what time the old world was destroyed by water This I take to bee the true sence of them two verses In the seventh verse he teacheth the pure minded that the same worde that brought forth the former effects the same worde is the preseruer of the Heauens and Earth during the time of their conservation but that the same word hath determined an end vnto the Heauens and the Earth which shall as verely take place by fire as erst by water The day of which destruction shal be what time the Lord shall vtterlie destroye the vngodly closely intimating thus much As the waters overflowed the Earth in that day wherein God had appointed to preserue Noah and to destroy the vnbeleevers so verely shall the fire ceaze vppon the Heavens and Earth in that day wherein our God hath secretly concluded the destruction of all such mockers and vngodlie persons In the eight and ninth verses hee stirreth vp the beloued of the Lord to be grounded in a perswasion quite contrary vnto the former mockers First in not being ignorant as the former were willinglie ignorant Secondly to testifie their not being ignorant by beleeving first that before the Lord one day and a thousand yeares are alike this is secretlie opposed to the ignorant judgement of the mockers who thought God woulde neuer come because hee had driven so many yeares Secondly by beleeuing that the Lord will not be slack in keeping his promise of comming howsoeuer some in their foolishnes accounted him slack for the effecting of which beliefe in them hee giueth in the next words a reason not of the Lords slacknes but of his not destroying the world and comming vnto judgement as yet namely because he hath decreed a time wherein with all long suffering he will awaite the repentance of people that so they might be saued This secretly insinuateth thus much Euen as the Lord before he would destroy the old world by water did with loue and much patience even an * Genes 6.3 1. Pet. 3.20 hundred twenty years awaite the repentance of the people euen so with patience and asmuch ey more lenitie he now awaiteth the conuersion of people from Sinne to Sanctitie that so in that great and fearfull day they might bee saved and not with the vngodly be destroied Now come we to the text read wherin is considered two things First the propound of the doctrine generall in the first verse read by a simple affirmatiue Secondly by way of concession in the first clause of the next verse then an exhortation vrged by an interrogation in the next and last clause In the proposition generall wee haue to obserue the comming of the Lord in these wordes But the day of the Lord will come Secondlie the manner of his comming like a Theef in the night Thirdly what shall be effected by his comming vz. the passing away of the Heuens with the Elements melting Secondly of the Earth by the burning of fire Thirdly the concession of the whole in these words Seeing all these things must be dissolued The exhortation included in the interrogation lieth in these wordes What maner of persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godlinesse The comming of the Lord expressed in these words But the day of the Lord vvill come is an opposition to the mockers negatiue axiome which was this The day of the Lord vvill not come And to make the affirmation more forcible the holy Apostle preponeth the particle But as though he shuld say You mockers affirme that the Lord vvill not come But I affirme he vvill come Thus the Apostles of Sathan and the Apostles of Christ will be ever in contradictions like to IEHOVAH and Satan in Paradise The Lord he said In eating of the tree of knowledge of good evill thou shalt dy the death Genes 2.19 Sathan soone after saide * Chap. 3.4 Ye shall not die at all The impes of Satan can say Loe all things in the world are as they were woont to be therefore God will not come to iudgment The Apostle of IESVS he saith But the day of the Lord will come Whether nowe shall we beleeue the abhominable Atheist or the blessed Apostle PETER To the wicked their fore-but the Apostle opposeth his But which But will prooue so mighty a wal in the end as neither mockers nor mockers disciple shall be able to leape over without breaking the neck of their soule The Apostle PAVL hee plainely saith to the Thessalonians * 1. Thes 5.2 Ye knowe perfectly that the day of the Lordshal come but our Mockers say vve knowe perfectly that the day of the Lord shall not come Holy IVDE bringeth in the prophecie of * Iude. 14.15 Henoch saying that the Lord commeth vvith thousandes of Saintes to giue iudgment And our Saviour himselfe affirmeth * Matth. 24. that Hee will come with the sounde of a Trumpet but our Helhounds affirme that all these things are but tales and devises of men whom shal we beleeue now The blessed Apostles and our Saviour himselfe or these birds of the bottomles pit that breath blasphemie against God and his worde A wonder of the worlde that man should be so infatuate and sensles But the Apostle a little before giues the reason hereof namely that they willingly are ignorant howe the Lord by his word hath made and conserved the Heauens and Earth as also howe heretofore by the same potent word hee brought the waters vpon the Earth to the destruction of all Creatures breathing excepting them in the Arke These Atheists blind Moles are ignorant of the Worde and works of God ey willingly ignorant else they could not but knowe that the Lord will come vnto judgment Let the rankest mocking Atheist answere to this question Is there not sometimes a qualme comming over thine heart when thou murdreist vvhen thou steales vvhen thou commits adulterie c. Feelest thou not sometimes a griping of thy Conscience Speake plaine ly not Oh yes thou Atheist thou art not ever exempted from such nips girds and cold qualmes What meanes thine hart to admit of such molestures Oh thou Atheist thy soule is affraid and trembles to come before one that will take an accompt of thy wicked life that will judge that sinne and plague it with Hell fire Thy Conscience therefore accuseth thee thy soule trembles with thy Predecessor Diagoras neither shalt thou escape the Iudge before whom thy soul so citeth and sommoneth thee * Prou. 14.13 Euen in laughing thine heart is somtimes sorrowfull and the end of thy mirth attainted with heavines Put the evill day farre from thee for a while yet the remembrance thereof wil somtimes crosse thy banquet when thou art so overthwarted imagine thy selfe to bee * 2. King 21.20 Ahab and that overthwarter to be Elijah Say vnto the twitching light of thy Conscience Hast thou found me oh mine Enemie and it shall answer I haue found thee for thou hast sold thy selfe to
