The Great Day of Judgment, Sermon
A SƲMMONS or WARNING to the Great DAY of JƲDGMENT.
Revelation. 20.12.On Friday Octob. 7. 1687. At Briſt… by Mount Hope in New. England.
And I ſaw the Dead, Small and Great, ſtand before God: and the Books were opened: and another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the Dead were Judged out of thoſe things which were Written in the Books, according to their Works.
THE Preceding Verſe preſents this Evangelical Prophet, with a Viſionary ſcene Preparatory to the Day of Judgment: and here in the Text, we have a further Procedure in the amazing Concernments of that tr… mendous Seſſion: where in may be obſerved.
1. The Apoſtles place or ſtation in the Ile of Patmos (now Patina) neer the Shore of the Aegaean Sea,Rev. 13.1 looking Eaſtward toward Epheſus and Jeruſalem; Zech. 14 4.as you may ſuppoſe:Act. 1.11. becauſe our Lord is repreſented ſtanding upon Mount Olivet in that day. Where (in Speculo Viſionis) in a Viſionary Glaſs, he beholds with great attention what the Angel preſented to him.
2. The Several Perſons and things Exhibited to his ſtrict Obſervation; which I may properly Conjoyn together under ſeveral Heads, and therein,
I. We have firſt the Character, or Denomination of the Perſons attending; ſet forth under the ſtyle of the Dead: that is, not ſuch as were now really Dead in this grea… Morning of the Reſurrection; but which very lately had been involved in the ſtate of the dead: Verſ. 13▪but now raiſed out of their doleſome Graves, and had newly Shaken off the Chains of Rottenneſs, and ſome come Dropping out of the ſtormy Seas and haſtning with more ſhaking horror, to a yet more direfull Shipwrack. Death & Hell muſt give up all their dead, at the formidable Summons of that Arch-Angels Trumpet.1 Cor. 1… 52. By Hell or Hades we underſtand (under a metonymy) the Souls of men delivered out of their inviſible State (under the manutenency of divine power) to be reinveſted with their Bodies, and to appear a… this aſtoniſhing Bar. For ſo the Greek Fathers underſtood by HADES q. AIDES the Souls of men in Statu Separato according to that of H… mir [POLLAS D' IPTHIMOUS PSUCHAS AIDI PROIAPSEN] He diſmiſt many Valiant Souls, i.e. Perſons into Hades.
II. Their various quality. Both ſmall and great; The Shorteſt Dwarfs can't Creep into ſo deep holds or corners; not the Bluſtring Nimrods can't Ruffle it away in their Pride and Jollity; but every Soul muſt drag his Priſon-Chain into this moſt Solemn, and Splendid preſence. Nay the Small are named to come firſt, to ſet forth the impoſſibility of their Exemption, and theſe meaner perſons muſt ſtand out before the great on… ▪ that all may be ſeen in their Proportion [thi… I ſpeak only by alluſion▪] But to be ſure, none ſhall Shuffle behind Noon and abſcond from that Meridian Glory, or he Vailed from this all Searching Eye: And the all revenging hand of God. The Summoners & Apparitors of all theſe inferior Courts, muſt there appear and quiver and tremble for Summoning of Gods Saints here upon Earth.Heb. 9.27. I…ts appointed for all to dy, and then to Judgment. We muſt all ſtand at the dreadful Tribunal Seat of Jeſus Chriſt. Where Judges themſelves deveſted of all their formalities, like ſo many unhappy Felixes will Clatter their knees together, at the MENE TEKEL, Dan. 5.25.graven▪ upon the Chryſtal Walls of the Caeleſtial Firmament; and glad men, could they but undergoe ſuch an Earthly. Sentence they paſs't upon others.
III. Obſerve their poſture] they muſt ſtand, Pro Tribunali, before that adamantine Bar, let down before them. They I have little Stomach to come too near,Rom. 14.10. no rude audacious Crowding into the preſence of that moſt awful Judge. There will be but little preſſing to ſee, His Soveraign Auguſt Countenance, that ſhines brighter, then the Sun in his greateſt glory: but as forced by the Angelical Meſſengers; while they continue Crying to the Deaf Mountains and the Inflexible Rocks to hide them from Him that Sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb.Rev. 6.16.
