Works, Sermon · Verse 10

Works · Sermon · Verse 10

p. 367Verſ. 4…. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to teſtifie that he is ordained of God a Judge of quick and dead.

A Third argument to prove that Chriſt is raiſed from the dead, and ſo is indeed the true Meſſiah, and Lord of his Church, is, that he gave Commiſſion and Commandement to his Apoſtles to become Preachers and witneſſes, as of other points, ſo eſpecially of this; that howſoever hee was adjudged to death, according to that judgement executed, and laid as one foyled by death for the ſpace of three days, yet he is now gloriouſly raiſed again, and appointed of God the Judge of all that ever have lived, doe, or ſhall live to the end of the world.

In the verſe we have three things to be handled.

1 That preaching is a reverent and neceſſary ordinance of Chriſt himſelf, And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to teſtifie.

2 The object of this ordinance, or what wee muſt preach, namely Chriſt, that he is, &c.

3 What particular doctrin concerning Chriſt muſt more eſpecially be preached, that he is ordained of God, a judge of quick and dead.

In the firſt of theſe, are two branches to bee cleared. 1 That preaching is the ordinance of Christ. 2 The neceſſity, which will eaſily bee deduced from the former. That Chriſt inſtituted this holy ordinance, is plain, Matth. 28.19. Goe preach to all nations, baptizing them, &c. the which commiſſion, that it was extended beyond their perſons, to ſuch as ſhould in after ages ſucceed them, appeareth by his laſt words, and behold, I am with you to the end of the world. Preaching the ordinance of C…riſt.And that the ordinary teachers are no leſſe the gift of Chriſt than the Apoſtles themſelves▪ is as plain, Epheſ. 4.11. he therefore gave ſome to be Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Evangeliſts, ſome Paſtors, and ſome Teachers. Neither muſt this trouble us, that both in this place alleadged, as alſo in ſome other it is attributed to the Father, to ſend and give Paſtors according to his own heart, Jer. 3.15. & 25.4. and ſometime to the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 20.28. Take heed to your ſelves, and the flock over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you over-ſeers, 1 Cor. 12.11. and all theſe things worketh even the ſelf-ſame Spirit, diſtributing to every man ſeverally, even as he will. For,

1 All thoſe external works are common to all the three perſons: and where any one of them are named in any action done without themſelves, no one of them is excluded, but all the three muſt be included.

2 The Divinity of Chriſt is not obſcurely proved, in that the ſame glorious actions of the Father, and the Holy Ghoſt, are aſcribed alſo unto him, as from Heaven whither he aſcended, to give ſeveral gifts for the work of the Miniſtery.

3 That we might better inſtruct our ſelves, in their ſeveral order and manner of working the ſelf ſame action: for the Father is the Fountain, and the firſt Author of all theſe gifts; the Son properly is the diſtributer and giver: for the Father worketh all in us by the Son, and both of them by the communication of the bleſſed Spirit: even as the Sun by his beams ſendeth light, and heat unto the inferiour creatur…s.

Object. But this ordinance of preaching, ſeemeth not to be Chriſts, becauſe it was long before his Incarnation; and now remaineth after his aſcenſion, when hee cannot call men as he called the Apoſtles while he was on earth.

Anſ. The Miniſtry of the Goſpel, in the proper acception of it, hath two things to be conſidered. Firſt, the being of it: Secondly, the vertue and efficacy of it. The being of it (as it was the Miniſtery of the New Teſtament, wherein glad tidings were publiſhed to all Nations) was temporary, beginning in the time of Chriſt, and ſhall have end with the world: yet can it p. 368be called no new doctrin, becauſe the ſumme and ſubſtance of it, was (though more obſcurely) delivered to Adam, and the Fathers of the Old Teſtament. But if we conſider the vertue and efficacy of it, it is an eternal Gospel, Rev. 14.6. during from the beginning of the world to all eternity.

Now therefore will it not follow, that becauſe it was before his Incarnation, it was not his; but rather therefore it was his, who was before Abraham was, the chief Prophet of his Church, that raiſed, according to the ſeveral ages of his Church, ſuch men as were fit, either more obſcurely, as before his coming (when rather ſome Evangelical promiſes of things to come were preached, than the Goſpel it ſelf,) or elſe more manifeſtly to preach and open the myſteries of the Kingdom of God. And this latter kind of preaching, was not before his incarnation; neither was it fully ſetled before he aſcended into Heaven, and from thence gave gifts to men; that thereby hee might ſhew himſelf a careful Head and Governour of his Church, even then when hee was ſet down at the right hand of his Father. It is true indeed that before Chriſts ſuffering, he called his Apoſtles, inſtructed and furniſhed them with many gifts of the Spirit; yea, and theſe gifts were increaſed very much after his reſurrection, whereby they were more confirmed in their Apoſtleſhip; and although they did before Chriſts death, exerciſe the office of Apoſtleſhip in Judea amongſt the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, yet had they not received that fulneſſe of the Spirit, and power from above, which was neceſſary to Apoſtles, before they had received in the viſible form of fiery Tongues, the Spirit in abundant meaſure: whereby they were before all the people of the world, after a ſort, ſolemnly inaugurated, and confirmed to bee the Apoſtles of Jeſus Chriſt: neither had they, till after Chriſts reſurrection, received this Commandement (of which our Apoſtle ſpeaketh) To preach to all Nations, and to every creature under heaven: the practice of which Commadement they took up after that (they having ſtayed at Jeruſalem for the promiſe) the Spirit came upon them, and they were endued with power from on high, Luke 24.49.

As for the ſecond branch of the objection, that becauſe ordinary Paſtors and Teachers are not immediately called by Chriſt, being now in Heaven, therefore they are not ordained by him, it is falſe: for of the Paſtors and Elders of Epheſus it is ſaid, that the Holy Ghoſt made them over-ſeers: and Paul accounteth Apollos ordained by Chriſt as well as himſelf, 1 Cor. 3.5. What is Paul, and who is Apollos, but the Miniſters by whom yee beleeve? and, as the Lord gave to every man? only the difference muſt be obſerved in their calling both are called of Chriſt, but the Apoſtle by himſelf immediately, not by men: the ordinary Paſtor called of him by the Miniſtery of man. I call it a Miniſtry, becauſe the whole power and authority of the Church in calling Miniſters, is but a ſervice unto Chriſt; approving, declaring, and teſtifying to the Church thoſe whom Chriſt hath called. And therefore both before his incarnation a long time, and after his aſcenſion alſo, the exhortation which was enforced upon beleevers run in this tenor, to day if yee hear his voyce, harden not your hearts, Pſal. 95.7. Heb. 3.7. Whence we conclude, that his voyce hath ever ſounded in the Church, and ſo ſhall doe in the miniſtry of his ſervants, until his coming again to Judgement, Luke 10.16. hee that heareth them, heareth him; he that receiveth them, receiveth him; hee that refuſeth them, refuſeth him: he by his ſervants entreateth men to be reconciled; by them hee bindeth and looſeth, ſaveth and deſtroyeth.

Neceſſity of p…eaching …vinced by four reaſons.Secondly, for the neceſſity of this ordinance, can any deny it who ſeeth the Son of God ſo careful before his death, after his reſurrection and aſcenſion alſo into Heaven, to furniſh and fit with an extraordinary meaſure of the Spirit, Apoſtles and Apoſtolick men, for the founding of the Church of the New Teſtament; and not only ſo, but now ſitting in his glory at the right hand of p. 369his Father, is mindful of his promiſe, and is with his Church to raiſe up ſucceſſively faithful Paſtors and Teachers, gracing them with variety of excellent gifts; and bleſſing thoſe gifts for the building up, and repairing of his body, and the gathering of the Saints▪ of whom, as of living ſtones, is reared a ſpiritual houſe or temple fit for his own uſe. But becauſe moſt men are willingly ignorant of this neceſſity of preaching, I will a little inlarge it by ſome reaſons.

1 Conſider the condition of thoſe that are unconverted; In regard of the unconverted.and it will appear neceſſary for them. No man was ever ſaved, while hee was in his natural blindneſſe, no unbeleever could ever get within the gates of the holy City: no hard-hearted or impenitent perſon, could ever, ſo remaining, ſee the life of God. Neither was ever any man ordinarily drawn out of this fearful eſtate of Damnation, but by the Word of God preached; which is the light to the blind eyes, the ground of faith: for how can they beleeve, except they hear? and the hammer of the Lord to break aſunder the hardeſt ſtones in mens hearts, Jer. 23.29. Who were ever begotten to God, without this immortal ſee… … …here ſpiritual Fathers? Who ever became living ſtones in the building, wit… … …e hewing and poliſhing of Gods builders? What harveſt was ever …ought in to God, without theſe labourers? What ſoul was ever pulled out of the kingdome of darkneſſe, and brought to bee a member of Gods Kingdome, but by this means? The word in this ordinance is called the Goſpel of the Kingdome of God, Mark 1.14. that is, whereby men attain both the parts of Gods Kingdome: both that of grace here in this life, and that of glory in the life to come: from which effect it is called, 1 The word of grace, Acts 20.32. 2 The Goſpel of glory, 1 Tim. 1.11. alſo the word of reconciliation, becauſe hereby ſinners are reconciled to God, Epheſ. 1.13. the word of life, becauſe it quickneth the dead in ſin: the Goſpel of peace, chap. 6.15. becauſe it alone pacifieth the conſcience, and ſetleth it in the peace of God: to conclude, The good word, Heb. 6.5. becauſe it only revealeth Chriſt, who procureth all good unto beleevers. Who ſeeth not then the neceſſity of preaching? ſeeing none are added to the Church without it, Act. 2.41. no ſpiritual life can bee preſerved without this feeding, Act. 20. No Saints are gathered, nor no body of Chriſt built up without Paſtors and Teachers, Epheſ. 4.11, 12. And it pleaſed not God by any other means, but by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching, to ſave ſuch as beleeve.

