Twenty-Nine Sermons, Sermon 4 – Title page 4

Twenty-Nine Sermons · Sermon 4 – Title page 4

p. 67A SERMON OF M. WILLIAM FENNERS, Upon this enſuing Text.

1 Cor. 6. part of the 2^d. verſe.

Know ye not that the Saints ſhall judge the world.

THE Corinthians, though Paul had converted many poor 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 Counſellors, the chief men in the City▪ 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: not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many rich, not many nobles, ſome few there be, here and there one; but for the moſt part they are a company of poor beggarly Chriſtians: now (it ſeems) theſe poor Chriſtians have controverſies one with another, went to Law among themſelves, and that before unbeleevers. The Apoſtle condems 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.

p. 68Firſt, by the ſhamfulneſſe of it, verſe 5. I ſpeak it to your ſhame; as it he 1ſhould ſay, Are you ſuch fools, 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 goe to Law before unbeleevers?

Secondly, from the ſcandalouſneſſe of it. It is a thing ſo ſcandalous and 2offenſive to thoſe that are without, that I wonder any of you dare be ſo bold as to goe 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 Wiſdom of God in them, and that are led by the Spirit of God? And have they no more underſtanding in them, than when they have any matter of controverſie, they cannot end it among themſelves, but muſt goe to Law before the unjuſt and unbeleevers? (as they term them.)

Thirdly, from the unſeemlineſſe of it, in the ſecond verſe. Doe you not 3know that the Saints ſhall judge the earth? What? hath God made you Judges of the world, and do you go to be judged by the world? Or as Ambroſe ſpeaks, 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?

Fourthly, from the ſtrangeneſſe of it; Dare any of you? He ſpeaks interrogatively 4(verſe 1.) It is a ſtrang thing that you ſhould come to that impudency againſt the Goſpel of Chriſt; one would think that you would 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 he backs it with four Arguments.

1. Becauſe they were brethren, verſe 6. Brother go to Law with brother?

2. Becauſe it was about things of this life. What? hath God made you 2Judges of heavenly things, of Angels, and are you unfit to judge of the things of this life?

3. It was about ſmal matters (verſe 2.) whereas you ſhall ſit upon men 3and Angels, and the weightieſt matters in the world, the greateſt things of Gods Law, judging them to the greateſt penalty and puniſhment, even to eternal damnation: and are ye unworthy then to judge even of the ſmalleſt matters?

4. And laſtly, Becauſe it was about ſuch things; as the meaneſt Chriſtian 4in the town might have taken up, and have ended: Set up them that are leaſt eſteemed.

Do you not know that the Saints ſhall Judge the world?

I need not go 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 ſelf: you may read it inDoctrine. the fourth verſe of Judes Epiſtle. That Enoch the ſeventh from Adam propheſied, ſaying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſands of his Saints. God will not only come to judgement himſelf, but he will come p. 69attended with all his Saints, even with all the godly, to execute vengeance upon all the world, So our Saviour told Saint Peter, and not only him, but all that follow him in the regeneration: They ſhall ſit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael, Matth. 9. 18. They ſhall judge the Nations, and have dominion over the people, Wiſ. 38.

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

Anſwer.Anſ. Not by pronouncing of judgement upon the world, for that Chriſt only ſhall doe, Then ſhall the King ſay to them on his left hand, Depart ye curſed, Matthew. 25. But the Saints ſhall judge the World theſe four wayes:

1. They ſhall judge the world, by their conſent unto Chriſts judgement. 1God trains up his children in this world, and educates them, and teacheth them how they may judge the world hereafter; he teacheth them in this life how to aſſent with his proceedings in the world; to 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 Cſtriſts 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.

