that our accounts must beginne before God himselfe wee must stand naked in his sight and who then can thinke to hide his sins from him Hee knoweth the heart and trieth the reines and his eyes are like a flame of fire Reuel 2. O how this should mooue euerie man and woman often to bethinke himselfe of this time when hee shall come to his accompt euen before the eternall God who cannot be deceiued nor bribed If a malefactor come before the Iudge that is guiltie of treason or murder how hee quakes to thinke of the terrour and seueritie of the Iudge hee is afraide and trembles to appeare in his presence How much more should we tremble and quake And how should hard-hearted sinners be at their wittes end to thinke they must come to stand before God to appeare at the barre of the euer-liuing and most mighty Iehoua who can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire O what secure and carelesse wretches are wee that are nothing mooued with these things to repent and to turne to God to leaue our foule and filthie sinnes And if a poore prisoner condemned should laugh and bee merrie would not all men thinke him to be a mad-man And shall not we be worse then madde-men if we neuer come to thinke of these things If a poore traueller that hath but one penny in his purse shal come to an Inne call for all manner of dainties and neuer thinke of the shotte would not all men thinke him madde and out of his wittes VVhat madnesse then is in euery one of vs all if in this our pilgrimage or trauaile on earth we spend our dayes in pleasure bathe our selues in sport and pastimes carking and caring for the things of this world and neuer to bethinke our selues as to say Alas what do I now I eate I drinke I carde I dice I take my pleasure and bathe my selfe in delight but woe is me I must com to iudgement I must giue my reckoning l I must stand before GOD one day and there giue an account O that we had hearts to thinke of this both young and old rich and poore Minister and people that wee must stand bellie-naked before God that wee must giue an account of all our sinnes to his Maiestie It would bridle vs and keep vs from many presumptuous sinnes which now we commit The end of the first Sermon The great Assize THE SECOND SERMON REVEL 20.12 c. 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God and the Bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the books according to their works WEe haue heard alreadie the person of the Iudge described vnto vs with what vnspeakable maiestie and glorie he shall come to the great comfort of the godly and also with what wonderfull terror he will come to the great terror of the wicked Secondly wee haue heere who shall be cited to appeare Both great and small 1. Thes 1.8 al must appeare Now follows in the third place the most speciall and principall matter of all namely after what manner all men shall be iudged in these words And the bookes were-opened c. We see that earthlie Iudges are brought vnto the Bench with great attendance They being set the prisoners are brought forth and are called ouer one by one and their matters are heard and witnesses produced and so according to their faults they receiue iudgement Euen so at this great day of the Lord Christ Iesus shall come with a thousand of Angels and before him shall stand all men and women Both great and small And then shal the Books be brought forth Indeed we see when an earthly iudge sits on the Bench it holds a long time to trie causes such witnesses and such euidences must be produced But it shall not be so at the last day for when all men shall stand at the barre of Christs iudgement they shal then be iudged according to the written Records euen according to the Bookes for they shall then be opened Books whaâ— is meant by them Now if you would know what these Bookes bee it is easie to know for they be euen the particular conscience of euery man and woman thy conscience is the booke that shall be opened and that shall be as good as ten thousand witnesses either to excuse or accuse thee before God For there shall neede no other witnesse no other euidence against vs at the last but our own conscience For as God hath his Booke of infinite Knowledge whereby he knoweth the sinnes of all men and women as certainly as if they were written in a booke and though men forget them yet the Lord remembreth them So hee hath giuen vnto euerie man and woman a booke their owne conscience wherein are written all our thoughts words and deedes so as none shall escape And the Bookes are two the Booke of the Law and the Book of Conscience the one shewing a man what he should doe the other what he hath done Against the booke of the Law none shall be able to except For the commandements of the Lord are pure and righteous altogether Psal 19.9 And as for the booke of Conscience who can deny it or except against it seeing the Lord will now iudge a man not by another mans Conscience but by his owne the which he hath alwayes had in his owne keeping euen in his owne bosome Now seeing heere what is meant by these bookes namely euery mans particular Conscience let vs come to search what bee the things written in this booke and first what vse we are to make vnto our selues