Silver is cankered and the Rust thereof shall be a Witness against you and shall eat your Flesh as it were Fire This will be brought as an Evidence of your Covetousness and will beget in you such stinging Reflections as shall gnaw upon you with Anguish and Torment Ver. 4. And behold the Hire of your Labourers which have reaped down your Fields which is of you kept back by Fraud crieth and the Cries of them which have reaped are entred into the Ears of the Lord of Sabaoth One observes that the same word in the Hebrew signifies both a Wedg of Gold and a Tongue and some say that Achan's Wedg had the shape of a Tongue Surely Gold Wealth Estates ill got will have many Tongues and cry aloud at the great Day of opening the Books Then the corrupt Judg will hear of his Bribes and perverting Justice then the unjust Lawyers Estate will cry against him then the Possessions of Oppressing Landlords will declare that they were got by wracking poor Tenants then 't will be the Language of the full Bags of idle Ministers that they were fill'd by starving immortal Souls then the Treasures of Covetous Mammonists will acknowledg themselves to be the Products of Usury Oppression c. 6. The Book of the Talents wherewith Men are intrusted shall be opened at this opening Day and these when opened will bring to light all the Days Means Advantages and Opportunities of Grace that Men have had all the Truths and Duties that have been preached to and pressed on them what Pains have been taken and how much done that they might be saved One observes that God is very curious in Scripture to record the Time how long his faithful Servants lived on Earth and says he among other Reasons this is not the least sc to convince us that he intends to reckon with those who lived with them for every Year yea Day and Hour they had them amongst 'em they shall know they had a Prophet a Husband a Parent a Master that was Godly and that they had them so long and God will know of them what Use they made of them Gurn. Christ Arm. Part 2. Pag. 262. Another observes that the Year and Month and Day when the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets stands upon record in Sacred Writ as Ezek. 1.1 2. to teach us that all our Betrustments with all their Circumstances are now recorded and will at this Day be made manifest Then will be declared the Year the Month the Day when such a Sermon was preached such a Truth urged when such a Minister was sent with the Lord's Message among you In this opening Day Ministers will open their Mouths We preached so long to you Sabbaths and Sermons will speak We were continued so long to you Prayers will witness that they were put up for you so often to the Throne of Grace Truths now imprisoned shall then speak yea the Dust shaken off from the Feet of those Ministers you despise and will not hear shall speak against you Mat. 6.11 Thirdly The Books shall then be opened whereby all things shall be examined try'd and judged As in earthly Courts when Matters of Fact are opened and proved then the Statutes are also produced and Sentence is past on such Matters according to the determination of the Law So at the great Tribunal when the Books of Record the Books of Evidence and Proof are opened then shall also be opened the Law whereby Matters shall be finally adjudicated and this is the Holy Scripture The Holy Bible being the Law-Book of the great King is now the Rule of our Lives and shall be the Rule of Judgment at the opening Day Christ himself who is the Judg tells us John 12.48 The Word that I have spoken the same shall judg him at the last Day This the Apostle Paul witnesses Rom. 2.16 In the Day when God shall judg the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Who shall judg God What shall he judg The Secrets of Men not only their outward Actions which are manifest to all but their most hidden Sins and secret Duties their inward Purposes Designs and Aims By whom By Jesus Christ By what Rule According to my Gospel the Gospel committed to and preached by me Men shall be judged according to their Works their Works by this Word The final Sentence passed at this Day shall be but a more solemn and manifest Declaration of that Judgment which the Lord hath in his Written Law already passed upon Men that which is now said shall then be done Now the word says He that believeth on him shall have everlasting Life John 3.16 Then Believers shall be crown'd with a Crown of Life Now the word says That the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 That the Wicked shall be turned into Hell Look what Sentence this Law now passes on thee the same will Christ pronounce in this Day for this is the Book that must be opened and which he will proceed by in giving Judgment Thus you see what Books are to be opened II. The next thing to be considered is what the opening of the Books implies and it doth denote 1. A manifestation of Mens Works that they shall come to Light While a Book is shut we are ignorant what is in it but when it 's open every one may see and know what 's therein writ So many of Mens Works both Good and Bad are like a clasped or sealed Book secret and unknown but in this Day they shall be like a Book open legible to every one 1 Cor. 4.5 Therefore judg nothing before the Time come until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of Darkness and will manifest the Counsels of the Heart When the Lord comes he will make great Discoveries and bring to light things that are now Secret Some Mens Sins says the Apostle 1 Tim. 5.24 25. are open before hand going before to Judgment and some Men they follow after Likewise also the good Works of some are manifest before hand and they that are otherwise cannot be hid Tho these Verses are taken to have another meaning yet I may as some make this Gloss on them i. e. Some Mens Sins are open notorious appear to all now in this Life they shew their Sin as Sodom and some Mens Sins they are kept secret to the Day of Judgment there 's no noise heard no notice taken of them in the World but these follow after to be opened at this Day Likewise the good Works of some are evident cannot be denied and they that are otherwise cannot be hid i. e. those good things in the Saints that are not manifest but are either concealed by themselves or mistaken and misrepresented by others shall come to light secret Duties shall come abroad wronged Innocence and Integrity shall be cleared This is the first thing this opening imports sc a discovery of Mens Doings a
it and is worthy to be written in Letters of Gold There is nothing under Heaven worth obtaining by these means or that being thus obtained will bear its cost or prove a saving Bargain when the opening and accounting Day comes O do nothing in your Callings and Affairs in the World that you would not meet at last You would not meet the Tears and Cries of those that you have wronged the poor sunken Families that you have oppressed the Widows or Fatherless whose Land-marks you have removed O do no such things as these now or if any of you have done make Restitution make Restitution otherwise ye will as Father Latimer in his last Sermon before Edward the sixth said to the Kings Officers cough in Hell that all the Devils there will laugh at your Coughing 5. Live for this great Day in ordering the whole of your Conversation in the World walk so as you would meet your ways again let your Lives be uniform and all of one piece It is Solomon's advice Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the Fear of the Lord all the Day long If you would for an opening Day practise this be in the Fear of the Lord all the Day and every Day let to morrow be as this Day and the next Day as to morrow There are some Gurn. Part 2. p. 138. if you would see their Goodness and be acquainted with their Godliness you must hit the right Time or else you will find none like some Flowers that are seen but some Months in the Year or like some Physicians that they call Forenoon Men they that would speak with them to any purpose must come in the Morning because commonly they are drunk in the Afternoon Thus may be in the Morning you may take the Hypocrite upon his Knee in the Saints