S…condly, If wee conſider thoſe that are called to knowledge and faith, In regard of the converted.it will appear alſo a moſt neceſſary ordinance in regard of them. For,

1 Seeing a man cannot ſafely and comfortably paſs through any part of the day, without the light, ſtrength and comfort of the Scriptures, it pleaſed the Lord to ſet up this publike miniſtery in his Church, that even beleevers themſelves by hearing the Scriptures daily explained, obſcure places opened by thoſe which are clearer, and figurative ſpeeches cleared by the proper; might attain not onelyonly to a clearer underſtanding of the Scriptures, but alſo to have them printed in their minds and memories, ſo as they might bee able to draw them into continual uſe.

2 Even the beſt have nature in them, and their daily failings; and without daily repair, grow weak in faith, weary of well-doing, and unfruitful in the work of the Lord. And therefore though they ſhould not need to come to increaſe their knowledge, yet have they need to hear their faults controlled, to bee provoked unto duty, to bee confirmed in their obedience, to bee ſtrengthened in their faith, reformed in their lives, comforted in their troubles, and ſpurred to bring every thing to uſe and practice; and therefore the beſt may be ſtill Diſciples and Learners in the School of Chriſt.

3 The agreement and fellowſhip of the members of the Church, is excellently hereby maintained and preſerved: not onelyonly by communication of p. 370gift… and graces, while ſome teach and ſome learn, but alſo while it is a mean to hold them all of a mind; whereas without this publike Miniſtery, if every one were left to hi… private ſenſe and reading, it could not but br…d corrupt and private opinion…, to the diſſolving of minds and affections. And this ſpecial benefit of thi… publike ordinance, the Apoſtle aimed at, Eph. 4.13. Till wee all meet together in the unity of the Faith, and knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man; implying, that the ſcope of the Miniſtry, is to bring and preſerve all the members of the Church in this unity of faith and knowledge; wh ch in this world it cannot do, but ſo ſoon as it hath done this, it ſelf ſhall ce…ſe, nam…ly, in the life to come. Hee muſt needs bee wilfully blind, that eſpieth n…t very gr at neceſſity of the word preached, for the ſtrengthening of th…ſe joy…s and bands, whereby beleevers are knit both unto the head, as alſo unto the me… ▪ ….

From the oppo…ition of the Devil, and wic…ed on….Thirdly, The neceſſity of this Ordinance appeareth, in that the Devil and wicked …. W…, have ever reſiſted it above all other, as being the greateſt enemy unto his Kingdome, which maketh him fall down like lightening in the heart of men. Hence is it that hee ſtirreth up Jannes and Jambres, and all the …able of Egypts Inchanters againſt Moſes; and ſetteth all his power againſt him, to prove him a counterfeit. Hence is it that hee will not want a Paſhur to ſinne Jeremy, nor an Amaziah to do as much to Amos. Hence raiſed hee up many Armies againſt Paul; Elimas and Alexander, Hymeneus and Philetus, D…otrephes and Demas, and from his mouth hee caſts out floods of r…pro…chful and virulent ſlanders againſt him; that hee is a peſtilent and … ou… fellow; that hee ſpeaketh againſt the Law, and againſt the Temple, away with ſuch a fellow, it is not fit that hee ſhould live.

A d hath the Devil grown any whit more calm, or can hee digeſt Pauls preach… … better ſince Pauls time? no ſure, hee is no changling, except becauſe his time is ſhorter, his malice bee ſtronger and more raging: I wiſh Gods faithful Miniſters every where found it otherwiſe. But to omit other proofs, … ſerve generally the voice of the multitude. Where there is no Preacher, but ſome poor creature to ſerve, as they ſay, or ſtarve them rather; it is wonderful how well people think themſelves with him: he ſhall be commended and defended, for a very honeſt peaceable man, or for a very good fellow, that will bear his Neighbors company, they could not have a better; and for all hee cannot preach, a worſe (they f ar) will come when hee is gone. But whoſe voice is this? and is not the hand of the Devil in all this? Well, on the contrary, where there is by Gods mercy a painful and faithful Miniſter, that Preacheth conſtantly and conſcionably; how goeth the cry and common voice of people upon him? wee have one that Preacheth indeed often, and (perhaps▪ is a good Scholar; but hee is very unpeaceable, a reprover of every man, a ſpy-fault, hee hath made ſuch contention in our Pariſh ſince hee came, that wee wiſh hee had never come amongſt us; we were quiet enough, and held peace and neighbourhood before he came. And thus he is cou…ted, as Jeremy, a man that ſtriveth with the whole earth.

The ſame prove… by experience.Fourthly, The neceſſity appeareth by common experience, if we compare the people, who have had the Miniſtry planted amongſt them, with thoſe who have it not. In the one, what ſhall a man ſooner meet with, than woful ignorance, Popiſh opinions, ſuperſtitious practices, heatheniſh converſation? they live as men without God in the world: or, as if the old Sodomites were alive again. But in the other, by Gods mercy ſome ſeal of the Miniſtry you ſhall meet withall; ſome men of knowledge, of conſcience, and out of conſcience performing duties in publike, and in private; in the houſe of God, and in their own houſes; you ſhall hear godly and gracious ſpeech in their mouths▪ ſee good example in their lives, holy deſires and endeavours to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt. And whence is this p. 371difference, but from the preſence or abſence of this ordinance, and Gods bleſſing attending or departing from it?

Vſe 1. Miniſters muſt urge themſelves to diligence by this neceſſity.The Miniſters of Chriſt muſt urge upon themſelves this ſelf ſame Commandement, to provoke themſelves to diligence in p…eaching: for it layeth neceſſity upon them, and woe unto that Miniſter that pre…heth not the Goſpel. A lamentable thing is it to ſee how little either this commandement… or the denunciation of this fearful woe prevaileth with many: but ſome are given up with Demas, to imbrace this preſent world; ſome give up themſelves to idleneſs, and voluptuouſneſs of life; ſome to ambition, and further preferments; ſome to policy, and ſtate matters; and very few onelyonly to faithful and painful Preaching. Thus this commandement of Chriſt is generally forgotten, the ſheep and Lambs of Chriſt unfed and forſaken, the Kingdome of Chriſt unbuilded and unrepaired, and the Kingdome and power of ſin generally ſtandeth in the ſtate of it unſhaken in the hearts of men.

2 Wee ſee hence what little need wee have of a dumb, or blind Miniſtery; unleſs there hee need of breaking ſo expreſs a Commandement of Jeſus Chriſt, who ſealeth no mans Commiſſion, but to Preach to his people. No need of a du…b o… blind Miniſte…y.What need is there of wells without water, of mouths that ſpeak not, of candleſticks without light, of ſtars without ſhine, of ſalt without ſavour? Chriſt needed not to have aſcended to ſend men without gifts; hee ſendeth no Meſſenger without a meſſage, no Steward without his proviſion, no Captain without weapons, no Watchmen without eyes: this were a folly which the wiſdome and weakneſs of man cannot brook: but hee ſendeth an interpreter, the Learned tongue, the prompt Scribe in the Law of the Lord; ſuch as are mighty in the Scriptures, and are ſtored with things new and old. Let us not implead the wiſdome of the Son of God, and ſay, where ſhall wee have ſuch ſtore of Preachers for our ſeveral Pariſhes? If wee want them, the fault is our own, and not Gods; who hath given means, men, and maintenance enough; if all theſe were wiſely and thankfully diſpoſed to his glory, and the ſervice of the Church.

3 This Doctrin muſt bee applyed alſo to the more ignorant ſort of men, who never as yet came to ſee the abſolute neceſſity of this Ordinance of Preaching: as witn…ſs, 1 Their formal comming hereunto, as forced by Law, …ow men ſee this neceſſity of preaching.or conſtrained by cuſtome: and thence departing again without any fruit of Faith, or increaſe either of knowledge, of obedience, or of comfort. 2 The inbred corruption, yea, and malice of their hearts againſt it; which bewrayeth it ſelf in a number of frivolous Objections, which they ſhame not to bolt out among their mates. As, that this preaching of the Goſpel is but fooliſhneſs: they ſee other have lived honeſtly and well without it, before them, and ſo have themſelves done for many years: and yet they live as well as thoſe that are the forwardeſt to run after Sermons. Alas, poor ſouls, how hath Satan over-reached them in a matter of ſuch moment, as is their whole eſtate and freehold of Heaven? who if ever they come to ſee their loſt eſtate, and what a woful condition they ſtand in for the preſent, they will tell us another tale, with ſhame in their faces, for that they have ſaid: they will profeſs the Miniſtry of Reconciliation, to bee as neceſſary as their attonement and friendſhip with God, which is better and ſweeter than life it ſelf.

Others conceive and complain, as the Iſraelites, Many pl… againſt it.that there is too much Preaching, and too much of this Mannah: and ſome of better place, but no better hearts, avouch that it is ſo common, that it grows into contempt.