from this Euery mans booke shall be opened c. First in these books are written euerie thought of our heart In the Bookes of our consâ—ince is written Our 〈…〉 none so secret or so close but it is here recorded Secondly euerie speech and word of our mouth Thirdly euery deed that men do Thou hast sealed vp all our sinnes in a bagge saith Iob to shew the exact kind of keeping of them against that day of account Surely if there be any thing in a man to be maruailed at I must needs confesse that this is a wonderfull worke of God that hee hath giuen to euery man and woman a Conscience which is like vnto a booke in which is recorded all our thoughts words and works A wicked man an vnchaste woman how many thousand vile filthy thoughts haue they in their mindes night and day their hearts burne in lust and in vncleannesse now they passe away to them they regard them not they make little or no account of them But alas they are all written in this Booke of thy conscience thy conscience markes them thy conscience writes them downe And if thou repent not of them and leaue them O woe to thy soule when these Bookes come to bee opened and read ouer
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 vnto 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 vs all aboue all things in the world to looke vnto this to keepe our Bookes faire For if our consciences doe accuse vs GOD is greater then our conscience and doth know all things Secondly seeing sentence must passe according vnto 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 vs all be carefull to auoide not onely the outward actions themselues but euen these vncleane thoghts of ours for euen they must come vnto 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 Thoughts shall either excuse or accuse vs. 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 euen our sinfull thoughts euen they were enough to condemne vs 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 vnto you That for euery idle word men shall giue 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 are done in his body Reuel 2.8 Mat. 25.41 Reu. 14.13 according to that hee hath done whether it be good or euil We shal be 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 shal be acquitted and absolued or else condemned by their workes For though no man can merit life and saluation at the handes of God by his workes yet wee must know that iudgement shal proceede at the last day according vnto mens workes If thy workes haue 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 vnto 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 vs 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 loue zeale clothing feeding and lodging the poore members of Christ Iesus For according 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 vs and reward them in his mercy though we merite nothing Dost thou releeue a poore member of IESVS CHRIST Dost thou giue 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. O how should this perswade all of vs to labour to abound in all holie dueties to be liberall and bountifull vnto 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 vs no good they will bring endlesse peace and comfort to our Soules Againe it ought to terrifie vs all from sin from euill workes and vngodly wayes from swearing drunkennes vncleanenes and euery euill way For if wee bee full of these and these bee found written in our Bookes O then woe vnto vs when these Bookes shall come to bee opened for then nothing but death hel and damnation belongs vnto vs. Heere we see that of all wee Doctr. 2 haue and enioy in this world what shall goe with vs 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 vs. 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 onely 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 woes 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 thinke 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
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 wee shall bee crowned with a Crowne of immortall Glorie c. Agayne vnto 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 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 vs all Beloued to looke vnto our selues to take heed we doe not vse our bodies to the dishonour of God Wouldest thou haue thy bodie to bee partaker of Life Felicitie Glorie and Saluation in heauen Then vse thy bodie now to the glorie of God vpon 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 vpon the rich Glutton 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 he 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 haue 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 vs not deceiue our owne soules it can not be For saith the Apostle 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 vs all this Doctrine namely not to weepe and mourne immoderatly for our friends deceased True it is that CHRIST IESVS wept for Lazarus Iohn 11. and the Disciples made great lamentation for Stephen Acts 7. And so wee haue 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 haue you ignorant brethren concerning those that bee asleepe that you should mourne at they that haue no hope 1. Thess 4.13 Where the holy-Ghost tells vs 