Christian, they will be found still not written in this Book; for p. 151the living, the holy living Souls, are they onelyonly that are written therein: as the Prophet saith, And he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem. Isa. 4. 3. Eternal life is already in this life, begun in every Soul that shall be saved, as Christ saith, He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life. And again, Who so eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Joh. 6. 54. And hence they a…e called the living▪ that are written in this Book. Here then the Lord will open before thee, what Conversion is, in the true and simple nature of it, which wher thou beholdest, thou wilt then be convinced, that this thou hast mist of; for it must needs be, that when thou beholdest by the Records of Heaven, what a change. what a turn; what an alteration the work of Regeneration maketh on every Soul, and in every heart, where the effectual Call, or the Call according to his purpose, is, that thou who hast lived a stranger to this, or that hast contented thy self with the notion onelyonly, or a formal, and feigned profession thereef: I say, it cannot be, but that thou must forthwith fall down, and with grief conclude, that thou hast no share in this part of the Book of Life neither, the living p. 152onelyonly, are written herein. There is not one dead, carnall, wicked man recorded here. No, but when the Lord shall at this day make mention of Rah…b, of Babylon, of Philistia, and Ethiopia: that is, of all the cursed …abble and crue of the damned: then he will say, that this man was born there, that is amongst them, and so hath his name where they have theirs; namely, under the black Rod, in the Kings black Book, where he hath Recorded all his Enemies and Traytors. It shall be said of this man, of this ungodly man, that he was born there. Psal. 87. 4. That he lived and dyed in the state of nature, and so under the curse of God, even as others; for as he said of wicked Coniah, Jer. 22. 30. Write this man childless: so he saith, of every ungodly man that so departeth out of this World, Write this man Graceless. Wherefore, I say, among the Babylonians, and Phylistians; among the unbelieving Moors and Pagans, his name will be found in the day when it will be inquired where every man was born; for God at this day, will divide the whole World into these two Ranks, the Children of the World, and the Children of Zion. Wherefore, here is the honour, the priviledge, and advantage that the Godly above the wicked, will have at the day of their counting, p. 153When the Lord maketh mention of Zion, it shall be then acknowledged, that this and that (good) man was born in her, the Lord shall count, saith the Prophet, when he wrighteth up the People, that this man was born there. Psal. 87. 5, 6.

This man had the work of Conversion of Faith, and Grace i… his Soul. This man … Child of Zion of the Heavenly Jerusalem▪ which is also written in Heaven▪ Blessed is the People, that are in such a case Gal. 4▪ 26▪ Heb▪ 12. 22, 23. Psal. 144. 1… ▪

But poor Soul, Counters will not go for Gold now; for though so long as thou didst judge thy self by the crooked rule of thy own reason, fancy, and affection, thou wast pure in thy own eyes: yet …ow th…u must be judged alone, by the words and rule of the Lord Jesus. Which word shall not now, as in times past, be wrested and wrung, both▪ this way and that to smooth thee up in thy Hypocrites hope, and carnall confidence; but be thou King, or Keser, be thou who thou wilt, the Word of Christ, and that with this interpretation onelyonly, It shall judge thee in the last day. Joh. 12. 44.

p. 154Now will sinners begin to cry with loud and bitter cryes, Oh! ten thousand Worlds for a saving work of Grace, Crowns and Kingdoms for the least measure of saving Faith, and for the love, that Christ will say, is the love of his own Spirit.

Now they will begin also to see the work of a broken and a contrite spirit, and of walking with God, as living …, in this World. But alas, these things appear in their hearts, to the damned too late; as also do all things else. This will be but like the repentance of the Thief, about whose neck is the …alter, and he turning off the ladder; for the unfortunate hap of the damned will be, that the glory of Heavenly things will not appear to them, till out of season. Christ must now indeed be shewed to them; as also the true nature of Faith, and all Grace; but it will be, when the door is shut, and mercy gone: they will pray, and repent most earnestly; but it will be in the time of great Waters of the flouds of eternall wrath, when they cannot come nigh him. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Matth. 25. 10, 11. Psal. 32. 6.

Well then, tell me sinner, if Christ shou…d now come to judge the World, canst thou abide the tryal of the Book of Life? Art thou confident that thy Profession, that thy Conversion, p. 155thy Faith, and all other Graces, thou thinkest thou hast, will prove Gold, Silver, and precious Stones in this day? behold, he comes as a Refiners fire, and as Full…rs Soap, shalt thou indeed abide the melting and washing of this day? Examine, I say, before hand, and try thy self unfeignedly; for every one that doth …ruth, cometh to the light, that their deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Joh. 3. 21.

Thou sayest thou art a Christian, that also thou hast repented, dost believe, and love the Lord Jesus; but the question is, whether these things will be found of equall length, heighth, and bredth with the Book of Life. Or whether, when thou art weighed in the ballance, thou wilt yet be found wanting. Dan. 5. 27. How, if when thou comest to speak for thy self before God, thou shouldest say Siboleth, instead of Shiboleth: that is, though almost, yet not rightly, and naturally the Language of the Christians. Judg. 12. 4▪ 5, 6.

