himselfe in a Vision and sheweth after what manner we shal be all iudged Euen according to those things written in the Booke according vnto our workes You haue heard before that hee saw all both great and small stand before God none shall bee wanting or absent themselues Now it might bee wondered how this great multitude shall bee iudged how euerie mans Booke should bee read and euerie mans cause should bee tryed For wee see what a long time it holdes our Iudges heere to trie a few persons such calling for Euidences such prouing of witnesses such preferring of Inditements But Saint Iohn saith It shall not bee so heere for all must proceed according to the written Records And according to these things which bee written in the Booke So as when Christ Iesus the great Iudge shall once sit vpon the Throne of his Glorie attended by his holy Angells then shall the Bookes of euerie mans conscience bee opened and then they shal afresh call to minde all their sinnes In these words we are to obserue three speciall points Parts of the Text. First who they are that must come to this Iudgement namely the dead euen they which haue lien many thousand years rotten in the graue Secondly the means whereby they must be tryed euen by those things which bee written and recorded in their Bookes Thirdly the Touch-stone of this tryall namely the written word of God And first of the persons It is not to bee doubted but that Saint Iohn meaneth that all must come to Iudgement Both great and small must stand before God But why doth he say heere And the dead shall bee iudged It is to be obserued that he names so expresly the dead euen those which haue lyen rotting so many thousand yeares must come to Iudgement they must be called to accompt yea their olde sinnes must be now brought to light For this is rhe wicked thoughts of many carnall men that when a man is dead hee is well then all his sinnes die with him hee is forgotten and his sinnes are not spoken of But Saint Iohn saith heere that euen the dead must come to iudgement euen their olde sinnes must come to light and they must answer for them It is nigh sixe thousand yeares since Caine slew his brother yet this sin of his is not forgotten though Caine bee dead so long since yet his sins are not dead No no Caine one day shall come to accompt for his sinne Iudas he did for vile lucre sell his Maister many hundreds of yeares agoe hee is dead and gone but at this day hee shall be called to accompt So in our dayes many men thinke when they die their sins shall neuer be brought to light The Vsurer hee getteth his goods by wicked and vngodly meanes he groweth in wealth when hee dieth hee thinkes hee shall neuer heare of this sinne agayne So the Drunkard Swearer Profaner of the Lords Sabboth c. they are persvvaded that death will end all their miserie Ah poore soules it were well with them indeede if death might end their wofull miserie But alas alas death is euen as a wide Gate to let them haue some passage to endlesse woe and miserie For when they be dead and buried their sins doe not die with them their misery is not then ended O no then begins their endlesse miserie torment Oh it were good they might haue no more being after death It had beene good for such men they had neuer beene borne or being borne that they had been made rather a Toade or a Serpent for in death they haue an end But it is not so with a filthy and and vngodly sinner For when hee is dead and buried euen then beginnes his greatest woe and misery for euen the sinner that is dead a many thousand yeares must for all this come to iudgement And therefore thou that liuest in sinne in adultery c. remember that although thou die yet thy sinnes doe not die with thee No no both thou and they must one day come to iudgement thy old sinnes and those which thou hast committed in secret they must come now to light Seeing that the dead must come to Iudgement Vse that haue laine a many hundred yeares in the graue and then their old sinnes and secret sinnes must come to light Oh let vs then watch ouer our liues and haue this still in our mindes Well though I die and rotte in the Graue yet my sinnes shall not die my euill wayes cannot be buryed they must come to light that so wee may neuer dare to sinne thinking as many doe that when they be once dead they shall neuer come to accompt for their sinnes But Saint Iohn sayth heere that the dead were iudged euen those whom wee forgot and whose sinnes wee would thinke would neuer be called to accompt euen they must come to a reckoning In the next place Saint Iohn tells vs how all men shall be tryed and according to what Sentence shall bee avvarded Namely according to those things Written in their Bookes Heere is the Euidence heere is no witnesse to bee produced for a mans conscience shall bee euen as good as a thousand witnesses Novv what is heere meant by the bookes you haue heard already namely the particular Conscience of euerie man and woman Thy conscience is the Booke that is the Euidence No other witnesse shall bee produced but euen thy owne conscience Againe the things which be written in these Bookes I told you they be all our thoughts wordes and workes not onely our grosse sinnes as murder c. but in our Bookes bee recorded euen our idle and vaine words euery vile and filthy thought and by these Sentence must proceede and according to these must Iudgement be awarded Now then those which haue good thoughts yea and holie things written in their Bookes they be blessed and happie for they shall not be ashamed nay they shall be glad to haue their Bookes layd open that their repentance their faith loue zeale and patience c. might bee knowne and come to light But woe then to all filthie sinners adulterers c. For the reward of these sinnes is death the wrath and curse of God for euer Vse Seeing that heere is the Euidence and by the things written in our Bookes in our consciences we must be arraigned and seeing in our Bookes bee recorded all that we do all our words thoughts and deedes First it must teach vs aboue all things to looke to our Bookes our consciences to keepe them very faire and cleane that our Bookes of Accompts bee in a readinesse For our consciences shall eyther excuse or accuse vs at the day of Iudgement Acts 24. This was the care of the blessed Apostle saint Paul Acts 24 in regard of this that wee must all come vnto iudgement and our consciences must be layed open and wee iudged according to the things therein recorded it made this holie seruant of God to take all
