The Great Assize, Sermon 3

The Great Assize · Sermon 3

p. 103The great Aſsize. THE THIRD SERMON.

REV. 20.12.13.

And the dead were iudged of thoſe things which were written in the Bookes, according to their workes.

13 And the Sea gaue vp her dead which were in her: and Death and Hell deliuered vp the dead which were in them, and they were iudged eueryevery man according to their workes.

COncerning the Booke of Life, we hauehave heard already what is meant p. 104by it; namely, the Councell and Decree of GODS Election, whereby hee hath choſen certaine men and women from out of the lump of Mankinde, vponupon whom hee will beſtow Eternall Life.

Secondly, wee hauehave learned that a man may; nay eueryevery Chriſtian man and woman ought to be aſſured, that his name is writen in it.

Thirdly, wee did ſet downe ſome means out of the word of God,Rom. 8.16Rom 8:16 whereby a true Chriſtian may be aſſured hee is elected; namely,

1. Cor. 21 Cor 2Firſt, the teſtimony of Gods Spirit, which cannot lie.

Secondly, by the fruites and effects of Election; as Vocation, Iuſtification, Sanctification, louelove of the Brethren,1 Ioh. 3.14.1 John 3:14 and obedience vntounto all the Commaundements p. 105of God. And therefore it ſtands vsus all in hand to labour for this aſſurance of Election, elſe wee cannot be ſaued, Luke 10.20. and without it, wee can hauehave no true ioy vntounto our ſoules. Surely, mens careleſneſſe in this poynt is great: Nay, their care to make their Lands and Leaſes ſure, will be a means to condemne them for their want of care in this point.

Now Saint Iohn proceedeth in the Deſcription of this laſt Iudgement,After what maner all men ſhal be iudged euen as it was declared vntounto him by the Lord Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe in a Viſion; and ſheweth after what manner we ſhalbe all iudged, Euen according to thoſe things written in the Booke, according vntounto our workes. You hauehave heard before, that hee ſaw all, both great and ſmall, ſtand before God; none p. 106ſhall bee wanting, or abſent themſelues. Now it might bee wondered how this great multitude ſhall bee iudged; how euerie mans Booke ſhould bee read, and euerie mans cauſe ſhould bee tryed. For wee ſee what a long time it holdes our Iudges heere to trie a few perſons; ſuch calling for Euidences, ſuch prouing of witneſſes, ſuch preferring of Inditements. But Saint Iohn ſaith, It ſhall not bee ſo heere, for all muſt proceed according to the written Records: And according to theſe things which bee written in the Booke: So as when Chriſt Ieſus the great Iudge, ſhall once ſit vponupon the Throne of his Glorie, attended by his holy Angells; then ſhall the Bookes of euerie mans conſcience bee opened, and then they ſhal afreſh call to p. 107minde all their ſinnes.

In theſe words we are to obſerue three ſpeciall points.Parts of the Text.

Firſt, who they are that muſt come to this Iudgement; namely, the dead, euen they which hauehave lien many thouſand years rotten in the graue.

Secondly, the means whereby they muſt be tryed; euen by thoſe things which bee written and recorded in their Bookes.

Thirdly, the Touch-ſtone of this tryall; namely, the written word of God. And firſt of the perſons.

It is not to bee doubted but that Saint Iohn meaneth that all muſt come to Iudgement, Both great and ſmall muſt ſtand before God. But why doth he ſay heere, And the dead ſhall bee iudged? It is to be obſerued that he names ſo expreſly the dead, p. 108euen thoſe which hauehave lyen rotting ſo many thouſand yeares, muſt come to Iudgement; they muſt be called to accompt; yea, their olde ſinnes muſt be now brought to light. For this is rhe wicked thoughts of many carnall men, that when a man is dead, hee is well; then all his ſinnes die with him, hee is forgotten, and his ſinnes are not ſpoken of. But Saint Iohn ſaith heere, that euen the dead muſt come to iudgement; euen their olde ſinnes muſt come to light, and they muſt anſwer for them. It is nigh ſixe thouſand yeares ſince Caine ſlew his brother, yet this ſin of his is not forgotten; though Caine bee dead ſo long ſince, yet his ſins are not dead. No, no, Caine one day ſhall come to accompt for his ſinne. Iudas, he did for vile lucre ſell p. 109his Maiſter many hundreds of yeares agoe; hee is dead and gone: but at this day hee ſhall be called to accompt. So in our dayes, many men thinke, when they die, their ſins ſhall neuer be brought to light. The Vſurer, hee getteth his goods by wicked and vngodly meanes, he groweth in wealth; when hee dieth, hee thinkes hee ſhall neuer heare of this ſinne agayne: So the Drunkard, Swearer, Profaner of the Lords Sabboth, &c. they are perſvvaded, that death will end all their miſerie. Ah (poore ſoules) it were well with them indeede, if death might end their wofull miſerie: But alas, alas, death is euen as a wide Gate, to let them hauehave ſome paſſage to endleſſe woe, and miſerie. For when they be dead and buried, their ſins doe p. 110not die with them, their miſery is not then ended: O no, then begins their endleſſe miſerie & torment: Oh it were good they might hauehave no more being after death. It had beene good for ſuch men, they had neuer beene borne; or being borne, that they had been made rather a Toade, or a Serpent; for in death they hauehave an end. But it is not ſo with a filthy and and vngodly ſinner. For when hee is dead and buried, euen then beginnes his greateſt woe and miſery: for euen the ſinner that is dead a many thouſand yeares, muſt for all this come to iudgement. And therefore thou that liueſt in ſinne, in adultery, &c. remember, that although thou die, yet thy ſinnes doe not die with thee: No, no, both thou and they muſt one day come to p. 111iudgement: thy old ſinnes, and thoſe which thou haſt committed in ſecret, they muſt come now to light.

