rather when belly-cheere and drunkennesse is more in vse among vs that are named Christians then euer among those heathen people which onely serued their God Bacchus O beastly drunkards what meane you to runne into this excesse riot of drunkennesse without all mean or measure as now you do endeuouring to excel the drunkards and tossepots of all ages In olde time it was said They that are drunken are drunken in the night for then they were ashamed to be seene druÌ„ken in the day But now it seemeth our drunkards are ashamed of themselues if they be not drunken once with the least euery day Drunkards delight to make more drunkards nay they content not themselues with their owne drunkennes but take great pleasure and delight to make other drunke also as is too apparant by their carrowsing and quaffing health to him and health to her and yet no health nor wealth to any of them present or absent Saint Paule telleth thee howe thou shouldest vse thy needye brother though thine enemie If he bee hungry saith he feede him if he bee a thirst Rom. 12.20 giue 〈◊〉 drinke but thou wilt make thy friend â—rinke before he be thirstie and of a â—riend make him many time before hee â—epart thy mortall foe for how many â—ayes and fightings doe we see dayly to rise of these vnhealthful quaffings then â—hat belching of blasphemies and vnâ—aturall murthers follow after and in a worde what sinne is there that doth not â—ccompanie drunkennesse This sinâ—ull custome of quaffing by measure or â—ather aboue measure was not allowed â—n the Court of that great king Ahashueosh no not in the time of his feasting Hester 1. â—â— out rather a lawe by the kinges owne mouth made against it would God some â—aw or other were made to restraine this â—o great licenciousnesse or beastlinesse Vnlawfull drinking forbidden or hereby men are made worse then beasts bring a horse to water and hee will drinke no more then pleaseth him â—or is sufficient but if a drunkarde once come where there is either Ale or Wine â—e is neuer satisfied nay hee will enforce others to doe as he doth so long as eyâ—her of them can stand in the place It is reported that Diogines fel in comanie once with such toslepot companions and when hee was quaffed vnto in wine hee cast it on the ground saying better one then two meaning the wine perish alone then he should haue perished with it Now let the Drunkards heare what iudgement the Prophet Habakkuk pronounceth against them when he sayth Wo vnto thee that giuest thy neighbour drinke meaning in the maner aforesaide and makest him drunken also Habac. 2.15.16 that thou mayst see hiâ— priuities Thou shalt bee filled with shame foâ— glory drinke thou also and be made naked thâ— cup of the Lords right hand shall be turned vntâ— thee and shamefull spuings shall bee for thâ— glorie Againe Pro. 23.29 To whom is woe sayth the Wife dome of God To whom is sorrow Tâ— whom is strife To whom is murmuring Tâ— whom are wounds without cause The fruit of drunkennesse Euen to theâ— that tarry long at the wine and to them that see mixt wine Therefore giueth withall thiâ— counsell Looke not thou vpon the wine hoâ— pleasant it is In the ende thereof it will bite like 〈◊〉 Serpent and hurt like a Cockatrice Then sheweth the feate of drunkennesse Thiâ— eyes shall looke vpon straunge women and thiâ— heart shall speake lewd things Therefore it is not without greaâ— cause that our Sauiour forewarning vs of the ende of the worlde counselleth vs aboue all things to take heede of surfetting and drunkennesse and in another place noting the disorders of the vnfaithful seruant at his coÌ„ming to iudgement sayeth Math. 24.49 That hee will eate and drinke with the drunken For which cause I verily suppose that this vnmeasurable drunkennesse of our age is a manifest token that the ende of the world is at hand And it is to be noted that saint Peter taketh the occasion of giuing this watch worde The end of all things is at hand Vpon this that he had said 1. Pet. 4. â— It is sufficient that we haue spent the time past of our life after the lawes of the Gentiles walking in wantonnesse lustes drunkennesse in gluttonie and drinkings doubling as we see this worde drunkennesse then by and by noteth that if it seemeth straunge to these wicked drunkards and vngodly persons if any bee drawne by the preaching of the Gospel from running into the same excesse of riot with theÌ„ But that the godly might not be discouraged he sayth that these drunkards and vngodly persons shall one day giue account Verse 5. to him that is readie to iudge quick and dead of which iudge and iudgement we wil now God willing proceede to speeke of more particularly in the Chapters following first prouing that there shall bee such a day of iudgement and a finall ende of all mortall things The second Chapter FOr the confirmation of this point being a chiefe Article of the Christian faith true Christians I know deferre the plaine and euident testimonies of Scripture howsoeuer the Atheists Epicures deride all scripture Let vs therefore begin our proofe with that ancient prophesie of holy Enoch noch gaue testimonie of the end of the world who liued before the flond and is reported of to haue pleased God and therfore God tooke him away vnto him selfe as it were in the midst of his dayes in respect of them that liued before and after him when he had liued three hundred sixtie and fiue yeares This Enoch the seuenth from Adam sayth saint Iude the Apostle prophesied saying Iude. 14. Behold the Lord commeth with thousands of his Saints to giue iudgement against all men to rebuke all their vngodly among them of all the wicked deedes which they haue vngodly committed and of all their cruell speaking which wicked sinners haue spoken against him This plaine and euident testimonie of the day of iudgement reuealed vnto so holy a Prophet and Patriarke as Henoch was in the first age of the world and before the flood God would not haue to be buried in forgetfulnesse though many other of Enochs prophesies as it is thought be lost Some of Enochs writings lost Therefore by his holy spirit inspired the minde of Iude the Apostle to record the same in holy writ and the same hath beene taken and accounted in the Church of God for most authenticall and Canonicall Scripture and shall so continue in credite among all the faithfull vntill the ende of the world Besides this same prophesie of Enoch the Patriarch is strongly confirmed vnto vs by the Prophets Apostles and by Christ himselfe so that no man maye doubt the certaintie thereof without great impietie How fitly doth that saying of Salomon in the last of Ecclesiastes Eccle. 1â— â—3 agree with the former prophesies as wel almost in word as
thy selfe the Lord is not slacke in â—omming as thou countest slackenes but tarrieth patiently yet a verye little while expecteth thy repentance take heede therfore that thou doe not according to the hardnes of thine heart which cannot repent heape vnto thy selfe wrath Rom. 2.5 against this great day of wrath and declaration of the iust iudgement of God So much briefly touching the error of the open Atheist and saint Peters reply thereunto Now the error of the secure or vnrighteous steward The securitie of the vnrighteous Stewards though it bee very dangerous yet it is not altogither so impious One saith that there shall be no iudgement the other saith My master will deferre his comming vnto iudgement for so saith the vniust steward Surely my master wil deferre his comming and thereupon he giueth himselfe licence to sinne and to liue securely in this world So then the cause of so great securitie as is now in the worlde euen of such as voluntarily confesse and acknowledge Iesus Christ to bee their maister euen in those whome hee hath reposed great trust and committed many talents vnto their credite and gouernance yea many such as hee hath made ruler ouer his wholehouse not only to keep good rule themselues but also to keep many other in good order I say the cause of all this security in theÌ„ is noted in this one word surely my Master will deferre his comming against which sinne of securitie our sauiour himselfe doth inueigh most sharpely saying Math. 24.15 Who is a faithfull seruant and wise whom his