THE BOOKS OPENED Being several DISCOURSES on REV. 20.14 By HENRY PENDLEBURY A. M. late Minister of the Gospel at Rochdale in Lancashire Author of the Plain Representation of Transubstantiation LONDON Printed by J. D. for Ann Vnsworth of Manchester and sold by Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1696. The EPISTLE to the Reader Christian Reader THere are two things which if firmly believed and duly considered would have a great Influence upon Men and Womens Lives viz. First That they are mortal Secondly Accountable Creatures It is the indispensible Statute-Law of Heaven that never will be repealed or dispensed withal Heb. 9.27 Death is a Debt which all Men owe and how soon the great Creditor may exact it none can tell We are all here as Tenants at Will in Cottages of Clay whose Foundation is in the Dust These earthly Tabernacles are continually mouldring down about our Ears do what we can by Food and Physick to patch them up for a little while There is no Man liveth and shall not see Death And Death hath always Judgment attending at the very Heels of it And as the Tree falls so it lies As Death leaves us Judgment will find us And as it is with us when we go out of this World so it will fare with us for ever This short uncertain Life we have here is the only time of Preparation we have for another World Death sets Men on the other side the Water there will be no working there no praying nor repenting and believing and seeking to get our Sins pardoned and an Interest in Christ and a Right to Heaven if this Work be to be done then we shall be undone to all Eternity If we once die in a Christless and graceless Condition we shall perish for being so to all Eternity There will be no Time then to correct former Mistakes At Death we must all appear before an impartial Judg to receive our final conclusive determining Sentence to a fixed eternal unchangeable State of Misery or Happiness in another World And things will then appear quite otherwise than they were stated and did appear here Then all Vizards and Masks will be pluck'd off and naked Breasts will be in fashion What hath been here concealed will then be made manifest what hath been spoken in secret will then be told on the House-top Nothing hid but shall then be made manifest At this opening Day there will be a Manifestation of the Sons of God then all the Sincerity and secret Graces and Holiness of Believers will be openly declared and all those Marks and Evidences of the Truth of Grace which here are often clouded and obscured will evidently appear And all the secret Wickedness and Hypocrisy and False-heartedness of Vnbelievers will then be discovered and laid open And the Apostle lets us know what an Influence the Belief and Consideration of this had upon himself and other Ministers of the Gospel to quicken them to Diligence and Faithfulness in their Ministerial Function 2 Cor. 5.9 10. We must all appear 1st All without Exception High and Low Rich and Poor Young and Old Ministers and People there will be no declining or escaping of it 2dly All in our own Persons without a Proxy there will be no hiring of another to appear for us every one of us must give an Account of himself to God Rom. 14.12 Now the great Design of the worthy Reverend Author in these ensuing Sermons is to quicken and direct Persons to prepare and make ready for this opening Day And herein he shews himself a skilful Workman that needeth not to be ashamed dividing the Word of Truth aright and giving to every one their Portion He doth not put the two-edged Sword of the Spirit into a silken Scabbard and flourish it in the Air but dexterously weilds it that it might reach the Consciences of Men he speaks plainly but pertinently and substantially his Words are not only intelligible but also penetrating And tho these plain Discourses are posthumous and want the polishing that he was able to have given them had he designed them for the Press yet they are genuine copied from his own Notes and you have the truest Character of him in the constant Course of his Preaching amongst his People Some serious Christians that were affected with them themselves have desired to have them printed that others might share in the like Benefit with them And that thy Heart may be warmed as others have been upon the reading of them and thou be quickned and helped in this Preparation for the great opening Day as it was the Design of the Author in preaching of them so it is of others in the publishing them and of none more than of one of the meanest and unworthiest of Christ's Ministers R. S. THE BOOKS Opened REV. xx 12. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works THE Apostle Paul tells us that we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 Of this Judgment to come and which we must all come unto we have a Description in this part of Sacred Writ as it was shewed unto John in a Vision where are set forth 1. The Person of the Judg ver 11. who is described 1. By his Posture Sitting the ordinary Posture of Judges in the Administration of Justice and Judgment and a Token of Dominion and Authority 2. By the Place where he sat a great white Throne Not in a Manger as at his first Coming not on the Ground as when in Flesh he dwelt amongst us nor on a Cross as at his leaving the World but on a great white Throne He that lay in a Manger that stood at Man's Bar falsly accused and wickedly condemned he that hung upon the Tree shall sit supreme Judg Sedebit Judex qui stetit sub Judice What this Throne is or of what it shall be made tho some say the Angels others a glorious Rainbow others a bright Cloud Scripture being silent you must not know of me 3. By his Power and Glory From whose Face the Earth and the Heaven fled away and there was found no Place for them At his first Appearance Herod seeking his Life he is forced to fly Mat. 2.14 At his second and glorious Coming Heaven and Earth shall flee away not being able to abide his Majesty and Power 2. The Persons to be judged ver 12. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God the Dead of all sorts and degrees We must here include those that shall be found alive at this day who shall pass through a Change that shall be to them instead of Death 3. The Form