Posture but when that fit is over you shall see little of God in all his Ways till Night brings him again of course to the like Duty Thus Sirs too many are of different and contrary Tempers changes of Time of Place and Company make strange alterations in their Frames and Carriages As it is said of the Women in Italy that they are Saints in the Church Goats in the Garden Devils in the House Angels in the Streets so it is with many you may see them Praying at one Time Cursing or Swearing or Lying at another Time Serious in one Place Light and Vain in another Religious and for Religious Exercises in one Company but Ranting and Drinking and Healthing in another carrying as Christians in some Things as Infidels or Atheists in other Things But such Carriages as these will not serve for an opening Day they are sad now and a great reproach to Religion but however any of you make them serve now they 'll never serve the turn when the Books are opened for our Actions and Carriages of all Times Places and Companies must be put in the Books one as well as another not only what we have done at such a Time in such a Place among such Company when in our better Moods but also what we have done at another Time Place and Company when we were in a worse Frame If thou pray in the Morning and drink and live loosely all the Day and yet come to thy Knees again at Night these things shall be pieced and put together just as thou hast acted them but such Mixtures will make mighty bad work for an opening Day it will be dismal to find the Books thus writ over Here a Bible in the Hand and next a pair of Cards or Dice here on thy Knees in thy Family next drunk in the Street or Tavern here taking a turn in God's way next walking in Sins way Books thus written will open terribly If you would live for this opening you must study an oneness and equality of Carriage and be Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 not in some turnings of your Life but in your whole Course you must do Righteousness at all Times Psal 106.3 one and another without Exception If we Ride Holiness unto the Lord should be writ on our Bridles if we Drink Holiness unto the Lord of Hosts should be upon our Pots Zecha 14.20 21. 6. Live for this opening in laying out your Receivings and imploying all your Talents the right way whether Spiritual Graces or Temporal Blessings We find in the Parable Mat. 25.14 30. that the Servants who were entrusted with Talents were called to a Reckoning at last This is that you must come to the Lord will require from you an account of your Stewardship Would you live for an opening an accounting Day lay out your Talents in a right manner Hath God betrusted you with a Talent of Grace or Gifts or Wealth or Authority Take heed what use you put them to endeavour in your Place and to your Power to profit others by them use your Gifts and Graces in Comforting Exhorting and Counselling others Have you Wealth and Estates think what good you may do with it It 's lamentable to see what use many that have useful Estates are making of them One hath a fair Talent in this respect but he laps it up in his Napkin the Church hath no help the Poor fare no better no good Work goes on faster for him Another hath the like Talent and he uses it but how Why as Beasts do their Horns in acts of Violence and Oppression through Usury and pinching Bargains he sucks the Blood and eats the Flesh of many poor Neighbours about him thriving as People on the Sea-Coasts by the Wrecks of Ships Another sort waste their Estates in Riot and Excess in Surfeiting and Drunkenness in Pleasures and Pastimes Were these to be painted says Baines on the Ephesians p. 552. they must be brought in with Dogs Hawks Dice Cards Curtizans not clothing the Naked not feeding the Hungry nor converting any of their Estate to any good Use But what will these do when the opening and reckoning Day comes O beware of such Practices And whatever God betrusts you with be it more or less make now the Use of it that you would be found to have made when the Books are opened This the second Word remember it and remember to practise it O look on your Actions every Day and think with your selves will this and this serve for an opening Day will this do at the great Assizes Would I meet my Time thus spent my Opportunities thus entertained Duties thus performed Business thus transacted Conversations thus ordered Talents thus imploy'd at the opening Day Will these Prayers these Performances these Bargains these Ways do in that Day Thus commune with your selves and live as those that must come to the opening of the Books 3. Shall there be an opening of the Books then prepare and get ready for it Make it your Work Night and Day to get into a Readiness for a comfortable meeting of this great opening Day be perswaded to this whatever you leave undone For
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
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
every Day of Grace and how thou hast spent it every Opportunity of doing and getting Good and how thou hast improv'd it shall come in as new as that which thou didst the last Day or Hour Yea the things that are now gone from thee as Nebuchadnezzar's Dream from him and that thou hast forgotten what they were at such a time in such a Place among such Company forty or fifty Years ago these shall come in and be as livelily presented to thy view as when newly acted O think on this It is a common Saying that Conscience is a thousand Witnesses You carry this Witness in your own Bosoms Nocte diéque suum gestant in pectore testem which when the opening Day comes will proclaim all as on the House-top 3. The Book of Satan's Accusation He is called the Accuser Rev. 12.10 This is one Part of his Business now but he will especially appear to be so when he at the Great Day shall come with his Register wherein he now inserts our Actions There is a Relation of a Demon that appeared at Mascon in France in the House of a godly Minister who there spoke and acted many things among which there are these two remarkable Stories One time the Demon speaking profanely a grave Divine then present religiously rebuked him to whom he answer'd Minister you are very holy and serious in this Company you were not so when singing such a baudy Song in such a Tavern which the Demon rehears'd before the Company This the Divine confess'd he did in his Youth yet when he had forgot it and perhaps that ever he sung it the Devil readily remembers it as if but done that Day The other is of a Lawyer who came out of Curiosity and would urge several Questions which when the Demon had answered he further adds Now Sir I have told you what you demanded I must next tell you what you demand not and then discovered many of his unequal Dealings which made him appear to be a dishonest Man The Devil is a busy Body present at our Tables at our Recreations with us in the Shop in the Market and Field with us in solemn Assemblies with us when engaged in private and secret Duties ever spying and listning to see and hear what we do or say no Place is so secret we cannot act so privately but his piercing Eye will find us out and he hath a sure Memory which will not permit any thing we do to pass in Oblivion he will certainly when this opening Day comes produce such a Catalogue of the Sinners Works as they little think of he will bring his Bill of their Ways as the Patriarchs brought Joseph's Coat to Jacob saying Is not this the Coat of thy Son so is not this Sinners the Coat of your Christian Profession which you have here spotted with Oaths there with Drunkenness in another Place with Uncleanness and all over with variety of Transgressions 4. The Book of Human Testification or Sinners mutual Accusations Now many Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants are leading one another into Temptations Then they shall accuse and witness against each other as our Saviour says in another Case Luke 12.52 53. The Father shall be divided against the Son and the Son against the Father the Mother against the Daughter and the Daughter against the Mother So at this great Day A Man's Foes shall be those of his own Houshold Matth. 