Maister hath made ruler ouer his houshold to giue them meat in season Blessed is that seruant whom his maister when he commeth shall find so doing verily I say vnto you he spall make him ruler ouer all his goodes But if that euill seruaut shall say in his heart my maister doth deferre his comming and begin to smite his fellowes and to eat and to drinke with the drunken that seruants master will come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an houre that hee is not ware of and will cut him of and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Vpon these wordes then of our sauiour Christ I may well conclude this generall affertion that there is no securitie in this world and that they who other they be that liue securely liue most dangerously without speedie repentance are like to be onertaken in their sinnes and hereafter to be punished eternally The second generall obseruation is that as there is no time of securitie in this world by reason wee are to expect the end thereof euery day so is there nothing in this world that can secure vs No earthly thing that can secure vs. because euery thing shal haue an end as the Apostle saith The end of all things is at hand No trust then or confidence to bee set then in any worldly thing Sampsons strength Croesus riches Solomons glorie Absolons beautie all must vanish away friendes though neuer so mightie wise men though neuer so politique valiant men though neuer so frolicke cannot secure vs no not a moment of time Oh that in time then we would learne to bee wise and put no confidence in transitorie things Ier. 9.23.24 that we would folow the counsell of the Prophet Ieremie Let not the wise man glorie in his wisdome nor the strong man glorie in his strength neither the rich man glorie in their riches but let him that glorieth glorie in this that he vnderstandeth and know me saith the Lord for I am he that sheweth mercie iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth Hence is it that saint Paule concludeth 1. Cor. 1.31 Let him that glorieth glorie in the Lord and he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall neuer bee confounded Therefore the Psalmist truly sayth Psal 118. It is better to trust in the Lord then to put any confidence in man it is better to trust in the Lord then to put any confidence in Princes He that â—rusteth in God hath â— sure refuge And if the Lord be angry yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him On the contrary the scripture saith of the wicked that liue die in their sins or else shall liue wickedly till the day of iudgement come vpon them that they shall say to the mountaines and rockes Fall on vs Reuel 6.16 and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand So that this is the briefe conclusion of the second obseruation that nothing in this life or in this world may or can secure or keepe vs from the daunger of that great day of which saint Peter forewarneth vs but onely our trust and confidence in God which the faithfull haue in him by the meanes of Christ See then how much we are beholding to saint Peter for giuing vs this Watchword The ende of all things is at hand No time of daliance in this world Whereby wee are taught that there is no time of daliance nor any place left vs to bee secure in this world alwayes we must watch and pray because wee know not what houre the sonne of man will come Math. 24.36 as Christ himselfe sayth Of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels of heaueÌ„ but as the dayes of Noah were so likewise shall the comming of the sonne of man bee for as in the dayes before the floud they did eate and drinke marrie and gaue in marriage vnto the dayes that Noah entred into thee Arke and knew nothing vntill the floud came and tooke them all away so shall also the comming of the sonne of man be Watch therfore saith our Sauiour Christ for yee know not what houre your maister will come Of this bee sure if the good man of the cause knewe at what watch the theefe woulde come he would surely watch 〈…〉 therefoâ—â— we muâ—â— looke for him euery day Luke 21.34 and not suffer his house to be digged through Therefore be ye also readie for in the houre ye thinke not will the sonne of man come For the same cause is it that Christ giueth vs this great caueat Take heede to your selues least at any time your hearts bee oppressed with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life least that day come vpon you at vnwares For as a snare shall it come vpon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth watch therfore and pray continually that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that ye may stand before the sonne of man But oh good God how is this caueat of Christ forgotten in this age of ours When the care of this life and the desire of gaine haue almost choaked all godlinesse or
in sense Heare the ende of all feare God and keepe his commaundements which is the whole dutie of man for God will bring euerie worke vnto iudgement with euery secreate thing whether it be good or bad that is to the ende the good and godly may bee approued and rewarded the wicked and vngodly reproued and condemned Saint Paule the great Doctor of vs Gentiles 2. Cor. 5.10 vseth almost the same wordes saying None shall escape Gods iudgement We must all appeare before the tribunall or iudgement seate of Christ that euery one may receyue the things that are done in this life whether it be good or euill And in an other place reprouing the hastie and rash iudgement of some hee saith Rom. 14.10 Why dost thou iudge thy brother Meaning rashly or before the time or why dost thou despise thy brother Meaning in doing thinges that are indifferent presently he addeth Wee shall all appeare shortly before the iudgement seat of Christ where euerie one shall receiue a righteous iudge-ment And he also confirmeth his testimony out of the prophesie of Esay where it is written Esay 45.23 I liue saith the Lord and euery knee shall bow to me Meaning when hee commeth vnto iudgement for nowe many knees bow vnto Baal and many other Idols and all tongues euen the wicked shall confesse that is shall acknowledge Gods righteous iudgements And then the Apostle concludeth that euery one of vs shal giue accouÌ„t of himself to God And seeing the Apostle doth alledge this former testimonie of the Prophet Esay to proue the iudgement to come we may here adde another proofe out of the same Prophet where it is sayd Esay 6 Behold the Lord will come with fire and with Chariots like a whirlewinde that he may recompence his anger with wrath and his indignation with flames of fire Hereunto agreeth that euident place of Saint Peter where purposely hee speaketh entreateth at large of this generall iudgemeÌ„t saying The day of the Lord will come as a Theefe in the night 2. Pet. in the which day the heauens shall passe away with a noyse the element shall melt with heate and the earth with the workes that are therein shall be burnt vp And a little before the same Apostle saith The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of temptation and to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement to be punished The Prophet Ioel also speaketh of this great and fearefull iudgement 〈…〉 31. when hee saith The Sunne shall be turned into darkenes and the Moone into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord come The Prophet Malachy likewise as al the rest of the Prophets doe 〈…〉 4.1 which would be tedious to reherse speaketh of this great and feareful day of the Lord. Behold saith he the day commeth that shall burne like an Ouen and all the proude and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and that day that commeth shall burne them vp saith the Lord of hostes And the Prophet Dauid euerie where maketh mention of this iudgement 〈…〉 1. The God of Gods euen the Lord hath spoken Then he sayth Our God shall come and shall not keepe silence a fire shall deuoure before him and a mightie tempest shall bee moued round about him he shall call the heauen aboue and the earth to iudge his people Againe Say among the Nations the Lord raigneth he shall iudge the people in righteousnes Let the heauens reioyce and let the earth be glad before