an opening Day coming wherein all these things must be opened again and accounted for Consider it art thou an intemperate Person living in Excess and following strong Drink Or a customary Swearer filling thy Mouth with Cursing or Bitterness Art thou a filthy Adulterer or Fornicator commiting Folly and sinning against thy own Body Art thou a griping Oppressor who inrichest thy self by making a Gain of the Necessity or Simplicity of others and bringing the Spoil of the Poor into thy House Art thou a fraudulent Person reaching at all thou canst come by be it by Right or Wrong never standing to make use of Oaths and Lies sinful Subtilties and secret Tricks in thy Trade or sleights in thy Dealings so that thou mayst but hook in something thereby to thy self Or art thou a Man or Woman living in the Practice of any other manifest and open or secret and hidden Sin and Ungodliness this Truth comes with astonishing Tidings to thee Consider it you that are of this sort of Persons either you are Atheists or Mad wholly beside your selves Are you not Atheists do you indeed believe this that there will be an opening of the Books and that such an opening as will lay all open Then surely you are distracted for how can it otherwise be How is it possible that Men believing such a Day as this if not beside themselves should live so profanely since thereby they prepare themselves to be then unavoidably and eternally destroyed Can this be imagined to be the Work of any but distracted Persons certainly it cannot How wise soever you may be in your own Eyes or in the Eyes of others like your selves yet these are the Ways of Men void of Understanding Therefore knowing the Terrors of the Lord how tremendous this Judgment will be and what a terrible Time it will be with the Ungodly I would earnestly beseech and beg of you to take these things into your serious Thoughts that you may think of repenting and turning to God To excite you to this consider 1. God hath revealed his Wrath from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men in his Threatnings back'd with many sad Examples in all Cases which are exposed to your view and left for your Warning You are plainly told that God will by no means clear the Guilty Exod. 34.7 That the foolish i. e. wicked Persons shall not stand in his sight Psal 5.5 That destruction is to the Wicked Job 31.3 That the Wicked shall be turned into Hell Psal 9.17 That the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 The Angels that kept not their first state are reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness to the Judgment of the great Day The old World did for Sin suffer a Deluge for this Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to Ashes Israel were overthrown in the Wilderness and many such sad Instances there are set forth to those who after should live ungodly and written for our Admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come Sirs there 's no way of Iniquity but you may find a word of Wo and Wrath revealed from Heaven against it you cannot open your Bibles now but you are ready if you had Eyes to see and Ears to hear to lighten and thunder Terror in your very Faces 2. That all your Ungodliness and Unrighteousness against which God hath revealed his Wrath from Heaven is this Day book'd up and on Record Have you now been Drunkards Fornicators Oppressors Worldlings for many Days The Sins you have committed as such are in the Books as you have kept sinning God and Conscience have kept writing not one of all your evil Deeds tho never so little or secret hath escaped but all are writ and so writ that no Time can ever wear or wash them out 3. That you are bound over to an opening Day and must certainly and unavoidably come to it There is a Day appointed in the which God will judg the World Acts 1â— 30 31. At this Day you must appear there will be no escaping 2 Cor. 5.10 Kings and Potentates of the Earth who can now best shift off Matters shall then weary themselves with vain Cries to the Rocks for shelter from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6.15 16 17. All must appear at this great Audit and grand Assizes 4. That you must meet there all your Doings in the Books and find them fairly written in this opening Day And O Sirs what a fearful Meeting what a lamentable Sight will this be when all your Abominations of many Days Weeks Months and Years shall appear all together at once to you This will be an appalling sight It 's said Gen. 44.12 13. that when Joseph's Cup was found in Benjamin's Sack the Patriarchs rent their Clothes they were astonished amazed and struck with Confusion If this did put them into such a Posture O what rending of Hearts will there be at this Day among Sinners when their Sacks the Bags where their Transgressions are sealed up and their Iniquities sewed are opened O Sirs it will be another thing to meet your Sins than now it is they will then appear to you as so many Ghosts You converse with living Men without fear it never once troubles you to meet them in the Way or in the Market or to sit with them in the House But if a Company of Dead Men should come out of their Graves meet you in the Way and pursue you would not this affright and put you to a great Consternation Why the Sins that you now commit in the Way and Market at your Bed and Board will then meet you as so many dead Men and be terrible to purpose O remember this Sin Sin will be another thing when you meet it again in the Books than now it is in your Eyes There will be more difference with respect to it 'tween now and then than there is 'tween meeting a living Man you are well acquainted and intimate with and meeting a Spirit in the likeness of a dead Man Alas Soul all the sweetness that thou canst have in thy Sin if thou mightst live in it a thousand Years is not able to recompense thee for the Horror that this sight will put thy Soul into nay if thou didst but see one Sin now as thou shalt then see all thou wouldst not choose to continue in Sin for the gaining of ten thousand Worlds 5. That you must have all that is in these Books all your Deeds of Darkness and Works of Iniquity laid fully open before God Angels and Men as you cannot hide your selves so you cannot hide any of your Sins I would have you consider this Day there will be no hiding of Wickedness No question but as Men will be for crying to the Mountains and Rocks to hide themselves so they will be seeking where to hide their Sins that they may not come to light A cruel Cain will then