Seeing that the dead muſt come to Iudgement, Vſe that hauehave laine a many hundred yeares in the graue, and then their old ſinnes, and ſecret ſinnes, muſt come to light: Oh let vsus then watch ouer our liues, and hauehave this ſtill in our mindes. Well, though I die and rotte in the Graue, yet my ſinnes ſhall not die, my euill wayes cannot be buryed, they muſt come to light, that ſo wee may neuer dare to ſinne; thinking as many doe, that when they be once dead, they ſhall neuer come to accompt for their ſinnes. But Saint Iohn ſayth heere, that the dead were iudged, euen thoſe whom wee forgot, and whoſe p. 112ſinnes wee would thinke would neuer be called to accompt, euen they muſt come to a reckoning.

In the next place, Saint Iohn tells vsus, how all men ſhall be tryed, and according to what, Sentence ſhall bee avvarded; Namely, according to thoſe things Written in their Bookes. Heere is the Euidence, heere is no witneſſe to bee produced; for a mans conſcience ſhall bee euen as good as a thouſand witneſſes. Novv, what is heere meant by the bookes you hauehave heard already; namely, the particular Conſcience of euerie man and woman. Thy conſcience is the Booke; that is, the Euidence: No other witneſſe ſhall bee produced, but euen thy owne conſcience. Againe, the things which be written in p. 113theſe Bookes, I told you they be all our thoughts, wordes, and workes; not onelyonly our groſſe ſinnes, as murder, &c. but in our Bookes bee recorded euen our idle and vaine words, eueryevery vile and filthy thought; and by theſe Sentence muſt proceede; and according to theſe muſt Iudgement be awarded.

Now then, thoſe which hauehave good thoughts, yea and holie things written in their Bookes, they be bleſſed and happie; for they ſhall not be aſhamed: nay, they ſhall be glad to hauehave their Bookes layd open, that their repentance, their faith, louelove, zeale and patience, &c. might bee knowne, and come to light. But woe then to all filthie ſinners, adulterers, &c. For the reward of theſe ſinnes, is death, the wrath and curſe of God for euer.

p. 114Vſe Seeing that heere is the Euidence, and by the things written in our Bookes in our conſciences, we muſt be arraigned; and ſeeing in our Bookes bee recorded all that we do, all our words, thoughts, and deedes: Firſt, it muſt teach vsus aboue all things, to looke to our Bookes, our conſciences, to keepe them very faire and cleane; that our Bookes of Accompts bee in a readineſſe: For our conſciences ſhall eyther excuſe or accuſe vsus at the day of Iudgement.

Acts 24.Acts 24This was the care of the bleſſed Apoſtle ſaint Paul Acts 24 in regard of this, that wee muſt all come vntounto iudgement, and our conſciences muſt be layed open, and wee iudged according to the things therein recorded; it made this holie ſeruant p. 115of God to take all poſſible paines to keepe a cleere conſcience before GOD and man. O that wee could immitate this bleſſed Apoſtle, that ſeeing we muſt all come vntounto iudgement, ſeeing our Bookes, euen our conſciences muſt bee opened and diſcloſed, and wee receiue ſentence of ſaluation or damnation, according to the things written in our Bookes; yea that we could labour and indeuour, that no filthy ſinne might blot our Bookes, but that wee could keepe them cleere and faire, in the ſight of GOD: It ought to perſwade vsus all, aboue all things in the world, to looke vntounto this, to keepe our Bookes faire. For if our conſciences doe accuſe vsus, GOD is greater then our conſcience, and doth know all things.

p. 116Secondly, ſeeing ſentence muſt paſſe according vntounto the things written in our Bookes, and theſe be not only the groſſe ſinnes of the world themſelues, but euen the vile and vncleane thoughts of our hearts; euen theſe muſt come to Iudgement: then let vsus all be carefull to auoide, not onelyonly the outward actions themſelues, but euen theſe vncleane thoghts of ours: for euen they muſt come vntounto Iudgement. Alas, men thinke, thought is free, that they ſhall neuer be arraigned for their vile and vngodly thoughts. But S. Paul ſaith,Rom. 2.1.Rom 2:1 Thoughts ſhall either excuſe, or accuſe vsus. And whoſoeuer doth truly repent, they do repent euen of their vile and vngodly thoughts: for if wee had no other ſins written in the Bookes of our conſcience, but p. 117euen our ſinfull thoughts; euen they were enough to condemne vsus both bodie and ſoule for euermore.

