14. 7 8. 5. And we are then like the Swan to endeavour to sing sweetest by our devout prayers and praises to God and gratious speeches to men So Iacob Gen. 49. David 2 Sam. 23 Christ Luke 23. 34. Stephen Acts 〈◊〉 56. Isaac Heb. 11. 22. Iob. Iob. 1. 21. we shall say somewhat more to this pâ—â—nt in the next branch which we are now to descend unto 4. The fourth thing we are to be exhorted unto from this doctrine of the necessity of dying is to make a virtue of this necessity and not to fear death but when we see our time is come to die let us resolutely patiently and willingly undergo â—t A naturall and moderate fear of it as it is an Enemy to nature 〈◊〉 be chaâ—ged as an evill upon us being no other but what was in the 〈◊〉 hâ—â—rt of Christ Jesus but an immoderate afflicting distracting fear of it is to be avoyded of all Christians And for the Cure hereof and our further fitting for death let us be well instructed in the nature thereof to a beleever as it is set forth in the Gospell wherein we have these considerations 1. That there is a necessity of it and it cannot be avoyded Psal 49. 7. 2. It is sanctiâ—ed and sweetned by Christs death so as it is not now a curse but a blessing a passage a departure a change of roomes a going out of a worse place into a better 3. Assoon as the body goeth out of this world it goeth to a place of rest where it shall be troubled no more and then Gods Covenant of peace shall be made good to it And to speak properly the beleeving Christian doth not die he lyeth down to sleep in his bed for his death is but the bodies going to bed and to sleep after the many labours of the day of this life are ended out of which he shall awake after the night of death is past at the morning of the râ—surrection to everlasting life and no sâ—oner is the soule out of the body then it is in possession thereof Esay 57. 2 3. The righteous are taken away c. he shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds c. 2 King 32. 20. Thou shal s be gathered to thy fathers inâ—eace Matt. 9. 24. Acts 7. 60. He fell asleepe 4. The body by death is not reduced to nothing as the body of a beaâ—t is but it is only resolved to earth again where the â—otting of it is only to refine it that as the Corne which first diâ—â—h it may arise more glorious 1 Cor. 15. 36. Gen. 3. 19. So that death to the Saints is neither totall but of the body only nor perpetuall but for a time only Rom. 8. 10. 5. God is as much the God of the dead as of the living beleever Mat. 22. 34. God is not the God of the dead but of the living i. his Covenant is with them to make them happy in communicating to them grace life and glory and this Covenant is with the body as well as with the soul Rom. 14. 8. Whether we live or die we are the Lords 6. The body and soul of a beleever notwithstanding the death of the body is still a member of Christ Ephe. 5. 30. Rom. 14. 8. Death devides us not from God but brings us home to him 7. God hath the power of death and the grave and his providence doth dispose thereof and of everything therein and he will be with the beleever in this estate to support him under and deliver him out of it and to turn it to his good and he wâ—â— not leave him till he hath settled his soul and body in heaven Rev. 18. I have the Keyes of Hell and Death i. power to keep from or deliver to death Iude verse 9. Acts 4. 28. Psalm 16. 10. 11. Thou wiâ—â— not leave my Soule in grave nor suffer thiâ—â— holy one to see corruption Heb. 2. 14 15. Acts 2. 24. Psalm 116. 15. The death of his Saints is pretious to him 1. either God will preserve them from wicked hands or will sharply revenge their death on them that kill them Acts 20. 24. 2 Kings 1. 13. Psal 72. 14. 8. The death of the beleever cannot seperate his soul from Christs love to it or its love to Christ Iohn 11. 5. 20. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 38. 39. What shall sepâ—rate us from the love of Christ Shall death c. 9. Death reacheth to the body only and not to the soul Mat. 10. 28. Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the Soule c. 10. By death God requireth again of us that soul he â—â—usted us with and every honest man will willingly deliver up his trust when it is required Eocles 12. 12. 11. The sting of death is now taken away to the beleever that it cannot hurt him 1 Cor. 15. 55. Buzze it may snake whose sting â—â— pulled out 1â— The Angels will be ready to receive and carry the beleevers sould into the presence of the God of peace in Heaven Luke 16. 22. 23. Death shall be destroyed and it is the last Enemy that shall be destroyed â—evel 20 v. 14. â— Câ—rinâ—h 15. v. 26. Rev. 20. 14. 