worke wickednes in the sight of the Lord when the Apostle saith But the day of the Lord will come he wold oppose that Day vnto the daye of the wicked The wicked now haue their day the Lord then wil haue his day and therfore that great day is called the Lords day Christ his resurrection day is called the * Revel 1.10 Lords day because hee then triumphed over the Deuill death and sin so this day of Doome is called the Lords day because hee then will for ever commit the Deuill and those that haue delighted in the waies of death and sinne to everlasting torture As ABRAHAM could equally conclude against DIVES Thou hadst then thy pleasure and Lazarus his torment therefore now it is just that thou bee tormented and Lazarus haue pleasure so against all wicked ones I conclude As you haue your day nowe so Christ shall haue his day then walke on in the waies of your own flesh but be sure the day wil come that shal pay for al. In this day the wicked shall cry Hilles and mountaines fall vpon vs and cover vs from him that sitteth vpon the throane but as for the godly let them hold vppe their heades for then is come the fulnes of their redemption Woe be vnto these that nowe laugh because of sin for then they shall mourne but blessed be these that now mourne because of sinne for they then shall laugh and be comforted This day of the Lord saith PETER shall come as though hee should say tremble oh wicked man for thy day of judgment shall come be patient and rejoice thou that art persecuted for righteousnes sake for the daye of judging thy cause shall come This daye is figured out by the Prophet * Ioel. 3.12 14. IOEL vnder IEHOVAH his pleading in the Valley of Iehoshaphat in the daye of his threshing the Heathen Howsoeuer the Lord seeme now to be a sleepe the wicked thinking God like to themselues yet then the Lord shall awake as a Gyant refreshed with wine Pfal 50.21 bring them vnder the crushing blowe of his flayle a flayle of judgment that shall beat them like chaffe In the meane time let all knowe that whatsoever Mockers say The day of the Lord shall come Iudge righteouslie oh yee rulers of the Earth preferre not the cause of the Potent to the cause of Widowes and Orphanes slaughter not Christ in Habell commit not * 1 King 22.27 Michajah with Ahab vnto prison nor dare to feed the Lords Prophet with the bread and water of affliction for after yee haue had your daies of judging and pleading the Lords day shall come wherein hee will examine the cause of the poore and oppressed If yee haue not judged and done according to God his book but according to the inequall ballance of your owne making then hearken to * Isai 10.1 ISAIAH Woe vnto them that decree wicked decrees and doe vvrite grievous things for keeping back the poor from Iudgment and for taking away the iudgment of the poore of my people that Widowes may be their pray and that they may spoile the Fatherlesse What will yee do now in the day of visitation of destruction which shal come from farre to vvhome will ye flie for helpe and where will ye leaue your glory Oh yee Rulers of the Earth The day of the Lord shal come as verely as the Assirians Medes-Persians Graecians Syri-Egyptians vpon Iudah your judgments shall bee weighed in the ballances of the Sanctuarie if they be found faithfull and full weight then enter into the possession of glorie but if they be found partial and too light with Belshazzars kingdome then thou shalt be cast out for counterfeit coyne If oh yee widowes fatherles and wrongfull distressed ones ye here in the day of man cannot be equally dealt withall do not curse murmure but rest patient for a while Revel 6.9 as vnder the bloody Alter Iesus more injured than thou and after man hath had his day of playing Rex jex The day of the Lord shall come what time the Lord will examine their Law-books by his sacred Testament and call back the examination of thy cause in the hearing of men angels and devils Loosers must haue their sayings and the wicked their wordes for a season but The day of the Lord shall come wherein they shall bee forced to stand by and to hearken what the Lord shall say Iesus himselfe was here of the Rulers Priests of the people scarselie vsed as a Lord nay vsed like a traytor to Caesar like a sower of seditious doctrine like a superstitious conjurer in a worde like an of skouring of the world even as are his members but in this day hee will come as a LORD to whome al power in Heauen and Earth is given and they shall looke vpon him and his members mystical whome they haue pearced In the day of this life they would dominere and Lord it over him and his but now shall he and his Lord it over them In this day of the Lord Habel shal Lord it over Cain the * Matth. 2. slaughtered infants over the Fox Herod Lazarus ouer Dives In this day the Lord Iesus shal awake the mocking Atheist and let him knowe that there is a God that judgeth the earth The workers of iniquitie notwithstanding their preaching and casting out of Devils shall this day bee driuen from the societie of the faithfull and the face of Iesus Now the Lord wil examine how they haue * Mat. 25.24 fed and clothed the poore visited the prisoner and been mercifull vnto the distressed They shall in this day even every lippe-gospeller know what difference there is betwixt a dead faith or idle beleefe not working and a liuely Faith that bringeth foorth fruites of righteousnes and holinesse If they will not here in this life * Iam. 2.18 shewe their faith which is invisible by holy vvorkes which are visible then fear in that gret daye of our Lord to heare the sentence Depart from mee yee cursed into everlasting fire Mat. 25.41 Oh this shall bee a day of feare and horrour Our Lord shall bee vnto the wicked and vngodly the roaring Lyon of the tribe of Iudah but vnto the faithfull members of IESVS it shall be a day of solace and glorie for vnto them shall Christ be the meeke Lamb slaine from the beginning of the Worlde wiping away all teares from their eies setting them on his throane even as himselfe nowe sitteth on his Fathers throane so aeternize their felicitie vnto them for that shall be the Lords day Oh who will not beg with Lazarus now that he may glorie with Lazarus then who wil not now lay down the life of his bodie for an houre that so he may receiue of the Lord then life for yeares millions of yeares even for aeternitie of time beyond al time On the other side who will bee so madde to murther with Cain heere for satisfying