of this Judgment the manner how the Judg shall proceed viz. by Books that shall be opened 4. Sentence is passed on the Parties brought to Judgment according to what is found written in the Books when thus opened And the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works 5. The Execution of this Sentence ver 14 15. And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire This is the second Death And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire The Words which are the Subject of the ensuing Discourse contain in them the third Particular in this Description sc the manner of Process in this great Work the Books shall be opened The word Book is in Scripture used 1. Properly for a Volume wherein something is written or for the things writ in that Volume Isa 30.8 Luke 4.17 Gal. 3.10 2. Improperly and metaphorically for the certain Knowledg and Remembrance that one hath of a Person or Matter and all the Circumstances thereto belonging Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him According to this twofold Acceptation of the Word God is said to have a double Book 1. Materialis i. e. the Bible which is called the Book of the Lord Isa 34.16 Luke 4.17 the Book containing the Mind and Will and Ways of God 2. Metaphoricus which is ascrib'd to him after the manner of Men who use to note those things in Books that they would preserve the Knowledg of Thus there is a threefold Book figuratively ascribed to him viz. 1st The Book of Providence which is the certain Knowledg he hath of all Persons Actions and Things with all their Circumstances Psal 56.8 139.16 2dly The Book of Life Rev. 20.12 This is the certain Knowledg he hath of the Elect and Reprobate 3dly The Book of Universal Judgment Dan. 7.10 We are not to understand this Phrase literally as if there should be some material Books produced and opened at this day No the Lord hath neither Need nor Use for them But it must be interpreted metaphorically as a Form used for the Help of our Understanding spoken 1. By way of Allusion to Courts of humane Judicature into which are brought and wherein are produced Charges Accusations Proofs Depositions of Witnesses Confessions of Parties and all other Writings that contain Matter of Fact relating to such Causes as are to be try'd 2. To show that the Judgment will be as accurate and particular in the Examination and Trial Durham p. 743. and as just in the Determination as if all had been recorded Nothing shall be omitted nor the least Circumstance mistaken but things shall be so equal in themselves and so manifested to others as if an exact Register had been kept and then published From the Words observe That in the great Day of Judgment the Books shall be opened or There is a Day a coming when the Books shall be opened The Judgment was set and the Books were opened Dan. 7.9 10. That this Truth may be prepared for Application it must be enquired I. What Books they are that shall be opened II. What the opening of these Books implies III. Who they are these Books are to be opened about IV. About what are these Books to be opened I. What Books are they that shall be opened They are of three sorts viz. Those wherein 1. All things have been recorded 2. All things shall be discovered 3. All things shall be judged First Those wherein all things have been recorded and they are 1. The Book of Divine Omniscience Here all things stand on Record and will hence be as certainly known as had they been writ in a Book for there is not any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.13 His Eyes are upon the Ways of Man and he seeth all his Goings There 's no Darkness nor Shadow of Death where the Workers of Iniquity may hide themselves Job 34.21 22. He knows our Works Rev. 2.13 There is not a Word in our Tongue but lo he knows it Psal 139.4 Here are our Thoughts writ Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off v. 2. No Thought can be with-holden from thee Job 42.2 Here are the Hearts described 1 Chron. 28.9 The Lord searcheth all Hearts and understandeth all the Imaginations of the Thoughts The Lord knows and remembers all the Actions Thoughts and Words of all Men and shall make it appear at this day that he doth so as fully and plainly as if he had kept a Diary from the Beginning of the World to the end thereof and therein writ in order every particular Action of every individual Man and Woman O remember this God sees thee round about always can tell all that thou dost and this Book wherein all is written shall one day be opened 2. The Book of Conscience this carries all our Actions in it Volumen grande quo omnia conscribuntur It is a great Volume in which all we do is writ Austin takes that other Book mentioned in the Text to be the Book of Conscience which is the Book of each Man's Life wherein all the Passages thereof are recorded Tho this Interpretation agree not with this Place yet Conscience is such a Book as he