If thou miss but one letter in thy evidence, thou art gone; for though thou mayst deceive thy own heart with Brass, instead of Gold, and with Tin instead of Silver: Gal. 6. 7. yet God will not be so put off. You know how confident the foolish Virgins were, and yet how they were deceived. They herded with the p. 156Saints, they went forth from the gross pollutions of the World, they, every one had shining Lamps, and all went forth to meet the Bridegroom, and yet they mist the Kingdom. They were not written among the living in Jerusalem; they had not the true, powerful, saving work of Conversion, of Faith, and Grace in their Souls, they that are foolish, take their Lamps, but take no Oyl, no saving Grace with them. Mat. 25. 1, 2, 3, 4. Thus you see how sinners will be put to it before the Judgment-Seat, from these two parts of this Book of Life. But

Thirdly, There is yet another part of this Book to be opened, and that is, that part of it, in which is Recorded those noble and Christian acts, that they have done since the time of their Conversion, and turning to Christ. Here I say, is Recorded the Testimony of the Saints against sin and Antichrist; their suffering for the sake of God, their love to the members of Christ, their patience under the Cross, and their faithful frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints, and their incouraging one another to bear up in his wayes in the worst of times; even when the proud was called happy, and when they that wrought wickedness were even set up. As he there saith, Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a Book of Rememrance p. 157was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name. Mat. 3. 14, 15, 16.

For indeed, as truly as any person hath his name found in the first part of this Book of Life, and his Conversion in the second: so there is a third part, in which there is his noble spiritual and holy actions Recorded, and set down. As it is said by the Spirit, to John, concerning those that suffered Martyrdom for the truth of Jesus, Write, blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord, yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them. Rev. 14. 13.

And hence it is, that the labours of the Saints, and the Book of Life, are mentioned together, signifying, that the travels, and labours, and acts of the godly, are Recorded therein. Phil. 4. 3.

And hence it is again, that the Lord doth tell Sardis, that those among them that stood it out to the last gasp, in the Faith and Love of the Gospel, should not be blotted out of the Book of Life; but they, with the work of God, on their Soul, and their labour for God in this World: should be confessed before his Father, and before his Angels. Rev. 3. 5.

p. 158This part of this Book, is in another place, called, The Book of the Word of the Lord, because in it, I say is Recorded those famous acts of the Saints, against the World, flesh, and the Devil. Numb. 21. 14.

You find also, how exact the Holy Ghost is, in Recording the travels, pains, labour, and goodness of any of the Children of Israel, in their Journey from Egypt to Canaan, which was a Representation of the Travels of the Saints, from nature to Grace, and from Grace to Glory. King Ahasuerus, kept in his Library a Book of Records, wherein was w…it, the good Service that his Subjects did for him at any time, which was a Type also of the manner and order of Heaven. And as sure as ever Mordecai, when search was made in the Rolls, was found there to have done such and such service for the King, and his Kingdom: Esth. 6. 1. 2. so surely will it be found, what every Saint hath done for God, at the day of inquiry. You find in the Old Testament also, still as any of the Kings of Judah dyed, there was surely a Record in the Book of Chronicles, of their memorable acts and doings for their God, the Church, and the Common-wealth of Israel, which still doth further hold forth unto the Children of men, this very thing, That all the Kings of the New Testament, which are the p. 159Saints of God, have all their acts, and what they have done for their God▪ &c. Recorded in the Book of Chronicles, in the Heavenly Jerusalem.

Now I say, when this part of the Book of Life shall be opened, what can be found in it, of the good deeds, and Heaven-born actions of wicked men? Just nothing; for as it is not to be expected, that Thorns should bring forth Grapes, or that Thistles should bear as Figs: so it cannot be imagined, that ungodly men should have any thing to their Commendations, Recorded in this part of the Book of Life. What hast thou done man, for God, in this World? Art thou one of them that hast set thy self against those strong struglings of pride, lust, covetousness, and secret wickedness, that remain in thy heart, like Job and Paul, Job 1. 8▪ 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.

2. And do these struglings against these things, arise from pure love to the Lord Jesus, or from some legall terrours and conviction for sin? Gal. 5, 6.

3. Doest thou I say, struggle against thy lusts, because thou doest in truth, love the sweet, holy, and blessed leadings of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, its leadings of thee I say, into his blood and death, for thy Justification, and deliverance from wrath to com… Phil. 3. 6, 7, 8. 2 Cor. 5. 14.

p. 1604. What acts of self-denyal, hast thou done for the name of the Lord Jesus, among the Sons of men? I say, what house, what friend, what Wife, what Children, and the like, hast thou lost, or left, for the Word of God, and the Testimony of his truth in the World. Matth. 19. 27, 28. Revel. 12. 10, 11.

5. Wast thou one of them, that didst sigh, and afflict thy self for the abominations of the times? and that Christ hath marked, and Recorded for such a one? Ezek. 9. 3, 4. Zeph. 3. 18.