Them troublous daies there spoken of and it is affirmed verse 22. of them that they should be shortened can not bee spoken of the last troublesome times that shall come vppon the whole world To Elias prophecie which may bee numbred amongst the Papistes vnwritten verities I say no more but this I acknowledge him not for Elijath the Tishbite for his Canonicall speaches are registred by the holy Ghost in the book of Kings neither haue wee any such speach there or else where in the Canonicall Scriptures as is this As for the Devils they might well say that the latter day was not yet come wherein they should begin to bee more notablie tormented and yet notwithstanding be far ynough from foreknowing the Latter day The Devill had learned by the prophecies of the old Testament that there should bee a long distance betwixt the incarnation of Christ and the end of all things He knewe that Christ must haue his spirituall possession to streatch over * Psal 2.8 the Heathen vnto the corners of the Earth As yet the partition wall was not broken downe and after the lawe should go out from Zion to the Gentiles there would bee some yeares spent for gathering the Heathen vnto the faith of Christ Besides Isaiah * Isa 59.20 had prophecied an vniversall calling of the Iewes which time as yet is vnexpired and from many other circumstances every where in the Prophets the devils might easilie know that the time of Christ his incarnation could at noe hand be the time of the Lords last comming namely to judgment That speach therefore of the Devils is nothing to this purpose As for the numbers Dan. 12.11.12 which some would haue as to be so many yeares so to be accompted from Iulian the Apostates time An 365. what time it is said * Carion Chron. lib. 3. that he in spite of Christ commanded the Iewes to build the temple which afterwardes was by thunder and earthquake overturned to the ceasing of Sacrifice and so accounting from that time would haue the world to cease at fardest in the latter number Dan. 12.12 Thereto I answer If it were the Angels meaning there to speake of the end of this world I could not but reverence that conjecturall beginning of the accompt but as the spirite of God in the greatest visions as of that of the 4. mettels and the other of the * Dan. 2. Cap. 7. Cap. 11. 4. beastes as also in the Revele of the Syrian and Egyptian actes their Kings tearmed King of the North King of the South as in all these the Lord leadeth Daniel not to the consideration of the state of the newe Testaments Church except vnder type or figure but for the comforting of him and the Iewes doeth foretell vnto them the state of the Church of the Iewes vnder the kingdomes of Chaldea Mede-Perse Grecia Syri-Egypt and that vntill the comming of Christ in the flesh and the * Dan. 9.24 sealing vp of the old Testaments vision and prophecie so I cannot easilie consent vnto the former conjecture but rest in this judgment namely that them daies Dan. 12.11.12 were properlie giuen forth for the Iews to accompt what time their * Dan. 7.8 c. and 11 36. compared with 2. Thes 2.3.4 notable Antichrist of Gogs land the figure of our Sonne of perdition should tread them and their temple vnder-foote And whereas they think that the age of these last times by reason God is one and the same should no more bee hid to the faithfull nowe then was the date of the first world vnto Noah I answere God is one and the same though hee reveale not the thinges whereof wee haue no promise as also not like need as had Noah who was during that 120. yeares to prepare an Arke for preservation to the second world Secondly if the knowledge shuld be proportionable then all the faithfull must know This for so no doubt the faithfull then with Noah vnderstoode that Againe the very yeare ey the day should bee knowne of This for so was * Gen. 6.3 7.4 That But the day our Saviour plainely denieth doth he therefore Repent his goodnesse towards the faithfull and themselues giue it 12. years compasse to fal within vz. betweene 1588. and 1700. themselues therfore conclude against themselues Lastly I see not why from this speach of Peter The day of the Lord shal come as a Theefe as also that our Saviour saith it shall come as a snare that is vnawares and that not onely vpon some but vpon all that dwell vpon the Earth I see not I say why I may not from this forme of speach conclude that noe probable conjecture of the year may be giuen And whereas they affirme that though the Day bee not knowne yet the yeare may be known I answer first I see no such thing from the Scriptures alleadged Secondly where our Saviour denieth the foreknowledge of the Day I see not why by Day may not ey must not be vnderstood Time indefinitely as though he should say That time is vnknown to the sonne of man even as when he saith The housholder would watch if hee knewe the Time The faithfull all know that that day will come and therefore doe watch over their waies so that whensoever it shal come it snal * 1. Thes 5.4 not come vnlooked for yet our Saviour saith it shall come vnlooked for as a theefe This then must necessarilie bee our Lord and Master his meaning Watch and be ye sober speaking to all Christians in their persons that so that great day in regard of limitation comming vnawares vppon you may not in regard of your beleeuing and wayting for the same steale on you as on the wicked This take I to be the very natiue sense of our Saviour and his Apostles wordes and allusion from all which I conclude that I see not howe from Scripture the definite time of our Lords comming to judgment can be gathered Many having in their mouthes in the Apostle Paul his time * 2. Thes 2.3 That the day of the Lord was at hand hee therefore amongst other things writ vnto the Saints at Thessalonia where chieflie this was bruited that it was false because before that great day of the Lord there should be a Departure or generall Apostacie from the faith of Christ a thing taught by Iohn in his Apocalyps where hee saith * Rev. 6.14 Heauen not a part of Heaven neither are we ignorant howe the Church is called Heauen in all that book as also Mat. 11.11 13. c. Heauen saith he departed away as a scrole when it is rolled Secondly saith Paul before that day of Christ the man of sinne shall bee * 2. Thess 2.3 disclosed Thirdly he shall be consumed and therefore called the Sonne of perdition by the spirit of Christs mouth namely in the powerfull ministery of his word Christ then as he rid on with Salomon Psalm 45.4 vpon the