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 And they were iudged euery man according to their workes MArke I pray you how the holy Ghost repeates this point againe and againe he beates vpon it he can neuer haue 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 euery man according to his workes What should bee the cause why the Holy-Ghost so often repeats this point and beates so vpon it againe and againe I answere The cause is in vs 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 That he shall be iudged according to his workes Oh it is a hard matter to perswade men and women of this That they must giue 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 mercie 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 Heere 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 vpon sinne and one vngodly way vpon another whereas all the sinnes of GODS children who doe repent be quit and pardoned in Christ 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 loue 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 repent nor haue no faith nor good workes euen so as their workes shall bee so
an especiall grace of God to iustifie a poore sinner that must be saued And whosoeuer is not iustified cannot be saued Iustification hath two parts First the pardon of sinne secondly the imputation of Christs righteousnesse For that before a man can be iustified hee must repent him of his sinnes know them hate them and begge the pardon of them and then Christ Iesus will assure vs of the pardon of them And therefore if wee would know whether we be iustified or not we must looke whether we haue truely repented yea and haue beene truely humbled for our sinnes and got the pardon of them all Secondly that wee may bee truely iustified wee must haue a true faith in Christ Iesus to lay hold vpon him to be perswaded and assured in our soules that Christ died for me shed his Bloud for me obeyed the Law for me and will couer all my sinnes in his Righteousnes So then marke the conclusion where there is repentance there is Remission of sinnes where there is remission of sins there is iustification and where there is iustification there is saluation And on the contrarie parts where there is no repentance there is no remission of sinnes where there is no remission of sinnes there is no iustification and where there is no iustification there is no saluation O then what shall become of those that liue in sin delight in sin and neuer as yet could shed one teare for their manifold and grieuous sinnes They can not finde themselues to bee iustified they can haue no pardon of their sinnes so long as they liue in sin And therefore if you would knovv vvhether you shall be saued or not labour first of all to repent and to lay hold on Christ by Fayth that so he may couer your sins in his Bloud Thirdly fruite of Election is sanctified And this is a speciall marke of Gods childe 2 The. 2.13 to be regenerate to be sanctified Now Sanctification standeth in two parts first they must dye vnto sinne secondly they must rise to righteousnesse And would you know then assuredly whether your names are written in the Booke of Life Looke vnto your soules If you finde that you are sanctified if you hate your olde sinnes and filthie wayes if you loue Vertues and delight in all holy dueties then it is a certaine token that ye belong vnto God Rom. 8.1 For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ But if you do sauour the things of the flesh lying in the old sins Drunkennesse c. why then certainely you haue no assurance of saluation that you can be saued But you must needes sing this dolefull Song I know not what shall become of my poore Soule whether I shall be saued or damned Nay if thou liue in sinne thou maist iustly feare that thou art a firebrand of hell For Hee that is borne of God sinneth not 1. Ioh. 5.18 And Let euery one that calles on the name of the Lord depart from iniquity 2. Tim. 2. Thus to die to sin and to liue to righteousnes is a sure token that wee belong to God Thus you see how a man may come to know whether hee be elected and ordayned to Life or not Now let vs see what vse ariseth hence Seeing God hath his Booke Vse 1 of Life in which be written the names of all those that shall bee saued and none of them shall perish hence cometh endlesse comfort to all Gods children If thou finde that thou art the childe of God and thy name is written in Heauen nothing can hurt thee though thou bee poore sicke full of sores in prison hated contemned yet nothing can hurt thee Nay all the gates of Hell can not preuaile against thee no damnation can come vnto thee For if God do iustifie who can condemne for at the day of Iudgement Christ Iesus will take his Booke of Life and call vs saying Come yee blessed So as we shall not come to a terrible Iudgement but to a louing Sauiour Secondly seeing that it is so excellent a thing to haue our names written in this Booke to be the Elect childe of God we should labour for this aboue all things in the world for without this wee can haue no sound comfort either in life or death And therefore our Sauior bids vs in the tenth of Luke not to boast our selues of Learning of Wisedome of Riches whereas these are but vaine things but to