6. In a word, Art thou one of them, that wouldest not be won, by neither fear, frowns, nor flatteries, to forsake the wayes of God, or wrong thy Conscience? or art thou one of them that slightest those opportunities, that Satan and this World did often give thee to return to sin in secret. Heb. 11. 14, 15. These be the men whose prayse is in the Gospel; and whose commendable and worthy acts, are Recorded before the Judge of all the World. Alas, alas, these things are strange things to a carnal and wicked man. Nothing of this hath bin done by him in this life, and therefore how can any such be Recorded for him in the Book of Life: wherefore he must needs be shut out of this part also. As David saith, Let them be blotted out of the Book of the living, and not be written with the Righteous. Psal. 69. 28.

p. 161Thus I say, the wicked will find nothing for their comfort, either in the first part of this book, where all the names of the Elect are, neither will they find any thing in the second part thereof, where is recorded the true nature and operation of effectual Conversion, of Faith, or Love, or the like; and I say, neither can any thing be found in this third part, wherein is recorded the worthy acts, and memorable deeds of the Saints of the Lord Jesus. Thus when Christ therefore hath opened before them this book of life, and convinced the ungodly at this day out of it; he will then shut it up again, saying, I find nothing herein that will do you good, you are none of my Elect, you are the sons of perdition: For as these things will be found clear and full in the book of life, so they will be found effectually wrought in the hearts of the Elect, all whose conversion and perseverance shall now be opened before …hy eyes, as a witness, I say, of the truth of what thou here seest opened before thee, and also of thy unregenerate estate: Now thou wilt see what a turn, what a change, and what a clinging to God, to Christ, and his Word and wayes; there was found in the Souls of the saved ones! here shall be seen also how resolvedly, unfeignedly, and heartily the true child of God did oppose, resist, and war against his most dearest and p. 162darling lusts and corruptions: now the Saints are hidden ones, but then they shall be manifest, this is the morrow in which the Lord will shew who are his, and who they are that fear the Lord, and who that fear him not, Psal. 83. 3. Sam. 8. 19. Numb. 16. 5. Mal. 3. 18. Now, you shall see how Abraham left his Country, how close good Lot did stick to God in prophane and wicked Sodom; Heb. 11. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. Mat. 19. 29. how the Apostles left all to fo…low Jesus Christ, and how patiently they took all crosses, afflictions, persecutions, and necessities for the Kingdome of Heavens s…ke; how they indured burning, starving, stoning, hanging, and a thousand calamities; how they manifested their love to their Lord, his Cause and people in the worst of times, and in the dayes when they were most rejected, slighted, abused, and abased, then shall the King say to them on his right hand (and that when all the Devils and damned sinners stand by) Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the World▪ (you are indeed the truly converted Souls, as appears by the grace that was in your hearts) For I was an hungred, and you gave me meat: ! was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye cloathed me; I was sick, and you visited me; and in Prison, and p. 163you came unto me, Matth. 25. 34, 35, 36. you owned me, stood by me, and denyed your selves to nourish me and my poor members, in our low, and weak, and most despised condition. This, I say, the World shall see, hear, and be witnesses of, against themselves and their Souls for ever; for how can it be, but these poor damned sinners should be forced to confess, that they were both Christless and Graceless, when they shall find, both in the book of life, and in the hearts of the holy and beloved Souls, that which themselves are quite barren of, and greatest strangers to. The Saints, by the fruits of Regeneration, even in this World, do testify to the World, not only the truth of conversion in themselves, but also that they are yet Christless, and so heavenless, and salvationless, that are not converted, 1 Tim. 6. 12. 1 Thess. 2. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 2. But alas, while we are here, they will evade this testimony, both of our happiness, by calling our Faith, fantacy; our communion with God, delusion; and the sincere profession of his Word before the World, hypocrisy, pride, and arrogancy: yet, I say, when they see us on the right hand of Christ, commingled among the Angels of light, and themselves on his left hand, and commingled with the Angels of darkness; and, I say, when they shall see our hearts and wayes p. 164opened before their eyes, and owned by the Judg for honest hearts, and good wayes, and yet the same wayes that they hated, slighted, disowned and contemned; what will they, or what can they say, but thus, We fools counted their lives madness, and their end to be without honour, but how are they numbred with the Saints, and owned by God and Christ.

