A Divine Message to the Elect Soul, Sermon 5

A Divine Message to the Elect Soul · Sermon 5

THE JUDGEMENT OF THE WORLD By SAINTS at the laſt Day.

DELIƲERED And learnedly diſcovered in a Sermon preached By that vigilant and painfull Miniſter of the Word, WILLIAM FENNER, B.D. Sometime Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, and late Parſon of Rochford in Eſſex.

London, Printed by T.R. and E.M. for J.S.

p. 143A SERMON OF M^r. WILLIAM FENNERS Upon this enſuing Text.

1 Cor. 6. part of the 2^d verſe.

Know yee not that the Saints ſhall judge the World?

THE Corinthians thought Paul had converted many poore mean men amongſt them, Chapter 1.26, 27. God hath choſen the fooliſh things of the world to confound the wiſe, and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty: yet the Nobles, the Lawyers, the Counſellers, the chiefe men in the Citie, the Apoſtle had not converted one of them, or at the leaſt very few. Brethren, you ſee your calling, who they are that be converted to the obedience of the Goſpel of Chriſt from the evill of their wayes: 1not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many p. 144rich not many noble, ſome few there be, here and there one; but for the moſt part they are a company of poor beggerly Chriſtians: Now (it ſeems) theſe poor Chriſtians having controverſies one with another, went to Law among themſelves, and that before unbeleevers. The Apoſtle condemnes this their going to Law, and would have them ceaſe their ſuits and quarrels one againſt another before the unjuſt and unbeleevers, and that by four Arguments:

1Firſt, by the ſhamefulneſſe of it, verſe 5. I ſpeak it to your ſhame; as if he ſhould ſay, Are you ſuch fooles, that you cannot take up theſe matters among your ſelves? that you cannot make references of your wrongs to mediate one to another, but that you muſt go to Law before unbeleevers?

2Secondly, from the ſcandalouſneſſe of it. It is a thing ſo ſcandalous and offenſive to thoſe that are without, that I wonder any of you dare be ſo bold as to go to Law one with another. What will the world think? What, are theſe the men that profeſſe the Goſpel? Are theſe they that have the Wiſdome of God in them, and that are led by the Spirit of God? And have they no more underſtanding in them, then when they have any matter of controverſie, they cannot end it among themſelves, but muſt go to Law before the unjuſt and unbeleevers? (as they terme them.)

3Thirdly, from the unſ…emingneſſe of it, in the ſecond verſe. Do you not know that the Saints p. 145ſhall judge the earth? What? hath God made you Judges of the world, and doe you goe to be judged by the world? Or, as Ambroſe ſpeakes hath God appointed you to be Judges of the men in the world, and are you not fit to be Judges of the things of the world?

4Fourthly, from the ſtrangeneſſe of it; Dare any of yuu? He ſpeakes interrogatively (verſ. 1.) It is a ſtrange thing that you ſhould come to that impudencie againſt the Goſpel of Chriſt; one would think that you ſhould tremble and quake at ſuch a thing as this is. What, is there never a wiſe Chriſtian amongſt you? never an underſtanding profeſſor that is able to take up a controverſie, or decide and judge between his brethren? what a ſtrange thing is this? Then hee backs it with foure Arguments.

11. Becauſe they wre Brethren, verſ. 6. Brother goes to Law with brother.

22. Becauſe it was about the things of this life What? hath God made you Judge of heavenly things, of Angels, and are you unfit to Judge of the things of this life?

33. It was ab…ut ſmall matters (ver. 2.) whereas you ſhall ſit upon men and Angels, and the weightieſt matters in the world, the greateſt things of Gods law, judging them to the greateſt penaltie and puniſhment even to eternall damnation: and are yee unworthy then to judge even of the ſmalleſt matters?

44. And laſtly, Becauſe it was about ſuch things, as the meaneſt Chriſtian in the towne might have p. 146taken up, and have ended: Set up them that are leaſt eſteemed.

Doe you not know, that the Saints ſhall judge the world?

Doct. I need not goe far for a point, the word affords it; The Doctrine is; That the Saints ſhall judge the world.

It is an old truth, yea as old as the world it ſelfe▪ you may read it in the fourth verſe of Judes Epiſtle: That Eno…h the ſeventh from Adam prophecied, ſaying; Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſands of his Saints. God will not onelyonly come to judgement himſelfe, but he will come attended with all his Saints, even with all the god…y, to execute vengeance upon all the world. So our Saviour told Saint Peter, and not onelyonly him, but all that follow him in the regeneration: They ſhall ſit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael ▪ Mat. 9.18. They ſhall judge the Nations, and have dominion over the people, Wiſd. 3.8.

Object. And now becauſe doubt is the beſt way to attaine unto knowledge, let me anſwer a doubt, that may creepe in by the way; How ſhall the Saints judge the world?

Anſw. Anſ. Not by pronouncing of judgement upon the world, for that Chriſt alone ſhall do; Then ſhall the King ſay to them on his left hand, Depart yee curſed, Mat. 25. But the Saints ſhall judge the world theſe foure wayes:

11. They ſhall judge the world, by their conſent unto Chriſts judgement, God traines up his children in this world, & educates them, and tea…heth p. 741them how they may judge the world hereafter; he teacheth them in this life how to aſſent with his proceedings in the world; ſo that they are able to ſay, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and juſt are thy judgements ▪ Pſal. 119.137. Now if the Saints be trained in this life to aſſent unto Gods proceedings with the world, much more then will they be able to know and conſent unto Chriſts judgement, when he ſhall come with his Saints to judge the world: Now the Law ſaith, that conſenters are agents: and therefore becauſe the Saints ſhall conſent to the judgement of Chriſt, therefore they are ſaid to judge the world.