the Lord for hee commeth to iudge the earth he will iudge the world with righteousnes and the people with his truth And not onely haue the Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles remembred vnto vs this great and dreadfull day of iudgement but euen Christ Iesus the iudge himself hath beene most carefull to forewarne vs of this day knowing how carelesse and retchlesse the world would bee in this last and doting age of the worlde insomuch that when the Sunne of man commeth he shal scarce find faith on the earth iniquitie shal be encreased and the loue that should bee betweene man and man waxing cold In the foure twentieth and fiue and twentieth of Mathew Math. 2â— 25. in the thirteenth of Marke in the seuenteenth and one and twentieth of Luke and in diuers other places in the Gospel doe the euangelists record vnto vs the speeches and admonitions which our sauiour vseth touching his second comming vnto iudgement vnto which places for breuities sake I referre the Readers for this time the rather for that I shall haue occasion hereafter to note the chiefest of them when I shal speake of the maner of this iudgement and of the preparation which the faithfull ought to make against that day These few testimonies alreadie alledged are abundant proose vnto the faythfull and godly And therefore I may here say vnto any one that shal read this chapter 〈…〉 restâ—â—◠〈…〉 the 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 as a good writer saith speaking of the beginning of the worlde and the creation thereof Si credis satis tibi dictum est si non credis nihil tibi satis faciet If thou be a faithfull beleeuer there is inough spoken to satisfie thee if thou be an Infidel or an Atheist nothing will satisfie or content thee yet that the vngodliest Athiest may bee the more inexcusable if hee shall happen to reade this Booke it shall not grieue mee to adde some oher authorities and reasons fitting this mater we haue in hand not that any thing that can bee spoken can adde any weight to the proofes alreadie alledged out of the Scriptures but only to fight with the wicked â—â—â—ing â—dde â—oâ—itie 〈◊〉 scripâ—â—â—â— and to wound them as it were with their owne weapons who euery where builde vp their fortresses of reason and dispise or neglect he word of God which is able to throw down the strongest holdes and ought to bring into captiuitie all the thoughts and imaginations of man Wherefore if the wandring thoughts of the wicked Athiests wil not yeeld conâ—â—nt vnto this truth what reason haue â—â—â—y to gain-say it Surely none other but bare denials and because they woulde willingly not haue any iudgmeÌ„t though their consciences summon theÌ„ to iudgement euery day therefore they willingly cheerish and maintain this opinion that there shall be none at all And why maruell we at this seeing they sticke not to denie that there is a God that the soule is immortall that there shal be any resurrection from the dead and therefore no iudgement to bee looked for that the world had any beginning and therefore shal neuer haue ending This proceedeth wel inough for indeed to denie one One absuâ—ditie draâ—â— on anotâ—â—â— is to denie all as to grant one is to graunt all graunt the first that their is no God and all the rest follow of necessitie And why I beseech you doe they not aswell denie that there is a sunne in the
haue written or spoken to the contrary as the Atheists and Epicures in olde time and our Epicuriall Atheists or Machiuilians in these latter â—aies haue belched out many blasphemies against the truth in this matter that â—aue beene without this feeling in their â—oÌ„sciences of the day of IudgemeÌ„t only by the iust iudgement of God that they might be the more hardned in their sins â—â—ey haue laboured with all their might rather to suppresse theÌ„ vtterly to quench the same which sting of conscience and fire of displeasure burning and tormenting their soules in this life are nothing else indeede but onely a taste and beginning of those endelesse torments which their bodies and soules shal at the last day be adiudged to endure in the life to come for euermore in the bottomelesse pit of hell Where their worme or sting of conscience shall neuer die and the fier neuer be quenched Why then should we spend more time or words or yeeld any more reasons or authorities prophane or diuine to proue vnto them that there shall be a daie of Iudgement and an ende of all mortall thinges seeing they that would must gaine say it speake not onely against all reason and authoritie but euen in a sorâ— against their owne knowledg and consciences As for the godly and faithfull the confesse the same dayly in the Articles 〈◊〉 their faith And if there be any other aâ—â— no doubt there be some that neitheâ— with the Saduces deny the resurrection 〈◊〉 the dead nor with the Atheists denâ— that there shall be a generall day 〈◊〉 Iudgment but onely stand in doubt wanering in their minds and maruailing how these things shall come to passe Let them attend diligently vnto these wordes of Christ who saith thus vnto them Ioh. 5.28.29 Maruaile not at this for the day houre shal come in the which all that are in their graues shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God And they shall come foorth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of Iudgement or condemnation And so much for proofe that there shall be a generall Iudgement and therewithall an ende of all mortall miseries Now let vs proceede to the Chapter following which sheweth how this day of Iudgement is vsually called in the Scriptures and what profit we may reap thereby The third Chapter TOuching that point let vs first see how the day of Iudgement is noted vnto vs by Saint Peter himselfe whose Watch-word hath caused vs to wade thus farre in this matter In the third Chapter of his second Epistle 2. Pet. 3.12 Stay of Iudgement called the day of God Saint Peter calleth the day of Iudgement the day of God and though it may be said that euery day is Gods day because he made all daies yet the day of Iudgement more peculiarly then other daies may rightly be called the day of God and that for diuers causes First for that God hath kept that day secret to himselfe and hath not reuealed the same either to men or Angels no not to the Sonne of man as he is onely man though he be head and Lord of Angels next it may be called the day of God because vpon that day the most mightie power and maiestie of that great God Iehouah shall be made more manifest to the world then euer before both in rewarding of the good and punishing of the wicked Then shall that saying of the Psalmâ—st be proued true in the sight of men and Angels Psal 58.11 Verily there is a reward for the righteous there is a God that Iudgeth the earth Moreouer it may well be called the day of God for when God hath iudged the world by Iesus Christ then shal Christ Iesus deliuer vp the kingdome to God his Father and God shal be all in all then shall El Elohim Iehouah as the Prophet Dauid describeth him in the 50. Psalme Psal 50. The God of Gods the euerlasting God God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost be seene worshipped of men Angels in the excellencie of their glory the sight and knowledge of whose glory shall be the full ioy and contentation of Gods elect as it is said in the sixteene Psalme Psal 16. vlâ— In Gods presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at his right hand there are pleasures for euermore Now Saint Peter doth not onely call the day of Iudgement the day of God Day of Iudgement called the day of the Lord. 2. Pet 3.10 but in the same Chapter calleth it also the day of the Lord meaning no doubt the Lord Iesus who shall iudge vs all And Saint Paule speaketh of the same matter vseth both wordes in the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians 2. Thess 1.8 saying The Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from heauen in flaming fire And in the second of the Acts Saint Peter reporteth the saying of the prophet Ioel calling the day of Iudgement Ioel. 2.23 The great and notable day of the Lord. Now he calleth that day the day of the Lord because vpon that day the Lord Christ shall shew himselfe to be