also other exteriour circles if any such be beyond our sight and probable conjecture By the στοιχεια Elements I vnderstand according to the nature of the word the Elements of Fire Aire Earth water whereof other creatures haue their constitution all which by that Iudiciall heate shall be loosed By the Earth and works therein I vnderstand the grosse corrupt commixture of the Earth together with the edifices and other workes of men remaining vpon the corrupt composition of the earth for otherwise every Scholler knoweth that the Elements are essences substances simple single as is the spirite of man That the Heavens are saide to passe away with an hissing noise he would teach that in that great daye the celestiall spheres shal depart or giue place with an hissing as doeth a scroule of parchment having received fire This sense is probable from the forme of speach vsed by Iohn where hee saith * Rev. 6.14 The Heauens departed as a scroule when it is rolled I well vnderstand that Iohn there speaketh of an other Heauen namely of the heavenlie places of the Saintes and visible face of the true Christian Church making as Paule faith * 2. Thess 2.3 A departure but as for the phrase or forme of speache it is borrowed from this effect as though hee should say The face of the mysticall Heauen the Church shall so depart from his former outstretched visibilitie as shall the materiall Heauens at last when they shall role away together As this by the way giveth a gird vnto these that pleade a perpetuall outstreatched visibilitie of the Church so it plainlie pronounceth that the superiour heavens shall once even in the day of the Lord depart and run together as a scroll That it is saide The Elements shall melt or bee loosed vvith heat or as they doe heate I know not what but this shuld be meant namely that the Elements and simple substances who nowe are commixt and possessed with corruption shall then bee loosed as pure siluer is melted from their commixture drosse and corruption and so consequentlie be restored into their first excellencie and libertie seeing this is the end of their groaning Rom. 8.19.20.21 Oh thou Churle that nowe cries Heart be at rest and oh thou Harlot that saiest with Babell * Isai 47.10 I am and none else what wilt thou do when the Heauens rattle the Elements melte the Earth and all earthly things are set on flame flie out of the Citie the fire is in the fieldes run out of Iudea the fire is in Syria climbe Nimrods Towre sulphure from Heaven powres down vpon thee skulpe in the cavernes of the earth and the earth it selfe falls on burning like a barrel of pitch descend into the Seas and the water is vanished through heat Nowe Cain the Citie builder shall see his Cittie on fire Absaloms Piller shall frye and hee that intytleth his house by his name shall in this great daye see it whollie on a flame Oh London London and oh ye her sister Citties in this great daye of the Lord if so the Lord meet not with you before what shal become of your golden shewes in your shops What in this daye shall become of your sumpteous ward-robes what shal then become of the rentalls debtbooks Surely this destinate fire shall pay all debts All these earthly works shall be set on flame and in a moment and trice all shall be consumed for which all haue cared and some consumed themselues The King as poore as the pesant and the meanest Cobler equal with Caesar If thou wilt hardly giue credence to me enquire of Diues that hauing passed the Session awayteth with horrour the generall Assises and hee will tell thee that his back and his soft rayment his bellie and his daintie fare haue made an everlasting parting Lazarus as rich as himselfe nay as riche and blessed in Abrahams bosome aboue by reason of faith as himselfe is beggerlie and accursed not worth a drop of cold water lodged in the Devils bosome belowe by reason he had no faith at least no liuely working faith The miserable Churle in the Gospell having filled his barnes sate downe saying Nowe soule rest thee but immediatlie hee heard from Heauen this speach Thou foole this night they shall take away thy soule Thus a fool and his substance were quicklie parted and when hee dreamed his soule shuld be at most rest then it was vtterlie divorced from rest And if before the great day of the Lord we see even every daye that worldlings and the world are sundred al they take with them to be but a winding sheet what shall we think of this great day of fire devouring vnmercifull fire that will not leaue so much as a winding sheet vnburnt to ashes when the Heavens shal depart with hissing the Elements dissolue the Earth and his workes be set on fierie flame what shall become of the gods of the Heathen and of our Romish halfe-gods and halfe-goddesses made of gold silver bone stone will they then for the Popes sake escape this devouring fire * Gen. 31.34 Rahel vnder the collour of a foule disease could cover her pretty gods from Labans eies But in this great daye who will cover their painted enoyled shrines no cursed shall be both Image and Image-maker howsoever now they are tearmed Lay-mens books yet in that great day it shall appeare true Habak 2.18 that Habakkuk long since writ namely that they are but teachers of lies Oh