10.36 Parents shall rise against their own Children Children shall rise against their Parents then Masters shall witness against their Servants and Servants against their Masters O the Cries the Complaints that will be of Husbands Wives Children Servants of the same House against each other A young Man going to execution desired to speak with his Mother in the Ear but instead of whispering bit off her Ear complaining of her as the promoter of his Death because she did not in his Youth chastise him for his Faults but by her fond Indulgence imboldened him in his Wickedness Thus at the opening Day Children will appear against their Parents Lord these Parents were instrumental to bring me into the World but they were also my Souls Murderers training me up in Ignorance teaching me by their Example to lie swear and steal and suffering me to be vile and profane Parents will at the great Assizes appear against Children Lord this Child was Stubborn Rebellious Untractable Servants shall give Testimony against Masters Lord we were so long in such a Family but never saw any thing of Religion in it we sate down and rose up from our Tables like Brutes we never knew what it was to have the Doors shut in the Evening nor opened in the Morning with the Key of Prayer and reading of the Scriptures Sic sic in Domo propria habeo Accusatores Testes Judices Tortores Bern. Thus thus says one I have in my own House Accusers Witnesses Judges and Tormentors When you are tempted to sin by Relations and Neighbours say as the Man to Joab when reproved for not killing Absalom 2 Sam. 18.11 12 13. There is no Matter hid from the King and thou thy self wouldst have set thy self against me So the King even the King of Kings hath commanded that we abstain from Sin and from the appearance of Evil and if I should break his Command it cannot be hid from his omniscient Eye nay you who now tempt will in the great Day accuse me 5. The Book of the Creature It 's said of the wicked Man Job 20.27 That the Heavens shall reveal his Iniquity and the Earth shall rise up against him All the Creatures shall by their common Testimony disclose his Wickedness Ver. 28. The increase of his House shall depart The Vulgar renders it Apertum erit germen Domus ipsius the Branch of his House shall be opened Upon which Sanctius making these words explicatory of the foregoing Verse thus glosses viz. The Heaven and the Earth shall reveal his Iniquities by discovering whence how and by what means his Branch hath grown his Increase hath come by what Frauds Oaths and Oppression the Furniture of his House was compassed that this came by Lies and that by wronging others Thus tho he mistakes the Text he gives us a Gloss which is in it self solid The Prophet tells us Hab. 2.11 That the Stone shall cry out of the Wall and the Beam out of the Timber shall answer it The very Materials of those stately Palaces or whatever Houses are built by Cheating or possessed by Violence as they call to Heaven for Vengeance being procured by Injustice so they shall unitedly witness against their Erectors or Owners the Stones of such Walls will cry Lord we were laid here by Violence the Beams shall answer We were laid here by Fraud They are not a few who now live in curious Houses that will be dreadful Witnesses against them at this opening Day Says the Apostle James Chap. 5.3 Your Gold and
that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting Life and shall not come into Condemnation There is says the Apostle no Condemnation to those who are in Christ who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 Nor yet 2. To their Shame and Reproach they shall not be produced to their Infamy or Disgrace Sinners rise to everlasting shame and contempt but Saints to Glory Dan. 12.2 They may lift up their Face and have boldness in the Day of Judgment 1 John 4.17 Nor 3. To the abatement of their Joy in that Day The appearance of their Sins in that Day of the Lord shall no more abate their Joy than the appearing of the dead Carcases of the Egyptians on the Sea-shore did the Joy of the delivered Israelites Neither 4. To the damping or diminishing of their Love to the Lord. If the Woman to whom many Sins were forgiven loved much Luke 7.47 then the Saints shall not love God less when they see how much hath been forgiven them Now these things being thus premised I say I conceive it is probable that the Sins of the Saints shall be opened at this opening I 'll give you my Grounds for it and leave it to that Day that will fully open this and other things yet in the dark 1. Because the Expressions concerning the Objects of this opening are Universal The personal Objects are thus spoken of Rom. 14.10 We shall all stand before the Judgment-Seat of God The real Objects are express'd in the same Terms of Universality every thing whether open or secret every Work whether good or evil Eccles 12.14 every Man and every thing of every Man is to come to this opening Day 2 Cor. 5.10 2. Because there is such a Mixture of the Sins of many wicked and godly Men that the Sins of the Wicked cannot be disclosed with their several Circumstances and the Sins of the Godly remain closed but if the one come fully out the other must Those who are for the Negative think the Strength of the former Argument is fully discharged by this Distinction that the Terms and Notes of Universality in the Places mentioned are not to be taken collectively as asserting that the Sins of the Godly as well as Ungodly shall be manifested but distributively thus that the good Works only of the Good and the evil Works of the Wicked shall be manifest But this Key will not for ought I see sit all the Wards of that Lock Yet they confess that all the Works of wicked Men shall be proclaimed Now many Sins of wicked and godly Men lie so mingled together and are so concatenated several ways that it 's not easy to conceive how the Sins of the Wicked can be laid open and the other not come out too It 's sure a gross Abuse of Scripture and a great Sin in wicked Men to justify and harden themselves as many have done in Drunkenness by the Example of Noah in their customary Oaths by the Example of Joseph in Uncleanness by the Example of David but how can these Sins come out and the Sin of Noah Joseph and David not be made known It was a Sin in the High-priest to grant Letters of Persecution to Saul Acts 9.1 2. yet how can these Letters be produced but it will appear that Saul was once a Persecutor I will suppose thee who art now a Convert to have been when unregenerate guilty of Folly and Lewdness with such a Man or Woman and the Person with whom thou committedst it to have died in an impenitent State how can that Party's Folly be exposed and thine with whom it was committed lie hid 3. Because the blotting out of Sin is referred to this opening Day Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the Times of refreshing come from the Presence of the Lord. Here you have 1. A Duty proposed and press'd Repent 2. A Motive annexed taken from the profitable Consequent that your Sins may be blotted out 3. The Time when this Benefit is to be received and injoyed When the Times of refreshing come from the Presence of the Lord at this opening Day The Scriptures speak of a blotting out of Sins at that Day not but that the Saints injoy a real blotting out of Sin before that Day not that their Pardon of any Sin is not plenary but imperfect having part of its Guilt remaining then to be done away but the Meaning is that then they shall solemnly openly and publickly before Men and Angels be cleared from every Charge of all accusing Adversaries and their Absolution proclaimed before the World Now this Blotting out implies some Appearance of the Sins from which they shall then be solemnly acquitted This may be the Meaning of that Mat. 12.32 It shall not be forgiven neither in this World nor in the World to come i. e. An Act of Pardon shall neither now be really passed nor then solemnly proclaimed and by his declaratory Sentence ratify'd Sins that have been blotted out intentionally from Eternity in the Decree of God and virtually from the Passion and Resurrection of Christ by his Satisfaction and formally or actually