Now would I ask of theſe, was it the abundance of Mannah, the Angels food, that was the fault, or their wicked loathing of it? even ſo is it the commonneſs of the word, that maketh the wicked contemn it, (for the hungry p. 372ſoul of the godly would never diſpiſe it, if it were ten times more common) or rather becauſe they ſee not the worth, nor taſte the ſweetneſs of it? deſ…ſ… wee the Sun becauſe it riſeth daily, and ſhineth all the day long upo… … or the air which wee breath in every moment? or doth the ordinary and common uſe of the bread upon our Tables, bring bread out of requeſt with us? No, wee ſee the neceſſity, that without the Sun, and without our daily bread, and without the air, wee cannot live. And did wee ſee alſo as clearly that where viſion faileth people periſh, wee ſhould change with our minds our note; and highly bleſs God for the commonneſs of it, as we do in the other: and ſure I am, that either the Apoſtle Paul did not fear this inconvenience, or elſe hee overſaw it, when he enjoyned the Miniſters to Preach inſtantly, both in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon.

Others ſay the world was better when there was leſſe Preaching, and thence conclude, that it is far worſe now, becauſe there is more: which though it bee a rude fallacy ſcarce worthy anſwer, as putting that to bee a cauſe of mens wickedneſs which is not, yet ſomething muſt bee ſaid unto it; and fools muſt bee anſwered in their folly, leſt they bee wiſe in their own conceit. Let theſe men bethink themſelves, and then tell us whether the Holy Goſpel (being the power and arm of God to ſave every beleever, the glad tydings of ſalvation, and word of life) can make the World worſe than it is. For if that bee the uſe of it, our bleſſed Saviour was far overſeen to leave his glory of Heaven, to take our fleſh, and in it to ſubmit himſelf to the obedience of the whole Law; and to the ſuffering of the whole curſe of it, for our diſobedience; if by all this hee leave the World, or make the World worſe than he found it. How ſhall it bee true that is written of him, that the Son of Man came not to deſtroy, but to ſeek and ſave that which was loſt, if the Preaching of him make the World worſe than it was? wee will eaſily grant that the Goſpel, being a great ſight, it daily diſcovereth that corruption and darkneſs which before lay hid; as the Sun riſing manifeſteth all thoſe things which were wrapped up in the darkneſs of the night.

But to ſay that ſin is the more, becauſe it is more ſeen by the light of the Goſpel, is a fancy: or if ſin it ſelf in theſe daies of the Goſpel by the multiplication of people bee multiplyed; ſhall wee ſay the Goſpel is the cauſe, or rather the malice of men, who pervert it to their own deſtruction, taking occaſion by it to turn the grace of God into wantonneſs? Let not …s therefore bee (as the old Idolaters in Jeremies time) who told him plainly, that they would not hear the Word that hee ſpake in the name of the Lord, for while they ſerved the Queen of Heaven, they had plenty of victuals, and were well, and felt none evil: but ſince they left to burn incenſe unto her, it was never well with them, they had ſcarceneſs of all things, and were conſumed by the Sword and by Famine, Jer. 44.17, 18. and therefore they were reſolved to do as their Fathers did. But let us with thankfulneſs caſt our eies upon the Grace of God, that hath appeared, and learn (as it teacheth) to deny ungodlineſs, and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world.

Many other allegations of ſimple people againſt this ordinance I might alleadge, but they are well met withall by ſome others; and my ſelf have elſewhere anſwered many of them, Beauties of Bethel.and therefore referring the Reader thither, I content my ſelf with theſe few for the preſent: and conclude this point with this exhortation to theſe poor ſeduced people: that conſidering the ſtraight charge and Commandement that lyeth upon us to Preach in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, they would bee willing to pick out their duty therein implyed; which is to bee diligent, yea, ſwift to hear, to attend as earneſt ſuters at the gates of Wiſdome, for their own good; to lay up inſtruction as they would treaſure gold, and to call after the wiſdome of God revealed p. 373in this ordinance, without which never was any made wiſe to ſalvation. And let them further know, that (ſeeing God doth not extraordinarily ſave men, where the ordinary means are afforded or offered) the neglect of this means is to deſpite great ſalvation; and to make themſelves unworthy of life eternal. And from the evidence of truth I avouch againſt every ſoul, that turneth his ear from hearing the word preached; that hee deſpiſeth the pardon of the King of Heaven, hee refuſeth life and ſalvation offered; hee chooſeth death, and forſaketh his own mercy, Joh. 10.27. hee is no ſheep of Chriſt, for then would hee hear his voice, Joh. 8.47. and if hee were born of God, hee would hear the words of God.

Secondly, The object of this Ordinance, or what wee muſt Preach, Chriſt the matter of our preaching.and that is Chriſt. The ſcope of the whole Scripture is Chriſt, and it is wholly reſolved into him. The Law, that is a School-maſter to Chriſt; for by convincing of ſin, and making the ſinner exceeding ſinful, it leadeth him forth of himſelf to ſeek ſalvation in Chriſt. The Goſpel preacheth nothing but Chriſt, and him crucified for ſin, 1 Cor. 2. Wee preach Chriſt the power of God, and the wiſdome of God. Hence is called the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, Mark. 1.1. and the word of Chriſt, Col. 3. not onelyonly becauſe it is from him being God, a… an …h… …ent cauſe, and preached by him as the chief Teacher of his Church; but alſo for the material cauſe which is Chriſt. The Apoſtle Paul calleth it the word of Truth, n…t onelyonly for the truth of it, but becauſe it publiſheth that eternal Truth Jeſus Chriſt: as alſo the word of the croſs, not onelyonly becauſe the croſs ordinarily attendeth the faithful preaching and profeſſion of it, but becauſe the matter of it is Chriſt crucified, 1 Cor. 2.

Queſt. What is it to preach Chriſt?

Anſw. It ſtandeth in two things. To preach Chriſt wherein it ſtande h1 In plain manner to preach the docttrin of Chriſt, concerning his Perſon, his Natures, his Offices, and the execution of them from his incarnation to his aſcenſion.

2 In powerful manner ſo to apply this Doctrin to every hearer, that every one may feel a change to follow, both in his heart and life. For to teach onelyonly the Hiſtory of Chriſt his Doctrin, his Miracles, his Life, his Death, is not the full teaching of Chriſt: for thus the unbeleeving Jews know Chriſt; and the Infidel Turks can eaſily come to this knowledge of him. But to reach Chriſt as the truth is in Chriſt, is to apply every particular to the heart of a ſinner, that hee may bee framed to converſion and repentance; which is the moſt difficult labour of the Miniſtery, and moſt to bee ſtriven in. Many Teachers who can chooſe hard Texts, and make learned diſcourſes, and ſhew much dexterity of wit, reading, and humane literature, have not thus learned Chriſt themſelves, not can after ſuch a lively manner teach him to others.

And pitty it is to ſee that whereas ſo great an Apoſtle as Paul, who wanted not Arts, Tongues, and humane Learning, deſired to know nothing but Chriſt, and him crucified, among the Corinths themſelves: it ſhould bee the ſtudy of many men to ſhew the knowledge of any thing rather than of Chriſt; and how they may paint out themſelves rather than Chriſt in their Preaching. Is not the end of preaching to make Diſciples of Chriſt, Mat. 28. foreignwas it inſtituted to pleaſe the ear, or to prick and pence the heart? Let the Miniſter therefore ſtrive to ranſack the hearts of men with whom hee is to deal; that diſcovering their ſecret things they may fall down and ſay, God is in him indeed. Let him think hee hath ſpoken the word of Chriſt; when hee hath both taught him, and led his hearers unto him. And this will not bee done but by the plainneſſe of words, and evidence of the Spirit. It is thought a reproach to preach a plain Sermon, whereas indeed, that is the beſt Sermon which teacheth Chriſt moſt plainly. 1 By true interpretation of Scripture. 2 By wholeſome ſavory and proper Doctrin gathered thence. 3 By ſound application of that Doctrin for the information p. 374of mens judgements, and reformation of their lives: where Chriſt crucified is thus held out, there need no wooden Images nor Pictures; nor the real ſacrifice of the abominable Maſs, to put men in mind of him.

2 Hearers may hence learn to judge of themſelves, whether they have heard aright or no. And then have you heard well, when you not onelyonly know that which you did not before, but when you beleeve more, love more, hope more, and are more changed than before, When you find our Sermons as the glaſs wherein you ſee and diſcern the true eſtate of your ſouls; when you are caſt into the form of this Doctrin; when your Luſts ſtoop and yeeld to this Scepter of Chriſt: without this no knowledge is ſaving; but all our preaching and your hearing tendeth to damnation: if yee know theſe things, bleſſed are yee if yee do them? Joh. 13.17.

The Apoſtles commanded in ſpecial to teach the doctrin of the laſt judgement. Reaſons.The third point is, what is the particular Doctrin which the Apoſtles, and wee in them are ſo ſtraitly enjoyned to preach: and that is, the Article of Chriſts comming again to judge the quick and the dead. And ſurely it is not without reaſon, that our Saviour ſhould wiſh them to inſiſt in this doctrin, above others.

1 Becauſe this being the laſt work of Chriſt remaining to be done after his aſcenſion, it could not be ſo eaſily beleeved as thoſe things which were …re…y done and accompliſhed, being ſtill in freſh memory; and ſo much the leſs deniable, by how much they were ſtill fixed even in the ſences of all thoſe who were eye-witneſſes of the ſame. And therefore hee would have his Apoſtles careful to help the weakneſs of mens faith, in the expectation of his return to judgement, by much and often beating upon it, as a point that needeth more inſtance and perſwaſion, than ſuch as (being paſt, and ſo ſenſibly confirmed by many hundreds and thouſands as they were) are far more eaſily apprehended, and beleeved.