of this Judgment the manner how the Judg shall proceed viz. by Books that shall be opened 4. Sentence is passed on the Parties brought to Judgment according to what is found written in the Books when thus opened And the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works 5. The Execution of this Sentence ver 14 15. And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire This is the second Death And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire The Words which are the Subject of the ensuing Discourse contain in them the third Particular in this Description sc the manner of Process in this great Work the Books shall be opened The word Book is in Scripture used 1. Properly for a Volume wherein something is written or for the things writ in that Volume Isa 30.8 Luke 4.17 Gal. 3.10 2. Improperly and metaphorically for the certain Knowledg and Remembrance that one hath of a Person or Matter and all the Circumstances thereto belonging Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him According to this twofold Acceptation of the Word God is said to have a double Book 1. Materialis i. e. the Bible which is called the Book of the Lord Isa 34.16 Luke 4.17 the Book containing the Mind and Will and Ways of God 2. Metaphoricus which is ascrib'd to him after the manner of Men who use to note those things in Books that they would preserve the Knowledg of Thus there is a threefold Book figuratively ascribed to him viz. 1st The Book of Providence which is the certain Knowledg he hath of all Persons Actions and Things with all their Circumstances Psal 56.8 139.16 2dly The Book of Life Rev. 20.12 This is the certain Knowledg he hath of the Elect and Reprobate 3dly The Book of Universal Judgment Dan. 7.10 We are not to understand this Phrase literally as if there should be some material Books produced and opened at this day No the Lord hath neither Need nor Use for them But it must be interpreted metaphorically as a Form used for the Help of our Understanding spoken 1. By way of Allusion to Courts of humane Judicature into which are brought and wherein are produced Charges Accusations Proofs Depositions of Witnesses Confessions of Parties and all other Writings that contain Matter of Fact relating to such Causes as are to be try'd 2. To show that the Judgment will be as accurate and particular in the Examination and Trial Durham p. 743. and as just in the Determination as if all had been recorded Nothing shall be omitted nor the least Circumstance mistaken but things shall be so equal in themselves and so manifested to others as if an exact Register had been kept and then published From the Words observe That in the great Day of Judgment the Books shall be opened or There is a Day a coming when the Books shall be opened The Judgment was set and the Books were opened Dan. 7.9 10. That this Truth may be prepared for Application it must be enquired I. What Books they are that shall be opened II. What the opening of these Books implies III. Who they are these Books are to be opened about IV. About what are these Books to be opened I. What Books are they that shall be opened They are of three sorts viz. Those wherein 1. All things have been recorded 2. All things shall be discovered 3. All things shall be judged First Those wherein all things have been recorded and they are 1. The Book of Divine Omniscience Here all things stand on Record and will hence be as certainly known as had they been writ in a Book for there is not any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.13 His Eyes are upon the Ways of Man and he seeth all his Goings There 's no Darkness nor Shadow of Death where the Workers of Iniquity may hide themselves Job 34.21 22. He knows our Works Rev. 2.13 There is not a Word in our Tongue but lo he knows it Psal 139.4 Here are our Thoughts writ Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off v. 2. No Thought can be with-holden from thee Job 42.2 Here are the Hearts described 1 Chron. 28.9 The Lord searcheth all Hearts and understandeth all the Imaginations of the Thoughts The Lord knows and remembers all the Actions Thoughts and Words of all Men and shall make it appear at this day that he doth so as fully and plainly as if he had kept a Diary from the Beginning of the World to the end thereof and therein writ in order every particular Action of every individual Man and Woman O remember this God sees thee round about always can tell all that thou dost and this Book wherein all is written shall one day be opened 2. The Book of Conscience this carries all our Actions in it Volumen grande quo omnia conscribuntur It is a great Volume in which all we do is writ Austin takes that other Book mentioned in the Text to be the Book of Conscience which is the Book of each Man's Life wherein all the Passages thereof are recorded Tho this Interpretation agree not with this Place yet Conscience is such a Book as he here describes Quocunque vadis ubicunque es semper Conscientia tua tecum est c. Whithersoever thou go where-ever thou art thy Conscience is always with thee carrying in it whatever thou put'st therein whether good or bad Conscience is not always speaking nor always chiding many have silenced it but it is always writing when we are at our Tables when on our Beds when we are alone or in Company it keeps an exact Account and this Book also shall be opened Secondly The Books shall then be opened whereby all things shall be clearly discovered and attested These are 1. The Book of Divine Omniscience As all things are inclosed herein so this shall then be opened and all the things contained in it thereby disclosed He will by the opening of this make manifest to all that which is now hid from Men and Angels and only known to himself God knows all things and will make all Men know that he doth so by setting in order before their Eyes all things at this day Psal 50.21 2. The Book of Conscience Herein all things are writ and by the opening hereof shall appear Quod in cujusque Conscientia occultum fuit id omnibus manifestum fiet In this day Conscience shall be enlightned and awakened Memories shall be rouz'd and strengthned all past things shall appear new and come in fresh upon the Sons of Men. Then every Thought of thy Heart every Word of thy Mouth every Action of thy Life with the Circumstances thereof then
