The Morning Exercise Methodized, Sermon 25
The Day of Judgement aſſerted.
ACTS 17.31.
Becauſe he hath appointed a Day in which he will judge the world, &c.
SAint Paul perceiving the Idolatry at Athens, his ſpirit was ſtirred in him, ver. 16. foreign, his ſpirit was ſowred and imbittered in him; Paul was a bitter man againſt ſin. That anger is without ſinne, which is againſt ſinne: Or the word may ſignifie, he was in a Paroxyſme, or burning fit of zeal; and zeal is ſuch a paſſion, as cannot be either diſſembled, or pent up; with this fire he diſchargeth againſt their Idolatry, ver. 22.23. Ye men of Athen…, I perceive that in all things ye are too ſuperſtitious; for as I paſſed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an Altar with this Inſc iption, foreign; To the unknown God. Nor doth the Apoſtle only declaime againg the falſe god, but declare to them the true God; and he doth it ab effectu; That God which made the world, and all things therein, is Lord of heaven and earth, ver. 24. To Create is the beſt demonſtration of a Deity: And this God being everywhere by way of repletion*Jer. 23.24., cannot be locally confined; He dwelleth not in Tem…l…s made with hands, ver. 24. And though in former times, when the vaile of Ignorance was drawn over the face of the world, God ſeemed leſſe ſevere. ver. 30. The times of this ignorance God winked at. foreign He did as it were overlook them, not taking the extremity of the Law; yet now he commandeth all men everywhere to repent, ver. 30. And if it be asked why now repent? why may we not take our full ſleep? The Reaſon is, becauſe now is the broad daylight of the Goſpel, which, as it diſcovers ſin more clearly, ſo judgment upon ſinners: He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world.
Which words are Gods Alarum to the world, to awaken it out of ſecurity: This is a ſweet, yet dreadful point. When Saint Paul diſcourſed of judgement to come, Faelix trembled, Acts 24.25. He that is not affected with this Truth, hath an heart of stone.
For the illuſtration of this, there are ſix things I ſhall diſcuſſe.
1. That there ſhall be a day of judgement.
2. Why there muſt be a day of judgement.
3. When the day of judgement ſhall be.
4. Who ſhall be the Judge.
5. The order and the method of the Trial.
6. The effect or conſequent of it.
I begin with the firſt; That there ſhall be a day of judgement. There is a twofold day of judgement.
1. Dies particularis, a particular judgement; at the day of death, immediately upon the ſouls diſſolution from the body it hath a judgment paſſed upon it*Hebr. 9.27.: Eccleſ. 12.7. Then ſhall the duſt return to the earth as it was, the spirit ſhall return to God that gave it. As ſoon as the breath expires, the ſoul receives its particular ſentence, and knows how it ſhall be with it to all eternity.
2. There is Dies univerſalis, a general day of judgement; which is the great Aſſiſes, when the world ſhall be gathered together; and of this the Text is to be underſtood, He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world. I might impannel a whole Jury of Scriptures giving in their verdict to this; but in the mouth of two or three witneſſes the truth will be confirmed. Eccleſ. 12.14. God ſhall bring every work into judgment with every ſecret thing, Eccleſ. 12.14.whether it be good or evil. Mat. 12.36. Every idle word men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account thereof in the day of judgement *Mat. 12 36. foreign. Pſal. 96 13.. Now is the day of Arr ars, then will be the day of Account. Pſalme 96.13. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the Earth. The Ingemination denotes the certainty and infallibility of his coming.
Secondly, Why there muſt be a day of judgement.
1. That God may execute juſtice on the wicked. Things ſeem to be carried here in the world with an unequal balance; The Candle of God ſhines upon the wicked*Job 29.3.. They that tempt God are delivered *Mal. 3.15.. Diogenes ſeeing Harpalus a Thief go…on proſperouſly, ſaid, ſure God had caſt off the government of the world, and minded not how things went here below;2 Pet. 3.4. 2 Pet. 3.4. There ſhall be in the laſt days Scoffers, ſaying, Where is the promiſe of his coming? Therefore God will have a day of Aſſizes to vindicate his juſtice; he will let ſinners know that long-forbearance is no forgiveneſs.