14. The body of the beleever shall be gloriously raised after death to die no more for then death shall be swallowed up into victory and body and soul united and placed in eternall felicity for the soul being loosed out of prison the body may not be kept in prison 2 Cor. â— 1. Rev. 21. 4. 20. 13. 1 Thes 4. 13. Psalm 49. 14 15 16. 8 9. 1 Cor. 15. 43. Iohn 6. 39. Rom. 8. 11. To say all in one word death to the beleever makes a happy change and doth infinitly better his condition for it â—reeth him from all evill and puts him in possession of all good It â—reeth him from the evill of sin and punâ—â—â—ment felt and feared present and to come and puts an end to all his cares fears teares labours griefs combats with sin the world and the Devill for in death he gets beyond and above them all It is a passage and going from Aegyt to Canaan out of an old rotten house wherein a man hath no estate at all into a glorious Mansion and Kingly pallace of his own inheritance the going out of a base prison to a glorious liberty the return from a banishment to his own Country and home the comming to the haven after a long and dangerous voyage by sea It is a going to bed after a man hath laboured hard all day and is â—yred and weary It is a going from corruption to incorruption from mortallity to immortallity from death to life from earth to heaven from a miserable to a happy life It is the putting off a mans old ragged Cloathes to put on princely robes It is a loosing from the shore and a lanching out into the main to take possession of a Kingdome It is the
have already shewed and we are not to be much troubled at our own losse which is so much to their gain they are but gone to bed and in a sweet sleep a little before us 10. 11. 11. Ps 37. 7. Luke 16. 24. 10. They are not gone from but a little before us and we shall shortly go to them 2 Sam. 12. 23. 11. They shall rise again and we shall meet again and live together for ever in a far better condition then we are or can be in here 1 Thess 4. 3. 2. In the second place let this perswade us not to trust too much in friends Psal 146. 3. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the sonnes of men for there is no help in him his breath departeth he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish Esay 2. 22. Cease from man whose breath is in his â—ostrils for wherein is he to be esteemed 2. As to Enemies Let this perswade us not to live in fear of them be they never so mighty rich cruel c. able and willing to hurt us For first all their power can reach but to the bodie it cannot touch the soul Mat. 10. 28. 2. They can do no more to our bodies then God hath decreed and shall give them leave to do Acts 2. 23. Revel 2. 10. Luke 8. 3â— Iob 1. 4 5 6. 3. They must shortly die and then that power they have will be taken from them Matt. 2. 16. 19. Iob 3. 17. there i in the grave the wicked cease from troubling Thus we have done with the use of exhortation The next use we shall make of this point shall be for consolation and this Vse 3 is to the Saints under all their lesser deaths the troubles of this present life which they either feel or fear this great death will shortly come and put an end to them all Iob 3. 17. There the weary be 〈◊〉 c. they heare not the voice of the oppressor for being once dead they can die no more This very Use the Holy Ghost doth make of this point 〈◊〉 Rev. 14. 13. Esay 7. 1. for as it is a comfort to a man in a dark prison that he hath no light but through a little hole If looking through it he can see some pleasant object that doth delight him it will make his imprisonment seem shorter and lighter So doubtlesse will it comfort Gods people to contemplate this doore of hope shortly to be opened to them by which they shall be let out of all the troubles of this present life into a place and estate of perfect peace and liberty Vse 4 But here that we be not mistaken and to the end that the comforts before reached out and offered to the Saints be not catched hold of and assumed by the wicked that have nothing to do therewith we shall subjoyn a word or two of â—yall and examination If we be the persons to whom the comforts before heâ—â— forth do belong who shall have a happy change who shall be blessed in dâ—ath rest from their labours after death being dissolved shall be with Christ who shall have hope in death whose flesh shall rest in hope whose 〈◊〉 bodies shall be with Christ who shall have hope in death whose flesh shall rest in hope whose vile bodies shall be made like Christs glorious body who shall have peace who shall rest in our beds and be gathered to our graves in peace we must be able to give this Character of our selves That we are upright righteous persons perfect and mercifull men such as do studdy to approve our selves in all things towards God and men 2 Cor. 1. 