manifestation of their Works this shall be done by the opening of the Books of Record 2. A Testification of the Works manifested that they shall not only come abroad but also be so fully evidenced and clearly prov'd that no Man shall be able to deny any part thereof Sometimes in Mens Courts the Prisoner at the Bar denies the Matter of Fact that he is charged with pleads not Guilty and stands upon his own Justification but when Witnesses come in one after another and depose plainly positively punctually and directly against him bringing undeniable Evidence then he is forced to confess Thus now many are ready to deny their Deeds of Darkness ay but so many Witnesses shall come in at this Day and with such Evidence as will force Confessions O Sirs the Secrets of Sinners shall be so fully witnessed attested and proved that they shall confess and the Saints that have been slandered aspers'd defam'd and wronged shall have their Innocence so fully evidenced that the World shall see it and be satisfied This is a second thing this opening implies viz. That all Matters shall be found and fully made out as they are in themselves with their several Circumstances which will be done by the opening of the Books whereby all things shall be discovered 3. A Determination or Judgment to be passed on the Works of Men thus manifested and made out that there shall be a final determining and definitive Sentence passed on them This is another thing this opening is an opening to pass Sentence as Judges after full Trial open and read the Sentence out of a Book an opening to absolve or condemn therefore it follows immediately in the Words the Dead were judged that is Sentence was passed on them III. You have seen what Books shall be opened and what the opening of them implies the next Inquiry may be this About whom must they be opened To this I say they shall be opened about all Men Universally the whole Off-spring descending from Adam by ordinary Generation without Exception This will appear 1. From the Universality of Scripture-Assertions in this present Case The Scripture speaking of this brings in 1. All Men. Rom. 14.10 We shall all stand before the Judgment-Seat of Christ Ver. 11. For it is written As I live saith the Lord every Knee shall bow to me and every Tongue shall confess to God What doth the Apostle hence infer Ver. 12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God 2 Cor 5.10 2. All Nations Mat. 25.32 Before him shall be gathered all Nations not a few Persons but whole Nations not a few Nations but all Nations 3. All the World Acts 17.31 He hath appointed a Day at which he will judg the World in Righteousness by the Man whom he hath ordained Observe here is a Day appointed the End for which it was appointed sc to judg the Object of this Judgment the World the whole World whosoever is of the World shall come to this opening Day 2. From the special Distribution the Scriptures make in this Case distributing the Parties that are to come to this opening 1. Into Quick and Dead therefore Christ is stiled Judg of Quick and Dead Acts 10.42 2 Tim. 4.1 2. Into great and small Rev. 20.12 the King and the Beggar the Rich and the Poor the Old and the Young they that have been so high that they have judged others and they that have been so low that their Judgment hath been taken away 3. Into Good and Bad Eccles 3.16 17. Solomon there reports what he saw practised in the Place of Justice and Judgment sc he saw their publick Injustice the Good oppressed the Bad exalted Upon which he communicates his Thoughts or that which was his Comfort against these unjust unequal dealings of Men and it was this that God would have a Day of judging all Men and all things over again I said in my Heart I comforted my self in this God shall judg the Righteous and the Wicked for there is a Time there where why with God before his Tribunal for every Purpose and for every Work Ver. 17. Thus God shall judg the Righteous with a Judgment of Discussion and Approbation the Wicked with a Judgment of Discussion and Condemnation the Persons that must come to this opening are thus distinguished Now all Men come under one of these Ranks either they are Great or Small Good or Bad therefore all shall be judged IV. Now you have seen about whom the next thing to be considered is about what they are to be opened what things they are that the Books shall discover evidence and determine when opened These are the Actions of Men the Works Words and Thoughts of Men. Take for this but these two Scriptures The one is Eccles 12.14 where the things to be brought to Judgment are described 1. Generally every Work none shall escape be pretermitted or passed by each one shall come in its Place for there is a Time for every Work 2. Particularly in regard 1. Of their manner every open Work shall come in none of these shall escape no not an idle Word Mat. 12.36 Every secret Work the Secrets of Men shall God then judg by Jesus Christ Rom. 2.16 2. Of their Matter every good Work shall come in the Feeding of Christ in his Hungry the Clothing of him in his Naked the Harboring him in his Desolate the Visiting him in his Sick Members and every Evil Work not an ungodly Word nor hard Speech shall pass Jude 14 15. The other is 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be Good or Bad. The things to be brought in are the things done in the Body which is to be understood not exclusively as if external Actions only should appear but extensively as including every thing we do while in the Flesh whether internal even the naked Thoughts or external Words and Actions Omnia omnino opera quae fiunt dum vivimus in corpore sive interius nudis cogitationibus sive exterius verbis factis peragantur Tho I desire as much as I may to decline Matters of Controversy yet here comes in a Query that I cannot well pass over in Silence it is this viz. Whether the Sins of the Saints shall be laid open and manifested at this Day or whether the Books when opened shall open the Sins of the People of God as well as the Sins of the Wicked It is a Question agitated among the Learned some maintain the Affirmative and say they shall be made known others are for the Negative and say they shall not be manifested I 'll only premise these three or four things and with Submission give my Thoughts about it in short The Sins of the Godly shall not be opened 1. To their Condemnation our Saviour himself says Joh. 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he