in themselves from their Union to Christ shall in this opening Day be publickly and solemnly blotted out to all Eternity 4. Because this seems to make much for the Illustration and Exaltation of the Grace and Glory of Christ 2 Thess 1.10 to manifest the glorious Effects of his Passion and Satisfaction When it appears what Sins how many and how various have been laid at their Door the Love Passion and Merits of Christ will be more elevated Glory and Honour will redound on Christ then it shall appear what Strength was in his Love what Value in his Blood I might yet further urge the opening of the Books the impartial Manifestation of the Sins of Saints as well as others in the Holy Scriptures the dangerous Tendency of the contrary Tenent the Aggravation it will be to the Horror and Sting of the Reprobate when they see others that have sinned alike in some things admitted to Glory and themselves for their Unbelief and Impenitence shut out But the fore-mentioned are the Arguments that sway most with me in this case Now what remains but that we apply this Truth thus explained in those Uses that it gives us which are of Information Reproof Exhortation First Of Information Shall the Books be opened Then we may hence learn 1. That all our Actions are of a lasting Nature These die not in the Birth but are abiding and for many Days to come There are many things in this Life which as to the acting of them are transient and soon over yet are durable in regard of their Issue A Lease is writ over in two or three Hours yet the Concernment of it may be for many Years yea for some Lives So it is with our Thoughts Words and Actions they do not die as soon as they are
all the Passages of their Lives manifested O what Heaps as I may say will there be here of Oaths there of Lies there of idle Words there of Frauds Sabbaths profaned Sermons slighted and of numberless Sins of all sorts that Sinners have laid at their own Doors and died impenitent in Yea what will many be found when the Books are opened who have said well seemed well done many things and after all gone out of this World with the Applause of Men Surely many who can now say much speak of God and breathe out Good will then be found others than at present they are taken to be Secret Hypocrisy secret Worldliness secret Estrangedness from the Truth and Power of Godliness will then be found where now there 's little Suspicion of them O that you would think of this and see that you be indeed Nathaniels There is in the Life of Bruno Author of the Carthusian Friars a Relation of a great Doctor and his Fellow-Professor a Man highly reputed in those times both for Piety and Learning who being dead when they brought him to the Church to be buried as they were about the Funeral-Rites the dead Corps suddenly sat up upon the Bier and cried out Justo Dei judicio accusatus sum I am accused by the righteous Judgment of God at which the People ran away amazed The next Day they came again to inter the Corps and as they were about the Service it rose again and cried with a lamentable Voice Justo Dei judicio judicatus sum I am judged by the righteous Judgment of God The third Day almost all the City came together and again it rose up and with a doleful Noise cry'd Justo Dei judicio condemnatus sum I am condemn'd by the righteous Judgment of God That this was true I shall not assert but certainly when the opening Day comes many will be found in this case many that have died in great Repute for Piety and Holiness will then stand accused judged and condemned Many a Face of Wickedness will then be unmasked that hath been covered with a Vail of Dissimulation many an unsound Heart will come out that hath been cloaked under specious Performances many a glorious Professor will then be found a gilded Sepulchre Sirs look to and see that you be altogether Christians for these Books will open all and open that which will exclude many from the Kingdom of Heaven who have been great Preachers great Professors that have known much done much gone far and been well thought of by all round about them 6. That it will then be in vain for Men to seek a Cover for their Sins Our first Parents had no sooner sinned but they were for hiding it and this is natural to us their Poserity Job 24.15 The Eye of the Adulterer waiteth for the Twilight saying No Eye shall see me When David that good Man had faln into the foul Sin of Uncleanness you cannot if you read the History 2 Sam. 11. be ignorant what Means he us'd to hide it This is very usual therefore says Job ch 31.33 If I covered my Transgression as Adam i. e. say some as our first Father did seeking to cloak his Transgression or as Adam i. e. say others as Man as Man uses to do or after the manner of Men. But alas this is a most vain Practice for Sin cannot be covered from the Eye of God now For there is no Darkness neither Shadow of Death where the Workers of Iniquity may hide themselves Job 34.22 for he setteth their Iniquities before him their secret Sins in the Light of his Countenance Psal 90.8 Nor shall they at last be hid from Men and Angels This will be one special Work and End of this Opening to bring all Secrets to Light to manifest the Counsels of the Heart Of all Sins these shall not be covered it 's a Day appointed for the opening of these therefore says the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.5 Judg nothing before the Time until the Lord come who will bring to light the hidden things of Darkness Why will God then judg them The Meaning is not that God exempts them from the Punishment of earthly Magistrates reserving them wholly to his own Judgment but 't is because such Sins are commonly so secretly committed that the Magistrate cannot or so lightly looked on that he will not punish them therefore God will at that day judg both those things which have now been wrong judged and those which have not been judged at all It 's vain then to expect your Sins shall be covered let not Hopes of Secrecy embolden you to meddle with Iniquity This opening will open Secrets and these will bring most Shame on you and do most harm to you There have been many strange Discoveries of secret Wickedness in the World 'T is storied of one Bessus that having killed his Father he was so pursued with a guilty Conscience that he thought the Swallows as they flew about in their chattering said Bessus hath killed his Father whereupon he confessed the Fact 7. That Shame shall come upon Sinners at this day Dan. 12.2 What the Lord speaks of Niniveh that will he do to all the Sons and Daughters of Wickedness at this day Nahum 3.5 6. He will discover their Skirts upon their Face and will shew the Nations their Nakedness and the Kingdoms their Shame he will cast abominable Filth upon them and make them vile and will set them as a gazing Stock O think of this Opening and what Shame it will lay on you who go on in your Iniquities Alas were many of our Doings discovered now to a small Assembly of People how could we face them surely it would make many to look with Faces like Death How will it be then in this great Day when all must be brought forth not in a Corner before a handful but in an open Place before a World 8. The Terror and Astonishment that shall at this day fall upon Sinners As it 's said of the Morning that it is to secret Sinners even as the Shadow of Death Job 24.17 So I may say this Opening will be to them as the Terrors of the Shadow of Death They shall not only as the Thief be ashamed when he is found but they shall be made a very Magormissabib As the King of Babylon when he saw the Hand-writing on the Wall Dan. 5.5 6. So they when they shall see the Books opened and what they have writtten in them their Countenances will be changed and their Thoughts troubled O Sirs it cannot now be conceived what Horror will then fall on ungodly Men. Have you ever seen poor Malefactors going with Death in their Faces to the Bar where they knew that Capital Crimes would be charged on and undeniably proved against them The Sight of these poor pale trembling dispirited Creatures was nothing to that which shall be seen at this opening of the Books When poor Sinners are come to this to have all laid open