Lord of Lords and King of Kings and he calleth it great and notable both in respect of the great glory of the Iudge as also in regard of the notable things that shal come to passe vpon that day for then the Sun shall be darkened the Moone shall loose her light and the Starres shall fall from heauen yea heauen it selfe shall passe away with a noyce as Peter also saith the Elements shall melt with heate and the earth with the works that are therin shall be burnt vp Then shall the sound of the Trumpet be heard the worlde throughout to waken them that are in their graues Then shall all they that are dead heare the voyce of the son of God Then shall all the great Monarches and princes of the world together with all their vassals and subiects appeare naked before the person of this great Iudge then shall the deuils and all damned spirits roare and cry then shall all the wicked tremble and quake for feare and shall say to the hils and mountaines fall vpon vs and hide vs from him that sitteth on the throne and from the presence of the Lambe for that great day of his wrath is come and who may abide it therefore rightly may this day be called the great and notable day of the Lord. Moreouer Day of Iudgemenâ— called a daâ— of refreshing Acts 3.19 the day of iudgement is called by Saint Peter in the third of the Actes the day or time of cooling or refreshing because vpon that day all the children that haue any way beene afflicted in this life shall be comforted and refreshed especially those which haue beene scorched with the heate of persecution for Christ his sake they shall be cooled and aboue all measure cheared comforted and refreshed They shall hunger no
sooner was our Sauiour Christ ascending or ascended into heauen but presently the Angels of God proclaime hiâ— descent or descending vnto Iudgement Saying Acts. 1.11 ye men of Galilee speaking vnto Christs Apostles and Disciples Why stâ—â—â— ye gazing into heauen This Iesus which is tâ—ken from you into heauen shall so come meanâ— vnto Iudgement as yee haue seene him goeâ— to heaven Saint Paule in the fourth Chapter the second Epistle vnto Timothy plaiâ—ly affirmeth 2 Tim. 4.1 That Iesus Christ shall 〈◊〉 the quicke and the dead at his appearing in his kingdome And the same Apostle in the first of the second to the Thessalonians saith 2. Thes 7.8 that The Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from Heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fier rendring vengeance vnto them which doe not know God and obey not the Gospell of Iesus Christ In the Gospell euery where mention is made of the comming of the son of man vnto Iudgement as in the 24. and twentie fiue of Mathew the thirteene of Marke the seuenteene of Luke against all which it may be obiected that Christ himselfe saith Obiect Ioh. 8 1â— I came not to Iudge the world and againe I Iudge no man But the answere is easie Ans for Christ therein speaketh of rash priuate and partiall Iudgement whereof hee accuseth the Iewes In that manner Christ iudgeth no man but speaking elsewhere of this generall Iudgement He saith plainely Ioh. â— 23. That the Father Iudgeth no man but hath committed all Iudgement vnto the Sonne yeelding a reason Because all men should honour the Sonne as they honour the Father And that none might thinke this Iudgement to appertaine vnto him onely as he was the Sonne of God he addeth presently in the same Chapter â—se 27. That God hath giuen him power to execute Iudgement euen as he is the Sonne of man Againe it might be answered that Christ saith I Iudge no man before he was glorified when he came to be iudged and not to Iudge but after his resurrectioÌ„ he plainly telleth vs â—â—tth 28. that All power in heauen and in earth is giuen vnto him Wherefore Saint Paule saith in the second to the Romanes that God shall Iudge the secrets of all men but by Iesus Christ â—â—n 2.16 And elsewhere the Apostle saith when after Iudgement Christ hath brought all things in subiection vnder his feete then he shall deliuer vp the kingdome to God the Father â—or 15. But it may be againe obiected that the same Saint Paule saith to the Corinthians â—ct That the Saints shall iudge the world and the Angels â—â—r 6. that is the wicked men of this world and euill Angels called Diuels And Christ saith his Apostles shal sit vpon twelue seates Iudging the twelue Tribes of Israell Hereunto it may be answered that at the generall day of iudgment â—ns wheÌ„ Christ shall sit vpon the throne of his glory accompanyed with his holy Angels and all the elect by his Angels gathered vnto him then as well Saints as holy Angels shall Iudge that is subscribe and giue consent vnto Christ his most righteous Iudgement which then hee shall most iustly pronounce against all the reprobate both of men and Angels whereat all the Saints elect Angels shall greatly triumph and reioyce no otherwise then it is said in the Reuelation concerning the Iudgement that shall fall vpon the whore of Babilon Rom. 18.20 Reioyce O heauen and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath giuen iudgement vpon her So at the last generall Iudgement the holy Saints and Angels shall sing the song of Moyses the seruant of God Reu. 15.3 and the song of the Lambe saying Great and maruellous are thy works Lord God Almightie iust and true are thy waies and â—udgements King of Saints So here we may â—onclude according to the truth of Gods word euery where reuealed in the Scripâ—utes and agreeable with the Catholike â—rofession of the Church of God in all â—ges that Iesus Christ as he is both God â—nd man shall stand as holy Iob saith Iob. 19.25 The â—â—st vpon the earth and come to giue true â—â—dgement at the last day The vse of which doctrine is two fold namely a comfort to the godly and a terror to the wicked for what thing can bring more ioy and comfort to the harts of all godly and faithfull Christians specially to those that are afflicted in this life either in Soule or body oâ— in both for Christ his sake then tâ— heare and assuredly to be perswaded that Christ Iesus their Sauiour anâ— brother shall come to be their Iudge That is to pronounce them blamelessâ— through his owne obedience and righteousnesse in the sight of God his Father and to crowne them with eternal glory and not onely those as the Apostle teacheth that suffer persecution a the Apostle did but all the faithfâ—â— whatsoeuer that loue his appearing 2. Tim. 4.8 Be therefore of good comfort deaâ— Christian whosoeuer thou art that grâ—nest vnder the burthen of thy sinnâ— feare not that dredfull Iudgement 〈◊〉 if thou hast faith in Christ and dâ—truely repent then thou mayest affâ—â— thy selfe to be one of Gods elect Aâ—so apply that sweete sentence of tâ— Apostle vnto thy Soule which saiâ— Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that iustifieth Rom. 8.33 34. who shall condemne it is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe which sitteth at the right hand of God to make intercession for thee which also it may be added for thy further comfort shall come againe at the last day to giue sentence on thy side and to receaue thee vnto himselfe Contrariwise Let the wicked Infidels and all the vngodly ones of this world which either knowe not God or obey not the Gospell of Iesus Christ shake and quake for feare for euen he whom they deadly hate whose word they beleeue not whose Ministers they regard not yea euen he whose bloud they trampled vnder their feete He that was crucified vpon the crosse and had his hart bloud launced out with a Speare shall in his owne person come to be their Iudge according to that of the Apostle Iude. Iude. 〈◊〉 And Enoch also the seuenth from Adam prophesied of such Behold the Lord commeth with thousands of his Saints to giue Iudgement against all men c Reâ—◠〈◊〉 And euery eye shall see him euen they that pearced him through and all kindreds and people though neuer so pompious and glorious that haue not repented or beleeued in him shall waile before him 1 Reu. 1.7 And in the bitternesse of their griefe and in the anguish of their soules forhorror and feare of that Iudge shall say to the mountaines 〈◊〉 5.16 Fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presence of the Lambe for that great day of wrath is come and who may abide it And so much briefely