be for hiding his Brother's Blood a Covetous Achan for hiding his Golden Wedg an Oppressing Ahab for hiding his Naboth's Vineyard a Drunken Nabal for hiding his Vomit the filthy Fornicator for hiding his Uncleanness O where where will one cry may I hide my Gain of Oppression Where will another say may I now hide my Tricks and Sleights that I raised my Estate by Where will a third cry may I now hide my Lies and Oaths O where may I hide my profaned Sabbaths mis-spent time of Grace abused Seasons of Salvation Where may I hide this Sermon and that Ordinance that are ready to rise up and condemn me Where may I who have lived in a Time of great Gospel-light hide my Ignorance O I would give all that I have for some where to hide these things so as they may never come to light But all this will be in vain there will be no Place to hide either your selves or Sin in 6. That you must come to an Account and Reckoning for all As all must out so all must be accounted for to the very last and least idle Word Matth. 12.36 You must be accountable for all the Evil you have committed of all the Good you have omitted of all the Talents you have been betrusted with as Time Health Wealth Gospel Sabbaths Sermons and Ordinances all must be accounted for 7. That as you must come to Account so you can in no wise answer for what you have done Alas Sirs your Doings your Lies your Oaths your Drunkenness will be unanswerable Matters all your witty Distinctions Shifts and Excuses will be of no Use when God shall say Why have you done so and so why were you drunk at such a time in such a Place why did you defraud one another why did you profane my Day I say you 'l then be silent The Man who had not on the Wedding-Garment was speechless Matth. 22.12 This shows how little you can answer for Sin how shiftless and speechless Guilt will make you O think on this and let the Consideration of the Unanswerableness of your Doings put you to break from your sinful Ways And that the rather because as you cannot answer for them your selves so 8. There will be none to answer for you Job 5.1 To which of the Saints wilt thou turn Alas it will be in vain to turn to any of them None of them will answer in thy Behalf nor can they if they would Only Christ Jesus can answer for Souls in this case but if thou come to this Opening in thy Sins he will not then answer for thee Acts 5.31 God hath now indeed exalted him with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give Repentance unto Israel and Forgiveness of Sins But when this opening Day comes it will be the great Day of his Wrath and who shall be able to stand Rev. 6.17 This will be a Day wherein he will not come to plead for them that are found in their Sins but to render Vengeance to them 9. You are sure to be cast and fall in the Judgment This will be the Issue you 'l not be able to answer for your selves Christ will not answer for you God will abate you nothing therefore surely you cannot stand Psal 1.5 There are but two ways of Standing in the Judgment either First by Christ's Righteousness apprehended by Faith and they who have this shall stand For he that believeth on him is not condemned John 3.18 He says Christ that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting Life and shall not come into Condemnation John 5.24 Or Secondly by our own Righteousness or the Works of the Law an absolute and every way perfect Conformity to the Law if a Man had this he might stand thereby But now Sirs the Ungodly can stand neither of these two ways Not by Christ's Righteousness for they are Christless Creatures Not by their own Righteousness for they are Transgressors of that Law that curses for the least Breach thereof Gal. 3.10 This way of standing is and ever hath been impossible for all Mankind since the Fall Therefore says the Apostle Rom. 3.20 by the Deeds of the Law there shall be no Flesh justified in his Sight Therefore wherefore why ver 19. That every Mouth may be stopped and all the World become guilty before God This way the most eminent of Saints cannot stand Psal 130.3 If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities O Lord who shall stand David himself says Psal 143.2 Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy Sight shall no Man living be justified Thus Sinners you are sure to fall in the Judgment you have not Christ's Righteousness and Man is not justified by the Works of the Law Gal. 2.16 And 10. If once you fall in Judgment you must fall into Hell where you must lie till you have paid the uttermost Farthing Mat. 5.26 And when will that be Why never the Punishment there will be everlasting ch 25.46 Your Damnation everlasting Damnation because you can never make Satisfaction Well Sirs these are the things I would intreat you to take into your Thoughts they are certain Truths and will you yet continue in your sinful States and ungodly Ways Will you tho you know that the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men Will you tho your Ungodliness and Unrighteousness be on Record Will you tho you be bound over to this opening Day and must unavoidably come to it Tho you must there meet all your Actings fairly writ in the Books Tho all your Deeds of Darkness and wicked Works shall be fully displaid before God Angels and Men Will you tho you must come to a Reckoning for all tho you 'l not be able to answer for your selves neither will there be any to answer for you Will you tho you are sure to fall in Judgment and to be cast into Hell Will you I say notwithstanding all this persevere in Sin Truly if this be your Resolution it 's a sad Resolution You are resolved to damn your selves to all Eternity But O! if you knew but what Damnation is if you had but once seen what 's doing in another World or but felt that one Hour which the Damned are groaning under and have to groan under to Eternity you would be of another Mind 3d Vse is of Exhortation First General to all Secondly Particular 1. To Sinners 2. To Saints First General to all Shall the Books be opened Then 1. Remember this Opening and carry it on your Thoughts every day This is the first Word I would leave with you Think O think much of this Day this Day that never had the like before nor ever shall again have after it You have probably heard of that Saying Whether I eat or drink whether I wake or sleep methinks I hear that Voice sounding in mine Ears Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment Jerom. Why so Sirs
