A Little Cabinet, Section 53 – Section 54
Of the laſt judgement, the ſigns that go before it, what is meant by it, the place where, the perſon who, the time how long the judgement ſhall laſt, out of what we ſhall be judged, this day ſhall be a great Day.
1. Of the Signs that go before the laſt judgement.
THE ſigns foretokening the laſt judgement are certain nottable changes in the world, in Church and State, ſome farther off, ſome nearer unto the coming of the great judge.
1. The publiſhing and the ſound of the Goſpel throughout the whole world.
2. The Apoſtacy of many profeſſors, loſing their firſt love, and drawing back, &c.
3. The revealing of Antichriſt, that man of ſin and child of perdition, 2 Theſ. 2. 8.
4. Common corruptions in manners, joyned with ſecurity, as in the dayes of Noah and Lot.
5. Wars, commotions and troubles both in the world, and in the Church of Chriſt.
6. Falſe Chriſts attended with falſe Prophets, and armed with falſe miracles.
7. The calling of the Jews into the faith of the Goſpel.
8. Signs in heaven, earth and all the elements, 2 Pet. 3. 7. Mat. 24. 30.
What is meant by judgement.
BY Judgement is meant the pronouncing and executing of the irrevocable ſentence of abſolution or condemnation, in which the Godly ſhall be judged one way, and the wicked another way; for the firſt ſhall be Judged, but not condemned; the latter ſhall be judged and condemned.
Of the place where the Lord will judge the world.
THE place where the Lord Chriſt ſhall ſit in Judgement, is verily thought to be in the air, over the Vally of Jehoſaphat, by mount Olive, near to Jeruſalem, Eaſtward from the temple, 1 Theſ. 4. 17. this might be confirmed by theſe reaſons.
1. Becauſe we find ſome ground in the word of God for this, Joel 3. 2. and ver. 11. compared with Zech. 14, 4, 5.
2▪ Becauſe as Chriſt was there abouts crucified and put to open ſhame, ſo over that place his glorious throne ſhall be erected, when he ſhall appear in judgement to judge the world in righteouſneſs, where he himſelf was unjuſtly judged and condemned.
3. Becauſe that the Angels ſhall be ſent to gather together the elect from the four winds, from one end of the earth to the other; it is moſt probable that the place where they ſhall be gathered together ſhall be near Jeruſalem, which is the center of the earth as may be proved.
4. Becauſe the Angels told the diſciples, that as they ſaw Chriſt aſcend from Mount Olivet, which is by the valley of Jehoſaphat, ſo ſhall he in like manner come down from heaven: but I think it not ſafe, raſhly to define where the place of the laſt judgement ſhall be.
Of the Perſon who it is that ſhall judge the world.
THE chief power of judicature ſhall be in Chriſt, for to him all power is given, and from whom no appeal can be made to any ſuperiour. This judge ſhall be viſible to all, both in reſpect of brightneſs and majeſty in which he ſhall appear, but ſo that his ſight ſhall be terrible to the wicked, but joyfull to the Godly, Acts 17. 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteouſneſs by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given aſſurance unto all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the dead; and both reprobate and elect ſhall hear the ſentence of the judge, to the one it ſhall be full of horror, to the other full of comfort, Mat. 25. 34. Come ye bleſſed, verſ. 41. Go ye curſed into everlaſting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, now where as many texts of Scripture ſay, the Saints ſhall judge the world, that is to be underſtood, that they ſhall approve of Chriſts ſentence, and praiſe the wiſdom and juſtice of God therein.
Of the time how long the Judgement ſhall laſt.
VVE read in the Scripture that the time is a day; but there are three opinions among Chriſtians about this word day.
1. Some take the day here ſpoken of preciſely and properly, as if the day of the laſt judgement ſhould not exceed that ſpace and proportion of time.
2. Some conceive that by the day is meant a thouſand years, becauſe ſome are ſaid to ſit on thrones, and have judgement given unto them, that is power of Judging, and to live and reign with Chriſt a thouſand years, Rev. 20. 4. but I conceive that this judgement and reign of a thouſand years cannot be underſtood of the laſt Judgement, becauſe death the laſt enemy ſhall in the reſurrection be deſtroyed; now after the end of the thouſand years mentioned by Saint John, Satan ſhall be looſed out of the priſon, and the nations deceived by him, ſhall compaſs the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City; and fire ſhall come down from God out of heaven and devour them all.
3. Others ſeem more ſafely to apprehend that the day here mentioned is to be taken improperly, for time indefinitely, it being in Scripture very ordinary to put a day for time: in an acceptable time have I heard thee, in a day of Salvation have I helped thee, Iſa. 49. 8. If thou hadſt known in this thy day, Luke 19. 42. Your Father Abraham rejoyced to ſee my day, John 8. 56, &c. there muſt be a day wherein that great work of judgement muſt begin, but the duration thereof is to be meaſured by the nature of the thing and the counſel of God; ſo I can determine nothing peremptorily concerning the continuance of the laſt judgement.
