Cor. 5.10 That euery one may receiue the thingâ— done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Q. How and how farre shall men be iudged for their euill workes A. All men that in this present life before their departure hence by death haue not laid holâ— on Christ and his merits by faith for the satisfaction of Gods iustice but dye in their sinnes and impenitencie shall giue account to God for euery sinfull thought word and worke 1. For euery thought though secret and hid from men therefore it is not onely said that God will bring euery work to iudgement but withall euery secret thing and Rom. 2.16 In that day God shall iudge the secrets of men 2. For euery word yea euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue account thereof at the day of iudgement Math. 12.36 3. For euery act or deed committed much more as before is shewed that God will bring euery worke to iudgement and euery one shall receiue the things done in his body Q. Shall men giue account for the omission or neglect of good A. Men shall not onely account and be iudged for the euill which they haue committed but also for the Good which they haue omitted and neglected for God hath commanded Psal. 34.14 Depart from euill and doe good and Isai. 1.16 Cease to doe euill and learne to do well Therefore the accusation of the wicked at the day of iudgement is thus propounded Math. 25.42 I was an hungred and ye gaue me no meat I was thirsty and ye gaue me no drinke I was a stranger and yee tooke mee not in naked and yee clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not For this cause Iohn Baptist for the auoiding of the wrath to come directeth Matth. 3.8 to bring forth fruits meet for repentance because euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire though it bringeth not forth euill fruit Q. Why must iudgement be giuen according to works A. That euery one shall bee iudged according to his workes Gods word is plaine euery where 2 Cor. 5.10 Euery one shall receiue according to that hee hath done So it was reuealed to Saint Iohn Reu. 20.12.13 That they were iudged euery man according to their works The reason is because workes are the fruits of faith by which it is discerned as the tree by the fruit And therefore it is said according to workes not for the merit of them vnlesse it bee the works of sinne which doe worthily merit damnation Againe the triall by workes is the fittest way to conuince hypocrites Q. Shew that the comming of Christ shall be glorious A. That Iesus Christ shall appeare in great glory at the day of iudgement whether we respect the manner of his comming with the attendance of such a multitude of Angels or his sitting in maiestie vpon his tribunall seat we may see Matth. 25.31 where it is said briefely That when the sonne of man commeth in his glory and all the Angels with him then shall hee sit vp on the throne of his glory Q. Why shall it bee ioyous to the godly A. Christs comming to iudgement cannot but hee most ioyous and comfortable to the faithfull partly because hee that commeth thus gloriously to be their iudge is their Sauiour partly for that they shall then receiue their full redemption and reward of their pietie and on the contrary shall behold all their enemies vanquished and trod vnder their feete Therefore doth the spirit of God euery where comfort the godly with the consideration of this day and therefore that day is called the time of refreshing Acts 3.19 Q. Why shall it be fearefull to the wicked A. It cannot but be most fearfull to all wicked men to behold the Lord Iesus come to iudgement in such glorious manner whom they haue so pierced with their sinnes Reu. 1.7 the rather in regard that he shall come in flaming fire to take vengeance on them 2 Thes. 1.8 and to execute iudgement vpon all and to conuince all that are vngodly of all their vngodly deeds which they haue vngodly committed and of all their hard speeches which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him Iude 15. Q. What shall be the forme or manner of the last iudgement A. The forme and manner of the last iudgement is not to bee expressed only the word of God for our better vnderstanding doth set it forth by a similitude or resemblance of an earthly iudge shewing the manner of disposing the persons conuented the order of triall and euidence together with the sentence of the iudge and the execution thereof Q. How will hee dispose of all men at the barre of iudgement A. First the disposing of all men conuented at that barre is noted by the Euangelist Math. 25.32 Before him shall bee gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the goates and he shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the goates on the left Q. What is intended by setting some on the right hand and some on the left hand A. The intention and meaning is that at the day of iudgement the godly who like sheepe haue heard the voice of Christ their shepheard and haue led an innocent life in this world shall then be aduanced and the wicked who haue here expressed the nature of filthy goates by satisfying their vngodly lusts shall then bee deiected And that whereas in this life they were mingled together and did many wayes annoy the flock of Christ then at that day there shall be a perfect separation to the ioy of the godly and terror of the wicked Q. How shall the triall be A. The triall shall be according to the rule appointed of God for that end Which is partly the law of nature partly the law written both morall and Euangelicall as we may see by the Scriptures following Rom. 2.12 As many as haue sinned without law shall perish without law and as many as haue sinned in the law shall be iudged by the law The reason is verse 15. Because they haue the law written in their hearts Ioh. 12.48 He that reiecteth me and receiueh not my words hath one that iudgeth him the word that I haue spoken the same shall iudge him in the last day Q What shall bee the euidence A. The euidence is said in the word of God to be certaine bookes This Iohn was shewed in a vision Reu. 20.12 I saw saith hee the dead both great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes Which is not to bee vnderstood properly that there shall bee materiall bookes but by way of similitude or resemblance because all things are as certaine and manifest to God and shall