2. The Saints ſhall judge the world by their applauſe of Chriſts judgement: 2they ſhall not only give conſent unto the judgement 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 graceleſſe ſinners, Depart ye curſed into hell fire, then though it was his own father that begat him, or his mother that bare him, though it were his own brother or ſiſter, wife or child, that hath been as dear as his own life and ſoul 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 and righteous are his judgements. Rev. 19. 1, 2. Let them go accurſed as they are; for it is a righteous ſentence paſſed on them.

3. They ſhall Judge the world by their Majeſty; they ſhall not only ſtand 3againſt the wicked, and conſent to, and applaud that ſentence that Chriſt ſhall paſſe againſt the wicked, but they ſhall be inveſted with robes of majeſty, and with a diademe of glory: then ſhall the righteous ſhine as the ſtars in the firmament, and the wicked ſhall be amazed and aſtoniſhed at the ſight of them: as you may read in the platform of judgement, Matthew 25. where Chriſt ſets his Saints over againſt the world, that ſo the world may look upon them, and be confounded at their ſight.

4, They ſhall judge the world by their lives and converſation; (as Ambroſe 4ſaith 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 p. 70pretty obſervation of Hilary (if it be the meaning of the Text) (I will not ſay it is) upon the 2 Pſ. Be wiſe ye judges: God hath appointed you to be Judges, to ſit on his bench with his Sonne, learn then to be wiſe, get to be indued with ſpirituall wiſdome and underſtanding, and to ſhine in all integritie and righteouſneſſe; and then turning his ſpeech to the wicked, he ſays, Kiſſe the ſonne le…t he be angry. However it be, yet this is a truth, that by the lives of his Saints, he wil judge the world, their faith ſhall judge the worlds infidelity: their repentance ſhall judge the worlds impenitency; their accepting of, and taking the Lord Jeſus, ſhal judge their rejection and neglect of Chriſt Jeſus; their zeal ſhall judge the worlds luke-warmneſſe, and their holineſs ſhal judge the worlds prophaneneſſe.

1. Becauſe of the myſticall union that is betwixt Chriſt and his Saints; HeReaſon 1. is the head and they are his members; now that which the head doth, we aſcribe it to the whole body; when the head ſpeaks, the whole body ſpeaks; when the head ſees, the whole body ſees: ſo when Chriſt judgeth the world, the whole body of Chriſt may truly be ſaid to judge the world. In as much as you did it unto one of theſe (ſaith Chriſt) you did it unto me: ſo, in as much as Chhiſt paſſeth ſentence, even all the members of the myſticall body of Chriſt judge with him.

Secondly, in regard of compaſſion: I ſpeak not of the word [compaſſion]Reaſon 2. as it ſignifies [pity] but of compaſsion, of ſuffering with Chriſt, ſeeing that Chriſt was reproached, contemned, hated, miſuſed, and condemned by the world, the Saints are likewiſe with him; ſeeing they partake of the afflictions, humiliations, and debaſements of Chriſt here, they ſhall alſo be made partakers 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, Iſaiah 8. Behold, I and the children that thou haſt given me, are for ſigns and wonders in Iſrael: The wicked count them for wonders and monſters in the world, judging them hypocrites and lyers, which have nothing in them but rottenneſſe and 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.

Thirdly, for great terror to all wicked men at the day of judgement: forReaſon 3. as it is with a thief, not onelyonly when the Judge ſhall command to hang him, but all the Juſtices, and all the Country ſhall cry out, Hang him, hang him, he is judged the more terribly; ſo God will not only ſay of all wicked and ungodly ſinners, Damn them, damn 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, Pſalm. 50, 4, 5. This will make their judgement ſo much the more terrible.

Fourthly, The Saints ſhall judge the world becauſe God ſhall ſo convinceReaſon 4. them, that their mouth ſhall be ſtopped, they ſhall have never a ſyllable to 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 town, enjoyed the ſame Ordinances of God, lived in the ſame family▪ that did partake of the ſame bleſſings, and of the ſame p. 71croſſes and afflictions with themſelves, ſubject alſo to the ſame corruptions and ſins 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 creeple would have convinced them, and ſhewed that they were of God; if they ſhould have cryed, Root them up, 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, would 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.