22. The Saints ſhall judge the world by their applauſe of Chriſts judgement: they ſhall not only give conſent unto the judgment of Chriſt, but they ſhall alſo applaud it and commend it: when God ſhall ſay to all drunkards, ſwearers, lyers, Sabbath-breakers, and to all unbeleeving, impenitent, and graceles ſinners, Depart yee curſed into hell fire, then though it were his owne father that begat him, or his mother that bare him, though it were his owne brother or ſiſter, wife or child, that hath been as dear as his own life and ſoule to him; yet they ſhall clap their hands for joy, and applaud the moſt righteous ſentence of God upon them; and they ſhall ſing Hallelujah, ſalvation, and honour, and power, be to the Lord our God for true & righteous are his judgements, Rev. 19.1, 2. Let them goe accurſed as they are; for it is a righteous ſentence paſſed on them.

p. 14833. They ſhall judge the world by their Majeſtie; they ſhall not only ſtand againſt the wicked, and conſent to, and applaud that ſentence that Chriſt ſhall paſſe againſt the wicked, but they ſhall be inveſted w…th robes of majeſtie, and with a diademe of glory: then ſhall the righteous ſhine as the ſtarres in the firmament, and the wicked ſhall be amazed and aſtoniſhed at the fight of them: as you may read in that platforme of judgement, Matth, 25. where Chriſt ſets his Saints over againſt the world, that ſo the world may look upon them, and be confounded at their ſight.

44. They judge the world by their lives and converſations; (as Ambroſe ſaith rightly) then is the world judged by them, when as the courſes and manners of the world are not found upon them. Therefore it is a pretty obſervation of Hilary (if it be the meaning of the Text) (I will not ſay it is) upon the 2. Pſalme; Be wiſe …ee Judges: God hath appointed you to be Judges, to ſit on his bench with his Sonne; learne then to be wiſe, get to be indued with ſpirituall wiſedome and underſtanding, and to ſhine in all integritie and righteouſneſſe; and then turning his ſpeech to the wicked, he ſay's, Kiſſe the Sonne leſt he be angry, However it be yet this is a truth, that by the lives of his Saints, he will judge the world; there faith ſhall judge the worlds infidelitie: their repentance ſhall judge the worlds impenitency; their accepting of, and taking the Lord Jeſus, ſhall judge their rejection and neglect of p. 149Chriſt Jeſus, their zeale ſhall judge the worlds luke-warmneſſe, and their holineſſe ſhall judge the worlds prophaneneſſe.

Reaſ. 1 1. Bcauſe of the miſticall union that is betwixt Chriſt and his Saint… ; He is the head, and they are his members; now that which the head doth, we aſcribe to the whole body; when the head ſpeakes, the whole body ſpeakes; when the head ſees, the whole body ſees: ſo when Chriſt judgeth the world, the whole body of Chriſt may truely be ſaid to judge the world. As much as you did it unto one of theſe (ſaith Chriſt) you did it unto me: ſo in as much as Chriſt paſſeth ſentence even all the members of the myſticall body of Chriſt judge with him.

Reaſ. 2 Secondly, in regard of compaſſion: I ſpeak not of the word [compaſſion] as it ſignifies [pitie] but of compaſſion of ſuffering with Chriſt, ſeeing that Chriſt was reproched, contemned, hated, miſuſed, and condemned by the world, the Saints are likewiſe with him; ſeeing they pertake of the afflictions, humiliations, and debaſements of Chriſt here▪ they ſhall alſo be made pertakers with Chriſt in his glory. Here the wicked judge the Saints, and call them hypocrites, and diſſemblers, and laugh and ſcoff… at them, and wonder at them, as the Prophet brings in Chriſt ſpeaking. Eſay. 8. Behold, I and the children that thou haſt given me, are for ſignes and wonders in Iſrael: The wicked count them for wonders and monſters in the world, judging them hypocrites and liers, which have nothing in them but rottenneſſe p. 150and diſſimulation. Now the rule of like for like ſhall take place here, and as they were judged by the world, ſo they ſhall be Judges of the world.

Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, for the great terror to all wicked men at the day of judgement: for as it is with a thiefe, not only when the Judge ſhall command to hang him, but all the Juſtices, and all the Countrey ſhall cry out, Hang him, hang him, he is judged the more terrible; ſo God will not onelyonly ſay of all wicked and ungodly ſinners, Damne them damne them, but he will have all the Saints in heaven, and all the Saints on earth to cry out, Away with them, away with them, let them be damned, Pſal. 50.4, 5. This will make their judgment ſo much the more terrible.