SOMMONS TO Doomes daie SENT VNTO HIS BELOVED ENGLAND AS A MEmoriall of his deepe printed Loue and Loyaltie By HENOCH CLAPHAM EDINBVRGH PRINTED BY RObert Walde-graue Printer to the Kings Majestie An. 1595. Cum Priuilegio Regio SCHOLASTICIS LArgè spatiari Rhetoris est strictè autem Dialectici Hoc proprium Academicorum Scholis illud Rostris Medium inter vtrunque hoc potius vt ἔυαγγελὶας Prophetae accommodatius hic studui Lineae si quae occurrunt otiosae error verò hujus saeculi loquacis maximè fluitans illas ego repudio nec probo Facilius autem est destruere quam astruere nec difficilius labeculae non serpente connivere quà m labiorum labem vt nè dicam luem in aliorum lucubrationes evomere Quid tum peto vt aequo si non placido legatis animo vel saltem pacato haec mea qualiacunque deponatis hoc summissè petitur ac flagito Valete H. C. THE EPISTLE SWEET ENGLAND wishing all true happines to thee and my soueraigne Queene ELIâ—â—â—â—TH whose blooâ—â—â—â—ersaries intestine aâ—â—â—â—rane God in due time convert or confounde Being vrged to voyage from thee for a season I haue heere commended vnto thy reading this mite of a mountaine of Good will Forewarning is a fore-arming neither will my sommoning thy soule howsoeuer harshe at first proue otherwise than healthfull at last Some in whome is small good Zeal but more malice will considering my person wring what sences they list from my sentences that so they may snarle behinde my back But let such learne that Loue will judge the best but Malice never spake well Some in whome Zeale overmatcheth knowledge will è contra affirme that I haue not plainlye ynough rebuked sinne c. Let such learne that I haue learned that there is one manner of Rebuke in the Church of the olde Testament another Rule in the Church of the newe Testament one maner of dealing with persons within the visible Church another wisedome towardes them that are without He that followes one rule for forme of rebuke may aswell confound the first and latter ministrie This not obserued causeth much teaching but no good done Wordes vttered according to knowledge discretiue * Prov. 25.11 are like apples of golde pictures of silver Accept it with no worse meaning than I offer it then neither shalt thou disdaine to receiue it nor I repent the guift and so beseeching the Lordes blessing to accompanie my labour I end Edinburgh 1595. Fulgura sic flammas qui terris servat iniquis Anglorum Sωter semper vbique siet Thy humble petitioner vnto God for thy good HENOCH CLAPHAM SOMMONS TO DOOMES-DAIE 2. PET. 3. vers 10.11 10 But the day of the Lord wil come as a Theefe in the night in the which the Heauens shall passe away with a noise and the Elements shall melt with heat and the Earth with the vvorkes that are therein shall bee burnt vp 11 Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolued what maner persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godlines THE holy Apostle PETER writing vnto all wheresoever that had obtained the like precious faith even the precious faith of Christianitie doth vnto all and so consequentlie vnto vs if wee be Christians deliuer many saving doctrines and wholesome exhortations grounded vpon their doctrines for the further confirmation of faith and increasment of sanctification Amongst which this one namly a Caueat and warning peale of the destruction of the whole worlde by fire and the great day of Doome is not least vrged but of all the rest most forciblie in this Chapter propounded and pressed and especially in these two verses now read Before the handling of which two verses it shall be vnto me neither grievous nor to you vnprofitable that I summe vp the precedents of the chapter In the two first verses the blessed Apostle stirreth vp the Readers of his Epistle to receiue the ensuing doctrine into the puritie of their mindes for indeede a corrupt minde will but mock there at and the rather they are mooved therevnto because the doctrine should be no newe or strange doctrine but even such a doctrine as before had bin delivered First by the holy Prophets secondly by the Apostles of our Lord Saviour which doctrine he calleth a Commandement because it was not a lesson left to learne or beleeue at a christians leasure or plesure but enjoyned vpon every Christians neck by the holy Prophets before Christ came by the blessed Apostles after Christ come a commaundement to the Church of the old Testament and a commaundement to the Church of the newe Testament and therefore not such a lesson as may be beleeved and vnbeleued received and refused at mens pleasures but a commaundement sent vnto all that study puritie of minde and do awaite the comming of our Sauiour In the thirde and fourth verses hee foretels the pure minded of certaine adversaries to the saide doctrine and this he doth first by setting down their time of arising namely In the latter daies secondly by giuing vnto them an Epithet drawn from the qualitie of their speach vz. Mockers thirdly setting downe a Synopsis or compendium of their speache which is this Where is the promise of his comming for since the Fathers died all things continue alike from the beginning of the Creation as though they should say You write and you talke of Christs comming vnto Iudgement saying that there shall bee an end of all these worldly thinges I cannot tell the old ancient Fathers they died and so do we die others came in their roomes and so doth there in ours and not onely that but such creatures as were then such are nowe daies moneths and years turne about departing and comming againe in a worde I see nothing changed but all things alike now as of old and therfore I cannot beleeue that the saying The World shall bee consumed and the Christ shall come vnto Iudgment that it is any thing else but a tale of Robin-hood and therefore I will walke on in the waies of mine owne heart and in the delight of mine owne eies making my heauen heere whilest I liue heere for after death I cannot beleeue there is any account no nor life no more then of a dead Dog and pitted caryon All these and such like blasphemies the holy Apostle accompts no better than a Mock and the persons themselues Mockers namely of God and his word In the 5. and 6. verses the Apostle rendreth a reason of their Atheisme Infidelitie namely that they are willingly ignorant of what That they are willingly ignorant how the heauens had their beeing by the word of the Lord for they think the Heavens to come of themselues as also ignorant howe the earth by the same word of ELOHIM was separate from the waters and had his foundation as the Psalmist saith laid vpon the waters Psal 24.2 and therefore by the same worde of God brought aboue the Earth