By what, or out of what we ſhall be judged.
AND the books were opened, and theRevel. 20. 12. dead were judged out of thoſe things which were written in the books according to their works, &c. by thoſe books are meant partly Gods omniſcience, and partly mans conſcience; God to whom all things are naked and open, needs no books to help his memory as man doth; yet we read, that he hath two books, the one is called the book of life, the other of knowledge of the firſt there; are four kinds: the firſt is of predeſtination to life eternall, and in this book ſome are ſo written, that they cannot be blotted out; others are written, but in appearance and hope: many hope their names are recorded in heaven, but when they fall from this hope, then they may be ſaid to be blotted out of this book, this is the book of life eternal. Secondly, there is a book of life temporary, which is; nothing elſe but the condition and ſtate of this life; out of this book did Moſes, David, and Paul wiſh themſelves to be blotted out: The third book of life is the Scripture, as containing thoſe precepts and means by which we may obtain life eternal: The fourth book of life is our conſcience, informing us of all the good and bad actions of our life.
This book is opened ſometimes in this life, but ſhall be laid open to us in the laſt day: The other book we read of, is of knowledge, which is threeſold, viz.
1. The book of Gods general knowledge, whereby he takes notice of all men, whether they be good or bad; of this every man may ſay with David, Pſal. 139. 16. in thy book are all my members written, &c.
2. The book of Gods particular knowledge, of this ſee Pſalm 1. the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and 2 Tim. 2. the Lord knoweth who are his; this is the knowledge of approbation: in this book they are not written, to whom Chriſt will ſay at the laſt day, depart from me, &c. of this David ſpeaketh, Pſalm 69. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
3. The third book of knowledge is that wherein the actions of wicked men are recorded, and which ſhall be laid open to them, Deut. 7. 10. Judgement was ſet, and the books where opened, &c.
The day of judgement ſhall be a great Day.
THIS day ſhall be a great day; firſt in reſpect of the judge, attended with a great number of Saints and Angels, even all his Servants waiting upon him, 1 Theſ. 1. 13. Secondly this day ſhall be great in reſpect of the judged, as they fall under a four-fold conſideration.
1. In reſpect of the greatneſs of their company and number.
2. In reſpect of the greatneſs of their ranks and dergees.
3. The greatneſs of their faults and offences.
4. In reſpect of the greatneſs of their rewards and recompences.
1. In reſpect of the greatneſs of their number, Matthew 25. 32. and 2 Theſ. 2. 1. We muſt all appear before the judgement ſeat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body.
2. The day ſhall be great in reſpect of the greatneſs of their ranks and degrees; the high and mighty Emperors, as well as the pooreſt out-caſts; the talleſt Cedar, as well as the ſtouteſt heart, muſt bend and break at that day, Pſalm 110. 5. there will be no other crowns worn at that day, but the crowns of righteouſneſs: no other robes, but thoſe waſhed in the blood of Chriſt.
3. The day of judgement will be great in reſpect of their faults and offences▪ the leaſt ſin will appear exceeding great, the ſmalleſt offence unpardoned, is againſt a God infinite; the leaſt ſin will then be looked upon, as that which put God upon complaining, Chriſt upon bleeding, and the Spirit upon grieving. Oh how will the ſcarlet, crimſon tranſgreſſions, at which natural conſcience is affrighted, appear at that day? thoſe blaſphemies, murthers, open oppreſſions, unnatural uncleanneſs, &c.
4. This day ſhall be great in reſpect of the greatneſs of their rewards, and recompences; there will be the loſs of Gods preſence to the one, and the freedom of all miſery to the other, and the ſtamp of eternity put upon both; it ſhall be a righteous ſentence, every cauſe ſhall be judged rightly; Chriſt is called a righteous Judge, 1 Tim. 4. 8. in righteouſneſs doth he judge, Rev. 19. 11. The Scepter of his Kingdom is a rig…teous Scepter, he loves righteouſneſs, Pſal. 45. 6, 7. The day of judgement is a day of the revelation of the righteous judgement of God; righteouſneſs ſhall be the girdle of his loyns, this Judge cannot be byaſſed by favour, there is no reſpect of perſons with God: he regardeth not the perſons of men.
To draw towards a cloſe, let the reader conſider, that in this great day of judgement, God will bring in every ſecret thing, whether it be good or bad, Eccleſ. 12. 14. For we muſt all appear before the judgement ſeat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body, whether it be good or bad, 2 Cor. 5. 10. For he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteouſneſs, Act. 17. 31.