And truly, was it not that the world might, by seeing the turn that is wrought on the godly at their Conversion, be convinced of the evil of their wayes, or be left without excuse the more in the day of God (with some other reasons) they should not, I am perswaded, stay so long from Heaven as they do, nor undergo so much abuse and hardship as frequently befalls them. God, by the lengthening out the life of his people that are scattered here and there among men in this world, is making work for the day of Judgment, and the overthrow of the implacable, for ever and ever, and, as I have said, will by the Conversion, life, patience, self-denyal, and heavenly mindedness of his dear children, give them a heavy and most dreadful blow. Now When God hath thus laid open the work of Grace, both by the boo… of life, and the Christians heart; then, of … self, will fall to the ground, their pleading what gifts and abilities they had in this world, p. 165they will now see that gifts, and grace, are two things; and also, that whosoever is graceless, let their gifts be never so excellent, they must perish and be lost for ever: wherefore for all their gifts, they shall be found the workers of iniquity, and shall so be judged and condemned, Matth. 7. 22, 23. That is a notable place in the Prophecy of Ezekiel, Thus saith the Lord, saith he, If the Prince (the Prince of life) give a gift to any of his sons, that is, to any that are truly gracious, the inheritance, o… the profit that he gets thereby, shall be his sons; that is, for the exercise of his gift, he shall receive a reward; but if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, (that is not a son) then it shall be his (but) to the year of liberty▪ after it shall return to the Prince, &c. Ezek. 46. 16, 17. This day of liberty, it is now, when the Judg is set upon the throne to Judgment, even the glorious liberty of the children of God, Rom. 8. 21. wherefore then will Christ say to them that stand by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten p…unds, this servant must not abide in the house for ever, though with the son it shall be so, Joh. 8. 35. Luke 19. 24. A man may be used as a servant in the Church of God, and may receive many gifts, and much knowledg of the things of heaven, and yet at last, p. 166himself be no more than a very bubble and nothing, 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2, 3.

But now I say, at this day, they shall clearly see the difference between gifts and grace, even as clearly, as now they that have eyes can see the difference between gifts and ignorance, and very foolishness: This our day doth indeed abound with gifts; many sparkling wits are seen in every corner, men have the Word and truths of Christ at their fingers ends; but alas, with many, yea, a great many, there is naught but wits and gifts, they are but words, all their Religion lyeth in their tongues and heads, the power of what they say and know, it is seen in others, not in themselves: these are like the Lord on whom the King of Israel leaned, they shall see the plenty, the blessed plenty that God doth provide, and will bestow upon his Church, but they shall not tast thereof, 2 Kings 7. 17, 18, 19, 20.

Before I conclude this matter, observe, that among all the objections and cavils that are made, and will be made, by the ungodly, in the day of the Lord Jesus, they have not one hump abou… election and reprobation, they murmur not at all that they were not predestinated to eternal life; and the reason is, because then they shall see, though now they are blind, that p. 167God could in his Prerogative Royal, without prejudice to them that are damned, chuse and refuse at pleasure; and besides, they at that day shall be convinced, that the…e was so much reality, and downright willingness in God, in every tender of Grace and mercy, to the worst of men; and also so much goodness, justness, and reasonableness in every command of the Gospel of grace, which they were so often intreated and beseeched to imbrace, that they will be drowned in the conviction of this, that they did refuse love, grace, reason, &c. love, I say, for hatred, grace for sin, and things reasonable, for things unreasonable and vain. Now they shall see they left glory for shame, God for the Devil, heaven for hell, light for darkness. Now they shall see, that though they made themselves beasts, yet God made the… reasonable Creatures, and that he did with reason expect that they should have adhered to, and have delighted in, things that are good, and according to God: yea, now they shall see, that though God did not determine to bring them to Heaven against their hearts and wills, and the love that they had to their sins: yet then they shall be convinced, that God was far from infusing any thing into their Souls, that should in the least hinder, weaken, obstruct, p. 168or let them in seeking the welfare of their Souls. Now men will tattle and prattle at a mad ra…e, about election and reprobation, and conclude, that because all are not elected, therefore God is to blame that any are damned: but then they will see, that they are not damned because they were not elected, but because they sinned, and also that they sinned, not because God put any weakness into their Souls, but because they gave way, and that wilfully, knowingly, and desperately, to Satan and his suggestions; and so turned away from the holy Commandment delivered unto them; yea, then they will see, that though God at sometimes did fasten his cords about your heads, and heels, and hands, both by godly education, and smarting convictions: yet you rusht away with violence from all, saying, Let us break these bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us. Psal. 2. 1, 2, 3. God will be justified in his sayings, and clear when he judgeth; though thy proud ignorance thinks to have, and to multiply, cavills against him, Psal. 51. 4.

But secondly, as the whole body of the Elect, by the nature of conversion in their hearts, shall witness a non-conversion in the hearts of the wicked; and as the ungodly shall fall under the conviction of this cloud of Witnesses. So to increase their conviction, there p. 169will also be opened before them all the labours of the godly, both Ministers and others, and the pains that they have taken, to save, if it had been possible, these damned wretches; and now will it come burning hot upon their Souls, how often they were forewarned of this day; now they shall see, that there was never any Quarter-Sessions, nor general Goal-delivery more publickly foretold of, then this day. You know that the Judges, before they begin their Assizes, do give to the Countrey in Charge, That they take heed to the Laws and Statutes of the King: Why R…bel, thou shalt be at this day convicted, that every sermon thou hast heard, and that every serious debate thou hast bin at about the things of God, and Laws of eternity, they were to thee as the Judges Charge before the Assizes and Judgment began. Every exhortation of every Minister of God, it is as that which Paul gave to Timothy, and commanded hi… to give in charge to others: I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Elect Angells, saith he that thou observe these things, and again, I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickneth all things, and before Jesus Christ, who before Pon…us P…la…e witnessed a go…d confession, that thou keep this Commandment without spot, unrebukable, untill the appearing of Jesus Christ; these things give in p. 170charge, saith he, that they may be blameless, 1 Tim. 3. 21. and c. 6. v. 13. This, I say, hast thou heard, and seen, and yet thou hast not held fast, but hast cast away the things that thou hast heard, and hast bin warned of; alas, God will multiply his Witnesses against thee.