IV. The Ireful face of that moſt dreadful Judge; before whom the Heavens all on a light flame ſhall Crackle like a Parchment Scrol and fly away:2 Pet. 3.11, 12 when Chriſt the Son of God, and God man; that Impartial Judge of quick and dead, from whom there is no appeal, ſhall put on an other gueſs purple Robe to judge Pontius Pilate and Herod, …ark 15.17.and his men of War, Luk. 23.11that mock't Him in the day of His Humiliation. This will be a day of horror to all thoſe Wretches alſo, that mockt and fleer'd at Gods Meſſengers, when they denounced againſt them the Judgments of the great day. Then comes out a Quo Warranto with a witneſs, to inquire what woful work they made at Jeruſalem: and who impowered them to Judge the Son of God,Jude 15. and to utter hard ſpeeches, and commit ungodly deeds for a trace of ſome thouſands of years, without Controul or Impeachment.
V. The Allegations, proofs and evidences produced out of the black Books and bloody Regiſters of all Ages; which before were ſhut up and Sealed in Gods Archiva, or treaſure Chambers above, are now all opened: and if they cannot Read their Pſalms of Mercy: Rev. 6.20there is no hope of Exile to a Patmus or any forreign Iſlands at that day, for they ſhall flee away.
VI. The final proceſs [and they were judged out of the things written in the Books] whence there is no appeal, no recalling or reverſion. There will be that Poſitive and final Concluſion.
OBSERVATION.Obſer.
Moſt formidable and dreadful will be that great and general Day of Judgment.
It's a Coming and haſtning towards us: Nay tis near at hand.Jam. 5.9. The Judge is even at the Door. If you ask, how long. I Anſwer, He that was at the Door in the Apoſtle James his time, may be now ſtept over the Threſhold in our dayes, and well forward in His Journey towards Mount Oliver; and ready to aſcend into the Seat of Judgment. Nay Beſides, it is ſo near to every Particular Perſon, when he ſtrides over the black Threſhold of Death: that we cannot certainly tell How little a moment it will ſeem from the time of his Death to his Solemn appearance before Jeſus Chriſt, and then 'twill indeed determine the truth of that Scripture,Heb. 10 31. that 'tis a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God; and moſt dreadful to all out of Chriſt at that day. If without Chriſt, having been without God in this World, they ſhall like Dogs be caſt out of the Holy City, in the World to come, into a lake Burning with Fire and Brimſtone.Rev. 22.15. Judicial dayes here, under the Sun are but like Pictures and Stories, in hangings, and all Executions but like Painted Fire to this great and terrible day of the Lord which will make all the Ruffians quake like an Aſpen leafe.Eccl. 3.16, 17. Thoſe fools which now make a mock of Sin. Thoſe Careleſs Gallios & grave Eelixes, P…ov. 14.9. Act. 24 26that put off the hearing of this day till another time: That allarm Trumpet will make your Ears to tingle above all other, and will ye, nill ye: up you muſt haſten to Judgment. There are three things which Command into the inmoſt Chambers of your hearts, moſt dreadful, moſt amazing thoughts, and high reverence with deepeſt aſtoniſhment. If ſo be, ye fall into the Snare of Death, in a State unreconciled to God, and not purged from your Scarlet Sins by the precious blood of Chriſt.
1. The infinitely glorious Majeſty of the Judge.
2. The Exact rule of Procedure according to things found written in the Books before the Judge.
3. The ſtupendious quality or property of this Judgment. Of which in order.
1. Let us call to mind with all Reverence and trembling the infinite Majeſty of the Judge who will then ſit down upon the throne of Judgment. No leſs Perſon than the Maker of Heaven and Earth; before whom all the Divels tremble, Verſ. 11and the Pillars of Heaven are aſtoniſht and confounded, the foundations of the Earth flee away and Vaniſh into Smoak and nothing; at the fiery Breath of His Noſtrils: whoſe ſingle Word Shrinks the Univerſe into leſs than the Shadow of an Atom, at His pleaſure. But let us here Remember,Iſai. 40.17. we are not to Conſider of this Almighty and Eternal Judge as God Eſſential onelyonly; but more Perſonally, the Son of God, who cometh with Ten Thouſand of His Saints (that is) His Holy Angels,Jude. 14, 15. to Execute judgment, in that day for all the Violent actions againſt His Church and People, or any of His Redeemed ones.