12. 9 10. Prov. 14. 31. 32. Psal 37. 7. Esay 57. 1. 3. Numb 23. 10. That we are in Christ Jesus 1 engâ—aâ—â—ed into him by faith Rev. 14. 13. And if so then are we 1. New Creatures that is we have new qualyties of holinesse created in us Rom. 8. 38 39. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 2. We are dead to sin and alive to righteousnesse Rom. 6. 3 4. c. 3. We walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 10. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 5. 4. We have tender hearts and humble our selves before God his word and his judgments 2 Kings 22 19 20. We are also active and industrious for Gods glory and his peoples good Phil. 1. 1 2 c. 1 Pet 1. 12. Our conversation is heavenly Phil. 2â— 21. We are Saints and such as make the Lord â—uâ— portion Psal 16. 5 These are Gods people who have the Lord for their God and to whom the comforts of this poyâ—t belong Mat. 22. 32. What then have reprobate unregenerate unbeleeving 〈◊〉 unmercifull deceitfull carelesse hard-hearted proud 〈◊〉 wicked and impenitent persons to do with those comfortable promises and discoveries they have no part nor portion herein but their portion 〈◊〉 in the next use Vse 5 The next and last use to be made of this point of deathâ— certain and speedy approach is of very great terrour and discomfort to all wicked and ungodly persons such as we have before sâ—cluded from all the comfort of this point The licentious â—â—â—cure that sayth 1 Cor. 15. 32. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die Luke 12. 19. Psal 49. 18. The secure wordling that doth think his house shall continue for ever Psal 49. 11. and that he hath enough for many yeares Luk. 12. 19. The proud who trusteth in his goods and glorâ—eth in the multitude of his wealth Psal 49. 6. and all other sinners whatsoever that walk in the way of their own hearts and either mind not at all or put farre from them their dying day Eccles. 7. 9. Amoâ— 6. 3. All these are to know to their grief and astonishment that they must certainly and shortly die and that very suddenly and when they least of all expect it their souls will be required of them and return they must to God to give an account of all the things they have done in their flesh and from thence be sent packing to hell their bodies shall â—re long chop into the earth when they must leave all their worldly enjoyments they so much glory and rejoyce in and settle upon to others and be gone from hence to be seen no more A change they also shall make but not from a worse to a better estate but from a better to a worse estate they shall go from peace to trouble from liberty to bondage from life to death from their heaven to hell and from the enjoyment and the hope of all in this world which either is or they esteem to be good to all that is evill or if they do as some of them do go from a sad condition here they go into a worse out of the Frying-pan they gâ—â— to the Fiâ—e â—ut of Prison to the Gallowes they are lanching into an infinite ocean of scalding Lead and in it they must swim naked for ever In one word
theâ— But God tels them v. 18. That he would disaâ—â—ull their Covenant for the Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to â—ought and maketh the devises of the people of none â—ffect 2. Mans sin hath deserved it Gen. 2. 17. In the day thou â—â—test thereof thou shalt surely die Rom. 5 12. As by one man sin â—ntred into the world and death by sin so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adâ—m all die i. sin and death came upon all men 3. Man in his nature is mortall and corruptable as the Trees as therefore these however some of them as Oaks and the like live longer then others yet do all of them in time by age wither and die and none of them live for ever because they are of a dying nature so it is with men though some of them live longer then others yet experience shews uâ— that they all dye at one time or other Eccles 6. 6. 7. Though â—e live a thousand year◠〈◊〉 Do not all go to one place 4. Unlesse the body die it cannot be capable of that state to which it is ordained For the wicked man must have such a body as is fitted everlastingly to burn without consumption and the godly man must have such a body as is capable of the everlasting enjoyment of the glory of heaven which the present body cannot doe As therefore the seed which is â—own is not quickened unlesse it die so unlesse these bodies of the Saints die they cannot have those new bodies prepared for them which are bodies with new qualities 1 Cor. 15. 