1. Thy own Vows and Promises shall be a Witness against thee, that thou hast, contrary to thy light and knowledg, destroyed thy Soul, as Joshuah said to the children of Israel, when they said the Lord should be their God. Well, saith he, Ye are Witnesses against your selves, that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him; that is, if now you turn back again, even this Covenant and resolution of yours will in the great day be a witness against you, and they said, we are witnesses, Jos. 24. 20, 21, 22.

2. Every time you have with your mouth said well of godliness, and yet gone on in wickedness; or every time you have condemned sin in others, and yet have not refrained it your selves; I say, every such word and conclusion that hath passed out of thy mouth, sinner, it shall be as a witness against thee in the day of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, as Christ saith, Matth. 12. 36, 37. By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. I observe, that talk with who you will, they will with their mouth, say, serving of p. 171God, and loving of Christ, and walking in wayes of holiness is best, and best will come of it. I observe again, that men that are grosly wicked themselves, will yet, with heavy censures and Judgments, condemn drunkenness, lying, cove…ousness, pride, and whoring, with all manner of abominations in others; and yet, in the mean time, continue to be neglectors of God, and imbracers of sin and the allurements of the flesh themselves. Why such souls, every time they speak well of godliness, and continue in their sins; they do pass Judgment upon themselves, and provide a witness, even their own mouth, against their own Soul, at the Judgment seat; Out of thy own mouth, saith Christ, will I judg thee thou wicked servant; thou knewest what I was, and that I loved to see all my servants zealous, and active for me, that at my comming, I might have received again what I gave thee with increase: thou oughtest therefore to have bin busying thy self in my work for my glory, and thy own good, but seeing thou hast, against thy own light, and mouth, gone contrary; Angels, take this unprofitable servant, and cast ye him into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; he sinned against his light, he shall go to hell against his will, Matth. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.

p. 172The very same I say, will befall all those that have used their mouth to condemn the sins of others, while they themselves live in their sins. Saith God, O thou wicked wretch, thou didst know that sin was bad, thou didst condemn it in others; thou didst also condemn, and passe Judgment upon them for their sin, Thou art therefore inexcusable, a man, whosoever thou art, that hast thus Judged; for thou that judgest, dost the same thing: Wherefore, wherein thou hast judged another, thou hast condemned thy self. I must therefore, saith Christ, look upon thee to be no other but a sinner against thy own mouth, and cannot but judge thee as a despiser of my goodness, and the riches of my forbearance; by which means, thou hast treasured up wrath against this day of wrath, and Revellation of the Righteous Judgment of God, He that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin. Rom. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Thus will God, I say, judge and condemn poor sinners, even from and by themselves, to the fire, that Lake of Brimstone and fire.

Thirdly, God hath said in his Word, that rather then there shall want witness at the day of Judgment, against the works of iniquity: p. 173The very dust of their City, that shall cleave to his Messengers that publish the Gospel, shall it self be a witness against them; and so Christ bid his Servants say, into whatsoever City, ye enter, and they receive you not, go your wayes out into the streets of the same, and say, even the very dust of your City, which cleaveth to us, we do wipe off against you, &c. But I say unto you, saith he to his Ministers, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom at the Judgement, then for that City. Luk. 10. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

It may be, that when thou hearest that the dust of the street, (that cleaveth to a Minister of the Gospel, while thou rejectest his word of Salvation) shall be a witness against thee at the day of Judgment: though wilt be apt to laugh, and say, the dust a Witness! Witnesses will be scarce where dust is forced to come in to plead against a man. Well sinner, mock not, God doth use to confound the great and mighty, by things that are not, and that are despised. And how sayst thou? if God had said by a Prophet to Pharaoh, but two years before the Plague, that he would shortly come against him with one Army of Lice, and a second p. 174Army of Frogs, and with a third Army of Locusts, &c. and would destroy his Land; dost thou think it had bin wisdom in Pharaoh, now to have laughed such tydings to scorn? Is any thing to hard for the Lord? hath he said it, and shall he not bring it to passe? You shall see, in the day of Judgment, of what force all these things will be, as witnesses against the ungodly.

Many more witnesses might I here reckon up, but these at this time shall suffice to be nominated; for out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established. And at the mouth of two or three Witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death, be put to death. 2 Cor. 13. 1. Deut. 17. 6. Joh. 8. 17.

Thus then the Books being opened, the Laws read, the witnesses heard, and the ungodly convicted: forthwith the Lord and Judge proceeds to execution. And to that end, doth passe the sentence of eternall death upon them, saying, Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devill and his Angels. You are now by the Book of the Creatures, by the Book of Gods Remembrance, by the Book of the Law, and by the Book of Life, adjudged guilty of High Treason against God, and me; and as murderers of your own p. 175Souls. As these faithful and true witnesses here have testified, every one of them appearing in their most upright testimony against you. Also you never had a saving work of Conversion, and faith, past upon you, you died in your sins; neither can I find any thing in the last part of this Book that will serve your turn, no worthy act is here Recorded of you. When I was an hungred, you gave me no meat; When I was a thirsty, you gave me no drink; When I was a stranger, you took me not in; I was naked, but ye cloathed me not; I was sick and in prison, but ye visited me not.