2. The ſeveral ſtrict rules of Procedure according to the Various Books, all lying patent before the Judge upon the Table: which are theſe following,
I. The Books of Creation and Providence; like two Volumns joyned and bound up together; wherein the diſtinct Succeſſions of all Generations are delineated. God knows all the Stars of Heaven, and all the Lamps of the Intellectual beings, by name. The genealogical ſtemmes of all perſons are fairely written in that Regiſter, and he will call their bodies up out of their Graves, at that day from the Riſing to Setting Sun, Pſal. 50.3.to meet their Souls, and to accept a new Animation from them. When the El-Elohim-Jehovah as ſome gloſs thoſe Titles in the Fifteth Pſalm, Iſai. 27.13.that Powerful juſt, & merciful God will cauſe the great Trumpet to ſound and awaken all out of the doſt ofDan. 12.2. Death, and then God will call thee to account for the abuſe of every Limb,Pſal. 135 16. and member written in that Venerable book.
II. The particular books of Record or Remembrance: which whether written by an Empyraean Pen drawn from a Seraphims Wing: I mean, whether the Holy Angels are the Scribes and Recorders, is not revealed to us. Its true the Lord Himſelf, or they in His Name injoyn holy John to write, Rev. 1.11 19 & 22 6, 16. & 19, 9, 10 Pſal. 104 4.what they are Commanded to dictate to him. Beſides we find them regiſtred as Preſidents of Nations, and to have the Guardianſhip of Saints,Heb. 1.14. and to be Miniſters of the Divine Pleaſure and of mighty influence in Slaying God's and His Churches Enemies, and to manage the great turns and overturnings of Kingdoms, That's certain: as in the caſe of Egypt, Pſal. 78.49.when God ſent evil Angels among them, that is, the Executioners of woful & evil Judgments among them: like as the Angelus Percuſſor, the ſmiting Angel may be ſaid to make a way for His wrath. Ezek. 9.3.Such inſtruments were uſed in Executing divine wrath upon Sennacheribs army,Pſal. 78.50. and upon poor Jeruſalem in her ſad day,2 King. 29.35. and afterward in the deſtruction of Babylon, Ezek. 9 3when the Captain of the Lords army Marched before the Red and Speckled Horſes in Zachary's Viſions.Zech. 1.11. In like matters both as to Nations, Citys, and Perſons: we may conceive of things as in the Glaſs of a continued Allegory: that there is a particular book for every Perſon in ſeveral caſes:
1. There may be (I mean Allegorically) a dreadful black Book for every mans Sins. And truly this is a matter of heavy concernment (that though it ſhould not be ſo Specifically, yet tis Equivalently and Eventually) that there is a particular Book in the Court of Records in Heaven with thy name on the out ſide, where every Sin of thine is written down with the bloud of Dragons mixt with the galls or Cruel Venome of Aſps, Deut. 32.33.& durably as if with the point of of a Diamond upon a Rock. Jere. 17.1.Truly its all one, nay worſe, then if ſo really: for tis writ in the memorials of that tremendous Judge. For every Secret Sin is ſet down in the Light of His Countenance, Pſal. 90.3.beyond all the Noctiluca's in the World. Every Secret is determin'd to come to Judgment.Eccl. 12.14. Ten times have the Children of Iſrael Murmured againſt Me, Num. 14.22.ſayes the Lord: and ſo again, the Sacred Pages number up Six Captivities under the Judges, Judges Ch. 10.1…anſwering to Six ſeveral prevarications in the Worſhip of God.Petav. ra…ionarie. P. 84. Iſai. 65.6. …s written before me, ſayes the Lord by Iſaiah, and I will recompence into their Boſome. And ſo tis now, Ten times Drunk, ſuch a man: Ten times Forſworn, ſuch another: Ten times, ſuch a Proud Jezabel with her, Painted Eyes, Strutting in the Streets of Jeruſalem: write him down, ſet her down, ſayes God, Paint her to the Life, that all the World may then behold her with Peacoc…s Feathers: and mincing,… King. 9.30 Iſa. 3.16 tink…ing motions with, her feet. How ſhould it ſtrike as with a Poyſoned arrow to the heart, to think of theſe dreadful tradegies of that terrible day.