2. That God may exerciſe mercy to the godly: Here, piety was the white which was ſhot at; they who prayed and wept, had the hardeſt meaſure; thoſe Chriſtians whoſe zeal did flame moſt, met with the fiery tryal. Rom. 8.36.Rom. 8.36. For thy ſake we are killed all the day long. The Saints (as Cyprian ſaith) are put in the wine-preſſe, and oft the blood of theſe grapes is preſſed out; God will therefore have a day of judgement, that he may reward all the tears and ſufferings of his people; They ſhall have their Crown and Throne, and White Robes; though they may be Loſers for him, they ſhall loſe nothing by him*Rev. 7.9..
Thirdly, When the day of judgement ſhall be?
'Tis certain there ſhall be a judgment, uncertain when; the Angels know not the day, nor Chriſt neither as he was man. Matth. 24.36. And the reaſon why the time is not known, is,
1. That we may not be curious: There are ſomethings which God would have us ignorant of. Acts 1.7. It is not for you to know the times or ſeaſons which the Father hath put in his own power. We muſt not pry into Gods Ark, or intermeddle with his Arcana imperii; it is a kinde of Sacriledge (as Salvian ſpeaks) for any man to break into the Holy of holies, and enter into Gods ſecrets.
2. God hath concealed the time of judgement that we may not be careleſs. We are alwayes to keep Centinel, having our Loyns girr, and our Lamps burning, not knowing how ſoon that day may overtake us. God would have us live every day (ſaith Austin) as if the laſt day were approaching*Ideo latet ultimus dies, ut obſerventur omnes dies. Auſtin..
— Omnem crede diem tibi diluxiſſe ſupremum. —
This is the genuine Uſe our Saviour makes of it; Mark 13.32. Of that day and houre knows no man, no not the Angels in heaven; Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is.
But though we cannot tell preciſely when this day of the Lord ſhall be, yet in probability the time cannot be far off. Hebr. 10.3.7. He that ſhall come, Hebr. 10.37.will come, and will not tarry. Chryſoſtome hath a ſimile; when ſaith he, we ſee an old man going on Crutches, his Joynts weak, his radical moiſture dried up, though we do not know the juſt time when he will dye, yet it is ſure he cannot live long, becauſe natures ſtock is ſpent: So the world is decrepit, and goes as it were upon Crutches, therefore it cannot be long before the worlds Funerals, and the birth-day of judgement. The Age which Saint John wrote in, was the laſt time, 1 John 2.18. in the Greek it is foreign,1 John 2.18. the laſt houre; then ſure the time we now live in, may be called the laſt minute; Pſal. 96.13. For he cometh to judge the Earth. Not, foreign he ſhall come, but he cometh *foreign; to ſhew how near the time is. It is almoſt day-break, and the Court is ready to ſit. Jam. 5.9. The Judge ſtandeth at the door.
Verily, if Security*Mat. 24.37., Apoſtaſie*1. Tim. 4.1., Decay of Love*Mat. 24.11. Inundation of Sin*2 Tim. 3.1., Revelation of Antichriſt*1 Joh. 3.18. Non ſecus ac ſlaveſcente ariſta colonus colligit pro foribus adeſſe meſſem., be made in Scripture the Symptomes and Prognoſticks of the laſt day, we having theſe gray haires among us, the day of judgement cannot be far off.
Fourthly, Who ſhall be the Judge? I anſwer, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Thus it is in the. Text, He will judge the world by that man whom he hath ordained. That man, who is God-man. We muſt take heed of judging others; this is Chriſts work. John 5.22. The Father hath committed all judgement to the Son *Judicium erit totius individuae Trinitatis, quoad conſenſum & authoritatem; Christi vero quoad viſibilem actum, promulgationem, & executionem. 1. Sagacitas.. He who once had a Reed put into his hand, his Father will now put a Scepter into his hand; he who had a Purple Robe put upon him in deriſion, ſhall come in h…s Judges Robes; he who hung upon the Croſſe, ſhall ſit upon the Bench. There are two things in Chriſt which do eminently qualifie him for a Judge.
1. Prudence, and Intelligence to underſtand all Cauſes that are brought before him*Hebr. 4.13.. He is deſcribed with ſeven eyes, Zech. 3.9. to note his Omniſciency; he is like Ezekiels wheels, full of eyes*Ezek. 10.12. 2. Poteſtas.; Chriſt is foreign, an heart-ſearcher; he doth not only judge the fact, but the heart, which no Angel can do *.