contemne the Word of GOD profane the Lords Sabboth that make no conscience at all of drunkennesse c. what a treasure of plagues the Lord hath reserued for the damned Oh let vs thinke often of this that these torments bee both endlesse and easelesse Oh what madde men and women what fooles be wee if wee will now enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season and then to lie in torments for euer What shall it benefite or profite vs to enioy a litle worldly pelfe mony lands or liuings heere to liue in all pleasures delights some sixtie or eightie yeares and then to be tormented in hell fire for euermore And yet doe we see that such is the extreame follie and madnes of many men that they will haue their penyworths heere though they pay neuer so deare for it in the life which is to come Thirdly these torments as they be endlesse and easelesse so they be remedilesse This we may beholde in the Glutton in hell who would haue giuen a world if hee had beene owner of it and yet for all that could he not haue it it was then denied him For there is no ease nor remedy in hell no redemption after death no siluer nor golde no witte nor policie no appealing to another Iudge but hee must lie by it for euermore euen in this close prison till he haue paid the debt and vttermost farthing For if all the Saints and Angells in the Kingdome of heauen should fall at the feete of Christ to begge but for one soule it could do him no good CHRIST would deny them al they must haue the repulse O consider this this is it that ought to make all men to quake and all hearts to tremble that in hell is no ease nor hope of redemption This is that which makes the deuils and damned spirits to feare and to tremble and yet it cannot moue flintie and stonie-hearted sinners once to be afraid O I beseech you let vs thinke of these things now in these daies of mercie now is remedie to bee had now wee may auoide this woefull miserie now wee may escape this fearefull torment If wee will now repent if we will now leaue our sinnes and begge pardon of almighty God for them we may escape but after death there is no time of mercie but iudgement and torment but fire and brimstone and the wrath of God for euermore And therefore now let vs repent let vs bewaile our sinnes and liue as the seruants of God and not as the slaues of sinne and Sathan any longer and then the gates of hell shall not preuaile against vs. Our Sauiour Christ tels vs Mat. 16.26 that the soule of a poore begger is more worth then many thousand worlds And therefore the losse of a soule is greater then the losse of the whole world If a man should loose House Land Wife Childe and all hee hath yet it is nothing in comparison of his soule that is a losse of all losses to bee seuered from God and from Christ and to bee in hell torments for euer O then let vs know what our soules bee worth let vs learne to prize them aboue the whole world But alas men can not so esteeme of them Oh no men will for one penny or an houres pleasure hazard losse of soule and bodie for euermore Ah poore soule thou didst neuer yet know what thy soule is worth Christ Iesus sayth it is more worth then all the world Oh let vs so esteeme of it and value it and account all riches pleasures or profites as dung so that our soules our poore soules may be saued in the day of our Lord. The end of the fourth Sermon A FOLD FOR Christs Sheepe Deliuered in two Sermons vpon the first Chapter of the CANTICLES vers 6.7 BY SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the Word of GOD at Prittlewell in Essex ESAY 55.3 Hearken and your soule shall liue LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES 1617. ⧠TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND VERtuous Gentlewoman Mistresse MARY BVTLER of Tooby SAMVEL SMITH wisheth al Grace Prosperitie and true comfort in this life and eternall happinesse in the life to come THe Booke of the holy Scripture Right Worshipfull is as the Princely Prophet Dauid calleth it Ps 119 125 A Lanthorne to our feet and a Light to our Paths The Elect of God are therein enlightened and taught of God through the inward operation of Gods Spirit Iohn 6. the knowledge thereof hath beene deare and pretious vnto the Godly Paul that sanctified Vessell of the Lord did esteeme all things else but Dung in comparison of it Phil. 3.8 Moses regarded not the pleasures he might haue enioyed in king Pharaohs Court Heb. 11.24 in comparison of this And Dauid preferred the Office of a Dore-keeper in Gods house Psal 84.12 before the chiefest Pallaces heere below This was that that Salomon the wisest did ayme at especially 1. Reg. 3.5.9 hauing his choice of many things offered him from God and no maruell though the children of God do prefer the choice of it before all other inward things whatsoeuer because our Sauiour will teach vs that the knowledge thereof will bring a man to Life Eternall Iohn 17.3 Jt will safely conduct a man to God his kingdome and make him decline from the by-waies of sinne and error which leade to destruction Heere is Milke for Babes and strong meate for men of riper yeares so that none that are inuited to this Feast but may finde some refreshing Yet notwithstanding that this is the excellencie of the holie Scriptures and that this hath beene the choice of God his seruants in all ages to prefer the knowledge of it before all things and to conforme theyr liues thereunto The Papists the malicious ennemies of Gods truth will notwithstanding shew themselues to be of the Serpenticall broode Gene. 3.15 euer treading on the heele of God his church euen with their Templum Domini Ieremy 7. Templum Domini the Church the Church as if the church-Keyes hung euer at their girdle These their paynted shewes of piety and holinesse hath caused many to stagger in the way of godlinesse who haue not taken deepe roote in christian profession Let such with a single eye reade ouer these two sermons where they shall finde a Fold pitcht for all Christ his Sheepe The true church made knowne from the flockes of his Companions which howsoeuer they come with Iesus Iesus in their mouthes yet doe deny the power of godlinesse seeking vtterly to extinguish the light of Gods truth that it may not shine vnto men Indeed a palpable darkenesse hath yet ouerspread all the Dominions of that Romish Pharaoh more palpable then the darkenesse of Aegypt but the Truth shall preuaile maugre the spite and malice of Antichrist and all that bloudie Crew And the Bright Beames of the gospell shall dispell those foggie mists of Poperie and Jgnorance when the pride of the Whoore of Rome is once at