Oh did we meditate ſometimes on this day, and think of the preparations to it, and the acting of it, and the execution of the ſentence, we ſhould tremble at his word; ſurely at this day our conſciences ſhall be ſo enlightned, that all ſhall perfectly remember what ever good or evil they did in the time of their life, the ſecrets of all hearts being then revealed; and ſome ſhall be judged according to the Law of God, which hath been revealed unto men, whether it be the Law of nature only, which is written in the hearts of all, to leave them without excuſe, or that written word of God. Firſt, the Old Teſtament, and after alſo of the New, as the ground of faith, and the rule of life, Romans 2. 12. and ſo by the evidence of every mans conſcience, bringing all his works to remembrance, bearing witneſs with him, or againſt him, together by the teſtimony of ſuch, who by Doctrine or example have approved or condemned him.
What ſhall I ſay more, this will be a great day in this reſpect alſo, viz. as Chriſt doth come to judge things that are not judged; ſo alſo he doth come to judge over again things that are judged amiſs, Eccleſ. 3. 16, 17. Moreover I ſaw under the Sun the place of judgement, that wickedneſs was there, and the place of righteouſneſs, that iniquity was there: Then I ſaid in my heart, God ſhall judge the world in righteouſneſs, yea he ſhall judge both the righteous and the wicked, Mark 13. 32. But of that day, and that hour knoweth no man, no not the Angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. See Mat. 24. 36, &c. God is a knowing Judge, a righteous Judge, a powerful Judge.
I ſhall now proceed in order to ſpeak of the ſtate of both the damned and ſaved, after the judgement is over, and the ſentence given, and ſo cloſe up all with a few words of advice; and ſo of the end of the world.
Of the ſad condition of a man out of Chriſt after his death, judgement and ſentence paſſed, viz. Go ye curſed.
VVE find it written Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels: conſider five things in theſe words.
1. Depart from me: there is a ſeparation from all joy and happineſs.
2. Ye curſed: there is a dreadful excommunication
3. Into fire: there is unexpreſſible pain.
4. Everlaſting: there is the duration of puniſhment.
5. Prepared for the Devil and all his angels: …ere are the tormented and tormenting compan…ons: the …iſery of this d…leful ſtate may be reduced to theſe three heads
1. The unexpreſſible pains that they ſhall endure.
2. The companions, wicked men, evil angels or devils.
3. The duration of this miſerable eſtate.
1. The unexpreſſible pains that they ſhall endure: the devil and his angels, who being tormented themſelves, ſhall have no other eaſe, but to wrack their fury in tormenting thee, where ſhall be puniſhment without pitty, miſery without mercy, ſorrow without ſuccour, crying without comfort, miſchief without meaſure, torment without eaſe, where the worm dyeth not, and the fire is never quenched, in which flame thou ſhalt ever be burning and never conſumed, ever dying, and never dead, &c.
2. Thy companions ſhall be wicked men, evil angels or devils: from the judgement ſeat thou muſt be thruſt (by Angels) together with all the damned devils, and reprobates, into the bottomleſs lake of utter darkneſs, that perpetually burns with fire and brimſtone, where thou ſhalt ever lament, and none ſhall pitty thee; thou ſhalt alwayes cry for the pain of fire, and yet gnaſh thy teeth for the extremity of cold▪ thou ſhalt weep to think that thy miſeries are paſt remedy.
3. The duration of this miſerable eſtate doth multiply and aggravate thy miſery: this eternal condition admits of no change or alteration, decay or conſumption: mans eternal condition admits of no future hopes, or expectation, waſte or diminution: mans eternal condition admits of no mixture or moderation: mans eternal condition admits of no events or iſſues of providence: mans eternal condition admits of no compariſon, or revocation, there is no ſounding a retreat, after we are lanched into the Ocean: mans eternal condition admits of no concluſion: mans eternal condition admits of no conception. Millions of ages paſs away, and yet not one minute waſted ſo that after thou haſt endu ed them ſo many thouſand years, as there are graſs on the earth, or ſands on the ſea ſhore, thou art no nearer to have an end of thy torments, then thou waſt the firſt day that thou waſt caſt into them, yea ſo far are they from ending, that they are ever beginning: but if after a thouſand times ſo many thouſand years, thy damned ſoul could but conceive a hope, that theſe her torments might have an end, this would be ſome comfort, to think that at length an end will come; but as oft as the mind thinketh of this word never: it is as another hell, in the midſt of hell. This is the ſecond death, the general perfect fulneſs of all curſedneſs: the damned ſhall remain for ever in unſpeakable torment of body, and anguiſh of mind, being caſt out from the favourable preſence of God, and Chriſt, and his Saints, into utter darkneſs, blackneſs of darkneſs, weeping and gnaſhing ofteeth, the worm that never dyeth, the fire that never goeth out, &c.