here describes Quocunque vadis ubicunque es semper Conscientia tua tecum est c. Whithersoever thou go where-ever thou art thy Conscience is always with thee carrying in it whatever thou put'st therein whether good or bad Conscience is not always speaking nor always chiding many have silenced it but it is always writing when we are at our Tables when on our Beds when we are alone or in Company it keeps an exact Account and this Book also shall be opened Secondly The Books shall then be opened whereby all things shall be clearly discovered and attested These are 1. The Book of Divine Omniscience As all things are inclosed herein so this shall then be opened and all the things contained in it thereby disclosed He will by the opening of this make manifest to all that which is now hid from Men and Angels and only known to himself God knows all things and will make all Men know that he doth so by setting in order before their Eyes all things at this day Psal 50.21 2. The Book of Conscience Herein all things are writ and by the opening hereof shall appear Quod in cujusque Conscientia occultum fuit id omnibus manifestum fiet In this day Conscience shall be enlightned and awakened Memories shall be rouz'd and strengthned all past things shall appear new and come in fresh upon the Sons of Men. Then every Thought of thy Heart every Word of thy Mouth every Action of thy Life with the Circumstances thereof then
Silver is cankered and the Rust thereof shall be a Witness against you and shall eat your Flesh as it were Fire This will be brought as an Evidence of your Covetousness and will beget in you such stinging Reflections as shall gnaw upon you with Anguish and Torment Ver. 4. And behold the Hire of your Labourers which have reaped down your Fields which is of you kept back by Fraud crieth and the Cries of them which have reaped are entred into the Ears of the Lord of Sabaoth One observes that the same word in the Hebrew signifies both a Wedg of Gold and a Tongue and some say that Achan's Wedg had the shape of a Tongue Surely Gold Wealth Estates ill got will have many Tongues and cry aloud at the great Day of opening the Books Then the corrupt Judg will hear of his Bribes and perverting Justice then the unjust Lawyers Estate will cry against him then the Possessions of Oppressing Landlords will declare that they were got by wracking poor Tenants then 't will be the Language of the full Bags of idle Ministers that they were fill'd by starving immortal Souls then the Treasures of Covetous Mammonists will acknowledg themselves to be the Products of Usury Oppression c. 6. The Book of the Talents wherewith Men are intrusted shall be opened at this opening Day and these when opened will bring to light all the Days Means Advantages and Opportunities of Grace that Men have had all the Truths and Duties that have been preached to and pressed on them what Pains have been taken and how much done that they might be saved One observes that God is very curious in Scripture to record the Time how long his faithful Servants lived on Earth and says he among other Reasons this is not the least sc to convince us that he intends to reckon with those who lived with them for every Year yea Day and Hour they had them amongst 'em they shall know they had a Prophet a Husband a Parent a Master that was Godly and that they had them so long and God will know of them what Use they made of them Gurn. Christ Arm. Part 2. Pag. 262. Another observes that the Year and Month and Day when the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets stands upon record in Sacred Writ as Ezek. 1.1 2. to teach us that all our Betrustments with all their Circumstances are now recorded and will at this Day be made manifest Then will be declared the Year the Month the Day when such a Sermon was preached such a Truth urged when such a Minister was sent with the Lord's Message among you In this opening Day Ministers will open their Mouths We preached so long to you Sabbaths and Sermons will speak We were continued so long to you Prayers will witness that they were put up for you so often to the Throne of Grace Truths now imprisoned shall then speak yea the Dust shaken off from the Feet of those Ministers you despise and will not hear shall speak against you Mat. 6.11 Thirdly The Books shall then be opened whereby all things shall be examined try'd and judged As in earthly Courts when Matters of Fact are opened and proved then the Statutes are also produced and Sentence is past on such Matters according to the determination of the Law So at the great Tribunal when the Books of Record the Books of Evidence and Proof are opened then shall also be opened the Law whereby Matters shall be finally adjudicated and this is the Holy Scripture The Holy Bible being the Law-Book of the great King is now the Rule of our Lives and shall be the Rule of Judgment at the opening Day Christ himself who is the Judg tells us John 12.48 The Word that I have spoken the same shall judg him at the last Day This the Apostle Paul witnesses Rom. 2.16 In the Day when God shall judg the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Who shall judg God What shall he judg The Secrets of Men not only their outward Actions which are manifest to all but their most hidden Sins and secret Duties their inward Purposes Designs and Aims By whom By Jesus Christ By what Rule According to my Gospel the Gospel committed to and preached by me Men shall be judged according to their Works their Works by this Word The final Sentence passed at this Day shall be but a more solemn