King of glory Secondly he saith that he shall sit vpon the throne or seate of his glory alluding vnto the magnificence of Kings and Iudges who haue their feates and thrones of iudgement erected and set vpon high that they may be seene and heard of many people Therefore Christ Iesus who is Rex Regum Iudicum Iudex King of Kings and Iudge of Iudges his throne shall be aboue in the cloudes where euery eye shal see him both in heauen earth and hell So saith Saint Iohn Reu. 1 7. Behold he commeth with clouds and euery eye shall see him So our Sauiour himselfe teacheth vs in the 21. of Luke saying When the powers of heauen shall be shaken then shal ye see the sonne of man come in the cloudes with power and great glory The like answere our Sauiour maketh vnto the high Priest who asked him whether he were Christ the sonne of God thou sayest it saith our Sauiour vnto him and hereafter shall finde it to be true Math. 26.64 when ye shall see the Sonne of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and come in the cloudes of the heauen This glorious comming of Christ vnto Iudgement was not obscurely reuealed vnto the Prophet Daniel as hee himselfe testifieth in the seuenth of his Prophesie saying Dan. 7.10 I beheld till the Thrones were set vp and the auncient of dayes did sit whose garment was white as Snow and the haire of his head like pure Wooll his Throne was like the firie flame and his wheeles as burning fire A firie streame issued and came foorth before him thousand thousandes meaning of Angels ministred vnto him and ten thousand a Definit for an Infinit number thousands stood before him the Iudgement was set and the Bookes opened The third circumstance that our Sauiour noteth is That all Nations shall be gathered before him This circumstance serueth also very greatly to set forth the might maiestie and glory of the Iudge in that he will haue the people of all Nations to come before him Kings and Keyfers high and lowe rich and poore men women and children none shall be priuileged all must appeare So saith the Apostle We must all appeare before the tribunall seate of Christ All people that then are liuing vpon the earth as also all those which haue dyed since the beginning of the world howsoeuer they haue died or wheresoeuer they haue been buried as well they that haue beene eaten vp of beasts and burned vnto Ashes as they that haue been drowned in the Sea and eaten vp with fishes all without exception shall heare this voyce Surgite mortui arise ye dead and come to iudgement This thing is reuealed vnto Saint Iohn as he testifieth in the Reuelation 〈◊〉 12. saying I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and another booke wasopened which is the booke of life and the dead were Iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes And the Sea gaue vp the dead which were in her and death and hell deliuered vp the dead which were in them and they were Iudged euery man according to their workes O God of glory what a great and glorious Sessions must this be where all people shall be summoned and constrayned to appeare yea the Diuels themselues saith Iude Are kept in chaines vnder darkenesse vnto this day O how great must the glory be of such a Iudge that shall so come vnto Iudgement attended on with so glorious a troupe of Angels who connot be rauished with the consideration of so glorious aspect and most admirable sight namely to see the Sonne of man to appeare in the cloudes in the glory of God his father all the holy Angels seruing and attending on him and all nations and people of the world brought before him Truely if it be a goodly sight to see the sunne rise in the morning in his brightnesse Prepared as a Giant to runne his course If it be not a little glorious to behold the Moone and glistring Starres in the euening which sight no doubt doth cause the godly oftentimes to giue glory vnto God according as Dauid saith Psal 19 The heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke How farre more glorious must it be to see the Sonne of God to appeare in the brightnesse of his glory with the brightnesse thereof the sunne in the firmament must needes be darkned To see so many or more glorious Angels then there be Starres in the heauens euerie Angell shining brighter then the Sunne in his strength together with as many Saints as haue beene faithfull soules in in this life with glorified bodies shining as the starres according to that saying of Daniell They that be wise that is all the faithfull who are compared vnto the wise Virgins shall then shine as the brightnesse of the firmament 〈◊〉 12.3 and they that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer And so much touching the glorious comming of Christ vnto Iudgement noted by Christ himselfe in these wordes When the Sonne of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit vpon the Throne of his glory and all Nations shall be gathered