day of horrour oh thou day of feare and trembling oh that man is forgetfull of thee now pursuing egerlie after worldly trash vanitie all which in that great daye shal be turned into ashes Gold silver pretious stone trees plants hearbes flowers straw dyrt dunge all shall be jumbled togeather all wrapped vp in one for this is a fire of wrath and confusion All which well waighed what marvell was it that Salomon shuld crie out * Eccles 1.1 Vanitie of vanities Vanitie of vanities all is but vanitie When the fire shall cause all the glory of this worlde to vanish no marvel if it be called vanitie most vaine then is man that sells his soule and bodye to the Deuill for Vanitie Heere it will be demanded If so the faithfull shall together with the vnfaithfull frye in this fire thereto I answere when the floodes of wrath came vpon the old worlde then was Noah in the Arke when fire and brimstone rayned downe on the Citties of the plaine * Gen. 19.22 then was LOT in Zoar this question therfore is thus answered by Saint PAVL vnto the Thessalonians 1. Epist 4. Chapter verse 17. These that remaine liuing and these that arise from sleepe namelie from the graue shal be together caught vp in the clowdes to meet the Lord in the ayre As the waters of deludge ceazed on the disobedientspirits not on Noah as the fire and sulphure fastened on the carkases of these that vexed the spirit of Lot
worke wickednes in the sight of the Lord when the Apostle saith But the day of the Lord will come he wold oppose that Day vnto the daye of the wicked The wicked now haue their day the Lord then wil haue his day and therfore that great day is called the Lords day Christ his resurrection day is called the * Revel 1.10 Lords day because hee then triumphed over the Deuill death and sin so this day of Doome is called the Lords day because hee then will for ever commit the Deuill and those that haue delighted in the waies of death and sinne to everlasting torture As ABRAHAM could equally conclude against DIVES Thou hadst then thy pleasure and Lazarus his torment therefore now it is just that thou bee tormented and Lazarus haue pleasure so against all wicked ones I conclude As you haue your day nowe so Christ shall haue his day then walke on in the waies of your own flesh but be sure the day wil come that shal pay for al. In this day the wicked shall cry Hilles and mountaines fall vpon vs and cover vs from him that sitteth vpon the throane but as for the godly let them hold vppe their heades for then is come the fulnes of their redemption Woe be vnto these that nowe laugh because of sin for then they shall mourne but blessed be these that now mourne because of sinne for they then shall laugh and be comforted This day of the Lord saith PETER shall come as though hee should say tremble oh wicked man for thy day of judgment shall come be patient and rejoice thou that art persecuted for righteousnes sake for the daye of judging thy cause shall come This daye is figured out by the Prophet * Ioel. 3.12 14. IOEL vnder IEHOVAH his pleading in the Valley of Iehoshaphat in the daye of his threshing the Heathen Howsoeuer the Lord seeme now to be a sleepe the wicked thinking God like to themselues yet then the Lord shall awake as a Gyant refreshed with wine Pfal 50.21 bring them vnder the crushing blowe of his flayle a flayle of judgment that shall beat them like chaffe In the meane time let all knowe that whatsoever Mockers say The day of the Lord shall come Iudge righteouslie oh yee rulers of the Earth preferre not the cause of the Potent to the cause of Widowes and Orphanes slaughter not Christ in Habell commit not * 1 King 22.27 Michajah with Ahab vnto prison nor dare to feed the Lords Prophet with the bread and water of affliction for after yee haue had your daies of judging and pleading the Lords day shall come wherein hee will examine the cause of the poore and oppressed If yee haue not judged and done according to God his book but according to the inequall ballance of your owne making then hearken to * Isai 10.1 ISAIAH Woe vnto them that decree wicked decrees and doe vvrite grievous things for keeping back the poor from Iudgment and for taking away the iudgment of the poore of my people that Widowes may be their pray and that they may spoile the Fatherlesse What will yee do now in the day of visitation of destruction which shal come from farre to vvhome will ye flie for helpe and where will ye leaue your glory Oh yee Rulers of the Earth The day of the Lord shal come as verely as the Assirians Medes-Persians Graecians Syri-Egyptians vpon Iudah your judgments shall bee weighed in the ballances of the Sanctuarie if they be found faithfull and full weight then enter into the possession of glorie but if they be found partial and too light with Belshazzars kingdome then thou shalt be cast out for counterfeit coyne If oh yee widowes fatherles and wrongfull distressed ones ye here in the day of man cannot be equally dealt withall do not curse murmure but rest patient for a while Revel 6.9 as vnder the bloody Alter Iesus more injured than thou and after man hath had his day of playing Rex jex The day of the Lord shall come what time the Lord will examine their law-Law-books by his sacred Testament