much more licentiously to deferre their repentance yea many would Atheistically inferre that Christ would neuer come to iudgement And therefore the Holy Ghost keepeth vs in suspense and still in the Scripture telleth vs that the Houre draweth neere that the Day is at hand and that the Lord will come quickly to the intent wee should alwaies be ready A third Question Whether that the world shall end in the yeare of Christ two thousand thirty nine that is some foure hundred and fiue and twenty yeares hence seeing that from the beginning of the world to that date are accomplished the 6000 yeares of the worlds full continuance figured as diuers old and new Writers thinke by the sixe daies of the creation Ans. First from the six daies of creation to conclude of sixe thousand yeares of the worlds continuance it is no certaine rule or axiome but onely a coniecture And whereas Saint Peter saith That a thousand yeares with the Lord viz. being compared with His Erernitie is but as one day and one day as a thousand yeares hee neither alludeth to the sixe daies wherein the world was created nor doth determine how long the world shall endure Secondly our confident perswasion is that the world shall be consummate before this long date for the dayes must bee shortned otherwise if the world hold on his hold there should no faith be left or found vpon the earth Thirdly the Wise Virgins that is the holy Professours of sincere Religion shall nictare id est nod and slumber though their hearts shall wake and therefore they haue no certaine knowledge of any yeare when the Lord will come to iudgement otherwise they would the more rowse vp themselues Lastly the sixt Angell hath already blowne or sounded with the Trumpet and when the seuenth shall but beginne to blow which time is shortly expected then the Mysterie of God shall bee finished i. the world shall bee ended as hee hath declared to his Seruants the Prophets i. will reueale to the godly learned Pastors and Ministers who no doubt some of them will take speciall notice of it that they may more painefully performe their Office and more preuailingly stirre vp their hearers A fourth Question Whether that the world shall end in the yeare of Christ 1699 or 1700 especially seeing that from the time that the daily Sacrifice shall bee taken away and the abomination of desolation set vp shall bee 1335 daies which some interprete so many yeares beginning the account in the yeare of Christ 367 when the Iewes by the grant of the Emperour Iulian repairing the Temple of Ierusalem were dispersed by fire sent from heauen I Answere that most and almost all Interpreters vnderstand those 1335 daies not for so many yeares but literally for three yeares and an halfe with the addition of 45 daies in the end wherof Antiochus the chiefe enemy of the Iewes should die and being fulfilled in Antiochus why or by what reason should any man extend them further Secondly it is generally held that the doctrine and mention of the last iudgement excepted that Daniels Prophecie endeth either at the death of Christ or at the furthermost with the destruction of Ierusalem Thirdly Maister Napier a learned Scot counting the beginning of these 1335 daies and interpreting them for yeares anno Christi 360 will haue the world to end about the yeare 1695 But Maister Brightman maketh this date the beginning of the generall conuersion and flourishing state of the Iewes which hee holdeth shall continue diuers hundred yeares afterwards Fourthly it was a receiued opinion that the world should end 1588 and the euent descried the vanity of their collection And why may not they erre though they cannot so much erre comming neerer the end of the world likewise that define that the world shall certainely end betweene the yeares 1688 and 1695 Lastly it is not for vs specially that liue not in the very last age of the world to know the times and seasons which the Father hath reserued in his owne power therefore let vs not bee ouer-curious but wise to sobrietie A fift Question Whether as some Phantasticks are reported to hold and defend the world shall end before the yeares of Christ 1630 Ans. First to arguments vnknowne wee cannot giue particular answeres Secondly this opinion is priuate and singular and perhaps onely one man is the Author of it An ille solus sapit who hath told him Thirdly all the