say they many hundred yeres gone that some haue spoken and written of the ende of the world and they that then spake or wrote of it made shew as though it had beene euen at hande but now wee plainly see there is no such matter they are meere deceiuers that haue told vs these things For euery thing continueth a little from the beginning of the creation and since our fathers died the Sunne Moone and planets in the Firmament the trees and Plants in the field men and beasts vpon the earth fishes in the water foules flying in the skies the sea ebbing flowing times and seasons continuing colde and heat Summer and Winter seedtime and haruest euerie thing as it was from the beginning of the creation therefore we will set our hearts at rest we will take our pleasures in this worlde Preaching to theÌ„ that perish foolish babling we will not beleeue the babbling of preachers that crie vpon vs stil of the end of the world we will eate and drinke and rise vp to play we wil quaffe carrowse lustily we wil drinke healths vntill we be sicke â—aggering â—earers we wil swagger sweare by the eternall Iesus and will leaue no sinne vmought for no not the sinne of Sâ—dome But stay there thon swaggerer by saying as thou sayest and doing as thou doest the prophesies both of Peter Paule are accomplished and the godly more assured then euer before that the end of all things is at hand Saint Paule he plainely painteth out these persons and pointeth out the time when they should come â— Tim. 3.7 saying This know that in the last daies that is in the latter times of this last age shall come perillous times for men shall be louers of their own selues couetous boasters proude cursed speakers disobedient to parents vnthankefull vnholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers These maâ—ers agree with our â—imes intemperat fierce no louers at al of them that are good traytors headie high minded louers of pleasures more then louers of God hauing a shew of godlinesse but haue denied the power thereof Saint Peter more precisely noteth these Atheists of whom we speake saying â— Pet. 3.3 this first vnderstand that there shall come in the last dayes mockers which will walke after their lusts and say where is the promise of his comming for sinc the fathers died all things continued alike from the beginning of the creation Now seeing all these things fore-spoken of both by Peter and Paul are in our dayes most truly accomplished wee may thereupon certainly conclude with saint Peter that The end of al things is at hand Yea verie neere at hand and may therefore boldly say with saint Paule the end euen the last ende of the world are come vpon vs But before wee ende this poynt wee must note the aunswere of saint Peter to these Atheists Saint Peâ— answere Atheists that measure the infinitenesse of Gods eternitie with their onely conceyt of time which time if it bee any thing it is the least of all thinges with God Therfore saint Peter saith borroweth it out of the Psalmist Psal 90. that one day with the Lord is as a thousand yeares and a thousand yeares as one day which is a full answere to this their question Where is the promise of his comming Now doth God promise and not performe God forbid God alwâ—â— as gooâ— his woâ—â— But say they it was promised long sithence fifteene hundred yeares gone that Christ would come verie shortly vnto iudgement and yet to this day hee is not come nay to our seeming hee is as farre of now as he was then therefore it is most likely hee will not come at all Saint Peter though he were no sophister presently findeth out this fallacie and shewes whence they deceiue themselues namely because they thinke that time passeth away as fast with God as it doth with man which is nothing so a thousand yeares with man is a long time with God but as one day why then was it promised fifteene hundred yeares gone that the worlde should shortly haue an ende All that time is with God but as one day and ahalfe day stay but one halfe day more and thou shalt be sure to see the accomplishment thereof So then they which iudge or weigh Gods euerlasting eternitie in the ballance of their temporall vanitie shewe plainly that they know not what eternitie and euerlastingnesse is â—ongtime â—â—th man â—â—asured Gods â—â—â—itie is â—â—y shorâ— for in eternity there is neither length nor shortnesse of time with God there is no time past neither any to come all things are with God in the present tense or time and in eternitie there is neither length nor shortnes of time Only of this fond conceit that Gods euerlasting prouidence is subiect to casualtie of time hath spruÌ„g these grosse errors and hath caused the curiositie of man to moue these and such like questions of vanitie Curious questionâ— as how coÌ„meth it to passe that God forbore so long time before hee made this worlde what did God before hee made this worlde and the like To which latter question one answereth verie pithely that afore God made this worlde for man to liue in hee made hell for such curious questionists to dwel in after this world is ended Againe they that demaund why God forbore so long time before hee made this world might as wel aske why it plea sed God to make this world or any time at all And the terming of any time long is in respect of the continuance of time to them onely that liue in time and not in respect of God that made time Put the cause that the world had lasted one hundred thousand yeares or if yee will ten hundred thousand yeares what shall ye gaine by that you will then say that the world had beene of the greater antiquitie but I demaund in respect of whoÌ„ of God or of thy selfe of eternitie or of time truly onely in respect of thy selfe and of time but not in respect of God or of eternitie one hundred thousande thousand yeares past with God is nothing and ten hundred thousand thousand years to come with God is nothing in respect of eternitie or euerlastingnesse and these distinctions of time and place were created and brought forth togither at one instant with the worlde so as they be neither without it nor before it â—â—e that is 〈◊〉 thout â—â—â—e made â—â—e he that is without time without place made both time and place and if he had beene subiect to time place as thou Atheist imaginest he could not haue made either time or place So then be fatisfied with this replie of the Apostle a thousand yeares with God is as one day one day as a thousand years Neuer demaunde this question more Where is the promise of Christs coÌ„ming for comming he will come â—â—b 10.37 and will not tary Assure
haue not knowne the way of the Lord. Last of all the remembrance of their glory in this world doth most of all torment them saying among themselues what hath the pride of this world profited vs or what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs all those things are passed away like a shadow Then it followeth for the hope of the vngodly is like the dust that is blowen away with the winde but the righteous shall liue for euer And all this is according to the righteous iudgement of God Psal 9.8 Who shall Iudge the world in righteousnesse and minister true iudgement vnto the people as Dauid speaketh in the 9. Psalme Hereupon then we conclude that God euen in this world in the vprightnesse of his Iustice doth deferre the Iudgement of the wicked at times and also suffers many times the godly to be most vniustly Iudged and wronged by the vngodly for causes left knowne to his wisedome of whose wronges he will surely be reuenged either in this world or in the world to come or in both Neither as a godly Father hath well noted doth God cease to shew continually tokens of his Iustice euen in this life lest any should thinke God were altogether vniust and had no regard how matters passed in this world On the contrary he doth not punish all the vngodly ones of this world at leastwise for all their vngodlinesse for then he should leaue nothing for the iudgement to come And withall it is to be noted that euen those Iudgements which God at any time doth execute vpon the godlesse in this world are but onely beginnings of their torments to come to the