and call back the examination of thy cause in the hearing of men angels and devils Loosers must haue their sayings and the wicked their wordes for a season but The day of the Lord shall come wherein they shall bee forced to stand by and to hearken what the Lord shall say Iesus himselfe was here of the Rulers Priests of the people scarselie vsed as a Lord nay vsed like a traytor to Caesar like a sower of seditious doctrine like a superstitious conjurer in a worde like an of skouring of the world even as are his members but in this day hee will come as a LORD to whome al power in Heauen and Earth is given and they shall looke vpon him and his members mystical whome they haue pearced In the day of this life they would dominere and Lord it over him and his but now shall he and his Lord it over them In this day of the Lord Habel shal Lord it over Cain the * Matth. 2. slaughtered infants over the Fox Herod Lazarus ouer Dives In this day the Lord Iesus shal awake the mocking Atheist and let him knowe that there is a God that judgeth the earth The workers of iniquitie notwithstanding their preaching and casting out of Devils shall this day bee driuen from the societie of the faithfull and the face of Iesus Now the Lord wil examine how they haue * Mat. 25.24 fed and clothed the poore visited the prisoner and been mercifull vnto the distressed They shall in this day even every lippe-gospeller know what difference there is betwixt a dead faith or idle beleefe not working and a liuely Faith that bringeth foorth fruites of righteousnes and holinesse If they will not here in this life * Iam. 2.18 shewe their faith which is invisible by holy vvorkes which are visible then fear in that gret daye of our Lord to heare the sentence Depart from mee yee cursed into everlasting fire Mat. 25.41 Oh this shall bee a day of feare and horrour Our Lord shall bee vnto the wicked and vngodly the roaring Lyon of the tribe of Iudah but vnto the faithfull members of IESVS it shall be a day of solace and glorie for vnto them shall Christ be the meeke Lamb slaine from the beginning of the Worlde wiping away all teares from their eies setting them on his throane even as himselfe nowe sitteth on his Fathers throane so aeternize their felicitie vnto them for that shall be the Lords day Oh who will not beg with Lazarus now that he may glorie with Lazarus then who wil not now lay down the life of his bodie for an houre that so he may receiue of the Lord then life for yeares millions of yeares even for aeternitie of time beyond al time On the other side who will bee so madde to murther with Cain heere for satisfying
Them troublous daies there spoken of and it is affirmed verse 22. of them that they should be shortened can not bee spoken of the last troublesome times that shall come vppon the whole world To Elias prophecie which may bee numbred amongst the Papistes vnwritten verities I say no more but this I acknowledge him not for Elijath the Tishbite for his Canonicall speaches are registred by the holy Ghost in the book of Kings neither haue wee any such speach there or else where in the Canonicall Scriptures as is this As for the Devils they might well say that the latter day was not yet come wherein they should begin to bee more notablie tormented and yet notwithstanding be far ynough from foreknowing the Latter day The Devill had learned by the prophecies of the old Testament that there should bee a long distance betwixt the incarnation of Christ and the end of all things He knewe that Christ must haue his spirituall possession to streatch over * Psal 2.8 the Heathen vnto the corners of the Earth As yet the partition wall was not broken downe and after the lawe should go out from Zion to the Gentiles there would bee some yeares spent for gathering the Heathen vnto the faith of Christ Besides Isaiah * Isa 59.20 had prophecied an vniversall calling of the Iewes which time as yet is vnexpired and from many other circumstances every where in the Prophets the devils might easilie know that the time of Christ his incarnation could at noe hand be the time of the Lords last comming namely to judgment That speach therefore of the Devils is nothing to this purpose As for the numbers Dan. 12.11.12 which some would haue as to be so many yeares so to be accompted from Iulian the Apostates time An 365. what time it is said * Carion Chron. lib. 3. that he in spite of Christ commanded the Iewes to build the temple which afterwardes was by thunder and earthquake overturned to the ceasing of Sacrifice and so accounting from that time would haue the world to cease at fardest in the latter number Dan. 12.12 Thereto I answer If it were the Angels meaning there to speake of the end of this world I could not but reverence that conjecturall beginning of the accompt but as the spirite of God in the greatest visions as of that of the 4. mettels and the other of the * Dan. 2. Cap. 7. Cap. 11. 