and manifest Declaration of that Judgment which the Lord hath in his Written Law already passed upon Men that which is now said shall then be done Now the word says He that believeth on him shall have everlasting Life John 3.16 Then Believers shall be crown'd with a Crown of Life Now the word says That the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 That the Wicked shall be turned into Hell Look what Sentence this Law now passes on thee the same will Christ pronounce in this Day for this is the Book that must be opened and which he will proceed by in giving Judgment Thus you see what Books are to be opened II. The next thing to be considered is what the opening of the Books implies and it doth denote 1. A manifestation of Mens Works that they shall come to Light While a Book is shut we are ignorant what is in it but when it 's open every one may see and know what 's therein writ So many of Mens Works both Good and Bad are like a clasped or sealed Book secret and unknown but in this Day they shall be like a Book open legible to every one 1 Cor. 4.5 Therefore judg nothing before the Time come until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of Darkness and will manifest the Counsels of the Heart When the Lord comes he will make great Discoveries and bring to light things that are now Secret Some Mens Sins says the Apostle 1 Tim. 5.24 25. are open before hand going before to Judgment and some Men they follow after Likewise also the good Works of some are manifest before hand and they that are otherwise cannot be hid Tho these Verses are taken to have another meaning yet I may as some make this Gloss on them i. e. Some Mens Sins are open notorious appear to all now in this Life they shew their Sin as Sodom and some Mens Sins they are kept secret to the Day of Judgment there 's no noise heard no notice taken of them in the World but these follow after to be opened at this Day Likewise the good Works of some are evident cannot be denied and they that are otherwise cannot be hid i. e. those good things in the Saints that are not manifest but are either concealed by themselves or mistaken and misrepresented by others shall come to light secret Duties shall come abroad wronged Innocence and Integrity shall be cleared This is the first thing this opening imports sc a discovery of Mens Doings a
a great Profession was a Man of eminent Parts praying and discoursing to Admiration when he came to his sick Bed his Friends that visited him expected to hear some great Matters from him and told him that sure he could not but enjoy much Comfort who had been so eminent for the Profession and Practice of Godliness But he answered that he had not that Comfort they thought he had for he found it now with his Soul not according to what Man judgeth but according to the Judgment God passed upon him and God said he judgeth righteous Judgment Thus at this great opening Day it will be with us not according to what we have only seem'd to be or what others have conceiv'd of us but according to what the great God really finds and all will signify nothing if he find not Truth within 5. Let it put you upon serious Endeavours to be entire and perfect in all Points and Parts of Religion to fill up your Christian Profession in every part O Sirs be not partial in your Obedience in with one out with another Duty careful in some things careless in others But make Conscience of every known Duty indulge not any one known Sin tho you fail in every part of your Work yet neglect not any part of it Say not of any Duty as Naaman In this Lord pardon thy Servant 2 Kings 5.18 Excuse me Lord in this Neglect in this Omission in this dispensing with my Duty in this indulging of my Sin I say omit not any part of Duty for the Books must be opened and when these are open what hath been wanting will appear where our Profession hath not been filled up the Gaps and Chasms will be found such an one was forward to publick Duties but was a prayerless Person and had a prayerless Family such an one was much for Duties of the first Table but little for Duties of the second The Books will open Omissions as well as Commissions and God as one says will judg you and may condemn you for what you have not done Not doing is Damning as well as sinful Doing You find in that solemn Process Mat. 25.42 43. that what mention is there made is of Omissions for not doing He does not say you robbed me you persecuted me you put me in Prison but ye gave me not Meat when I was hungry ye did not take me in when I was a Stranger nor visit me when in Prison And this their not doing what they should have done was their undoing and brought Damnation on them Lavater in his Book of walking Spirits relates a Story concerning Severinus a renowned and famous Man in the times he lived in who appeared when he was dead and confessed that he was grievously punish'd because he had not said over his Canonical Hours in due time and distinctly but had hudled them up in haste This is but a Fiction yet certainly Sirs there are many now in Hell for Omissions 6. Let it induce you to Exactness in all your Works and Ways not only to make Conscience of every Duty but to study to be exact therein This Opening may excite to pursue Solomon's Counsel Whatsoever thy Hand findeth to do do it with thy Might i. e. to bring all thy Skill and lay out all thy Strength in the doing of it One drawing the Picture of Alexander while there was a Scar on his Face drew him with his Finger upon the Scar to cover it And Apelles painted another half-faced to cover the want of an Eye But Sirs