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 Citie, 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 fear, 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.

Anſwer.Beloved, Noah was making the Ark an hundred and twenty years, though it was not ſeen of all, yet all the world muſt needs hear of it, it being ſuch a ſtrange thing. Now he condemned the world in that the whole world did not come unto Noah to inquire of him in ſober ſadneſſe, but rather mockt him for building the Ark; they thought him to be 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 ask'd 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 God's vengeance were ſhortly to be powred down upon us: and, becauſe my heart hath been naught, and I have ſinned and provoked the Lords wrath, I fear if I get not into this Arke 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 poor ſouls, 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, doe judge the whole world, when they hear there be men that be no ſwearers, and no drunkards, and that there be men that will pray, read, hear the word, confer of God and of Chriſt, and that weep and mourn for their ſins, that ſpend their times in mortification of p. 72their luſts, and endeavour after holineſſe and ſanctification; the whole world, I ſay, is judged by them. How? why, they ſhould ſay: Sirs, what is the matter that you do ſo run after Sermons? that you keep ſuch a ſtirr about getting faith and repentance, more than other men? that you pray, weep, faſt, and mourn, 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 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.

Secondly, this teacheth us, that when there is 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 or a woman ſtruck at a Sermon? Then know, that unleſſe thou comeſt out of thy ſinnes, unleſs 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 doe your children cast them out? Therefore they ſhall be your judges, Matthew 12. 27. where Chriſt tels them, that their children who were his Diſciples, (for ſome of the Phariſees children did beleeve in Chriſt and follow him, and had power from Chriſt to do the ſame works that Chriſt did;) Now they liked it well enough in their owne children, but they could not endure it in Chriſt: and therefore he tells them, that their children whom God had converted, and to whom he had given power to do the ſame works that he did, even they ſhall be their Judges to condemn them: and even ſo may it be with thee, thou art a father or a mother; God having converted any of thine owne children, that childe ſhall bee thy Judge and condemne thee, if thou repent not. It may be God hath converted thy brother and ſiſter, and thou art not not converted; thy own brother and ſiſter ſhal condemn thee, ifthou do not repent and come out of thy ſins.

Thirdly we may learn, that it concerns all the world to take notice of every 3grace in Gods children; There is never a grace of God in any of his Saints but it ſhall condemn the world if it be voyd 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 humble? His humility ſhall judge thy pride. Is the child of God meek and patient in ſuffering wrong and injuries? His meekneſſe and patience ſhall judge thy choler and revenge. Hath p. 73the child of God faith 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 ſhal condemn thee that prayeſt only with thine own ſpirit. Hath he zeal? His zeal ſhall judge thy lukewarmneſſe. Doth his ſpeech and communication adminiſter grace to the hearers? It ſhall condemn thee that ſpeakeſt of vain and idle things. Yea, all the actions of thegodly ſhall judge the wicked: and hence the Saints are ſaid to do Gods judgements, Zep. 2. 3. that is, they do according to Gods judgements whereby he wil judge the world: Thus they that do mourn, do judge them that do not mourn; they that bewayl their wickedneſſe, and the ſins of the times, judge them that do not: they that faſt, weep, pray, and humble themſelves for the miſeries of the Church in theſe dreadful daies, they judge them that make no good conſcience of their duties.

Fourthly, learn hence, that all the texts of Scripture, all the whole word 4of 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 Saints: and therefore if they, then much more ſhall the word it ſelf judge the world: and hence it is that all the words of God in the Scripture, are called Judgements, Pſal. 105. 5. And our Saviour ſaith, The word that I have ſpoken, the ſame ſhall judge you in the laſt day, John 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 be brought to heare Gods word: it may be at this preſent, there are many whore-mongers, drunkards, 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 hear 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 condemn 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 ſins, this word ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt them, and condem them eternally. Oh that they could but hear it! but the word that I have ſpoken ſhall judge you, whether you hear it or not.