were parched and for lacke of rooting withered away From whence wee obserue a twofold instruction 1. That the Church of God sometimes is in the very heate of persecution 2. That Christ the good Shepheard euen then forsakes not his bur at Noone-day euen in the extremitie of the same prouides a shadow and place of comfort and refreshing for those that are his sheepe Obiect 3 The Church of God somtimes is in the very heate of persecutiō First wee are taught heere that it is the will of GOD that his Church sometimes should be tryed And it is his will that sometimes his People should vndergoe persecutions according to the rule of the Apostle S. Paul 2. Tim. 3.12 Whosoeuer will liue godlie in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution This is expresly taught by the Prophet Dauid Psal 34.19 Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all This was the condition of the Israelites in Egipt who remayned there a long time in cruell bondage vnder Pharaoh Exod. 1.12 And in Hesters time how were the poore people of God in the heate of persecution Est 2.23 This was the State of the whole Church of the Hebrewes described thus That Some were racked and would not bee deliuered Hebr. 11.35 c that they might receiue a better resurrection And others haue beene tryed by mockings and scourgings yea moreouer by bloud and imprisonment They were stoned they were hewen asunder they were burned slaine with the Sword wandered vp and downe in Sheepes skinnes and in Goates skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented whom the world was not worthie of c. This we might further consider in the examples of Abraham Isaac Iacob Iob Ioseph Dauid Ieremy and the like whose liues are a plentifull store-house to testifie this truth That the people of God doe many times endure manifolde afflictions and sundry trialls And this haue wee had experience of in this Land in the dayes of Queene Marie when the Sunne shone hot and that the fire of persecution was great to the wasting of the bodies of many a deere Childe of God So that if we hope to liue with Christ in the Church Triumphant we must first die with him in the Church Militant For none shall raigne with Christ there that haue not first suffered with him heere Nor none shall haue their teares wiped from them in heauen that haue not first shed them on the earth Thus hauing seene the Doctrine that it is the State and condition of Gods church heere vpon earth to vndergoe sometimes many and grieuous afflictions Now let vs see the Reasons that so the Doctrine may leaue the greater impression in euery one of our affections In regard of Gods enemies Reason 1 themselues which know not the Father nor IESVS CHRIST his Sonne they haue nothing to stoppe and to stay their rage and malice as our Sauiour witnesseth when he saith They shall excommunicate you yea the time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you will thinke that hee doth GOD seruice And these things will they doe because they haue not knowne the Father nor yet mee So that it is no maruel though the enemies of gods Church doe rage against the faithfull seruants of God being stirred vp thereunto by the instigation of Sathan seeing that they know not God nor Iesus Christ Iohn 15.19 but haue their eyes blinded by Satan the prince of this world Reason 2 GOD suffereth his children many times to vndergoe some sharpe and bitter triall of affliction and to suffer euen the burning heate of Persecution to make knowne the Vertues and Graces of his Children as Saint Paul saith It is necessarie that afflictions should come that the elect may be manifest who they be As it is not possible to know the valour of the Souldier if hee lie alwaies in the Campe and neuer come into the Field So is it impossible to know the Courage Patience Obedience Zeale Loue c. of his children till triall come And therefore God would haue Abraham tempted to make his faith knowne So Iobs patience Dauids pietie Pauls courage c. The earth which is not tilled and broken vp will yeeld nothing but briers and thornes And Vines will waxe wilde if they bee not pruned and cut Euen so the vnruly affections of our hearts as so many noysome weeds would quickly ouer-runne the whole man if the Lord by sanctified afflictions should not manure vs. It is good therefore said Ieremy or a man to beare the yoke in his Lam. 3.27 youth And in another place the same Prophet saith Ier. 48.11 Moab keepes his sent because hee was not powred from vessell to vessell but hath beene at rest euer since his youth There are besides these diuerse other reasons wherefore the Lord doth thus exercise his deere children in this life with crosses and afflictions as to humble them for sinnes past and to preuent sinne in them for the time to come Because when we shall perceiue that the only weapon whereby Sathan woundeth our Soules is sinne it will make vs repent of sinnes that are past and warie of sinnes for the time to come And also to humble the pride of our hearts For knowledge puffeth vp and in whatsoeuer thing wee goe before our brethren naturally we waxe proud of the same Now the Lord by these afflictions like a skilfull Physition le ts out the superfluous humours of pride and vaine-glory when wee shall see what wee are by nature Well let vs make some vse of this Doctrine to our selues Vse 1 Wee haue had a long Morning and yet are in peace and rest but it will not euer bee Morning the Sunne will rise and it will bee Noone day the Lord will haue a time of triall It is the Lords vsuall dealing after long time of peace to bring some trials that the Elect and true Christian may bee discerned Of all things in the world the Lord cannot indure that his glorious Gospell should bee contemned and despised as it is at this day amongst vs Oh then seeing that wee must euen looke for a triall Let vs prepare and arme our selues with all needfull vertues with patience with humility with courage zeale c. Alas any thing wil serue the turne now to bee a Christian a small matter But if in the time of triall we shrinke Luk. 14.25 or else yeeld vnto the enemy then wee shall shew that wee are but hypocrites and cowards Oh then let vs be good Souldiers now in the time of peace prouide and sharpen our weapons against the time of warre Let vs cast it what it will cost vs to bee the Sheep of Christ losse of Lands liuings gold siluer liberty country yea life it selfe yet to resolue by the helpe of God neuer to bee ashamed of the Gospell of Christ let persecution come neuer so hote vpon vs. Secondly we learne hereby Vse 2 not to promise vnto our selues worldly Peace and Prosperitie while