a sodaine momentaine lust and then bee damned to the pit of torment for ever who will be so mad as for sparing a little meate and drinke with the proud glutton from the needie to sell his body and soule to the Devill and the damnable pit for ever Oh foolish and vntoward fleshe of ours that remembers not this day this fearefull day to the workers of vnrighteousnes It is written of a certaine Ancient that he so lived as ever opening his eare and listening vnto the voice of the Angels trumpet that shuld cry Come come away vnto Iudgment If we would so liue as ever listening after the appearance of the Lord in this his day then assuredlie wee would not dare to rush into adulterie stealth and other prophanesses as we doe When thou art tempted to defile thy Neighbours bed to filtch away thy Neighbours goods to imprison or kill the innocent c. Then say thus within thy selfe Oh miserable man nowe the spirite of Hell with the bellowes of his malice is blowing and puffing vppe thy lustes to sette them on fire that so thy members may commit iniquitie this Sathan doeth to haue me damned with him If I followe the motion of this wicked spirit what gaine shal I therby win I shall satisfie my lust of vncleannes of filching of wrath of pride Oh but God hath damned that lust and set his curse vpon that work what if the terrible day of the Lord come as I am committing that sinne or if not howe shall I exspect Gods mercie vnto repentance after the doing of the sinne that knowes before hand that it is displesing vnto my God what is an howres plesure to fierie torments induring for ever why should I grieue God and cause the Devill to bee merrie thogh the great day of the Lord come not vppon me at this instant yet this day may be the day of my death then commeth my soules Iudgement shall I then hazard my soule nay shal I wittinglie commit it to the Devils seruice who is desirous to drawe me with himself vnto the black burning pit Thus debate with thy selfe then tell mee what pleasure thou canst take in sinning Oh Lord sweet Lord Iesus though this shal be a terrible day to the Atheist mocker and counterfeit Christian whose pleasure then endeth and whose endles pain and torture then beginneth yet vnto thy poore afflicted sonnes and daughters it shal be a day of glee and gladnes for then shall their dolour end and their never fading glorie beginne then shall the wicked be tormented in hell fire but thy people shall raigne in the beauteous heavens then shall the wicked be coupled and chained with the Devill and his Angels in the Iron bandes of thy wrath but thy sanctified members shall be * Iohn 3.2 like thee see thee as thou art wait vpon thee the Lambe whither soever thou goest Sweete Iesus sanctifie the consideration heereof vnto thy people that by the torture of the wicked the glorie of the godlie they may be drawn from sinne to serue thee in righteousnes and holines all the daies of their life But how shall this day come The Apostle hauing learned that of our Saviour Iesus what time hee preached vnto them the destruction * Mat. 24. of Ierusalem doth answer it shal come as a theefe in the night that is even as the theefe stealeth vpon a man in the night season vnawares to the housholder even in the time of his sleepe so shall this day of the Lord vnawares and sudenly come vpon the inhabitants of the earth ey our Saviour according to Lukes rehearsall saith that this day shall as a * Luk. 21.35 snare come on all them that dwell vppon the face of the whole earth that is even as the beast or bird not thinking of any danger neer is then vnawares caught in a snare so shall the dwellers on the earth sodainly without foreknowledge be arrested by the day of the Lord. Methinks to him that is content but to vnderstand according to sobrietie Rom. 12.3 another question and that a curious one is heerein answered Many demaund in what daye or in what yeare This great day of the Lord shall fall Of the houre and daye no professor of Christ dare define because our Saviour hath said plainlie * Matth. 24.36 Of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels of Heauen but my Father only but concerning the yeare some dare determine for say they though the houre and day be not reveiled in the word yet the year is clear lie vnderstood from Daniel 12. c. neither say they let it be marveled that the yeare should be pointed at considering the Devils had some foreknowledge of that time when they cried * Mat. 8.29 Art thou come hither to torment vs before our time As also Elias plainlie fore-prophesied The World shall stand six thousand yeares and then it shal be consumed with fire And having determined the vttermost day to fall out Anno 1700. they then qualifie their judgment by saying that somthing of these times must be cut off from Mat. 24.22 c. To answer to all these things at large would require a peculiar treatise and it is bruited but I knowe it not of certaintie that * L. Chadderton M. of that Colledge one of Immanuel in Cambridge hath publikelie there confuted the opinion I therefore as I speak of it but by the way will therefore but by the way shape foorth this litle answere The shortning of the daies Matth. 24.22 is properlie spoken of the cutting of them troublous daies of miserie which came vpon Ierusalem what time the Romanes besieged it This may bee gathered from our Saviours words in the 15.16.17.18.19.20.21 verses aforegoing The people there are willed for avoiding them troubles to flee out of Iudea If them daies were ment of the daies immediatelie before the ending of the world to what end should hee speake of flying out of Iudea to what end should he will the people to make such haste in flying from house and substance and howe should it then bee better for such women as were not with child then for these that were except he ment that the first might with lesse paine and trouble flie away from the sworde of Titus and his souldiers as also from the sworde of the * Read Iosephus de bello Iud. Divided in the Citie why should he wish them to pray that these troubles might befall Iudea in the sommer rather than in the winter but that hee knewe that snowe and foule weather wold hinder the speedines of their flight Secondlie to cause our Saviour in DANIEL to giue foorth a limited yeare and then in the time of his fleshe to cut somewhat from that time even 12. yeares as some haue is to make Christ yea and nay which the Apostle PAVLE denieth 2. Corinth 1.19.20 as also a breaker of the Prophets which himselfe denieth Mat. 5.17