Fifthly and laſtly, hence it followes, that all the miniſters of the word 5of God ſhall alſo judge the world. Son of man (ſaith God to the Prophet Ezekiel) wilt thou judge the bloody 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 ſins, and in their abominations, and wilt thou not tell them of it? Son of man, tell them of all their abominations, and p. 74tell them that they ſhall goe 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 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.

This then ſerves to condemn three ſorts of men in the world: Firſt,Use 1. 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 his circuit; Let the Judge come into the Countrey, and all the Knights, Juſtices, and Gentlemen in the Countrey will go out to meet him, and bow unto him; yet theſe Judges are but Judges of a few rogues, malefactors, and peaſants in the Country: Alas, they are far from the dignitie of the Saints? for the Saints ſhall judge Saints and Angels: All the world, Kings and Queens, Lords and Nobles, and Captains of the Earth, the pooreſt Saint in Chriſtendome ſhall judge them. The Apoſtle, or rather, our Saviour ſaith, To him that overcometh, and keepeth my words unto 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 walke in the ordinances of Chriſt, he ſhall have power over the Nations, not only to condemn their pomps and vanities, their luſts and corruptions, but alſo to convince their conſciences, and to condemn their ſouls for ever.

2. Shall the Saints judge the world? Then what fools are the wicked 2that 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. leſt 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 adds, Let him that hath an ear, hear: Will God make his Saints to judge the world? Then let all wicked men give ear and hear what 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.

Laſtly, It condemns all thoſe that do not ſee glory and majeſty in the faces 3of Gods Saints. There is majeſty in the face of a Judge; yea a man may diſcover in them a kind of ſoveraign 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 condemn the wicked. The wicked may give the Saints nick names, and ſcorn, flout, condemn, and deride them now in this life, but let me tell them, that how lightly ſoever they eſteem 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 … p. 75Why, what had Lot done with them? Alas, he did nothing, but when they would have done that Sodomitiſh 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, do not prophane Gods Sabaths; do not lye, do not cheat, nor cozen, if you do theſe and theſe 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, Acts 7. 39. Doſt thou call Saints hypocrites and diſſemblers, men that judge before the time? Thou fool, wert thou not as good to ſuffer the Saints to judge thee now, whereby thou maieſt ſee thy wretchedneſſe and miſerie, and by faith and ſpeedy repentance prevent that doom, which otherwiſe they tell thee will come upon thee, as hereafter, when if thou haſt not repented, thou ſhalt never eſcape that doom and vengeance, to which the Saints will judge thee? What▪ wilt thou not ſuffer them to call a drunkard, a drunkard? or an adulterer, an adulterer? a blaſphemer, a blaſphemer? a carnal man, a carnall man? or 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 caſt 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 and 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 it. 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 condemn 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 ſins 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,

1. God the Father, who judgeth by way of authority, he will condemn thee; all judgement cometh originally from him; he that hath often commanded thee to repent, and come out of thy ſins, he ſhal condemn thee, becauſe thou haſt not obeyed him.

2. God the Son, he will judge thee, who judgeth by way of diſpenſation, Acts. 10. Firſt, Chriſt preacheth to thee repentance and remiſſion of ſins, 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 condemn thee.

p. 763. God the holy Ghoſt will judge thee; that Spirit that now ſtrives and wreſtles with thee, that ſuggeſts good motions into thy heart, that puts thee in mind of repentance, bidding thee leave and forſake thy ſins, and live holily, but if thou wilt not, this Spirit ſhall judge thee by way of conviction.