which they shall eternally be Iudged at the last day except they repeÌ„t And so much for that Saint Paule calleth the day of Iudgement a day of wrath a day of reuealing and a day of the righteous Iudgement of God I will not indeuour further to enlarge this Chapter by any curious searching of any other attributes or names wherby this day of Iudgement is noted vnto vs in the Scriptures whereof I know there are many other both in the olde and newe Testament for as much as I seeke not a multitude of examples to fill the page but onely fitte examples to confirme the godly and to strike a terror into the harts of the godlesse for their good if at least any thing may terrifie them Onely for the further comfort of the godly who with great patience must waite for the comming of their Master Let it not be forgotten that our Sauiour himselfe in the Gospell after he hath noted many fearefull signes that shall goe before and accompanie this great iudgement for the confounding of the wicked he addeth a most comfortable exhortation to al the godly bidding them to lift vp their heads and reioyce The day of iudgement called a day of redemption Luke 21.28 for that the day of their redemption is at hand for then and vpon that day all the faithfull shall be sure to receaue the effect of their former redemption purchased by the death of Christ and also the end of their faith which is their eternall saluation both in soule and body in the life to come This day thus noted vnto vs in the scriptures hath been yet is vsually called of the godly The day of doome because then the last doome or definitiue sentence shall be giuen vpon all flesh neuer to be reuoked It is also called commonly the day of the second comming of Christ And the day of Christ his comming which shal be in infinite glory to counteruaile his first comming in the flesh in so great basenesse and humilitie Lastly The day of iudgement called tâ—â— last day it is rightly called by our Sauiour three times in one Chapter The last day because all daies and time it selfe shal end with it for as time began when the world began so with the world it must needes haue an end Therefore is it that the Angell sweareth so solemnly in the Reuelation Iâ— 6.39.44.54 such an other oath we shall hardly finde in all the Scriptures Ren. 10.5.6 By him that liueth for euermore which created heauen the things which therein are and the earth and the things that therein are and the Sea and the thinges which therin are that Time shal be no more meaning after this world is ended Now God of his great mercy therefore giue vs grace wisely to consider of the seasons and to make benefite of the time wherein we liue and also to be assured that this time or day will come how soone he onely knoweth that knoweth all things though all the Epicures in the world haue sworne the contrary The rather for that we are assured all of the signes fore prophesied in the scriptures to come to passe before that day are well neare accomplished and fulfilled whereof we are to intreate in the Chapter following The fourth Chapter THe signes and tokens that shall goe before this great and generall Iudgement are thus diuided by some Into signes Physicall In the heauens earth and Sea Signes Politicall in Countries and common-wealthes Signes Ecclesiasticall in Church and Church-men which deuision is good and may well be followed howbeit my purpose is not at this time to enter into any curious discourse but onely briefely and plainely to discouer and lay open such signes and tokens as the Scripture doth forewarne vs of that shall come before this day whereof many no doubt are past and some may be yet to come which we will also note as we speake of them in perticular And albeit I say there may be some fignes and tokens that are not yet fully accomplished No man ought to defer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let no man therefore defer his repentance or thinke the day of iudgement to be the further off for that for I suppose there be tokens that shal be seene to come before that day no otherwise then the lightning before the thunder betweene the which there will be no time for the obstinate sinners to repent but euen for the faithfull and godly To lift vp their heads and to reioyce for that their redemption is so nigh The signes and tokens that shall goe before this great and fearefull daie of Iudgement hath Christ the Iudge himselfe in token of his loue vnto vs described and made knowne howbeit somewhat darkely to the end the godly should consider thereof the more carefully as the wicked do passe them ouer contemptuously which signes we will briefely recite as they are deliuered vs by Christ himselfe his faithful Euangelists Apostles Luke 21. Then shal be signes saith Saint Luke in the sunne and in the Moone in the starres which no doubt haue been accomplished fulfilled that in this last age of the world by most strange extraordinary eclipses of the Sun of the Moone by fearful vnwonted comets blasing stars that haue appeared as wel to vs as
feruent heate Therefore I am perswaded that these tokens shall not be accomplished till the ende of the world And therefore as I haue said let no man deferre his repentance till these signes be fulfilled which are signes and tokens that shal accompany the comming of the Iudge no otherwise as also I haue said then a flash of lightning before the thunder or rather with the thunder though the light be seene before the thunder be heard yet both are said to breake out of the cloude together so assuredly as soone as these tokens are accomplished the Sonne of man shal presently appeare in the clouds with power and great glory This thing is plainely reuealed vnto vs by two Euangelistes Marke and Mathew Mark 13.24 who say In those daies that is at the end of the world the sunne shall waxe darke the Moone shall not giue her light the starres of Heauen shall fall the powers of heauen shall be shaken And then shall they see the Sonne of man comming in the clouds with power and great glorie No intermission of time between the one and the other scarce so much time for the faithfull to lift vp their eyes vnto heauen to receiue ioy into their harts for that their expected redeemer is come Moreouer that those signes are not yet accomplished it may be gathered out of Luke Luk. 21.24 who maketh mention of the time of the Gentiles to be fulfilled before he speaketh of the signes in the Sunne Moone and Starres But we see the time of the Gentiles is not yet fulfilled neither I hope shall be fulfilled till the ende of the world therefore these signes and tokens are not as yet accomplished But some will yet say that Saint Paule speaketh of the restoring of the Iewes before the generall Iudgement shall come It is true indeede Saint Paule in the 11. of the Romanes Rom. 11. maketh mention of such a secret which curiously to intreat of is from my purpose onely this wee may note out of that place of the Apostle that Saint Paule hauing an intent to tame the pride of the Gentiles that they should not boast or preferre themselues before the Iewes who were the naturall branches affirmeth in the three and twentieth verse of the same Chapter that the Iewes shall be graffed in againe For saith he God is able to graffe them in againe if they continue not still in vnbeleefe which if or exception of the Apostle being well noted will stay sober minds from concluding a generall restoring of any publike estate of the Iewes before the comming of Christ vnto iudgement For as much as Infidelitie is that great sinne which hitherunto hath stickt so fast vnto that Nation Howbeit we doubt not many Iewes sithence their reiection God of his mercy hath called and dayly doth call vnto repentance that so all Israell may be saued Rom. 11.26 as the Apostle saith that as all those that are Isralites indeede and by faith in Christ depend onely vpon the free election of God as also must the Gentiles if they will be saued But in the meane while let it not hinder any to looke for the comming of our Sauiour till the nations of the Iewes be wholy restored seeing if that were the meaning of the Apostle wee know not how soone God may bring the same to passe for a iust iudgement vnto vs GeÌ„tiles