37 39 40 c. It is â—own in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowâ— in dishonour raised in glory sown in weaknesse raised in power sown a naturall raised a spirituall bodie The bodies of the Saints shall be then sound and of a nature that cannot corrupt glorious and comâ—ly without any deformity powerfull that is able to continue without the humane helps of meat drink and cloths without which they cannot new be kept they must put off their old ragged cloths of mortality if ever they mean to put on the princely â—obes of immortality and life 2. And thus God will have it and his providence hath disposed of it for the manifestation of his own glory the glory of his Justice in the punishment of mans sin the glory of his Truth in making good his word and the glory of his power in the resurrection of the bodies of men Io. 9. 3. 11. 39 40. It is needfull that we answer one objection ere we go further If death be Object the wages of sin and Christ hath given satisfaction for the sins of his people how comes it to passe that they die To this we answer 1. This objection may be made against all the afflictions Answer of Gods people 2. Christ never promised by his Word nor intended by his Death to free his people from afflictions and so from death but fâ—om the evill and hurt thereof onely and so he doth free his people from death insomuch as it is not now a curse but a blessing a token of Gods love and means of mans good Christ as he took not away sin it self but the guilt thereof so he took not away death it self but the sting thereof Revel 14. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Hebr. 12. verse 8. 10. Revel 3. verse 19. 1 Corinth 15 〈◊〉 56. If any man shall ask now when he must die We must answer him that we know not when for as there is nothing in iuest Qâ—â— Answer the world more certain then death so there is nothing more uncertain then the time when men shall die this God hath kept in his owne hands This only is certain that at the longest it will not be long for mans age is but short Psal 9. 5. As a hand breadth and as nothing before God Iob 14. 1 2. Man that is borne of a woman is of â—ew dayes c. He commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe He fleeth also as a shaddow and continueth not Psal 102. 11. 03. 15. 144. 4. Psal 89 47. Remember how short my time is Iob 7. 6 7. 20. 16. 22. Iam. 4 14. Esay 48 6. All flesh is grasse Psal 90 10. Isa man liâ—â— to 〈◊〉 or by reason of strength to 80. yet is it soone cut of and we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how much of this in thy life is spent already But perhaps thou mayest not live out halfe thy dayes for men like sheep die of all ages Psalm 55. 23 and this doth commonly fall out that the longer men think to live the lesse while they have to live 1 Thes 5. 3. Luke 12. â— 20. This pâ—ynt being cleared let us now see what use may be made of it Vse 1 And first it may serve us for exhortation to divers things and this two wayes First as having reference to our owne death Secondly as having reference to the death of others As having reference to our owne death it doth serve to exhort and perswade us to these things First to beleeve it let us beleeve it that we must die and that of all this world of men women and children now alive there will not after a few yeares one be left Scarcely will a man beleeve that seeth a great apple-tree thick of clusters that ever these will fall one by one and yet being ripe how soone will they be all dropt downe and gone So it is of men one generation passeth and another commeth Eccles. 1. 4. Secondly to think of it let us meditate and consider of this that we must die For however it may be thought a vaine and needlesse perswasion to perswade men to beleeve and think they shall die and every man will be ready to say he doth beleeve this and it is never out of his thought and who doth not so Yet it is more then manifest by most mens lives that they doe not so For doth that man that taketh nothing about him to defend him against â—oule weather beleeve he shall meet with it in his journey Doth he that makes no provision for a new beleeve he shall shortly be put out of his old house Doth he beleeve he must shortly put of his old that makes no provision for new cloathes Doth the Thâ—â—fe or Murderer beleeve there is a Prison and Gallâ—wes for Theeâ—es and Murderers whilst he doth kill or steale Or doth that Servant while he wasteth or spoileth his Masters goods or abuseth his follow Servants thinke of his Masters comming to call him to an account Nor doth he that neglecteth all the care of provision for another life thinke of it that he must shortly goe out of this life Can it be that the profane Scorner cruell Oppressor licentious Epicure or sâ—â—â—re Libertine should be perswaded that he must shortly die and after death come to judgement Hath he not rather with them in Esay 28. 15. made