before him there to receaue Iudgement accordingly Of the order and maner of which Iudgement we are now to intreat in the Chapter following The seuenth Chapter THis point touching the whole order of Christ his comming vnto Iudgement is very copiously layed open vnto vs in the scripture specially our Sauiour himselfe doth reueale the same at sundry times in the Gospell we will begin with that description that Christ maketh in the fiue and twenteth of Mathew Math. 25.32 who presently after he hath shewed the glory of his comming proceedeth without any stop to the order and maner of his Iudgement for hauing sayed That all Nations shall be gathered before him He sheweth what course or order he will obserue in their iudgement Namely how he will first of all begin with diuision God doth all things in measure waight and number God is a God of order and not of confusion when all are gathered before him he will separate one from the other This is the last worke that God will doe in this world And it is worth the noting how God maketh his works to agree together The beginning and the ending first in the beginning God made all things by his sonne in the ending he will iudge all things by his son for who can better iudge of all then he that made all In the beginning hee made light to shine out of darknes as the Apostle witnesseth in the end he will turne light into darknesse The Sunne shall be darke and the Moone shall not giue her light In the beginning he seperated light from darkenesse In the ende he will also seperate the children of light from the
be done in faith and in the feare of God to feede the hungry to clothe the naked not that all the workes of mercy charitie are here numbred or any certaine number obserued but onely these few are named for examples sake to shewe vs that mercy must be vsed where mans misery doth neede it and withall we must make a difference betwixt those dueties which we doe as we are men and those that we do as we are Christian men therefore what soeuer good we doe vnto gods Saints we must do it in for Christs sake though it be but a gift of a cup of cold water in his name we shall not loose our reward though not rewarded of merite desarâ— but of mercy grace God of his mercy make vs mindful of those dueties to performe them as he shall enable vs otherwise we must looke for no mercy at his haÌ„ds but shal be sure to heare that which shall be pronounced to them on the left hand I was an hungred ye gaue me no meat I thirsted and ye gaue me no drinke And then though we wil excuse the matter neuer so cunningly alleadge that we neuer saw Christ hungry or a thirst because wee would not see Christ in his poore members being in that case because we wold shut vp our compassion froÌ„ the poore turne our eyes from our owne flesh because our religion was onely but in outward profession no liuely fruits of faith budding foorth because we would not visite the widdow the fatherles in their aduersity and keep our selues vnâ—potted of the world nay because while we liued in this world we did wrong the widow the fatherlesse and grind the faces of the poore therefore as we haue done so shal it be done vnto vs the same measure that we shall measure vnto others the same shal be measured vnto vs againe There shal be Iudgement mercilesse â—am 2.13 to him that sheweth no mercy but mercy contrariwise shall reioyce against Iudgement Finally our Sauiour repeteth the summe of both sentences again lest happily we haue for gotten them as too of en we do Math 25. vlt. And these saith Christ shal go into euerlasting paine the righteous into life eternall That is those gracelesse Goats those mercilesse misers those miserable miscreaÌ„ts that haue had no feare of God before their eyes no coÌ„passion on their brethren that haue hated to be reproued that haue had their whole swing in sin wearied themselues in vanitie they 〈◊〉 all be sent packing into euerlasting paine But the righteous that is those that haue apprehended the righteousâ— esse of Christ Iesus by a true liuely faith haue repeÌ„ted indeuoured to leaue sin before sin leaue them those that haue brought forth the timely fruits of repeÌ„tance with an ardent zeale vnto Gods glory and a burning charitie vnto their poore brethren these shall goe presently into life eternall by which two words life eternall and paine euerlasting is certainely noted the perpetuall and endlesse continuance of the ioyes of the godly and torments of the damned in the world to come neuer to haue end But it may be some will say that we post on with these two sentences to fast Christ will vse a greater moderation before he proceede to sentence there is mention made in the scripture of bookes that must be opened It is true indeede Daniell saith The Iudgement was set Dan. 7.10 and before sentence is giuen the bookes are opened Saint Iohn likewise in the Reuelation when he sawe the dead both great and small stand