4. The word of God ſhall judge thee, and that by way of form, it being the platform, according unto which Chriſt will judge the whole world. Now ſuppoſe there be forty priſoners in the Jaile together, one in for murder, another in for theft, another for treaſon, (that man that knows the Law, if there be equity and Juſtice in the Aſſiſe) he, I ſay, that knows the Law, knows who ſhal 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 ſaies 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. 12. 8. By this text the Lord Jeſus will come and judge the world: and therefore for all ſuch as live and dye in their ſins, we may all know, that they ſhall be all damn'd in fire and 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 the text. Pſal. 10. For all things ſhall be done according to the Scriptures. Romans 2. 16. In that day (ſaith the Apoſtle) when God ſhall judge the ſecrets of mens 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 ſins, but it ſhall judge you, if you do 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 perform it not. Doth the Scripture ſay, Be not drunk with wine wherein is exceſſe? Ephe. 5. 18. It ſhall judge and condemn the drunkard that drinks exceſſively. Doth the Scripture ſay, Mortifie the members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanneſſe, inordinate affection, evill concupiſcence, and covetouſneſſe, which is Idolatry? Col. 3. 5. If notwithſtanding theſe ſinnes live in thee, this Text ſhall riſe up and condemn thee to hell. Doth the Text ſay, That the father to the children ſhall make known Gods truth. Eſay 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 condemn thoſe parents that have not inſtructed their children to fear God. Doth the Text ſay, Thou ſhalt teach the word of God unto thy children, and that thou ſhalt talk of it when thou ſitteſt in thy houſe, and when thou goeſt by the way, when thou lyeſt 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 condemn thee, that haſt not ſwayed thy heart, and framed thy life according to the Scriptures.

p. 775. All the Miniſters of God ſhall ſit as Juſtices in common, from the firſt preacher of righteouſneſſe unto the laſt; Moſes ſhall judge thee, Joſhuah, 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 his Sermons and clap them upon the heads of all rebellious hearers, and ſo damn them for ever.

Laſtly, 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 and earth, and they ſhall be interpretative Judges.

Beloved, how can the wicked eſcape condemnation, that have ſo many thouſands of judges, ſo many thouſand exhortations and reproofs, ſo many thouſand admonitions and invitations, ſo many thouſand mercies and proffers of Chriſt? When God the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, ſhal judge them, when heaven and all the Angels in heaven, and all the Saints on earth, ſhal judge them, and condemn 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 a railer in this town, that refuſeth to hearken to the word? the men of Niniveh ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt them and condemn them, becauſe they ſtill live in their ſinnes, notwithſtanding they have had not three daies preaching, nor forty dayes ſpace only for repentance, but many years of grace calling upon them. The Queen of Sheba ſhall condemn many that live in their ſinnes, who went many hundred miles to hear the wiſedom of Solomon (for going and coming it was well-nigh two thouſand miles) but you have the word of Chriſt preached in your ears, and ſaying, The Kingdome of God is come among you; but you will ſcarce ſtep out of your doors to receive it, or take any pains 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 cloak 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 catechize 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 book-learned as thou, he eſchewed thoſe ſins that thou liveſt in, got the anointing of Gods Spirit to anoint his eys, to ſee and know the things of God, which thou haſt neglected to get; he ſhall condemn 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 maintain them: and therefore I cannot ſpare time, for meditation; I have no while to ſtudy the Scripture, to pray and to mourn for my ſins, and to get grace. Well, the poor Cobler that liveth next door to Saint Anthony, ſhall riſe up and condemn thee, he was as poor as thou, and had as great a charge to keep as p. 78thou: yet he mourned and wept, he got grace, and he 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 imployment, 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.

Fourthly, 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, and 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 ſhe lived by faith, and did not ſuffer ſuch wickedneſſe in her houſe. So many a tradeſman, that had the ſame trade, and the ſame imployment with thee, and as great a trade as thou, and yet have avoyded theſe ſins and evils that thou falleſt into: they ſhal 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 ſin. Therefore if I ſhould be ſo ſtrict and preciſe in my wayes, if I ſhould run after ſermons, pray, ſing Pſalms &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 being ſuch) I ſhould be accuſed to Councils, 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 endured all the rebukes of Chriſt that thou waſt aſhamed of, yet he went on, and continued unto the end; he ſhall judge thee.