there are no such Draughts of Persons or Actions in these Books there 's no drawing of Persons with Fingers upon Scars to cover them no drawing of Actions half-faced to conceal Defects and Obliquities in them They are all drawn fully as they are in themselves thy formal Duties will not be found half-faced to conceal the Formality of them thy cold Performances will not be found half-faced to cover their Coldness nor thy uneven walking with Fingers upon the uncomely Haltings therein to hide them O methinks the Thoughts of this should be a mighty Help against the too common Loosness of Christians in their Spirits and Conversations against the careless cold remiss and heartless Performance of Holy Duties 7. Let it be a Spur to Diligence to Unweariedness in the Way and abounding in the Work of the Lord. When Cornelius was praying an Angel was sent from Heaven to him with this Message Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come up for a Memorial before God Acts 10.4 So Christians I am sent with this Message to you to tell you that your Prayers and Alms all your Works of Piety and Charity go up to Heaven and are put on Record in the Books that shall be open at the great Day and may not this be a great Motive to present Diligence and Fruitfulness Consider you shall meet all your layings out for God in the Books your Tears Prayers Doings Sufferings and Reproaches for Christ shall be found when these open There is a Book of Remembrance Mal. 3.16 Christ will remember the feeding of him in his Famishing the clothing of him in his Naked the harbouring of him in his out-cast Members Mat. 25.34 c. A Cup of cold Water shall not be forgotten Mat. 10.42 You shall at this Opening meet all your Layings out for Christ and you shall also then meet the Reward of them all It will be an Opening wherein the Judg will give Reward unto his Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name small and great Rev. 11.18 God will render to every one according to their Deeds to them who by patient Continuance in Well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality Eternal Life Rom. 2.6 7. Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord for as much as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord 1. Cor. 15.58 8. Above all let it put you to clear and evidence your Title to and Interest in Christ This was Paul's great Ambition to win Christ and to be found in him Phil. 3.8 9. O let it be your endeavour Bellarmine tells us of a University where those who were to proceed Doctor had certain hard Questions given them to resolve and four and twenty Hours allow'd them to study for their Answer and according to the Resolution they gave they were either to receive their Degree with Honour or to be sent away with Shame Sirs when the Books are opened this will be the great Question to be resolved sc Whose are you To whom do you belong What Evidences can you show What Proofs can you bring of your Title to Christ And according to the Resolution you give of this you must stand or fall for ever O therefore study this Question now and see whether those things you now bring as Demonstrations of your Acquaintance with Christ and Evidences of your Interest in him be such as
swept them all away Why even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed Many had heard of the Flood but when it came few were in any Readiness for it or found any way of Escape from it So many hear of this Day few will be found in Readiness for it and none shall escape it and may not this awake you to Care in this Behalf O many many many will be then unready look to it that you be not of their Number and that the rather because 5. As you are then found so you are sure to fare for ever Christ will take you just as he finds you at that Day The old World was taken unready and there was no Remedy it was too late to think of preparing Arks. The foolish Virgins were found unready and the Door was shut against them So when Christ comes poor Sinners that are found unready shall have no Time to provide in he 'l take them as he finds them without any Delay Some shall be found in the Bed others in the Mill others in the Field Luke 17.34 35 36. and as they are found so they shall be taken If two be in one Bed one a gracious the other a graceless Person they must immediately be sunder'd the one shall be taken to receive a Sentence of Absolution the other left to lie and sink under a Sentence of Damnation The main Scope of this Discourse is to show that there will be no coming off no mending of Matters no making of things either better or worse than they are found at that Day but all Men shall be dealt with as they are found and differently according to their different States O Sirs when it 's come to this that the Books are opened there will then be no further Transaction about Matters of Salvation or Damnation but the Cause will be presently and clearly determined either with or against you Doth it not then concern every one to labour to get into a Readiness for this Day 6. That this Opening will be very dreadful to them that are unready Many will be found unready every one must stand as he is then found and this Day will be terrible to those on whom it comes in this Case We read of three terrible Openings One when the Fountains of the great Deep were broken up and the Windows of Heaven were opened Gen. 7.11 21 22 23. These were opened and never shut till the World was drown'd Another is the opening of the Earth which closed not again till it had inclosed Korah and those that appertained to him with their Houses and