Neither may we content our ſelues, to thinke we are in good caſe, if wee can ſay, I am no Drunkard, no Fornicator, &c. No, looke to thy Booke, that there be not ſo much as an idle word written there: For euen they muſt come to Iudgement, as our Sauiour ſaith, I ſay vntounto you, That for eueryevery idle word men ſhall giuegive an accompt at the day of Iudgement.

And that wee might know in particular what is written in our Books, Saint Iohn ſaith, That we ſhall bee iudged according to our workes. So it is, 2. Cor. 5.10. Wee muſt all appeare before the Iudgement Seate of Chriſt, that euerie man may receiue the things which p. 118are done in his body, Reuel. 2.8. Mat. 25.41 Reu. 14.13Rev 2:8Matt 25:41Rev 14:13according to that hee hath done, whether it be good or euil. We ſhalbe iudged, and receiue reward according to our workes. If thy workes be good, then life, glory, and ſaluation; But if thy workes be euill, then death, deſtruction, and damnation. Good workes, although they cannot merit, yet they will ſhew that faith that lay in the heart. So when an euill man dies, his euill workes goe with him, his galled conſcience will not leaue him, neyther in life nor death.

Doct. Hence then we ſee, how all men and women ſhall be tried at this dreadfull day, euen by our workes; eyther they ſhalbe acquitted and abſolued, or elſe condemned by their workes. For though no man can merit life and ſaluation at the handes p. 119of God, by his workes: yet wee muſt know that iudgement ſhal proceede at the laſt day according vntounto mens workes. If thy workes hauehave beene good, holy, iuſt, and pure: then thou ſhalt receiue life, happineſſe, glorie, ſaluation. But if thy workes be found to be wicked, vniuſt, and vngodly: then nothing elſe but death, hell, and damnation belongs vntounto thee for them.

Wel, what ſhould this reach? Vſe. Seeing we muſt all receiue Sentence, euen according to our workes, Surely, it ought to moue vsus aboue all things in the world, to labour to abound in good workes: to abound in all holy duties, and graces of Gods Spirit; in knowledge, faith, repentance, louelove, zeale; clothing, feeding, and lodging the poore members of Chriſt Ieſus: For p. 120according to our workes ſhall our reward be. And though our works can merit nothing at the hands of the Iudge; yet hee being a moſt bountifull and mercifull Sauiour, hee will crowne his owne workes in vsus, and reward them in his mercy, though we merite nothing. Doſt thou releeue a poore member of IESVS CHRIST? Doſt thou giuegive a cuppe of cold water to a Prophet, or a Miniſter of the word of GOD? CHRIST doth promiſe thee of his trueth, hee will not let thee looſe thy reward. True it is, a cuppe of cold water is a meane gift, and farre from merit; yet Chriſt ſaith, Verily, of my trueth, thou ſhalt not looſe thy reward.Math. 10.Matt 10

O how ſhould this perſwade all of vsus to labour to abound in all holie dueties? to be liberall, p. 121and bountifull vntounto the poore members of Chriſt Ieſus? ſeeing our good workes, though they cannot merit, yet they ſhal be rewarded, they ſhall not bee forgotten in the day of Iudgement: they be ſweet and bleſſed companions; when al our frinds can doe vsus no good, they will bring endleſſe peace and comfort to our Soules.

Againe, it ought to terrifie vsus all from ſin, from euill workes, and vngodly wayes, from ſwearing, drunkennes, vncleanenes, and eueryevery euill way. For if wee bee full of theſe, and theſe bee found written in our Bookes, O then woe vntounto vsus, when theſe Bookes ſhall come to bee opened: for then nothing but death, hel and damnation belongs vntounto vsus.

Heere we ſee, that of all wee Doctr. 2 p. 122hauehave and enioy in this world: what ſhall goe with vsus when we die? what ſhall accompany thee in the graue? Nay, at the terrible day of Iudgement, our conſciences, our workes, and our bookes, nothing elſe ſhall goe with vsus. When thou dieſt, thou ſhalt not take any thing in the world with thee, but thy workes, which be ingrauen in the booke of thy conſcience: Death will barre all the reſt: Thou canſt not take thy Golde and Siluer with thee, nor thy lands, or liuings, corne, nor cattell: All theſe muſt ſtay behinde thee at what time thou dieſt; onelyonly thy Conſcience, thy Booke, thy Workes muſt goe with thee. If they bee good, Oh bleſſed art thou that euer thou waſt borne: If they be wicked, filthy and vncleane: Oh woe, and ten thouſand p. 123woes, I ſay, to thy ſoule for euermore.