Reaſ. 4 Fourthly, the Saints ſhall judge the world, becauſe God will ſo convince them, that their mouthes ſhall bee ſtopped, they ſhall have never a ſyllable to excuſe themſelves withall, when they ſhall ſee men fleſh and bloud as themſelves are, when they ſhall ſee men and women, that have lived in the ſame towne, enjoyed the ſame Ordinance of God, lived in the ſame family, that did partake of the ſame bleſſings, and of the ſame croſſes and afflictions with themſelves, ſubject alſo to the ſame corruptions and ſinnes as themſelves, when they ſhall ſee theſe at Chriſts right hand, they ſhall have never a word to excuſe themſelves withall: As when the Apoſtles had healed the creeple (Acts 3.) if the people had judged them for wicked and peſtilent men, the p. 151creeple would have convinced them, and ſhewed that they were of God; if they ſhould have cried, Root them out, the creeple would have condemned them, and told them, that they did good. And when the wicked ſhall ſee the Saints at Gods right hand, will they call them hypocrites and diſſemblers? they themſelves ſhall ſee, that they are ſincere; will they call them Puritans? why, they ſhall then ſee that their purity ſtands them in good ſtead: then the ungodly ſhall not ſtand in judgement, nor the ſinners in the Congregation of the righteous, Pſal. 1.6. Thus the point is clear.

Vſe 1 The firſt Uſe then is for inſtruction, whereby we may learn, that the Saints by their now being Saints, doe now judge the world: if by the lives of Saints then God doth judge the world, then there is never a Saint in a town, or City, or Pariſh in all the Countrey, but he judgeth all the wicked that are about him: How? By living godly, by hating the ſinnes of the times, by keeping his or their garments clean from the pollution of the world: For by doing this, he judgeth the world. See it in Noah, Heb. 11.7. By faith Noah being warned of God, as yet moved with feare, prepared an Ark for the ſaving of his houſe, by which he condemned the world.

Object. But ſome men will ſay, Could Noah be ſaid to condemne the world by making the Ark? All the world did not ſee him when he did it.

Anſw. Beloved, Noah making the Ark an hundred and twenty years, though it was not ſeen of all, p. 152yet all the world muſt needs baar of it, it being ſuch a ſtrange thing. Now he condemned the world, in that the whole world did not come unto Noah to enquire of him in ſober ſadneſſe, but rather mock… him for building the Ark; they thought him to bee a peeviſh melancholy man, and not well in his wits, and ſo ſcoft at him, ſaying, Will he make an Ark to ſwim upon dry land? whereas they ſhould have asked him ſoberly the cauſe why he did it; and if they had done ſo, Noah no queſtion would have told them, that the wrath of heaven was upon the world, and that the floods of Gods vengeance were ſhortly to bee poured downe upon us: and, becauſe my heart hath beene naught, and I have ſinned and provoked the Lords wrath, I feare if I get not into this Ark which the Lord hath commanded me for to make, I ſhall periſh. Now becauſe they would not come unto Noah to ask him this reaſon, therefore the world was condemned by him: even ſo the Saints, by making an Ark for their poore ſoules, even by getting into Chriſt, (as the Ark was a type of Chriſt without whom none can be ſaved) the Saints, I ſay, by getting into Chriſt, do judge the whole world, when they hear there be men …hat be no ſwearers, and no drunkards, and that there bee men that will pray, read, heare the word, conferre of God and of Chriſt, and that weep and mourne for their ſins, that ſpend their times in the mortification of their luſts, and endevour after holineſſe and ſanctification; the whole world, I ſay, is judged by them. How? p. 153why, they ſhould ſay: Sirs, what is the matter that you doe ſo run after Sermons? that you keep ſuch a ſtirre about getting faith and repentance more then other men? that you pray, weep, faſt, and mourne, and are ſo ſtrict in your works? If thus men would but come unto Gods Saints, and ask them the reaſon of all theſe things, the Saints of God would tell them, that the wrath of God would come upon them if they did not do thus: they would never be ſaved, if they did not thus beleeve, and thus repent, and thus pray, and walk thus holily and preciſely, they ſhould be all damned. But the world it falls a mocking and a ſcoffing at them, and never ſeeks to prevent the wrath of God; but it ſuddenly ſeiſeth on them to their deſtruction.

2Secondly, this teacheth us, that when there is any one ſinner converted from the wickedneſſe of his wayes, and is become a Saint, then all the world may know that there is a new Judge come to ſit upon them. Seeſt thou a drunkard, a ſwearer, a prophane perſon converted from his ſinnes, and now walks ſoberly, holily, and purely? ſeeſt thou a man and a woman ſtruck at a Sermon? Then know that unleſſe thou comeſt out of thy ſinnes, unleſſe thou doeſt repent, and walk holily, there is a new Judge added to the reſt, that ſhall judge thee. As our Saviour told the Phariſees, If I through Beelzebub caſt out Devils, by whom do your children caſt them out? Therefore they ſhall be your judges, Matth. 12.27. where Chriſt tells them, that their children p. 154who were his Diſciples (for ſome of the Phariſees children did beleeve in Chriſt and follow him, and had power from Chriſt to doe the ſame workes that Chriſt did;) Now they liked it well enough in their owne children, but they could not endure it in Chriſt: and therefore hee tells them, that their children, whom God had converted, and to whom he had given power to doe the ſame workes that he did, even they ſhall bee their Judges to condemne them: And even ſo may it be with thee, thou that art a father or a mother, God having converted any of thine own children, that child ſhall be thy Judge and condemne thee, if thou repent not. It may be God hath converted thy brother and ſiſter, and thou art not converted; thy own brother and ſiſter ſhall condemne thee, if thou doe not repent and come out of thy ſinnes.