reioyce that our names bee written in heauen Thirdly seeing God hath a Booke of Life and hath written downe the very names of euery man and woman that shall be saued and hath withall shewed vs the way that leads vnto Life and vnlesse we walk in this way we can not come vnto it It is our wisedome to walke in the way that leades to Life in the practise of Godlinesse VVee are Vesselles of Honour and therefore must liue soberly iustly and godly in this present world Not to serue sinne and Sathan any longer But as the redeemed of the Lord to walke from strength to strength from vertue to vertue from one degree of Perfection to an other till at length wee appeare before the Lord and there to reape the happie revvard euen the ful fruition of all happinesse and that for euermore The end of the second Sermon The 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 euery man according to their workes COncerning the Booke of Life we haue heard already what is meant by it namely the Councell and Decree of GODS Election whereby hee hath chosen certaine men and women from out of the lump of Mankinde vpon whom hee will bestow Eternall Life Secondly wee haue learned that a man may nay euery 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. 8.16 whereby a true Christian may be assured hee is elected namely 1. Cor. 2 First the testimony of Gods Spirit which cannot lie Secondly by the fruites and effects of Election as Vocation Iustification Sanctification loue of the Brethren 1 Ioh. 3.14 and obedience vnto all the Commaundements of God And therefore it stands vs all in hand to labour for this assurance of Election else wee cannot be saued Luke 10.20 and without it wee can haue no true ioy vnto 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 vnto him by the Lord Iesus Christ
himselfe in a Vision and sheweth after what manner we shal be all iudged Euen according to those things written in the Booke according vnto our workes You haue heard before that hee saw all both great and small stand before God none shall 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 vpon 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 minde 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 haue 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 euen those which haue 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 his 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 haue some passage to endlesse woe and miserie For when they be dead and buried their sins doe not die with them their misery is not then ended O no then begins their endlesse miserie torment Oh it were good they might haue 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 haue 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 iudgement 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 haue laine a many hundred yeares in the graue and then their old sinnes and secret sinnes must come to light Oh let vs then watch ouer our liues and haue 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 sinnes wee would thinke would neuer be called to accompt euen they must come to a reckoning In the next place Saint Iohn tells vs 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 haue 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 these Bookes I told you they be all our thoughts wordes and workes not onely our grosse sinnes as murder c. but in our Bookes bee recorded euen our idle and vaine words euery vile and filthy thought and by these Sentence must proceede and according to these must Iudgement be awarded Now then those which haue 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 haue their Bookes layd open that their repentance their faith loue 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 Vse 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 vs 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 vs at the day of Iudgement Acts 24. This was the care of the blessed Apostle saint Paul Acts 24 in regard of this that wee must all come vnto iudgement and our consciences must be layed open and wee iudged according to the things therein recorded it made this holie seruant of God to take all
THE GREAT ASSIZE OR DAY OF IVBILEE Deliuered in foure Sermons vpon the 20. chapter of the Reuel ver 12.13.14.15 Whereunto are annexed two Sermons vpon the 1. chapter of the Canticles verse 6.7 The second Impression corrected and amended by the Authour SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the word of God at Prittlewell in Essex Math. 12.36 I say vnto you That of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof at the day of Iudgement LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES 1617. ⧠TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND VERtuous Gentlewoman Mistresse IANE ELIOT of Newland Hall SAMVEL SMITH wisheth the encrease of all true comfort in this life and eternall happinesse in the next RIGHT Worshipful the Apostle Paul hath told vs That In the last dayes shall come perillous times For men shall bee louers of their owne selues couetous boasters prowd cursed speakers Disobedient to parents vnthankefull vnholie without Natural affection Truce-breakers false accusers intemperate fierce no Louers at all of them which