O then, Vſe. what wonderful madneſſe hath bewitched the hearts and ſoules of almoſt al men and women in the world? What do men deſire? what doe they hunger and thirſt after? Surely, for pleaſures, for profit, and for preferments. For theſe they ride & run night and day, winter and ſommer, by ſea and by land; for theſe they ſpend all their labor, wit, and ſtrength. Heere is all that men deſire; they care for no more. No accompt of Prayer in their Houſes, to reade, to heare, and to ſpeak of the word of God: no deſire to attayne to Knowledge, Faith, and Repentance: no conſcience to liue in the feare of God: little or no pittie to the needie members of Chriſt Ieſus. Alas they neuer p. 124thinke of theſe things: But all their deſire is for the VVorld. Oh poore blinde Soules, poore Soules, they know not, or they will not know, that they muſt leaue al theſe behind them; they muſt depart from them all. Thou canſt not take one peece of golde or ſiluer with thee; but all muſt bee left behinde: Onelie thy conſcience, onelie thy bookes, onelie thy workes, muſt accompany thee. O then what madneſſe is this, to ſeeke, and hunt, after ſuch things as cannot helpe vsus, nor ſtand vsus in no ſteade in the day of Iudgement? Nay, if they be got, or kept with a badde conſcience, they will be a very terrour vntounto thee at the laſt. O then, let vsus looke to our ſelues; let vsus not ſet our hearts too much vppon theſe things, which cannot profite p. 125vsus, in this hote fierie day of triall. Why ſhould wee bee ſo fooliſh to ſet our hearts vponupon that cannot helpe vsus; nay, which we muſt leaue behinde vsus. And for faith, that which might bee our comfort, both in life and death, and in the dreadfull day of Iudgement; I meane a good Conſcience, which, as it is a bleſſed and a ſweete companion in life and death; ſo it will be a bleſſed comfort to our poore Soules at the day of Iudgement.

O then I beſeech you againe, and againe, ſeeing that nothing ſhall goe with you vntounto iudgement, but onelyonly your works; let vsus lay aſide our immoderate care for the world, yea and the things of this world; for theſe muſt ſtay behind vsus, and cannot helpe vsus in the day of Iudgement. p. 126Let vsus labour for better things, for durable treaſures, for a good conſcience, to abound in good workes, in knowledge, faith, and repentance: Let vsus take heed wee be not found naked of theſe. O what a woefull caſe are they in, that hauehave nothing in the world to goe with them to iudgement, but an euil heart, a galled conſcience, full of all vncleanenes; their ſtate is moſt woefull and miſerable; it had beene good for them that they had neuer beene borne.

Here may a queſtion be moued, How this ſaying of Saint Iohn, can ſtand with that of our Sauiour, Iohn 3.18. He that beleeueth, ſhall not come into iudgement, but he that beleeueth not, is condemned alreadie. Now then, if the faithfull children of God ſhall not come into iudgement, p. 127and the wicked vnbeleeuers be condemned already; How ſaith he, that all ſhalbe iudged at the day of Iudgement?

I anſwere, it is true, that the faithfull children of God ſhall not come into Iudgement, that is, of condemnation:Rom. 8.1.Rom 8:1 For there is no condemnation, &c. But God wil pronounce that bleſſed ſentence, Come yee bleſſed, &c. As for the wicked, it is true, they be condemned already: firſt, in the Decree and Councell of God, being Reprobates and Caſt-awayes: ſecondly, in the word of GOD: thirdly, in their owne conſcience, they be condemned already. But the full manifeſtation of this Sentence ſhall not bee vntill the day of Iudgement. And ſo we are to vnderſtand that ſaying of Salomon, Eccleſ. 3. God ſhal iudge the iuſt and p. 128vniuſt: The iuſt, to ſaluation; the vniuſt, to condemnation. Now the third point that I propounded, is the touch-ſtone of this Triall, whereby all mens thoughts, words, and workes ſhall be tryed. To this S. Paul anſwereth; At the day of Iudgement God ſhall iudge the ſecrets of all mens hearts by my Goſpel, Rom. 1.16. Our thoughts, our words and our workes, muſt be tryed by the word of God; and that thought, word, or worke, which is not according to the written VVord of GOD, is an euill thought, a vile word, and a wicked worke.