they are passing out of the world into death and the grave and from thence to judgment Of which we are to speak in the next place Of JUDGEMENT DOCTRINE There is without question a great and terrible Assist or day of generall Judgement set and to come wherein every one must be brought to account and be judged for all his thoughts words and works IN this point we shall say something for Explication something for Confirmation and somthing for Application For Explication 1. It shall be a great day and so it is called â—ude v. 6. Mal. 4. 5. It is so called 1 for the great assembly and meeting that then shall be If all the Juries and people of the Kingdom were to meet at one grand Assise before the King himself for the tryall of all the Delinquents in the Kingdom this would be a great day how great then will that day be wherein all the Men Women and Children that ever were are or shall be must appear before the Lord Jesus to be judged 2. It is called a great day because there are great things to be done on that day It is also called a terrible day because there are terrible things on that day to be seen and done Ioâ—â— 3. 2. Rev. 20. 12 13 14. 13. 16. Ioel 2. 31. Mal. 4. 5. It is also called the day or that day by a specialty Luke 21. verse 34 Rev. 6. 17. This day we call the day of the generall Judgement to distinguish it from the perticular Judgement which every man receiveth at his death for every mans deaths day is his dooms-day Hebr. 9. 27. Eccles 12. 7. This is to be a day of Judgement For in it there shall be a formall and â—udiciall proceeding Judgment containeth three things 1 Examination of the cause wherein it is requisite there be two things 1. an equity in all things and persons 2. a laying open of this equity 2. a giving of Judgement upon the cause 3. the doing of execution according to the Judgement all this shall be then done For the Judge shall sit parties shall be cited evidence given in a tryall had and passed and judgment given men shall be formally and orderly examined condemned and punished Rev. 10. 11 12. Matt. 25. verse 40. c. This day is decreed and set Acts 17. 31. He hath appointed a day wherein to â—â—dge the world And it is not past but yet to come nor shall it come till the end of all other things be first come 2 Thess 2. 1 2 3. nor is the very certain houre or day to be known by man Matt. 24. 42. 25. 1â— All flesh young and old rich and pâ—ore male and female must then appear none shall be so great to avoid it none so little as to be forgotten And they must must you say is for the King so saith the King of Kings they must appear and that in person they may not appear by proxie nor may they be excused for their default or make delay or have a day over but they must then and there appear to give anaccount Revel 20. 12. I saw the dead great and small stand before God 2 Cor. 5. â—0 We must all appear before the judgâ—â—â—â— seat of Christ Eccles 11. 9. God will bring thee i. the young man to judgment though thou be unwilling to come God will bring tâ—â—â— by force Hebr. 6. 27. Rom. 14. 10. That all thiâ— is out of all question will appear by the Confirmation which follows in the next place 1. That it is so 2. That it must be so That it is so 1. many Scriptures of the old and new Testament do foreshew it Daâ— 12. 1 â—ard 7. 26. 22. Eccles 11. 9. Mal. 4. 5. Ioel 2. 31. Iude verse 14 15. Acts 17. 31. Rom. 14. 10. Acts 10. 42 43. to him give all the Prophets witnesse that he is ordained of God to be judge both of quick and dead Rev. 1. 7. Behold he commeth i. It is as certain as if he were come 2. The Devils and wicked men at one time or another believe it and tremble to think of it Mâ—t. 8 â—9 Art thou come to torment us before the time Iames 2. 19. The Devils believe and tremble their hearts ake and quake within them 3. All the Godly expect it 2 Pet. 3. 12. 4 Many signes there have been and are foreshewing it 5. The prayers of good and sins of bad men will bring it about Rev. 22. 17 20. chapt 14 15 16 17 18. 2. That it must be so reason doth evince it 1. For it will not stand with the justice mercy and goodnes of God that it should be otherwise then well with the good and ill with the bad at last since it falleth out often that the condition of the best men is worst and of the worst men is best in this life How can it stand with the justice of God that wicked persecutors should go unpunished and not receive a reward of their works and that the godly who have suffered so much injury from wicked men should not be righted and recompenced There is nothing in all the world doth more certainly prove the day of judgment then the injustice of the wicked world for thus we may reason will the Lord certainly punish the wicked and