firmament in beholding whereof they cannot if there mindes were not more then blindfolded but beholde the glory of God Psal 19 The heauens declare the glorie of God and the firmament his handie worke Or why doe they not denie that man hath any soule at all in which soule of man there is painted forth as it were in a table vnto vs though couered with the vaile of sinne not onely an Image of the Godhead but euen a liuely representation of the glorious Trinitie Againe if the world had no beginning whence sillie wormes as they are had they their originals who made them or whereof were they made will they say the world made them Why they themselues are more excellent thē the world and the creature cannot be better then the Creator will they say that they had an euerlasting beginning with the world why then doe they die and returne to dust and so an end as they say and yet wil by no meanes yeeld that the worlde shall haue an end Thus when their wits haue wandered the world throughout they shall bee brought into this straite will they nill they either to confesse that there is a God and so the rest to follow in order or else they shall fall into so many absurdities as the wit of man can deuise to aske them questions For as they themselues I meane the learneder sort of thē will teach vs in other learnings a principall being denied they are not to bee disputed withall that deny the same their reasons will be so raw and their conclusions so absurd Againe seeing Aristotle a Prince of Philosophers as they call him when he had read some of Moses writings concerning the Creation of the world could in his bording and iesting maner say of him Ille homo meaning Moses multa dicit nihil probat hath set downe much but how doth he prooue it I say if they will needs craue proofe of God or of his Prophets for confirming of truth let it be demanded of them what proofe or reasons they bring vs to maintaine their dotages lyings and falsehoods what proofe or reason can they alleadge to make any one beleeue or rather to be such an Infidel to thinke that there is no God that the world had no beginning that the soule is not immortall that the world and all mortall things shall haue none end if they will haue vs onely to credit them denying these things without any proofe and contrary to all reason why doe they not beleeue the truth which is agreeable to all reason and confirmed by plaine demonstrations which as they themselues say is the soundest kinde of proofe or why are they so partiall and iniurious to the Prophets and holy men of God I might well say to God himselfe as once to doubt of those thinges which are plainely and compendiously yea with such harmony and consent as is wonderfull The cōsent of Scripture admirable recorded in the Scriptures seeing they themselues will thinke themselues more then iniured if we giue not credit to their writings though many times they bee full of fables and in knowen things different and dissenting the one from the other But if they will not yeelde God his due in obeying the truth let vs yeeld so much vnto them as to reprooue their falsehoodes as well by reason as by weaker authorities then the word of God which they had rather beleeue In their owne reason they both see and confesse that many things in this world by the reason of the alteration of times and corruptions of men are in a sort as it were shuffled together very confusedly the foole is exalted the wise man despised the vertuous punished the vitious praised what other thing should this teach vs in common reason but that there is a time to be expected when all this shall be redressed all these corruptions purged and a perfection of all things restored againe This much the Heathen themselues haue confessed The Heathen held that there should be a burning of al things That after a certaine time there should be an vniuersall burning of the world which wee Christians call Domesday and that immediately after all things shal be set in there perfect state againe as they were at the first Now among all the records of the heathen that intreat of the iudgement to come those sayings of Sibilla Erithrea for there were many Sibils are of greatest accompt among the learned which sayings or oracles as they are called seeing they are extant in diuers bookes both in their originall and also translated into our toung I will not trouble the readers with them in this place And as touching this generall Iudgement though it were neither recorded vnto vs in the sacred Scriptures nor by any other authorities or reasons confirmed yet surely Gods giuing of his Law Gods giuing of the law a testimonie that there shall be a iudgement not to theoutward but to the inner man not to our deedes onely but also to our thoughts sheweth sufficiently without any other proofe that there is another Iudge besides the Iudges Maiestrates of this world to iudge vs and an other iudgement then their iudgement to be looked for seeing there iudgement here proceede but to the outward deede and by prooffes of witnesses therefore cannot in any wise pearce into the hart to discerne what is within For as it is the Soule that chiefely receaueth the commandement and chifely breaketh it it is therefore the Soule that must come to examination which cannot be done in this world Againe seeing the bodies are vsed as the instruments of the Soule either to good or euill therefore there must be a resurrection that they may be againe ioyned to their Soules to receiue ioy or punishment at the generall iudgement But if these Atheists will mocke deride as well prophane as diuine authorities which prooue vnto vs the iudgement to come neither will yeelde vnto common reason yet there is some thing within themselues which they euer carry about to conuince them I meane their own consciences Mans conscience tels him there shall be a adgement which shall euer witnesse against them selues For let them tell me what meane these feares and trouble which terrifie them night and day if there were not a Iudge and Iudgement to be feared What made that prophane Caligula to tremble euen at the shaking of a leafe but onely because his conscience tolde him of the Iudgement to come When Paule preached vnto Felix of the Iudgement to come Act. 24.26 then did Felix tremble and quake And how should not the sinfull Soule of man be afraid of this fearefull iudgement seeing the deuils themselues are horribly confounded with the feare thereof Iud 6. being kept in Chaynes vnto the iudgement of that great day To draw to an end therefore I am rather of this mind then otherwise namely that there were neuer any so prophane or wicked in the world Whatsoeuer they