2. Strength, whereby he is able to be revenged upon his enemies. Chriſt is armed with Soveraignty; therefore the ſeven eyes are ſaid to be upon one stone, Zech. 3.9. To denote the infinite ſtrength of Chriſt; and he is deſcribed with ſeven horns, Rev. 5.6. As Chriſt hath an Eye to ſee, ſo he hath an Horn to puſh; As he hath his Balance, ſo he hath his Sword; As he hath his Fan and his Sieve, ſo he hath his Lake of fire, Revel. 20.10.
Fifthly, The Order and Method of the Trial. Where obſerve:
1. The Summons.
2. The Judges coming to the Bench.
3. The Proceſſe and Trial it ſelf.
1. The Summons to the Court, and that is by the ſounding of a Trumpet. 1 Theſ. 4.16. The Lord ſhall deſcend from heaven with the voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God. Saint Hierom ſaith, that whatever he was doing, he thought he heard the noiſe of this Trumpet ſounding in his ears, Surgite mortui — Ariſe ye dead, and come to judgement *Hierom in Mat.: Note 1. The ſhrilneſs of the Trumpet, it ſhall ſound ſo loud, that the dead ſhall hear it. 2. The efficacy of the Trumpet; it ſhall not only ſtartle the dead, but raiſe them out of their graves, Matth. 24.31.*Vere vox magna, vox tubae terribilis, quae petras ſcindit, inferos aperit, vincula mortuorum dirumpit; haec autem omnia citiuss peragenda quam ſagitta in aere tranſit, in momento, in ictu…oculi: They who will not hear the Trumpet of the Miniſtery ſounding, but lie dead in ſinne…, ſhall be ſure to hear the Trumpet of the Archangel ſounding.
2. The manner of the Judges coming to the Bench. Chriſts coming to Judgement will be Glorious, yet dr…adful.
F…rſt, It will be glorious to the godly. The Apoſtle calls it foreign, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Titus 2.13. 1. Chriſts Perſon ſhall be glorious. His firſt coming in the fleſh was obſcure; his glory was vail'd over. Iſa. 53.2, 3. All who ſaw the Man, did not ſee the Meſſiah; but his ſecond coming will be in vigore, & fulgore, very illuſtrious and reſplendent. He ſhall come in the glory of his Father, Mark 8.38. that is, he ſhall wear the ſame embroydered Robes of Majeſty as his Father. 2. Chriſts Attendants ſhall be glorious. He ſhall come with all his holy Angels, *Mat. 25.31.Mat. 25.31. Theſe Sublime Seraphick Spirits, who for their luſtre are compared to lightning *Mat. 28.3.; are Christi Satellitium, part of Chriſts Train and Retinue. He who was led to the Croſs with a Band of Souldiers, ſhall be attended to the Bench with a guard of Angels.
Secondly, Chriſts coming to judgement will be dreadful to the wicked. At the coming of this Judge, there will be ignis conflagrationis, a fire burning round about him. 2 Theſ. 1.7. He ſhall be revealed with his Angels from heaven, in flaming fire *Si talis ſit horror venientis, qualis, erit judicantis. Aug., &c. When God did give his Law upon the Mount, there were thunders and lightnings, and Mount Sinai was altogether on a ſmoak, becauſe the Lord deſcended upon it in fine *Exod. 19.16, 18., Exod. 19.16, 18. If God was ſo terrible at the giving of the Law, O how terrible will he be when he ſhall come to require his Law!
3. The Proceſſe, or the Tryal it ſelf. Where obſerve,
The 1. Univerſality Of the Tryal.
The 2. Formality Of the Tryal.
The 3. Circumſtances Of the Tryal.