where-ever you are whatever you do let this Opening be in your Eye and upon your Thoughts Think on this when you go to Prayer This Prayer my Preparation for it my Frame Carriage and Ends in it must all be opened another day Think on this when you go to hear this Sermon every Truth and Duty laid before me herein will meet me again at the opening of the Books Think on this when you have to do with others to buy or sell or transact any Affairs about this Life with them These Actions I now do and all the Circumstances thereof will be found in the Books at the last Day Think on this when Temptations come on you and are in their Power if now I yield I give place to the Devil and lay Sin at my door and it will abide in the Books till they open and all come out And so in all other Cases carry this along with you in your Thoughts Pray read hear buy sell eat and drink and do all that ever you do as remembring this Remember this Opening of the Books Christians and let the Remembrance of it 1. Be a Remedy against Sin a Preservative against Iniquity in these sinful sinning times wherein Iniquity abounds It 's the Remedy that Solomon prescribes to young Men Eccles 11.9 and there is much Weight in it if Persons would but lay it to Heart Remember Sirs when you are ready to turn into any Act or Way of Sin and let no Secrecy no hope of hiding it from Neighbours Friends or the whole World incourage you to venture on it for choose how you may now cover it the Books will open it Let no seeming Littleness of any Sin draw you to make light of it for there is none so little but there will be room enough found for it in the Books The Tradesman hath not only a room in his Books for Pounds Shillings and Pence but also for Half-pence and Farthings and will not leave out one but put it in its place So be sure God hath a room in his Books for your least Sins which will cost says one either the Blood of Christ or your own Ruine er'e they be wiped out O remember that Sin goes out of your Thoughts out of your Words out of your Works and Ways into these Books that are ready to be opened before all the World Watch therefore Temptations watch carefully against Sin against the Occasions of Sin and Appearance of Evil. 2. Let the Remembrance of this Day invite you to Repentance Paul urges this as a forcible and pressing Motive to this Duty and tells us that upon this Account God commands Men every where to repent Acts 17.30 31. Art thou an impenitent Sinner one who hast been and art backwards to the Thoughts of Repentance be forward in Thoughts of this O think what thou hast in the Books already how many things and foul things are on Record against thee how many Oaths that thou hast sworn how many Lies that thou hast told how many vain and idle Words that thou hast spoken and how many sinful and unlawful Deeds that thou hast done Take but up these Thoughts and they 'l convince thee of the need of Repentance they 'l induce thee to the Practice of it The Books must be opened how sad will it be if they open on thee in an impenitent State Art thou one who hast laid the Foundation of Repentance from dead Works May not this be a mighty Motive to thee to keep on building every day upon that Foundation Thou renewest thy Sins every day is there not then Cause every day to renew thy Repentance Surely Sirs if you think of this Opening and how you are sinning it may be enough to make you say as Tertullian said of himself Nulli rei natus nisi poenitentiae that he was born for nothing but to repent Saints should not put more Sins in God's Book than they put Tears in his Bottle 3. Let it put you upon the Mortification of your Corruptions and travelling after Deliverance from this Body of Sin If your Sins be found alive at the opening of the Books you must die If they be not then dead then your Life goes for them for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die Rom. 8 13. And may not this put you on this Study We find that when Nebuchadnezzar had erected a golden Image with this Commination That whosoever would not fall down and worship it should be cast alive into a firy Furnace Dan. 3. that this took such Impression on all that heard it that there were none except three or four which did not presently fall down unto it the Thoughts of a firy Furnace made them do any thing God hath kindled a Fire that shall never be quenched and when the Books open all that have not thrown down their Corruptions their Pride Passions and Worldliness shall be thrown into it without Exception And may not the Thoughts of this be enough to set us upon throwing our Lusts down before us It is said of the Roman Cato that for a long time he never declared his Opinion about any Matter in the Senate but he would still close with this Expression Methinks Carthage should be destroyed This sat much on his Spirits So truly if we look at this Opening methinks this should be on our Hearts whatsoever else we think or do that our Corruptions should be destroyed the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts mortify'd 4. Let it quicken and engage you to Sincerity in your Professions Actions Ends Aims and all that you do or say The Welch have a Proverb That it is hard to know three things an Oak a Day and a Man An Oak for the privy Wind and Shakes that may be within when it seems fair without A Day for the Variableness of Weather and Accidents A Man for his hollow Hypocrisy Why truly now it's hardly known who is a Hypocrite and who sincere who is really for God and Godliness and who in Shew and Pretence only One that is a Sheep without may be a Sow within But Sirs make sure to be what you seem to be to do what you seem to do to do that with your Heart that you do with your Hand Let this Opening be an Antidote against Hypocrisy carnal and corrupt Ends in Religion and Profession Harbour not an unsound Heart under fair Pretences corrupt Ends under specious Performances or a made Religion in the Life without Truth in the inward Parts For the very Hearts must be ripp'd up and laid open at this Day which will unmask and make naked all the Jehu's and Judasses in the World the most close and wily Hypocrites that ever were under Heaven In our Life-time we have been judged by our selves and others with our Clothes on then we shall all be judged naked all Vizards shall be laid aside O remember remember this Opening and let it quicken you to Sincerity Luther tells us of one Arsenius who made