Vſe. Seeing that all our thoughts, wordes, and workes, muſt bee tryed, and examined, by the written word of God, by the Lawe, and by the Goſpell, wee hauehave neede to labour to know p. 129them, to bee acquainted with them, that wee might know what is ſin, and not ſinne; good and bad, that ſo wee may leaue the one, and doe the other. Oh what a woefull caſe are all they in, which are ignorant in the word of God: blinde men and vvomen without knowledge; they know not what is good or euill. And therefore ſaith the Apoſtle Paul 2. Theſſ. 1. That the Lord Ieſus will come in a flame of fire, to render vengeance to them which know him not, and obey not the Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore, as you doe louelove your ſoules, louelove this word of God; labour to know it, embrace it: If thou be ignorant of it, and yeelde not obedience vntounto it, it ſhall ſtand againſt thee at the daie of Iudgement, and thou muſt be tryed by it. Therefore p. 130let vsus all labour to be inſtructed in it, to reade it, to remember it, and to leade our liues by it: For whatſoeuer is done contrarie to it, is ſinne; it muſt come to iudgement, and the Word will condemne it.

13 And the ſea gaue vp her dead which were in her: and death and hell deliuered vp the dead which were in them, and they were iudged eueryevery man according to their workes.

YOV heard in the twelfth Verſe, immediately going before, how Saint Iohn ſaw the dead, both great and ſmall, ſtand before GOD; that is, all men and women, that euer liued, or ſhall liue, vntounto the end of the world. Now heere might a queſtion ariſe, How this can p. 131bee; How is it poſſible that all men ſhould come to Iudgement? There hauehave beene many thouſands which hauehave beene drowned in the Sea, and the fiſhes hauehave deuoured them; ſome hauehave beene ſlaine in the field, and the fowles hauehave eaten their fleſh, and many hauehave been burnt, and conſumed to aſhes. Then it is a very high poynt, a matter beyond all reaſon, that all the dead ſhould riſe againe. Men that hauehave beene drowned, fiſhes hauehave eaten them; & men againe perhaps hauehave eaten the fiſhes; and they that hauehave beene burnt to aſhes, their aſhes hauehave beene ſcattered, who knoweth whither? How then is it poſſible for them to ariſe againe? Indeed the profane Atheiſts and filthy epicures, are not aſhamed …o ſay, that there ſhall be no reſurrection, p. 132but when a man dies there is an end of all his ioy, and of all his miſerie. But, that the dead ſhall riſe againe, is an Article of our Faith, We beleeue the reſurrection of the dead: And ſo wee know it is a ſpeciall point of Gods glory, in merciemercy to reward his poore children; and in puniſhing in iudgement, the wicked and vngodly. But, as Salomon ſaith, In this Life all things happen alike, to the iuſt and vniuſt: Nay, oftentimes, Diues is full, and at eaſe, when Lazarus is empty, and in miſery. How then ſhould God bee iuſt, if hee ſhould ſuffer his poore children, that louelove and feare his Name, heere to liue in miſerie, and neuer to reward them? Or again, how ſhould God be iuſt, if hee ſhould ſuffer the wicked and vngodlie, heere to liue at p. 133eaſe, if there were not a time when they ſhould taſte of vengeance? Therefore they muſt come to Iudgement, they muſt riſe againe, the godlie to bee made partakers of life, and ioy; and the wicked, of ſhame and confuſion: Iob ſaith in his nineteenth chapter, That though the wormes did eate his fleſh, yet hee ſhould beholde God with his eyes: And Saint Paul doth proue this with many reaſons: 1 Cor. 15. If the dead riſe not againe, then is not Chriſt riſen: And if Chriſt be not riſen, then is our Preaching vaine, &c. And why ſhould we thinke it impoſſible for God to raiſe our bodies out of the duſt? Wee ſee a poore ignorant man is able of Aſhes, to make a verie beautiful Glaſſe. How much more then is the Euer-liuing, and almighty God, able to raiſe p. 134our bodies out of the duſt? But you will ſay, are mens bodies eaten of fiſhes, men eate them againe? How is it poſſible to ſaue the bodies of men, thus conſumed to duſt, and mingled with the bodies of fiſhes and of beaſts? I anſwere, that though it be impoſſible to men, yet it is not impoſſible to God: For he that created all our bodies of nothing, can make them againe of ſomething; namely, of their owne matter; and to ſeuer their bodies from all other matters: As wee ſee that a Gold-ſmith can ſeuer one matter from another.

So then this place doth proue and confirme that Article of our faith, that wee beleeue the Reſurrection of the dead. For howſoeuer a man dieth, by Sea, or by Land, in his bed, or in the p. 135field; Saint Iohn ſaith heere, the Sea ſhall giuegive vp all that hauehave beene drowned; death and hell, that is, the Graue ſhall deliuer the dead in them; ſo as all muſt come to Iudgement, of what death ſoeuer they die.