the Disciples hearts and exhorting them to continue in the faith and 1 Cor. 14.3 Hee that prophecieth that is preacheth and expoundeth the word speaketh vnto meâ— â—o edification and exhortation and comfort Q. Proue that reading is a meanes to increase and confirme faith and all other graces A. Therefore it is that in 1 Tim. 4.13 Paul exhorteth Timothie to giue attendance to reading as well as to exhortation and to doctrine and 2 Tim. 3.15 commendeth him that hee had knowne the holy Scriptures of a childe which are able to make him wise vnto saluation and Rom. 15.4 he saith that whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope Q. Proue that meditation is a meanes to increase and confirme in vs the sauing graces of God A. It is euident in the example of Dauid Psal. 119.97 O how loue I thy law It is my meditation all the day And to shew what increase and confirmation of heauenly grace he receiued by this his religious exercise of meditation he addeth immediately verse 98. That it made him wiser then his enemies verse 99. That hee had more vnderstanding then all his teachers And verse 100. That hee did vnderstand more then the ancients Q. Proue that conference is a meanes to increase and confirme grace A. Thus the godly meeting together strengthened one another Mal. 3.16 where it is said that Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord harkened and heard it and a Book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought vpon his Name To this end are those frequent exhortations in Scripture as in 1 Thes. 5.11 Comfort your selues together and edifie one another euen as also you doe And Heb. 3.13 Exhort one another daily while it is called To day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Q. Proue that practise is a meanes to increase and confirme grace A. Therefore it is that Dauid saith Psal. 119.100 I vnderstand more then the ancients because I kept thy precepts hereupon our Sauiour affirmeth Ioh. 7.17 That if any man will doe his will hee shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or no. Now we know that to be able to discerne of doctrine is a note of great increase and strength of grace Nay our Sauiour placeth the happinesse of knowledge in practise see Ioh. 13.17 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye doe them Q. Proue that praier is a meanes to increase faith and all other graces A. Prayer is the Conduit pipe to conuey Gods graces vnto us therefore Luk. 17.5 The Apostles said vnto the Lord Increase our faith and Dauid prayeth Psal. 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law And Paul Col. 1.9 Ceased not to pray to God for them that they might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might c. Q. Proue that the Sacrâ—ment are meanes to increase and confirme grace A. It is manifest in that they are called signes to signifie and seales to confirme as circumcision is called Rom. 4.11 the signe of circumcision and the seale of the righteousnesse of faith And 1 Pet. 3.21 Baptisme is called the figure that now saueth vs because it signifieth and sealeth or confirmeth our saluation by Christ. Q. Proue that God requireâ—h of euery Christian a daily encrease of grace A. It is written 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. And Heb. 5.12 They are reproued that when as concerning the time they ought to be teachers yet they had neede againe to bee taught the first principles of the word of God And Chap. 6.1 they are exhorted to goe on vnto perfection Q. Proue that God hath appointed these meanes to that end and first the preaching of the word A. It is euident that the ministery of the word was therefore ordained Ephes. 4.12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Till wee all come into the vnity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ That wee henceforth bee no more children wauering and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceiue But following the truth in loue in all things grow vp into him which is the head euen Christ. Q. Proue that God hath appointed reading to that end and first publique reading A. God so commanded Deut. 31 11. When all Israâ—l come to appeare before the Lord thy God in the place which hee shall choose thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing And verse 12. Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates that they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God and obserue to doe all the words of this Law Q. Proue that God appointed reading priuately in the family A. It is written Deut. 6.6.7 These words which I command thee this day shall bee in thine heart and thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou tarriest in thy house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thou risest vp Q. Proue that God appointed reading solitarily euery one by himselfe first in the old Testament A. It is manifest Deut. 17.19 in that euen the King himselfe is commanded to read in the Law of God all the dayes of his life that hee may learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe all the words of this Law And to Ioshuah the like charge is giuen Iosh. 1.8 This booke of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day night that thou mayst obserue to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt haue good successe Q. Proue that God appointed reading solitarily euery one by himselfe in the new Testament A. It is the expresse câ—mmandement of Christ Iohn 5.39 Seâ—rch the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of me And Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another c. And Acts 17.11 The Bereans are commended in that they receiued the word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so And of the booke of the Reuelation which is the hardest to be vnderstood