2. Mens Repentant ſorrowful Sighs and Actions are alſo ſet down in Gods day book: and this I ſpeak for the comfort of all humble Mourners in Zion. The Confeſſion of that Renitent Thief at Golgotha's Mount, Lord,Luke 24.42. Remember me in they Kingdom. We never drop a ſincere tear, but it drops up-ward; Contrary to all other tears, it aſcends up into Heaven, and Runs into the Chryſt all Bottle upon the Shelfe, with thy name ingraven upon it, in Letters of Gold: and 'tis often taken up, and Lookt upon, to ſee how it fills. Are they not in thy Bottle; Pſal 56.8.ſayes David, and in thy Book; But wo to them that have none. Every hearty Sigh; that Reeks e ſulco pecto…is, from the inmoſt Cloſets of thy Soul are Pencilled with Vermillion, under the bloody lines ſtreaming from the Croſs of Life.
3. Mens gracious diſcourſes and good works, are all written in that Book. When ſerious Perſons doe but meet, and think upon the Name of the Lord in evil times, and talk often ingether. Mal. 3… 16.Every time you meet, every Heavenly thought, and every holy word you ſpeak is written down. Nay all your Prayers and Almes deeds like thoſe of Correlius goe up in Remembrance before God. Act. 10.1Every Penny you pu… into Gods Treaſury; Nay every Mite you give to Temple uſes; as in the caſe of the poor Widows;Mark. 12 … is put down in Gods Debt Book, and will be Converted into ſo many Pearls to adorn your Crown in Glory.
III. The Books of mens Conſciences ſhall then all be laid open. Here mens thoughts Excuſe or Accuſe one another till that day,Rom. 2.15.16. …. Cor. 3.…1. when God ſhall Judge the Secrets of all men by Jeſus Chriſt according …o the Goſpel Preached by Paul: and let me tell you, that every faithful Sermon which you hear, Conſonant to the Word of God, will come up in Judgment as a Teſtimony againſt you, if diſobeyed: ſo that if our hearts Condemn us not, that is our Conſcience,1 john. 4.17. as to Irreverence, Negligence or Diſobedience to we may have Confidence in the Day of Judgment before God; 1 john 3.20, 21.who is greater then our hearts, and knoweth all things: and this will give us a holy freedom of Spirit in that Solemn time. There will be no Shuffling Tricks, no Falſe & Treacherous accounts, no T…ffany Cheats, no Fine-Spun-flams, but all fly away like Spiders Webbs, before a Beeſome. The flaming Eyes in the Scepter of that day ſees through all in a moment.
IV. The Book of the Scriptures ſhall then be taken down, and the Parchment Rolls all unfolded. The Act Forenſia, the Publick Commentaries; the Regu a Juries, the Inſtitures of the Law,Rom 2.16 and the Cannons of the Goſpel ſhall be all produced: for Conviction of S…nners. All their in quities written in that Book, mentioned by Je…emy, with the point of a Diamond,jere. 17.1. or graven with an iron Pen, in focules or leaſes of Lead; mentioned by Job; job 19.24 25.or in a Rock for the ever of this World:Dan. 12.1. till our Redeemer ſtandeth upon the Earth at mount Olivet at the latter day to Judge the World.Z…ch. 14 4.
V. The particular and ſingular Book of Election, when all that are written in that ivory Volumns, ſhall come forth and Shine as Stars for ever and ever. Dan. 12.1; 3.The Sheep of Chriſt's little Flock, Rev. 3.5 13, 8.17 8.that are written in the Lambs Book of Life ſhall then paſs under the rodaccount for the Sanctuary of Glory.Exod. 32 32. Nay God Himſelf is ſaid to write down the names of thoſe Choſen Veſſels that are prepared and fitted for Salvation.Luke 10 20. The names of the Holy Apoſtles and Saints are deciphered and ſet down in Heaven,Pſal. 68 28. Phil. 4.….when others are written in the Duſt, and ſhall be legible by the flames of Hell.
And ſo much for the Second particular, the rules of Procedure and its branche.
In the Third Place we are to Conſider the quality or property of this aſtoniſhing Judgment, in Five Particulars.