and can neither deny any thing they have done nor excuse it nor appeal to a higher Bar what a pitiful taking will they be in O that this might be thought on now in time e're it be too late 9. That we had need to take care how we close up our Days and die for as we leave the Books at Death just so we shall find them at this great Day of Judgment when they must be opened In quocunquè invenerit suus novissimus dies in hoc eum comprehendit mundi novissimus dies c. Aug. In what state our last Day says he finds us in that will the last day of the World find us for such as we die in that Day such we shall be judged in this Qualisquisque hinc egreditur talis in judicio praesentatur Greog Such as we go hence says he such we shall be presented before God's Tribunal He that goeth hence in his Sins shall be found in them Learn hence therefore to take heed how you venture on Death what you leave written in the Books at your leaving the World You would not die in Debt leave Bills and Bonds behind you that may trouble your Posterity when you are gone beware of dying Impenitent of leaving Sin on the Score for this will if so left trouble you another Day and undo you for ever 10. That it is a blessed Thing to be a pardoned Sinner to have Sin pardoned O this is a choice favour David marks the Man thus privileged for the happy Man he doth not ascribe Blessedness to the Rich to the Honourable and Mighty of this World It 's not he that hath Health Riches Honour and Friends that is blessed because he hath them but blessed is the Man whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Psal 32.1 That this is such a blessed Thing such a signal Mercy you may see from this Truth now under Consideration The Books must be opened will it not then be a sweet a blessed Thing at this opening to find our Sins blotted out to see a red Line of Christ's Blood drawn over them from end to end so as we may still see the Sum we were indebted in but see it cancell d never to be expected Arrow Chain p. 211. Thus it shall be with true Penitents at this Time when others shall find all to be answered for they shall see their Sins as the poor Man sees his Debts in the Creditors Book when either forgiven or paid viz. crossed out and never to be charged on him again thus they shall see all blotted out And will not this be a blessed Privilege Verily it will I remember Austin in his Confessions mentions it as a sweet Mercy that he could look the Sins of his unconverted State in the Face and not be afraid Says he Quid retribuam Domiâ—â— quod recolit haec memoria mea anima mea non metuit inde Aug. Conf. l. 2. c. 7. What shall I render unto the Lord that my Memory can recollect these and not be afraid Truly Sirs it is not now fully known nor shall before the opening Day what a great Happiness it will then be to be able to look on our Sins and not tremble to look on them and not be at our wits end because of them as ungodly Sinners will then be to whom it will be a greater Terror to meet their Sins than now it is to meet so many roaring Lions Second Vse is of Reproof to those 1. Who never think of this Day nor how it shall then be with them This is the Case of many secure and careless ones who drive on in a state and way of Sin from Day to Day and take no Thought about this Opening that is coming upon them It was once the complaint of a good Man Alas what do I mean I eat I drink I play I sleep as if I had gone behind Death and passed over the Day of Judgment It may more sadly be complained of many that they carry as if there were no such Day to come as if there never should be any opening again of the things done in the Body they take not this into their Thoughts Many readily embrace Solomon's ironical Concession Eccles 11.9 but they as willingly forget his serious Admonition But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment this they have no mind to remember Art thou of this sort of Persons dost thou never think of this Day is it a Matter that hath no room in thy present Thoughts There is such a Day a coming the Books shall be opened wherein all that you are doing Day after Day is recorded shall be discovered and tried and there shall be a Manifestation Testification and Determination of all You see this and will you forget it what Madness is it and how sad is it that you should not consider this Austin compares such careless Persons to them who awake out of a Lethargy and fall into a Phrensy And truly if you go on at this rate this Day will overtake you unawares and then you are sure to be awaked awaked out of this Lethargy of Security and thence suddenly to pass into a Phrensy of everlasting Horror and Astonishment As it was in the Days of Noah they were secure and knew not till the Flood came Noah had preached it to them prepared the Ark before them yet they took no notice of it knowing they would not know till Destruction came suddenly on them So shall it be in the Day of the Son of Man Mat. 24.38 39. This Opening will come on Sinners when they think not on it and how sad will it be to see all this on a sudden when there will be no way to escape nor Time to prepare O think on this and let it at last put you on thinking that there is an opening Day to come 2. To them who from Day to Day live in Sin and Ungodliness They are not a few who are workers of Iniquity that drive a Trade of Sin how many may we meet with in every Place and among all Ranks of Persons that are plodding on in a Course of Vice Open Profaneness is become very common in these Days O the Profaneness the Profaneness the prevailing Profaneness of our Towns and Congregations who can look out with an Eye but half open and not see Iniquity abounding which way can you turn and not behold those Persons who drink in Sin like Water Job 15.16 who do Evil with both Hands Mich. 7.3 and weary themselves to commit Iniquity Jer. 9.5 Debauchery is become a piece of Gallantry and Intemperance a part of Religion and open Loosness an ordinary Practice with very many Thus there are many every Day filling the Books with Pride Oaths Lies Drunkenness Uncleanness Oppression Profaning of the Lord's Day and many strange Abominations But this Truth brings sad News to all these if they would open their Ear to hear it it tells them that there is
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
consider 1. That this Opening will come you do but hear of it now but you shall see it hereafter As our Saviour speaks Mat. 26.64 Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right Hand of Power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven so may I say Now you see but his poor Ambassadors that preach his Coming but you shall hereafter see him come in a State of Glory to open the Books to judg the Quick and Dead in one Day Sirs it is not a doubtful a disputable Point not a Matter in Controversy among Christians but a Principle owned and acknowledged by all Sides and Perswasions being as fully and clearly revealed as any thing in the Scriptures The Apostle in that one Place Acts 17.31 doth sufficiently and notably set forth this grand Fundamental giving us Account 1st That a Day is set He hath appointed a Day and the Counsel of the Lord standeth for ever Psal 33.11 The Decree is gone the Day is proclaimed it cannot be reversed but must and will most certainly hold 2dly Of the End of this Day appointed viz. to judg 3dly The Object of this Judgment the World 4thly The manner how this Judgment shall be managed in Righteousness there shall be no Corruption in this Administration 5thly The Judg the Man whom he hath ordained i. e. the Lord Jesus Christ God-Man 6thly The Assurance hereof given unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead This is sufficient Testimony to convince all Men. This may be Inducement to the proposed Duty of Preparation there will be an opening Day If it were a Matter only probable if as much might be said against it as for it then Carelesness in preparing for it might be somewhat excusable But this is out of Question 't is beyond all Dispute shall we not then make it our Work to prepare Consider it Sirs God hath issued out a Proclamation and it hath been published again and again