neither yet how long they may coÌ„tinue in their vnbeleefe euen to the last day if God do not shew mercy vpon theÌ„ And as for that the Apostle also in the Gospell maketh mention of the time of the Gentiles to be fulfilled Luke 21 if the meaning thereof be that for their great vnthankfulnes contempt of Gods grace the Gospell may be taken from them as I hope it shall not before the ende of the world for then the time of the Gentiles must needs be fulfilled I had rather meditate vpon this matter then make any discourse thereof at all onely let these wordes of the Apostle in that place euer sound in our eares that are Gentiles Be ye not high minded but feare Ro 〈◊〉 for if God spared not the naturall branches which were the Iewes take-heede which word euermore goeth before danger That he spare not thee being a Gentile and a wilde Oliue tree And as for deciding of these questioÌ„s either touching the publike restoring of the Iewes or small reiection of the Gentiles before the ende of the worlde both which questions I rather hold negatiuely seeing they are somewhat disputable let vs in a Christian lobriety rather confesse our ignorance then bewray curiositie waying well that diuine declamation of the Apostle wherewith he concludeth that discourse â—â—rse 33. O the deepnesse of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God how vnsearchable are his iudgements and his waies past finding out There are yet remayning two other poynts of like difficultie to some to be briefely touched The one whether the Gospell be yet preached throughout the world The other whether the kingdome of Antichrist shal not in a sort continue vnto the comming of Christ vnto Iudgement Of the former albeit I speake of it in this place yet I am rather of opinion that the publike preaching of the Gospell should be reckoned in the number of those tokens that are already passed and that the Gospell hath already beene published yea sithence the darknesse of Popery Mahomatisme hath beene discouered throughout all Nations of the world euen as Saint Paule affirmed it was euen in his time and therefore now the end of the world to be looked for If any will say why then the ende should come presently seeing Christ saith when the Gospell shall be preached then shall the end come I answere that the word then must not onely be referred to that time when the Gospell is preached or shall be preached but also to that time when the breaching of the Gospel hath fully effecâ—ed that for which it was preached and published The word of God beauenly seed for we know the preaching â—f the Gospell is that heauenly seede which must be sowen in the Gardens of â—arthly mens harts which seede must â—aue a time to be sowen a time to grow â—â—d a time to ripen assoone as this seede 〈◊〉 fully ripened in the harts of Gods â—ect and the reprobate made inexcusaâ—â—e for not receiuing or for not yeelding forth fruite accordingly then presently without delay will the haruest come and the sickle shall be thrust in to cut the Lords corne to preserue it for his owne Garner the kingdome of Heauen when the weede euery vnprofitable branch shall be burned in that fire that neuer shall be quenched Againe we see the day must dawne and the day starre of the Gospell must haue a time to appeare before the Sonne of righteousnesse doe arise yea the sunne in the firmament hath a time to rise a time to run his course and a time to set so the
King of glory Secondly he saith that he shall sit vpon the throne or seate of his glory alluding vnto the magnificence of Kings and Iudges who haue their feates and thrones of iudgement erected and set vpon high that they may be seene and heard of many people Therefore Christ Iesus who is Rex Regum Iudicum Iudex King of Kings and Iudge of Iudges his throne shall be aboue in the cloudes where euery eye shal see him both in heauen earth and hell So saith Saint Iohn Reu. 1 7. Behold he commeth with clouds and euery eye shall see him So our Sauiour himselfe teacheth vs in the 21. of Luke saying When the powers of heauen shall be shaken then shal ye see the sonne of man come in the cloudes with power and great glory The like answere our Sauiour maketh vnto the high Priest who asked him whether he were Christ the sonne of God thou sayest it saith our Sauiour vnto him and hereafter shall finde it to be true Math. 26.64 when ye shall see the Sonne of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and come in the cloudes of the heauen This glorious comming of Christ vnto Iudgement was not obscurely reuealed vnto the Prophet Daniel as hee himselfe testifieth in the seuenth of his Prophesie saying Dan. 7.10 I beheld till the Thrones were set vp and the auncient of dayes did sit whose garment was white as Snow and the haire of his head like pure Wooll his Throne was like the firie flame and his wheeles as burning fire A firie streame issued and came foorth before him thousand thousandes meaning of Angels ministred vnto him and ten thousand a Definit for an Infinit number thousands stood before him the Iudgement was set and the Bookes opened The third circumstance that our Sauiour noteth is That all Nations shall be gathered before him This circumstance serueth also very greatly to set forth the might maiestie and glory of the Iudge in that he will haue the people of all Nations to come before him Kings and Keyfers high and lowe rich and poore men women and children none shall be priuileged all must appeare So saith the Apostle We must all appeare before the tribunall seate of Christ All people that then are liuing vpon the earth as also all those which haue dyed since the beginning of the world howsoeuer they haue died or wheresoeuer they haue been buried as well they that haue beene eaten vp of beasts and burned vnto Ashes as they that haue been drowned in the Sea and eaten vp with fishes all without exception shall heare this voyce Surgite mortui arise ye dead and come to iudgement This thing is reuealed vnto Saint Iohn as he testifieth in the Reuelation 〈◊〉 12. saying I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and another booke wasopened which is the booke of life and the dead were Iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes And the Sea gaue vp the dead which were in her and death and hell deliuered vp the dead which were in them and they were Iudged euery man according to their workes O God of glory what a great and glorious Sessions must this be where all people shall be summoned and constrayned to appeare yea the Diuels themselues saith Iude Are kept in chaines vnder darkenesse vnto this day O how great must the glory be of such a Iudge that shall so come vnto Iudgement attended on with so glorious a troupe of Angels who connot be rauished with the consideration of so glorious aspect and most admirable sight namely to see the Sonne of man to appeare in the cloudes in the glory of God his father all the holy Angels seruing and attending on him and all nations and people of the world brought before him Truely if it be a goodly sight to see the sunne rise in the morning in his brightnesse Prepared as a Giant to runne his course If it be not a little glorious to behold the Moone and glistring Starres in the euening which sight no doubt doth cause the godly oftentimes to giue glory vnto God according as Dauid saith Psal 19 The heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke How farre more glorious must it be to see the Sonne of God to appeare in the brightnesse of his glory with the brightnesse thereof the sunne in the firmament must needes be darkned To see so many or more glorious Angels then there be Starres in the heauens euerie Angell shining brighter then the Sunne in his strength together with as many Saints as haue beene faithfull soules in in this life with glorified bodies shining as the starres according to that saying of Daniell They that be wise that is all the faithfull who are compared vnto the wise Virgins shall then shine as the brightnesse of the firmament 〈◊〉 12.3 and they that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer And so much touching the glorious comming of Christ vnto Iudgement noted by Christ himselfe in these wordes When the Sonne