white Horse in the * Rev. 6.2 first seales opening namely vppon the worde of truth meeknes and righteousnes so shall hee returne for the perdition of the Antichristian body vpon the same worde or * Revel 19.11 c. white Horse issuing out of Heaven the Church then opening and the armies of faithfull issuing foorth with him for the destruction of the Gentiles the Beast the earthly Kings false Prophetes and Idolatrous marked People At the perimplishment whereof I look for the generall obedience of Israel prophecied plainely of by Isaiah 59.20 60. by Zechariah 12.10 c. by Paule Rom. 11.25.26 and the glory of their Church figured out plainlie Revel 21. compared with Isaiah 60. All which well waighed some may say Many things fore prophecied of and yet vnfulfilled are to fall out before that day therefore not like it is at hand I answere how things are effected abroad in the world I nor thou wholie vnderstand Secondly I feare that the multitude of the worlde will not perceiue these effects nor acknowledge the holy Church but rather arise with weapons to assist * Revel 20.7 c. Gog and Magog against the Church till fire come downe from heauen devoure them Thirdly the Apostle Peter not ignorant of the former prophecies did notwithstanding in his time crye out The day of the Lord is at hand 1. Epist 4.7 teaching vs so to fix our eye on this great day as no numbers of yeares foregoing may be deemed a day in comparison of that eternitie of time that then beginneth This Time finite and endable that infinite and without end as to the elect saved so to the reprobate damned as also to stirre vs vp to account of Time as God accompteth time that is future time to be present before our eies the glasse of time runne the Iudge at the doore and therefore accordingly to prepare our selues to judgment This necessarilie by the way now to the vse of the doctrine Will the day of the Lord come as a theefe even then when all the inhabitants of the earth shall no more discerne the time then did Sodome Gomorrha Zeboim Admah the fire and sulphure rained downe vppon them Oh how had wee neede to watch and * Luk. 21.34 to take heede to our selues as our Saviour admonisheth lest at any time our hearts be oppressed with surfeting drunkennes and cares of this life lest that day come vpon vs vnawares how had we need to watch and pray continuallie that wee may bee compted worthie to escape al these things that then shall come to passe and that wee may stand before the Sonne of man If a servant knew that his Lord at such a time would come he would happelie within that time orderly dispose of all things but alasse we are ignorant of the time of our Lords repaire Sure we are he wil come but how sodainly we know not except even then when we least dreame of his comming If any man say tush tush the day of the Lord is not neere I answere but thou knows that thy day is neere Admit the Great day be farre of yet thy death-day is not farre off What lease hast thou of thy life but till to morrowe and when thou art dead all the world is dead with thee As thou falls so receiues thy soule judgment Haue thou bene never so righteous if thou be cut downe in sinne vnrepented off * Ezech. 18. all thy former righteousnes shall be forgotten thou shalt vntill the greate day of the Lord be chained in the prison of horrour where the vnfaithfull and disobedient to * 1. Pet. 3.19 Noahs preaching are stil pent in that general doome the body shall be vnited with his soul and as they sinned togeather so liue a never dying death togeather Let not the Devill therefore sounde in thine cares the day of the Lord is nor neere wherein all souls shall be judged considering there is a day neere wherein thy soule shall be judged Death may as suddenly arrest thee vnto this particular doome or Fore-session as fire shall sommon the whole world vnto that generall Assises and Iudgment He that now saith Heart be at rest may by and by heare Oh Ideot this night they shall take away thy soule When Noah preached the end of all flesh they eat drank married builded planted sported out the daye and slept out the night but then even then the Cataracts of Heaven burst open and the waters belowe mounted aboue their bounds swelling till they overpeered the highest mountaines suffocated all flesh excepting them in Noahs Arke when with the fat franked Boare and rainging Heifer they deemed themselues most happy even then they became haples and accursed With the faithfull Sorrowe is ouer night and ioy in the morning but with the prophane and vnbeleever Ioye is ouer night and sorrowe in the morning Feare feare tremble then oh thou Earthworme who savours nothing but earth and dust as doth the serpent who was appointed to * Gen. 3.14 glide on the earth and to feede on dust Salomon knew it a * Prou. 28.14 blessed thing alwaies to feare and art thou wiser in thinking thy self blessed living fearelesse As the lightening flashing sodainely from East to west so shall the comming of the Son of man be Outward conjectures may bee drawne of his neere approching as is Faith liuely hard to bee founde Coldnes of loue vnnaturalitie c. but the period of time be it day moneth yeare as vncertaine as is the day moneth yeare of the theeues assailment vnto the housholder Ephes 6. As wise housnolders therefore haue we alwaies ready the helmet of Saluation not of Damnation the brestplate of Righteousnes not of Iniustice the girdle of Truth not of Falshood the sheild of Faith not of Vnbeliefe the sword of the Spirite not of the Flesh shooes prepared to carrie vs to Vtter forth and to heare the Gospell of peace not to carrie vs from vttering and hearing he peaceable Gospell and aboue all other things let vs Alwaies pray that come the Day generall or particular wee may be founde well exercised that when the wicked shal yell and roare and crie out to the mountaines to cover them then wee may with comfort lift vp our heades because that is the daye of our Redemption But because the Apostle wel knew that the bare and naked saying The day of the Lord will come sodainlie wold smallie availe to rowse vp persons addicted vnto the things of the worlde hee in the next place joineth with his comming such an effect as happilie may cause churlish Nabal to tremble The Heauens saith hee shall passe away with an hissing noise the Elements shall loose with heate and the Earth vvith the works therein shall be burnt vp Heere sed pace Doctorum dixerim by Heauens I vnderstand the celestiall globes of the seaven planeticall or wandering Starres together with the firmamentall sphere and first Moouer as