3Thirdly, we may learn that it concerns all the world to take notice of every grace in Gods children, There is never a grace of God in any of his Saints but it ſhall condemne the world if it be void of it. The wayes of the Lord are all judgements, becauſe they judge them that will not walk in them. Every grace, yea the very thoughts of the righteous are called Judgements by Solomon, Prov. 12. You may know a crooked thing by laying it to a ſtraight line, and by that it is judged to be crooked: ſo the thoughts of the righteous which are right, holy and pure, ſhall judge the impure, unholy, and crooked thoughts of wicked men. Is the child of God p. 155humble? His humility ſhall judge thy pride. Is the child of God meek and patient in ſuffering of wrong and injuries? His meekneſſe and patience ſhall judge thy choler and revenge. Hath the child of God ſaith given him to beleeve in the Lord Jeſus? His faith ſhall judge thy infidelity. Hath the child of God the ſpirit of prayer given him? It ſhall condemne thee that praieſt only with thine owne ſpirit. Hath he zeale? His zeale ſhall judge thy luke-warmneſſe, Doth his ſpeech and communication adminiſter grace to the hearers? It ſhall condemne thee that ſpeakeſt of vaine and idle things. Yea, all the actions of the godly ſhall judge the wicked: and hence the Saints are ſaid to doe Gods judgements, Zeph. 2.3. that is, they doe according to Gods judgements whereby he will judge the world: Thus they that do mourn, do judge them that do not mourne: they that bewaile their wickedneſſe, and the ſinnes of the times, judge them that doe not: they that faſt, weep, pray, and humble themſelves for the miſeries of the Church in theſe dreadfull dayes, they judge them that make no good conſcience of their duties.

4Fourthly, learne hence, that all the Texts of Scripture, all the whole word of God, that is it that begets theſe Saints, and therefore they muſt needs judge the world, the word of God begets mens hearts unto ſanctification and holineſſe, whereby they become the Saints: and therefore if they, then much more ſhall the Word it ſelfe judge the world: and hence it is that all the p. 156words of God in the Scripture, are called Judgments, Pſal. 105.5. And our Saviour ſaith. The word that I have ſpoken, the ſame ſhall judge you in the laſt day, Joh. 12.48. The word that I have ſpoken▪ where mark he doth not ſay, The word which you have heard: No there are many ſwearers, and drunkards, and prophane ungodly wretches, that will not come to Church to hear the word; there are many wicked men, and dead hearted worldlings, and rotten livers, that will not bee brought to hear Gods Word: it may bee at this preſent there is many whoremongers, drundards, and wicked perſons, that wallow in their filthineſſe? in the Ale-houſe, Game-houſe, or Drab-houſe; or in the fields, or beds, or at their ſports. Well, this word that is now a preaching, whether they will hear it or no, ſhall judge them at the laſt day. Now all the wicked in Aſhford, that heare the word of God calling upon them to repent, and to come out of their ſinnes, but will not, or out of contempt of Gods word, will abſent themſelves from it; this word ſhall judge and condemne them. There is never a drunkard, ſwearer▪ or prophane perſon, though his pew be empty, but this word of God that denounceth the eternal wrath and vengeance of God upon them, if they come not out of their ſinnes, this word ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt them and condemne them eternally. Oh that they could but hear it! but the word that I have ſpoken ſhall judge you, whether you heare it or not.

p. 1575Fifthly and laſtly, hence it follows, that all the Miniſters of God ſhall alſo judge the world. Sonne of man (ſaith God to the Prophet Ezekiel) wilt thou judge the bloudy City? Yea, thou ſhalt ſhew her all her abominations, Ezek. 22.2. As if he ſhould have ſaid, Sonne of man, they are drunkards, wilt thou not tell them of it? They are whoremaſters, wilt thou not tell them of it? They are filthy idolaters, wilt thou not tell them of it? They live in their ſinnes, and in their abomination, and wilt thou not tell them of it? Sonne of man, tell them of all their abominations, and tell them that they ſhall go to hell, if they repent not, tell them that they are damned men if they go on, and come not out of their ſinnes: Wilt thou not judge them (ſon of Man?) Beloved, there is never a Miniſter in England, nor ever a Sermon that is preached by them, but it judgeth every Pariſh, and every man and woman in the congregation, that do not labour to do what is commanded them, and leave undone what is forbidden them: I ſay it judgeth them, or elſe it is a judgement unto them.

Vſe. 2 This then ſerves to condeme three ſorts of men in the world: Firſt, all thoſe that deſpiſe the Saints, and that ſee not amiableneſſe in their faces. All the Countrey doth reverence the face of the Judge when he rides circuit; Let the Judge come into the Countrey, and all the Knights, Juſtices, and Gentlemen in the Countrey wil go out to meet him, and bow unto him; yet theſe Judges are but Judges of a few rogues, malefactors, p. 158and peaſants of the Countrey: Alas, they are far from the dignity of the Saints? for the Saints ſhal judge Saints and Angels: all the world Kings and Queens, Lords and Nobles, and Capteins of the Earth, the pooreſt Saint in Chriſtendome ſhall judge them. The Apoſtle, or rather our Saviour faith, to him that overcometh, and keepeth my words untill the end, to him will I give power over the Nations, Rev. 2.26. Whatſoever he be, if he do the works of Chriſt, and walk in the Ordinances of Chriſt, ſhall have power over the Nations, not onelyonly to contemne their pomps and vanities, their luſts and corruptions, but alſo to convince their conſciences, and to condemne their ſouls for ever.