remaining Signes not yet begunne to bee accomplished cannot in any probability bee fulfilled in so short a scantling of time or if they can let him assigne the particular yeare of Romes ruin of the Iewes conuersion of the comming of the false Christs if he cannot resolue vs in the smaler point how shall wee credit him in the greatest Lastly when the Iewes are conuerted it is most likely they shall at least continue glorious on the earth for one generation that Gods mercy may more euidently appeare and that all the world may take sufficient notice of their generall calling and herevpon be either conuerted or at least conuicted A sixth and more materiall Question Whether the very age which some reckoning according to the Iubile account restraine to 50 yeares wherein our Lord shall come to iudgement either now is or hereafter may or shal be reuealed to any especially seeing that our Lord speaking of the Signes of the last daies saith That this generation i. the age or time of a mans life shall not passe vntill all these things shall be fulfilled Ans. I answere First that to restraine a generation or age of a man to 50 yeares may seeme too short an account rather 70 or 80 yeares may make a generation Secondly the age wherein Christ shall come may bee knowne because our Lord onely excepteth the day and houre Thirdly the Scripture expressely saith that in that age in which the false Christs and Prophets shall arise all shall bee fulfilled Lastly when the seuenth Angell shall begin to blow the Mysterie of God shall be finished c. CHAP. XXI The wholesome Application and profitable Vses of all these Signes and Fore-runners I. Vse HERE are condemned Aristotle and his followers who imagining that the world had no beginning held that it should neuer end Secondly here are taxed all Atheists and Scorners that either will not beleeue or be perswaded that there shall bee a second comming of Christ and an end of this world or else with those scoffers in Saint Peters time say Where is the promise of his comming These bee like vnto one Manlius who said Non alium vidêre patres aliumùe minores aspicient II. Vse The doctrine of these Signes serueth to check and reproue all Curiosists and rash Spirits that by coniectures Arithmeticall numbers and misapplying and wresting of the holy Scriptures seeke to search out yea to determine the day as Bellarmine by consequence doth For he mis-vnderstanding the Scriptures both of Daniel
be first abolished Lastly some of the Pagan Philosophers and Poets whensoeuer or wheresoeuer they had so much light acknowledge as much The Platonists held that the world should be destroyed so did the Sibyls Prophecie The Poet Ouid in the first booke of his Metamorphosis and Lucan in the first booke belli Pharsalici iustifie as much and mans sinne hath iustly deserued and procureth it CHAP. II. Of the Signes and Fore-runners of the last iudgement in generall ALBEIT the day and houre of the last iudgement is vnknowne to all men to the very Angels of heauen yea albeit the Sonne himselfe being on earth knew it not yea although no man knoweth the yeare when the Son of man wil come to iudgement For it is not for vs to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power yet the Lord Iesus that hee might not so much leaue the wicked his irreconciliable enemies without all excuse and pretence of ignorance and withall appall affrighten and astonish them specially when his second comming neerely approacheth doth kindly and louingly forewarne his children that they should neither be amated nor found vnready for a man forewarned is halfe armed And that hee might comfort and encourage them against the manifold scandales troubles and miseries of this present life Hee hath I say in the Scriptures left and giuen them many generall and notable Signes Tokens and Fore-runners of his comming which they daily doe and alwaies ought to take notice of that when they see these things come to passe they might hold vp their heads knowing that their Redemption draweth neere These Signes and Prasagia are like to so many tender Greene and leauy branches of the Fig-tree that shewerh the Summer of their happinesse to bee nigh These are like the white and yellow eares of corne that declare the Haruest to bee at hand and these are as it were so many sounding Trumpets or Alarums to awaken vs. And as the Sunne