THE GREAT ASSIZE OR DAY OF IVBILEE Deliuered in foure Sermons vpon the 20. chapter of the Reuel ver 12.13.14.15 Whereunto are annexed two Sermons vpon the 1. chapter of the Canticles verse 6.7 The second Impression corrected and amended by the Authour SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the word of God at Prittlewell in Essex Math. 12.36 I say vnto you That of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof at the day of Iudgement LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES 1617. ⧠TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND VERtuous Gentlewoman Mistresse IANE ELIOT of Newland Hall SAMVEL SMITH wisheth the encrease of all true comfort in this life and eternall happinesse in the next RIGHT Worshipful the Apostle Paul hath told vs That In the last dayes shall come perillous times For men shall bee louers of their owne selues couetous boasters prowd cursed speakers Disobedient to parents vnthankefull vnholie without Natural affection Truce-breakers false accusers intemperate fierce no Louers at all of them which are good traytours heady high-minded Louers of pleasures more then louers of God hauing a shew of godlinesse but yet denie the power thereof And they are the words of our Sauiour himselfe that as it was in the dayes of Noah So shall the comming of the Son of man be And againe vvhen the Sonne of man commeth shall hee finde Faith vpon earth When were these perilous times Saint Peter speaketh of if not now When was there the like securitie When gaue men themselues ouer to their owne hearts lust more then now By the which then wee see that we are they Vpon whom the ends of the world are come and that wee must all shortly be called to accompt for these things The Nineuites fast and repent the Publicans do feare and quake when Ionas cryeth to the one and Iohn to the other of iudgement to come Ahab is humbled and Felix trembles when from Elias and Paule they heare of death and Judgement yet alas where is the man among vs that thinkes of these things Doe not men crie Peace peace till destruction come vpon them as the Trauell vpon a woman with childe Shee thinketh not of the paine vntill it come and they thinke not of this day of reckoning till it come This is the security of our Age so that we may now looke for an end to be put vnto these sinnefull daies for vvhat are they but the fore-runners of that last and dreadfull day The Lord make vs wise betimes that we may think of that Great Assise and the account that we are then to make I haue heere endeauoured in a weake measure to vnfold the Doctrine of the day of Judgement the which J here present vnto your Worship in regard of the demonstration of my vnfained thankefulnes for your extraordinary kindnesse bestowed vpon me As also in regard of the great affection and good deuotion you beare to the Truth Accept therfore I pray you what is heere offred vnto you and take in good part my indeuour therein so I humbly take my leaue Resting Your Worships in all Christian duetie to be commanded SAMVEL SMITH ⧠To the Christian Reader Grace and Peace from IESVS CHRIST the Prince of Peace CHristian Reader I present heere vnto thy view the third publique fruite of my Ministerie wherein I haue endeuoured that those especially of mine owne Hearers might a second time take notice of my Exercises that in publike I deliuered vnto them The night commeth when no man can worke therefore it stands vs all in hand both Minister and People to esteeme of Time as the most precious thing in the world and the rather because we know not how soone we shall be called to an account of our Works Many haue had many times many good purposes of hart to cleaue vnto the Lord that haue beene preuented by Death for want of timely Repentance It shall then be our wisedome To agree with our Aduersarie while wee are in the way with him for if wee be but once arrested by Death we shall be sure to pay the vtmost farthing Vse this as a help vnto thee to better thee in the performance of that dutie which concerns thee so nearly That thou must one day giue an accompt of thy Workes If thou reape any benefit by it giue the praise vnto God from whom euery good perfect gift proceedeth and help me in thy praiers which I shall take as a full recompence of all my Labours and be encoraged to spend some houres more in the like dueties for thy good In the meane time I remaine Thine in the common Sauiour SAMVEL SMITH THE GREAT ASSIZE The first Sermon REVEL 20.11.12 c. 11 And I sawe a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose Face fled away both the Earth and the Heauen and their place was no more found 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God and the Bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the book of Life the dead vvere iudged of those things vvhich vvere vvritten in the books according to their deeds 13 And the Sea gaue vp her dead which were in her and Death and Hell deliuered vp the dead that were in them and they were iudged euery man according to his deeds 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death 15 And whosoeuer was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the lake of fire HAVING spoken not long since of the Comming of CHRIST into his Garden Cant. 5.1 or into his Church and of his kinde and princely offers vnto vs suing for entertainment at our hands being his first comming vnto vs heere in this vale of Teares I thought it verie necessarie to speake something of his second comming that those that will not be moued with the former might be terrified with the latter To which purpose I haue made choyce of this place of Scripture in which this matter as you see is at large described with many necessary circūstances needfull to be knowne and learned of euerie one of vs all For heere the second comming of Christ is reuealed to Saint Iohn in a vision from Heauen euen in that manner in which Christ will come at the last day For these fiue Verses containe in them nothing else but a liuely and heauenly description of the second coming of Christ to Iudgement with all the circumstances belonging to the same The parts of the Text. For first if you would know with what Maiestie Power Integritie Seueritie and Terrour this great Iudge will come you may see the person of the Iudge described in the first verse of this present Text. Secondly if you would vnderstand what persons must be cited and summoned who must appeare Saint Iohn saith heere he Sawe the dead both great and small stand before the Iudge all that euer are that haue been or shall bee vnto the end of the