4. beastes as also in the Revele of the Syrian and Egyptian actes their Kings tearmed King of the North King of the South as in all these the Lord leadeth Daniel not to the consideration of the state of the newe Testaments Church except vnder type or figure but for the comforting of him and the Iewes doeth foretell vnto them the state of the Church of the Iewes vnder the kingdomes of Chaldea Mede-Perse Grecia Syri-Egypt and that vntill the comming of Christ in the flesh and the * Dan. 9.24 sealing vp of the old Testaments vision and prophecie so I cannot easilie consent vnto the former conjecture but rest in this judgment namely that them daies Dan. 12.11.12 were properlie giuen forth for the Iews to accompt what time their * Dan. 7.8 c. and 11 36. compared with 2. Thes 2.3.4 notable Antichrist of Gogs land the figure of our Sonne of perdition should tread them and their temple vnder-foote And whereas they think that the age of these last times by reason God is one and the same should no more bee hid to the faithfull nowe then was the date of the first world vnto Noah I answere God is one and the same though hee reveale not the thinges whereof wee haue no promise as also not like need as had Noah who was during that 120. yeares to prepare an Arke for preservation to the second world Secondly if the knowledge shuld be proportionable then all the faithfull must know This for so no doubt the faithfull then with Noah vnderstoode that Againe the very yeare ey the day should bee knowne of This for so was * Gen. 6.3 7.4 That But the day our Saviour plainely denieth doth he therefore Repent his goodnesse towards the faithfull and themselues giue it 12. years compasse to fal within vz. betweene 1588. and 1700. themselues therfore conclude against themselues Lastly I see not why from this speach of Peter The day of the Lord shal come as a Theefe as also that our Saviour saith it shall come as a snare that is vnawares and that not onely vpon some but vpon all that dwell vpon the Earth I see not I say why I may not from this forme of speach conclude that noe probable conjecture of the year may be giuen And whereas they affirme that though the Day bee not knowne yet the yeare may be known I answer first I see no such thing from the Scriptures alleadged Secondly where our Saviour denieth the foreknowledge of the Day I see not why by Day may not ey must not be vnderstood Time indefinitely as though he should say That time is vnknown to the sonne of man even as when he saith The housholder would watch if hee knewe the Time The faithfull all know that that day will come and therefore doe watch over their waies so that whensoever it shal come it snal * 1. Thes 5.4 not come vnlooked for yet our Saviour saith it shall come vnlooked for as a theefe This then must necessarilie bee our Lord and Master his meaning Watch and be ye sober speaking to all Christians in their persons that so that great day in regard of limitation comming vnawares vppon you may not in regard of your beleeuing and wayting for the same steale on you as on the wicked This take I to be the very natiue sense of our Saviour and his Apostles wordes and allusion from all which I conclude that I see not howe from Scripture the definite time of our Lords comming to judgment can be gathered Many having in their mouthes in the Apostle Paul his time * 2. Thes 2.3 That the day of the Lord was at hand hee therefore amongst other things writ vnto the Saints at Thessalonia where chieflie this was bruited that it was false because before that great day of the Lord there should be a Departure or generall Apostacie from the faith of Christ a thing taught by Iohn in his Apocalyps where hee saith * Rev. 6.14 Heauen not a part of Heaven neither are we ignorant howe the Church is called Heauen in all that book as also Mat. 11.11 13. c. Heauen saith he departed away as a scrole when it is rolled Secondly saith Paul before that day of Christ the man of sinne shall bee * 2. Thess 2.3 disclosed Thirdly he shall be consumed and therefore called the Sonne of perdition by the spirit of Christs mouth namely in the powerfull ministery of his word Christ then as he rid on with Salomon Psalm 45.4 vpon the
vnto me the day after Doomes-day and then I will tell thee In the meane time I am sure that nothing shall be which shall not bring delight and glory vnto the sonnes and daughters of God Let curious questions therfore cease and study rather how in that day thou maiest be found blameles and to Iehovah acceptable Awake oh ye foolish virgins the heauens are ready to run on a heape the elements about thee to melt the earth vnder thee to burne and the Iudge of all flesh is comming in cloudes majestie and power Heark hark the trumpet calling vnto judgment the Angels readie prest to gather the harvest the graue seas and hell giving vp all for all must presently to Iudgment The Iudge is set thousands of Angels about his fiery throne Satan and his black Guarde come plodding towards the Throane as a Beare to the stake The glorious Martyrs and all the faithfull come flying towards the Iudg with the wings of an Eagle crying * Saue I pray thee Hosanna hosanna blessed is he that commeth in the name of IEHOVAH Hosanna in the highest As for the Beaste false Prophet their marked people and all workers lovers of iniquitie me thinks I see them pulling back but the decree of God whipping them all forwarde Seduced People crye to the false Prophet Couer vs oh Father from the wrath of him that sitteth on the Throne but he replieth Aes me Aes me I am vnable to