being about to arise first sendeth forth his bright beames a farre off and enlightneth the East so our Lord Iesus the Sunne of righteousnesse doth before his second comming send certaine generall Signes and as I may say Herbingers that men might the more carefully waite for and more dilligently addresse and prepare themselues against that time The Tempests threaten before that they arise the Houses crack before they fall and the Smoake goeth before the flame So these Signes and Fore-warnings go before the consummation of the world These Signes Fore-runners are of three sorts namely those that are already accomplished and fulfilled Secondly those that are mixt signes and praedemonstrations in continuall action and motion and those that yet remaine in their due time to be performed Of these plainly and in order But that I may cleere the coast and proceede with more dexterity and profit two principall questions by many moued are to be seasonably decided First why God doth not and will not reueale vnto any the houre day yeare and time of the last iudgement Secondly why the Lord seemeth so long to delay and put off that day and iudgement especially seeing that hee promiseth to come quickly and that his children so long waite and so earnestly pray for that time I answer to the former question The Lord wil haue the day houre yeare c. of the vniuersall iudgement concealed First because it is the Glory of God to conceale a thing and not to reueale some things before the euent which is the best surest interpreter Secondly that hee might bridle and represse the impudent boldnesse and rash curiositie of those that vainely yea presumptuously pry and search into things forbidden vnnecessary and impossible to be known in the meane time neglect the searching out of and the due practise of things in the word of God reuealed and commanded Thirdly and lastly not onely to try and make knowne the modesty and humility of his deere seruants whether that they will break into the closet of his secrets or no but also to keep them from the slumber of security and to stir them vp to watch for and prepare themselues against that day Vtiliter saith an ancient Father latet vltimus dies vt obseruentur omnes dies That is it is for our profite that the last day is vnknowne that wee may obserue and watch all daies The second question Why doth the Lord so long deferre his comming to iudgement Ans. First that the Prophecy of the Reuelation and of other Scriptures should bee fulfilled For heauen and earth shall passe away but no point or tittle of Gods word shall passe away vnaccomplished Secondly that the sinnes and abhominations of the wicked and profane who abuse and despise the riches of Gods goodnesse forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth them to repentance and who mispend and lauish their time that God hath allotted for their repentance might be left without plea or excuse and that their sinnes being heaped vp to heauen might bee punished with eternity of torments Thirdly that none of the Predestinate should perish but that in this world they should come to the acknowledgement of the truth to repentance and so consequently to saluation Lastly to try declare cherish and exercise the patience faith hope and charity of his chosen that liue amongst such an infinite number of lewd Atheisticall scandalous superstitious and venemous people and yet by the grace of God directing and preseruing them are blamelesse harmelesse without rebuke and shine as light in the midst of a crooked and peruerse Nation CHAP. III. The first generall Signe the desolation and destruction of the Temple and Citie of Ierusalem and the vtter ouerthrow of the Iewes Common-wealth THE first generall Signe of the end of the world is the vtter ruin and laying waste of the Citie of God Ierusalem of the holy Temple and the ruin of the Iewes pollicie and Common-wealth The Temple and Citie was destroyed by Titus and Vespasian Romane Emperours the nine and thirtieth yeare after the Ascension of our Lord into heauen And the Iewes euer since haue bene led away captiue into all nations and Ierusalem hath beene troden downe of the Gentiles and the wrath of God is come vpon them to the full now whether the beleeuing Iewes shall towards the end of the world be temporally restored into their owne Country rebuild Ierusalem and haue a most reformed and flourishing Church and Common-wealth as some by extraordinary expositions seeme to gather out of the Scriptures the issue and euent will discouer But to finish the point in hand the desolation of the Temple and Citie of Ierusalem by reason of the similitude and correspondencie of things persons and euents is a type and figure of the destruction of the world CHAP. IIII. Of the Preaching of the Gospell vnto all Nations THE second generall