saith 1. Cor. 15. Wee shall not all die but we shal be changed they that be liuing at his comming Then how doth this place agree with them seeing S. Iohn saith heere He saw the dead Heere is none spoken of but the dead no mention of the liuing I answere Saint Iohn saith Answ that He saw the dead Not that he saw not the liuing too For he saw no doubt both quicke and dead stand before God But hee speaketh heere onelie of those of whom there might be some doubt For if the dead and they which haue beene rotten so many thousand yeares shall appeare and stand before God How can we thinke that any of the liuing shall be wanting if that they which haue beene dead for sixe thousand yeares and are turned to ashes shall be brought to iudgement then no doubt they which be found liuing when Christ shall come to iudgement So then it is euident that though Saint Iohn speake heere onelie of the dead because there might be most doubt of them yet he said in a vision all men both quicke and dead stand before almightie God at the Barre of IESVS CHRIST Doct. Comfort to the godly that they shall rise againe I saw the dead Hence may wee rayse a double Doctrine First a notable comfort for the soules of Gods children namely that the dead bodies of Gods children do not perish they are not cast away and lost when they die but they shall rise againe They shall bee purified and made a glorious bodie and they shall stand in the presence of the Lord Iesus Christ and shall see his glorie And therefore let vs not thinke that when death commeth and separateth the soule from the body that then the body doth perish and is cast away No no it shall rise agayne it is but layd in the Graue as in a sure Chest and there it is at ease and lieth asleepe as in a bedde of dowlne But when CHRIST IESVS shall come to iudgement it shall rise againe For we must know that euerie true beleeuer is made a member of CHRIST And not onely our soules are vnited to Christ but euen our dead bodies when they be layd in the Graue they still remayne the deare members of his mysticall Bodie and therefore shall not perish but rise againe to glorie And for our further confirmation in this poynt of Resurrection Resurrection proued let vs see how it is confirmed to vs by the testimonie of the holy Scriptures as that of Daniel Dan. 12.13 They that sleep in the dust shall avvake some to euerlasting life and some to euerlasting shame And the Lord God by the Prophet Hoseas doth make vnto his Church this gracious promise Hosea 13.14 I will redeeme thee from the power of the graue I will deliuer thee from death O death I wil be thy death O graue I will be thy destruction This is cleared by the testimonie of Iesus Christ himselfe Ioh. 5.28 The houre shall come in the which all that are in the graue shall heare his voyce and they shall come foorth And they that haue done good shall goe into the resurrection of Life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation This is taught by the Apostles of Christ Iesus in diuers places of their Epistles As Beholde I shew you a Mysterie 1. Cor. 15.52 we shall not all sleepe but we shall be changed and that in the twinckeling of an eye at the last Trumpe And this is that vvhich all of vs confesse to beleeue as one of the most principall Articles of our faith The resurrection of the dead Phil. 3.21 So that we see it is cleere that the godly and the wicked shal both arise But the ends of their resurrection are different the one shall rise to life eternall the other to perpetuall shame and eternall destruction So that howsoeuer it shal be a ioyfull day to the godly that haue the sting of Death taken away from them through Christ his death yet the wicked shall haue no benefite by it and therefore vnto them it cannot properly be called a Resurrection no more then the taking of a malefactour out of prison to be executed can be called a Deliuerie But it shall be with the godlie and the wicked at that day as it was with Pharaohs seruants Genesis chapter 40. both of them were taken out of prison but the one of them to be restored to his Office to minister before the King but the other to be executed and put to a cruell death Euen so shall it be with the godly and the wicked at the last day Both shall arise out of their graues as out of a prison but the one to be euer with the Lord ministring praises vnto him for euermore the other to be banished from his presence and sent into euerlasting condemnation For vnto them alone is the resurrection a benefite where remission of sinnes goes before as we are taught in the Creed This must needes be a great comfort to GODS Children Vse 1 when wee can say with Iob chap. 19. I know that my Redeemer liueth and that I shall see him with these eies This same body shall arise this verie bodie for substance thogh purged and cleansed from sinne yet the same for substance shall rise againe and these my eies which haue beene carefull to seeke Christ Iesus to seeke his glorie to reade his blessed Word to releeue the poore members of CHRIST that these my eyes shall see my blessed Redeemer to my endlesse ioy And these mine eares which haue beene carefull to heare thy holy word to saue my soule they shall heare his sweet and blessed voice saying vnto me Come yee blessed of my Father For the bodies of GODS children shall not perish but shall rise to glorie and be made like vnto the glorious Bodie of Iesus Christ Oh how this should moue all men and women 1. Cor. 15 to vse their bodies well to the honour of Christ Iesus seeing hee will not let them perish but will crowne them and glorifie them for euer Secondly this must needes bee a fearefull terrour vnto all profane and filthy sinners who bestowed their bodies wholy in the seruice of sinne and Sathan They shall looke on him whom they haue pierced and shall lament Zachar. 12.10 For euen their dead bodies shall rise too but how to iudgement to torment and to burne for euer in the lake of fire and brimstone Thou hast set open thy wanton and adulterous eies to beholde vanitie thou hast delighted to heare vanitie more then goodnes thou hast vsed thy tongue to lying deceipt swearing c. and hast runne to vaine sportes and pastimes on the Lords day to the dishonor of CHRIST IESVS to serue the Diuell and thine owne flesh Oh know that thy bodie shall one day rise againe to iudgement to torment to be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone Consider the rich Glutton Luke 16.