in your Hearing wherein he gives you notice of a Day appointed for this end of the Persons that must come to it and that your selves are of this Number shall you not then be most inexcusable if you come to it unready What will you say Will you plead Lord had I ever thought of such a Day as this I would not have done as I have I would have watched and prayed and lived for it all my Days Why alas thy Mouth will be stopped Christ will tell you his Writ was out and this grand Assizes was many a time proclaimed in thy Presence yea the Books shall openly show the Times the Places and Circumstances of its Manifestation to thee O Sirs the End is declared from the beginning and from antient times the things that are not yet done Isa 46.10 All Generations have had fair warning of it and we upon whom the Ends of the World are come want none 2. That the Time of this great Opening is uncertain The Opening is certain but the Time when is unseen There have some indeed undertaken to foretel the Time In the Primitive Days and while the Apostles were yet alive there were some that pretended Revelations or Visions from the Spirit declaring this Day to be then near 2 Thess 2.2 And since many have presumed to foretel the Year whose Predictions Time hath already confuted Aventinus shows that about the Year 1062. the credulous People were so deluded by such ridiculous Predictions that there was a general Expectation of the Great Day of Judgment as then just upon them The furious Anabaptists in Germany in the Year 1530 were so confident that the Last Day should be within that Year that some of them gave their Estates about them to those who would have part reckoning that a little would serve them for so short a time and some of them ran up and down crying to the People with a doleful Noise Repent repent the Day of the Lord is come the Day of the Lord is come There are some who told us that the Year 1675 others that the Year 1680 others that 1688 others that 1695 and some tell us that 1700 will put an end to the World and open the great opening Day But our Saviour Mat. 24.36 Mark 13.32 asserts that it is an unknown Day 1st To all Men to the greatest the wisest the best of Men. No Man whosoever whatsoever can tell when this shall be 2dly To all Angels not only to us poor Men on Earth but also to the glorious Angels in Heaven who see the Face of God continually These tho they must accompany Christ tho they must minister to him in that Day gathering all Nations before him yet of this Day they know not 3dly To the Son of Man himself as Man or according to his humane Nature for here he opposes himself as Man to his Father as God Or the Son of Man knows it not with respect of his Office tho he knew it with respect of his Nature i. e. he was not sent to reveal and make this known to Man in his Ministry Thus you see this Great Day is an unknown Day a Day that shall come upon Men when they think not of it Therefore he illustrates it by the coming of a Thief in the Night Mat. 24.43 of a Bridegroom coming at Midnight ch 25.6 of a Master returning Luke 12.36 37. O this Day will come unawares upon the World and doth not this call upon you to be serious in your Preparation for it May it come this Night the next Morning when we are taking our Rest May we be awaked with this dreadful Sound Arise and come to Judgment or when we rise and are abroad about our Affairs may we see Christ breaking out of Heaven and coming in the Clouds with Power and great Glory Why then we have need to make it our Work to prepare Our Saviour uses this very Motive to perswade to this Duty Mat. 24.44 Luke 12.40 In both these Places you have the Duty I am pressing prescribed Therefore be ye also ready ready to meet the Son of Man ready to come to this opening Day Also the Motive inducing thereto annexed drawn from the Secrecy and Uncertainty of the Time for in such an Hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh They might say Lord but what need is there of all this of getting into and keeping in Readiness will it not be time enough to do this when we see the Day approaching what must we needs do it now Yes now be ready 3. That this opening Day will be a great Day As it will come and its Coming is uncertain so it will be a very great Day when it comes The Apostle stiles it the great and notable Day of the Lord Acts 2.20 Observe it 's the Day of the Lord these are our Days in which we eat and drink marry and give in Marriage and go over great Numbers and Varieties of Actions but this Day will be the Lord's Day the Day that
hath his Mark on it as a Day whereon he will do his great Works And it 's the great and notable Day of the Lord he hath had many Days of particular Rewards and Punishments but no Day like this therefore it 's frequently in the Scripture called That Day by way of Excellency Mat. 7.22 2 Thess 1.10 2 Tim. 1.18 4.8 that singular Day that never had any like before or shall have after it that wonderful Day that last Day that Day that ends all Days that that all must come to that Day that all should prepare for that Day that will be glorious to Christ that Day that will be joyful to Saints that Day that will be shameful to Sinners Sirs this Day this Day of Days will be a great and notable Day if we consider 1st The Person that shall then appear viz. the Lord Jesus Christ It 's call'd the Coming of our Lord 1 Cor. 1.7 The Revelation of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 1.7 The Appearance of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.7 He came once humbled in the Form of a Servant but he shall then appear and be revealed in Glory this will be the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2.13 who shall come in a bright Cloud in a glorious Body Phil. 3.21 in his own Glory Mat. 25.31 in his Father's Glory ch 16.27 in the Glory of his Angels Luke 9.26 Thousand Thousands ministring unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before him Dan. 7.10 O Sirs the Coming of Christ at this Day will be a glorious Coming he 'll come in Glory and Power beyond all that e're was seen to this Day and past all that e're shall be seen before that Day 2dly The Persons that must come to this Opening Many Thousands many Millions infinite Millions of Persons of all Ranks and Conditions All Men all Nations all the World must be convened before him at that Day Rom. 10.14 Mat. 25.31 32. Acts 17.31 Not only Men but Nations of Men not only Nations but all Nations all the World O what a Wonder will it be to see all Persons that ever lived in all Ages of the World gathered into one Company and Place 3dly The things that must then be opened All things of all Men things that have been hid from Ages and Generations things that were never opened before to any shall come out then before all Men. There is nothing so small or inconsiderable but will be revealed nothing so secret or hidden but it shall come abroad when the Lord comes who both will bring to light the bidden things of Darkness and will make manifest the Counsels of the Heart 1 Cor. 4.5 And what a great Opening will this be It will be such a Sight as never was seen to see all Mankind meeting O but it will be more to see all things that have been done under the Sun by so many Millions of Men and Women brought and laid open as they are in themselves and their several Circumstances 4thly The Greatness of the Assembly before whom the Books shall be opened This Opening shall not be in the Presence of some few as of a Family a Congregation or Parish but in the Presence of Angels and Men before a World Alas many many would be ashamed to be laid open before a few of their Neighbours and to have their secret things of Darkness brought out into Light among their nearest Friends O but Sinner those things at this Opening shall be opened before the World that now thou wouldst not have thy own Father to know thy Mother that bare thee to see thy Husband or Wife that lies in thy Bosom privy to that Child that came out of thy Loins acquainted with nor thy Bosom-Friend a Witness of 5thly The things done at this Opening Now at this Opening of this Grand Assize there will be a final Determination of all Mens States thence