hide my selfe One crieth Oh King oh Queene saue me but they answere Accursed subiects we are not able to saue our selues They replye Oh your fearefull Lawes and tyrannie haue caused vs to vvorship God after a humaine carnall foolish manner Oh oh say Kings and Queenes againe we are therefore accursed and you condemned Me thinks I see the Murtherer with a bloody sword in his hand and the souls of the persecuted and slaughtered crying Oh God our Avenger now iudge thou betweene vs and that Murtherer and the Murtherer me thinks I heare him cry Nowe I see these I persecuted had in honour but I the persecutor vnable to beholde them in the face against vvhome I heretofore did harden my heart flint my face oh that I might be killed to die but I must liue ever to die While thus their consciences debate their false worshippe adulteries murders thefts blasphemies pride c. the Lord commandeth all to appeare Coram As by the Lords word Genes 1. Let it be every creature at first was formed so at one word all appeare before the glorious Iudge and innumerable sight of Angels If the Israelites trembled at the giuing of the Lawe howe shall Law-les people now tremble at the execution of the Law Now * Revel 1.7 every eie shall see him even they which haue pearced the Christ thorough and all kinreds of the Earth shall lament before him Al the earth encompassing the face of the Tribun all seate the bookes even every conscience shall be laide open Every soule shall be naked to his eies that seeth the secrets of the heart and as it were in the tables of the soule shall every vnrepentant sinne be written Oh the secret murders thefts vncleannesses wicked counsells against Christs Church that then shall be open to all the world in somuch as one running by may reade them In the face of Iudas his soule shal be written I haue betrayed innocent blood In the face of Pilate shall bee written I condemned the innocent for pleasing the people In the faces of Esau and Nimrod We haue loued hunting but neglected holinesse In the portall of Chams conscience shal be printed I reioyced to see the corrector of sinne overtaken with sin and therefore published it to my brethren that they togither with me might for ever after make his nakednes a reason of our not hearing nor bearing his corrections as vn fit to rule vs that first could not rule himselfe therefore iust that now my nakednes be laid open before God Angels and men In the Conscience of Herod shall bee drawne as it were in great text letters I vsed not my guifts to the praise of God the giuer but laboured thereby to catch praise vnto my selfe In Balaam and every covetous teacher his face shall be written I preached for pelfe but then Oh woe vnto the dumbe Minister for his Conscience shall thus indite him Balaam was better than I for though hee did all for gold yet he preached as for me I occupied a feeders roome and had a feeders fee but I fed not the people by dividing the vvord and causing them to vnderstand the holy mysterie Then shall the wicked Kinges Queenes Magistrates haue graven deeply in the face of their accusing conscience We haue kept out the kingdome of Christ for planting a Religion drawn out of our politicks an Ethelo threskia or Wil-worship * Coloss 2.22.23 vvhich had indeede a shewe of wisedome but was not according vnto the wisedome of God In a word then shall every man his conscience carrie his owne inditement his sin hanging before the door of his Conscience as doeth the Iuie-bush before the wine-seller and hee that knowes not this knows lesse than did the Heathen Philosopher Plato As for the consciences of the Elect they shall all in this great day be clear from clamour and accusation every one having written in his conscience as had Paule 1. Cor. 4.4 I knowe nothing by my selfe and this puritie of their conscience falleth out by reason that they here in this life disclaimed their sinns for bastardly fruites and by the teares of vnfained sorrowe did wash their consciences the Lord therewithall putting all their sinnes out of his remembrance and so are they by the * Col. 1.28 Lords Prophets and preachers presented perfect in Christ lesus The consciences of all this multitude * Rom. 2.15.16 either accusing or excusing one another in this great daye wherein God shal judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ and that according to the Gospell immediately therevpon shall the conscience excusing be placed on the right hand but the consciences accusing vpon the left hand of the Iudge Then vnto his recovered sheep shall Christ say Mat. 25.34 c. I vvas an hungred and yee gaue me meat I thirsted and ye gaue me drink I was a stranger and ye lodged me being naked ye clothed me I vvas sicke and ye visited me I vvas in prison and ye came vnto me But they vnwilling to assume any thing to themselues shall replie When did vve so vnto thee to whome he shall answer hauing done it vnto one of the least of my bretheren yee haue done it vnto me Therefore or in asmuch as all may see your faith was no dead faith Come ye blessed of my Father even blessed * Ephes 1.4 before the foundation of the world inherit ye the kingdome prepared for you before the Worlds foundation even before ye could doe good or evill Wherevpon