demonstration hereof to destroy abolish the tyrannie of the Turke and Pope thy Arch-enemies For this end stirre vp the zeale and courage prosper the heroicall designes and endeuours of Christian Princes and Worthies conuert according to thy generall promise the long seduced and miserably scattered nation of the Iewes and take away the vaile of Moses from their eyes that their receiuing into the Church may be to them and vs the encrease of the Church life from death the reuiuing of our faith and the multiplication of the common ioy when there shall be one Fold and one Shepheard Likewise all the subsequent and neerest signes in due time fulfil and giue vs such wisedome and due regard and attention that when we see and obserue the last and most immediate generall signes to come to passe we may be more vigilant and feruent in piety prayer charity for ioy lift vp our heads knowing that our full and finall redemption from all sin and sorrow draweth nigh But because it may bee that none or not many of vs that are now liuing shall surviue vnto that day but bee preuented by death and seeing that the last day is but a manifestation of our estate in death and as death shal leaue vs in such condition shall the last iudgement find vs therefore good Lord giue vs grace and conscience to redeeme the time to prouide our selues of the Oile of Faith in the Lampes of our profession to procure the wedding garment of holinesse and with all expedition to make our selues ready against that day that we may bee accounted worthy to escape al those things that shall come on the world and to stand before the Sonne of Man and heare that gladsome sentence of Absolution Come yee blessed of my Father inherite yee the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world As for all thy enemies ô Lord in whom thou hast no part let them betimes heare and receiue that terrible sentence Go yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared the deuil and his Angels let them go to the place in thy iustice appointed for them and let the smoake of their smoake ascend vp for euermore that they for whom Christ neuer made any satisfaction and they that neuer rested in Christ his all-sufficient expiation may by eternitie of torment satisfie for all their abomination Giue a blessed assent most gratious Father to these our vnperfect prayers Pardon all our transgressions supply all our wants make vs truely and euer thankefull for all thy blessings in heauenly and earthly things fulfill all the remaining signes and in the time appointed after that wee haue suffered a while and made our selues ready bring vs vnto and translate vs into thine euerlasting Kingdome of glory for thy onely begotten and most deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ his sake merites and intercession to whom with thy eternall Maiestie and God the holy Ghost bee giuen rendred and ascribed all Power Wisedome Honour Glory Praise and Thanks in the Church from Generation to Generation Amen FINIS 1. Cor. 10.11 1. Pet. 4.7 2. Pet. 3.8 2. Thess. 2. ◠Apoc. 20.2 Ester 6.13 Rom. 8.20.21.22.23 2. Thess. 1.7.8 Luk. 21.28 Heb. 6.2 Sublatis destinatis ad finem tollitur finis Math. 5.5 Rom 8.18 2. Cor. 4 17 18. Rom. 8.22 Mat. 26.64 Mat 24.35 1. Cor. 7.31 2. Pet. 3.10 Apoc. 20.11 2. Pet. 3. Generatio vnius est corraptio alterius Mat. 24.36 Mar. 13.32 Acts 1.7 Luk. 21.28 Mat. 24.32 A similitude Questions Prou. 25.2 Apoc. 6 11 11.10 Mat. 24.35 Rom. 2.4 Ioh. 14.22 1. Tim 2 4 2 Pet 3 9. Phil. 2.15 Mat. 24.12 Mat. 13.12 Dan. 9.26 Luk. 21.24 1. Thess. 2.15 Mat. 24 14 Mat. 28.19 Distributiue Psal. 19.6 Col. 1.6 Apoc. 6.2 Rom. 1.16 Psal. 110.2 Mat. 24.14 Luk. 12.47 Rom. 2.12 Rom. 11.12 2. Thess. 2. Apoc. 13.14 2. Thess. 2.3 Apoc. 9.1.2 Apoc. 13.7 8. cap. 18.3 Esay 1.6 2. Thess. 2.3 Apoc. 11.4 5.6 chap. 14. à v. 6. ad 12. Apoc. 8.10 Apoc. 9.11 2. Thess. 