Goods in its Womb. The third is the opening of the Cave at Makkedah which ushered in a speedy Destruction to those Kings that were a little before in great Pomp and State Josh 10.22 23. Ay but Sirs this is a more dreadful Opening than any of these and will be more terrible in it self and to them that come to it unprepared than those were When the Windows of Heaven were opened the World was drowned e're they shut again but when the Books are opened the World of ungodly Men shall be damned e're they shut When the Earth opened it shut not again till it had swallowed up Korah and his wicked Accomplices When the Books are opened the Wicked shall sink into Hell before they be closed again When the Cave was opened Joshua took thence the five Kings and caused the Captains of his Men of War to tread on their Necks and afterwards smote them but when the Books shall be opened the Saints shall tread down the Wicked and they shall be as Ashes under their Feet Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God so as the Wicked shall fall Pray think of it it will be more Terrible than can now be expressed or imagined all the Descriptions and Circumstances of it with reference to Men in their Sins are very dreadful As in a word or two to instance this Day will be dreadful unto Sinners if we look 1. At the Judg who is described descending from Heaven with a Shout with the Voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God 1 Thess 4.16 descending with his mighty Angels accompanied with flaming Fire to take Vengeance 2 Thess 1.7 8. Psal 50.3 Mal. 4.1 to tear Psal 50.22 to punish 1 Thess 1.9 These are tremendous Expressions and if it be nothing to hear them it will be something to see them receiving their accomplishment to see Christ descending with a Shout attended with his mighty Angels clothed in Flames of Fire to tear take Vengeance and punish 2. At the Day which is set out on the like terrible manner as a great Day Jude 6. as a great Day of Wrath Rev. 6.17 as the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2.5 as the Day of Judgment and Perdition of ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3.7 O what appalling Expressions 3. It will be a terrible Day if we look at the poor Sinners who are brought in weeping and wailing at the first opening of this Day Mat. 24.30 Rev. 1.7 O then poor Scoffers who walking after their own Lusts 2 Pet. 3.3 4. say Where is the Promise of his coming shall have their Tune turned They will then turn to their desperate but bootless Shifts When they see him on the Throne they shall cry to the Rocks and Mountains fall on us and hide us from the Face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6.16 But this will be a vain Cry vain I say for the Creature cannot hide when the Creator is in pursuit But tho this be in vain they 'll thus cry which shows the Terror that shall then come upon them And if the seeing of the Judg make them thus a Magormissabib what a taking will they be in when the Books are opening to open all their doings before the whole World What a taking will they be in when the Damnator's Sentence is ringing in their Ears when they are sinking together into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone 4. At the Sentence to be passed on them which is Tristissima Horribilissima most Sad and Horrible Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Every word carries a Wo a thousand Woes a World of Woes in it O Sirs to depart to be sent away to depart Cursed under the Load and Weight of Heaven's Curse to depart cursed from Christ the Fountain of Light the Lord of Glory and the River of Pleasures to depart thence into Fire into everlasting Fire Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels this will be a fearful Thing O when poor Creatures see that there is no escaping but now they must go and go with a Curse for their Portion and go from Christ Angels Saints and Heaven and go to dwell in everlasting Fire and have the Devil and his
Angels for their Companions what Weeping and Wailing will there be among them 5. If we look at the Consequents of this Opening these are very dreadful for this Opening will be immediately followed 1st With an Eternal Opening 1. Of Conscience which will cause restless and endless Terror Horror and Torment 2. Of the bottomless Pit and Lake of Fire where they shall be for ever tormented with everlasting Punishment Mat. 25.46 2ly An everlasting shutting 1. Out of the Presence of God and Kingdom of Heaven 2. In Darkness and under Damnation Now if any say how may we get into such a readiness for this great Opening of the Books as that they may not open to our Shame Confusion and Condemnation Why if you would be ready so as that when the Books open Heaven may not shut and Hell open on you to all Eternity then 1. Be often thinking on this opening Day spend some time every Day in serious Thoughts of this great Day I have before pressed this as a Duty incumbent upon all and now urge it as a Direction for those who would be ready at this Day Wouldst thou be prepared then let this Day be ever in thy Eye by serious Meditation this will be a good help unto thee in several Respects as have been before shown O therefore carry carry this Opening ever in thine Eye When thou openest a Book to read or seest another open one let it put thee in mind of this Opening of the Books When thou seest the Morning opening after a dark Night and bring many things to light that lay covered with Darkness let it put thee on thinking what an Opening there will be in the Morning of the Resurrection and final