forward to all Eternity You have Mat. 25.31 32. described the Preparatives to this Opening viz. the Coming of the Judg his sitting on the Throne of his Glory the Congregating of all Nations their Separation one from another the Collocation of the Sheep on his right and the Goats on his left Hand and then you have the great Work of this Day which lies mainly in passing a definitive Sentence upon Persons There have been many great Trials here among Men some have had Trials about Estates and Titles to Inheritance some have got and some have lost Estates of Hundreds and Thousands in the Year many have been upon Trial for their Lives some stood others faln But all these even those of them that gave occasion to the greatest Noise in the World are inconsiderable and nothing to the Causes to be determined at that Day Then the Trial will be what Title Men have not to such and such Houses and Estates but to the Kingdom of Heaven what they can say not to preserve a temporal but what they can show for eternal Life and he Determination thereof will not settle them in or throw them out of temporal Possessions but either settle a Kingdom on them to Eternity or sink them into a Prison for evermore Vnicum momentum aeternam mansionem unicuique assignabit Ger. Then one Moment will assign an eternal Mansion to every Person Thus you see this Opening will be a great and notable Day and may not this put you upon preparing for it Suppose thou wert to have a Trial about thy Estate in the World or wert to be tried for thy Life the next Term or Assizes and the Cause were then to be determined with or against thee wouldst thou make no Provision for it take no care about it Surely thou wouldst We see Lawyers are thronged to in such Cases Friends improved to the utmost all Circumstances weighed and nothing neglected that may help Why thou art sure at this Opening either to get or lose a Kingdom either to be made or undone and that for evermore O then fall upon this Work and that the rather because 4. This opening Day wherein such great things are to be done will find many unready and take many unprepared for it This great Day will meet many without any thing to meet it with The Apostle 1 Thess 5.2 3 shows 1st How this Day will come upon the World as a Thief i. e. suddenly and unexpectedly a Thief gives no Warning 2dly How it would find the World viz. secure fearless careless unready so unready that Destruction shall come upon them and they shall not escape Our Saviour himself Luke 17 26-31 sets out this Day by comparing it with the Days of Noah's Flood q. d. there shall be a great Conformity 'tween those Days and these 'tween the Men of those Times and these How was it in the Days of Noah they had heard of a Flood as we do of this opening Day but they eat and drank as we do and never minded it till it came upon their Heads and
at that Day give it Content now if you would not have it full of Complaints then study to keep it void of Offence now 6. Lastly above all and without which all is nothing labour to be found in Christ at this great opening Day This was Paul's great Study to win Christ and to be found in him Phil. 3.9 Let it be your great Business to win Christ against this Day to be found in him at that Day I say to be found in Christ i. e. to be washed in his Blood clothed with his Righteousness all lies on this nothing but this will serve at this Opening It 's only Christ's Blood that blots scores and crosses out our Sins it 's only Christ's Merits that satisfy divine Justice for our Iniquities it 's only Christ's Righteousness that covers all our Unrighteousness and is our Righteousness it 's only Christ's Death that sets Matters right between God and Souls interested therein Nothing but Christ's Righteousness will serve for Christ's Judgment O when he comes with his Garments white as Snow and Hair of his Head like the pure Wool Dan. 7.9 and sits on a white Throne Rev. 20.11 there will be no standing for any but such as are arrayed in the white Robes of Christ's Righteousness Out of Christ then and undone for ever but if then you have Christ all shall be well Luther in his Commentary on Genesis prescribes unto tempted Persons one compendious way to withstand all Temptations whatsoever says he Let Satan come any way or the World come any way or the Flesh move any way answer all with these two Words I may not I must not for I am a Christian Why as that is a compendious way of answering all Temptations so this will be a compendious way of answering all Accusers and Accusations at the opening Day and not only compendious but the one and only way viz. I have a Christ As a Believer may answer all present Temptations so may he with this when all is open before the World Angels and Men answer all Accusations of Justice Law Sin Satan and all Accusers It 's called the Answer of a good Conscience A good Conscience is a Conscience sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus and this Conscience hath an Answer to make for the Soul We read of the Answer of a good Conscience towards God 1 Pet. 3.21 Now an Answer supposeth a Question an Answer towards God supposeth a Question from him to the Creature Now the Question says one that God is supposed to propound to the poor Creature Gurn. Chr. Arm. Part 2. p. 334. may be conceived to be this What canst thou say who art a Sinner and stands by the Curse of my righteous Law doomed to Death and Damnation why thou shouldst not die the Death pronounced against every Sinner This is the grand Question Now saith he the Soul that hath heard of Christ and hearing of him hath received him by Faith into his Heart is the Person and the only Person that can answer this Question so as to satisfy God or himself Take the Answer as it is formed and fitted for yea put into the Mouth of every Believer by the Apostle Paul Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right Hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Who condemneth Here is the confident Interrogatory of a good Conscience It is Christ that died c. Here 's its comfortable Answer an Answer that none can ever object against Why my Beloved as this is now an Answer beyond Exception so it will be in that great Day If you have but then this Answer of a good Conscience and can say I have a Christ who died for me you shall need to fear no Accusers no Condemnation Even then when the Heavens and the Earth are flying away from the Face of him that sits on the Throne and Multitudes of all Ranks are crying to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and hide them from his Face this Plea will abide the Sight of God and stand before his dreadful Tribunal at the great Day of the Revelation of his righteous Judgment Secondly Particular Exhortation To Sinners To Saints 1. To Sinners Shall the Books be opened Then this speaks to poor secure Sinners who make nothing of this great Opening never mind it nor once think how they shall speed at that Day but say in their Hearts If we may escape till then then let us do as we can we hope we shall shift as well as many more that will be in our own case 'T is to be feared that in these profane Times there are more than a few of these who yet led with Custom come to and set up their Faces in our Congregations If any of you that are come hither this Day be of this sort of Persons such as care not for this great Opening but keep on in your Sins filling up the Books every Day with new Abominations the Lord hath sent me hither this Day to meet you with a Word of Exhortation and knowing the Terror of the Lord what a terrible time it will be I perswade beseech entreat you to entertain it It 's that of the Apostle Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord. This wrought with many at that time ch 4.4 O do no more make light of this Day and the things thereof but repent now and be converted that your Sins may be then blotted out This is the Word that I would leave with you and pray consider that you may not make light of it 1. That Pagans and Heathens have trembled at the Hearing of this Day Acts 24.25 Mark Paul was here preaching and Felix was hearing and as Paul reasoned he trembled he was in a great Consternation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metu perculsus perterritus When the Judgment to come was laid before him his Conscience began to awake and put him into a trembling Posture Now will you be worse than professed Pagans more stupid senseless and fearless than Heathens Shall a Man who never heard of a Day of Judgment before who never was under an Ordinance before as Felix tremble at the preaching of this Judgment and you who have heard hundreds of Sermons make light of it O think of this and what a dreadful thing it will be to have a Felix rise up in the Judgment against you poor Pagans to come in and cry O if we had been forewarned of such a Day as these have been we would never have done as we did Sirs you would take it ill now if one should rank you with Pagans and Heathens O what what will it be to be made speechless by them to have them crying and coming in against you yea to see the Lord himself bringing them against you and saying Lo here are