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
God at the request of the Diuell This doctrine may reach vs while we liue Mat. 3.4 not only to pray for our daily bread but chiefly to pray for gods blessing vpō our bread food which hee giueth and to praise his Maiestie for it when we haue receiued it which the godly call saying of grace both before after meat which thing the godles scoffe at the manners of the multitude wil hardly be brought to performe it though preachers euery where perswade thē to it therefore it is to be feared they may smart for it again here after by the like punishmēt of dearth famine which the Lord in his mercy deliuer vs from when God in his Iustice shall call our vnthankfulnesse among many other sinnes in remembrance before him And withall this shall not be the least comfort to the godly poore that are often times pinched with penury if they be well assured and perswaded that euen in their greatest wants God wil not faile to prouide for them if they be faithfull feruent in prayer 1. Kings 17 4. 12. either to command the Rauens to feed them as he did Elias either by increasing the oyle in the Cruse and the flower in the Pitcher as the widdow of Sareptas was or if at any time as many times it falleth out they want their dayly bread which the King of heauen hath commaunded his earthly Stewards to giue them yet will God either feed them with some other pulse or sustenance to their good content and liking which was Daniels fare or at leastwise he will stay the rage of their hungry bellies as he did the mouthes of those hungry Lyons that otherwise would haue deuoured that Prophet of God In a word let not any of Gods children in any distresse whatsoeuer doubt of the fatherly prouidence of our God who haply may pinch vs but will not suffer vs to perish who feedeth the young Rauens that crie vnto him and shall he not heare his children that trust in him and call vpon him Yes verily let vs be assured Psal 104.21 for it is the word of truth that saith The righteous shall neuer be forsaken Againe The Lyons lacke and suffer hunger but they that feare the Lord shall want nothing that is good God make vs faithfull and thankfull and continue vs in his feare Thus haue we now seene how God hath not ceased oftentimes to warne vs to beware of sinne and if by those punishments already passed we will not learne to be wise but walke on still in the stubbornnesse of our owne harts Leui. 26. then will God punish vs yet seuen times more according to our sinnes and still will adde seuen vnto seuen as he threatneth 26. of Leuiticus vntill we be vtterly consumed in our sinnes or haue stayed his Iudgement by vnfained repentance And this I hope may serue to be spoken as indeed I haue spoken much more of this point then I thought of at the beginning concerning the sinnes of intemperancie or any other sinnes that are contrarie to so brietie and farre vnfitting those people that truely professe Christianitie grounding my speech vpon the exhortation of S. Peter bee ye sober and much agreeable to that exhortation of Saint Paul Titus 2.11 The grace of God hath appeared teaching vs to denie all vngodlinesse and worldly lustes and to line soberly righteously and godly while we liue in this world and then we shall be sure to liue for euermore in the world to come The next poynt I promised to speak of in this Chapter is of Christian watchfulnesse and vigilancie which is so much commended vnto vs in the scripture and is by S. Peter opposed against that great sinne of carelesse securitie in whose cradle it is to be feared most people will be lulled a sleepe towardes the end of the world of which point of vigilancie I will endeuour to speake briefely and so hasten to the last point which is Prayer whereunto watchfulnes must be ioyned And first of all forasmuch as there is so often mention made in the Scripture of this vertue of vigilācy or watchfulnes it shal not be amisse for vs briefly to consider what it is that is commended vnto vs by that word the word is often vsed by our Sauiour himselfe specially when he is giuing warning of his second comming In the 12. of Luke he saith Luk. 12.35 Let your loynes be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selues like vnto men that waite or watch for their Maister when he will returne from the wedding that when hee commeth and knocketh they may open vnto him immediately Blessed are those seruants whō the Lord when he commeth shal find waking Verily I say vnto you he will gird himselfe about and make them to sit downe at table and will come forth and serue them And if hee come in the second watch or come in the third watch and shall find them so blessed are those seruants Now vnderstand this also saith Christ that if the good man of the house had knowne at what houre the theefe would haue come hee would haue watched and would not haue suffered his house to bee digged thorowe Be ye also prepared therefore for the Sonne of man will come in an houre when ye think not The like is said in the Reuelation Behold◠I come as a thief blessed is he that watcheth And in the 13. Mark 13.34 of Marke The Sonne of man saith Christ is as a man going into a strange Countrey and leaueth his house and giueth authoritie to his seruants and to euerie man his worke and commaundeth the Porters to watch Watch therefore for yee know not when the master of the house will come at euen or at midnight at the Cocke-crowing or in the dawning lest if he come sodainely he should find you sleeping By these and many other places which willingly for breuities sake I omit it is very euident what it is that is commēded vnto vs by this word watch verily nothing else but a Christian and carefull heedfulnesse in our seuerall callings in as much as Christ saith euery one hath his worke or taske appointed him as the Apostle saith Let euery one wherin he is called euen so abide with God Now like as in Kings and Noble mens houses there are diuers and sundry offices one is Controller and another Steward some standing at the gate and all other officers labouring in their seuerall businesse wayting for the returne of their Master So likewise the King of heauen Christ Iesus who for a time leauing this earthly Countrey appointed his officers in this world some as Controlers to reproue some as Stewards to prouide for the family some as Porters to keep the gate others as labourers or worke-men in their seuerall charges euery one hath his place where he must abide not idle or sleepie but carefull and watching the returne of their Maister blessed then shall that seruant