are good traytours heady high-minded Louers of pleasures more then louers of God hauing a shew of godlinesse but yet denie the power thereof And they are the words of our Sauiour himselfe that as it was in the dayes of Noah So shall the comming of the Son of man be And againe vvhen the Sonne of man commeth shall hee finde Faith vpon earth When were these perilous times Saint Peter speaketh of if not now When was there the like securitie When gaue men themselues ouer to their owne hearts lust more then now By the which then wee see that we are they Vpon whom the ends of the world are come and that wee must all shortly be called to accompt for these things The Nineuites fast and repent the Publicans do feare and quake when Ionas cryeth to the one and Iohn to the other of iudgement to come Ahab is humbled and Felix trembles when from Elias and Paule they heare of death and Judgement yet alas where is the man among vs that thinkes of these things Doe not men crie Peace peace till destruction come vpon them as the Trauell vpon a woman with childe Shee thinketh not of the paine vntill it come and they thinke not of this day of reckoning till it come This is the security of our Age so that we may now looke for an end to be put vnto these sinnefull daies for vvhat are they but the fore-runners of that last and dreadfull day The Lord make vs wise betimes that we may think of that Great Assise and the account that we are then to make I haue heere endeauoured in a weake measure to vnfold the Doctrine of the day of Judgement the which J here present vnto your Worship in regard of the demonstration of my vnfained thankefulnes for your extraordinary kindnesse bestowed vpon me As also in regard of the great affection and good deuotion you beare to the Truth Accept therfore I pray you what is heere offred vnto you and take in good part my indeuour therein so I humbly take my leaue Resting Your Worships in all Christian duetie to be commanded SAMVEL SMITH ⧠To the Christian Reader Grace and Peace from IESVS CHRIST the Prince of Peace CHristian Reader I present heere vnto thy view the third publique fruite of my Ministerie wherein I haue endeuoured that those especially of mine owne Hearers might a second time take notice of my Exercises that in publike I deliuered vnto them The night commeth when no man can worke therefore it stands vs all in hand both Minister and People to esteeme of Time as the most precious thing in the world and the rather because we know not how soone we shall be called to an account of our Works Many haue had many times many good purposes of hart to cleaue vnto the Lord that haue beene preuented by Death for want of timely Repentance It shall then be our wisedome To agree with our Aduersarie while wee are in the way with him for if wee be but once arrested by Death we shall be sure to pay the vtmost farthing Vse this as a help vnto thee to better thee in the performance of that dutie which concerns thee so nearly That thou must one day giue an accompt of thy Workes If thou reape any benefit by it giue the praise vnto God from whom euery good perfect gift proceedeth and help me in thy praiers which I shall take as a full recompence of all my Labours and be encoraged to spend some houres more in the like dueties for thy good In the meane time I remaine Thine in the common Sauiour SAMVEL SMITH THE GREAT ASSIZE The first Sermon REVEL 20.11.12 c. 11 And I sawe a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose Face fled away both the Earth and the Heauen and their place was no more found 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God and the Bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the book of Life the dead vvere iudged of those things vvhich vvere vvritten in the books according to their deeds 13 And the Sea gaue vp her dead which were in her and Death and Hell deliuered vp the dead that were in them and they were iudged euery man according to his deeds 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death 15 And whosoeuer was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the lake of fire HAVING spoken not long since of the Comming of CHRIST into his Garden Cant. 5.1 or into his Church and of his kinde and princely offers vnto vs suing for entertainment at our hands being his first comming vnto vs heere in this vale of Teares I thought it verie necessarie to speake something of his second comming that those that will not be moued with the former might be terrified with the latter To which purpose I haue made choyce of this place of Scripture in which this matter as you see is at large described with many necessary circūstances needfull to be knowne and learned of euerie one of vs all For heere the second comming of Christ is reuealed to Saint Iohn in a vision from Heauen euen in that manner in which Christ will come at the last day For these fiue Verses containe in them nothing else but a liuely and heauenly description of the second coming of Christ to Iudgement with all the circumstances belonging to the same The parts of the Text. For first if you would know with what Maiestie Power Integritie Seueritie and Terrour this great Iudge will come you may see the person of the Iudge described in the first verse of this present Text. Secondly if you would vnderstand what persons must be cited and summoned who must appeare Saint Iohn saith heere he Sawe the dead both great and small stand before the Iudge all that euer are that haue been or shall bee vnto the end of the