will serve you to plead at this opening Day Do you think that the bearing the Name of Christians the bare Profession of Christ your coming to and sitting under Ordinances or your layings out in the performance of external Duties are Evidences sufficient of your Interest in Christ If so you are mistaken for Christ tells you Mat. 7.22 23. That in that Day many will say Lord Lord have we not prophesi'd in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderous Works to whom he will profess I never knew you Nothing short of spiritual Incomes of Grace from him and Conformity to him will be enough to evidence an Interest in him 2. Must the Books be opened Then live for an opening Day as those that look for and account that they must come to this Opening It was the Orator's advice to his Hearers Ita vivamus ut rationem nobis reddendam arbitremur Cicer. 4. in Verr. Let us so live as those that must give account of all It 's the Apostle's Exhortation James 2.12 So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty i.e. the Law that spareth none but dealeth with all freely without respect of Persons though higher or richer than others So speak ye and so do ye as those that must come to the opening of the Books Live now each Day as those that are living for an opening Day Live as you would be found to have lived when this Day comes 1. In passing your precious Time that God puts into your Hand Sirs God takes notice what Time he gives every one of us what we do with every Hour thereof and will require it again at our Hands O spend your Time as you would meet it at the last in the Books Would you meet with empty Time large shreds of Time that nothing has been done in Would you meet with Time that hath been spent in vain Thoughts wasted with idle Words consumed about Trifles and Impertinencies Would you meet with Days and Hours that have been spent in sinful Sports and Recreations as Carding Dicing Revelling Hunting and the like Practices Days and Nights that have been passed in Taverns Alehouses and Whorehouses in Rioting and Drunkenness in Chambering and Wantonness Would you then meet with Weeks and Years that have been lost on your Lusts one while on this Lust another while on that Consider this would you meet Time thus spent wasted lost consumed at the opening of the Books Sure you would not but if you do know of a certain that it will be a very sad Meeting As you would not thus meet it take heed how you now spend it for if you spend it after this manner you must meet it so But O carry as those who are going to an opening Day in placing and bestowing your Time So pass your Time that you may be found to have lived long in a short space It was the saying of Erasmus That nothing is more amiable than well to place our Hours This will certainly prove so when the Books begin to open and Time begins to come out as it hath been past in secret before all the World 2. Live for this Opening in improving your Opportunities your Days and means of Grace improve these as you would meet them in the Books Will the Books bring any good News to you at their Opening if then you be found to have wasted your Means and Helps that God gave you in order to Salvation if Opportunities stand on Record that you have neglected out of laziness that you missed to gratify your Lusts and that passed while you were passing your Time at drinking Matches Would you meet Sabbaths that have been spent in Recreations Sermons that you have slept away Ordinances that you have been under but made no use of O no no! Therefore when Opportunities and Advantages are offered unto you that you have liberty to close with think thus in your selves Would I have it recorded in the Books that I mist this Opportunity or that I made it not my Business to profit by it See that you be ready to close with and diligent to improve Days and Means of Grace Our Saviour came from Nazareth to Bethabara to be baptized of John Mat. 3.13 John 1.28 which some compute to be fifty six of our English Miles But O our laziness who will not now go a fourth part of that way to partake of Ordinances I have read of a good Man who when his time for Devotion came what Company soever was with him would take his leave of them with this fair Excuse he had a Friend that staid to speak with him he meant his God But alas how little Matters do we suffer to be Avocations and Interruptions Any thing will serve many for an excuse to shift off an Ordinance 3. Live for this Day in performing of Duties as Prayer Reading and Hearing the Word perform these as you would meet them again Would you meet cold heartless customary overly Duties Duties that your Hearts have not been in Duties that you have run over without Affection or Intention It will be but a poor Comfort to meet a Company of these and yet what sad Work do many make this way There are many says Dr. Preston that will not omit Prayer they pray from Day to Day from Time to Time and yet tho they pray every Day they make not a Prayer all their Life there being nothing of Life or Power in their Performances they only do them of Course or in a cursory Way O Christians beware of this beware of Miscarriages in your Duties when Formality Deadness Sleepiness Wandrings creep on you think how you can meet face and own those Duties those Duties at the opening of the Books carry these Thoughts with you as often as you go to any Duty publick or private 4. Live for it in the Affairs and Business of your particular Callings learn to manage the Business of your several Callings and go through all your worldly Imployments on such a manner as you would meet them again at this opening Think how you would be found then to have gone through all your Matters with what Integrity Plainness Simplicity and Faithfulness and study now to go through them on such a manner keep your Hands clean keep your Hearts above the World when your Hands are in it Buy not under-Foot sell not at over-Rates fetch not your Gain out of others certain and apparent Loss be not all for your selves without respect to their Indemnity with whom you have to do use not false Weights Measures or Lights take not in any of those numberless Tricks that all Trades are full of resolve either to be rich with Truth or poor with Content That passage of King Charles the first in a Letter to the late King Charles viz. Do not think any thing worth obtaining by foul and unjust Means was of great Weight with me when I first read