1. It's moſt accurate and Critical Exactneſs, as to Equity and Commenſuration to Every ones actions be they good or bad. The Judge ſits down in His Sella Curulis, or ſeat of Judgment,Dr Stoughtons felicitas ultimi. Seculi. …. all of ivory or unſpotted Alablaſter, like the Sun when He Shines [in Libra] among the Caeleſtial Ballances, near the Milky way. The Eyes of Juſtice are Covered with a Purple Mantle, no accepting the Perſon of any as to Earthly dignities and diſtinations; but its Eares are with all diligence and Curioſity attentive to the impending cauſes.
2. Impartiality in determining: Cuts off all demurrers and delayes and gives ſpeedy diſpatches to perſons of all Degrees. There will be no favouring of Rich and Great men to ſit down neer the bench, as here among fellow Worms: nor no pittying of a poor man in his cauſe from a ſeeming Comiſeration to the mean and Afflicted.Lev. 19.…5. The diſpenſation of juſtice will be Equal to a tittle, no pleading Sub forma pauperis at that day.
3. Ʋniverſality as to Comprehenſivenes of both perſons and times. All Ages, both Sexes, all Qualities and degrees of men muſt make perſonal appearance without any Proxy in this Dooms-day Parliament: no Slye Excuſes or writs of Error to impeach, or turn by the gravity of that moſt awful judicature: no querks nor tricks, nor jugling account ſhall Velum Pretendere, caſt a miſt before the Sagacious inſpection of that quick and all ſearching Judgment.
4. The Irreſiſtible doom. There is no Subtle arguing, no wreſting of the Text of the Law, or the intentions of the Sacred Law Maker. No pleading of old Cuſtomes; or the Opinions of Reverend Ruffes here upon Earth. There is no Verſiling…es Procuratores, no Tongue flexible Proctors, that have no ſtrait bone of Equity in their Tongues, but turns up and down like a Serpents, be the cauſe good of bad; like the Counſellor at Athens, that had [bos in lingua] a bag of Silver-oxen (a Coine ſo called) to hang upon their Tongues, and to tip them with juſtice-perverting Eloquence. The cauſe will be ſtated in a moment. The Univerſal Conſcience, that Publick notary ſtands by with flaming Eyes, and makes inſtruments of Recogniſance without any fees or private Audience. There's no Appeals to any Superior Court.
5. The Eternily of its Iſſue. Either to be with our Bleſſed Lord Chriſt and His Saints, or with the Devil and his Angels for ever. Matt. 25 41.Ever! Oh dreadful Ever! Oh that word of terror, that Shoots barbed Arrows, PHLOGOENTA BELEMNA, flaming darts through the ſtouteſt hearts of the Proudeſt Nimrods, in the World. Ever! Oh irrevocable Doom! Of which lamentable Doom that poor Bird which appeared to the Scholars in a garden, who were then Aſſembled (as I Remember) at the Council of Conſtance Sang Melodiouſly: and then Cried out, O Eternity, Eternity, Eternity, and then flew away.
But let us now retire to ſome Uſes.
Ʋſe 1 Ʋſe. I. Of Earneſt Advice to all of you to Exerciſe your ſelves with deep Conſideration of the ſtrictneſs of the Proceſs, the Exactneſs and Inquiſitions of that Sacred Judge in the management of that dreadful day. The brightneſs of the Sun in his higheſt Apogy is like Sackcloth, and his beams like ſtreaming Pitch to the amazing glory of that time. Oh that the Preſentment or Forethoughts thoughts of that day might alwayes preſs upon our hearts, to a Serious Preparation for that appearance. If Jeroms Trumpet as to the advent of that day did alwayes ſound in our Ears: we ſhould be better Chriſtians, and keep Sabbaths more Holy, and hear with more Attention, and practice with more Conſcientious diligence, then we do: but we are drowned in Senſuality, Supine Stupidity and negligence, till that day take us like Birds in an evil Snare.