For then thy conscience will accuse and lay to thy charge euery one of them in order Thou hast set my misdeeds before me and my secret sins in the sight of thy countenance saith Dauid Againe in the heart of man what anger what enuy what malice lurke therein and they passe it ouer and thinke it no matter Well know beloued that vnlesse you repent of the very thoughts of the hearts euen these things will be found written in the bookes at the day of Iudgement and what a lamentable thing will that be 2. Our thoughts Secondly as conscience is priuie to all our thoughts and wil accuse vs of them at the day of Iudgement so all our speeches are noted therein What a number of wicked speeches passe out of the mouth of wicked and vaine men and women what horrible and blasphemous oathes what cursed speaking lying and slaundering Now a wicked person that thus abuseth his tongue so many thousand times in a day he cannot for his life remember them VVell know that euerie sinnefull word thou speakest is written in this booke there it is recorded and when this Booke of thy conscience shall be opened it will discouer all thy sinnes not onely thy filthy thoughts but euery wicked word Our Sauiour tels vs Mat. 12.36 that we must giue an account of euery wicked word at the day of â—udgement For though men labour to forget them yet they are written in their consciences one day shall come to iudgement O how this should awaken vs all and cause vs to looke vnto our liues to make a couenant with our eyes as Iob did and to set a watch before our mouths as Dauid did and to lay aside our vaine oathes and idle mirth which as Salomon saith cannot want iniquitie seeing one day they must all of them come to iudgement 3 Our workes Thirdly if we come vnto the liues of men and women why alas they bee nothing almost but a continuall practise of sin as the sinnes of mens liues they bee innumerable euen as the Sands on the Sea shore Now though mens liues abound with so many thousand sinnes yet we see man perceiues not nor knowes not one quarter of his sinnes It may be hee knoweth some but alas they forget the greatest part of them But yet they be all written in this booke of thy Conscience and they shall all come to Iudgement When these Bookes shall bee read then all thy sinnes shall be made manifest though neuer so secret for thy Conscience doth marke them all and pen them downe against this day of account Now seeing what is meant by this booke our Conscience and likevvise what bee written in them euen all our thoughts words and workes let vs come to see what vse wee are to make of this Doctrine first Hence first of all wee may obserue the endlesse loue and mercie of our God towards vs foretelling euery Vse 1 one of vs novv of the opening of these Bookes that our consciences shall be layd open these Bookes vnclasped and all our thoughts words and works must come to iudgement Surely it is to this end and purpose that we might preuent the danger that is to come and labour to keep a good conscience washed and purged in the bloud of Christ that it may not lay to our charge any one sinne but assure vs that we are in the fauor of God Vse 2 Secondly we see here that it is not enough for a man or a woman to abstayne from euill wordes and workes but euill thoughts likewise the very lust of the heart Paul complaines of this Rom. 7. and Peter bids Simon Magus to repent and pray Actes 8. if perhaps the thoughts of his heart might be pardoned I doubt not but the children of God are carefull ouer their very thoughts For a wicked carnal man may abstaine from some grieuous sinnes But it is a note of the true childe of GOD to repent of his euill thoughts and to be carefull ouer them Thirdly seeing euery mans Vse 3 conscience is this booke and euery mans sin is penned downe therein we may see the wofull misery of all those that haue defiled consciences filthy and vncleane hearts For looke how their consciences doe accuse them euen so will God condemne And hauing not repented of their sinnes they carry a tormentor within them namely a guilty and an accusing conscience which is their Iudge to condemne them and their hell to torment them Vse 4 Fourthly seeing the bookes must be opened and euery mans conscience must come to scanning because sentence shall passe and iudgement shall bee awarded accordyng to the things written in euery mans conscience How should this cause vs all both Minister and people to labour to get a good conscience If thy conscience be good thou shalt not faile to bee blessed if thy conscience be filthy and polluted thou art accursed The mean to get a good conscience And therefore it should bee our chiefest care our chiefest study and our chiefest desire all our life time to keepe a good conscience Now if you aske how is it possible to get a good conscience I answere for the getting and keeping of faith and a good conscience we must know that it is done by the vse of the word