the glory of God encompasseth them and not only that but they are filled with glorie and are made * 1. Ioh. 3.2 like vnto Christ in qualitie though not in quantitie seeing him as he is a glory beyond the conceit of man And therefore oh my soule here glut thee and be thou ravished in the spirite as was IOHN in Paetmos and bee content to contemplate that which neither thy hand can set down thy tongue vtter nor yet thy self look towards vntill thy flesh by strength of Gods spirit be humbled to the Earth ly as dead for giving further scope vnto the inner man Neither hauing contemplated profoundlie in the spirit shall thou attaine to the least period or jod of that glory a glory beyond the glittering shine of the Sun Moone starres for this must be endles as Christ himselfe is endles But vnto the goatish multitude and hypocriticall tares he shall say I vvas an hungred and ye gaue me no meate I thirsted and ye gaue me no drink I vvas a stranger and ye lodged me not naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison but ye visited me not But as willing to cover their vnworking faith they shal say When did we see thee and not releeue thee The judge shall answere Verely I say vnto you in as much as yee did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me Depart therefore from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Herevpon the Devils all workers of iniquitie shall go into everlasting paine as the former into life everlasting Oh the horrible noise and roarings of devils and men at this departure to the bottomles pit where the worme worse than a snake or viper shall gnawe every of them to the death yet not die The Lord his flayle and whippe of Scorpions shall nowe bruise and lashe them more fiercely then doth Iehouahs flayl the Heathen in the valley of Iehoshaphat for the first is but a part but this the fulnes of his wrath But as the shritchings howlings of the latter shall be immeasurable so the Singings of the former togeather with the glorious Angels shall be vnspeakable heavenly even a melody vnmatchable The Devil departeth with his mysticall black body and hellish corporation Christ ariseth togither with his glorious and mysticall body * 1. Cor. 15.24.28 nowe all his adversaries trampled vnder his feete and delivereth vp the kingdome to God the Father hee and his body thence standing subject vnto him that did subdue all things vnder him that God may be all in all First God and Christ is all one secondly Christ and the faithful are all one lastly the Father the Son and the Faithfull are all one according to our Sauiour his petition Iohn 17.20.21 c. And all this falleth out after an vnvtterable manner God first abasing himselfe by assuming our nature and lastly lifting vs vp vnspeakable high that so being like Christ wee may beholde the glory of the Father and bee one with God Neither thenceforth can the mysticall members of Christ fall away from their mysticall head more than Christ from his head the Father and the Father from himselfe Oh filthie flesh filthie lumpish flesh that savoureth not this mysticall Vnion glorious Com-vnion God as it were translated into man and man into God the Creator into a creature and the creature into the Creator Dy dy oh my flesh and be thou more and more vivified oh my spirit that I may be lifted vp beyond my selfe to see my selfe greater than my selfe Oh miserable wretch I am to sin against this God mercifull God that by his vncompassable wisedome hath provided that I a base worme should become one with God Oh my beloved brethren and sisters of England as also oh yee people of other Nations Considering all these things not onely the consumption of all by fire but especially the Accepting and Reiecting of soules immediatlie after vvhat maner of persons say I with Peter ought ye to be in holy conversation and godlines If the corruptible Heavens elements earth the works therein shal be vnable in their corruptible estate to apeare before that great and incorruptible Iudge how had ye neede while it is called To day to cast aside all filthinesse and superfluitie of wickednes that so you may with boldnes stand before that white Throne as though the Apostle woulde say do not your Consciences beare witnes that ye had neede to liue in pure conuersation and godlinesse and if your consciences do testifie that much puritie and holinesse is required at the handes of those that shal come before that Iudge then lest your owne consciences doe condemne you in that great day do labour more in holines of conversation towards man as also that such outward conversation may proceede from an heart inwardly affected with godlines The Apostle taking it for graunted that every mans conscience will make such answer to his demaund doth secretly even in the same demaund exhort vnto holy conuersation and godlines In deede no exhortation can in better time be vrged then when the conscience is convicted And oh thou Atheist whosoeuer thou be tel me if these things somtimes lye not at the doore of thy conscience as did * Genes 4.7 Cains sin at his door and giue thee a twitch bloody nip snarling at the banket of thy sinne as a Dogge vnder the table Oh thou Atheist that corroding of thy Conscience wil prooue the sculpture and ingrauement of thy sin in thy soule that so it may be visible to the eies of al the world in the great generall doome Awake therefore oh Atheist and all ye lovers of iniquitie and * Heb. 12.14 followe holines vvithout vvhich no man shall see the Lord. See him without holinesse they may as Satan the sheepherd of hell and his goats shall see him namely a fearefull and terrible Iudge every word of whose mouth shall wounde them as an envenomed arrowe but see the Lord to their comfort as shall lovers of holines they never snall and therefore as our Saviour saith * Matth. 5.8 The pure in heart are blessed for they shall see God as for the impure hearted they by the nature of contraries are accursed for they shall see the Devill Be not deceived God will not bee mocked as thou sowes thou shalt reape If thou reply Though I liue in vncleannesse Idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennes gluttonie and such like yet I hope to be saved I answer and not I but PAVL They which do such things shall not inherite the kingdome of God Gal. 5.21 Christ will present man before his Father as he presented himselfe but * Heb. 9.14 hee presented himselfe without falt therefore he wil present man without falt If thou saiest I hope he will present me as a sonne to God Iohn maketh this answer