reward the just this being not alwayes in this life it must be certainly at the day of judgment Beliâ—es what mistakes and miâ—construction do the justice of God and inocency of godly men lye under in this life and how much do the names of God and godly men suâ—â—er hereby and when or how will they or can they be delivered but at and by this day of judgement For the clearing thereof therefore and manifestation of Gods justice and godly mâ—â—s integrity theâ—â— must be of necessity such a day to come Hence it is called the day of the Revâ—lation of the righteous judgement of God 2 Thess 6. We glory in your patience in your sufferings which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God The Saints sufferings here are as one saith an ocular demonstration of a future judgement where all their wrongs shall be righted and all their labours of love recompenced Iames 5. 8. Rom. 2. 5. That therefore there is such a judgement to come we do rightly professe in one of the Articles of our Creed That Iesus Christ shall come from Heaven to judge the quick and dead 2. Gods decree hath set it Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to man once to die but after this the judgment 3. His word hath spoken it and his truth must perform it We have done with the Confirmation but we must answer two or three objections â—re we can make our Application Object Answer It may be said God judgeth men now he judgeth men everyday To this we answer This judgment is begun here on good and bad God judgeth men by his word by their own Consciences and by his administration and the disposall of
his works but the finall and solemn consummation and manifestation thereof is not till this day of judgment Object 2 It may be also objected out of that place Iohn 12. 47. that Christ sayth He came not to judge the world but to save it To this we answer That by those words Christ meaneth nothing but Answer this that he came not then when he came first into the world to judge or punish men for sin but to save men from sin and for that purpose then rather to execute his priestly and propheticall office then his kingly office in the judgment and punishment of sinners which is to be done at the time of his second comming to judgment Object 3 There is yet one more objection to be answered which is this There needeth no other judgment then what is already Iohn 3. 18. 5. 24. He that beleeveth shall not come into judgement but heâ— that beleeveth not is condemned already To this we answer that the sence of this place is by Interpreters thus that the beleever shall not be judged to condemnation but in the judgment of absolution he shall be judged And as for the unbeleever he is condemned already by that ancient sentence Gen. 3. 19. 2. 17. Gal. 3. 19. he is condemned also by Gods councell and decree by Gods word and by his own conscience the sentence is as it were passed the halter about his neck nothing to be done but turn him over the ladder of life and he is gone for ever Or he is as sure to be condemned as if it were done already but the full and solemn declaration and execution of this is not till this last judgment And now we shall come to the application of this point and consider what profitable uses we may make thereof wherein we must premise these things that some of the uses are deduced from the generall doctrine of the last judgment and some of them from some particular branches of this doctrine or some things that do accompany this judgement As the firing of the world the end of all things and the like And some of the uses are applyable to all men but some to good men and some to bad men only Vse 1 The first use shall be of Instruction and discovery to shew us some things concerning this point of the last judgment 1. Who shall be Judge The Lord Jesus Christ God and man as to the externall visible act is to be the Judge of quick and dead Acts 17. 31. 10. 42. And herein his divinity and humanity both shall be exercised But as to the consent and authority the whole Trinity shall be Judge Rom. 2. 5. 16. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Christ Jesus the second person of the Trinity is to be the Judge 1. That as he was judged by the world so the world may be judged by him 2. That as 〈◊〉 people have seen him in his state of humility so they may see him in a state of glory 3. That therby he may perfect his Kingly office 4. Because the Father hath committed all judgment to him John 5. 27. 22. 5. That he may have the same honour with his Father 6. That the Iudge may be visible If that be objected which is in Matt. 19. 28. 1 Cor. 6. 