22. Shall the Saints judge the world? Then what fooles are the wicked that prepare not for theſe Judges? When the Judge comes to an Aſſiſe, all men prepare for him; the Conſtables make ready their Preſentments, the Juries are warned, and the Clerks make ready their Bills, &c. ſeſt the Judge ſhould clap a fine upon them: and ſhall the Saints be Judges, and doſt thou not prepare thy heart by grace? Doſt thou not get purity and holineſſe againſt that day? Surely, if thou doſt not, the very Saints will judge thee unmeet for heaven, and fit only to have thy portion in hell. When Chriſt ſaid, To him that overcometh will I grant to ſit with me in my throne, Rev. 3.21. He addes, Let him that hath an eare heare: Will God make his Saints to judge the world? Then let all wicked men give eare and heare p. 159what God ſaith of his Church: The Saints ſhall judge the world: therefore let all men take notice of it, and prepare themſelves for their judgement.

3Laſtly, It condemnes all thoſe that doe not ſee glory and majeſty in the faces of Gods Saints. There is majeſty in the face of a Judge; yea a man may diſcover in them a kinde of a ſoveraigne majeſty. Even ſo the Saints of God have a majeſty in their courſes, in their looks, in their thoughts, and in all their wayes; and in all theſe they ſhall judge and condemne the wicked. The wicked may give the Saints nick-names and ſcorne, flout, contemne, and deride them now in this life, but let me tell them, that how lightly ſoever they eſteeme of them, they ſhall be their Judges: They may cry out againſt the Saints, as long ſince the wicked Sodomites did againſt good Lot, Gen. 19.9. This fellow (ſay they) will be our Judge: Why, what had Lot done unto them? Alas, he did nothing, but when they would have done that Sodomiſh villany againſt the two Angels that came to him, Lot went to them and ſaid, I pray you my Brethren, do not ſo wickedly. So let the godly be in the company of wicked men, that abuſe the good creatures of God; ſay, I pray you my brethren, do not ſo wickedly, be not drunkards, be not ſwearers; brethren, I pray you do not ſo vainly, nor ſo prophanely uſe the name of God in your mouths; I pray you my brethren, doe not prophane Gods Sabbaths; doe not lie, doe not cheat, nor cozen; if you do theſe and p. 160theſe things, the wrath of God will plague us for it, Oh then preſently they cry out, Who made you our Judges? As once the Hebrews did of Moſes, Act. 7.39. Doſt thou call Saints hypocrites and diſſemblers, men that judge before the time? Thou foole, wert thou not as good to ſuffer the Saints to judge thee now, whereby thou mayſt ſee thy wretchedneſſe and miſery, and by faith and ſpeedy repentance prevent that doome, which otherwiſe they tell thee will come upon thee, as hereafter, when if thou haſt not repented, thou ſhalt never eſcape that doome and vengeance, to which the Saints ſhall judge thee? What, wilt thou not ſuffer them to call a drunkard a drunkard? an adulterer, an adulterer? a blaſphemer, a blaſphemer? a carnall man, a carnall man? a worldly man, a worldly man?

It is a pretty obſervation out of Cyprian, that becauſe Chriſt did reprove all ſorts of religions, and ſpared none, he reproved the Scribes, the Phariſees, the Lawyers, the Souldiers, &c. and yet doth not reprove the Prieſts, becauſe they were Judges of the people, not becauſe he durſt not, but he would not: If thou revileſt the Saints, thou revileſt thy Judges. Take heed then, how thou caſts the leaſt aſperſion upon the Saints; do not ſay, they are raſh Judges, uncharitable cenſurers, diſſembling hypocrites; for they ſhall be your Judges. O that the people would hearken & be admoniſhed in time, to prevent this judgement. Our Saviour ſaith, that this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world and men hate p. 161it, Joh. 3.19. But the children of God, whom God calls the light of the world, theſe lights are come into the world, and men love darkneſſe more then the light. How can the wicked eſcape damnation, that have ſo many thouſand Judges to condemne them? If the malefactor that is Indicted for murther or felony, cannot eſcape condemnation, that hath but one Judge to ſit upon him: thou that art a wicked man, living in thy ſinnes without Chriſt, how canſt thou eſcape, that haſt ſo many millions of Saints to judge thee, yea from Adam the firſt, till the laſt Saint that ſhall be upon the earth? Surely the wicked ſhall never eſcape condemnation: for,

11. God the Father who judgeth by way of authoritie, he will condemne thee; all judgement cometh originally from him; he that hath often commanded thee to repent, and to come out of thy ſinnes, he ſhall condemne thee, becauſe thou haſt not obeyed him.

22. God the Sonne, he will judge thee, who judgeth by way of diſpenſation, Act. 10. Firſt Chriſt preacheth to thee repentance and remiſſion of ſinnes, to which if thou yeeld not, then know, that there is a day appointed, wherein he will judge thee. That Saviour that thou ſayeſt thou deſireſt, if thou part not with thy luſts, he himſelfe will be thy Judge that will condemne thee.