Firſt, The Univerſality of the Tryal; it will be a very great Aſſizes, never was the like ſeen. 2 Cor. 5.10. For we muſt all appear before the judgment-ſeat of Chriſt *2 Cor. 5.10.. Kings and Nobles, Councels and Armies; thoſe who were above all Tryal here, have no Cha…rter of exemption granted them; they muſt appear before Chriſts Tribunal, and be tryed for their lives; neither power nor policy can be a ſub…er-fuge. They who refuſed to come to the Throne of Grace, *Hebr. 4.16.ſhall be forced to come to the Bar of Juſtice. And the dead as well as the living muſt make their appearance. Rev. 20.12. I ſaw the dead both ſmall and great ſtand be ore God, &c. We do not uſe to cite men to our Courts when they are dead, but at that day the dead are called to the Bar; and not only Men, but Angels. Jude 6. The Angels which kept not their firſt eſtate, he hath reſerved in chains to the judgement of the great day.
Secondly, The Formality of the Tryal, which conſiſts in the opening of the Books*Rev. 12.20.. Dan. 7.10. The judgement was ſet, and the books were op…ned. There are two books will ba opened.
1. The book of Gods Omniſciency. God not only obſerves, but regiſters all our actions. Job 14.16. Thou numbreſt my ſteps. The word there foreign to number *Unde foreign liber., ſignifies to put a thing into the book; as if Job had ſaid, Lord, thou keepeſt thy day-book, and entereſt down all my actions into the book; we read of Gods book of remembrance, *Mal. 3.16.Mal. 3.16. This book will be produced at the laſt day.
2. The book of Conſcience. Let there be never ſo much written in a book, yet if it be claſped, it is not ſeen. Men have their ſins written in their conſcience, but the book is claſped; (the ſearing of the conſcience is the claſping of the book) but when this book of conſcience ſhall be unclaſped at the great day, then all their Hypocriſie, Treaſon, Atheiſme ſhall appear to the view of Men and Angels*Luke 12.3.; the ſinnes of men ſhall be written upon their forehead, as with a Pen of Iron *Cunctis agminibus patebunt univerſa ſcelera tua. Bern..
Thirdly, The Circumſtances of the Tryal; where conſider foure things.
1. The Impartiality.
2. The Exactneſſe.
3. The Perſpicuity.
4. The Supremacy.
Firſt, The Impartiality of the Tryal; Jeſus Chriſt will do every man juſtice; he will (as the Text ſaith) judge the world in righteouſneſſe. It will be dies foreign, juſtice holds the ſcales. The Thebanes did picture their Judges blind, and without hands*Reuſner.; blinde, that they might not reſpect perſons; without hands, that they might take no bribes. Chriſts Scepter is a Scepter of righte…uſn…ſſe *Hebr. 1.8., Hebr. 1.8. He is no foreign, or respecter of perſons; 'tis not nearneſſe of blood prevailes: Many of Chriſts Kindred ſhall be condemned. 'Tis not gloriouſneſſe of profeſſion; many ſhall go to hell with Chriſt in their mouths. Mat. 7.22.*Mat. 7.22. Many will ſay to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not propheſied in thy Name, and in thy Name caſt out Divels, &c? Yet though they caſt out Divels, they are caſt out to the Divel. 'Tis not the varniſh of a picture that a judicous eye is taken with; but the curiouſneſſe of the work. 'Tis not the moſt ſhining profeſſion Chriſt is taken with, unleſſe he ſee the curious workmanſhip of grace in the heart, drawn by the Penſil of the Holy Ghoſt. Things are not carried there by parties, but aequa lance, in a moſt juſt balance; Chriſt hath true weights for falſe hearts; there are no fees taken in that Court; the Judge will not be brib'd with an hypocritical tear, or a Judas kiſſe*Veniet dies illa, in qua plus valebunt pura corda quam aſtuta verba, conſcientia bona quam marſupia plena; judex enim non falletur verbis, nec flectetur donis. Bern..
Secondly, The Exactneſſe of the Tryal; it will be very critical; t…en, will Chriſt throughly purge his floor, Mat. 3.12. Not a grace, or a ſin, but his Fan will diſcover. Chriſt will at the day of judgement make an heart-anatomy; as the Chyrurgion makes a diſſection in the body, and doth criticize upon the ſeveral parts; or as the Goldſmith, doth foreign, bring his gold to the balance and touch-ſtone, and foreign, pierce his gold thorow, to ſee if it be right, and genuine, and whether there be not a baſer mettal w thin: Thus the Lord Jeſus, (whoſe Eyes are as a flame of f…re, Revel. 1.14.) will pierce thorow the hearts of men, and ſee if there be the right mettal within, having the Image and Superſcription of God upon it. Paint falls off before he fire; the hypocrites paint will fall off at the fiery Tryal, nothing then will ſtand us in ſtead but ſincerity.