2 The Scriptures teach that the remembrance of this judgement to come, is a notable means to quicken the godly in their duty, to work in them a reverent fear, and ſhake out ſecurity, which breedeth hardneſs of heart: therefore did the Apoſtle Paul, conſidering the terrors of the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.11. provoke both himſelf and others unto their Duty: and no marvail, ſeeing the children of God, have even at the conſideration of more particular judgements, been ſtricken with the fear of the Almighty. The Prophet Habakkuk when hee heard but of judgements to come, ſaith, That his belly trembled, his lips ſhook, and rottenneſſe entered into his bones, Habak. 3.16. And David, being a noble King, hath theſe words, my fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements, Pſal. 119.120. A ſpecial example whereof, wee have in that famous Preacher of righteouſneſs, Noah, of whom it is recorded, Heb. 11.7. that being warned by God of the flood to come an hundred and twenty years after, hee was moved with a reverent fear of God to make the Ark. And as Noah, was by hearing of the waters, ſo the ſervants of God hearing of fire, wherewith the world ſhall once again bee deſtroyed, ought to bee, and are moved with a reverent fear of God, which is as a ſteel ſpur to provoke them to their duty.

3 The Scriptures make the contempt of this day of judgement, the ground of all ſins, and of the deſtruction of ungodly ones. For as it was in the daies of Noah, ſo ſhall it bee in the day of the Son of man: they never dreamed of the judgement, before it came, and ſo periſhed in it; ſo men eat and drink, marry, and give in marriage, till the day come upon them as a ſnare, and they taken as a bird in an evil net. What was the cauſe that the evil Servant ſate him down with drunkards, and roſe up to beat his fellow-Servants, but becauſe hee ſaid with himſelf, my Maſter will ſtill defer his comming? In all which regards, neither the Apoſtles, nor wee the ordinary Miniſters ſucceeding them, can want good reaſon to ſtir up our ſelves p. 375and others, by the often and diligent propounding and applying of this holy Doctrin of Chriſt his comming again to judgement.

The verſe containeth two things: 1 Chriſt his appointment to this office, that hee is ordained of God, 2 The execution of it, a Judge of the quick and dead.

Touching the former, it will bee asked, Dan. 2 9 Joh. 16 8. How Chriſt is ordained a Judge, ſeeing the Father, and holy Ghoſt judge alſo.Dan 2:9John 16:8how God could ordain Chriſt a Judge, ſeeing that both the Father and the Holy Ghoſt judge as well as hee?

Anſ. In the laſt judgement muſt bee conſidered, 1 The decree of judging. 2 The authority, or judiciary power. 3 The external and viſible act, or execution of judgement. Now in regard of the two former, all the three bleſſed perſons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt concur, as having an equal decree of judging, an equal authority and judiciary power, an equal dominion over all creatures, and an equal conſent in the judging of them: But in regard of the third, the viſible judicial act, Chriſt is the Judge, and that according to both his natures, the God-head, and Man-hood: and yet both of them herein retaining their own properties. Thus is Chriſt ordained of God a Judge: and thus is it ſaid, that the Father …udgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to the Son, Joh. 5.22. Where by …udgement, foreignmuſt bee meant the adminiſtration of judgement: for ſo the Evangeliſt expoundeth it in the 27. verſe of the ſame Chapter, where hee ſaith, that the Father hath given him power to execute judgement. And by committing it unto the Son, foreign.not as oppoſing the ſecond perſon in Trinity, to the firſt or third, or as excluding the other two; but onelyonly appropriating it thus far, that by the Son, in a viſible form, and according to his humanity, ſhall the laſt and general judgement bee exerciſed. For all that power of judging which is in God by nature, ſhall bee in Chriſt as man by grace of perſonal union, for the execution of it.

Now the wiſdome of God thought fit in this manner, Adminiſtration of judgement laid upon the Son for ſundry reaſons.to lay the adminiſtration of the judgement upon the Son, for ſundry reaſons.

1 Becauſe Chriſt having in his humanity accompliſhed the work of mans redemption, and in it had been judged in the world; it is meet that he ſhould now manifeſt the glory of his manhood, exalted above all creatures, and ſhining in ſuch brightneſs of glory, as is fit for ſuch a body as is united to the Divine nature.

Hence is it, that often wee read this ſecond comming oppoſed unto his former, wherein hee pleaſed to cover and veil his glory, which now he will reveal and diſplay above the ſhining of a world of Suns: Mat. 25.31. When the Son of man commeth in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, then hee ſhall ſit upon the throne of his glory: Luk. 21.27. Then ſhall they ſee the Son of man come in a cloud with power and great glory.

Secondly, Hee ſhall ſhew his neer affinity unto man, in that hee ſhall in his humanity bee ſeen viſibly deſcending in the clouds, as hee was ſeen viſibly to aſcend by a cloud: this was long ſince prophecied, that every eye ſhould ſee him, Act. 1.11. and how meet is it, that the Judge of all ſhould bee ſeen of all?

Thirdly, In regard of his Church; which as it is juſtified by his firſt appearing in humility, ſo muſt it bee glorified by the ſecond appearing of the head of the Church in glory.

Fourthly, That hee might in this laſt act of it, fully accompliſh his Kingly Office: for when hee ſhall have faithfully finiſhed this judgement, which is committed unto him, hee ſhall immediately deliver up the Kingdome unto his Father, 1 Corinthians 15.24. not that hee ſhall then ceaſe to bee an everlaſting King of glory, but becauſe hee ſhall no longer exerciſe any temporary government as now hee doth. Hee p. 376ſhall not rule his Kingdome by Civil Magiſtrates, nor his Church by ſuch Officers, and miniſtery, as are now appointed under him for the gathering of the Saints. It ſhall not ſtand in need of the means of edification by the Word, Sacraments, or Cenſures; the Lamb himſelf ſhall bee all theſe in the midſt of the Throne of God. In both theſe regards, hee ſhall deliver up his Kingdome; but hee muſt firſt appear in a moſt glorious humanity to finiſh this great buſineſs. For theſe reaſons is this great work committed to the Son immediately to execute.

The comfort of Gods children that their Saviour ſhall bee their Judge.Vſe 1. Is Chriſt appointed the Judge? then may every godly man and woman comfort themſelves, ſeeing their Saviour ſhall bee their Judge. If a mans brother were to bee his Judge, hee would not fear but to get the day, and the cauſe to go with him: but hee is the elder brother of every beleever: he bade the woman go tell my Brethren that I am riſen again: I know (ſaith holy Job) that my Redeemer, or neer kinſman, liveth: yea hee is nearer than a Brother, being the Husband of every faithful Spouſe. If the Wiſe ſhould have her loving Husband, who loveth her better than his own life, to judge her cauſe, what need ſhee fear but the matter will go well with her? what need the members fear the head? Let us comfort our ſelves with theſe words, and lift up our heads, becauſe this day, wherein our Head ſhall ſhew forth both his own and our glory, who are his Members, draweth neer.

He ſhall judge the wicked againſt whom all their villanies have been committed.2 This doctrin ſerveth alſo to daunt the wicked and ungodly: They ſhall ſee him whom they have peirced: hee is their Judge againſt whom all their villanies have been committed, whoſe ſervants they have villanouſly intreated, whoſe kindneſs and peaceable conditions they have deſpiſed and refuſed. What a fearful ſentence awaiteth them when they ſhall come before him? no marvail if they call for the mountains to cover them, and the hills to hide them, rather than they ſhould appear before the preſence of his glory, whoſe wrath is as a conſuming fire, and no ſtubble can ſtand before it. Oh conſider this yee that put far from you this great day of the Lord, ſpeaking peace to your ſelves, whileſt every thing wageth war againſt you, in that you ſtill by living in your ſins proclaim open war againſt the Son of God. Why ſhould you any longer abuſe his patience? why will you treaſure up wrath for your ſelves againſt this day of wrath? why will you fit your ſelves as fewel for the fire of that day, when the Lord Jeſus ſhall come from Heaven, in flaming fire, to render vengeance againſt all them which know not God, nor obey the Gospel of our Lord Jeſus? 2 Theſſ. 1.8. Well, if you will not bee warned, but you will go on in ſuch impenitent courſes; know it, that the party wronged by your ſins, is hee who is appointed of God to bee your Judge: you will think it will go hard with Pilate, ſeeing hee is to bee his judge who was judged by him to death; and with Judas that betrayed him, and with the Souldiers that put him to death: but change the perſons, the caſe is your own.

Secondly, In the execution of this Office, two things muſt bee conſidered: 1 The perſons upon whom, here ſaid to bee the quick and the dead. 2 The manner of it.

Firſt, By the phraſe of quick and dead, is meant all mankind without exception, of what age, condition, ſex, or quality ſoever they bee, even all that ever have received life from God, from the firſt man that ever lived upon earth, to the laſt that ſhall bee found living at the comming of Chriſt; even all theſe ſhall bee juged. And the dead are mentioned as well as the living; becauſe the carnal and unbeleeving heart of man maketh more queſtion how thoſe who have been reſolved into duſt many thouſand years ago, can bee quickened and raiſed to judgement, than thoſe that ſhall bee found alive at that day: therefore is the Scripture very expreſs in this particular, Rev. 20.12. I ſaw the dead both great and ſmall ſtand before God, 2 Cor. 5.10. Wee p. 377ſhall all appear before the Judgement Seat of Chriſt. In like manner thoſe ſpeeches admit no exception, which we every where meet withall: as, Every eye ſhall ſee him: every man ſhall bear his own burden: every man ſhall give account of himſelf unto God, Rom. 14.12. And that wee ſhould not doubt of the certainty hereof, the Scripture condeſcendeth ſo farre to our weakneſſe, The means whereby both quick and dead ſhall be g…thered to judgement.as to ſhew us the means how this great work ſhall be brought about. As,

1 By the mighty and powerful voyce of Chriſt, which whileſt he was in his abaſement, could call dead Lazarus out of his grave, Joh. 5.28. Thoſe that are in the graves ſhall hear his voyce.