33. God the holy Ghoſt will judge thee; that Spirit that now ſtrives and wreſtles with thee, that ſuggeſts good motions into thy heart, that p. 162puts thee in minde of repentance, bidding thee leave and forſake thy ſinnes, and live holily, but if thou wilt not, this Spirit ſhall judge thee by way of conviction.

44. The Word of God ſhall judge thee, and that by way of forme, it being the platforme, according unto which Chriſt will judge the whole world. Now ſuppoſe there be forty priſoners in the Gaole together, one in for murther, another for theft, another for treaſon, (that man that knows the Law, if there be equitie and juſtice in the Aſſiſe) he, I ſay that knows the Law, knows who ſhall be hanged, or quartered, or burned, or ſet free; even ſo, Beloved, that man that looks through the Scriptures, that reads this or that Chapter, this or that ſentence, may know that or this man will to hell, if he repent not. Say I this of my ſelfe? or ſayes not the Scripture as much? The fearfull, and unbeleeving, and all that love and make lies, ſhall be caſt into that lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone for ever, Rev. 21.8. By this text will the Lord Ieſus come and judge the world: and therefore as for all ſuch as live and dye in their ſinnes, we may all know, that they ſhall be all damn'd in fire & brimſtone for ever. Hereby I know that all they that make no conſcience of idle, vain and earthly ſpeeches, and reproachfull words, they ſhall give an account for them by this Text, Mat. 12.56. Doth the Scripture ſay, that all the wicked ſhall be turned into hell, with all the Nations that forget God? I know it ſhall be ſo by that text, Pſal. 10. for all p. 163things ſhall be done according to the Scriptures Rom. 2.16. In that day (ſaith the Apoſtle) when God ſhall judge the ſecrets of men… hearts by Jeſus Chriſt, according to my Goſpel; that is, juſt as Gods Miniſters preach; juſt as you find it written in the ſame Scriptures, ſo will he judge at that day.

Beloved, there is never a Text throughout the whole Scripture, that commands you to leave and forſake your ſinnes, but it ſhall judge you, if you doe not: there is not one Text of Scripture, that commands performance of any holy duty, but it ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt thee, if thou performe it not. Doth the Scripture ſay, Be not drunk with wine, wherein is exceſſe? Eph. ….18. It ſhall judge and condemn the drunkard that drinks exceſſively. Doth the Scripture ſay, Mortifie your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanneſſe, inordinate affecti…n… evill concupiſcence, and covetouſneſſe, which is Idolatry? Col. 3.5. If notwithſtanding theſe ſinnes live in thee this Text ſhall riſe up and condemne thee to hell. Doth the text ſay, That the fathers to the children ſhall make known Gods truth, Eſa. 28.9. Eph. 6.4. Parents bring up your children in the nurture and information of the Lord? It ſhall riſe up in judgement and condemne thoſe parents that have not inſtructed their children to feare God. Doth the tex ſay, Thou ſhalt teach the word of God unto thy children and that thou ſhalt tal…e of it when thou ſitteſt in thy houſe, and when thou go…ſt by the way, when thou p. 164lieſt down, and when thou riſeſt up? Deut. 6.7. It ſhall judge thee, becauſe thou makeſt no conſcience of holy conference. All theſe and the like Texts of Scripture, ſhall riſe up and ſtand in rank to condemne thee, that haſt not ſwayed thy heart, and framed thy life according to the Scriptures.

55. All the Miniſters of God ſhall ſit as Juſtices in common (from the firſt Preacher of righteouſneſſe unto the laſt.) Moſes ſhall judge thee, Joſhua, David, Eſay, Jeremy, Hoſea, Daniel, Paul, Peter, &c. they ſhall all judge you: juſt as Gods Miniſters judge you here, ſo will God; he will take all their Sermons, and clap them upon the heads of all rebellious hearers, and ſo damn them for ever.

6Laſtly, The Saints ſhall judge you; yea, all the Saints from one end of the world to the other, they ſhall aſſiſt the juſt Judge of heaven & earth, and they ſhall be interpretive Judges.

Beloved how can the wicked eſcape condemnation, that have ſo many thouſands of Judges, ſo many thouſand exhortations and reproofes, ſo many thouſand admonitions and invitations, ſo many thouſand mercies & proffers of Chriſt? When God the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, ſhall judge them, when heaven and all the Angels in heaven, and all the Saints on earth, ſhall judge them, and condemne them? How canſt thou eſcape? Is there never a drunkard in this congregation? Is there never a ſwearer? never a prophane perſon? never a mocker? never p. 165a railer in this towne, that refuſeth to hearken to the word? The men of Niniveh ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt them, and condemne them, becauſe they ſtill live in their ſinnes, notwithſtanding they have had not three dayes preaching, nor fortie dayes ſpace onelyonly for repentance, but many years of grace calling upon them. The Queen of Sheba ſhall condemne many that live in theſe ſinnes, who went many hundred miles to hear the wiſedome of Solomon (for going and comming, it was well-nigh two thouſand miles) but you have the word of Chriſt preached in your eares, and ſaying, the Kingdom of God is come among you; but you will ſcarce ſtep out of your dores to receive it, or take any paines for it. This one woman ſhall judge them. There will be no way for the wicked to put off their judgement: then the ſonnes of Eli ſhall have none to advocate between God and them, none to cloke or cover their wickedneſſe; they ſhall then have no excuſes for themſelves: for would they excuſe themſelves? the Saints ſhall judge them: would they ſend out excuſes? the Saints ſhall cut them off.