2. that the Apostles and Saints shall judge the world The answer is this That some take the sence of this text to be but this That their doctrine faith and grace shall rise in judgment against the unbeliefe and wickednesse of the world and leave them inexcusable Heb. 11. 7. Mat. 12. 41 4â— Others thus They shall sit with him as assistants and approve of the sentence as Iustices of peace with the Iudges Others thus They shall according to their measure partake of the glory of Christs Kingdome and be therein preferred before others Luke 22. 30. Rev. 10. 4. 2 26 Dâ—â— 12. 3. 2. What this judgment shall be It shall be that whereby Christ will judge all men without exception according to his word some to eternall life some to eternall death 3. The place where this judgment shall be For this some have thought that the place of this judgment shall be over the valley of Jehosaâ—hat nâ—â—r to Ierusalem and for proofe hereof have alleadged some reasons and some places of Scripture As Ioel 3. 1 2. 2 Chron. 20. 1. 22 23. c. But this opinion seemeth to be very doubtfull and it is more probable it shall be in the aire and alost from thâ—se Scriptures Luke 21. 27. Mat. 24. 27 28. 30 31. 1 Thess 4. 17. 4. The time when this judgment shall be For this some have held it shall be at the end of 6000. years Others immediatly after the discovery of Antichrist Others at another time But these things are not certain Yet as to this poynt the Scripture seems clearly to hâ—ld forth these things 1. That Gods people shall have a more certain knowledge of the time when this judgment shall be then wicked men shall have they may perhaps be able to see and say in what age it shall be 1 Thess 5. 1 2 3. c. But the very precise time no man or Angell can or shall know for this knowledge is hid from man and kept in Gods own power 1. For his own glory 2. For his peoples good to the end they may be alwayes upon their watch and still ready and prepared Therefore God hath kept one day from us that we may watch every day There is nothing more certain then that Christ will come but nothing more uncertain then the time when Christ will come to judgment Mat. 24. 36. But of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels of heaven but my Father only But as the dayes of Noah were so likewise shall the comming of the Soâ—â—e of man be Acts 1. 7. Marke 13. verse 32. 2. That this day shall come when it doth come suddainly and unexpectedly as a thief in the night and a snare upon the blind and secure inhabitants of the world Luke 21. 35. When they shall cry peace then shall come suddaine destruction 1 Thess 5. 3. Matt. 24. 38. As in the dayes before the 〈◊〉 they did eate and drinke c. and knew nothing till the floud tooke them all away so shall the comming of the Sonne of man be 3. This day is not farre off but neer at hand and is hastened by the sins of wicked and the prayers of godly men 1 Pet. 4. 7. Rev. 22. 17. chap. 14. 14 15. c. 4. The manner and order of this last judgment and of Christs comming to it This judgment will be in itself and to all wicked men exceeding terrible and dreadfull For as the Iudge so the judgment will be most impartiall just and righteous Rom. 2. 2. We are sure the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things If Gods temporall judgments which were only shaddowes hereof were so terrible how much more
so great gain certainly every man will think him so Should not a man rather sell all that he hath to gain this Matth. 13. And account all but durg in comparison of this Phil. 3 Jerome What saith the father fire gallowes c. All the torments of hell so I may enjoy the pleasures of heaven Who doth not then marvell at the wisdom of the men of this world rightly tearmed folly that embrace straw and contemn gold set their hearts upon that which is not and so greedily follow after shadowes and neglect that which is and let go enduring substances what folly and madnesse is this 2. Exhorta To divers duties 1 Let us labour to see know and beleeve this But you will say of this as of death is there any man alie that makes a question of this whether he shall die or whether there be a hell or a heaven or no Yes certainly it is more then manifest that most men doe not know nor beleeve this truth for if they did it is not possible they should live as they doe To know is to know by causes and for our selves and to apply to our selves and our own private profit what we know which is the knowledge we are pressed to in this place To beleeve because the God of truth hath said it in his word that there is a heaven to reward the righteous and a hell to punish the wicked that we must all die and after death come to judgement and to live so as those that expect such things 2 Pâ—t 3. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse Let us consider it well spend many thoughts upon it enter into deep meditations of the inestimable glorie of it and view that heavenly Canaan well And to help us herein let us pray with the Apostle Ephes 1. 18. That we may be enlightened to see what is the riches and glory of this inheritance These things beleevingly thought upon will bring us much profit 1 They will expell other thoughts 2 They will keep us from sin we shall say then shall I sin and for a few base lusts loose such a place as heaven is 3 They will provoke us to good works and make them more easie to us 4 They will make us bear the crosse the more patiently as they did the Martyr who said well Though I have a sower breakfast I shall have a sweet supâ—â—â— 5 They will more inflame us with the love 〈◊〉 this felicity and consequently make us more to strive to attain it 2 In the second place this may exhort us to use the means and take the course to attain to this happy estate 2 To get assurance that we belong to this estate and shall come at the last to it For the first of these we are to see that we labour and strive to get into this golden citie where streets gates walls and all are gold and pearl Nay where pearl and all is but as mire and dirt and nothing worth 2 Pet. 3. 13. 14. And now and now onely is the time to do this And to move us hereunto we are to consider thâ—se things 1 It is a thing to be done heaven may be had if we seek after it Matth. 7. 7. 2 It is an excellent condition as we have shwed 3 It is an everlasting happy condition 4 Else we perish everlastingly If now you shall ask how you may attain or which way you may come to it we must answer you We must goe the way And herein there are 2 things 1 That we know the path that leadeth to this blessednesse 2 that we tread this path untill we do attain it As he that would goe to any place heere must first know and then go the way thither and not another way If you desire to be shewed this way we must first of all shew you that is the way that Gods word prescribeth that a man that will come to heaven must walk this is the King of kings high way Iames 2. 8. That leads to true blessednesse he then that means to come thither must be acquainted with the word of God both Law and Gospel And for that purpose he must be a diligent hearer reader and meditatour of it Psalm 1. Psalm 119. Iohn 〈◊〉 39. Acts 20. 32 And this is that that sheweth us the way it sheweth us Christ who is the way it gives us grace and makes us sit for glory this is as the starre that brought the wisemen to Christ See Matth. 7. 24. Rom. 10. 14. Ephe 4. 11 1 13. 2 Cor. 5 19. Heb. 1. 1. If you desire yet to be farther instructed in this point you must observe with us 3 things 1 some lets or hinderances that do keep men from heaven and the way which must be removed 2 Some helps and furtherances as provision for the journey that do help onwards in the way to heaven that must be used 3 the steps of this way it self The hinderances and impediments are many But to give you some 1 All sin in generall is a hinderance to mens attainment of true blessednesse for every sin is a step in the contrary way and leadeth towards hell But there are some speciall things that lâ—t as 1 Infâ—delitie the Jâ—ws could not enteâ— into the earthly Canaan because of their unbeleef Heb. 3. 19. And the Christian will be kept out of the heavenly Canaan by his unbeleef Iob. 3. 18. 2 Pride James 4 6. God refâ—â—teth â—e prâ—â—d When mâ—n are puffed up and 〈◊〉 so big with the conceit of their own externall oâ— internall worth they cannot get into heaven Matth. 19. 24. It is easier for a Caâ—â—ll to goe through the eye of anâ—â—dle c. 3. Trusting to a mans self and his own righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3 Gal. 2. 17. 4 A râ—misse and carelesse seeking of it men will not give enough for it he that would have heaven must go beyond all men Luke 13. 24. 5. Presumtuous security whereby a man is content in his present condition presuming all is well when it is not so Matth. 25. 43. 44. and v. in the parable of the â—ive â—â—â—lish virgins The helps and furtherances that must be used are 1 Resolution as a man that prepares for a journey doth gird up the loyns c 2 All the means and ordinances of grace And the spiritual traveler can no more go to heaven without the constant and conscionable use of thâ—se then a travaâ—ler here can go a great journey without a guide food and other provision for his journey These means are the Word and Sacraments prayer and the rest iâ— the Sanctification of the Sabbath all which being the means to beget increase and cheâ—â—â— grace which is he way and means to attain to glorie must be carefully and constantly used of all those thâ—t look to â—â—me to glory Ioâ—nâ— 6. 24. Actâ— 20. 32. Iohn 5. 29. Rom. 10.