O then ſee (beloued) how the diuel bewitcheth many a poore ignorant ſoule. Vſe. When he is in miſerie, in great diſtreſſe, and calamitie, the Diuell hee perſwadeth him to become his owne executioner, to end his miſery, and to end his ſhame, by hanging himſelfe, cutting his owne throate, drowning himſelfe, &c. And wee know, and heare, that hee preuaileth much by theſe meanes in theſe dayes: Some being in diſgrace, as Achitophel; ſome with the guilt of ſinne, and of conſcience, as Iudas; and ſome being croſſed p. 136with wife and children, cut their throates, or otherwiſe make an end of themſelues. Now, they fooliſhly thinke, by this means, to end their griefe: Alas, alas, they do by this means, euen haſten their ovvne deſtruction: And doe, as if a man ſhould (to auoyd a little ſmoake) caſt himſelfe head-long into a flaming fire: So they, to auoyd this little griefe of their body, plunge body and ſoule into eternal torments. For, what eaſe is it for a man to kill himſelfe, or caſt away himſelfe, ſeeing they muſt come to Iudgement? though they kill themſelues, or drowne themſelues, Why the water and the Graue muſt one day deliuer vp their dead. And therefore, hence let vsus learne to arme our ſelues, if Sathan ſhall tempt vsus to ſuch horrible facts, to caſt away our p. 137ſelues, &c. Let vsus anſwere him, Wee may not caſt away that which Chriſt hath bought with his owne bloud. Nay, let vsus anſwere him, That wee ſhall not thereby end our miſerie, but encreaſe it.

Now if you demand of me, by what meanes the dead ſhall then ariſe at the laſt day? I anſwer, It is by the mighty power of the voice of CHRIST: The houre ſhall come (ſaith CHRIST) in the which, all that are in the Graues ſhall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God, and come forth, Iohn 5.28. And to ſhew the wonderful power of the voice of Chriſt, it is compared to the ſound of a Trumpet, the lowdeſt, and the ſhrilleſt of all Inſtruments: And the Lord Ieſus himſelfe ſhall deſcend, and come with a ſhout, 1 The. 4.16and with the voyce of the Archangell, p. 138and with the Trumpet of God, and then the dead in Chriſt ſhall ariſe firſt. Such ſhall bee the power & force of this voice of the Lord IESVS, as that it ſhalbe heard ouer all the whole world: Nay, though men hauehave laine many a thouſand yeares rotten in the Graue, yet they ſhall heare it and come forth to iudgement. Nay, the very diuels and damned ſpirits, in ſpite of their teeth, ſhall be conſtrained to appeare at his Voyce; No Prince, no Monarch, no King, no Angell ſhall bee able to abſent themſelues; but they muſt all bee enforced to obey the Voyce of the Sonne of GOD, and come to Iudgement.

Vſe. O then, ſeeing wee muſt all heare the voice of the Lord IESVS at the day of Iudgement, p. 139and wee cannot but come forth of our Graues vntounto Iudgement: Oh let vsus now obey his Voyce in the Miniſterie of the Goſpel, now embrace the Goſpell, and the voyce of his Miniſters. If wee will not now leaue ſinne, heare CHRIST IESVS ſpeaking vntounto vsus in his Word, and embrace his Goſpell; then let vsus well know that wee ſhall one day heare another Voice, when wee ſhal be compelled to come before him to be condemned.

Thus you may ſee, that all the dead muſt ariſe and come to Iudgement, and you ſee how, and by what meanes, our bodies ſhall be raiſed; namely, by the mighty and the wonderfull power of the voice of the Lord Ieſus. Let vsus now come to the Vſes.

Firſt, ſeeing of vvhat death p. 140ſoeuer men ſhall die; either by fire or water, or howſoeuer, they muſt one day come to iudgement: Let vsus then beware of that vngodly thought, and diueliſh perſwaſion that runnes in moſt mens minds: namely, that thinke, that when they die, there is an end of all their miſerie: And though they hauehave beene grieuous and horrible ſinners, yet if they can eſcape till death, all is well. And thus they thinke, that they and their ſinnes ſhall be buried together. No, no (poore ſoules) they doe much deceiue themſelues: Howſoeuer thou dieſt, thou ſhalt come to iudgement: And death is ſo farre from ending thy miſery, that it is a broade gate to let thee in into it.Luke 16.Luke 16 For ſo ſoone as the Glutton died, hee was preſently in hel in torment: p. 141And therefore let vsus take heed how we wiſh, as fooliſh men do in their ſickneſſe, or age, or miſerie; O I would I were dead, then I ſhould bee out of my paine. O no, no, if thou bee not the child of God, and a repentant ſinner; it had beene better for thee neuer to hauehave beene borne, or to bee a Toade, or Serpent. And thou ſhalt finde, that death is ſo farre from eaſing thy paine, that it ſhall bring thee ten thouſand times more paine and torment, euen in hell fire for euer: Therefore let vsus not thinke that death ſhall end the miſeries of wicked men.