before God saith that the bookes were opened and an other booke was opened Reu. 20.12 which he calleth the booke of life The Booke of life I take to be the hidden and vnreueiled knowledge of God concerning those whom he hath appointed to life and saluation And this Booke is not for me or any mortall man to looke into by the other bookes I suppose are meant the consciences of all men in generall and of euery one in particular which shall either excuse or accuse vs at that day These bookes also are very secret bookes layed vp in the Closet of euery mans hart And I haue no skill to read in any of them but in mine own Indeede they are bookes of accompt which euery one must be careful to keep vntill this great day of reckoning come They are also Bookes of record wherein are written all the things that we haue done in this life whether they be good or euill and at that day shall be layed open in Facie curiae in the viewe and open fight of men and Angels Then shall be verified that saying of our Sauiour in the Gospell Nothing is so secret that shall not be euident neither any thing hid that shall not be knowen and come to light Wherefore it behoueth euery one to haue a special regard of these bookes and to couet euermore with the Apostle to haue a cleare conscience which is as the wise Man saith a continuall feast for if our consciences condemne vs not then haue we boldnesse towards God saith Saint Iohn contrariwise saith that Apostle If thy hart and conscience accuse thee God is greater then thy hart and knoweth all things If thy conscience be against thee it will be Mille testes more then a thousand witnesses These consciences of ours beloued which now we thinke we can stretch and streine as we please are the bookes of record which then must be opened either to excuse or condemne vs and therupon sentence shal be giuen accordingly My admonition therefore is that all businesse laied aside the next priuate leasure that euer we haue let vs ouerwiew againe and againe these bookes of reckoning see that the accompts be perfect where there is any desect let it be amended without delay for God knoweth how soone these bookes may be called for to be opened and then it will be too late to amend the least blot or fault that is in them Let vs follow the counsell of the Apostle to accuse and condemne our selues in this world that so we may be acquited and not condemned in that fearefull iudgement And this I hope may suffice to be spoken of this matter concerning the glory of Christ his comming and the maner of the Iudgement The eight Chapter wherein is intreated of Sobriety Watchfulnesse and Prayer IT might seeme that saint Peter had very well discharged his dutie in fore warning the world of the danger to come towards the end thereof in saying the ende of all things is at hand But that holy Apostle like a carefull Phisition not contented to warne vs that we fall not into a dangerous disease of security doth with all readinesse diligence prescribe vnto vs a maruellous good medicine for theÌ„ that are alreadie sicke in that disease the same may also serue as a pure preseruatiue to keepe those that are more sound from the infection thereof
more Reu. 7.16.17 neither thirst any more neither shall the Sunne light on them neither any more heate of persecution or affliction for the Lambe which is in the midst of the Throne shall gouerne them and shall leade them vnto the liuely fountaines of waters to coole and refresh them and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Also let vs see how Saint Paule noteth this day of iudgement vnto vs Day of iudgement called a day of wrath Rom. 2.5 in the second to the Romanes he first calleth it a day of wrath as also it is called in the sixth of the ReuelatioÌ„ the great day of wrath bicause at that time al the enimies of God shal be sure to drinke of the seuere cup of Gods wrath to their eternal destruction Psal 11.6 So saith Dauid vpon the wicked God shall raine snares fire and brimstone storme and tempest this shall be their portion to drinke Also in the same place the Apostle calleth the day of iudgement â—ay of â—â—dgement â—alled the â—ay of reâ—ealing â—om 2.5 The day of declaring or reuealing both because the iudgement shall be kept in so open a place in the viewe of heauen earth and hell as also in respect that then all secrets shall be discouered and disclosed nothing is so hid but it shal be made knowen saith our Sauiour also in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb. 4.13 it is said There is no Creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are open and naked in his eyes with whom we haue to doe that is in the eyes of Iesus Christ the Sonne of the eternall God who shall iudge the secrets of all men by Iesus Christ Thirdly the same Apostle not contented in that place to call the day of iudgement the day of wrath and the day of reueiling but also he calleth it the