Thirdly, the perspicuity of the Trial; ſinners ſhall be ſo clearly convicted, that they ſhall hold up their hand at the Barre, and cry guilty; thoſe words of David may be fitly applyed here, Pſalm. 51.4. that thou mayſt be cleare when thou judgeſt. The ſinner himſelf ſhall clear God of injuſtice. The Greek word for vengeance foreign, ſignifies juſtice. Gods taking vengeance, is doing juſtice; ſin makes God angry, but it cannot make him unrighteous; the wicked ſhall drink a Sea of wrath, but not ſip one drop of injuſtice; Chriſt will ſay, Sinner, what Apology canſt thou make for thy ſelf? are not thy ſins written in the book of conſcience? hadſt thou not that book in thy own keeping? who could interline it? now the ſinner being foreign ſelf-condemned, ſhall clear his Judge; Lord, though I am damned, yet I have no wrong done me; thou art cleare when thou judgest.
Fourthly, The Supremacy of the Court; this is the higheſt Court of Judicature, from whence is no appeal. Men can remove their cauſes from one place to another; from the common Law to the Court of Chancery: but from Chriſts Court there is no appeal; he who is once doomed here, his condition is irreverſible.
6. The ſixth and laſt particular, is the effect, or conſequence of the Tryal. Which conſiſts in three things.
Firſt, Segregation. Chriſt will ſeparate the godly and the wicked.Mat. 25.32. Matth. 25.32. He ſhall ſeparate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats; Then will be the great day of ſeparation; it is a great grief to the godly in this life, that they live among the wicked. Wo is me that I ſojourn in Meſeck, Pſal. 120.5. Wicked men blaſpheme God, Pſal. 74.18. and perſecute the Saints, 2 Tim. 3.12. They are compar'd to dogs *Pſal. 22.16., to Bulls *Pſal. 68.30., to Lions *Pſal. 57.4.; they roare upon the godly, and tear them as their Prey. Cain kills, Iſhmael mocks, Shimei rails; The godly and the wicked are now promiſcuouſly mingled together*Mat. 13.30.; and this is as offenſive as the tying a dead man to a living; but, Chriſt will ere long make a ſeparation; as the Fan doth ſeparate the wheat from the chaff: as a Furnace ſeparates the gold from the droſſe: or as a ſearcer ſtrains out the ſpirits from the dregs; Chriſt w…ll put the ſheep by themſelves, who have the ear-mark of Election upon them; and the Coats by themſelves; after which ſeparation there follows
Secondly, The Sentence; which is two-fold.
1. The ſentence of abſolution pronounced upon the godly. Matthew 25.34. Come ye bleſsed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you. After the pronouncing of which bleſſed ſentence, the godly ſhall go from the Barre, and ſit upon the Bench with Chriſt. 1 Cor. 6.3. Know ye not that the Saints ſhall judge the world? The Saints ſhall be Chriſts Aſſeſſors; they ſhall ſit with him in Judicature, as the Juſtices of Peace with the Judge; they ſhall Vote with Chriſt, and applaud him in all his judicial proceedings. Here the world doth judge the Saints, but there the Saints ſhall judge the world.
2. The ſentence of condemnation pronounced upon the wicked, Matth. 25.41. ite maledicti— Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire. I may allude to that, James 3.10. Out of the ſame mouth proceeds bleſſing and curſing; out of the ſame mouth of Chriſt, proceeds bleſſing to the godly, and curſing to the wicked; the ſame wind which brings one ſhip to the Haven, blows another ſhip upon the Rock. Depart from me; the wicked once ſaid to God, Depart; Job. 21.14. They ſay unto God, Depart from us; and now God will ſay to them, Depa t from me; this will be an heart-rending word. Chryſoſtome ſaith this word. Depart, is worſe than the fire. Depart from me in whoſe preſence is fulneſſe of joy *Pſal. 16.11.3..