poor Creatures that would have repented in Dust and Ashes if this Day might have been preached to them as it hath been many a time and by many of my Ambassadors to you 2. That the very Devils themselves tremble at the Thoughts of this great Day They are reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the great Day Jude 6. A Metaphor taken from notorious Malefactors who are kept in close Prison till the Assize where they are to be tried and have Judgment Thus the Devils are reserved to this great Day and they tremble to think of it They believe and tremble i. e. are under a continual Fear and Dread of the great God who will come one Day as they know to Judgment against them This they tremble at the word signifies an extreme Fear shaking and Tumult as is in the Sea when it works and is tempestuous Thus the Thoughts of the Day of Judgment make a Hurry a Roaring even among the Devils they are under dreadful Commotions at the Reflection on this Day because then the Fulness of their Torments are to begin Hence was that Cry What have we to do with thee thou Jesus thou Son of God Art thou come hither to torment us before the time Mat. 8.29 Austin thinks that when the Devils saw Christ thus come into the World they thought the Day of Judgment which they expected not so soon was just upon them and this Apprehension put them into a mighty Consternation Art thou come to torment us before the time O they were in a fearful Fit upon this And Sirs will you be worse than the Devils not only worse than Pagans but than Devils also Will not that that shakes Hell it self shake and awake your Consciences Shall Devils tremble in Hell at the Thoughts of this Day and poor Sinners on Earth that must be in that Day sorted and sink for ever with them be secure and careless 3. That this Day will make you that are most secure and confident to tremble if it take you in your Sins Pagans have trembled Devils do tremble and you shall tremble The Wicked is reserved to the Day of Destruction they shall be brought forth to the Day of Wrath Job 21.30 2 Pet. 2.9 And O when this Day is come and is upon you there will be Trembling and Shaking amongst you The great Executions of Wrath on wicked Men are reserved to that Day There have been many terrible Plagues upon the World but Sirs the saddest the strangest the most affrighting have been but as Drops to the Showers of this Day Smoakings of God's Wrath to the Fire of this Day The old World was drowned with a very terrible Inundation but there 's a more dreadful Doom abiding for it Sodom was destroyed with a sudden strange Destruction but there 's a more strange Destruction to come on those filthy Sodomites Sodomiti olim perditi iterum perdendi Some of the Antients have said that there are three sorts of Thunderbolts in Heaven the first to warn not to hurt the second to hurt but not to destroy the third to ruine and lay all waste The two first sorts says one God often in this Life dischargeth upon wicked Men but the third and worst is reserved for this Day when all the Artilleries of Heaven shall go off at once when all the Fountains of God's Wrath shall be broken up when the Lord shall rain Snares Fire and Brimstone and a horrible Tempest upon the Wicked Ps 11.6 O Sirs the Chear will be turned when you see Signs in the Sun when you see the Tribes of the Earth mourn the Heavens passing away with a great Noise the Elements melting with fervent Heat and the Earth with the Works that are therein burnt up I remember I have read of crook-back'd Richard that in that Battel wherein he fell when he saw himself in a helpless Condition he cried out vehemently A Kingdom for a Horse a Kingdom for a Horse Why so Soul when thou art under these Circumstances thou 'lt cry out Riches for a Christ Gold and Silver for a Christ Houses and Land for a Christ a Kingdom if I had it for Christ the World if it were mine for Christ Now give me Christ and Grace and Pardon and take all my Riches Treasures and Pleasures give me give me these now or I am for ever for ever undone I know not what to do whither to go God is against me Conscience against me Satan against me Fellow-Sinners are against me Saints against me Creatures against me the Law and Sin against me Sirs it will come to this with you and when it is once come to this there will be no escaping 2. Shall the Books be opened Then it speaks to the Saints and Servants of God who have made it their Business to remember to live for and be in a Readiness against it look for and comfort your selves with the Hope of this great Opening Day Our Saviour speaking of the Tokens of this Day Luke 21.28 says to his Disciples Look up and lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh q. d. it shall be a good Day to you you shall have no Cause to be dismay'd but may meet it with Comfort It 's observable that this Promise is the last Promise in the Book of God the last Message that Christ in Heaven sends to his Church on Earth before his Coming again Surely I come quickly Rev. 22.20 with which as good News he closes all up and you have its Welcome Amen even so come Lord Jesus O Sirs the Saints have looked for have comforted themselves with the Hopes of this Day Luther said he had rather never have been born than not to be in Expectation of this Day O it is a Day to be expected a Day to be looked and longed for and a Day to be rejoiced in Consider that you may be quickned to look and long for it to incourage and comfort your selves in it 1. That at this great Opening your Sins will be found blotted out Those Sins that you have gone mourning under here that you have been under disquieting Fears about that have cost you many Tears and many waking Hours will then all appear blotted out stand fully cancelled never to be required and what a sweet welcome Sight will this be 2. At this great Opening your Names will be found written in the Lamb's Book of Life Your Names shall be found written in Heaven and you shall fully see that you are the Objects of free special differencing and distinguishing Love reaching from everlasting to everlasting and will not this be a blessed Sight 3. At this Opening the Face of God and Christ shall open on you never to shut in or go under any Cloud again for ever Here the Saints are absent from the Lord and the Lord is absent from them in regard of the Smiles of his Face but then they shall be for ever with him 1 Thess 4.17 4. At this Opening Heaven shall open as an eternal Mansion for you Jesus will open at this Day all his Store-houses the eternal Kingdom the eternal Weight of Glory and the Fulness of Joy that is in the Presence of God shall then open All the unseen things that are prepared for those that love God shall then open 5. At this Day the Righteousness and Holiness of God's Ways towards you will open before you and you shall see a most clear and full Commentary on that Promise All things shall work together for Good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 All your Tears Prayers Sufferings Patience Layings out for God from first to last shall at this Opening be found owned and crowned Wherefore Comfort one another with these Words 1 Thess 4.18 FINIS Errat Page 52. Line 5 6. read but they are