* 1. Iohn 3.3 Every man that hath this Hope purifieth himselfe even as hee is pure Purgation goeth before salvation the putting off of the old Adam with his deceiueable lustes before the newe Adam can be put on with his holines and righteousnes before Christ can exalt thee Moses must humble thee before that Christs works be imputed thine thou must forsake the works that are thine before God adopt thee his Son thou must disclame the devill the father of thy corrupt nature and if thou wilt haue Christ to be thy King thou must covenant holy obedience due to that King The Heavens are pure in comparison of thee yet the Heavenly Spheres and glittering Starres must giue place to the brightnesse of his Throne howe much more must thy damnable corruption be cast awaye except thou togither with thy corruption will be for ever cast away Come wee but before an earthlie King Queene Lord oh howe we will trick vp our attire make bright our countenance and study to place our wordes in order and all this why do we because forsooth wee must come before a noble man a noble woman But howe prepare we for meeting of the Lord of Lords in the clowds who shall come with the * 1. Cor. 15 52. Matth. 24. sound of a Trumpet his Angels marching before to gather togither his Elect from one wind vnto another how are wee fitted with spirituall garments shall wee be clad with the workes of darknes with what face wil we look him in the face harlots faces theeuish faces murdering faces faces puft vppe with pride these will not serue the turne With what words will we greet the judge of all the world He saith we shal giue an accompt of all our * Mat. 12.36 Idle vvords and dare wee meete him with vnsavourie speaches and rotten words Away away with such care to please men and in the meane time carelesse to please God careles how Christ find vs occupied careles how to come before his judgement seate The Heavens shall giue place but man will stand still in the way of sinners the Elements shall melt but mans heart will not melte more than an Adamant the earth shal willinglie permit the fire to consume his corruption but man will not let the fire of God his spirite burne vp and consume his corrupt nature and vnprofitable lustes The Devils at the rememberance of this great day doe tremble but man can heare of the Great day the Fire of that day the iudgment of that day and never be stirred in his soul Oh miserable man and ten times more stupid than any creature striue and contend to feare before the Iudge of al the Earth studying holines and righteousnes without which thou shalt never see God Let now at last thy stony heart gush out teares as the Israelites * Nomb. 20 10.11 Rock gushed out waters bath thy soul in them contrite teares as in another Baptisme and rise vppe from thy earthly waies as * Act. 9. Saul smit downe rose from the Earth and hereafter shaking the scales of naturall blindnes from thy eies go and learne to be holy as our head is holy that so thou * 2. Pet. 3.14 maiest be found of him in Peace without spot and blameles Mount Sinaj vpon the promulgation of the holy law was al on smoke the smoke ascending as the smoke of a fornace and the mountaine trembled exceedingly but in this great daye of the Lord all the mountaines of the world all vallies high thinges lowe things shall not onely smoke but frye in a consuming flame The Israelites trembled at the first and shall not wee tremble at the second The Israelites durst not approch Sinaj before they were * Exo. 19.14 sanctified by Moses and dare we approach the great day of doome what time the breach of the Law shal be punished in the lake of scortching brimstone and vnquenchable fire before we be sanctified by Christ Iesus They durst not come neere the Hill with vnwashen clothes but wee think to stand before Christ his pure throne of Iudgment and that with vnwashen hands vnwashen hearts where as no one shall appeare without confusion of face that first haue not * Rev. 7.14 made their Robes vvhite in the blood of the Lamb. I say not in his owne workes but â— say againe in the blood of the Lambe Blessed therefore is he that watcheth and keepeth his spirituall garments least at his sodaine comming he walk naked and men ey and Angels see his filthines If thou shame not now at vnholy conversation and vngodlines in that great daye an hellish shame shall cover thy face and horrour of conscience shall confound thee If the Devill shal not then claime thee for his own do here shake of his livery cote of vnholines and teare of his cognizance of vngodlines but if thou here will carrie his vnholy brand in thy fore-heade hand and hart then togither with thy black Lord exspect to be committed to the * Rev. 21.8 Lake vvhich burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death In that great day wicked Cain and his Citie Nimrod his bloodhounds wicked Saule and his desperate Iaueling Balaam and his bribe the Vsurer and his money-bagges shal be parted Theuish Achan and his wedg of golde shal be sundred the harlot and whore divorced The murderer and his bilbow-blade the Idolater his shryne the dronken Nabal and his tipling cup the Merchant and his false measure the Courtier and his softe raiment Nebuchadnezzer and his pallatial prospects the Glutton and his belching banquet the mad dauncer and his instrument in that great daye they shall shake hands and never meet more Seing all which and more terrible than that must and shall bee effected what manner of persons shoulde Kings and Queenes be what maner of persons had rich men need to be what maner of persons had Prophets neede to be what maner of men and weomen had wee all neede to be in holines of conversation and godlines That when Cain shall roare for his murder C ham for not covering his fathers nakednes Esau for his mispent time scorning sacramentall signes Saul for his persecution the false Prophet for preaching Peace to men when men were not at peace with God Shechem for his defiling Dinah Alexander the Copper-smith for resisting Paul That when Demas shall wring his handes for departing from preaching the Gospell to liue as a Farmer and grazier that when proude Diotrephes shall curse himselfe for pratling and playing the busy-body against the Saintes to the end that then we may boldly hold vp our heads in the testimonie of a good conscience let vs nowe so liue as wee may not feare presently to die Let vs nowe study so to die as wee may not feare presently to make appearance before that glorious Iudge and al the glorious Armie of Heaven So liued not the earthly minded Prophet who in the testimonie of a bad conscience cryed Nomb. 23.10 Oh that I might die the death of the Righteous and that my last end might be like his But so lived the humble poor Apostle who in the testimonie of a good conscience cryed I desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ So lived good Simeon who could say Lord now thou lettest thy servant depart in peace And so must every professor of Christ liue as when hee heareth Christ say * Reu. 22.20 Surely I come quickly he with longing soule may answere Amen even so Come Lord Iesus Amen Sic vivamus á¼Î½ Ï„á¿· κοσμω Vt ne simus á¼Îº τοῦ κοσμοῦ Amen