Thirdly, After this ſentence, follows the Execution; Mat. 13.30. Binde the tares in bundles to burn them. Chriſt will ſay, Bundle up theſe ſinner; here a bundle of hypocrites, there a bundle of Apoſtates, there a bundle of prophane; bundle them up and throw them in the fire. And now no cryes or entreaties will prevail with the Judge; the ſinner and the fire muſt keep one another company; he who would not weep for his ſins, muſt burne for them; and it is everlaſting fire. The three children were thrown into the fire, but they did not ſtay in long; The King came near to the mouth of the burning fiery ſurnace, and ſaid, Come forth, Dan. 3.26. but the fire of the damned is everlaſting; this word ever breaks the heart; length of time cannot terminate it; a Sea of-tears cannot quench it. The wrath of God is the fire, and the breath of God is the Bellows to blow, it up to all eternity. O how dreadfully tormenting will this fire be! to endure it will be intolerable, to avoid it will be impoſſible.
Uſe 1 Uſe 1. Let me perſwade all Chriſtians to believe this Truth, that there ſhall be a day of judgement. Eccleſ. 11.9. Rejoyce O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart chear thee in the dayes of thy youth, and walk in the wayes of thy heart; but know thou that for all theſe things God will bring thee into judgement. This is a great Article of our faith, that Chriſt ſhall come to judge the quick and the dead; yet, how many live as if this Article were blotted out of their Creed? we have too many Epicures and Atheiſts, who drown themſelves in ſenſual delights, and live as if they did not believe either God, or day of judgement; the Lu…ianists and Platoniſes deny the immortality of the ſoul; the Photinians hold there is no Hell. I have read of the Duke of Silecia, he was ſo infatuated, that he did not believe either God or Devil*Uſque adco inſ…nus, ut neque inſeros neque ſuperos eſſe dicat.; I wiſh there be not too many of this Dukes opinion. Durſt men ſwear, be unchaſt, live in malice, if they did believe a day of judgement? Oh, mingle this Text with faith, the Lord hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world; There muſt be ſuch a day; not only Scripture, but reaſon confirms it. There is no Kingdom or Nation in the world, but have their Seſſions, and Courts of Judicature; and God who ſets up all other Courts, ſhall not he be allowed his? that there ſhall be a day of judgement, is engraffed by nature in the conſciences of men. Peter Martyr tells us that ſome of the Heathen Poets have written, that there are certain Judges appointed (Minos, Radamanthus, and others) to examine and puniſh offenders after this life.
Uſe 2 Ʋſe 2. See here the ſad and deplorable eſtate of wicked men; this Text is as the hand-writing on the wall, which may make their knees to ſmite one againſt another, Dan. 5.6. The wicked ſhall come to judgement; but they ſhall not ſtand in judgement, Pſa. 1.5. in the Hebrew it is foreign they ſhall not riſe up. When God ſhall be deck'd with glory and Majeſty, his face as the appearance of lightening, his eyes as Lamps of fire, and a ſword of juſtice in his hand, and ſhall call the ſinner by name, and ſay, Stand forth, anſwer to the charge that is brought againſt thee; what canſt thou ſay for thy pride, oaths, drunkenneſſe, &c. theſe ſins thou haſt been told of by my Miniſters, whom I ſent riſing up early, and going to bed late *Jer. 7.25., but thou didſt perſiſt in thy wickedneſs with a neck of iron *Iſa. 48.4., a brow of braſs *Ezek. 36.26.an heart of stone; all the tools I wrought with, were broken and worn out upon thy rocky ſpirit; what canſt thou ſay for thy ſelf that the ſentence ſhould not paſſe? O how amazed and confounded will the ſinner be! he will be found speechleſs, he will not be able to look his Judge in the face.