2 By the miniſtery of the Angels, who ſhall all (not one excepted) come with him, and they ſhall gather the elect from all winds, and preſent and force the wicked to the barre, before the Judge of all the earth; even then when they ſhall fly to the hills to cover them, if it were poſſible, from his preſence.

3 By the diligence of all the brute creatures, who in their kinds ſhall hear the voyce of the Son of God. The Sea ſhall give up her dead; ſo ſhall Death and the Grave give up their dead; the very fire ſhall give up again the bodies it hath waſted. In a word, all the Creatures ſhall help forward this work of the great day: which although it tranſcend the ſhallow reach of man, yet is it not above the power of God.

Object. But how can the quick and dead be then preſented to Judgement, ſ…eing the godly ſhall not enter into judgement; and for the wicked, they are judged already: for he that beleeveth not, is condemned already?

Anſ. Firſt, for the godly, they ſhall not enter into the judgement of condemnation. 2 They are by their particular judgement acquitted already, but they muſt alſo by the general Judgement receive in their bodies (which till that day are not abſolved) according as they have done in the fleſh. 3 They muſt be ſolemnly and publikely inaugurated and inveſted into the glory of their head; and their bleſſed eſtate manifeſted to all the world both men and Angels, and even in the eyes of the wicked themſelves: therefore although they enjoy God already in part, and the beginnings of the life to come; and ſuch as are dead in the grave reſt with the Lord, and enjoy his glory in their ſoul, yet are they not fully happy, nor can be, till this day breath on them, and this their morning awake them to their perfect glory.

As for the wicked, although they are already condemned: 1 In Gods Counſel before all worlds. 2 By the word wherein their ſentence is read, Wicked already judged five waies.declared, and publiſhed. 3 In their own conſciences the judgemen… of which fore-runneth the final Judgement. 4 By certain degrees of inſenſible plagues that are upon them, as hardneſſe of heart, blindneſſe of mind, wilfulneſſe in their wickedneſſe, malice againſt God and good men; hatred of the light and means of ſalvation. 5 By the horrible torment of the ſouls of ſuch as are in Hell with the Devil and damned ones: yet doth the full vial of Gods wrath remain to be poured upon them: and the final execution, and manifeſtation of their endleſſe miſery, is reſerved till this Day of Judgement, when the body ſhall be re-united to the ſoul, and both delivered to the Devil as their head, by him to be tormented together, as they have been inſeparable friends in ſinning together.

Vſe. Let every man make account of this judgement, high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned: No man can avoyd this judgement unleſs his power be above the power of the judge.the mightieſt Monarch ſhall not bee able to with-draw or abſent himſelf, unleſſe his power bee above the power of Chriſt the judge: the pooreſt ſoul that ever ſaw the Sun ſhall not bee neglected: the moſt rebellions of all Creatures, men or Angels, muſt of force appear, and that not by a Proctor or Advocate, but in his own perſon: for every man muſt give accounts of himſelf unto God. None can be forgotten, no not p. 378through the paſſing of thouſands of years: Cain dyed many thouſand years ſince, Judas many hundreths; yet both muſt appear, the one for killing his innocent brother, the other for betraying his innocent Maſter. No excuſe will ſerve the turn: the Friers plea, we are exempted Lord, will doe no good here: no not that which all mens Courts muſt needs excuſe abſence by, that the party is dead: for this Judgement Seat is ſet up for the quick and the dead. God muſt, for his glory, truth and juſtice, bring every man to this tribunal; that if he have been good and faithful, hee may have his time of refreſhing: and be put into the perfe…t ſtate of happineſs in ſoul and body.

And contrarily, if hee have been hard-hearted, and impenitent, hee may know the weight of Gods juſtice and power, and bee in full ſtate of endleſſe and eaſeleſſe miſery both in ſoul and body. Oh then what great cauſe hath every man to fore-caſt this day, and expecting it, to prepare for it; rather than to betake themſelves to that Epicurean and profane practice of mocker…, who put farre from them this evil day, ſaying, Where is the promiſe of his comming? we ſee all things alike ſince the beginning: he makes but ſmall haſte. And thus becauſe judgement is not ſpeedily executed, they reſolve themſelves on a moſt wicked courſe▪ not knowing that as a ſnare it ſhall come upon them when they leaſt look for it, and that though ſlowly, yet he will come ſurely, and make them know what it is to abuſe his patience which ſhould lead them to repentance.

Now followeth the manner of this Judgement, and that is comprehended in three things. 1 It ſhall bee glorious and powerful. 2 Juſt and righteous. The glory of the laſt judgement deſcribed.3 Strict, and accurate. For the firſt, it is ſaid that the Son of man ſhall come with power and great glory, yea in the glory of the Father: that is, ſuch as belongeth to his Father with himſelf, but to no creature elſe. The clouds and the air ſhall be as a fiery Chariot to carry him with admirable ſwiftneſſe: his train and attendants ſhall be the Arch-angel making his way by the ſound of a trumpet; which the very duſt and aſhes ſhall hear, and follow: and all the other Angels of Heaven, from whoſe multitude, power, and glory, this coming ſhall be wonderfully glorious; and yet the Judge himſelf ſhall ſurpaſſe them all in glory and brightneſſe; and as the Sun doth darken all the leſſer Starres, ſo ſhall his moſt admirable glory obſcure them all. This a…pearance may be ſhadowed by the coming in of earthly Judges to hold Aſſizes through their Circuit, attended with the Honourable, Nobles, Juſtic…s, and Gentlemen of the Country: yea with the High Sheriffs power, beſides all their own followers: by which great ſtate and attendance, they are both honoured, and aided, as becometh ſuch publick Miniſters of Juſtice; as alſo are made formidable to daunt and quell malefactors.

Or rather, look as Princes going to their Parliament to make Laws, put on their royal robes, and ſhew themſelves in their greateſt glory; even ſo ſhall this great King of glory coming to require the obedience of his Laws, cloath himſelf with ſuch a robe of glory as the brighteſt Sun ſhall not endure to behold: neither the Heavens nor the Earth ſhall be able to ſee this glory, but ſhall ſhrink at it, and melt away with a noyſe: Revel: 20.11. John ſaw a great white Throne, and one that ſate upon it, from whoſe face fled away both the earth and heaven, and their pla e was found no more. Thus may we in ſome dark reſemblance ſomething conceive of this glory of the Judge of all the world; unto which the conſideration of the perſons that ſhall bee judged by him, addeth not a little moment: for not only ſmall, but great muſt ſtand before him. It is indeed a great honour among men to bee deputed the Lord high Steward under a King, whoſe office is to ſit in Judgement upon a noble man: what an height of glory then is it for the Son of God to ſit in Judgement, and call perſonally before him, not nobles only, but all the Kings and Monarchs that ever the earth bare? If there be ſuch preparation, and ſtate amongſt men for p. 379the trial but of ſome one noble man: what glory may wee conceive muſt attend the mighty God, whileſt he bringeth to their trial, not only meaner perſons, but all the moſt powerful Monarches and Potentates that ever were, or ſhall be, to the end of the world?

This conſideration miniſtreth comfort to the godly, ſeeing hee cometh to Judgement, who is able perfectly to free them from all miſery; able to ſtrike oft their bolts of ſin, to acquit them from terrours of conſcience, fears of death, the Grave, the Devil, and Hell it ſelf the cometh from Heaven for their releaſe, who hath trodden down all his enemies under his feet: and all this glory is for their ſafety and happineſſe, who wiſh and wait for the appearing of this mighty God, Tit. 2.13. And on the contrary, it ſerveth to ſtrike the wicked and ungodly with terror and dread, ſeeing the Lord Jeſus ſhall come from Heaven in ſuch power and majeſty, and all to judge and condemn them: whom when they ſhall ſee arrayed with vengeance againſt them, no marvail if they be driven to their wits ends: yea, as it is with guilty Malefactors, when they ſee the Judge coming in ſo honourably attended, ſo ſhall it bee here; this very glory of Chriſt ſhall ſtrike them with fear, horror, and an azedneſſe, and force them to all miſerable, and unavaylable ſhifts; and to wiſh, if it were poſſible, that the rocks would fall upon them, and cruſh them to peeces, ſo as they might never come before his preſence: for the great day of the Lord, which is to all the wicked of the world a black day, a cloudy day, a diſmal day, this day is come, and they cannot abide it.

Secondly, this Judgement ſhall bee righteous, and according to the truth, foreign.Rom. 2.2. We know that the judgement of God is according to truth, Heb. 1.8. Thy throne, O God, is for ever, the ſcepter of thy Kingdom is a righteous ſcepter: The righteouſneſs of the Judge and judgement.Thou loveſt righteouſneſſe, and hateſt iniquity. Hitherto is to bee referred that of Daniel, 7.9. who ſaith, that this Judge ſhall ſit upon a great white throne; alluding to the white Ivory throne of Salomon, but infinitely more glorious: the whiteneſſe betokenning the purity and righteouſneſs both of the Judge, and the judgement: for every man ſhall receive according to his works. Here ſhall be no concealment of things: for he will bring every ſecret into judgement, Eccleſ. 12. He will lighten all things that are hid in darkneſſe, and make the counſels of the hearts manifest, 1 Cor. 4.5. Here ſhall bee no daubing or ſalving up of bad matters in corners: no pleading of Lawyers, who craftily cloud the truth of Cauſes for gain: no reſpect of perſons, no favouring for the ſake of any friends, nor fear of foes, or any diſpleaſure. Here ſhall be no inducement by gifts, which blind mens eyes, to pervert judgement: the pureſt gold of Ophir ſhall gild no matters here: for what ſhall gold or ſilver, pearls or jewels doe, when Heaven and earth ſhall bee on a light fire? Here ſhall be no ſanctuaries, nor priviledged perſons, or places, to hinder the courſe of juſtice: hence ſhall be no appeals; but every perſon ſhall receive an eternal ſentence of every cauſe according to the truth and equity of it: for elſe the Judge of all the world ſhould not doe right.