I have made a thorow search among the Records of the Living, and find nothing of you, or of your deeds therein: Depart from me ye cursed, &c. Mat. 25. 41, 42, 43.

Thus will these poor ungodly Creatures be stript of all hope and comfort, and therefore must needs fall into great sadness and wailing, before the Judge; yea, crying out, as being loath to let go all for lost, and even as the man that is fallen into the River, will catch hold of any thing, when he is struggling for life, though it tend to hold him faster under the water, to drownd him. So, I say, while these poor Creatures, p. 176as they lie strugling and twining under the ireful countenance of the Judge; they will bring out yet one more faint and weak groan, and there goes life and all; their last sigh is this, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and gave thee no meat? or when saw we thee thirsty, and gave thee no drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee not in? or naked, and cloathed thee not? or when wast thou sick, or in prison, and we did not minister unto thee? Mat. 25. 44.

Thus you see, how loath the sinner is now to take a Nay of life everlasting. He that once would not be perswaded to close with the Lord Jesus, though one should have perswaded him with tears of blood: behold how fast he now hangs about the Lord, what Arguments he frames with mournful groans; how with shifts and words, he seeks to gain the time, and to defer the execution; Matth. 25. 10, 11. Lord open unto us! Lord, Lord, open unto us! Lord, thou hast taught in our streets, and we have both taught in thy name, and in thy name have we cast out Devils. Mat. 7. 21, 22, 23. VVe have eat and drank p. 177in thy presence. And when did we see thee an hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Luk. 13. 25, 26, 27, 28. O poor hearts, how loath? how unwillingly do they turn away from Christ? how loath are they to partake of the fruit of their ungodly doings? Christ must say, depart once, and depart twice, before they will depart. When he hath shut the door upon them, yet they knock, and cry, Lord open unto us; when he hath given them their answer, that he knowes them not, yet they plead and mourn. Wherefore, he is fain to answer again, I tell you, I know you not whence you are, depart. Luk. 13. 25, 26, 27.

Depart] O this word, depart! how dreadful is it? with what weight will it fall on the head of every condemned sinner! for you must note, that while the ungodly stand thus before the Judge: they cannot chuse but have a most famous view, both of the Kingdom of Heaven, and of the damned wights in Hell. Now they see the God of Glory, the King of Glory, the Saints of Glory, and the Angels of Glory; and the Kingdom in which they have their eternal aboad. Now, they also begin to see the worth of Christ, and what it is to be p. 178miled upon by him; from all which they must depart, and as I say, they shall have the view of this, so they will most famously behold …he pit, the bottomless pit, the fire, the Brimstone, and the flaming beds that Justice hath prep…red for them of old. Jud. 4. Their Associates also, will be very co…spicuous, and clear before their watery eyes. They will see now, what and which are Devils, and who are damned Souls; now their great Grandfather Cain, and all his brood, with Judas and his Companions, must be their fellow-sighers in the flames and pangs for ever. O heavy day! O heavy Word!

This word [depart] therefore, it looketh two wayes, and commands the damned to do so too. Depart from Heaven, depart to Hell: depart from life, depart to death: depart from me] now the Ladder doth turn from under them in deed. The Saviour turns them off, the Saviour throwes them down. He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Joh. 5. 27. Depart from me. I would come to have done you good; but then you would not: now then, though you would have it never so willingly, yet you shall not.

Depart from me ye Cursed] You lie open p. 179to the stroak of Justice for your sins; ye forsaken, and left off God, ye Vessels of wrath, ye despisers of God and goodness. You must now have vengeance feed on you; for you did, when you were in the World, feed on sin, and treasure up wrath against this day of wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God. Rom. 2, 3, 4, 5▪ 6.

Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire.] Fire is that which of all things is the most insufferable, and insupportable. Wherefore, by fire, is shewed the grievous state of the ungodly, after Judgment. Who can eat fire, drink fire, and ly down in the midst of flames of fire? yet this must the wicked do. Again, not onelyonly fire, but everlasting fire. Behold how great a fire a little matter kindleth. A little sin, a little pleasure, a little unjust dealing and doing: what preparation is made for the punishment thereof. And hence it is, that the fire into which the damned f…ll, is called the Lake, or Sea of fire. And whosoever, saith John, was not found written in the Ro…k of Life, was cast into the Lake of fire and Brimstone. Revel. 20. 15. Little did the sinner seriously think, that when he was sinning against God, he was making such provision for his poor Soul; but now 'tis to late to repent, his worm must never p. 180die, and his fire never shall be quenched. Mark 9. 49. Though the time in which men commit sin, is short, yet the time of Gods punishing of them for their sin, is long.

Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.] In that he saith, prepared for the Devil and his Angels: he insinuates a further conviction upon the Consciences of the damned. As if he had said, as for this fire and Lake that you must go to, though you thought but little of it, because you were careless, yet I did betimes, put you in mind of what would be the fruits of sin, even by preparing of this Judgment for the Devil and his Angels. The Devil in his Creation, is far more noble then you, yet when he sinned, I spared him not. He sinned also before man and I, upon his sinning, did cast him down from Heaven to Hell, and did hang the Chains of everlasting darkness upon him, which might, yea, ought to have bin a fair item to you to take heed; but you would not. Jud. 6. Gen. 31. 2, 3, 4, 5. Rev. 20. 1. Wherefore, seeing you have sinned as he hath done, and that too, after he had both sinned, and was bound over to eternal punishment: the same Justice that layeth hold on these more noble Creatures, p. 181must surely seize on you. The World should be convinced of Judgment then, because the Prince of the World is judged. Joh. 6. 8, 9, 10. And that before they came to this condition of hearing the eternal sentence rattle in their ears; but seeing they did not regard it then, they must and shall feel the smart of it now. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.

God would have men learn both what mercy and Justice is to them, by his shewing it to others; but if they be sottish and careless in the day of forbearance, they must learn by smarting in the day of rebukes, and vengeance. Thus it was with the old World, God gave them one hundred and twenty years warning, by the preparation of Noah for the floud that should come; but for as much as they then were careless, and would not consider the works of the Lord, nor his threatning them by this preparation: therefore he brought in the floud upon the World of the ungodly. As he doth hear the last Judgment upon the workers of iniquity, and sweep them all away in their wilful ignorance. Mat. 24. 37, 38, 39.

Wherefore I say, the Lord Chief Judge, by these words [prepared for the Devill and his Angels] doth as good as say, this fire into which p. 182now I send you, it did of it self, even in the preparation of it, (had you considered it) forewarn you of this that now is come upon you. Hell fire is no new, or unheard of thing, you cannot now plead, that you heard not of it in the Wo…ld, neither could you with any reason judge, that seeing I prepared it for Angels, for noble, powerful, and mighty Angels; that you poor dust and ashes should escape the vengeance.

Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. The sentence being thus passed, it remains now, the work being done, that every one goeth to his eternal station. Wherefore, forthwith this mighty Company, do now with heavy heart, return again from before the Judgment-Seat: and that full hastily, God knoweth, for their proper Center, is the Hell of Hell; into which they descend like a stone into a Well, or like Pharaoh into the bottom of the red Sea. Exod. 15. 10. For all hope being now taken from them, they must needs fall with violence, into the Jaws of eternal desperation, which will deal far worse with the souls of men, and make a greater slaughter in their tortured consciences, then the Lions in the Den with Daniel, could possibly do with the men that were cast in among them. Dan. 6. 24.

p. 183This is that which Paul calleth Eternall Judgement, Heb. 6▪ 2. because it is that which is last and finall. Many are the Judgments that God doth execute among the Sons of Men, some after this manner, and some after that, divers of which, continue but for a while, and none of them are eternal, no, the very Devils and damned spirits in Hell, though there is the longest and most terrible of all the Judgments of God, yet on foot: yet I say, they must pass under another Judgment, even this last, great and finall Judgment. The Angels that kept not their first state, but left their own Habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under darkness, unto the Judgment of the great day. Jude 6. And so also it is with damned souls; for bo…h Sodom and Gomorah, with all other, though already in Hell in their souls: yet they must (as I have before shewed) all arise to this judgement, which will be their finall judgement. Other of the judgements of God, as they have an end, so the end of many of them prove the profit of those on whom they are inflicted, being I say, Gods Instruments of Conversion to sinners: and so may fitly be compared to those petty judgements among men, as putting in the stocks, whipping, or burning in the hand: which punishments, and judgements, do often p. 184prove profitable to those that are punished with them; but eternal judgement, it is like those more severe judgements among men, as beheading, shooting to death, hanging, drawing, and quartering which soop all, even health, time, and the like, and cut off all opportunity of good, leaving no place for mercy or amendment: these shall go away into everlasting punishment, &c. Mat. 25. 40. This word, depart, &c. is the last word the damned for ever are like to hear. I say, it is the last voice, and therefore will stick longest, and with most power on their slaughtered souls: there is no calling of it back again, it is the very wind-up of Eternall Judgement.

Thus then, the judgement being over, the Kingdom ceaseth to be any longer in the hand of the Man Christ Jesus; for as the Judges here among men, when they have gone their Circuit, do deliver up their Commission to the King: so Christ the Judge, doth now deliver up his Kingdom to his Father. And now all is swallowed up of Eternity. Mat. 21. 8. The damned are swallowed up of eternal justice and wrath; the saved, of eternal life and felicity; and the Son also delivereth up, I say, the Kingdom to the Father, and subjects himself under him that did put all things under him, p. 185that God may be all in all, 1 Cor. 15. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.