Would they in the firſt place ſay, Alas! I was ignorant, I knew not how to pray, or to read, or to meditate on the Scriptures, nor to chatechize my family; I was dull and blockiſh to conceive ſuch points as were taught me; and if I did live in ſinne, it was ignorance that taught it me, I was never book-learned? Saith Auguſtine, this Ignoramus that was as ignorant and as little p. 166book-learned as thou, he eſchewed thoſe ſinnes that thou liveſt in, got the anointing of Gods Spirit to anoint his eyes, to ſee and know the things of God which thou haſt neglected to get; he ſhall condemne thee.

A ſecond excuſe is poverty. I have no means to live on; if I ſhould run after Sermons, I ſhould beg my bread: I have a great charge to keep, and nothing but my labour to maintaine them: and therefore I cannot ſpare time for meditation; I have no while to ſtudy the Scriptures, to pray and to mourn for my ſins, and to get grace. Well, the poore Cobler that liveth next doore to Saint Anthony, ſhall riſe up and condemn thee; hee was as poore as thou, and had as great a charge to keep as thou: yet hee mourned and wept, he got grace, and hee ſet time apart for prayer, reading, meditation, holy conference; he ſhall judge and condemn thee.

Thirdly, they ſhall have no excuſe by imployment; I am a ſervant, I am commanded to doe this or that I find ſo much buſineſſe to follow, that I cannot find any time for ſuch things. Another ſaith, I have great imployments, I have many Irons in the fire, and therefore God, I hope, will be mercifull unto me. Well then, Cornelius that had as many and as great imployments as thou, and Eleazar (Abrahams ſervant) who was a ſervant as well as thou, yet in as much as they walked with God, and waited upon him in his ordinances, they ſhall judge thee.

p. 167Fourthly, they ſhall have no excuſe from their callings and trades, I am an Inne-keeper, and if I ſhould not ſuffer drinking, and ſwearing, and gaming, I ſhould not live. Another ſaith, I am a tradeſman & if I ſhould ask at firſt juſt ſo much as I could take, I ſhould never bring cuſtomers to my price, and ſo I ſhould not live of my trade. Well, Rahab was an Inne-keeper, as well as thou, and yet ſhee lived by faith, and did not ſuffer ſuch wickedneſſe in her houſe. So may a tradeſman, that had the ſame trade, and the ſame imployment with thee, and as great a trade as thou, and yet have avoided theſe ſinnes and evils that thou falleſt into: they ſhall judge thee.

Fifthly, they ſhall have no excuſe from the times they live in. Alas (ſaith one) I live in wretched times, all the world is given to ſinne. Therefore if I ſhould be ſo ſtrict and preciſe in my wayes, if I ſhould run after Sermons, pray, ſing Pſalmes &c. all the world would be againſt me. There are no Profeſſors of religion but are reproached and miſcalled I ſhould loſe all my friends, I ſhould be hated and oppoſed; yea, it may be (the time beeing ſuch I ſhould be accuſed to Councels, and have my life queſtioned; there is nothing but diſgrace and reproach and perſecution; wherefore I was afraid, and did diſpenſe with my conſcience. Ah wretch! that man that lived in thoſe wicked times in the ſame town with thee that had the ſame hatred and reproach that thou waſt afraid of, that hath p. 168endured all the rebukes of Chriſt that thou waſt aſhamed of, yet he went on, and continued unto the end; he ſhall judge thee.

Vſe 3 The uſe is for the juſt reproof of many of the Saints of God, becauſe they are not ſo circumſpect and watchfull over their wayes, as they ought. Doſt thou judge others (ſaith the Apoſtle) and yet doſt the ſame things thy ſelfe? Rom. 2.2. So may I ſay to all ſuch, Will you give way to ſinne? will you ſuffer your luſts and corruptions to ſway you, and not endeavour to root out or kill them rather? How wilt thou then judge the world? How wilt thou then be able to riſe up in judgement againſt the wicked, to judge them for ſuch ſinnes wherein thou alloweſt and liveſt thy ſelfe? Surely God will never account thee for a Saint, if he cannot judge the world by thee. Oh this ſhould rent the heart and bowels of thoſe that go for Chriſtians, that go for Saints, yet live not as the Saints ſhould live. If God cannot take thee, and judge the world by thee; if he cannot take thy life, and judge the life of all Pagans, Infidels, all luke-warm earthly, and ſecure ſinners, he will not account thee for a Saint. This then firſt condemnes all unholineſſe in the lives of them that be Saints. Beloved, if we did but live like the Saints of God in holineſſe and purity in the wayes of God, the Lord would put ſuch ſplendor and glory upon us, that would even daunt the very face of our enemies, and make them ſtand amazed at Saints. But it is the contrary with us, the glory of God p. 169is departed from us, Spain, France, and other Nations fear us not: Why? The righteouſneſſe and purity of Religion is departed from us. For you ſhall have a Saint come into the company of a wicked man, and yet the ſwearer will not be afraid to ſwear before him: the drunkard will not be afraid to bee drunk before him: the filthy ſpeaker will not be afraid to utter rotten ſpeeches before him: the lier will not be afraid to lie before him: the worldly man will not be afraid to diſcover his vanities before him by his carnall and filthy conference. Beloved, all this is, becauſe the Saints have loſt their glory; if they did live as Saints ought to live, the wicked would tremble to work wickedneſſe before them. Though a wicked man be a drunkard, and abuſe the good creatures of God when no Saint is in his company, yet if a Saint were preſent, he would tremble, and not dare to do it. Though he were a ſwearer, a filthy talker, a vain worldling amongſt his companions; yet if he come in the Saints company, and the Saints ſtand in Gods counſell, then would the wicked tremble and quake to do ſuch things: then would they lick in their tongues, and not dare to ſpeak ſuch blaſphemous oathes, ſuch vain and unprofitable words, filthie lies and flanders. It is ſaid of thoſe that gladly received the Apoſtles words, and were added to the Church, that the fear of them came upon the world, Acts 2.41. What, did the Diſciples go with ſwords and guns, &c. to keep men in awe thereby? p. 170No, they continued in the Apoſtles doctrine and fellowſhip, and did live according thereto, and this made all the world afraid of them.