Vſe 1, To comfort Gods children, Gods children who here have all ſentences paſs agai…ſt them, ſhall have juſtice at this daywho in this world are herein conformed unto Chriſt, for the moſt part, cauſes, and ſentences paſſe againſt them, and their light is darkned, their innocency by the might and malice of the wicked trodde… down: but then ſhall they be ſure of the day, God will cauſe their uprightneſſe to break out as the Sun in his ſtrength: for when wickedneſſe ſhall ruin the ſinner into Hell, righteouſneſſe ſhall deliver their ſouls from death.

2 To teach them to poſſeſſe their ſouls in patience, when they ſee the confuſions that are in the world: to beware of revenge, but commit all (as Chriſt himſelf did) to him that judgeth righteouſly. Wee muſt be content for a while to ſee our righteous waies depraved, our good repaied with evil by evil men: and bee ſo far from thinking hence that there is no providence, p. 380o… care in God over his Children, as that wee muſt neceſſarily conclude hence this judgement day. Obſerve the rule, Eccl. 3.16. When thou ſeeeſt in the pla…e of judgement wickedneſſe, and iniquity in the place of juſtice think in thy he…rt; ſurely God will udge the juſt and the wicked: for there is a time for every purpoſe and work, and Chap. 5.7. If in a Countrey thou ſeeſt oppreſſion of the p…or, and the defraud…ng of judgement and juſtice, bee not aſtonied at the matter: for hee that a… higher than the higheſt regardeth it. The ſame ground do the Ap…ſtles …ft…n lay, to raiſe this ſame exhortation unto patience in induring wrongs: as, Phil 4.5. Let your patient mind bee known unto all men: the L…rd … at hand. Jam. 5.7. Bee yee alſo patient, and ſettle your hearts: for the c…mming of the Lord d…aweth neer. As if theſe holy men had ſaid with one m…uth, look not to hav… your right here in this World, as neither the wicked have their liv…e▪ but wait the appointed time, as the Husband-man doth for the we…ks of Harveſt: and this time is the comming of the Lord, before which ti…e neither is the full recompenſe of righteouſneſſe given to the Saint…, not puniſhment rendred unto the wicked in the full meaſure of it. Grow n…t weary of well doing, though yee meet with nothing but diſcouragements; not out of love with the practice of piety, although the world ha…e you f…r it, as it did your head before you; for in due ſeaſon ye ſhall reap …f yee faint not.

3 This teacheth men carefully to look to all their works and waies, that they bee juſt and juſtifiable, The works and words of men which ſhall abide the tryal of that d…y, muſt now be tryed before h…nd.ſuch as will hold water (as wee ſay:) For there is a day of tryal, when all thoſe cauſes which they have by Mony, Friends, or wicked policy contrived and over-wayed in, ſhall be brought about again into a clear light, and put into the ballance of equity it ſelf, where they ſhall bee found too light. And think ſeriouſly with your ſelves, how thoſe cauſe…, words, and actions, will abide the tryal of that day, which even for the preſent, can bring no ſound comfort to the heart; but rather heavineſs to the heart, accuſation and guiltineſſe to the conſcience, fear in the thoughts, and ſhame in the face, if any man ſhould know how impiouſly, and injuriouſly they have been contrived: how many Oppreſſions, Wrongs, Cruelties, Uſuries, Revengeful ſutes, onelyonly commenſed to make men ſpend their goods, and loſe their peace; how much of many mens eſtates would give a loud witn…ſs againſt their owners, but that men will not ſo long before hand trouble themſelves with ſuch thoughts? Well, look to thy ſelf whoſoever thou art. If thy conſcience now accuſe thee, or can accuſe thee, but thou wilt either ſtifle it, or ſtop thine ears againſt the cry of it; know, that it hath a voice, and will do good ſervice to this Judge one day; a thouſand witn…ſſes cannot do more than it will do: it will bring back old reckonings, which Chriſt hath not reckoned for, and ſet them in order before thee; when thou that canſt find none now, ſhalt have leiſure enough to look into them, but all to the breaking of thy heart, and increaſe of thy torment, that thou didſt not, till too late, look into thy reckonings.

Now to all ſuch as mind hereafter to look into ſo main a buſineſs as this is, The touchſt…ne of this tryal is the word of God.I will for the preſent commend onelyonly one rule, whereby they may diſcern whe…her their actions will abide the tryal that abideth them, and that is this; If the Word of God do now approve them, they will then bee juſtifiable; but whatſoever word or action hath paſſed from thee, for which thou …a…ſt not bring thy ground thence, the ſame will caſt thee in judgement. This is that our Saviour telleth the Jews, The word that I ſpeak ſhall judge you at the last day, J…h. 12 48.

The ſtr…ctne…s of th… l ſt j…dgement 1 In regard o… pe…ſons judged.Thirdly, This judgement of Chriſt ſhall bee moſt ſtrict and accurate, 1 In regard of the perſons that ſhall bee judged, who ſhall bee inquired into and brought to give accounts of themſelves, not onelyonly generally, as men or Chri…tians; but in ſpecial, according to the particular places, and courſes of p. 381life wherein they were ſet in this world.

For example; publike perſons muſt give account for themſelves, and others that have been committed unto them: Magiſtrates for their People; Miniſters for their Flocks; both of them how they entred, how they ruled, how they walked in and out before their people: what faithfulneſs they uſed in diſcovering, and diſcountenancing ſin and ungodlineſſe; how diligent they have been to draw and force men to the keeping of the two tables; how they have acquitted themſelves from communicating in other mens ſins: and whether they have faithfully in their places denounced, and executed the judgements of God, whileſt both of them have ſtood in the room of God.

In like manner, private men muſt bee countable, not onelyonly for themſelves, but or all thoſe that are under their charge: as Fathers for the education of their Children; Maſters for the inſtructing and governing of their Servants, and Family; Tutors for their care or negligence towards ſuch as are committed unto them: for the rule of the Law is general, and will take faſt hold upon many a ſoul, that think it enough to look to themſelves, that whoſoever hindreth not that ſin which hee can hinder by good means, comm…tteth it.

Bee now thine own Judge whether thou haſt well looked to one▪ when thou haſt neglected to reform the diſorders of ſuch as God hath put under thy power. Thou haſt not a perſon in thine houſe, but if it any way periſh under thy hands, thou muſt give account of the life of it to the Parents of it, or to the Magiſtrate, the Parent of the Country: in like manner, there is not the meaneſt ſoul in thy Family, but if it periſh by thy default, for want of inſtruction, correction, or wiſe government of it, thou ſhalt bee called before the God of the Spirits of all fleſh, and ſhalt bee arraigned and condemned for the blood of that ſoul. And this is not to bear the burden of that ſoul, which beareth the weight of it own ſin, but to bear thine own ſin in not preventing that evil from him, which by thy negligence came upon him.

Secondly, it ſhall bee ſtrict in regard of the things, either received of us, 2 In regard of things, 1 done, 2 received.or done by us. Account muſt bee made what goods of our Maſters wee have received, both for the kinds and meaſure. What number of Talents were committed to our truſt; If one, or more, how wee have laid them out; what wee have gained, whether wee have faithfully returned this gain to our Maſter, as having ſought his advantage, and not our own: how wee have Husbanded our opportunities▪ and redeemed our times: how wee have imployed the gifts of our Minds, Underſtanding, Judgement, Wiſdome, Learning, Memory: how wee have uſed or abuſed to ſin, the ſtrength, health and beauty of our bodies: how wee have juſtly and charitably received in, and retailed out, the matter of our maintenance and revenew.

And in all theſe leſſer things, if our unfaithfulneſs bee found out, let us never look to have greater matters committed unto us: for the things that are done by us, they ſhall all bee ſtraightly judged, whether they are conformable to the Law, the rule of Righteouſneſſe; or acceptable by the Goſpel, the reſtorer of our Righteouſneſs: Eccl. 12.14. God will bring every work into judgement, good or evil, open or ſecret: for all things are naked before him, with whom wee are to deal: hee planted the ear, and muſt needs hear; and formed the eye, and therefore muſt needs ſee things ſecret, and covered with darkneſs. Hence is hee ſaid to have books, and to open them, becauſe all things are as certainly recorded and regiſtred by him, as if hee had regiſters in Heaven to keep roles and records of all that ever were or ſhall bee to the end. Yea, hee hath not onelyonly his own books of judgement in Heaven, but for more ſureneſſe that nothing eſcape him, hee hath millions of books of record in earth, that ſhall all help forward his judgement, and give teſtimony to the righteouſneſſe of it, ſo as every mouth ſhall bee ſtopped at that day: p. 382and theſe are the bo…ks of every mans particular conſcience, which howſoever they bee now ſhut, or as roles folded up; yet ſhall they alſo then bee opened and unfolded, to give witneſs of whatſoever any man hath ſpoken or done in the fleſh, be it good or evil.

3 In regard of words.3 This judgement ſhall bee ſtrict in regard of every mans words, Jude 15. In this judgement hee ſhall rebuke all the ungodly of all the cruel ſpeakings which wicked ſinners have ſpoken againſt him. For if of every idle word wee muſt give account to God. Matth. 12.36. much more of every wicked word. Every man thinketh words are but wind, and hee may ſpeak his minde, and hee hath done: but in this judgement by thy words thou ſhalt bee juſtified, or by thy words thou ſhalt bee condemned: and though thou when thou haſt ſpoken thy mind againſt thy brother haſt done, the Judge hath not done with thee.