of God Ioh. 17. Sanctifie them by thy Trueth Thy word is the Trueth All graces of Gods spirit are wrought by his word But that wee may get a good conscience we must First repent of all our sinnes wee must know by the Lawe of God what is sin what is not Secondly we must know the heauie curse of GOD euen for sinne that the reward of sinne is death eternall both of Bodie and Soule For men doe by nature blesse themselues in their sinnes and though we heare of Gods Iudgements against sin yet whose heart is touched and troubled Thus men runne on still in sinne and feare nothing They meane well they say but yet liue ill and thinke all is well Thirdly til we see what sinne is and then see the curse of God due to sinne we shall neuer seriously try our consciences and see how our sins haue wounded them that so we may repent vs of sinne Fourthly we must be grieued for our sinnes wee must acknowledge and confesse them begging for pardon of them and to hunger and thirst after Christ Iesus For there is nothing that can purifie the conscience and quiet the heart but onely the bloud of Iesus Christ applied to our soules by Faith with perswasion of the forgiuenesse of them Marke heere then beloued when a man is thus humbled for his sinnes and beggeth the pardon of them earnestly with sighes and groanes then will the Lord send downe into his soule his blessed Spirit to assure vs of gods mercy of the pardon of our sinnes that our wounds in conscience are healed and this is done by the meanes of Faith Acts 15.9 which purifies the conscience Hereby we
and by certaine markes and testimonies in our owne hearts to prooue that we are in the number of Gods Elect. For as Salomon saith Pro. 27.19 As water sheweth face to face Euen so the heart sheweth man to man Euen as a glasse sheweth what a mans face is so will a mans heart and conscience shew what man is in the sight of God Then if you would now know whether your names be written in the Booke of Life that is whether you bee the elect of God and heires of eternall Life you must now enter into your owne soules 2 Cor. 13 proue your selues and you shal certainly know whether you shall bee saued or damned For if thou finde in thee the true marks and notes of Gods childrē thou needest not feare but that thy name is in this Booke and thou shalt certainely be saued But as for wicked and prophane men and women that make no conscience of sinne they shall in spite of their teeth vpon this examination sing the dolefull tune I am a damned sinner I know not what will become of my poore soule at the day of Iudgement And therefore that we might in some measure trie our selues and iudge whether we be in this booke and so shall be saued let vs search out of the holie word of God some certaine marks of Gods children The first marke whereby we may know whether we be elect or not is the inward testimony and witnesse of Gods spirit Rom. 8.15 Yee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe but ye haue c. Whereby Saint Paul tells vs that wicked and vngodly sinners which haue not the spirit of God to guide them but liue in sinne they haue onelie the spirit of Bondage they haue no tru peace in their souls but they that be the children of God haue the Spirit of Adoption who seales vnto our harts the assurance of our adoption and election and doth make it knowne vnto vs that we are the Sonnes of God For his Spirit doth witnesse to our spirits that we are the Sonnes of God Romans 8.16 And that no man might deceiue himselfe and thinke hee hath the testimonie of GODS Spirit when hee hath it not Saint Paul giueth vs two most excellent notes to know whether wee haue the testimonie of GODS Spirit yea or not It maketh vs crie Abba Father Where the Spirit of God doth witnesse to any mans soule that hee is the childe of God It will make him cry to God and euen fill heauen and earth with crying and teares with sobbes and sighes for the pardon of his sins And hee which hath not this in him that hee cannot crie vnto GOD for pardon of his sinnes this man can not truely assure himselfe that hee is the Childe of God And though men say they hope to be saued yet alas they seldome or neuer pray vnto God for the pardon of their sinnes Secondly if wee finde the testimony of GODS Spirit that wee are the children of God It will make vs not onely to bee earnest with God for pardon of our sinnes but it will make vs cry Abba Father that is it will make vs beare the tender affection of a duetifull childe so as we shall be afraide to offend so louing a Father And therefore all those which delight in sinne and are not afrayde to offend GOD Surely they can find no assurance that they be the children of God And therefore if you desire to be assured that the names be in this Booke labour to finde this testimony of Gods Spirit to witnesse vnto your Soules that you belong vnto God and labour to be earnest in prayer vnto God for that is a speciall worke of Gods Spirit 1. Cor. 2.12 The second means whereby we may know whether our names be written in the Booke of Life is by the word of GOD. For the word of God tells vs whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ Iesu shall be saued But the childe of God hearing this promise opened and