Secondly, this condemnes the little difference that is betwixt the wicked of the world, and ſome Sainis in their lives and manners: Beloved, is there ſo little difference between the Judge and the priſoners, that any one need to come and ſay, I pray you Sir, ſhew me which is the Judge, and which is the malefactor? Is there not a plaine difference both in the apparell and carriage? The one is in rich apparell, and the other in ſtinking and filthy cloathes, having his hands manicled, or his legges chained. But it is to be feared, that many of the Saints have neglected holineſſe and purity in their carriage and actions which they performe, that one can hardly tell which is a Saint, and which is a reprobate. If a man deale with a Saint, and deale with a wicked man, he ſeeth no difference between them. Let a Saint do any action, either pray, hear, or conferre, let a wicked man do the like, there is ſuch deadnes, ſuch carnality, ſuch worldly-mindedneſſe, ſuch luke-warmneſſe of affection, that one can hardly tell which is the Saint and which is the hypocrite. Beloved, if the Saints did live like Saints, there would be as plaine a difference between a Saint and a wicked man, in their lives and behaviour, as is hetwixt the Judge and the Rogue that is to be judged by him. Haſt thou not con…dered my ſervant Iob▪ (ſaith God) how that there is none like him in all the p. 171earth? Iob 1.4.8. If a man come to be a Saint indeed, there is never a wicked man in the Town and Countrey, that lives and doth as he doth, and walks as he walks, nor prayes as he prayes, nor hears the word as he hears it, nor that conferres or meditates as he doth, that beleeves and repents as he doth, that ſtrives againſt his luſts as he doth: there is none like him in all the world.

Thirdly, it condemnes the ſcandalouſneſſe of many Profeſſors in their behaviours and actions. Oh how do wicked men inſult and exclaim hereupon, to ſee a Profeſſor led away and overcome by ſome luſt! What (ſay they) are theſe they that are led by the Spirit of God? Are theſe your devout men? why, they can covet and ſcrape as well as others; they can couſen and lie as well as others. I, thoſe that are your great Profeſſors, and hot ſpurres, they are as covetous, as worldly, as cruell as others, though they will not be drunk, nor ſwear, yet they will couſen and lie, as well as others. The conſideration whereof made the Prophets heart to bleed in him, and to pray, Oh purge me from my murder and adultery, and all other my ſecret ſinnes, leſt I caſt mire and dirt in the faces of thy children, cauſing them to beare the reproaches of my ſinnes. Oh let not thoſe that ſeeke thee, be aſhamed for my ſake, Pſal. 69. For thy ſake that liveſt ſcandalouſly and offenſively, for thy ſake that liveſt covetouſly and ſcraping after the world, that art ſo unjuſt in thy dealings and promiſes, mire and p. 172dirt, ſcandals and reproaches are caſt upon the children. For thy looſeneſſe, yea for thy carnall liberty it is that the true profeſſors of Religion are reproached, ſuſpected, and hardly cenſured in the world. What did Jacob when he was to walk with the people of the Land? Gen. 35.5.6. he purged his houſe, and (ſaith the text) the terror of God was upon all the Cities, hee made them all to tremble at him. I tell you, all the wicked in Aſhford would tremble at the Profeſſors that live therein, if they did live and carry themſelves like Saints indeed. Oh if all thoſe that did profeſſe themſelves to be Chriſtians, were Chriſtians indeed; and that profeſſe themſelves to be Saints, were Saints indeed, living in the power and ſanctification of holineſſe; then men would ſay of themſelves, of a truth God is in theſe men, Chriſt dwels in them, and the Spirit of God leads and governs them indeed. If thou wouldſt judge the world, take heed ſo as the world judgeth thee, and ſo thou with the world be condemned eternally. It is ſaid that Herod feared John, becauſe he… was a juſt man, Mark 6.23. So if all thy neighbours did know that thou wert a juſt man, a holy and conſcionable man in all thy wayes, and in all thy actions, and that cannot indure ſwearing, lying, and deceit; but did ſee that thou waſt juſt, and one that feared God truly, they would all fear thee.