Judgment how things will then come out When thou seest the Day shutting think what a shutting this great Day will have When thou art undressing thy self and putting off thy Clothes think what a Day this will be when thou and all the Sons of Men must be strip'd and laid open before the World of Angels and Men. When thou hearest of strange discoveries of Thefts Murders and Whoredoms let it mind thee of this Opening that will open all the hidden things of Darkness from the beginning of the World to the end thereof let every thing be thus a Remembrancer to thee of this and set afoot in thee some Thoughts about it I have read of one of the Antients noted for his singular Piety and eminent Holiness who being asked what Books he made his Companions and used most he answered that it was his Practice every Day to read over a Book that had three Leaves one Red a second Black a third White Liber cujus tria folia rubrum nigrum candidum In the Red he used to read and meditate on the bloody Passion of Christ in the Black the Darkness and Damnation of Hell in the White the Light and Glory of Heaven whereby he gained more in the way of practical Godliness than by any other study I would here add a fourth Leaf to this Book viz. This opening Day and commend the reading of it to every one that would be then ready 2. Watch and Pray This is our Saviour's Direction that he prescribes in this Case Luke 21.36 In the foregoing Verses you have 1. Our Saviour's description of this Day 2. His admonition to his Disciples not to be taken unawares and unready ver 34. 3. The Reason of this Admonition For as a Snare shall it come on them that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth Ver. 35. It shall come suddenly and take them unready And then 4. In these words you have his means of prevention prescribed and they are two Watch and Pray Would you not be taken unready Watch exercise your selves in a universal Carefulness over your Hearts and Ways over the Wiles and Ways of Satan over the stirrings and motions of Corruptions in your selves the Occasions and Advantages of Sin in the World that you fall not into Snares And to Watchfulness join Prayer that great safeguarding Duty Watch and Pray Pray and Watch that ye may be accounted worthy Never think that you can be ready at this Day if now in your Day you live at large if you make no matter what Company you walk with what Temptations you run into what Sins you lay at your Door if you 'll be false with God in your Profession unjust with Men in your Dealings if you 'll Drink and Swear and Profane the Lord's Day no no this work will not do I tell you Sirs it will not do Wo to you if any of you put it to this venture and say as alas the Practices of too many say aloud either this shall do or I 'll be undone for then you are sure to be undone for ever If you would have this Day find you ready let to day and to morrow and the next Day find you Praying and Watching find you with your Loins girt and your Lights burning as Servants that wait for their Lord. We read of four Beasts Rev. 4.6 8. that were full of Eyes both before and behind and within Why thus as these had not one but many Eyes so you must be full of Eyes there must be Eyes looking forward observing ever what we have before us what we enter on or put our Hand to and there must be Eyes looking backwards ever reflecting on past Actions on what we have done that we may spy and correct our Errors and there must be Eyes looking inward watching over that cunning deceitful Piece the Heart and the workings thereof They that would be ready at this Day must Watch and Pray at their Day 3. Make the Word of God the Rule of your Conversation in the World This must be the Rule of Judgment then let it be the Rule of your Life now you must be judged by this Book at the great Opening if you would then stand live by it now in your Day This is another thing I would leave with you by way of Direction O take it up You see there must be a great Opening Men must be judged according to their Works and their Works according to the Word so that if you would be ready live now according to this Book and learn to walk according to this Rule in all your Ways and Actions keep an Eye on this We find that the four Beasts Rev. 4.8 had each of them six Wings about him and they were full of Eyes within Wings are for Motion Eyes for guidance and direction in that Motion so that this Phrase imports that their Motion was not blind and lawless but regular and orderly Why thus we must have Eyes under our Wings i. e. our Actions and Motions must be ordered guided and directed by the Light of the Word says David Psal 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path q. d. I am as one in the dark who dare not walk nor stir a step from his Station