2 3. Passiuè actiuè Ver. 4. Psal. 82.1 Apoc. 14.6 Apoc. 18.24 Apoc. 6.11 Mark 13.7 The Sun Moone Starres The Aire The Earth The Sea Waters Plants Men. Building Apparell Marriages Genus forma sine re vilior alga est Diet. Drinkes Tobacco Tob. 6.16.17 2. Thess. 2.8 Reu. 14. v. 6. ad 11. chap. 18.6 chap. 17.6 Iudg. 5.23 Ier. 48.10 1. Tim. 4.1 2. Thess. 2.11.12 2. Pet. 2. Psal. 1.4 Mat. 7.26 27. Math. 13.10 21. Psal. 125.1 2. Tim. 3 1. Mat. 24.11 Luk. 17.26.27.28 1. Thess. 5.3 1. Pet. 4.7.8 A similitude Apoc. 16.10 Apoc. 18.8 Ver. 12.13 Ver. 2. Ver. 6. Lact. de diu praemio lib. 7. c. 11. The time of the burning of Rome Apoc. 18.21 Apoc. 18.8 Gen. 18. Psal. 68.1 Ab euentu Apoc 18.9 11.17.18 Apoc. 18.20 Gen. 11. Apoc. 16.18 Apoc. 19.19 Vers. 18. Vers. 20. Iudg. 5. vlt. 2. Cor. 3.15 Isay 59.20 Rom. 11.25 Zach. 13.2 chap. 13.3 Ver. 4. Ver. 5. Apoc. 21.2 Dan. 11.44 45. Chap. 12.1 Isay 2.2 Rom. 11.1 A pari Ver. 5. Rom. 11.16 Ver. 13.14 Ver. 12. Ver. 15. Ver. 23. Ver. 25. Dan. 11.40 Apoc. 16.16 Dan. 11.45 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc. 20.9 Dan. 12.1 Apoc. 20.9 Ezech. 38.9 Ver. 16. 19 22 Dan. 11.45 Mat. 24 24 2. Thess. 2.11.12 Luke 18.8 Luk. 21.11 Vers. 25 26 Mar. 13.8 Act. 2.19 20 Lact. de diu praemio lib. 7. c. 15. Luke 17.26.27 Mar. 13.36 1. Thess. 5.2 Ver. 3. Luk. 21.36 Act. 26.13 Mat. 27.44 Act. 27.28 Vse 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 10 1. Pet. 4.7 August Chrys. hom 33. in Iohannem Apoc. 20. Mat. 24.22 2. Pet. 3.8 Mat. 25.6 Luk. 12.39 Apoc. 10.7 Acts 1.7 Deu. 15.16 Apoc. 10.7 Dan. 12.11 12. Mar. 13.33 35. Hier. in Math. Nah. 1.2 Heb. 12 29 Psal. 46.1 Cant. 1.3 Mar. 13.32 Luk 21.25.26 Mat. 24.32 2. Thess. 2.6 Mat. 24.14 2. Thess. 2.8 Rom. 9.27.31 Rom. 8.22.23 Rom. 11.25 26. Mat. 24.21 Ver. 29. Mat. 24 35 Eph. 6.10.11 12 c. Apoc. 6.9.10 1. Thess. 5.3 Mat. 24.22 Apoc. 17.16 Rom. 11.25 Ver. 12. Luk. 21.28 Mat. 25.4 Luk. 21.36 Mat. 25.41 Apoc. 14.11 Iohn 17.9
Therefore that the truth of these Signes may more manifestly appeare and that we may more orderly proceed I thus by warrant of Gods Word and waight of inuincible arguments euince and proue these three maine principles of Faith and Religion First that there shall bee an vniuersall Iudgement wherein all reasonable creatures shall be called to an account Secondly that IESVS CHRIST the Son of God is appointed of God to bee the Iudge of the Iudge both of the quick and the dead Lastly that this world in respect of the fashion forme and corruptible qualities thereof shall haue an and and come to destruction That there is a set and prefixed day of Iudgement though vnto vs profitably vnknowne and that there shall bee a generall Iudgement I thus declare First the sacred Scriptures are pregnant and plentifull in this point Iob 19.25 Psalm 9.8 Isa. 66.15 Dan. 12.2 Math. 25.31 Luke 18.17 Iohn 5.28.29 and chap. 12.44 Act. 17.31 Rom. 2.16 1. Thess. 4.16.17 and chap. 5.2 1. Pet. 4.8 Tit. 2.13 Apoc. 20.11 12.13 Heb. 9.27.28 Secondly the doctrine of the last Iudgement is a very ancient and principall Article of the Apostles Catechisme and therefore no person vnlesse hee bee a meere Athiest or Infidell can or will deny it Thirdly the Generall Resurrection the necessary and immediate antecedent of the iudgement and those that shall arise and appeare in iudgement who are the proper obiect of it do enforce it yea and what arguments serue to proue the Resurrection the same iustifie the last iudgement Fourthly the generall and particular iudgements calamities and punishments both in the old and new Testament and in all succeeding ages are Types Similitudes and Fore-significations of it Of this kind were Noahs Floud or Deluge wherein the world was drowned the ouer-whelming of Pharoah and the Aegyptians in the red Sea the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah the destruction of Ierusalem the ruin of the foure great Monarchies of the world that afflicted Gods chosen and of late time the sinking and dispearsing of the Spanish inuincible Armado Anno Christi 1588 in the English Seas and by the coasts of Ireland Fiftly vnlesse there should be a finall iudgement wherein euery man is to receiue a reward according to his workes God could not declare himselfe perfectly iust For all sinnes in this world committed come not to light neither are all punished that are apparant Tyrants and Oppressours yea Christs Arch-enemies the Turke and Pope c. liue long