Secondly, ſeeing all men muſt riſe to iudgement, and by what meanes ſoeuer they die they muſt bee called to accompt; this is a wonderfull comfort to Gods poore children. p. 142Who abides more trouble and griefe then they? Who be more hated, reuiled, croſſed, and wronged, then they? So as their life here, for the moſt part, is nothing elſe but a life of miſerie. But their comfort is heere in this, that they ſhall riſe againe, and then the caſe ſhall bee altered; then our miſerie ſhall bee turned into felicitie, ioy, and happineſſe. Haſt thou beene poore heere? then thou ſhalt bee rich, and poſſeſſe a Kingdome. Haſt thou beene hungry and thirſty heere? then thou ſhalt taſte of the Tree of Life. Haſt thou beene poore and naked heere? Then thou ſhalt bee cloathed with the precious Robes of Chriſts righteouſneſſe: and in ſteede of the rags of Infamie, and Reproch, which wee muſt put on heere, p. 143wee ſhall bee crowned with a Crowne of immortall Glorie, &c. Agayne, vntounto the wicked and the vngodlie, it is not ſo with them, but they, hauing taken their pleaſure here, and receiued their portion in this preſent world, ſhall ariſe now to Iudgement, to heare the Sentence of Condemnation denounced againſt them; and Mohammed Bouaziziow to bee caſt into the Lake that burnes with fire and brimſtone for euer,Iohn 5.29.John 5:29 which is the ſecond death.

Thirdly, ſeeing Saint Iohn ſaith, that wee ſhall all come to iudgement; theſe bodies of ours, though they be drowned, though they be burnt to aſhes, or howſoeuer they bee conſumed, yet they ſhall riſe againe, eyther to Life eternall, or death eternall: Should not this make p. 144vsus all (Beloued) to looke vntounto our ſelues, to take heed we doe not vſe our bodies to the diſhonour of God. Wouldeſt thou hauehave thy bodie to bee partaker of Life, Felicitie, Glorie, and Saluation in heauen? Then vſe thy bodie now to the glorie of God vponupon earth, to heare his word, to ſanctifie Gods Sabboth, &c.

But if thou vſe thy bodie to ſinne, to ſwearing, to drunkenneſſe, whooredome, &c. then know, that thy bodie ſhall riſe againe to iudgement to be tormented for euer. Do not looke vponupon the rich Glutton,Luke 16.Luke 16 hee had abuſed his bodie to ſwearing, drunkenneſſe, &c. and what became of it, was hee not fearefully tormented in Hell at laſt? And hee which had giuen his tongue to ſwearing, &c. Now p. 145he cries, his tongue, his tongue. O that all ſinful wretches could but thinke of this one example of GODS iudgements! that if they abuſe their bodies as this man did, that they ſhall then taſte of the ſame Iudgement. Wouldeſt thou hauehave thy body glorified? then glorifie God in thy body. Doſt thou thinke that thy ſoule ſhall bee ſaued, and thy body glorified, if thou vſe the members thereof to ſinne, to vncleanenes? &c. O no: let vsus not deceiue our owne ſoules, it can not be. For, ſaith the Apoſtle,Rom. 6.2.Rom 6:2 How can wee that are dead to ſinne, yet liue therein?

Fourthly, ſeeing the Holie-Ghoſt ſaith, that of what death ſoeuer wee doe die, wee ſhall all riſe againe; and Gods children they ſhall riſe to life, and to glory. This muſt teach vsus all p. 146this Doctrine; namely, not to weepe and mourne immoderatly for our friends deceaſed. True it is, that CHRIST IESVS wept for Lazarus; Iohn 11.John 11and the Diſciples made great lamentation for Stephen. Acts 7.Acts 7And ſo wee hauehave great cauſe to mourne and weepe, when as ſome ſpeciall member of the Church of God is taken away; we may not be as ſtockes or ſtones, or ſenſeleſſe creatures, without affection. It muſt needes grieue the heart of a husband to part with his louing, godly, and religious wife. But heere is a meane for this mourning to moderate our weeping, that wee weepe not and mourne not ouermuch, for they ſhall riſe againe. I would not hauehave you ignorant brethren, concerning thoſe that bee aſleepe, that you ſhould mourne at they p. 147that hauehave no hope, 1. Theſſ. 4.13 Where the holy-Ghoſt tells vsus, that the dead in Chriſt doe not die properly; but lay them downe to take a ſweet ſleepe, after their long and tedious labors, and troubls in this world; and afterward they muſt riſe againe to life, to happineſſe, to liberty, to glory, and ſaluation. And wherefore then ſhould we mourne ſo exceſſiuely, & weep, and lament at the death of our friends, ſeeing they doe not periſh, they are not caſt away? O no, their ſoules are preſently in ioy, and their bodies are buried in the graue, as in a bed of dowlne, to take a ſweet ſleepe till the day of Iudgement, and then they ſhall riſe to glory.

p. 148And they were iudged eueryevery man according to their workes.