For now is the end come, and not before, even the end of the reign of death it self; for Death, and Hell, and sinners, and Devils, must now together into the Lake, that burns with fire and Brimstone. Rev. 20. 14, 15. And now is the end of Christs Reign, as the Son of Man, and the end of the Reign of the Saints, with him in this his Kingdom, which he hath received of his Father, for his work sake, which he did for him, and for his Elect. Then cometh the end faith Paul, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God the Father: But when shall that be? why, he answers, saying, When he shall have put down all Rule, and all Authority and Power; for he must reign, saith he, untill he hath put all his enemies under his feet, (which will not be, untill the finall Sentence and Judgment be over;) for the last enemy that shall be destroyed, is death. For God hath put all things under his feet, but when he saith, all things are put under him: it is manifested, he is accepted, that did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject to him, that did put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

All things being now at this pass, to wit, every one being in its proper place, God in his, p. 186Christ in his, the Saint in his, and the Sinner in his; I shall conclude with this brief touch upon both the state of the Good and Bad after this Eternal Judgment.

1. The Righteous now shall never fear Death, the Devill, and Hell more: And the Wicked shall never hope of life.

2. The Just shall ever have the Victory over these things: But the Wicked shall everlastingly be swallowed up of them.

3. The Holy shall be in everlasting Light: But the Sinner in everlasting Darkness. Without light, I say, yet in Fire ever burning, yet not consumed, always afraid of death and hell, vehemently desiring to be annihi…ted to nothing. Continually fearing to stay long in Hell, and yet certainly sure they shall never come out of it. Ever desiring the Saints happiness, and yet alwayes envying their felicity. They would have it, because it is easie and Comfortable; yet cannot abide to think of it, because they have lost it for ever. Ever loaden with the delight of sin: and yet that is the greatest torture, alwayes desiring to put it out of their Mind, and yet assuredly know they must for ever abide the guilt and torment thereof.

p. 1874. The Saints are always inflamed with the Consideration of the Grace that once they imbraced: but the Wicked, most flamingly tormented with the thoughts of rejecting and refusing it.

5. The Just, when they think of their sins, they are comforted with the thoughts of their being delivered from them; but the Ungodly, when they think of their righteousness, will gnaw themselves, to think that this would not deliver them from Hell.

6. When the Godly think of Hell, it will increase their Comfort; but when the Wicked think of Heaven, it will twinge them like a Serpent. Oh this Eternal Judgment! What would a damned Soul give, that there might be, though after Thousands and Hundreds of Thousands of Millions of Years, an end put to this Eternal Judgment. But their misery is, they have sinned against a God that is Eternal; they have offended that Justice that will never be satisfied; and therefore they must abide the Fire that never shall be quenched. Here is Judgment, Just, and Sad.

p. 188Again, As it will be thus with Good and Bad in general, so again, more particularly, when the Wicked are thus adjudged and Condemned, and also received of the Fiery Gulph; then they shall find, That as he that busieth himself to do good, shall have more glory than others; So they that have been more busie and active in sin than others, they shall have more Wrath and Torment than others. For as doing good abundantly, doth inlarge the Heart to receive and hold more Glory; So doing evil abundantly, doth inlarge the Heart and Soul to receive Punishment so much the more. And hence it is that you have such Sayings as these, It shall be more tolerable in the Judgment for Sodome, than for others; that is, then for those that had sinned against much greater Light and Mercy: For these, as he saith in another place, shall receive greater Damnation; Yea, it standeth to reason, that he who had most Light, most Conviction, most means of Conversion, and that was highest towards Heaven, he must needs have the greatest Fall, and so sink deepest into the Jaws of Eternal Misery, Luke 10. 12. Luke 20. 47. As one Star, that is, as one Saint, differeth from another in Heaven; so one damned Soul shall differ from another in Hell. It is so among p. 189the Devils themselves, they are some worse than others: Matth. 9. 34. Mar. 3. 22. Belzebub is the Prince; or the Chief of the Devils; That is, One that was most glorious in Heaven; Chief among the reprobate Angels before his Fall, Isa. 14. 2. and therefore sinned against the greater Light, Mercy, and Goodness: and so became the Chief for wickedness, and will also have as the wages thereof, the Chief of Torments. For that will be true of the damned in Hell, which is prayed for against Babylon. Revel. 18. 7. How much she hath glorified her self, and lived deliciously; so much torment and sorrow give her. Can it be imagined, that Judas should have no more torment, who betrayed the Prince of Life and Saviour of the World, than others who never came near his Wickedness by ten thousand degrees? He that know his Masters Will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his Will, shall be beaten with many stripes. With many mo…e stripes, than others that through ignorance did commit sin worthy of many stripes. But what should I thus discourse of the degrees of the Torments of the damned Souls in Hell? For he that suffers least, will the waters of a full Cup be wrung out to him. The least measure of wrath, it will be the Wrath of God, eternal and fiery Wrath, p. 190insupportable wrath; it will lay the Soul in the Gulph of that Second Death, which will for ever have the Mastery over the poor damned perishing Sinner. And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire: which is the Second Death. And whosoever was not found in the Book of Life, was cast into the Lake of fire, Rev. 20. 14, 15.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Bunyan, The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment (1665)