swept them all away Why even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed Many had heard of the Flood but when it came few were in any Readiness for it or found any way of Escape from it So many hear of this Day few will be found in Readiness for it and none shall escape it and may not this awake you to Care in this Behalf O many many many will be then unready look to it that you be not of their Number and that the rather because 5. As you are then found so you are sure to fare for ever Christ will take you just as he finds you at that Day The old World was taken unready and there was no Remedy it was too late to think of preparing Arks. The foolish Virgins were found unready and the Door was shut against them So when Christ comes poor Sinners that are found unready shall have no Time to provide in he 'l take them as he finds them without any Delay Some shall be found in the Bed others in the Mill others in the Field Luke 17.34 35 36. and as they are found so they shall be taken If two be in one Bed one a gracious the other a graceless Person they must immediately be sunder'd the one shall be taken to receive a Sentence of Absolution the other left to lie and sink under a Sentence of Damnation The main Scope of this Discourse is to show that there will be no coming off no mending of Matters no making of things either better or worse than they are found at that Day but all Men shall be dealt with as they are found and differently according to their different States O Sirs when it 's come to this that the Books are opened there will then be no further Transaction about Matters of Salvation or Damnation but the Cause will be presently and clearly determined either with or against you Doth it not then concern every one to labour to get into a Readiness for this Day 6. That this Opening will be very dreadful to them that are unready Many will be found unready every one must stand as he is then found and this Day will be terrible to those on whom it comes in this Case We read of three terrible Openings One when the Fountains of the great Deep were broken up and the Windows of Heaven were opened Gen. 7.11 21 22 23. These were opened and never shut till the World was drown'd Another is the opening of the Earth which closed not again till it had inclosed Korah and those that appertained to him with their Houses and Goods in its Womb. The third is the opening of the Cave at Makkedah which ushered in a speedy Destruction to those Kings that were a little before in great Pomp and State Josh 10.22 23. Ay but Sirs this is a more dreadful Opening than any of these and will be more terrible in it self and to them that come to it unprepared than those were When the Windows of Heaven were opened the World was drowned e're they shut again but when the Books are opened the World of ungodly Men shall be damned e're they shut When the Earth opened it shut not again till it had swallowed up Korah and his wicked Accomplices When the Books are opened the Wicked shall sink into Hell before they be closed again When the Cave was opened Joshua took thence the five Kings and caused the Captains of his Men of War to tread on their Necks and afterwards smote them but when the Books shall be opened the Saints shall tread down the Wicked and they shall be as Ashes under their Feet Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God so as the Wicked shall fall Pray think of it it will be more Terrible than can now be expressed or imagined all the Descriptions and Circumstances of it with reference to Men in their Sins are very dreadful As in a word or two to instance this Day will be dreadful unto Sinners if we look 1. At the Judg who is described descending from Heaven with a Shout with the Voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God 1 Thess 4.16 descending with his mighty Angels accompanied with flaming Fire to take Vengeance 2 Thess 1.7 8. Psal 50.3 Mal. 4.1 to tear Psal 50.22 to punish 1 Thess 1.9 These are tremendous Expressions and if it be nothing to hear them it will be something to see them receiving their accomplishment to see Christ descending with a Shout attended with his mighty Angels clothed in Flames of Fire to tear take Vengeance and punish 2. At the Day which is set out on the like terrible manner as a great Day Jude 6. as a great Day of Wrath Rev. 6.17 as the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2.5 as the Day of Judgment and Perdition of ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3.7 O what appalling Expressions 3. It will be a terrible Day if we look at the poor Sinners who are brought in weeping and wailing at the first opening of this Day Mat. 24.30 Rev. 1.7 O then poor Scoffers who walking after their own Lusts 2 Pet. 3.3 4. say Where is the Promise of his coming shall have their Tune turned They will then turn to their desperate but bootless Shifts When they see him on the Throne they shall cry to the Rocks and Mountains fall on us and hide us from the Face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6.16 But this will be a vain Cry vain I say for the Creature cannot hide when the Creator is in pursuit But tho this be in vain they 'll thus cry which shows the Terror that shall then come upon them And if the seeing of the Judg make them thus a Magormissabib what a taking will they be in when the Books are opening to open all their doings before the whole World What a taking will they be in when the Damnator's Sentence is ringing in their Ears when they are sinking together into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone 4. At the Sentence to be passed on them which is Tristissima Horribilissima most Sad and Horrible Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Every word carries a Wo a thousand Woes a World of Woes in it O Sirs to depart to be sent away to depart Cursed under the Load and Weight of Heaven's Curse to depart cursed from Christ the Fountain of Light the Lord of Glory and the River of Pleasures to depart thence into Fire into everlasting Fire Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels this will be a fearful Thing O when poor Creatures see that there is no escaping but now they must go and go with a Curse for their Portion and go from Christ Angels Saints and Heaven and go to dwell in everlasting Fire and have the Devil and his