without a Light to direct him I dare not walk without thy Word turn into any Way and Course but such as this guides me into and shines on me in So he shows that God's Testimonies were his Counsellors ver 24. He alludes unto the Customs of Kings who have their Counsellors ever ready to assist them in their great and arduous Affairs q. d. As Kings have their Counsellors so have I too thy Testimonies they are the Men of my Counsel in all my Matters I go to them and consult with them I hear what they say and of them I take Direction Why thus Sirs if you would be in readiness for an opening Day let the Word of God be a Lamp to your Feet and let his Testimonies be the Men of your Counsel e're you entertain or take in Thoughts before you send out any Words or set upon any Actions go to this Word with them and hear what it hath to say of this Thought that Word of those Works and let it be your utmost endeavour as far as is possible to put nothing into those Books which shall be opened but what this Book now open warrants and allows If such and such an Action Way or Practice will not stand before the Word let it not stand in your Lives this is the Way to see a comfortable opening at last Si hunc librum Conscientiae recte vis scribere scribe eum secundum exemplar libri vitae Liber vitae est Christus c. If you will write the Book of Conscience aright write it according to the Book of Life the Book of Life is Christ Let the profession of your Faith be conformable to the Rule of his Doctrine and in your Life imitate the Life of Christ Every one that doeth Evil hateth Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved John 3.20 They cannot abide to be tried by Scripture-Rules they dare not put their Doing to be tried by the Book of God but this will make foul work for an opening Day If your Ways cannot stand before the Word now never think that they shall stand before it another Day The Word that now condemns Drunkenness will then condemn it the Word that condemns Oaths and Lies now will condemn them at that Day The Sentence at this great Opening shall not be another or different Sentence but only a Manifestation Confirmation of that which is now passed in the Word upon Men and their Actions O if we would but make it our Care to follow this one Direction and write nothing in those Books which are to be opened but what we take out of the Book which is now open and set before us as our Exemplar and Copy putting nothing on record there but what we find allowed here then what manner of Persons should we be and how far otherwise would the Books be found at this great Opening than most must find them 4. Reckon often with your selves call your selves frequently to account be much in self-examining self-judging Exercises I have read of one who would ask himself three Questions every Night 1. What Evil hast thou healed to Day 2. What Corruption hast thou stood against to Day 3. Wherein or in what art thou bettered now this Day is gone Why on this manner Sirs be often dealing with your selves lay the Word and your own Hearts the Word and your own Ways together at the end of every Day When you have gone over a Day in the World go over it again between the Word and your own Souls and seriously renew your Repentance and Self-accusations You say Often reckoning keeps long Friends O reckon oft with God and your own Souls for if we would judg our selves we should not be judged 1 Cor. 11.31 Our self-accusations would prevent Satan's Accusations against us He is the Accuser of the Brethren and will have many things to charge us with but when a Man accuses and humbles himself Satan is prevented tho he come in with this and the other complaint God will say as it were Why Satan this Man hath accused himself before thou camest thou art here with this now but he was here with it and mourned over it as soon as it was done the same Day and he hath been oft at my Feet about it with Sorrow in his Heart and Tears in his Eyes yea this would not only prevent Satan's Accusations but the Judgment of God Judicio poenitentiali evacuatur judicium poenale Amas If we would judg our selves with a Penitential the Penal Judgment would be prevented Says David Psal 32.5 I acknowledged my Sin unto thee and mine Iniquity have I not hid I said I will confess my Transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my Sin The Spouse privy to her own Infirmities called her self black Cant. 1.5 but Christ calls her fair If we will condemn our selves God will justify us if we put out our Tears that come from a right Spring into his Bottel he will not seal up our Iniquities for which those Tears were shed in a Bag. 5. Make it your great study and care to have and keep Conscience your Friend this is now your constant Companion and goes whither you go this will be a thousand Witnesses yea and a Judg in your own Bosom at that Day Exercise your self as Paul to have always a Conscience void of Offence toward God and toward Men Acts 24.16 Labour to have such a Conscience as may speak well of thee when thou comest to Judgment In die judicii plus valebit Conscientia pura quam marsupla plena Bern. In the Day of Judgment a good Conscience will be better than a full Purse for which many Men wound and wrong and waste their own Consciences This will in that Day be no better than Mire in the Streets but to have a good Conscience go with us to the Bar and witness for us there will be something As you would stand in the Judgment look to this in all your Ways and be often listening to hear what it says to you and of you It 's said of Apelles the famous Painter that when he had finished a Draught he would usually expose it to view and lie behind it that he might hear what others said of it Why on this manner bring all your Actions to the view of Conscience and hear what this going by a right Rule and rightly informed says of them for if our Heart condemn us God is greater than our Heart and knoweth all things 1 John 3.20 This is but the Deputy-Judg and if this condemn the great and supreme Judg will not absolve Art thou forced now to neglect and disregard to silence and slight nay to wound and resist thy Conscience would it stop thee and thou wilt not be stopped Why alas the Day is coming when this Conscience will surely condemn thee and God who is greater than Conscience will condemn thee Sirs if you would have Conscience your Friend