applied by the Ministerie of Gods word is able to say I beleeue and am able to apply this promise to my selfe For no man hath faith but hee knoweth that hee hath it and therefore can say seeing I beleeue with all my heart surely I know I shall be saued Thirdly besides the blessed testimony of Gods Spirit which cannot deceiue and the witnes of the word of GOD wee may know our election by the fruits and effects thereof As wee say a man is aliue so long as we see him breathe and can iudge of the Tree by the fruits Euen so by the effects of Election wee may know whether our names be in the Booke of Life or not Now the fruites of Election bee set downe by the Holie-Ghost that al men might be able to examine and try themselues and know whether they bee ordayned to Life or not Whom GOD predestinated Rom. 8.30 them also hee Called and whom he Called them also he Iustified and whom hee Iustified them also he Glorified Where we may beholde the markes of our Election For all that be elected to Life Eternall and bee written in this Booke they are first called secondly iustified and thirdly sanctified So then if you would know whether you bee elected to life looke to these three effects of Election Art thou Called art thou Iustified art thou sanctified Then sure thou art Elected But if thou hast not these three then canst thou not assure thy selfe of thy saluation So then the first fruite of our Election is our effectuall Calling when as God doth by the Preaching of the Gospell call vs out of the world from our olde sinnes to be of the number of his people to liue as his children Againe when a man cometh to the preaching of the Word to see his sinnes and Gods anger for them dislikes them is grieued for them bewailes them and begs the pardon for them and beginnes to become a new man to beleeue in Christ Iesu to seeke after Gods Kingdome Hee which findeth this effectuall calling in him he may assure his Soule that hee is Predestinated to Eternall Life But wee must take heed that wee deceiue not our selues with an outward calling for our Sauiour saith Mat. 22. Many are called but few are chosen Many doe heare the word of God with the eare but wee must labour to finde the Spirit of God to preach vnto our Soules to applie the Word to our conscience to beleeue it and to obey it And therefore they which liue in their old sinnes as blind ignorant and prophane as euer before alas how can they thinke to be saued seeing God chooses none or saues not any but whom he calles effectually by the Gospel 2 Thess 2.13 and seuers from the rest of the world Secondly the fruit of Election is Iustification For whom he predestinated them hee called So then heere is an other token and marke to know whether we be Elected namely or Iustified Now this is
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 vs nor stand vs 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 vnto thee at the last O then let vs looke to our selues let vs not set our hearts too much vppon these things which cannot profite vs in this hote fierie day of triall Why should wee bee so foolish to set our hearts vpon that cannot helpe vs nay which we must leaue behinde vs. 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 vnto iudgement but onely your works let vs lay aside our immoderate care for the world yea and the things of this world for these must stay behind vs and cannot helpe vs in the day of Iudgement Let vs labour for better things for durable treasures for a good conscience to abound in good workes in knowledge faith and repentance Let vs take heed wee be not found naked of these O what a woefull case are they in that haue 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 and the wicked vnbeleeuers be condemned already How saith he that all shal be 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 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 vniust 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 haue neede to labour to know them 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 loue your soules loue this word of God labour to know it embrace it If thou be ignorant of it and yeelde not obedience vnto it it shall stand against thee at the daie of Iudgement and thou must be tryed by it Therefore let vs 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 euery 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 vnto the end of the world Now heere might a question arise How this can bee How is it possible that all men should come to Iudgement There haue beene many thousands which haue beene drowned in the Sea and the fishes haue deuoured them some haue beene slaine in the field and the fowles haue eaten their flesh and many haue 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 haue beene drowned fishes haue eaten them men againe perhaps haue eaten the fishes and they that haue beene burnt to ashes their ashes haue 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 â—o say that there shall be no resurrection but 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 mercie 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 loue 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 ease 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