Ʋſe 2 Ʋſe. II. But Secondly be Exhorted to an anxious and ſedulous Care as to every Vain and Idle Word. Crave dayly pardon and beg ſtrength and watchfulneſs againſt their dayly incurſion. As to evil thoughts in duty, and as to any Omiſſion Sins: Cry out with that Holy man Biſhop Ʋſher: Lord forgive me my Sins of Omiſſion. For all theſe things without Pardoning, Purging & healing grace muſt come into the golden Seale of that Critical Judgment. The Vain thought in one Scale, and the golden weight of the Precept in the other Scale, & the balance Poiſed in the hand of that moſt Holy and Righteous Judge [PAN ARGON REMA] q. AERGON. Every Idle word, or thing, that is,Matt. 1….36. whatever is not attended with ſome real Service to God, or benefit to man: that cannot plead ſome uſeful Scope at the end of it: muſt be arreſted and brought to that Sacred touch ſtone. Every Secret thing, that is,Eccl. 12.12. in the depth of the thoughts, muſt paſs by the Bar: ad limam revocari, be brought to the ſil…, and to the Virgula cenſoria, to be Examined by the cenſure of divine juſtice.Rev. 21.27. & 22.19. No perſon can enter within the Gates into the City; but muſt paſs this fiery Trual. Teque his ait, eripe flamis: Deliver thy ſelf by Faith and Holineſs, from the dirt of theſe dreadful flames.
Ʋſe 3 Ʋſe. III. Remember, that this day may Quadani…nus, in ſome ſort, be ſaid to be Placed between time and Eternity. Tis ſet in internodio, in the very juncture. In aequilibrio, in the very poiſe & center of that weighty concernment of Eternity. As that day fixes: ſo all ends and determines. Then ſhall the Sins in the bag, Job. 14.17.as Job ſpeaks, be pulled out.Eccl. 9.6. Not to inſtance in many; Then Envy ſhall ceaſe; that blody Cain, that monſter of humane Confuſions, that ſpeckled Viper muſt have its.Aril Rhet l. 2. c. 10. …la…o in. Tim. R…. Edit H. Ste…h. Vol. … p. 27. Specious Coloured skin pull'd off: when all the Secret defamations, backbitings and ſlanderings of men better then themſelves ſhall be brought to light. We ſhall then know perfectly,No… Envy does at any time befall a good man▪ what ill aſpected malevolent perſons they were, that durſt not endure the luſtre of virtue, the faithfulneſs of Pious reprovers, the brightneſs of a Holy Friends preſence, without biting his heel like the old Serpent, and muſt now be all Scann'd and Sifted to the bottom, from whence the baſe abuſes of good mens Credit have iſſued, ſp… from their Cankred mouthes, muſt now appear in their Venemous Colours in the light of Gods Countenance.Pſal 90.8. All thoſe and other Secret Enormityes muſt ſtare the affrighted Conſciences of ſuch Envious malignants in the face, before all the World; and gnaw their Vitals with freſh Wounds to all Eternity.
Ʋſe 4 Ʋſe. IV. Remember before thou: ſet thy hand to any new affair: whether the Tranſaction of it will ſtand in the Day of Judgment, with approbation.… 11. Rejoyce O Young man in thy youth: let thy heart Cheer thee: Walk in the …ayes of thy heart, and in the ſight of thine Eyes: but Remember God will bring thee to judgment, for all theſe things. Sing and Swagger, beat your fellow Servants, drink and be drunken,Luk. 12.46. but Remember the bord will come in an hour unlookt for and cut you in pieces and divide your portion among Hypocrites,Mat. 24.4…. where weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, for over in a place that has no bottom; where is Fire without light, and Shivering in the midſt of burning. O Remember, thou muſt come to Judgment.
Ʋſe 5 Ʋſe. V. Be ſure thou be well acquainted, and get into favour with the Judge, that ſhall ſit upon the throne: and happy, O thrice happy man, If He give you a promiſe to ſtand your. Brimed in that day▪ & ſhall plead with the Father on your behalf: nay with Himſelf and His own moſt Bleſſed Bowels: To be aſſured, that He dyed for you…: and that your peace is made: before you dy to nature, that you may live to grace: and then you ſhall certainly live in glory. Heb. 7.25.For this Son of God will ever Live to enterceed for you, who art one of the moſt Bleſſed Creatures that ever were born, that hath power given thee to become one of the Adopted Sons of God,Joh. 1.1… ▪ & ſtand before the Son of man in that joyful day. Thy Crimſon Sins are all waſht away in His Crimſon Blood, and ſhall never come into judgment: to ſhame thee, much leſs to condemn thee.
Now give me leave to Conclude with, a ſerious, though ſhort pa…aeneſis or humble admonition or Exhortation, to Three Sorts of Perſons.