4 In regard of thoughts to be jud…ed.4 It ſhall bee ſtrict in regard of every mans thoughts: for even theſe are not ſo free as men ſay they are, nor ſhall go ſcot-free: for even they are bound to the conformity of the Law, as well as our words and actions. The commandement is very expreſs, Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord with all thy hears, and all thy thoughts, and all thy ſtrength: and when the Apoſtle Paul would note the damnable eſtate of the Epheſians before they were called to the Faith, Eph. 2.3. hee ſetteth it forth in this, that they then followed the will and counſel of their own thoughts. foreign.Adde hereunto, that the Lord Jeſus is the ſe…, the ſ…archer, and judge of the heart, and therefore hereby ſhall the Throne of his judgement bee advanced above all the tribunals in the World, in that the moſt ſecret thoughts and reaſonings of mens hearts cannot eſcape him, which the higheſt ſeats of juſtice amongſt men, can take no notice of at all.

Sin carried never ſo ſecretly ſhall come into a clear light.Vſe 1. Let this Doctrin abate ſomewhat the pleaſure of ſin, which moſt men ſwallow up ſo delightfully, yea and glory in their iniquity when they can carry it ſo cloſe and clear away, that men ſee it not, and can ſtopp the cry of their ſcared conſcience for the preſent: but remember, that God hath written it up, and the time haſteneth when that conſcience of thine, now in a dead ſleep, and ſcared up, ſhall bee awakened, and become as a thouſand witneſſes againſt thee, that if all other accuſers ſhould fail, thy ſelf ſhould not fail to do that office againſt thy ſelf; but ſhalt bee both a ſervant to Gods juſtice, as alſo the ſubject of it. Be admoniſhed then in time, whoſoever thou art, to beware of all ſecret ſins, as cloſe couſenage, lying, uncleanneſs, whiſperings, and all other cunningly-contrived wickedneſs: ſeeing there is a clear light into which they ſhall bee brought, and by which they ſhall be reproved. True it is, that open ſhame of the World reſtraineth many one from committing open and groſs ſins; but where conſcience is wanting, the ſame ſins, if they can cleanly convey them, are made no bones of.

Hence is it that the Adulterer watcheth for the twi-light, before hee go into his Neighbours houſe; hee careth not for his chaſtity, ſo bee hee may charily, and cauteouſly compaſs his uncleanneſſe. If a child of four or five years old ſtood by, hee would forbear his ſin; but the preſence of the mighty God that ſtandeth at his elbow, who ſeeth and recordeth his ſoul ſin to bring it into judgement, moveth him never a whit. Would a felon commit burglary, if he thought the Judge himſelf looked upon him? would Gehezi have run after Naaman, if hee had thought his Maſters eye and ſpirit had run after him? would Ananias have lyed to the Apoſtles, if hee had thought they had known hee did ſo? Even ſo is it a ſhame to ſpeak what is done of many Chriſtians in ſecret; becauſe their eye is not upon the judge, whoſe eye is upon them, and who is framing a bill of inditement againſt this day of general aſſize.

2 This conſideration muſt move us to carefulneſs, both of our receits, and p. 383expences, whether they bee gifts of mind, or of body, Be careful of thy receipts and expenſes bec…uſe thou fitteſt in another mans, to whom thou muſt be countable.or of our outward eſtate. Hee that ſpendeth, and walleth his own, need care the leſs, becauſe none can call him to reckoning why hee doth ſo? but hee that ſitteth in another mans, or hath a matter of truſt in his hands, and cannot miſ-ſpend but out of another mans ſtock, had need look about him; b…cauſe hee is to bee countable, and muſt make good whatſoever his reckoning commeth ſhort in. Ask thy ſelf, What have I which I have not received of my Maſter? How came I to bee ſo rich? Is all the Wealth I have of my Maſters gift, or have I gotten goods into my hands by wronging, or injuring ſome other men?

Again, I remember I received at ſuch and ſuch a time a great ſumme of my Ma…ters mony, hee betruſted mee with a great p…rtion; how have I laid it out, that I may give him up a juſt and comfortable reckoning, to which I am ſure to bee called. Thus much I have ſpent upon ſutes in Law: Thus much upon my pleaſures and ſports; my dogs have ravend up a part of my revenue; my Hawks have flown away with another end: Cards and Dice have coſt mee no little: and a great deal is waſted by compaſſing my ſin, uncleanneſs, pride, revenge, gluttony, and the like.

But O thou unfaithful Servant, that haſt thus waſted thy Maſters goods▪ how much haſt thou given to the poor? how much to good uſes, to works of mercy, to a ſettled Miniſtry, to help Joſeph out of his affliction? oh no, here hee can ſet down little or nothing; the Dogs are preferred before Lazarus by many a Dives, who if they timely look not better to their reckonings, muſt make the foot of their account to bee this; no ſooner to bee dead than to be buried in Hell, according to the ſentence, Take that unprofitable ſervant, bind him hand and foot, and caſt him into utter darkneſs, there ſhall bee wayling and gnaſhing of teeth.

3 This ſtri…t account ſheweth, that a man cannot bee too ſtrict, No man can bee too preciſe becauſe the judgement ſhall be thus preciſe.too preciſe, or too careful of his waies. Men generally caſt the reproach of purity upon men, that deſire to approve their hearts and lives unto God: and count them more nice than wiſe, and ſay, it were hard, if every one that were not ſo pre…iſe and curious, ſhould bee damned. But what, doth not the Scripture …ay plainly, that he Maſter is an hard man; that is, a moſt juſt God that will ſtraightly ſtand for juſtice? ſhall not every idle word, every ungodly thought and motion, though not attended, nor aſſented unto, come unto judgement? and if it muſt, is it more than needeth for men to look to the door of their lips; yea, to keep out, if it were poſſible, every vain, and wandring thought out of their mindes? ſhall not hee that breaketh the leaſt commandement, bee the leaſt in the Kingdome of Heaven, that is, have no place at all there? ſhall not all omiſſions and failings in duty bee ſet upon the heads of ſinners, ſeeing the ſentence ſhall run. In that yee did not theſe things, depart from mee yee …ſed? or ſhall wee thi… that the leaſt careleſneſſe of men ſhall be juſtified in this judgem…nt, or the ungodly be taken by the hand? far bee it from the Judge of all the world, not to judge with righteous judgement: howſoever looſe perſons wrap themſelves in the woe of thoſe that call good evil, and evil good.

Now for the general uſe of this Doctrine of the laſt judgement. To what other end hath the word ſo expreſly diſcovered this holy Doctrin, and enjoyned us to teach it in the Church, 1 Cor. 15. but that every man ſhould lay it to heart, and benefit himſelf by it? and therefore,

Firſt, The godly are to comfort themſelves with theſe words, The godly may l…f… up their heads in expectation of this day of redemption.ſeeing they hear of this day wherein they ſhall bee gainers, receiving their ſentence of abſolution: and therefore, 1 Perfect redemption from all the danger of all ſpiritual enmities: the firſt fruits whereof they have already attained: hence is it called the day of their redemption. 2 Perfect ſecurity and ſafety p. 384againſt a… the mol…ſtations of ſin, death, the grave, the gates of Hell, temptation and tribulation: for all theſe ſhall be caſt into the Lake. 3 Perfect glory with the Saints, for they ſhall be from henceforth ever with the Lord, and enjoy the ſweet …uit of that prayer which the Son of God in the daies of his fleſh r…queſted, and was heard in: Father, I will that where I am they may be alſo, that they may behold my glory, Joh. 17.24. Why ſhould not wee then lift up our heads in the exp…ctation and ardent deſire of this day, which the very dumb creature … for? Rom 8.19.

Godly muſt addreſs them ſelves to thi… judgement two waies.Secondly Let every man labour to fit and addreſſe himſelf unto this judgem…nt, that h… may …ee able to ſtand before the Son of Man: And that by two thing…: 1 By making full account and reckoning of it: 2 By uſing the beſt … af…re-hand to paſs through it happily.

The … i… …harged upon us by that precept, which commandeth us to bee like the Servant that waiteth for his Maſters comming, and hath every thing i… a …adin…ſs, and that at all watches: and by that of Peter, 2 Pet 3.11. Seeing a… theſe terrors of the Lord; what manner of men ought wee to bee in all holy con…er…at…on? Two thing… hinder this c…re.An… for the furthering of this care, two things muſt carefully be …, which ſhut it quite out of the hearts of the moſt.

The fi…ſt i…, … …ry and deadneſſe of heart: which is a ſlumber of ſpirit, and ſl…p…ſs of the ſ…ul, which hath bound up all faculties and powers of the … as …ttle move o… ſtir in the actions and affairs of heavenly … ſ…i…tual …ſe, as a man when he is in a dead ſleep can move or beſtir himſelf to … natural a tion. The minde, till God awaken it, never ſer…ouſly thi…ke…h of God, or of his own eſtate. The conſcience never, or ſeldome accuſeth for … committed. The will inclineth not to any thing tru…ly good. The affe…ti…ns remain unmoved at Gods word, o… works. The whol… man i… ſ…nſeleſſe and careleſs of Gods judgements, either preſent, or to come: and whence is all this, but from a profane deluſion of the heart, that the Maſter will not yet come; they ſhall not yet bee called to their reckoning; there is time enough behind to repent in: they crave but an hour on then Death-beds, and that they hope they ſhall have? In the mean time they are eaten up with diſſoluteneſſe and profaneneſs, caſting away ſobriety and watchfulneſs, ſo as their Maſter cometh unexpected, and in an hour they know not.