The uſe is for the juſt reproof of many of the Saints of God, becauſe theyUse 3. 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 ſelf? Romans 2. 2. So may I ſay to all ſuch, Will you give way to ſin? 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 ſelf? Surely God will never account thee for a Saint, if he cannot judge the world by thee. Oh this ſhould rend the heart and bowels of thoſe that go for Chriſtians, that go for Saints, yet live not as 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 the Pagans, infidels, all lukewarm earthly and ſecure ſinners, he will not account thee for a Saint. p. 79This then firſt condemns 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 ways 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 is 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 be drunk before him, the filthy ſpeaker will not be afraid to utter rotten ſpeeches before him, the lyer will not be afraid to lye before him, the worldly man will not be afraid to diſcover his vanities before him by his carnal 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, & 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 councel, then would the wicked tremble and quake to do ſuch things: then would they lick in their tongues, and not dare to ſpeak any ſuch blaſphemous oaths, ſuch vain and unprofitable words, filthy lyes and ſlanders; 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. Why, did the Diſciples go with ſwords and guns, &c. to keep men in awe thereby? No, they continued in the Apoſtles doctrine and fellowſhip, and did live according thereto, and this made all the world afraid of them.

Secondly, this condemns the little difference that is betwixt the wicked of the world, and ſome Saints, 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 plain difference both in apparell and carriage? the one is in rich apparell, and the other in ſtinking and filthy cloaths, having his hands manacled, and his legs chained. But it is to be feared, that many of the Saints have neglected holineſſe and purity in their carriage and actions which they perform, that one can hardly tell which is a Saint, and which is a reprobate. If a man deal with a Saint, and deal with a wicked man, he ſeeth no difference betwen them. Let a Saint do any action, either pray, hear, or conferre, let a wicked man do the like, there is ſuch deadneſſe, ſuch carnality, ſuch worldly-mindedneſſe, ſuch lukewarmneſſe 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 plain a difference between a Saint and a wicked man, in in their lives and behaviour, as is betwixt the Judge and the Rogue that is to be judged by him. Haſt thou not conſidered my ſervant Job, (ſaith God) how there is none like him in all the earth? Job 1. 4. 8. If p. 80a 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 confers 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 condemns 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 lye as well as others. I, thoſe that are your great Profeſſors, and hot-ſpurrs, they are as coveteous, as worldly, as cruel as others, though they will not be drunk, nor ſwear, yet they will couſen and lye, as well as others. The conſideration whereof, made the Prophets heart to bleed in him, and to pray, O 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 bear the reproches of my ſinns. Oh let not thoſe that ſeek thee, be aſhamed for my ſake, Pſalm. 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 dirt, ſcandals and reproaches are caſt upon the children. For thy looſeneſſe, yea for thy carnal 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? Geneſis 35. 5. 6. he purged his houſe, and (ſaith the Text) the terror of God was upon all the City, he 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 wouldeſt judge the world, take heed how the world judgeth thee, leſt thou with the world be condemned eternally. It was ſaid that Herod feared John, becauſe he was a juſt man, Mark 6. 23. So if all thy neighbours did know that thou were a juſt man, a holy and conſcionable man in all thy wayes, and in all thy actions, and that cannot endure ſwearing, lying, and deceit, but did ſee that thou waſt juſt, and one that feared God truly, they would all fear thee.

THE PUNISHMENT Of Unworthy COMMUNICANTS AT THE TABLE of the LORD: DELIVERED In a SERMON preached, By that Reverend and Faithfull Miniſter of the Word, WILLIAM FENNER, B. D. Sometimes Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, and late Paſtor of Rochford in Eſſex.

London, Printed by E. T. for John Stafford.