Angels for their Companions what Weeping and Wailing will there be among them 5. If we look at the Consequents of this Opening these are very dreadful for this Opening will be immediately followed 1st With an Eternal Opening 1. Of Conscience which will cause restless and endless Terror Horror and Torment 2. Of the bottomless Pit and Lake of Fire where they shall be for ever tormented with everlasting Punishment Mat. 25.46 2ly An everlasting shutting 1. Out of the Presence of God and Kingdom of Heaven 2. In Darkness and under Damnation Now if any say how may we get into such a readiness for this great Opening of the Books as that they may not open to our Shame Confusion and Condemnation Why if you would be ready so as that when the Books open Heaven may not shut and Hell open on you to all Eternity then 1. Be often thinking on this opening Day spend some time every Day in serious Thoughts of this great Day I have before pressed this as a Duty incumbent upon all and now urge it as a Direction for those who would be ready at this Day Wouldst thou be prepared then let this Day be ever in thy Eye by serious Meditation this will be a good help unto thee in several Respects as have been before shown O therefore carry carry this Opening ever in thine Eye When thou openest a Book to read or seest another open one let it put thee in mind of this Opening of the Books When thou seest the Morning opening after a dark Night and bring many things to light that lay covered with Darkness let it put thee on thinking what an Opening there will be in the Morning of the Resurrection and final Judgment how things will then come out When thou seest the Day shutting think what a shutting this great Day will have When thou art undressing thy self and putting off thy Clothes think what a Day this will be when thou and all the Sons of Men must be strip'd and laid open before the World of Angels and Men. When thou hearest of strange discoveries of Thefts Murders and Whoredoms let it mind thee of this Opening that will open all the hidden things of Darkness from the beginning of the World to the end thereof let every thing be thus a Remembrancer to thee of this and set afoot in thee some Thoughts about it I have read of one of the Antients noted for his singular Piety and eminent Holiness who being asked what Books he made his Companions and used most he answered that it was his Practice every Day to read over a Book that had three Leaves one Red a second Black a third White Liber cujus tria folia rubrum nigrum candidum In the Red he used to read and meditate on the bloody Passion of Christ in the Black the Darkness and Damnation of Hell in the White the Light and Glory of Heaven whereby he gained more in the way of practical Godliness than by any other study I would here add a fourth Leaf to this Book viz. This opening Day and commend the reading of it to every one that would be then ready 2. Watch and Pray This is our Saviour's Direction that he prescribes in this Case Luke 21.36 In the foregoing Verses you have 1. Our Saviour's description of this Day 2. His admonition to his Disciples not to be taken unawares and unready ver 34. 3. The Reason of this Admonition For as a Snare shall it come on them that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth Ver. 35. It shall come suddenly and take them unready And then 4. In these words you have his means of prevention prescribed and they are two Watch and Pray Would you not be taken unready Watch exercise your selves in a universal Carefulness over your Hearts and Ways over the Wiles and Ways of Satan over the stirrings and motions of Corruptions in your selves the Occasions and Advantages of Sin in the World that you fall not into Snares And to Watchfulness join Prayer that great safeguarding Duty Watch and Pray Pray and Watch that ye may be accounted worthy Never think that you can be ready at this Day if now in your Day you live at large if you make no matter what Company you walk with what Temptations you run into what Sins you lay at your Door if you 'll be false with God in your Profession unjust with Men in your Dealings if you 'll Drink and Swear and Profane the Lord's Day no no this work will not do I tell you Sirs it will not do Wo to you if any of you put it to this venture and say as alas the Practices of too many say aloud either this shall do or I 'll be undone for then you are sure to be undone for ever If you would have this Day find you ready let to day and to morrow and the next Day find you Praying and Watching find you with your Loins girt and your Lights burning as Servants that wait for their Lord. We read of four Beasts Rev. 4.6 8. that were full of Eyes both before and behind and within Why thus as these had not one but many Eyes so you must be full of Eyes there must be Eyes looking forward observing ever what we have before us what we enter on or put our Hand to and there must be Eyes looking backwards ever reflecting on past Actions on what we have done that we may spy and correct our Errors and there must be Eyes looking inward watching over that cunning deceitful Piece the Heart and the workings thereof They that would be ready at this Day must Watch and Pray at their Day 3. Make the Word of God the Rule of your Conversation in the World This must be the Rule of Judgment then let it be the Rule of your Life now you must be judged by this Book at the great Opening if you would then stand live by it now in your Day This is another thing I would leave with you by way of Direction O take it up You see there must be a great Opening Men must be judged according to their Works and their Works according to the Word so that if you would be ready live now according to this Book and learn to walk according to this Rule in all your Ways and Actions keep an Eye on this We find that the four Beasts Rev. 4.8 had each of them six Wings about him and they were full of Eyes within Wings are for Motion Eyes for guidance and direction in that Motion so that this Phrase imports that their Motion was not blind and lawless but regular and orderly Why thus we must have Eyes under our Wings i. e. our Actions and Motions must be ordered guided and directed by the Light of the Word says David Psal 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path q. d. I am as one in the dark who dare not walk nor stir a step from his Station