*Job 31.14. Job 31.14. What then ſhall I do when God r…ſeth up? and when he viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer him? O wretch, thou that canſt now out-face thy Miniſter, and thy godly Parents when they tell thee of ſin, thou ſhalt not be able to out-face thy Judge; when God riſeth up, the ſinners countenance will be faln *Gen. 4 6.; — and when he viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer him? Not many years ſince, the Biſhops did uſe to viſit in their Dioceſſe, and call ſeveral perſons before them as criminal; all the world is Gods Dioceſſe, and ſhortly he is coming his viſitation, and will call men to account. Now, when God ſhall viſit, how ſhall the impure ſoul be able to anſwer him? 1 Pet. 4.18. Where ſhall the ungodly and the ſinner appeare? Thou that dyeſt in thy ſin, art ſure to be caſt at the Barre; John 3.18. He that believeth not, is condemned already; that is, he is as ſure to be condemned as if he were condemned already; and if once the ſentence of damnation be paſſed, miſerable man, what wilt thou do? whither wilt thou go*A dextris erunt peccata accuſantia, à ſiniſtris infinita daemonia, ſubtus horrendum chaos inferni, deſupor judex iratus, ſoris mundus ardens, intus conſcientiaurens heu miſer peccator quo fugies? Anſel.? wilt thou ſeek help from God? he is a conſuming fire; wilt thou ſeek help from the world? it will be all on fire about thee; from the Saints? thoſe thou didſt deride upon earth; from the good Angels? they defie thee as Gods enemy; from the bad Angels? they are thine Executioners; from thy conſcience? there is the worme that gnaws; from mercy? the Leaſe is run out. O the horror and helliſh deſpaire which will ſeize upon ſinners at that day! oh the ſad convulſions! their heads ſhall hang down, their cheeks bluſh, their lips quiver, their hands ſhake, their conſcience roar, their heart tremble. What ſtupifying Phyſick hath the Devil given to men, that they are inſenſible of the danger they are in! the cares of the world have ſo filled their head, and the profits of it hath ſo bewitched their heart, that they minde neither death nor judgement.
Ʋſe 3 Ʋſe 3. Exhortation. 1. Branch. Poſſeſſe your ſelves with the thoughts of the day of judgement; think of the ſolemnity and impartiality of this Court. Feathers ſwim upon the water,Exhortat. 1. Branch. gold ſinks into it; light, feathery ſpirits floate in vanity, but ſerious Chriſtians ſink deep in the thoughts of judgement; many people are like quick-ſilver, they cannot be made to fix. If the Ship be not well ballaſted, it will ſoon overturn; the reaſon why ſo many are overturned with the vanities of the world, is becauſe they are not well ballaſted with the thoughts of the day of judgement. Were a man to be tryed for his life, he would bethink himſelf of all the Arguments he could, to plead in his own defence; we are all ſhortly to be tryed for our ſouls; while others are thinking how they may grow rich, let us bethink our ſelves how we may abide the day of Chriſts coming. The ſerious thoughts of judgement, would be, 1. A Curben-bit to ſinne; am I ſtealing the forbidden fruit, and the Aſſizes ſo neare? 2. A spur to holineſſe*Nihil eſt quod magis proficiat ad vitam honestam &c. Amb.. 1 Pet. 3.10. But the day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night; ſeeing then all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of Perſons ought ye to be in all Holy Converſation?
2. Branch. 2. Branch.Let us ſolemnly prepare our ſelves for this laſt and great Trial! that is, by ſetting up a judgement-ſeat in our own ſouls; let us begin a private Seſſions, before the Aſſizes; it is wiſdome to bring our ſouls firſt to tryal. Lam. 3.40. Let us ſearch and try our wayes; let us judge our ſelves according to the Rule of the Word, and let conſcience bring in the Verdict. The Word of God gives ſeveral Characters of a man that ſhall be abſolved at the day of judgement, and is ſure to go to Heaven.
Character. 1 1. Character is humility. Job 22.29. The Lord will ſave the humble perſon. Now, let conſcience bring in the Verdict; Chriſtian, art thou humble? not only humbled, but humble; doſt thou eſteem others better than thy ſelf? Phil. 2.3. doſt thou cover thy duties with the vail of Humility? as Moſes put a vail on his face when it ſhined; if conſcience brings in this Verdict, thou art ſure to be acquitted at the laſt day.
Character. 2 2. Character, love to the Saints. 1 John 3.14. We know that we have paſſed from death unto life, becauſe we love the Brethren. Love makes us like God, 1 John 4.19. it is*Aug. radix omnium virtutum, the root of all the graces. Doth conſcience witneſs this for you? are you perfum'd with this ſweet ſpice of love? do you delight in thoſe who have the Image of God? do you reverence their graces? do you bear with their infirmities? do you love to ſee Chriſts picture in a Saint, though hung in never ſo poor a frame? this is a good ſign, that thou ſhalt paſs for currant at the day of judgement.