hee should be a warning to all vngodly sinners Hee gaue his bodie to all kinde of vncleanenesse pride drunkennesse c. Hee gaue his tongue to lying swearing and cursed speaking and now is his body tormented and would giue euen a whole world if he were Lord ouer it for one drop of water to coole his flaming tongue O let him be a warning to all sinners and teach vs to vse our bodies well to look to our eies to our eares and to set a VVatch before our mouthes for feare lest wee dishonour GOD by them and bring endlesse woe vnto our selues Well then you see that as it is an exceeding great ioy to Gods Saints that they shall rise againe so is it a terrour vnto the wicked that they shall Rise againe to Iudgement 1. Sam. 2. It were well with the wicked man with the Drunkard c. if their bodies might neuer rise if they might rotte and perish in corruption and that their soule might be euen as the soule of a beast a vapour vtterly to be extinguished But now there is more behinde they shall one day come to iudgement And therefore Saint Iohn telleth vs in this place that he saw the dead both great and small stand before GOD. Euen our dead bodies must rise eyther to honour or dishonour eyther to ioy or to paine to saluation or damnation And therefore let vs bethinke our selues of this betimes Both great and small Great and Small who These words may admit a double exposition for it may seeme this that by Great and Smal is meant those that be great men growne or else small children young and old all must appeare For wee see that many die euen little children young Infants of a span long some againe die men of yeares Well both great and small must appeare none shall be so yong or so little but that they must stand before GOD and none so great or so strong but they must appeare likewise Secondly by great and small may be vnderstood all sorts and degrees of men and women great men and great women poore men and poore women All sorts and conditions must come to iudgement as well the prince as the subiect as well the rich as the poorest Begger as though Saint Iohn should haue said I saw all men that euer haue beene or shall be to the end of the world none shall be wanting the rich and poore yong and old high and low married and vnmarried bond and free all must stand before God Oh what a wonderfull assembly will this be to see so many millions of thousands It is a great sight to see an Armie of men of a thousand But heere shall be a thousand thousands Euen all men women and children that euer haue beene or shall be to the worlds end None shall be wanting the rich and poore yoong and old high and low bond and free all must stand before God and therefore it is well called the day of the Lord when all the of-spring of Adam shall stand before God Seeing S. Iohn saw the dead both great and small Vses diuerse 1. stand before God that is al sorts of men and women high and low rich and poore bond and free all must appeare and hold vp their Hand at the Barre of this great Iudge Surely this ought to moue all men both great and small rich and poore to make conscience of their liues to repent of all their euill wayes to turne to GOD by true repentance for you see here no excuse can serue the turne no auoyding of this appearance all must appeare the very Diuells themselues 2. Cor. 5. Esay 30. and all the damned spirits must come to iudgemēt Tophet is prepared for the King the Iudge the Gentleman the rich man if they be wicked their riches shall not be excused nor the poorest shall not be forgotten Surely and if we haue any care at all what shall become of our poore soules at this day It ought to perswade al men both poore and rich both Minister and People to repent to turne to Almighty God to leade new liues that then we may reioyce with ioy and comfort This did make Paul to labour to keepe a good conscience Acts 24.16 before God and all men and why Because there would come a day when all must arise to iudgement and giue a straight accompt of all their thoughts wordes and workes And the same reason should mooue vs likeiwse to keepe a cleare conscience And what is the cause that men liue in sinne and defile their bodies with many thousand filthy sins Surely because they thinke not of this day whē they must stand before God If they could but thinke of this day that they must all come to a reckoning O it would stay and bridle their carnall hearts from many foule and filthie sinnes which novv they commit with greedinesse 2. Cor. 5.11 Acts 17.3 This will be a blessed day to all the children of God to heare the Iudge say vnto them Come yee blessed O happy day O blessed voyce But to the vngodlie sinners that liue in sinne to the Drunkard Blasphemer c. this will be a terrible and fearefull day to heare the woefull voyce of the Iudge Go yee cursed into c. Oh dolefull voyce Oh heauie newes O fearefull Sentence O woe and ten thousand woes to all vngodly sinners woe then to the blasphemer woe to the drunkard c. woe vnto all vngodly and wretched sinners for there is no escaping of this Sentence All must appeare all must stand before God all must come to their answere None shall be so great to escape or so small to be forgotten And then woe to them that shall rise to this fearefull and woefull Sentence and heauy newes of condemnation Oh it had beene good for such men if they had neuer been borne or had beene brought foorth as loathsome Toads or Serpents for then beginnes their eternall misery and condemnation O then againe and againe let vs bethinke our selues that wee must come to iudgement we must be called to a reckoning wee cannot escape the Sentence of Iudgement by anie meanes whatsoeuer Agayne vvhere Saint Iohn saith He saw the dead Heere Vse 2 is matter of endlesse comfort to all the poore members of Iesus Christ In this life who is more full of woe vvho more full of payne in bodie and soule then Gods children Long and tedious sickenesses many annoyances Some be sore from top to toe as Iob was some maymed in bodie as the poore man was Iohn 5. Well when our bodies shall now arise they shall not bee weake or lame or maymed but a perfect body sound and a glorious body All paine shall haue an end all woe shall cease But as for the vngodly Psal 1.6 it is not so with them But they shall arise that both bodie and soule may goe to hell together Stand before God I sawe the dead c. Heere wee see againe