and prosper in their wickednesse And if God should censure all sinnes that are done in the earth then no other iudgement would bee expected wherefore the Lord beareth long with sinners and suffereth the offences of the Reprobate to grow rotten ripe that hee may fully and finally punish and plague them at the last day Forbearance is no quittance Christ commeth with woollen feete i. faire and softly but striketh with Iron hands that is deadly Sixtly vnlesse there come a day of generall release and absolution for the godly yea a day of full deliuerance and glorious triumph God cannot declare himselfe completely and infinitely mercifull For it seemeth to goe well with the wicked in this world and ill with the good The godly are oppressed and persecuted troubled and tormented molested martyred massacred and both inwardly and outwardly afflicted therefore the iust Lord cannot but at length reward the patience and pietie of his seruants Great shall their reward be in heauen Hee shall recompence the lightnesse of their momentany afflictions with an exceeding and super-excellent weight of glorie Seuenthly the feare trembling astonishment horror of conscience and dreadfull despaire in many malefactors specially persecutors and murderers euen of those that escape the iudgement of the Magistrate doth euidently argue that there will come a day of reckoning and that there is an hell fire whereof these are certaine flashings and fore-runners Lastly to be briefe the children of God look and long for groane and pant for this day and time which is the day of their Marriage of the bodies ascent into heauen and of their entrance and inauguration into the Kingdome of Glory These spirituall sighes and sobs are speciall effects of Gods spirit infallible characters of Gods children and the very earnest of our inheritance Inward desires make a lowder sound in Gods eares then bare words vttered with the tongue and therefore cannot misse the marke viz. eternitie of blessednesse Now that Iesus Christ not onely as he is God whereby in the decree efficacie and authority of the iudgement hee is equall with God the Father and the Holy Ghost but also as he is man in regard of the sentence to bee pronounced and the visible execution of the iudgement is and shall be the Iudge both of the quicke and dead the Scriptures put it out of question Dan. 7.9.10 Ioh. 5.27 Act. 10.42 2. Cor. 5.10 2. Tim. 4.1 Secondly it is an Article and foundation of faith firmely to be beleeued Thirdly it is one end and that a principall one of Christs Resurrection Ascension It is a part of his Kingly Office which hee shall then most openly and eminently execute Fourthly it standeth with all equity that Hee that when hee liued on earth and was most vniustly iudged accused indicted condemned and executed should at length gloriously and in the view of all the world iudge arraigne condemne and fee execution done vpon his enemies Lastly to stop the mouths of and to put all Atheists to silence the Heathenish Prophetesse Sibylla testifieth as much saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is Christ shall come in the cloudes In glorie with his sinlesse Angels And that this miserable and corruptible world with all the contemned creatures shall not in respect of matter and substance but outward forme and accidentall qualities haue an end and consumption thus I compendiously make it manifest First by expresse Scripture Secondly by Argument Heauen and earth shall passe away The fashion of this world passeth away The heauens shall passe away with a great noise the elements shall melt with heate the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt vp I saw saith Saint Iohn a great white throne and him that sate on it from whose face the heauen and earth fled away and there was found no place for them Secondly by argument I thus make good my assertion The world being but a creature had a beginning and therefore it shall haue an end Omnia orta intereunt The world as in the seuerall parts so in the whole daily fadeth decayeth weakneth and is in an irrecouerable consumption therefore it must needs at length come to an end A ruinous house will in tract of time fall and a sick body cannot hold out long The world must bee renewed at the last day for there shall be a new heauen and a new earth Ergo the old heauen and earth must of necessitie