MArke, I pray you, how the holy Ghoſt repeates this point, againe and againe he beates vponupon it, he can neuer hauehave done with it. He ſaid before, The Bookes are opened, and the dead were iudged according to thoſe things written in the books. And now againe he ſaith, They were iudged eueryevery man according to his workes. What ſhould bee the cauſe why the Holy-Ghoſt ſo often repeats this point, and beates ſo vponupon it againe and againe? I anſwere, The cauſe is in vsus, becauſe wee are hardly brought to beleeue this poynt, hardly perſwaded of ſo neceſſary a matter: for hardly one man of a thouſand beleeueth this; p. 149That he ſhall be iudged according to his workes: Oh it is a hard matter to perſwade men and women of this, That they muſt giuegive an accompt of their workes, and be iudged by their workes. Tell the wicked ſinner of his vngodly wayes, of his profanenes, contempt of Gods word, &c. And what doe they ſay? Doe they quake and tremble? Doth their heart and ſoules euen erne in them? O no, no: they flatter themſelues with this conceit, God is mercifull: And thus they make the merciemercy of God a packe-horſe for all their abominations. And thus it is in the vile heart of man, to thinke he ſhall neuer come to account for his ſins, that he ſhall neuer bee called to a reckoning for them, and receiue his reward according to his workes.

p. 150Heere then we may perceiue there bee but two ſorts of men and women; there is the repentant ſinner, and the impenitent ſinner: and both of them muſt come to iudgement. The repentant ſinner is he or ſhe that mourneth for their ſinnes, bewaileth them, hateth them, and leaueth them; and doth hunger and thirſt after good things.

Now the impenitent ſinner, is he or ſhee that liues in ſinne, and will not in any wiſe bee brought to leaue ſinne: They neuer with teares beg the pardon of them at the handes of God, but wallow in all vncleanneſſe, heaping ſinne vponupon ſinne, and one vngodly way vponupon another: whereas all the ſinnes of GODS children, who doe repent, be quit and pardoned in p. 151Chriſt Ieſus, hee hath nayled them to his Croſſe, and hath waſhed them away in his owne Bloud, and they ſhall neuer come to light. But their faith, their religiō, their good deeds; as their feeding and cloathing of CHRIST IESVS in his poore members, Matth. 25. and according to theſe they ſhal receiue their reward, life, happineſſe, and eternall ſaluation▪ and as their good deeds be many, and great, ſo ſhall their honour, praiſe, and glory be greater in heauen.

And therefore we ſhould labour to abound in good works, in faith, knowledge, repentāce, louelove, zeale, &c. ſeeing our reward ſhall be according to our workes. But as for the vnrepentant ſinner that liues in ſinne, delights in ſinne, as they do; not p. 152repent, nor hauehave no faith, nor good workes: euen ſo as their workes ſhall bee, ſo ſhall their puniſhment be. Ah what a wofull harueſt hath many a poore ſoule now to reape at this day, that all his life time hath ſold himſelfe vntounto ſinne, that neuer had any care nor conſcience to liue a godly life? They ſhal weep, they ſhal howle & lament, when they ſhal ſee their reward ſhall be according to their workes.

O how ſhould this doctirene moue vsus all, as we hauehave any care to our poore ſoules, to looke to our ſelues, to watch ouer our wayes, to hate ſinne, as the very bane of our ſoules; and to auoid eueryevery euill worke, becauſe euen by our workes ſhall we be iudged. O then as you louelove your ſelues, and as you deſire life and ſaluation, abound in good p. 153workes, and as you feare the wrath and endleſſe vengeance of God, and as you feare the torments of hell, take heed of ſinne, of eueryevery euill thought, of eueryevery euill word, and of eueryevery euill work: for by them we ſhall be iudged at the laſt. And if our workes be euill, let vsus aſſure our ſelues this will be the ſentence of the Iudge, Depart from me yee curſed, &c. But if you hauehave care to liue here a godly life, to abound in good works: O then ſee what a cheerefull and comfortable voyce yee ſhall heare, Come yee bleſſed of my father, &c. For iudgement ſhall proceede according▪ to our workes. O that God would touch our hearts, that we could but truely learne and beleeue this one leſſon, That our ſentence ſhall be as our works be, and iudgement p. 154ſhall be awarded according to our workes: O it would bridle vsus from many thouſand ſinnes and impieties. How ſhould any man dare to ſinne, to ſweare, to lie, to ſteale, &c. when as hee knoweth that his reward ſhall be according vntounto his workes? and it would inflame our ſoules to labour to abound in good workes, in knowledge, faith, repentance, humiliation, care, and conſcience, becauſe, if wee abound in theſe, our ſentence ſhall bee happy, bleſſed, and comfortable; and our glorie and reward ſhall be great in the Kingdome of heauen.

The end of the third Sermon.