1. To the Reverend Judges themſelves.
2. To the People preſent.
3. To the guilty Perſon here arraigned before you, [for Murder]
I. As to you the Worthy & Reverend Judges, that are to ſit in judgment before the Lord this day: I ſh…ll not inlarge, but only preſent unto you, what King Jehoſhaphat gave in Charge to them from God,2 Chron. 29.6. when he ſet them about this work▪ City by City. [Take heed what your doe, for ye judge not for man but for the Lord, Verſ. 5.who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Take heed & do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor reſpect of Perſons, non taking of Gifts.
II. To you that are the People and auditors this day. Count it a great Mercy that you have been preſerved by Reſtraining or Sanctiſing grace, not to ſtand in the place of the nocent and ſo to become Obnoxious to the wholeſome Law & Righteous Judgment of the Majeſtrate. Bleſs God for that Singular Mercy: If it were not for Majeſtracy, that great Ordinance of God in the World,Jere. 9▪ 8. mens tongues would be like Poyſoned Arrows ſhot ſorth, ſpeaking deceit, treating their Neighbour peaceably with their mouthes, and laying wait in their hearts: Some ſuch Sons of Belial that a man cannot ſpeak to them,2 Sam. 23.7▪ they are ſo ſurly and interrupting: & ought to be thruſt away like thornes: If a man touch them, he muſt be ſenced with Iron & the ſtaff of a Spear. Men would prove Wolves & Vipers;1 Sam. 25.17. Tygers, & Dragons mixt in one and the ſame perſon, to each other. O Bleſs God for this great gift of Princes & Judges to Rule the wicked & Enormous World, and to ſway the Scepter of Righteouſneſs in the Earth. O Remember to ſpeak Honourably of Rulers and dignityes: Jude 8. Rom. 13. 2 Pet. 2.10.for they are Ordained of God for the Praiſe of them that do well; and Gods Miniſters and Avengers upon them that do Evil. Were it not for them, ſuch as are now but Secret Malicious backbiters, would ſoon prove Badgers, and bite through the bone to the very heart. Have then a Special care of two Originating Sins that lead to many foul Enormities, that is, Pride & Envy: Firſt in your ſelves, that you be not tempted thereby to hurt others: and Secondly in others that you do not hurt them. For wherever you ſee manifeſt Signatures & tokens of theſe Sins lurking or putting out their forked tongues againſt others; beware of them, they are Perſons mark…t of God. and alwayes have graven upon your breaſt that famous Embleme of a Righteous man. [Quod non vis tibi, ne ſeceris alteri] Do as you would be done by:Luke 31. Tis our Lords moſt golden Rule of Equity: Then Judge your ſelves before God as to all infirmities, and otherwiſe inſuperable weakneſſes: then fear not mans day: having preſented your ſelves by Faith, as Clothed with the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt;2 Cor. 5.10. and in ſome ſweet meaſure prepared for that Solemn appearance at His Tribunal.
III. A word or two alſo to the poor guilty Perſon: which has Murdered her own unlawful infant: and ſo I Conclude.
As for thee, poor Creature! What was it that inticed, intangled, inflamed thee to the Commiſſion of theſe Sins againſt the Laws of God, the light of nature, and the juſt Laws of the Land. I underſtand thus much from thee in the Priſon; that thy Parents were very negligent of thy Education, and ſo becameſt a great neglecter of Sabbaths and Sermons, and then felleſt into the fellowſhip of Lew'd Companions, which may be a juſt warning to all others. All that I ſhall ſay at preſent: becauſe of the great Sorrow, remorſe & Repentance which thou haſt manifeſted be fore many witneſſes, and I hope may prove Sincere: If thou fleeſt from the horror, ſtaine & ſhame of theſe thy Crying Sins, unto the moſt precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt; and layeſt hold upon it with a true, though but a weak Faith: thou haſt Patterns of Mercy in the bleſſed Book of God; Manaſſch, Mary Magdalen, and the Thief upon the Croſs, to diſpell the black and diſmall Cloud of deſpaire: and to lead and incourage thee to hope in His Mercy;Rom. 14.9. To which I humbly and heartily Commed thee in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord both of Dead and Living. AMEN.
FINIS.