How doth it the…fore ſtand every man in hand, to awake from his ſleep, and ſtand up from the dead? with wiſ… Virgins to prepare and trim the… Lamps with oyl before hand, and ſo wait for the coming of the Bride groom: to take heed of every …i…, thought, word, and deed? to watch narrowly their own lives, to provo … …hemſelves to the beſt duties?

What, is not ſin a fearful thing, which made the Son of God cry, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Is not the greatneſs of them like the mountai…, and the number of them …ike the ſand of the Sea-ſhoar, which is numb…l…ſ… ▪ Is it not a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, whoſe wra…h and juſtice againſt the leaſt ſin, all Creatures in Heaven and earth … ſtand und…, …t be oppreſſed and ſhaken in peeces? Is not the night paſt, and the day …me, the Sun of righteouſneſſe riſen, ſo as if ever wee mean to … of this deadly ſleep, and walk as the children of light, it is more than t me? Wouldſt thou be taken lying, or ſwearing, or gaming, or drinking, or rayling, or breaking the Sabbath, or ſtealing, or whoring; wouldſt … have thy Maſter finde thee in any of theſe practices and diſtemp…? o… no, I m…an to repent: But he cometh ſuddenly as a Thief in the n ght; and this ſ…d…a… …oming, at leaſt to thee in particular, may cut off all thy purpoſes f … it is juſt with God, that they who take not his time of rep…ntance, ſhall never attain to their own. What will now be the iſſue of thy delays? ſurely thou …adſt better been a Dogge, or a Toad, or the vileſt p. 385Creature of all the Creation, than a ſecure ſinner overtaken in thy wickedneſſe.

The ſecond thing that hindereth this expectation of the laſt Judgement, as carefully to be avoyded as the former, are the cares of this preſent life, and the greedy deſire and thirſt after the world, which by this conſideration alſo may be abated. For if this day of Judgement, whether general, or particular to thy ſelf, were to morrow, what were thy Gold, Silver, Plate, Jewels, worth to thee? they were all one with the ſtones in the ſtreet. Tell me now whether thou wouldſt not then eſteem Chriſt and his merit thy chiefeſt commodity: or if thou couldſt but conceive with thy ſelf the truth, and ſay to thy ſoul I ſhall certainly ſhortly come to anſwer the Judge of all the world; c…uldſt thou goe on to lade thy Conſcience with iniquity for ſo ſhort a poſſeſſion of vaniſhing profits? No, thou wouldſt begin to husband thy time, which worldlineſſe hath hitherto ingroſſed: thou wouldſt not ſuffer thy ſoul to bee ſo ſurcharged with earthlineſſe, as to forget treaſuring in Heaven, making ready thy account, and the finiſhing of thy reckoning: thou wouldſt not ſuffer the thorny cares of this life to choak all the ſeed of thy ſalvation: neither could it be that the Oxe, or Fa…m ſhould ſo ſtill fill up thine eyes, as that the ſupper of the King ſhould be deſpiſed.

Bu…, in truth men live generally as though there were no Judgement to come, or as though they had ſtricken a covenant with it to paſſe over them: for when we preach, and men hear or read of the Judgement to come, who trembleth at it, as Felix an Heathen did, to hear Paul diſpute of it? When we teach that the Judge is at the door, who ſeeth all the facts of men, and draw…th them into bills of remembrance, and of them all is drawing a bill of inditement; who feareth more, who ſinneth leſſe? who is it that ſmiteth his thigh, or ſaith, what have I done? Who forſaketh his wilful ignorance, his contempt of the Word, his abuſe of Gods Servants, his Blaſphemies, his pride, uncleanneſſe, unlawful games, or lawful unlawfully uſed, his Sabbath-breaking, his ſwearing, his oppreſſion, his uſury, or the like? Wee like Lot fore-warn men of the evil to come; but men, like Lots couſins and kinſmen, entertain our words as a jeſt: we are as though we mocked; and ſo they ſit out the ſummons to their further danger: yea more than this, when the Lord thruſteth his fearful judgements into the eyes and ſences of men, as fore-runners of this general; men ſhut their eyes, and will not ſee the brightneſſe of them; nor the danger of ſin by them; nor the ſpecial anger of God bewraying it ſelf and broken out in them; but ſtill live as they did in the days of Noah, and will lay none of theſe things to heart, till it bee too late.

The ſecond thing whereby every man muſt addreſſe himſelf to this judgement, is to uſe the beſt means, that he may happily paſſe through it. And the only means is ſet down by the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 11.31. If wee would judge our ſelves, we ſhould not be judged of the Lord. Judging of our ſelves afore-hand ſtandeth in four things.Now this judging of our ſelves before hand, ſtandeth in four things.

Firſt, in arraigning our ſelves before Gods Judgement Seat; that is, when by ſerious conſideration we ſummon our ſelves before this Judge to whom we are to be countable. This is the memento that Salomon giveth the young man who is ſet upon his pleaſure, Remember that for all this thou muſt come to judgement. And if the young man muſt ſawce his pleaſures with this remembrance, much more the older had need, as being in the ordinary courſe of nature nearer it than they: ſome of the ancients have ſo acquainted and accuſtomed their hearts to this meditation, that one of them profeſſeth of himſelf that whereſoever he was, or whatſoever he was doing, he thought he heard always this voyce in his ears, Ariſe yee dead, and come unto judgement.

Secondly, in examining of our ſelves; and this is, when we ſearch and fanne p. 386our ſelves, when wee ſift the ſecret corners of our hearts, and enqu…re narrowly, and without partiality, What have I done? that look as the Kings Attorny ſifteth out, and exaggerateth every circumſtance of the Crime ag…inſt a Traytor at the Bar, to make his offence as foul as can be; ſo ſhould wee become the King of Heaven his Attorney againſt our ſelves; not …ſſening or min…ing, and much leſſe excuſing, hiding, or defending any … labour to ſee our ſin in every circumſtance, and make it as vile as wee can, at our hearts may be convinced, and beaten down in the ſence of our miſery. For this purpoſe, lay thy life, and every particular action of it t… the L…w of God; that as a ſtraight line will ſhew thee all thy crookedneſſe, and … …hee in by ſuch circumſtances as whereby thou ſhalt not content thy ſ… w…th a c…nfeſſion in groſſe, that thou art a ſinner; but ſhalt confeſſe thy ſin t… … …t of meaſure ſinful. But many a Chriſtian is like a deſperate Bankcrupt, who being afraid to look into his reckonings, goeth on till he be clapt up in priſon; and at length they ſee there was no heavenly husbandry in all this.

Thirdly, In confeſſing our ſin, and pleading guilty, Prov. 20.13. this is the covenant, that whereas he that hideth his ſin ſhall not proſper; he that confeſſeth ſhall finde mercy; Pſal. 32.4. I ſaid I will confeſſe mine iniquity, and thou forgaveſt me the puniſhment of my ſin, Job 31.33. It is too neer joyned to our natures, to hide our ſin with Adam, and conceal it in our boſome; or elſe to ſum up all in a word without ſpecial grief for any ſpecial ſin, and herein they think they have peace, which is but unfeelingneſſe. But thoſe that belong to God, he bringeth them to found humiliation, he maketh them ſick in ſmiting them, and ſetteth their ſins in order before them like a bill of parcels; to the breaking of their hearts, and the utter acknowledgement of themſelves to be miſerable bankcrupts. For this purpoſe he maketh their own Conſciences alſo to be judges of their actions, pronouncing ſentence of guiltineſſe and death againſt themſelves: As David, Againſt thee, against thee have I ſinned: and again, I am the man: and again, I have done very fooliſhly, but theſe ſ…eep what have they d…ne? The penitent Thief thus judgeth himſelf, we are righteouſly here: To conclude this point, he was never truly humbled, nor …ver aright judged himſelf, that is more aſhamed to confeſſe, than to commit ſin.

Fourthly, After pleading guilty, in pleading for pardon, as for life and death: and as the poor Malefactor condemned to dye, c…ys for mercy, and all his hope and longing is for a pardon; even ſo this is noted to bee the practi…e of the Church, Hoſ. 14.2, 3. Oh Iſrael return unto the Lord thy God, for thou haſt fallen by thine iniquity: Take unto you words, and turn to the Lord, and ſay unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly. And which of the Saints have not placed all their happineſſe in the pardon of ſin; or have not preferred the ſhining of Gods countenan…e upon them, above all the outward happineſſe that the earth affordeth? Now in the ſeeking and ſuing for pardon, becauſe God will not hear him that regardeth wickedneſſe in his heart▪ for wicked Eſau ſhall finde no repentance nor favour with tears: therefore thou muſt forth-with ceaſe to doe evil, as being aſhamed of it; and learn to doe well; lay Laws upon thy ſelf; be more ſevere againſt thy ſelf in the things wherein thou haſt diſpleaſed thy God; watch diligently over thoſe corruptions which have moſt foyled thee: this is the way both to make and preſerve thy peace. Bring thy ſelf then with fear and trembling before Gods righteous Judgement; accuſe thy ſelf, and bewayl thy ſins: bee not aſhamed to confeſſe, but to commit them again: be ſo farre from purpoſing any wickedneſſe in thy heart, as rather thou bee ſtrongly armed with full purp…ſe againſt it: And thus remembring thy ſins, God will forget them: thus wi…ing them deep in thine own books, God will blot them out of his. Thus if thou hide them not, but caſt them out of thy heart and life, he will p. 387hide them for ever, and caſt them utterly out of his ſight: ſo that if thou canſt thus judge thy ſelf afore-hand, thou ſhalt never be judged of the Lord.