Character. 3 3. Character, a penitential frame of heart. Acts 11.18. Repentance unto life. Repentance unravels ſin, and makes it not to be; Jerem. 50.20. In thoſe dayes the iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for; and there ſhall be none. A great ball of Snow is melted and waſhed away with the rain: great ſinnes are waſhed away by holy tears. Now can conſcience bring in the evidence for thee? doſt thou tune the penitential ſtring? thou that haſt ſinn'd with Peter, doſt thou weep with Peter *Qui ſecutus es Petrum errantem, ſequere poenitentem. Ambroſ.? and do thy tears drop from the eye of faith? this is a bleſſed ſign thou art judgement-proof; and that when thy iniquities ſhall be ſought for at the laſt day, they ſhall not be found.
Character. 4 4. Character, Equity in our dealings; Pſa. 24.3, 4. Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the Lord? mundus volis, he that hath clean hands. Injuſtice doth ſully and defile the hand; what ſaith conſcience? is thy hand clean? it is a vain th…ng to hold the Bible in one hand, and falſe weights in the other. Beloved, if conſcience upon a Scripture-trial, give in the verdict for us, it is a bleſſed ſign that we ſhall lift up our heads with boldneſſe at the laſt day. Conſcience is Gods eccho in the ſoul; the voice of conſcience is the voice of God; and if conſcience upon an impartial trial doth acquit us, God will acquit us. 1 John 3.21. If our heart condemn us not, 1 John 3.21.then have we confidence towards God. If we are abſolved in the lower Court of conſcience, we are ſure to be abſolved at the laſt day in the High Court of Juſtice. It were a ſweet thing for a Chriſtian thus to bring himſelf to a Trial. Seneca tells us of a Romane, who every day ca led himſelf to account; quod malum ſanasti? what infirmity is healed? wherein art thou grown better? then he would lie down at night with theſe words, O quam gratus ſonnus! O how ſweet and refreſhing is my ſleep to me!
Uſe 4 Uſe 4. Here is a fountaine of Conſolation opened to a believer; and that in three Caſes.Conſolation.
In caſe of
1. Diſcouraging fear.
2. Weakneſſe of grace.
3. Cenſures of the world.
Caſe 1 Firſt, Here is comfort in caſe of diſcouraging fear. Oh ſaith a believer, I fear my grace is not armour of proof; I fear the cauſe will go againſt me at the laſt day; Indeed, ſo it would if thou wert out of Chriſt; but as in our Law-Courts, the Client hath his Atturney or Advocate to plead for him, ſo every believer by virtue of the intereſt, hath Chriſt to plead his Cauſe for him. 1 John 2.1. If any man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous; 1 John 2.1.What though Satan be the accuſer, if Chriſt be the Advocate? Chriſt never loſt any Cauſe he pleaded; nay, his very pleading alters the nature of the cauſe; Chriſt will ſhow the debt-book croſſed with his own blood; and it is no matter what is charged, if all be diſcharged; here's a Believers Comfort, his Judge will be his Advocate.
Caſe 2 Secondly, Here is comfort in regard of weakneſſe of grace; a Chriſtian ſeeing his grace ſo deſective, is ready to be diſcouraged; but, at the day of judgement, if Chriſt finde but a dram of ſincerity, it ſhall be accepted; if thine be true gold, though it may be light, Chriſt will put his merits into the Scales, and make it paſſe currant; he that hath no ſinne of allowance, ſhall have graines of allowance; I may allude to that, Amos 9.9. Ne lapillus in terram, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the earth. He that hath but a grain of grace, not the leaſt grain ſhall fall to Hell.
Caſe 3 Thirdly, it is comfort in caſe of Cenſures and ſlanders; the Saints go here through ſtrange reports, foreign, 2 Cor. 6.8. John Baptiſts Head in a Charger, is a common diſh now adayes; 'tis ordinary to bring in a Saint Beheaded of his good name; but at the day of judgement, Chriſt will unload his people of all their injuries, he will vindicate them from all their calumnies. Chriſt will be the Saints Compurgator; he at that day will preſent his Church ſine macula & ruga, *Eph. 5.27.not having spot or wrinkle.