that our accounts must beginne before God himselfe wee must stand naked in his sight and who then can thinke to hide his sins from him Hee knoweth the heart and trieth the reines and his eyes are like a flame of fire Reuel 2. O how this should mooue euerie man and woman often to bethinke himselfe of this time when hee shall come to his accompt euen before the eternall God who cannot be deceiued nor bribed If a malefactor come before the Iudge that is guiltie of treason or murder how hee quakes to thinke of the terrour and seueritie of the Iudge hee is afraide and trembles to appeare in his presence How much more should we tremble and quake And how should hard-hearted sinners be at their wittes end to thinke they must come to stand before God to appeare at the barre of the euer-liuing and most mighty Iehoua who can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire O what secure and carelesse wretches are wee that are nothing mooued with these things to repent and to turne to God to leaue our foule and filthie sinnes And if a poore prisoner condemned should laugh and bee merrie would not all men thinke him to be a mad-man And shall not we be worse then madde-men if we neuer come to thinke of these things If a poore traueller that hath but one penny in his purse shal come to an Inne call for all manner of dainties and neuer thinke of the shotte would not all men thinke him madde and out of his wittes VVhat madnesse then is in euery one of vs all if in this our pilgrimage or trauaile on earth we spend our dayes in pleasure bathe our selues in sport and pastimes carking and caring for the things of this world and neuer to bethinke our selues as to say Alas what do I now I eate I drinke I carde I dice I take my pleasure and bathe my selfe in delight but woe is me I must com to iudgement I must giue my reckoning l I must stand before GOD one day and there giue an account O that we had hearts to thinke of this both young and old rich and poore Minister and people that wee must stand bellie-naked before God that wee must giue an account of all our sinnes to his Maiestie It would bridle vs and keep vs from many presumptuous sinnes which now we commit The end of the first Sermon The great Assize THE SECOND SERMON REVEL 20.12 c. 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God and the Bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the books according to their works WEe haue heard alreadie the person of the Iudge described vnto vs with what vnspeakable maiestie and glorie he shall come to the great comfort of the godly and also with what wonderfull terror he will come to the great terror of the wicked Secondly wee haue heere who shall be cited to appeare Both great and small 1. Thes 1.8 al must appeare Now follows in the third place the most speciall and principall matter of all namely after what manner all men shall be iudged in these words And the bookes were-opened c. We see that earthlie Iudges are brought vnto the Bench with great attendance They being set the prisoners are brought forth and are called ouer one by one and their matters are heard and witnesses produced and so according to their faults they receiue iudgement Euen so at this great day of the Lord Christ Iesus shall come with a thousand of Angels and before him shall stand all men and women Both great and small And then shal the Books be brought forth Indeed we see when an earthly iudge sits on the Bench it holds a long time to trie causes such witnesses and such euidences must be produced But it shall not be so at the last day for when all men shall stand at the barre of Christs iudgement they shal then be iudged according to the written Records euen according to the Bookes for they shall then be opened Books whaâ— is meant by them Now if you would know what these Bookes bee it is easie to know for they be euen the particular conscience of euery man and woman thy conscience is the booke that shall be opened and that shall be as good as ten thousand witnesses either to excuse or accuse thee before God For there shall neede no other witnesse no other euidence against vs at the last but our own conscience For as God hath his Booke of infinite Knowledge whereby he knoweth the sinnes of all men and women as certainly as if they were written in a booke and though men forget them yet the Lord remembreth them So hee hath giuen vnto euerie man and woman a booke their owne conscience wherein are written all our thoughts words and deedes so as none shall escape And the Bookes are two the Booke of the Law and the Book of Conscience the one shewing a man what he should doe the other what he hath done Against the booke of the Law none shall be able to except For the commandements of the Lord are pure and righteous altogether Psal 19.9 And as for the booke of Conscience who can deny it or except against it seeing the Lord will now iudge a man not by another mans Conscience but by his owne the which he hath alwayes had in his owne keeping euen in his owne bosome Now seeing heere what is meant by these bookes namely euery mans particular Conscience let vs come to search what bee the things written in this booke and first what vse we are to make vnto our selues from this Euery mans booke shall be opened c. First in these books are written euerie thought of our heart In the Bookes of our consâ—ince is written Our 〈…〉 none so secret or so close but it is here recorded Secondly euerie speech and word of our mouth Thirdly euery deed that men do Thou hast sealed vp all our sinnes in a bagge saith Iob to shew the exact kind of keeping of them against that day of account Surely if there be any thing in a man to be maruailed at I must needs confesse that this is a wonderfull worke of God that hee hath giuen to euery man and woman a Conscience which is like vnto a booke in which is recorded all our thoughts words and works A wicked man an vnchaste woman how many thousand vile filthy thoughts haue they in their mindes night and day their hearts burne in lust and in vncleannesse now they passe away to them they regard them not they make little or no account of them But alas they are all written in this Booke of thy conscience thy conscience markes them thy conscience writes them downe And if thou repent not of them and leaue them O woe to thy soule when these Bookes come to bee opened and read ouer