day of the righteous Iudgement of God Day of â—udgement â—alled the â—ay of the â—ighteous â—udgement of God 〈◊〉 2.5 why is there any day wherein God executeth vnrighteous iudgement God forbide For then how should God Iudge the world if there be any vnrighteousnes in him as the Apostle vrgeth in the Chapter following And as Abraham pleadeth with God himselfe vpon this point saying Shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right that is execute righteous Iudgement at all times why therefore doth the Apostle appoint one day among all other daies for God to shew righteous iudgement calling it the day of the righteous iudgement of God Surely he doth it to some purpose yea for our instruction namely because in the coÌ„mon course of the world it is vsually seene and obserued and many good men as Ieremie Dauid haue complayned of it that the wicked are aduaunced the godly suppressed the sinner set aloft the seruant of God abused the meeke ones contrary as it seemes to many expresse texts of scripture constrained to wander in wildernesses being destitute tormented and afflicted the proud ones in the meane season to inherite the earth The godâ—â— abased thâ— wicked exalted and to sucke vp the fat of the Land with a thousand like aduersities that befall the godly in this life whereas the godlesse lye drowned drenched in all prosperitie what thing I pray you at the first sight can there seeme to be more contrary to the iust or as the learned terme it to the Geometricall proportion of Gods righteous iudgement To all which although it might be answered that there is a fallacie foulded vp many times in these words euill good prosperitie aduersitie counting calling too aduersitie euill when it may rather be called good prosperitie good when it may be called euil these you wil say be paradoxes yet such as Christian Schollers ought to be acquainted with Also that all these things do but deceiue the outward sences of those that are troubled with those griefes of the godly and prosperitie of the wicked not considering that God doth this in the vprightnesse of his iustice and in the depth of his wisedome both for the great good and comfort of the godly euen in this life as they themselues doe many times feele and confesse and also for the greater downe fall of the wicked as Dauid being well aduised of this matter confesseth saying God setteth them in slipperie places Psal 72.18 suddenly they are tumbled downe and perish Although I say this point may thus be answered and that not amisse yet Saint Paule doth answere the same more fully in one word and doth decide this controuersie to the full contentation of the godly and terror of the wicked by making mention of this righteous iudgement of God which is as much vnto me as if he should say Be it that it seemeth by these sundry euents that dayly fal out in the world both to the good and bad that God is not iust or to make the best of it to mans seeming Gods iustice doth not shine foorth lightly inough vnto vs Haue patience but a while iudge of nothing rashly or before the time a day is comming and will not tarry that thou wilt be of an other mind when thou shalt see God to make a short accompt vpon the earth in righteousnesse and iudge the secrets of all men according to true iustice by Iesus Christ according to my Gospell or preaching saith the Apostle Who will reward euery man according to his workes That is to them which by continuance in well doing though they haue had many crosses and lets shall be glory and honor and peace and eternall life to recompence them for the slanders shames dishonors Rom. 2. and vexations and death it selfe which they haue suffered for Christs sake in this world But to the wicked and contentious and to them that disobey the truth of Christ his Gospell and obey vnrighteousnesse shall be indignation and wrath to recompence them at the full for their fury and displeasure that they haue euer borne to Gods children in this world Moreouer vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill saith the Apostle and hath not repented shall be tribulation and anguish for a recompence of their vaine iolities and reioycings which was their continual delight in this life agreeing with that answer of Abraham to Diues â—â—ke 16. â— Remember that thou in thy life time receiuest pleasure and contrariwise Lazarus paine but now he is comforted and thou art punished Whereunto serue these complaints of the damned noted in the booke of Wisedome â—isedom we fooles say the damned thought the life 's of the godly that gladly suffered affliction in this life for Godlinesse sake madnesse and their ende to be without honour but now they are counted among the children of God their portion is among the Saints contrariwise say they to the increase of their griefe we haue weried our selues in the waies of wickednesse destruction and we haue passed through dangerous waies but we