of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit vpon the Throne of his glory and all Nations shall be gathered before him there to receaue Iudgement accordingly Of the order and maner of which Iudgement we are now to intreat in the Chapter following The seuenth Chapter THis point touching the whole order of Christ his comming vnto Iudgement is very copiously layed open vnto vs in the scripture specially our Sauiour himselfe doth reueale the same at sundry times in the Gospell we will begin with that description that Christ maketh in the fiue and twenteth of Mathew Math. 25.32 who presently after he hath shewed the glory of his comming proceedeth without any stop to the order and maner of his Iudgement for hauing sayed That all Nations shall be gathered before him He sheweth what course or order he will obserue in their iudgement Namely how he will first of all begin with diuision God doth all things in measure waight and number God is a God of order and not of confusion when all are gathered before him he will separate one from the other This is the last worke that God will doe in this world And it is worth the noting how God maketh his works to agree together The beginning and the ending first in the beginning God made all things by his sonne in the ending he will iudge all things by his son for who can better iudge of all then he that made all In the beginning hee made light to shine out of darknes as the Apostle witnesseth in the end he will turne light into darknesse The Sunne shall be darke and the Moone shall not giue her light In the beginning he seperated light from darkenesse In the ende he will also seperate the children of light from the
be done in faith and in the feare of God to feede the hungry to clothe the naked not that all the workes of mercy charitie are here numbred or any certaine number obserued but onely these few are named for examples sake to shewe vs that mercy must be vsed where mans misery doth neede it and withall we must make a difference betwixt those dueties which we doe as we are men and those that we do as we are Christian men therefore what soeuer good we doe vnto gods Saints we must do it in for Christs sake though it be but a gift of a cup of cold water in his name we shall not loose our reward though not rewarded of merite desarâ— but of mercy grace God of his mercy make vs mindful of those dueties to performe them as he shall enable vs otherwise we must looke for no mercy at his haÌ„ds but shal be sure to heare that which shall be pronounced to them on the left hand I was an hungred ye gaue me no meat I thirsted and ye gaue me no drinke And then though we wil excuse the matter neuer so cunningly alleadge that we neuer saw Christ hungry or a thirst because wee would not see Christ in his poore members being in that case because we wold shut vp our compassion froÌ„ the poore turne our eyes from our owne flesh because our religion was onely but in outward profession no liuely fruits of faith budding foorth because we would not visite the widdow the fatherles in their aduersity and keep our selues vnâ—potted of the world nay because while we liued in this world we did wrong the widow the fatherlesse and grind the faces of the poore therefore as we haue done so shal it be done vnto vs the same measure that we shall measure vnto others the same shal be measured vnto vs againe There shal be Iudgement mercilesse â—am 2.13 to him that sheweth no mercy but mercy contrariwise shall reioyce against Iudgement Finally our Sauiour repeteth the summe of both sentences again lest happily we haue for gotten them as too of en we do Math 25. vlt. And these saith Christ shal go into euerlasting paine the righteous into life eternall That is those gracelesse Goats those mercilesse misers those miserable miscreaÌ„ts that haue had no feare of God before their eyes no coÌ„passion on their brethren that haue hated to be reproued that haue had their whole swing in sin wearied themselues in vanitie they 〈◊〉 all be sent packing into euerlasting paine But the righteous that is those that haue apprehended the righteousâ— esse of Christ Iesus by a true liuely faith haue repeÌ„ted indeuoured to leaue sin before sin leaue them those that haue brought forth the timely fruits of repeÌ„tance with an ardent zeale vnto Gods glory and a burning charitie vnto their poore brethren these shall goe presently into life eternall by which two words life eternall and paine euerlasting is certainely noted the perpetuall and endlesse continuance of the ioyes of the godly and torments of the damned in the world to come neuer to haue end But it may be some will say that we post on with these two sentences to fast Christ will vse a greater moderation before he proceede to sentence there is mention made in the scripture of bookes that must be opened It is true indeede Daniell saith The Iudgement was set Dan. 7.10 and before sentence is giuen the bookes are opened Saint Iohn likewise in the Reuelation when he sawe the dead both great and small stand before God saith that the bookes were opened and an other booke was opened Reu. 20.12 which he calleth the booke of life The Booke of life I take to be the hidden and vnreueiled knowledge of God concerning those whom he hath appointed to life and saluation And this Booke is not for me or any mortall man to looke into by the other bookes I suppose are meant the consciences of all men in generall and of euery one in particular which shall either excuse or accuse vs at that day These bookes also are very secret bookes layed vp in the Closet of euery mans hart And I haue no skill to read in any of them but in mine own Indeede they are bookes of accompt which euery one must be careful to keep vntill this great day of reckoning come They are also Bookes of record wherein are written all the things that we haue done in this life whether they be good or euill and at that day shall be layed open in Facie curiae in the viewe and open fight of men and Angels Then shall be verified that saying of our Sauiour in the Gospell Nothing is so secret that shall not be euident neither any thing hid that shall not be knowen and come to light Wherefore it behoueth euery one to haue a special regard of these bookes and to couet euermore with the Apostle to haue a cleare conscience which is as the wise Man saith a continuall feast for if our consciences condemne vs not then haue we boldnesse towards God saith Saint Iohn contrariwise saith that Apostle If thy hart and conscience accuse thee God is greater then thy hart and knoweth all things If thy conscience be against thee it will be Mille testes more then a thousand witnesses These consciences of ours beloued which now we thinke we can stretch and streine as we please are the bookes of record which then must be opened either to excuse or condemne vs and therupon sentence shal be giuen accordingly My admonition therefore is that all businesse laied aside the next priuate leasure that euer we haue let vs ouerwiew againe and againe these bookes of reckoning see that the accompts be perfect where there is any desect let it be amended without delay for God knoweth how soone these bookes may be called for to be opened and then it will be too late to amend the least blot or fault that is in them Let vs follow the counsell of the Apostle to accuse and condemne our selues in this world that so we may be acquited and not condemned in that fearefull iudgement And this I hope may suffice to be spoken of this matter concerning the glory of Christ his comming and the maner of the Iudgement The eight Chapter wherein is intreated of Sobriety Watchfulnesse and Prayer IT might seeme that saint Peter had very well discharged his dutie in fore warning the world of the danger to come towards the end thereof in saying the ende of all things is at hand But that holy Apostle like a carefull Phisition not contented to warne vs that we fall not into a dangerous disease of security doth with all readinesse diligence prescribe vnto vs a maruellous good medicine for theÌ„ that are alreadie sicke in that disease the same may also serue as a pure preseruatiue to keepe those that are more sound from the infection thereof