of all the rest it is said Reu. 1.3 Blessed is hee that readeth and they that heare the words of this prophesie and keepe those things which are written therein Q. Proue that God appointed meditation to that end A. It is euident in that charge before mentioned which the Lord gaue vnto Ioshuah namely that hee should meditate in the booke of the Law day and night Ios. 1.8 And it is propâ—uâ—ded as the way to happinesse Psal. 1. Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsell of the vngodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornefull but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his law doth hee meditate day and night Q. Proue that conference was appointed to that end A. Therefore it is that they are commanded Deut 6.7 To talke of the word of God in the house in the way lying down and rising vp and therefore the Apostle hauing said Heb. 10.23 Let vs keepe the profession of our hope without wauering addeth immediately the meanes appointed of God to that end verse 24.25 And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and to good works not forsaking the assembling of our selues together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another Q. Proue that practise is appointed to that end A. Therefore our Sauiour requireth the condition of practise of euery man that will be able to iudge of truth and error and to withstand seducers see Ioh. 7.17 and the Apostle directeth Heb. 5.14 that through long custome which standeth in experience and practise men haue their wits exercised to discerne both good and â—uill and the Lord himselfe saith Psal. 50.23 To him that ordereth hiâ— conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God Q. Proue that God appointed prayer to that end A. It is included in the generall promise Math. 7.7 Aske and it shall be giuen you and verse 8 for whosoeuer asketh receiueth Againe â—ro 2.3 4.5 If thou criest after knowledge and liftest vp thy voyce for vnderstanding Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Q. Proue that God appointed Sacraments to that end A. That Sacraments were ordained for our confirmation see Gen 17.10 concerning circumcision which is therefore called the Couenant because it did signe seale and confirme the couenant as the Apostle noteth Rom. 4.11 The like is said of the Passeouer Exod. 13.9 So vnto vs Christians Baptisme was to that end ordâ—ined Math. 28.19 and the Lords Supper Luk 22.19 S Of Sacraments in generall Q. Rehearse the Letter S A. SAcraments are outward visible signes of the couenant and promise of God in Christ ordained by Christ himselfe to signifie and to seale or confirme and as instruments or meanes to conuay sauing grace to euery true beleeuer and to bee as badges or tokens of our Christian profession And they are in number onely two namely Baptisme and the Lords Supper For such helpes our weake faith doth require and these only hath Christ ordained and no more being answerable to the two Sacraments vnder the Law that is Circumcision and the Passouer and are alone in that kinde sufficient both for the beginning and continuing of sauing grace Q. Proue that Sacraments are signes of the couenant A. That Sacraments are signes of the couenant promise of God is manifest in Circumcision which is called the Couenant because it was the signe of the couenant conferre Gen. 17.10 with verse 11. This is my couenant which ye shall keepe betweene mee and you and thy seede after thee Againe see Act. 2.38 where the Apostle Peter exhorting them to be baptized in the Name of Iesus Christ alledgeth this reason for saith he the promise is made to you and to your children c. Thereby intimating that to whomsoeuer the couenant doth belong to them belongeth the signe and seale of the couenant which is baptisme Q. Proue that the Sacraments are ordained by Christ A. The Lord God is the sole and onely author of all Sacraments for as it is only in his power to make the couenant and to conferre grace so he only hath authority to ordaine and appoint the signes and seales of the couenanâ— of grace Thus did hee both enter the couenant with Abraham and his seed for euer Gen. 17.7 and also appoint the signe of Circumcision verse 10.11 The like hee did concerning the Passeouer Exod. 12. and 13. In the same manner our Sauiour Christ being eternall God with his Father did institute Baptisme Matth. 28 19. Goe teach all nations baptizing them c. And the Lords Supper Luk. 22.19 Doe this in remembrance of mee Whereupon Saint Paul saith 1 Cor. 11.23 I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also haue deliuered vnto you Q. To what end or vse were the Sacraments ordained A. The end or vse of Sacraments is diuers First Sacraments are ordained to signifie shew and represent vnto vs the grace offered in the couenant In which respect they are called signes because they are as it were tokens and resemblances of Gods grace and fauour towards vs. So circumcision is called the signe of circumcision Ro. 4.11 the signe of the couenant Gen. 17.11 Baptisme is said to be the figure that now saueth vs. Againe of the celebration of the Passeouer the Lord saith Exod. 12.14 This day shall bee to you a remembrance And of the Lords Supper Christ saith Doe this in remembrance Luk. 22.19 And the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.26 Yee shew the Lords death till hee come Q. What is the second end or vse of Sacrameâ—ts A. Secondly Sacraments are appointed of God to seale or confirme the inâ—aâ—â—ible certainty of his couenant of grace in Christ made with his Church that thereby the faythfull may more firmely belieue and rest vpon it by faith as ciuill contracts are ratified and made authenticke by their seales annexed Therefore it is that the signe of circumcision is by the Apâ—stle Rom. 4.11 câ—llâ—d The seale of the righteousnesse of faith Q. What is the third end or vse of Sacraments A. Thirdly Sacraments are ordained to bee as instruments or meanes to conuay grace to euery true beleeuer which is euident for Baptisme in that Christ is said Eph. 5.26 to sanctifie and cleanse his Church with the washing of water by the word And Tit. 3.5 God is said to saue vs by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost And for the Lords Supper see 1 Cor. 10.16 where the Apostle calleth the cup of blessing the communion of the blood of Christ and the bread the communion of the body of Christ because in the right vse of these outward elements the faith full doe communicate with Christ himselfe and all his benefits Q. Proue that grace is conuayed not to all receiuers but onely to euery true beleeuer A. That grace is not conuayed to euery one