Dauid behaued himself in all his extremities flying vnto God as a sure refuge Psa 91.2.3 I will say to the Lord O my hope my fortresse He is my God in him will I trust Hee will deliuer mee from the snare of the Hunter and from the noysome pestilence His eares are alwaies open to the cries of his children hee putteth their teares into his bottle So long therefore as we haue a voyce to call vpon GOD or a heart to sigh and groane vnto him wee haue comfort and assurance to be deliuered and that hee will not leaue vs nor forsake vs in danger Vse 2 Heere is matter of endlesse comfort vnto the Church and children of God that we know that the Lord Iesus Christ promiseth that hee will prouide a Lair for vs a place of comfort and refreshing a shadow euen at Noone day in the heate of bloudy persecutions Many indeed are our infirmities feares cares sorrowes and troubles yet in middest of them all the childe of God may say with the Prophet Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me O waite on God for I wil yet giue him thanks He is my present help and my God Psal 42.5 O then let vs be constant let vs comfort our selues in Christ Iesus let vs not for feare or danger deny CHRIST and his Gospell for CHRIST will be a shelter vnto vs to refresh vs and deliuer vs. This sheweth the most wofull Vse 3 and desperate estate of all wicked and vngodly men who being out of Gods fauour not beleeuing in Christ nor repenting of their sinnes in time of persecution when the Sunne waxeth hote Alas they shall not know where to hide their heads for they shall finde no shelter nor comfort nor no place of refuge For Christ is a shelter onely to them that beleeue in him and obey him And therefore thou which art a wicked man an impenitent sinner a prophane person Alas what wilt thou doe and which way wilt thou turne thee in the time of trouble and calamitie when the Sunne waxeth hote in the heate of persecution and scorching triall Whither then wilt thou runne for shelter Alas thou shalt then be as a mad beast which in the heate of the day runnes vp and downe and findeth no couert So shall all wicked and impenitent sinners haue no place of succour but lie open to all GODS iudgements be scorched Ezec. 9.4 yea euen consumed with the fire of Gods displeasure when the righteous those which are in Christ Iesus shall finde shelter Now followeth the Reason which shee vseth to moue the Lord Iesus Christ to graunt her request The churches reason of her request taken from the great perill and danger shee was like to fall into Namely lest being left without his direction and comfort shee be constrayned to Turne aside to the Flocks of the companions that is to say to leaue the true church and worship of God and ioine with the false church to commit idolatrie called heere the Flockes of the companions Not for that they are eyther Christ his companions or the companions of his church and people but because they account themselues so yea they thinke and call themselues CHRISTS companions And if this thing should come to passe through want of Christs assistance to direct her and to comfort her in persecution then it shall not bee for his honour not her good This is the summe and substance of her Reason Doctr. 5 Hence we are taught that it is altogether impossible for men and women It is altogether impossible for men to hold out in time of triall that are not assisted by God euer to stand out in the brunt of persecution vnlesse they be taught of God and comforted by his Spirite And hence it is that the Prophet Dauid a man after Gods owne Heart and indued with a singular portion of GODS Spirit doth earnestly begge and craue at Gods hand the enlightning of Gods Spirit and desireth to be taught of him Open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Psal 119.8 And againe 27.34.73 Teach me thy Statutes And againe Make mee to vnderstand the way of thy Precepts c. Yea CHRIST tells the Iewes which murmured against him because he said that no man could come to him vnlesse his Father drew him that all the Elect are taught of God Ioh. 6.45 And this made Paul to pray for the Ephesians ch 1.17 that God would giue them the Spirit of Wisedome and to enlighten their mindes that they might know what is the hope of their calling and what the riches are of his glorious inheritance A notable direction vnto all sorts of men how to behaue themselues when they shall come into the house of God namely not to rest on any naturall gift whatsoeuer it be wisedome learning wit memory c. For the wisedome of the flesh is enmitie with God Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 1.21 But to goe out of our selues and to seek the Lord in humility and denial of them selues and then the Lord will giue vs a discerning spirit that we shall not be deceiued If any man saith Christ will doe my Fathers will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of GOD Iohn 7.17 And againe Christ promiseth his Disciples being now to leaue them and to go to his Father that the Spirit of Trueth should leade them into all truth Reasons And the reasons are First wee are all blinde and by nature can hardly see into the truth vnlesse Christ direct vs by his Spirit for so saith Salomon Prou. 14.12 The waies that seeme right vnto vs the issues thereof are the wayes of death It is a part of our misery that we are turned euery one vnto his own way Esay 53.6 Secondly when we know it Alas wee are of our selues so weake and flesh and bloud will bee so vnwilling to suffer for Christ his sake that vnlesse the Lord do assist vs we shal not be able to vndergo the least temptation that shal be laid vpon vs. And lastly the enemies of Gods truth are in their generation so wise and so subtile coming vnto vs in Sheeps clothing to deceiue vs that of our selues we shall easily be drawne away to beleeue lies In all these respects we may safely conclude the former Doctrine that it is impossible for vs to holde out in the day of triall vnlesse wee be assisted by the LORDS holie spirit Vse 1 This sheweth that if tryall do come and persecution shall arise for CHRISTS sake and the Gospells sake Alas most men would yeeld to any Religion to Popery Idolatry Superstition to the flockes of the companions to the church of Rome to flatte Idolatry For alas they know not the trueth They are not taught of GOD They bee blinde and ignorant and will easily beleeue and embrace any Religion Vse 2 This must stirre vp euery true christian man and woman to